Third person pov

They couldn't stay long. Kurogiri knew this, and he warned Tomura of such. The teen had ignored him, giving him a sour look before stepping through the man's warp gate, hoping whatever was on the other side would sate the nagging feeling that tugged at him with irritating consistency for as long as he could recall. 

The smell of fresh salt hit him first, washing over him like a cleansing rain and nearly knocking him off his feet. His eyes stretched open wide, his entire body going rigid and Kurogiri warped in beside him, dress shoes landing carefully on the damp sand. Shigaraki didn't react to his appearance, staring out at the crashing waters shakily. Kurogiri observed him with interest, wondering mildly if this had been a mistake, or perhaps not what the young man was looking for. A sliver of doubt gnawed at him. If Sensei ever found out what he was doing-- what he had already done-- he was sure he'd pay with his life.

Tomura had never thought hard about the ocean. He'd never seen it before, he realized now, gazing out at the endless mass of blue. His heart sung in a way he didn't realize it could, something inside of him unfurling and coming alive with bright vigor. The waves pushed themselves further, threatening to wrap around his shoes if he got any closer. It was like it was beckoning him, begging him to come in. Like an old friend who had missed him and wanted to wrap him up in a hug. It was such an odd thought, but it was too distinct not to be true. Tomura stood there for a moment, soaking it all up.

Kurogiri was silent, watching Tomura's expression shift more openly than he'd ever seen it. The boy was always so closed off, never giving away anything other than irritation. He seemed nearly at piece, his shoulders slouched and his arms hanging limply at his sides. He watched the young man soak in the line of the ocean and breathe in the fresh ocean air, exhaling slowly like he was breathing out all his worries and doubts. The warp gate user couldn't fathom why he had this reaction, or why All For One would want to keep Tomura from something like this. Something that brought him so much relief from the daily bouts of stress and severe anxiety he appeared to go through.

Tomura could hear something talking to him, but it wasn't using words. Something new and exuberant bubbled to life in his chest unbidden, spreading out with incredibly warmth and comfort he'd never before gotten to experience. He felt his eyes begin to dampen. He wondered when he'd last felt the urge to cry. Thinking about it, he drew a blank. These oncoming tears didn't feel like the bad type, however. They didn't feel pathetic or even sad. They felt welcomed, just like the sea and its complicated waters. He took a small step forward, sand crunching beneath his shoes. Kurogiri once again made no moves to stop him, standing back and watching him inch closer to where the tide was.

The water raced to meet him, wrapping around the white soles of his shoes. Tomura found himself crouching down, falling hard to his knees in the sand and not caring if his pants got went. He buried his aching hands in the sand, digging them into the dirt and letting the saltwater rush over them. It felt rejuvenating-- nothing like the sting he'd have expected the salt to bring. It felt like waking up for the first time, an electrifying feeling shooting through him as the water came to him. It splashed against him playfully, like it was alive and asking him to come closer. He did, scooting across the sand and closer to the waves. Allowing the water to soak him and not minding when it splashed up into his face. 

It felt like healing. The aches in his neck vanished, and his skin didn't feel so dry and irritated. He didn't feel so thirsty anymore, or as tired. It was like ocean was rewiring him, refilling his empty gas tanks and cheering him on. He couldn't help but smile, not knowing quite why he was crying but not really caring either. He pushed his hair out of his face, eyes feeling bright with relief. Kurogiri stood, watching Tomura's form shake slightly as he allowed his clothes to be ruined by the ocean's waters. He didn't tell him not to. He didn't tell him he wasn't allowed to, because it didn't feel right to interrupt. Instead he stood there and watched, quiet and calculating.

After a moment of Tomura sitting in the water, he turned. Kurogiri felt the breath leave him, his glowing eyes trained on Tomura's face. Because for once, he was smiling. A large, genuine, happy grin that Kurogiri had never seen before. His face looked smoother, like it had regained the youthfulness it was supposed to have. The scathing wounds on his neck had vanished, and the dryness that had previously lined his lips and ached at his hands looked to be missing. Tears burned their way down his cheeks, but Kurogiri could tell with a single glance that they weren't the bad type. 

Tomura Shigaraki looked as though he had been... revived. His hair had lost the stringy quality it had, refreshed somehow by the ocean's winds and holding a healthy shine. His eyes weren't shot red anymore, looking clearer than Kurogiri ever thought they could be. He seemed stronger, his cheeks losing their pale sheen and taking on a healthy red glow you'd expect to see on a young face like his. Kurogiri felt a pressure in his own chest alleviate, his glowing eyes curving as he smiled back at the young man.

"Kurogiri!" Tomura laughed. He laughed, and it didn't sound dry or strained in the least. Kurogiri lurched slightly at the unfamiliar sound. Tomura seemed momentarily taken aback too, blinking a few times but unable to stop himself from smiling. He gave another laugh, shaking his head in disbelief of the situation. He'd never felt this before-- this elation. He wouldn't trade it for anything. "Thank you!" 

"Of course, Tomura Shigaraki." Kurogiri responded, his own voice looser. He cared deeply for Tomura, having watched him grow. He never... He never thought Tomura could achieve emotion like this. Genuine joy that radiated from within his core and a healthiness that most normal individuals rarely got. To see it was like a dream come true. "I know I previously claimed we couldn't stay long, but I do believe it wouldn't hurt to remain a little longer."

Tomura smiled, hands digging further into the soft sand. Somehow, it felt like the ocean was smiling too.

