Reviewer: how much of this is based off of your dating experience?

My sarcastic ass: ah yes, it was about two years ago when my partner and I were nearly torn apart by a shape shifting villain-

Lol but actually, that's kind of a tough question, so I'll say this: all works show something about an author's personal experiences, and in this particular story, I've been infusing emotional, mental health, and coming out stuff, as well as the quirkless stuff because to me it's treated a bit like racism, which I've experienced due to being biracial. And tbh, when I write fanfics, I write men the way I wish they were (though not without flaws) because I've dated some sucky guys.

Thanks again for all your support! Enjoy!

As soon as Izuku got the alert, One for All was shooting his body full force into the air. It was an explosion caused by a gas leak. At the restaurant that shared a wall with Asagao's flower shop. And it was a work day.

All the advice he'd been given for the past ten days flooded his head all at once, but one stuck out among the whirlwind—

"Seriously? You haven't told her yet? So she's out there wanting space and doesn't even know how you feel about her?"

Izuku grit his teeth as he hopped from building to building. He'd nearly lost her twice already to villains without telling her how he felt. That cowardice ended today.

He skidded to a halt outside the shop. The scene before him was familiar: broken glass, plumes of smoke, and shattered walls. But it was her shop. This wasn't just another rescue. Not by a long shot.

The hero charged in. There were sirens in the distance, but he didn't hear them. All he could hear was the crackling of flames burning all around him, and his own blood rushing through his ears from barely controlled panic. Green eyes searched, and—

And there she was.

She looked oddly angelic, lying on the floor wrapped in a nest of vines. His heart twisted. She must have known. She must have tried to protect herself.

Izuku swept her off the ground in an instant. He nearly cried when she let out a sigh, nuzzling her cheek into his chest. Then, he walked out, activated One for All, and took off.

There was wind whistling in her ears. It was blowing on her face, too— cold and sharp. Her head felt filled with fluff, and her eyes were heavy, but she forced herself to open them.

If she'd been more alert, Asagao would have panicked.

But no, she just stared blankly at the passing cityscape, her fuzzy brain not able to figure out what was going on. She'd…okay, there had been…what happened?

"Asagao?"

The florist blinked up. Relieved green eyes met hers.

"You're awake," he whispered. The grip on her back and legs tightened. Oh, she was being carried. She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion when the hero locked his jaw. "Don't worry, we'll be home soon."

Home…where had she been before that? Where was she— why would she not be home? Unless…

"The flower shop?" she rasped.

Izuku swallowed hard. "There was a gas leak. It— it's a mess."

A mess? But why would it be a mess?

Asa couldn't put all the pieces together. So she just sighed and snuggled into his hold. He was warm, the wind was not. She wished he could block her from it.

"—can't fall asleep."

"Mm?"

"It looked like you hit your head, Asagao. You can't fall asleep. You might have a concussion."

Well that sounded silly. She felt tired, so she should sleep. Maybe if she just rested her eyes for a bit—

An impact shook her back to reality.

"Sorry," Izuku grunted. "Wasn't my best landing."

Violet eyes, just a bit more alert now, scanned their location. It was a porch— oh wait, she knew where they were.

Sure enough, Izuku pushed his apartment porch door open with his foot and carried her inside. Funny, it smelled like home. She hadn't been here in a while…why was that again?

Asagao tried to remember the last time they'd seen each other as she was settled down sitting upright on the couch. The room tilted, but she stayed focused. It had been a while ago, hadn't it? They'd had a fight, right? And she'd asked for space…why had she done that again? Couldn't they—

"Do you feel any pain?"

The florist was taken out of her wandering thoughts by a piercing green gaze. He had knelt down in front of her. He looked worried.

"Um…I don't know," she said.

Izuku nodded. "Can you concentrate enough to tell if there's pain? I know it might be hard, but—"

"Why am I here?"

The hero's mouth dropped open. "I, um…I don't know, I guess the hospital would have been smarter, but I wasn't really thinking and—"

"I'm not supposed to be here," she continued, unable to stop. Memories were coming back as the fog in her mind lifted. "We— we weren't seeing each other. I shouldn't be here," she repeated.

Something in those green eyes cracked. "I-I know, but— I got the alert, and I—"

She frowned. "I asked for space—"

"That doesn't count when you're in danger—"

"It wasn't a villain attack—"

"I know!"

Asa blinked owlishly. She'd forgotten how weird it was to hear Izuku's voice raised. But it wasn't out of anger, it was…something else. His hands were in his hair, and his head was down, and with him kneeling like that, it was almost like he was bowing, his face inches from her knees.

