Blood Trilogy M

by AJ Aviary

My little random corner of scenes that are too high in rating to go anywhere else. So I tossed them here for fun. Pairings will vary upon story, most will be MHA related, Cannon x OC or OC x OC. These characters are not random they do all correlate to my MHA Blood Series. Mind the rating!

Summary: Alexis has finally visited the classmates she lost after running for so long. She hoped to not run into anyone, but fate had other plans. Masaru has come on his monthly visit to see the friends he lost; he never expected to run into the young woman he hasn't seen in years. Little do either realize the outside forces that are about to crash into their lives.

Trigger warning: This chapter mentions past and current self-harm, and PTSD so do keep that in mind.

Word Count: 12,088

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A young man stood in the middle of a large office, nestled in at the top of a giant glass building that many would think was little more than an office building, but it was far more than that. His golden eyes never left the older woman seated behind her desk, her fingers woven together on her desk. Her expression wasn't happy, but when was she ever pleased about anything?

He leaned back on his heels, keeping his posture relaxed. His black, gray, and yellow earmuffs rested around his neck, and his yellow goggles were propped up on his head exposing his hawkish eyes to regard her. He shifted and his red wings folded a little tighter on his back, as much as his tan jacket would allow. He didn't remove his gloves as his fingers stayed at his side. He may have kept his carefree, aloof smile on his lips, but he was reading the room.

"What can I do for you Madam chairwoman?" He asked his voice a warm cadence and the charm that dripped from his mouth, only succeeded in hiding everything he wanted to keep secret. No one would ever fully understand how much he hated the leash around his neck, he'd never admit to how tethered he felt.

"I want you to check on Masaru, see if he's gotten cold feet," Her mouth thinned at these words and her dark gray eyes were harsh diamonds. It was clear she wasn't pleased with the prospect of finding a new mole if he'd defected from them. "He used to be so diligent with his intel about the League. Lately, it seems he's been lacking since the USJ attack. He may be feeling uninclined to share his findings." She tapped the file on her desk that held the classified information he had already gathered for them, troop movements, locations, identities, all of which they hadn't always had before. "We did everything we could have given the limited information we had."

Hawks felt his lips kick up in a slight smile and he gave an easy nod of his head. He saw right through her, the lie that fell so easily from her lips. He ruffled his feathers and casually turned one of his long feathers between his index and thumb as he listened to her try to convince him of her clean hands. He knew was all too aware of the reality of the situation and would not be played a fool.

Liar.

"What would you like me to do with him?" he asked, his golden eyes narrowed slightly and seeming to stand out as the sun began to set behind the large glass windows behind her.

"A friendly chat should be more than sufficient after that if you're in the area you can keep an eye on him."

"As you wish."

The words still hung in the air as he was gone with one blink to the next, through the open balcony doors he'd originally entered through before, they too became his exit as the Number 2 hero left in the usual speed he was known for.

---

Kieran frowned his attention on his phone as the rest of the class was all too quick to cheer at the fact that they got All Might as their teacher for the day, many of them were still making far too much noise. He pressed the call button and his frown only deepened as it went straight to voicemail. He pondered this new development as he hit the redial button just to be sure. When it went straight to voicemail again, he hung up not bothering to leave a message, there was no point.

He glanced at All Might and frowned as the older man stood at the podium and was still trying to quiet down the class, a few of their students looked just as put off by all the noise and excitement. He traded a look with Shinso and the other put a finger in his ear and leaned his fist against his hand. Another glance around the room showed that Tora was just as irritated by all the noise and he didn't have to wait long before the navy haired man was slamming his foot along the ground and a row of electricity traveled the ground effectively hitting any and all who were being too obnoxious.

With a frown Kieran glanced down at his screen and opened another message as he sent a very short message to the Eraser hero, he only had his number because Lexi had passed it along for emergencies only.

Perhaps he was overreacting, but it was unusual when he couldn't get a hold of her, that was usually never an issue. He remembered their exercise yesterday, the underground mall. He'd caught her expression as she'd whired on Eraser her fingers dragging him down her level as she demanded to know what the fuck he was doing. He'd glared down at her and their exchange had been low and heated.

While she hadn't left the exercise, she'd stalked away from him and when the first controlled explosion had gone off, she'd looked unnaturally pale. He only knew because he'd been with the first group to make it out of the building, but they had left to go back in and he hadn't had a chance to ask her about it.

He meant to ask about it, to check on it. Once class was over she'd left in a hurry and had purposely avoided him and someone else too now that he thought about it.

Kieran raised his hand and asked to be excused so he could go to the restroom, his phone still clutched in his hand. Shinso gave him a raised eyebrow but didn't question him. He wasn't sure what to do about this. He didn't want to over react but something didn't feel right.

What he found outside their classroom was not what he'd expected to see as the hallways were clear of any student bodies except for Aizawa and Yamada talking in semi hushed tones, but for Present Mic, it wasn't in low enough tones that he couldn't be heard. It was so quiet in the hallways, it was the only reason he'd heard what the other hero course teacher had said.

"I'm not her keeper," The dark haired male sounded put off, but there was a tension in his shoulders as though he might be worried too.

"She called this morning to have All Might take over her class. What if she's sick?" Hizashi asked with a frown. "I called and she didn't answer, she never ignores me. Maybe you, but she likes me," he joked but it fell flat even to him.

Shota recalled yesterday, he had a sinking suspicion it had to do with that. He remembered their argument, how angry she had been with him, but he knew what this exercise would do for her. He'd told her not to come, he'd warned her and yet she'd come anyway. He wasn't surprised, not really. He'd expected as much, he was more interested in the fact that she hadn't run away, she'd stayed through the exercise despite how hard it must have been. She'd never let anything through, her mask hadn't cracked to reveal what was happening underneath. He'd intended to talk with her after everything was said and done, but she'd avoided him too.

Aizawa glanced over his shoulder, not surprised to find Kieran lingering in the hallway. "What is it Walker?" he asked, watching as Mic was quiet and gave him a sharp assessing look. "I couldn't get in touch with her either," he admitted as he stepped forward his purple eyes regarding them both as he came closer.

He noticed Eraser seemed more frustrated now that this information was shared. "She is more than capable of taking care of herself," he said quickly, but he fingered a strap of his binding cloth as he said it, it was clear he was running times in his head.

"Get back to class," Mr. Aizawa ordered, his frustration beginning to show.

"Mr. Aizawa," Kierran couldn't help but call his name and the Pro paused his back to him as he headed toward his own class.

"Yesterday…" he paused as he grit his teeth, his hand fisting. "Yesterday seemed to be hard for her," he hated that he was telling her secrets, but he couldn't leave it alone. He could still remember when he'd been ten and a half, just around the first time Alexis had begun to live with them. He knew what it was now, what had happened, but at the time he'd been too young to fully understand. All he'd wanted was for Lexi to play video games with him, and he remembered opening her door when she'd never responded to him and finding her on the bed, there had been lots of red... He'd tried to wake her up, but it didn't work, he'd yelled for his parents, when she wouldn't open her eyes. His father had hugged him close, curling him in his arms as he'd said Alexis was stuck in a dark place, but told him he'd done very well calling for him. His mother had come out of the older girls room, the towels she'd had in her hands had been bloody. The first aid kit had been missing the gauze wrappings, he remembered because they had been bright neon colors he'd picked out. His mother had returned to Lexi's room and had stayed there for the rest of the night.

"Is there something I should know, Kieran?" Eraser asked, his tone low, dangerous as he looked over his shoulder at him, his eyes narrowed in a glare, perhaps he was more upset than he was attempting to let on.

"Sometimes she spirals," he whispered, his nails biting into his palm. This wasn't his secret to tell, but he was worried...no he was terrified.

The sixteen year old found himself jerked upward as he was brought face to face with red angry eyes. "Be more specific," he demanded, his fist curled in the front of his uniform. Shota had already seen that, but it wasn't enough to explain the kids' reaction. What else had happened? Something he wasn't privy to.

"Woah! Aizawa chill-" Hizashi started to say.

