I decided to prioritise writing over editing until I reach the end of the current ARC. Update will be slower from now on.
Making out had been the highlight of his afternoon, even if it left him confused about what to feel. The newfound activity was something Mei had quickly learned her way around, and she had started kissing him at random. Not that he was any better; he absolutely enjoyed kissing her, and he was responsible for his fair share of sudden tongue action. Unfortunately, his girlfriend had an episode of creation-induced manic state, leaving her in her own little world for the last part of the day. She had been busy scrounging through some old box for a good part of the day, and so far, she had yet to stop her search for something. He had tried to ask, but she hadn't answered due to being so deep in her thoughts she hadn't noticed him shouting, and she probably wouldn't anytime soon, unless he was a bit more rough with her, and there was no way he would ever act that way with her.
While Mei was busy lugging scrap around, Takuma had been busy with a more surreal activity. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary for anyone else; he was just being weird, or maybe that's what he was telling himself to procrastinate. He was simply busy hanging the cloth Mei had bought him, or he should be because for the last hour, he had just stared at the not negligible amount of space she had made for him in her closest. Where he was supposed to place HIS cloth. Coming from a place where he'd never been able to afford more than one clean change or couldn't risk weighing himself down with them. It was something he wasn't quite ready to deal with.
Even his bag was at his feet, the bag he had bought and kept close to the door in case he needed to make a quick escape if his now-girlfriend's offer of friendship had been nothing but a trap. He knew it had been genuine now; he'd known it for a while but hadn't quite allowed himself to believe it. Even now, he wanted nothing but to put it back next to the door just in case... something happened. He didn't know what specifically, and that's what annoyed him the most. He knew, after two months living with her, she didn't mean him any harm. But his brain had yet to catch up and kept throwing him the worst scenario his imagination could come up with. He was waiting for the other shoe to drop and didn't know if it would ever come.
'This is pathetic.'
The thought never left him. He could fight a mutant twice his size and number of arms without a second thought, but hanging cloth was too much for him. Takuma felt like a joke.
He was seated on her bed, in her room. A place that turned out was filled with trinkets and so many random things he wondered where they had come from. The few occasions he had to peer into her room before had been quick things he had refused to do for privacy's sake. Now it was different. Since he had been invited in, he could see so many knick-knacks and toys he couldn't recognize the use of half of them. From children's toys to cubes and ball bearings made from scrap and weird-looking iron. It was also a mess, with so many clothes on the ground, chair, and desk. If she ever used it as such. He was absolutely going to clean her room. The two places he couldn't allow to get dirty were the kitchen and the bedroom. He had seen enough people shit themselves to death for a lifetime, and he didn't want to risk catching something due to where he slept, so this too wouldn't do.
It took him another hour before he could slowly and painstakingly hang his clothes. He let out a humorless chuckle when he was done. "Stop being stupid," he whispered to himself.
It was fine; he was fine. He pushed his bag to the bottom of the closet and closed the door. His hands were shaking; he felt wrong, nervous, and had to go through a few breathing exercises before the feeling left him, cold sweat on his skin as he finally left the room. "Done, now leave me alone, brain. I'm tired of you."
He left her room and went to check on Mei. He could feel her coming down from her invention high, and she was growing more excited by the minute, meaning she either just had an idea that would have her working late into the night, or she had just finished working on one of her babies. He hoped it was the latter; his girlfriend needed some sleep. Takuma opened the door that led to the hangar, already aware she was vibrating in excitement as she put the finishing touch on... something. Just because she was okay with him looking into her head didn't mean he was, so he had no clue as to what she was working on. He didn't quite sneak up on her; he certainly didn't try to, but she was entirely absorbed by her work, and he doubted she would have flinched at a car smashing through a wall.
He couldn't quite pinpoint the exact moment she was back in the land of the living; something shifted in her mind, it slowed down and lost its finely honed edge, returning to the jumbled-up mess that was his girlfriend's usual train of thought. Her hyperfixation was something he had learned to recognize. Standing a few feet away, as to not scare her, he waited for her to put the finishing touch on her work. She was fiddling with something small; her goggles were put to good use as she was soldering some kind of component together. His cue to know he could reveal himself came in the form of Mei raising the sight-shaped glasses from over her eyes and back on her head.
"Perfect, heh heh heh," she said to herself with a self-satisfied chuckle.
"What is it?" he asked. She jumped a little at his voice, low as it was; he couldn't help the fact that from her point of view, he had just come out of nowhere. "Sorry."
"Come here!" she shouted over his apology. "I need you to try them on!" she added, handing him a pair of... earbuds?
"I don't know anything about music," he stated, not quite sure what he was supposed to use those for, but he complied all the same. "They fit nicely; what are they for?"