"I know you asked for space," the hero said softly. "But no matter what is going on between us, you can't ask me to not save you. You're the most important person in my life, Asagao. Villains or freak accident or whatever, I'm going to be there."

She'd thought her mind had been clearing, but now it felt like she'd hit her head all over again. "Most important person in your life? But we…how can you—"

His head whipped up. "I know, I haven't done my best to show it." Asa blinked when he opened his mouth, then shut it, shaking his head. "I-I should've done a lot of things better, and I will because I love you, and—"

The pair froze in tandem.

The words. The words he hadn't said. The words she'd kept inside because she didn't want him to feel pressured to say them back. He'd said them. He'd—

"Oh my god," she whispered.

For a second, Izuku looked mildly horrified that those words had spilled out. But then, he schooled his expression into one of determination, taking her hands in his. "Asagao, I—"

She cut him off with her lips.

The groan he let out was utterly inappropriate, or at least it would have been if she didn't sigh in return. The past two weeks melted away, leaving them in a desperate haze of want and need.

Though he was still kneeling, he straightened up to his full height. Unthinkingly, Asa slipped her legs around his waist, and he took his cue. Warm hands came under her thighs and lifted her up. There were footsteps, but she didn't really care where he was taking her. So long as their lips stayed connected, she was happy.

When they entered a darkened room, a shot of desire ran through her. It was the blinds— he always kept them closed in his bedroom. Even though it was midday, they were suddenly enveloped in the heat of night's shadows, and she had to hold in a needy whimper when she was lowered ever so gently down onto his bed.

It must have come out, though, because suddenly, Izuku ripped their lips apart. "You have to stop getting into trouble like this," he groaned. "I'm still just so scared, Asagao. I don't know what to do, and— mphf!"

She rolled her eyes as she attacked his mouth with hers. If she had to hear that nonsense again, she was going to lose it. She'd just gotten him back— they could figure everything else out later.

He was trying to mumble something against her lips, though, and so she broke away. "I love you too, idiot," she panted.

Gorgeous, glassy green eyes stared down at her in disbelief. "…so what do we do?" His tone was torn, desperate, and pleading— as if he really didn't know the answer.

Asa gave him a fond (but definitely exasperated) look. "You act like it's all black and white, either we're together or we're not."

Izuku frowned. "Everyone keeps telling me that, but isn't it? Isn't it black and white? Aren't those the options?"

She shook her head, "No, not when you view being together as equaling me being in danger, and vice versa. Today proves that bad things will happen with or without you. So the real question is—"

"Stay with me through the good and the bad," he murmured in realization.

An eyebrow quirked up playfully. "Is that a question or—?"

The hero crashed his lips into hers. Asa sighed, cupping his face and really hoping that this time, they were done talking, but nope—

He ripped himself away from her again. "It's me begging you to be with me because I can't imagine not having you," he replied.

And god, the look on his face was just so serious and adorable. "You don't have to beg," she laughed. "If I didn't want you, don't you think I would've left after the kidnapping incident?" she pointed out.

Something darkened in that wistful gaze. "Want…me?" he repeated breathily.

The atmosphere in the room shifted. Suddenly, the air felt thick and heavy, and a spark they'd been ignoring for too long caught fire. They stared at each other, eyes half-lidded and only hesitating because they knew they wouldn't be able to stop once they started. They were on the edge of a cliff. One tiny push, and they'd go over.

They leaned in at the same time.

Their lips meeting again was the final shove. Her hands found their way to his hero costume zipper, and she felt his wandering to the buttons of her shirt. As soon as her fingers had access, Asa grazed her touch over his chest. Her hero shivered. His hips rolled into hers automatically, and she knew she was doomed in the best way possible.

Asa fought back whimpers as each button of her shirt came undone. His touches were teasing, just barely brushing against her skin, and she wanted more, so much more than what he was giving her.

The florist whined against his mouth impatiently, pushing her hips up against his to get the message across.

"Hnn," he moaned, breaking the kiss.

Eyes blown wide with passion flew open. "Izuku, please— ah!"

He'd found a different spot to focus on. Her hero pressed hot, open-mouthed kisses to her neck, trailing down to her shoulder and back up again. When she let out a particularly loud moan, he bit down, sucking and marking her and sending her head spinning.

"I-Izuku!" she gasped.

He released her neck from his teeth, laving his tongue dangerously over soft skin. "Yes, my love?"

