Archive of Our Own

Tapping her foot in rhythm to the seconds ticking by on her watch, Rumi decided to wait another five minutes before calling it quits. What a waste of time. The stupid bird knew that she hated these types of events. Honestly, what was even the point of the elementary ‘Meet A Hero’ event? All kids wanted to be heroes at that age, but only a handful ever actually made it. 

If Rumi didn’t owe Hawks one for losing that bet, she wouldn’t even have agreed to even step within arm’s distance of a swarm of school kids. Being trapped in a room with twenty-or-so snot-nosed kids when she could be out patrolling, hell no. Felt like a waste of the number five hero’s time. Especially with the League of Villains getting more ballsy after releasing that freaky new nomu on Endeavour. 

Glaring at the clock, its hands moving achingly slow towards the edge of her tolerance, Rumi turned to leave. Well, she gave it her best effort. Screw Hawks and his super-secret mission, Rumi wouldn’t owe jack after this. Hell, he owed her for this useless waste of time. But, before she managed more than a handful of steps to freedom, the doors opened to a gaggle of tiny children bubbling with excitement. They somehow stick to a decent line, their teacher trailing behind them.

“I am so sorry we’re late! The bus was caught in traffic after a villain attack on the highway. I hope you didn’t have to wait for too long.” A woman in a formal skirt and blouse spoke up from the entrance. Fabric hugged alluring curves, and Rumi could feel her heartbeat faster the longer she looked at the woman. Oh fuck. She was doomed.

“Hi, I’m Rumi.” Her brain stalled for a moment as she remembered why she was here in the first place. “I mean Miruko.” Rumi’s heart thumped, the noise pounding out any thoughts as she stared stupidly at the teacher. 

“It’s a pleasure.” The teacher gave an elegant bow that caused white hair to fall gracefully around her face, revealing streaks of red, and Rumi felt her own cheeks heat up to match. “I’m Fuyumi Himura.”  

Rumi launched into her usual speech of what it meant to be a hero and how you had to be ready to sacrifice ourself for the good of others, blah blah blah. The kids eyes quickly became glassy and a frown tugged at Fuyumi’s lips. Panicking, Rumi switched tactics and she took photo after photo with the now starry-eyed kids that wouldn’t remember this tomorrow, shooting her smiles at the teacher behind the camera instead. Carefully Rumi brushed off attempts to touch her ears with sticky fingers and shooing off any student that got a bit to grabby. She answered each question and showed off her strength to their amazement, and Rumi had to stop a frown when she noticed that Himura had her attention snatched by a crying kid. 

“Thank you for agreeing to meet with us. I know you must have a lot going on right now.” Fuyumi pushed a piece of loose hair behind her ear. “It means so much for the kids to have a strong role model.” 

“It’s fine! Besides, it’s a nice way to get to know people.” Rumi paused, and she hoped her expression came off as a smile, not the grimace she imagined. Cringing slightly as she looked at the room that quickly became overrun by children, she decided that she could put up with it for brownie points with the teacher. “Like the tiny fans.” 

Fuyumi gave a soft laugh, and Rumi wished she could hear that sound over and over again. “I’m glad it wasn’t too boring.”

“Yay, it was great.” Rumi’s mouth made a funny jerk when Fuyumi turned with a finger to her lips as she quieted the class to get on the bus. “Really had a lot of fun.” 

The doors to the bus opened, and one by one, each of the children settled into their seats, and before Rumi knew it, she was the only one left on the side of the walk. Rumi fumbled with her phone and dialled a number, her foot quickly thumping more frantically against the ground as the rings dragged on. 

“Heyo.” Hawks’ voice was sharp with an edge of panic as if he had answered after a wild search for his phone. 

“Where are you? I have a situation critical.” 

“Oh ho! I know that voice.” Even from here, Rumi could picture the face the idiot was making. “She’s in a gay panic! Somebody help her.” 

A hoarse laugh broke through Hawks’ gush. “Does someone need a hero?” 

“Who’s that?” Rumi narrowed her eyes, trying to imagine the stranger on the other end. The voice was suspiciously close to the microphone. “Screw off, mystery man, this is a crisis.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Hawks stifled a quick ‘shut up’, followed by a series of muffled noises that sounded suspiciously like a pillow to the face, before turning his focus back to her. “Listen, I can meet up at your place in ten.” 

Rumi narrowed her eyes. A super-secret hero mission indeed. Yeah right, Hawks. “I’m closer to your apartment, and I can be there quicker.” 

“No! No, it’s fine. Plus, I’ll bring some of the booze I seized. See you soon.” The call ended before the person could finish their indignant ‘hey,’ confirming her suspicion that Hawks had straight-up lied about being sent on a secret mission that couldn’t possibly wait for one meet and greet. Oh, she would so get him back for this later. 

