" Kongpob ! "

the terrified wail jerked Kong out of the his sleep. His senses momentarily filled with a deja vu. Like he had heard the blood curling scream before , in the same voice. The black clad figure fell in to the never ending abyss whose end Kong couldn't see but its dreary chill filled his senses, surrounding him in its ominicity - only for a moment.

Suddenly, he was out of the haze. His senses sharp as tack, mind clear like summer sky.

He snapped his eyes open , only to find the room drowning in dark abyss. The pale silver beams of moonlight filtering through the light grey curtains did nothing much to eliminate the darkness in the room.

" Arthit " he called out, his hand shot out to his side searching for his mobile.

" Kong...pob - " he got the stuttered reply followed by the whimper that only increased Kong's anxiousness to find stupid piece of technology to emit some light in to the room .

Exaggerated sense of elation filled him as soon as his fingertips grazed against the flat screen of his mobile.

" Arthit... calm down. You are safe. " Kong yelled out, jumping down the bed and tripping on his feet in the very next second.

" Arthit hates dark. " Arthit whimpered and Kong didn't took another second to think about anything else than running straight to merman's side.

Not that he had to run a very long distance . Twenty five steps and he was in to the bathroom, standing near the bathtub the merman was in.

" Arthit..." Kong flashed the light on the merman curled at the bottom of bathtub.
" Come out Arthit..." Kong coaxed
but the merman didn't budge an inch, his form coiled tightly around itself. Under the little light of mobile torch, Kongpob could see Arthit's tail that had turned sickly shade of grey -lacking its bright colours and blinding shine .

Dread filled Kongpob's heart.

Mermen turn grey when they are dying .

" Arthit ..." Kong sat on his knees, dipping his free hand in the bathtub , he gently caressed curve of Arthit's clothed shoulder. Sharp pain of rejection stabbed through his heart as Arthit scooted away from his touch.

" Oon...look here ...Its me ... Kong... "

Arthit turned his head, surprised, eyes big as puppy " Kongpob! "

" Yes... ," Kong nodded. " Its me. Kongpob. Your friend ... your ma...master. " Kongpob stuttered at last word, still not used to calling himself as Arthit's master.

" How do you know Arthit's nickname is Oon ? Arthit never told you 😯"

" I... " Kong didn't know what to answer... " I just know "
he faintly remember calling Arthit as oon, in his dream. The name came easily to him as if he has known it since forever.. and now that he thinks - it definitely suited Arthit the most.

Oon - warmth of the morning sunlight , the pleasant heat that everybody want themselves to be surrounded in.

" Master... Arthit scared " Arthit drew circles over the knuckles of Kongpob's hand that were still caressing Arthit's shoulder, staring hesitantly at Kong as if expecting rejection... Arthit gently locked their pinky together. " stay here master. Arthit don't like being alone in the dark. "

" Don't be afraid Oon... I am here. " Kong repeated. Letting their locked pinky stay together.

" You left Arthit alone ... before ..." Arthit pouted. " Arthit is sulking at master. " he complained, tightly locking their pinkies and grabbing Kongpob's hand with his free one as a precautionary measure. He didn't want to be alone in the dark but that didn't mean that he forgave his master .

" I am sorry na Arthit . " Kong coaxed to which Arthit nodded " You must be. Good master never leave pets alone. Arthit never left his sharks alone before Arthit's father took them from him 😔.

" Arthit doesn't like cold and dark " Arthit repeated, somehow Kongpob only now noticed that the sound travelled perfectly from water to air, without any loss.

" That is why I am here to share my light with you. " Kong waved his mobile phone, the bright white beam shook - creating enchanting patterns of sea green and blue on otherwise white roof of the room.

" Its safe under water. " Arthit mumbled " Arthit also have his sword."
and Kong realised , Arthit didn't want to come out yet... his brain was comforting him by providing illusion of being home ... being underwater...

Rational part of him wanted to just sit there and keep Arthit company while merman rested in his regular abode. But the other part - the major one - wanted to be in Arthit's safe space .

He shouldn't invade merman's personal space . Especially not when Arthit is this vulnerable ... but seeing the otherwise jolly merman in such a pitiful state - he couldn't hold back.

" Arthit ...may I come in ? " He asked , hesitating " Will you share ur bathtub with me ? " ... his voice still uncertain ... fearing the merman would say 'no'.

" Master 🥺... " Arthit whimpered, instantly scooting back...making space for Kongpob on one end.

Carefully, one leg after another , Kong gently sat down - reminding himself repeatedly to not do something rash like pulling the merman in his arms and scare the living daylights out of him.

" Oon ... " Kongpob focused on Arthit, determined to ignore the silver sword laying beneath his thigh "do you know what humans do when they are scared ? "

Shaking his head in denial , Arthit - still coiled around himself ... even tightly than before, threw a questioning stare at Kongpob.

" Want me to show you ? " Kong asked opening his arms in an invitation for hug, seeing the merman still looking at him questioningly and little confused , Kong smiled " come here... let me show you.🤗 "

Despite the cramped space, Arthit's tail uncoiled gracefully, he slowly raised his head above water and looked at Kongpob who had his arms still open...

" Humans have comforting ritual ? "

Kongpob nodded encouragingly, stretching his arms forward, his smile wider than before.

Wordlessly, Arthit approached Kongpob, settling himself between Kong's parted legs and one of his hands on Kong's knee, he rested his head on Kong's bare shoulder. Kong wound his arms around the merman. His left hand coming up to pat the soft raven locks that had suddenly decided to grow shoulder length.

Surprisingly , nothing out of ordinary about the merman was surprising him tonight.