"What do you think that means?" Kieran asked, his voice dark and low. He couldn't spit out the words because they felt wrong, but he didn't want to bear her darkest secrets to the world and yet he worried she was tipping past that point, he was always afraid she would fall to that point again.

Kieran caught himself as he was released, his feet holding himself up as the Pro Hero released him. His gaze weary as he for a moment was shocked at the look that slid across the older man's face before he turned away from him.

The dark haired man's fingers curled at his side as he recalled years ago when she'd told him to release Yousuke at the Morgue, it was why he'd released him this time. It seemed he was bound to repeat his mistakes.

Aizawa glanced out the window as the clouds opened up to pour down rain. He stared for a moment piecing it all together suddenly what she'd told him the day of the transfer exam made so much more sense, that glance into how she felt, that unhidden truth...she had laid bare for him. If only he'd fully understood what she had let slip. Had understood those ramifications. "Mic take over for me. Combine the classes, tire them out. I'll be back." With those parting words he was gone, no longer heading for his class but the stairwell at a run.

The heavy hand of Present Mic drew him from his inner musing. "Let Shota handle it kid, he'll find her."

Kieran took a breath and closed his eyes a moment hoping he'd done the right thing. "You did the right thing," he heard the Pro tell him gently, as if he knew how hard it was to break someone's trust...even if it was for their own good. He let his gaze meet the other Professors and gave a small nod of acknowledgement to the other.

"I hope so..." he muttered as they parted ways, Yamada to Class A and Kieran headed back into Class Z's room.

---

Masaru hit the cemetery entrance as he always did, quickly slipping through paths and down sections that he'd found after several visits here to be a shorter route. He always had mixed feelings when he came, especially now with how he felt about Hikari. Sometimes he foolishly worried that Hanna would be angry with him. He knew it was unreasonable, but they lingered nonetheless.

Once he got to there though, got to their resting places, it was almost like a weight left him as he'd add the flowers to those already there and them he'd sit and tell them what he could about his life and sometimes it was though he could hear them talk about to him, but it may been all in his head. It probably was, but either way it never really bothered him. This is what he'd been doing for so long that coming here wasn't upsetting to him anymore; it allowed him to be close to them.

The black-haired man frowned as he caught sight of something unfamiliar. He sometimes ran into family, or other friends, old classmates but he was always careful to avoid them and wait till they left. This was different, it left him with a strange feeling that settled in the center of his chest. He rubbed at his chest with his knuckles, as though to dispel the feeling.

It had been a long time since he had seen anyone openly weep. The first two years after the accident...yeah but it had been so long now it wasn't like that, some level of peace had settled over many of them; they had come to terms with it. Come to terms with the loss...had accepted it.

This was raw, this was painful and for a moment he hesitated, not such what to do. This felt private, as though the loss was still fresh, as though no movement had been made. He watched the figure kneeling in front of their graves, head bowed. It was the flash of pink hair that he could see that had fallen out of the hood she wore, it was the only reason he was able to have a suspicion of who he was looking at.

Instead he turned away walking back the way he'd come, as he paused at the vending machine he'd always passed by, he used his powers to easily release the levers inside and for two cans of soda to drop. He was giving her space, a little more time before he returned. When he rounded the corner, he was almost worried she'd left and instead what he found was about what he'd expected.

He found her sitting under the privallion, her knees to her chest and her chin on her knees, a single-arm wrapped around her knees, the other free at her side as she couldn't leave herself undefended even in her grief.

The moment he was within eyesight, he watched her gaze track him, they were red rimmed and it was no secret that she'd been crying, but they were dry now. As though her earlier pain was locked away once more.

He didn't immediately speak as he moved to set the flowers down, carefully separating them as he always did with each colored ribbon he'd long since grown accustomed to with them. He placed them at each grave, not wanting to cause her to bolt. He hadn't expected to see her, it had been six years, but if what he'd seen earlier was anything to go by, she was doing a lot worse than him, but not as bad as what had happened with some of the others. He swallowed as he lingered, not sure how to talk to her after all this time.

Instead he floated the drink casually with his powers toward her free hand setting it down in front of her, it was clearly her choice to take it, to accept it. He watched her stiffen, but carefully after some deliberation she let her fingers curl around the offering.

Slowly he sank into the seat next to her out of the rain, but he kept the distance as far as he could. He didn't want to crowd her, but he wasn't sure what to say to her. What did you say to someone you hadn't seen in six years? He'd written her off as abandoning them with everyone else...how could he not. She left them, like those left hadn't mattered as much as those who'd been buried in the ground.

When he thought about how he felt all those years ago, he'd been so angry, so full of guilt, it hadn't been surprising he's slipped, fallen into the level of despair, going in the opposite direction of where they had all been going, what better way to hurt himself, to harm himself. Eventually he found his own salvation, in a chance encounter. He couldn't support the building that had crushed his classmates, had killed and injured so many of his friends. Years later he found his chance at redemption, in the form of an almost identical situation where he'd been at the right palace at the right time. He had heard those people screaming, begging for help and he'd responded, he'd managed to hold the building upright as it was evacuated. He'd saved so many people.

Masaru let go of his guilt, his shame and had in that moment wished to turn his life around. Things improved after that, he was given an opportunity to atone for his past failings for the life he's fallen into after they died. He turned his life around and began to work for the Hero Public Safety Commission and once there he began his life as a mole for them. Gathering intel on League of Villains and their plans.

"Sorry to intrude on your visit," her words were soft and her finger tapped lightly against the can but didn't make a sound. Her heart was pounding in her chest, her stomach in a sea of knots, her anxiety was rising the longer she found herself sitting here next to him. She hadn't expected to see any of them, it was why she'd been so careful to avoid them for as long as she had.

It felt as awkward, as stifling as she'd expected and yet worse. Somehow this was worse. Aizawa and Yamada weren't that bad, it had been different, she'd let him know she was leaving. She hadn't given them the same treatment, she'd left without even a goodbye.

Lexi wasn't sure what he would say, if he would say anything at all. The waiting on his reaction was probably worse, it had only been a little while, but it was enough. She was tempted to leave.

"It's ok," he kept his voice the same tone as she did. He'd imagined being angry with her, but he'd taken a different route, if he could forgive himself, he could forgive her. He didn't want to carry all that negativity to his grave.

"It's been a few years Lex," he hadn't intended to use her nickname, it had just happened….calling her anything else just wouldn't come out. "How were the states?" His tone was curious and didn't hold any of the undertones she had been expecting.

She carefully lowered her legs to the ground and kicked them back and forth for a moment. Her gaze on their graves.

Which part? She wondered as she kept her hood up at the moment needing the physical shield for a little longer. "It's different; we're not held to the same unreasonable standards as we are here." she frowned and ran her hand down her face and blew out a breath.

"Sorry, " she muttered quickly as she drew her hood back and her long hair was free to fall along her back.

"It's cool, I've been curious about the differences," he told her, motioning for her to continue as he opened his can of soda and took a small sip.

Masaru regarded her as she spoke, the way she seemed as though she hadn't changed, and yet it was so evident that she had. She lost some of that youthfulness over the last few years and matured. Her tattoos were new, the one that stood out the most was the one he noticed on her cheek; it wasn't new in the terms that she'd had it recently, but rather she must have had it for years. He jerked his gaze away from her and let his attention linger on the graves too as she continued to talk.

"Civilians can defend themselves. We can put down the villains permanently. With that level of leeway, the crime rates lower, but not everyone agrees, but its effectiveness can't be denied." Her shoulders shrugged, and she leaned back on the bench for a moment, looking past the graves to the dark, heavy clouds above as the rain poured down around them.

"Sounds vastly different. If you liked it there, why did you come back?" he curled his fingers a little tighter on the can in his hand. He didn't mean it like an accusation, but it came out like that anyway

"A job offer mostly...things were sedentary and I thought a change of scenery might be good," she ran her fingers over the rim of the closed soda can, her gaze watching it and watching him from the corner of her eye. The conversation was so awkward, but neither were about to back out and run either, so they wound up stewing in the awkwardness, far too prideful to leave.