Rumi put on her game face and strode down the street with all the purpose of marching to a villain battle. Terrified civilians moved out of her way, not wanting to be caught in the way of the number five hero. Small victories, she guessed, as Rumi reached her apartment in record time. She almost wished the walk had been longer; it would have saved her carpets from the endless pacing as she waited nervously for Hawks to show up. 

Sure enough, twenty minutes later, Hawks knocked on her door with a sketchy bottle in hand. “Where’s the mystery guy?” 

Hawks held up his prize. “Sulking in an alley somewhere since I legally stole his illegally stolen booze.” Rumi stuck out her tongue and faked a gag at the disgustingly fond face Hawks made. As if stealing questionable alcohol from some mystery man were a romantic adventure.  

“Pretty sure that’s evidence tampering,” Rumi snorted, as she popped the bottle and poured the vaguely clear liquid into two mugs. Cautiously she took a sniff of the bottle, only to rear her head back at the god-awful smell of overly-alcoholic cheap booze. Hawks just laughed at her reaction, raising an eyebrow as he shot back his drink. Clear challenge. 

You’re fucking on, Hawks. If that was how he wanted to play, Rumi was game. Besides, she was too sober for this conversation, anyways. It didn’t stop the liquid burning her throat as it went down, but it was still worth it to lose the tinge of embarrassment that stubbornly held on, and see Hawks quickly losing his wit—the lightweight. 

“No, Hawks, you don’t understand,” Rumi groaned as she tipped back another shot. “She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve seen, Hawks.”

Well past the point of coherence, Hawks clumsily positioned his wing in a sloppy ‘there there’ gesture as he spilled half the bottle in an attempt to refill their glasses. “Rumi, you’re the number five hero and you’ve got the thighs of a goddess. Why is this so hard for you?” 

“Because Hawks! she is just” her hands waved clumsily as Rumi tried to express what happened that afternoon. Classroom meet and greets were never meant to lead to gay panic so intense it took down two of Japan’s top heroes with cheap alcohol. “I need her number.” 

The world swirled alarmingly as she and Hawks awkwardly tried to get her to the bedroom. Really, she wasn’t quite sure at that point. 

“Where did your mystery man get this stuff?” Her words slurred into a sentence that even Rumi struggled to follow. 

Somehow Hawks managed a little better, though the normally careful control of his wings slipped as he promptly dropped her in a panic to pull at his jacket and hid his face. Rumi barked a laugh at the distressed puffing up of feathers from her new place on the floor. “Villians.” 

“Cheers to them.” Without Hawks to steady her, Rumi stumbled back onto the rug at the foot of her bed. Eh, close enough. Good thing she vacuumed, she thought, as she quickly came to the conclusion that she would be spending the night on the ground. “Villians one, us zero.” 

Rumi’s phone buzzed, the Chicken Dance blaring from her belt and drawing her attention from the bound villain and police next to her. Locking eyes with the poor rookie cop trying desperately to stay composed, and without giving an explanation to the curious stares following her, Rumi answered the call. “Hello, Hawks.”

“I got it.” Hawks’ voice trilled with an excited chirp that could only mean one thing. 

Rumi grinned wildly. “Hell yes! How’d you get it?”

“I know people.”

“Wow, that’s not as suspicious at all.” She snarked. Holding the phone between her head and shoulder, she signed the Villain Takedown Confirmation Papers the shaky-handed rookie held out to her. 

“I’m joking. I just asked my agency since they were the ones to originally set it up.” A sound of air whooshing past to the beat of powerful wings resounded through the phone as Rumi held it arm’s length from her sensitive ears. “So, you ready to get your A-game on? Because last time was really pathetic, Rumi.” 

“You’re an ass.” Rumi quickly ended the call without a goodbye. The rookie took a step back, glancing nervously at their superior. Oops. Whatever. The newbie needed to grow a backbone anyways. Rumi mouthed a ‘ not you’ , but if anything, it seemed to make the rookie all the more nervous. 

Poor kid, but Rumi didn't have time to explain. Plus, it was really funny watching the rookie struggle. Everyone else acted as if Rumi get the number of the most beautiful girl she'd ever seen was a regular occurrence. Just goes to show how little they actually knew! Rumi wasn't going to miss out on a chance for a date with Fuyumi a second longer.

After a handful of rings, a soft voice answered. “Hello?” 

“Hey, it’s Miruko.”

A crash sounded through the microphone as if something heavy and metal fell angrily to the floor. “Oh god, is everything ok?” 

