Carter was relieved when they finally reached the cave and didn’t hesitate to sit down on solid ground. He caught Arria’s wince and quickly was at his side. “What can I do? You should relax, you practically carried me all the way here,” Carter said, biting his lip with worry. As soon as Carter had his tail back, he’d swim down to the city to get supplies to help Arria.
Arria shook his head, pulling the bag into his lap, “No, no it’s fine, I’m fine,” He was far from fine but he was more worried about Carter’s arm then his bruises. After all, they were just bruises, right? He pulled out a bottle, the tiniest drop of potion left for Carter. Not enough to get them to the city and back in time. He pulled out another, just enough to give Arria legs for a couple hours.
Carter frowned even more. “You’re not fine. You’re worse than me, I just had some glass stuck in my arm and stitches. I even did this to myself, I cut the stitches. It’s really not that bad, you haven’t gotten proper treatment for your injuries at all,” Carter pointed out, chewed the inside of his cheek with worry as he eyed the potions. If he couldn’t get to the city…
“They’re just bruises, Carter,” Arria mumbled, placing the bottles next to him and doing another search, “They probably look worse then they actually are…” After another thorough minute of searching, Arria pulled out another bottle, enough to give Carter a tail. He handed it to the human, “Here, should be enough for one trip.”
Carter bit his lip. He didn’t quite believe Arria. “You’re not fine,” Carter protested softly. He gladly took the potion, relief washing through him to know that yes, this would work. That everything would be okay. “Arria, I saw what you did in there, before I got you out… I saw you hurting yourself and ramming yourself into the glass.” Carter slowly slid one hand across the ground towards Arria, a huge part of him wishing he could hold him right now and another part wishing to examine the merman to make sure there hopefully weren’t other injuries that Arria had given himself.
Arria swallowed, fiddling with a loose pebble he'd found on the ground, "I… I didn't think… I didn't know you saw that…" In truth, there had been there injuries Arria had given himself, and he was ashamed of it. But a bigger part of the merman knew he probably deserved it. After being physically and mentally beaten down for three years? Old habits had arisen again. He knew Carter would figure it out if he didn't tell him, but saying it out loud made it all the more real and he didn't want to lose Carter over this.
Carter took a quiet deep breath and bit the inside of his cheek. He didn’t want Arria to have hurt himself, his made his heart hurt. Carter could’ve been there for him, if only he had tried a little bit harder. If only he had been a little more dedicated. If only he hadn’t given up so easily like he had at Maria’s events or like he had on the boat. “I’m sorry,” Carter whispered gently, “I’m sorry you went through that. I- I want to help you, Arria.” I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you in time. Carter couldn’t stop himself, he just had to lift his hand and ignore the pebble as he grabbed Arria’s hand and squeezed them gently. I’m here for you now. I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you before.
Arria released a shaky breath, squeezing Carter's hand back, "You… you don't… you don't have to- to be sorry," He silently cursed himself for the stutter. He looked down at his lap, trying to keep himself together at least a little. He couldn't let Carter know how bad it actually was. He was worrying enough as it was and Arria hated he was making Carter worry, "It's not your f-fault."
“Arria…” Carter mumbled, then held out his arms in invitation. He wasn’t going to force a hug onto Arria, not right not, but he certainly wanted to hug the male. To wrap the merman in his arms and never let go. “Please. Let’s get you all cleaned up first, let’s get some salve and bandages for you first,” Carter said gently as he inhaled deeply through his nose. He didn’t want to press Arria for answers or force him to talk about it, but he wanted to be there for the merman. And he definitely wanted to take care of Arria before taking care of himself.
One second Arria was fine. He was keeping himself together, keeping all his emotions in check, under control. And then the Arria from before the incident came rushing back, all full of emotion that he couldn't keep bottled up anymore. He whimpered softly, eyes starting to water up as he dove into Carter's arms, hiding his face in the crook of Carter's neck. He hated feeling with weak, not after he'd tried so, so hard to be strong before so long.
Carter caught Arria in his arms and held him tightly without a word. He leaned back to lay on the sand and held Arria so tightly to his chest. Away from the world, away from their worries and fears and pains. “It’s okay. It’s okay,” Carter whispered gently, not moving in the slightest to let Arria go. In fact, he only tightened his grip -careful of Arria’s bruises- around him and pressed his face into the merman’s hair.
Arria didn't want to move. He wanted to stay like this for as long as he could. At least he knew in Carter's arms he was safe. He didn't have to worry about anyone else and their actions. It was like being tucked away into a small bubble of safety, a bubble he didn't want to pop and was afraid it would. Arria curled his tail around Carter's legs, almost as if he was trying to get even closer if that was possible.
