Chapter 7

The end of the week came quicker than expected. So much had happened between her acting as a pro hero on the streets and as a teacher in school, that time seemed to fly by like a bullet. Even though she had met the members of 1-A only a few days ago, most of the kids had already grown on her in some weird way. Midoriya´s enthusiasm for learning and improving, Yaoyorozu´s surprisingly insightful commentary, Uraraka´s cheery optimism that reminded her of Himiko...

They would make for excellent heroes, as stupid as the whole profession was. Not all of them, naturally, but those that were willing to work on themselves and become stronger and better for it. If they were lucky they would only be active for five or so years and then become popular marketing figures who barely stepped into actual danger zones anymore. At least she hoped that would happen to her, if the government let her.. .

On the weekend she only had to teach one hour in the morning and then could go back home to do the paperwork that had accumulated over the course of the week. Being a solo pro hero without an agency proved to be a hassle sometimes, but the flexibility and control over her life was something she treasured. The HPSC didn't care what she did as long as she satisfied the minimum amount of heroic actions to keep her spot in the rankings and stay visible in the media.

Well, that and she had to accomplish special missions of course, like spying on UA or luring a couple of disgraced heroes into spots where they could be conveniently ambushed by 'criminals'. Normal stuff.

Sunday she went out in her 'civilian getup' which was not a common occurrence. Sadly, if it didn't somewhat hide her features then there was bound to be at least one fan who recognized her on the street only to then pester her with demands for autographs or photos. That could be useful for publicity, and she sometimes let herself be discovered 'accidentally', but it was also very annoying. Although some stores would give her products for free if she posted a photo of their business on her social media account, so that was a plus...

But if she really wanted some privacy then she would let her hair down, wear a pair of glasses and a medical face mask and she would become practically invisible in public spaces. The citizens only knew her in a hero costume with a specific appearance, so nobody recognized the young blonde sitting on a park bench.

Not to mention that she wasn't the only blonde in the park.

"Hi Himiko." she greeted offhandedly.

"Hello Tanya." Replied the girl in the same serious tone before bursting out laughing.

"Ha, ha, very funny."

"You are always funny, Senpai!"

"Do you want me to schedule an emergency drill again? I had planned to take you to that new ice cream shop and then go to the zoo, but I guess a bit of extra training couldn´t hurt, right?"

"Oh no please! You are so mean Senpai! Please, I'll never call you funny again!"

"Thought so. Now let's get going. I heard that they have a flavour with three different types of chocolate all at once."

"That sounds awesome! But I want raspberry sorbet though."

"It's just because the colour reminds you of blood."

"No it doesn't! I just like the taste!"

"Sure, sure..."

~[#҈#]~

"Did you enjoy our day together, Himiko?" Tanya asked while looking at the setting sun over the ocean. Dagobah beach had been mysteriously cleared about a month ago of all the trash that had once ruined the place, so she thought it would be a wonderful location to end their 'team-building-day' before it got popular once again.

"Mmh!" hummed her partner affirmatively. "It was awesome! The baby seals were so cute! Thanks Senpai."

Himiko´s smile turned serious and she hugged Tanya around the side, bringing her mouth close to her ear.

"You are the best, I really appreciate it. I don't know what I would do without you Tanya."

"You´re welcome."

Tanya allowed a rare true smile to flash across her features. Being valued so highly by your subordinate was a nice feeling. The sun appeared to nearly touch the shimmering surface of the endless ocean, filling the sky with countless shades of scarlet and orange. Together with Himiko´s warm body at her side and the rhythmic breaking of the waves at the shore, it created an extraordinarily peaceful moment.

She slightly turned her head to look at her fellow blonde only to find her licking her lips in that specific way that indicated that she was thirsty. It was one of Himiko´s many mannerisms that she had picked up during their countless hours of joint training.

"Did you take your dose today already?" she asked, concerned.

"Well, I was so excited for what you had planned that I kinda... forgot?"

The vampiric girl could be so neglectful at times! Any other day Tanya would have admonished her for forgetting something so simple, but today was different. Tanya honestly didn't want to make a scene and ruin the serene atmosphere.

