Harbors of Our Own
Chapter XXIX
"When we are done eating, I am going to help you practice walking, aru." Yao said, once he had carried Ivan to the table.
"Da." Ivan replied.
They ate in a comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's company.
Once they finished, Yao collected their plates, and put them in the sink. Then, he pulled Ivan's chair out.
"Alright aru. We are going to practice standing first before we actually try to walk, aru. That way, you can work on balancing."
"Okay."
"I'm going to go into the living room and clear out the middle of the floor so we can practice, aru." Yao went into the living room and moved the coffee table off to the side so Ivan would not fall and break it or hurt himself.
Then he came back into the kitchen to get the merman.
"Alright, so the first thing we are going to do is get out of the chair. "Use the table as leverage, aru."
"Da. Okay."
Yao pulled the chair out. Ivan put his hands against the table, and used his arms to shakily lift his body up, while Yao supported his back.
"Alright, now stand up straight, do not hunch over the table, aru. We do not walk hunched over, that his bad for our backs, aru."
Ivan straightened his legs, and made them very stiff. "You can relax your posture a bit, aru, you do not need to be so tense."
Ivan tried his best to do so.
"There, aru. See. You are standing up straight, easy."
"It feels very strange." Ivan said, "I feel like my body is very heavy."
"That is because you are not used to it, aru. After a while, that feeling will go away."
Ivan stood for a while trying to get used to this unfamiliar feeling of standing up straight.
"Okay, that is the easy part, aru. Now, comes the harder part, taking steps. The thing you need to remember about this is, when you walk, you start on your heels, and roll onto your toes. Heel-toe. Make sense, aru?"
"Da."
"Alright, let us try it then. Try to follow me."
He stood in front of Ivan, keeping his arms around him to steady him if he fell.
The merman turned his body, taking a couple of clumsy, shaky steps.
"Stand straight, remember that, aru."
Ivan nodded, watching his feet as he placed them one in front of the other. He stopped when he reached the end of the table.
"You are doing fine, aru." Yao said, "Why don't we try going into the living room, and then you can take a break on the couch, aru?"
"Da." Ivan nodded.
"Alright, aru." Yao came next to him, only to realize the Russian was quite a bit taller than him. He must have been six feet tall. Six inches taller than Yao. That was half of a foot! "Holy-Aiyaa! You're tall, aru! I thought it was just your tail, but I was wrong...this might be a bit of a problem."
"Hmm...I am sorry for being tall."
Yao chuckled, "No, aru. It's alright. You are just a tall person that is all, aru. Nothing wrong with that. In fact I think I can work around this if I try, aru."
He supported Ivan with one arm on his middle/hip, and put the other one around his back.
"Drape one arm around my shoulder, aru. Without hunching forward."
"O-ok." Ivan did so.
"Now, let us try this, aru. Take a couple of steps." Ivan took another shaky step forward.
"Let go of the table, aru. You will be fine. I am supporting you, and if you fall, as long as you don't land on your arm, you are fine, aru. Remember, heel-toe, and stand up straight."
Ivan took a deep breath and let go of the table, but the moment he did, his legs shook and he fell forward, nearly pulling Yao to the floor as he slid down onto the carpet.
"S-sorry..." Ivan said, blushing.
"It is fine, aru. It is hard the first time. Let's just stand up again and start over. Word of advice, of you start to go forward, dig your toes into the ground and fight to try and catch balance again, aru. And, maybe hold your arm slightly out too, aru. For the extra balance."
Ivan nodded, determination evident in his eyes.
He stood up again, and continued to take shaky steps. Of course, he fell, but between each fall he got more and more steps in, getting farther every time.
Eventually, they made it into the living room, and Ivan plopped down on the couch with a tired sigh.
"That is very hard and tiring. I do not know how humans do it."
"It is for the first few times, aru. But after a while it only gets easier, just like learning any other new skill, aru."
"Da. I was better than I was earlier."
"Shi. Now, I am going to go get us each some water to drink, aru."
"Da. That sound good."
Yao got up off the couch and went back into the kitchen, while Ivan observed his walking movement, hoping that it would help him learn.
Yao returned with the glasses of water, and they took a much needed break before Yao said, "I am going to try something different, aru."
He got up off the couch and then took Ivan's hands, backing up so they were fully extended. "What I am going to have you do is walk towards me, okay?"
"Are you sure? I do not want-"
"It is part of learning, aru, it will be fine, trust me."
"O-okay." Ivan was still uncertain. But he did not debate with his teacher. He slowly stood up again, and then took a few more slow, shaky steps.
"That is it, good job, aru. Walk towards me."
He paid attention to Yao, focusing intently.
However, of course, when he was almost to the Chinaman, he lost his balance, and of course he fell forward onto the smaller form, knocking them both to the ground, landing on top of him.
They met eyes and both turned bright red as Ivan lifted himself off of Yao.
"Are you okay!?" He exclaimed.
"Sh-shi, aru. That was more awkward and funny than anything."
"Da. I think so too." Ivan pulled himself into a sitting position, folding his legs as if they were still a tail.
Yao yawned.
"I think we are done for today, aru. We will practice again tomorrow. I am tired."
"Da. Me too." then the merman said, "Yao-Yao?"
"Shi?"
"Since I have legs now, do I still have to sleep in the pool?"
Yao chuckled, "No, of course not, aru. You can sleep on my couch. I would let you share my bed with me, but I don't think climbing stairs would be the best idea for you, aru."
"You are probably right. But when I am good at walking we will share the same bed then, da?"
"Of course. We're a couple, aru. That is what couples do."
"And good friends," Ivan added.
"Yeah, that too."
The merman yawned.
"I am tired..." Yao helped him onto the couch.
"Are you sleeping in those sweats and that t-shirt, aru?"
"Da."
"Alright then. I am going to grab you another blanket. Do you need anything else before I go upstairs?"
"No, I think just another blanket will be fine."
"Alright." Yao walked down the hall and fetched another blanket from the linen closet. He brought it to the couch and then covered the merman up, tucking him in.
"You have that wandering look," Ivan said, "What are you thinking about?"
"I used to tuck my siblings in like this every night and then read them bedtime story, aru." He shook his head, "I'm a sentimental idiot, ignore me." He kissed his partner, "Goodnight Vanechka, sleep well, sweet dreams."
"You are not a sentimental idiot," Ivan replied, "You are the one that does not give yourself credit."
Yao smiled. "Thanks, aru." He chuckled, and then yawned again.
"Goodnight Yao-Yao. Sleep well too. I love you."
Yao smiled once more before kissing him again.
"I love you, more, aru."
Ivan smiled, "I love you most."
Yao chuckled, "Goodnight." He said. Then, he turned and left the living room, flicking off the light, and then vanishing up the stairs.
Ivan smiled after him, before taking off his shirt, not wanting to wear the itchy thing, and then getting into a comfortable position, smiling as he drifted off to sleep.
