Chapter Text
Izuku feels the tapping of the humans through glass before he hears it.
Loud, quick, rhythmic zaps along his sides that tickle and buzz before the humans make their mouth sounds outside the water.
He darts into his den and flattens down, going still and opening his fins so that he blends in better with his surroundings and can’t be seen.
Good Morning Nugget! Are you awake?
He peeks out from behind the fine, thick tangle of kelp he’s coaxed into growing in front of his den to obscure its entrance and watches the blurry shapes of the humans beyond as they try to spot him.
Is he sleeping?
He must be? The cameras showed him playing until well after sunset last night.
You want a handler to try and move him into the back tank?
Naw, poor thing, little man’s already frightened enough.
Should we try some bait?
Izuku curls behind his tail in the safety of his den, watching and evaluating.
It’s past the bright light time in his home, but not yet time for the hollow bright human things to lower in prey for him to chase.
It’s odd to see so many of the humans clustered around his home before he feeds.
Usually as he sleeps, he sleeps undisturbed, and it’s not until he hears the mouth sounds of his favourite Big Safe Human that he will even bother to peek out from his den to respond to the vibrations of the fish they lower down to him.
Let’s see if he’ll come to the surface for Dr Yagi; we might try some clams too.
Izuku yawns and settles back into the soft silt of his bed, enjoying the warmth and whirr of his home water.
Some time long before, he’d lived somewhere much larger and less noisy than this place with his mother and all the other pups and singers.
There had never been any humans there, and the world went on forever without the clear nets that keep him from moving to all parts of the water sometimes and let the humans share space with him.
That was before the boats came, and the black water had filled his lungs and the nets had been cast to scoop his dying people out into the bright air and the smaller waters they swim in now.
Now his world is this:
His den, his weeds, the humans and his little toys and games after sunset when the humans finally leave to go back to wherever it is they go when they are not trying to share space with him.
His mother is gone, taken away to some other small water where the clear nets let him see her sometimes, but never dance and play the way they used to.
He’s getting awfully big for this quarantine tank.
I know, poor little fella, but he’s still too small to be reintroduced with the adults, and he was so stressed in the observation pool! Tenya said he bites.
Yikes.
Yeah dude, he’s cute, but you gotta watch yourself, he’s got some grit when you push him.
Don’t worry bro, Dr. Yagi has a plan. We’re going to try and move him in with one of the captive bred specimens today!
The Imperials? I thought the only juvenile we had left was also labeled aggressive?
Awww yeah, my little firecracker- but they’re about the same size, and Dr Yagi thinks if they can be encouraged to school he might help better socialize this little guy and our little green bean here could stimulate my grumpy pants into more natural behaviors- you know the Big Guy desperately wants to re-introduce the imperials to the wild. Super manly!
That’ll be hard to do if he can’t get them to hunt or socialize with our native wild populations.
Exactly. This might be a perfect opportunity for both of them!
The humans finally move off and Izuku dares to dart out to check to see if the water is calm.
With nothing to bother him but its usual susuruses, Izuku carefully moves further away from his den and gets to work digging up the snacks he stored the night before and tidying up the corals he’s been cultivating to eventually decorate the outside of his den.
He chews thoughtfully on his breakfast as he considers his little garden, humming to himself and checking each piece for parasites or illnesses.
All seems well.
If this were the Forever Place he would go to his mother or find a clutch of pups to dance with or practice fighting, but he is alone in his water, and as usual there isn’t much to do.
He preens as much of his tail as he can reach by himself and rubs sand over his sides to make sure he’s free of parasites himself.
With little else to tidy and nothing to hunt he settles down at the the bottom of the water to wait for someone to sing news or stories from one of the other places, or to catch a glimpse of his mother.
He’s lonely.
He wishes he had someone to play with.
The food is good and the water is warm and his den is comfy and safe.
But he feels so bored sometimes.
He dozes sullenly for a while, for lack of anything to do and eventually some time later as the brightness increases he suddenly senses vibrations at the surface of his home.
HELLO DOWN THERE!
Izuku perks up, smiling.
I AM HERE!
It’s the Big Safe Human!
He swims up to the surface to greet him and dances in happy welcome.
