CONTENT WARNING: This story is a fairly light-hearted M/M/F romance with some anime-style humour and scenes, queer themes, gay marriage with lots of love, fluff, and angst, lots of M/M, M/F, & M/M/F non-explicit sex scenes, and polyamory. It will be rated M, not MA(explicit content) as per FFN guidelines, or as best I can manage in that regard without ripping the story to shreds. There will be violence, blood, and lots of swearing.

A familiar, honest laugh echoed down the long hallway leading to his husband's classroom. When was the last time he heard that? Months… Longer? Sad really...

Shota slowed his steps. Someone else was in there. Laughing with Hizashi. Whoever it was sounded like a wheezing, cackling witch, laughing so hard she couldn't catch her breath. It only took him a second to place her. She was new after all.

Sugita Chiharu. Homeroom teacher of class 1-C. She was younger than them by a couple years. He could remember her from their graduating year at UA. She'd started the hero track during their last year and quickly gained a rep. Dangerous quirk. Creepy quirk. She'd been 1-B back then, if he remembered correctly. Her costume was somewhat typical if not a little dark. Mostly black with grey accents, sleeveless, snug but reinforced bodysuit with grey, soft-soled boots, and she could be caught with or without a knee-length, dark green hooded cape while teaching or roaming around UA. Short, light green hair, and matching eyes.

Sugita was a fairly unfamiliar co-worker. Hizashi hadn't mentioned anything much... Shota's steps turned silent before he slowed to a stop not far from the open door, not that they could hear him over whatever they were busting over. It calmed down after a few more minutes and the sound of a video probably playing on one of their phones ended.

"Heh… Yamada, you got any plans for the weekend?" Shota could hear the smile in her voice, before Hizashi could answer she continued, "I thought you might wanna check out a movie… Or something?"

Shota eyes widened. Wait… Oh…

"Oh, I…" Yamada Hizashi, pro hero Present Mic, the voice hero, radio DJ, pro public speaker, and loudest man alive turned into a awkward pile of mush by simply being asked out on a date. Shota smirked. Aside from over-eager fans of him either as a hero or a DJ, Shota was certain this had never happened before. "I'm… Uuuhhhh—

"It's totally okay if you can't, or you don't want to!" Sugita backpedaled with the lightening speed of quickly faltering confidence.

"It's not that!" Hizashi near shouted before quickly lowering his voice. "It's just that I… I'm—

"No! No, it's totally okay, Yamada. I swear! Nobody knows how fuckin' weird I am better than me," she was clearly trying to joke but it fell flat.

"Sugita, it's not that and you're not weird!" Hizashi declared and Shota smirked. She laughed.

"Look at me, man! I'm totally weird. Comes with having such a messed-up quirk, ya know?" Her tone was light, like she'd accepted that about herself.

"Its not that, Sugita…" Hizashi calmed himself down, and then... "I'm married."

Shota was a little surprised. Not that their relationship was some kind of dirty secret, but it was a secret. For safety, plus he really didn't like people prying into his business. At all. Some people couldn't keep their mouths shut, his husband included, but the loud blond did his best to cater to Shota's wishes.

"Shit, Yamada... I'm sorry," Sugita replied with a sigh. "I'm kind of a dumbass. Can't believe I even got a job here, sometimes."

"Jeez, Sugita! Don't be so hard on yourself," Hizashi sounded like her self-depreciating attitude was starting to really bother him.

"Yeah, well you didn't turn into a creepy little vampire-elf freak when you were a toddler, did ya?" She snarked with a dark laugh, "you got to be a tall, sexy blond with an awesome quirk." Hizashi choked on a laugh, probably embarrassed by Sugita's bluntness. "So… Who is it?" She practically purred the words laced with a hint of excitement. "Wait, do you two keep it a secret?"

"Um… Yeah, we do," Hizashi admitted, sounding foolishly relieved. As if he actually thought the nosy little thing was going to stop there.

"Cause you're both pro heroes?" Sugita asked in a quick, sly tone knowing full well she'd totally thrown Hizashi off already.

"Yea-yeah—

"One of our co-workers?"

"I—

"Nobody wears a ring that I've seen. I know, cause ya know, I'm sneaky like that. And single," her tone was teasing now. Then she drew in a sharp breath, "no way…" She laughed, the sound higher pitched than before. "Aizawa?!" She almost shouted before nearly hissing, "it's Aizawa, isn't it!?"

"Sugita…" Hizashi sounded totally dumbfounded. "How the hell do you know that?"

"Uuuhhh, I'm a pro? Infiltration is like, my thing. I was primarily trained in reconnaissance and stealth ops at the Commission," Sugita just dropped that bomb like it was nothing. Shota reeled. "What I'm saying is, its hard to turn that shit off and well, I see things. A lotta things, even if I don't notice I'm noticing them." She snickered, "so you two aren't obvious at all, don't worry about it, but I'm different… And holy shit! You and Ai-za-wa… That's so… Soo…"

"So what?" Hizashi asked quietly, his tone subdued. Was his foolish husband worried about her reaction?

