I'm not looking for somebody
With some superhuman gifts
Some superhero
Some fairytale bliss
Just something I can turn to
Somebody I can miss - Chainsmokers feat. Coldplay
AN/ [words] are Spanish
Mara's mind settled into game mode, readying for battle, clearing the gates once again. She had a smirk on her lips, she could feel it, as Hawks stepped out of his khakis. He handed them, warm from his body heat, to her with another stunning smile.
"My lady's pants." He stood in a giggle-inducing combo of the top half of a hero, the bottom half of a man just out of bed complete with mismatched socks. Mara was instantly reminded of her brothers running all over the house half-dressed yelling for this or that thing on a school day.
"Thank you for your sacrifice. Though I plan to get them right back to you." She considered the pants and decided they looked big enough that her boots would fit through the legs. She was barely right, and wiggled them over the rubber and leather and up her legs to sit around her hips like she was wearing elephant skin.
Hawks rubbed an embarrassed hand across the back of his neck, "I probably outweigh you by at least ten kilos."
Jeanist merely chuckled, "It's Cinderella's turn to go to the ball. Hold out your arms, Wrest." Mara did so, and Jeanist's fingers began to twitch. Then they moved as if conducting an orchestra. Threads lifted from the pants, and writhed and twisted about Mara's lower body. She did feel like that part in Cinderella where the godmother makes her dress from rags.
The pants reformed at her natural waist, a little higher than she personally liked, into a perfectly flattering pair of khakis. Mara did a little turn noticing a pile of fibers at her feet.
"It was a sacrifice after all. I liked that pair, but you look amazing in them."
Jeanist shrugged, "When she gets back, I'll make them your size again." He rested his fingers on his hips, "Stay safe, Wrest."
Endeavor groused, "If it's happening, lets get finished. We got word of another gang we can bust."
"Right. Hey, it was so cool meeting all of you. Thanks for letting me do my part." Mara walked back to the rear door the JSDF soldier was guarding. "If anyone finds a pen, would you mind getting your autographs for me?" She giggled, "I never thought I'd meet you all."
Mara left the four men behind, picking her way through the street. She oriented herself, pulling her jacket close against the chill. With a small sigh of pleasure, she dropped her psychic walls.
The city was a ghost town. Shota had said that their efforts at evacuation had been largely successful. Only a few pockets of people who thought that they could hold out dotted the landscape now. She felt nothing as she stretched her senses forward.
She considered her next move. The building that Endeavor had been staring at loomed just ahead in the morning light. The scene was eerie with sunshine pouring over deserted streets. She startled at noises that probably she would have ignored had the street been bustling.
Finally she had come close enough to locate a stray emotion. Someone nearby was excited. As she drew closer, more threads wiggled in her mind's eye. She scanned ahead and decided to try and dig an imaginary rock out of her boot at the street corner. It was exposed, but for her quirk to work it was the only place she could look for people milling around.
She leaned against the post, the metal of the crossing button digging into her back as she lifted her boot and stared toward the building she was getting emotion from. She could feel quite a range. Everything from whoever was excited to someone who was nearly seething in anger. She hoped it wasn't the angry mind she had to listen to.
Someone came into view, and she honed in on his emotional state: boredom. He was some kind of sentry. She scratched at her sole with a fingernail and moved her gaze. Another set of emotions, the excited guy, though the feeling had eased somewhat. He had a shock of green hair, so she didn't focus on him. Besides, he was carelessly reading in the morning sun. A woman with a killer smile and blond hair popped into her range, traveling a hallway with a hole open to outside, she disappeared seconds later, irritated at something.
There were only a handful of people in that building, she could have marked them on a map. She could feel most of them, but if one was broadcasting two emotional states, she had no way of knowing until they all showed themselves. It was time to do a little closer recon. She dropped her boot and swiped the dirt from her hand onto her cheek, and pulled her braids forward so that she could grip them in an approximation of fear.
This would still work, though Mara was certain that the men were all grinding their teeth right now. But what was the very worst that could happen? She might get beat up by a bunch of criminals? Unless they had a sensitive with them, she would be let go. A non-threat who only spoke Spanish. Her Spanish wasn't awesome, but the language of her mother's people would never be understood.
