This chapter is a little bit shorter but I hope you enjoy anyways! Also thank you for all the love. I read every single one of your guys' comments and they mean the world to me <3
"We found her, your highness" a knight said, kneeling in front of King Toshinori as he sat on his throne. He looked tired, exhausted. It'd been so long since he'd gotten a good night's sleep. Weeks maybe, more likely months. A new enemy had been trying to steal King Toshinori's throne, a usurper who wanted the power of all the kingdoms to himself no matter what the cost. Villages and been pillaged and burned, it was a constant fight just to keep people safe. It took all of Toshinoris forces to keep them barely at bay. The stress from organizing this resistance was taking its toll on him both mentally and physically. He didn't eat, didn't leave his throne, and most noticeably: he didn't sleep.
He knew that he needed sleep; his decision making depended on it. He couldn't think straight in that exhausted state. He was cranky, rash, irritable. He'd tried many times to lay down in his empty bed, fruitlessly trying to chase dreams, but he couldn't help but think about the soldiers giving their lives for the safety of their kingdom, the men and women being slaughtered by the enemy while he sat in the safe confines of his castle. He could almost hear their screams as he lay there, staring at the moonlight that streamed through the window. He should be out there, fighting among side his men, doing his best to keep everyone safe. He was a warrior at heart, indisputably the strongest man in the kingdom. He could've helped turn the tides of the war, but his advisors warned him against it. If he were to leave his capitol city without their biggest defender then neighboring kingdoms may decide to strike as well. He couldn't stretch himself so thin. His advisors insisted that someone needed to rule the kingdom, to call the shots, and he reluctantly agreed. Even if it cost him his sleep.
After the first sleepless week King Toshinori had begun seeking natural remedies. Lavender, chamomile, Valerian, but none could quiet his restless mind. The second week forced him to look for magical means. He tried witches with sleeping spells, hypnosis, clairvoyants. They couldn't assist him in any way either. Finally, after the third week passed and every scholar in the castle had raked every page of every book their library had in search of a solution, they discovered something. It was a young scholar who'd found it for him, the only person to take an old children's tale seriously.
There were stories of a lagoon deep in the forest which housed a witch who possessed special powers she used to aid overburdened people. Not much was known about her, but the tale had a specific passage about a man who had spent years traveling in search of his lost daughter. He traveled night and day, unable to sleep in his desperate hunt. It seemed he was cursed to wander the earth without a single minute of sleep, and he slowly began to go mad. Finally, he crossed the witches path and she granted him rest. It never specified how, but it seemed like the only option they had left to save their king.
A group was dispatched to retrieve the woman and bring her back safely, and they did without fail. Now, Toshinori was hurriedly rushing through the halls of his castle to get to his bedroom, where she was being kept. His robes swished across the floor as he hastened towards his chambers, excitement brimming inside of him. If what he'd read in the book was true, perhaps he'd be able to return to his old self in no time.
Two guards stood post outside of his bedroom, standing at attention and saluting when he opened the doors without a second thought. His bedroom looked as it always had, plush and lavish, not much different than it normally did, but he could smell the difference as soon as he entered. Gone was the soothing lavender incense he'd been suffocating himself with, instead was the light smell of something sweeter. He felt his muscles relax. A large crowd of knights stood around something in the corner of the room, next to his bed. He could tell immediately that something was amiss. His well trained men had been giggling only moments ago, like young school boys. Now, they looked red in the face at their king, as if they'd been caught in the act of something. He rushed forward to see what it was they were looking at. They turned to him as he approached, standing up straighter and saluting him.
He stifled a gasp at what he saw, unsure if it was real or not. There was a large, glass tank standing on the floor, with long rods attached on either side that the men had used to carry it through the forest. The tank wasn't so spectacular, though. What really amazed him was you, laying there in the coffin sized tank, swishing the water back and forth with your tail impatiently. Your body was completely indecent, but unlike any he'd ever seen before. You looked beautiful, the most beautiful woman he'd ever seemed. Wet, white tresses framed a face so perfect it almost looked like it was sculpted out of marble. Your tail held every color the sunset had to offer, and your thin fins filled the tank like frills of silk on a ballgown. Irritated eyes looked around the chamber, examining the surroundings and shooting tired looks at the men. Pink lips pouted in discomfort at being trapped in such small confines, and when you looked up to meet his gaze your eyes almost blew him away.
