* The Following Story Contains: Mature Content / Trigger Warnings (Loss, Grief, etc)
* My Hero Academia Characters (c) Viz Media
* Any OC's Within 'Don't Forget Me' (c) S3NPAIxATxNIGHT
* NOTE: Kirishima is 22 years old *
Enjoy!
Chapter Three: Home
Everyday since the accident Kirishima would rush over to the hospital after work. Of course he would make sure to go home to shower and change so he wasn't in his hero clothes. He didn't want to miss a day of Ruby being stuck in the hospital by herself. At first she was reluctant to let him in and he was making sure to ease himself more into her space. Ruby was very coy as time went on as he started to come around more, she still didn't understand that they were married. It started out with a wave when he would come into the room and she wouldn't know how to react. As if she didn't know what to do around him. Kirishima tried not to let it get to him but he would be lying if he said it didn't hurt a bit. However, he tried his very best to continue to give her a reassuring smile and make her day just a little bit better. He started coming with little gifts here and there. Ruby would always thank him but he knew she was still unsure of him. Slowly she started to get used to him visiting and she would talk to him a lot more. Kirishima felt like he was making a small breakthrough and he made him feel somewhat relieved. He walked down the hallway to go to Ruby's hospital room with a smile on his face. He was hoping that she was feeling better today.
He opened the door and knocked on it. "Knock knock. I'm coming in."
"Eijiro." she turned and smiled at him. "Right on time as always. Don't you ever get sick of coming here? I'm not that fun to be around in this hospital room."
I'm still not used to her using my first name.
"Nonsense! I love being around you. I get to see your pretty face everyday." he giggled.
"You are so silly." she shook her head.
"But I'm handsome right?" he raised an eyebrow with a chuckle.
Her face flustered deeply. "W-what? I mean yes but I..."
"I'm only teasing, Ruby. Relax a little, okay? We're married after all."
Her smile dropped and her Fox ears dropped down. "How long have we been married again?"
Kirishima held up his fingers. "About 4 years now. We got married soon after high school because I was too excited to call you Mrs. Ruby Kirishima."
"Wow, we got married so young." she gasped.
"Yeah, we both wanted to because we loved each other so much. I tried really hard to provide for you and become a better hero. I eventually got enough money for our apartment and we've been there ever since." Kirishima nodded his head with a giggle. "You were really excited to decorate it because you said I had terrible taste in décor."
"Do you have terrible taste in décor?" she raised an eyebrow.
Kirishima flustered and frowned. "M-maybe. I guess my taste is too all over the place and manly. You used to tease me about my taste in high school."
"Oh boy." Ruby started laughing.
"H-hey! My taste is great sometimes." he flustered.
"You're cute." she giggled.
"No, you are cute. I'm manly! Is it alright if I give you a hug?" he asked as he walked over.
"Sure."
Kirishima grinned as he leaned over her hospital bed and wrapped his big strong arms around her. Ruby hugged him back and her hand gently rubbed his back. Kirishima held her for a moment, taking in her scent and warmth that he missed. These were the only times he was able to touch her. He longed for her when he wasn't in the hospital room with her. It was her voice and her warmth that Kirishima missed. He missed hearing the soft humming she would do while cooking. The way she would look at him when he'd come behind from work. The desire in her eyes when she wanted him.
All that seemed so far away now.
Like a distant painful memory.
"How's the baby? Feeling anything?" Kirishima asked as he continued to hold onto her.
"The doctor said I'm still too early in the pregnancy to feel the baby. They did say that eventually I'll feel butterflies in my belly and that will be the baby. Crazy huh?" she let out a sigh and smiled. "I still can't get over the morning sickness though."
Kirishima finally let go of her, "Can I touch your belly and talk to the baby?"
"O-oh, sure." she flustered.
He gently moved his large hand over her belly and rubbed it for a moment. He still couldn't believe that something so wonderful was growing inside of her. It was a dream come true when he came home one day to Ruby crying over the pregnancy test. She was so happy that day and she jumped on him in excitement. That day was awesome. He leaned forward to get closer toward her stomach.