When the dark waters had come and the nets had trapped him and his people the Big Safe Human had dived into the sea and used something cold and sharp like a piece of moonlight to cut them free.
Izuku had seen how he and his clan had fought the nets and brought them here to this loud place where the water was safe to breathe.
He knows somehow he’s fighting now to try and free them, and he comes every day to feed and play with them; he even knows some words and dances!
Izuku thinks he’s wonderful.
A hero.
AH! YOUNG ONE! GREETINGS! I’VE BROUGHT YOU LUNCH AND A BALL!
The Big Safe Human joins him in the water with the bright hollow thing of food and something human that floats curiously at the surface.
Izuku approaches it cautiously, but as the man bats it over into his claws he realizes it’s some sort of fun new human toy and he chirps in delight.
The Big Safe Human always brings him something fun to do!
He takes turns hunting it with him and jumping on it to try and drag it under the water like prey to kill, but it remains stubbornly up at the surface and is great fun!
Eventually he tires of it and swims around the edges of his water to show off and dance as the human belly laughs and makes his people’s words for Wonderful! And More! And Again!
He cracks mussels for Izuku to feed from between his teeth and offers them to him while the other humans watch on from a safe distance.
They never trouble him when the Big Safe Human is in his water. He’s obviously their clan’s largest alpha bull, and his presence signifies protection and peace.
Izuku rubs himself against him and purrs.
All is well when he is near.
Eventually the man takes him into his arms, which Izuku allows without fuss.
Dr. Yagi! I really wouldn’t-!
-Sir-!
-Maybe we should-
IT'S ALRIGHT! HE WOULDN’T HARM A FLY! WOULD YOU, MY YOUNG FRIEND?
His favourite human is very warm and strong and he smiles down at Izuku with such warm kindness that Izuku lays his head adoringly against his neck and shows him his throat in perfect trust, calling little pup calls of affection.
SEE? HE'S PERFECTLY HARMLESS! THEY'RE ONLY AGGRESSIVE IF THEY FEEL THREATENED-
Sir…he put Dr Todoroki’s son in the hospital yesterday…
WELL HE SEEMS OBLIGING ENOUGH NOW! DON'T WORRY YOUNG LADY! I’LL JUST MOVE HIM INTO HIS NEW QUARANTINE ENCLOSURE AND TAKE MY LEAVE!
The Big Safe Human lifts him out of the water and the world goes slightly static-y and strange without it on his skin. Izuku whines a little and shifts in his arms to ask to be put down, but he still trusts him and ultimately lets himself be taken from his home and moved through the air.
They move in the human spaces, passing more of the little waters that hold other singers who watch with solemn curiosity as he is taken.
A few bark a question at him and he bleats back.
He is not sure where he is going…
Eventually the Big Safe Human takes him to different water.
EASY NOW, EASY. I'M GOING TO PUT YOU DOWN NOW YOUNG MAN.
It is darker and a bit more cool, but as soon as he is gently lowered into the space he gets a sense of how much BIGGER it is than his own home.
It’s not the Forever Place by any stretch, but it isn’t the little box of weeds he’d been swimming in.
Its floor is coarser, made of smooth black stones mixed in with the sand, and there’s many more plants and even fish and other animals hunting around.
It’s so much more alive!
Izuku can’t help but chirp in interest.
THERE NOW! INTERESTING ISN’T IT? DON’T BE AFRAID, HAVE A LOOK AROUND.
Izuku feels a careful nudge along his side as the Big Safe Human wades further into the space and Izuku swims carefully alongside him, digging his claws into his hip to let the big bull tug him though the water.
It’s safe, he’s sure his hero would never take him anywhere dangerous…
GO ON LITTLE MAN.
They leave the shallows and move further into the space.
It’s so much cooler and the thicker profilation of kelp gives the water a green and shadowy texture that reminds him of the caves in the coral beds of his old home.
He hesitates, and then leaves the safety of his human’s body to swim cautiously through the beautiful forest.
Things flicker and he can feel hundreds of other creatures moving in the space and smell food somewhere.
THERE WE ARE! NICE AND- WAIT!
