Katsuki's Secret

by SuntoryAngel

Features morphed, becoming something that was neither beast or human, the heat causing blonde hair to rise in shapes that looked oddly similar to horns as his skin darkened then peeled to reveal reddened under layers. Black Trident's ice hued eyes widened both in fear and awe as the demon that had taken the place of his opponent grinned toothily. "Die!"

13. Chapter 13

My Hero Academia: Katsuki's Secret

Rated M for cursing, trauma, and adult themes.

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Chapter 13

Pursed wrinkly lips slowly withdrew from the duo eyed girl's throat whose face was paler than the white walls that surrounded them. "Alrighty, dear, that's all for now. You should be able to speak a bit better without the use of painkillers but don't overdo it. If you experience any pain, simply pop in one of these drops and give your voice a rest. Vocal exercises wouldn't be a bad idea either." Recovery Girl rested back against the desk chair's back with a sigh, wiping a bit of sweat off her brow as Hawks blinked in surprise while accepting the bag of medicated drop from the school's nurse. "I must say, young lady, your stamina is astounding. My quirk relies heavily upon the patient so the fact that you are still conscious is a feat I don't normally come across."

Aurora's cheeks dusted with pink but remained silent when noticing how the pro hero was watching her.

"Firecracker boy said something about her eyesight. Anything we can do about it at this point?" He asked, a single feather separating from his pair of wings to drift lazily over to the girl where it earned a blink of surprise as it tickled her cheek. Amber eyes narrowed slightly when her head shifted slightly to the side and spotted that the roots nearest her scalp were a different hue than the rest. "And what's with her hair?"

Recovery Girl hummed softly for a moment. "Unfortunately, I can't say for sure if her sight will return to normal being as that man's quirk was in use upon her for so long. It could be that he permanently altered the receptors of her eyes themselves that may not be repairable except by the hands of a specialist." A chuckle rose up her throat when noting the concern within Hawks' face. "And don't you worry about her hair. The dye will eventually work its way out on its own unless she pays a visit to a salon where they can speed up the process."

"You're telling me that's hair dye?"

"Honestly, its not that surprising." Their gazes that had met returned to the girl who watched the feather with fascination as it moved through the air within her direct line of sight. "Kidnappers, psychopaths, and sociopaths alike will often change the appearance of their chosen victims. I would not doubt it if he'd been dying her hair since her birth." She sensed his unasked question of "why?". "It could be that he wished to mold her to liking, that he was concerned someone might recognize her or that any strands that were shed would leave a trail to where he had them hidden, take your pick but it is clear that her hair has suffered heavy damage because of the frequent dying."

One of his hands rose to pinch the bridge of his nose. "I have no idea what I'm doing," he groaned lowly, "it's not like there's a 'How to be a Parent' manual somewhere."

"I don't want to cause any trouble. Please don't stress yourself because of me, I can always find somewhere else to stay."

For a moment he blinked as his hand fell, finding her duo gaze locked upon himself instead of the feather, finding them dull and borderline haunting, a sigh slipping between his lips while moving to stand beside her. A hand rose slowly so as not to startle her then it settled atop of her head after a light pat with the corner of his mouth tilted upwards. "Family sticks together, Aurora, so you ain't getting' rid of me that easy." The feather that had fallen still in midair moved forward so it was level with her gaze. "I'm even gonna give you one of my little guys there. If you need anything, all you gotta do it tap it a few times and I'll come as quickly as I can. 'Kay?"

"As honorable as that may sound, I suggest you get the girl a cellphone like everyone else." The nurse scoffed with amusement when the pro hero sheepishly agreed that it would probably work better in the long run.

A spark appeared within the girl's eyes as she met Hawks' gaze. "I can keep it though? The feather?"

"Can't have it just floating around though. Let's do this so that I don't have to worry about it causing you any unwanted attention." From one of his pockets appeared a simple black cord that was similar to the one he himself wore. The feather was attached to the small little pendant then secured around her neck when she'd offered it with a curious tilt of her head. "There. Just make sure you tuck it into your clothing before going out in public cause if the media catches sight of you wearing it they'll be on you like mosquitos." It gave her chin a light tickle then did as he said on its own, slipping beneath the hem of her borrowed tshirt. "Which reminds me."

From a leather wallet that appeared from his vest pocket flashed a metallic card that shone brightly in the still faint sunlight coming in through the window as he placed it within her hand.

"Take that with you today."

Blinking, she held it up to eye level and examined it from every possible angle noting how it had several numbers along with his full name upon it. "What am I supposed to do with this?"

"You buy stuff with it." All eyes snapped to the now open doorway to find Bakugo leaning against its frame with a bored expression. None questioned how long he'd been standing there with his sleeveless hoodie the color of charcoal with black stained pants and boots, wild blonde hair looking to be standing a bit more upright than normal probably because he'd finger combed it for once. Slanted ruby eyes nearly flashed with mischief if he hadn't caught sight of her genuinely lost expression and donned a look of acceptance instead. "You can't go around wearing my shit or Uraraka's all day so he's giving you money to go buy your own."

Three pairs of eyebrows rose in unison as she stiffened, a shiver visibly passing over her being. The shadow of her hair fell to obscure her face but not before they saw her expression become one of sadness. "I…I can't offer you anything since I have nothing," she slowly stood, body now fully trembling as she faced the pro hero fully, "but…"

Bakugo was the second to realize was being said, Hawks being the first, and both felt their bloods boil.

The pro hero's face, which was normally wearing a smile or amused expression, filled with fury as his hand stopped her own from lifting the hem of the borrowed shirt. "Be honest, Aurora, did that man demand things from you? Is that why you feel that you have to offer something in return when given anything?" Recovery Girl's gasp barely audible from behind her hand that had risen to press against her mouth in shock when the girl nodded her head. Reflex took over his body as the young woman now in his care attempted to continue in lifting the cloth covering her being and with a tug drew her against his frame, his hold fierce and tight as she began to fight him. Hawks wasn't one for physical affections but it had been clear to him when discovering her surrounded by the other students of Class 1A that she'd kept a tight hold on Bakugo's hand as if she needed assurance that someone was there in case she needed. "You don't have to tell me anything but you have to understand that not everyone is like him. What that man demanded of you was sick and wrong." He whispered lowly into her ear as her struggles ceased, "No one has that right."

