“This isn’t your fault at all,” Carter told him, hugging him tighter and running his hands through Arria’s hand. Gosh he missed him so much, and he needed to get him out of here- “We brought you a potion, we’re not to far from the coast, come on, we need to get out of here.”
“I-I can’t. Th-The deal, I can’t leave.” Arria stuttered, pulling back from Carter no matter how much he didn’t want too.
“No, remember last time? We can break it but we need Maria here.” Herla walked forwards.
“I can’t go find that dirtbag, if you’d like me to,” Elecia added in, folding her arms over her chest as she peered down the hall. Carter nodded to her, and then she disappeared, going to cause havoc and get Maria over here.
Arria’s breathing started to quicken and his heart started to beat faster as he shook his head, “N-No. I can’t- I don’t- I cant go through that again.” He said quietly.
“It’ll be okay, I promise I’ll be right here for you,” Carter told him, grabbing his hands and giving them a small reassuring squeeze, “We’re going to get you home, we’ll be safe.” Carter scooted as close as he could without getting in the pool next to Arria, trying to comfort Arria in every way that he could.
“Th-This is all my fault…” Arria whispered, wrapping his arms around Carter again and burying his face in the crook of his neck, guilt washing over him like a wave, “I’m so sorry…” A few more tears slipped even though he tried to hold them back.
Carter immediately had his arms around Arria again, holding him close and not wanting to let go, “It’s not your fault, it was never your fault. Arria, you have nothing to be sorry for, this doesn’t change a thing. I still love you more than anything, I still-“
“How on earth did YOU get in here?!?” A cruel voice shrieked, and Elecia scampered into the room shortly followed by Maria’s face, “What is going on?”
Arria visibly winced a the loud voice, his arms tightening around Carter for a few moments. Herla walked over to Carter and handed him what resembled a dagger made form a sharks tooth, “When you see the ribbon, cut straight through it.” He whispered.
“Out! I said I’d help you back on the boat, but that was before you broke into my building and tried to take my property back-“
“He isn’t your property,” Carter snarled back at Maria, holding Arria tightly and glanced at his wrist every few seconds as he watched for the ribbon.
Arria let out a small, faint whimper, curling into Carter with every passing second. It was after a few moments, did the ribbon appear, right after Mulir had muttered something under his breath. Arria closed his eyes tightly, the burning on his wrist paining him.
As soon as Carter saw it, he worked fast -yet still careful- and cut the ribbon- “What are you doing?!” Maria demanded, angrily just as Carter slashed through the golden ribbon.
Arria let out a small cry of pain as the ribbon was cut. It soon disappeared into nothing, leaving just a red, burning mark on Arria’s wrist. He grabbed at it, curling into Carter with very quiet sobs.
Carter wrapped his arms around Arria tightly, “It’ll be okay, we’re going to go home and be safe,” He murmured, rubbing soothing circles into Arria’s back with his hand as he held him. Maria let out an angry shriek, but Elecia blocked her from coming any closer to Arria and Carter.
Arria looked down at his hands, releasing a shaky breath. The right wrist, had a right red ring around it, Maria having a matching one on her own. His left had a very faint scar mark of the same make, "C-Can we go home?"
Carter held Arria closer, “Yes, we can go home, we’ll be safe.” He looked to Herla, “Can you hand me a potion?”
Maria was furious, clutching her own wrist angrily, “You can’t leave! I own you, how dare-“
“Shut the f—k up, will you?” Elecia snapped, glaring daggers at the woman.
Herla nodded, grabbing the bag that Mulir had and finding one of the potions. He quickly handed it to Arria, who drained the contents, closing his eyes while his legs formed. He very quickly brought his knees to his chest after he was done.
Carter hated- gosh he hated it so much to see the love of his life like this. “Come on, we can go home now.” Carter grabbed his crutches, pushing himself to his foot before offering his hand to Arria, concern etching his features as he said softly, “Let’s get out of here, love.”
Arria nodded, hesitantly taking Carter’s hand and standing. He bit his lip, looking down at his loves foot and feeing guilty again.
“Let’s get going.” Gallion said, making his way towards the door.
“No!” Maria barked, looking down the hall. It was clear she was regretting giving most of her employees -including security- the day off. “None of you are allowed to leave this building, I bought you-“ She glared at Arria and Carter, “and no one’s wasting all that money I spent!”
Arria swallowed and looked down at his feet, “Maybe I should stay with with her…” He muttered, looking towards Maria.
Carter’s heart stopped. “What?” Carter stared at his fiancé in shock, flat out ignoring Maria, “W-What do you mean?”
“All I’ve done i-is cause you trouble. You’re missing a foot because of me,” Arria swallowed and tears welled in his eyes, “If you hadn’t have met me then… then you wouldn’t be in this mess. Maybe if I stay your life won’t be so troublesome…”
“No, Arria, gosh no.” Carter tried to balance the crutch on his side so he could hug Arria, “I love you. I love you more than all the stars in the sky, Arria, my life would be terrible without you in it. You didn’t cause this,” Carter looked down at his absent limb, “Maria did. If anything it’s my fault for wanting to go on a date with you on land.” Carter leaned in and kissed Arria’s forehead, “If you weren’t in my life, I would’ve never found the guy of my dreams.”
Arria looked down at the ground, "I'm sure you would have. I'm nothing special, Carter. I just… I just happen to be a merman but I'm really just… no one," He knew he shouldn't think like this, and some of it was from breaking that stupid deal and others words that Yuri had put in his head and just stuck He released a breath, "I'm just placing all my problems on you and you shouldn't have to deal with it."
“You are not just no one, Arria, I love you more than anything in the world. What about your friends?” Carter gestured to Herla, Gallion, and Mulir, “And you aren’t placing your problems on me, because I have a different problem now. I have a problem with you staying here with this crazed lunatic, and I’m going to keep trying to rescue you until we can go back home together.” Carter told Arria, brushing a hand through his fiance’s hair, “It’s too late to make me go back home alone, I’m not leaving until you’re coming out with me.”
Arria bit his lip and nodded slowly, "O-Okay, I'll go with you… I- I love you, Carter." He gave him a small smile and, somewhat hesitantly took Carter's hand in his own.
"Well, as much as I don't love you too Arria we need to get going." Gallion said from the door frame before disappearing.
“You cannot leave-“ Elecia moved, swift as an asp, and her fist connected with Maria’s face. The woman stumbled back, and Elecia ushered them towards the door.
Though before Carter moved, he placed a gentle chaste kiss on Arria’s lips, murmuring, “I love you too.” He then forced himself to put his energy into walking out of the room and after Gallion, but making sure Arria was with him.
Arria looked towards Maria with a small frown before following Carter and Gallion, his other two friends taking up the rear and making sure Maria wasn't following. He swallowed and continued walking, trying to keep his mind blank, which didn't work very well as they group walked out of the building.
Carter kept on glancing at Arria, worry in his face but he didn’t say anything. They were out of the wretched building, anyways. Elecia led the way back towards the coast, and by the time they got to view the salty water, Carter’s leg was screaming in protest. Maybe he pushed himself too hard.
Arria looked down at Carter's foot with a worried looked, his frown deepened slightly at the thought of him swimming with one fin, "A-Are you sure you can swim?" He brought his gaze up to his fiancé's face and bit his lip.