"Hey lil one. It's daddy. I hope you aren't giving mommy a hard time with morning sickness. You gotta be nice to her." Kirishima giggled as he rubbed her belly again.
"Eijiro, you're such a sweetheart." she giggled.
"Anything for you." he gently took her hand with a smile.
It hurt Kirishima as he held onto her hand with a forced smile. He wanted to kiss her so bad and to hold her like before. He knew it was going to be awhile but he still was trying to find a way to handle the situation. Kirishima looked down at her hand again, trying to get a hold of his emotions before Ruby could catch on. There was a knock on the door and Kirishima turned around to see the doctor walking into the room.
"Hello, Mrs. Kirishima. How are you feeling today?" he asked as he looked over his clipboard.
"I am feeling better." she smiled at him.
"Nothing triggering any memories?" he raised an eyebrow.
Krishima looked back at Ruby, knowing full well nothing had come back to her.
"No, I haven't remembered anything as of yet." she frowned.
"I believe you will someday. Don't worry about it." Kirishima smiled at her.
"You'll be happy to hear that we are going to release you from the hospital today. We want you to go through your daily life like before. It will be difficult but hopefully it will jog some memories." the Doctor instructed. "I will need you to come back in a few weeks so we can check up on your condition."
Kirishima's heart skipped a beat. "That's great news."
"Thank you for helping me." Ruby thanked the Doctor.
Kirishima looked over at Ruby with a hopeful smile, his hands clenched onto his knees as the reality set in. It's going to be the first time Ruby will set foot in the apartment after the accident. She still has missing memories and honestly he had been pushing back a lot to keep a smile on his face. He watched the doctor talk to Ruby but he couldn't hear anything because he was getting wrapped up in his own thoughts. He could hear his heart beat pounding against his eardrums. She was finally coming home but she was going to feel like a stranger. He looked down at his balled up fists and clenched his jaw.
Ruby is finally coming back home.
He looked up at the doctor as they continued to speak to Ruby. Kirishima tuned out what they were saying as his hands clenched harder into fists. He kept a smile on his face but his gut twisted.
I should be happy.
Once Ruby had been discharged from the hospital he helped her gather what she needed and they were out the door. Ruby walked next to Kirishima as they moved down the hallway. He felt her hand gently graze against his a few times before she bashfully slipped her hands into her coat pocket. It makes him feel even worse. He would have grabbed her hand to hold it but he didn't know if it was appropriate. He could never guess what she was thinking so he was always second guessing himself now. They made it to the front of the hospital and found his car right away. He fished out his car keys from his pocket before turning back to Ruby. She was staring off toward the car, not saying a single word. Only holding onto her twin tails.
She's holding her tail again.
Was she using her quirk?
She used to hold onto her tail a lot during AU. Kirishima remembered that she used to do it when she was nervous or uncomfortable. Her quirk used to always make her uneasy when it was activated. She was able to tap into people's emotions and it used to overstimulate her senses but she could use that against another person. Ruby didn't use her quirk a lot but when she did it was intense. Holding onto her tails was a coping mechanism she had for the longest time. Kirishima noticed a few times when they were in UA. She slowly got out of that habit soon after they started dating. It was when they finally kissed each other for the first time she finally let him in. There were no walls anymore after that kiss when they were younger.
He didn't feel different so he assumed that she wasn't using her quirk on him.
"Ruby?"
She didn't move.
"Oi!"
She looked like she was dissociating as she stood there. He gently cupped her face in his hands and pressed his forehead against hers. For a moment everything was completely silent until he felt her move a little bit.
"I'm sorry. I guess I'm a little tired." she breathed.
"It's alright." he used his thumbs to caress her cheeks before pulling away. "Let's go home and you'll be able to rest."
Why do I feel so distant?
{ * * * }
Ruby walked into the apartment and bent over to take off her shoes. Kirishima closed the door behind him with a sinking feeling of dread in his gut. He caught a glimpse of her backside as she slid her shoes to the side. All he could think about was that day where he had her bent over on the counter and taking her like an animal. He rubbed the nape of his neck as he looked away flustered. It wasn't the right time to be thinking with such lewd thoughts. He looked back at Ruby and she was looking around the room curiously. He took off his shoes before walking past Ruby and took off his coat before throwing it on the couch. He turned over to her to help her out of her coat and she slightly flinched.
