It was a cold night, but they preferred it that way. Less sweating as they raced across rooftops mostly for fun. Since they'd swapped spit via suckers, Sugita could teleport them all as far as she could see and to any of her marked locations. They'd chosen Sho's regular patrol route for their third time out together. This was week three and was shaping up to be another boring night. Which technically was a good thing.

Sugita didn't seem it that way, but stayed quiet as patrolling was as serious she ever got. As far as Hizashi had seen at least. It was a stark change from her usual self. Quiet, alert and most definitely dangerous.

Link's costume was the same one she wore at school with a little extra. The sleeveless, almost entirely black bodysuit lined with grey, grey cargo pockets on the thighs, grey boots, and black gloves with bracers that strapped up to her elbows. The material was thick and reinforced. Over top, the signature aspect of her costume, was the deep green, hooded cape that fell to her knees.

Sho's patrol routes tended to be pretty clean. Even when he switched things up, despite being in shady areas. Not surprising, cause Eraser Head. They developed a bit of an unspoken system of Hizashi listening for disturbances around them, Link teleporting them there within seconds, and then popping Sho into the middle of whatever was going down. Drug deals, bar fights, muggings, quirk misuse, a decent number of arrests. It was all pretty mild, almost always stuff each of them could easily handle alone. But that was kind of the point, since they were a new team, even if it felt like they'd been working together for far longer.

With Link, things were almost… Easy. It was a new feeling for Hizashi. A huge confidence boost. Thanks to all their training over the last few months, Hizashi felt on the level. With Link. Something he could never before boast with his husband. Sho was just Sho. It didn't matter how hard Hizashi tried, he'd never be that good. He'd never be able to run or jump or fight on Sho's level. And that was fine, but it wore on him early on. To the point where they'd split up as patrol partners forever ago. He knew he couldn't keep up and he hated feeling like that…. Hated knowing he was holding Shota back.

But now… That had changed. Suddenly training was fun and exciting. Running and jumping across rooftops was easy compared to scaling cliffs or running up the side of a mountain. And when the gap between buildings was insurmountable except for Shota and his capture weapon, the three of them would just appear where they wanted to go. No words were needed. They moved like they'd been teleporting around as an experienced team for years instead of this being only their third time out. It was exhilarating! Amazing! It was…

"Mic-chan! Eraser!" Sugita's call made him instantly grin at the cute name she'd been calling him since they started patrolling together. Serious-mode Sugita didn't last long, even on patrol. Tilting his head, he spotted her up on the next building that was much too high for them to patrol from, but she teleported him and Sho up anyway.

Together, he and Shota walked across the flat rooftop of a building that was easily 20 stories tall. He'd have found it a little nerve-racking months ago, but all that anxiety had faded. All because of—

"Why are we up here, Link?" Sho asked, eyes on the hooded hero across from them. She grinned, little fangs flashing from under her hood before she pulled it down and turned away from them, lifting her gloved hands up high, arms outstretched like she was about to reveal something.

"Just this," she said softly, as both he and Shota tilted their heads back to follow her gaze and… Oh… The very reason it was such a perfect night to patrol. The moon was huge and gorgeously full in the clear night sky. The stars were visible, and they were high enough that the light pollution from the city was too far down to block out the sky. "It's so beautiful, isn't it?" Nature was the only thing that ever got their teleporting elf teammate sounding so wistful. It really was beautiful. Hizashi had always been a city boy, born and bred, and his enjoyment of the great outdoors had always been tempered by his entomophobia.

Sugita had helped change that too. Teleported him right into the deep woods. Forced him to face that fear little by little. Never judged him. Checked him over for bugs without a single word of teasing, and then she'd get him to check her too cause 'nobody likes bugs, Yamada! Being scared of them is totally normal.' To which Shota would smirk and agree. The two of them were basically his anti-bug squad. It was… Sweet. And he'd never have seen or experienced any of the amazing sights… Old forests, mountains, sparkling lakes, all manner of wild animals and so much more if not for Sugita. It had all affected him so much he started talking about it a bit on his radio show and recommending national parks and special places to his listeners.

