Chapter Text
Heinz was in total and complete shock.
“Wh- uh..ha...You can grow legs!?”
Perry nodded, “When mers come of age they are able to transform their tails to legs.”
“How long can you keep them like that?”
Perry shrugged. “I don’t know. The longest I went was only a couple of hours, but I heard some mer have kept their legs for days.”
Heinz looked at him thoughtfully. “This actually makes things a lot easier. Ok here’s what we’ll do, I’ll get you some cloths and after work in a couple of days I’ll get you out. Sound good?”
“Sound like a plan.”
Of cores even with a plan in mined things still weren't going to go as planed.
Early the next morning Monogram called Heinz in to his office.
Heinz rapped his knuckles lightly on the open door. “You wanted to see me?”
“Oh Doofenshmirtz, yes come in. Close the door behind you will you”
“I assume this is about the mer then?” He asked as he closed the door and sat in the chair in front of his desk.
“Of course, what else is there to talk about? So have you had time to think about what I mentioned yesterday?”
“About the public appearances? Well yes but, I think it's still too soon. He may have started warming up to us but there is still a long way to go. Not to mention there is still so much we don’t know about him either.”
“Ah but you see that last part that's why we need to do this sooner rather than later. You see people don’t like funding secret projects for long, but if they knew what you were doing they would be more willing to fund it. Showing off the mer would guarantee more funding. You could get more equipment and preform more indepth tests.”
Heinz was silent for a moment thinking over his next response.
“It will be hard to convince people that the mer is real.” he finally said.
“That is why I’m going to have a lid installed on it’s tank.”
“A lid? But-”
“Oh don’t worry there will be a way to open it slightly so we can feed it and get it out for testing. But this lid combined with a 24 hour live stream will prove that it is a real mer and not just some employee in a costume.”
Heinz was stunned. The lid they could get around, but a 24 hour live stream that would pick up everything. Someone would notices them using sign or Perry’s reactions. Someone would put together how intelligent and sentient he was. Also they wouldn’t be able to meet up at night any more let alone sneek him out.
“How..how soon are you planning on implementing this?”
“Soon. Right now I’m going to take it day by day, see how its doing along with the research. Unless something unexpected happens my goal is to have it all up within the next week.”
“Alright, I sould probably get back to work then, you know to make shure everything is ready to go.”
“That's the spirit!”
Heinz just gave a half hearted thumbs up and got up to leave. The walk back to the lab passed in a blur. Once inside he gave a small wave to Harry and Maggie who had already began the days tasks. Heinz just went and plopped him self in front of his computer. They were running out of time.
Monogram arrived with Carl in the afternoon. He explained to the younger researchers what his plan was and how they would be implementing it. Together they began taking measurements of the tan for the lid and figuring out where the bets spots were for the cameras. Heinz played along going over notes with Monogram and making suggestions. All the while trying to send the now visibly nervous mer apologetic looks. Perry looked like he was about to sign something to Heinz multiple times. Heinz wanted to reassure him so desperately but there was no way to do that sudley. Everyone was all over the place, Maggie and Harry were excitedly talking about everything, even Carl was getting in on the conversation. Monogram was keeping a stern eye on the room and was now talking about getting a guard specifically for this room. Yay another obstacle. He couldn't stay here any more. He needed air.
Heinz made an excuse to leave early and quickly made his way out. He did see the confused look Perry shot him as he rounded the divider.
Heinz could barely sleep that night.
In a couple of days? What had he been thinking, he needed to get Perry out of there now!
He Looked over at the clock on his nightstand. 5:38am. Scheiß drauf, good enough.
Heinz got himself out of bed and dressed as quickly as he could. By the tame he pulled his truck into the almost empty aquarium parking lot it was only a quarter after 6:00.
“Dr. Doofenshmirtz, you’re awfully early this morning.” The night guard said as he walked to the door.