He frowned at her reaction.
"You must be hungry. Did you have anything in mind?" Kirishima asked as he gently took her coat.
"Anything is fine." she said as she looked back at him.
Her stare made him feel lonely.
"I'll just order some pizza. It'll be quick and easy. I don't really feel like cooking tonight and you'd like to have something other than hospital food. Right?" he chuckled.
"Definitely."
"I'll show you to the bedroom so you can get some rest. I'll order the food on my phone so you don't have to worry about a thing." he walked past Ruby and opened the door to the bedroom for her.
Ruby stepped inside of the room without a word and looked around. Kirishima watched her closely as he let her move around the room on her own. He leaned against the door frame, watching her move toward the closet and she looked back at him.
"Eijiro? Are my clothes in here?" she asked softly.
"Yes, most of your dresses are in the closet but your shirts are in the drawers folded up. Your shorts and pants are also in the drawers." he said as he walked over to the drawers and opened the top drawer. "This is where your bras and panties are too."
"T-thank you." she looked away blushing.
"Did you want me to run you a bath?"
"Oh, I don't want to trouble you." she shook her head. "Maybe later?"
"If you say so but if you change your mind just let me know. For now maybe lay down for a bit while I take care of the order. I'll be in the living room if you need me." he smiled at her as he backed up to the door frame.
"Alright, thank you again." she smiled at him as her Fox tails flowed behind her.
Kirishima nodded his head before he turned to walk down the hallway. He rubbed the nape of his neck before pulling out his phone to place an order for pizza at a local place they liked. He sat down on the couch after the order was placed and let out a sigh. His jaw clenched as he stared off, disassociating everything around him as he sat there silently. He tapped his foot against the floor as he continued to stare off to nothing. Time went by fast and before he knew it the food had arrived. Kirishima thanked the delivery guy with a tip and a thank you before shutting the door. He placed the pizza box down on the table and gathered up plates from the kitchen.
"Ruby! The food is here!" he called out as he set the plates down on the table.
Silence.
"Rubyyyyyy~!" he called out as he walked down the hallway.
Still no answer.
Did she fall asleep?
Kirishima turned the corner to the bedroom and saw Ruby asleep on his side of the bed. She held onto one of her tails as she slept and he flustered as he walked up to her. She looked so peaceful on the bed and I made his heart race. All he wanted to do was lean over and kiss her to wake her up. However, he knew that it wouldn't be right. With her memory loss and being asleep there was no consent even if they were married. Ruby still didn't remember their relationship and he wasn't going to force himself on her. As much as he wished for her affection he knew he needed to be a gentleman. He let out a soft sigh with a smile before gently touching her cheek. Her eyes shot open and she quickly moved away in a panic. He pulled his hand away as his heart sank.
"Eijiro...?!"
That look again.
"I didn't mean to startle you." he rubbed the nape of his head with a soft laugh. "I was trying to wake you up because the food is here."
Ruby slowly sat up in bed and rubbed her tired eyes with a soft sigh.
Why?
"O-oh, I didn't mean to fall asleep. All I did was rest my head on the pillow and I fell asleep so fast." Her fox ears dropped.
"Which is understandable because you've been in the hospital for a while. I bet the nurses kept coming into the room every 5 minutes."
She let out a laugh. "That's what it felt like."
Kirishima sat down at the edge of the bed.
Why does this hurt so much?
"I guess I'm not used to being here. I'm used to the hospital so when you tried to wake me up I got spooked." she looked away bashfully.
"It's my fault. I'll remember not to scare you like that." He smiled at her. "Come on, let's eat before the food gets cold."