Like right now… It almost felt like he'd never even truly seen the moon before this moment. The glasses he wore at night had a yellow tint meant to light up the night while also muting harsh light, so he pulled them down his nose a little way and took in the huge moon in all its pale, shining brilliance. How had he never before noticed the way the moon radiated light around it? Almost like a halo. Beautiful wasn't even enough to describe it.

He didn't know how long the three of them just stood there for, staring up at the night sky. The only sound was the wind whipping at their clothes and rushing across the rooftop. And then—

"I'm hungry," broke the silence, as Sugita ruined the ethereal moment she'd provided. Hizashi chuckled and he didn't need to look to know Shota was probably glaring at her. "You know what would make this moment actually perfect-? Group hug! Except, you know… I'll just watch. From over here," she snickered at her latest attempt at getting him and Shota to hug. To fuel her fantasies, as she'd shamelessly claimed more than once.

"I would like to see you faint off the side of this building…" Shota responded drily, but Sugita only bounced excitedly on her heels, grinning huge below her bright, flashing eyes.

"I think you'd have to kiss Mic-chan to get that result," Sugita practically purred, not ready to back down like she always does with Sho as Hizashi gave an awkward little laugh, neck feeling a bit hot behind the metal collar of his support gear.

As much as Sho would claim Sugita was like Hizashi, she had a darker streak that always reminded him of Sho a little bit. That cold edge. The kind of person that's been through a lot of really awful things and often has to find ways to dull that edge. Like exercising every single day till they're ready to drop dead. The way she never let the silence drag on. Always filling her time with something, be it work, reading, or watching mindless television… Or teasing and making everything into a joke. It was a part of who she was, and it was okay, no matter how much Hizashi wished it didn't have to be that way. Or how these two seemed to have some unspoken pact to make sure Hizashi never got hurt like that. The way they were hurt, on the inside.

Those thoughts spiralled… Just like they always did, and Hizashi barely realized he'd looked back up at the moon till there was a soft click by his ear. He looked down, confused as Shota pulled off his directional speaker.

Hizashi gasped when his chest abruptly thumped against Shota's. One steely arm locked around his back just as Shota's other hand closed around the back of his neck and then…

Shota kissed him! And not some little peck either. Sho's slightly cold, firm lips slanted across his, muffling the surprised sound that escaped him. He was too shocked to do anything much more than turn to mush in his husband's strong grip, instantly shivering at the feel of Shota's tongue sliding over his bottom lip and then—

Shota never kisses him like this outside of the bedroom. Sho doesn't just kiss for the sake of kissing. Certainly not on a rooftop, and all romantic under the moonlight. Hizashi was lucky if he could get in a private kiss on the cheek once in a blue moon outside the house, and the second he realized why Sho had done this, he went cold. That familiar spike of desire fizzled right out.

Shota pulled back, sensing it, and their eyes locked, Hizashi's glasses still halfway down his nose. They both turned their heads as one, only to find their pervy little gawker far away, facing away with her hood up and perched fearlessly on the railing of the roof like a gargoyle watching over the city.

Hizashi turned away from Shota with a frown and made his way over after snapping his speaker back into place. Sugita hopped down and straightened up but didn't face them. "Sorry for being an asshole," she bit out. "Can we go now?"

"Hey, wait," Hizashi caught her upper arm and pulled her around, but she kept her head down, hood hiding her face. "You're not an asshole, Link. Neither of us think that."

"Okay, sure," came her curt response.

"Link—

"What?" Her voice was quiet.

"Can we talk about this?" Hizashi asked softly, his quirk naturally gentling his tone of voice. Sugita sighed, moving to shake off his hold but he only gripped a little tighter instead.

"I said I'm sorry? I know I take stuff too far sometimes. I make you uncomfortable and Eraser doesn't like it. I'm a fucking idiot, I know," her words were a bit of a snarl as she lifted her hands expressively, but she was clearly more upset with herself than anyone else.