"Your highness," one knight spoke, "We captured the witch as you requested."
"Captured? She didn't come here of her free will?" Toshinori gasped, suddenly realizing why you looked so uncomfortable. Upon closer observation, he could see the shackles on your wrists and the bruises and scrapes you'd received as a result of them roughly subduing you.
"Well... your excellency... she wouldn't agree to leave the pond and insisted you come to her." That same knight sheepishly admitted.
"That doesn't give you the right to kidnap her! Away with you all at once. We'll discuss this later. There will be serious repercussions for this... Give me your keys!" He commanded the knights with indignation. He was too exhausted to deal with these imbeciles, their punishment would have to wait for another day.
One of the guards hastily handed him the keys to your tank and the king wasted no time in unlocking the glass lid. Your head popped out first as you gasped, taking in your first breath of fresh air in hours. You let it fill your lungs as you held on to the side of the tank, resting your chin and allowing yourself to calm down. It was incredibly steamy and hot in that tank, and the few hours it took them to drag you through the forest and too the castle had made you feel like a cooked vegetable.
They had lied when they claimed you refused to come. In fact, they hadn't even asked or explained what was going on before they were grabbing you and hauling you tail first into a tiny tank. You would've willingly gone along with them had they told you it was at the king's request. King Toshinori was a good king, you'd heard. Always doing what was best for the kingdom and for his people. You'd heard tales of his valiance and wise ruling. He was always helping others, so why wouldn't you help him?
"I'm terribly sorry about your treatment. I know an apology can't ever make up for how they kidnapped you and drug you here, but I hope you'll allow me to repay you in some way. Here, let me unchain you." His voice was kind and gentle, but he . But he looked so tired. His eyes were on the brink of exhaustion, his cheeks sunken in and drooping. He looked like a shell of the man you imagined him to be. Perhaps that's why they'd brought you here, to revive him To his former self.
You willingly held your arms out to him and allowed him to unchain you. The thick metal clattered loudly as it hit the ground, demonstrating just how heavy they were. Had the knights really viewed you as that much of a threat? The shackles had left angry red marks on your flesh, and he rubbed them delicately with his hands. He cursed to himself. This isn't at all what he'd intended.
Physical contact was unfamiliar to you, but you didn't mind the way he rubbed your sore wrists. His skin was soft, warm, his touch gentle and caring. You felt your face heat up as you swished your tail anxiously.
"It's alright, your highness" the formalities felt foreign in your mouth. It'd been hundreds of years since you'd lived anywhere in the kingdom, the speech and mannerisms it required felt odd to you. "What is it you need me for that had your men so desperate to have me?"
Your sing song voice sounded like music to his ears, and he thought for a second that you were actually an angel sent from god to help him. There's no way a voice like yours could belong in a worldly body.
"Oh, yes. Well, to put it rather bluntly, I have not slept in more than a fortnight. I'm losing my ability to rule as a result. I've tried almost everything. This was a last resort. Had I known that you were actually in the lagoon and not just a myth I would've come to you myself instead of sending my men for you. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect. You certainly are much different than the witch I pictured. I wasn't even sure if you existed."
"I'm no witch," you said, somewhat indignantly. You pulled your hands from his grasp and held them to your chest, lower lip jutting out in annoyance. It was a common misconception people had. They always equated magic with some form of witchery. You tried to assure them you were no witch, but the label still stuck and the negative connotations of the words stung you.
"Ah, yes. Sorry to presume. What uh- are you, then, if I may ask?"
"Uh... well that I'm not sure of", you began, albeit unsure of how to answer. No one had ever asked you this question before. "I was born to a normal family, grew up normally, then one day I was bathing in the river and I ended up like this. From there I stopped aging, discovered I had some innate magic at my disposal, and that's really all there is to know. I've lived in the lagoon for the past few hundred years without much happening."
