Paranormal Liberation Front

Estelle had shitty luck. It was a normal-ish day, her hands waving in the air as she used her ability to manoeuvre the spirit, so it slammed into the building and onto the next block with a screech. A few heroes had emptied out the vicinity from the attack, but it was evident that people were on the next street over as the screams echoed in the air.

Letting out a huff of annoyance, Estelle rushed through the hole she had inadvertently created to get to the other side, her hand raised high, the katana glimmering in the light like it wasn't a weapon of destruction. The air whipped around her body as she used it to increase the force of the following impact, her body turning into a makeshift bullet, the point of her katana above her head as she slammed into the creature. The sound of the metal clinked, a wail of pain resounding in the atmosphere as blood splattered on her face.

Letting out a breath, her eyes overlooking the first particles of dust emanating from its massive body, Estelle slowly slid her weapon back into her saya on her back. The creature had been an absolute pain in her ass, running amock like a crazed being before she took it down. She had been a little surprised by it since every attack with Nyx had been filled with hundreds of creatures, but she assumed that it wasn't under Nyx's compulsion, causing it to lash out and run on its own.

Her silence was halted when she finally turned, suddenly meeting a group of faces she was familiar with. Eyeing them as if she wasn't sure if they were some stalkers, Estelle recognised that by their expressions, they were just as surprised as she was. Taking pause, Estelle wondered about the chances she would meet them randomly on the street.

Endeavour, Hawks and three of her classmates were staring at her, mouths agape from the scene she had caused. Estelle returned their gaze with a deadpan, her feet taking her forward as she nodded to them in greeting.

Hawks beamed at the sight of her, his wings ruffling slightly as he lazily cheered, "Yoo! General Alien Princess, it's so good to see ya!"

Estelle frowned, her eyes taking his features in with hidden concern. He looked tired, and she knew he must be working his ass off within the League. She hadn't expected to see him anytime soon, his previous warning about being AWOL at the forefront of her mind. Regardless of how she was scrutinising him, she refused to let anything show as she grunted, "Shut up."

Hawks grinned, his body tilting back as he raised his hand to his chest. "That hurts, y'know? Show some gratitude to your bosses, will ya?"

Narrowing her eyes, Estelle felt irritation rise in her core from the title he had given himself. She may have joined their agencies, but they needed each other, which put them on equal footing. She wasn't prepared to get into that topic of conversation, though, her mutter interrupting the stillness between them. "Be quiet, will ya?"

"Ouch," he grumbled, his body immediately perking up to continue their banter. The students flickered their heads back and forth, internally wondering how they seemed so friendly when she didn't converse about him very often. Estelle and Hawks had completely forgotten they weren't alone, their eyes portraying their stubbornness as they prepared for a giving and receiving verbal lashing.

Endeavour gave a loud grunt of annoyance, his large body stepping between the two like he was breaking up two children. The man wasn't pleased, his eyes staring down at them in disapproval for a second before he focused his glare on Estelle. If she was an average human, she probably would have winced under the look, but she had gotten used to the old brutes' mannerisms and wasn't fazed.

"Estelle. You didn't answer my summons."

Rolling her eyes, Estelle bit back her tongue, knowing that Shoto was standing in listening distance. She couldn't really talk about his whining when the sole reason for it was a metre away. He never tells her what the meetings are for, which makes the whole thing more aggravating because it could either be helpful intel or a baby within a man who didn't know how to act around his own family.

Shrugging, Estelle was quick to say, "I was busy."

Endeavour flared with heat, fire emanating from his eyebrows as he scolded her. "You are in our agencies! We ask very little from you; you know that. So, I expect you to answer when I call."

Estelle's eyebrow twitched in annoyance, her mouth opening to refute the hero with a casual insult. Her aggravation only worsened when she never got the chance to get the words out, her body whirling around as she quickly took her katana out of its leather. Not wasting a second, the female used the pointy end to stab the ground, ignoring the bewildered looks around her when the rubble began to screech. The floor rumbled for a moment, dust floating into the air before everyone was met with silence.