"Then do it now. You need to be well-rested and fed before tomorrow."

"W-what?" the normally confident girl uncharacteristically stuttered.

"Come on. You can drink from me. It's ok."

Tanya held out her arm and pushed up the sleeve of her shirt to expose the pale flesh underneath.

"B-but..."

"I don't have any diseases if you are afraid of that. And I just showered this morning so I am clean."

Himiko looked at her with big, vulnerable eyes and whispered: "Are you really ok with this?"

"Yes. We have been partners for a while now. We killed for each other and we lied for each other. What is a little blood when compared to that?"

Hesitantly, the younger girl reached out and took her arm before slowly raising it to her mouth, keeping eye contact the whole time. Unconsciously, Tanya´s heart rate quickened when she felt the warm breath wash over her delicate skin. Then two small pricks of pain radiated from her outstretched limb as Himiko´s small fangs sunk into her flesh and she began to suck at her wrist almost tenderly.

The poor girl must have gotten quite cold from the sea breeze, because she clung harder to her and began to shiver. Not wanting to let her closest confidant get sick she huddled closer to her and erected a silver, heat insulating barrier around them to keep her warm. Rubbing soothing circles on her back Tanya let her co-worker feed off her blood for a while longer before she finally pulled away, seemingly satisfied.

"I hope it didn't taste too bad. We ate a little too much ice cream today."

"No! It was excellent." mumbled Himiko who appeared to be intoxicated to some extent, judging from the faraway look in her lidded eyes and the manic grin on her red-painted lips. She looked so out of it that Tanya took pity on her and carefully cleaned her blood-stained mouth with a napkin. It wouldn't do for a random civilian to spot her with blood on her face. That would devolve into a PR-nightmare!

"Let's go home. You can sleep on my couch if you don't want to go back to the hideout. I´ll text your location to Administrator M so you won't be in trouble."

"M´kay." she muttered and fell headfirst into Tanya´s chest, having already fallen asleep.

With a bemused sigh Argent created a barrier beneath them both and lifted them straight into the air until she reached a full kilometre in altitude and then began to push it through the sky at breakneck speeds.

~[#҈#]~

It was Monday morning and Tanya was once again inconvenienced due to an ill-timed villain attack. This time it had been late at night right near the end of her patrol, and resulted in a torn sleeve on her uniform. Much to Tanya's shame, she had suffered a momentary bout of laxity upon flying in through the window of her apartment, and simply tossed the ruined garment into her closet while she took a shower.

Looking after Himiko, who had used her temporary absence to crawl into her bed, had been her priority at the time. How do you throw someone out of your resting place without being rude? In the end she had simply taken the couch, only to find out later in the morning that the annoyingly snugly girl had somehow ended up there too. It spoke of Himiko´s impeccable skill as an infiltrator that she had managed to sneak under the sheets and cuddle up to her senpai without waking her, despite Tanya´s finely honed senses.

Anyone would understand how under such distracting circumstances the condition of her uniform had been forgotten. By the time she remembered and looked down to notice the damage, she was already halfway to UA and didn't have the time to turn back and switch out the jacket for a spare.

And now here she was, currently rushing towards Kayama Nemuri's classroom in hopes of procuring some materials to make a quick repair before anyone else caught her in such an unprofessional state. The R-Rated hero taught Modern Art History, better known as the 'Costume Design' class, so it stood to reason that she probably had at least a needle and thread somewhere in there. Luckily, Tanya arrived early as usual and so the other heroine would most likely not be in just yet.

"Oh my! Is the elusive Argent gracing my classroom with her presence?" a sultry voice said from down the hallway as Tanya had just opened the door to the room. "Whatever could you want with me?"

Tanya glanced up to send a silent curse to Being X before she turned to the older woman and pasted on a smile.

"Ah, hello, Ms. Kayama. I am sorry to intrude on you this fine morning, but I had an issue with my uniform and-"

There was a gasp as the other woman quickened her step, a wide smile pulling at her lips.

"Don't tell me... You're here to change your hero costume, aren't you? I just knew a cutie like you wouldn't want to stick with such a drab outfit. Those so-called designers at the HPSC probably thought it was the height of gap moe to dress a cute little girl like she was in the military, but it just doesn't work."