"That's quite a tale. Are the stories about you true, then? Can you help people, like myself, who are in need?"
"I can try my best, your highness. Just tell me what your wish is and I shall do my best to grant it." You promised, looking up to him with eyes filled with admiration.
"Well... I simply want a good night's rest. Nothing more..." He sighed, leaning back to sit on the side of his bed. He rubbed his eyes, feeling the large bags that he carried under them.
"That's a simple enough request, your majesty." You replied, adjusting yourself in your tank. "All you need to do is lay down when you are ready to rest and I can grant you your wish."
The relief in his eyes was obvious, and a small smile turned up the corners of his mouth. "That's all? Can it really be that easy?"
"It can," You nodded your head. You heard him chuckle aloud.
"Alright, then I shall waste no time. I will change and be back. But first, do you need anything? Some food? Fresh water? Clothes?"
"I'm afraid I would just get any clothes given to me all wet, King Toshinori. But thank you for the offer."
"It is the least I can do. I will be back in a moment, I suppose." He nodded, quickly going over and retrieving some night clothes out of his drawers. With another look at you, he pulled out an extra shirt and placed it near your tank. "Just in case you change your mind."
"Thank you, your majesty," You smiled back at him. He left immediately after, eager to change and get some sleep. He came back a few minutes later wearing nothing but soft pants and a robe. You blushed in embarrassment and turned away. Why wasn't he wearing a shirt? So indecent. You remembered you didn't have any room to talk considering you didn't even own any plain clothes.
The sun was just beginning to set outside the window as Toshinori removed his robe, hanging it on one of the posts of his enormous bed. You tried to subdue the blush you felt creeping into your cheeks at the sight of him without a shirt on, but you couldn't help the way your eyes widened in surprise. No matter how tired this man looked in his sleep deprived state, he still somehow had managed to keep a healthy body. There was no doubt the stories of him being the strongest man in the kingdom were true. As if his height wasn't overwhelming enough, he looked as if he had the strength of ten men. It was a wonder he could find clothes to fit him.
Not noticing your embarrassment, he climbed beneath the covers of his bed and pulled the blankets up around him. After a few moments spent situating himself and his pillows, he sighed.
"Pardon my embarrassment, I'm not used to trying to sleep with another person in the room, especially a woman. What do we do now?" He asked.
"Well... first you need to relax and quiet your mind..." You instructed, trying to keep your voice soft to set the mood.
You heard him chuckle, "I think that's part of why I can't sleep. Is there... anything you can do for that?"
"Well..." You thought for a moment, unsure whether you should do what you thought would help or not. He was the king, he could have you beheaded if you overstepped, but King Toshinori didn't seem like that kind of man, so you took a leap of faith. "Yes, there is. If you're willing to trust me, your highness."
"You have given me no reason to distrust you, do what you must."
Cautiously you pulled yourself up over the edge of the tank, flopping your entire body out onto the floor with a splash. You hoped you hadn't ruined the floor, but ignored that worry in favor of standing up on your two legs and slipping on the shirt the king had given you. You cautiously crawled up on the bed, ignoring how absolutely scandalous it was, and sat yourself next to him.
"You have legs?" He asked curiously, his blue eyes eying your form in the darkness.
"I do. I transform when I'm in the water. I much prefer fins anyways. I'm- um... going to try to help you relax now, your majesty."
"Please, Call me Toshinori. What is your name?"
"Oh, I'm (y/n)." You answered shyly.
"Alright, (Y/N). Please, do what you must. I'm very eager to sleep."
"Right away, Toshinori." You said calmly, your hands slowly reaching over to brush against his face. You felt him bristle for the briefest moment, then relax under the coolness of your hands. You stroked the features of his young face, tracing every smile line and crease it possessed with the tips of your fingers. You ran your fingers through his hair, and you tried to lean over him in order to reach every single spot, but to no avail.
"Would it be easier if- well... would it be easier if I were to lay my head in your lap?" He asked, somewhat embarrassed. Your touch really was relaxing him, he could tell, and he felt the most hopeful he had in weeks because of it. He didn't want anything to interrupt or ruin it.
