Hey everyone! Today's chapter is a fun little adventure with Toya, Deku, and Katsuki. Hope you all enjoy it!
Dabi's POV
The old, rickety elevator finally lurched to a stop at the seventh floor, groaning like it might collapse under its own weight. It had taken ages to get here, each second stretching out the tension between us until it practically oozed off the walls. They flanked me—one on either side—eyes boring into me as though my every breath was a personal affront. Normally, I'd fire back with something to sting, but I swallowed it Aya.
The doors creaked open slowly, almost mockingly, and we stepped inside. It was tight. The kind of tight where you could feel each other's breath and the dim yellow light did nothing to ease the pressure, turning the space into a dusty, choking box. Deku leaned forward, finger quivering slightly as he pressed the button for the ground floor. The elevator shuddered and began its sluggish descent, ticking away at our patience.
Katsuki broke the silence first, his voice a low mumble that just barely skimmed the edge of a sneer. "So, you really planning to go in there wearingthat?" His gaze flicked toward me, half a glance, half a warning.
I looked down at the shirt clinging to my chest. Tight, uncomfortable, pressing against the old burns. It wasn't a fashion statement, but I wasn't here to make one. "What are they gonna do? Laugh at me?" I crossed my arms, feeling the fabric stretch against the wounds. "I'll set the place on fire if they try. Simple."
Deku's hands fluttered up like nervous birds, forming an imaginary barrier in front of him. "Maybe... maybe not that," he stammered, eyes darting around the cramped space like he could somehow escape it by looking hard enough.
Katsuki snorted, leaning against the wall with all the care of a man who'd push a button just to see what happens. "By the way, firefly, do we even have a plan?"
I gestured with both hands, sketching out the brilliance in the air. "We go in, threaten the pimp, and grab the three idiots. Easy."
He nodded, a smirk curling up his lips. "Good plan."
Deku, as expected, looked like he'd been slapped. "Or," he started, voice strained, "we just talk to the brothel manager and tell him our classmates areminors?" The exhaustion in his tone was almost physical, like he'd just lifted a weight only to realize it was tied to a sinking ship.
I sighed, brushing the hair out of my eyes. "Yeah, that's gonna work."
"Why not?" he pressed, voice lifting, eyes narrowing.
The elevator jolted to a stop, the force making us sway. With a cheery, absurdly out-of-placebing, the doors slid open.
"Oh man, you guys really have no clue how to handle scum, huh?" I muttered, voice dripping with annoyance, pushing past them as the elevator doors opened. I shoved my hands deep into my pockets, trying to bury the irritation along with them.
Izuku hurried to catch up, falling into step on my left. "So we... can't talk to them?" He looked at me like he was hoping for some shred of optimism, but this wasn't that kind of situation. The hallway stretched out before us, narrow, grimy, and lined with chipped paint—leading right to the side entrance of the brothel.
"Nope. Talking's for lawyers or idealists," I replied, already dreading what was beyond the glass door. "We're dealing with a pimp here." Through the murky glass, I could see their faces—the euphoric, painted-on smiles of the "ladies." The door swung open before I could take another breath, and they spilled out toward us, shrieking laughter spilling over like a flood. They yanked us inside as if we were prey, and they, the predators starved to madness.
The place was dark, nearly swallowing itself in shadows, the only relief the neon pinks and purples that glowed in corners like sickly wounds. Music thumped through the walls, some generic rap that scraped against your eardrums. Two of them hooked onto me like leeches, one trailing her fingers down my stomach, her touch like ice. "Cute shirt," she purred, voice syrupy-sweet and fake enough to make your teeth rot.
"Makes me wanna rip it right off you, sweetie," the other whispered in my ear, breath hot and sticky. I couldn't decide what was worse—the words or how well they could lie when there was cash on the line. I placed a hand on each of their faces, just enough to push them away without breaking the facade. "Sorry, ladies. Not here for you."
I glanced over my shoulder and nearly laughed at what I saw. "N-no, please, don't—!" Izuku's voice cracked, pleading with the prostitute glued to his side. She didn't care, of course; the more he squirmed, the more she tightened her grip, fingers skimming over him like she could squeeze a reaction out of him. "I-I really mean it, you don't have to—!"
Beside him was Katsuki, a storm brewing just under the surface. One touch from those women and he detonated like a landmine. "Hands off, you old hags!" His voice cut through the music like a blade, and the effect was instant—the women flinched back, scurrying away like frightened rats.
