Oscar and Mer 🍆🪼

XXIV

TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter/story includes depictions or allusions to rape/non-consensual sex/sexual assault.

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Oscar parked the car and turned to his friend. "Okay, so before we go in there, there are two things I need you to please keep in mind." Mer blinked. "One, this is an aquarium, so that means there are a lot of fish behind glass. You can't eat them." Mer nodded but Oscar was pretty sure he didn't understand the gravity of the situation. "Two, Trent works here. He is a tour guide, so I have no idea where he may or may not be. If you see him walking through the hallways, don't tackle him or do anything untoward to him. He's working, okay?"

Mer gave him a thumbs up and Oscar closed his eyes, not really ready for what may or may not come. He sighed and got out of the car as Mer followed him.

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They walked into the aquarium and as Oscar suspected, Mer immediately stopped and looked at everything in awe. Oscar made a face as Mer looked above him at a model whale and the walls painted like the ocean. It could never compare to the real thing, but it made Mer feel like he was home again. Oscar grabbed his hand and he looked at him.

"Come on, we need to go see Kyle."

But-

"I can take you on a tour or something later, okay?"

Mer nodded as Oscar pulled him along. How can someone who lived in the depths of the ocean and has probably seen these creatures firsthand be so enthralled with this? Oscar thought as he pressed the button for the elevator.

Mer was looking around some more when he spotted one of the large tanks set into the wall and wiggled his hand free from Oscar's to take a look. It was the Open Ocean tank that housed many fish including angel fish, schools of tuna and bass, large stalks of coral with tiny clownfish nestled in the anemones, different sized rays, a few eels that peeked out from their holes, and many more. Mer squealed in delight and pointed at them, looking over at Oscar. Oscar smiled as the elevator opened up and he motioned for Mer to come with him.

"It's not like you didn't live in the ocean." He said as he stepped onto the elevator.

Mer went over to where Oscar had gone and looked at the rectangle room in speculation. After some coaxing, he finally stepped inside and Oscar pressed the button, the doors closing. The elevator moved a bit and Mer gasped, grabbing onto Oscar for dear life.

WHY ARE WE MOVING!!! he signed largely while still trying to hold onto Oscar the same time.

Oscar started laughing. "It's called an elevator. It helps humans get to the top and bottom of really tall buildings."

Mer didn't argue and closed his eyes when the movement stopped and the rectangle room dinged. He looked out and saw daylight, piquing his interest to let go of Oscar. He walked out of the elevator and immediately felt nauseous. He had never been so high, so fast...

"You okay?" He shook his head. Oscar noticed the pallor of his face. "You need to throw up?" Mer nodded.

Oscar tried to find something for him to vomit it and grabbed an empty bucket. He shoved it under Mer's face just as he hurled into it. The office door where Kyle works opened up just then as she came out holding two buckets full of fish heads and other sludges. Seeing Oscar and hearing Mer, she stopped walking and stared at him.

"Why are you up here?"

"Hello to you too?"

Kyle looked at Mer and then yelled, dropping the buckets and running over to Mer. She pulled the bucket out from him and looked inside, a horrified expression on her face.