What none within the room were aware of was the rising heat within the blonde's being as the images of possible scenes swam through his head. It was sickening to think of but gasoline had already been thrown upon the fire that was his hatred for the villain. He forced the rising flames back down when the pair separated, noting the distress upon her features when Hawks farther enforced her hold around the metallic card, and crossed the space until he was standing at her right with a smirk lifting his lips. "Not gonna lie, feathers, giving her your card is like begging her to put you in bankruptcy." The palm of his hand met her crown, blinking when spotting the different coloring. A ding sounded from the phone in his pocket that earned a narrowing of his ruby eyes as he took hold of her wrist. "That's our cue."

"I- What- Katsuki, hold on!" Duo colored eyes that had widened in panic slipped over her shoulder, finding amused amber that encouraged her to go, then set her sights upon the nurse while attempting to prevent the blonde from leading her from the room. "Thank you for your help, ma'am, I'll try to repay you somehow-"

"Think nothing of it, dear, you just focus upon getting well and that's good enough for me." Recovery Girl smiled, waving as the girl was tugged out of sight courtesy of a hand removing the one that was clinging to the doorframe.

"Hold on, firecracker."

Bakugo's head appeared once more when Hawks shouted for them to come back. "What the hell do you want?! We got places to go, feathers!" He easily caught the medicated drops that were tossed in their direction and the pair vanished from sight after he stuffed them within a pocket.

"Wait, hold on! You're going to pull my arm out of its socket!" She protested adamantly as they walked, face twisting with pain. "That wrist still hurts!"

In the blink of an eye his hold shifted to her other wrist, but his pace didn't slow down as they approached the dorm's entrance. He paid no mind to how she attempted to wiggle out of his hold and effectively silenced her when placing her within the waiting car were several pairs of hands readily accepted her. The smirk grew into a sneer as he slid in beside her, readily accepting her weight that pressed against his being when she jumped at him slamming the door closed behind them. "Feather's gave her his personal credit card and gave her free reign!"

Mina squealed shrilly, throwing an arm over Aurora's shoulders that earned her a wide eyed stare. "We're about to have some real fun today, girl, so just let let loose and enjoy!"

"Why the hell is it so crowded in here?! Who the fuck invited all you sides?!" Bakugo's gaze instantly shifted to the giggling girl in the passenger seat ahead of him who ducked behind the headrest when Kirishima peeked at her from around the pink girl and Tokoyami nodded his head in greeting. "Damnit, Round Face, I can't tell you shit without the whole place finding out somethin'!"

"Aw, c'mon, it was so exciting getting to finally meet her last night that I couldn't wait to spend more time with her and Mina felt the same way!" Uraraka grinned.

The head of white and red belonging to the driver pivoted. "Chill."

"You're here too, IcyHot?! The palm of Bakugo's hand met his face as the car moved forward. "Fucking perfect. All we need now is Deku-"

"Oh, and Deku's meeting us there with someone else at lunch."

"Seriously?!" Ruby rolled up to the ceiling, upper lip twitching as Aurora's hand somehow found his own that was sandwiched between their beings. The retort begging to be voiced within the back of his mind silencing when her fingers that had been trembling all last night were steady while nestling within the palm of his hand. "Tch. Do what you want, fucking sides," he mumbled then turned his full attention to the girl who was snagged into conversation, their hands separating after a moment when Mina asked to see her nails.

They'd literally been up all night yet here she was reacting and conversing as if the loss of sleep was nothing to her. There had been a few times where she would retreat from someone who got too close for her liking, which resulted in their beings meeting as they currently were, but eventually the girl relaxed after a while. All the introductions had been made though which had initially surprised him with how well she adapted to the rush of names. Besides a few choice characters, namely a short purple haired one and the other who possessed a navel beam, Aurora had warmed up to nearly everyone who'd approached her.

An animal with shifting eyes and curly tali popped up in his head almost making him chuckle. In a way, he guessed that she kinda seemed like a chameleon. Odd in comparison but accurate when thinking about the various different people within the class. She'd not only found common ground with Ida and Kaminari but even those who tended to keep to themselves like Shoji and quiet Koda had quickly found themselves inching closer as if drawn by an invisible force. No matter the person it seemed that there was something about her that caused others to gravitate to her. Guess that would explain how they started once he thought about it.

"I vote we go to the salon first!"

His brow twitched, eyes locking on Mina. "Fuck that. Clothes obviously are first priority, pinky, so don't go gettin' any crazy ideas."

Uraraka hummed softly then perked. "Seems like my clothes are a bit big on her but it gives me a good idea of where to start. Leave that to me! I'll make sure to pick out lots of cute stuff for you!"

"That can wait until we do the salon," Mina deterred the brunette with a shake of her head, "there's this great one that has a hairdresser who can work literal magic on anyone's hair and I can't wait to see what they do with Aurora's!"

"Perhaps a visit to the ophthalmologist should be considered." Tokoyami drew all eyes to him, finding him regarding their newest class member. "Sight is an important sense to posses."

Bakugo had to give it to the shadow beast user; seemed that at least someone else had noticed how she would react when something appeared in her line of sight as if it had come from nowhere. "You heard Recovery Girl." His attention returned to Aurora. "Wanna wait or what?"

"I think she'd look super cute with glasses!"

"I didn't fucking ask you, Round Face, so shut up for one damn second!"

Silence fell as they awaited her answer, Aurora looking from one to the other before her gaze found that which was watching her via the rear-view mirror. Toffee and cobalt didn't waver from her own but Todoroki's head did bob ever so slightly. "It's nice being able to see everything rather than being confined to tunnel vision."

"I think we should do that first." She started slowly, her voice growing more confident with each word. "That way I can see and pick things better without walking around looking like a dimwit."

The blonde tsked his tongue, nudging her with his elbow. "Not so hard making your own choices, eh?"

She sheepishly nodded. "I still feel bad for relying on Hawks- I mean, Keigo –'s money."

"He'll get used to it until you get settled." He chuckled lowly while shifting so his back was more against the door than the seat with one leg bent resting beside her. "Trust me, he has plenty to spare too."

. . . .

A groan rose up her throat as the hands leading her gave brief comforting squeezes, keeping the lids of her eyes clenched shut as tightly as she could. "I guess that wasn't so bad."

"Take it easy, there step is coming up." Kirishima, whose arm was wrapped around Aurora's own to help steady her with Tokoyami on the other, helped her over the threshold that was the shop's entrance. "Jeesh, I didn't think they'd have to go and dilate your eyes like that. You didn't even flinch when he was putting those drops in your eyes though! Talk about nerves of steel!"

The shadow beast user's head bowed deeply. "Apologies. I was not aware that on a first visit they did such a thing to have accurate examination results."

Aurora's lips rose in a half smile. "Trust me, that was nothing."