I rolled my eyes and reached for Izuku, grabbing his collar and dragging him away from the woman still trying to cling to him. He stumbled after me, relief etched on his face as we put distance between ourselves and the clawing hands.
Deeper into the den of sin we went, the stench thickening around us—a cocktail of perfume, sweat, smoke, and things better left unnamed. It crawled down your throat, made your skin itch. When we finally reached the bar, I released my grip on Izuku, shoving him toward Katsuki with a look that said it all:Keep him safe. For once, Katsuki didn't argue, his expression tight and serious, like he knew playtime was over.
The real work was about to begin.
I placed an arm on the bar counter, leaning forward just enough to make the bartender look up from her glass-polishing ritual. "Hey."
She eyed me with a gaze that could peel paint, a slow smile creeping across her lips. "You here to apply for a job, sweetie?" Her voice oozed with false sweetness.
Behind me, Katsuki let out a barely suppressed snort. I bit back the retort bubbling up in my throat, swallowing it like a bitter pill, and forced myself to stay focused on the bartender.
"Nah. Got a wife and kids at home," I lied smoothly, leaning in as if I were telling a secret.
"Not much of an obstacle, is it?" She didn't miss a beat, still rubbing that glass with her rag. "Bet the kids will be thrilled with a few extra presents on their birthdays," Her casual tone caught me off guard. The audacity hung in the air between us, making my jaw twitch. I shook it off and cleared my throat, trying to regain control of the conversation.
"Anyway," I started, gesturing with my hands, "three boys walked in here earlier who don't belong. Seen 'em?"
"Hmm..." She hummed, her eyes drifting away as if searching for the answer in the dimly lit corners of the room. "If you look at it that way… no one really belongs here, do they?" She set the glass aside and flashed a grin that was anything but friendly.
I clenched the hand on the counter, nails digging into my palm. "Listen, you—" I hissed, words nearly slipping into a growl. "Those are minors. Teenagers that you dragged in here. Now, tell me where they are before I—"
"Stop touching us; you're all ugly!" Katsuki's voice cut through my threat, loud and furious.
"Kacchan!" Izuku's panicked shout followed. "They might know where the others are!"
"Then keep letting them grope you, idiot!" Katsuki shot back, his tone dripping with venom.
"That's not what I meant!" Izuku stammered, his attempt at rationality crashing and burning. "But if we want information from the ladies, we can't just insult them—"
"Shit,what the fuck am I doing here?" I muttered under my breath, my frustration boiling over. All I wanted was to bury my face between Aya's thighs, but instead, I found myself trapped in this godforsaken whorehouse with two dipshits. Fucking hell, why did I even agree to this circus? Must've been Aya's damn "behave yourself" lecture from earlier that pushed me into this madness. For just a heartbeat, I questioned if this entire mess was even worth it. But then, like a flood, all those filthy fantasies I'd cooked up since Nezu Park flashed through my mind. And that dirty promise in the bathroom...she was driving me fucking insane.
I snapped. Grabbing the bartender by the collar, I yanked her forward, pulling her so close she could probably taste my fury. "Listen, you old hag," I growled, my voice low and dripping with venom, "get your boss here. Now. Or I'll torch this place." Her eyes went wide, the color draining from her face.
"O-Of course! Just—just a moment!" she stammered, wriggling free before scrambling toward the door in the back, nearly tripping over herself.
"That's more like it…" I muttered, annoyance curling my lip. I turned, ready to refocus on the two boys, only to feel my heart lurch—they weren't where I left them. A bolt of panic shot through me as my eyes swept the room, scanning through the haze of neon lights and cigarette smoke.
There they were. Huddled in a corner behind a dance pole, tangled up in what looked like a brawl with three hookers. My gaze narrowed in on the blonde kid—one of the brats we came here to drag out. The music was blasting too loud to hear, but Katsuki was clearly screaming at him, his face twisted in a snarl, while Izuku flailed beside him, probably trying to play peacemaker. The kid seemed less than thrilled by this so-called rescue, waving them off with curses. Could I blame him? Not really. But at least we'd found one of them.
"If you're here to sell your ass, you're in the wrong place. I only take good-looking men," a deep voice hissed from behind the bar.
I turned, facing the source. The pimp. He was massive—at least two meters tall, built like a boulder, with a head that looked chiseled out of stone. A black suit stretched across his frame, struggling to contain his bulk.
"Goddamn it, I'm not here to sell my ass," I spat, irritation boiling over. "I'm looking for two teenagers who wandered into this dump you call an establishment." I should've worn my coat; this whole ordeal was already starting to feel like a bad joke.