"So fucking nosebleed!" Sugita gave another high, nervous laugh and Hizashi barked out a surprised laugh at that before chuckling. "Okay… Okay, I get it… Aizawa is totally hot but… But he's so mean… And fucking terrifying! I've only seen him pissed off like one time and I thought I was gonna piss my pants, and he wasn't even mad at me or anything! I was just in the room, Yamada!" Hizashi was still chuckling meanwhile Sugita legitimately sounded scared. "Oo-oh fuck! Oh fuck! Yamada, don't tell him I asked you out, okay!?" Hizashi was cracking up so bad Shota couldn't help but smile a little bit. "He'll find out where I live and kill me in my sleep… Wait… Is it all just for show? Is he really like some super soft cuddle bunny at home or something?" She sounded desperately hopeful.

"Okay, okay," Hizashi seemed to realize she was actually worried as he calmed down. "Sho's not gonna kill you—

"You call him Sho?! Oh fuck, that's cute! Don't tell me anymore, man! I swear I'll get a fuckin' nosebleed! Also, friends don't let their husband kill their friends, right? We're clear on that part?"

"Fri-ends?" Hizashi's laughed out the word.

"Well yeah, I mean, if that's okay?"

"Course it's okay!"

"Awesome! Let's hang out sometime. Do you have a patrol area? We could totally patrol together or train sometime. I mean, as long as Aizawa's okay with it," she was practically rambling. "And you can tell him whatever you want about me. Sorry for totally freaking out, Yamada."

"Its okay… Just, he's my best friend. Always has been. I guess I just don't see it," Hizashi said, his voice a little subdued for once.

"Oh fuck my heart! You're gonna kill me with this, I swear… You married your best friend?!"

"Heh yeah, I guess I did..."

"You're so lucky, Yamada," Sugita said, sounding suddenly serious.

"I am," Hizashi agreed as if there was no doubt at all. "I haven't patrolled in years, but you know… I miss it sometimes. I'll think about it."

"Mm, in that case we'd need to start with training, ya know? And work on partnership tactics. Oh, I already have lots of ideas for our quirks."

"Just like that?" Hizashi sounded incredulous.

"Yup! Also, your secret's safe with me. If there's one thing that shithole taught me, it's how to keep a secret," she joked but those words… How exactly did they teach her to keep a secret at the Commission?

"You really worked for the Commission, Sugita?" Hizashi asked.

"If you can call it that… But I'm not the kinda person they can control, ya know?" Her tone was light.

"Sugita—

"Yamada, see ya," she said in English and there was a small sound like air rushing and the softest pop. He knew without even looking in the room that Sugita was gone.

Name: Sugita Chiharu

Hero Name: Teleporting Hero: Link

Quirk: Blood Link

Link can teleport herself to anywhere within her range of sight. She had teleport to anywhere she's marked with her charged blood. She can teleport anyone whose blood or DNA she ingests to anywhere in sight and to any of her charge points.

Hizashi was meeting up with Sugita for the third weekend in a row. Things were a little bit different. Somehow. Hizashi up at 5:30am? Multiple times a week? It was unheard of. Till now. Till Sugita.

Sugita hanging off Hizashi's shoulder. Sugita sitting on Hizashi's desk and chatting away. Sugita dragging Hizashi off for lunch. Sugita… Sugita. Sugita… Was making Hizashi happy. They texted. They sent each other funny videos and memes pretty much everyday.

It was nice. If Hizashi was happy, so was Shota. That was it. He'd known that was where his happiness was to be found for years now. Shota wasn't a jealous person but what he didn't like was the growing absence of Hizashi. Drinking his coffee alone in the morning. Without his partner milling around, making breakfast and saying whatever was on his mind. Would it kill him to admit that he missed that… Missed the time spent… Probably.

Which meant…

"Sho… What are you doing?" Hizashi asked when Shota appeared in the kitchen wearing black track pants and a black tank top, already sucking back a jelly protein pack. Hizashi was wearing an old red and black band t-shirt, and grey track pants with his long hair tied in a ponytail. Shota copied the look, holding the hair elastic in his teeth as he gathered up his hair.

"Coming along with you and Sugita for your morning run," Shota announced before downing some water.

"Oh!" Hizashi smiled, but it faltered quickly.

"Is that okay?" Shota asked, raising a dark brow at the question and thinking about it. He came up with nothing. He didn't know. Hm.

"Course! It's about Sugita's quirk," Hizashi began, and Shota was quick to fill in the blanks. "She's planning to teleport us to the woods… Do you think that'll be okay?"

"Oh, I see," Blood Link… Would she need his blood? Did she already have Hizashi's? The woods? Yamada Hizashi was willingly going into the woods?

"If you're not comfortable with that I'm sure she won't mind just jogging around the neighbourhood," Hizashi was quick to add, watching Shota's reaction before he filled a second water bottle and shoved them, some proteins bars, and two apples in a black backpack.

"She needs some blood?" He asked before refilling his glass.

"Oh no, not blood," Hizashi started to explain but his phone beeped. "She's here." Hizashi grinned before leading him out. Not blood? What the hell did she need then?

Sugita was there, waiting past their secluded yard and on the sidewalk. She was facing away, watching the sunrise over the far horizon of streets and houses, wearing a blue tank top tucked into black jogging pants and black sneakers. Without her hero costume, she looked smaller but taller. Her wavy hair was the same light but luminous green as her eyes and cut very short, just long enough to look stylishly messy. Square shoulders, lean and visibly muscular arms, the dip of her waist was almost ridiculous and her clothes weren't even tight… The woman was fit to say the least. Fit with curves she'd never be able to hide that were only enhanced by lean muscle. He was careful not to focus on the scars littering her bare arms.