Estelle turned around, completely ignoring the questioning looks as she returned to the conversation as if nothing had happened. Putting her katana away again, Estelle slumped to show the depths of her frustrations. "But, you can be so boring!"

The hero dialled back from the sudden insult as Hawks cackled in the background. She failed to see the looks on her classmate's faces, but it was evident by Izuku's words that he thoroughly disapproved. "Estelle! You can't just say that to the number one hero!"

"Oh no. Please continue. What did you say to me way back after the Stain attack? Pop off, queen?" Shoto interjected with a tilt of his head.

Ignoring his child, Endeavour let out a wild growl as he towered over the rude otherworldly female. "Well, you are a menace! You don't see me complaining!"

"That's exactly what you're doing right now, hypocritical moron!"

Stunned, Izuku withered away in the background, his whole body turning white as he viewed the strange situation. The others followed suit, but not as strong as the green-haired male. They raised their eyebrows, curiosity rising at how such a stern hero sounded like a child himself. The two butting heads knew each other better than they all realised, which was strange considering Estelle beat the crap out of him during the exams. They wondered how many pages of their story they had missed.

"I am not!" The man hissed back defensively.

"You always complain! That's all you do when I'm around!"

"I do not-"

"Alright, calm down, children. The public doesn't want to see the Guardian and the number one hero fighting. Take a chill pill," Hawks stepped in, inadvertently taking Endeavour's previous position as the parent to their squabbles. Seizing the moment of reprieve to his advantage, he continued, "Anyways, I wanted to ask, have you read this book?"

Squinting her eyes, Estelle frowned at the book he was now holding on display. Trailing her eyes over the binding, it soon moved over to Hawks as she tried to gauge the change of topic. The hero gave nothing away, though, his smile wide and relaxed as he waved the book as if it was a treasure chest. "The meta liberation war?"

Endeavour narrowed his eyes, thoroughly scrutinising his comrade before he bit the bullet. "What is this about?"

Hawks shrugged. "Eh, it's gotten really popular recently. It was written a while back, but it had predictions about the future that seems relevant today. Like this passage, if you grant freedom to a limited number of people, then the world's burdens will go to others. I highlighted some parts if you don't have time to plough through the whole thing. I suggest you read those."

Estelle shifted, her eyes avidly scanning the two adults with apt attention. His vision had relaxed from talking about a normal conversation to a stern face, unwavering in his stare that stabbed right into Endeavour. It clicked for her, and Estelle was relieved she had been here to witness the moment just in case the old brute didn't figure it out. Though she figured she was underestimating him, he was smart enough. The hero wouldn't have made it this far if he wasn't talented.

"A book that Hawks is pushing? I should check it out, too. Maybe the secret to his speed is hidden inside of it!"

The female bit back her chuckle as her sights flickered to Izuku, who was rambling to himself as if he were alone. Her amusement only grew when it returned to Hawks, his expression so different from usual that it was laughable. He spun around with a big grin, holding four books in his hands for them to see. "Here you go! I brought extras just in case!"

Handing them the books as fast as his lean body could take him, Hawks returned to his previous spot as if he had never moved. The fan-boy in Izuku sparked, his eyes scanning the book avidly as he awed, "So prepared! Where did they come from?!"

Hawks didn't care to answer, his body turning around to face Estelle with a cheer. "I know how much you like war. It'll be a great read for you!"

Everyone deadpanned at the words, turning mute as they waited with unease for Estelle's reaction. They hadn't really heard anyone make a joke about something like that before, and they were a little nervous to see how the female would take it. Surprisingly, Estelle smirked, her chin jutting out in dominance as she snarked, "I love it just as much as I love beating you in a fight."

"Pah! Still like to rub it in my face, huh? At least I'm faster than you. Anywho, I know how busy you are, so I didn't have time to highlight yours. I'm sure Endeavour likes your company enough to lend you his copy if you need a shortcut."

Understanding the hidden meaning and holding a bit of gratitude that he was giving Endeavor the go-ahead that she was trustworthy, Estelle nodded. Hawks took that as his sign to finish his conversation, his attention returning to the others as Estelle moved to leave.