"This!" she simply told him before tapping once on the screen of her phone.
Sound. Bird chirping. Car honking. The wind, rain, and anything else, really. He wasn't quite assaulted with noise, more gently guided through a series of random noises that somehow made a complete whole. It wasn't loud; he had to focus to hear some of them.
"I saw you doing grounding techniques when we were walking back home, so I thought I could help you with one of them," she informed him, her thoughts still thrumming with excitement, yet her voice was more controlled, and she was fighting to keep still. "This is what I used when I was younger. I tended to be lost in my thoughts too much, and I was nearly run over by a car a few too many times. Mom made me a pair of earbuds that played random noise to keep me in the present. I thought I could make a pair like them, but I was lucky and found where I stored the old one; I just needed to do some small refit to allow the old code to work with the new phone and make sure it would fit your ear.
She was holding herself back, something she only did when something serious happened. And she'd made something to help with his Quirk; would it help? He didn't know. And if he was honest, he didn't care. The thought mattered more to him than all the support equipment in the world. The fact that she took one look at him struggling and thought 'I can help' made him want to weep.
Of course, he did none of that and bit his tongue hard enough for him to taste blood. Now more in control, he could start to react and endeavor not to end up a sobbing mess on the floor. "This... means more to me than you realize."
A Cheshire smile bloomed on her face. "Oh, oh, wait till I make the rest. See, it might be difficult to do, but I don't see how Touch and Smell can be a challenge," she told him, her words going faster and faster by the second.
It was now that he realized what he wanted to do, but like an idiot, he just had to bite his tongue. So he had to fall back on the next best thing after kissing. He took a step and slowly reached his arm around her until he enveloped her completely and brought her closer to him. She jumped at the opening, embracing him with the same excitement she did pretty much anything she enjoyed. He laid his head on the crown of her head as she rested her head on his chest.
"Thank you," he said, the only thing he could think of that saying couldn't even describe how much she did for him. "Thank you."
She let out a wet chuckle. "Don't go sappy on me or else I'm gonna cry," she bemoaned in a joking tone. "I didn't even start half of those projects," she tried to downplay, but he was having none of it.
"Doesn't matter," he denied. "It's the thought that counts, more than anything."
He could tell his girlfriend was readying herself to say something when her stomach grumbled loudly. He could feel the wave of embarrassment through his Quirk and physically seeing as she tried to make herself smaller. "Want me to cook something?"
"Y-Yes?"
Her shy response wasn't really what he had expected, but he wasn't one to not take an opportunity when it presented itself. So he pulled her close and swiftly swiped her off her feet, bringing her into a princess carry.
"B-Bwuh," was her intelligent response as he kissed her on the temple before carrying her toward the house.
"We're eating beef tonight."
"Yeah!" she let out after processing the sudden change and deciding to go with the flow. "I want fried rice with it!" she added, wrapping her arm around his neck.
There was nothing quite like being close to someone you loved to feel better.
"Sure," he chuckled as he crossed the door and brought her to her seat, letting her jump off when she felt ready. "Beef and fried rice coming right up," he mimicked in his best impression of a line cook.
Happiness and excitement, something Mei radiated every day. It was an addicting feeling he couldn't quite get enough of. If this is how he spent the rest of his life, he thought he would be okay with this.
As he grabbed the pan and started the gas stove, Takuma wondered how long this would last.
"How about we go somewhere again tomorrow?" Mei asked, the tapping of her finger on the counter a nice rhythm he could hardly follow, seeing as she had forgotten to turn the audio of his earbud on. "We could go to the museum; there are so many inventions I could show you."
He hummed loudly, making a show of thinking about it. "I feel like the tour guide doesn't like you very much," he commented, turning his head to watch her reaction; he saw her make a face and felt a bit of embarrassment through his Quirk. "Thought so, as long as a certain girlfriend of mine isn't skipping on her homework, then I don't see why we shouldn't go."
He returned to his cooking as Mei draped herself over the table with a groan of absolute suffering. "Don't wanna," she pitifully moaned.
"We have our afternoon then; when is Tinker supposed to deliver your stuff?" he questioned her, wondering when the balding man would visit.
"Tomorrow; he doesn't like holding on to illegal merchandise too long," she answered as she got up from the table. "He's probably going to come late."
"Duly noted," he drawled as he laid the meat in the pan with a sizzling sound. "Do you have any other shopkeepers with wacky personalities and possibly weapons of mass destruction hiding in your back pocket?"
"Nope, one is enough," she cackled with gusto. "Though on the other hand, I may have an old undead witch you can mee-"
"No, I am protecting my sanity by cutting you off," he intoned over her. "And I am very sorry for that. You'll get the bigger piece of the two," he added quickly after remembering she hated being cut off.