“Shit, sorry. No, everything’s fine.” Goddamnit, Rumi . Honestly, what did she expect? A random call from the number five hero rarely meant anything good. “I didn’t get the chance to ask you for your number, but I was wondering if you would like to go get coffee sometime?” 

Rumi sagged a little in relief at the amused laugh. “Coffee sounds great, though I have to admit I wasn’t expecting you to call.” 

“What can I say? I’m full of surprises.” Rumi’s smile grew. Hell yes! This was happening! “When and where works best for you?”

“I’m free anytime after four and before seven. I don’t know many places, so I’m fine with whatever you choose.” 

“It’s a date.” Rumi gave a silent fist pump before instantly freezing. “Fuck, not a date.” 

Rumi felt her insides clench, and the confused bystanders stopped to stare as the number five hero Miroku facepalm and internally she cringed at herself. Her game was usually so much better than this, but thankfully Fuyumi seemed to find the whole thing funny. “I know what you mean.” 

“Awesome, then I’ll send you the location. That way you have my number too, and it’s a bit less weird than me tracking your number through the agency.” 

“I look forward to it.” Rumi barely hung up before sending Fuyumi a message. Then, realizing a random ‘hey’ from an unknown number might be weird, she quickly sent ‘it’s Rumi’ and the location to a coffee shop in different messages. The pit in her stomach grew as she waited for Fuyumi’s reply. Counting the seconds, Rumi’s finger paused over a grinning emoji. Nah, she shouldn’t. That would be desperate. But with her panic at seeing Fuyumi’s typing, her finger hit enter. Fuck, Rumi thought she was better than this. 

Fuyumi’s message of ‘Wonderful, see you then.’ was the only thing stopping Rumi from complete humiliation. Why was dating so hard? Normally, Rumi had girls lining up for her attention, and all she had to do was pick and choose. At any party Rumi was the crown jewel, everyone wanted to be able to say that they spoke with, kissed, or slept with the hero Miruko. Fine, if that was their game Rumi happily played along.  Actively flirting though? Apparently not her forte. 

Stopping quickly at her place, she slipped into a tight pair of jeans and a long sleeve shirt that hugged her biceps. Simple, but Rumi’s had a gut feeling that Fuyumi wasn’t the type of girl that would be impressed by fancy dresses and jewelry. 

Rumi bounded towards the coffee shop, foot-tapping on the sidewalk as she tried to choose whether to go in and wait for the thirty minutes she was too early for, or stay outside and pretend she just arrived. Before she decided, however, Fuyumi turned the corner just in time to catch her pacing. ‘ Good job Rumi, a great way to start.’

“Um, hi,” Rumi waved awkwardly. 

Fuyumi, to her credit, didn’t stumble over Rumi’s clumsiness, just smiled fondly as she made a fool of herself.  “Hello, Rumi. I’m so glad we got to meet up again.” 

“Me too” Rumi opened the blue-paned door to the cafe “can I treat you? I promise to make it worth your while.” 

“You already have.” The corners of Fuyumi’s eyes crinkled when she laughed, making her glasses brush against the top of her cheeks. Rumi felt the butterflies in her stomach vanish as warmth flooded her cheeks. She could stare at that smile for an eternity and never get bored. 

“I thought heroes were busiest this time of the afternoon?” 

“Normally, but I’m my own boss.” Rumi shrugged. “So I say when I work and when I don’t. And I would much rather spend my time getting to know you.”

Fuyumi blinked, taking a long sip of coffee. “Oh, I never knew that was an option.” 

“What about you?” Rumi asked quickly. “—I mean, I know you’re a teacher, but how are your students? Do you like it?” 

Her smile grew as she happily told Rumi about her students, hands dancing along with the words. Fuyumi stopped only when she realized what she was doing; pink colouring her pale cheeks. But as Rumi prompted her with another question, fingers twirled to the invisible sound of excitement. 

Fuyumi didn’t ask any of the basic hero questions Rumi came to expect when meeting someone new. People were always so eager to know what it was like being Miruko, few ever found Rumi just as interesting. But Fuyumi kept the conversation light and carefree, and entirely about learning about the things they shared in common. 

The conversation rose into a heated discussion of Rumi’s favourite telenovela as Fuyumi argued different pairings, until Fuyumi placed a hand over hers, looking Rumi in the eyes to tell her she was wrong. Or dropping into soft laughs as Rumi retold stories from the gym and training. Fuyumi nodded genuinely and added to the conversation in all the right places, blue eyes never leaving Rumi’s as they talked. And for the first time in a long time, Rumi felt more like a person than just a hero. 

Time seemed to stop and disappear much too fast before Fuyumi caught sight of the clock. “I am so sorry, but I need to go.” 