Her arm was held back, her body jolting as it bounced from the sudden action. Moving her head up the towering body, Estelle scowled when she met the fiery glare of the number one hero. "What did I just say?!"

Groaning, Estelle's tone was nearly a whine as she returned with a petty, "I'm busy!"

"I don't care! You're coming with me, little pest."

"Don't talk more than you have to. I wish to save my ears from your complaints."

"Shut up, cretin."

"Ugly old man."

The students followed behind them silently, observing their argument with muffled laughter. Estelle wasn't afraid in the slightest about insulting him, and watching Endeavour's face flush red in anger was undoubtedly a sight to see. Shoto adored the picture, his eyes unable to stray from his father and Estelle as his old man dealt with another insult hurtled towards him.

"Stop staring at her."

"I must admit. She's one of a kind," The two-toned male murmured after multiple beats of silence.

"Eep!" Izuku squeaked, hiding behind his hands.

"I know, damn IcyHot. But she ain't yours."

"Yes, she told me that herself."

"Eep!"

"Quiet, Deku!"

Estelle fought Endeavour's grip as the man dragged her through the entrance of the building. She failed to hold her pout as members of his agency whirled their heads to the new arrivals in interest, observing the bickering duo before turning back to their work. A few did the complete opposite, their bodies migrating over to them with a wave.

"Call us the flaming sidekicks!"

Izuku beamed at the introductions, his voice turning high-pitched as he awed, "Holy Woah! It's the famous sidekick, Burnin!"

Estelle let out a huff at the sight of her, her head tilting away in vexation as Burnin stepped up with her classic grin. Their initial meeting hadn't gone over well, mainly because the sidekick spent the whole time complimenting Estelle. She had been uncomfortable the entire period she was stuck in the conversation, mainly because the starry-eyed look in her eyes made Estelle feel sick.

She thought that by insulting her, the sidekick would be brought back to reality. But, instead, Burnin only seemed to grow more fascinated, her eyes sparkling with evident glee as if she was gaping at her own idol. She walked away soon after, not knowing how to respond to someone who looked at her like she hung the moon.

The damn hero would try to find any instance to talk to her, a million questions flowing out of her mouth about fighting techniques, battles and her world in general. Estelle ignored them all, heading into Endeavour's office, hoping that this time was when she would finally give up. It hadn't reached that point yet.

"First work study for two of you, huh? We'll get you whipped into shape in no time here. You're going to learn a lot! This agency is totally different from the classroom you're used to. This is a massive operation! We've got more than thirty sidekicks employed and The Guardian! In other words, you'll have to work hard to shine here! Sorry!"

Estelle disregarded the name drop with a glare, her eyes softening slightly as she observed how Burnin and Katsuki had identical grins. The sheer challenge in their eyes reminded her of their stubbornness, and she found that they were similar in some aspects. Her lips tilted up when Katsuki responded, "You don't say! We'll just have to beat the pros at their own game."

"You can try."

Peering her head over her shoulder to stare at the hulk clamping her arm, Estelle questioned, "Can we leave yet, or do I have to stand around and wait?"

Endeavour growled, his hand jolting like a faint punishment as Estelle swayed from the sudden move. His stare was narrowed as he yelled, "Shut up and listen! You completely ignored them the first time you arrived!"

"I have more important things to do!" She spat back as indignation flooded her, her lips pursing when Burnin spoke up.

"Guardian! I didn't realise you were here! Do you mind if we-"

Estelle bit back her snarl, her eyes staring up at Endeavour as if the sidekick had never spoken. Estelle knew full well that Burnin noticed her as soon as she walked through the door, and the fact that she tried to maintain such a facade only grated her further.

The number one hero could practically feel her vexation flooding out of her aura. Grunting in acknowledgement, the man sighed before snapping, "Alright, fine! Come on!"

Estelle relaxed slightly in relief, allowing Endeavour to drag her along until he passed the doors into his office. Folding her arms once he let go, Estelle patiently waited as the hero headed to his chair behind his massive desk, her head tilting up thoughtfully as he spoke.