"If that's what you'd like, King Toshinori." You blushed.
"I think I would like that, yes.... Just to help me sleep, of course!" He swallowed, lifting his head up enough so you could sit underneath it. As you readjusted yourself he laid his head down onto the skin of your soft thighs. He was surprised at how soft you felt, not calloused from the years in water or slimy from your scales. You were nothing but warm flesh, and he let out an uncontrollable sigh as you began to run your fingers through his long blonde hair.
After a few minutes, your soft voice broke the silence. Even his mind had been quiet in those few minutes, only able to focus on the attention you were given him. It was a welcome respite from the anxiety he'd been facing for weeks.
"Now that you seem rather relaxed, sir, I'll begin my spell if that's what you wish."
"Do as you must," He replied, closing his eyes again and putting his trust in you.
With a breath for courage you felt your magic well inside of you, channeling into your throat until it was ready for use. You parted your lips and sang a quiet lullaby, one you'd used many times before for the weary souls who'd come to you in search of rest.
"Down in the valley, valley so low
Hang your head over, hear the wind blow
Hear the wind blow, dear, hear the wind blow
Hang your head over, hear the wind blow.
Roses love sunshine, violets love dew
Angels in heaven know I love you
Know I love you, dear, know I love you
Angels in heaven, know I love you.
Writing this letter, containing three lines
Answer my question, "Will you be mine?"
"Will you be mine, dear, will you be mine?"
Answer my question, "Will you be mine?" "
You let the silence ring through the air as you finished your song, waiting to see if the King was still awake. You held your breath and listened for his breathing, happy to hear it was steady and quiet. His lips were slightly parted and his blue eyes sealed shut. You smiled as you admired his handsome features. You had done your job well, now the king could get some much needed sleep.
Toshinori woke as the end credits to "The Matrix" played on his television. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and looked around, trying to remember what had happened. He observed his apartment, in a state of disrepair after the fun he'd had with you and all his friends. You were sleeping on the opposite end of the couch from him, not in his arms like you'd usually end up when you'd watch movies together. The residual ache in his heart brought back memories of what was supposed to be a wonderful day.
You'd accepted a date with Akemi, something he had no reason to be jealous of but was anyways. You'd seemed unnaturally distant to him that night, even reluctant to watch a movie with him after everyone had gone home. He tried to think of what he'd done wrong, going through everything he'd done that day, but couldn't pinpoint it. Maybe you weren't interested in him anymore now that Akemi was around. Why would you need him when you had another handsome man to spend time with, anyways?
Perhaps it was the performance at the cafe. He'd pushed you to do it even though you obviously weren't ready. Why wouldn't you resent him for that? Or maybe it was the fact that he'd brought Audioma along, hoping she'd give you the praise you'd need in order to have confidence. You'd been slightly cold to her too, obviously uncomfortable at the introduction of a new face in such a stressful time. He regretted introducing you so soon.
Regardless of why you were upset with him, he knew he'd have to try to win your affection back. Even the thought of losing those precious smiles you'd always reserved just for him, or the late night movies that always resulted with you in his embrace, seemed too much for him. You were a drug he'd grown addicted too, he wouldn't let you push yourself away from him without a fight.
With a long sigh he stood up from the couch and walked over to you, ready to carry you to bed just as he always did. However, as soon as he slipped his arms underneath you you stirred, waking up just enough to pull away with a start.
"Oh! Toshi! S-Sorry..." You wiped the sleep from your eyes. "I must've fallen asleep."
He straightened himself up and removed his hold of you, embarrassed at how you'd pulled away from him. Did you want no physical contact with him at all?
He thought his heart might break.
"It's no problem, (Y/N). I was just about to take you to bed. I'm sorry for overstepping." He replied sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. He chided himself internally for messing up yet again. Its like destiny was forcing him to be a fool in order to push you away. He was going to have to try much harder to win your affections.
"It's okay, I just don't want you to have to take care of me. Especially after all you did for me the other night." You laughed half-heartedly while standing up to go to your room.
