Estelle had never been more grateful to Katsuki when he led her back to her room, barking at the other classmates that they were leaving. Anwir had made his departure reasonably quickly after giving her the news. Estelle felt her mind disconnect from her body when the door closed behind him. It was as if she had lost all semblance of emotion; she scarcely listened to the others around her as they gathered in droves, seemingly elated over the good news.

She could stay.

The thought struggled to register in her brain, a sensation resembling shock flooding her veins as the voices around her turned into mindless chatter. Estelle tried to bob her head to the conversations flickering in and out of her consciousness, but it was difficult for her to understand what was happening. Katsuki caught on quickly to her state of mind, clocking how overwhelmed she was.

His sweaty hand seized hers, clasping it gently as he avidly ignored the others. He pulled her into the elevator and smashed his thumb into the button for the second floor. Estelle didn't even register the gentle leading, and by the time she got to her room, she stood there, her eyes staring ahead like she was utterly lost.

The rumble of Katsuki's voice momentarily broke her daze: "You still need to rest and recover, sweetheart."

Sometimes, Estelle wondered where this side of his came from. Yet, the thought didn't linger as the blonde's hand clutched her shoulder, directing her towards her bed. Lifting up the blanket so her frame could slide between the covers, Estelle tried to reach out but was only met with a blanket. Narrowing her eyes at how he was tucking her in and the satisfied expression on his face, Estelle squirmed her arm out of the covers and reached out for him once more.

Katsuki could feel his breath hitch at the silent request, his feet thudding across the ground for a moment to reach the free side of the bed. Throwing up the blanket, he was already beneath the cover by the time the fabric landed atop him. Instantly, his arms wrapped around her, tugging Estelle right to his chest with an audible groan of relief.

Estelle instantly relaxed underneath his frame, her hands holding onto his back as she felt his chin rest atop her head. Tucking in his chin, the Cambion felt a light press against her forehead before Katsuki returned to his previous position, her ears perking up as he spoke. "Missed this so much. Missed you."

Estelle's only response was to tangle their legs so there was no space left. Suddenly feeling as if she had been doused in cold water, she gravitated to his heat like a moth to a flame. It didn't feel like enough, her frame leaning further into him as if she was trying to burrow into him like a shield.

She could stay.

Pushing the thought away, Estelle clenched her arms around his middle, his body heat beginning to melt the ice in her veins. She had missed him, too. Even though he had been by her side in the hospital, there was nothing like this sensation. This comfort, this warmth, was theirs. It was these moments alone that Estelle cherished the most—their own bubble.

Estelle liked bubbles; she had liked bubbles since she had seen such an invention. Yet that didn't compare to the bubble she had with Katsuki, and it was no surprise that it was one she began to cherish.

She could stay.

Estelle hadn't realised she had tightened her grip considerably as the thought cropped back up like a honey badger. The memory of Anwir's words felt like a lightning whip across her back and heavy like a boulder. Despite the death grip she had on the body holding hers, the fact that it held her with equal strength put her at ease.

"Don't think about it right now; just rest," Katsuki reminded her, his voice holding a little steel.

It was precisely what the Cambion needed. The tension within her shoulders began to ease as a few simple words gathered the pressure she had started to feel and placed it in a box in the corner of the room, like a task for another day. The sudden release almost brought a tear to her eye. Why did the comfort come from the person who deserved to hear her answer the most?

They would figure it out later.


Estelle thought she would have a typical morning at least, but the moment she woke and headed downstairs, she was greeted by a sight she didn't want to believe. Anwir seemed perfectly content to make himself right at home in their dining room, a grin on his face as he ate and chatted away with the other students.

The sight of Anwir, so old and nearly grey, made Estelle take her hand away from the one holding hers. The reminder and shock hit her core once more as the memories of yesterday lingered in her mind. She was staring, she needed to stop-

Katsuki scowled in dissatisfaction beside her, his eyes unable to move away from the female beside him. Retaking her hand, he swiftly led her to their usual seats, nudging her to sit whilst she gaped at the older Cambion like he was an alien.

"- and so that's why the barrier was placed between the human realm and the spirit realm, there were too many Cambions being created, and it was causing tension-"

Izuku's eyes popped out of his head as he listened to the history lesson, evidently fascinated by all the intricacies of Estelle's world she had never bothered to explain. "I don't understand. How were Cambions created?"