" Arthit wants to know human comforting ritual. " Arthit mumbled, curling himself in Kongpob's embrace, making himself look small.

" Humans hug when their loved ones are scared . " Kong whispered.

" And ? "

" Keep them close ... " Kong ran his fingers through the soft hairs " talk to them... be with them snd make a safe home in their arms. "

"And ? "

" Do you want me to do something else , Arthit ? Do mermans comfort differently ? "

" Arthit doesn't know much about other mers ☹... Arthit was never allowed mer friends. Only Arthit's  mae and Ai Knot hugged Arthit ... Arthit's other friend, Ai Prem, is crab - his hug cuts Arthit's skin and Ai Toot is sting ray - it hurts very much 😢.
Masters hug is very warm... Arthit likes human comforting ritual 🥰. "

" I'm glad . " Kong answered, feeling little tired. It looks like the exhaustion of the day was finally catching up on him. Yet he smiled seeing colour returning to Arthit's scale- although very little but the change was noticeable.  Merman

" Kongpob " Arthit looked expectantly at Kongpob " Does master know 'soothing the pain' ritual ? Arthit's body has very much pain😭. "

" Your limbs are aching ? " Kong asked to which Arthit nodded vigorously.
" let me give you a massage 😊".

Arthit stretched his palm open " quickly give me master... Arthit is in very much pain.... "

Kong stared at him gobsmacked.

" Arthit ... it is not a thing that i will give you... let me just show ...its easier that way.

Kong made Arthit lean on his chest " relax Oon, let me take care of you. "

Arthit instantly relaxed.Kong ran his fingers over smooth muscles of Arthit's shoulder line. Although Arthit looked delicate, his muscles were firm. Pressing pads of his fingers against muscles of Arthit's shoulder, Kong started kneading the muscles, working the kinks out of it .

" feeling good ? "

" very good master. " Arthit replied, eyes closed in bliss. " massage ritual is magic, master. "

" Is it ? " Kong chuckled. " i am done with your back . Your hands are in pain too ? "

" No master... but Arthit's nipples are paining ... sweetly. Can you massage it ? "

" No... Arthit 😬"

" its paining master 😠"

" only flat muscles can be massaged , Arthit . " Kong lied through his teeth.

" That's very sad, master ☹. Humans should make nipple massage too... " Arthit frowned, sad for his poor nipples

.......

Although Arthit's body still had dull ache coursing through it, he was content. His master was holding him, taking care of him.
He clung to Kongpob, burying his nose deeply in crook of his master's neck. The otherwise ' too faint to pick up' human scent suddenly becoming alluring beacon of comfort,oddly soothing and utterly desirable -
Arthit wanted more of it .

It chased away the chill of his nightmares, making the dreary darkness of the dungeons he once lived in and again relived today - fade in to background .

He has never given much thought to Kongpob's scent , human scent is weaker compared to other species. But, now that he has smelled it- it reminds him of warm hugs of his mother, giggling laugh of p'Kit, white wings of angel, strong grip of his sword, strong arms of Ai Knot - everything that makes him feel safe, everything known, everything home.

Home ...

It reminds him of his home that is miles away from this place ... he doesn't even know which direction his home is from here.😟☹

Arthit is lost on this big earth land😪😔

A sudden pang of homesickness hit him brutally. He missed his home more than ever. His mother would be devastated... does his father miss him ? Or he banned him from sea , like he did to P'Kit ?

What if he really did ban Arthit ?😱😫 ?

Arthit can never step foot in the sea! Will never see his mae ? And his pet shark ? His friend Ai Prem and Ai Toota and Ai Knot !

A sob tore out of his throat thinking of his home.

" Don't, merman - " tucking a finger under merman's chin, Kong raised his head " Don't cry. You have barely shed the gray scales , i don't want you turning grey again.... Besides, Tears don't suit you. "

" Arthit doesn't want to cry ... sadness kills, Kongpob ... but Arthit misses his mae, Kongpob. Arthit wants mae...😭"

" Shh... " Kong wiped the tears rolling down Arthit's cheek " i know na. Everybody misses their mom when away from home. But, you will see her after going home na..."

" Arthit can't😫😭. Arthit doesn't know the way. "

" I will take you to your home... i promise. "

" Master knows the way to Arthit's home 😳🥺? "

" No, but I will find out." Kong vowed
" No matter what happens "

" Really master🥺🤗? You can find out the way ? "

" I don't know if I can. But , I know I will not give up until I find way to your home and take you to meet your mom... This is my promise to you..."

" Master....🥺😙" Arthit wound his arms around Kongpob, hugging him within an inch of his life " Arthit is grateful ..." he planted a big smooch on Kong's cheek. " Accept Arthit's love..."

Kong chuckled, finally happy to make Arthit's smile return " You don't have to thank me na.. "

" Arthit must .... master will take him home ... Do you know how happy Arthit is Kongpob ? "

Kong shook his head in denial , deliberately prompting the merman to return being himself - naughty, cheeky , slightly selfish and utterly bewitching .

" Arthit is this much happy 🙆... " Arthit stretches his hands behind his shoulder line, almost making them meet backwards.

Seeing Arthit's childish antics,Kongpob laughed genuinely. Arthit turned his eyes towards Kongpob ....

" Master 😍...Arthit's heart is having so much love for you 😘... Arthit must give it to you, before it bursts out ... "

" oh ... " Kongpob faked innocent . " How are you gonna give me so much love, oon ? "

" Like this..." Arthit latched his lips to Kongpob, pressing them hard against Kong's.

Arthit groaned in protest as Kong tried to pull back " let Arthit give all the love before Arthit's chest bursts with so much love ,Kongpob🤗🙃. "