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I held up my hands. "Yakov…take it easy."

The old man's eyes were bulged, ready to pop out of his skull.

"Breathe, Yakov." I spoke slowly.

Yakov took in a sharp breath, and slowly made his way to a seat in the furthest corner of the room, away from the sight of Yuri floundering on the floor.

"Breathe-"

"Shut up!" Yakov berated, exhaling. "What is the meaning of this?!" He pointed at Yuri. "Am I dying?! What is this creature doing here in this house?! Am I seeing a devil?! An angel?! Am I-"

Yakov stopped to catch his breath.

I remained silent, trying to come up with an explanation.

"Yakov," Yuri whimpered, beating me to the punch, "are you frightened of me?"

The old man's eyes narrowed. "M-My boy -er- whatever you are."

"Merman," I corrected.

"Merman," Yakov conceded with shaky hands. "I am quite disturbed." Then he turned back to me. "You've kept a secret from me."

I pointed at him. "For good reason. Exhibit A."

Yakov looked up to the ceiling and closed his eyes. He inhaled deeply and exhaled and inhaled again. "I…don't think my heart can take more surprises and yet I feel I must know."

Yuri tilted his head. "Yes?"

With nervous eyes, Yakov's gaze settled on Yuri's form. "A-Are you here to take someone away?"

Yuri smiled kindly and shook his head. "No. I'm not. Do these 'devils' and 'angels' do that kind of thing?"

I crossed my arms. "He's a religious man, Yuri. Much more so than I am." I turned towards Yakov. "If anything, Yakov, Yuri is here on an 'intervention'."

"An…intervention?" Yakov eyes widened.

I scratched the back of my head. "Yes, well, I wasn't exactly living a responsible life."

Not a lie. The timing was rather impeccable.

Yakov's rubbed his hands together as to soothe himself. "I see…"

"Victor…would all humans act react like he did just now?" Yuri asked with big eyes. "Scared?"

I sighed and folded my arms. "Some may lash out too because they wouldn't understand. We're feeble-minded that way."

Yakov coughed. "I-I'm sorry."

Yuri held up a hand. "Don't be. I surprised Victor too, but I assure you I mean no harm to anyone."

"Vitya, the wedding?" Yakov realized.

"Vitya?" Yuri asked, confused.

"Ah! Sorry, I shouldn't be so informal with Yuri here."

I waved my hand. "Don't worry about my name right now, either of you. Yakov, Galina expects Yuri and Yuri wishes to comply and follow through so I am going to cut to the chase. I need you to take Yuri back home after his song." I gestured to his tail. "So we don't have this happenstance in front of everyone."

Yakov nodded slowly. "I understand, Sir, we have come too far to not follow through…how long after will Yuri be staying?"

"I," my throat clenched, "I…don't have an answer for that just yet. I know this is asking a lot from you, but we need to keep Yuri's secret from the others so he can stay safe and not be, I don't know, stolen away to become a circus freak."

"What's a 'circus freak'?" Yuri asked.

Yakov stood up. "Don't want to know, kid." He faced me. "And its never too much to ask me for anything, Sir."

I nodded. "I trust you and I am sorry I couldn't break this to you sooner."

Yakov walked towards us. "Very good sir."

Relief washed over Yuri's face. "Thanks goodness this is settled."

He's shaking.

I knelt by Yuri's side. "Are you all right?

Yuri's tail twitched. "Its already started to sting, but we had to bring Yakov up to speed so…"

Yuri couldn't hide it. I saw it as plain as day.

Sting? You're in pain.

"Get on my back, Yuri. Tub is closer."

'Ding dong'

I had adjusted Yuri and was just about to head out. "Shit! Yakov, we weren't expecting company were we?"

The butler shook his head. "N-No! I'll keep them at bay at the door and tell them you retired early and will take a message."

"Good, go on ahead then. Don't let them in even if its Galina."

With a kick of adrenaline, I moved as quickly as I could down the hall and up the stairs. My legs were burning halfway up the first flight.

"Victor…" Yuri panted. "It…hurts…"

"Almost there Yuri."

"I said no," said Yakov. "Master Nikiforov isn't available good sir."

Good sir? Wonder who it is at this hour?

A good sweat formed around my brow by the time I reached the second floor. "Don't faint on me, little fishy, we will get you in the tub soon."

Yuri squeezed his arms around my neck.