"Okay, first of all, you're not an idiot," at his words she scoffed. "Sometimes your silly teasing embarrasses me a tiny bit, but it does not make me uncomfortable, Sugita. I was actually thinking about how I've been getting the feeling you two seem to think I need some kind of special protection… Which I don't." Hizashi paused, sending Sho another displeased frown before looking back at Link. "You make mine and Shota's marriage feel perfectly fine and normal and safe. The way you joke and tease us makes me feel grateful that I finally have someone in my life who I don't have to hide it from. Like it's okay to just be myself around you, just like I am with Shota. I know I could hug or kiss or play around with him just like I do at home and all you would do is coo and tease and stare at us like it's the cutest thing you've ever seen, and Sugita… I love that about you."By the end her lips had parted in shock, and it was clearly not what she'd expected him to say in the least.

"Mic-chaaaaan!" She cried, grabbing one of his hands in both of hers. "Of course you can be yourself with me! I'd be pissed if you didn't feel that way!"

"I apologize," Shota spoke up with a drawn-out sigh. "I misread the situation and… Overreacted."

"Well, maybe you should learn to use your words like an adult, Ai-za-wa, and this wouldn't have happened," Sugita immediately got snippy. The woman did not know how to accept an apology.

Shota wasn't about to leave it at that either and growled out, "this wouldn't have happened if you could learn to use less words, rat."

"You don't even deserve Yamada, you creep!" Sugita immediately teleported away from the white capture weapon flashing toward her in the dark, appearing behind them. "Oh, are we fighting?" She cooed, "should we kiss and make up? Kissing while on patrol is your— Aaaahhh!" Sugita cut off to near shriek as Shota's eyes lit up in that familiar, eerie red and he darted toward her, easily catching her this time. "Mic-chan, call off your hell hound!" Sugita cried and Hizashi barked out a laugh as she tried to wiggle out of the thick material pinning her arms with several tight loops. "Jeez… The fuck is this thing made of?!" Then Shota was on her, hand flashing out before it closed around her jaw and yanked her chin up. She froze like a mouse pinned under a cat's paw, eyes all huge in the dark.

"What's wrong? I thought you wanted to kiss and make up?" It was Shota's turn to tease apparently, if you could call it that with his dark tone, and Sugita instantly looked like she was going to either pass out or have a heart attack as Sho leaned in closer.

"Sho, don't be mean," Hizashi said as he walked over, still chuckling. "Poor Link-chan's about to pee her pants!" With that Shota blinked and his capture weapon was instantly empty, but he raised his arm to block the punch that came flying at him before Sugita bounced back, baring her little fangs. The dynamic between the two of them had quickly evolved into something a bit violent. Playful, but definitely aggressive.

There was nothing Sugita liked less than Sho always getting one up one her. "Wow… I can think of better ways for you two to double-team me," she teased with a snicker but had to frantically duck away from Shota's capture weapon again with a fearful yelp. Hizashi hoped it was dark enough to hide the way his face got a little hot just… Just thinking about that. Damn brat! "I said I'm hungry! Last one on the sidewalk has to pay!" She called, already at the edge of the roof. As if they could somehow beat a teleporter in a race with quirks! Actually… Shota definitely could.

He'd been relieved. Years ago, when Hizashi decided he wasn't going to regularly patrol anymore. He still worked for the same agency, and they called on him for missions and team ups, but Hizashi had decided to focus on UA, the students, and his side job as a radio DJ. All decisions which Shota had happily supported.

This was why. Because against a villain that was quite literally an oversized elephant in jeans going on a rampage in the middle of downtown, his quirk was useless. His capture weapon was useless. There was nothing he could do except… Throw his husband into the thick of it. His partner, and his partner's best friend. It was her fault. All of this. Sugita was the reason Hizashi was about to face down a tank villain as tall as a house. Some asshole that had probably been hired to ensure a couple other assholes got away with whatever they managed to get out of some ridiculous bank heist.