Then she turned around and froze like a deer in the headlights, eyes locked on Shota with a look of pure shock. Sugita's gaze flashed to Hizashi as they came to a stop in front of her. Then back to Shota. "Morning, Sh-Aizawa!" she said with a smile big enough to show her extra pointy little canines. Those, plus the pointed tips of her ears were the reason she called herself vampire-elf freak… Part of the reason. "Morning Yamada!"

"Hey Sugita," Hizashi replied with a big smile of his own, and Shota tipped a nod. "Sho wanted to come along, I hope that's okay."

"Totally! We can just run around here if you want?" She asked, and she hid it well but Shota caught hints of nervousness.

"No, it's fine. You can use your quirk on me. Whatever you two normally do," Shota replied, unbothered. "Do you need my blood?"

"Oh, um... No, I don't need your blood." His eyes narrowed a little at the shudder she didn't quite manage to suppress and the hesitant smile, "but thanks for… For being so… So, uh… Open minded about it." She glanced away, one hand coming up to awkwardly scratch her scalp. Shota quirked a brow, wheels turning as he quickly tried to figure this out.

Hizashi suddenly slung an arm over his shoulder and kissed his cheek. It was enough to instantly snap her out of that wash of suppressed anxiety. Her eyes widened, before practically turning into hearts as she covered her mouth and coughed, cheeks turning pink. Shota couldn't help but smirk at that, hand coming up behind Hizashi's back to pat his head. Hizashi spoke before she could keel over or start drooling.

"Shota's safe for you, okay, Sugita?" Safe? Shota couldn't help but tense a little at that. Especially the way the heat in Sugita's face instantly paled, her eyes dropping. "Hey, I haven't told him anything but that doesn't mean he isn't someone you couldn't turn to if you ever needed to." Her eyes wandered at that, left hand clenched into a fist. "It's the same for you, right?" And just like that her gaze flicked back to them, looking suddenly fierce, and locking on Shota's before she nodded.

"Of course!" She declared and Shota let himself smile a little. Certainly didn't hurt to have a protective teleporting elf on their side, now did it? She looked away, drawing in a slow breath. "First of all, you can tell Aizawa anything you want about me, Yamada. I would never expect or want you to keep secrets from him." She looked back over with a shrug. "I got issues. I see a therapist. I'm trying." Her eyes moved to Hizashi and just that one look spoke volumes of what she didn't say. She didn't understand Hizashi. Or why he wanted to be her friend, knowing whatever he knew? She looked back to Shota, lifting her hand till she was clutching her right elbow in a subconscious, very closed-off pose.

Shota was so used to that body language in teenagers that his response was automatic. He relaxed, arms loose, slightest smile on his face. Calm, open. The way she relaxed in response told him how sensitive she was. She continued, "in order to teleport you and Yamada, I need to ingest some of your DNA. It doesn't have to be your blood," Sugita bent down to pick up a blue backpack off the ground by her feet, and dug into one of the front pockets before pulling something out and shouldering the pack. She tossed whatever it was to Hizashi, who straightened up to catch it in one hand.

There was a crinkle of plastic before Hizashi popped a small red sucker into his mouth. "Saliva will give me around 10 or 12 hours of access to you," Sugita explained some more when she met his eyes, tone serious. "That means I'll be able to teleport you to anywhere I can see, and any place I've marked with my blood." Hizashi passed over the sucker and she popped it right into her mouth while twirling a second sucker in her fingers. Shota leaned forward to pluck it from her nervous grasp.

"So what's the difference for blood, if you don't mind me asking," Shota asked as he unwrapped the sucker. It was green apple flavoured.

"I'd have access to you for 3-4 days," at that Shota blinked. "I'd be able to feel you. I could teleport you to me or any of my marked locations without even seeing you… And I could come to you to. Anywhere. Instantly," she explained a bit ominously, and then ruined the effect by crunching on the first sucker.

Sugita wasn't looking at him. Her shoulders were a bit tense. Waiting for his reaction to that. It was a lot. It was too much to even think about right then. Holyfuck! It was… At the slightest touch on his back, Shota's widened eyes whipped to Hizashi. His partner grinned at him before looking back to Sugita. Right. Not now. Later.

Shota held out his sucker. "I prefer orange," was all he said and her eyes jumped to his, searching his face with a look of mildly confused surprise as she took it and popped it into her mouth. Her eyes flashed to Hizashi who was giving her the fiercest 'I told you so,' look ever. She laughed softly, sounding relieved.

"Orange then, next time," she said as she crunched before shooting him a sharp-toothed grin. "You know, Aizawa, this is totally an—

"Indirect kiss," he finished for her, tone utterly bland, and she burst out laughing this time.

"Sho, not you too!?" Hizashi sounded exasperated before laughing along with her.

"I also work with teenagers." Shota sounded unimpressed.