I almost kicked the bedroom door down, scaring Makkachin in the process.

"Not now, girl! Go see Yakov! Go! Get!"

I opened the bathroom door. "Okay, Yuri," I hissed earnestly. "Get in the tub."

Yuri's form started to slide down my back.

"Y-Yuri?"

Something was off. I twisted myself sideways in order to pull Yuri's form around to get a better look. With a droopy head and noodles for arms, Yuri was half about ready to pass out.

"Shit!" I hissed. "I'm sorry, Yuri…"

With one arm around his form, I strained to lean over to turn on the faucet and then reposition to lift Yuri into a bridal carry.

"Ah~ ughn~!" Yuri winced.

"I know, I know! I shouldn't be touching your tail," I whispered harshly between us as I settled him into the tub.

Lukewarm water rushed over the red, black and grey scales as I even cupped and splashed water over him a feeble attempt to get him under water faster. I was turning up and heat of the water when Yuri mumbled incoherently in a dream-like state, but it was every bit of a waking nightmare for me.

My legs were on fire and my heart was pounding in my ears. I rushed to dip a washcloth and place it over his forehead.

What the fuck? Yuri!

I thought my heart would stop. All along the right side of his tail was this hilly, brown line. Upon closer inspection, they were damaged scales.

Water first, explanations later. No wonder you hated them. Good God I'm an idiot!

I put my hands on his narrow shoulders and firmly squeezed them. "Yuri! Wake up, Yuri!"

By this time the tub was full. I turned off the faucet and remained there on my knees, unsure and unwilling to accept I was maybe too late.

I brushed his raven bangs back with my left hand, letting it fall across his cheek before running my thumb along his bottom lip.

God…well I owe Chris an apology.

I propped my arms on the edge of the tub and waited. Not caring if my legs went numb.

'Knock, knock'

I looked over my shoulder where Yakov now stood with Makkachin peeking between his legs.

"Victor...how is he?"

I looked back at the sleeping merman in my tub. "I…I have no idea…and it hurts not knowing."

"I see…Makkachin, sit." I heard Yakov come in and shut the door before resting a weathered hand on my shoulder. "He is…quite a wonder up close."

I pointed along the line of tarnished scales. "We could've prevented that. If I only had sought to meet his needs first..."

Yakov gave a firm squeeze. "We didn't know, and Yuri could've told us-"

"He didn't care!" I interrupted, moving onto my feet. "He felt we had to address your concerns first. My legs gave way, taking Yakov to catch me and help me sit on the toilet seat lid.

"He was more worried about you than himself!" I put my head on my hands. "I can't lose him too, Yakov," I confessed, "not like Mother."

Yakov remained silent.

Yuri groaned and turned his head over to the other shoulder. The usual, inviting, steam that would roll off the water surface had yet to be seen.

It's not like we have medicine for a merman," Yakov remarked softly. "We can only hope for the best."

I slammed my hands on my knees. "I know!" I hissed. "Can you just…" I took a ragged breath. "Can I just be alone?"

Yakov nodded and turned to leave. "Very good, Sir."

I grabbed the cuff of his sleeve. "Wait. Who was at the door?" I mumbled.

The old man placed a hand over mine. "Not important right now."

"R-Right…sorry."

When Yakov shut the door behind him I studied Yuri's face. He was chattering.

I didn't care if I was being melodramatic, I got over there, put both of my hands on either side of his face and kissed him for all it was worth, letting the washcloth fall off into the tub.

But he wasn't kissing back.

I put my forehead on his. "Please, Yuri…open your eyes?"

Weakly Yuri eventually stirred awake, just barely opening his eyes.

My breath hitched.

"Vi..or?"

I dipped a hand into the water. "The water is cold, I'm going to let it drain and get new, warmer, water in, okay?"

Yuri bobbed his head, though I was pretty sure he couldn't understand.

And so it was. Over and over I stayed up to change the water Yuri couldn't heat up on his own.

With every refresh of warm water, Yuri appeared a little better, and little more conscious and a little less in pain.

"Hnn, huh?"

A warm hand stirred me awake; my eyes opened to meet kind, brown ones.

"Hey…"

I lifted a hand and weakly placed it over his. "Hey…"

My back ached from falling asleep against the cabinet of the bathroom sink, but I didn't care.

Yuri rested his forehead on mine. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Me too..."

Notes:

Good God the drama! Lol ^_^;;