Oscar and Mer 🍆🪼

XVIII

TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter includes/or alludes to (on or offscreen) physical, psychological, or emotional abuse and/or torture.

EDIT: i added more to the chapter than was previously published

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Even though Kyle had patched him up well enough, Oscar could once again feel the heat radiating down his arm, especially after Trent squeezed his shoulder as hard as he did. Actually, Oscar was sure he actually grabbed him normally but because his shoulder was so inflamed it felt like a vice. Getting home was a chore and he fumbled with his keys to open the door. He stumbled in, trying not to move his arm too much.

"Mer?" he called, walking into the living room.

The house seemed quiet and Oscar walked through the house, looking for Mer. As he called out for him, he stopped by the bathroom to get some more pills for the pain. After a few minutes, it was clear that Mer wasn't in the house and Oscar thought for a moment about where he could be when he noticed a piece of paper on the bar.

BEECH was written in bad handwriting on it and Oscar sighed in relief.

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Mer sat at the edge of the water as he looked out over the sea. He missed the ocean. He missed the weightlessness, he missed his tail, he even missed his home... although he was sure they didn't miss him. He could never get anyone else but Pearly to learn sign language and so he had to write what he wanted to say to everyone. He was sure they were glad he wasn't around anymore to read his seaweed parchments... take the time to wait...

He thought so many times about jumping into the cool salt water just to feel enveloped by it again, but every time the waves would almost reach his toes, the thought of where he had been and what he had to do to get where he was now made him rethink everything. He needed to tell Oscar but...

"Mer?" Mer looked behind him and noticed the pinched look on Oscar's face. "Why are you out here?"

Are you hurt? Mer asked, ignoring his question.

"You answer my question first."

Mer frowned. Where have you been?

Oscar scoffed. "I told you where I've been and I even left a note for you."

You are avoiding my question.

"I've already answered the question, Mer!" Oscar seethed, the throbbing ache getting worse in his arm.

Mer just stared at him and then stood up, looking down at him. He watched him for a moment, trying to assess what was happening as Oscar tried not to look as in pain as he was.

You are not answering the question about being hurt. Mer sniffed and wrinkled his nose. I can smell blood and something else...

"Well you never answer my questions about your pain." Oscar snapped. Mer sighed as Oscar did as well. "I'm sorry. I..." He sighed again. "Please don't get upset, okay?" Mer turned his head a little. "Last night you were... you were having a really bad nightmare and when I tried to help you, you ended up grabbing me and... and you bit me..."

Mer stared at him for a moment when he realized what Oscar had just said. Mer touched his lips in memory of waking up that morning and going to the bathroom, finding dried blood all over his face and down his neck. He thought maybe he bit his tongue or something but never in a million years would he have thought he had hurt Oscar. Tears welled up in his eyes and Oscar touched his elbow softly.

"Mer, it's not your fault..."

I bit you!

"You were having a bad dream and I just didn't handle it well, so you got scared. That's nothing to be upset about."