"No one under 18 gets into my brothel," he replied coolly, crossing his arms, his gaze flat and unflinching.
My patience snapped again. Heat began to radiate from my palms as flames licked at my fingers, begging for release. I summoned a medium-sized blue flame, letting it dance there, casting flickering shadows on my face. I grinned, sharp and dirty.
"Hey! Only employees can use quirks here!" he barked, anger flashing in his eyes.
"Like I give a damn." The fire grew larger in my hand, crackling with menace. "Now tell me where the boys are, or I'll burn this whole place to the ground."
"Boss... I think he means it," the bartender whimpered, her voice small and fearful from the doorway.
The pimp let out a heavy sigh, his bravado deflating. "I don't know where your kids are," he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Go up to the first floor and check for yourself. There are only six rooms; you'll find them soon enough."
"Smart move." I closed my hand, snuffing out the flame. Turning to the others, I raised my voice just loud enough to cut through the noise. "We're going up. They're upstairs." My hands slid back into my pockets as I made for the stairs, not bothering to see if they were following. Their footsteps clattered behind me a second later—good.
"Do you... know which rooms they're in?" Izuku's voice trailed up from somewhere near my elbow, that familiar worry bleeding through every word.
"Not a clue. He told us to figure it out ourselves." I shrugged.
"What?! You're telling me we're just gonna storm in there blind?!" Katsuki's disbelief nearly shook the banister, and I almost had to admire his ability to make his anger take up space.
"You should be used to that by now," I mumbled, half to myself.
As we climbed, the blonde kid, our little 'rescue mission,' eyed me suspiciously, like he was still deciding whether to trust the wolf or just run for his life. "I still don't get why this guy is helping us," he muttered, jerking a thumb in my direction. "Like, switching sides on a whim... he must be out of his mind." He said it like he was trying to convince himself more than me, but his concern was real enough.
"Don't flatter yourself, kid." I shot him a look as we reached the top landing, leaning casually against the wall. "Haven't lost my mind just yet, and I sure as hell don't do charity work."
"Oh, yeah?" he pressed, looking between me and Izuku, who just stood there, eyes darting nervously. "Deku said you're in this because you're Aya's... 'friend.'" The way he spat the word made me grin.
"Let's put it this way." I rubbed my jaw thoughtfully, savoring the tension. "I'm getting a pretty damn special reward from Aya if I play nice today." My grin widened, letting the meaning hang in the air like smoke.
"Yeah, yeah, save it." Katsuki's voice cut through, as sharp as ever. He was the last to reach the top and not happy about it. "You should be the one to open the doors, genius. I don't want to know what sick shit's going down in there."
I shrugged. He wasn't wrong; whatever waited behind them was probably not fit for their eyes—or anyone's, really.
"Well, one of us has to look too," Izuku reasoned, glancing at Katsuki with that desperate kind of logic that only works in theory. "We can't just blindly trust Dabi."
"Like hell, I'm doing it!" Katsuki snapped, throwing his arms up like he'd explode on the spot if pushed any further.
"I don't wanna see what they're doing to Eijiro or Mineta either," the blond kid muttered, face twisted in disgust. The image clearly haunted him before the door even cracked open.
Izuku sighed, steeling himself. "Fine. I'll do it. Come on, Dabi." He stepped forward,I pushed off the wall, falling in step beside him as we moved down the darkened hallway together, the dim lights making our shadows drag along the walls like something out of a bad dream. Six doors lined the hallway, three on each side. The air was heavy, choking us with every step. We started with the left.
Standing in front of the first door, an unsettling feeling clawed its way up my spine. There was something about bursting into a room where—let's face it—God-knows-what was going down that didn't sit right with me. You don't interrupt those kinds of moments, no matter how urgent. I glanced over at Izuku, who looked like he was having the same thought.
"Just open the damn door already!" Katsuki's shout practically rattled the walls. "What if they're being tortured right now?!"
Izuku flinched, face snapping to resolve as he reached for the handle. Before he could grab it, I caught his wrist. His eyes widened in surprise, meeting mine.
"I'll do it," I said, voice low but firm. "Keep your eyes closed. If you hear something, you can take a peek."
He nodded, squeezing his eyes shut like he was bracing for an explosion.
I took a breath, steadying myself for whatever nightmare waited behind that door. One twist of the handle, and I pushed it open. I'd prepped myself for something awful—really, I had. But what I saw... wasn't even close to what I expected.
