Steve hadn't expected his second life to involve being a coral reef. The Wave had really phoned it in with his transformation, in his opinion. His last memory as a human was reaching for his phone to check Rebbit, and then BAM - polyps. At least he'd kept his name, even if most of the local sea life gave him weird looks for having such a non-aquatic moniker.

"I used to be an accountant," he grumbled to himself, his polyps swaying in what he'd learned to recognize as his own version of nervous pacing. "Had a whole apartment. Netflips subscription. Now I'm basically underwater Ikeya for fish."

Tonight was supposed to be special - his two month anniversary with Barbara. They'd met when she'd literally crashed into him while chasing what turned out to be a hallucination caused by some weird floating mushrooms. Love at first collision, as they said.

Barbara had been a professional dancer before the Wave decided she'd make a better shark. The transition had been rough until she'd figured out how to incorporate her old skills into her new life. Now she was basically the ocean's only predator with a Julliard background.

"She's late," Steve muttered, watching another group of fish give him a wide berth. His attempt at decorating for the occasion had turned out... interesting. Trying to arrange anything when you're literally made of tiny animals was an exercise in patience and poor life choices.

A distant sound caught his attention - something between a whistle and what he recognized as the opening notes to Swan Lake.

"Oh no."

Barbara burst from the depths like she was auditioning for an underwater production of Jaws: The Musical. All twenty feet of enhanced tiger shark executed a perfect series of barrel rolls, her multiple rows of teeth gleaming as she sang.

"HONEY, I'M HOOOOME!"

"Barbara," Steve's polyps withdrew slightly in alarm, "please tell me that's not what I think it is."

The massive shark pirouetted to a stop, somehow managing to look both proud and sheepish. "Okay, so funny story. Remember how I said I was going to try combining classical ballet with my hunting technique?"

"Barbara..."

"So I might have accidentally started a dance trend in the deep trenches?" Her fins waved expressively. "And now there's kind of a situation heading this way?"

Right on cue, a mass of bioluminescent shapes emerged from the depths. Dozens of creatures that definitely hadn't been in any marine biology textbook moved in perfect synchronization, their lights pulsing in time to some unheard rhythm.

"They've been following me for hours," Barbara admitted, executing another perfect spin. "Turns out deep sea creatures are really into interpretive dance. Who knew?"

Steve watched in horror as what appeared to be a dolphin-sized anglerfish attempted a passable fouetté. "This is about our anniversary, isn't it?"

"I wanted to surprise you!" Barbara's massive form somehow managed to convey excitement. "Remember how you said you missed going to shows? Well..." She gestured with a fin toward the impromptu underwater ballet.

"I meant like Netflips and stuff," Steve muttered, but he had to admit - the light show was impressive. Even if that anglerfish's technique needed serious work.

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A creature that looked like someone had crossbred a squid with a disco ball joined the performance, its tentacles moving in patterns that would have made any choreographer question their life choices. Barbara watched with obvious pride as more performers emerged from the deep, each trying to outdo the last in terms of dramatic interpretation.

"Is that a jellyfish trying to do the robot?" Steve asked, fascination temporarily overriding his concern.

"Oh yeah, that's Jerry," Barbara replied cheerfully. "He's still working on his pop-and-lock, but his tentacle control is getting way better. Only accidentally stung three other performers during rehearsal this time."

Steve's entire structure vibrated with what might have been a sigh. "You've been rehearsing this. Of course you've been rehearsing this. How long..."

"A couple weeks?" Barbara executed another perfect spiral around his upper branches. "Though the choreography kept changing because something kept trying to eat the backup dancers."

Before Steve could process that particular piece of information, a deep sound rolled through the water. The kind of sound that suggested something massive had just noticed the underwater equivalent of a flash mob happening in its territory.

"Oh shit," Barbara's fins tensed. "Is that..."

"Big Blue," Steve confirmed, his polyps retreating slightly. "And he does not sound happy about the unauthorized performance art."

The assembled sea life scattered in perfect synchronization, their retreat looking suspiciously like a well-practiced dance number. Barbara remained behind, her massive form positioned protectively between Steve and the approaching sound.

"I can explain!" she called into the deep, then added under her breath, "Probably. Maybe. Okay, probably not."

The water pressure changed as something emerged from the darkness. Big Blue's form blocked out what little light reached this depth, his massive bulk moving with the kind of grace that suggested he was not impressed by amateur hour at the underwater ballet.

"So," his voice vibrated through the water like a symphony of incoming doom, "would anyone like to explain why there's a production of 'Swan Lake' happening in my territory? Again?"

"Would you believe it's our anniversary?" Barbara offered, somehow managing to look both intimidating and apologetic. "I was trying to recreate our first date. You know, the one where I crashed into Steve while high on those weird mushrooms?"

Big Blue's form shifted slightly, eyes focusing on the unlikely couple. "The accountant and the ballet shark," he rumbled, and was that amusement in his tone? "I remember. You tried to convince me you were performing a new interpretation of 'The Nutcracker' while actively hallucinating."

"In my defense," Barbara's teeth clicked together nervously, "those mushrooms were really good at their job."

Steve extended his polyps cautiously. "So... we're not in trouble?"

"Trouble? No." Big Blue's massive form rippled with what was definitely amusement now. "Entertainment? Absolutely. Though next time?" His voice carried the weight of authority. "Maybe run the choreography by me first. That anglerfish's technique was physically painful to watch."

With that, he disappeared back into the deep, leaving behind a very relieved shark and coral reef. Barbara immediately executed another perfect spin, her fins brushing against Steve's branches in what might have been relief or leftover adrenaline.

"So," she said after a moment, "not exactly the quiet anniversary dinner I promised, huh?"

Steve's polyps waved dismissively. "Are you kidding? This is exactly why I love you. Who else would organize an entire underwater flash mob just because they remembered I used to like going to shows?"

"Even if it almost got us in trouble with basically Poseidon?"

"Especially then." Steve's structure vibrated with affection. "Though maybe next time we could just watch the sunset or something? You know, something that doesn't involve choreographing deep sea creatures?"

Barbara's multiple rows of teeth gleamed as she grinned. "No promises. But hey, at least I didn't try to recreate that time I attempted synchronized swimming with-"

"Please don't remind me," Steve groaned. "I'm still trying to forget the 'Free Willy' incident."

As if on cue, a distant whale song carried through the water - though this one sounded suspiciously like it was trying to perform a jazz standard.

"Oh!" Barbara perked up. "That reminds me - I've been working on this new routine involving classical opera and hunting techniques..."

"Barbara, no."

"Barbara yes!"

And somewhere in the deep, Big Blue listened to their banter and wondered, not for the first time, if maybe he should have gone into theater management instead of territorial oversight. At least then the random musical numbers would have made sense.

Though he had to admit - that jellyfish's robot dance needed work.