"I would never have thought you would be such a pest. But, at least your skill is unmatched," The man commented gruffly as his hands shuffled to take out the book Hawks had given him.

Shrugging, Estelles was much calmer now that they were alone, her feet taking her to the desk as she tried to get a better look at the pages. "It can be pretty fun getting a rise out of you."

"Hmph," He answered, his eyes flickering up to the female in amusement. Estelle instantly noticed the small gesture, and the side of her lip twitched when she realised he had felt the same. "At least you can take it."

The duo's faces turned serious once their gaze dropped to the paper, and due to the large desk, Estelle had to shuffle to his side of the table to get a better look. Leaning over his shoulder, Estelle scanned the pages, noting the highlighted words as the male flickered through them. She stayed quiet, wanting the hero to have a chance to figure it out before picking at his pride by explaining. It was better that way since if Estelle started talking, it would lead to many questions that she couldn't answer.

Quietude filled the room as they figured out the code, Endeavour being a second quicker as he shuffled through the pages. Estelle's eyes broadened, her breathing halting once she registered the words Hawks had said. The second word. That's what he had said.

As every word was revealed, Estelle slowly felt the walls closing around them, her fingers tight into her palm as she read with rapt attention.

'The enemy is the liberation army. They number...over one hundred thousand. In four months, they strike. Before that, I'll send a signal. We'll need more manpower.'

Like a car crash, everything stopped for a moment, her mind tuning into white noise as his message sunk into her mind. She was still as if a single movement would jumpstart the planet and it would kill them all, her face showing utter bewilderment on her face.

Endeavour dropped his book to the table in disbelief, his head slowly turning to Estelle before he noted how their expressions were identical. He had just been thrown a curve ball; he hadn't expected news like this in his wildest dreams. Honestly, Estelle didn't either. Though she expected some attacks to happen from the League, her mind refused to acknowledge the worst.

Now that she was forced to see how bad it would get for her classmates, the other heroes and the rest of the world, Estelle felt the crushing weight slamming into her chest. She forced herself to move, her body jerking as she whirled to face the wall to shield her expression. Endeavour stayed mute, his eyes weighing heavily on her back as he scrutinised every movement.

A trembling ache bloomed within Estelle's heart, her shoulders hunching over her body as she took a heavy lungful of air. Those numbers...in all definitions, could be counted as a war. Estelle gasped at the actualisation, the blood around her body beginning to hum as it quickened its pace. The heroes would be going to war in four months.

"Estelle. You need to breathe."

Placing her hand on the wall, Estelle focused on Hound-dog's previous advice about counting her breathing. Taking a moment to collect herself, she turned to the sober hero, registering his concerned expression before waving it off. "I'm okay."

Nodding, Endeavour regarded her with downturned lips, his body leaning forward as he asked the question lingering in his mind since he read the words from the book. "Did you know? Is Hawks investigating the enemy?"

Estelle remained noiseless, pondering on the right words. Realising that she couldn't say much, not knowing if there would be consequences, Estelle sagged as she did not comment. The hero seemed to have gotten the answer he was looking for from her silence, his defeated sigh telling Estelle everything she needed to know.

"You're sworn to secrecy. I'll respect that; it means you're to be trusted, especially since Hawks included you when he gave this book. But, if necessary, will you tell me anything vital if the time comes?"

Facing the male, who seemed to have aged multiple years after reading the new intel, Estelle suddenly felt a pang of empathy for him. She was grateful he wasn't demanding answers, her appreciation growing for the change he had already instigated within himself. So, pushing aside the fact her mind was fucking reeling at the new information, Estelle gave a slow nod.

Endeavour stared back with satisfaction, giving the nod before he stood up from his desk. "Good. We'll need to be prepared. We are going to war."

Estelle couldn't respond if she wanted to, knowing that if she tried, she would sound like a wounded animal. Estelle felt her soul plummet to the depths of hell, her body freezing again as the words were finally said out loud. It made it seem a lot more real, and the threads of her mind that she had stitched together were already falling at the seams again.

