Even Lovers Drown - GaryCato Mermaid Au

Chapter 11

He didn't know why but Gary knew that at some point he was afraid of the sea.

The waves crashing against the rocks, eroding them until the moment they fall down. The salt that burned wounds and your eyes, the deadly cold water.

Gary found that the ocean was especially scary on stormy days.

The moment Gary opened his eyes, he noticed a few things. One being that he was in the bathtub, the other being that he was cramped and finally...pain.
Groaning, Gary stretched his tail in the bath, wondering if he had fallen asleep in it to the point his tail had to appear.

He placed both his arms on the edge of the tub so he could get up only to stumble slightly as he noticed

"Where's my arm?" He wondered aloud, eyes wide as he looked at his bandaged shoulder, his arm missing.

Softly, he placed a hand over the stub, his breathing quickening as he felt pain strike the area- quickly moving through hand away, leaving it to hover above the wound.

Why was his arm gone?
How did he end up here?

The sound of footsteps made him nervous, anxiety spiking to the point his chest hurt

"Gary?" Avocato blinked in surprise to see the other awake. He stood there for a few moments until he had to shake himself from his daze as he noticed the other appeared to be having an anxiety attack.
Quickly, Avocato rushed to his side, placing the tub with medical supplies besides him as he softly reached for Gary's face

"Hey- hey..." he spoke softly, making the other look at him. Wide eyes met his sympathetic ones and he tried to smile softly "it's okay....you're okay now" Avocato examined Gary "breathe....can you breathe with me?" He asked, having grown used to Little Cato's sudden panic attacks after the accident.

Gary bit his lip and forced out a nod, following Avocato's instructed breaths. He breathed  in just as Avocato did, then breathed out- his breaths hitching a bit more, coming out as wheezes at first before he finally calmed down.

As Gary calmed down, he sank more into the tub, looking down at the water with a sigh.
Avocato smiled at the other before frowning in confusion as Gary seemed to grow squirming and then began to try hide-

"Oh!" Avocato noticed Gary look at him, his hand helplessly trying to cover his tail "it's okay- we all already know, Quinn told us as well" he chuckled

Gary blinked in surprise, relaxing once again  and sitting up properly

"Quinn?" He croaked, cringing at the feeling in his throat

"Yes, Quinn" Avocato nodded as he stood up "wait here- I'll grab you some water"

The blond only blinked in confusion, leaning down to slurp the water from the tub.

"Don't do that" Avocato smacked his head gently "just wait a moment, alright?" He chuckled, walking out of the bathroom.

"Dad!" Little Cato jumped off the sofa, rushing after his father "how is he? Is he okay?"

"He is" Avocato chuckled, his son had been asking the same question everyday as the first time he had gone to see Gary he passed out from the sight of blood "in fact...he's awake right now"

"He is?!" Little Cato gasped "can I go see him?" He bounced in place

"I don't see why not" Avocato filled up a glass of water "here, take this to him- I am going to give Quinn and Kevin a call to let them know"

"I managed to ask my boss for a day off but he's asking me back after..." Quinn frowned as she paced the living room. They had just brought Gary home and she wanted to stay by the blond's side when he woke up