The whole way back, Tracker kept a tight hold of Marshall's hand. If that wasn't possible, their pinkies were interlocked.

He didn't want to let go again.

Marshall couldn't help but smile when he saw the almost childlike expression of curiosity on his partner's face. Even when they reached Adventure Bay, leaving the airport, the shorter looked around like he was seeing everything for the first time.

By now, he was exhausted, and being carried on his boyfriend's hip as the four ventured home again.

Tracker still hadn't spoken. He nodded and shook his head in response to questions which was good enough for Marshall and Rocky.

Chase tried to make him laugh by asking really stupid questions but what made Tracker smile was actually Rocky scolding him for it.

"Okay," Rocky sighed as they walked into the house, dumping their bags in the hall. "I'll start dinner - it's already late."

"Let me do it, Love." Chase kissed his cheek, making his partner smile.

Then frown as the brunette picked up a Chinese menu and the phone.

Marshall laughed at the two and looked to his side when he felt Tracker wiggle around, indicating he wanted to be put down.

"Better?" He asked as the shorter's feet touched the floor. He got a nod in reply. They decided to go to their room while Chase and Rocky arranges food, that way, Tracker could start to make himself more comfortable in the space again.

The taller held the door open and let his still silent partner step inside and look in the room. Marshall watched as he took everything in, looking at the photos scattered around the room, the string lights that were currently turned off, the books on his nightstand and his phone that still resided beside them.

Marshall smiled a little. He interrupted Tracker's exploration briefly.

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom real quick, okay?"

Tracker looked panicked for a second.

"Hey, it's okay, it only there," Marshall pointed to the door behind him. "and I'll be right back. I promise." The smaller of the two chewed his thumbnail before holding out his pinky finger to his boyfriend.

Marshall laughed softly and looped his with Tracker's. The green-eyed smiled and nodded. Letting his partner go while he readjusted to their room.

While he looked around, his eyes landed upon his guitar. Still on its stand - untouched for three years. It was almost calling him over. He sat down and just stroked his fingers over the surface. He missed the feeling of the instrument, the strings against his fingers.

Why don't you play? Didn't that always make you feel better?

But you'd have to ask first.

It's your own guitar.

Nothing belongs to you. Not even your own body anymore.

Tracker you're home and safe now. It will take time but you can try to get back to normal.

Ha! Normal? You have no chance of being normal again!

"Stop." He whispered, hands reaching up to his hair and over his face.

It was the first time he'd spoken since being found.

The small voices continued to torment him.

"Detener*, detener, please." He whimpered, his first language slipping from his mouth as tears welled up in his eyes and rolled down his cheeks.

"Tracker?" Came a caring voice from the door. He looked up from where he was curled up on the floor to see Marshall looking at him with worried eyes. "What's wrong, Baby?" He walked over and opened his arms, frowning when Tracker shied away, shaking his head.

"I heard you saying something," Marshall cooed, taking Tracker's hand - the only real contact they had managed aside from being carried. "You can talk to me."

"Lo siento**, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm-"

"Woah, woah, woah. What're you sorry for?" Marshall interrupted gently.

"I didn't ask before doing something. I-I broke a r-rule."

Marshall let the words sink in before his expression softened again.

He started to understand what his boyfriend had gone through without knowing any details about it.

"Oh Honey," he cooed, reaching his hand up to the others face. Tracker shrunk away. "No, no. I'm just getting rid of these tears." His lover assured. Tracker stayed still.

He didn't show any further emotion but he took in the feeling of his boyfriend's palm cupping his cheek - caring and almost foreign. He felt the thumb glide smoothly under his eye, catching stray tears that fell.

"Never, ever, ever apologise for what you have gone through. It wasn't your fault at all. And please don't feel like you have to ask before doing anything. You don't have rules to follow now. I know it's gonna take some adjusting for you but you don't have to live like that anymore."

Tracker nodded in reply. Marshall kissed his knuckles and kept a tight hold of his boyfriend's hand.

"I love you Princess." He smiled, using what he remembered to be Tracker's favourite pet name.

However, that pet name now filled him with fear and dread. His eyes went wide and he shrunk back.

Marshall immediately noticed the change.

"No, I'm sorry. I won't call you that anymore. Would that be better?" Tracker nodded.

"Okay." Marshall smiled. "Like I said, it's gonna be an adjustment, but I'll be with you each step of the way."

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

* stop
* I'm sorry