Mina sympathetically adjusted the sunglasses that had been provided after slipping them onto the squinting girl's face. "At least they gave her those. It should wear off in a little while." She looked around for a moment. "Where the heck is Bakugo? We sent him for coffee almost forty minutes ago and Uraraka swore she would be back before we were done!"

They moved to a nearby bench and quickly spotted their wayward duo who were making their way through the crowd; Uraraka carrying a bag that had a popular cellphone provider's logo upon it while Bakugo held a drink carrier containing several cups. He wordlessly distributed them to their excited companions then moved to stand before the blinded girl with the last two drinks. "Hot or cold, blinky?"

A slender brow twitched. "Gotta counteract that nuclear soup you shoved down my throat last night so whichever is sweeter is fine."

"Aww, was it too much for you, spicy baby?" The blonde smirked. "Maybe you get nothin' for that bratty attitude you got."

"That's rich coming from the short fuse human-grenade that blows up at the drop of a hat. You're the true King of Brats here."

Kirishima, who had been in the process of taking a sip from his medium roast mocha, pinched the lid between his teeth in attempts to hide a smile as Mina and Tokoyami's eyes widened. "Oh, yeah, forgot to mention that the sass game between these two is gold."

Blonde brows twitched but the smirk raising his lips remained. "It wasn't near its full strength so be careful what ya wish for."

Aurora's lips lifted into a smirk. "That's almost as cute as when you didn't tell me that the cheese chips you brought that one time were laced with pickle juice when you thought it was jalapeño then tried to pay it off as something you did on purpose." Her tongue peeked out playfully, reaching out with the hand towards the holder in his hand. "I'll take the one on the right, it smells like there's a bit of caramel in that one."

He sneered as she shifted to the edge of the bench, moving the carrier just out of her reach but still close enough for her searching fingers to brush it. "Think I'll keep them both."

"Hold on, Katsuki, you have something on your face." She rose to stand, taking the step that would bring her close enough that the heat of the inquired cup was felt against her reaching fingers. The serious expression she wore earned curious glances from those who were sipping from their own drinks, wondering what it was that she saw, finding Bakugo looking bemused and down at the girl whose other hand had reached up as if to brush off whatever she saw. "Hold still for a second while I use it to clean your stupid face of that shit eating sneer you got going on!" The sincere tone gave way to mischievous glee as she attempted to take hold of his chin while the other made to swipe the cup now within reach.

"Holy shit." Mina's jaw dropped, the stray that had been between her lips falling back downwards inside the cup as she gawked then grinned while pulling out her glittering phone to point its camera at the pair when he dodged then slipped past Aurora to take her vacated seat. "You guys seeing this too?"

Todoroki blew on his chai latte for a moment. "Bakugo actually liking someone was a bizarre notion but now we're witnessing it in the flesh." He gasped, eyes widening. "I think I hear wedding bells."

Crimson erupted from beneath the blonde's cheeks, momentarily forgetting the predicament at hand as faintly from over the murmurs of the surrounding shoppers rose the unmistakable toll of church bells. Trembling lips parted to voice a retort that had risen up his throat but found it evaporating when finding the tip of his nose lightly brushing against another. The carrier had been taken from his hand, now risen in victory above their heads, his vision filled with the smile raising her lips as well as the glittering within her duo colored eyes hidden behind the sunglass's tinted lenses. Her other hand was beside his head, supporting her weight so that she wouldn't fall against him, but it was the fact that one of her bent knees was brushing his right hip while the other was between his parted legs that made him suddenly find himself at a loss for words. They were so close that her soft breaths tickled his burning cheeks and the faint smell of warm vanilla wafted his nose that held just a hint of spice that it wasn't overbearingly sweet.

"Gotcha," she whispered lowly while tilting her head ever so slightly so that the tip of her nose brushed upwards along his own's length, voice dipping an octave and causing the fine hairs across his being to rise, "that was fun. I can't wait for training."

His hands that had been rooted to the bench in shock found their ways upwards, one taking light hold of her chin while the other rested on her thigh as the smirk returned to his face. "Hold onto that spunk, spicy baby, you're gonna need it by the time I'm through with you."

"Make it a promise and I'll give back your wallet."

For a moment the blonde blinked, caught unaware of what she'd said until a familiar billfold was waved beneath their noses. Beyond the pair stood flabbergasted teens; some with hanging jaws while others had eyes so wide that the possibility of them popping out of their sockets was completely possible. Kirishima and Uraraka in particular were so shocked by the display that they nearly lost the grips they had on their own cups, which would have been a true shame since they'd only had a few sips.

Bakugo's eyes widened. "When the hell did you-"

Aurora retreated from him with a chuckle, lightly tossing the wallet into his lap as he felt all of his pockets to indeed find it missing, and sipped the cup that was her prize. "Mmm, victory sure does taste good." A tongue appeared between her pursed lips at him before she turned to face the others and inquire about their drinks.

The heat of embarrassment gave way to mixed emotions as he stuffed the folded leather back within its designated pocket, unable to hide his sideways smirk while watching them. He'd definitely be getting her back for that stunt but he was one who took pride in planning out just how it would play out. A plastic straw was snagged between his lips as the carrier was tossed into the nearby waste basket, teeth nibbling on the thin utensil as he snatched the bag that the brunette had been carrying.

"Hey!" She puffed her cheeks, lips falling into a pout. "I wanted to give it to her!"

"Why the hell did you get her this model?" He snapped as the device once removed from its boxy packaging booted up with a chime.

Uraraka blinked as he worked over the phone while mumbling to himself until he passed it off to Aurora, its rightful owner, with a grumble. "It's what they recommended and I have the previous one so I thought she'd like it too." A prideful smirk raised her lips. "It was on sale with an added bonus case and screen protector when a new line was purchased." Her hand rose, metallic card that had been used to purchase the cellular device disappearing within Aurora's pocket after it was placed within her hand.

Bakugo huffed. "Looks like you're on the same line as Hawks, judging from how his number is already loaded in for you."

"Can you put yours in too?"

Both iced and hot drinks threatened to come from either between lips or nostrils.

"Did I say something wrong?" Her head tilted a bit to the right in the direction of the where she could faintly feel the shadow beast user. Damn those dilation droplets that had been put in her eyes but the bright haze obscuring her vision was beginning to lessen enough for her to make out blurry shapes. "I'd like your numbers too, if that's okay."