"Estelle?"

The female was spiralling, her mind running rampant as she pulled out the metaphorical med kit. It was as if multiple injuries were in her head, and she was running around with bandaids to try to manage them all. The beating drum of her heart blared in her ears, and it became the only music she could hear, her body vibrating like it had become its own speaker.

She was already dealing with a war. She wasn't prepared for a second one. Hell, she wasn't prepared for a third. What about the class? Were they ready for this? What about Izuku and the fact his quirk is acting up in the midst of this? Undoubtedly it was all connected. What did that mean for him?

"Estelle. You need to breathe."

Lurching over as if she was about to throw up, Estelle panted at the reminder to continue her normal bodily functions. She despised herself for acting like this in front of the old man, knowing that he regarded such things as weak. Honestly, Estelle was inadequate for reacting like this; she needed to pull it together, dammit.

A hand landed on her head, but Estelle ignored it as she closed her eyes to focus on counting. When she heard an awkward cough, she looked up to regard the evidently uncomfortable man. He refused to look at her, his eyes facing the door as he opened his mouth to speak.

"I know this is a lot. You are not alone in that feeling. I can only imagine the stress you are experiencing when you are already fighting in your own war. You've told me some details about your life; I know it wasn't easy. But you are strong. You will be able to emerge victorious, but you mustn't let it overwhelm you. I can handle the prep; you already have enough on your plate."

Estelle felt her breaths calming the longer Endeavour spoke, her wide eyes looking up at him in disbelief as he consoled her. She had never expected an action like that from him, and it was apparent by his expression that neither was he. But she appreciated his efforts, her trembling heart easing at the hidden concern.

Shaking her head, Estelle forced out a rasp. "I'll do whatever I can to help ensure the students are ready. I apologise for my slip-up."

"Tch. Don't apologise. It's a reminder that you are not the god people like to think you are. You are still a child, one that's led two wars, but still a child. Focus on your fight. We won't even be able to fight ours if you lose."

Estelle should have left. But, she found that her body could not do anything but follow Endeavour as he walked around the agency. Barking out orders to various members of his crew, Estelle was stubbornly silent as she followed him around like a lost puppy, unflinching to the loud voices as she drowned in her thoughts.

The hero had looked back at her initially, expecting her to part ways like she usually did. He was on the verge of a rude comment before he stilled, his eyes observing her in sudden understanding before he continued his checks. He figured out what she needed and was willing to oblige for the time being. He knew more than most what Estelle was dealing with, his agency taking on some roles in providing her intel on spirits and any activity in the cities.

Endeavour didn't have to do it, but he said he held some responsibility because he had taken her on in his agency. With the information he had been given to pass along, he had been given insight into the situation that he would never have known.

Intel, such as the numerous attacks happening around Japan and how swiftly Estelle dealt with them before they even became known to the public. He heard about some sightings of her fighting and the bloodiness that came with it when those strange beings fought. He had also heard about Nyx, the actions he was taking, and his numbers.

It was well above one hundred thousand, from the sounds of it. So yeah, Estelle had a lot on her plate. He couldn't blame her for reacting in such a way to the idea of another war. The poor girl just never got a break. So, if it made her feel better to follow him around after such devastating news, he would allow it.

Eventually, he made his way to his trainees. The room held the three classmates and a few flaming sidekicks as they stood to attention, awaiting the hero to speak. Estelle stood a metre behind him, not looking up at anybody as she stared a hole through the ground. She hadn't noticed the stares of the concerned boys, their eyes forcefully leaving her when Endeavour spoke.

"Shoto, Deku, Bakugo. I'll look after you three myself."

Tuning out the conversation, Estelle shuffled on her feet as her mind swirled. Another war. Estelle was currently in one; now, she had been informed that the country was wholly unprepared to handle another. They didn't have enough manpower to deal with that many villains, so how the hell were they supposed to manage the upcoming attacks?

They were outnumbered, even with the students, and Estelle was supposed to go home.

Could she even handle another war?