She hummed with some irritation. "Acceptable."
He grabbed some rice and stuffed the cooker with everything left in it.
"This one hails thine mercy!" he said, parodying as close as he could the voice of Fred'Ricks. "Dinnerth shallth beth theth goodeth!"
The sound of a choking parrot behind him. "Next time we see him, you have to do that in front of him. He might name you the anathema with a voice like that."
The good cheer in her voice was good for the soul.
"So anyway, when will the Fiery bots be done tomorrow? We can test them right after Tinker delivers the material!" she cut him off, unable to contain herself when her babies were mentioned. "I made sure to grab some more heat-resistant material; this time you aren't going to end up hurt because some stupid toe decided to stop feeling things!"
He shook his head with a smile. He didn't know how she would handle the damage the frostbite had done to his right foot; he had lost two toes on this one. It wasn't better than the numbness on his left foot, but he could deal with it. "I'm glad to hear you've updated your safety protocol for little old me. You'd have to show them to me one day."
"Ngh ngh ngh," she pouted behind him. "My safety protocols are top class, I'll have you know."
"As long as you don't blow up again, I might believe that."
"Meanie."
"Gremlin."
"And proud of it!" she declared with a delightfully evil laugh. "They won't know what hit them. Today Japan, tomorrow the world!"
He turned his head to look straight into her eyes. "At least if you take over the world, you won't have to ever drive again," he hummed while making a show of thinking of the idea. "You should do it in that case."
"My boyfriend is extra sassy lately," she stated with a feral smile. "I like it."
Was he? He didn't think he was. "What can I say, you bring the best out of me," he said with a shrug. "And I hope I can do the same for you at some point."
"I haven't burned myself or exploded in like two weeks; you're already doing it, silly."
"No Mei-plosion allowed," he reminded her in a joking tone, pointing a spatula threateningly toward her.
She raised both hands in surrender. "I can't promise anything, but I will try my best!" she said with a firm nod as if not exploding herself was a success in itself.
"Heh, good enough," he sighed with a smile that matched her own. "As long as you keep trying not to blow yourself up, we won't have any issues."
Focusing on his cooking for a second, he flipped the meat in the pan and, after a quick look at his work, turned off the stove. The rice would be done soon enough, and they would be able to eat before Mei destroyed another chocolate bar. His girlfriend, still something he had to repeat in his head to keep reminding him that this was something that was actually happening and not a figment of his imagination as he lay dead next to a dumpster. She had taken his second of inattention to walk behind him and wrap her arm around his midsection, resting her head against his back; she was content to wait for him to finish as she held him close to her, and he was a big fan of how much strength she hugged him with.
"Careful, if you keep hugging me like that, I might get used to it," he warned her jokingly as she hugged him even harder for it.
"Good, there's plenty more where that came from."
He shook his head; the day somehow caught up to him. "Today has definitely been a day."
"The dayest day ever," she agreed with a wave of joy and glee. "I didn't know what I expected today to look like. One thing's for sure, I don't mind how it turned out... mostly," she added, her mood turning somber at the... least pleasant part of the day.
This morning when he called himself used good. This afternoon when he had been through one of the most unpleasant experiences of his life. Somehow having someone getting angry on his behalf was a nice feeling.
Takuma turned around and was greeted by Mei's lips on his own. He matched the intensity, meeting her tongue with his own. He returned the embrace, helping her up as she was tip-toeing to reach him. She melted in his arms as the searing kiss came to an end. She broke contact with a deep breath, her cheek flushed with a faint reddish color. He kissed her a few more times on the lips and cheek for good measure.
"Food's ready," he told her between two kisses, the last one landing on her lips. This time he was the one leading the assault, holding the back of her head with one hand, he pushed with even more intensity than before, following her need and wants; she moaned in his mouth, and he decided now was the time to break the kiss. "Let's eat while it's still hot."
Mei sent him a look that was a cross between a kicked puppy and a miffed cat. "I'm going to die, this is heaven, and it's not even fair," she complained in his chest, giving him one last squeeze before letting go of the hug.
Mei had a competitive streak, he knew; he just didn't expect it to manifest itself when they kissed. Good to know.
He quickly filled two plates and brought them to the center table. Takuma barely had the time to cover his mouth before he yawned for a good few seconds. "Didn't feel that one coming."
He chuckled as Mei was taken by the same yawn. "Food, then sleep."
"Agreed."
They ate quickly; today had taken its toll, and Takuma was looking forward to some shut-eye, the pink-haired girl in front of him was the same. Her sometimes infinite well of energy was running low, and he doubted she would go for some nightly baby making, not tonight at least.
When they were done, he washed the plates and the pan before drying his hands. "Done, the couch never looked so appealing."