If it were possible, the blush that had been questioned last night nearly reappeared across Tokoymai's face as he quickly swallowed the black roast that had been sucked up in shock so that it wouldn't come spilling out as the liquid of his fellow classmates' nearly had. "It wasn't the nature of what you said, just the manner of which it was portrayed that I think caught us off guard." He cleared his throat, bending slightly downward so that his phone that had been pulled out could be viewed by her. "It's not odd for colleagues or friends to exchange numbers when they want to stay in touch. I do not mind if you add my own."

"Mine too!" Mina swiped the small device with a grin so wide that the corners of her mouth reached her ears, ignoring the snap from Bakugo who made to retrieve it and blinked. "Look at you! You already put all of our numbers in here!"

"Shut up, pinky, it was easier just to have my contacts dropped to hers than passing it around and having everyone put their numbers in it!" Aurora spun back around to face Bakugo, causing him to stiffen. "Don't even think about it!"

She innocently accepted the device while removing the sunglasses to reveal pupils that had almost returned to their normal size. "I don't know what you're talking about, Katsuki, what am I not doing or thinking?" A teasing smile raised her lips. "Oh, you're worried about all the names you have people labeled as being discovered."

All eyes snapped to the blonde as he scoffed after taking a longer swing than what was average. "Like I give a fuck what they think."

Her lips parted but was prevented from saying anything more as from within the store appeared a staff member who ushered them all inside with a wave of her hand, the signal that they were finished with the lenses, and the group gradually migrated into the clinic behind the duo eyed girl who inhaled deeply through her nose. The blonde was always watching though as the rest of the appointment was carried out, the pair of glasses altered to better fit her face. Though she'd cracked a smile several times already he was certain they were all artificial save for the teasing smirk she'd flashed during their little stand off earlier.

. . . .

"Honestly it took Eri weeks before she showed a smile and that was at the festival." Deku glanced at the conversing group who were several feet away looking amongst the seemingly endless displays of clothing, noting his comrade's words to be true when spotting the lackluster smile. "Trauma isn't something that can just be swept under a rug, Kaachan-"

"I fucking know that, nerd!"

The forest haired teen blinked then bit back a grin. "Oh, so you're just asking for ideas of how to get her to really smile, is that it?"

Bakugo threw a death glare, earning a flinch. "Like I give a fuck on if she smiles or not. Her choice."

"I'm sure she will for real when she's ready." Emerald eyes blinked as a call came from farther inside the store and did his upmost to not show it but the grin still managed to lift his lips when through the dressing room entrance strutted Uraraka showcasing a new outfit she'd picked for herself as if the aisle was her runway at a fashion show then felt it somehow grow when the blonde caught sight of the person she was pulling along.

Todoroki and Bakugo were currently the sole possessors of a Hero's License, meaning that it not only came with the responsibility of being on call a lot of the time in case a situation rose that required their assistance, but that also meant that merchandise of their hero identities were beginning to appear within franchises. Hoodies, jackets, shorts, socks, even lingerie sets were on display within this particular store. They each had their own section, one that was decorated in red and white while the other in various blacks with an occasional hint of green or orange. Attached to the store was the salon that Mina had mentioned so to say that none of the group were prepared for the sight of the young woman being led by Uraraka was the understatement of the century.

Long hair now the color of deep red cinnamon with highlights that shone of rose gold intertwined with glittering gold and black lowlights was gathered into a high sitting ponytail, the darker tips curled just enough to showcase the lustrous shine. Duo colored eyes shone with hesitation from behind the pair of dual chromatic frames shifting from warm red that reminded one of glowing embers to cool navy that had once been the color of her hair; bringing harmony between her sapphire and chocolate eyes. The clothing that had been too large were replaced by better fitting outerwear but it was clear that there was added room to allow for her weight to fluctuate. Dark gray cropped tank that hugged her chest to accentuate the mounds beneath now cradled within a barely visible black sports bra thanks to the deep V neckline of the top, an all too familiar "X" shape across them that was green, black sheer material covering her midsection but still allowing her much thinner core to show, and what was originally thought to be a skirt was actually a tied hoodie's sleeves around her waist decorated in explosions of reds and oranges, the mid-rise combat style boots ending near her shins to allow ample view of curvy but lean built legs several inches below the hem of black biker shorts.

"Holy fucking shit…"

Deku spared a glance over to his right where the croak had come from and slyly used a finger to close the gaping jaw of his friend whose normally narrowed eyes were now as wide as his jaw was hanging. What he wasn't prepared for was the fury that appeared across the blonde's face as the girls came to a stop in front of them. "Kaachan-"

"What in the actual fuck did you two do to her?!"

Mina instantly appeared between the startled girls, her freshly manicured nail appearing inches from his nose. "Shut up already, you'll cause a scene!" She wrapped an arm around Aurora's shoulders when receiving a withering look from the girl. "Aw, don't look like that, you're natural color is so pretty!"

Bakugo's jaw threatened to drop again as he walked around the trio, ruby eyes darkening several shades when finding no trace of the navy hue that had been there minutes ago. "Spill it! What the fuck kind of magic did you use on her, pinky?!"

"So that hair dresser that I was talking about earlier, she's got this quirk that allows someone's hair to return to its normal color! I liked the navy but this helps bring a bit more color to her skin so that it's not so ghostly. What you're looking at is one-hundred-percent Aurora Yamashita's natural hair color!"

Silence fell as those who had been branched out gathered to better survey the girl who looked to each with worry within her gaze. None spoke for several moments, possibly minutes, causing her to feel more self conscious and unsure if this had been a good idea after all. "Does it really look that bad?" Her fingers slipped from Uraraka's hand to comb through the tresses that had come from over her shoulder. "It's never felt like this before and blue is my favorite color but he kind of ruined both for me. I thought it would be a good idea to try something new and different until I can better adjust…"

Izuku took a step towards her, offering a smile. "I think they're all just in shock is all."

She cast a hesitant look around, noting how his words were true and that they weren't looking upon her in distaste but in surprise or approval. The hair she'd been combing fell back over her shoulder with a toss of her head. "Sorry, guess it'll take me a little while to be able to read people."

"It'll come with practice and experience," Tokoyami nodded, "but body language is just as important as verbal communication."

Bakugo grunted lowly, still unable to look anywhere else besides at the girl before him, internally fighting off the rush of foreign emotions that made him want to throw a punch at the nearby wall. The conversations that rose between her and those nearby was completely lost on him as tunnel vision caused everything within his peripheral vision to blur. No matter how hard he tried though the blonde found himself frozen as she twirled to better showcase the outfit when a muffled question had been asked. Sweat was beginning to bead across his being as it hit him once again that she was wearing his merchandise. Everything on her body was licensed and modeled after his hero identity.