“Yeah some one set of the fire alarm in my building, waking everyone up. Didn’t think I was going back to sleep so I decided to come in early.”
“I thought you didn’t work on Saturdays?”
“Oh is it Saturday? Well I have something I need to pick up Ill be in and out in less than an hour then.”
“Well alright.” He said waving Heinz in.
Once inside Heinz quickly moved trough the halls. The aquarium didn’t open till 9 but most employees began arriving around 7:00. He had less than an hour to do what he need ed to do and get Perry out to his car. The first stop was the janitor’s room. He grabbed a spare set of coveralls and a hat. There was also a pair of black crocks under one of the benches. He really hopped they would fit Perry he didn’t have may other options. With the clothes over his arm Heinz went for the room Perry was being kept in.
Perry jolted up when he entered the room looking at him confused.
“Heinz what are-”
Heinz payed him no mind, grabbing a towel and running up the stairs to the platform.
“We’re leaving, now. We need to hurry, here use this to dry off then put these on.” He handed Perry the towel and set the coveralls and crocks down on the platform. Perry nodded and pulled himself up on the platform.
“Ok you work on that I need to do one thing real quick ill be right back.”
Before Perry could respond Heinz was bolting down the stairs and into the lab. While freeing Perry would be a good thing ultimately it would do nothing to hinder the research they had done. They still had all the records from the past few weeks and possibly use it to either find him again or another mer for their experiments. He needed to get rid of that to.
Opening up the laptops he went strait to the settings and began the process of wiping every them. He grabbed his note book and ripped the pages out and began feeding it to the shredder. A part of him was screaming about destroying research but other part of him knew the price of keeping it around so he shoved that part to the side and continued with his task.
When he was satisfied with his work and knowing that he was running short on time Heinz left the lab to check on Perry.
Perry was struggling with the zipper on the coveralls.
“Here let me help.” He said pulling the zipper up and then putting the hat on his head. “To hide your hair. Now shoes.”
Perry just looked at the crocks with disgust.
“I don’t like shoe. Having feet is already weird."
“If someone sees us and you don’t have hoes on they will have questions I wont be able to answer. You can take them off in the car.”
“Fair enough.” Perry slipped he shoes on grimacing a bit.
“Ok lets go.”
Heinz grabbed Perry’s hand and helped him down the steps and through the side door. Thankfully there was no one in the hallway as they made their way to the exit, it was almost 7:00 and Heinz really did not want to be here any more.
"Almost there,” he said as they left the building, “the white and purple truck, that's mine.”
They made it to the truck and Heinz opened the door for Perry. He climbed in and Heinz shut the door bhind him before rounding the front of the car and getting in himself. After buckling in he tuned the ignition on. Oly for the truck to start beeping.
"Why are you binging? Oh you don’t have your seat belt on.”
“My what?”
“Seat belt. Over your shoulder, the metal square thing.”
Perry looked around for a second before grabbling the buckle and looking at Heinz questioningly.
“Yes that. Now put in there.” he said pointing to the clasp. Perry’s eyebrow just went higher on his face.
Heinz groaned, “look I have one to. Just- there.” Heinz leaned over and did it for him.
“If its not buckled the care will keep beeping or I might get pulled over and I really don’t want to deal with that.” He said putting the car in gear and backing out and driving out on to the road.
“And off we go.”
Once on the road Heinz explained that it would be a bout a 4 hour drive to the nearest coastal town barring any unforeseen circumstances. Perry marveled at the city as they drove. The tall buildings and hundred of people walking around unlike anything he had ever seen. When they got on the highway the conversation lulled, with Heinz having to focus more on the road and not on Perry’s signs. Heinz didn’t mind filling the silence with his voice talking about various topics. Perry would nod along chirp or chur back on occasion. About an Hour in his phone began to buzz. Heinz quickly put it on speaker.
“Oh Francis what an unexpected surprise. What-”
"Where is it?” Monogram said coldly.
