Chapter Text
Mermaids.
Creatures of myth, legend- extraordinary beauty and untold power. A fairytale told to children to delight and amaze. Stories made up from the drunken ramblings of sailors centuries ago. That is, until the king of the deep unknown made him, and his kind known.
King Yoichi appeared, not content to tricks and shadows, made a deal with humanity–
“Izuku, it’s time to go see Nana. You can read the plaque later,” Inko urged her son. “Tenko, Katsuki, you too.”
“I don’t see why you want to read that thing. It’s all boring history anyway,” Tenko grumbled.
“It’s not boring,” Izuku argued with his cousin. “It’s fascinating! It’s a record of when mers first made formal contact with humans hundreds of years ago. How is it not interesting that a sentient species besides humans exists?”
Tenko rolled his eyes. “We’ve seen it all before. There’s documentaries on this stuff, so what difference does seeing it in person make? It’s all the same either way.”
“There’s always more to learn,” Izuku continued on. “Like how they manage to survive in the deep, the secrets of their magic and longevity. And–”
“Alright Nerd, we get it,” Katsuki grumbled. “Let’s get moving already!”
“Oh, sorry Kacchan!”
“This way you three,” Inko urged them to follow, leading the way through the facility.
“Why’s the old lady here anyway?” Kacchan asked gruffly as they walked. “Shouldn’t she be at a home or something?”
Inko turned to face Katsuki with a look of sheer disappointment. He muttered a quick sorry that would be missed by most. Katsuki never apologized. Only Inko and his dad had ever been successful in getting a straightforward apology from him.
“Nana is sick. And this place is helping her transition from being sick, to going to live in the sea.”
Katsuki didn’t say anything more. Tenko seemed to ignore it, his eyes focusing on the distant ocean instead. Perhaps trying to come to terms with Nana leaving soon. Izuku on the other hand, to no one’s surprise, began to cry.
“It’s going to be alright Izuku,” Aunty Inko soothed. “She’ll be much better off soon.”
“Y-Yeah…” Izuku murmured, wiping at his eyes.
He knew all about mers. He knew about the program that let sick people become mers in the ocean. Where they would say goodbye to loved ones. He read all about it as he heard his grandma Nana was going to be one. He knew that it was what she wanted, and he was happy for her. But he was sad he wasn’t going to see her again.
At least she wouldn’t be in pain anymore. And it wasn’t like she would die. She would just…have a new chance at life. That’s all. He wished her all the happiness and new experiences she would have in her new life.
Still, he was going to miss her.
“C’mon crybaby. Grandma won’t want to see your snotty face,” Tenko sneered at his younger cousin.
“Tenko!” Inko whipped her head around to stare down her hard headed nephew, “There is nothing wrong with feeling sad.”
Tenko rolled his eyes. “Yeah. I know. Everyone tells me that. Doesn’t mean Grandma wants to see him snotty. Isn’t she all about us smiling?”
He said it with such a layer of teenage disgust it was almost missed his attempt at caring. At least, that was what they wanted to hear.
Izuku rubbed his eyes, wiping away the tears. He tried to stop the tears. Tenko was right. She loved to see them smile. She even told her students the same.
“Doubt she meant your ugly mug, Flaky,” Kacchan sneered at the older teen. “I think seeing you smile might be enough for her to kick the bucket.”
Tenko glared at Kacchan. “You little—”
“That’s enough,” Mom interrupted sternly, giving them all a no nonsense glare. “I don’t want to hear any more arguing.”
“Yes ma’am,” they all said in agreement. It didn’t stop Tenko and Kacchan from sending each other dirty looks though.
Still, it helped him to smile a little when Kacchan nudged his arm, smirking and glancing over Tenko.
He didn’t need to come. But apparently if he stayed home, he would have been brought to his mom’s work and maybe even made to model. He would rather see a sick old lady than deal with his old hag.
The four walked towards the publicly accessible building, until they are stopped by a man in uniform.
“Please wait. Prisoners are being escorted.”
“Oh my,” Inko spoke under her breath.
“Prisoners?” Tenko sounded more excited. “What did they do? Did they kill someone?”
“Tenko. Please. Not now.”
“C’mon! What did they do?” he badgered.
“That’s classified.”
“Ugh.”