The blurs cleared enough for him to see the concerned but also amused expression of a certain red head. "You good, Bakubro?" Kirishima asked, raising a brow when no response came.

Muscles and tendons refused to obey his brain's command for them to move. Blood began to pound loudly within his ears as his gaze met hers from the corner of her eye. He wasn't running a marathon or training so why the hell was his heart beating so fast?!

A hand rose, waving inches from the blonde's face. "Seriously, you okay? Blink twice if you're in having a heart attack."

Shit, keep it together!

"Bakugo? Earth to Bakugo! You look like you're having a stroke or something!"

Fucking move, idiot! Do something!

Adrenaline rocketed through his system as she turned to face him with an expression of concern, giving his system the jump start it needed. "Shut the fuck up, shitty hair." He was about to turn away when slender fingers brushed against his own, halting his movements. The retort was half assed, even to his own ears, but it was all that came out as the rest of his body slowly came to life as if it'd been frozen in ice. "Goin' outside, too damn crowded up in here."

Half of him expected to find her gaze filled with worry or panic since he'd voiced that he was exiting the store but instead he found it curious and was that a blush seeping into her cheeks? "Maybe we should move on anyway. People are staring-"

"Duh." Heat threatened to rise in his face as he lowered his head slightly so that their eyes were level, allowing his voice to dip lower. She didn't retreat though when he took a step into her personal space and blinked as his hand took hold of her chin. "You're wearing my merch, spicy baby, I don't need to tell you how fucking hot you're making them look." Something new filled him as her cheeks became dark red, a smirk raising his lips as she swallowed loudly. It made him want to say more, to tease her, to convey just how much he hated the fact of how they were surrounded by people.

"Now I know you're lying and just trying to get a rile out of me." She pouted, bottom lip sticking out slightly. Her breath caught when his hold on her chin grew more firm as he took another step so that their beings were so close that they could feel the other's warmth coming off of their beings.

His neck bent farther downwards until their faces were inches apart, ruby that had darkened to garnet never wavering from chocolate and sapphire that had widened. "Even those damn models in those posters can't hold a fucking candle to what I'm seeing." The blonde's thumb toyed with her bottom lip as it parted from the upper, as if she were going to speak, effectively silencing her as his other hand rose to tug at the cropped tank's hem. "Don't like the fucking fact that other people can see you in this."

One of her hands lashed out, taking firm hold of his shirt collar as if she were about to shove him but instead used it to pull him close enough so that their chests that were rising and falling with each breath brushed. "Too much for you to take?" There it was again, that dip in her voice with a hint of sultry allure that made his blood race and heat, nearly driving him crazy when her lips twitched in the corners as if she were wanting to smirk around the thumb that still held her lower one captive, eyes becoming lidded.

"Hand check."

The bubble that the pair had been within shattered like glass as a whistle pierced the air when Bakugo reflexively took several steps away from her, both of his hands appearing high in the sky as he glared daggers at Todoroki, who had pulled the same stunt last night, and Kirishima, who'd whistled. This time heat traveled across his being in a wave when noticing Mina's cellphone pointed in their direction with her lips raised in a grin so big it rivaled that of a Cheshire Cat. "This ain't some fucking play!" He snapped, making to snatch the little device then bristling when finding the rest of their group also had pulled out their phones. "What the fucking hell are you all doing?!"

"Pics or it didn't happen."

Instinct kicked in when Bakugo noticed her duo colored eyes widening, making a mental note to deal with the pictures or videos later as the color drained from her face. Slanted ruby eyes followed her line of sight in time to spot a shadow disappear within the doorway that was on the opposite side of the store. She'd recognized someone just now but judging from that reaction it was someone she'd rather not encounter. "There's other shops besides this one." He turned his attention to the boys, earning a nod that they too had seen that mysterious figure retreating.

"We'll be right back." Izuku took a brief moment to whisper into Uraraka's ear, freckled cheeks showing a light blush as he took a moment to survey her tea length sweetheart rose patterned dress again. "You look super cute, Ochaco, you should wear dresses more often for our dates." A quick press of her lips against his warm cheek was more than enough to convey she had not only heard him but also her appreciation for his compliment, along with understanding that she'd seen the shared nod and would be patient until later when he could tell her what had their attention.

"Come on!" She grinned, looping her arm with Aurora's once more. "There's still some outfits I think you'll like!"

The shopping district's street was a lot busier than when they'd first arrived hours earlier. Gemstone ruby, forest green, coffee, and vermillion combed over each person who passed by but none could spot anyone with a similar build to the one that had been spotted. Even Tokoyami's shadow beast had no luck in locating their target. It wasn't long until they were joined by the girls, each carrying at least one bag each, and they made their way towards the next stop on their shopping excursion.

. . . .

"Why don't you boys make yourselves useful and take the bags to the car?"

"You got two legs, do it your-fucking-self!" Bakugo narrowed his gaze upon the pink girl. "And whose the one who protested against stopping at the damn car an hour ago?"

"That was then and this is now." Mina whined softly. "My feet are starting to hurt and I'll buy lunch for whoever takes them!" Her eyes turned to lock upon the pair who had been off to the side, a smile lifting her lips as the forest haired teen adjusted his hold on the bags he'd taken. "Midoriya, since you're taking Uraraka's, can you take mine too?"

He blinked for a moment then broke out into a grin. "I could use the extra training so sure!" He grunted lightly when her bag joined his girlfriend's. "Not that I'm complaining, but what all did you buy, Mina?"

"Does it really matter?" She shrugged, winking. "Thanks for taking those off my hands!"

"Never really thought of carrying a another's bags to be training." Todoroki stroked his chin in thought.

Tokoyami blinked in mild amusement at how much the red and white haired teen was thinking about this with such depth. "This is Midoriya, after all, he is capable of seeing almost anything as means of training."

Slanted ruby eyes honed upon the cinnamon haired girl who was studying the placement of the bags on the freckled teen's arms. Surely she wasn't planning what he thought she was, right? "Bunch of wimps. You aren't delicate or nothing, so carry them-" His sentence was cutoff as Izuku offered to take hers too. Why did that upset him so much just now?! "Oi!"

Instead of passing off her own bags, Aurora slipped each bag from both of his arms onto her own that already had several with a smile. "I like that idea," she nodded, "this'll definitely help me build up my arms a bit until I can handle more." The pointed look she flashed at Bakugo not missed by anyone since the air between the two instantly filled with tension as she narrowed her eyes slightly before turning towards Todoroki while resting her arms now loaded with all the bags upon a bench. "If you want you can give me the keys and stay here." A smile raised her lips when looking to Mina. "Why don't you think about where to have lunch while I'm gone? I'm up for anything." Several voiced that they would help her yet each offer had been denied and she was soon walking down the sidewalk with the bags in tow. "I'll be quick, I promise!" She called back over her shoulder, smile still in place.