“Do you want me to walk you home?” Rumi asked with fingers crossed underneath the table. Anything to be with Fuyumi for even a second longer. 

“That’s really sweet,” Fuyumi tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, biting the corner of her lip as a nervousness that hadn't been there earlier set in. “But it's ok.” 

Rumi blinked away the disappointment, but stood forward to open the door for Fuyumi. “Do you think we could do this again?” 

“I would love that.” Fuyumi gave her hand a gentle squeeze, leaving Rumi standing by the cafe already missing her. 

Well, when did Rumi ever think before jumping in? And boy, oh boy, was she in the deep end now. 

The next couple of weeks passed in joyful bliss. Staying up late with texting Fuyumi about everything and anything or sending her reactions to the latest episode of trashy reality shows. Her thoughts were completely filled by Fuyumi. And Rumi found herself staring at the calendar and counting the hours until Wednesday rolled around. Meetings with Fuyumi became the highlight of her week. 

However, as easy-going and open with her emotions as Fuyumi was, she remained notoriously tight-lipped. She was always happy to listen to Rumi regale her with high school excerpts or her journey to the top ten, yet, Fuyumi rarely mentioned anything aside from the present. Every new piece of information Fuyumi shared was a cherished treasure that Rumi guarded fiercely.

Yet the mystery was just a part of who she was, and Rumi would generally move at Fuyumi’s pace on this. But this time, Fuyumi slipped into the booth looking like a shadow of her usual self, Rumi wouldn’t brush past whatever got her so defeated. 

“Hey, is everything alright? You look really upset.” 

“I’m fine, really.” Fuyumi sniffed, the red rings clinging around her eyes, making them puff behind her glasses. 

“It’s okay to say you’re not.” Rumi moved to gently pull Fuyumi’s hand towards her, gently freeing each finger from digging into Fuyumi’s palm. “I can take you home if you’d like. Seriously Fuyumi, no harm done, and I don’t mind. We can postpone it to another time.” 

Fuyumi just shook her head, tears starting to slip as Rumi’s panic increased. This wasn’t her thing. Literally, she was the worst person for this. Rumi was never the emotional support in any relationship. “I really don’t want to be home right now.” 

“We can go to my place then. We could put blankets around the couch and watch movies if you like. I even have a tub of ice cream all ready to go.” Rumi suggested, putting up her hero action face. Really, Fuyumi didn’t need her freaking out right now. “Or if you want to be alone, you can take my room, and I’ll sleep in the living room. You won’t even notice me.” 

That got her a small smile, but the brief lull in her sadness didn’t last long, as Fuyumi’s lips started to quiver again. “You’re too sweet. I don’t deserve you.” 

“You deserve everything.” Rumi scooted from her seat at the booth, keeping Fuyumi’s hand in hers all the while, only briefly letting go to wrap her scarf around Fuyumi. Gently Rumi gathered Fuyumi in a soft one-arm hug as she guided her out. 

Good thing that her apartment was close by, Rumi thought as they walked in silence, with Fuyumi giving the occasional sniffle as the cold bit against her cheeks. Waves of sorrow cut a clear path through the crowds of people, and anyone that missed the message received a clear ‘leave us alone’ glare that her PR agent was constantly on her about. Fuyumi didn’t make a sound as she bent to take off her shoes, placing them neatly to the side with practised actions, even though Rumi just kind of dumped hers in the growing pile of shoes. 

“Do you want to talk about it?” Rumi threw the thickest blankets she owned over the couch before nudging Fuyumi towards the fluff den. For good measure, she covered her in the spare throw blanket and placed a box of tissues nearby. 

Grabbing one, Fuyumi dabbed at the corners of her eyes, pushing her glasses up and making them lay sideways on her nose. Even crying, she was the most beautiful person Rumi had ever met. “Sorry, my oldest brother passed away today.” 

“Oh shit, like right now?”

Fuyumi waved her hands out, knocking over the box of tissues. Dashing to catch them, Rumi landed half across Fuyumi’s lap. Real smooth. Trying to brush it off, she just craned her neck to look up as Fuyumi continued. “Oh no! It was over ten years ago. I’m usually much better, but there’s been a lot of changes this year, and my other brothers both moved out this year, so the house is only filled with ghosts and me at the moment.” 

Fuyumi’s lip quivered as she tried to keep the new round of tears at bay. Rumi moved closer, brushing a red strand of hair that fell loose. She moved back to give Fuyumi space, only for her hand to be locked in place by cold fingers. “It’s okay to be upset. You’re allowed to be selfish every now and again, ya know?” 