Then there was no warning, just the strangest burst of warm tingling over his exposed skin, a rush of air and…

Shota could at least say he didn't stumble as the entire world changed. The air, the ground, the sky. Everything! All he could do was gape at their surroundings, his brain trying to catch up. Hizashi's hand was on his back and there was a light grip on his wrist. "I fell over my first time," Hizashi admitted.

"Well, its Aizawa. He's not gonna fall the fuck over like you, ya big dork," Sugita's teasing voice replied. "We're in an old growth forest in Southern Japan." Old growth was putting it lightly. The trees were fucking massive. The cool, late-fall air smelled and tasted like life.

"Hey!" Hizashi protested, grounding Shota a little more. This was actually real. "You little turd!" The hands left him as Sugita popped out of Hizashi's reach and the two of them began a game of teleport tag around the clearing while Shota just stared. If he blinked, would he wake up from this dream? Birds! There was a chorus of bird calls all around them. The sun was still rising up through the trees. It was beautiful. Incredible. It was…

Shota had to dodge as those two idiots rolled through the mossy grass, fighting for the top and finally, successfully ruined the moment completely. Sugita had Hizashi in a headlock, but literally screamed when he reached back and tickled her ribs. She appeared ten feet away in an instant.

"Tickling is against the fucking rules!" She declared, holding her ribs like Hizashi had given her an electric shock, and glaring at him.

"What rules?" Hizashi was grinning in victory, brushing off and checking over his clothes as he stood up.

"The rules of sparring!" She snapped, pointing an accusing finger at Hizashi till she looked over at Shota. "Aizawa, back me up here, man!"

Shota laughed, he couldn't help it. These two… How often did they come to this place that they weren't just completely blown away by it all? He couldn't even wrap his head around it, but he still agreed, "it's true, Hizashi. Tickling is against the fucking rules." He couldn't keep the laugh out of his tone and found both of them just staring at him as he calmed back down. Hizashi had a huge silly grin on his face, and Sugita just looked shocked.

As one, Hizashi and Sugita dropped their bags and faced what was probably North. "Let's fuckin' do this!" Sugita pumped a fist in the air before facing him. "A race!" Shota grinned and Hizashi gave a whoop of excitement. "Straight shot north, six kilometres." Sugita pointed a hand. "First one to the cliff wins. Losers have to pay for the winner's time at the hot springs after this, agreed?"

"Hell yeah!" Hizashi cried eagerly.

"Agreed," Shota nodded with a smirk.

"Neither of us have run this before, Aizawa, so we all have the same disadvantage of not knowing the terrain at all. All I know is the approximate distance and there's a huge cliff at the end," he nodded at her words. "Rules- I won't use my quirk at all unless one of you gives me a signal that you need help- shout, whistle, anything. In which case, I'll teleport you both to me immediately. Let's be extra careful not to harm any wildlife, but we should still make some noise to clear anything out of our path." Hizashi and Shota both nodded. "Anything either of you want to add?"

"I'll use my quirk to scare off any animals. Otherwise, anything, except quirk use, goes!" Hizashi immediately added and Shota's gaze snapped to him. He meant—

"Yup!" Sugita agreed, verifying this was not just a race. Shota felt his first real tingle of excitement. He rolled his shoulders, nodding as his grin tipped up a notch. "Trees or ground?"

"Ground!" Hizashi instantly called out, lifting a hand in a wave as Sugita's bright eyes landed on Shota. His eyes widened a little, looking up as he realized.

"Trees," and Shota barely had time to get his hand up before Sugita appeared before him, gave an excited cry, and slapped him five.

"Yes! Awesome, I knew you were a fellow monkey." The next thing Shota knew he was standing on a branch, in a tree at least 30 feet off the ground. He pressed a hand against the trunk, breath catching as he reoriented himself. Holy shit-!

Hizashi was down on the ground, going through some stretches and Sugita was crouched up high on a branch just to the left with Hizashi between their trees. "Ready?" Hizashi called and both he and Sugita called out affirmatives before tightly covering their ears.

The visible, pulsing sound waves of Hizashi's quirk accompanied by his shout whipped through the trees, just enough to make them sway and shake but not enough to do any real damage. There were cries and screeches of fleeing birds everywhere and that was it. Then they were off!

Hizashi was in the lead, with the advantage of more predictable terrain. And he was fast, echoing Sugita's whoops and cries as they raced. Running, jumping, and swinging through the massive trees was the stuff of dreams! He'd never done anything like this in his entire life, and the heart pounding adrenaline of the race only added to the thrill.

Sugita was the first to give up the trees. Hizashi was gaining too much ground and the second she landed down on a huge tree root she launched herself forward like a pouncing cat, having timed her descent with some up coming flatter terrain. She leaned into a sprint, closing the distance between her and Hizashi disturbingly fast.

Except, when she kicked off in an attempted tackle, the moment she got close enough to Hizashi, he stopped and twisted into a round house kick that connected with her hastily raised forearm and sent her careening to the side. For a second, Shota was shocked, almost missing a branch. Hizashi didn't go on the offensive, instead he whipped back around and into a run as Sugita sprang off the tree she'd crashed into and bounded after him.

"Nice one, my young apprentice!" Sugita called as she tried to close in on Hizashi again, weaving through trees and leaping over dips, holes, and mossy logs as she traced Hizashi's steps to near perfection.

