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Third person pov

Mic was... suspicious.

Aizawa usually ignored his texts, but not to this extent. Usually he could get one or two words out of his a day. Maybe a sentence if he was lucky. The man wasn't all that glued to his phone, and only really gave it his attention if it were work related. But it had been radio silence since the Erasure Hero spontaneously took off work. Aizawa never took off work without at least a months warning or so. Never had he missed a patrol before. Mic had immediately assumed maybe his father was in the hospital or something of that sort, but a single phone call had told Mic that the man was doing fine, and he no idea that there was any issue with Shota.

Nemuri was having the same issue. Combined, they shared their concerns. Aizawa was pretty anti-social in general. Hizashi and Nemuri considered them to be his best friends, but even he didn't communicate with them much unless forced to. Being extroverts, it worked out for both Midnight and Mic. They had the optimistic energy to drag him out to bars and drown out his drabness with their shitty jokes and shining outlooks on life. 

But now he'd seemingly vanished off the face of the Earth without so much as a word, and it called for some intervention. There was a chance he'd fallen into some sort of coma in his apartment and just didn't want to talk to anyone. If that was the case, however, some warning would be nice! Nemuri was already trying to figure out what Aizawa's funeral plans were. Mic didn't quite blame her. He was beginning to assume the worst.

"Do you think he's okay? Nezu said he's still expected to teach this coming school year, so he hasn't resigned that." Nemuri noted as they walked towards his apartment. They were in their civilian wear-- unrecognizable to any civilians walking past that may have gasped in awe otherwise. That was the good thing about their boisterous costumes. It made it easier to blend in when they weren't looking so extravagant. Nobody had a clue what they looked like in plain, regular-people clothing!

"So far he's taken an entire week off from patrols, Nemuri. That's not normal!" Mic exclaimed, brows furrowing and concern seeping into his tone as he threw his hands in the air. The woman nodded in agreement, frowning. Aizawa was a man of routine. He was practical and rational. A spontaneous decision like this wasn't like him. Shota was a man who liked to plan ahead. And who knows, maybe randomly vanishing for a long period of time had been on his to-do list. Maybe not telling anyone had been as well.

"I'm sure he'll be at his apartment. There's probably a simple explanation to this. Maybe he got a pet cat and is too afraid to leave it home alone. That seems like something he'd do." Nemuri suggested, not really believing herself. She just didn't want Hizashi to hyperventilate. The blonde looked on the edge of a mental break.

"Or he has cancer and is going to die in a few weeks and is trying to live out his bucket list while sparing us the pain by distancing himself." Mic rushed out. Nemuri blanched. Apparently her horror showed on her face, because Mic let out something akin to a wail as they stepped into Aizawa's apartment building. "Oh my god, he's definitely dying! I can't believe this. He didn't even tell us. He just wants to-"

They turned onto Aizawa's hall, and came to a deal halt. Mic's mouth snapped shut, and Midnight's fell open. Both their eyes widened. Aizawa's did the same as he stood there like a deer caught in headlights, horror dawning on his face. It was an expression he didn't usually wear, but neither could blame him as they took in his appearance. Was this his mid-life crisis? He wasn't even forty yet! He couldn't snap now!

He was in black swim trunks, wearing a pair of dark flip flops to match. He was also wearing a tank top of all things. A bright atrocity that faded from ocean blue down to fiery orange, with the dark silhouettes of palm trees climbing up from the bottom. He'd grown out his stubble into something more like a beard, but it wasn't scruffy. It was... oddly clean, and his hair was brushed and pulled back into a bun. There were a pair of shiny sunglasses perched atop his head. He was wearing a necklace with a pale seashell on it, and had a towel draped over one arm, and a bag cradled in the other. 

Essentially, he looked nothing like himself. And neither Hizashi nor Nemuri had any idea what to say. 

Aizawa didn't do bright colors. He had a pair of hot pink sweatpants Mic had bought him that were an exception, but the rest of his wardrobe was muted grays and charcoals. Nemuri would know, because she'd dug through his closet several times on the hunt for partying clothes to no avail. So where the fuck had he been hiding this thing? It seeming like something Mic was more likely to wear. Not to mention the whole beard and bun thing. Was he heading to the beach? It sure looked like he was. But that didn't seem like Shota at all! Sure, they knew he liked the ocean, but enough to put on a cringey ombre tank top? Yeah, no.

Aizawa had no idea what to say. He was somewhat ashamed to admit it, but he'd shoved his friends to the back of his mind. It had been a little over a week since he'd met Atlantis, and a little over a week since he'd taken off work. The school year wouldn't be starting for a few months, and he had enough vacation days saved up to last a solid year if he wanted them to. He'd been dedicating his time to visiting Atlantis. Meeting him had been the best thing that had... well, that had ever happened to him, really.

He was taking better care of himself. He'd pick up food for Atlantis to try, so his diet had become more balanced as a result. He was outside during the day rather than sleeping indoors all day. His sleep schedule had normalized, and he'd gained a healthy tan that had easily knocked out his paleness. He wanted to look presentable for Atlantis. Not because he was afraid the merman would leave. They were better friends now, and coming to know him, Aizawa knew he'd never rush off without warning or over some silly hair. Still, he couldn't help but want to look his best for his other worldly friend. Atlantis, who couldn't grow facial hair, had become fascinated with Aizawa's. So he'd grown a bit of a beard, that's all.