"Ah, well. It's really no bother. I don't mind. You missed a good movie, though. John Wick is an incredible movie. I love that old actor Keanu Reeves. He's amazing."
"I liked what I saw at the beginning! It's just been a really tiring day. I should get some sleep." You wouldn't meet his eyes as you spoke, instead picking at the hem of your outfit that he thought you looked fantastic in.
"Good idea... I've got an early patrol tomorrow so I should head to bed myself." He said as the two of you began walking in the direction of your bedrooms. "I thought you did amazing today, by the way. Incredible, actually."
You blushed at the praise. "Well... thank you. I don't think my career as a singer is gonna work out... but I guess I'll always be able to perform private concerts for you."
You instantly regretted how flirty that sounded.
Control yourself! He has a girlfriend!!
"I'd enjoy that." He said, stepping in front of his door, thrilled by the idea but trying to remain calm. "Well... you have a good night, (Y/N). I'll see you at training tomorrow."
"Night, Tosh" You said, turning to go into your own room. Without thinking, you turned back around and called to him. "Hey... I just uh... wanted to say I'm happy for you."
He turned away from his own door and looked at you. "Happy? What for?"
"For you and Audioma... Y'know... You two are cute together." You choked out with a smile, ignoring the nausea you felt in saying it. He looked at you a few moments more, his face blank and unreadable.
Toshinori couldn't comprehend why in the world you thought he and Audioma looked cute together. What did you mean by that? They had unintentionally matched their outfits, but he classified that as funny more than cute. It took Toshinori a few moments to understand exactly why you'd said that: You thought they were dating.
In his confused state, he made the worst mistake he could have: He just nodded dumbly and thanked you, unsure of exactly what the proper response to that would be.
With an ache in your heart you bid him a final goodnight and retired into your own bedroom, closing the door behind you and rushing to your bed. Tears streaked down your cheeks at his lack of denial. You buried your head in your pillow and cried, unsure of what to make of your emotions.
Yes, you were supposed to go out with Akemi that weekend, but you knew who you really wanted to go out with. Sure, he was handsome and fun to be around, and you were looking forward to going on a date with him, but would you be able to keep Toshi out of your mind the entire night? Probably not.
You'd be imagining him with Audioma, joking and laughing, snuggling on the couch like he would do with you, giving her kisses on the forehead and... elsewhere. You imagined her baking him special cakes, going on dates to the cafe or the coffee shop, all sorts of things until he spent less and less time with you and you were completely forgotten about. The thought made you equal parts angry and sad.
You'd blown your chance, you knew it. You hadn't confessed to him after you realized your feelings, so the blame was mostly on you. If you wouldn't have been a coward maybe you'd be the one draped all over him instead of her.
Would that have changed anything, though? You had to wonder, If he's with Audioma he's not interested in me. A confession wouldn't change that.
Saying Audioma was a beautiful woman was an understatement. She practically radiated confidence and energy that you dreamed of having. It was only natural that Toshi would fall for her, it's just how those things worked. Confident men like Toshinori went for confident women like Audioma, anxious sea urchins like you were better off finding love elsewhere.
You hugged your pillow in frustration. Life was so much easier when you didn't have to worry about crushes and unrequited love. You decided to do your best to forget about Toshi for the time being and psych yourself up for your upcoming date. Akemi was a great guy, you knew you'd be happy with him. You decided to text Akemi a final thank you for coming to your performance and for the coffee he'd gotten you before you fell asleep.
Toshi tossed and turned in his bed, realizing what a huge mistake he'd made. You thought he was dating Audioma, something he'd unintentionally confirmed. He could admit that Audioma was a beautiful woman, but she could never compare to your radiance. She was too self-centered for his taste as well. She spent more time as a hero trying to claim fame instead of saving civilians. It was something he'd always found annoying, but she was so genuinely nice he couldn't hold it against her. He'd contacted her the other day in the hopes that she could offer you encouragement and pointers for starting your career, but instead of encouraging you it seemed to have the opposite effect. Not only had her presence at your performance made you anxious, you thought they were together!
