An Ocean of Freedom (BoyxBoy)

Ch. 4

It was dark, Kai couldn't move. It almost felt like he was dead... But not? He jerked upward, slightly freaking out.

"Whoa. Fuck! Kai! What's wrong?" Daniel asked jumping up as well.

"I-I do not know... I was pasted out, I think."

"You mean sleeping?" Daniel asked, raising an eyebrow.

"N-no. I do not fully sleep. I..." 

Daniel was pretty sure Kai was trying to explain that he slept in a half a sleep way in order to keep moving in the ocean. Dolphins and many other marine mammals that could not leave the water did this, so they would not drown. His limited English, and over all no understanding of the situation made it difficult to explain.

"Kai. Calm down. You probably just fully fell asleep because you weren't in the water. It happens to most of the sea mammals here. The kid nodded slightly, but it did not seem like he was completely convinced. "If it makes you feel better, I can give you a check up."

"Check up?"

"Yeah. I can make sure you're healthy." Daniel smiled.

"Yes. Ok."

"Alright. Wait here. I'll go get my medical equipment." Daniel ran off to get what he needed. While he was a veterinarian, he had a few years of human med school under his belt as well. Just the basics. At least this way he had the ability to take care of a merman. He found everything he needed and went back to find Kai. It dawned on him, that he probably didn't need to tell the kid to wait... Considering he couldn't actually go any where.

"So I'll check your heart beat first, then your breathing. We'll go on from there." Does that sound ok?"

Kai only slightly nodded.

Daniel went on with the check up, which kind of felt awkward, considering Kai had no idea what was going on. It almost felt like Daniel was molesting him, but he was literately just doing his job. Nothing strange about this. "Breath deep for me."

Kai simply did what he was told. If only he had been this easy going when they first met. After Daniel checked him over, everything seemed fine. "Alright Kai. Looks like I can send you off with a clean bill of health."

"Huh?"

"You're perfectly healthy."

"Oh. Thank you, I had no idea you were a healer." Kai noted, looking like he was looking him over.

"A healer?" Daniel chuckled. "I've never been called that before."

"You are a bit young."

"Oh, I'm young. How old are you supposed to be?"

"I've heard that humans measure in years. I guess that would be twenty-one."

Seriously. Daniel would have pegged him for like seventeen. The more he talked, the more it confused him. 

"But what bout you, Daniel?"

"Oh. I'm twenty-seven."

"I thought you were younger." Kai dead panned.

"Is that a good thing?"

"Yes."

"Huh..Uh yeah ok..."Daniel said a bit awkwardly. "The storm is over... I should get you back to your tank. It can't be good for you to be out of the water, even with the towels."

Kai face instantly fell. Even though he hadn't really showed any emotion other that confusion and apathy... It was a big change.

"Yes... This is the longest I have been out of the water."

Yeah. That probably wasn't good. Daniel had been sure that he had been out of the water before. He didn't really have another choice. He had to get the kid out of the storm. Even so he hoped he didn't end up hurting him.

"I'll carry you, and when we get there, I can turn up the heater on your tank." Daniel smiled, offering Kai his hand. He was trying to be kind of up lifting, since he was literally taking the kid back to prison. He picked the kid up, and started off toward the tank. Kai was... So warm. He was gripping Daniel's shoulders tightly as well.

"Will... I see you again?" Kai asked in a quiet voice.

"Yeah. Of course you will." It was kind of his job. The kid squeezed him a little, it almost seemed like a hug. "If you want, I can bring more human food for you to try. Plus water and other drinks we have." Daniel smiled.

"Thank you... It gets kind of lonely there. I am not used to the silence." Kai admitted.

"Yeah, It gets kind of quite here. But if you still want to see me, maybe that will change a bit."

"It helps. I like to hear you speak."

"Then it's a good thing I talk so much." Daniel smiled and Kai leaned on his shoulder. Ok now he was defiantly hugging him.

Daniel was kind of sad to make it to the tank. He didn't want to leave the kid here. All alone. "Hey, when I get back from my rounds, I'll bring some human things, so you can see what they're like."

"That would be enjoyable. If you do not mind."

"Of course not. It'd be kind of fun to see your reaction." Daniel managed to climb the stairs, with out injury, and carefully got Kai into the water. There was of course a part of him that was afraid to be near the water with him. Of course he forgave the kid, considering he was just afraid... But you don't just forget about something like that. He had nearly killed Daniel. It never hurt to play it safe. "I'll be back later tonight. Err early tomorrow morning? Anyway I'll bring something for us to eat, and find what kind of foods you can keep around here." Daniel explained.

"Thank you. I look forward to meeting again." Kai sounded so formal. It was cute in a strange way. "Yeah. I'll see you later."

                                                                 __________________

Kai drifted around the tank he was in, completely bored and depressed. He had actually managed to talk to a human, so that was something. Daniel didn't want to hurt him and vice versa. If they could become close, maybe Kai could use him to get out of here. However he couldn't forget that there was a part of him that just wanted to see Daniel again. Maybe it was the loneliness talking. It was so quite, and it was driving him insane. Daniel took that away. He was so different from any others human, or like Kai. The way he smiled, the way he talked. The contact of the being so close together. 

When Kai had his weird sleeping episode, he had been leaning on Daniel's shoulder. He hadn't really thought much of it. But now, thinking about it, was kind of odd. Kai's kind barley even saw each other in the ocean, much less had contact out side of mating. Everything seemed so backwards here, but he couldn't really put much thought into it considering now he was thinking about Daniel being his mate. It was to late... Or maybe early for this.  Either way he was certainly not going down that path. Nope. no. No way. Libido be damned. 

"Hey Kai! Do you want to have dinner!" Daniel called from the other side of the tank.

Sometimes this land creature had great timing... other times not so much. Regardless, Kai swam over only slightly embarrassed. He didn't want Daniel to think he was ignoring him, Who else would bring him human food?