"Hey, you're not the one I want to fight," chuckled Kabuto as Genos' blows are unable to crack his armor. "They didn't regenerate me for you," his wide hand threw Genos on the ground, sending him bouncing miles away. "You," he growled at Saitama who helped [Name] up from the edge. "They may have restricted me from using carnage mode," he drives a fist through the ground, "But I'm stronger than before." He continued to ooze with the same confidence.
Saitama kept [Name] close as rubble flew around them. Genos charges out of the woods to land a punch on Kabuto's cheek, "Glad you're safe [Name]."
She can see a side of his face cracking, but before she can respond he throws himself back into action. Saitama has an excited look on his face watching Genos take on Kabuto. He unhooks his white cape and wraps it around [Name], "What?"
"Have you seen yourself?" she looks down seeing her jeans have been scuffed and her shirt in shreds. Her black bra peeked out, there really is no hope in repairing the shirt as it drooped over her shoulders. "Well, if you don't mind being exposed," he is about to pull the cape away, but she snatches it. A shadow is cast over them, Kabuto's fist hung over and opened. [Name] and Saitama step around to avoid the falling pieces of metal, when she distinguished what it once was she dove in to capture what kept together. Genos' head connected with large wires around a glowing blue orb labeled "core," she whimpers, but bit her lip and dodges Kabuto's fist from squashing them.
She fell over the edge she had spent so long overcoming and rolled into the forest below with Genos tucked in her stomach. She scoots against a tree, breathing and feeling the heat of the core spread across her lap. She can feel tiny sparks hit her bare skin, but paid no mind, her hand rests on his hair while she pants. She wonders if he can still muster to speak. "[Name]..." she lifts his head, resting her left thumb on his cheek and her right underneath, "I can still fight...I can self destruct if you toss-"
The slap resonated through the woods.
He grimaces after being struck in his condition and has no choice but to look [Name] straight in the eye. "Snap out of it, Genos," she spoke coldly and laid his head back on her lap and hers against the tree. "Admit it, you've reached your limit," she strokes his hair, "And that's fine." He stays silent and that's okay too, she flinches feeling something warm leak against the hand she placed on his cheek. She stares down seeing black liquid flowing from Genos' eyes and smudged her skin and jeans. He was always so stoic, calm and cool, her heart softened seeing his face stained with oil. A rare sight. "...It's fine."
...
"To think you would come back in such a state," contemplated Dr. Kuseno as he moved around the room searching for parts to restore Genos.
He laid on the operating table his head turned to [Name]. Her face is buried in her arms as she knocked out right after placing him down at Dr. Kuseno's lab, Saitama's cape clung on her shoulders. The doctor comes back, sets his tools at the corner and reaches out to awake and drag her away from the table. "Come my de-"
"No wait."
He is surprised, but doesn't question the tender expression Genos held with his golden eyes gazing on [Name]. "...All right," the doctor tucks the cape securely under her arms and continues work on Genos. "The only good side of this is that I get to install upgrades...must have been a really whupping today, hm?" he looks up, waiting for his usually chatty companion to run his mouth, but instead sees that he has closed his eyes. He sighs and nods his head, never thinking there would be a time Genos take a moment to relax and save his stories. It's a shame...because he knew he is missing out on a good one.
[Name] shivered, fluttering her lids to see her body wrapped in the white cape, and then glancing up to him, "Genos? You're..." she can hardly make out the details of his face, but can see his golden eyes blink at her. It's pitch black tonight.
"How do you feel?"
"Mm..." she wiggles her arms, but they are trapped by the makeshift blanket, "...Like a burrito."
Her eyes shoot open again, but this time she is more alert. Light is peeking out from the curtains of her balcony door and she flails her arms feeling the familiar softness of her futon. She brings her hands to view, they look and feel grimy having mixed with dirt, oil and blood from yesterday's event. The first thought that ran through her mind is a bath.
After taking a soothing long hot bath she stepped in the kitchen checking the fridge for coffee grounds. To her dismay, she ran out, and had to settle with a glass of water. She also no longer had any clothes she could wear, they were either torn or tossed in the trash. Genos' hoodie that she never returned sat in the corner, folded, so she tugged it over. It felt out of place as she slid the balcony door open and walked barefoot outside, letting the cool morning air hit her skin. "Good morn-" he isn't even at the other side, so she slumps over the edge groggily. "Damn, to think this city was getting in better shape," whatever that thing the clones released yesterday tore through the nearby roads. Homes not so far away have been cleanly sliced and destroyed. She gulps the water down, tosses the cape over her arm and knocks on Saitama's door.
"Oh, good morning [Name]," greets Genos, but the moment he cracked the door open she burst through to give him a hug. The cloth of his tank top is pressed against her cheek, and she could feel his compact chest.
"Are you okay?" she pulls away, seeing that everything is repaired and his face returned to it's usual resigned look.
"Yes, I must thank you for carrying me to Dr. Kuseno, and...for facing the reality that..." she can see him clench his fists and avert his eyes. "...I really am not strong en-" he is startled seeing her hand reach above to pat his hair. She stood on her tiptoes.
"It's fine, sorry I'm not sorry for slapping you," she skips into the room and trips over a sleeping Saitama. She turns to face the ceiling, her legs resting on Saitama's side, who did not seem to be disturbed and continued to snore.
