The Treasure of the Sea

29

Daryl groaned as Negan carried him out towards the deck and placed him carefully upon the freshly swabbed ground. "Are you alright?" Negan questioned as he kissed his forehead carefully.

A soft sigh left Daryl's mouth. "I d-don't feel great... I.. ah.. My leg still hurts sir.."

"Daryl," Negan thumbed his cheek carefully, "we are going to cover you in salt water okay? Morgan is going to try and finish fixing up those fins of yours, hopefully it won't be too painful but I can't promise you it won't sting alright?

Daryl's blue eyes rounded in panic but he knew Negan would never hurt him on purpose. Negan carefully pulled Daryl's pants off the wriggling boy, Daryl obliged and pulled his own top off leaving him sitting naked on the deck. Daryl was nervous and Negan honestly felt bad for upsetting him but he needed to take care of him and sometimes taking care of those you love means you have to upset them a little bit. Once he was stripped and red faced due to embarrassment Negan took the two buckets of salt water his crew had collected for him and dumped them over Daryl's naked frame.

Within seconds the boy that had been sitting before him was transformed into a little siren. Daryl looked up at him with a smile on his face, his razor sharp fangs became exposed and while the crew trusted him it still scared them somewhat to see his fangs shining in the light of the sun.

Daryl took a deep breath as Morgan sat beside his fins, the rips within the skin had hardly healed since his attempts at healing the boy. His leg wound was doing much better however.

Morgan carefully cleaned the spots talking to the little siren to keep him distracted. "See it's all okay," Morgan smiled, "we are trying to make it so you can swim again. How does that sound?"

"I'd.. I'd like that a lot.." Daryl admitted his lips curling up into a half smile. Rick and Dwight were fishing over the side of the deck with both poles and nets. Daryl was trying to keep himself distracted and kept his eyes on the fishermen. Eventually they pulled up a few fish and Daryl's stomach began to rumble

Noticing Daryl's hungry look Negan walked up to Rick and took a wriggling fish out from the night. Its shining scales glistened as it dripped with sea water. "Would you like to have a fish Daryl?" Daryl grabbed for the fish like a toddler. Negan held it by its tail and pulled it away as Daryl narrowed his eyes. "What do you say?"

"Yes please.." Daryl finally managed out after Negan smiled and handed him the struggling fish pleased to hear him speak.

"Alright now, I am going to start sewing up the wounds, you just focus on your meal now." Morgan suggested as he grabbed the soft fins. Daryl nodded and began to slowly devour the fish in his claws.

Blood dripped from its body as it tried to flop away from him, after he crunched down on its head the flopping ceased and Daryl happily enjoyed it and looked up to Negan. "More?"

"You want another one?" Negan asked looking Daryl over, it was clear he was trying to ignore the pain radiating from his fins. He continued to wince whenever Morgan stuck the needle in and attempted to suture the wound.

"Ah.. please." Daryl whined as Morgan pulled one of the cuts tight in an attempt to pull the fin together. Negan quickly gave him another fish, the creature violently wobbled side to side in his grasp as he began to nibble at it while he watched Morgan with slitted eyes. Daryl started to cry a bit and Negan felt horrible but knew very well he needed to let Morgan do his job or Daryl would continue to be upset he couldn't swim.

"Agh.. Sto-." Negan clamped his hand over Daryl's mouth. Daryl whined and cried out as Negan kept him from stopping the man from sewing up his injured tail. Daryl hissed as Negan pulled his hand away.

Daryl glared. "What wa-was that for?"

"Let him finish little one."

"S..sorry." Daryl whined looking him up and down.

"Eat your fish." Negan ordered while crossing his arms as he looked him over.

Daryl nodded and lowered his head listening to Negan knowing if he didn't he would get in trouble for misbehavior. Daryl allowed Morgan to finish up on sewing his fins. "Do you want to try swimming with it?" Negan questioned as he looked Daryl over.

"Oh... I.. I would like to.. To try.."

"That's right," Negan praised as he picked Daryl up. "Set a dinghy up boys."

The crew was set a dinghy up for Negan and he placed Daryl in it before he sat down himself as they were lowered down Daryl was nervous as he looked into the waves. "Wh-what if I.. c-can't swim?"

"I believe you will be more than fine guppy." Negan smiled, kissing his hand before helping lower him in the water.

Daryl sighed as the fresh water ran over his fins. "Ah.."

"Does that feel good little one?"

"Yes." The siren happily chirped as the waves slowly ran over his frame. "I want to try."

Negan grinned. "I believe you'll do more than fine, and if you feel you can't do it just come to me okay?"

Daryl nodded, he just needed to let go of the side of the boat now.