Fuyumi cupped a warm hand around her face, leaning in to lock their lips together. It was a little messy and unpracticed as first kisses went, salt lacing every aspect, but it was still theirs. And Rumi’s mind went blank with a soft buzz as she deepened the kiss. 

“Like this?”

“Exactly.” Rumi placed her own hand on Fuyumi’s cheek, bringing her back in for another kiss.  

The room was still clouded in darkness when Rumi’s internal clock demanded she get up. Still, the gentle rise and fall of Fuyumi’s chest called louder for her to stay in bed for just a moment to simply admire her girlfriend. It was amazing how sleep could make someone even more stunning. Warmth drifted from Fuyumi in lazy waves. It had been a long time since she woke up with someone next to her. Usually, Rumi made a mad dash out before the girl she was with even considered waking up. Lifting the blankets gently, so as not to wake Fuyumi, she moved silently towards the kitchen. 

Staring at the barren kitchen, Rumi realized she had no idea what she was doing. Being a hero rarely gave her the time to cook, so she never bothered learning. She usually survived on take-out and health food bars. She kept the bare essentials for post-workout smoothies, but sticking a mixture of fruits and veggies into a blender was hardly the romantic breakfast in bed vibes she was going for.

“Good morning.”

“Fuck, did I wake you up?”

Fuyumi smiled as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, the red in her hair sticking up against the white more than usual. “No, I’m an early riser. I’m the one who makes breakfast at home, so I have to be up before anyone else.”

“Oh,” Rumi gestured vaguely to the mess she had briefly started. “I wanted to make you breakfast.” 

“That’s adorable." Fuyumi strode forward, wearing one of the longer shirts from Rumi’s closet. “But you have no idea what you’re doing, do you?”

Rumi kissed her forehead. “That obvious, huh?” 

“Only a little bit.” Fuyumi patted her hip to move over. With practised movements, she began to organize Rumi’s disaster, silently categorizing everything in the fridge before setting about to start cooking. 

Fuyumi stopped to look at the mugs in her cupboard, and it took all of Rumi’s self to restrain herself from promptly smashing all of her dishes. Usually, she was the one spending the night at another girl’s house. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had anyone over. So Rumi hadn’t thought much about the stupid amount of Hawks merch that was in her apartment, but now she really regretted the tradition of exchanging merch. 

“Are you a big Hawks fan?” 

“No.” Rumi reached into the far back. She knew there had to be a regular cup somewhere. No luck, and she quickly stopped when she almost pulled out a mug that should never see the light of day ever again. “He’s an idiot, but it’s a thing we do instead of giving real birthday gifts. If it makes you feel better, Hawks has a Miruko body pillow that he isn’t allowed to get rid of.”  

Fuyumi gave a soft laugh, eyes crinkling as pink amusement spread across her cheeks. “I don’t know how to feel about that.” 

“It was a shock to the mystery man he’s sleeping with.” Rumi shrugged and smiled as she remembered the second-handed cringe when Hawks told her the story, words muffled since the bird refused to lift his head from the table in embarrassment. “Apparently, the dude nearly started a fire, it freaked him out so badly.” 

“Yes, you can be really intimidating.” Fuyumi leaned over to give her a small kiss that sent Rumi’s foot tapping wildly against the floor, before turning back to the task at hand That left Rumi to watch with avid fascination as pale hands deftly begin to prepare the meal. 

The device on the counter buzzed wildly, notifications blipping in and out as the sender continued to send a host of quick messages. “Your phone is going wild, by the way.”

“It’s probably my brother. He had a midterm pretty much all day yesterday, and I think he feels bad he couldn’t come home.” Fuyumi’s soft gaze lacked the tinges of silent sorrow it wore yesterday. 

“Do you want me to check it for you?” 

“That would be great,” Fuyumi gave her a small smile over her shoulder before rattling the series of numbers to unlock her phone as she continued to knead the dough. 

“He says, and I quote, ‘Dad kept calling me yesterday asking where you were. I told him you were getting banged. That shut him up real quick lol’. I sent a dot dot dot winky face.” 

“Please tell me you didn’t.” Fuyumi gasped, absolutely mortified. A pretty shade of pink blossomed on Fuyumi’s cheeks as she spun around. Eyes wide as they darted from the phone, to Rumi, and the phone again, as if she looked long enough the message would un-send itself. 

“I did. And oh look, he’s responded.” Rumi danced off the counter, laughing as she dodged Fuyumi’s flour-covered hands. “Oh my god, he just sent a photo of bleach. Your brother is a riot.” 

Fuyumi groaned and went limp against her back, and Rumi could feel the cringing as Fuyumi pushed her face against her, in an attempt to completely bury her face in the folds of Rumi’s oversized shirt. “I hope you know I’m going to have to deal with that later.” 

