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[protective_logic]

Anything is welcome. Just let me know if you want him as an AI or person in the first post

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[protective_logic]

It was a weird way to start, but Delta was set to listen. Trust. This was about trust. So he let himself walk through it, close to York. Walk. Wade. Get used to the water? Maybe, but he can't be certain.

"Okay, so... why?"

Damn, he asked.

[depthlesslock]

'To get a feel for the water. How it moves around you, the general weight of it, and assuring yourself that your feet can touch the bottom the whole way there an back.'

He won't be taking Delta out of his depth this time, but the reassurance will hopefully make him feel safer and more confident.

[protective_logic]

Really? Okay, he can understand that argument. And he moves through the water and thinks about what York said. Simple. Easy. He won't slip, and if he did the water would catch him. Or York would. Good? Okay.

[depthlesslock]

York walks with him. Staying close enough to catch him if he slips, but not crowding him. It's careful progress and York let's Delta set the pace.

'Good job! he says as they reach the other side. 'How was that?'

[protective_logic]

"I've walked in pools before, but I tried to look for what you said. And maybe... it wasn't all that bad."

Made sense, and he liked things that had a logical sense to them. However he still wanted to move on from this. "Is this all we're going to do today? I hope not."

[depthlesslock]

'That's good.' They're not starting from scratch, but it's good to get an image of where Delta is in all this.

'Nope. Now we're going to get you floating. Lean back into me and I'll hold you while you get your legs up. I won't let your head go underwater.'

[protective_logic]

For a moment Delta hesitates. He swallows and looks away for half a moment. Then he nods briefly in agreement. He turns his back to York and takes a deep breath before leaning back against York. The warmth of his body is weird juxtaposed against the cold of the water. But he leans back and has to trust that York will be there.

[depthlesslock]

For a moment, York wonders if Delta will refuse, but then he nods and York sets his feet a bit further apart, arms out. As Delta leans back, he catches him under his arms arms nd eases him back the rest of the way, keeping his head and upper torso out of the water and against his stomach.

'Good. Now kick your legs up a bit and keep kicking them a bit to stay up.'

[protective_logic]

"I thought floating was about just relaxing and letting the water do the work."

Were they already to kicking? Wouldn't that push York off balance? And then they would flail and be in the water and he wouldn't remember to float and...

Delta swallowed down his anxiety, closed his eyes and just tried what York said.

[depthlesslock]

'Humans float, but very few float perfectly. I always find my mid-section going down a bit. Kicking gently or swirling your hands a bit helps stay stable.'

He's doing well though. York holds him steasy and let's him set his own method.

[protective_logic]

"Muscle sinks, fat floats. Your midsection doesn't float well because you are trim."

Not that Delta has checked. Nope. Not while measuring York.

He focused on his floating, keeping his legs moving.

[depthlesslock]

'Huh, that makes sense.' And Delta's not chubby or particularly muscular, but he's keeping up pretty well.

'Alright, stop kicking for a moment just to see where you'll go naturally. I'm still holding you.'

[protective_logic]

Delta closes his eyes and tried not to hold his breath as he stopped kicking. His legs sank by only a bit. He wasn't very muscular so he didn't fully sink but his legs did droop in the water. But he could float, no denying.

[depthlesslock]

'Good. Okay, so if you find yourself in trouble before you get good at swimming, remember that you float in most waters. Get your face above water, spread out and use your hands and feet gently to stay up.'

[protective_logic]

"I know," Delta reminds him. He can mostly float on his own. For short periods. But try to move and he fails.

[depthlesslock]

'Yeah, you do,' he remembers with a wry smile. 'You okay if I let go of your head for five seconds, or would you rather I didn't?'

[protective_logic]

"I should be fine," Delta says, and he's sure that it's okay. Hopes it's okay. And when he looks up at York and sees that smile, he has to smile back. It's beautiful. Dammit, why did he choose someone who was clearly charming?

[depthlesslock]

Delta's face lights up whenever he smiles like that and York enjoys the sight. But they're doing something here and he carefully eases his hands out from under Delta's shoulders. 'I'm still right here, just let yourself float and keep your head up.'

[protective_logic]

The task set to him is a simple one. Didn't make Delta any less tense. But he did manage to achieve what was expected of him. Stayed floating, kept his head up. Like he said, he could float. But just barely that.

[depthlesslock]

York lets him float, watching his movements become a little more pronounced to keep himself up. He's doing well, though he dips a little in the water. York leaves him for a couple of minutes, staying close as promised, then slips his hands back under Delta's shoulders to support him again.

'Good job.'

[protective_logic]

Thank goodness the support was back. Could he please stand up again? When the hands are under his shoulders it is quiet clear he is shaking a little. Just a little. Clearly he wasn't too comfortable unless it was silly splashing in the shallows. But he was letting York do this so... yeah. Agreed to learn together, and he was going to trust York to not let him drown.

[depthlesslock]

Feeling the shaking, York lifts him a little further out of the water. He doesn't seem to be too shaken, but he doesn't want to overwhelm him with this.

'You did good,' he says. 'Do you want to call it a day there?'

[protective_logic]

"I think I need to relax now," Delta admits. "Uh... hot tub or floating toys?"

He might still have an inflatable alligator. Maybe.

[depthlesslock]

'Good plan,' he agrees. 'Which do you prefer? This is your relaxation.'

[protective_logic]

"Hot tub with floating toys," Delta decides. Yeah maybe he should admit that he's an immature kid in some ways. Which means he's going to pull a damn pool noodle over to the hot tub. Thanks. "You're welcome to join if you want."