Working from Home

 Elly yawned as she opened up her laptop. She rubbed sleepily at her furry ears, blinking as she tapped some commands in and set up her camera.

It was time to check in with the teenagers at U.A and see how they were coping with staying indoors during a villian-induced pandemic. No one could leave their living areas and she'd been busy seeing as it had begun stressing people out.

The teenagers logged in one after another, chatting while they did and waving at her onscreen. She stifled another yawn before giving in to the need for caffeine. 

"Okay, guys, I'm a little sleepy so hang on while I get a cup of coffee."

<b>Midoriya</b>: <i>Of course, Ms. Cheshire.</i>

<b>Bakugo</b>: <i>Kiss ass.</i>

<b>Mina</b>, <b>Ochaco</b>: <i>Bakugo!</i>

<b>Bakugo</b>: <i>Deal with it.</i>

<b>Iida</b>: <i>You shouldn't speak to the school counselor like that. Not only is it unbecoming of a hero, she -</i>

<b>Bakugo</b>: <i>WHO THE HELL IS THAT</i>

A tall, blond man with his hair tied up in a messy bun and red glasses strolled casually out of the hallway scratching his chest. As he came closer the class noticed he was almost completely naked.

<b>Mina</b>: <i>Oh my GOD!</i>

<b>Midoriya</b>: <i>Is - is that Present Mic?!</i>

<b>Jirou</b>: <i>Oh no</i> 

<b>Jirou</b>: <i>Oh no no no no NO</i> 

<b>Ochaco</b>: <i>We saw him during that hostage exercise, remember? That's him.</i>

<b>Midoriya</b>: <i>We didn't see</i> that <i>much of him.</i>

<b>Jirou</b>: <i>...</i> 

<b>Jirou</b>: <i>Nope</i> 

(<b>Jirou has left the session</b>)

Hizashi yawned, stretching his arms over his head and blinking sleepily. He turned and, rather unfortunately for him, faced the camera head on.

He was wearing a leopard print thong slung low on his hips and nothing else. 

<b>Iida</b>: <i>EVERYONE LOOK AWAY!</i>

<b>Kirishima</b>: <i>It's not like we can unsee it, bro.</i> 

<b>Bakugo</b>: <i>I wish.</i> 

<b>Tsuyu</b>: <i>I guess it's true what they say about tall guys.</i>

<b>Mineta</b>: <i>Is not! Short guys have just as much...</i>

<b>Mineta</b>: <i>...</i>

<b>Mineta</b>: <i>...wait</i>

<b>Mineta</b>: <i>Is he even human?!</i>

<b>Iida</b>: <i>No one should be commenting on our teacher's physical appearance! That is highly inapropriate!</i>

<b>Mineta</b>: <i>THAT'S highly inapropriate!!!</i>

<b>Mina</b>: <i>You owe me, Kiri!!!</i>

<b>Kirishima</b>: <i>You're crazy good at spotting people hooking up. But I gotta ask - how has he not noticed us yet?</i>

<b>Sero</b>: <i>I don't</i> think <i>he's awake yet..?</i>

<b>Mina</b>: <i>How has he not noticed?!</i>

<b>Midoriya</b>: <i>I - I can't do this I can't -</i>

Hizashi turned again and grinned slyly, obviously spotting Elly in the kitchen.

"Hey, babygirl," he crooned in a voice thick with innuendo. "I'm gettin' cold back there by myself. Why'd ya <i>leeeeeave</i>?"

<b>Mina</b>: <i>Awwww ♡♡♡</i>

<b>Bakugo</b>: <i>Ewwww</i>

"Zashi!" Elly rushed into the room, coffee cup sloshing brown liquid everywhere and panic clearly written all over her blushing features. "The session with 1-A!"

He blinked and finally noticed the coffee table where her laptop was sitting open. He looked slowly down at himself. Once his mind finally caught up with what she'd said his golden eyes grew giant and he threw himself noisily to the floor.

