Hello

Chapter 5

"He's very smart, and kind too. He solved all of the puzzles on the first day; he still plays with them sometimes now, but I don't think they were much of a challenge."

Percy blushes at the compliment, even though he's not sure that he entirely understands why exactly Will is telling any of this to the woman he brought along today. A little hesitant, Will pets Percy's hair when he's within reach, casting a weary look at the woman behind him after all when Percy pushes himself out of the water just a little to meet the touch.

"We're not really sure how long he's lived in captivity, our best guess is that they caught him when he was a child and that... that it's the reason he's so different." Percy frowns. Will is looking at him, but clearly not talking to him. "He communicates with visitors, it started with morse but we..um... Doctor Grace and I just found out he can write too. I'm positive he understands every word I'm saying."

The woman nods at Will's words and takes a weary step closer. She hasn't said anything yet and Percy isn't sure what to make of her, but that doesn't stop him from watching her curiously.

"Percy is different than the merfolk you worked with before. He.. uh.. socialises. He takes a lot of joy in making the children laugh, you should see how excited he gets when they come. I think he's very fond of them. And I... I trust him." Will gives Percy a sweet smile at the last words, causing Percy's cheeks to heat up all over again and try to hide his blush by ducking his head away. As usually, Will is amused, brushing his fingers over Percy's cheek before he pulls them away altogether and gets up to his feet, giving the woman a first, confident smile. "I feel like there is a lot you could learn from him, if you let me work with Doctor Grace we might -"

Before Will can finish, the woman holds up a hand, silencing him with a look that seems unnecessarily cold to Percy. Will deflates, pouting just a bit, probably having hoped for more than this.

"Hello Percy." The woman gives him a smile that doesn't reach her eyes, and the falseness makes Percy recoil. "It was a gamble to take you in our program, but I think you've proven to be the best choice yet." The gaze with which the woman regards him makes Percy more than just a little uncomfortable, and the way she pronounces the words, like she's as foreign to this language as Percy was himself, makes it hard for him to understand. Will frowns too, like he doesn't like the tone of her voice or maybe just the way she regards Percy. He opens the door, putting on the smile before the woman can catch his scowl.

"I think Doctor Grace is waiting for us." Will says it with a finality that feels strangely reassuring, despite the annoyed look the woman gives him in response. With a last, quick wave to Percy,mouthing 'later' when the woman can't see, they both are gone.

Things have changed since Will's accident, slowly but steadily, and so far, Percy isn't sure he likes the development. Jason has shown him articles about the incident, videos once, a small screen pressed up against the glass so Percy could watch the recordings, most just of him holding Will, some of him singing, one of the fall itself. It's painful to see again, in more ways than one and even more so to read the stories the humans had made up about him and Will. Several times, Percy found himself blushing by how close they got to the truth.

Apparently, Will was the first to survive an incident like this, usually Percy's kin are far less approving and fond of the humans around them. The intern that had thanked Percy after the medics finally came to get Will had given an interview, about his past negative experiences and how surprised he had been to see Percy take care of his trainer.

It gets people's attention of course, and ever since Will has come back, the number of visitors has increased by a lot. Jason was amused at first, now he seems a little annoyed. People have seen them write to each other before, and more than once other visitors have tried to grab Percy's attention in the same way. There's no peace and quiet for them to hold a conversation, everyone tries to press close and see Percy writing, answering, everyone seems to want a little peace from him. People came with signs for a while, but Jason told him they banned them because they became more and more inappropriate. Percy isn't sure he wants to know what exactly that means.

While in the beginning it was a nice change from the isolation before, it's starting to bother Percy now. He had been content with Will and Jason alone, he didn't want everyone's eyes on him as soon as he dared coming into the light.

The day of the woman's visit, Jason doesn't come to visit Percy, even though it has been three days since the last time he was there already. He wanted to ask Jason who the woman was, who this Doctor Grace is supposed to be and why Percy can't just work with Will alone, but by the time the visitors start to thin out, Percy resigns himself that he'll have to wait for Will to maybe get some answers. Lurking in the shadows, Percy watches the visitors from where they can't see him. Years ago, when he was still out in the ocean, he used to do this a lot. Back then, it was for hunting, Percy thinks. The memory is foggy, he can't recall who tried to teach him or what it was they hunted and before he manages to draw the memory to the front of his mind, a noise above the surface snaps him out of his thoughts. Will.

The way he shoots to the surface probably gives away his excitement, especially when the bright grin turns into a disappointed pout as soon as he sees it's not Will at all who came through the door.

"Sorry pal. Will's meeting is taking longer, he told me to go feed you in his place." It's the intern, less hesitant smile and closer to the edge than he's ever been before. Maybe Will's accident has left a positive impression after all. Percy pouts and half-heartedly catches one of the fish, resisting the temptation to throw it at the guy. This whole situation isn't his fault after all.

When Will stops by that evening, Percy is floating on his island again, much to the joy of the last few visitors. They get a better look on him, his scales are reflecting the sunlight and make little rainbows dance on the dome over his tank. After he has hid for most of the day, they can watch him play with his magic cube now at least. Nevertheless, they won't be able to enjoy him for long, Percy is pretty sure the aquarium should close any minute now, and anyway, Percy is getting a little bored of his toy. He's solved it three times since he came up, and the water made the bright colours fade anyway, so it lost most of its appeal.

Hearing the door, Percy turns the island with a lazy stroke of his tail fin, expecting it to be the guy from earlier again when he looks at the platform with his head hanging upside down. When he sees it is Will - alone this time - Percy thrusts his tail to bring the island toward the platform while Will sits down on the edge.

Something's wrong, Percy picks up on it instantly. Will shoulder's are slumped and his smile isn't quite right, even though the corners of his lips quirk up when Percy slides off his island to close the last bit of distance by swimming over. The cast around his arm is finally off, and apart from a little pink scar on his forehead, Will looks exactly like he has before the accident. If it wasn't for the absence of his usual brightness, Percy would be happy to see his friend like this.

Upon reaching the edge Percy pushed himself out of the water, nuzzling his mostly dry head against Will's stomach in an attempt to cheer him up. Will's fingers tangle in Percy's hair, working out the knots as he pets him gently. The familiarity of the touch makes Percy hum and hug Will a little tighter, if only to let him know that whatever brought him down, Percy won't mind.

"Do you like it here?" The question takes Percy by surprise, and he unwinds his arms from Will to rest them on the man's knees instead. He looks up at Will with a puzzled expression before he nods eventually. Of course he likes it here, it's the best tank he's ever had.

"They...uh.. well. The woman you saw this morning, she and her co-workers, they worry the way you're kept here isn't typal for merfolk. Apparently, no wild merperson would have saved me, humans are weak in comparison, possible prey. You're so gentle and so far from aggressive that they say we spoiled and domesticated you." Will frowns darkly and Percy scowls too. He doesn't like the sound of that at all, he's not an animal, not a pet... but now he worries that's maybe what Will sees him as.

"It's stupid of course, I don't think they realise how similar your kind is to us... or maybe they don't want to understand." Relief floods Percy at Will's words, even though his trainer is still looking conflicted. He sighs and strokes his thumb over Percy's cheek. "I don't know, Percy. Your happiness means a lot to me and... I know this" - Will gestures to the tank Percy's held captive in - "isn't the life you should have had, but I'm trying my best to make it good for you."