There sat Eijiro, fully clothed, perched on the edge of the bed like he was holding a motivational seminar. Two young women were sprawled on the carpet at his feet, their faces streaked with tears as they clutched tissues.
"And that's why I dye my hair red," Eijiro concluded with all the earnestness in the world, his voice thick with pride.
I leaned back, barely containing my disbelief. "Hey, Izuku, I think we've found him," I muttered.
Izuku cautiously cracked one eye open. "Huh? Eijiro!" He rushed into the room like it was some long-awaited reunion.
"Deku?" Eijiro jumped up, relief and confusion crossing his face all at once. "What are you doing here? I mean, it's great to see you, but seriously—what's going on?"
"We were worried. You guys didn't come upstairs," Izuku explained, eyes flicking to the two women still blotting their tears.
"You're... the coolest guy we know, Eijiro," one of them sniffled, looking up at him like he was some sort of deity.
"Super cool," the other one sobbed, nodding vigorously.
"Oh, c'mon, it's nothing," Eijiro mumbled, his face turning as red as his hair.
"Stay with us a little longer?" one of the women pleaded, her voice wobbling with hope.
Eijiro let out a sigh, shaking his head with genuine regret. "I'm really sorry, ladies, but... I'm expected somewhere else." His gaze shifted toward the door, landing on me. The second he saw my face, his whole demeanor twisted into panic. "W-what ishedoing here?!"
"Dabi?" Izuku looked back at him, unfazed. "I wrote in the group chat that a villain's with us today."
Eijiro fumbled for his phone, thrusting it in Izuku's face. "You wrote: 'A villain is hanging out with us today, but he's chill, I think.' Deku, this isn't justanyvillain—this is Dabi!"
Ah, so I have a bit of a reputation with the kiddies. Fascinating. "Yeah, well, if I said exactly who we were with, it'd have turned into chaos," Izuku said, walking over to me. "And he's actually been... kinda cool today. Helped us find you, didn't he?" Eijiro trailed behind him, wearing a mix of suspicion and unease on his face.
I gave Eijiro a pointed look as he stepped out of the room. "Tell me, then. What are a bunch of snot-nosed kids doing in a brothel to begin with?"
Eijiro leaned against the doorframe opposite me, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. "Well... it all started when we walked into Kabukichō. Denki and I spent the whole way trying to hold Mineta back so he wouldn't dart into one of these places. But by the time we got here... we couldn't stop him. The idiot charged in like a crazed animal."
"Sounds about right." My voice dripped with annoyance. Izuku caught my look, his eyes pleading like he was begging me not to make it worse.
"Anyway," Eijiro continued, "when we tried to get him back, he was already upstairs somewhere. Denki got dragged off by some woman, but I managed to slip away and followed Mineta up here. That's when these two girls grabbed me and, uh, well, locked me in their room." He let out a nervous chuckle, staring down at his feet like the floor was suddenly fascinating.
"But they didn't... do anything to you, right?" Izuku's voice wavered, worry written all over him.
"Nah, we just talked," Eijiro said, waving it off. "But Mineta... I think he's in trouble." He jabbed his thumb towards the far end of the hallway, pointing to the last door.
"What kind of trouble?" I asked.
"He was screaming his head off," Eijiro said with a crooked laugh, "but between us? Whatever's happening, he probably deserves it. Might knock some sense into him, you know? Kid's gotta learn somehow."
"You guys are seriously worse than the League of Villains..." I grumbled, making my way to the last door where Mineta seemed to be holed up. I was just thankful I didn't have to open all the other doors in this den of horrors. But before I could reach it, the sound of Mineta's screams cut through the muffled noise, loud enough to make the walls seem to tremble.
Izuku and Eijiro followed close behind. "Oh man," Izuku muttered, dread creeping into his voice. "I don't even wanna know what's happening in there... but we have to get him out."
He was right. Whatever was going on behind that door couldn't be good. With a sigh, I swung it open. And the scene inside? Well, it was something to behold. A grin broke out across my face.
On the bed was a woman—at least, the top half was—her human torso twisted into something like a caricature of normalcy. But the lower half? A mess of insect legs, a writhing cockroach monstrosity. And in those legs, flailing and screaming, was Mineta, tossed around like a rag doll as she laughed and spun him in circles, her insectoid limbs curling around him in sadistic delight.
"Hey, guys, check this out," I waved them over, unable to hide my amusement. Izuku peeked through the doorway, his face paling as he whispered, "Mineta..." The word barely escaped his lips, the horror too much to form anything else.
