Third person pov

Atlantis wasn't sure why the blonde, skeletal man who looked rather sickly was gawking at him. Or why Recovery Girl seemed to utterly taken aback by the whole ordeal. Nezu seemed gleeful, staring directly at him with those beady eyes of his. Atlantis shared a nervous glance with Aizawa, trying to figure out what he'd said to make them react in such a way. Had he not understood the concept of surnames and somehow done it wrong? He didn't know. Shota didn't either, which made Atlantis think maybe this wasn't a normal human thing.

"We're happy to have you aboard, Atlantis. I'm sure you'll be a well-welcomed addition to our staff this year. Recovery Girl has been looking for help for years now." Nezu broke the silence that had descended upon everyone, folding one paw over the other in a posh manner. Atlantis nodded on instinct, eyes flitting around and taking everyone in as they stared at him and Shota. He really didn't want to be here right now. He could already tell having a job here was going to be rather tiring, but at least it would help him learn more about this new world and how it functioned.

"Wait a minute now. I got some questions for Eraserhead." Snipe insisted, adjusting his position in his seat. There were a few murmurs of agreement. "I understand all that went on with the USJ and such, but when did you get engaged? And how'd he know you were in need of assistance?" 

Both were valid questions from the western-themed hero. Communications had been down at the time, so there wasn't a clear reason given forth as to how exactly Atlantis had known to come. Not only that, but none of them had even known Atlantis existed. That part wasn't all that surprising once you considered what a private person Shota was. He didn't share much anything about his social life. Getting him to come out for drinks was harder than getting Mic to be quiet was. 

Atlantis didn't know what to say. He didn't think telling him he was actually a mythical creature who'd enchanted a pearl that alerted hi to Shota's location and injury was the right way to go. However, lying didn't feel correct either. He'd never been in a situation like this before. With Shota and back when he was with his fellow merfolk, there'd been never been a reason for fake backstories or lies. Shota was safe. There was no danger in being honest with him, and it had been the same back before he was separated from his own kind.

"We met over the summer. As for how he knew I was in danger, that's in relation to his quirk. I'm not sure how it works, and he isn't either. He hasn't used his power much." Aizawa spoke levelly and in such a sure tone, Atlantis surely would've believed him if he hadn't already been aware of the truth. "You didn't know about him before because my personal life is none of your business. All you need to know is that we're getting married and that he'll be working here."

"Are you sure we can trust someone so soon after this attack? I'm not trying to discount you or your taste or your word, Eraserhead, but this is a sensitive time. Adding new, strange staff could be received poorly by the press and by the parents of our students." Cementoss presented forth several valid points. Atlantis frowned, gaze dropping to his hands. Was there a way to prove to them he was truthful, and meant to harm? He really only wished to help.

Merfolk went off of swears. In Atlantis' culture, your word was everything, and not something easily broken. When one broke a promise-- an official one-- it negatively impacted them greatly. They'd feel a harsh sting, and the ocean would turn against them for a time, if not for life. There was nothing more powerful or more heavy than the things you said. Atlantis knew that, and the ocean did too. But did the humans? It sure didn't seem like it. 

Aizawa twitched visibly at the questions. He knew it wasn't a direct attack on Atlantis. Or at least, it wasn't meant to be. Cementoss had been there in response to the USJ. He'd seen firsthand the damage, having to watch the many students filter out in fear. All Might, beat down and at his weakest for the first time in a long time. He'd been forced to dash right into the fray of something that had been traumatic for all who'd experienced it. Thinking too hard about it reminded Aizawa of the crack of his bones snapping, and the blinding pain. The fearful expressions his students wore as they watched him lose. 

As they watched him die. 

"Without Atlantis, I would have died." Aizawa said after a moment. Everyone had been waiting for him to speak. He was the only one here who really knew Atlantis, and they would take him at his word. They just wanted to know if this was the right decision for the school. They couldn't be faulted for having such rational concerns, Shota supposed. That didn't make the questions any less irritating. Next to him, the merman flinched. "I trust him with my life. I trust him with the lives of my students. I don't tend to trust people with things. I do them myself, because that's more reliable. But with Atlantis... if it came down to it, I know he'd save the students."

There was silence for a moment. Shota wasn't known to be a talker, and he was far from a touchy-feely sort of person. The man's gaze was still steely, but he'd reached over and taken his fiance's hand. It gave a new meaning to his hard look. Atlantis blinked at Shota, feeling his nerves begin to melt away. This was a new side to him, certainly, but not necessarily unwelcomed. There was something comforting about how harsh he appeared. Atlantis liked having someone so solid and sure on his side. He'd feel lost otherwise.

"...See! There's nothing to worry about. If anything, the press will be relieved to find we have another healer on staff." Nezu smiled pleasantly. Atlantis found himself staring at the rodent-like creature. He wasn't sure what to think of him. Such a weird aura radiated from him. It wasn't bad-- the principal definitely cared. He was just... different. Was all. Again, not in a bad way! Atlantis had simply never felt anything like him before. That could be said for everyone in the room seeing as Atlantis had experienced limited contact with anything or anyone with around his level of intelligence or higher. Nezu was just... different. That was all he could say. Different.