All eyes found themselves shifting to rest on the blonde who had stayed behind. Izuku and Kirishima though suspected as to why, both of their shared assumption confirmed as from one of the nearby alleyways appeared a figure who merged with the bustling shoppers. The trio made to follow but was deterred by a shake of their wild haired companion when they too made to follow.

Bakugo kept the stranger within sight but remained far enough behind that in case it was needed he could pretend to act aloof or appear as those around them were busy shopping and gazing within the decorated store fronts, slanted ruby eyes narrowing farther when noting how they quickened their step as she approached the parking garage. Heat slowly began to build within his veins as he followed. Was it someone else who was after her because of her dual quirk? There was no chance that this was pure coincidence.

Either way, he wasn't going to let them just walk away without finding out how they'd found her or why they were pursuing her.

Concrete pillars threatened to break his line of sight but he was quick whenever one appeared within his path, darting around it while still keeping his ruby eyes trained ahead upon the pair. Various vehicles of different heights also seemed to be perfectly placed to prevent him from crossing the distance when he heard the telltale beep of Todoroki's car unlocking. It sounded as if it was in the next row over from where he currently was. Shuffling of bags was closely followed by the thump of a trunk door closing, along with the echoing noise that it was once again locked, but no footsteps sounded that told of her walking away.

"Well, well, look who we have here."

He crouched down lowly behind one of the cars as an unfamiliar voice came from the direction of the car. It was gravely, rough even, and there was the underlying tint of anger beneath it. Carefully without making a sound, he shifted upon the balls of his feet so peek around the heavily tinted windshield.

A man about two inches taller than the average was standing with hands stuffed within their deep green jacket's pockets, khaki cargo pants showing designer black shoes on his feet and a popular sports team's logo upon the cap that prevented his face from being fully visible. "I seem to have stumbled upon a lost little kitten whose wandered too far from her master."

Already he hated this guy.

A blonde brow twitched as a gloved hand emerged from a pocket, lashing out to take hold of her recently purchased jacket that had metallic geode patterns. Something was filling the air slowly like an oil diffuser and it took Bakugo a split second to realize it was anger coming off of her silent figure.

"Such a precious little thing," the man whispered while pulling her closer with a tug, "I heard that you are in need of another since your last had been compromised. You know he will treat you well, kitten, so whaddya say you ditch those kids and come with me?" A sneer became visible. "Playing that little house or schoolgirl role doesn't suit you when you should be strutting around on stage like the whore Black Trident wanted you to be."

Her unreadable expression that had prevented either from guessing what was going through her head shattered audibly like glass. A new expression, one of almost pure animosity, filled her features a split second before a clenched fist lashed out. The newcomer twisted his being until their backs met so that her foot met empty air, his arm snagging her own as one of his feet lashed out to knock her foundation off balance, and planted the other between her now parted legs to prevent her from regaining lost ground since now she was facing the car.

"Easy, kitten, don't want to cause any damages to that body of yours since it'll be put to better use soon enough."

Just as Bakugo made to move her head that had been hanging lowly snapped upwards, causing him to momentarily become frozen in mid motion of standing as he watched with wide eyes. What should have been a backbreaking maneuver she managed to bend herself until the top of her head nearly impacted the concrete that allowed her momentum to carry a foot upwards without touching the polished surface of the car and smirked when the bottom of her heel impacted the man's chin with a crack. He stepped out when the same gloved hand that still held onto her clothing threatened to rip it and took firm hold of their shoulder when they made to choke hold her. Almost unrecognizable duo colored eyes locked with his own as he separated them with ease but they quickly calmed when the palm of his free hand met the top of her head. "Spicy baby, you got some promise after all." He smirked, tightening his hold on the stranger when they attempted to flee, keeping his gaze with hers while drawing her close with the other.

She was trembling, probably due to the adrenaline or shock of the stranger's appearance, he honestly didn't care of which was the cause, but it wasn't long before Aurora grew still. Pupils that had been mere needle point size slowly returned to normal as her breathing leveled to match his own. The warning signs he'd recognized as a developing attack literally vanished as he answered her broken croak of his name with a squeeze. A yelp slipped from between her lips as his fingers flicked her forehead once releasing her.

"That is for going off on your own." He allowed the smirk raising his lips to become teasing as she scowled at the stranger who was still attempting to break Bakugo's hold.

Her lips parted then duo eyes widened as she took hold of his arm. "Look out!"

The hand that was still holding the stranger flicked at the wrist, effectively pinning them against the nearby pillar as what looked to be giant claws erupted from the glove's fingertips that had attempted to slash at his chest. "Try that shit again and I'll send you to jail in a full body cast," he growled while moving to face them fully, "now you better fucking tell me why the hell you were following her."

A wad of spit landed at their feet, the stranger's cap landing beside it as he scoffed and looked beyond the blonde to the girl. Mud brown hair trimmed so close to the guys scalp was almost too short to see its actual color and there was a distinguishable tattoo along the right side of his neck that was a black cobra with fangs ready to strike the pulse point in his neck. "Got yourself a mighty strong guard dog, don't ya, kitten?"

"You're talking to me, not her, you dickwad." Bakugo added more pressure against the man's shoulders with a scowl, feeling his blood rise higher in temperature. This guy thought they could just ignore him?! Big fucking mistake. Tingling passed over his skin that manifested in tiny sparks that visibly worked their way towards the man's face and earned a flinch. "Talk. Now."

"Yeah right, you shitty wannabe, like I'm just going to tell you squat." A nod of his head directed their attention to the left where more figures dressed in similar fashion began to appear. "Looks like my ride is here so I suggest you back the fuck off, Pomeranian, before we muzzle you."

The black cobra tattoo looked to be on several of the goons who'd appeared. This wasn't just any random targeting, it looked like one of the street gangs had set their sights on her. If they had recognized her even with the change of appearance, did that mean Black Trident had a deeper reputation than they realized? The muscle in Bakugo's jaw tensed when seeing her pale farther when several hissed lowly as if to mimic the tattoos they sported. If what he suspected were true, then this wouldn't be the last time someone came after her.

Aurora needed to train not just in hopes of saving her mother but also to defend herself from other potential captors. He wouldn't always be around to make sure she was safe, it was a fact that he hated to admit, but he also wasn't just going to toss her to the wolves either. The training regime that he'd originally had in mind would need to be altered greatly in the coming future.

