Safety in the Seafoam (DNF + Karlnap)

Chapter 31: Up the Ladder

Dream POV.

I cleared my throat loudly, catching the attention of the mermaid pair and causing them both to swim to the edge of the tank. “Special delivery of salmon!” I announced to the pair, holding up the plate to show off the cooked fish. Both of them grinned excitedly, but as I got closer I found myself coming across a problem.

Hesitantly I paused, staring up and down at the height of the tank before turning towards Sapnap. “How will we get the salmon up there?” I asked him, since we’d not be able to just lift the plate up there and tip it in easily. “We can’t just throw the salmon up to them.”
“Yeah you can.” The ravenette responded. “I’m sure you’d like touching hot greasy stuff.”

If I hadn’t been holding a plate I would have slapped him, hard. It was not good manners to be giving sexual innuendos in front of two mermaids, who were watching us without understanding what the conversation was.

Thankfully the look I gave him seemed to make him understand exactly why I was annoyed with what he said, and he looked away guiltily. “We want to be more or less polite to them.” I added on quietly, making sure they couldn’t hear our conversation. “So what could we do instead?” Sapnap thought for a moment before coming up with an idea.

“How about a ladder?” He asked. “Then we can actually stand up there?” I nodded, since that would be able to work, but I needn't have bothered. He had already run off to find a ladder somewhere on the ship, and I just sat myself back against the glass to wait for him.

“Food?” I heard a demanding question from above me, accompanied by a few warm drops of salt water landing on my head. The two mermaids were leaning over and looking down at me. I wasn’t sure which of them had spoken, but I managed to grow a smile as I looked up at them.
“Don’t worry.” I assured the pair. “You can eat some soon. I just need to wait for Sapnap.”

Thankfully we didn’t have to wait long, as my best friend somehow managed to carry a ladder on his own through the set of double doors and hurried it down the length of the room in less than ten seconds. “What is that?” Karl asked curiously, his tail swishing back and forth through the water as Sapnap set up the equipment.

“This is a ladder.” The ravenette explained, taking the plate from me and beginning to slowly climb up to the top of the tank. “See, it allows us to climb up.” When he reached the top of the tank one hand moved to securely hold it, the other hand which was still on the plate slowly moved for the two mermaids to be able to take it.

George was the first to take a few pieces which he protectively clawed in his hands, smiling thankfully before diving down to consume near the sand. Karl, however, hovered. He took one piece at a time, staying up near the surface with Sapnap the entire time. As I looked on at the scene it appeared quite sweet.

Sapnap POV.

“Thank you.” Karl murmured as he took a piece of salmon off of the plate. He slipped the piece of fish into his mouth and slowly, yet thoughtfully, chewed the meat. “It tastes good.”
“I’m glad.” I responded. “I put all of my skills into cooking it.” For this situation, my skills were making Dream do it for me.

He reached for a second piece and easily slid it into his mouth. “It is firm but I can still chew it…” Karl continued to murmur as he chewed and swallowed the food, eventually finishing off with, “...even with what happened to my teeth.” My lips pressed into a line at the reminder, and I found myself unintentionally staring towards the mouth of the brunette.

As he grabbed another piece his lips pulled back, showing teeth which were blunt and gums which were still an aching red. I was unsure how he was not in pain, since I could guarantee if my mouth looked like that I’d be curled up crying.

The chewing was slow though, and as I studied him, he seemed to strain with each bite. Then he reached out to grab another piece, and I took the opportunity to study his fingers. They were healing after the fingers had been removed, but they were red, just like his gums. I felt so guilty looking at him, having seen what he’d been through.

“Are you feeling alright?” I asked him, shocking the merman who looked directly into my eyes.
“I’m fine.” He assured quickly, too quickly. His hands moved to anxiously run fingers through his damp brown hair as he said that.

“You don’t look fine.” Perhaps it was a bit rude for me to say that so forwardly, and for me to have gone and grabbed his hand to examine it more. I had put the plate down, there was no salmon left anyway.

Karl let out a gasp at my action, but he didn’t move his hand away from me as I examined it. “Are you sure that you aren’t in pain?” I asked again, just to make sure.
“I-” Karl didn’t speak. I could feel the gazes of both Dream and George on us, studying my actions towards the mermaid.

“They look so sore.” I commented, slowly pulling him closer until his body was pressed against the glass and he let out another small squeak. “Are you sure? Please be honest.”
“I don’t know.” He murmured, giving up and lowering his head. His forehead ended up pressing against both of our hands. “I’ve gotten used to the feeling I guess.”

That sounded saddening. My fingers brushed themselves over his hand and I heard a small whimper of pain fall from between his lips. “Sap-” He cut himself off, glancing away with a mixture of awkwardness, embarrassment, and sadness.

After the small examination I had done of his fingers I moved to pull away, but he continued to clutch at me, not letting me go. “Karl?” I asked, my tone sorrowful. There was no more conversation, and I studied his breathing and the way his hand tensed and loosened around mine.

“Would you like some help to get rid of the pain?” I asked. “For you and for George?” His eyes widened and he was quick to nod. I could barely hear him speak, but it sounded like a desperate ’please’. Dream watched as I descended down the ladder before hurrying out of the room without any comment, hurrying back up to his room.
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1153 words

So when do you think it'll go from
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To
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