Masaru felt his right eye begin to twitch at the usage of sedentary; she didn't usually throw out words unless she was out to make people uncomfortable. He'd almost say it was a slightly nervous tick. He'd seen it pretty often when she got into more than one argument with anyone.

"And you?" she wondered letting her gaze drift back to him as she lifted the can of soda in her hands and rolled it between her palms as they spoke.

Masaru noticed how she studied him taking in the changes, gone was the young boy he'd been and replaced with the man that hadn't been before.

"Nothing too exciting, saving the world one sucker at a time," The joke fell easily from his lips, made him remember Hanna as she'd so proudly proclaimed the type of hero she wanted to be and insulted the masses at the same time, it was so her. It brought him some amusement, but he'd grown past mourning for the lives lost and instead wanted to in his own way celebrate their lives. If they couldn't live their dream, in some ways he did what they could no longer do. He did what few heroes could do living this double life that he did.

His words drew a watery laugh from her and she covered it with a cough as she turned her face away from him.

Masaru didn't like what he saw and instead he tried to remedy the situation. "You said you had a job offer?" he questioned as he ran a hand through his hair at the very obviously attempted to change the subject.

It was hard to explain how she felt about all the changes, it was like she was getting a shock to the system, gone was who she had held in his place in her memory and replaced with his older version. It left her wondering if she had changed, did she still look the same, had she changed at all? Sometimes she felt like she had been left behind while the others had grown up without her. It was so easy to look at where she was and wonder if she wondered if she had grown at all, in some ways it felt like she had and in others what did she have to show for it?

Her fingers tightened on the metal can and it creaked under the pressure she put on it. As she realized what she was doing, she released a breath and her hold loosened. A small sign she was improving in her own right, had she been younger she would have popped the can in her anger.

"Sort of, I thought it was a sign you know, from the heavens or whatever that I could atone for past mistakes."

The laughter that followed those words was bitter, but she shrugged and leaned back on her hands. "It hasn't been all bad, it's been a lot of fun. I never saw myself as a teacher, like me c'mon you have to admit there is a joke there somewhere," she said as she ran her fingers back through her hair.

"You weren't a bad leader," Masaru cut in quickly his piercing golden eyes regarding her with a ferocity that she wasn't sure what to do with. He remembered all too well how she'd gotten them out of situations many would have balked at, her methods were unconventional, but she was always willing to try something, not at all afraid of the sacrifices that might need to be made if it meant keeping them safe. "You were always willing to stick up for us, even Sin-chan or Keisuke when he managed to rile up the third years against our class because of his big mouth. So don't sell yourself short," he reached out his hand to ruffle her hair, something he'd done when they'd been in school just to get on her nerves, like any good older brother would do.

She swatted at his hand but her laughter was light and almost freeing. It made him feel better that he'd made the decision to get involved. Maybe this was something he needed just as much as she did.

"Thanks," she muttered softly.

Masaru laughed and the tension was broken and for a little bit they discussed what they had been doing over the last few years, while Alexis was honest with her answers there was a vagueness as she was careful with how much she discussed with him. Masaru was no different. They kept things light, both shying away from anything too heavy, but still they talked about a lot.

"Can I ask you something, something about that day? She asked her index finger to scrape along the lip of the soda can. "You can say no, but If you don't mind…" she kept her voice low and shifted her drawing her leg back up to her chest.

The conversation she had with Aizawa echoing through her mind, she couldn't have been the only one to hear what Ryuu and Saten had said on the ground that day. What if she hadn't been correct. It was an accident.

Masaru shrugged at her question, had she asked him four years ago it would have been a no, but he had come to terms with everything, he didn't think about how they died, he thought about how they lived.

He was also reminded of what he's seen when he'd walked up, how raw everything still was for her. "Ask whatever you want," he kept his tone low, light.

"Was your radio working before the collapse?"

Masaru stilled his golden gaze colliding with her own as he curled his hands into fists along the bench. He was surprised to find she wasn't trying to shrink away from him.

He closed his eyes, took a breath and let it out. "I think so, but there was a lot of interference once we arrived. I had just gotten a mom and her baby to safety, a few others too but I Remember her…you know how it is."

The 25 year old let his mind wander back to that day six years ago. "I remember hearing the building creak and sway before it gave a strange rumble before the glass on all the windows exploded. I was too far away to hear over the radio more than a few words. You asked us to report just before the collapse. I tried to hold the building when it started, I wasn't able to; it was too much weight. I had passed out from the struggle of trying to hold up a chunk that fell. The rest collapsed, the building caved inward on itself. I couldn't stop it."

The anguish in his tone caused Alexis to lock down her own emotions as she pressed her fingers over his own, squeezing firmly. There was nothing more bonding and at the same time destructive to all parties as a trauma bond.

"I saved those coming out of the building, but I couldn't keep it from collapsing to crush everyone inside. So many got hurt...so many died."

"You fought well, you did what we were trained to do. You've grown a lot in the last few years. I can see it."

Her fingers gently and yet awkwardly patted him on the head. It was clear she was as awkward with physical contact now, as she had been before.

"You can't focus on the negative, on the what-ifs. Focus on what's right in front of you. What you can do right now," she continued her voice controlled and at the same time firm.

For a little while there was nothing that passed between them, just a heavy silence, a few moments where they each held onto their trauma and re-lived it.

"Why did you ask about the coms?"

He listened to Alexis blow out a soft breath and he glanced at her as she looked toward their graves, her gaze lingering on Ryuu and Saten, her gaze sad and far away.

"I don't think I imagined what I heard them respond with, it was distorted, but they said there was a villain in the underground garage. It was why after I couldn't get in touch with anyone else, I ordered everyone to engage, but keep Civilian evacs the focus, but it very well could have been the order never came through. I was 23 floors up. I know what I should have done now, there was so much I should have changed on that mission."

"Don't focus on the negative, remember?" Masaru couldn't help but counter but his laugh was weak even to his own ears. "Are you sure you heard what you did?" he couldn't help but ask. Even as that question hung between him he asked another.

"If it is true…why the cover up?" He asked after a moment.

"To control the situation, the narrative. Public opinion…it makes sense from a certain point. The question I've been curious about is who and why? I have to pay a visit to the M.E. I remember him from when I saw them."

"You got to see them?" Masaru asked, bewildered for a moment. "Sensei wouldn't let anyone see them, told us to wait till the funerals."

This news shouldn't have brought a small secret smile to her lips, but it did. He protected them, he listened to her even then.

"I'm sorry I bailed before their funerals," she muttered softly, her voice sincere.

"I get it, I understand why you left," he said softly, he understood so much more when she told him she'd seen their bodies. "Principal Nezu recorded them, he probably has a copy, he's sentimental like that."

"Maybe I'll do that," came her soft response, she'd never been but it might be nice to see it, even if she was six years late. Better late than never right? Her hand fisted that she kept at her side, could she do it, did she want too? The answer was obvious, she felt that she had too, needed to see them off properly at least.

Masaru was careful to not bring up the subject again, as he had an idea already in his mind of just who would want something like that kept a secret.

"So where do you work? You never said…" he trailed off attempting to once more change the subject.

"UA...actually," she said but her blue eyes darted away from his own, which left him curious to know why that would make her apprehensive.

"You work with Sensei then?" he asked, but he already knew the obvious answer to that. "How's he doing? The USJ attack was all over the news," Masaru asked, he kept his voice low, but he was worried, he'd been at the USJ and had watched his sensei get beaten...he could have died and he'd put his mission first. Sometimes he wondered about his lack of action that day.

"He's doing just fine, being the same asshole like always," she grouched as she stood up and began to pace in the small area that the pavilion provided. "Overprotective, stubborn, uncommunicative. You know how he is, he never says what he's thinking," she whirled to face him and Masaru regarded her for a moment confused why she seemed so hung up on this. Why was this any different than what he'd been like when they were teenagers?

"Well that's nothing new with Sensei," he said after a moment, not sure what she was expecting from him.