Kirishima left the bedroom before Ruby could say another word to him. He could hear Ruby's soft footsteps behind him as they both walked down the hallway. He walked over to hold out a chair for Ruby to sit down and he handed her a plate with a piece of pizza on it. He got one for himself but nibbled on it every once and a while. The silence between them also did not help his nerves. His mind was completely elsewhere. He glanced up at Ruby and she was looking at him with that look again. She looked at him like she was confused but looked away once she caught on that he was looking back. As of right now Kirishima didn't know what to say to her. He was holding himself back from everything he'd ever known for the past few years of them being together. Ruby wasn't ready for him in that way. He knew that it was going to be a while before he could be that way with her.
Or even at all.
Fuck.
His head was starting to ache.
I need a breather.
Honestly he didn't think he could handle it right now. When she looked at him, it made him feel empty. That spark in her eyes when she used to look at him before the accident was gone. He desperately wanted to hold onto the hope that his wife's memory would return. His heart hurt but he didn't want her to see him like that. He excused himself from the table and walked into the kitchen with his plate. He clenched his jaw as he walked over to the kitchen to pull out some plates for them. He set them down on the table before turning back to the sink. He placed his hands on the counter and hung his head down.
I need to suck it up.
He slammed a hand against the counter.
It's not her fault.
The headache was getting worse and pounded against his temples. He heard footsteps coming from behind him and he looked over his shoulder to see Ruby walking into the kitchen with her plate. With a deep breath, he turned around to her with a smile. She looked back at him with a shy expression.
"Here let me get that for you." he said as he took her plate.
"I can wash the dishes if you want. It's the least I can do." she held onto one of her tails again.
Kirishima frowned as he looked away from her.
"I bet it you're super exhausted." he gently rubbed the top of her head. "I can take care of the dishes later, okay?"
"But I..."
"If you are ready to turn in for the night you can sleep on the bed in the bedroom. I'll take the couch for tonight." he smiled at her.
Suck it up.
"Wait! I don't want to do that to you." she frowned.
"I want you to be comfortable. Don't worry about it okay? I will warn you that I do have to go to the room in the morning to get ready for work. I'll be quiet though so you can sleep. I promise." he chuckled.
I have to.
She frowned again. "Are you sure? I don't want you to be uncomfortable for my expense."
No, I'm not.
"I'm positive. I'm going to take a quick shower in the room and then I will be out of your hair, okay?"
Kirishima walked out of the kitchen and down the hallway to grab a towel from the hallway closet. "If you need anything you can just knock on the bathroom door or come inside. I don't mind either way."
"O-okay."
"I'm going to take a quick shower before I crash on the couch, okay?" he walked past her but her hand grabbed onto his wrist.
Kirishima turned to look at her and she looked back at him lost but her grip was shaky.
"Ruby?"
She frowned, "Are you alright?"
He froze.
"Of course I am. Don't worry about me, okay?"
"You know you can talk to me right? I'm here if you need to talk." she gently removed her hand from his wrist. "I know that it's not easy-"
"I'm fine. I'm going to take that shower before it gets too late." he interrupted her.
Kirishima gave her shoulder a pat before leaving her alone in the bedroom. He stepped into the bathroom and shut the door behind him. Silently he started to slip out of his clothes. He started the shower with a loud sigh and slipped his hand underneath the water t0 check the temperature. The only sound in the room was the water running. Everything hit Kirishima all at once now that he was alone. The woman that he fell in love with was lost. The woman that he married is gone right now. He was trying so hard to keep a smile up for her but deep down he was dying inside. It was incredibly selfish of him to think that way and he knew that. It did not stop his heart from aching: His heart started to wrench as he thought about her lost memories.
An intense feeling filled his entire body and his hands slammed onto the shower wall. The tears started to fall down his face and he dropped to his knees in the bathtub. He clenched his jaw as he fought against his overwhelming emotions. His hands clenched into his hair as he started to break down. How could this be happening to them? They have been so happy these past few months and now everything is different. The more he thought of Ruby the more the tears fell from his cheeks. They did not know how long she would be suffering from amnesia and that terrified him to the core. What if she'll never remember the love they shared? She was pregnant with their baby but there was no glow in her eyes like before.
He knew she saw him as a stranger.
I fucking hate this.