Anwir seemed to flush, his eyes flickering away for a moment as he answered, "Ah, it's a complicated mating process-"

"Is this old man seriously going to explain spirit sex to us?!" Katsuki couldn't help but interrupt, his head so close to Estelle's ear that she could feel the warmth crawl to her neck. The question made the female snort, a subtle grin on her face at the apparent disgust in his voice.

The sound quickly caught Anwir's attention. His eyes dilated, his head snapping to Estelle like he had seen an alien. She couldn't help but see the humour in their looks. Pausing, a smile landed on his face as he uttered, "Estelle! How are you feeling?"

Estelle could feel herself sobering up quickly, "I'm fine; I'm ready to begin hearing the details of what's happening around Japan."

"Right. Luckily, your squad showed me to your map, so I followed all the directions, and everything proceeded as planned. Due to the high number of spirits I brought, we expanded the camp, and I've made new squads to cover the blind spots in each area."

Estelle passed a look of approval, knowing that if she was in his place, she would have done precisely the same thing, "The activities of the darklings?"

"Minimal. They're recovering as we speak, so we wanted to take as many bases as possible while they were weak. I suspect many have gone underground until the final battle proceeds."

"Expectancy?"

"One week."

Estelle paid no mind to all the students moving their heads back and forth as they listened to the conversation, their eyes captivated by the display. It was effortless, which made sense considering their history. The two of them are all too familiar with the aspects of war.

Anwir shifted to a pause, taking a breath as if he was bracing himself for the words. "Estelle, you overseen the last war completely on your own. It's time someone came to ease your burden, and since I'm now the adult, it's only right I shoulder that for you. Leave me the squad work; let me control our forces whilst you focus on Nyx."

Estelle tensed, an expression of unease lining her as she regarded the man before her, "I'd rather control the troops, too."

"No, you'd rather have control, that's different."

Estelle couldn't help but feel like she had suddenly entered the room with Hound-Dog, utterly naked for a moment, as she ruminated over the statement. The sound that slipped by her lips was totally out of her control, sounding all too much like a walrus coming up for air, "Hah?"

Throwing his head back to give a hearty laugh, Anwir allowed himself a moment before he faced Estelle again, "You've always done things alone, so it makes sense for you to resist when someone else also wants to hold the reins. But you can't be in two places simultaneously for this to work. We'll discuss all the details and routes before the battle, and everything I do will be pre-approved by you."

Feeling completely seen, Estelle bit back her own annoyance at how right he was. Bobbing her head in understanding, she relented, "Fine, then I leave it to you. I'll handle Nyx."

"Good. These wrinkly hands couldn't."

"Fair point."

"Well, that's enough boring war talk!" Katsuki interjected, a bark to his tone as he rolled his eyes, already fed up with the conversation.

"Alright, alright, fine!" Estelle couldn't help but chuckle, her hand patting his in reassurance before finally turning to the cereal in front of her. When did that get there? she wondered as her eyes gradually drifted to the blond looking away with a pout. Ah.

"You know, I've never heard you laugh before."

Trying not to make a face, Estelle failed miserably as her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. The obvious look of fascination on the older man's face made her want to crawl into a hole and snap at anyone who approached like a rabid wolf defending her den.

"You should keep doing that," Anwir finished, his eyes resembling soft, gooey marshmallows as he viewed the girl like she had handed him his very own Dimond-encrusted katana.

Estelle knew her cheeks were blazing red as she scowled at the words. Why did he have to say them for everyone to hear? Now, they were all looking at her like the world had fallen apart before their very eyes (which it kinda sorta did, considering the crack in the sky.) She had to bite back the urge to assure them she was fine and that it was a different time. A time when she neglected everything about herself for the spirits around her.

"You know my offer still stands."

The spoon Estelle had finally picked up slowly dropped back into the bowl. Her eyes zoned in on the older man, looking across at her with a delicate smile. Taken aback by the declaration, she had missed the blonde's stare of disapproval as he glowered down at the metal utensil. "The one before I left?"

"Even though I am an old man now, I would still appreciate the company."

"What offer is he talking about?" Shoto was brisk to butt in, taking Katsuki's thunder as he narrowed his eyes at Anwir.

Estelle's gaze fell to the bowl before her as Anwir explained, "Before Estelle and I departed ways, I offered for us to spend the rest of our days together."

The class seemed to unanimously shoot to their feet, their eyes vast with shock as their thoughts ran a mile a minute. This changed everything. Was it a proposal? Did he fancy the warrior to the point that he offered to spend his life with her? Is that why he looked for her? Was he a knight in shining armour looking for his missing and long-lost love?!