Your suspicion of him and Audioma brought another onslaught of questions to Toshinori's mind. Did you care if they were dating? You were going out with Akemi in a few days, certainly you wouldn't go out with someone if you were interested in someone else. There was also the possibility that you were only going out with Akemi since you thought Toshinori was going out with Audioma. Were you trying to make him jealous? Did you secretly wish that you and Toshinori were together instead.
Woah, Woah, Woah. Slow down, man. Toshinori tried to slow his own thoughts. You don't even know if she likes you!
He was putting too much thought into it. Maybe you just liked Akemi and wanted to spend time with him. He was a respectable guy in Toshinori's eyes and if he couldn't date you then Akemi was a worthy substitute. As much as he liked the guy, he still couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to find some way to win you back so that he could date you instead.
He sighed and rolled over in his bed for the millionth time, thinking about all the 'what if's' of his relationship with you.In the end, he couldn't decide what to do. Should he try to win your affection back, even though deep down he knew you two couldn't be together safely? Was it fair of him to try and keep you away from other men without being able to be with you himself?
No.
Did he want to anyways?
Absolutely.
You woke up the next morning in a sour mood. The residual pain in your heart had decided to latch on and stick around, ruining any chances at having a good day. You knew you had to get on with your life, to stop moping over a guy that was unavailable and focus on the people that were, but it was hard. Especially when you lived with him and had to see him all the time. Training was especially hard, as having to see him in his element reminded you of exactly what you were missing out on.
Toshinori landed a firm blow to your side with his large leg, effectively knocking the wind out of you and causing you to collapse to the ground. You heard Gran Torino grunt in disappointment as you sputter and catch your breath.
"That was easily blockable," He observed.
"Yeah, when you're as short as you are!" You spat in aggravation. "I can't just duck under his leg!"
"You could've leapt out of the way!"
"I could not have!" You stood up on shaky legs, agitation beginning to bubble up to it's peak. You had enough on your mind. You didn't need that damn old man bothering you too. It's not like you wanted to train or fight all for one anyways, but what choice did you have?
"Gran Torino, I-" Toshinori began to speak up, concern wrinkling his brow as he saw your mood drastically change.
"Quiet, Toshinori. She's been here a month and what do we have to show for it? Nothing. I'm starting to think this plan of yours isn't so well thought out. It was all-"
"Oh, fuck off!" You growled, angry tears pooling down your face. Why in the hell was this old man so insufferable? You were trying your best. "If you're so amazing and knowledgeable about fighting then YOU can fight all for one!"
"Hey, (Y/N). Calm down! This isn't his fault!" Toshinori defended him, to your surprise.
"What?! You're taking his side? I'm just trying to train and he's verbally abusing me!"
"You weren't focused and he was just pointing that out! You didn't need to explode!" Toshi's voice rose, his own agitation getting to him.
"Oh fuck this. Fuck all of this! Fuck training, fuck getting verbally abused. Fuck this whole thing! I'm done. I didn't sign up to be fish bait for All for One. You don't have to train me. It's not like you believed I had a fighting chance any ways. I'm done."
You turned and marched into the elevator without a single word to either of them. You were stressed enough as it was, being reprimanded while you dealing with the jealousy that came with Toshi dating Audioma had just made it too much to bear. You needed to let off some steam and you needed to do it now. Still dressed in your exercise clothes you left Might Towers and started sprinting as far away from it as you could.
Gran Torino had been wrong. You were making progress. The fact that you could run this far and this long without having to stop and wheeze some air into your lungs was proof that your body was adapting to the strict regimen you followed. You sprinted through town, most of the world still asleep at that point on a weekend. You enjoyed the serenity of it, the quiet calmness of the summer. You took a moment to breath in, smell the morning dew that coated the grass of a nearby park, smell the fresh air that blew through the streets, undisturbed by cars or people.
You continued running until your legs started to ache, that satisfying burn that exercise left you with proof you had pushed past your comfortable limits. You went another half mile more before slowing your speed and eventually stopping, placing your hands on your knees as you steadied your breathing.
