Ash’s ribs felt bruised from the force of his heart pounding against them. Coby sat up straight in bed, propped up by the extra pillows brought to him by the nurse Ash had argued with the day before. To his relief, she was far more accommodating, pleasant even, giving her name as Kim Grimes. She was polite and helpful, answering all of Ash’s questions regarding Coby’s physical state and the injuries he’d received while Abel questioned the boy about the events on the beach.

While Abel received very little on his end, what Ash got made his stomach turn. He kept glancing back at the merman, devastated at the amount of damage he had received in the attacks against him. When she’d finished, Kim tucked a long strand of blonde hair behind her ear, casting a sorrowful glance Coby’s way.

“Most mythics can heal from even worse than what he received, but for some reason, his energy doesn’t seem to be flowing the way it should,” she said. She held her elbows, sighing softly. “I’m no mythic myself, but even I know what to look for.”

“A human would have died from all that,” Ash said quietly. 

“Without a doubt,” Kim agreed with a nod. “My guess is he did manage to heal himself on a basic level once he broke the surface, but wasn’t able to keep going once he reached shore. Whatever happened on that beach, it stopped his energy from moving.”

Ash had to admit that made sense. Coby still couldn’t even cover himself in his shadow scales, and the thin barrier he’d attempted the day before was also absent. 

“He’s going to be here a while, isn’t he?”

“He is,” she said. “If he can’t get his energy to respond, it could be months before he’s able to go home again.”

“What if we took him to the sea?” he asked suddenly, searching her pretty round face, her hazel eyes accentuated by a small amount of eyeliner and mascara. “Would that help?”

“I’m not sure. It’s possible the magic they derive from the water could stimulate the energy within him, but I wouldn’t put money on it.” She nodded at the clear fluid in the bag hanging near the head of Coby’s bed. “The saline we’re giving him doesn’t seem to be having much effect outside of basic hydration.”

“Saline isn’t sea water, Kim,” he pointed out. “The sodium chloride isn’t nearly enough to activate any of his basic merman functions, let alone his energy flow and magic.”

“It’s fine sea salt, but you’re right,” she said. “It’s the standard formula used in every hospital around the world, even the Embers Medical Centers and universities. Doctor Yancy requested a higher concentrated saline, but was denied. They said there weren't enough patients from the water world to warrant such an amount. Sad to say, they're right. We haven’t even had sirens show up in Marina Bay or the surrounding areas in decades, if not longer.”

She cast her gaze back to Coby. “After what happened yesterday, I did some reading on merpeople, trying to reeducate myself. We were so ignorant, so fixated on treating him like we do any other patient, we failed to recognize that he isn’t a regular patient. The way the healers treat their own is far different than what we’re used to.”

Ash nodded. “They use magic and natural remedies, even encouraging the patient to draw on their own energies to aid the process along.”

“When the patient is unconscious, a close family member is usually involved, reciting prayers and recitations the patient obviously can’t speak. Everything they say and do has a meaning, even the parts of the body they can and can’t touch.” Her eyes lingered on the two braids that sat just in front of Coby’s right ear. “Including their hair adornments.”

Ash’s eyebrow twitched. “I hope you apologized for that,” he said not unkindly.

She nodded. “I absolutely did,” she said. “I even gave him some extra fruit as a peace offering.” She chuckled softly. “I’ve only ever seen a smile like that on a little kid’s face.”

“I guess that means he forgives you,” Ash smiled.

“Not completely, but it’s a start,” she smiled in return. She squeezed his arm. “I need to get back to my rounds but I’ll be sure to check in on him frequently.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that,” Ash said. He watched her leave, then joined Abel at Coby’s side. “Hey,” he said to the merman whose tired expression lifted when he caught Ash’s gaze.

“Hey,” he responded in his soft voice. “Did Nurse Kim tell you she brought me extra fruit as a way of apology?”

Ash chuckled softly. “Yeah she did,” he said, smiling down at him. “Maybe she has a little crush on you.”

Coby wrinkled his nose. “Ew, no thank you,” he grimaced, drawing a grin from the Sheriff. “What is it that humans say?” He brought a finger to his chin. “Mm…Keena shu-eh.”