"What?!" Various voices shouted in unison, Katsuki's voice more potent than the rest.

At this point, the only two people seated were Estelle and Anwir, their eyes scouring the expressions of the others. The apparent malfunction happening in their heads was all too obvious, and if they looked close enough, they could see the souls rising from their bodies. Estelle was sure she would laugh if the topic wasn't so uncomfortable.

"You propositioned her?!" Kaminari finally choked out, Katsuki's thunder stolen once again as he boiled next to Estelle in outrage.

"Oh no!" Anwir laughed. "Since humans hate Cambions, and we are the only two left, it felt right that we joined each other in isolation from the rest of the world. It would be hard to stay sane staying alone forever. It's no more than that, especially now that I'm reaching old age."

Katsuki ultimately appeared to explode with the last sentence as he jumped forward, the table stopping him from falling face first, "What?! Would it have been different if you continued being close in age?!"

Estelle wavered, the question taking her entirely by surprise. Her eyes broadened as she looked back and forth from Katsuki to Anwir. She couldn't stop the tint of pink showing on her ears, wondering if the world could swallow her whole. It felt weird to be a part of the conversation, never mind the fact it was happening with a man who looked like he was reaching past middle age.

"Maybe, but we'll never find out."

Choking on her own spit, Estelle pretended to clear her throat as the ruby-eyed male shot her a glare at her reaction. Attempting to look away, she had a niggling feeling she made things worse as she flashed the redness in her ears.

Leaning back, Katsuki retook his seat, his shoulder rubbing against Estelle's as his eyes blazed crimson, "tch."

The male cambion unwound, satisfied he was no longer under scrutiny, as he turned his watch back onto Estelle. "I mean it; it doesn't matter what could have been. What matters is that we shouldn't have to be alone. Think about it; I'm sure it would be great to have a friend around-"

"But we're her friends-" Tsu tries to interject.

"-One that understands what you've been through."

Every human heart in the vicinity dropped at the hidden meaning of his words. They couldn't believe what they were hearing and didn't want to. Of course, they never lived through the ordeals of her life, but that didn't mean they didn't understand them or know the implications or impacts they had caused on her life. For him to use it as a means for her to return was cruel, and they all knew it.

Katsuki was ready to blow another casket, his face red hot like he was prepared to leap onto the table and throw beads of explosive sweat into every crevice the older man had on his body, each damn wrinkle if required, before he blew it up. Steam rolled off him in waves, a grit to his teeth that evidently appeared to be hurting him to maintain.

"Isn't that cruel when you ain't got many years left, old man?" Katsuki barked, his ruby eyes narrowed like he wouldn't let such a thing slide.

"I may not have as long as Estelle, but I'll make each second count."

Katsuki snorted, hiding the tremble in his frame as he retorted, "And what happens after? She'll have nobody."

"It's simply a choice for her. If she wants to spend her time with me, with the life I have left, I will gladly spend it with her," the man states, his eyes warning everyone that he wouldn't retract his offer.

The rest of the class was speechless, mulling over the conversation with a strange sort of fear. Even though Estelle was adamant about returning home, they always felt confident they could convince her to stay. Why would she want to return to a place where nothing remained but anger and sadness? But now, she had something, someone to go back to.

It suddenly felt more real.


Katsuki was acting strange after the ordeal at the dining table. His response to the others seemed more volatile and aggressive, as he shut down every opportunity for discussion. Baffled by his sudden change in tone, Estelle wasn't given the chance to call him out on it, considering he was now force-feeding her the cereal like it was his own responsibility.

When the food entered her belly, and she was satisfied, his hand grabbed her own, quickly extracting her from the table and dragging her past the living room and towards the elevator. Stunned from the sudden whiplash, she tried to question, "Katsuki, what's going-"

"Wait," the male briskly snapped back, the word pushed out of his throat so fiercely that it gave her pause. Examining him quietly as the elevator moved, Estelle noted how his ruby eyes seemed so much darker than before, like a man ready to embark on the mission of his life.

The sheer heaviness of the gaze wasn't lost on her, and so she allowed him to pull her inside her room, the door slamming shut behind them. The room felt tense, her shoulders tightening like she had entered a viper's den. Yet, it didn't feel unsafe; Katsuki never made her feel that way.

Parting her lips to question him further, Estelle made a noise of stupefaction as her back suddenly hit the door behind her. Hands clasped her shoulders, holding so tight that she wondered if she would bruise. Her eyes widened as she gazed up at Katsuki, her mouth opening slightly in wonder. She suddenly felt like she had stepped on a mine she wasn't aware existed.