"Nuh huh huh. You're not sleeping on the couch, mister," Mei denied as she grabbed his hand and led him toward her room.
'Oh.'
"Mei, are you sure?" he felt the need to ask as she opened her bedroom door.
"I am. It's comfier than the couch, and the night can get cold. It's the logical choice!" she declared with the clunkiest argument she could have used.
"Mei using logic in her argument? What parallel universe have I fallen into," he deadpanned internally.
Takuma had cuddled for warmth more times than he could count. Sharing a blanket or simply huddling closer with someone else was a science to him.
His train of thought came to a screeching halt as he watched Mei take off her bra from under her shirt. He didn't feel any intent he usually felt when a woman did something like that around him, so the anxiety that rose within him quickly simmered down to something more manageable. He grabbed his own clothes, a shirt, and some comfy pants he enjoyed sleeping in. He took a quick detour to the bathroom where he changed before coming back to his girlfriend's room. All the while, he couldn't quite stop himself from prying if she expected anything more from tonight. He was glad she didn't. Kissing had been a delightful new experience that he had been surprised to discover didn't trigger his issue with the more intimate stuff, even if it wasn't entirely comfortable. He could still deal with it. He hoped it was something that he could overcome at some point.
Walking back into the room, he was greeted by the sight of Mei in an oversized shirt waiting for him while trying her best to keep her composure. Internally, she was alternating between hyperventilating and bouncing in joy. He needed to calm her down a bit. And he had the perfect excuse too.
"Is that the weapon holding the concentrated power of the sun?" he asked, looking at the nightlight installed in one of the electrical sockets.
Some embarrassment seeped into her as she started fiddling with her shirt. "Yep, I stubbed my toe enough times I never sleep without it," she told him. "Is that how you sleep?"
He looked himself up and down, sweatpants and shirt, socks. "Yes, better in case I need to move quickly during the night. I can't sleep if I'm not wearing clothes."
She nodded with a hint of irritation at the way he had to live until now. "Well, no one is going to attack you during the night."
And he believed her. So he walked to the bed and sat on it. He lifted the cover and barely had the time to lay on the bed before Mei landed on him. He had seen her coming this time, and she landed less roughly than the last time, and he didn't get kneed this time. Improvement. "Second time's the charm."
He pulled the cover, and they both made themselves comfortable under it. Mei laid her head on the pillow next to him, sleep already brimming in her eyes, but something that he hadn't quite felt until now was dancing in her thoughts.
"Could...I ask you something?"
It was rare for Mei not to be direct with...everything really. "Of course."
She took some time before wording her question. "When we were at the café, you listed what you like about me. I just realized you never said anything about how I look."
And she was right, he hadn't. "Do you remember, right after I went to look for your teacher and I...flinched."
Her mood dropped instantly, as she regarded him with some concern. "Yes."
"When my Quirk starts to spazz out, it isn't nothing. It's something I live with every second of every day. At some point, it started to change how my brain worked. I don't see people with my eyes, surprisingly enough. The way I see everyone is through the lens of my Quirk."
"And when you reached Quirk exhaustion?"
"I couldn't recognize you," he told her to her chagrin. "I realized where I was, but I couldn't tell if it was you or someone else. When you didn't do anything to hurt me, I kind of just assumed it was you at some point."
"So, you can't see me?" she asked with some amount of confusion.
"No, I can. But I can't quite remember you. The second you leave the range of my Quirk, I can't recognize you because the body linked to the thought is new to me. As soon as I see you again, I can put two and two together, but until then, I might as well be blind."
She frowned sadly. "Is there a way for you to see me?"
He nodded before booping her on the nose. "By letting me look at you," he told her, tracing the curve of her nose to her lip. "I never was able to remember someone by just looking at them. But I want to remember you. Your cute nose, rosy lips, and cute cheeks. Your pink dreadlocks and mesmerizing eyes."
He kept listing her features, as much for him as for her. "Just because I can't remember how you look, it doesn't mean I can't appreciate you when you're right in front of me. And I have to say, it is quite the tantalizing sight."
She snorted. "Tantalizing, really?"
"Yeah, I am feeling wordy tonight," he chuckled lightly. "Maybe I should have used another word like. Captivating? Alluring? Enchanting?"
"Stahp," she pouted with a faint blush he never tired of seeing.
"Alright, I'll be merciful. On one condition."
"Which one?" she asked with some interest.
"This one," he simply said as he rolled her over from his chest to her side and hugged her from behind. "This feels better."
Mei's answer was a squeak. The tension of being moved lessened after a few seconds, she relaxed in his arm, and he laid a few kisses on her neck and shoulder.
"Good night."
"Good night," she replied.
Somehow he fell asleep faster than he ever did.