He sinks down and finds an urchin crawling along in the sand and scoops it up to carefully crunch through the spiny surface.
He can hunt here! There are things to eat and places to hide and stalk! The humans won’t have to bring food.
WHAT THE-?
He senses something much larger in the water suddenly and turns just in time for something bright and heavy to tackle him in the side.
BE CAREFUL! LOOK OUT!
“Die!”
Izuku is bowled clean over in the water and for a second all he can see is something sparkling and bright before he feels fangs at his shoulders and something clawing at his ribs.
STOP THAT!
Izuku rights himself in the water with a hiss and claws back at his attacker.
THAT’S ENOUGH! HOW DID YOU GET PAST THE GATE?
He sees some sort of- of person! -There’s a singer here!- attacking him, and he quickly wraps himself around the slightly smaller pup like an octopus and bites into its shoulder to subdue it.
OH DE- YOU'LL HURT ONE ANOTHER IN A MOMENT! STOP THAT!
It’s clearly fast and quite strong- but Izuku is used to fighting and it doesn’t take long until he’s wrestling it to the bottom.
He’s just going to kill it and take the new territory when the Big Safe Human suddenly dives down to them and wrenches them apart.
For a moment Izuku is stunned and betrayed, but then is immediately shocked when the other pup pouts and crosses his arms.
“He started it!” The pup clicks at the human.
“I did not!” Izuku says indignantly. “You attacked me!”
“You touched my stuff!” The pup bawls back, “What’d the All Might bring you in here for?”
“I don’t- wait. All Might?”
“Yeah! All Might! His people locked me in my den and tried to sneak you in here! But you guys can’t have this place, it's mine! I don’t want you here!”
“He has a name?” Izuku darts a startled glance at the Big Safe Human who is still struggling to keep them separated.
“Yeah,” the pup sneers, “Obviously.”
“I didn’t know he could speak!” Izuku says, surprised. “I try talking to him all the time! He’s my favourite!”
“You do?” The pup cocks its head curiously at him, dropping its defensive stance. “Huh…he’s my favourite one too.”
They pause to consider one another.
Izuku has never seen such a strange looking person.
He’s probably male, but he looks like he’s made of bits of sun and moonlight.
He’s all sunset colours that edge with black and some of his scales are milky white; they catch the filtered bright of the surface and gleam and sparkle from their many facets.
His bright, clever eyes are red and he’s got spines like a lion-fish.
Izuku feels his stomach flip.
He’s beautiful.
Izuku has never seen anything like him ever in his life.
“I’ll be honest,” the pretty stranger hedges, “I don’t think they can ACTUALLY understand us, but this one does know his name, watch- HEY ALL MIGHT!”
To Izuku’s wonder and delight his savior turns his head in the strange pup's direction.
He has a name!
“Amazing!” Izuku grins and the pup looks smug.
“Yeah, my parents named him that,” it tells Izuku, “He answers to it though, you can train them. I’ve named all the humans around here!”
“Really?” Izuku says, surprised.
“Of course! How else do you get the right one to come over and bring you stuff if you don’t?”
Izuku stares at the pup.
He wants nothing to do with the humans.
He doesn’t know anybody who ever has.
“Humans are dangerous though,” he says seriously. “They’re strong and they can hurt you.”
“Oh yeah, obviously. But not ours. Ours are all tame, they’re kinda weird sometimes, but they don’t kill anything or whatever, All Might won’t let them.”
Izuku tries to process this as they watch the big human kick to the surface to breathe.
The sparkly little creature trails confidently after him and, after a moment of hesitation himself, Izuku does the same.
There’s humans all over the surface babbling their mouth nonsense and looking harried.
How did he escape?
-Must have climbed over the barrier-
-We need the nets-!
Izuku cautiously peeks his eyes above the water, careful to stay deep enough that he can dive for cover, but the other pup just frisks and floats at the surface completely unconcerned.
“It’s alright,” he calls, “C’mere I won’t let ‘em hurt ya.”
Someone find a control pole!
Oh my- Doc! Look!
Izuku swims closer and the other pup swims contentedly in circles around him, chirping to urge him to the surface.
“C’mon, c’mon,” he nudges, “Don’t be such a guppy!”