"Um where’s what? Your going to have to be more specific.” Heinz replied.
“Don t play dumb with me. The mer, it’s gone. Where is it?”
“Well he has to be around there somewhere, its not like he just grew legs and walked away or something.” Heinz was glad Monogram couldn’t see his face or he would see the shit eating grin he had on his face as he glanced at Perry. The mer currently had his hand over his mouth trying to contain his laughter.
“You did something with it Doofenshmirtz, don’t you lie to me. I know you were here. The night guard told Sergei that he saw you come in but he never saw you leave. Now the mer is gone and most of the research is destroyed. Only five people have access to that room Heinz and you were the only one here this morning. So I’m going to ask you again. Where. Is. It!?”
Heinz went tense, Verdammt, this was not good.
“Look I… The destroyed research is one thing, but how would I even get the mer out of there. And besides what motives could I possibly have for sabotaging my own research?”
“Lisen you have twenty minutes to get here and explained yourself or I will be contacting the authorities. You may have been the head researcher on this project but the mer is still Danville Aquarium property. I’ll have your face all over the news and your reputation will be ruined.”
Heinz glassed at Perry who was looking more and more concerned ans the conversation continued.
“Not worth it.”
Heinz nodded.
“No.”
“Excuse me!?”
“I said no. I will not let you turn my friend in to a freak show. And would it kill you to say ‘he’? He's not and object."
“Doofenshmirtz this is your last warning.” even though the phone Heinz could hear the anger in Monogram’s voice.
“So be it.” He hung up the phone and silenced it.
Beside him Perry squawked hitting his shoulder
“That’s not what I meant. You shouldn't have to loose everything just to help me.”
“I don’t care. You’re worth it to me. I meant what I said.”
Perry nodded and turned back to the window. Heinz gripped the wheel a little harder.
The rest of the drive was a bit tense. They didn’t talk for a while. Every police car that went by made Heinz nervous wondering if they would pull him over and have him arrested. Eventual Heinz began to talk again and Perry seemed a little happier, but it also seemed like he had something on his mind. Soon they pulled in to a familiar town near the beach
“It looks a lot different then when we were kids.” he remarked as they pulled over near the beach.
Perry looked at him surprised.
“Is this the town where we met?”
“Yep. I figured it would be fitting. Also it is actually the closest coastal tow I new how to get to so that worked out to.”
“The cove. Do you think we can find it?”
“Sure I’d love to see if anything has changed about it. It would also be a nice place to say goodbye from.”
Perry just looked at him with a strange look on his face before exiting the car. Heinz fallowed and together they made their way down to the beach. Perry finally kicked off the shoes and walked barefoot in the sand, Heinz decided to do the same. They climbed over the rocks and in to the hidden cove.
“It feels like just yesterday I was running here every morning in the summer, but its been 20 years.” He said looking around. The rock walls looked the same, there were some smaller rocks and some drift wood that had washed on shore.
Perry was already walking out in to the water and taking off the coveralls. Once he was undressed and the water deep enough he dove in. Heinz on the rocks, the same one he used to sit on every day those summers when he visited Perry. The mer jumped up splashing Heinz as he came to the surface.
“So what are you going to do now?” He asked
“Well I’m probably going to drive back to Danville and see if I’m going to get arrested or not.”
“Do you want that?”
“Of course not. But-but I don’t really have much choice.” He said sitting down on the rock and drawing his knees up. “I basically admitted to what I did on the phone to Monogram, and he’s right what I did was technically illegal. I still don’t regret it.”
Perry just stared at him for a moment. “Do you think you could wait here for a little bit?”
“Why?”
“Please.”
“Ok. Its not like I have anything else left to lose.”
Perry smiled and dove back under the water.
While Perry was gone Heinz checked his phone. It was full of missed calls and messages. Not just frome Monogram but Maggie and Harry, even some old colleges from past research projects.
‘How could you do this?’
