When I cracked the file I didn't know what to expect. Nowadays most of these would be in a digital format but Endeavor's a hardcore traditionalist. Paper for every file and the dude's singlehandedly going to amp up the pollution rate.
I set the pages on the wall, the photos of charred black bodies, and the map of the killings. They were all over the city but seemed to follow a random attacker. I have the Boys out on the town trying to nail down any possible leads but if the Endeavor Agency couldn't find him how could I? That's why I have a secret weapon. Said secret weapon is sitting at my desk. I chew the end of my pen and he rolls over to the wall on my rolling chair.
"What I remember from the start of the case..." he mumbles with his blue eyes narrowing a bit, "Wait... this date." he points at one date in particular that makes my attention focus down to a razor's edge.
"It's my birthday." He breathes, "Fuyumi's... Natsuo's... even Shoto's." he stands up and looks at the victims and then back at the dates.
"We thought there wasn't a pattern but look!" he exclaims with his flames pitching up a bit, "He's going after Dad's costume guys, the PR team... we've all had to rehire after they turned up charred." his flames go down and I saunter closer.
I smile, "So, your brother's trying to hit your dad where it hurts." wrapping my arms around him and looking up at the board at the blank spot, "Kills families numbering the same as yours as symbolic of what he wants to do, and leaves one alive."
"Yeah. The biggest issue is tracking him down, he uses the charred people's credit cards and from what I know about him he's been nomadic." his brow furrows, "Still, he's gotta be staying somewhere."
"We'll find him, honey. I promise we'll stop him too." Burying my face into his hair and smelling the smoke and shampoo that he uses all mixed together, "I know you're worried about him."
He turns and looks at me with a soft look of not shock but resignation, "I... I feel responsible, Nemuri. To be honest I think I am." his voice is heavy with so much regret.
"Koyurei, you were a kid. You couldn't have known." I answer, "I've always said it but this time I really, really want you to get it in your handsome brain... you were a *kid*." I pat his cheeks and grab his hand.
"Now, how about a lil'... reward?"
"Are we gonna go out and get more GoRanger stuff?" he brightens and I can't help but grin. Oh of course my precious boy wants more of his little toys. It's honestly very cute.
"Better." I lead him towards a set of double doors, "Now I know what you're thinking, 'Oh no! Nemuri has a sex dungeon!' and you couldn't be more wrong." I shove them aside and watch as his expression goes from embarrassed to shocked in a matter of seconds.
"It's a bedroom. What's special about it?" He asks.
Draping myself onto him, I kiss the side of his neck. "It's suuuuper soft." I coo, "If you warm up it'll get really cozy!"
"Is this just your excuse to cuddle with me because you don't wanna go out on patrol?" He raises an eyebrow and I wave him off.
"What? No... I just want to reward you." I huff, "All work and no play-"
"People are dying, Nemuri." his voice goes absolutely frigid. I can't help but squeal and shudder as he pins my arms above my head, "Now either take this seriously or I'll do it myself."
My cheeks heat up, "C-come on you're not a hero anymore hon..." my sputtering goes from words to sounds in seconds as he leans close with his blue eyes narrowing.
"So you want me to put more lives at risk considering my father's birthday isn't that far off?" but just as he's about to toss me onto the bed he stops and blinks. Almost like he's waking up from some sort of trance.
His mouth works almost like it's chewing on something he doesn't really want to chew on. Hesitation mars his face and worms its way into his mind. He wanted to do what I wanted to do, surely.
He looks me up and down and his hands let go of my arms like he just touched a hot stove, "Sorry." he mumbles.
"Koyurei, what was that?" I ask, "I've never seen you so... intense about hero work." He eases himself onto the bed and holds out his arms. I gently wander into them and he hoists me into laying down with him.
"I... I dunno. Dr. Shinsou said I might have some... programming from my days as Enavant." He looks away for a brief moment, "I might still be messed up from that."
"Oh sweet boy..." My fingers run through his white hair with spatters of red, laying his head on my legs and letting my scent do the rest, "There, does that feel better?"
He lets out a soft grunt as he curls up a bit. Letting me pet his hair like this isn't too rare but I notice something about him. He's so resistant to calming down. His breathing is going fast and erratic. His hands grip my legs almost like he's sorry he ever stopped for a moment's care. I push him up and he's panicking. Wide-eyed and cold as all get out. I grab his shoulders.
"Koyurei... Koyurei..." my voice stays low and soothing despite the steadily falling temperature and my breath fogs out of my mouth, "What do you see?"
He doesn't answer, "N-Not here... Not happening. Not here. Not happening." Does he recite lyrics when he's panicking?
"Love dares you... Most of freedom..." he springs out of the bed still freaking out and heads into the conjoined bathroom slamming the door shut. The heater turns on full-blast after he leaves.
I follow just behind him, "Koyurei?" I ask sitting against the door. What's happening to him?
I see them. The flames. I hear them too. I just saw Nemuri charred to bone and burnt flesh, half her hair burned down to nothing. I didn't want her to go patrolling. I didn't want her to go! What was I thinking acting like that again?! Dabitouya is out there. Dabitouya is watching! I won't save her like I didn't save my brother. He died. hediedhediedhedied. No, no. Stay focused. Remember a lyric! Something to focus on.
"Summon back... the fire witch... court of Crimson King." I mumble, hearing Nemuri on the other side. She's humming something. Her voice is pretty and almost like a siren's song calling me back to myself.
"Don't look don't look the shadows... breathe." it's a lot more together than it was before, "Every night I burn. Every night I call your name." One of my favorites. I close my eyes and breathe in and out hearing the door opening and Nemuri gathers me into her arms.
"It's okay, it's okay. I'll be just a phone call away." Her hand gently messes with my hair, "I won't just run in, I promise."