Eijiro stood beside me, and as soon as he took it in, he doubled over with laughter, clutching the doorframe to keep from collapsing. Denki showed up next, quickly joining in, and the two were howling like they'd just heard the punchline of the world's best joke. Katsuki took a single glance, his lip curling in disgust, and immediately turned his back to the scene, storming towards the stairs.
"Holy shit!Get him out of there, and let's go!" he yelled, his voice trailing off as he refused to look back.
He was right. I didn't want to waste another second in this cesspool either. With a resigned sigh, I walked into the room, heading straight for the twisted little scene in front of me. The insect-woman's eyes locked onto mine, her grip on the kid tightening as she coiled her legs around him.
"No! He's mine! Just a little longer!" she shrieked, her voice grating on the ears like nails on a chalkboard.
"D-Dabi?! What areyoudoing here?!" Mineta stammered, sweat beading down his forehead. His wide-eyed panic almost made this worth it.
"I'm playing hero today. Don't you see?" I grumbled, grabbing him by the leg and yanking him free of her grasp. He came loose with ease, dangling upside down in my grip. I glared at him, my irritation growing. This idiot was the reason I was stuck in this ridiculous mess.
"What do you mean?! Can someone explain what's happening here?!" he screamed, flailing his arms like a helpless bug. Eijiro and Denki burst into another round of laughter, while Izuku stood off to the side, his expression still laced with concern.
"Dabi, I think all the blood's rushing to his head. Maybe let him down?" Izuku suggested, his voice strained with that persistent worry of his.
"I'll put him down in the elevator. He lost that privilege," I shot back, marching out of the room with Mineta still hanging from my grip.
"Give me back my toy! I'm not finished with him yet!" the insect-woman shrieked, fists clenching as she took a step forward.
"Or what?" I paused, glancing over my shoulder. She recoiled, fear flickering in her eyes.
"The kid's underage, in case you didn't know," I hissed. "If you keep whining, we'll call the cops." Never thought I'd hear myself say that, of all things.
"Damn it!" she spat, punching the mattress in frustration as I walked out.
We headed down the stairs, and of course, the pimp was already waiting for us at the bottom. His eyes narrowed as he watched us approach. "Well, well. Turns out therewerekids here after all."
Izuku, always the one to shoulder the blame, stammered, "Please forgive us for the inconvenience; we'll make sure to keep a closer eye on him from now on." He bowed slightly, lingering by the exit.
"Why is he apologizing?" I grumbled, brushing past the pimp and heading toward the hallway leading to the elevator.
"No clue. He always does that," Katsuki muttered, stomping along beside me, eyes fixed forward.
"We're almost at the elevator. Could you maybe... let me down now?" Mineta mumbled, his voice faint. "Everything's starting to go black…"
I tightened my grip, ignoring him as we waited. Denki sighed in relief as he pressed the button. "It took four guys and a villain just to drag Mineta out of a brothel. You know, Mineta, I wish you had this level of enthusiasm when we're getting attacked by the League of Villains."
"Let's just hope he doesn't pull this crap again," Eijiro added, glancing down at the dangling mess that was Mineta.
After what felt like another eternity, the elevator finally arrived, its doors creaking open. Without a word, I swung Mineta inside, letting him smack against the mirrored wall and slide down like a bird hitting a window.
I stepped in first, and the others filed in behind me. Someone pressed the button, and we began our slow ascent, the cramped space filled with silence and the distant hum of the machinery.
"But can we please talk about the fact that there are actually guys who... you know... with that insect-whore?" Denki suddenly blurted out, shattering the silence.
The response was instantaneous. "No!" The word came in unison, a chorus of voices filled with equal parts horror and revulsion.
"Alright, alright, I'll drop it," Denki muttered, his enthusiasm squashed.
A moment of quiet, then Eijiro squinted at me. "Okay, different question: why are you wearingthatshirt?"
"Aya ruined mine," I replied curtly. I didn't have the patience for a long explanation with these brats. They'd already ruined my evening plans with her.
"She didn't ruin it; you bit her leg, and the tray of drinks fell on you," Izuku corrected, his tone uncharacteristically sharp.
"W-what? YoubitAya's leg?" Denki's eyes widened, staring at me like I'd just committed a war crime.
"Yeah, and I'd do it again," I hissed, rolling my eyes, unwilling to entertain the drama.
Mineta, who'd been suspiciously quiet up until now, suddenly spoke with a cold, unnatural calm. "He probably did it on purpose too."