Genos tilts over, offering a hand, "All the clones have been subdued, the lab destroyed completely, monster subjects eliminated-" he notices her attire, seeing that his hoodie could fit as a short dress on her. A really short dress. She catches him looking and lifts up the top, revealing that she is indeed wearing shorts and snorts at his teenager-like reaction.
...
Saitama and [Name] both glare at the attention Genos received no matter where they turned in the mall. They waited impatiently, watching a few women take his picture, asking for his signature and what not. She jumps back feeling a pat on her shoulder and seeing boys around her age wanting a picture with her. Now Genos had his eyes on her and Saitama searching for a corner to sit.
"Oh, is that [Name]?" one of the women spoke up as her friend flipped through the pictures.
"Yes."
"Anything special happen between you two yet?" he does not pay attention to the seductive tone she placed on "special."
He thinks about the way [Name] comforted him in the forest yesterday, how he lost himself, let his pride get the best of him again, "...Yes."
The ladies gasp, but his eyes remain on the boy who summoned the courage to place a hand around [Name]'s shoulder. "H-How did it feel?"
"Overwhelming...I cried."
"What about her?"
"She comforted me the whole way through."
[Name] waves off her fans and wonders why Genos' are screaming louder than usual. She shrugs, trying to soothe her jealousy as she takes a seat next to Saitama. "What do you two have that I don't have?"
"For starters...hair," they verbally bash each other until Genos completes the trio and offers lunch.
Although she wore brand new jeans and a plain blue shirt she refused to take off Genos' tank top hoodie. Not that he minds, the only thing that bothered him is their seating arrangement as they entered the rotary sushi restaurant. She took the first seat, and then Saitama, if no one sat at her left side that would have been his place. The plate stack began to grow to a ridiculous amount, probably because he is the one who offered to pay. As they stood in line Saitama notices the couple before them receiving a discount. A sign beside the cashier states there's a 30% discount for couples since it is the Valentine's weekend. He nudges Genos, but doesn't seem to follow what he is suggesting, so he gestures to [Name]. She gives him a glare, so in desperation he takes her hand, but she slips it out of his grip and hooks onto Genos' arm.
She retains a smile that is made out of embarrassment and awkwardness as they approach the cashier. Genos sees the sign, now understanding the situation and straightens his back. Based on her bashful manner, the cashier does not hesitate to include the discount.
"I forgot Valentine's Day is close by," [Name] begins to take notice of the red and pink decorations surrounding the street as they stroll back to the apartments. Well, obviously she has been occupied, it makes sense for the holiday to pass her mind, especially, since she never made a big deal of it from the start.
"Mmhm," Saitama still held a grudge over her refusing to fake date him. At both of their doors laid unopened boxes, [Name] scrunches her nose seeing that there are three addressed to Genos and one for her.
She unlocks her door since there is more space, and pauses hearing the familiar sound of a bike. She sat at the top of the stairs, hearing his pants grow louder. "Hey, Mu-" she lets out a surprised cry as he collapses on top. Genos runs out and does not like when he sees Mumen Rider embracing [Name].
He tosses his helmet and goggles off to reveal tears running down his cheeks, "I'm so sorry." In his hand jingled the bag she has long forgotten, "I heard...from the news, what they have done in that lab. If only I-" he places a hand underneath his glasses to cover his sobbing.
Awkwardly, she pats him on the back and Genos waits at the doorway.
Chocolates in bags and boxes along with letters scatter on [Name]'s futon. Carnation and roses piled the top of hers and the two men saw her intense reaction. Tears dripped along her cheeks, but she couldn't bring herself to retrieve vials as she sees the notes attached to the stems. Cheering her on, thanking her. She stood up to take a moment and find empty vials. "DAMN, FORGOT TO BUY COFFEE!" she rages in the kitchen.
Genos notes it is the second time he has seen her cry. He stares at a box of chocolate with a fan's note attached scribbling the usual, but doesn't receive the same immense feeling. When she returns to her seat he watches her open and take a second to skim every note, smiling softly at every flower and gift. Saitama fell into a chocolate coma.
His snoring, the crinkling sound of plastic and paper and [Name]'s munching filled the room.
"[Name], do you think I'm..." she pauses with a cookie protruding from her lips, "...still human?"
The cookie pops out of her mouth, "What makes you say that? I mean, you have a sense of justice, even though you're so..." she glances at his face, his...handsome face. "C-Cool! Yeah! Cool!"
"When you cry it was because of others' influence. When Mumen Rider cried it was because of his extreme worry over you. When I cried it was because I lost a sense in my pride..."
She stuffs a hand in one of his boxes and plops chocolates on his lap, "You cried. That's enough to make you feel human right? Or categorize yourself as human. It's not like you were a cyborg in the beginning," she picks a rose off and tosses it jokingly at him, posing fabulously. He catches it, "Maybe you should smile more often?"
Genos stares at the rose, twisting the stem between his fingers and she watches his mouth that is usually a straight line, form a curve. The crease his brows held vanished and a fluffy atmosphere broke out from his natural looking smile. [Name] feels the fan girl she has trapped in the depth of her mind break out cheering, "OH YES." With the little self-control she still had, she clamped her mouth shut, and then laughed, "Oh man, n-never mind!"
"Hm?" he ponders wondering what he has done wrong.
Really, nothing is wrong.
[Name] just couldn't bring herself to tell him so.
She would rather have his stern lips plastered on whether he is battling monsters or around his admirers.
She would rather keep that moment for herself, allowing no one else to get a peek.
Her inner fan girl approves.
