“Maybe we can take vacation or something every once and a while back on land,” Carter told him with a reassuring smile, “Besides, you wouldn’t be taking my life away, you’d be giving me a new one. A life that has you in it. A life that I never want to give up,” Carter breathed, then he leaned forward again until their lips were only a breath apart, “I love you more than anything, Arria.”
Arria smiled softly, "How'd I get so lucky to find you? I will never understand." Arria rested his forehead on his, "I love you to the moon and back, Carter, and I always will." He said gently, tightening his arms around him slightly as if he would disappear at any moment.
He closed his eyes, running a hand through Arria’s hair as the sun started to shine, “I should explain myself to your friends, I’m sure they’re worried for you.” Despite Carter’s words, he still held Arria tightly. He didn’t want to ever leave him again. My sea boy…
Arria huffed a sigh, "I suppose so. But not yet, I don't want to leave you yet…" His voice became quieter as he spoke and a light blush rose to his cheeks and he buried his head in Carter's shoulder so he didn't see.
Carter laughed lightly to himself, “I don’t want to leave you either,” He whispered, stroking a hand through Arria’s hair lovingly. He curled his legs around Arria’s tail, murmuring, “I don’t want to leave you ever.”
Arria smiled onto Carter's neck and nodded slowly, "I don't ever want to leave you either." He muttered, the blush reddening and was glad Carter couldn't see his face at this point.
Carter smiled, brushing his hands up and down Arria’s back lovingly, then slowly using one hand to swim them to shallower water in case Arria was getting tired of swimming for both of them. He kissed the top of Arria’s head, breathing him in for a few seconds.
Arria sighed a little and relaxed into Carter, glad he wasn't doing as much work. He was still so tired from not sleeping much he felt like he could fall asleep right here with Carter.
Carter smiled, pulling Arria and him up onto the beach, just so that they were still half laying in the water. He held Arria, pulling his sea boy half on top of Carter’s chest so he wouldn’t have to lay in the sand, “I love you…” He murmured quietly, kissing Arria’s forehead gently.
"I love you too." Arria muttered, stifling a yawn. He nuzzled into Carter's chest and fell asleep, curled up on the other. He sighed in his sleep and felt quite safe in Carter's arms.
Carter didn’t dare move once Arria fell asleep, instead closing his eyes. Not that he didn’t have much of a distraction… Gosh his head hurt… What had Breigha slipped in my drink even? He clamping his eyes shut, willing the pain in his head to pass. Eventually he fell asleep, arms curled around Arria lovingly.
A few hours later, Arria awoke with a jolt, he gently push himself off of Carter and willed his breath to calm. He ran a shaky hand through his hair and had brought his tail to his chest, hugging it as he tried to calm himself.
Carter awoke with bleary eyes, but was immediately alert when he saw the position Arria was in. He jerked into a sitting position, putting a cautious gentle hand on Arria’s shoulder, “What’s wrong?” He whispered, worrying lacing his every feature.
"Hm? Oh nothing… I'm fine." Arria said quietly, placing his hand on top of Carter's, "Just a nightmare." He sighed and rested his head on Carter's shoulder, calming down now that the other was awake.
Carter intertwined his fingers with Arria’s, using his other arm to hold his sea boy closer, “Do you want to talk about it?” He whispered, drawing soothing circles on Arria’s hand with his thumb.
Arria sighed, "It was just… the potion I gave you to become a merman wore off and you were drowning. I-I didn't have time to save you since there was none left…" He whispered, taking a shaky breath, "It all felt so… real. I-I don't want that to happen, ever. I guess it's just playing into the fear of losing you a-and with what you said earlier, about staying with me under the sea… just gave it enough power to shine through."
“Oh Arria,” Carter pulled Arria into a tight hug, just holding him for a few heartbeats. “I’m not going to drown, I promise. If you rather stay on land together, we can do that instead. As long as we’re together.” He stroked a hand through Arria’s hair, “I’m always going to be safe.”
"I-I know… I just don't want to lose you." Arria said quietly, wrapping his arms around Carter at the same time. He sighed a little and closed his eyes until his breathing and heart rate returned to normal.
Carter held Arria tightly the entire time, “You aren’t going to lose me.” He brushed his thumb over Arria’s cheek and ran his other hand up and down Arria’s back comfortingly. “We can stay on land, that way you won’t have to worry.”
"B-But… are you sure? I don't want you to feel you have to change things over a stupid nightmare of mine…" Arria said quietly, letting out a deep breath.
“Hey,” Carter tilted Arria’s chin up gently, “I’m happy as long as you’re with me, Arria. That’s all that ever mattered to me.” He slowly kiss Arria lightly, trying to reassure him in every possible way.
Arria kissed him back before pulling away and nodded, "But are you sure you're sure?" He asked, again, biting his lip, "Because you can still live with me under the water i-if you really want too…"
“Whatever you want to do. I don’t want to unsurp you from your house, and your collection, but I also don’t want you to be stressing over me.” Carter told him with a reassuring smile, “I promise, I’m happy either way.”
Arria looked down and thought for a moment, "I-I mean… if I'm on land then I wouldn't need to have my collection because you have everything… but I don't mind what happens."
“I don’t mind what happens either,” Carter told Arria warmly, “And I want you to decide, it won’t matter either way to me.” He took Arria’s hand in his, doodling small circles with his thumbs. It would be easier to move into the water, I don’t have much to take with me and Arria could always have access to the ingredients for the potions… But I don’t want him to worry about me drowning…