"You don't get it, it's no wonder you're single," she muttered with a sigh. He wasn't sure what possessed him to deny her claim. "Actually, I'm not," he gave her a boy-ish grin and for a moment his mind flashed to Hikari as she smiled at him, her fingers curled with his own when they were last in the park. She brought such a light to his life and he would do anything to keep her safe.

"What!? That's amazing! What's she like, what's her name?" she wondered shooting questions at him so fast that he couldn't do more than chuckle at her. Her reaction was so much like a girl, that it was funny to see, usually she was far more of the mindset of a guy sometimes.

"She's amazing," he muttered, his cheeks heating with color as he began to tell her about Hikari, he wasn't worried about her harming her or being a threat to her in any way. If anything it felt freeing for him to explain to someone how he felt, and to have that level of trust with someone again that he could in some ways bare his soul and share his happiness with someone.

"What about you Lex does someone have your attention?" he asked curiously.

"Oh my god, no!" she denied quickly but her cheeks were flushing with color, so he knew that was a lie.

"Now, now tell Masa-nii all about your problems little Lex, is it a boy? Do I need to beat the boys back with a stick?" he teased with a laugh as he patted the seat next to him, not at all surprised when she curled her hands at her side and held her ground. As her cheeks flared with a darker color, he felt his grin widening as he'd been entirely kidding, but now he was oh so curious. "It is a boy isn't it? Who is it?" he pressed, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

"It's complicated," she muttered with a frown as she ran her hand down her face. "He's older, which isn't an issue...but-" she shut up and her teeth clamped together. Her lips pressing together

What are you babbling about? Keep your closet romance to yourself!

"Nevermind, it'll never go anywhere…we're too different and it's not the only thing standing in the way,"

She let her gaze travel over to something over his shoulder, but it wasn't anything more than an animal or someone else wandering the cemetery. Lexi watched them, but he was once again reminded that none of that mattered all that much as she was ready to defend him, he could see it in her body language. It felt just like old times, the two of them had always gotten along, but it was nice to know that she would still do that even after all this time.

Masaru frowned at her words as he couldn't help but wonder just who she was talking about, but he wasn't about to press too much on that front. He decided to go another route, a sort of roundabout way to give her some advice.

"I haven't seen you this flustered over a guy…things may not be as hopeless as they seem," he told her, clearly teasing a little and yet entirely serious. It was strange to see this side of her, usually he saw the far more put together and driven one.

"What's it about him that you like?" Masaru questioned as he leaned back on the bench, his gaze straying to the graves behind her, he couldn't say he'd expected today to go quite like this.

Alexis paused in her pacing she'd resumed again and regarded him with a look as though she'd never considered the why she felt the way she did.

"He's protective, but he trusts my decisions, trusts me to handle things as they come up. It may not seem like it right now with the way things are going at school lately…but I don't think he's intentionally stepping on my toes with my class." Her gaze drifted to the heavy clouds and for a moment she watched the rain as it poured down.

"He's not trying to fix or change me. He isn't trying to take anyone's place, he's just always there. I don't know how to explain it," she frowned, her fingers tapping along her thigh.

"We just fit, it's not complicated when we hang out…it just doesn't look okay to others, it could make work difficult. People talk and have opinions, I don't want to cause him any trouble."

Masaru once again patted the seat next to him and after a moment of hesitation she moved to sit next to him. "Isn't it his choice and your choice, why does anyone else's opinion matter If what you have is special to the two of you?"

Her blue eyes regarded him, surprised by that way of looking at it. Maybe she was making it more complicated than it needed to be. She was the one who was pushing so hard for them to not be labeled, he was only accommodating her and what she wanted. It left her wondering why he was so ok with her calling all the shots, dictating their relationship, without it being defined like that.

"Maybe you two should talk." He ran a hand down his face for a moment as he considered what little he knew about the situation, but her reaction seemed to imply a lot, but he wasn't about to press, she'd shut him out otherwise and he enjoyed more than he thought he would the fact that he was seeing her after all this time. Also his words weren't only for her, he had his own form of talking that he needed to do...he just hadn't found the right time to do it yet. "I mean what do you want from whatever you have going on anyway? It doesn't seem like just a crush or is it?" Masa couldn't keep his curiosity from his tone.

It's not just a crush or is it? That question rattled around in her brain for quite some time as she gave it quite a lot of consideration. She replayed the scenes where they had kissed, traded banter back and forth, held hands or did other things. None of those seemed like it would be labeled as just a crush. Still she worried, it was so easy to say those things, to try and force something, but what if he didn't want to be tied to her in any way aside from what he was content to do behind closed doors. They really needed to talk, it didn't feel like a crush to her, but was she overreacting, overthinking and making this thing into something it wasn't. What if she was merely little more than a convenience for him.

If that's what it was, she needed to figure it out and get a straight answer before things got worse, got harder and she wound up with a bruised ego and a broken heart. She'd already accepted her teaching position, so she couldn't leave. She wouldn't leave and give him the satisfaction of seeing her run away. She could do this, she could survive him. Her students needed her and her weak little feelings were not going to get in the way of their training. She would not bow down to him or anyone else. She wasn't known as the Pro Hero Syphon for no reason.

"Maybe I should do that," she said as she stood up and carefully walked toward the gravestones, the rain had begun to lessen; it wasn't pouring anymore but it was no less fit the mood a bit. She leaned back on her heels, her hands curled along her back as she let the rain water fall on her face. "Thanks for talking. I know it wasn't easy," her smile was soft, almost shy but it was no secret why. Things had been a little awkward there for a bit.

"It's alright, it was nice to see you again." He found himself meaning every word as he stood up as well, he knew he'd lingered longer than he should have.

"You too," she told him, her words low and honest.

Neither offered to swap numbers, neither we're ready for such a thing and that was okay. Instead they parted ways, each of them going their own way through the cemetery.

---

Masaru frowned as he stuffed his hands in the pockets of his dark pants and he kept his hood up as he passed through the streets, he didn't dare to linger outside the flower shop this time. He merely took a quick glance and didn't leave anything behind. He knew he was being watched and followed. If he was honest with himself it wasn't surprising. The twenty-five year old was more surprised that it had taken this long to get it all started.

It wasn't someone he didn't know, he knew very well who it was. He'd seen the signature red feathers flutter along the rain soaked ground well within his view before they were carried away by the breeze. It was Hawks being nice enough to give him a heads up. They weren't close and he wasn't sure if the other hero trusted him or not, but none of that mattered. They had to work together to pass along intel without drawing too much attention to each other. It was quite the song and dance.

They worked well together, but as for an opinion of the other hero, Masaru found him to be interesting, but hard to read. It was so hard to get a good feel for him. He was guarded as he should be, but there was no denying his effectiveness and his drive. He'd climbed the hero ranking charts in a very short amount of time and he had his own agency at 18. It was easier for someone to succeed when the Public Human Safety Commission pushed you from behind. It wasn't the only reason he rose to fame, he was charismatic, smart, easy for everyone to get along with. He played the public like a guitar on a string, but he was so much more than that. He was calculating, manipulative, deceptive and the public had no idea who the number 3 hero really was.

Who was he to judge really? No one really knew what he was doing either being as deep undercover as he happened to be. Still he kept his pace as even as he normally would and listened for anything that might give away to the fact that it was time for their little rendezvous. The flutter of a single red feather cut across his vision and his golden eyes narrowed as it fluttered along his nose before drifting into the alleyway he was about to passby. He dipped into the alley and began the task of following the leader. This went on through the dark underbelly of the city alleyways before eventually he found himself standing on the rooftop. It was always a different location where they would meet, sometimes wasn't even in the same city. Things were always changing, always moving and yet Hawks always managed to find him. It certainly left him more than a little curious...if not far more cautious.

"Been awhile," Hawks called casually his voice never wavered, and didn't need to lift in volume to be heard as he leaned sat on one of the air conditioning units of the building, one leg drawn to his chest and his hero jacket open to reveal the shirt underneath. He was always so casual, and yet his gaze was always assessing reading every move he made. His famous red wings spread out behind him, it was always breathtaking to see them up close and personal. His hawk-ish eyes never left him, a sign that he didn't trust him, not completely.

