Third person pov

The next few weeks flew by, filled with every sort of kiss you can imagine. From butterfly to eskimo. From french, to forehead. Lingering, cheek, single lip, jaw. A happiness Atlantis hadn't even realized could exist within himself bloomed to life, more vibrant than the coral he tended to, and brighter than any fish he'd ever seen, even in the tropics. It bubbled forcefully, like an underwater geyser spewing out heated water. He was euphoric, always smiling and giggling and wanting to just curl up in a ball and squeal. Shota's mere presence made his heart want to burst. This was what it was like to be in love, for him. This was a joy not even the ocean, his home, could bring him.

Aizawa was similar, starting to stay the night more and laughing more openly. He unfolded like a flower waking up beneath the sun from a deep, cool slumber. He felt so energized and just... happy. That was the only way to put it. He was painstakingly happy. He was the happy he used to make fun of or snort at when he saw it in public. Never in his life had he been so enraptured by another person. He wanted to be around Atlantis at all hours of the day. Talking to him, hearing him laughing, seeing him smile, kissing him and watching him bashfully bite his lip and look up at him with those big, seaglass eyes of his. It all warmed Aizawa to his core. It filled up a hole he hadn't even realized existed.

Aizawa went home to shave his face. His beard had grown a little too long, and Atlantis had suggested he shave it. That way when school came around and he was forced to, he wouldn't have an awkward tan line. He'd agreed. It would make kissing easier to have all that scratchy hair off and away, anyway. So he went home, promising himself he'd pick up some food on the way back to the dock. He also needed a change of clothes, and maybe he could wash his hair right quick too. Atlantis had told him to take his time. He was going to venture a ways outside of the cove to take some photos, find more coral, and maybe mingle a bit more with the local sea life. 

As he washed off his now smooth face, he found himself smiling at himself in the mirror. He'd never really liked himself. Not in particular, anyway. He looked healthier now, though. He felt better. He couldn't recall a time he'd felt like this. Even as a child, he'd been a little ragged around the edges. Atlantis felt like stability. Like he was smoothing out all Aizawa's harsh edges and bettering him. That's what a relationship was supposed to be, right? Mutual improvement? Happiness just by being together? Communication and laughter and sharing a meal under a blanket of stars? Aizawa wasn't sure, but he didn't care either way. He was happy. Atlantis was happy. Wasn't that all that mattered?

He washed his hair and threw it into a bun Atlantis would surely take out later. He liked to braid Aizawa's hair, weaving in underwater plants Shota hadn't even realized existed. Maybe the merman could do it after they finished eating the scones Aizawa had plans to pick up. Atlantis relished in the blueberry ones. He'd close his eyes and hum happily with each bite, and it was wonderful to witness. 

Aizawa exited his apartment with a bag in tow. He took a bag with his capture weapon and hero attire everywhere for emergencies. He'd thought several times about leaving it at home, but Atlantis thought it was good idea too. He didn't understand all that much about how the human world worked, but if they needed heroes, it was certainly for a reason. Better safe than sorry. Atlantis wasn't sure what he'd do if Aizawa just... stopped coming one day. The idea scared him. The idea scared Aizawa, too.

Mic was about to walk up when Shota exited the building. The blonde voice Hero and Midnight had both been taking turns coming to check up on the man, only to find he was rarely home when they did. He seemed to never be at his apartment anymore. He texted them both a few times each day, assuring them he was alive, but never giving any clues as to where he was or if there was someone else with him. Clearly, he'd been hanging around the beach. Where and why, nobody had a clue.

Shota stopped when he saw Mic standing there, and Mic felt the air get knocked out of his chest. Aizawa was there, face clean shaven and hair freshly washed and pulled back. He was once again wearing vibrant clothing and flip flops. Clothing he would've deemed impractical and irrational before. Hizashi felt like he was at a loss for words. His friend looked... healthy. Like he was thriving. He still had that drawl look on his face, but it didn't seem as set or as heavy as he raised his eyebrows blandly at his friend.

"Shota." Mic blinked a few times. "You look... healthy?"

"Thanks. I try." Shota said dryly, shifting his weight onto one foot. Mic pushed his shock aside, shaking his head slightly. Could it be that Shota was having his mid-life crisis early? He wasn't forty yet, and yet here he was. Taking off copious amounts of time from work and dressing in gaudy hawaiian shirts. He also had a necklace on. This one didn't have a shell like the one he'd worn in the past. This one was a leather cord with a single gold pearl on it. Mic momentarily wondered if it was real. Had Shota taken up diving?

"Where have you been? Nemuri and I have been going mad! Are you still going to teach this coming school year?" Hizashi spouted out, falling into step next to his friend as he began to walk again. Aizawa snorted, looking up at him drawly.

"Of course I'm going to teach. It would be irrational to break my contract." Aizawa said, ignoring the first question completely. Mic still smiled slightly. Shota was still Shota. He was just... different, at the same time. Brighter somehow, even with how bored his face was now. It made Hizashi happy to see his friend like that. It had taken him a hot minute to find his happy place, but evidently he'd hunted it down. He only wished Shota would share it. Maybe one day. 

"Where are you headed, then? Breakfast?" Hizashi asked. Shota bristled slightly, but didn't close himself up all the way like he had previously many times before.

"...Scones." He said after a moment, eyeing Mic suspiciously as though he were about to pounce. Mic simply grinned down at him as they walked into the more commercial area of Masutafu. Most crime occurred in these parts, so it made sense that Aizawa's apartment would be close to all the action. It was, as the tired man would put it, rational. Was Aizawa really all that tired anymore, though? With this vacation, it didn't seem like it.