"Hola?" She shouted at the sentry who finally did his job.
He spoke in Japanese to which she merely shrugged and tried again, "[I'm lost.]"
He scowled at her, and his hands grew warm as he grabbed her and goose-stepped her into the building. It had been a tall apartment complex once upon a time, but looked like half had been burned, walls buckled in places. Unsurprisingly, the rest looked barren, probably looted. She blinked, feeling amused, she was undoubtedly right.
She was shown into a room with two men. One was obviously her target. His skin was creased and looked like it had been decayed by 100 years worth of cigarettes in a month's time. He was fiddling with a smartphone and staring off into space. The other had broad purple scars outlining his eyes and covering patches of his neck and disappearing under a garish black leather trench coat. They both had stark white hair. She didn't have to fake a shiver.
She checked over the scarred one's emotional state, even as the warm-handed guy tried to shake an answer out of her. She felt anger, but it was like a low buzz in her mind. He felt like he was waiting.
"[Watch it!]" She tried a fake sob, "[You're hurting me!]"
The one with dark scars and spiked white hair glanced up at her. If those weren't Endeavor's eyes, she had never seen the man. She almost dropped the act in surprise. He spoke, his voice low and menacing. Mara shrugged, and refocused on finding a memory inside the weathered man even as she kept her eyes trained on the scarred guy.
The one she was sure was Shigaraki moved his head toward her. She desperately shifted through his family connections. It was the fastest thing she could think of. No one had the same family experiences. She struck gold. It seemed that he was a younger brother, but she sensed that one of them had grown up with an older sister that he'd loved, the other a younger brother that he'd pitied. Jackpot.
She squeezed her eyes shut, and tried to rebuild her walls. She needed to go now. Shigaraki flipped the smartphone at Scars who tapped the face and pointed the rectangle at her. He spoke again, and a computer repeated in Spanish, "[Who are you?]"
"[Maria. I'm lost. I was with my family and we were separated.]" She sucked in her bottom lip and tried to look non-threatening and sad. "[They were headed that way,]" She pointed toward where Shota and the other heroes were waiting. "[We're supposed to go to UA. The Hero School?]"
Scars spoke over the phone, "[That's a long walk. Do you have a quirk?]"
She nodded, most people did, these days, "[Empath.]"
Shigaraki spoke again and the guy holding me suddenly ramped the heat in his hands. The braids that had crept back over my shoulder were smoking. I was suddenly very glad of that kid's jacket.
Real fear overtook the fake emotion as Scars spoke, and a pleasant computer voice threatened, "[Show her out. If I see you again you die.]"
"[Thank you!]" She figured anyone living here would at least know that one, "Arigato!" She stumbled in hot-hand's grip as he spun her roughly, and shoved her down the stairs and back out to the street. She walked as quickly as she could, hurrying with the fear that Scars meant exactly what he'd said.
She looked both ways at the road, cursing herself for taking time to be so stupid as to look both ways before crossing the street. She felt like a slow-witted child! The scent of the burned extensions singed her nose as she hared off back toward the ruined convenience store. Even at a brisk jog, several braids stuck to her back, burned into the leather.
Mara looked over her shoulder, her mind was abuzz with terror. She felt like she could feel Scars' electric blue eyes tracking her as she skipped over and dodged through the debris that lay everywhere in the streets. The feeling of being watched sharpened and she gave up the pretense of staying cool. She picked up her pace, risking a turned ankle or worse as she began to race back to the Heroes. She could no longer see clearly. The term 'blind panic' never seemed more appropriate as she stumbled forward.
One block sped by, ruined brick and wood lay like a spike strip in her way as she charged forward. She looked up, trying to keep herself at least oriented, if she couldn't regain her composure. A figure in black seemed to be moving toward her. With a yelp of recognition, she allowed herself to scurry toward him. She gulped air as she crashed into Shota's arms. She shook, her nerves still sending fear pulses though her. She pushed harder into him, wrapping her arms around him, relearning how to breathe. Shota's embrace came more hesitantly, but just as tight as he reciprocated.
"It's two. You were right," she choked out, her voice strained by the run and the fact that she was trying not to weep.