Masaru merely shrugged his muscular shoulders under his jacket and carefully let his hood fall back along his neck as the rain had paused for the moment. "A little busy, you know how it is." The contempt in his voice wasn't quite hidden and he swallowed back the emotion that slithered under the surface, he had to keep his cool, he wasn't looking for a fight after all. They were both on the same side. "Harder to get away from prying eyes lately. This isn't the usual exchange time, so what's up - Someone nervous?" he asked, but it wasn't phrased as a question he expected to be answered and Hawk's features remained impassive giving little away as he smirked at him in that same overconfidence he was used to seeing from him.

He ran his fingers through his hair and pulled out a small piece of metal from his pocket and held it out to him. "I have some info to pass along, so it actually works out that you're here. Do you remember hearing how all those kids disappeared within the last ten years?" he wondered as he floated the small piece of metal toward him and as Hawks curled his fingers around it, the metal piece expanded and revealed highly sensitive information.

"Some of it, most weren't in this country," he said after a moment, his smirk falling from his features as they settled into a frown. The blonde was tense; it was clear in how he held himself now.

"American's mostly the children of Pro Heroes...imagine my surprise to find them alive and well trained by a group running under the project name Blood Orphan, these kids were taken at the behest of All for One. Trained to be soldiers for the Tomura Shigaraki."

Hawks was quiet, but his body was tense and his golden gaze left his own to travel to the metal in his hand and the information it held. "How dangerous are they?" he asked after a moment.

"Very."

"Is rehabilitation possible?" Hawks asked his gaze piercing and the other held his gaze.

"Some of them, I believe, can be helped, perhaps persuaded to defect or go their own way, but I can't say for certain the level of psychological and mental trauma. I will know more as things progress, they have only recently joined our ranks, but some still hold their humanity. Some were stolen from our own citizens...some families are still looking for their loved ones. It is a very delicate situation. I've never encountered something like this."

"They aren't all American?" came the Number 2's question.

Masaru curled his hands at his side. "No, some are our own. One little girl, I know she was taken 6 years ago. There is no mistaking her. She's Hayai Sumiyaka. She's the little sister of the Pro Hero Guardian.

"I see," he muttered as he considered their options and for a moment silence lapsed between them.

Masaru narrowed his eyes at Hawks as he shifted his weight and released a sigh as he tugged at the end of his hair. "Also, some of them aren't rehabilitable, they seem to lack a level of humanity necessary to live among society," he said slowly and it was clear he'd chosen his words with care, but he wasn't happy about having to do this.

"Some of them were children given to the Project by their parents...known villains...their training seems extensive if not equal in areas to what our Hero courses are throughout the country."

Hawks flared his wings for a moment before he lifted his gloved hands to push up his goggles and pinched the bridge of his nose, before he shoved them atop his head and pressed his fingers against his eyes. "I'll let them know...for now gather what other information you can. I'll be in touch."

Masaru shared a look with Hawks for a moment it appeared they had reached some form of understanding with each other that had been lacking for some time. It was as though the other hero trusted him a little more, believed in him almost. The black haired male turned away after pulling his hood up and exited the rooftop. He didn't bother looking behind him because Hawks would be long gone lost in the skies as he flew at his fastest speed possible, things were stretching into very dangerous territory. If the United States Government got wind that they harmed their citizens it could cause massive problems for their rather tentative alliance of sorts as it was.

"What a shit show," he muttered as he hit the stairs and began to make his descent once more.

---

She powered back on her phone and frowned as multiple messages in the form of texts, voicemails and missed calls filled her call log. She ignored the vast majority of them and called All Might, she had to check up on her students...that was her first priority.

"A PHONE CALL IS HERE! A PHONE CALL IS HERE!"

Toshinori fumbled for this phone as it rang. "Alexis! How are you?" he questioned his gaze on the monitors that were being watched by himself and Present Mic they even had an extra visitor who was staring intently at the monitors her dark eyes never blinked as she watched the students on the monitors with a sort of morbid fascination as they were injured or gave off exclamations of pain. To put it mildly he found this young woman to be incredible unnerving, but that may have had to do with the fact that she would move a small doll that looked like something a little girl would have, it would float above her hand and she would make it dance, jump or walk around the control panel, when she got uninterested in the team battle.

Present Mic shot him a look as he said the girls name.

"I'm -" She hesitated, the lie bubbling up to the surface, but she swallowed it back. "I'll be back to the school within the hour. How are things?" she asked, changing the subject. It felt almost wrong to lie to the Number one hero. She would have, but she was a little too raw to feel like doing it.

"Things are going well! The students are currently doing a randomized training exercise with the Class A -" As Toshinori began to tell her about it, she went through the motions before she cut the call short.

How can I compete with that? It seems like all I'm doing is holding everyone back...

Alexis lingered at the bus stop, and she shivered only now beginning to realize that her clothes were wet, soaked even and she was lucky they were black, so it hadn't looked that bad to Masaru, she hadn't wanted to deal with any sort of embarrassment. She knew she couldn't return to school like this and it was why she began her walk home from the bus stop rather than wait for the bus. She wasn't really in a huge hurry to get back, the cold seemed to bring a sort of clarity that she felt she needed.

The walk was something she needed and it didn't take nearly as long for her to get back to her apartment as she had anticipated. Her mind was muddled with so much to go over, it had been so easy to adapt to the energy Masaru gave off, his positive energy was something she needed to lift her mood, but once it was gone, she felt tired, exhausted really. All she really wanted to do was sleep, to hide from the world a little longer. To escape reality. Instead she trudged up the stairs, shouldered open her apartment door and slid the lock in place. She toed off her wet sneakers and then her socks before she walked barefoot to the laundry room and threw her wet clothes into the washer.

Next she took a shower, the warm water was nice, it helped her to feel a little more normal, but none of that lasted. Her mind snagged on a stray thought and the accident, Masaru asking her if she was sure of what she heard. Her own doubts leaked through, causing the memory to distort and spiral.

It's your fault

She stayed under the water long after it had grown cold, her mind playing on loop the day six years ago, then it would flash to the events of that day, the ones she remembered, others she couldn't say were reality or fiction and finally it would end with the morgue, it was darker, more sinister, before it would start all over again. After the sixth time, her fist smashed into the reflection staring back at her in the mirror, it was an ugly version of herself, she smiled, daring to be happy.

How dare you forget us?

How can you move on without us?

You never cared…

That's not true...

Her quirk was always passively active, so the glass shattered, but bounced back keeping the glass from embedding in her fist, a few pieces cut along her cheek, as they broke away but for the most part she was unharmed.

It's not my fault!

Who's to blame?

Who else could it be?

The villain you made up in your head?

No one believes you...

You don't even believe it anymore

Her fist slammed against the mirror again, this time it cracked and struck the drywall behind it.

Stop it! Shut up! Shut the fuck up!

I know what happened!

Lexi raised her other fist and slammed her fist into the higher portion of the mirror, as sections of it caved and hit the counter with a clank, clank sound.

She couldn't catch her breath.

Am I wrong?

Couldn't stop the hiccuping sob that bubbled up as she sank to her knees unperturbed by the blood that slipped down along one cheek. The pain caused the hysteria to cease, to sputter for a moment and fizzle out. Leaving her mind quiet.

Blood stained the counter and ran down her knuckles, her fingers to pooled at the tile underneath.

Her breathing was loud in her own ears, but none of that mattered as much as she dragged herself to her feet. The pain was little more than a dull ache, only slivers of glass petruted from her hand and the breath she blew out was shaky. She clenched her hand watching the blood well for a moment. She flattened out her hand as she pulled the first aid kit from under the bathroom sink and retreated to her bathroom after firmly shutting the hall bathroom door.