Demanding lips suddenly met her own, taking her breath away as hot air melded with hers. Harsh lips pressed against her, filled with a desperation that forced her to let out a searing gasp. Katsuki's body hovered over her, his clammy hands still pinning her against the wooden panel as he simply devoured her lips like a man possessed. Like every kiss she had ever shared with the spiky blonde male, it was filled with warmth that reached her toes, which curled from the sensation.

Her hands trailed to his hair, a groan harmonising with his as she sank into the kiss so quickly it was like they were two parts of a whole. Her mind turned blank, her stomach clenching as if it was holding its own pool of lava he had created just for himself. She could feel his hands move down, cupping her waist and leaving a trail of inferno with every inch he grazed over. Their mouths moved so fast that it was hard to tell when one ended and the other began.

Estelle hadn't even realised she was chasing his lips when he parted from her, his frame leaning back to let out a heavy breath, his nose nudging hers as he didn't give her what she was secretly asking for. More.

"Stay."

Blinking quickly to try to formulate a response, Estelle moaned as she was suddenly met with another kiss, more profound and longer than the last. Blood roared in her veins, the lava building up to her lungs as she felt his tongue slide into hers with such ease that her eyes nearly rolled upwards. Why was every facet of him so scalding? Estelle felt like she had just entered the atmosphere and was now too close to the sun, her cheeks glowing pink as Katsuki played with her mouth like he treasured every bit of it.

"Stay."

As if he was planning to make her combust, Estelle groaned as he returned to the kiss, his hands now wrapped underneath her thighs, lifting her up smoothly to make his way towards her bed. The feeling of hitting the mattress didn't even register, the heat of the kiss making her almost dizzy from the sheer onslaught of sensations.

Gods, that mouth of his, his hands playing with her waist, the way he towered over her like a pillar that refused to bend, all took her breath away. Estelle doubted anything he did would be considered unattractive in her eyes.

Wrenching his lips from hers, Katsuki focused his attention on her neck, his tongue extremely slow as he glided it across her pulse, "You know, I think I would do anything for you. Somehow, you've wormed your way into every thought in my damn mind-" He began between slow kisses on the pulse he was abusing. "All I want is to see you with me, happy, content like you should have been all these years. So, stay. Whatever you want, it's yours."

Estelle jerked, white flames cracking down to her stomach as she felt his fangs sink into her pulse, a breathless pant leaving her as every action within this moment made her body flare. His lips imparted lightning bolts with every inch of skin he touched. It was hard to formulate words, gods, it was hard to even think-

"You want to stop fighting? You won't even need to hurt a damn fly. You want to live in the woods alone and see nobody else but me; it'll be the first damn purchase I make after I become a hero. If you wanna travel the world and see every damn animal on the planet, I'll take you to every spot you want. Hell, if you want me to go with you, let me pack my bags. Do you understand?"

Katsuki had stopped his attack as he spoke, the words filled with steel of resolution that made her eyes enlarge in disbelief. It was so strong that Estelle wondered if she needed a moment to understand that this was real, that he wanted her so badly he was willing to do anything. His eyes seemed to see through her despite how aggressive they appeared, his frame hovering over her. It didn't seem to matter, though, because the effect of those words hit just as badly as his eviscerating kisses, every syllable leaving an impact on Estelle's soul. She almost felt queasy.

Staring up at the man slotted between her legs, Estelle took a moment to honestly think (and breathe). Now that there was proof she didn't need to return to her world and that there would be no impact, it meant that there was nothing stopping her from staying. Was there anything holding her back? Was there anything she needed to return to?

Her heart thundered in her chest as she gazed at Katsuki. The answer was so obvious it was almost painful. This man, this very one, had spent so long caring for her like nobody else had. He had guided her in aspects of this world she had never seen before and spent so much time talking about her world and arguing against all the shitty aspects of it. He had cherished her, stayed by her side, shared her burdens, and made her laugh like it was normal.

Even if he was aggressive, struggled to be vulnerable and was downright crude at times, Estelle had never doubted him. This man was so good to her that it seemed criminal to even have him within her vicinity. Yet he fought with her, clawing tooth and nail to ensure the space next to her was always for him. The answer seemed so clear.

She couldn't forget about the class. They had accepted every part of her, allowed her to process her experiences, and never shamed her for her own horrible actions. They bought her a camera, allowed her to spend Christmas with them, and gave her a birthday. They never treated her like anything less. And as much as Estelle loathed to admit it, they had crawled their way into her heart so seamlessly that she wondered how they had got there.