Once you'd caught your breath you looked up to survey your surroundings, unsure of where you'd run to. To your surprise, you were on a familiar beach. One you used to frequent a lot during your time underwater. In fact, your cave should've been nearby.
What the hell, you decided, Why not check and make sure no one has gotten in to my place.
You trudged onto the empty beach, tossing your tennis shoes into the sand and discarding all of your clothes along with them. You took in a deep breath and smiled at the familiar scent of sea water.
This was your true home: the vast blue expanse of the ocean that you'd only been able to explore a part of. You realized you'd missed it, the freedom of getting to go wherever you want whenever you want. You had been trapped in that apartment so long you'd forgotten what it felt like to slip into the water, to don your fins and go where the current took you.
It felt familiar, cutting through the water as you swam without any direction. Seaweed licked at your face in the shallow water as you swam through, going deeper and deeper into the ocean. Your tail propelled you forward through the water that welcomed you at an unmatchable speed, knowing this was your home more than the land could ever be.
You felt the stress of the day melt away as the bliss of swimming through your home turf quickly replaced it. You swam until your thoughts were cleared, and then you swam until your happiness had returned. You finally stopped once you'd run out of excuses to keep swimming, and when your head finally burst forth from the water you smiled at the sight of nothing but open ocean, not a single dot of land breaking up the horizon. You could've stayed there all day if you'd wanted, listening to the sound of the waves and the absolute lack of car horns, people talking, and just general noise.
It was tempting, you had to admit. Life in the ocean was so comfortable for you. Nothing to do, nothing to worry about. It was easier than life on land. There were so many expectations, so many complicated relationships. It would've been easier just to stay there, to live out the rest of your days in the ocean. It's not like there was anything for you on land anyways, right?
But then Saffrons face popped into your head, her bright smile and the excitement that would bubble out of her everytime she saw you. You thought of the fun you had together, how she was the only friend you'd had in years. You thought of Camilla too, and your blossoming friendship with her.
You thought of the prison, and how it made you feel like you had a purpose. Even though you'd been injured you still looked forward to doing something good for society. You'd only ever used your quirk to harm people and sustain yourself, now there was a greater purpose.
You thought of your life in the apartment, how nice it was to have a bed to sleep in and clothes to wear. You thought of Gran Torino and those rare times you could make him smile, even though he was a stubborn old jackass.
Finally, you thought of Toshinori. His blonde hair, blue eyes, his hearty laugh. Your heart swelled at the thought of him. You remembered the times you'd been in his arms, how wonderful they were. You thought of how he'd taken care of you when you were drunk, how he'd given you the opportunity for a new life.
The phrase new life rung around in your head a few times. That's exactly what you'd been given: a new life. Were you going to throw it away to spend out the rest of your days in this expanse of nothingness?
No.
By the time you'd swam back to the shore your limbs were dragging from exhaustion. You'd pushed yourself too much that day and you'd pay the consequences during your training tomorrow, assuming they didn't decide to kick you out because of your outburst.
The sun was beginning to set as you saw the shoreline come into view. You hoped your clothes would still be there. If not, you'd have to get creative in finding a way to get home. You hadn't anticipated staying out there so long, but you'd swam so far away it was quite the trek to get back.
As you got closer and closer to the beach you noticed your clothes were there, to your relief. They were folded into a neat pile atop your shoes, and you saw the person responsible for folding them sitting next to them. Toshinori didn't seem to notice you as you watched him from afar, waiting to see what he was doing and why he was there. Had he been waiting for you all day? And why did he look so incredibly sad as he absentmindedly dug in the sand with his hand. He sat with a large towel in his lap, neatly folded and waiting for you to arrive so he could wrap you up in it and hold you close.
Shame filled you as you looked at him; a friend so caring and dedicated to you that he'd wait all day in the hopes that you'd return home. Your heart broke, you felt like the worst person in the world. You almost thought about turning around and going back into the water, to avoid confronting the shame that you had, but the thought of Toshinori sitting there all night and the disappointment he'd feel when you never showed up was too much.
Instead, you crawled up the beach, getting slowly to your feet as soon as you had them, and shuffled over to Toshinori, covering your nakedness with your hands as best as you could.