The thought thrashed in her head, her intuition telling her that Estelle probably could. But how bad would it be? Estelle wouldn't be surprised if she lost her sanity by the end of it. The thought of doing the whole war thing for a third time made her want to hunch over and cry like a baby. She knew she was weak-minded; Estelle had been like that since she arrived here.

The first war was brutal, and the second would be once things got infinitely more severe. But, the bodies in the fight could perish and return. Humans were far more fragile than spirits; they only died once. If they were anything like her wars, could she see that much bloodshed in front of her? Was she just being feeble-minded because she was fucking exhausted from fighting like this?

Things were terrible already, but they hadn't even reached their worse. Estelle was already failing to manage her thoughts, memories and flashbacks, so what the hell was she supposed to do when things got bad in her war? The fear that she would be stuck in her mind amidst battle terrified her, her own worry that she would fail them because of her broken sanity.

Could she leave them to handle it alone, though? Could she walk through a portal knowing she was signing a potential death sentence? Could she train her class enough to be a force to be reckoned with in four months?

A hand on her shoulder caused Estelle to jump, her feet leaving the ground for a second as her head snapped up to the towering body. Looking up at Endeavour with bewilderment, Estelle was only more stunned when he spoke in a low and soft tone. "Go back and get some rest. I expect to see you here soon; we have other things to discuss."

If Estelle wasn't so sombre, she would have pondered on the fact that Endeavour totally had a soft spot for her. The look on his face was enough for her to recognise the gentle care, but she could only give a meek nod as she turned to leave the room. The weight on her shoulders felt heavy as she moved, her sights unable to leave the ground as she sensed stares on her back.

The students frowned, watching Estelle's body move at a snail's pace as she headed out of the room. Endeavour did the same, a grimace on his face remaining as he turned back to the three students. He noted the anxiety on their faces, their eyes peering up at him in avid concern as Katsuki gruffed, "The hell's going on with her?"

Endeavour sighed, folding his arms as he leaned back in contemplation. He couldn't respond sincerely but decided to use the opportunity well. "She's been working herself to the bone. Spirit attacks haven't lessened; they've only gotten worse."

"How do you know that?"

"All hero agencies have been tasked with helping her. My agency is the main task force since she already works with us. She's also managing, training and homing her own army. Let's not forget she has to make strategies for the upcoming war that's about to get heavy, which is usually a ten-man job. I assume her comrades are helping her, but they're not much use since they don't know this land. She's been doing too much herself."

The students gaped at the hero, realising that it was easy to forget how much Estelle worked when she returned in time for dinner every evening. Granted, sometimes she looked exhausted, but she always managed to stick around for their conversations and never complained about it.

"I hope your class haven't been making things harder for her."

The three boys winced, noting how Estelle continued to train them regardless of how many hours she had worked in the day. The guilt rose in their souls, wondering how Estelle managed it all when she was already struggling with her mental health.

"Tch. The woman doesn't know when to stop. She'll keep going till her legs break," Katsuki grunted, bothered that she even had to do that much work in the first place. His aggression grew when he realised he could still do nothing to help her besides stick around. He forced the woman to relax, and he could imagine her never stopping if he had never stepped in. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but he hoped their moments together did help.

They all perked their heads to the right when they heard Burnin give a sweet sigh, her eyes twinkling at the door Estelle had just departed from. "She's so awesome!"

"Three...Two...One! Now!" Katsuki roared as Estelle pressed the play button on the remote, a light laugh leaving her lips at the blonde's idea. Since Katsuki stayed at the agency for his internship, they couldn't spend their nights together. The teen had moaned and groaned at the knowledge, stating that she should just spend her nights there with him since she worked there anyways.

Estelle hadn't been fond of the idea, a blush on her face at the scenario of her bumping into Shoto, Izuku or Endeavour the next day. It was just too awkward for her to partake in, so she blatantly refused to fly over as he had requested. Unhappy, the male eventually relented, stating that they could watch a baking show together and play it simultaneously.