With hard work and determination.

They never faltered.

She wanted to stay with them. With him. She could.

A fire pit curled and squirmed in her stomach as Katsuki jutted his hips forward. The roll of his hips was slightly awkward, but it held enough friction to cause Estelle to gasp. Her hand clenched onto his shoulders, her eyes dilating as the new, unfamiliar sensation filled her core. The sight of his lowered eyelids, filled with something more than desire, loaded her heart with a strange fullness as he spoke, "Say you'll have me."

"Kat-" Estelle tried to speak, another jerky breath leaving her as he rolled them forward again. His hands caging her on the bed, crackling at the sound of his name.

"C'mon. You can say it through those pretty moans. Say it."

A groan left Estelle's lips as she felt another roll of his hips, the male seemingly able to get a handle on the motion now as his lips slid against her ear. It was as if a dragon had wormed its way inside her skeleton, roaring out flames that spread across any available vicinity to the point she wondered if she would breathe out smoke. Why did this feel so good-

God, Estelle wanted to say yes, she wanted this, she wanted him.

"Say it."

Yes, yes, yes, yes, I'll stay.

"No."

The two instantly froze as if the Arctic Ocean had washed over them. The blanket of security and love that had surrounded them swiftly detached as the two gazed at each other in disbelief. Katsuki moved first, leaning back as if he had been physically struck. She instantly noticed how dull his eyes were—like rubies that had been covered in dust and no longer held any shine within. His back physically curled upwards like a cat defending its territory.

His territory, meaning his heart.

Katsuki's voice shook as he questioned, "No, you won't stay?"

Estelle's throat felt so tight that she hadn't even realised her voice mimicked his, a shakiness within her words filled with evident fear. "I won't stay."

The female felt a weight in her throat. It was as if someone had held her by the neck, lodged a rock down her oesophagus and demanded her to swallow. Yet, she needed to speak; none of this made any sense-

Before she could think further, Katsuki had completely removed himself, his hair shielding his eyes from view as he stood, uttering a cold, "Right."

Estelle scrambled off the bed, the ice that had been dumped across them now making itself home within her veins. She shuddered, the heaviness around her growing as she hurried to his side. Maybe if she tried again, she would do it correctly? Perhaps she was too nervous to admit she wanted to stay and that her words weren't co-insiding with her feelings?

"What I'm trying to say is that I won't stay-"

"I heard you the first time."

Estelle was really feeling it now, the ice making her limbs tremble as the rock lodged in her throat felt like it was beginning to suffocate her. Her hands grabbed onto his broad shoulders in an attempt to make him look at her, but the man refused, unmovable against her attempts. The air in her lungs felt tight as she tried again, her pulse quickening as she forced out, "I won't stay."

"Shut up, Estelle."

To all the dragons above, why was she struggling to breathe? Why couldn't she say what she wanted to say?! It was maddening, and the air was gathering around her like shackles. Blood roared in her ears, her heart thumping alongside it like a symphony, and her lips felt like static. She wanted to stay with them and be with them all. She just had to try again.

"I won't stay, I won't stay, I won't stay."

Estelle could hear the panicked breathing, but she couldn't tell who it was coming from, her eyes beginning to hurt from the sheer stress. The ice was starting to ache, and her mouth felt like she had mothballs stuck inside. Hands suddenly pushed her away, grabbing her shoulders instead as Estelle felt like her mind was continuously detaching and tethering itself back to reality. Katsuki's voice managed to break through her state, her body tensing as she witnessed the rage present in his tone.

"You done torturing me? I heard you the first damn time you said it. Do you think it's funny or something, hah? Do you enjoy tearing my heart out and stomping on it for your satisfaction? Stop it. I don't want to hear anymore. I'm done here."

Estelle knew as he walked away that the panicked breathing was her own, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to call out to him, but the rock in her throat was embedded so profoundly that she winced in pain instead. It hurt. Oh gods, it hurt-

The sound of the door slamming behind him made the female drop to her knees, her hands going to her throat as she tried to breathe. Her forehead touched the ground, the ice within changing from pain to numbness as her mind struggled to cope with it. Her nails dug into the wooden panels. The rock was too tight; she needed to get it out. It was too much, painful to the point she debated taking a knife to her own throat to get it to stop. She couldn't get enough oxygen-

Before she could think on it further, the black tinged around her sight began to cloud her entire vision, her body turning limp as she succumbed to the lack of air.