Sugita was to blame… She'd teleported them right behind the police that were already firing on the shouting elephant heteromorph with hardly any affect. It was her fault.

Sugita was the reason Hizashi was smiling.

These two idiots smiled at each other before looking back at him like this was possibly the most fun they'd had together so far. And that, the sinking feeling just slipped away as they waited on him. Waiting for him to take charge. Grinning like two loons. His team. His… Mine. Both of them. Not for the first time, Shota just naturally took on the role of team leader. It was never discussed. They just fell in line, their faith in him complete, and waited on his orders.

It was because of Sugita. That Shota got to feel that rush. The wholeness, that bond that only came with time spent on a functional team. Leading a team. He pulled his goggles from around his neck and up over his eyes.

"Link, line that big piece of garbage up, straight down the middle," Shota pointed his hand down the abandoned street. It was cleared, thanks to people fleeing for their lives. "Mic, you know what to do, and it might take multiple hits. Link, you'll need to get out of the way fast."

"Hai!"

"Got it!"

"You!" Shota called for the nearest cop who instantly jogged over. "You have 30 seconds to get your men out of range. Tell them to leave the cars and fall back."

"Yes sir!" The cop rushed back to his car, already barking orders into the comm.

The massive elephant stumbled back from the spinning kick to the side of his bulbous head, easily catching Link in his trunk that was as thick around as she was. He shouted in animalistic rage, the cry echoing on into the night, louder than the sirens.

Of course, she just teleported right out of his hold, flashing around and pestering him like a buzzing hornet though he probably couldn't even feel much of a sting, despite her hitting his wrinkly grey skin with either a punch or a kick every time she reappeared. As Shota expected, it took her about 30 seconds to maneuver the lumbering villain into the middle of the street, the two ski-masked men with duffle bags carefully staying behind him.

"Hold still, you fuckin' bitch!" The deep voice bellowed, trunk flailing, fists swinging, and, "I'll squash you like a bug!" The trunk was fast, but the hands were slow as hell.

Hizashi's first shout was controlled. He appeared in the middle of the road, exactly where Shota told Link to place him, pitching forward into the yell as visible waves of his quirk ripped up the street and crashed into the elephant. The villain reared back, letting lose his own cry, huge hands trying to grip his massive, flapping ears.

It wasn't enough and only seconds later he charged Hizashi, every step shaking the ground as the villain ran right into a second, higher-pitched yell. The elephant stumbled, but he didn't fall.

Link's only choice was to port Hizashi closer to them and the police. Teleporting Mic behind the villains would only put Shota and the cops in line to get hit with his quirk too.

"YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOoooo!" Hizashi's third pounding, pulsing, absolutely deafening yell had some of the cops crying out and covering their ears. Shota didn't take his eyes off Hizashi as the raging villain bared down on him, screaming out more of his own cries, trunk lashing out, huge arms swaying as he powered through the pain, intent on stomping his husband into the pavement.

One second Hizashi was there, and Shota was rushing forward, and the next Hizashi was up on the elephant's huge, hunched shoulders. He grabbed a flapping ear in each hand, lowered his head and yelled for the fourth time, right into the top of that big grey head. The visible, rippling, neon sound waves hammered directly into the villain's skull as some of the cops slumped to the ground, others protecting their ears as best they could along with Shota.

The villain crashed to the ground, crunching into what was left of the pavement that had cracked with the force of Hizashi's quirk. Shota found himself teleported right in front of the two fleeing bank robbers. Maybe he put them down a little harder than was necessary, but his ears were ringing too much to hear their cries or attempts to surrender.

Shota was soon running back to Hizashi, where he was kneeling down before Sugita. She was on her knees not far from the downed tank of a heteromorph, looking dazed, one hand on her head as she teetered to the side. But the stupid elephant moved where it was sprawled behind Hizashi. His long, powerful trunk coiled around Hizashi's chest like a striking snake just as Shota gave a call of warning, still a few seconds away.