Spinning around and letting Fuyumi fall further into her arms, she stole a kiss. “Or just stay here with me. I’ll fight your embarrassment!” 

“As tempting as that sounds, you can’t literally fight embarrassment.” 

“Watch me.” Rumi puffed out her chest with exaggerated bravado.  

Fuyumi gave her a quick poke to her arm before turning back to breakfast. Rumi watched, amazed as her girlfriend whirled around the kitchen like a pro, speeding through what looked to Rumi like a restaurant-quality meal.  “Oh my god,” Rumi tried to speak around the food still stuffed in her cheeks. “You’re amazing!” 

Fuyumi looked down at her plate, a faint blush spreading as she brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s nothing really. I cook for my family all the time.”

“Damn girl, I’m jealous.” Rumi shooed Fuyumi away from the plates, pointing firmly to rest on the couch. She shoved dishes in a chaotic pile in the sink that would be a problem for future Rumi. Current Rumi just wanted to cuddle with her girlfriend. 

Fuyumi curled into her, eyes closed as she snuggled closer, while rays of light tinted the room in a warm orange glow. Gently she placed a kiss on the top of her girlfriend’s head. It really couldn’t get better than this. A fantastic girlfriend, her career picking up speed, and really what else could Rumi ask for?

A shadow brushed against the room to a slow rhythmic flutter that Rumi knew all too well. 

Oh, hell, no.

Hawks looked stupid hoovering outside, face stuck in dumb surprise as he looked at the scene in front of him. Hawks gave her two enthusiastic thumbs up, grinning wildly. Careful not to disturb Fuyumi, who miraculously continued to doze lightly with her face buried in Rumi’s side, she gave Hawks a murderous ‘fuck off.’ 

“Is everything okay?”

Wrapping the arm that had been busy flipping off Hawks around Fuyumi, Rumi brought her closer. “Just perfect.”

“Heyo! How’s my favourite hero?” Hawks’ fingers tapped against the table, pausing rhythmically out of sync with the music. Only the fact that she had known Hawks for years gave her any suspicions that something was wrong. Early in their friendship, when they were just rookies playing at being the real deal, Rumi realized how tightly the Commission wrapped its tendrils around her new pal. Hawks’ words were constantly guarded so as not to bring down the Commission’s burning fury. They needed a way to communicate freely.

 Who would have thought their teenage morse code-mashup continued to be useful all these years later. The soft sound asked a question that words couldn’t be trusted to be spoken. You got the message ?

They were being watched. She hadn’t seen much of her friend in the last couple of weeks, only hearing about a small fraction of what Hawks had been up to through the mission debrief that morning. 

“Yup, one hundred percent.” Rumi scanned her friend up and down, looking for any recording device. “You ordered?” 

“Of course, what kind of best friend would I be if I didn’t know you were coming?” Hawks looked impossibly sad despite the glowing smile. Fingers continued their solemn waltz against the cup. I hate to ask—  

Rumi reached out and silenced the question, keeping her voice light as Hawks passed her a cup. “I never doubted.” 

The big fight was bound to happen. The League of Villains could not be allowed to continue, and Rumi knew shit was about to go down. Their only chance to stop Shigaraki. She, for one, couldn’t wait to punch the little troublemaker in the face. 

“I can’t stay long, busy, busy hero work to get back to.” Hawks grin stiffed in his attempt to keep up the mask. 

“Make sure you get everything sorted, Rumi.” Hawks’ golden stare faltered briefly before he pulled her into a tight hug, wings wrapping around her. “Somethings shouldn’t be saved to the end.” 

Rumi’s throat felt oddly tight as she returned the hug with equal force, wishing to whatever power that this didn’t feel like a goodbye. “Sure, Hawks, don’t fly too close to the sun. You still owe me for the meet and greet.” 

Just as quickly as they met up, Rumi was left standing alone in the coffee shop, drink cooling in her hand as shaky fingers reached for the phone in her pocket. So tomorrow was really it then. She had known it was coming when Aizawa first reached with the planning to take down Shigaraki before he reached his full potential. Rumi had spent the last three months training harder than ever, pushing herself past her limits from this moment. Now that it was actually here, however, another story entirely. The instincts that gave her such an edge in other fights, now screaming at her to leave. That this battle wasn’t one she could so easily walk away from, if at all. 

Hawks’ message was clear, and Rumi wouldn’t waste whatever time she had left with Fuyumi. 

She sent her girlfriend a text asking to meet up at their usual spot. It didn’t take Fuyumi even twenty minutes to arrive, but Rumi could already feel the clock ticking down. The sand in the hourglass, as Rumi spiralled to stop them from falling. When your life could be counted in single digits, every moment matter, Rumi just never thought she needed to learn the lesson so soon. 