"You're the apprentice!" Hizashi shouted, laughing, but he looked back, eyes widening as they moved past Sugita and up to Shota. It was all the warning she needed, and she dodged Shota's falling strike totally on instinct, rolling to the side across the ground before scrambling away from him as he landed exactly where she'd been.

"Ooh fuck!" She cried, ducking and pitching herself forward into a frantic run. Not good enough.

Shota's fist would have connected with her spine except she twisted, turning to block it with a raised guard before she used the force of his punch to spring away again.

They ran, skirting around thicker underbrush before coming together in a rain of punches and kicks, testing each other's hand-to-hand. She was fast, but her strikes were light. They got caught up in it quickly, adrenaline pumping, fists stinging muscle, dodging kicks, both of them avoiding anything too damaging. Shota caught a snap kick with a cross block and then the sound of Hizashi's laugh filtered back through the trees. Panting, they both froze as their eyes locked. Sugita grinned and twisted out of his grip with a flourish before landing in a crouch in the pine spills.

They both launched forward at the same time, spreading apart in a silent, mutual agreement that Hizashi was fair game for whoever was fastest!

Shota had never seen Hizashi move like this before. Dashing and whipping past trees, watching the terrain, twisting, leaping, and running in a near blur of speed. Then again, his husband was being chased down like a deer, and Sugita had no qualms about letting him know either, laughing, growling and howling like a hungry wolf.

"You asshole!" Hizashi called back, not daring to look.

"Yamada, don't call your husband an asshole!" Sugita admonished around panting breaths.

"I was talking to you, you little rat!" Hizashi yelled and Sugita laughed at that. Shota couldn't help but snicker a little too…

Shota grunted, taking two solid jabs to the side as he felt Hizashi's attempted chokehold loosen, and that was mostly because Sugita had also tapped Hizashi in the ribs. Her punches were light, yeah, but she had enough speed to hit exactly the same place multiple times.

Shota threw off Hizashi's hold with a sharp elbow that had the blond wheezing before he broke Sugita's block with a downward strike using his height and the slight hill before the cliff to his advantage. She rushed him foolishly anyway till his side kick to her shoulder sent her tumbling away. Hizashi had only made it a few steps closer to the cliff before Shota was on him with a well-placed kick to the left flank that was more of a powerful shove than a strike, and Hizashi was instantly down and rolling across the dirt and grass.

The cliff was… Easily one of the most beautiful sights he'd ever seen in person. It overlooked a sprawling green valley, a waterfall, and a lake. The rising sun sparkling on the water like something out of a magazine. Even the tops of the trees looked small from his height. The breeze cooled him down as his breathing evened out.

"He's a… A monster, Yamada…" Sugita's panting voice had him looking back. She was basically just hanging against Hizashi's side, his arm around her waist keeping her upright as they both tried to catch their breath. "I thought we… Said no… No… Quirks…"

"Awe, sweetheart," Hizashi cooed the English word while looking down at Sugita's hanging head. "That was no quirks. That was just… Sho… Hell, that was Sho holding back. Like a lot."

"Oh fuck… I am the apprentice…" Sugita said in a mournful tone.

"Me too… Me… Too," Hizashi chuckled softly.

"Do you two sleep in the same bed?! What if he like… Rolls over in the night… And… And accidentally snaps your spine in half!?" Sugita looked up at Hizashi with a faintly horrified expression before the blond burst out laughing, and that was just as nice as the view beyond the cliff. Shota wiped the sweat off his brow and failed to keep a grin off his face.

Hizashi clutched his ribs, "oh man, don't make me laugh! It hurts!"

"You totally deserved that!" Sugita straightened up, weakly punching Hizashi's shoulder. "You left me back there with your demon husband knowing full well he could hand me my ass with both hands tied behind his back, blindfolded!"

Shota did laugh at that, not sure if he should be offended or what. Hizashi only reached over and flicked her ear, making her yelp, before saying, "don't be a sore loser and bow to the master."

Shota expected her to joke more but she didn't. Sugita faced him sharply, clasped her right hand over her left fist and gave him a formal bow, proving what he'd expected. That she'd been formally trained in martial arts at some point in her life.

Rising back up, Sugita walked up to a large rock near the edge of the cliff and then disappeared with a soft pop. She reappeared in almost the exact same location less than ten seconds later holding hers and Hizashi's packs.

The two of them settled down in cross-legged positions at the edge of the cliff. Hizashi patted the ground beside him, and Shota walked over and sat, taking the offered bottle before the three of them guzzled water for a few minutes and then just sat in silence to enjoy the view. It only lasted maybe three minutes.

"Serious question," Sugita began and Shota quirked a brow when Hizashi tipped his head back with an exasperated groan. "Whaaat?" She asked with a laugh.

"Nothing, nothing. Go ahead, honey," Hizashi replied after drinking some more water. "What's the burning, super serious question of the day?" There was a slight chuckle in his tone.

"Do you guys think All Might has ever had sex?" She even leaned forward and turned to show them each her super serious expression, raised brows and everything. Hizashi's shock turned to mirth instantly and Shota rolled his eyes before looking back out over the cliff and raising this water bottle to hide his grin. "Come on! I'm serious! How could he?! Without accidentally breaking his partner?"

