Chapter 17: Orchestra Through Bubbles

Saigo closed his eyes as he let himself sink deeper into the water. The contact of the cool sea splashed his hard hot scales that were steaming from the cafe's heat. He decided to find a routine to find time to swim.

Although not marine animals, crocodilians love the feeling of the water. They could go in-between worlds just like seals and penguins. He began diving, letting his tail paddle him through the water. Below him, he caught a glimpse of a few marine animals staring at him.

'It's not like they know what my markings say,' he thought to himself, a small smile of relief was creeping its way onto his maw. He had a lot on his mind. Mainly his instincts as a caiman to propel through the water to snatch up prey in his jaws and his heart on the situation.

Yura on the other hand, was swimming above him where her body was close to the surface. It took a bit of time to convinced her that the water was safe for swimming and he will be here in case anyone tries to devour her.

Whenever her body was sinking, he does his best to push her up. Watching her swim made him smile. The human's strokes reminded him of a seal's with how her limbs manoeuvred through the water. When she signalled him that she wanted to go to shore, he guided her with his tail before he resumed his laps.

After some time, he noticed a blurry figure at the surface. Although his underwater visions were excellent, they weren't enough see what was going on above the waters. Saigo decided to continue his underwater swim before breaking through the surface to gulp some air.

"Hey there."

"Hey yourself, Iko," Saigo said with a snort, craning his neck to glance up at the Komodo dragon. Iko flashed him a smile holding out a hand. He took his scaly hand gingerly, half of his body was still in the water. He felt bad about what had happened at his apartment despite talking to Yura about it.

The said woman was sitting while a towel was wrapped around her frame. He waved back when she waved at him. Clearly, humans don't have great stamina when it comes to swimming. Or maybe, he figured, it was just how Yura wasn't used to bodies of water.

"I wished I could swim just like you."

Saigo arched an eye ridge at the Komodo dragon who towered over him. It was a sentence that he never would have guessed coming out of his mouth. Iko kneeled down to face him at his eye level.

"I sometimes come here to get some air before going back home," he explained. "But watching you swim with her made me wonder if I could learn as well. In return, I might teach Qandeel and a few..."

"A few what?"

The Komodo dragon straighten himself up, tail curled neatly around his feet. "I'm a science teacher. And yet, despite teaching physics, I am a bad swimmer. I was wondering if you could teach me how to swim."

Now this was an odd request. Saigo had never recalled anyone asking him for a lesson. He wasn't the best student during his academic years and here he was, with a Komodo dragon who was probably stronger and deadlier than him.

"Alright but where's your lady? "

"She's at home. Apparently she caught a fever so I suggested that she should rest if she wants to go to work with me tomorrow," said Iko, his voice getting lighter just at the thought of her. Not only that, he had a dopey grin on his face. Saigo wondered if that was how he looked like if he talks about Yura.

He thought about it. The caiman would love to have a friend to talk to and this Komodo dragon experienced the same predicament with a human just like him. 'Except, he seems to handle everything well...'

"Saigo!" Yura called out. She was now fully dressed despite the dripping water from her hair. "I was thinking of making something for Qandeel. Why don't you teach Iko how to swim while I find the ingredients to prepare the meal?"

This made his stomach rumble. He was curious to know what his lover would cook but knowing her, she was going to surprise him. Approaching her, the both of them held each other. "Meet us back at the apartment. From there, we can go to Ike's place to visit Qandeel."

Yura smiled, throwing her arms around his neck to bring his head down for a kiss. Saigo's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden contact of her tongue slipping into his maw during the kiss. A low rumble was emitting out of him.

"Tease."

"Sweetheart," Yura winked at him before taking off to find what she needed. Turning his attention back to the chuckling Komodo dragon. His straightened his back, presenting a sharp tooth grin with a hand stretched out.

"Shall we begin?"

...

It was the first time Saigo had another reptile to swim with. Even if his swimming was something he would described as a patient in a straightjacket trying to kick the water. He smiled, swimming gracefully beside Iko.

He pointed up to the surface, signalling them to take a gulp of air. When they did, Saigo could not help but think Iko would be a slender version of a crocodile if his snout is broad, more ridges along his back and some teeth.

"I don't know how you can manage to swim and not feel pain in your earhole," Iko flickered his forked tongue. Saigo tried to mimic him but it felt like he was mocking the Komodo dragon. This caused him to grin.

"Are you trying to flicker your tongue out?"

"W-what?! No, I'm just curious since us caimans don't have forked tongues," said Saigo, rather quickly. But Iko only chuckled and tilted his chin to look at him eye-to-eye. On cue, Saigo does his best to balance the both of them in the water.

He would be horrified if he had let Iko drowned.

"I get it. Then again, I wonder what is it like to have webs between my fingers and excellent underwater vision."

Saigo splashed him with an armful of water. In retaliation, Iko does the same, emitting a hiss. The caiman let out a low growl before wrestling him into the water. He had not have this much fun with another reptile for a long time.

Even if this reptile wasn't aquatic to begin with.

Eventually, the both of them rest themselves up at the shores. Saigo immediately puts on his clothes until-

"Hold on," Iko halted him from wearing his shirt. It was awfully chilly so Saigo crossed his arms across his chest. He knew what the Komodo dragon was looking at.

"Yeah, take a long look at me," Saigo gestured to the labels all over his body except the pants he was wearing. "I'm the lowest of the low with how I'm selling myself for the money. I know there are other options but I'm kinda desperate. They just HAD to take my prized possession."

Ike's eyes softened as opposed to the narrow yellow eyes of his. "Iko, don't give me that look. I don't need to be pitied about this since I got myself into this mess. I...I dragged Yura into my mess and yet-"

"She dragged you into hers," Iko concluded, making him nod his head. Saigo rubbed his arm, feeling a bit self-conscious. He immediately puts on his shirt before anyone could see. "Saigo, it's okay."

"No it's not!" he snapped, sucking in his breath though his teeth. "I don't want her to suffer because of me. A human like her in a world where we could actually eat her and-"

"I bet you have," Iko gave him a sly grin. Saigo huffed but couldn't help but smile at him. Who knew this physics teacher had a crass sense of humour. The both of them shared a few laughs until Iko placed his hand onto Saigo's shoulder.

"You know, there's one way if you want to feel whole again while saving up to fix your...you know..."

"What do you have in mind?"

"We're taking a trip down town, little crocodile," said Iko, tugging Saigo's arm. This was going to be something he would be grateful for or it might be he would regret in the long run.

'I hope we don't run into anyone,' he thought to himself.

Sorry for the slow and long updates. Been busy with my new job, juggling my writing time and pursuing my career to publish my novels

Don't worry, I won't abandon this story until Saigo gets a lucky happy ending. I want this caiman boy to have friends, a lover and feel loved!