I look up at her and still there's this little inkling of what could happen. That thought of her being burned to death if Dabi got the drop on her still crouches in my brain and hooks its claws in.
Basking in her warmth and her arms wrapping around me; she's telling me that the battle may be over but the war and the healing are yet to be done. Breathing in the heavy scent of sleep is like breathing in something that will only stop it briefly.
All that was asked of me was strength. Strength of will, strength of body, and the strength of my quirk... all of it. My scarred body honed into a sword of flames and a hammer of ice. Builder and breaker, destruction and life. Yet now I don't need that strength for much and I don't know what to fill it with. All I've used my quirk for is shows of strength and sometimes creative flourishes of power.
The sheets are soft and Nemuri's softly humming Burn by The Cure. Slowly and ever so slowly I drift deeper into sleep. I don't dream when I sleep under her quirk. I don't dream when I'm with her.
Because when I do dream...
Fire and Ice tend to pay visits.
When I wake up, Nemuri is awake and still holding me close as her sidekicks' voices all chime in about what they had found. Of course a couple of them glare at me with jealousy in their eyes that I'm cuddling up with their 'Mistress'.
"Well, we've followed the trail of our perpetrator, and it seems like he also torches places that make Endeavor and Enavant merch." the one with the glasses holds up a report, "It also is in line with his MO of immolating families of five or less in the area."
"We also found that he leaves messages in ashes!" the one with bright blue eyes (an almost baby blue.) and spiky platinum blonde hair exclaims, "Most of them aren't much of anything until this one. Which I think you'd like to see, Master Enavant!" he passes me one and I paw for it almost lazily.
"Mmm?" I sit up and Nemuri gets a pained look on her face because I was warm and comfy.
"Good job uh..." I squint trying to remember.
"Satoru!" he exclaims, "And the one with the glasses is Kyoya!"
"Has anyone ever told you you're loud?" I groan.
"Oh repeatedly!" he keeps smiling and raking his hair back as the wavy haired Boy with a very calm demeanor tugs at Nemuri's sleeve.
"Yes, Yuri?" she asks.
"I just wanted to let you know that Shoowaysha is very insistent for an interview." he mutters, standing close enough to where only the two of us can hear. Looking down at the picture its very familiar Kanji.
Sekoto.
The same mountain that I died on. Was he waiting there for me or was it more of a symbolic thing? Nemuri huffs and moves me off her to go handle the Shoowaysha stuff. That leaves me with the Boys. They go into various parts of the office and I follow Nemuri towards the door.
"Okay boys, you're under Koyurei's orders until I get back." she says. Before she leaves she kisses me quickly and they nod and bow.
"Understood, Mistress Midnight!" they chorus. The office area is spacious and I march to her desk.
"Just act like I'm not-" I start before they start firing questions at me.
"How long did you two date?!" The Cowlick Boy, I think his name is Reigen? Asks.
"Did you propose or did you both do it?" Satoru wonders aloud. Yuri and Kyoya have similar questions but it's not too invasive. They're just kind of shy.
"Well no, I did. We both kind of knew we'd be together so it was more of a formality type thing." I explain with the four nodding along.
"Also we dated for three years, but hero work never really came up." I continue, "Now enough questions! Handle whatever duties you have!" My voice lowers to that commanding growl and the four of them look at each other before laughing and heading off to their places.
I guess it's a much more relaxed office culture considering their reactions. I just keep an eye on things and notice Reigen working on yet another suit of my fiance's. A pile of them are folded up and Yuri takes them to a big closet in the 'bedroom.'
"All you do is just those costumes?" I pick one up and Reigen looks at me almost like he's sad about it. A pang of regret stabs into me too. Ever since me and Nemuri had started dating I wondered why she even had it.
"Well, not *always*. Just that it's more often than not because that's just how things go. If she's not wearing her black suit she needs like... a hundred more. My family can easily get the materials." he explains, "Just... I know that you wish she didn't have it."
I nod, "It's foolish to barely give her any protection out there. Not that she can't defend herself, I'm just worried because sometimes I wonder if she won't come back." I thaw out a bit and smile.
"However, I know how strong she is. I assume we all do." Moving on and going outside there's only one thing I really want to do. I sit down and just watch the day drift by.
I almost never get those kinds of days anymore. Days where I can just sit and let time pass me by. The Midnight Boys work inside on their own and I didn't need to bark orders at them or cajole them into doing it. Leaning back against the railing there's this moment where I let out a laugh, just a small one, but a laugh nonetheless. I survived this long and all I can do is keep going. One day I'll look back at this time with the same smile and laugh.
That's really all I can do other than keep healing. Nemuri's okay and I'll be okay. We just need to be more careful. I add to my notes that I may need some help from Dr. Shinsou again. Then the thought crosses my mind, 'Nemuri doesn't have to be involved, neither does Dad, you can stop Dabi yourself!' Normally I wouldn't listen to those thoughts but at the same time how much of a choice do I have?
I do have a choice. Stand back and let the pros handle it or let it consume me like the fire and hatred did him. As I'm thinking, Kyoya joins me outside and sits next to me.
"You know, at first... we thought you'd hurt her." he starts, "You had the reputation of being blunt, no-nonsense, and we got pretty worried."
He places his hand on my shoulder, "Just take care of her, okay?" he looks a little sad like he knows something I don't. Maybe Nemuri has something in her own closet she doesn't like talking about?
I stand up and nod, "I will, I promise." A strange feeling of doubt seeps in. What's Nemuri hiding? Is it just something I don't need to know? Maybe I'm overthinking it. At the same time however there's still that fear in me.
Something I hope doesn't become a trend. All I can think about is August 8th being the next target. Whoever it is or whatever it is, I'll be ready.