Chapter 2

Namine hummed a soft melody as she walked between the aisles of flowers, spraying them with a mist of water as Sephiroth checked things out back. The shop was silent, empty, her song the only sound besides her soft footsteps, until the front door burst open. She gasped, spinning on her heel; the mist from the hose in her grasp sprayed in front of her and over Riku as he rushed towards her.

She scrambled back in shock, her blue eyes frantically looking him over. He was soaked, caked with sand and bits of seaweed. "R-Riku! What happened to you? Are you-"

"I found a Siren." RIku interrupted her, his voice shaking.

Her eyes widened, her heart stopping. "What?" Shaking her head, she stammered, "B-But that's impossible. Sirens don't-"

"I know what I saw," Riku interrupted again, pacing away, his hands running over his arms. "They were washed up on shore under that destroyed pier. Their tail stuck in some trap, and I - I got them out, but they can't swim." He breathily laughed in disbelief, "I don't know what to do, but I can't just leave them there. What if someone finds them? What's going to happen to them?"

"Okay, okay," Namine hurriedly put away the hose, before pressing her palms together as she approached Riku. "Let's say - you actually saw this creature…" Her voice trailed off, her eyes sliding shut as she took in and released a breath. "What do you need me to do?"

Riku paused, turning to look back at her to see a small, reassuring smile on her lips. He returned the smile, letting out a breath. "You've been studying nursing."

She blinked rapidly, "W-Well yes, but for people. I - Well I don't even know what a Siren looks like."

"Nams," Riku gripped her shoulders, waiting until she looked up at him before he continued. "You're the only one I know that can help them. Please…"

She swallowed, the corner of her lips twitching into a frown. Letting out a long breath, she nodded. "Alright… Let me grab my kit."

"Thank you," Riku released her shoulders, allowing her to walk past him towards the front desk of the shop. He ran his fingers through his hair, his heart still pounding and racing in his chest from the whole ordeal.

"What should we tell Sephiroth?" Namine asked, a white boxed first aid kit in her arms.

Riku shook his head, "Nothing. He wouldn't want us to help." Glancing back at Namine, he nodded shortly. "Come on."

She watched him leave, taking one glance back towards the garden out back where Sephiroth was still checking inventory. Sighing, she turned back around and followed after Riku.

The night was frigid, more than usual as Namine shivered against the wind, keeping her pace just behind Riku as he led the way. Riku glanced over his shoulder at her, making sure she was keeping up until they reached the shore line.

"This way," he waved towards the pier, quickening his pace and dearly hoping that Sora was still there.

"I see someone there…" Namine noted, seeing the silhouette under the destroyed pier. "Is that them?"

"Yeah," Riku called back, pausing to let her catch up to him before he continued. "Their name is Sora… I think it's a he… But, I don't know a lot of Sirens to really tell."

Namine wordlessly nodded, unsure how to really respond until she stopped at the jutted rocks that led under the pier. Her breath hitched in her throat, seeing the creature lying along the sand, their lacerated tail swaying under the waves, oozing thick, blue liquid. Riku placed his hand along her arm, bringing her gaze to his as he nodded and sent a reassuring smile.

When she returned a strained smile, he went forward, kneeling by Sora's side. Sora looked between Riku and Namine, their eyes studying her before looking to Riku as if to make sure she was safe.

"She'll help your tail." Riku assured them, fully knowing that Sora couldn't understand a word he said.

"Y-Yes," Namine stammered, her voice cracking as she forced her feet forward and knelt beside their tail. "I'm Namine."

"Put your hand over your heart," Riku told her. "That's the only way they'll know it's your name."

"Oh," she realized, clearing her throat and meeting her eyes with Sora's as she placed her hand back over her heart. "I'm Namine."

Sora's lips curved into a smile as they nodded. "Na-mi-nay….?"

Namine couldn't help but grin, a soft, breathy laugh escaping her. "Something like that."