She pulled the slivers of glass from her knuckles and began to bandage them in the quiet. Her fingers wrapped to just where the fingertips were visible. She was used to this, it looked very similar to how someone would wrap their hands before using a punching bag and after a moment of debate she did the same to her other hand, better to merely have an excuse if she really wanted one. It wasn't so far from the truth that such a thing would be unbelievable.

Finally she slipped into her hero costume, she couldn't very well call out, not when All Might only had a three hour window and had been kind enough to take over for her. She had obligations she needed to ensure she fulfilled, besides she still wanted that dvd of their funerals…but maybe tomorrow.

She had already been gone for nearly two hours.

The first aid kit rested on her dresser and she moved to the door of her bedroom intent on leaving, what she hadn't expected was to come face to face with Aizawa as he stared her down from the entryway, her spare key clutched in his hand. For a moment neither spoke and they merely stared.

"What do I owe the pleasure Sensei?" she wondered, her fingers dragging the door shut as she walked toward him, not about to be intimidated by him in her own home. She wasn't in the mood for anyone today. She could hardly handle herself as it was.

Shota looked worse for wear, she noticed after a moment that his hair was wet, his binding cloth absorbed the water and didn't seem to weigh him down. Lexi noticed that despite all that he looked angry, as though he were entitled to feel that way. Her casual question as though she hadn't called out on a whim. His dark eyes roamed over her body, and she casually twisted her injured hand out of his view at an angle that allowed her to hide the wounded knuckles.

"Why'd you call out?"

"I didn't call out, I was running late. I needed my beauty sleep."

He gave a low growl as she shifted past him to the kitchen, ensuring she kept her distance from him. "Alexis," her name was spoken in a warning tone.

"I'm not your bitch Eraser. I won't come to heel when you call. If you want an obedient pet, get a dog!"

Alexis didn't see the sour look that slid along his features as his dark eyes tracked her every move. He'd never once given her that impression, so he wasn't quite sure where all the hostility was coming from.

She pulled out a bottle of water and opened it with her right hand, being careful of doing too much with her left hand. It was bleeding again, she could feel it. She took a sip of her water, her blue eyes narrowed in his direction. He was lingering in the kitchen entryway, debating on talking with her rationally, demanding answers and starting a fight, or trying to reason in a calmer manner. It was a tough situation.

"You worried Kieran today," he started instead, watching as her eyes widened and dipped to the left a moment. She hadn't been expecting him to try and guilt trip her. He could tell she had been crying, it worried him. Everything about her worried him, the house held a darkness today, the rooms shut, he was almost tempted to throw them all open to see what had happened.

"He likes to overreact a little," she muttered,as she placed her water on the counter.

"Does he?" Shota murmured his voice low, as he maneuvered a few steps into the kitchen. "Was he overreacting then too?" He asked, he was playing a bluff, he was only speculating but it was a calculated assumption to make.

"What?!" Her demand was too sharp, too angry to be hidden as anything but the truth. "He told you?" She growled her hands fisting at her side.

"Did you really want to do it?" he pressed as he took a few more steps into the room. "Have you ever apologized to him...for having to find you like that? - it's quite a traumatizing situation for a little boy."

Lexi was suddenly slamming his back against the wall, her fingers curled into his shirt. "How fucking dare you!" she snarled, her lips pulled back over her teeth.

"What happened?" his question was barely a whisper as he curled his arm tightly across her back refusing to let her evade him, to run from him.

"It's just us, you and me."

He's lying. You know he is.

You can't trust him

He'll toss you aside once he knows how broken you are.

"Talk to me Lex, what's going on?"

Her fingers curled along the collar of his shirt, he could see the red spreading across the knuckles of her one left hand. What happened? His gaze narrowed and he waited for some form of a real answer.

She was trapped; she couldn't easily break away from him. It wasn't true, she could if she smashed her forehead against his nose. He'd effectively immobilized her hands. She could hit him still if she wanted. It was her choice.

Don't dilute yourself.

No one can love you.

Especially him, he pities you

Can't you see it?

Her heart was pounding, but she leaned her head back as though attempting to be as far away from him as possible.

Aizawa could feel the way her heart raced. He could feel her body tremble in her anger, but he could also see the emotion in her eyes.

"Let. Me. Go!"

"No."

"What is your problem?!" she snarled, her foot dragging along his instep, he merely grit his teeth and glared down at her. "Don't make me hurt you!" She threatened, her powers flaring along every exposed surface of her skin. Her eyes glowed, the blue washed away in a flare of fuchsia.

"You won't," he muttered in a low voice, but his dark eyes regarded her intently even as he hoped he was right about this.

"This isn't just about yesterday." It was said as a statement, he was going over their disagreement in his head, it had been all too obvious to him the problem, but he'd warned her not to come. She couldn't baby them, she couldn't protect them, she had to understand that. This was for their own good, they had to learn to protect themselves, protect each other. He'd taught her that she needed to think about this rationally. She'd been alright at first, but after the first controlled explosion he'd recognized the signs and they were still staring him in the face today, it hadn't gotten better. "Where did you go?" he asked because he was worried and it wasn't like her to dump her class on to someone else.

"Why do you care?" Her tone was sharp and defensive.

His brows knitted together in confusion as he regarded her. "What's running through your head right now Lex, who's feeding you all this?" He brought his fingers up to cup her cheek, he wasn't afraid of her, he trusted her. If she lost her control, he would stop her.

The energy was abruptly pulled the moment his fingers made contact, but he could feel it decrease as a single tear slipped down her cheek, before the connection withered and died along every part of her skin he touched, the color fading to reveal the pale skin underneath.

"It's ok," he said softly, his thumb brushing along her cheek watching the color flutter and die with every move he made. Carefully he shifted them as he sat with his back against the wall, her fingers curled along his shirt and her ear pressed to his chest listening to his heart beat. He was in no hurry to move them as his arm curled along her side, the warmth of his hand searing her skin. He'd made only one phone call telling Mic to take over for the day and relieve All Might from his teaching duties, he gave him free rein with the kids and said if he needed any help to have Midnight come over and to remind her of the favor she owed him. When Hizashi had started to ask questions, he'd hung up on him. "We'll take the rest of the day," was all he said, his hold tightening ever so slightly. "It'll be alright." he cut in before she could protest.

He leaned his head back against the wall. "When you're ready, we'll talk," he said softly as he set his phone next to him only after he sent a quick message to the kid. It wasn't very long. "Handled. Everything ok." and carefully covered her wounded knuckles with his own. Shota hadn't been sure what he was going to find when he'd gotten here earlier, but she hadn't been in. Everything was exactly as she'd left it, that morning. He'd not been expecting to find her here, but still he'd been hoping. He'd been going over the conversations they'd had over these last few weeks, trying to figure out if he'd missed something, missed a sign to what lingered under the surface. She was almost the same, lively presence, but she had moments, moments that triggered something darker, but she never lingered for long. He went to a few places he could remember she might frequent, but hadn't found her. He'd been on his way back from the park, when he'd gotten the text from Mic that she'd called and it was when he'd started his own trip back to her place, it was the only logical place he could expect to find her.

"Why don't you listen a little while," came his low rumble. "I'm not here out of some obligation," he felt her tense at his words and he smoothed his thumb along her exposed side. "This is probably a conversation we should have had a while ago, but I didn't want to pressure you." She could feel him sigh the way his chest expanded and her index finger was soon tapping along his chest in anxiousness. Alexis began to withdraw her hand and started to sit up.

"Stay." He let his fingers trail through her hair and she settled against him once more. "Let me finish," he pressed.

Only continuing once she closed her eyes and once again resumed listening to his heartbeat. Shota regarded the way her pink hair slid through his fingers. "I was worried for you; I let you go once before. I won't do that again, " his fingers gently curled along her own. "Whenever you're ready you can give me your answer."

Lexi was quiet for a little while, before she finally spoke her voice low. "I went to see them today…" She let those words hang between them as she leaned her head back among his shoulder as his legs bent along her own, encasing her in his protection.