The shame swiftly turned to sadness as you saw the pure relief in his eyes as soon as he spotted you.
You were back.
Without words he held the towel out to you, which you took and wrapped yourself up in. You attempted to sit next to him, but that just wouldn't do. Not after the fear he'd experienced ever since you rushed into the elevator. He didn't know whether you'd come back, whether you were safe, where you'd even gone. He scooped you up into his lap and buried his face in your hair, wrapping his arms around you and letting out the deepest sigh.
He'd gotten a search party together and they'd looked throughout the day, hoping that they'd find you in one piece. Even Gran Torino helped look. He never said it, but Toshi could tell that the old man had regretted the way he'd spoken to you.
He felt much calmer now that you were with him again, seemingly unscathed and not resentful towards him. He'd thought he'd lost you, and the thought was too much to bear. He had to clear everything up between you. He couldn't let these feelings linger. It was obviously taking a toll on both of you. Gran Torino was just the straw that broke the camel's back.
"I'm sorry," He mumbled, "I was too hard on you..."
"No... I shouldn't have run away. It was childish of me... I've just been so stressed lately that- I don't know..." You sighed, trying to contain the tears you felt welling up, ready to spill over.
"I know, you have a lot on your plate. I'm asking so much of you and it's completely unfair... I don't know why I drug you into this in the first place. It was such a dumb idea."
"No, Toshi. Don't say that. It's not your fault. All for One has to be dealt with and I want to help as much as I can. I know I need to work harder, to focus more, and I promise I'll work on that."
"I don't want the responsibility of All for One to fall onto your shoulders, (Y/N). It's my burden to bear."
"That's a big burden to carry alone, Tosh. I wanna help you in whatever way I can." You leaned against him, not even thinking at the time that you were half naked and Toshi was practically attached to you. It was the most blatant display of affection he'd ever displayed, and you didn't take the time to notice.
"Thank you, (Y/N). I promise I won't let you down..." He let the silence sit between the two of you and he kept nuzzling your hair. You leaned into him and sighed contentedly, watching the sun go down as ribbons of pink, red, and orange reflected on the waves. If there was a better time to confess your feelings, you couldn't think of one.
You turned to Toshi, making sure you had his full attention as you awkwardly cleared your throat.
"There's something else I wanted to talk about too... Something that's been eating at me for a long time." You could feel your heart hammer inside your chest as you spoke, unsure of whether this was the right decision or not. You couldn't take back those words once you said them.
"What's on your mind?" He smoothed back your wet hair with his hand, taking the opportunity to look deeply into your eyes.
"Well... Toshi... I've been thinking for a while... I really like spending time with you and... and..." Your voice was as quiet as a whisper, barely a squeak above the sound of the tide coming in.
"Whatever it is, you can tell me. I promise." Toshinori's heart was hammering in his own chest. What the hell were you going to tell him? Was it what he thought and hoped it was? It couldn't be!
"Toshinori... I'm... I'm in l-"
"(Y/N)!" Saffron screeched, bounding towards you on the beach and totally disregarding Toshinori as she tackled you. "WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU? WE WERE WORRIED SICK!"
You could see the tears streaming down her face. Camilla and Akemi stood awkwardly in the background, both relieved to see you were okay, but also embarrassed on behalf of Saffron.
"I'm sorry, Saff. I didn't mean to scare you." Could she not tell that you and Toshi were having a serious moment? That you needed to be alone? Or did she just not care? Either option agitated you.
"We gotta get you to your apartment and in to something dry. You reek of seaweed!" She pulled you up and ushered you over to your clothes.
"We were really worried about you, (Y/N)." Akemi stated, while giving you an awkward pat on the back"Glad to see you're back."
"I'm sorry guys, I was just having a bad day... I promise I won't do it again."
Saffron kept urging you forward to the car that was waiting for all of you on the street. You tried to turn around and look at Toshi, to tell him you wanted to talk to him later, but Saffron was too aggressive. Instead, Toshi was left alone in the sand, wondering.
What were you trying to tell him?