Riku chuckled, before bringing his attention to her medical bag. "What can I do?"

"I'm… not sure," she admitted, clicking open the bag and perusing the contents. "Even if we bandage him up, I doubt he'll be able to swim away tonight."

"And we can't leave them out here." Riku frowned, looking back to Sora, who darted their attention between them, completely unaware of what they were discussing. With a huff of breath, Riku rubbed the back of his neck. "What about… the old lighthouse…?"

Namine looked up at him. "The one Dad used to run?"

Riku nodded, "Yeah, no one's been there in months. It basically operates on its own."

Her eyes drifted over Sora as she thought it over. "There is the pool of water at the bottom and it would keep him hidden, but-"

"How do we get Sora there?"

"Yeah," Namine sighed, looking back up at him.

"Easiest way would be to carry them, I guess." Riku suggested, his nose scrunched at his distaste for his own idea.

"It's better than nothing, I suppose." Namine admitted, sending a soft smile to Sora. "We'll take care of you. I promise." When Sora returned the smile, she looked to their tail, grabbing a bottle of ointment from her bag. "This is going to sting, but… it should keep the cuts from getting infected."

Sora flicked their tail when she tried to grab it, wriggling back. Namine put up her hands, startling with a gasp.

"Sora," Riku spoke up, getting the Sirens' eyes darting to his. "You can trust her." He assured them, straining a smile. "We're trying to help."

"You might have to hold him down." Namine told him.

He let out a breath, nodding. "Alright."

Sending a glance to Sora, he placed his hands along their tail, surprised when Sora gave little to no resistance to his touch.

"Go ahead," Riku instructed Namine, giving her a nod.

"Here goes," she muttered under her breath, pouring the ointment on a rag, before pressing the fabric over the most prominent cut.

Sora yelped, the end of their tail whipping and making Namine jump back with a gasp of her own. Riku wrapped his arms around Sora's tail completely, holding him close as Namine hurried back to finish. Sora whined, their hand going to Riku's shoulder. Riku glanced back at them, seeing the worried, pained look in Sora's eyes.

"You'll be alright," Riku soothed them, his eyes softening as Sora nodded. Sora might not have been able to understand his words, but Riku hoped deep down they understood his sentiment.

"I'll try to bandage the wounds," Namine spoke up, her voice distracted as she rummaged through her bag. "But I think he needs stitches."

"Can you do that?" He asked, waiting for her to reply, but when she didn't he asked, "Nams?"

"I've never done it before, no." She admitted, "But, if we're able to get him to the lighthouse… then, I can try."

"Better than nothing." Riku sighed, bringing his attention back to Sora.

Sora had ceased thrashing, keeping as still as possible to allow Namine to finish her work. The waves crashed against the shore, each one splashing against them, covering them in the salty water and bits of seaweed, but none of them paid it any mind. Riku kept his gaze on Sora's, still entranced by their eyes that danced over the beach around them. He wasn't sure what it was, but there was an unfamiliar sensation in the pit of his stomach when he looked at Sora. Perhaps it was curiosity, excitement, something about discovering something new. Deep down, he knew it wasn't just that, but there was too much going on to entertain the thought of what else it could possibly be.

"There," Namine interrupted Riku's thoughts as he glanced back to see white bandages tightly wrapped over Sora's tail and fins.

"Good job," Riku smiled as she looked up at him.

She softly smiled back, the expression falling to a frown as she repacked her supplies. "We better get him to the lighthouse. Sephiroth will be wondering where we are."

The mention of Sephiroth made Riku wince as he looked down at his sand encrusted outfit. It would take more than a simple lie to cover up why he looked the way he did. Letting out a breath, he released his hold on Sora's tail.

"We'll be fine." he assured her, and somewhat himself, as he stood. "Let's get moving."