Shota sprinted, capture weapon already unwinding from around his neck but all he could do was watch as the elephant lifted Hizashi's twisting form up high, and then swung him back to the pavement, headfirst. No!

Then there was nothing there to hit, the villain's trunk was empty when it cracked even deeper into the pavement. Hizashi was gone, and reappeared laying on the ground beneath Sugita's hand. She teleported Shota directly in front of the elephant as he tried to rise up again except Shota'd already looped his capture weapon around that massive trunk several times. With both hands, Shota pulled with practiced ease and the white coils tightened with a sharp snap before he yanked the massive head back to the ground with a grunt of effort. One big brown eye widened as the heel of Shota's boot lowered right into it.

Finally, my turn… Maybe I do owe Sugita a kiss for this… Was Shota's last thought before he proceeded to try his very best to crack open that fucking elephant's rock-hard skull. He didn't stop till the giant grey lump of shit stopped moving.

"Link… Can you hear anything?" Shota heard Hizashi ask over the ringing, and his voice still sounded a little muffled as Shota's hearing slowly returned. He left his capture weapon after wrapping it around the villains head several times and tied it off to make sure he couldn't use his trunk if he did wake up again. The cops were waiting on the arrival of restraints and transport big enough to move this behemoth, though he didn't seem as big now that he was down and unconscious in the street.

Mic's worried, near neon green eyes locked on Shota from over the edge of his glasses the moment he got close. "Link didn't get out of range in time," Hizashi explained from where he was on his knees hovering over Sugita, voice pained. "She won't let me touch her…"

"Having your ears blown hurts a lot," Shota knew it wasn't what Hizashi wanted to hear, but the blood dripping off Sugita's chin and trailing down from her ears was proof enough. Along with the way she was hunched over, gripping her head, and trying to stay perfectly still.

Shota kneeled down beside Hizashi and slowly reached out, moving his hand under Sugita's bent head so she could see it if her eyes were even open.

It was nearly a minute before Sugita moved the arm that was clutching her stomach. Hizashi gave an annoyed sigh when cops started calling on them for directions. The upset man sprang up and stormed away to help with the elephant villain, shouting orders at the nearest cops and leaving Shota to try and help Link.

Her gloved fingers came to rest lightly against the tips of his and Shota shuffled a little closer careful not to move her as he reached out with his other hand to slowly peel off her glove. Even that movement pulled a quiet groan of pain from her, but all he did was use his finger to spell out UA on her palm. She shuttered before slowly lifting her head. Then they were gone.

Hizashi and Shota were suddenly both in the bright room, standing by the window in Recovery Girl's office with Sugita curled into a trembling ball at their feet. Of course, this was one of Sugita's blood-marked locations.

Both of the beds in the room were already full with students sleeping off some healing. Recovery Girl didn't even say a word, just climbed down off her desk chair and walked to Sugita as quickly as her little legs could carry her before planting a loud, exaggerated kiss right in Sugita's hair. There was a flash of glowing green and Sugita instantly went limp on the floor. Recovery Girl bent down to deliver a second kiss, fingers gently brushing back a bit of Sugita's short pale green hair where it curled against her forehead.

Hizashi had kneeled down beside them and yelped when Recovery Girl's cane whacked his shoulder. Her lips stretched out and pressed against his cheek, and he rubbed it absently after the flash of healing. Shota wanted to roll his eyes but only moved to Sugita's other side for his obligatory smack and kiss.

"If you're going to take Chiharu-chan out on your patrols at least take better care of her. Next time it better be one of you bleeding on the floor of my office," the old lady actually sounded serious.

"Chi-Chiharu-chan-!?" Hizashi exclaimed, shocked. She made it sound like Sugita was her precious granddaughter. An oversight on their part apparently. "I'm so sorry…" Hizashi was already in full mourning, hand squeezing one of Sugita's limp ones. "It was my fault—

Recovery Girl sighed and patted Hizashi's hand holding Sugita's, saying, "if Chiharu took damage from your quirk, it was likely a calculated risk, or a possible underestimation of her sensitive hearing and your quirk range." Hizashi nodded, and Shota felt some of his ire settle down. Shuzenji's sour attitude wasn't anything new, but that didn't mean he liked it directed at his partner who didn't deserve it. If anyone was to blame it was him, as team leader. Hizashi could handle himself just fine, except when Sugita was involved. The man was quickly turning into a big, overprotective mama bear. He was the last person who would ever willingly put Sugita Chiharu in any sort of danger.