Mic jabbered on about his week as they walked. He hadn't even realized they'd passed another pro hero until he reached out to them, calling out Hizashi's hero name in a manner that seemed almost surprised. Selkie was a marine hero that resembled a seal. He essentially was one, but more... humanoid. And much, much bigger. He and Aizawa both turned as the man blinked down at them owlishly, dressed in civilian clothes much as they were. Well, pardoning Shota. It looked like a tropical rainbow had vomited on him. 

"Ah, and Eraserhead! I almost didn't recognize you." Selkie grinned down at them, and Mic smiled cheerfully back. They'd worked with Selkie on a few separate occasions. They'd even been out for drinks a few times, Shota being dragged there by force. "What are you two up to this evening? I was surprised to see you out and about!"

"Oh, this and that. It's nice to see you again! It's been a while since we last worked together." Mic beamed. Aizawa nodded politely in agreement, seeming eager to get going. Selkie nodded too, but didn't respond otherwise. His eyes were trained on Aizawa. Or more specifically, Aizawa's necklace. Mic looked between the pair as Shota glanced down at the pearl hanging around his neck. The dark-haired man had a guarded look in his eyes as Selkie stared. Mic cleared his throat. "Well, it was great seeing you. We should really get-"

"Where did that come from?" Selkie asked, sounding nearly dazed as he took a slight step forward, still staring at the golden pearl. He seemed almost entranced by it. "It feels... my, it feels odd."

Shota felt his walls fly up, and he was suddenly just as guarded as he used to be, if not more so. Atlantis had found and enchanted this pearl especially for him. He'd said it would make the ocean his friend. It hadn't even crossed his mind that that might stretch all the way to Selkie, who was technically oceanic. To think he'd be drawn to it... it was weird, and just now sinking in to Aizawa that he was wearing a piece of magic. Literally. It was hanging from his neck, and only now was that truly processing. Of course he'd known that on some level, but now that he was seeing some effects... he felt like hugging Atlantis and smothering him in love, and asking a million questions.

"Nowhere." Aizawa said shortly, spinning around and marching off without so much as a goodbye. Selkie blinked a few times, looking like he might follow for a moment. Mic's jaw dropped as Aizawa vanished into the crowd before he had a chance to call out to him. The blonde could only gape, looking back to the slightly-stunned Selkie.

"I, uh... sorry about that." Mic managed to blurt out, darting in the direction Shota had gone. But it was too late. He'd lost sight of his friend. All he could do now was text him and hope for an answer that would probably never come. Glancing back at Selkie who was still standing in the middle of the sidewalk, he had to wonder what that had all been about. What was up with Aizawa's necklace? 

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

Atlantis was waiting for Shota when he got there. The underground hero felt all the tension that had built up since he ran into Selkie melt away, and a smile formed on his face as Atlantis happily clapped his hands together upon his arrival. An assortment of shells sat on the dock, all carefully organized by color. Shota couldn't help feeling lighter as he plopped down next to the merman, watching him stare at the bag with large, sparkling eyes. He'd never get over the glee Atlantis tended to express upon seeing food.

"I got your favorite." Aizawa announced. He wondered if he should bring up the incident with the pearl, but trying to explain a seal-human hybrid seemed like more trouble than it was worth. Instead, he simply leaned forward and pressed a kiss against Atlantis's lips. The merman's nose scrunched up happily when no beard poked at him as Shota pulled away, and the underground pro laughed. Atlantis smiled a little bashfully, raising his hands to touch the dark-haired man's smooth face. Aizawa let him with a smile.

"You're the best." Atlantis seemed to decide, and Aizawa smiled a little wider. It was a soft, fond smile that made Atlantis feel overwhelming amounts of love. He could barely remember what life felt like before he met Shota. He wasn't sure he wanted to think about it. He'd been so lonely before. Going back to that didn't seem possible. He never wanted this to end. He never wanted to let go of Shota.

"I'll be going back to work soon." Aizawa's smile dimmed slightly, but Atlantis brightened. He knew what work was. It was a job, and it meant Atlantis would be alone a good part of the day. But Aizawa talked so passionately about teaching and about his students. It wasn't something Atlantis ever wanted to take away from him. The concept of teaching children sounded rather amazing, if you asked him.

"That's a good thing, Shota!" Atlantis insisted, drawing Aizawa's gaze back to him. "You love teaching. Don't even try to deny it. I know we won't get to see each other as much, but wouldn't it be the same way if I were on land? You'd still go to work, and I'd still stay home."

Shota blinked at him. He hadn't really thought of it that way. 

Before he could coo over how cute Atlantis was or thank him, or hug him, or anything lovely of that sort, something splashed in the water. It was a rather loud splash that made his eyes narrow dangerously and his head snap towards the waves. Atlantis didn't look at all startled, instead seeming like he was trying-- and failing-- to hold back an amused smile. Aizawa gave him an exasperated glance, calming slightly as he continued to search the water for the source of the noise. The light reflecting off the rippling aqua mass made it hard to see what was there.

A fin bobbed out of the water, sharp, grey, and fast. It cut through the waves like a knife through butter, and Aizawa blanched. Another fin joined it, and then a third. Shota knew immediately what that meant. Sharks. There were sharks in the cove, and for whatever reason, Atlantis was laughing. 

"You look like you just saw the kraken!" Atlantis beamed at him, amused and incredibly excited. "That's Jeremy, Josie, and James. Did you want to go meet them?" 

Aizawa blinked a few times before a grin split across his face. Atlantis offered him a hand, exuberant and practically vibrating in place. Aizawa took it. Against his collarbone, the pearl thumped, and he suddenly remembered why he was dreading going back to work so much.