Spooning

Estelle was surprised when her eyes met with a crew of light spirits from across the trees. Ambling over to them quickly, Estelle began to recognise a few of them, her eyes lighting up as a small smile entered her lips. Rushing faster, the female nearly pinched herself to ensure she was awake, their faces coming into view, mirroring her joy as they closed the gap between them.

Stopping a metre away, Estelle held back her gape as the elves stared at her with equal happiness. She broke out of her daze when they lifted their hands to their chests in a respectful salute, their greetings ringing out into the cold air.

Estelle returned their greetings with a nod, her sights drifting to a particular wood elf who had taken a step forward. Abel was a minor character in her life but had been in her squad many times during the war. Seeing him again was pleasant, and Estelle warmed when he spoke. "It is so good to see you again, Estelle," he murmured, his voice soft as he gazed at her.

"You too, all of you," Estelle answered earnestly, looking at them with mild disbelief. "But how are you all here?"

A water Elf standing behind the group gave a twinkling laugh, immediately catching Estelle's attention. Elves were always ethereal, attracting everyone around them because of their beauty, and their vocals only seemed to amplify it. So, when he spoke, Estelle listened avidly.

"The spirit world is fully aware of what is happening. Dark spirits have been running rampant as they did many moons ago, and when word came out about a cloaked dark spirit that resembles Aite, the spirits started to investigate. It wasn't difficult to find out what was happening since Nyx eventually sought us out in hopes of recruiting us. He wasn't quiet, explaining where you were and the fight to come. The light refused to follow, and he captured some of us because of it.

After discovering what had happened to you, we decided that you might need some help. We searched for the portal, which took us a while because it constantly moved in the spirit realm. We had to follow some darklings to find it, and when we did, we sent one of our own back to inform the others of the new intel. I assume more will follow now that the entire story has spread. You have many allies who know that Nyx will eventually bring the war to their doorstep without lending their support. Their chances are better if they come, even if they must leave their world."

Estelle was stunned by the new information to the point that she had to step back. Her heart felt like it had beaten out of her chest, her mind whirling on the fact they had voluntarily come through the portal to provide aid in the fight. "What?! You found the portal?! You came here willingly?!"

The female felt dizzy from it all, not expecting this to happen in the least. She had spent months looking for the portal, and suddenly, a group of spirits said they found it?!

"Yes, though the portal is a strange one. It had a material effect in our realm, showing as a black hole. But as soon as we reached the other side, we couldn't see it any longer or even feel its energy. It was like it didn't exist, making it challenging to return."

Disappointed by the news, Estelle was at least glad that she wasn't a failure by not finding it as quickly as they did. The information made sense; no matter how often her scanner was used, it never beeped for the portal.

"We hypothesise that Nyx has placed a barrier of sorts to stop anyone unwanted from leaving. It's likely because he didn't want you heading back to a place filled with soldiers willing to fight with you. A smart plan, but not foolproof, because instead, we will come here to help."

Staggered, Estelle whispered, "You must have been working on this for a while now." It was accurate because no other spirit that had arrived had this much information. They had all been dropped here unprepared, so they had nothing to recount. But these guys gathered as much as they could before willingly walking through a portal they believed they wouldn't be able to come back from.

Her throat tightened, her heart twisting at the overwhelming support seeping from their auras. They examined her like they would stand by her through it all, which hit her core directly. In the previous war, they fought beside her because they had to. This time, they were all choosing to do so, and that knowledge hit differently.

"Thank you," Estelle croaked, hope brewing within her soul that they may be able to win this thing with the spirits arriving. It was slightly dangerous because Nyx would strike back ten times harder if her numbers increased suddenly, so she needed to be prepared.

Estelle waited for Momo to arrive in the changing rooms in anticipation. The female had texted her with a vague request for Estelle to visit her, and she had an idea of what it would be. She couldn't deny it; she was a little eager about the news.

Momo didn't waste a second when she walked through the door, her hand raising the suitcase in the air as she squealed, "My suit arrived!"