“Look!” Katsuki pointed towards a group of guards walking forward, surrounding one of many tanks. Mers that were much bigger than people. Each one at the edge of their tank, as close to the prison as possible. Their faces warped in fear. But clearly not of the prison they were being taken to.
Their faces ranged from anguish to misery, growing more fearful as each one was paraded past.
“These guys don’t look scary. I’ve seen scarier people on the trains,” Tenko scoffed.
“These mers are prisoners,” the guards stated when Tenko got too close. “For your own safety, stay back.”
“Mer prisoners?” Izuku asked. “What are they doing here?”
“That is classified information.”
“What isn’t classified around here?” Tenko grumbled.
The guard smirked a little at his annoyance. “That’s classified.”
The audacity of the petty.
Tenko was going to say something back. Most likely a childish complaint when the words died in his throat. A truly massive tank was being pulled. Twice as many guards stood around it, each one with weapons drawn and aimed at the tank. A single mer floated inside. Pure annoyance and nothing else was oozing from every pore. He was larger than the others, otherworldly with pale hue and brilliantly shimmery iridescent scales over a magnificent tail. Truly a work of art had he been on paper or film.
But the fear of those around him put all on edge. Lazy red eyes roamed over each and every person’s figure, assessing them as nothing more than annoyances or insects.
One of the prisoners made the mistake of meeting his gaze. The panic in his eyes was immediate.
“No!” he shouted, trying to make a break from the group. “No! I don’t want this! Let me go! You can’t make me!”
The guards caught him with ease, forcing the man back in line.
“Please, please—” he begged when he refused to walk. It went unheard as the man was tased, seizing in place and falling limp to the floor. Another guard grabbed the man’s chained hands and dragged him along.
“That’s a little…harsh, isn’t it?” Izuku asked aloud.
“If you knew what he’s done, you wouldn’t think so,” One guard spoke. “If anything, he’s getting off light. They don’t deserve—”
“That’s enough!” Another barked, cutting off the other with a sharp look. He looked back to the children and Inko. “Please be patient. They will be gone momentarily.”
Tenko wanted to argue. So did Katsuki. Izuku was curious. Why were there people being dragged away? Why were there mers mixed in? Why were they so close to grandma Nana?
Inko didn’t say anything. Instead, she kept her gaze on the three curious children she was with. Heaven forbid one should try and satisfy their curiosity and get separated with people so dangerous nearby.
“We can go now,” she said when the guards and the prisoner vanished through a doorway. “Grandma is right over here. Stay close.”
Tenko groaned, Katsuki ‘tch’ and Izuku simply nodded and followed.
She knocked on the door before opening it. “Mama?” she called out. “It’s me, Inko.”
A weary voice answered her, exhaustion tinging every word. In spite of that, she greeted them with a bright smile. “Inko,” her mother spoke softly from the bed she lay in. “And the little troublemakers too. Glad you could make it here.”
“It’s good to see you, Grandma,” Izuku said first. One look and Inko could already see the tears forming in his eyes again.
“Little Izuku,” she said with fondness. “Where’s that fearless smile of yours? Don’t tell your oaf of a father hasn’t been passing on my lessons.”
“H-He has,” Izuku assured her, trying his best to smile for her.
“Good, good.”
She held out her arms, awaiting a hug. Izuku wasted no time running into her arms. They always felt safe. He felt her thin arms give a light squeeze before the hug ended. Izuku took a step back, knowing his grandma always greeted everyone.
“Tenko, I swear they’ll need to put a brick on your head or you’ll grow too tall to walk through the door,” she remarked playfully. Tenko gave a genuine smile.
“They’ll never catch me. And even if they did, I’d fight ‘em off.”
Her smile grew.
“Now why am I not surprised?” she chuckled. She held out her arms to Tenko now, encouraging a hug. Tenko groaned, but didn’t want to be nagged later, so he hugged her.
“And Katsuki,” she greeted Kacchan. “Still have that explosive temper of yours? I keep telling your mother she needs to knock some sense into you.”
“Yeah, yeah,whatever,” Kacchan muttered, but he gave Grandma Nana a quick hug before backing off.
“So,” Grandma started, looking them all over with fondness. “This will be our last time together as a family.”
“Mama…” Inko whispered, tears building up in her eyes now.