He hated to admit it, but there were several faces he recognized from the world's "Most Wanted" list. Bakugo was a solo hero who prided himself on his power yet there were a few things to take into consideration: they were clearly after Aurora, he was only one person, and the sparks just now that he'd managed were the most he could fathom. His quirk had become otherwise unresponsive since the standoff against Black Trident. Strength was his strong suit, his built body more than enough most times, but instinct told him that it wouldn't be this time. All of these criminals in one place spelled trouble and he didn't like how they were inching closer to the girl whose hand clung to his back.

From the corner of his eye he caught sight of several familiar figures who emerged from behind those who were eyeing her like a trophy and smirked while releasing his hold. "It's you sorry bastards that should be hittin' the road. Unless you want a real problem, I suggest you turn around and walk the fuck away."

It wasn't long before the other members of their shopping party had been spotted by the questionable figures and they quickly dispersed until only UA students were left. Each wore a concerned or relieved expression when finding the pair unharmed save for the newfound wrinkles within Aurora's clothing courtesy of the hold that had threatened to stretch it out. The question of returning to the dorm was voiced, all eyes turning to rest upon the spectacle wearing teen, and earned a grateful nod.

The car ride was filled with music as the passengers showcased their findings to those who questioned, though certain blue and white striped bags were forbidden from being exposed in such a small space (being as that particular shop specialized in heavily perfumed lotions or body care). Bags were distributed once arriving once more at the dorm and then they split with promises to meet within the kitchen for lunch of whatever that could be found. Kirishima spotted spiky blonde hair disappearing up the staircase in the opposite direction of where his own room was and frowned. Bakugo had been scowling more than usual in his corner of the backseat the entire ride back.

"So how'd it go?"

Shrill shrieks came from the girls as they and Tokoyami jumped at the call of Hawks who appeared as if from nowhere, earning grins from the red and green haired teens.

Leaning against the bar with a drink in his hand, Hawks glanced from one student to the other with raised brows as they shared a hesitant look. "Tell me everything."

Upstairs, the toe of a shoe repeatedly met a door's surface; the closest form to a knock that Bakugo would resort to. He'd gotten to the floor just in time to see it nearly be slammed shut. The faint click of the lock was enough to tell him she wanted privacy yet something told him that if she was left alone now it would be worse for her than if the others had continued to be around her.

No noise came from the other side of the door.

"Oi." The tip of his shoe met its surface again, this time a bit harder. "Let me in."

Still nothing.

"Don't make me break this damn door down."

"You just want to ask me about what he said," came the muffled hoarse retort that was lackluster in emotion. "Forget it."

His foot fully met the wood with each word to emphasize their seriousness. "Open. The. Fucking. Door." He may not have been able to see through it but there was no mistaking that she was on the other side of the door with tears about to spill. A deep inhale through his nose did little to calm the racing of his heart and it stalled for a moment as the lock clicked.

The door closed behind him with a kick of his foot, the lock flipping again with a flick of his fingers, and snagged her hand that had allowed him entrance. There was no mistaking the swirling ghosts within her gaze or the tension radiating off her trembling form in cascading waves; she was in the throughs of an attack. It wasn't near as violent as the one before but it clearly still had a hold of her as he called her name softly that went unanswered.

Her added weight crashed against his being with a tug on the hand he held. She molded against Bakugo's much firmer frame on the moment of contact, the force of his pull causing them to step backwards so that his back met the door. Down they slid until they were seated upon the floor, one of his arms held captive by her own that had wrapped around his upper torso in a hold almost too tight for even him to withstand while her face found the crook of his neck as if searching for sanctuary. "You don't have to tell me shit," he growled, raising one leg so that it was bent at the knee to better cradle her being against his own, "but it's bullshit that you had to go through what you did. It's not fucking fair."

A soft squeak sounded from the girl as his other arm wrapped around her shoulders that vigorously held her as close as possible, no space between their beings existed as his other leg also bent so that her knees were on either side of his hips as he began to tighten his hold in heartbeat-like pulses.

"Listen to me good: you aren't there anymore."

A brief squeeze.

"You are not under his control."

Another.

"You said it yourself that you won't let anyone use you like he did."

And another.

"That included those moments of your past that keep stopping you from doing what you want." He pulled away, their foreheads meeting and gazes became locked; gemstone ruby with a darkening garnet ring around their pupils finding a single glittering sapphire that had shards of diamonds and warm chocolate that had caramel, both swirling with emotions and faint traces of moisture that they refused to spill. "Damnit, I'm not good with this kind of shit-"

All of the oxygen in his lungs abandoned him as she blinked and shifted upwards until her lips met the space between his eyes.

"You're doing more than enough," she whispered, leaning away slightly but not so far that her lips left his skin, "I know that I can't keep using you as an anchor so I'll do my best to get stronger as soon as possible. Can't have someone like me holding you back."

Spicy vanilla slowly filled his nose as she remained there with each passing second, heat building with each pound of the heart in his chest as if it were a small sun attempting to grow within him. His own voice become nothing more than a breathy ghost as her name left his lips but she responded to it with an even softer hum that resonated within her throat that was now bare to him.

The heavy bruising within her olive skin, with the near vivid violet and soft blue of the tissue beneath, had been hidden earlier thanks to the collar of the newly purchased jacket she'd donned. It was now discarded on the desk just within his peripheral vision and it left her in the outfit that had been showcased. Disgust filled him as his attention returned to the flesh of her neck, the vision of the contraption and person responsible causing his blood to rise.

That villain, maybe even others, had laid their hands on this person.

Everything that they've ever done to her was wrong.

This girl that made his chest warm…

Never again will someone cause her pain like that.

His heart quicken…

No one else is going to touch her.

Made things more bearable…

I won't let them.

Caused his gaze to gravitate to her…

Erase it.

The muscles within her being tensed, her hands lightly pushing against his shoulders as if she were going to pull away, and the thought sent his blood racing. There was no mistaking the haunting traces of those who had laid their hands on the girl that made her shy away when others had unconsciously brushed against her. She'd flinched when someone brushed her side, a hand lingering a second too long that caused her own to quickly retract, shifting eyes never stilling as they darted across each person who passed by as if constantly on the lookout for potential threats.

The pain they put her through…erase it!

