Phoenix smiled. It was a surprisingly human smile, one that crinkled the corners of his eyes and warmed his face. It's honestly the first flicker of hope to get out that he's had since getting here.

It's unclear if this is impulsive or just a natural thing for something like him, but he reaches out, his webbed hand glistening from the water, and he cups Arthur's cheek. His fingers come down to claws good for hooking into sand, and his skin is slick with water, but his hand is warm. Just as warm as any human's hand.

"Thank you," he says, and his voice is warm. He'd say more--Phoenix, when he's not stuck in an experimental facility, is usually bursting with things to say--but his throat hurts and he should conserve his energy. He pulls his hand away and sinks back into the tank, curling up at the floor again but this time with more light in his eyes.