“Now now, no tears Inko,” she chided gently. “I lived a long, full and happy life. That’s something to be celebrated!”
“I…when are you going to…?”
“This evening.”
There was no stopping the tears falling down Inko’s cheeks. They were steady, even as she tried to smile.
“Isn’t that a little soon? What about-?”
“Toshinori already knows,” Nana explained. “He’ll be the one overseeing the procedure.”
“I…I don’t…” Inko tried to say, but her voice failed her.
Nana took her daughter's hand in hers. “I know. I know it’s going to be hard for you after I’m…gone. But I’m not going to die, Inko. I’ll just be starting something new. And no matter what happens, I’ll always love all of you.”
“So… we gonna watch or–”
“Tenko!”
“What? Isn’t that how things work? Someone is dying and everybody stands around for it?”
Nana chuckled at the question.
“It’s a little much. But it’s also rather boring. I promise, you won’t be missing anything.”
“We’ll miss you,” Izuku spoke up. Nana’s gaze went to her youngest grandson.
“I know. But this way, I’d like to think there is a good chance that we’ll meet again. Doesn’t that sound nice?”
Izuku nodded his head. Tears, just like his mom, started to fall down his cheeks. Nana didn’t say anything, just gently pulled Izuku into a reassuring hug.
“There there. We still have all day. Let’s enjoy it with a smile, alright?”
Izuku lifted his face to see his Nana. She showed him a smile that he swore he would never forget. He did his best to return his own.
For hours they sat and talked in the room. Telling stories of school, work and life in general. None of them tried to look at the clock. None of them looked out the window to see the sun lower into the ocean.
A knock at the door interrupted them.
“Nana?” A familiar voice called out gently, and was soon followed by a mane of bright blonde hair. Blue eyes searched the occupants of the room, remorse filling his gaze. They lingered on Izuku the longest before flicking over to Nana. “It’s time.”
“Already?” His mom asked, rising with a start. “Toshi, isn’t it a little soon?”
Dad shook his head. “We’re running a bit behind schedule actually. I need to take Nana so we can get everything ready.”
“Very well. Children, Inko… Just know that there is never a moment in this life, or the next, that I won’t love you.”
They moved out of the way so Dad could unhook the machines from the bed, the doors opening wide as Dad pulled out the bed.
Izuku made to follow when his parents exited the room, but Mom stopped him.
“Izuku, I want you three to stay here,” she told him, shaking her head.
“What? But that’s not fair!” Izuku argued. “I want to be there with her!”
“I know sweetie,” Mom sighed. “But I don’t think you should. It would hurt you too much.”
“But—”
“Izuku, listen to your mother,” Dad interjected. “She’s only trying to protect you, my boy.”
Hurt flashed across Izuku's face.
“I’m sorry,” Mom said. “But you’ll understand when you’re older.”
“I wanna be with Grandma Nana too,” Izuku grumbled. Hot and angry tears began to pool in his eyes. Nana sighed lightly.
“Izuku, you know I still love you when we’re apart?”
Izuku nodded his head.
“And I bet you love me the same way. Just like Tenko.”
Tenko flinched. He hated this depressing mushy stuff. Izuku still nodded, acknowledging her.
“Just because you aren’t by my side, doesn’t mean you aren’t still with me. I promise.”
“...Okay,” Izuku reluctantly conceded. “I love you, Grandma Nana.”
“And I you.”
Mom and Dad took Nana away, but not without guilty looks as the doors automatically closed them. Izuku didn’t move, not looking away from the little windows on the doors until Nana was out of sight. He kicked a nearby stand in frustration.
“This isn’t fair!” Izuku repeated in a shout. Katsuki rolled his eyes. He was reconsidering whether being stuck as a model for his mom would have been better than this stupid emotion filled and snot covered day.
“It isn’t,” Tenko said. His voice was an eerie calm that almost always promised trouble. “We should go follow them.”
Izuku looked at his older cousin with wide eyes.
“Can we?”
“Beats sticking around this dump,” Katsuki said. “I’m in.”
A watery smile bloomed on Izuku’s face. Tenko walked to the door and opened it slowly. He looked around for anyone that might make them stay put. So far, no one was there.
“C’mon babies. Let’s go.”
“I’m not a baby–!” Katsuki began to yell, a string of insults on the tip of his tongue.