"We'll be sure to spend more time with team training. Thank you for the healing, Recovery Girl," was all Shota ended up saying. It wouldn't be wise to snap at their healer, but he was quite done with this. Shota scooped Sugita up in his arms and stood up.

"Aizawa!" Recovery Girl barked and he lowered his gaze back to her.

"Yes, Shuzenji?" He asked calmly as Hizashi jumped to his feet.

"Chiharu's fine now, just drained. She's never experienced my quirk before, so it would be prudent to wake her gently and explain it," Recovery Girl clarified, and he relaxed with a nod.

"We'll take care of her, Recovery Girl. I promise!" Hizashi exclaimed, before following on Shota's heels as he led them out into the hall. It was late and they were lucky Shuzenji was there monitoring those students.

Shota slowed down when Hizashi's hand closed over his shoulder. "Sho… Can I carry Sugita?" Shota stopped so fast Hizashi bumped into him. He turned to face his partner.

"Sure, Hizashi," Shota softened his tone. Hizashi was upset. Shota turned, immediately pressing Sugita into Hizashi's arms. He had only just relinquished her weight completely when she tensed, head coming to rest against Hizashi's shoulder.

"Oi… Yamada, you smell good…" She grumbled and almost stretched right out of Hizashi's arms with a groan, straightening her arms and legs. "We were just fighting some giant elephant shitbag… How do you smell like jasmine and fuckin'…" She shoved her face into his chest to blatantly sniff him. "Cedar? Mmm… And why are you carrying me? Oh! Did we get married? Did you finally ditch Aizawa for me?" She asked with what sounded like tired, yet foolish excitement, and then yelped when Shota flicked her ear. "Hey… Ow..." Plus a glare for his efforts.

Hizashi was smiling again, just like that. All because of Sugita's nonsense. "I really messed up your cute head with my quirk, sweetheart…" He confessed quietly, smile slipping as he called her by his favourite little English endearment.

Hizashi looked like a kicked puppy and Shota had to try not to grin. Had his partner ever looked at him like that? How had he missed all these little things over the years? Had he really just never noticed before? Before Sugita had come along with her teasing and taunting, forcing him to see his husband in a whole new light. You're so lucky! ... You don't deserve him! ... Can't you see Hizashi needs a hug!? ... What kind of cold bastard of a husband are you?! He could hear Sugita's snarly voice in his head. As they slowly became friends, Sugita had stopped holding back and unleashed her wrath on him regularly, especially if it had anything to do with Hizashi. Lately, she'd taken to threatening to steal Hizashi away from him and Shota couldn't even be mad about any of it. Because it was all true and… He was grateful to the annoying, flighty, rat-elf. Not that he'd ever tell her that.

"That was my fault, Yamada. I didn't go far enough, fast enough. I underestimated your totally awesome quirk. Jeez, did you freak out?" Sugita started to get out of Hizashi arms, but he squeezed her tight.

"I didn't freak out!" Hizashi protested with a glare and her tired eyes met Shota's.

"He freaked out, didn't he?" She asked with a yawn.

"Yes."

"Sho!?"

"Awe, my sweet Mic-chan," Sugita teased, reaching up to mess up Hizashi's mohawk worse than it already was. "I've been hurt a hell of a lot worse than a couple exploded eardrums."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Hizashi grumbled, but he was fighting a smile and probably solely because Sugita was patting his head and hadn't already teleported out of his arms. She looked pale and drained, and the dried blood in her ears and on her face wasn't helping.

