Disclaimer: not mine

This was written a few weeks ago so that's why 2 chaps have gone up fast. I had a steroid injection into my arm today so typing will be slow the next few days.

Chapter 2

Riku sat on the ledge, shaking and unable to stop. He could feel it! the water around him was alive, not the dead water of his tank, but water full of life. Even if all he was every allowed was this… he heard soft footsteps approaching and tensed.

"Just me," Sora called.

Riku felt him kneel behind him, stiffening slightly at the vulnerable position he was in. Sora had kept his word and hadn't hurt him…yet. Gentle hands ran through his hair and Riku realised he was moving it away from the bindings. Was he really going to take them off? Even knowing what a Siren could do to a human? Why? Why would he take that risk?

"I'm going to work on the gag first so I can use more lighting. Your eyes are going to be very sensitive to light for a long time if that things' been on for as long as I'm assuming. Tap the ground if you need me to stop, especially if it hurts."

Sora fell silent and Riku focused on breathing and the sensation of real water over his tail, feeling fingers occasionally brush his hair as the human worked. There was a click and he gagged, but then Sora had a hand in front of his head.

"Easy, got to take this out gradually," he murmured, ever so slowly pulling it free.

Riku gasped, reaching up to touch his own face, feeling the scars from where it had dug in hard enough to cut at times. He heard Sora hiss in anger and flinched away, but then a gentle hand was stroking the skin.

"It's okay, I'm not mad at you," he whispered.

Riku opened his mouth slightly to respond but then shut it, he didn't know how to speak like that, or if it was even possible. Could he still make noise at all? Could…could he sing? He was shaking again, and he couldn't stop.

He felt Sora move and then the water splashed against him, and he realised the human was in with him! He…He was…and then slender but strong arms were wrapped around him, his body drawn onto the human's lap.

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Sora couldn't help pulling him into his lap in the water, holding him firmly but not tightly, he could get free easily enough if he wanted to. He cradled him close, ignoring the chill of the water and the Siren's body, rocking him slightly to try and sooth him. He was surprised when the Siren clung to him, pressing close, shaking still, and Sora moved one hand up to gently run through his hair, hoping it'd help calm him like before. It took a while, but he slowly calmed, and Sora realised he'd actually…fallen asleep? As carefully as possible, he shifted out from under him, laying him out on the ledge before getting out of the water to dry off, glad he'd changed into swim shorts, so his clothing was dry when he put it back on.

He left the camp light on and then got his sleeping bag out, wrapping himself in it to sleep as well. He hadn't gotten much on the road, then again he didn't think the Siren had gotten any at all.

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Riku woke up, disorientated, shivering as he felt…oh, right. That was rea…not a dream? He was laying on a rock ledge, running his hands over it, slowly sitting up, feeling fresh air on his face as he moved above the surface. He opened his mouth wide, moving his tongue freely, shifting his jaw around. It ached a bit after only moments, but that was normal he guessed. He cocked his head, listening, he could hear soft breathing nearby, Sora?

He carefully shifted around, using his hands to 'see'. Hesitantly, he moved off the ledge, finding the water wasn't deep enough to submerge fully and be up straight. He swam slowly, hands out; it was a large area and it got deeper as he went. He dove down and realised there were some small fish in the water, laughing, a hand going to his throat as a raspy noise was made. He…he really wasn't silenced anymore. He heard movement echo above the surface, and he hesitated but then made his way back to the ledge.

"Hey," Sora called softly, and Riku heard him move his hand in the water, letting him know where he was. He swam over and sat on the ledge, slowly moving his hand towards the one in the water, touching the warm skin. "Looks like you slept well. How's your mouth? Any pain?"

He opened his mouth and moved his jaw before pressing on it, and then a warm hand was gently feeling along his jaw.

"Nothing feels broken or deformed, at least compared to human anatomy. It's probably because you haven't been able to move your mouth very much. Just move it a little at a time, the muscles are probably weak," Sora told him. His fingers pressed gently into his jaw, rubbing the muscles and it felt good. A raspy noise left his throat even as he pressed into the touch. "Let's see about getting that blindfold off now, okay?"

