Title: What I Used to Be
Challenge: "Glass"
Notes: Another one-word prompt from a friend.


It's overwhelming to look at him sometimes. She sees so much of Yamato in him these days ('Aniki didn't have such a temper') but still enough of the Ban she used to know that it's hard to remember that she's supposed to hate him. He's never explained what happened, instead never talks about it, dodging around any questions she throws his way. That part about him hasn't changed, she thinks. He still won't take responsibility for things that are his own fault.

And she hates him. Hates the insufferable smirk on his face and the way he ruffles her hair or pokes fun at her. Maybe because it reminds her too much of how things used to be, back when it was alright to love Midou Ban. Back when she didn't feel so glass-like; fragile and weak though the image she projects to the world is that of a tough-girl. She can't really be strong all the time, so all she can do is pretend and hope nobody calls her bluff.

She also hates that Ban seems to see through all that and still tries to take care of her – 'As though he has any right to' – and she hates herself more for not putting up more of a fight because somewhere deep down, she likes the attention… likes the attention from him, at least.

Maybe someday she'll hate him less, when she figures out whether she's in love with who Ban is now or who he used to be.