"Ah, I'm afraid you're mistake- hey!" Before Tanya could explain herself, Nemuri had already dragged her into the classroom and begun riffling through a wardrobe near the back.

"Now, we obviously don't have time to go into detailed plans, but I know I have a few accessories to improve your image right away, things that will really up your cuteness. Like these," Nemuri said as she whirled around and held out a headband adorn with cat ears, which made Tanya recoil.

Seemingly not caring, the woman aligned the headband with one open eye with Tanya's head, then frowned. "Hm, cute but not quite your style. Oh! Your fans call you the Eleventh Goddess enough, so why not lean into it?"

Once again rummaging through the wardrobe, Nemuri rushed over and plopped something atop Tanya's head. Tanya was confused until Midnight held up a mirror. Seeing the halo now bobbing over her blonde hair, held aloft by a thin but rigid wire, Nearly made Tanya send the horrible thing flying with a scream, but she managed to control herself enough to gingerly take it off and hold it far away from her person.

"I don't think so." she said. "And really, while I appreciate the effort, I came here to-"

"Go the magical girl route, of course ." Nemuri finished wrongly as she hammered a fist into her palm. "It's so obvious now. The majokko hero, Argent. I can picture it now. A short, puffed out skirt, a skin tight leotard, frills everywhere , and a tiara. You'll look adorable and sexy!"

Her expression turned into something that Tanya thought would be more appropriate on an old, lecherous man than a heroine as she mumbled: "After all, nothing is hotter than the corruption of the pure and innocent. I can see the fan art already..."

Tanya formed a blade-shaped barrier behind her back and moved to create some distance between her and the deranged pervert before clearing her throat.

"Ms. Kayama, while I appreciate your... enthusiasm in trying to help me update my image, that's not what I came here for."

Nemuri blinked free from her lewd stupor to look down at the smaller woman.

"You didn't?"

"No, I didn't. I simply came in search of supplies to fix the sleeve of my jacket before school started." Tanya explained, holding up her arm for emphasis.

The R-rated Heroine sagged a little.

"Really? That's all? You want me to repair your jacket?"

"I can perform the repairs myself. I just need a needle and some thread."

Midnight shook her head and held out a hand.

"Nonsense, I will gladly do it. It's the least I can do after wasting so much of your time as it is."

"It's really not necessary. I know how."

"But classes start in only a few minutes. Do you really think you can do it in time?"

Tanya opened her mouth, but looked at the clock on the wall and closed it, lips forming a thin line while Nemuri's stretched out into a broad smile.

"Thought so," said the older woman. "I'm a master with a needle and thread, though, and can have it done in no time at all. Please, I insist."

Tanya sighed, but pulled the jacket off and dropped it into Nemuri's waiting claws, leaving her in only her thin undershirt which made her feel surprisingly vulnerable. She certainly did not appreciate the other woman taking an unnecessary moment to eye her chest, and so quickly crossed her arms over it. There was hardly anything there to even look at anyway! True to her word, though, the immodestly dressed woman really did finish repairing in only a couple minutes, doing such a good job that Tanya could hardly even tell there had been a rip in the sleeve at all.

Smiling, Tanya put the jacket back on and said: "Thank you. I appreciate your help."

Midnight waved her off.

"It's fine." she began, before her expression suddenly took on a scheming air. "Though, if you really want to thank me, there is one thing you could do..."

Blade reformed, Tanya hesitantly asked: "And that would be...?"

She was left blinking as the other woman ran back to the closet, only to quickly return, hands outstretched.

"You have to wear this all day! You'll look adorable!"

Tanya was about to refuse, but one look into that eager expression, and a sudden reminder of a certain blonde pain who also had a penchant for calling Tanya things such as cute and adorable, and the girl caved.

It was hardly that bad, and it would ingratiate her with a fellow staff member and heroine. Networking often required the sacrifice of some dignity, after all.

Later, her students would find themselves staring at their teacher like she had grown another head instead of simply wearing a bright blue ribbon in her hair.