He nodded, coming to think that maybe Sora wouldn't hurt or punish him for things like that. He turned around and then there were hands in his hair again. He closed his eyes, letting Sora work and eventually he heard and felt the device come free, Sora holding it in place at first.

"Close your eyes, okay?" Sora asked, and he nodded slowly. He felt Sora shift, leaning back? And then Sora slipped into the water beside him, ever so carefully removing the blindfold.

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Good, he had his eyes shut, but Sora winced when he saw the skin. "Okay, lean back now, we need to clean them," he gently urged the Siren into leaning against him even as he picked up the bottle of fresh water to slowly pour over them, feeling him tense and shift. "That's it, I know it probably stings but you don't want an infection or something," he soothed. He used the whole bottle to be safe and then set it aside. "The salt water might sting the skin, I don't know, sorry."

He didn't know anything about Siren biology really, most info out there was on how to avoid or kill them, not how to look after an injured one. "I've turned the lights off if you want to try to open your eyes, it's pretty dark in here, don't try and force it though, if it hurts then close your eyes again. It'll take time."

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He was scared to try, what if he couldn't see at all anymore? It had been so long…he could barely remember what it was like to see. He felt so much better just with that stuff gone, his head so much lighter and the constant pain of metal against his skin was gone. Even if he couldn't see or sing, at least he felt better.

Slowly he began trying to open his eyes, even with the wash they were stuck together but eventually he opened them, flinching from the light. It was so bright! He whimpered, turning to hide his face against a warm chest.

"It's okay," a hand stroked his hair, and he pressed into it. "It'll take time."

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Sora gave the Siren the fish he'd caught for him, watching him tear into them with sharp teeth. He'd seen him trying to catch the fish in the pool and had ended up going fishing for him. There was no way he could survive the ocean until he could learn to catch his own food. At least he was able to open his eyes for a minute or two at a time now, underwater at least.

He'd had a few calls from his uncle, but he was pretty sure he had him fooled into believing he knew nothing about the disappearance of his 'test subject'. He had to keep working too, he had bills to pay, but all of his free time was spent in the cave, helping the Siren.

Sora was surprised when a hand was held out to him, but he took it, letting himself be tugged into the water. He'd done nothing to make Sora think he'd turn on him once healed, he thought they might actually be friends, despite the fact he couldn't speak Siren. He wished there was some way to know what his name was at least.

Not that the Siren made much noise around him, but he thought he was practicing when he was out of hearing range. It had to be hard, relearning how to speak and sing after so long in enforced silence. They were left with simple hand gestures at times, Sora had worked out that while he could understand human speech, he didn't get everything. It made sense; he must have taught himself over the years of listening to the scientists.

The Siren tugged him along in the water and Sora let him, holding his breath when indicated, diving with him. He pulled him over to the wall, putting his hand against it, and Sora grinned as he felt what the Siren had wanted to show him, he looked at him, finding cyan eyes were open, the water darker so it probably made it easier on him. The colours were amazing even in the dimness. Sora didn't know what it was, some kind of algae maybe? He tugged and Sora let himself be pulled along through the sea pool.

Eventually Sora tugged on his hand and pointed up, needing to breath, smiling when the Siren immediately moved for the surface.

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Riku was happy when Sora took his hand, letting him pull him along in the water, even diving with him. He wanted to show him the wonders in the pool and Sora smiled at him! Even looked him in the eye with no fear. Did…did Sora trust him? Really? Did he trust Sora?

He was forced to close his eyes as they surfaced, the light still too much but at least he could see under water now. He could hear Sora panting slightly, had they stayed under too long? The grip on his hand was firm though so he wasn't at risk of passing out, right?

"That was amazing," Sora told him, and Riku could hear the grin in his voice.

Riku felt him shiver slightly in the water and towed him over to the ledge where Sora left the water. He could hear him moving about, drying off and dressing he assumed. He didn't get why humans covered their bodies so much but he had no way to ask. He let out a click of frustration and then covered his mouth, ears straining.

"Are you okay?" Sora asked, Riku feeling the air move as the human knelt down. "Is something wrong?"

