A/N I apologise for the wait, thank you for being so patient. Due to ill health I have been laid up for a while but thankfully I'm all better now. I hope you enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 9.

What it is to want.

For a long while there was nothing but the sound of water splashing against the damp, rotting wooden sides of the tank and the steady breathing of each of them. They were close now and John once again found himself soaking up the sight of pale skin that seemed to stretch for miles. A tight, toned chest leading down to the plane of the pirate's stomach and the small trail of hair that disappeared as the surface of the water bobbed with the movement of the ship. He wasn't ashamed of his curiosity, though he found himself blushing when his eyes next met those of the pirate captain. He looked mildly interested, as if every second he was monitoring and cataloging John's reactions. It was different from before, the stare held none of the scientific coolness it once had but a strange warmth lay hidden between the ever changing eyes. John swallowed, still determinedly trying to figure out what to say to break the silence that sat awkwardly between them. He could accept the apology and in a way accept his fate. It would be easier but it would also be a lie. He could still feel the dull throbbing ache in his tail and the shards of broken trust that lay heavy on his mind.

"I'm not sure what you want me to say." John said finally, eyes wide and hands fidgeting just beneath the surface.

"I believe social norms would have you accepting my apology." Sherlock replied quietly, though his eyes were sharp and alert. John's brow furrowed as he considered the situation. The way Sherlock stood before him, half dressed and lacking the pride in his demeanour that had been so prominent before. There was something humbling about it, something that made John want. He hardly knew what it was to want or what it was that he craved but he knew the man before him held the answer. John nodded slowly.

"And it won't happen again." It wasn't a question despite knowing there was nothing he could do to prevent it if it were to happen again. The man in front of him nodded minimally.

"I have yet to analyse the samples I obtained from before, I find myself unable to view them as simply a part of a scientific experiment. I'm loathed to so much as look at them." Sherlock replied softly, taking the smallest of steps forward toward him and John did not back away, remaining steady with his tail swishing in the water beneath him.

"The crew fear you, you know." John looked up from the water as Sherlock spoke once more. He frowned and shook his head.

"Fear me? I'm your captive, why should they fear me?" He asked quietly attempting to find some reason behind the apparent discomfort the other's on the ship felt with his presence abroad the vessel.

"You're not supposed to exist." Sherlock whispered, drawing ever closer. "You're supposed to be a myth. A fairy tale. A siren of the sea sent to seduce and destroy." John looked up at the man with a look of mingled humour and disbelief. He was almost laughing when he answered.

"Seduce and destroy?" John chuckled. "You make me sound much more interesting than I really am." He admitted. "My life was mostly spearing fish and laying on rocks in the sun trying not to get captured and as you can see I did a pretty bad job of that." He shot Sherlock a lopsided smile and was given a small laugh in return.

"There's nothing wrong with curiosity, John." Sherlock replied quickly.

"I would have agreed with you before." John muttered with a single eyebrow raised.

"But you haven't stopped, being curious I mean."John shook his head and could feel the heat rising to his cheeks painting the tanned skin with the shadow of a blush.

"I don't mean to stare." He whispered. "I have never been so close to a human being. Our kind they don't..." He paused. "Humans are not generally liked. My fellows were vicious, it's why I left. But you are, different." John admitted, not allowing himself to meet Sherlock's eyes again for fear he may betray something of himself to this man he hardly knew yet he felt as if he could have known for a life time.

It struck John as odd, this was the most they had spoken since he had been pulled aboard and despite all that had come to pass speaking with Sherlock came easily. Just as it was easy to listen to the dark baritone of the pirate's voice or even feel the vibrations as they passed through the water and over each of his scales.

"Yes I suppose different is one word for what I am." Sherlock sighed softly and looked away. "You're not the only one they fear." He muttered, inclining his head toward the old worn stairs. "They crew my ship because I pay them well, most of them would be happy to see me drown."

"Well I take it you didn't cut them apart for samples." John murmured, eyes glancing up and resting on a small guilty smile that seemed just a touch out of place.

"Nothing of the sort. I have no interest in studying the dull and idiotic."John snorted.

"Should I take that as a compliment?" The look on Sherlock's face appeared thoughtful and after a second he gave a small nod.

"Yes, I think you should." A few moments passed before he spoke again. "And that in itself is something, I don't give out idle compliments." John smiled, he had no trouble at all believing that though he did wonder how a man could go so long around people who feared and even hated him but then perhaps it was simply better than being alone.

A still quiet seemed to fill the space, warm and comfortable despite the silence and it gave him a chance to reflect. He understood the dangers he was faced with. The knowledge that he knew next to nothing of the pirate or his true motives or even what would happen to him next. But there were two things he did know. One, this was far better than being alone and two, he was completely fascinated and irrevocably invested in Sherlock Holmes.