Chapter Text
Shoto swam back and forth, his hands trailing along the glass that kept him trapped from the world he longed to be a part of. Everyday he saw plenty of people coming to examine him, they poked and prodded him. Made him the star of their sick experimentations, he was covered in bandages and and scars, nicks in his fins and missing scales were evident too.
The glass led out to an open ocean exhibit, he could see the world he had once been a part of but couldn't reach any further. He was honestly surprised they even let him be semi visible if another mer happened to wander in from the ocean but he found that there often was just fish that did. While the exhibit he was in couldn't be seen from the outside he learned it also couldn't be seen from the inside by aquarium goes, simply the scientists knew where his tank was from the lower levels of the science building. His tank was in theory stacked with the open ocean exhibit, partly underneath and to the side, but deep enough he wasn't visible to the public.
He longed to swim with the creatures in the tanks above and beside him, he longed to escape the clutches of the scientists who used him for their studies.
He sighed as he rounded the corner of his tank, the artificial plants scraping along his fins. He sighed, he swam in an endless circle. Everything felt wrong, he looked over his hands the scales on his wrists felt like they were itchy. Tears were dripping into the salt water, he sighed again and swam in another circle when he spotted someone walking across the tile in front of his glass.
This person was someone new however, he had never seen them before.
They looked younger, his age. Shoto swam towards the glass, placing his hand upon it. The younger man stepped back, he seemed almost startled by his sudden presence. His eyes scanned Shoto's body, examining him carefully.
"What are they doing to you?" The boy asked softly, Shoto whined and sighed. At least this human boy seemed more kind, he had never seen him around before. The boy had kind eyes, despite their nearly red coloring. His blonde hair was spikey, he smiled at him but Shoto could see the sadness behind the look.
Shoto flicked his tail, the bandages were tight and hindered a bit of his movement. He assumed it was by design, he wasn't sure if the scientists wanted him to be able to move quickly encase he ever did find away to escape.
Shoto reached for the bandage wrapped around the middle of his tail, pulling at the fabric he winced a bit showing the large cut in his scales. The boy brought a hand to his mouth, tears were welling up in his eyes.
"I-I'm going to try and get you out of here."
Shoto smiled at the boy, dropping his bandage. He pounded on the glass a few times before diving away and grabbing a large fake shell and bringing it over. Shoto began to hit the glass roughly, it wasn't cracking yet but he was sure it would happen if he just kept going. The boy's eyes lit up in understanding, he darted off returning with a large object and began to hit the glass in the same place on the opposite side of the glass. The two hit the glass again and again until the glass began to crack, splintering up and outward like a spiderweb.
Shoto flicked his tail back and forth in excitement, he hadn't ever though this would happen for him. They continued to crack at the glass until finally it gave way, the boy stepped backward quickly trying to avoid the sudden violent rush of water. Shoto swam forward through the break and straight towards the boy. He scooped him up in his arms as the rush of water began to fill the lower level of the building. The boy laughed in surprise, before sputtering water overtaking him. They moved quickly, Shoto could feel some pain in his movements but not enough to stop him.
Once they reach a point where there was less water and more dry land the boy swapped his position, scooping him up in his arms he began to run towards the exit. The two panicked when they heard a familiar voice.
Mr. Shigarki, the head scientist.
"Hey! Put him down, he is our best assets. Young Katsuki, let him go!"
"I won't let him hurt you anymore."
"G-Get me to the open ocean exhibit, I can go from there."
The boy looked at Shoto with some surprise, but he nodded in understanding. He ran, kicking open a door to the second level of the staff section and up a flight of stairs. "I've never seen you here before…"
"Breaking and entering," Katsuki smiled, "my father works here on the tanks…"
"Will he get in trouble?"
"Probably," he replied, "but you're more important than a job. Plus, you're being held here illegally. If he fires him, we can sue. Send him to jail," Katsuki smiled.
Shoto didn't really understand what he meant but he assumed it was good. Katsuki rounded another corner, they could hear shouting behind them but he was faster. He kicked a second set of doors open and then they were running up the stairs to the catwalk that was over the open ocean exhibit.
"Ready to go home?" Katsuki asked, his head cocked as he held Shoto over the water. "I- I've heard of you, my dad said you always looked so sad… I hope you get far from here, and that you stay very safe.'
"Young Bakugo Katsuki if you do not hand that merman back to me there will be consequences."
"Bite me old man!"
Shoto chuckled. "Thank you," he grinned up at him before glancing below at the water ready to welcome him in with open arms. He leaned up, kissing Bakugo quickly before the young man blushed deeply releasing him to the water below. Shoto positioned himself for an easy entrance, free falling and feeling as free as any bird or flying fish could be. Splashing into the water he swam in a circle, exploring the larger tank.
Bakugo grinned, flipping Zen Shigaraki off as he stood on the other end of the platform. "Try it, take me to court, fire my dad. I know and you know that you had him illegally, and I got pictures."
Zen froze, glaring down at the young man.
Shoto looked back up at Bakugo before waving a goodbye. Shoto swam quickly, doing his very best to try and escape. He swam past fish and large sharks, smiling wide, he could see the opening to the exit.
He moved fast, faster than he had moved in along time and despite the pain he was feeling in his tail and fins he jutted outward reaching the escape. He looked back towards the cat walk, he could see Katsuki the boy who saved him walking down the cat walk a man with brown hair who looks similar to him walking him down.
He only hoped he was safe.
He swam off, he hoped to see the boy again, but he was also going to do his best to get away from the aquarium and the people who took him.
Little did Shoto know, he had a tracker implanted in his tail.