Estelle immediately warmed from her enthusiasm, her mouth drawing up a smile as she viewed Momo bouncing back and forth as if she had agreed to a shopping spree. The thought made her chuckle, but she raised her hand and shooed the woman away. "Well?! Try it on," Estelle ushered when Momo couldn't tell what her motion meant.

The teen nearly toppled over herself in excitement, causing Estelle to throw her head back and laugh as she blushed from embarrassment. Barley taking any time to recover, Momo scampered past the female on her way to the cubicle, a broad grin on her face as she clumsily sealed the door behind her.

Estelle found the scene adorable, a light laugh leaving her lips again as she turned around and waited. The duo had spent a few sessions together to discuss her hero costume further. They had gone through wads of paper to determine the best options before discussing it with the support course.

It was Hatsume who had helped them figure out the logistics of the costume. By the end, Estelle and Momo felt like they were at their wit's end with the exuberant female. Her talk about her babies made Estelle wince, but she could admit that her love for support items and inventing made her soften a little to the girl. If only she weren't so annoying.

It was intriguing to view Hatsume's process of thinking. She considered various combinations and explained how materials could clash with one another. Since Momo's outfit consisted of her DNA, it made it all the more difficult to find the right combinations to make the thing work. And now that they had done it, it was time to help her train with it on.

Her fingers tapped against her arm whilst she waited, subtly mirroring Momo's anticipation as she felt the dressed female beginning to get closer to her. Estelle's cheeks lifted at the picture when she finally stepped into view. The suit resembled her old one only in the colour scheme. Other than that, it was entirely different. It was a full-body suit, covering every inch of her skin apart from her hands.

Scanning her further, Estelle recalled that Momo had requested extra support around her chest area, and Estelle had immediately sympathised. Even though her chest was smaller, Estelle had always found herself annoyed with the two lumps of fat and eventually resorted to bandaging around it due to the lack of supplies.

It's not like bras existed in the spirit realm, and considering the main aspects of puberty stopped when she was medically changed, Estelle was sometimes grateful that the problem wasn't worse. Yet, the cons outweighed the benefits by miles.

She recalled when she joined the human realm and had been forced to wear their clothes. It was still outdated compared to this world, but it beat the spirit realm regardless. She baulked at the bra, wondering what the hell it was for until a maid explained it. The feeling of it never got comfortable, so she sometimes continued to bind it.

Considering Momo's were much more significant, she could only imagine the annoyances that came alongside it. So, it made sense for her to request such a thing, and honestly, Estelle hoped it would make things easier around creepy males. It was always uncomfortable when they were too busy staring at a body part rather than your words, and it was even worse if you were in the middle of a life-threatening mission.

It wasn't Momo's fault she had nice goods, and she shouldn't be forced to hide them for unsightly old men. But she was going to be a hero, which meant looking at all aspects of a costume when it came to saving lives.

Dragging her mind back to the present, Estelle noticed how gorgeous Momo looked with her long legs and spotless skin. Estelle could have fallen in awe of her evident beauty. Forcing her mouth shut, Estelle turned her head to hide the blush across her face, not realising Momo was doing the same.

"It's so much less showy than the other one," Momo started, almost bashfully, as she looked down at her outfit. Her heart filled with ardour from the more petite girl's reaction, giving her a boost in confidence that she desperately needed. "But, it feels more me!"

A cheeky smile grew on Estelle's face before she tilted her head back and chuckled. Looking back at the female, she grinned, "That's what I was trying to tell you! There is power in looking good, that's for sure. But it's more powerful to feel good. You can sense it, can't you?"

"Yes! I feel like I can take anything on!"

Estelle let out another laugh, feeling her belly rumble from the loudness of it. She wasn't used to laughing like that, but Estelle found that she immensely adored Momo when she was like this. The girl was so enthusiastic that it was a far cry from the girl who had initially put on her first costume.

This was what she should have felt when she had put it on.

Like a hero.

"Well, there's no time to waste; let's see what you can do."