When Hizashi finally stopped laughing, to Shota's total surprise, he answered, "well his partner could always be on top…"

"Mm… That's true," Sugita chirped, apparently satisfied with that.

"So… Why are you thinking about All Might's sex life?" Hizashi turned his head to face her. "And why are your serious questions always about sex?"

"Welllll, I was thinking about Aizawa accidentally snapping your little twig spine in the night, Yamada, and then wondered how any super freaks even have partners without breaking them by mistake. All Might being the biggest super freak around and all," Sugita explained as if that was perfectly logical and Hizashi laughed before shoving her shoulder. She didn't retaliate but did snicker. "The best questions are always about sex, that's why." She then leaned forward to look at them both again, grinning big enough to show those little fangs. "Speaking of, what are you two gonna do with the rest of your day off, hmmm?" She asked in an overly suggestive tone and waggled her eyebrows. Hizashi sputtered and Shota met her eyes. She froze when he leaned forward too, bringing their faces a little closer together.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Shota replied in a low, rumbling drawl, smirking at the way her face instantly turned red, her breath caught, and her normally slightly narrow, a little bit tired looking eyes widened the most he'd seen yet. She jerked back and clamped a hand over her lips to stifle something between a squeak, a scream, and a groan before she flopped back and rolled away from the edge of the cliff.

Hizashi chuckled, his husband's cheeks the tiniest bit pink too, but Shota could tell he was a little unsure about the whole thing which made it all surprisingly… Cute.

"Ooooh man… It defies the laws of the universe or something," Sugita was mumbling to herself, talking into her hand as she slowly climbed to her feet like it was a momentous task. "The union of two super hot dudes should upset the balance of reality… Yet somehow, we all still exist…"

"Awe, Sho, you fried that perverted little rat's brain," Hizashi cooed as Shota offered him a hand up.

Suddenly Sugita whipped toward them and lifted both hands straight up in the air, a huge grin on her face and yelled, "let's jump!"

"Nope! I'm not into that daredevil stuff like you are. No way," Hizashi immediately waved her off as if he'd been expecting this. Shota eyed the cliff-?

"Awe, Yamada, come on!" Okay, apparently she was serious.

"Jump… Off the cliff…?" Shota turned the idea over in his head. There was no surviving that without a quirk. Seemed, she intended to use hers to teleport them to safety before they splatter. He shrugged. "Alright."

Suddenly no longer looking half dead, Sugita hopped forward and grabbed his hand, "yes! You're totally missing out this time, Yamada!"

"I'm good!" Hizashi was having none of it.

As soon as they were a good distance back, Sugita turned them to face the cliff, squeezed his hand tight, prompting him to grip back, and lowered her stance. Shota followed suit. Guess they were gonna get a good run up first.

"Okay, go!" She cried and they both took off, kicking up dirt, flashing past Hizashi, reached the edge and leapt off! Shota's stronger jump sent them soaring off the cliff, pulling the already screaming Sugita along with him before they started to fall.

It was… Amazing. Just pure freedom. A short taste of what it might be like to actually fly. His heart pounded, laughter escaping his lips, Sugita's elated cry echoing in his ears. Falling belly down, he titled his head back to look out over the valley, wind blasting him, and just when he was sure he'd never felt such a heart-stopping rush, as the tops of green trees were closing in all the sudden he just- stopped. Not jarring. Suspended almost gently before the soft thump of them landing in grass from only a few inches above it.

Shota just laid there for a second, still holding Sugita's hand, the clearing filling with the sound of their fast breathing. A few minutes passed before Sugita stirred, sat up and slowly released his hand. He rolled over and stared up at the trees swaying over head. This was where they'd started from. A pretty nice place to land. "I'll go get Yamada," she said with a little cough. "I won't be long." Then she was gone. Shota didn't even sit up and just got lost in the leaves rustling overhead, the soft breeze cooling his skin…

Shota woke to the sound of Hizashi freaking out and sat up sharply. He definitely wasn't on the soft forest floor where he'd… Fallen asleep? After jumping off a cliff... And experiencing what was probably the most fun he'd ever had. He was laying on a wooden floor, in a... Locker room? The smell told him they were at the hot springs Sugita had mentioned. So, she'd teleported him while he was asleep... Hm. The questions about her quirk were just piling up in his head.

Sugita was combing through Hizashi's hair with her fingers. "I got it!" She cried before flicking something to the floor and stomping on it. "See?" She lifted her sneaker so Hizashi could see, and the man nodded before releasing a slow, controlled breath.

"Can you check for more, please?" He asked quietly, shoulders slumped. Hizashi was doing better with insects, the fact that he'd willingly just been running around in the deep woods was a testament to that, but he still couldn't tolerate them on his skin, and definitely not in his hair. Or in the house. At all. Ever.

"Of course," Sugita said before delving her fingers back into his hair and checking all through the long, pale strands. "Maybe I better check you all over, just in case," she drawled, and Hizashi huffed with a little laugh.

"Don't be a perve," Hizashi admonished, and she snickered again, but it was clear she was just using humour and teasing to take his mind of his anxiety. He wondered if Hizashi noticed that too. Probably not, at least not in the moment.