He…he wasn't mad he'd made a noise?

"You're shaking…. it's okay," fingers moved through his hair. "I won't punish you for anything, you're free now. I'd…well, I'd appreciate if you didn't, you know…" Sora trailed off, and Riku forced his eyes open, squinting in the light, seeing the nervousness on Sora's face.

If he didn't…oh! Riku swallowed. Sora had freed him from the tanks…had removed the devices…all without knowing if Riku would turn around and bewitch him, drown him, eat him… if he'd had a chance with that man…he thought he might have, but Sora? He twisted around, pulling himself out of the water to sit on the rocks, reaching out carefully, eyes barely open to slits to give him a better idea of where Sora was. He gently rested his hand on his cheek, the other on his shoulder, and then leant in, pressing his cheek to Sora's, clicking softly.

A warm hand cautiously rested on his shoulder in return and Riku leant closer, hugging him like he'd seen humans do. He couldn't help being scared of Sora, humans had only ever hurt him, but there was also a part of him that wanted desperately to trust that Sora really would never hurt him. He'd had so many chances and hadn't done anything after all.

"I wish I could understand you," Sora whispered, and Riku trilled in agreement.

There was only one way he knew of and it was what Sora obviously feared happening. Instead, he rubbed his cheek against Sora's again before dropping back into the water.

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"I'm fine Kairi," he promised as he moved about the kitchen, making his dinner.

"And your guest?" she asked curiously.

"Slowly adjusting. He can keep his eyes open underwater now but he's still having issues above the surface, even in dim light," he explained.

"And his voice?"

"I've heard some small noises but he…he was scared of being punished if he made a sound. He hasn't tried singing or anything, at least not when I'm there. I've heard him click and trill, it's still raspy. He's scarred from the devices Kairi, and I don't think they're going to heal."

"That's horrible… does that mean he won't survive in the ocean?"

"I don't know. He's struggling with hunting, even with his sight clearing. I get the feeling he was caught not long after Dad was killed, I don't think he was much more than a baby. He's never had anyone to teach him to hunt. I can fish for him, but I can't teach hunting."

"If he can't hunt sea life Sora…he might…"

"Hunt humans?" he finished for her.

"Yeah."

"I know, I'm hoping with my feeding him it won't cross his mind."

"Since you're the easiest item on the menu?" she asked, trying for teasing. "Just be careful, please. I know it's been two months already, but we're all worried."

"And will be as long as he's here," Sora sighed, looking over at the moonlit cove.

"You're attached," she murmured, and he chuckled.

"Hard not to be," he admitted. "The goal's the same as it has been since I found out about him Kairi, promise. Get him to where he can live wild."

"Just be careful."

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Riku called out a greeting, recognising the sound of Sora's footsteps on the rocks. He'd been gone all day, something about 'work' whatever that was, but now he was back. He heard Sora laugh and then he saw him walking into the main part of the cave with some...bags, yes those were called bags. He was learning more language from Sora which he liked, apparently the humans who had him talked differently or something.

"Hey," Sora knelt down beside the pool. "Got something I think can help us with communicating. You seem to get most of what I say though."

Riku nodded, there was no point denying that, he'd admitted to basic understanding back in the tank after all. Sora pulled his shoes off and let his legs dangle in the water, and Riku leant against his leg to see what he had. He watched curiously as Sora removed something and then it lit up and changed colours, images appearing.

"It's nothing complicated, but it should help with basic communication, you can use the images to show me what you want to say. If we can teach you to read then there's typing programs too. And it's waterproof."

The idea of being able to communicate beyond a few gestures…to really let Sora know that he would never try to control him or eat him or something…unless Sora hurt him first, but he was truly coming to believe that Sora meant it, that he did want him to be free. He clicked and whistled happily and Sora smiled at him.

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Sora tread water by the cave entrance, waiting for his Siren to emerge, blinking…his Siren? He was definitely getting way too attached, but it was hard not to. He'd never imagined he would think of a Siren as innocent, and yet he was in so many ways. He saw movement in the water and then a clawed hand wrapped around his ankle, tugging playfully before a silver head surfaced, the Siren hissing and covering his eyes.