"Ah, Nemuri, Hizashi." Shota shifted, his tone blank and his expression even blanker. He'd always prided himself on his good poker face, but even he couldn't hide his surprise at seeing them. His phone was buried under his pillow somewhere, forgotten and quite possibly dead. His work phone was shoved in the bottom of his beach bag with his capture weapon should an emergency arise. It hadn't even occurred to him that Nemuri and Hizashi might get worried if he didn't reply to his texts. And now they'd caught him in this tank top. Which he didn't want to admit he was entirely fond of.

"What... the fuck?" Mic breathed out. Aizawa averted his gaze, scowling. 

He and Atlantis had become far, far more close over the past week. They both shared the wonders of their contrasting worlds, as well as their interests. Atlantis's personality was wrapping Aizawa up and making him feel giddy. It was a feeling unlike anything he'd ever felt before in his life, if he was being honest with himself. On one hand, it sort of scared him. He had no idea what to expect or when to expect it. On the other, he was entirely excited to see where this would take him. 

"Is there a problem?" Aizawa asked blandly, wondering if he should just go back to his apartment and leave through the window. Not the safest way out, but he was willing to if it got him out of this situation. Nemuri looked utterly floored. Aizawa couldn't blame her, but it was still awkward as all hell. He had no idea what to say to his two long time friends. What could he say, really?

"I wouldn't call it a problem, but like Mic said: what the fuck?" Nemuri finally seemed to snap out of her stupor, still looking baffled to an extent. "Shota! You go radio silent for an entire week, take off work spontaneously without any warning, and can't even give us so much as a text back?"

"We thought you were dead!" Mic blurted out, eyes still wide. Aizawa stared, not really knowing what he was supposed to say to that. What could he really say? He had places to be, anyway. He was going to teach Atlantis how to play Uno and hope it didn't ruin their relationship in the process. Hizashi and Nemuri were great friends. Really, they were. It's not that he wanted to ditch them. He just... well, wanted to ditch them, that's all. No big deal. It was fine.

"Well, I'm not." Aizawa adjusted his grip on his bag, trying to seem apologetic and failing miserably if Nemuri's raised eyebrows were anything to go off of. "Look, I'm sorry I didn't warn you. That's on me. I just... needed a break."

"Well yeah, no shit. You've needed a break for years. But I would've thought you'd... be in some sort of coma. Not going to the... the beach?" Mic choked the words out as though they it physically hurt to even suggest such a thing. Shota gave a snort. He couldn't blame them, really. It was almost amusing to see his two friends spiral into a crisis. It was immensely amusing to see. He'd surely be telling Atlantis all about it. Maybe. There was a chance the merman would want to meet his friends, and Aizawa wasn't sure how he felt about that quite yet.

"You know I love the ocean." Aizawa said smoothly, briskly stepping forward and slipping between the two. They parted silently, turning to gaze after him as he continued off down the hall. "I'll be sure to stay in contact. You don't have to worry about me. I'm just taking a break."

"Did you get a boyfriend?!" Nemuri called after him just before he turned the corner. Aizawa's cheeks erupted red, but they never got the chance to see. That being said, he didn't give a response either. His two friends shared a owl-eyed look, still not sure if they'd really seen what they'd just seen. One thing was for sure-- they wouldn't be letting this go anytime soon. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Atlantis was waiting for him when he got there. Shota couldn't stop a smile from stretching across his face as his aquatic friend broke the water, sending droplets flying as he excitedly propped himself up on the dock. He'd begun dragging himself up onto the wooden structure so he could sit closer to Aizawa, letting his tail hang over the edge. He'd have to drop back in every so often so he didn't dry out completely, but aside from that, they spent their days basking in the sun and chatting with one another until they were too tired to do so any longer.

"Shota, you came!" Atlantis exclaimed with gleaming eyes, looking immensely excited. Aizawa grinned at him as he approached, his heart thundering wildly and his cheeks blossoming red with what he supposed must be excitement. Seeing Atlantis's shimmering tail always send his heart racing. "I found some more shells while you were away. And a rock, too! It's quite shiny."

"I can't wait to see." Aizawa dropped his towel and bag down on the dock. Atlantis felt his own heart rate increase. Seeing Shota was always so pleasant. It felt good to have a friend again. Shota had even taken off work so they could spend more time together! It warmed the merman's heart and made him want to never stop smiling. "I brought that card game I told you about. Hopefully it wont rip our relationship to shreds."

"I don't see how it could do that." Atlantis huffed, eyes trained on Aizawa's shirt. It was so colorful and vibrant. He'd started wearing more things like that. Down beneath the waves, they didn't really have things like fabric. It made him a little self conscious of his own bare chest. But somehow, anytime Aizawa took off his top, it made him even more nervous. Atlantis had his eyebrows and the hair on his head, and that was about it. He wasn't sure he had the ability to grow it anywhere else. Aizawa, meanwhile, was burly and covered in curly black hair on his arms and chest. 

"You might change your mind after playing this." Aizawa admitted, falling so he was sitting cross-legged right next to his companion. Atlantis smiled brightly like a kid on Christmas when Aizawa pulled a box out of the vibrant bag he'd brought with him. "I got donuts today. I think you'll like them. They're like... breakfast cake."

"I thought cake was not meant to be eaten as a meal." Atlantis said, though his eyes were full of wonder as he gazed through the top of the cardboard box at all the iced, round pastries. Some were sprinkled with these odd little pellets of every color. Others were glazed with something clear, while some held a marbled surface of brown and white. Chocolate and vanilla, perhaps? Those were two flavors Atlantis had become well acquainted with over the past seven days.

"This is a little different." Aizawa gave a half smile, opening up the box for him. Atlantis's entire face lit up as the warm, fresh smell came over him. Shota hoped this meant he wouldn't hate him as much after they were done with their first game of Uno.