Sora looked between them as Namine wrapped her arms around his tail and Riku came from behind. Riku slid his arms under Sora's, his face barely inches from theirs. A blush warmed Riku's cheeks as he linked his hands over Sora's chest.

"Ready?" He asked Namine, noticing her struggling.

"T-Trying to be," she replied, strained as she attempted to pick up his slippery tail, until she huffed and released Sora completely. "Actually…" Her voice trailed off.

Riku sighed, loosening his grip on Sora. "Alright… I think I can probably manage."

He slid his hands back, going to Sora's side. Sora looked up at him, a trusting smile on their lips as Riku knelt down beside them. Riku couldn't help but smile back, even if it was nervously, as he dug his arms under the sand and swept Sora off the ground. Without Sora fighting in his arms, they were surprisingly easy to pick up. Riku readjusted the Siren, Sora's arms tightly wrapping around his shoulders, as if afraid of being off the ground.

"I've got you," Riku whispered, a warmth filling his cheeks.

Sora whimpered, burying their face in the crook of Riku's neck, their grip tightening around him.

"Is he alright?" Namine asked.

"I hope so." Riku sighed, subconsciously running his thumb along Sora's shoulder. "Let's get to the lighthouse."

"Right," Namine agreed, leading the way.

Riku carefully stepped over the rocks, making sure to keep hidden in the cover of darkness as he followed behind Namine. She checked for townsfolk still out and about, waving Riku over when the coast was clear. Sora occasionally mumbled to Riku, their words still unrecognizable, but Riku could sense the worry in their voice. He whispered back, assuring and comforting that everything was going to be alright… he would make sure of it.

He wasn't exactly sure why he was so convicted to help Sora, but no matter the reason, he was determined that Sora be kept safe. A breath he hadn't realized he had been holding escaped him when they finally made it to the base of the brick lighthouse. It was old and worn down, the stripes painted along it faded and chipped over the years as barnacles clung to its sides. Namine shoved open the door, splintering a corner of the rotten wood and holding it open for Riku to carry Sora inside.

The salty scent of the air of the outdoors was tenfold in the tight confined space of the lighthouse. Riku coughed from the intensity, his eyes watering and making him blink rapidly. It was completely abandoned as they had hoped, a short wooden stairway leading towards the bottom level that was a pool of seawater, surrounded by a thin stone walkway.

Riku carefully descended the steps, noticing Sora peeking their head up to see where they had been taken.

"Over here," Namine spoke up, her voice echoing up the tower. "The water is shallow along this edge."

Riku nodded, carrying Sora over to the edge where the water lapped against the eroded edge. Kneeling down, Riku lowered Sora into the water. Sora slid in with ease, their tail whipping wildly in another attempt to swim, but ended with Sora crying out in pain. With a whimper, Sora gave up, and resigned to resting along the shallow edge. Tears welled up in their large eyes, making Riku's heart seize up as he placed his hand along Sora's shoulder.

"I'm… sorry," he whispered, his throat tightening as Sora leaned their cheek against his touch.

"You'll recover in no time at all." Namine assured Sora, knelt on the other side of them. "Just you wait."

Sora merely whimpered in response, sniffling as they stared at the clouded water.

"We should head back." Namine told Riku, standing back up.

Riku's lips tugged into a frown. "I can't just leave them here."

"Riku…" Namine sighed. "Sephiroth is going to be looking for us pretty soon if we don't head home."

"I know…" He admitted, his heart sinking further as Sora looked over at him. Letting out a breath, he pushed himself to stand. "Alright… let's go."

Namine nodded, walking past him to leave. Riku stared back at Sora, unable to shake the feeling that he shouldn't leave him alone. It wasn't like he was exactly equipped to stay in an abandoned lighthouse overnight though.

"I'll be back first thing in the morning." Riku assured him, wishing Sora could understand him. "Alright?"

Sora blinked, hesitantly nodding. Letting out a breath, Riku turned to leave, glancing back once more before shutting the door behind him.