Slowly, he lowered his hand, blinking rapidly, eyes gradually adjusting to the daylight. And then he was looking around, eyes wide, breathing speeding up. After a life in enclosed spaces, it must be overwhelming to suddenly be in the open.

"It's okay," Sora whispered. "There's no rush."

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Riku stared around, everything was so big! So open…he could feel his breathing speeding up, heard Sora speaking to him, and he shifted closer, an arm wrapping around him to help keep him afloat and for comfort. He barely remembered anything like it, it was overwhelming. The water was warmer than the cave, heated by the sun.

The water was clear and sparkling, the air warm, and the land…the sand was white. The whole area was ringed by rocks, only a narrow opening out to the ocean. It was…perfect. Safe but with room for him to swim, he knew he was weak; would never be able to fight a strong current. He still wasn't managing to catch his own food either; he was dependant on Sora for so much. He nuzzled at him and Sora laughed.

"That tickles," he smiled, but copied the move. "Want to explore?" he offered, and Riku hesitated. "It's okay, it's safe here. See that," he pointed up the sand…beach? "That's my cottage, I've lived here for years. There aren't any predators in the water, nothing dangerous."

Riku nodded and took his arm from around his waist, offering his hand, not sure if Sora would trust him in a larger area. He smiled when Sora took his hand and squeezed gently. Taking that for permission he began exploring, making sure he kept some attention on Sora when he dove, not wanting to hurt him by staying under too long for him to handle. Eventually Sora stumbled up the beach to collapse in the sand, limbs spread. Riku watched the surf and cautiously let the little waves help carry him, pulling himself up on the sand beside Sora. Sora looked over at him in surprise but then smiled.

"Feel like sunbathing?" he teased.

Riku reached for the tablet and held it out to Sora who nodded and rolled onto his side to keep working on his lessons. He really wanted to work out how to spell his name so that he could tell Sora.

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Sora sat on the beach, watching his Siren swim through the cove, the sun occasionally glinting off silvery scales. Proper food and room to stretch was letting him build up strength, his body beginning to bulk up a bit, still sleek but gaining definite muscle, his fins now healthy rather than droopy and dull.

He was…Sora sighed and hid his head in his arms. He had a crush on a Siren! It was ridiculous, they were two different species, he didn't even know if Siren's were capable of anything like human emotion. Sure he smiled and laughed, felt fear, sought comfort…but anything like love…not that it was love, just a crush, physical attraction.

It was because he'd been his only real company for the last six months, Sora not letting any of his friends visit, wanting the Siren to feel secure as he healed. The less stress, the less likely it was an accident would happen that would end in tragedy.

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Riku carefully studied the letters on the screen, trying to work out which ones would be for his name before carefully choosing them, using the weird plastic pointing thing to press them so as not to damage the screen with sharp claws.

"R…i…k…u?" Sora asked, and he nodded. "Riku?"

He grinned and nodded.

"Riku," Sora smiled. "I like it."

Riku was shocked to feel a flash of pleasure at the compliment. He wriggled on the warm sand, letting it scratch his scales, pleased that he had managed to communicate his name. He was feeling a lot better now than he had felt…since he'd been taken. He knew he was gaining strength and he thought he was getting better at catching his own food. It had been hard to rebuild the strength in his tail with a chunk missing from it, he felt it every time he moved, but he had gotten used to it and while it slowed him down a little, he'd adapted. That didn't mean he was going to swim off though, he wasn't ready for that and he didn't know where he'd go either. Sora hadn't asked him to leave either so that meant he could stay, right?

It wasn't like he knew if he had surviving family or where he'd even find them if he did. He knew his kind were territorial and he could be killed if he wandered into the wrong area. Yes, basic knowledge was passed on parent to child somehow, it had to be when the majority would scatter on birth to spread the family lines out, but not enough for him to survive totally alone.

The cove had become home and Sora… he didn't want to leave him; he was his human. It was strange how safe Sora made him feel after everything humans had done to him but Sora had never lied to him, had never hurt him.

TBC…