<b>Bakugou</b>: <i>Gross. Didn't need to know our teachers were fucking.</i>

<b>Mineta</b>: <i>How long ago do you think they were -</i>

<b>Mina</b>: <i>You'd better be talking about them dating and NOTHING else.</i>

<b>Iida</b>: <i>Yes... well, excuse me for being so forward, but are you two a formal couple?</i>

<b>Bakugo</b>: <i>Again, gross. Didn't need to think about our teachers having random hookups, either.</i>

Elly sighed as she sat down, setting her half-empty mug beside the laptop. "We're in a serious relationship."

"We'll announce it properly now." Hizashi's voice floated up from where he was hiding.

"We kept it mostly under wraps since Mic is a celebrity hero," she explained. "There's less fuss this way."

"I just wanted to <i>cuddle</i>," he whined unhappily, his face popping up to peer at her computer screen. "Not that lettin' everyone know is a bad thing! But <i>this</i> freakin' sucks."

Everyone agreed.

Elly rubbed the side of her face with one hand. "Look, we all know what happened. We'll try much harder on our part to make sure it doesn't, ever again. Does anyone have any other questions or concerns?"

Hizashi's eyes narrowed when Mineta started typing. "Anyone <i>else</i>?"

<b>Mineta</b>: <i>Aw, c'mon!</i>

Beyond the sea 10

 Elly had no idea that something was watching her while she had gotten ready for her date that day. A dark, ominous shadow hovered in the deep as she readied herself, getting larger as it grew closer... but at the last moment before it revealed itself it darted behind the reef.

Once she was gone the shadow emerged, whipping several tentacles out to grab the coral and climb into her nest. It was Aizawa, and he looked more tired than ever. His eyes were fully bloodshot and he carried a woven kelp bag similar to the one she owned. He silently reached into hers and removed the few supplies that were almost empty. As he did so several tentacles brought newer ones around to replace them. 

His little companion flashed around him in excitement, carrying bits and baubles of pretty colors and shining stones that he pocketed in another bag he carried with him. When the unicorn fish nudged Elly's nest, however, eyes pleading, he shook his head.

"She'll guess it was us." An incredulous look met his flat statement and he shrugged. "The replacements aren't full, little one. I've carefully measured it all to be more, but not new. Trust me," he added, patting her fondly as she blew out an exasperated string of bubbles. "It's for the best. Why don't you take one - <i>one, mind you</i> -- of your treasures and place it on the sand below? She's sure to find it."

As she wiggled away happily to put a pebble down he noticed her bedding was flat. It was difficult to learn how to weave the surroundings plants and she was just learning. It wasn't a bad effort, but it could be far more comfortable if it were padded differently. He plucked more strands of sea grass and added a layer, his weathered features bleak. When he was satisfied her small area was the best it could be without drawing too much attention he motioned to his companion that it was time to go. Unfortunately as they were starting their descent a sudden sound alerted Aizawa. He snapped his head down, his hair a mass of floating dark like the foliage around them while his body flickered into a riot of colors to match the reef. 

Another mer swam by, snapping her tail as she whipped past. This one had green hair and a bright orange body with white markings - a clown fish. 

"<i>Aizawa</i>! I'm gonna find you, you know! You can't just disappear on me like that!"

He grit his teeth and stayed hidden, praying she didn't notice Elly's poorly hidden nest. He made a mental note to remind her she needed to make sure everything appeared as natural as possible while he waited. After a long time the unicorn fish scouted ahead for him and he nodded, relieved, when she indicated it was all clear. She touched his arm in worry, her little face somehow expressing concern.

"I know," he sighed as they drifted back to their home. "I can't leave like the last few times, though. Not now. If we have to we'll move where we sleep. Maybe that will be enough."

When Elly got back several hours later she was exhausted with hope strongly coursing through her with every beat of her heart. She was in love, and, more importantly, he appeared to be accepting the life-altering change she'd made to her body. Sighing, she reached out to grab some items from her hidden bag and surfaced for a moment to use them.

The toothpaste she used first splorted freely out and she blinked, startled. 

<i>I guess I had more of this than I thought</i>. She put the tube away after brushing, submerged, and patted her bedding. No matter; tommorow was going to be a great day! She would be swimming with Hizashi and could show him so many gorgeous parts of the reef and its creatures. The thrill of being in the water with him was no joke, either. Her heart pounded harder in her chest as she imagined hugging him, being held close for the first time without any barrier between them. 

It was a long time before she slept, but she drifted off eventually.