"When you disappeared, I volunteered to go get you." She could hear the concern in his voice. "When you reappeared.." His voice sharpened, "What were you thinking? You could have been killed!"
"No, no, I'm fine. I would have been fine." Mara pushed him off, breaking his hold, immediately just as mad as him. Her walls had holes big enough for her basic nature to snare his emotions. She tightened her sagging defenses trying to level off.
He eyed her, his slouch gone, his eyes narrowed, "It got done. That's the important part. We'll tell the others and get back to UA."
She nodded, though she couldn't help but watch his shoulders sag as he led the way back to Endeavor's team. She'd harmed him, disobeying orders. She knew that, she even understood it. The realization that he'd come to get her just because she'd gotten out of eyesight made her heart race. Shota liked her. Maybe as much as she liked him, and then she did start to cry. The letter, which she'd read in full after getting home from Shota's last night, told her that she could not afford to fall in love. She had been firmly asked to leave Japan, and she had to comply, no matter what her hormones said.
Inside the convenience store, the heroes gathered as she related everything she'd seen and her actions. They conferenced as she removed her boots and wiggled out of the form-fitting khakis. Hawks gathered them with a whispered work of thanks, and she silently nodded, putting her boots back on. Shota watched it all like the disinterested human he liked to pretend to be.
"Miss?" The soldier-cum-driver leaned down, "If you like, there's water and snacks in the Hummer. Your partner gathered them for the ride back."
"Thanks. I'll go wait for him." Mara stood, and followed the man back to their vehicle. She sat gingerly, mindful of pulling the braids stuck to her jacket. She mournfully looked at the ones that had pulled free seeing that they were wrecked beyond saving. She'd have to gather the girls and either look for a hairdresser or show them how to cut and strip the extensions.
Shota scooted in, "This is where you disappeared to. How's the hair?"
Mara shook her head, instead opening a water bottle and chugging it. He was still upset, but there was nothing she could do or say now that would make him feel better. She buckled herself in and waited for the driver to get underway. She crossed her legs and leaned her head against the window.
Shota turned away as well, the scenery seemingly much more interesting to the two of them than it really called for. After a few minutes of silence, Mara heard rustling and then something jabbed her in the thigh.
"From Endeavor and the others."
Shota dropped a rectangle in her lap and she picked it up, "What is it?"
"It says 'Happy Birthday to Our Little Hero'." Shota had the grace to smile slightly, "We found a sharpie in the store and that was the best card I could find."
Mara cracked it, and beside another inscription for someone's Birthday Hero, were three signatures and a short note. "What does it say?"
Shota didn't look up, "Hawks wrote: Next time bring your own pants."
Mara chuckled quietly, "Thank you, Shota. You didn't have to do that."
"I didn't." He closed down all the way, even sliding his eyes shut.
Mara sighed. Today started out so nice.
When the Hummer pulled up to UA, he miraculously woke from his nap, getting out to stand awkwardly on the sidewalk leading to the gated grounds. She thanked the driver and got out to get on with fixing her hair, and maybe a little pity cry in the bath.
Shota shifted his feet, anger warring with worry in his voice, "Come back to my place. I have some clothes you can wear and a private bath. I'm still worried about what happened this morning."
"I'm sorry, Shota. I am." She turned her suddenly fiery cheeks downward, "I... I would like that. I like you, and want to spend more time with you, but I'm really fine." Her doll-like eyes shimmered in the daylight, "I'm leaving the day after tomorrow. I'm glad I could help you today." She sniffled, "Good-bye, Shota."
Shota watched silently as she turned on her heel and walked a few steps away. She stopped, her braids sticking to her back to twist around her face as she turned to look at him one last time. A crystalline tear dripped off her chin and she turned straight, and nearly jogged away from him.
Shota bit his tongue. He wanted to call out, maybe grab her and force Mara to accept his offer. He wanted to and was sure she wanted him to. He knew that as sure as he knew his name. He turned on his heel though, replaying the last bit of her denial in his mind.
'I'm leaving.' He felt her words this time like a punch to the gut. It was a good reason to hold back. Shota wished for an emergency, anything that might force her to stay. Instead he gusted a sigh that hurt his chest. He'd lost the girl again. Damn his luck.