Ash snorted, covering his mouth to hide the wide grin that spread on his lips. Abel looked between the two.

“What?” he asked, lost on the joke.

“‘Girls are gross,’” Ash translated. There was a fluttering in his stomach, one that caused his heart to skip. If he were to guess from that reaction alone, Coby didn’t like girls. He liked boys, just like Ash did.

Abel chuckled good-naturedly. “Don’t let my daughters hear you say that, they might get upset.”

“I won’t,” Coby promised with a small smile.

“So,” Abel said, getting back to business, his tablet on his knees. “You said those men chased you from the water and onto the shore, is that correct?”

Coby’s expression fell, becoming dark and sullen. “Yes,” he said. “I was attacked in the caverns first, driven out by Da-Hana and his men.”

“Is Da-Hana one of the victims on the beach?”

Coby’s eyes darkened and he clutched the blanket in his lap. “He is one I defended myself against, yes,” he replied coldly.

“What about the other merman?”

“Da-Sama, his cousin. There was a third but he was struck down in the escape.”

“When you say struck down,’ do you mean you—”

“Took his life to save my own.”

Ash couldn’t help but notice the way Coby’s lips twisted, as though he were trying hard to fight back some invisible pain. His throat worked and his shoulders jumped slightly.

“Do you need a bucket?” he asked quickly, reaching for a curved pink plastic container nearby.

Coby hesitated before shaking his head. “No, thank you,” he whispered.

Abel frowned, his heart heavy with sympathy. It wasn’t easy to kill someone, no matter what the reason may have been. He’d seen other men, men the same age as Coby and older, who’d vomited on the battlefield after taking the lives of their enemies. One of his old army buddies still had episodes where he would get violently ill when he thought of the things he’d had to do.

For far too many, war didn’t end on the frontlines.

“Can I get you some water?” he asked Coby gently. The boy nodded and Ash poured him a cup, handing it to Abel who passed it to the merman. Coby took a hesitant sip, the color coming back into his face a moment later.

“Thank you,” he said, keeping his gaze on the cup in his now shaking hands. 

After another long beat, Abel said, “You don’t like fighting, do you?”

“No.”

“Yet, you managed to fight off four people, killing them all in the process.”

“I had to…”

“I know you did, son,” Abel said gently, patting his covered knee. “What I need to know is why. And if you knew who those men were.”

Coby’s chin trembled and he gripped the cup tightly. “I did not know those men,” he said shortly. 

“Did they know you?”

“No.”

“Did they know Da-Hana?”

Coby said nothing.

Abel’s head tilted slightly, waiting. “Do you think they were working together, maybe?”

The water in the cup began to ripple. Ash sat on the edge of the bed in front of his father, and gently took it from his hands, careful not to touch him, and placed it back on the tray.

“Hey,” he said softly. Coby’s gaze slowly met his. “You can trust my dad, Coby. He just wants to help you. We both do.”

A look passed over Coby’s face, one that lingered in his eyes before fading away quickly. “You can’t,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry, Ash, but…”

“Kid, if we can find out who these men were, we can make sure whoever they might have worked for don’t try and finish what they started,” Abel said, doing his best to keep his voice level. “The last thing I want, what either of us want, is for someone else to come looking for you.”

Coby still refused to say anything, keeping his gaze fixed on Ash’s. He knew Abel was only looking out for his well-being, finally accepting as truth that what he had done on the beach was what Coby had said it was, self-defense and survival. Still, it didn’t ease the growing fear within him, the fear that said Abel was right, that what those men had said before Coby killed them was true; they wouldn’t stop coming for him or the Flame. 

Coby was at a loss, unsure of what he should do. He didn’t want the men to find him, and he sure as hell didn’t want the Flame to fall into their hands. He also didn’t want Abel, and therefore Ash, to get involved in this. And yet, maybe Abel could do something to stop them, to keep them from finding him. If Abel were to at the very least stall the men from getting close, Coby could get the Flame to the temple as planned.

But Ash…what if they learned of Ash and came for him, too?