"You're all clear, my friend. No more creepy crawlies. Sorry, Yamada. I didn't think there'd be any bugs out this late in the year," she added as she stepped back and casually pulled off her tank top. "Go wake up sleepy-cat over there and let's go before all the good spots are gone. Leave your clothes in a pile and the staff will wash them for us."

Both men watched in mild shock as Sugita proceeded to strip completely off. It wasn't in any way erotic, the woman stripped down like a soldier back from the front, but even he couldn't deny that she looked like a near perfect example of fit and toned, nude female perfection. How could she not, with this exercise regime like hers. Defined, lean muscles everywhere…

And scars… Scars were scattered across her body. Light, dark, red, pink… She was almost as bad as Shota with that. Nope- he got a better look at her back when she turned slightly, opening one of the lockers… She was worse.

Sugita was pulling on a thin white robe that hid pretty much nothing and belting it across her hips when Hizashi finally asked, "so I guess this is a unisex onsen, Sugita?"

"Oh… Yeah," she turned to face them, the robe hanging open enough to reveal a wide strip of tan, toned skin, the sides of gravity-defying breasts just barely contained, tight abs, belly button, and all the way to her hips. "Shit, sorry…" Her bright eyes flicked to Shota now that he was up. "Are you guys uncomfortable with that? Crap, I never even thought—

"We're fine," Shota waved her off, climbing to his feet and stretching before pulling off his tank top with a groan.

"Yeah, it's cool, just wanted to make sure… Since you're the kind of perve that would totally just parade through the men's side," at Hizashi's words she lifted her fingers to her lips and snickered.

"I totally would! Not that there aren't lots of nice sights on the women's side any way. Just knock me out if I get a nosebleed," she joked before saying, "and just so you know, there are some staff around that offer massages and bathing services and sometimes… Ya know… More than that."

Hizashi paused in the middle of pulling on one of the robes. Despite all her teasing, she didn't even bat an eye at either man changing in front of her, eyes up without any obvious effort. Clearly unbothered by nudity. "Ooooh… Is that why you come here?" Hizashi prodded, tone free of all judgement, just mild interest as he tied his robe. They seemed designed to have that wide open chest.

"Whaaaat? No way," she smirked. "I like it cause they've always treated me nice here." Is that all it took to make her like a place? "I mean, I know it's cause they want you to buy some of that extra or whatever… And… Not that I look down on anyone for that… But anyway, I mean, you're married, you get it?" She gestured to them vaguely. "Love, and all that bullshit."

"Love and all that bullshit?" Hizashi echoed sarcastically with a laugh. Shota resisted rolling his eyes. Was that her way of saying she was looking for love, not just sex? Sugita gave his husband a serious look though.

"I might be a perve, but I'm... I'm not really like that… Ya know?" At her words Hizashi blinked.

Shota cut in, "you're looking for love, Sugita? A husband?" He asked and her bright eyes flicked to him.

She shrugged, "or a wife. I mean, a wife is more likely to cook for me, ya think?" Hizashi laughed at that reasoning and even Shota joined in a little. "What?"

"Lots of men like to cook, like me, for example," Hizashi explained. They were soon following Sugita's trailing robe down a warm, white hallway and away from the changing room. It was midday so the onsen shouldn't be overly packed.

"Yamada, you don't count," she chirped, looking back over her shoulder with a grin. "You're perfect. Like one in a million. The only men out there like you," she turned all the way around, walking backwards as she gestured to Hizashi while grinning like a fox, "have been snatched up already." She flicked a finger at Shota before turning back around and leading them on. Shota glanced at Hizashi and wasn't surprised by the slack jawed expression on his husband's face due to her words and what was just beyond the doors.

"Sho… Where the fuck are we?" Hizashi's bewildered question was posed as they stepped out of the interior of the seemingly normal bathhouse into some kind of oasis. The entire hot spring seemed to be carved into the side of a steep, forested hill. Tall white fences bordered the onsen, and there certainly was no separation of the sexes.

There were many different sized, steaming pools all bordered in smooth white stone made to look natural. The walkways were warm, white tiles with swirling grey designs. There were scentless flowers, small trees and scrubs, and lots of people. Men and women of all shapes and sizes, all lounging around in various states of undress, no one wearing more than the provided robes or a towel.

The three of them were not more than a few steps in before many eyes turned to them. Most politely turned away but others lingered, especially on their female companion. Not surprisingly, as there were far more male patrons. It didn't help that Sugita walked through the onsen like she was a goddess among mortals, not even sparing anyone more than a sweeping glance.

Shota quirked a brow at the sight of a small scuffle between three people off to the left before a man and a woman in robes were abruptly tangled in what looked like flowering vines. And the third, a tall man with pale green skin, yellow eyes, and hair like a lion's mane of deep purple. The split of his robe revealed plenty of flexing muscle as he approached.

"Link-sama, it's been far too long," the man crossed into her path and Sugita came to a stop. Shota and Hizashi each moved to flank her without really thinking about it.

"Ohayo Sabimaru-san," Sugita greeted him with a smile. "We'll take a secluded spring if you have one available." The man didn't spare them a glance and probably wouldn't unless they addressed him directly. Many patrons probably preferred anonymity.

"Of course, our best springs are reserved for special guests, Link-sama," the man practically purred, leaning closer but immediately pulled back when Sugita's shoulders tensed in a move so smooth it might have never happened except for the way Sugita relaxed again once he gave her some more appropriate personal space.

