She Will Be Loved

Raining...it was always raining when she decided she needed to get away. With an angry growl, she wiped her eyes, sighing when she looked down to see her hand covered in smeared make-up. She felt like shit, might as well look the part as well. It was supposed to be a good day; if nothing else, it should have been better than most days. Their birthday was always a special event...the Oppressor turned them loose on Viletown to do whatever they wanted.

This year though...Berserk shuddered and clenched her eyes shut. She swore she wouldn't cry anymore, she was getting too old to keep crying.

Then the storm started. Berserk cringed when another streak of lightning arced across the sky. She clenched her eyes shut, waiting for the bang. Her heart skipped a beat and her breath caught in her throat when it exploded overhead. Even if she was cold and miserable, at least she didn't have to be around those bitches right now. They'd just make fun of her again.

She touched down, stalking through the muddy streets with no destination in mind at all. Another clap of thunder echoed overhead, bringing her to a halt. He was there, waiting across from her.

Berserk rubbed her nose and looked up at him. The hero smiled softly, offering her an umbrella. She shook her head, turning her eyes down again.

"Miss Berserk, if you keep standing in the rain, you'll catch a cold," Akio insisted, walking closer to shield her under his umbrella. "You shouldn't make a habit of going for a walk in storms, Miss Berserk. How many times have we met this way?"

"Too many, Akio," she muttered, pushing her hair away from her face. Her lips twitched, she glanced up at him, "Thanks...or whatever,"

Akio smiled, "You must be freezing, would you like my cape?" He let her take the umbrella as he undid his cape, wrapping it around her, like he had when she was a little girl. He took the umbrella back and Berserk pulled the cape tighter around her shoulders.

They stood like that for a while, listening to the rain slap against the concrete prison surrounding them. She shuffled her feet, inadvertently moving closer. Akio cleared his throat, adjusting his hold on the umbrella. Shivering, Berserk held her hands up and breathed a small flame into them. To Akio's surprise, it stayed in her hands, warming them both.

"You've gotten much better at controlling your fire, Miss Berserk," Akio commented. Berserk nodded, stepping closer to him still. He quietly thanked her and they went back to silence.

His curiosity did, unfortunately, get the better of him, "Miss Berserk, why are you out here? It's not every day you turn fifteen. You should be home, or with friends and enjoying yourself,"

Berserk stared at her fire, "Home sucks, I hate it. And I don't have friends…" her lips twitched again and her cheeks turned pink, "I just...have you,"

She peeked up at him. Akio smiled, slipping his hand beneath her cupped hands, helping her hold the flame steady. When his hand touched hers, her trembling eased and her heart raced.

"You do have me, Miss Berserk. You always will,"

She laughed softly, finally smiling, "Yeah...yeah I guess...I will um…"

"Can I do anything for you for your birthday?" he asked.

"Yeah…" she responded suddenly. Her eyes were locked with his. Akio's cheeks flushed and he quickly cleared his throat, "Yeah you can…" she whispered, slipping closer to him. Her hands fell, dropping the flame to the ground.

Akio took a step back, but wasn't quick enough to stop her lips from softly touching his. Berserk shivered when she pulled away, licking her lips.

"W-will you...will you hug me?" she whispered.

Akio nodded, slipping his arms around her and holding her tight. His face was bright red, his eyes wide. His heart was racing, matching the rapid pitter-patter of hers.

Berserk buried herself in his embrace, a smile finding its way to her lips.