Shota walked back to his apartment and spent a few hours sulking. He filed his reports on what had happened this morning. Then he filed for leave. He had it coming, he'd lost a leg and an eye. The least the Commission and UA owed him was time to convalesce.
After lunch and a long, lonely jog around the athletic track he realized that he didn't want to be alone. Mara didn't want to spend her remaining hours with him, but he had other friends. He trotted back toward the teacher's apartments.
At his door he stilled his feet and pulled out his cell, "Hey Mic." His friend answered on the first ring. "I have a couple of beers if you want to come by."
While waiting for Hizashi to come, he took a long shower, knowing that his friend would forgive the indulgence. That and he needed to just let the hot water work it's magic on his muscles.
"I'm back on the dial, listeners!" Hizashi's silly, overly enthusiastic greeting jolted him from his own slice of shower zen.
"You know where the beers are!" Shota shouted, "I've got to get dressed."
He threw on his omnipresent black track pants and a Cowboy Bebop shirt with Spike's ironic grin front and center.
"Hey, it's been awhile since you broke out the fun shirts."
Shota plucked at the garment, "Guess it just felt right today." He flicked a hand at the fridge, "Hungry?"
"With all these people coming in, Rush decided to stay open twenty-four hours." He crashed on Shota's couch. "I swear I keep nipping down for a snack just to eat my eventual weight in pork fried rice."
Shota snorted in amusement, "Sure you can handle a beer?" He thumped into his armchair.
The other man popped the tab, "Yep." He took a drink then rested the can on his knee. "What's the word, Eraser?"
"Women."
Hizashi's lips curled, "Tell me."
Shota opened his own, "Did you meet Mara or Kapu?"
"Kapu did a stint in the clinic today and healed a kid I had brought in. He's a little intense."
Shota nodded, "His partner is Mara Twist."
"I didn't meet her but Ken pointed her out. Long pink hair, big blue eyes and…" he indicated a round chest.
"Sounds like her. She's got a strong mental quirk, she's quick at figuring things out. Beautiful." Shota took a swig. "I want to just forget her."
"Do you have anything stronger? And a lot of it? That would help." Hizashi laughed, "Why? What happened?"
"I don't know. She walked into my life and now she is leaving. I don't want her to. She is so infuriating but I can't stop thinking about her."
"You dog. It's only been a few days." He hooted, "Could it be? You're in love."
"Sometimes I want to kill her so bad that I can feel my fingers around her neck. Then they're grabbing for her braids, and I am done for."
Hizashi sipped his beer, his feet up on his coffee table, an arm thrown across the back of the couch. "So what's the problem, man? Close the deal."
"You make it sound simple." Shota drank his beer with steady determination.
The other man chuckled, his glasses shining in the light from a television playing without sound. "Man, yeah. We've all been there. Go ahead. I've heard hate sex is all the rage these days."
"You could just..?" Shota finished his beer in a long gulp. "I don't work that way."
Hizashi peered at his friend, "I seem to remember things a little differently," he scoffed. "If she has to leave, and you want to get tangled in all that damned hair, then you have to tell her so." He set his can down with deliberate slowness. "Shota, no one knows you better than me. I know you can block this out if you wanted to. Hell, maybe it'd be better that way. She's cute and smart and so in your lane, but you have to make some choices here, pal."
Shota crumpled the aluminum in his fist, a snarl for his friend thrown in for good measure. "What if I don't want to be so hard on myself? Don't I deserve a break?" Nemuri's elderly cat jumped on the chair and curled next to Shota's leg, purring gently. Shota stroked his fur, glad that his inheritance felt enough at home finally to seek his company. Glad that SOMEONE wanted his company.
AN/ It's understood that a woman has more hips than a man. Mara is a quarter Koiwa Native American. She takes after her father except for her tan skin and height. WOmen, am I rite? This one was a little messy, thank you, Mosevic!
ANN/ Heya! If you're reading this, and look at that, I have favorites! *cries* This is finished! YES. I will post it ALL in one big lump. Please feel free to leave a review so your friends know its worth a couple minutes of their time!