Momo didn't waste a beat from the instruction. Lifting her arm, her brows furrowed as she concentrated. It was only a few moments later that ribbons began to spring out as if they were coming from her skin. It had worked, disregarding the costume as they twirled to the ground in a small heap.

She paused, slowly lifting her head up to gauge Estelle's reaction.

Estelle was fighting her glowing beam, too busy feeling the aftermath of seeing their project complete to notice Momo scrutinising. The work they had done had paid off, especially after seeing the look that had fluttered across Momo's face.

A body barreled into her, and Estelle made a surprised clangour as arms wrapped around her back tightly. "I can't thank you enough, Estelle. Truly, I wouldn't have found this costume without you."

Estelle froze, glad the female couldn't see her face, as she would have folded under the embarrassment. She hadn't expected it, but spending time with Momo wasn't as torturous as she expected. The girl reminded her of Shoto in many ways, mainly in the aura surrounding her. It was calming, peaceful, and almost nurturing in a way Estelle had never experienced in her lifetime.

Letting out a breath, Estelle patted her back awkwardly, her voice low as she answered. "It's the least I could do; consider it payment for the teas you always make me."

"Pah!" Momo started, leaning back as she waved her hand dismissively. Placing it onto her shoulder, she continued earnestly, "I never did that to receive anything in return. You don't have to feel the need to even out your debts, you know, because none of us ever did anything with the expectation of getting something back."

Stunned, Estelle looked up at Momo with broadened eyes. Feeling her stare, Estelle could immediately tell that Momo was talking about much more than just the suit. Ever since Estelle's true nature had been revealed at Kamino Ward, she had felt the urge to make up for the burden her presence had caused. Yet, the class took her in, taking her explanation at face value and rolling with it effortlessly. And then attacks kept happening, and she was forced to make them deal with her issues, mentally, and with the ones her world had brought.

It wasn't fair to them, and she instantly knew that. Without fully realising it, Estelle felt she was paying debts for everything she had caused. Looking back at her thoughts throughout her time at the dorms made it very clear that it was what she was doing, not discovering the core purpose behind it all. And now, Momo was saying that they knew all along? It built a pit in her stomach and made her feel wrong in a way that felt like she shouldn't have even tried if it didn't come across as genuine.

"Was I that obvious?" She muttered, shrinking slightly at the knowledge that her classmates may have been aware of her thoughts this whole time.

Shrugging, Momo voiced, "I'm guessing the majority picked up on it. We don't blame you; we could see where it stemmed from, even if we disagreed."

"But, it's true, though. Isn't it all about giving and receiving?"

"Not in the way you think, Estelle. We wanted to be there for you; it wasn't burdensome because we made that choice from the beginning. We never expected anything in return - maybe hope for an eventual friendship, but that was all.

But, you, Estelle. You provided us with immense guidance and training, and maybe some of you wanted to support us, which we genuinely thank you for. But we knew it was because you wanted to give back for what we were doing. You shouldn't be forced to give something; you know that, right? If you don't want to train us, you don't have to. None of us would argue against it because, after everything you've had to do, you deserve to do what you want."

Estelle felt her throat tighten from the words, her heart squeezing in her chest to the point that it could pop. Looking down at the ground, she pushed out a hoarse, "It wasn't the only reason why. I hope you all know that."

Smiling widely, Momo assured, "We know that now. I just wanted to ensure you knew because thinking like that will only pressure you into fulfilling debts you don't owe. None of us wants that for you. So, I'd like to ask you to stop doing so and start thinking about yourself. It's okay to receive help and not feel obligated to give something in return."

"I...Thank you, Momo."

"Of course!"

Estelle lifted her head from her pillow in stupefaction once she heard a loud groan beside her. Perplexed at the sound, she quickly shuffled around to look at the male by her side. Furrowing her brows as she surveyed him, it didn't take long to recognise his movements reflecting that of a nightmare.