‘Is it true?’
‘ANSWER YOUR PHONE!’
‘After everything we did? You just threw it away!’
‘I thought I knew you better.’
‘Hypocrite!’
‘Please tell me this is a hoax.’
When he went online his social media was flooded with messages and links to news articles with his name on them
‘Marine biologist Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz, accused of steeling marine animals and sabotaging research at Danville Aquarium.’
The article he read stated that he had taken a dangerous animal from the facility and knowingly destroyed and falsified research. The police were offering a reward to any one with any information. Well there was no going back now. Heinz began typing out a response.
In the response he didn’t deny anything except that the animal he took was not dangerous. He talked about how it he had been kept in a completely empty tank for weeks and when he had tried to get any enrichment or medical treatment he was met with questions and had to fight to get the animal a more humane living situation. He mentioned the tests they suggested and how Monogram was rushing to put the animal up for display even while it was still injured. He did not regret what he did.
When he was done he posted the response to all his social platforms and even sent one to the local news station. Hopefully that would sway the public’s opinion of hie enough to get him a lighter sentencing.
A while later Perry finally popped back out of the water holding what looked like a large oyster shell and giving it to Heinz.
“What do I do with this?”
“Open it.”
Inside was a strange blue like jelly. “Again what do I do with it"
“You eat it.”
“Is this some weird way of saying ‘thank you’?” Heinz asks looking at the shell skeptically.
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes?”
“Then try it”
Heinz just sighed and downed the contents of the shell. It actually wasn't that bad.
“Huh. It kinda tasted sweet. What is this? Where did you get it?”
“Rare substance found in the ocean.”
“Well thanks for sharing it with me.” Heinz said looking out over the water. The sun was beginning to set behind them and the moon was just starting to climb up the horizon over the ocean. He hadn’t realized how long Perry had been gone for. For a while they just sat there looking over the water.
“At least...At least I get to see one last moon rise over the ocean before I’m locked away for who knows how long.” He looked down scratching at his legs a bit. Why were they so itchy all of a sudden?
“Hey do you think you can do me a favor,” Heinz asked now looking back at Perry. “I don’t think I will be in prison for that long, probably a couple of years maybe a decade at most. Can you meet me here again? Just like.. We could come up with a date to check. You don’t have to come every day or any thing, but… It would be nice to see you again is all.” He said lowering his head again.
Perry chattered to get his attention.
“No.”
Heinz looked at him in shock. “What?! Why? I thought….”
Perry chitters again.
“No I won't meet you hear again because I wont need to.”
“What do you…”
Anything Heinz was going to say was cut off as he began to cough. He brought his hands to his mouth and throat. His throat felt strange and his chest began to hurt. Perry grabbed his arms and he wanted to tell him he was fine, but before he could even try to say anything Perry pulled him into the water and dragged him down.
Heinz panicked. He hadn't had time to catch his breath before he was dragged under. He tried to get Perry’s hands off him but the mer’s hold was firm. He tried to kick at him to get him to let go, but his legs were weak and it felt like he could barely move them. He looked at Perry fear in his eyes, throat and lugs burning. What was happening? What did he do to him? Was… Was he trying to kill him? Oh god he was going to die. Perry had rescued him from drowning him all those years ago and now he was going to drown him himself.
Perry let go of Heinz with one hand, the other still held on to his arm tight.
“T.R.U.S.T. M.E” Perry said finger spelling the words and then lifting his hand to the one Heinz was keeping over his nose and mouth.
Heinz shook his head silently begging him not to do this, to not kill him. He tried to move his head away but Perry grabbed his hand and pulled it away from his face. He tried to keep his mouth closed but the need to cough was to strong. His chest and throat spammed and he began to cough uncontrollably. Eventually on instinct he inhaled sharply filling his lungs with water. One last look at his friend was all he got before the world went black. He barely herd the soft,
“I got you. I’m sorry.”