WAIT! WAIT EVERYONE! LETS JUST WATCH AND SEE WHAT THEY DO.
“See? They’re harmless, they just don’t like to watch us fight! As long as we don’t fight, they don’t care.”
B-but!
GIVE THEM A MOMENT.
Izuku nervously breaches the surface of the water and turns to look at the pleased mystery pup.
“What’d I tell ya,” he crows, swimming over to bump their foreheads together in a friendly gesture. “They’re fine!”
“I guess so,” Izuku mumbles dubiously.
“Wanna watch me make ‘em do a trick?”
The strange pup spins around suddenly and loudly slaps the surface of the water with his tail.
Oh dear.
Hahaha! oh man-
What is-?
Hey Kirishima! Looks like your little troublemaker wants a treat!
What now? Heh, well I guess he is being pretty good right now, all things considered-
A tall sharp red human peels away from the rest of his clan and fetches one of the bright hollow things where they store prey.
Here ya go little buddy!
To Izuku’s amazement it throws a handful of tasty snails straight towards them!
The other pup snatches them out of the air and turns towards Izuku with a big grin.
“Want one?” He offers smugly.
Awww oh my god look!! He’s actually offering a prey item!!
Izuku’s jaw drops.
“That’s amazing!” He whispers, “How did you teach them to throw food?”
“Eh, they’re pretty smart, actually. Mine know all sorts of tricks.”
“Wow.”
Quick roll the cameras!
Nobody make any sudden moves-
The pup puffs up proudly and does another sudden twirl in the water.
“C‘mon! Let’s play chase! Betcha can’t catch me!”
He chirrups at Izuku and ripples his scales to show off how strong and big and shiny he is.
Izuku can’t help but agree. He’s the most amazing person he’s ever met in his life!
He drops the snails to give chase, eager to show off his own power and speed.
“I’m Izuku!” He informs the pup as he tries to keep up with his new friend’s quick, tumbling movements in the water.
“I’m Katsuki!” The stranger declares, “And you’re too slow! Chase me! Chase me!”
They dance through the water and play chase, laughing and showing off their tails.
Izuku’s never done a play dance like this before.
Katsuki’s movements are swift and teasing, his smirk whenever he gets away from Izuku’s grasping hands makes something in his chest squeeze.
He’s just so pretty…
“I like your tail,” he tells him shyly when the other pup finally gets bored of being chased and demands to be preened instead. “You’re really shiny.”
They sink to the bottom of the space so Izuku can carefully inspect every pearlescent scale; he’s careful to do a good job so his new friend will ask him again.
“Your tail is kinda boring, you look like a fish,” the other pup says matter-of-factly, which makes Izuku feel like he’s just bitten into something rotten, “But I like your neat skin spots.”
He leans in and nips carefully at his cheek, demanding trust from Izuku, who instantly gives him his throat to nuzzle and smell.
He likes the noise his new friend makes when Izuku does whatever he says.
“Mmm, you’re all warm too, that’s nice,” Katsuki declares, “You’re kinda useless with the humans, but you’re pretty fast and you smell good. I’m gonna keep you, okay?”
Izuku can’t believe his good fortune.
“I can stay here with you?” He breathes, “You’re not mad anymore?”
“Nah, All Might likes you and you can play games,” Katsuki shrugs, “I’ll let you stay, you can share my den with me too if you want since you’re warm. I like warm stuff.”
“I like shiny things.”
“Then stay here with me, I’m the shiniest thing around! Lemme keep you!”
“I think,” Izuku deliberates after a moment. “Yeah, okay. I think I’d like that.”
He misses his mother and the other singers and the vast, quiet safety of the Forever Place, but he thinks he could be happy hunting in these waters with this fun, pretty pup.
He hopes they’ll be a good team someday.
Maybe once they’ve fed enough to grow large they’ll even get back to the Forever Place and Izuku can keep him instead.
Katsuki smiles.
“Cool,” he says, “ C’mon then. Let me show you around!”
He grabs Izuku’s hand and urges him up to give him the tour of his new home.
Izuku lets him, content to play with him out in the sun.
They dance together as the humans watch on, smiling.
All is well.