“SHH! Kacchan! We’re supposed to be quiet!”
“He’s right. You want to be babysat here?”
Katsuki grumbled. His gaze was filled with hate, but he didn’t scream at Tenko. He didn’t want to be stuck in a room off to the side while the adults did something important.
“So…which way?” Izuku whispered when they came upon a split path with no idea where either of them led.
“Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,” Tenko ‘deliberated’ “Off this way we go!” He took the right, snickering at the face Katsuki was making. While annoyed, Katsuki didn’t argue. It wasn’t like they had any better idea where to go.
So to the right they went, mindful of any footsteps and voices echoing down from the other hallways or behind closed doors. They had been walking for several minutes when Katsuki was about ready to give up and head back to the room when they finally found something of interest.
“That door is huge,” Izuku whispered in amazement, looking up and up, far higher than any of them were tall.
Excitement radiated from Tenko, who smirked at the sight of it. “I think I know what this is,” he said. “Remember the size of those tanks?”
Katsuki and Izuku did remember. There had been large tanks. But then there had been that massive tank. The one that held the mer that everyone seemed to fear.
“You think… That the mer we saw is in here?” Izuku asked. It made sense. But it didn’t make sense that Grandma Nana would be in there. Everyone seemed to fear the mer. And while his grandma was rather fearless, there was something really scary about that mer.
“What else would be in there?” Tenko sneered at the younger two. “Let’s check it out.”
“Hah?” Katsuki nearly screamed. His voice, loud and shrill with disbelief.
“We’re looking for Grandma Nana though,” Izuku stated.
“Don’t tell me you’re scared,” Tenko teased, already stepping towards the door. “Or are you just a big baby after all? What about you, Katsuki? You still wearing diapers too?”
A tick formed in Kacchan’s head. “Hah?! Who do you think you’re talking to?! I’m not scared!”
“Kacchan–”
“Don’t try to stop me Deku. I’m not scared of whatever’s behind the door,” Katsuki yelled. He lunged towards the door, his hands grabbing the handle and pulling.
For a moment, Izuku thought it might be locked. A door that big had to be locked if something dangerous was inside right? To Izuku’s surprise, the door wasn’t locked. While it seemed a bit heavy and harder to move than a normal door, Katsuki’s strength and need to prove he wasn’t a scaredy cat, had the door moving.
A soft, low blue light poured from the room. A true deep sea vibe filled the room. Tenko ushered Izuku inside, following Katsuki in his desire to be fearless. He shut the door behind them. The room had nothing but the low light for them to see, and the quiet hum of filtering water, no doubt from the solitary large tank in the center of the room. Completely circular and reminiscent of what Izuku remembered from visiting the aquarium.
“It’s just an empty tank,” Katsuki snarked.
“Something even a baby wouldn’t be scared of,” Tenko commented, still trying to rib Katsuki. Izuku didn’t listen as they bickered between one another. The tank didn’t feel empty. He watched as bubbles and water seemed to move. A small wave in the water as the current moved around something in there. It was only when the light caught something shimmery did Izuku realize that the pale, iridescent scaled mer was in the tank, using the light to hide in plain sight.
“Guys,” Izuku called out to Tenko and Kacchan, still arguing with each other. He stiffened when the massive figure inside started to shift. “Guys!”
“What?!” They shouted in unison at him.
Izuku pointed to the rising figure in the tank, trembling when a red gaze rested on them. He stumbled back a step.
The edge of the mer’s mouth slowly slid into a smirk, amusement dancing in his eyes.
Izuku was about to urge Tenko and Kacchan to leave when a deep voice reverberated through the tank, through the glass and into the room.
“How rude of me to not introduce myself,” the voice chuckled. The pale mer shifted, rising to his full height. “It is not often I have visitors. And hatchlings at that. What brings little ones such as yourself to my abode?”
The slight sarcastic tone was not lost on Katsuki as he glowered at the mer. Tenko was looking over the massive mer with awe. Izuku looked with cautious curiosity. But ever polite, it was Izuku who answered.
“We-We’re looking for Grandma Nana. My mom’s with her and she’s– she’s going away,” Izuku said, tears threatening to come out once more. Tenko nudged him.
“Don’t cry in front of the mer,” he hissed quietly. “It’s embarrassing.”