Glad he couldn't see her grinning face as they both got ready; they managed to get it right the first time, the show playing in synchronisation despite not being in the same room. The call had gotten quiet for a few moments as they watched, their breathing corresponding as they listened to the woman start the show, the contestants behind her.

Eyeing the phone, her grin slowly drifted into a frown as she was reminded about today's revelation, her hand slumping the phone by her side. Though Estelle was mainly embarrassed at making an appearance at the agency this late, it wasn't the only reason for her not going. She knew the moment the blonde saw her face, he would know something was wrong, and Estelle didn't have the heart to tell him. She couldn't even if she wanted to; the information was classified, which made the whole thing harder.

The space made her breathe a little easier, hoping she would get a better grasp on her chaotic emotions regarding it by the time he returned. She desperately hoped the simmering despair in her soul would wane, but she doubted it would until the prep for their war had been completed.

"Tch, Jeramy is such a douche. Can't even make cupcakes without crying like a baby."

Estelle laughed, the relief evident in her voice as Katsuki managed to pull her out of her spiral without effort. Her eyes focused on the screen, noting how the man was wailing over the fact that he had accidentally burnt the bottom of it. "This early into the episode too, what a shame."

Falling back into the show, Estelle put some effort into watching instead of falling into the crevices of her mind. Katsuki kept most of her attention, his quick-witted comments to the contestants and his aggressive yells causing her to laugh unexpectedly at some of the things that left his mouth.

"Lisa's cakes are not that shitty, at least!"

"It's batter than most," Estelle muttered back in response, her voice turning quiet as she awaited Katsuki's answer.

"Ugh, give me a bake," he answered immediately, not nearly as irritated as he tried to make it out to be.

"Now that was a pun I didn't know I kneaded," Estelle smirked, her lips widening even further as Katsuki suddenly cackled over the phone.

"I can't believe I find you funny in the least," He added, still chuckling over the line as Estelle observed the screen victoriously.

"Me neither," Estelle answered, her eyes softening at the device when she realised that there weren't many people that had laughed with her. Though it was understandable, Estelle never had time to make jokes, and even now, they were awful from the lack of experience, but it was nice to hear someone laugh because of her. She wasn't funny, but sometimes, Katsuki made her feel like she was, and the knowledge made her smile, her appreciative gaze scanning the illuminated screen as if she was looking at Katsuki directly.

Katuski seemed to know what she was thinking without a vocalisation, a steady tone leaving the phone as he stated, "We can be awful at jokes together."

Giggling at the fact that Katsuki insulted his own humour too, Estelle nodded happily, her smile evident as she reacted, "A batch made in heaven."

The belt of Katsuki's laughter caused her heart to warm, her mind easing under the blanket of his presence. Even though he wasn't with her, he still managed to release the tension in her whole body, her sights turning dark as she ingrained the sound of his voice into her mind. She just wanted to soak it in, the sound of him mirroring a peace she had never expected she would find.

The urge to protect it filled her thoughts, a knowing feeling in her heart that a world without Katsuki's laugh was a world that matched her own, a dark void of nothingness. He would make it out alive; Estelle would make sure of it.

Because this world deserved a man like Katsuki.

"They should make spicy cupcakes; all of these look so tooth-rottenly sweet it's disgusting."

Estelle felt her body falling back onto the cushions, her grinning face unable to part from the device in her hands as Katsuki continued to speak into the call. Her hands held onto it like a fireplace on a cold winter day, huddling at the warmth of it like a gentle reprieve. She didn't look up at the television any longer, just wanting to take in his voice through the speaker as he continued to call out the contestants on the show.

"Estelle, are you even watching the damn show?!" Katsuki eventually screeched once he realised that she had stopped talking.

"No," Estelle replied, a flush on her cheeks as she played with the bottom of her shirt.

"Wha-?! Why the hell not?"

"I...wanted to listen to your voice."

"..."

"..."

"Tch," Katsuki eventually muttered once he recovered, "Lie down."

Following his instructions, Estelle stared up at the ceiling as the phone hung loosely by her ear.

"I'll talk your fucking ear off."

"Okay."

"There was this one time at middle school where I punched idiot Deku in the face..."