She shuddered at the new nickname. "I-I— I love you, please, I—"

He came back up and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. "Shh, I know," he whispered. "Me too."

Asa nodded shakily. His hands were toying with her waistband, now, and she thought her heart would explode. He let himself explore a little, dipping his thumbs underneath and rubbing circles into her hips, all the while watching as her back arched with frustrated pleasure.

And then, he stopped.

Hazy violet eyes shifted from staring at the ceiling to him, and she nearly choked on her breath. He was slipping off his hero costume, leaving only his briefs underneath, and her hands were scrambling for her own clothes when they were caught.

"Let me," he murmured. Green eyes gazed steadily into hers as he pressed soft kisses to her fingers. "If that's okay with you."

She wanted to hit him in the head because yes, that was more than okay with her, but instead, she just nodded again and again and watched as he stripped her slowly of her pants. He folded them up neatly and placed them on the side of the bed before his eyes made their way back to her. She watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed. She could understand the feeling.

He lowered himself back down to her, and both of them shuddered. They weren't completely skin to skin— their undergarments were still on (but for how much longer, neither could be sure). But it was soft and warm, and when their lips met again, it was slow and sensual and sparked their passion off anew.

The hero had slotted himself between her legs, and she groaned when she felt his desire press up against her. Their hips found a rhythm together, swirling slowly and tantalizingly, a tease of what was to come. His lips left hers to go to her neck again, and she shifted further up the bed, silently begging him to take his attentions further down.

He did, and just when his lips had reached the top of her breasts, something in her back stung, and she let out a hiss.

"Shit," he swore softly, eyes wide as he tore himself off of her. "We need to get you taken care of!"

Asa gave a wry grin, if only just to cover up the fact that she very much did not want to stop, even if she was now gaining awareness of her pain. "Yeah, probably."

And yet, neither of them made to move. They were caught in a moment— one much warmer than the fiery passion they'd been in a minute ago, but it was sweet and still, and they weren't too worried about ending it any time soon.

Asa's hand drifted along the curve of Izuku's cheek. Though she hadn't thought it possible, his beautiful green eyes filled with even more adoration than before.

"I missed you," he murmured.

Her first genuine smile in weeks came onto her lips. "I missed you, too."

He stared at her for a moment, contemplating, before he said, "…I really hate fighting."

"Me too," she giggled.

"It's dumb."

"Then let's just not do it?"

The couple burst into a fit of laughter, both knowing that there was no way that was going to happen. Arguing was inevitable in all relationships— they knew that.

Grinning broadly, Asa amended herself, "I don't think we won't ever fight again, but we can try our best."

"Well…" her hero trailed off, looking part devious and part shy. "I like how we made up."

The moment he winked, she was laughing again and pushing him to the side.

"It's full!"

A moment later, the bathroom door opened, and Asa pointedly looked away. Not that she was body shy, but this was just…a new level for them. It felt more intimate than what they'd just been about to do, oddly enough.

Izuku's footsteps were drawing near, and the closer they got, the more happy she felt with her decision to fill the tub up more than normal.

Bubbles hid his view of anything, and yes, she knew her boyfriend was a complete gentleman, but still, she could feel heat rising in her cheeks. He'd insisted that she go ahead and get cleaned up to make sure none of her cuts got infected (and because the parts of her that hadn't been covered by her work clothes were covered in a thin layer of dirt and ash). And, of course, she couldn't take a shower because she'd hit her head, and if she passed out and hit her head again…yeah, no, a bath was safer.

When she dared to glance over, she found her beautiful boyfriend kneeling at the side of the tub, a washcloth in hand. Izuku was pouring a generous amount of soap onto it, eyebrows scrunched in concentration. After a moment, he finally noticed her staring.

The hero leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Doing okay so far? Anything stinging?"

Her nose wrinkled. "The bath water is dirty."

"Yeah, it gets like that," he chuckled. "Trust me, I've had to do this before, too. I'll make sure you're squeaky clean, alright? Have you noticed any particular places that hurt so far?"

Asa shifted, turning to show him a spot on her shoulder that had started throbbing a few minutes ago.

"Yeah, that looks like a nasty one," he murmured. The washcloth was dipped into the running water, and then, it was pressed against her shoulder.

She bit her lip to stop a hiss. It stung a little, but it felt more like a bruise. After the adrenaline and dopamine rush of their…reunion had died down, she'd slowly noticed that it felt like she'd been hit by a truck. Then again, that's probably what the force of an explosion would do to a person.

Her boyfriend hummed softly as he worked, the washcloth gently removing the grime. Asa willed her shoulders to relax into his ministrations— and also let her mind wander.

