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Katsuki hummed as he put the last of the fish in his bag for his pregnant mate. Looking to his hunting partner, the stunted black tip shark, who had a bag around him holding the clams and oysters. "Your momma better not eat these all in five minutes." The shark didn't reply and just nuzzled into his side. To be honest when he came home to the little baby shark and his mate in hysterics that he would pass. Katsuki had hoped it didn't make it but his little Daitsuki was his favorite hunting buddy and stronger than he had been at the time. This type of shark was almost five feet normally but this little one barely made it to three feet. Katsuki gently pet his head before turning around to head home to their burrow.
Daitsuki barely kept pace after their long hunting trip and was lagging behind. Katsuki slowed down and gently scratched under his chin. "You okay?" He asked despite knowing the shark couldn't speak mer but he still tried to understand his language. Subtile little shifts in movement Katsuki picked up that meant different things. Daitsuki was exhausted. Katsuki smiled softly and gently wrapped his arm around his middle. "Daddy's got you." He said softly and took some of the burden off of the little one. Katsuki was able to get them home sooner and Daitsuki seemed more relaxed. Katsuki smiled down at him. Sure Katsuki hadn't been sure of him at the first but Izuku found him after their first pup was a stillborn. He knew it wasn't healthy but Izuku would care for it round the clock. After two days Katsuki took over. It felt natural and soon he loved Daitsuki probably more than Izuku. He didn't care what their friends or their neighbors said. Daitsuki was theirs.
Arriving home the first thing that set Katsuki off was his mate was crying. Five years ago flashed in his mind. Their pup… Their little swimmer never opened their eyes or their gills. It was the first time Izuku cried like that and now he was again. He cursed and moved quickly. Though when he entered their burrow his brow furrowed as he saw his mate looking over a new addition to their growing family. "Zuku?"
"It can't swim… Kacchan, it can't swim and reach his mate…" Katsuki's face fell. He thought it was a miscarriage but no. He swam over to the two new additions and looked them over before wrapping his arm around his mate.
"Zuku… those are nudibranchs. Not all of them can swim. It seems that you found one that can and one that can't." Katsuki said gently rubbing his mate's back with one hand and the other going to his stomach. The flutter of movement calming him near instantly.
"W-what? But they're mates…" Izuku said and looked back down seeing the orange swimming one joined the green one on the ground nuzzling it. "Oh… Oh no I uprooted them…"
"It's okay, I'm sure if they didn't like their new home the orange one would be letting you know." Katsuki said smiling. He looked to Daitsuki who deposited the bag of clams and oysters and nuzzled into Izuku getting his mate to smile and laugh.
"You helped Daddy like a big boy today. Look at your haul." He cooed to him and looked at Katsuki with a small blush. "Can we keep them?"
Katsuki tried to look stern but he couldn't help but smile. "You know we can." He said happily and went back to where they kept their fish. There was nothing inside but Katsuki knew he had four in there when he left. He hoped Izuku only gave a couple to their other little ones. A blind lobster that was probably older than the two of them combined, and a crab with only one pincer. Suki and Yuki. Katsuki thought that the two would fight but the two old girls got along well. Yuki would make sure Suki got food before she did. It was frankly adorable. Katsuki looked back to his mate nervous to bring it up but he had to say it. "I don't like that you left the burrow. You're due any day. I didn't even want to leave you to go hunting but I…"
Izuku bit his lip once Katsuki trailed off. It was the first time since their still born that they actively tried for a baby during Izuku's heat. Izuku had been ready on his next heat from the loss to try again but Katsuki wasn't ready. Izuku knew that and waited patiently. Eating the bitter plants before and during his heats but his last two heats Katsuki wordlessly stopped him. A quiet 'I'm ready' was all Izuku needed but he still didn't act overly excited. He was scared he would turn off the other over the idea. He knew he had lost himself after the pup, the both had, and that Daitsuki helped but it wasn't the same. He knew it had hurt Katsuki almost beyond repair at his actions after the stillbirth. He was frankly embarrassed at what he could remember from that time. The difference was that Izuku had grieved and Katsuki had buried it. So it came as a surprise that Katsuki suddenly was ready. After his last heat Izuku was nervous he'd never be able to carry again, but soon one right after the other pup scales started to form on his stomach. Strong plate like scales that were to help protect the pup if he needed to fight. His lower stomach was covered in them now. Unlike before with their first pup only ten or so had formed. There was fifty now. This time would be different Izuku knew that but Katsuki was still scared. Izuku could feel it in his mate's movements and words.