Duo eyes that had closed flew open as foreign objects pressed against the skin of her throat that ached with the physical memory of a cold metal cuff. A hand had risen to cup the back of her head, calloused fingers lightly tugging on her hair to coax it to lean back, and gasped when finding that his own head had bent forward. It was in the moment that his other arm that had snaked around her waist that kept her close gave a fierce squeeze she realized it was his lips which had begun to gently massage the sensitive flesh they were pressed against. Dull waves of pain gave way to unidentifiable thrill and emotion as her hands that had fallen to his shoulders rose to tangle themselves within his hair as he withdrew just slightly so that his hot breath wafted against her now moistened skin.

Nearly every part of her body had suffered abuse. Skin had been bitten or licked, lingering bruising of hits in the form of fists or open palms, scars of being poked at by needles or sliced by surgical blades, faint intentions of being gripped to the point where the underlying bones would snap like toothpicks. The cuff that had been around her neck for as long as she could remember prevented any from laying a finger upon it.

Her eyes drifted closed as his lips descended again, this time moving with more range of motion to the other side as she trembled. "A-mmm." The flesh of her bottom lip was caught between her teeth in a fierce hold; the punishments she'd sustained from being vocal had always been severe to point where the girl had been rendered unconscious causing her body to instinctively tense.

No, she thought desperately as faceless figures made to take his place, he's not a monster in human skin and would never do what they did.

Darkened and hazy ruby eyes that had remained cracked narrowed when feeling her body stiffen and was about to pull away when every muscle within Aurora relaxed with each breath that caused her chest to brush his own. "Good girl, Auraora," he murmured lowly against her skin and rewarded the tender flesh before him with a quick brush of his lips, "good girl." The motion of placing his lips against her neck had happened without his conscious thought and expected her to have another attack yet here she was successfully fighting of what was sure to be an onslaught of mental strain. Fire erupted within his veins, a new kind that he'd never felt before, as her fingernails lightly scraped against his scalp. A movement within his pants caused a hiss to slip up his throat when their hips met in a slow drawn out motion, earning collective gasps from both.

"K-Katsuki."

The delicate string that was his sanity strained at the breathy gasp of his name. His movements grew a bit more rough, as if he unconsciously wanted to hear it again, and growled lowly when another sounded that was accompanied by her hold around his head tightening. Fine hairs rose across his being as her breaths quickened while her hips lightly bumped against his own. With an internal curse, he pulled away with a suppressed grunt, resting back against the door his blood racing through his veins as she leaned backwards until her weight was balanced upon his thighs, their shoulders rising and falling with quickened breaths as her hands drifted downwards so that their palms rested flat against his chest.

A smirk raised his lips when finding her cheeks sporting a heavy flush that carried across the bridge of her nose all the way to the tips of her ears. Cinnamon tresses that had slipped free of the ponytail were testimony to his fingers that had been buried within it, the haze lingering within her duo eyes clearing with every heated breath that tickled his face. An expression borderline disappointment filled her features as his calloused fingers took hold of her chin. "Tch. What's that look for, spicy baby?"

Her lips parted then closed as uncertainty filled her features for several seconds then she shook her head. "It's nothing."

"Spit it out already."

It was his turn to become momentarily stunned, rendered speechless, as her lips moved too quick for him to register until they brushed against the tip of his thumb that was the closest digit to her mouth. Tingles shot down his spine as her gaze darkened and found himself immobile as one of her hands slipped behind his neck. The inhale he was in the middle of taking ended in a hoarse hiss as she suddenly moved forward, the same lips that had teased the tip of his thumb now pressing against his throat.

They alternated between firm and soft pressure that caused him to dangerously balance on the tightrope that was sanity itself as his eyes threatened to roll backwards. A low growl rose as the hand that was resting against the nape of his neck lightly teased the fine blonde hairs with slender fingertips, the blood in his veins racing faster with each wave of heat that her lips radiated when they moved against his skin. The air that had been filled with her quick breaths moments ago was now filled with his much heavier and low pitched sounds as his hands that had been frozen in shock finally latched around the girl to bring her as close as possible. Hips met, chests were nearly pressed against each other's, breaths synchronizing, instinct causing both to cling to the other as if the person in front of them was their sole connection to the earth, ears filled with the rushing of blood.

"Sh-shit," he gasped, eyes clenching shut tightly as her lips moved to the other side that had begun to feel oddly neglected and growled lowly as that precious balance that he was struggling with threatened to tip as something warm and wet met the vein pounding in his neck. It was getting warm, to the point where nearly every pore in his body was beading with moisture, and it was driving him to a new high that he'd never experienced as she hummed softly that reverberated through his being. His grip on her intensified and in the blink of an eye he had her pressed against the door as the scent of salt tickled his nose, the moisture that had been growing against his skin now recognizable as tears as he drew her away from his being with a light pressure to her shoulder courtesy of a hand.

"I don't know why I'm crying," she sniffled, attempting to hide her face within her hands but they were gathered within one of his own then lightly pinned above her head. "Don't look at me-"

"Then talk." His free hand took light hold of her chin, lifting it so that her tear filled eyes met his gaze.

Her head shook limply. "I can't believe I just… Why did I…" A broken sob shook her being, more tears spilling down her cheeks. "After all the shit I've been through, how could I do what I just did?"

Their foreheads met as he took in a steadying breath. "Aurora." The tip of his nose brushed along the length of her own that effectively caused her teary eyes to widen when hearing that his tone was level yet husky as his gaze unwavering and flickering with subdued flames within his gemstones that nearly reflected her image back at the shocked girl. "That was fucking amazing."

The quick breaths that had been causing her chest to rise and fall stalled as his mouth rose in the corner into what she could only call a devious smirk as a tongue slipped out to lightly trace his upper lip. Briefly, almost too quick for her to register, a sense of pride flared within her chest at the sight of his cheeks now tinted pink and there were faint trails within the fabric of his clothing that were testimony to how she'd been touching him. She quickly found her feet as he stood since he still held both of her hands above them until they were on their feet, the full length of her back against the wooden door, and blinked when the hand met the top of her head in a series of pets as the other brought her own hand to his head of wild hair.

"Good girls get pets," he smirked, bending at the neck slightly so that she didn't have to strain to reach, gently removing the ponytail so that his fingers could gently comb through her cinnamon hair freely, "and you fucking deserve every single one."

All confusion gave way to awe then her expression became one of relief with each motion of his hand, her own fingers slowly taking up a rhythm of their own. The tear tracks that had stained her cheeks were wiped away with his other hand when both of hers rose to his hair. "It's…so soft," she whispered, her lips twitching until the smallest of smiles ever to exist lifted her lips that made him almost want to hug her again, "just like I remember."

It was a start.

A damn good one in his book.

---

Chao! See you next time!