She could feel the way his hold tightened at her words, but he was quiet, letting her have the floor, the room to talk. She could feel the way his long hair brushed her neck. "If I didn't go today...this morning I wouldn't go. I would have put it off. Found another excuse. I should have told you and Kieran...he doesn't know everything, but I shouldn't have worried him. I also didn't want you to expect anything."

She was rambling; he let her, as his other arm curled along her other side pulling her closer when the first tremor wrecked her body. She told him that she ran into Masaru, how they talked...how it had felt to see him after all this time, how surprised she was to find he didn't hate her. Then she explained what happened after they parted ways. Her hand raised to inspect the bandage on her left hand.

"They kept talking; the day wouldn't stop playing on a loop. Until I made it stop." She let the words hang there a moment, letting the heavy silence settle over them, attempting to drive the point home what he was getting into. After a heart beat he pressed her to keep talking.

"Go on."

"I feel guilty for moving on...I've warped them in my head - carried their ghosts. I don't know how to let them go. I don't know what to do."

Her hands clenched and she lowered them to her knees as silence descended around them. The feeling of his cheek pressing against hers was surprising and she stiffened and only relaxed when she felt his fingers curl along her own, before his arms encircled in her some in his presence, his warmth and his protection.

"You don't need all the answers, Lex." Shota kept his tone low, as he brushed his thumb over her knuckles. "We'll figure it out," he promised softly, as he felt the way her fingers curled along his own.

"Sorry to cause so much trouble," she muttered her words, holding an edge of exhaustion to them. His low chuckle along her ear was all she heard. "I want you to remember that food fight you started that managed to encompass every student there."

"I just finished it, but it was -" she closed her eyes, faltering over the name. "Hana, I know. You took the blame for it, covered for her so she wouldn't get in trouble with her parents."

She twisted her wide blue eyes to look up at him. "How did you know?" she asked, her gaze clashing with his own. "She tried to get me to lessen your punishment after you'd started."

He saw her eyes fill with tears and she tried to hold them back and avert her gaze. "It's ok to talk about them, to remember the good and the bad. It's ok to hold on to your memories of them." Shota told her firmly as he curled his fingers along her chin, forcing her to hold his gaze.

As she gave him a slight nod and blinked as the tears trailed down her cheeks and he carefully cupped the base of neck and drew her back down, her face buried in the crook of his neck and his arms curled around her once more as she cried over their loss, over letting them go and releasing herself from their weight they had on her life.

They stayed like that for a while before her tears had dried and still he was in no hurry to get back to their chaotic reality. He was taken back at her lips pressed against his neck, he could feel her smirk against his neck as he tensed, his fingers digging into the flesh of her exposed sides. They only tightened as he felt her tongue drag over his neck. "Sensei," she murmured her voice, a mere whisper along his neck.

"Lex," he muttered, his eyes staring at the ceiling as he tried to keep from doing something he knew they shouldn't. His resolve was crumbling though as she curled her fingers into his hair at the base of his neck, her teeth sinking into the juncture at his neck that she could reach. He hissed out a breath to hide his growing reaction to her.

"You can't tell me you're not interested," she muttered as her fingers of her other hand brushed over him. His fingers tightened on her hips drawing her closer as he dropped his mouth close to her ear. "Oh I am," he growled, his breath fanning over her ear.

"Is this really what you want?" he asked, putting some distance between them. His hands pushed her gently back on her knees, allowing him to get a better look at her, to assess her before they took this in a far more heated direction.

Lexi gave him an assertive stare as her confident blue eyes met his dark eyes. "Shota, if I wasn't interested I wouldn't have initiated," she told him with a sigh as she stood up her height for once surpassing his as she looked down at him for a moment.

"Well since this got awkward, you can head out now," she told him seriously as she turned away from him and returned to her water she'd left on the counter. She was trying to hide it, but she knew a rejection when she saw one.

Aizawa frowned as he got to his feet regarding her from where he stood for a moment studying her. He wasn't about to let this end quite like this, the most obvious one being that he didn't want her to believe what happened a few weeks ago had been a mistake, it was far from that. He rested his fingers against the counter, his arms on either side of her as she sipped her water her back to him.

She wasn't exactly angry with him, no this was something far softer and far more feminine than he was used to seeing from her. "I thought I told you to get out," she grumbled sourly, her body tense as she felt him brush her hair away from her neck and she let him without a fight.

Lexi was used to getting what she wanted, used to people listening to her. "No," his simple refusal had her glaring at the wall across her kitchen as she debated in her head what would be the appropriate response or reaction to this sort of situation. Controlling the situation was what she did best and this was spirling in a direction that was out of her control as he spun her to face him in their close quarters before he claimed her mouth with his own, his tongue slithering past her lips and dominating her, as he felt her fingers curl along his shirt as she dragged him closer.

Shota hauled her up on the counter, setting her down as he pressed against her, his hips fitting between her own as she gave a soft moan against his mouth, the sound making his blood heat. It wasn't fake, it wasn't forced and it was all for him. He broke the kiss, his mouth sliding to her ear, as he spoke. "Last chance Lex," he warned, his arm tightening along her lower back pulling her closer as he nibbled on her ear before trailing his mouth down to her neck.

He paused as she spoke, her voice a low growl as she pulled at his black shirt, her fingers curling in the fabric tighter and dragging it higher to expose his stomach. "Don't try to be chivalrous, if you stop now you'll regret it," she threatened as her tugged his shirt up higher forcing the material up as her hands pressed against his chest marveling even now at how in shape he was, she always knew, but it never got old when he was willing to have her, when he wanted her...no one else.

Shota's soft chuckle caused her body to heat even as her gaze roamed over his body he let her see, once his shirt was left in a careless heep on the kitchen floor. His strong arms easily supported her weight, as he lifted her from the counter even as her legs curled around his hips and she let her fingers press against his shoulders as he walked them both back to the bedroom, the door kicked closed behind them.

He pressed her back against the mattress and kissed her his tongue sliding into her mouth as he sank against her, as he felt her bandaged fingers trail over his shoulders, he curled his arms around her and rolled them over, setting her over his erection that strained against the fly of his pants, but he wasn't in hurry to fix his problem as he began to unwind the wrappings from her wrists, he wanted to see how badly she'd hurt herself, he had to know. Alexis didn't try and stop him, she knew him to well and instead she let him unwrap them from her wrists and as he worked she enjoyed listening to the sounds she could get him to make as she nibbled on his neck, biting at the juncture between his shoulder and his neck feeling him arch his hips against her and she gave a low chuckle.

The fingers of her other hand worked on his pants as she pulled them down his legs. She curled him in her bandaged hand and watched the way he grit his teeth and shot her a glare as he wrapped the wrist wrappings up, so they could be used again as he reached out and set one of them on the dresser by the bed. She would have let them fall wherever, but he was too neat for that. His fingers ghosted over her knuckles looking at the wounds there, they were as she had mentioned before, were not that bad. He gave a soft grunt of sound as she removed her other hand from his member and held out her other for him to look at as he started to remove the wrappings there.

"You're so slow," she teased as her soft fingers curled around him and her thumb drew over the head and spread the precum around. Aizawa brushed his finger along the exposed side of her wrist and she shivered. "Once I'm done Alexis you won't like the consequences," he warned as he curled his other arm around her and hauled her against his chest, forcing her fingers to slide from his raging hard on to against his shoulders to steady herself. "Why don't you strip for me," he suggested, his dark eyes watching her as the last of her bandage fell away and he inspected the other side of her hand before he kissed her unmarred skin relieved to see she was alright.

Her cheeks heated with color at his suggestion and she saw his lips kick up, it was clear he was testing her, seeing how far she would go and it was a challenge she wouldn't pass up. "Hai, Hai," she muttered, but it was clear that she was a little nervous now and put on the spot, as she carefully removed the puffy purple jacket that was part of her hero costume leaving her in the white and black lined tube top that she wore. She let it fall to the floor as she reached down and removed her boots as she stepped out of them, she could feel how close he was now. He curled his fingers along her chin and tipped her head back as his other hand grazed her side and moved higher along her chest and under the material as he ran his thumb over her nipple and she panted for breath as his dark eyes watched every expression that traveled along her features as she watched him, watch her.