“Coby,” Ash’s voice sang through his blood, warming him from the inside. “Let me help you.”

Coby’s breath hitched in his throat, not only seeing the concern for Coby in his eyes, but feeling it in his energy, smelling it on his skin. Without realizing he was doing it, he let his head fall forward, resting it on Ash’s chest, just under his collarbone.

Ash didn’t tense, didn’t move away. His hand rested on the bed across Coby’s lap, and he leaned forward slightly, letting Coby relax more fully into him.

“They made a deal with Da-Hana,” Coby finally said. “He and his men sold me to the humans for protection and money.”

“What the hell, why?” Ash exclaimed, his fist curling in his lap. 

Coby shook his head. “I can’t…” he took a shuddering breath, deciding it was best to be as honest as possible. “They were part of a group of people who traded in flesh. Mythics, especially merfolk, are valuable.”

Ash felt his father tense behind him.

“If Da-Hana gave me to them, they would ensure no other traders would come for the rest of my tribe, that we would be protected.”

“But why you?” Abel asked. “What made you special from the rest?”

Because of what I carry.

“That I can’t say…” He buried his head deeper into Ash’s chest. “I’m sorry.”

“Coby—”

“Dad.” Ash’s sharp tone stopped Abel in his tracks, telling him in no uncertain terms to let it go. He could feel Coby trembling violently against him, his shirt becoming wet with Coby’s tears. Abel sighed heavily and got to his feet, and glanced down at his son. Ash met his gaze, his eyes hard. “That should be enough for now, don’t you think?”

Abel clenched his jaw but didn’t bother to argue. There was no point, especially when he knew his son was right. He finally had a lead, one he had to follow up on…one he thought he’d never have to chase again. He nodded.

“I’ll head back to the station,” he said, tucking his tablet into his pocket. “You were cleared to miss your morning classes, but don’t miss the rest, understand?”

Ash nodded his understanding and turned away, ducking his head against Coby’s, his arm going around his waist. Abel left the two boys that way, closing the door softly behind him.

Coby’s hands went to the front of Ash’s shirt, his fingers curling into fists around the fabric. Ash instinctively held him closer, not saying anything. He only hoped this one small act, this show of protectiveness, was enough to let Coby know that he was safe with him, that he could trust him. 

That message seemed to have gotten through, because it wasn’t long before Coby’s hands slid from his chest and around his back, holding him close. He turned his head and took a deep breath, letting Ash’s scent invade him, calming him.

After a moment, he whispered one simple word. “Stay.”

Ash smiled into his hair. “I’ll get in trouble.”

A beat. “So?”

Ash chuckled softly. “Scoot over.” 

Coby released him, a wide grin on his face as Ash kicked off his shoes and tossed his jacket on a nearby chair. He crawled under the covers next to his new friend, mindful of the bandages and wires and pulled his phone from his pocket, tapping the screen a few times.

“What kind of music do you like?” Ash asked, pulling up his music app.

“I don’t really know,” Coby chuckled shyly. “I don’t think what we play you can listen to up here.” 

“That’s okay,” Ash said, scrolling through multiple playlists and genres until he found something he hoped might be equivalent to the music of the Sarathians; instrumental and haunting, yet beautiful and ethereal. As it began, he looked to Coby for approval. The merman smiled. “Yeah?”

Coby nodded. “I like it.”

Ash set the phone upside down on the tray so the music could fill the room. “What else do you like?”

For the next few hours, the two sat and talked, getting to know one another, laughing until Coby hurt. 

When Kim Grimes came in around one or so in the afternoon to check on her patient, she found the boys sound asleep, Coby’s head resting on Ash’s shoulder, Ash’s face buried in the soft blue hair. Kim smiled and took out another blanket from the cupboard, gently covering the both of them. Before she left, she took up Coby’s chart and wrote a simple note, updating the doctor on the patient’s progress.

Patient’s facial injuries fully healed. Abrasions and bruises on left arm fully healed. Advise removal of bandage on right temple and further examination of surgical areas to determine extent of any further healing.

She closed the door gently behind her, opting not to inform Sheriff Turner that his son was still there, skipping classes to be with a boy he liked.

**