Taking a few moments to monitor him, Estelle frowned at the layer of sweat lining the blonde's face. He had nightmares in the past, but he usually pulled himself out of them and calmed down before she could even react. Katsuki always stuck to her afterwards, but Estelle allowed his clinginess to linger those nights, knowing it was for him. It was the least she could do after all those nights he had helped her.

Recognising that this was one of the few times he couldn't pull himself out of it, Estelle reached over; her sleeve pulled over her hand so she could pat the sweat off his face. Once he was semi-dry, her thumb immediately drifted to his cheekbone to soften his awakening.

"Ruby? It's alright. You're safe here," She murmured between her lips before she could stop them.

Hearing another groan leave the grit of his teeth, Estelle was soon met by the ruby eyes she was drawn to so much. His lashes flickered as he blinked rapidly, gaining his bearings on the images flashing through his head during his slumber. Estelle allowed him that time, her hand raising again to swipe away the new layer of sweat on his face.

The silence was peaceful between them, and soon, his eyes remained on her face as she soothed his mind and his thrumming heart with her slow actions. Feeling her cheeks warm under his watchful gaze, Estelle's eyes refused to meet his as she raised the temperature of her hand, a light layer of ice on it as she placed it on his forehead.

Groaning in approval, Katsuki closed his eyes to drown in the relief swivelling through him before snapping them back open. For some reason, he had the urge to examine her and never stop. Her not-so-subtle concern was like a balm to his soul, which furthered his fervour whenever he looked at her.

As her hand slipped to his cheek, Katsuki lifted his own to place over hers. Holding the cool temperature to his face, he leaned into her touch with a controlled breath. Estelle observed, pleased she had done her job correctly, before moving to lift her hand. She quickly discovered that his grip had tightened slightly, a silent demand for her to stay. Unable to decline such a request, Estelle smiled lightly as she allowed her hand to press firmly against him.

They stayed like that for a while until Katsuki himself seemed satisfied. Taking the hand he was still holding against his face, Katsuki pulled it down to his lips. His eyes closed, but it didn't deter him from placing a kiss on each knuckle of her hand in quiet thanks.

Estelle stilled from the action, her eyes widening at the fuzziness within her stomach with each kiss he placed on her knuckle. Her toes curled, her lips tugging between her teeth as she suffered through her heart's stutter. It was so cosy, their personal bubble becoming warmer when their eyes met.

Despite the affection he bestowed on her, Estelle immediately noticed the light sheen of vulnerability through his eyes. He did not mention it, and Estelle knew if he wanted to talk about it, he would choose to do so himself. So, when his globes trailed down to her hand, and their sheen continued to remain, Estelle learned she despised every second of it.

She wasn't prepared for it to stay longer than it already had. Oh, no, no way. Katsuki didn't deserve to linger in emotions such as distress. He was too good for them, deserving of everything positive this world had to offer him.

Though a deep-rooted part of her recognised that it meant she wasn't part of the equation, Estelle understood that removing herself at this point in time wasn't possible. Still, it didn't matter because her body willed herself to remove the vulnerability in his heart, to reduce it to smithereens. After all, that was what he deserved.

Deciding to bite the bullet, realising a while ago that Katsuki was always the one to hold onto her. She knew why of course; it was because she never allowed herself to even think about initiating anything that could hint towards a closeness they defiantly had. But right now, she could do this for him.

"Turn around," Estelle finally whispered, almost afraid of breaking the silence as her eyes flickered away from him.

Dialling back slightly from shock, Katsuki took a few moments to frown as he registered her words. Confused and hurt by her quiet demand, Katsuki scowled before aggressively shuffling around on the bed so he could face the door. His head hit the pillow with a loud thud, emphasising his annoyance, and the pain in his soul only grew when she remained silent at his actions.

At first, he had initially questioned if he had somehow pushed a boundary. But, it was quickly dismissed by the memory of the duo doing much more than that. So, his only answer was that Estelle didn't want to deal with him, and the thought was excruciating to his unguarded heart. Eyeing the door, Katsuki internally cursed his mind as the punch in his stomach made him bowl over slightly, and his eyes pricked from the intensity.