The large mer tilted his head slightly as Izuku wiped his eyes.
“A part of your family, little one?”
“Y-Yeah,” Izuku nodded, doing his best to collect himself. “She’s…going to become a mer. Then she’ll be gone.”
“Gone?” the mer chuckled, the sound causing Izuku to jolt. “She will not be gone. The transformation from human to mer does not end in death, but renewal of body and spirit. She will be much better off soon, little one.”
“I know but…she won’t be her anymore. She won’t be my Grandma Nana.”
“And what is wrong with that?”
The three children didn’t answer. Emotions flickered across their face, primarily a level of curiosity. The large mer swam closer, quickly eating up the distance between them, nearly touching the glass. His form low to the ground and looking at the children with far more interest than before. Izuku shuddered as the low blue light did nothing to dim the red of his eyes.
“Being a mer is wonderful. There is so much of the world you can’t even imagine that we can go.”
“We aren’t the ones stuck in a tank,” Katsuki snarked. The large mer gave him an annoyed half second glance.
“And how many humans end up living their lives in cages?”
“We don’t live in cages,” Izuku argued, drawing the mer’s attention to him.
“Don’t you?” The mer said, tail flicking lazily. “You live such short lives, bound to land and without access to the magics my kind have mastered. You have never known the freedom of traveling the world at your own whim, or bending the tides to your will. Nor have you seen the great cities mers have crafted, and when you near the end of your lives, you seek to become mer’s yourselves to know our greatness.”
He sounded incredibly smug with his declaration.
“Big talk for someone in a tank,” Katsuki sassed back.
“Kacchan!”
Something flashed across the mer’s face. Something dangerous and frightening. So much so it even made Kacchan tense up for a moment. The mer opened his mouth to say something when the door opened behind them.
“What? Who’re you kids?” an old man’s voice carried, his form silhouetted by the brighter yellow light from outside. “C’mere.”
It was clearly a command. Tenko groaned.
“Great. Just what we needed.”
The older man walked into the room. His movements were quicker than either Izuku or Katsuki expected.
“Toshi! What are you doing here?!” he questioned, pointing at Tenko.
“For the last time, I’m not my uncle. I’m not even related to him!”
The old man didn’t seem to listen or care what Tenko said. “C’mon and hurry up now. You’ve been letting the kids wander again, Toshi. What would Inko think?”
Tenko ignored him, turning instead to the mer with a searching gaze. “You said mers have powers. What are they? What makes them so great?”
“It would take a lifetime to explain it to one such as you,” the mer stated. A full on smirk was on his face now. “If you wish to know, I find it simpler to show, than to tell.”
They watched as the mers hand closed into a fist, bright, iridescent colors radiating from his skin before it faded away. When he opened his hand, they were greeted with the sight of pearls, ranging in a variety of colors. Some white, orange, a few pink or cream, several black…
The mer drew his hand closer for them to see. Tenko stared in awe at the sight, his own reaching up as if to take the precious gems for himself.
“That’s enough,” the old man snapped, all playfulness gone from his voice now. “We’re leaving. Now.”
“You can’t–” Tenko started, but he was swiftly whacked with a cane and forced to move. He and Kacchan were given a warning glare by Gran. Kacchan ‘tch’, but didn’t argue. Izuku paused, before turning around.
“Um. Sorry for bothering you sir,” Izuku said to the mer and bowed slightly to show his respect. “I-It was nice to meet you.”
“A pleasure to meet you as well, young one. Perhaps next time, I’ll get your name.”
“Izuku! Come on!” Tenko snapped. If he was going to be in trouble, then he wasn’t going to let Izuku escape the wrath of the irritable and annoying old man. Only Izuku saw the smile that came to the mer’s face.
“See you soon, Izuku.”
Izuku shuddered at the tone, and quickly followed the old man, Tenko and Katsuki out of the room.
“Do you have any idea where you boys were?” the old man began to berate.
“I’m sure you’ll tell us Torino,” Tenko commented, his tone dripping with contempt and sarcasm. The sharp smack of the cane on his shin had him yelp.
“That was a criminal’s cell. You best forget what you saw there and never talk about it ever.”
“Why would a criminal cell be unlocked?” Katsuki questioned.