"Maybe," I shrugged, keeping my eyes fixed on the metal door. I was already counting down the seconds until I could escape this cramped, suffocating box of teenage idiocy.
"I knew it," Mineta hissed. "He set that act up just to wear her shirt. That way, it smells like him."
Clever guess, but I wasn't about to confirm it. I kept my gaze fixed forward, lips sealed.
"Why would he do that?" Eijiro asked, frowning.
"Why? So she'll unconsciously smell him and miss him. The guy's a snake. You gotta watch out for him," Mineta replied, blinking up at me with a self-satisfied smirk. I scowled. The little rat had figured out my plan and had the nerve to announce it.
"Wait, what? So he's seriously making a move onourAya?" Denki snapped, his glare piercing through me.
Our Aya?The words grated against my nerves, stoking the simmering rage from earlier. What did that even mean "their Aya"?
"He put his tongue in her ear earlier," Katsuki suddenly threw out, his tone casual, almost indifferent. I couldn't tell if he was trying to back me into a corner or just stirring the pot for fun. Either way, I didn't care. If anything, it saved me the „trouble" of doing it again.
The gasp that followed was almost comical. Denki, Eijiro, and Mineta all recoiled, eyes bulging in disbelief.
"You vilecreep! First, you kidnap our classmate, and now you seduce our intern?" Eijiro growled, stepping closer, his muscles tensing as if ready for a fight.
"Just look at him! He's probably done even worse!Who knows where else he's put his tongue!" Mineta snapped, closing in from the other side, eyes wide with a mix of disgust and fear.
"He even bragged about gettingsomething damn specialfrom Aya if he behaves today!" Denki shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at me. "Yeah, that's exactly what he said! God, this guy isawful!"
"Guys, this is none of our business," Izuku interjected, clearly trying to defuse the brewing storm.
Luckily for him, the elevator door slid open just then. Without waiting for an invitation, I shoved my way out, leaving them to chase after me down the hallway toward Aya's door.
"Wait, you haven't saidanything!" Denki called, his footsteps echoing off the walls as they followed close behind.
"Come on, what's going on between you and Aya?" Eijiro pressed, his voice tinged with desperate curiosity.
"It's obvious! The guy's afreak!" Mineta shouted, his voice almost breaking with frustration.
"Everyone shut up!" Katsuki finally roared, his voice cutting through the chaos like a whip. A sudden, heavy silence fell over us, freezing the scene in place.
I rang the doorbell, listening to the soft padding of her footsteps on the other side. And then came the sound that grated on my nerves—the clatter of that damn safety chain."Why does she always put the chain on when I'm at the door?" I muttered, irritation creeping into my voice.
"Are you seriously asking that?" Izuku shot back, his glance sharp with a mix of disbelief and annoyance.
The door creaked open just a sliver at first. Aya's head slowly appeared, peeking out like a ghost from the edge of the door. "Oh, it's you," she said, sounding almost surprised. She undid the chain and swung the door open, but before I could move or speak, the brats surged forward, shoving past me like a pack of hyenas closing in on prey.
"Please tell us this freak isn't your boyfriend!" Denki pleaded, eyes wide with desperation.
"You're a super sexy woman! You could haveanyone,don't pickhim,Aya!" Mineta whined, wringing his hands as if that would somehow change reality.
"If he's giving you trouble, forcing you into anything, just say the word," Eijiro hissed, his glare darting my way, filled with barely contained aggression.
And in that moment, it hit me like a punch to the gut. I didn't belong in her world. She was the moon—radiant, far away, and surrounded by admirers. And me? I was the night, the darkness that clung to her, forced eyes onto her when she just wanted to exist in peace. I had no right to stay here, to keep being the shadow that forced her into explanations she shouldn't have to give.
So I hung back, letting Katsuki and Izuku step inside first. I had no intention of lingering any longer, no desire to keep making her life more complicated. I was about to leave, ready to mutter my goodbyes at the door. I'd return her shirt some other time.
But then, something unexpected happened. Aya pushed through the three boys like they were nothing more than obstacles, closing the distance between us in an instant. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around me, pressing her ear to my chest as if drawn to the rhythm of my heartbeat. "My hero," she whispered, her voice so soft it nearly dissolved into the air.
Warmth flooded through me, something I hadn't felt in what seemed like forever. The anger, the hatred, the constant simmering aggression—all of it dissipated in was this feeling?It wasn't the usual surge of adrenaline I got when I looked at her, that dark thrill. No, this was different. Softer, tender... almost beautiful in its simplicity...
Big thanks! The saga continues soon!