"Have you never stripped for someone before?" he asked, his voice low as her cheeks darkened further and she tried to answer him. Instead she bit his thumb lightly when he rolled her nipple between his fingers and she hated the soft sounds he drew from her. He let his other hand travel up her bare side and under the material as he worked it over her breasts before he lowered his head and took one in his mouth and her cry was higher now as his teeth sank into her nipple, the flare of pain causing the heat to pull more between her legs. He worked the material over her head, not all worried as he didn't stop his task.

His pants were at his ankles before and he'd stepped out of them long before he'd gotten up from the bed. His cock pressed against her bare stomach and he hauled her closer to him. She sucked on his thumb and he gave a low groan as he drew back away from her nipple. He looked at her watching as she seemed to get nervous now that he could see some of the scars that decorated her body, not all came from the MHR, some had come later in her young years when she'd been his student, others came from her time in the states when from the age of 18 to 24. "So beautiful," he whispered as he drew her closer to him, his lips trailing along the scars he could see, usually hidden by the shirts or the jackets she wore.

He carefully began to remove her pants, his fingers working to pull them down each leg as he kissed his way down her chest and paid attention to the scar that he could see along the underside of her right breast before he went lower. Her legs trembled as he kissed along her pelvic bone and more so as he kissed her inner thigh, his dark eyes looking up at her from between her legs, a scene that looked nearly identical to what had happened a few weeks ago, but the roles had been reversed and she'd been trying to save his life.

His arm curled along her back keeping her close as she gave the tiniest nod to his unspoken question and when his tongue ran along her clit, she gasped her fingers tightening into his hair and he smirked before he did it again and again, before he changed his angle and thrust his tongue up inside. The strangled cry she made was music to his ears as he worked to make her sing for him.

Today wasn't about him, everything was about her, he wanted to make her feel as good as she made him feel, without even trying, she was a light in his dismal world. She tried to step back, to tell him that it was too much, but he didn't let her run from this, he tightened his hold and his fingers drove up inside her as he sucked on the bundle of nerves that would send her over the edge and it did. Her knees nearly buckled, but he held her up, he'd always have her.

He chuckled as her fingers barely held onto his shoulders as he lifted her up against him as her lips found his. It was a slower kiss, more sensational than what they had so far. The taste of her on him wasn't enough to deter her from kissing him, as her fingers threaded through his hair.

Shota carefully laid her on the bed as he curled arms around her and her fingers curled along his upper arm. "We aren't done yet," he promised as he sucked his fingers clean of her, watching as she gave a soft sound, her leg curling around his own as she flipped them over, her long hair spilling over as she leaned down to capture his lips with her own, her fingers curled along his own effectively keeping his hands pinned above his head, but it wasn't real, he could break out of her hold if he really wanted too. "It's only fair if I return the favor," she muttered against his lips when she'd pulled away, watching as his eyes darkened, but he told her it wasn't necessary. He didn't need that from her.

Her fingers curled along his shaft and she pumped him slowly up and down as she watched his head tip back and his breathing increase. "Lex," he whispered as he felt her slide down his body as she licked the underside of his cock, above where her hand worked him as she curled her tongue and wrapped her lips around him, her free hand pressing against his hip to keep him as still as she could as he arched his hips upward unable to help himself from the sensation of her lips around his cock.

"Damn," he panted his lips pressing together as he watched her take him in deeper, could feel her fingers graze along his sac and she sucked him off. He tried to hold off his orgasm as it was building. The more he watched her, the more she worked him over in the hot moist cavern.

His fingers tightened in her hair as she knew he was closer, she could feel it and was listening to the sounds he made, as he told her how good she was doing. She rubbed her legs together, but didn't have to look for a way to relieve the ache between her legs as he pressed his thigh between her legs and she ground down on him as he pressed against her harder, her fingers curled along his hips as she took him deeper, before raising to suck on the head, unable to stop her soft moan as he groaned at the feel of her wet juices trailing down his leg. His fingers tightened on her hair as he drove his hips upward, unable to help himself as he came inside her waiting mouth as she swallowed him down.

He pulled her up and off him, as he rolled her over her back against the mattress, his panting breath along her ear as his cock slid along her wet dripping folds, but didn't go inside. She was so wet for him, so ready. "We're not done," he warned, his cock once again ready for her, hard and wanting. The things she did to him.

"I don't think-" he panted out, his fingers sliding along her over sensitive clit and she cried out, her legs widening as he made another pass as his cock rubbed against her in such delicious ways. "Inside," she moaned as she threw her head back against the sheets, her nails biting against his hips as though she could change his angle and allow him to slide inside. "Please," she whispered as she slid her leg higher along his hip, opening herself up more as his other hand seared along her thigh and held her leg, as he shifted his hips and angled upward to slide the first inch past her lips. She whimpered, wanting more as he rotated his hips for a moment only sliding in a little further. "Fuck," he groaned as he bottomed out after another thrust, she was so tight, her body fit with his as he drove into her again and again as the both traveled closer and closer to the edge. His thrusts got deeper and harder as he held out on his orgasm until she would come again. He didn't have to wait long as he curled his fingers along her wrists trapping them above her head as he took away her control and dominated her in ways she hadn't known she wanted. She wanted this, she wanted him to take her.

She cried out, her nails drawing along his back as he pulled her closer, drawing her leg higher above his shoulder opening her to a new deeper angle. He kept pumping, thrusting his hips against her own, harder and faster as she got closer and closer to another organism, his teeth sank along her neck, hard sucking on the skin there and leaving a mark, as he fingered her clit knowing exactly what she needed to come over the edge. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't help himself as she clenched around him, her orgasm washing over her. He thrust inside her, fucking her through her orgasm, as he felt himself getting closer and closer, as she clenched around him. His thrusts were harder and faster as he pulled her closer to him, her arms circling around his neck as he fucked her into the mattress.

"Come for me Sho," her breathless command along his ear was his undoing as he spilled himself inside of her, his hips thrusting up as he held himself to the hilt and rolled them over, draping her over his chest to keep from crushing her. As they lay there together, working to catch their breaths.

---

His arms curled around her as they lay in a tangle of sheets, her cheek pressed against his chest, his gaze traveled to the clock on the bedside table. "We should probably get this place cleaned up before Hizashi and your mini me get here after school," he muttered as he let his fingers travel through her hair.

The small laugh that she couldn't hide gave him a little more hope than he had before. She would be fine, with time everything would be alright.

"You know Shinso will be dragged along too, you could argue he's yours considering all the training you've given him." she teased as she let her fingers travel along his chest, but her smile she flashed him was bright as she stretched out alongside him, her arms curling along his chest as she rested her chin against her laced hands.

His lips kicked up in a small smirk as he tightened his hold along her side as he let his fingers dig in coaxing a laugh from her as she squirmed against him. "Fine, fine!" she gasped as she pressed her hands against his bare chest and sat up. "We probably want to look semi presentable to the masses," she agreed as she began to search her room for some new clothes to wear, her others would have to wait till much later, after she washed them.

As the doorbell rang her eyes widened and she cursed as she scrambled to get dressed as fast as she could. "They're early!" she groaned in a near panic now.

Aizawa only rolled to his feet and lazily walked out of her room once he slipped on his black pants and did his belt up as he walked toward the kitchen. "Don't break down the door, I'll be right there!" he told them as he took the house key from his pocket and casually twirled it around his finger as he made his way to the kitchen. There really was nothing to worry about, he had it covered.

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A/N: So this chapter wound up longer than I had initially planned, but I hope you like what has been hinted at here. There are quite a few trigger warnings here for the content touched on. Stay safe everyone.

This chapter was harder to write than others but I wanted to touch on a few things and really show grief and loss and how it can affect others in a variety of ways and how holding everything in isn't always the best and that their can be healthy ways to care for someone who's suffering from a loss, depression and PTSD. As well as healthy ways to work through issues.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks for reading.

~AJ Aviary

~ Hallows_Eve (A03)