It was Torino’s turn to look sheepish. He turned his head and coughed, trying not to indicate just who would be the person who forgot to lock the door.
“Who wants taiyaki?” he belted out. “We can have some and talk about something other than what you didn’t see in there.”
“A bribe by any other name tastes just as sweet,” Izuku whispered, and he was sure Torino had heard him. But he said nothing, leading them onwards and talking about the different kinds he had.
Izuku sighed in relief. At least they weren’t going to get in trouble with Mom or Dad. But…
“Gran?” Izuku asked quietly. “Grandma Nana. Is she…?”
Gran seemed to falter some. “Yeah, kid. She’s gone.”
Izuku bit back the sob that threatened to escape him, but he could do nothing to stop the tears.
“C’mon, Deku,” Kacchan nudged him. “Let’s go and talk about heroes or something.”
Izuku just nodded, unable to speak with emotion choking his throat.
“I saw that new show about that half-alien guy. Seems meh, but it’s not half-bad. You should watch it sometime. And there was this one about–”
Despite his tears and grief, Izuku managed a small smile. He was blessed to have a friend like Kacchan.
It was quiet. The near silent hum of the ventilation that purified the water in the tank constant, but almost entirely drowned out by the very movement of the water. Never perfectly still so long as a form of life remained inside. Loath as he was to admit it, there were a paltry sum of humans that could make something remotely interesting or useful once in a blue moon.
Of course his little brother would have sought out the ones that were just annoyingly useful enough to cause a minor inconvenience. Placing him in such a tank on land, believing it would be strong enough to hold him in place. Such a loving homage to the shipwreck he had repurposed to keep his brother safe for so many years. So young was he at the time, he couldn’t construct his own perfect device to keep his brother out of his way.
Now little Yoichi had grown up and wanted his chance to rule over the mers in his stead. He normally wouldn’t have condoned such a thing, but Yoichi had been so insistent that he allowed his little brother to have his fun, and let him rule for a short time. Ah, the things he did for him.
Though perhaps convincing humans to capture and trap him within a tank had gone a bit too far. It had gone on longer than he had wanted, spending the last few years in captivity thanks to Yoichi. Perhaps he had taken a liking to being king.
He’d have to teach his younger brother a lesson in what it meant to rule once he was free. What it took to keep and maintain a kingdom, even amidst the currents of war.
At least the venture wasn’t entirely in vain. Normally, he would be surrounded by guards, perhaps even military. Scientists if they were feeling bold. But on this day, young legged children appeared. If children could easily find their way to where he was being held, then what better time to head back to his throne? It would be simple child’s play.
A smirk came to his face as the children had inadvertently told him just how much the security must be lacking in the facility.
He’d have to thank them. And he knew just how to do so.
He lowered himself to the bottom of his tank, pushing sand aside for something hidden below. Pearls of various colors he had created, betwixt in his hands. Yes. These would be perfect.
Despite the pretense the humans maintained, he knew many that coveted his power for their own ambitions. How easy it was to slip into their thoughts and twist them from within to do his bidding with the promise of All For One granting them his favor.
When the time came it would make his escape all the easier. Then all those within the facility would see the power he held in full.
And from among the chaos, he would claim what had caught his eye.
After all, what king didn’t have an heir?
With this in mind, he placed his palm to the glass of the tank. It was certainly strong. Reinforced to handle the most well known of marine life. He however, was not a common beast, nor was he common in power. He began to apply pressure to the glass. At first, it appeared nothing was happening. But with each pound of pressure, the glass began to give. First, with miniscule hairline fractures. Then breaking into a lightning like pattern. Enough to be seen, but not enough to break. His wicked smile grew as he forced more pressure on the glass.
The impenetrable tank shattered. Water flooded the room as glass shards were launched outward. Some falling to the ground, others propelled with enough force to go flying into the wall. With no water left to suspend him, he too, fell to the ground, where wet sand clung to his form.
Sirens began to blare their awful screech, alerting all that their little creation was ruined. That he was now free to move as he pleased among the criminals and the invalids.
His grin stretched when he already heard the rushing of footsteps and rising voices. He brought his hand palm up, red and black energy crackling along skin and scales. From the ground the pearls rose forth. Dealing with these nuisances would take only a moment.
Afterwards, there would be only one more part to play. Then, he would take what was his.