As the tub had filled up, she'd found herself feeling conflicted. Or, no, conflicted wasn't the right word…guilty. That's what she felt. She had deliberately pushed him away, and yes, he'd done some bad things, but…so had she. She'd hurt his feelings, she knew she had. She'd lost her temper and let her rage get out of control and hadn't thought about what she was saying. And then, she'd asked for space, and who knew how much that had hurt him when they really should have just talked it out, and—

Violet eyes stared blankly at the tiles in front of her, lost in thought.

Another moment passed before she curled up within herself and whispered, "I'm sorry."

There was a shift, then a light kiss on her jaw. "I'm sorry, too."

Tears stung at her eyes. When a small sob wracked her body, the washcloth was removed. Strong hands were on her shoulders, gently guiding her to turn around. She did, lower lip trembling and tears falling, and she nearly burst into tears when sweet lips pecked hers.

"We'll fix things," Izuku promised. His lips then drifted to her nose, then to beside her eyes, and up to her forehead, and her cheeks, and the trail he left just made her want to cry more.

Instead, Asagao sniffed and tried to wipe away her tears. "N-Not fair," she laughed, voice strained. "I've been wanting to kiss all your freckles for ages."

Her boyfriend chuckled. "You can whenever you like." He pressed his lips to hers once more, and she squeezed her eyes shut, kissing him back with as much adoration as she could muster and hoping he could feel it.

Their lips parted moments later with a light pop, and Izuku nuzzled his nose against hers. "I love you."

She sighed happily. "I love you, too."

The washing continued with as easier atmosphere. He asked about when the award ceremony for the flower shop would be. She told him she was allowed a plus one. He told her about how basically every single one of his friends had given him relationship advice. She told him about how she'd refused to watch any hero or romance movies for a solid week.

It ended with a tantalizing kiss on her neck, and then he walked out to give her some privacy for a final rinse. When he came back minutes later, she was wrapped in a towel and staring at herself in the mirror— or, more specifically, at the bite mark he'd left on her neck. It was a little too well-placed to be mistaken for just another bruise from the explosion.

"Whoops."

The florist turned and lifted an eyebrow. "Oh please, you knew exactly what you were doing."

Izuku had the decency to look embarrassed. He set what she assumed was a change of clothes for her down on the counter before he took her in his arms, eyes drifting down to the love bite. "I'll go easier next time."

"Presumptuous," she hummed.

"I prefer 'hopeful,'" he shrugged.

The moment she rolled her eyes, Izuku was chuckling and bringing her in for a kiss. It was sweet and still— up until the moment that she felt his hands pressing against her waist, and oh yeah, she was only wearing a towel.

Asagao pulled back and gave him a stern look. "Don't tempt me."

He grinned brightly. "I'm not trying to," he teased. "You're just pretty," a kiss, "and smart," another kiss, "and amazing," one more, "and I love you!"

The florist smiled up at her hero boyfriend stupidly. She liked those words coming from his lips. He could say them over and over again, and she was sure she'd never get over it.

After another peck, he slipped away again to let her get changed. She came out of the bathroom a minute later in his boxers and a t-shirt, both of which were hilariously too big for her, but she wasn't about to complain. They smelled like Izuku, and after not having that intoxicating scent for a long time, she would happily drown in it.

Asa found him back in his bedroom, just finishing up changing the sheets. Wow, they really had been distracted. Had they seriously made out while she was covered in ash?

He looked up when she entered and immediately smiled. Izuku was in front of her in a flash, picking her up and dumping her on the bed and watching as she giggled and swatted at his face playfully. Grinning, the hero clambered in beside her, and she couldn't stop the contented sigh that slipped out when his strong chest met her back.

Just as she started to close her eyes, a thought occurred to her. "Don't you have work?"

He wrapped an arm around her waist. "I reported what happened. Aizawa-sensei cleared my schedule. Fire's out now, by the way."

She hummed. "Reconstruction is going to be fun."

Izuku must have sensed her underlying sarcasm, because he leaned over and kissed her cheek. "We'll handle it together. Rest for now."

She yawned, nodding as an afterthought. As nice as spooning was, her sleepy brain wanted something else. She turned over and put her head on his chest, relaxing when she was met with the soothing sound of his heartbeat. Asa curled into his warmth and safety, their legs tangling together lazily, and that was how they woke up hours later.

SEE I ALWAYS DELIVER IN THE END! And nope, story's still not over! I have plenty more planned. Please leave a review!