"One with a quirk more extensive and effective than my own, at that." Recovery Girl added in, seeming to get over her shock at his last name reveal. He still didn't understand that. That was his clan name! Given to him by his parents. Like Aizawa had gotten his from his father. Was that not how it normally worked? No, no, that couldn't be it. Perhaps the man had recognized it. Speaking of the man, he looked rather sickly. He didn't feel well in the least. Did he need to be healed? Had he been at the USJ, and gotten hurt?

Things winded down and the meeting ended. Aizawa was up and pulling Atlantis up with him before anyone could stop them. Shooting a glare at Mic to cut off what he was trying to say, he guided Atlantis towards the door. The merman let himself be dragged without complaint, but he found his eyes straying. He locked his sea green eyes with a pair of vibrant blue ones, sunken in by illness and time. He felt his feet drag as his gaze lingered on that distraught one. That was the man who'd coughed up blood. Was he hurt? Did he need to be healed? Atlantis was pretty sure that was his job now... or did he start monday?

"We need to get you some proper clothes, Atlantis." Aizawa noted as they left the room, out of earshot of anyone who may try to listen in. "And you know that sandwich I brought you once? The one I called a hamburger!"

Atlantis immediately perked up at the familiar word. He'd known what a sandwich was, but never a hamburger. He pushed the thoughts and concerns about the sickly man aside. He could surely ask that kind Recovery Girl woman about it monday. He'd some such a long way so fast! Talking to a human! One aside from Shota! He knew all Humans couldn't be bad. In fact, these ones had been quite nice and very welcoming all things considered. Aside from those villains who'd dared attack a group of children, and moreover, Atlantis' one true love in life. If he ever came across them, he'd be sure to toss them in the sea to be left and the mercy of the waves.

"Y-Yes, I recall!" Atlantis nodded eagerly, and Shota smiled for the first time since they'd gotten here. He wasn't sure it really counted, seeing as they were leaving. 

"We should go get one after we get you some shoes. If you want." Shota shrugged. Atlantis nodded eagerly, cheeks puffing out slightly in anticipation. Shota chuckled once more, making his face flush slightly. It didn't used to do that when he had his tail. The water always lowered his body temperature. He felt as though he were running a lot warmer here, even if his body did seem to be struggling against the minor breeze wracking through the air. Even with a primarily human physique, some things never changed, he supposed.

"Yes, please!" Atlantis agreed, lacing his hand with Shota's. Shota felt himself grin a little wider, gazing down at Atlantis as they exited the school. Nothing beat this, the man was sure. If the ocean was a person, it would be Atlantis. Aizawa was sure of this, and it was just another thing he adored about his new fiance. That, and watching him turn the sink on and off with a look of utmost amazement on his face.

"We better get moving, then." Shota lifted him up right off his feet, and he let out a squawk of surprise. Aizawa gave an amusement snort. "We don't have all day."

Atlantis laughed as they took off down the street, tossing his arms around Aizawa's neck and trying to think of a time when he may've ever been happier than he was right now. Looking back, he couldn't find a memory. Not a single one. And... he was okay with that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The teachers, chattering about Aizawa's sudden shift in attitude and Atlantis, filtered from the conference room. All Might, Recovery Girl, and Nezu were the only ones who remained in their seats. All Might kept his gaze on the table the whole time, not able to bring himself to look up. That name kept filtering through his head. Atlantis Shimura. He didn't recognize the young man in the least. Though, looking closer at his face as he walked by with Aizawa, he couldn't help but spot what looked like similarities between his mentor's facial structure and Atlantis'. Was he imagining it?

"There's no record of him, you know." Nezu spoke, drawing Recovery Girl's attention, and the gaze of the number one pro. Toshinori blinked a bit as the rodent sipped his tea. "He doesn't legally exist! It's perplexing, really. It's almost as though he popped up out of nowhere. I've only ever seen something like it a few times, but not to this extent." 

"He's got to be only a few years younger than Aizawa. There's no way he doesn't have some sort of paper trail." All Might spoke.

"Toshinori is right. What about his birth certificate? Or social security number?" Recovery Girl fretted slightly, frowning. Nezu said things, most of the time, in a fairly literal sense. Him saying there was no record of him and that he hadn't really existed prior... well, it wasn't a coincidence. The super-genius was seldom ever wrong. 

"Nothing!" Nezu chirped cheerfully, as though this were a good thing. "But Eraserhead trusts him, and he hasn't given me a reason to doubt him yet. I want to see how this will go. Especially with this new revelation of his last name!"

"It's probably just a coincidence." Toshinori said before he could stop himself. He almost wanted it to be a coincidence, on one hand. On the other... he didn't.

"I think we both know that's probably not the case." Nezu smiled into his cup of tea. "But I suppose we'll just have to wait and see for sure."

Toshinori felt a sense of foreboding overtake him. He couldn't tell if that was a good thing or a bad one.

~~~

AreinYuni did this amazing illustration of Atlantis! I absolutely love her art style and the way she drew him. It's literally the cutest thing ever and just--- GAH LOOK Y"'ALL I JUST LOVE IT SJDKLS. Thank you so much for this!!! Seriously, I can't express my love for it like, at all.