“Hey, Beautiful.” Rumi was proud her voice didn’t quiver, yet Fuyumi paused an arm’s length away, blue-grey eyes stripping away Rumi’s bluff. 

“Everything okay?”

“Better, now I’m talking with you.” Even to her ears, her words sounded sappy as fuck. But Fuyumi’s smile made it worth it and did wonders to improve her mood. “Do you want to go out?” 

“We are out,” Fuyumi laughed. “But, absolutely, where do you want to go?” 

“Nah.” Rumi paused as it dawned on her. She was constantly the one to plan every time, all the restaurants, choose every date, and Fuyumi always followed, rarely giving her opinion. No, no, she was putting her foot down this time. If this was the last time Rumi saw her, she wanted this to a memory Fuyumi created. “What’s something you want to do?”

“Anything?” 

“Anything.” 

“My students have been talking about a festival happening this week.” Fuyumi turned her eyes away, letting them linger on the edges of her scarf. “It might be a little bit childish, so if you don’t want to, that’s okay. I understand.” 

Leaning forward to place a kiss on the edge of Fuyumi’s lips, Rumi grabbed her hand, pulling her in closer. “Let’s go! Besides, it will be fun to beat a bunch of kids at shitty carnival games.” 

They made an odd couple, with Rumi in sweats and a tube top, and Fuyumi in a pencil skirt and blouse of her teacher’s uniform. Totally out of place amidst the kids with their parents, or couples dressed to the nines. And Rumi loved it. 

The carnival itself wasn’t great. Shady games and cheaper prizes, with rides that seemed more dangerous than some of the villains she fought, but she didn’t care. Not when she got to watch Fuyumi’s face alight with wonder as Rumi won her a lopsided-rabbit plushie that made them both laugh. Or when they shared overly-priced ice cream that led to shy sticky kisses underneath the multicoloured lights strung around the booths. 

What Rumi didn’t expect was to have her girlfriend absolutely wreck her in the bumper cars. Fuyumi grinned wildly as she slammed her car into Rumi’s over and over without giving her a second to breathe. Thank fuck Fuyumi didn’t have a license, society was definitely was safer for it. She could already feel a bruise starting to form where the seatbelt went into her shoulder. Yet the bubbly warm feeling grew as Rumi watched her girlfriend abandon the strict codes of conduct Fuyumi always seemed to set for herself. 

“Fuck, Fuyumi.” Rumi tried to rub the kink out of her neck. Jeez, who knew her girlfriend would be so brutal when it came to bumper cars. “You know I’ve fought villains who did less damage.” 

Cheeks still red from laughing, Fuyumi interlocked cool fingers around her free hand. “Sorry, I didn’t have a chance to do things like this when I was a kid.” 

“Good thing I’m tough then.” Rumi grinned, pulling her girlfriend closer before stealing a kiss as payback. 

The warm bubbly feeling in Rumi’s chest only grew as Fuyumi dragged her along to the goldfish scoop. Rumi crouching down next to her and nudging Fuyumi with her knee.  Fuyumi’s laugh rang like chiming bells as Rumi failed over and over again. Of course, Fuyumi got it on her first try, and oh so generously gifted the fish to her with a pleasant smile that Rumi had come to learn meant Fuyumi was only humouring her. 

Growing up, Rumi had always heard the expression bursting with love, but she had always tossed it away as romantic melodrama. Early on, she decided to dedicate herself to hero work, and in no way did she regret it. Rumi was the best melee fighter in Japan, one of two women in the top ten and one of the youngest to reach the top five. She was a badass through and through. Romance just took second stage. 

Schedules never seemed to match, people wanting her either to only be the hero on TV or the girlfriend they wanted. But Fuyumi never asked for her to choose, accepting Miruko as just another part of what made her Rumi. 

Now, Rumi realized, she was desperately, hopelessly in love. 

“I love you.” The warm string of light haloed Fuyumi in gold. Blue eyes met red as Fuyumi searched for something Rumi couldn’t put into words. “You know that, right?”

“I love you, Fuyumi Himura. I would fight the world for you.”

It was the first time she formed the words, and Rumi knew that this was it. She would never repeat these words to anyone but Fuyumi. And tomorrow Rumi literally would fight to keep the world safe for her. 

“Whatever it is. You don’t have to go.” Fuyumi tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “I won’t pretend I know exactly what’s happening, but you could stay with me.” 

“I’m a hero. It’s my duty.” A no-brainer answer, the same one she gave whenever asked by reporters, the one she had been trained to give. But guilt settled as she gave it to Fuyumi, the bitter-tasting lie tainting the moment. 