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

Nezu had never quite seen anything like it. The unnatural lights danced, refracting through the water Atlantis manipulated and creating intricate beams that looked to mystical to be real. Hitoshi's eyes glowed an unnatural shade of violet, his voice reaching booming levels that seemed to change the very tides themselves. Toshinori was lifted up into a pillar of water, fish cascading up and through it in a mesmerizing vortex that none of them could quite tear their eyes from. The sea had always seemed so bland in the noises it could make, the crashing of waves being the extent of sounds that came from it in Nezu's mind. Clearly he had been wrong, the array of song chiming from the sea's creatures telling him his original theory had been wrong.

Aizawa could feel it reverberating deep in his chest, his eyes never leaving Atlantis as power poured out of him. The painted symbols on Toshinori glowed nearly blindingly, and if you squinted, you could almost see his twisted scar begin to slowly undo itself and return his body to normal. It was astounding to watch. Awing, if you would. His entire being seemed to vibrate as he viewed his husband, held up by the helpful waters as the ritual took place. He felt he was intruding almost-- viewing something that belonged to a culture that was not his own. He didn't look away, however. It would be disrespectful to, and this far in, he wasn't sure he could bear to miss a second of what was happening.

Atlantis could feel the ocean crashing through his chest and settling into his bones. He pushed his ability outward, calling upon the healing powers he possessed and sending them into the carefully painted symbols that would allow Toshinori to conduct their magic easier. Hitoshi was an unmovable force next to him, gaze focused on the injured blonde man in their care and magic washing forth with everything it had. The sea creatures offered forth their help, drawing out the many various energies of the ocean and channeling upwards and into the pillar of saltwater Toshinori found himself drifting in.

The sight was monumental. Like a scene you'd find painted on the side of an underwater cave, depicted in rough hieroglyphs by people long since passed. It felt ancient in its gravity. It bore down on them all, pushing down with incredibly pressure that felt impossible to stand up to, but impossible to fall under at the same time. It tried to shove them down whilst also holding them up, drawing their eyes. Aizawa could feel somewhere deep inside that this was not normal. Of course he knew that on a logical level, but there was something instinctual inside of him that simply knew that what he was witnessing was beyond his very own existence. 

Magic was not an easy thing for a human body to bear. It was not meant to possess it-- not wired the same way a mer's body was. It's why they'd had to paint on him, covering him in markings that would help keep everything level. Their goal was the heal and not to hurt. This wasn't a ritual that had ever been done on humans. Not in Atlantis', anyway. He'd seen it done on other merfolk in the distant past, sealing their wounds and undoing damages that had long since healed. It removed scarring and long-term damage. To try such a thing on a human man was nearly inconceivable, but Atlantis couldn't shake the notion that it would work. The ocean liked something about this man. It would reach out and help him one way or another.

The scar uncurled itself, smooth skinning stretching out across the expanse of Toshinori's torso. The man was unconscious, unable to take the overwhelming surge of energy pouring through his body. Something inside of him was accepting it-- maybe even welcoming the magic Atlantis and Hitoshi both offered forth. Atlantis could feel his magic being soaked up like a sponge, drawn out of him and leaving him exhausted. Hitoshi didn't appear to be fairing any better, his posture slouching. His words never faltered despite his declining state. If anyone shouldn't be doing this, it was probably the siren. His lack of a tail made him susceptible to complete exhaustion, but he pushed on. He trusted the ocean would stop them before things went to far, if it came to that. Atlantis did too.

The wails let out a call that the chittering dolphins mimicked, leaping out of the water and briefly spiraling through the air before diving back under. The fish swarmed, frenzied in their attempts to lend their aid. Atlantis sent out a silent thanks as the pillar Toshinori was in began to glow just as it was supposed to. He pushed everything he had into it, taking in a deep breath as he went and letting it out slow and controlled. He could feel the internal injuries the man had fixing themselves, his body recuperating under the glow of Atlantis' magic and the chant of Hitoshi's voice.

What felt like hours was closer to twenty, perhaps thirty minutes instead. The ritual ended with an abrupt blast that sent water flying in every direction. Aizawa didn't even flinch as he was doused, watching Toshinori begin to fall from the tower of water that had just dispelled itself. The fish that had been in it dove back into the water as well, scales shimmering with new, brighter pigments that hadn't been there previously. Atlantis looked like he could barely keep his eyes open, his body moving to catch Hitoshi and hand flying out to send water Toshinori's way. Nezu and Recovery Girl both jumped slightly as the Number One pro was carefully deposited on the soaked deck on Gang Orca's ship, his breathing even and his face holding onto an expression of blissful serenity. 

Aizawa darted to the edge, pulling Hitoshi from Atlantis' arms and setting him down quickly before moving to grab his husband. The siren groaned, hands shakily moving to cover his face as he weakly rolled over. The ocean seemed to cheer in success, the creatures creating a frenzy in the water below in celebration. Aizawa hurriedly placed the necklace back around Atlantis' neck, catching him as his tail disappeared and bringing him close. Gang Orca rushed forward with a towel the size of a blanket, offering it to them with dutiful worry lining his shoulders. Aizawa took it thankfully, wrapping him up as he slouched exhaustingly. 

The deafening sounds were sucked away in an instant, the boat suddenly beginning to move and rock again. It began to turn on its own, startling Gang Orca back towards the helm of his ship. Recovery Girl checked Toshinori's vitals, instructing Hitoshi not to move until she could check him over too. The purple-haired mer didn't seem to have any issues with that, eyes glazed over with exhaustion as he struggled to glance over Toshinori. Atlantis let his hand curl around the fabric of Shota's shirt, looking up at him with tired eyes.

"Did we do it?" He asked. Aizawa felt himself smile, his eyes glancing over Toshinori.

"Yeah." He said softly. "You did."