"We don't need anything special, Sabimaru-san," Sugita smiled as they moved after the man who started to lead them away. "And just Link is fine."

"Nonsense, Link-sama," he replied in that sultry voice and Sugita glanced back at them as they'd fallen in step behind. She rolled her eyes and Hizashi snickered quietly.

"I did a favour for the owner once and now she won't let it go," Sugita explained as they made their way past several more pools, some with people, some without and some well hidden by stone and scrubs.

The man looked back with a smooth, husky laugh, "rescuing Minamoto-sama's daughter from human traffickers is hardly what I would call some simple favour, Link-sama," the man eagerly explained.

"I'm a pro hero," she simply said but Sabimaru was determined to ignore her protests. "Anyway, just lay off with the special treatment, already."

"Do you want me to get fired, Link-sama?" Sabimaru sulked as he turned back to face them, gesturing to the spring to his left and bowing slightly as Sugita huffed.

"Tea… Or sake?" she asked looking back at them.

"Sake would be nice," Hizashi commented.

"We'll take a bottle, dry and light? And some food, please. Maybe yakitori, some spring rolls, onigiri and tuna if you have any fresh... Oh and something sweet please," at their nods of agreement Sugita disappeared, her robe dropping to the ground. Sabimaru gracefully kneeled to pick it up, pulling the robe up against his chest and unabashedly up to his face before meeting Shota's questioning gaze. Hizashi had already moved into the secluded spring. Sabimaru merely bowed and moved off.

It was hot, but not uncomfortably so, and good. Great. Every ache and pain faded within minutes and it was barely ten minutes before Sabimaru left them sake, cups, and a large tray of food.

Sugita was basically unconscious after inhaling some food, and two cups of sake, leaning against the smooth stone, unbothered by the fact that the bench she was sitting on left the water only up to her ribs, her bent knees and chest exposed except for the steam, snoring away in the typical fashion of someone who spent a good chuck of their time on maintaining their extreme level of fitness. Shota could fall asleep anywhere too.

Hizashi tipped back another cup, before sighing and leaned back with his eyes closed. "I really don't like that she comes here alone. Everyone staring at her like she's a juicy steak."

"Mm," Shota hummed. "It's not a very woman-friendly place, that much is clear." Hizashi groaned like he'd hoped for a different response.

"I'll talk to her about not coming alone… But it won't matter. She does what she wants, when she wants, all the time. She's crazy stubborn. Even worse than you," Hizashi complained.

"She's an adult," was all Shota said in response as he finished his fourth cup and sighed. The sake was really good. It had been a long time. He hadn't even had a coffee yet and they'd been up since 5:30am on a Sunday. He should be ready to rip the head off the first person who looked at him sideways but instead he felt amazing. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd felt this good.

"Barely…" Hizashi snorted. "She acts like a damn brat sometimes."

"Seems capable enough," Shota's reply didn't seem to settle Hizashi who sounded like he wanted to vent. It was none of his business, but of course, a bit of sake unleashed his brain like nothing else. What was Nezu thinking? How had the rat even found her? It had to have something to do with the hero commission. Nezu and his stupid games. Was it just, 'look what I got?' Snatching up a damn teleporter was a pretty serious powerplay. It wouldn't surprise him in the least if the HPSC was breathing down the principle's neck about it.

People don't just quit the Commission. Yet, seemed that this one had. It could be as simple as they really just had no way to keep her. How would they ever lock down a teleporter with anything other than empty promises? The real question was, why the hell would Nezu hire an ex-commission operative who was likely put through hellish 'training' and much worse after she graduated from UA. Maybe even before she graduated. Possibly serious mental and emotional issues as a result, plop her down in front of 20 students, and say GO!?

Then again, who the fuck was he to talk? Hizashi poured and handed him another one and Shota did his best to turn off his mind as he sipped it.

"I'm so glad you decided to come out with us, Sho…" Hizashi's words brought him back, having switched from vent mode to cuddle mode in a blink. "This was the most fun I've had in… In a while. Sugita… She's a brat and a perve and an emotionally stunted little turd, but maaan… Sometimes she reminds me so much of Oboro…"

Shota went still, kicked out of all his trailing, lingering thoughts. Shirakumo Oboro… He didn't say anything. He didn't know what to say. Because it was true! He barely even had to try and he could already see the similarities in their personalities. The teasing, the smiles, the shamelessness… The hype about everything to match Hizashi's without even trying. The way she could be so clueless… And this was just after a few hours together. Everything Oboro was something he just couldn't touch sometimes. Most of the time.

Instead of replying, he just lifted his arm and wrapped it around Hizashi's shoulders when the blond slumped against his side. This… This was why they don't drink.

AN: The explicit version with AI generated artwork of Chiharu for those interested is on ao3, my user name is sunny_dey and story name is still Scars. If you can't find it just pm me and I'll send you a link cause I guess I can't post a link here or whatevs.

Also, when I first post a new chapter it is mostly unedited since I use the ffn reader in the app to help with editing. A few hours after I originally post a new chapter, an edited, cleaner version shall appear. It might be worth waiting a little bit before reading if you find mistakes annoying. :) Unedited chapters will say so at the top.