Taking a deep breath he let it out through his gills before going to his mate. "I know, Kacchan. But something was calling to me… and I found them. I promise I won't leave the burrow anymore until after the pup is born. You just protect me and the pup during the birth. Everything will be just fine. We'll get the midwife and all will be well."
"Thank you for promising." Katsuki said softly and wrapped his tail around him. "Try not to eat everything… I do not wish to hunt again before the pup comes."
"That's mean…" Izuku said with a pout but chuckled. "I'm growing our baby."
"I didn't…"
"I know, Kacchan. I'm just teasing you." Izuku giggled and kissed his mate before wrapping himself around him.
Katsuki shook his head and smiled looking at their little ones and then back to the one yet to be born. "I'm happy, Izuku…"
Izuku blushed and let out a happy little trill. Though it was cut short with an unwanted visitor clearing their throat. "Katsuki! We need your help. There was a cave in at Eijiro's burrow. He and his mate are stuck."
Katsuki looked from Neito to his mate. "Go… Eichan needs you. I'll be fine." Izuku said smiling.
"You'll put up the burrow covers in case you go into labor."
"On the moon goddess." Izuku swore before detangling himself and pushing his mate to the large opening. "Go, go. You're wasting precious time.
Katsuki nodded before leaving with Neito. Izuku smiled as he went to grab the covers. It was rare with them being close to other mer but sometimes during labor sharks were known to attack. Izuku was sure it wasn't happening soon. He put the final barrier in place before freezing as his vent opened on it's own. He looked towards the entrance but Katsuki wasn't there… He tried not to panic as he went to their nest. Daitsuki slowly swam over nuzzling Izuku concerned but Izuku gently pet him trying to keep calm. It wasn't long till all of his rescues were by his side and the pain of labor hit him all at once.
…
Rubbing his neck Katsuki shook his head. He had told Eijiro and Denki several times that their burrow wasn't suited to make bigger and they would have to find another to move into for their future pup. But did they listen? No. Thankfully they weren't hurt and neither was their pup. They were moving back in temporarily into the unmated burrows till Eijiro could find or make them a better one. His hands had a few scrapes and his back ached but they were fine. He sighed and was almost to the entrance of his own burrow when he smelt it. Blood, after birth, and the scent of his distressed mate. 'No… not again. When will the goddesses stop punishing us…?' He thought sadly and quickly made it to the burrow. He opened the barrier and shut it behind him. He froze seeing his whole little family surrounding Izuku on the nest. A forlorn croon left him and Izuku flinched. Katsuki hung his head going to collect the passed pup but froze seeing Izuku was curled protectively around a healthy little mer pup. They were eating away, little tail happily flicking from side to side. "Zuku…"
Izuku glanced up and smiled tiredly. "They're here… our pups are here."
"Pups?" Katsuki asked confused Then he saw the second tail. It had blended in with Izuku's almost perfectly. A beautiful green tail with black freckles like it's dam but more. The first one was mostly orange with a few stripes of black up it's sides also with a few splashes of black freckling. Both blond and as beautiful as Izuku. Katsuki sank down gently moving the two nudibranchs next to the pups before laying on his mate who let out a small relaxed huff. "I'm going to have to make another room." He said happily and looked down at Izuku who giggled.
"Better get right on that, Daddy." Katsuki blushed furiously but shook his head. "It can wait. I have a mate and seven pups to dote on."
"Seven?"
"Seven. There's Daitsuki, Yuki, Suki, Katsu, Izu, and our newest additions. Our little swimmers." Katsuki said softly his red eyes full of love and adoration.
Izuku smiled looking at their little family. "Named the nudibranchs without me?"
"They're mini us. So they have names like ours." Katsuki said chuckling. Izuku snorted and looked down at the pups.
"What about Sakiko and Misaki? Our little pearls of good fortune?" Izuku asked softly. Katsuki nodded and gently caressed their little cheeks earns little notes of annoyance from them.
"They're perfect just like you." He said softly and gently paid attention to their other pups. Izuku closed his eyes relaxing as he felt safe. His mate and pups were all there with him. His arms had been empty five years ago but he wouldn't change it for the world. They were more than full and his mate was happy. It was all he had ever asked for. Daitsuki had been what saved Kacchan all those years ago, he had almost lost the mate he fell in love with but with time Katsuki slowly came back to him. One panicked decision to save a shark pup saved his mate. He hoped his mate's smile never disappeared again, and seeing him smile at the pups he knew it wouldn't. The wound on his mate's heart would finally heal, maybe not close, but would no longer fester and grow bigger.