"Oh look, it made Aizawa feel better at least," at her drivel Shota reached out to flick her pointy little ear again but they were suddenly in front of their house. Yes, that was one thing he really liked about Sugita. No travel time.

"Wait a minute, Sugita," Shota stopped her from disappearing after another huge yawn and much squirming out of Hizashi's arms. Did being tired affect her teleportation? She still ended up leaning against Hizashi once he set her on her feet. "Come in for a few minutes."

"What? Why…" She mumbled as Shota unlocked the door and Hizashi basically dragged her into the dark hallway. Between the two of them they got her boots off. "I'm too tired… I can't think straight…"

"It's because Recovery Girl used her quirk on you," Shota explained and Hizashi undid her cape and hung it on a hook by the door.

"She did!? I-I missed it!" She cried. "Where did she kiss me?!" Hizashi laughed, in the process of peeling off his gear and dropping it into a pile by the door.

"Does it matter?" Shota asked from where he was sitting on the step up from the entryway and unlacing his boots.

She ignored him, as Hizashi pulled her down the hallway. "Was it on the lips!?"

"It was in your hair, you little perve!" Hizashi sounded exasperated.

"My hair?! What a fuckin' disappointment…" Sugita whined. Shota entered the kitchen just as Hizashi was maneuvering Sugita into a chair at their four-seater table and took a seat as well. Hizashi moved off to pour them all glasses of water and then wetted a clean cloth with some warm water and a little bit of soap.

"So you want old lady kisses?" Hizashi grinned as he pulled a chair over to Sugita's, sat and starting cleaning up her face and ears. She downed her water, and then just watched Hizashi as he gently scrubbed away the dry blood, looking like she'd be purring if she could.

"Um… Yes? I'll take what I can get at this point," Sugita snickered as he finished up and then moved to refill her glass. "Was it at least sloppy?"

"Ew Sugita!" Hizashi exclaimed before snickering.

"Hey man, not everyone gets hot kisses on rooftops under the fucking moonlight, okay!?" Sugita practically hissed before downing more water.

"Okay jeez, sorry," Hizashi relented but was still grinning as he leaned against the counter.

"Were you jealous, Sugita?" Shota asked with his own subtle grin. She set her glass down and pinned him with her bright eyes.

Sugita simply replied, "sure… Of you." Just like that they both went still, staring each other down like two wolves about to fight over the kill.

"Want some onigiri, Sugita?" Hizashi piped in with a hint of nervousness. He knew how to flick Sugita's switch. Food. Instantly her eyes locked on his partner.

"Yes. Right now. As if you even need to ask."

"Well, I figured you must be hungry again with the way you're lookin' like you wanna tear Sho's throat out…?" Hizashi questioned carefully.

"Yeah, yeah," she waved him off before looking back at Shota, grinning beneath those tired eyes. "I mean, if we're gonna fight over Yamada we should at least do it naked, ne?" At that Shota's eyes widened and his mouth fell open just the tiniest bit as his tired brain tried to process what she'd just said. And then Sugita snickered triumphantly as she looked back at Hizashi who was gaping at Shota, and then at her. "I win, Yamada. You witnessed this moment."

Shota stood up so fast Sugita jumped in her seat, her expression going from smug to scared in a flash as his chair scraped across the floor behind him. He managed only a single step toward her before she disappeared with a soft pop.

She was so lucky he was tired and hadn't activated his quirk in his faintly… Frazzled state. His heart rate had picked up a tiny bit and he felt a little hot, like he wanted to draw in a careful, calming breath but if he did, that would mean something that he did not want it to mean. That, for the first time, since all of this teasing and nonsense began, he felt something other than irritation and his previous worry that the teasing was bothering Hizashi.

Now it seemed she'd found a way to bother him with her nonsense as well. And all it took was one stupid comment directed at him specifically… And he wasn't bothered in a bad way, either. No… This was something else.

When was the last time he felt even a hint of anything for anyone other than Hizashi… Beyond childhood or hormonal teenage bullshit... Shota wasn't sure he ever actually had. Till now.