Carter wrapped his legs around Arria’s tail and nuzzled his hair. “It’s okay,” He whispered gently again, brushing his hands down Arria’s back gently, “It’s okay.” Carter would stay like this for however long Arria wanted to. He would‘ve probably kissed him too, but he was still cautious. Things had changed, and he wasn’t going to try to take that step and risk wrecking what they had right now, this safety of togetherness.
Arria squeezed his eyes shut tightly. He knew he would be okay, but right now… he wasn't so sure of that. He'd try and be okay, at least for Carter, he'd try and be okay. He shivered under Carter's touches. It'd been too long since someone had held him, touched him in a way that wasn't going to hurt him. It almost felt foreign.
Carter gently rubbed his hand over Arria’s back. “Do you want to talk about it? Or do you want a distraction from it?” Carter asked softly, running a hand through the merman’s hair gently. He would be willing to do either, he be willing to sit here for hours and talk about it, or he would be willing to do whatever it took to distract the merman from those demons.
Arria leaned into Carter's touch, pulling back just a little so he could wipe at his eyes and look at Carter properly, "A… A distraction, please." Talking about it would come later, when he felt slightly better then he did right now.
Carter nodded softly, then gently kissed Arria’s forehead. “Let me be your distraction then,” Carter murmured softly, moving his hands up and down Arria’s back before gently kissing his temple, and then moving to his cheeks to kiss away the tears. He was testing the waters, making sure to keep his arms loose enough so if Arria wanted to pull away he could do it with ease.
Arria didn't want Carter to be gentle, not right now. He wanted to be kissed hard and touched everywhere. He didn't care if his bruises or cuts were touched and it hurt. He wanted to be held tightly and kissed. He cut Carter off, pressing his lips hard against the humans.
(Heya, just checking in to make sure you're okay, haven't heard from you in a little while and I just wanted to make sure everything is all right with you :) No pressure to respond though)
(Hey dude I’m sorry I haven’t been on in a while, I’m feeling a little better now and I’m up for continuing the rp if you are? :)
Arria didn't want Carter to be gentle, not right now. He wanted to be kissed hard and touched everywhere. He didn't care if his bruises or cuts were touched and it hurt. He wanted to be held tightly and kissed. He cut Carter off, pressing his lips hard against the humans.
Carter returned the kiss, and he really couldn’t stop his arm from instinctively wrapping around Arria a little tighter. He missed this. Carter missed kissing Arria like this so, so much. He missed the safety and security that came with it, how he could hold Arria and know that he was right here, real and safe. Carter knew things would never be the same, but right now… he just wanted things to be okay.
(of course! I missed you! I hope you're doin' okay)
Arria let both of his hands cup Carter's face, kissing him deeper. He poured everything into that kiss, all the emotions and pain he'd been keeping in, all the fears. But they all melted away knowing that him and Carter were together and they would be okay. Of course it would take a while and he'd have to tell Carter what happened eventually, but right now he had a distraction and he was going to hold onto that for as long as he could.
(Missed you too man, just had some rough times lately but things are looking better-ish)
Carter kissed him back with equal passion. He was more than ready to be whatever Ari needed right now, whatever he wanted. Whether it be kissing or hugging or more. It was the very least he could do after failing him for too long. “Let me know what you need,” Carter spoke on Ari’s lips, punctuating each word with a kiss, “and I’ll do it for you.”
(That’s good, I’m here if you need though)
“I need..” Arria pulled back, slightly out of breath as he placed his face in the crook of Carter’s neck, “I need…” His eyes scrunched up. It was hard to think when your head was throbbing mercilessly and coherent thoughts weren’t forming. His body seemed to tense, tail tightening ever so slightly around the human's legs, muscles in his back and arms flexing as if he was trying to get his body to form a sentence. Smaller cuts and bruises were obvious now, as well as a few missing scales. Even though he was younger then Carter, Arria certainly felt older.
(Thank you dude)
Carter hated seeing Ari this way. It made him feel sick. I was going to give up on him. Carter ran his hands through Ari’s hair gently, wishing he could make everything go back the way it was. “Arria, I’ll do anything for you,” Carter whispered softly. Truthfully. Use me, Arria. Please just use me. Carter wanted to make Arria feel better, he would do anything for him. Anything to fix this, even if it was only temporary.
Arria sucked in a sharp breath, “I know.” He mumbled. His muscles flexed and relaxed, pressing a few light kisses to Carter’s neck as a way to ground himself. The kisses traveled lower, slowly making his way down the human’s chest before he could really stop himself and think things through.