It ripped him right to his core, exactly where it hurt. Katsuki had never been prepared for a blatant rejection like that; he had never even allowed himself to think about it. He never imagined she would turn away from him like this because she had never done so. He couldn't help but wonder if her aversion to weakness had somehow translated to him.

Did she think he was a weakling?! Did she realise how strong she was and decide that Katsuki wasn't good enough anymore?! What? Was he not man enough?!

Staring at the door, his mind remained in a downpour as he concluded that maybe Estelle wasn't as interested as he thought she was. Or that after seeing what he was like, she had decided she wanted no part of it.

But.

Then arms suddenly snaked around him.

His mouth dropped slightly in amazement, his brows raising as his body tensed from the movement. Unwilling to turn around, his heart skipped a beat as he listened to Estelle, who made a noise of clearing her throat before shuffling so her chest was pressed against his back. Her grip tightened around him, and Katsuki could innately tell she was unsure, awkwardness filling every action she did around him.

Estelle, who had no idea what was going through Katsuki's head, internally cursed at her lack of confidence. Biting her lips, she remained quiet, unsure of what he would do in response to her upfront actions. The urge to run filled her entire body, but she forced herself to stick to her decision, hot cheeks as she waited.

Katsuki was still mulling over what was happening.

She was spooning him.

Katsuki's mind halted as red began to cover his face. He couldn't believe it. Estelle was cuddling him; She had initiated it. It was then that realisation, and embarrassment flooded his veins. Biting back his groan, Katsuki was mortified at his thought process to her previous words. He couldn't be that whipped that such a little misunderstanding had hurt him so deeply, could he? It made him snarl, a light pout eventually landing on his face as he realised that he was.

Suddenly feeling ridiculous about his earlier reaction, the blonde reminded himself who he was, dammit. Regardless of what Estelle would have done, it shouldn't have wavered his faith in her so quickly. Katsuki had always known Estelle cared for him much more than an ordinary extra would have; it was present in her actions every day. Estelle was subtle about it, so it could be easy to forget it sometimes, especially since she tried so hard to cower from the truth. But, Katsuki knew the facts.

And he wouldn't forget it so easily again.

He did wonder what she would be like if she ever admitted it. He imagined the different ways she could change. Would she act the way she does now, subtle in how she shows her care through soft remarks, gentle healing and hidden messages? Or, would she become more affectionate, with no hesitation in showing her love whenever she approaches him? A mixture of the two? He had no idea, but the thought made him chomp his teeth in anticipation, a yearning to discover and experience it all.

They had to get there first. Katsuki shouldn't get ahead of himself.

Flicking his eyes back down to her hands wrapped around his stomach, Katsuki didn't think he would ever get over his disbelief. He couldn't fathom how Estelle had gained the courage to make an action like this. She usually did everything she could to maintain the fact she had no bonds, despite having many. But he could feel the warmth and appreciation bubbling within him at how he was the one who was lucky enough to witness it.

The blush remained on his face even though he recognised that the spooning probably should have been the other way around. Though simmering in her embrace, Katsuki found that he found this position to be really fucking nice. He doubted he would ever reject being the little spoon going forward.

Nobody would live to tell the tale if they found out.

Giddiness rose up within him as it continued to sink in that Estelle was hugging him. Her arms were wrapped around him, and her breath tickled his neck so nicely that he could have slipped into it forever. Grinning, Katsuki wasted no time dropping his hand over hers, pulling it up towards his face to repeat his earlier action. Peppering her knuckles with affection, his lips only broadened as he felt the catch in the air behind him.

Her hand slumped slightly under his ministrations, opening up for him to eventually move to the palm of her hand. Her evident reaction from her lungs pushed him forward, making him urge to turn around and shower her instead, but the blonde relented, knowing it would probably be too much, considering Estelle was already embracing him.

So, closing his eyes as he continued to hold one hand, Katsuki allowed his breath to even out as he fell back into a slumber.

Though the smile on his face remained.

Estelle just hoped he couldn't feel her thrumming heartbeat on his back.

He could.