Fuyumi sighed and gave her hand a squeeze, catching her lie, but letting them both pretend to believe it. “You don’t have to carry the world yourself, Rumi.”

 It was the one and only time in her hero career when she wished she didn’t have to go. But, if Shigaraki and the League won, Fuyumi would be one of the thousands put at risk. Rumi would rather die than let anyone hurt Fuyumi, because in the end Rumi was just another hero and Fuyumi was worth any amount of sacrifice. Whatever came tomorrow, Rumi would carry this moment with her. She locked her fingers with Fuyumi, gripping tightly. 

“I might be too busy to go back to my apartment any time soon.” Rumi lifted the bag, staring. The glow from the street lights bounced off the goldfish’s scales as it swam freely inside the confines of the plastic bag. “Would you mind coming over to feed this little guy?” 

Fuyumi paused, fingers gripping the long sleeves of her sweater. “If you promise it’s only for a little while.” 

“For sure.” And Rumi really hoped it was true, but as the sinking feeling settled, she didn’t think she would be keeping this promise anytime soon.

“So, Keigo Takami, huh?” The hospital bed gave a slow whirring noise as she raised it to a sitting position. Rumi pushed the hospital curtain aside, looking at Hawks bundled in bandages in the other bed. 

“Sorry you had to find out from my homicidal ex,” came the computerized voice next to her. 

“Mystery man!” Rumi gasped, before turning a narrowed gaze on her stupid friend as it dawned on her who Hawks had been seeing all these months. “What the hell, Hawks, you and Dabi?” 

Hawks waved it off before typing quickly on his phone. “More like really toxic fuckbuddies with a side of feelings.” 

“I can’t believe you buddy-fucked a known terrorist.” Honestly, it would have been hilarious if the situation hadn’t landed them both in matching hospital beds. 

“Seemed like a good idea at the time.” Hawks shrugged, the gesture looking empty without the enormous red wings behind him. “But the breakup, so not worth it.”  

Rumi knew her friend for all his faults, and being naive was not one of them. He would never let himself be tricked like what she saw on TV. No, and Rumi could count on one hand the number of times that Hawks had actually fallen for someone. But, amazingly, the months that Hawks had spent undercover were the happiest Rumi had seen him. They could continue to play it off as a casual fling, or a mere necessity of the situation. She knew better, though. And she would be there for Hawks when he figured it out, too.

As the silence wore on, Hawks reached for the TV remote. Rumi wasn’t sure she wanted to hear all the things they were saying about her friend on the news. It wouldn’t do Hawks any good to learn just what Dabi’s broadcast did to the reputation he worked so hard to build, either. “Are you sure that’s the right choice?” 

“I want to know what they’re saying. Besides, what’s done is done, and I need to be prepared.”He wasn’t wrong, with everything going on and the doctors conveniently not sharing the gossip. But Rumi wouldn’t let these injuries hold her down for long. She would be back into the thick of it in no time. 

“In light of the recent events,” a shaken news reporter spoke in front of a destroyed building, smoke still rising in the background, “questions are continued to be unanswered about Endeavour and his family.”  

“Ya, no kidding,” Rumi muttered under her breath. She, for one, was literally dying to know. 

Whatever happened on the battlefield never would have happened if those in charge just did their jobs. Dabi should have been caught earlier, stopped before anything started. He was an example of a failed system, and now it was up to who was left to take down the threat. It was fucking tragic, but it would only get worse and Rumi’s pity was limited when she saw what Dabi did to her friend. 

“Hey, is that Fuyumi?” Hawks point at the screen. “Do you know who she’s with?” 

Huh, yup, that was definitely her girlfriend. Rumi ran her fingers through her now much shorter hair in an attempt to be a little more presentable. “Nah, never seen them before.” 

“We are getting reports that the remaining Todoroki children have arrived at the Hospital.” No fucking way. She tried to banish the flurry of thoughts that buzzed around in her head. Rumi would have known. “Endeavour’s second son, Natsuo Todoroki and local school teacher Fuyumi Todoroki have been seen entering the building. Their mother, Endeavour’s illusive wife, is rumoured to be with them.”

“No way.” Rumi sat up straight, wincing at the pull of the stitches in her side. “No fucking way.” 

“That’s rough, buddy.” 

Footsteps stopped just outside their door, and Hawks rushed to shut the curtain as Fuyumi’s question to the nurse carried through the hallway. The one person Rumi looked forward to seeing stood still in the doorway. And as Fuyumi still didn’t enter the room, Rumi knew that the reunion she dreamed of faded away.  

“I owe you an apology.” Red lined Fuyumi’s eyes, but her expression betrayed nothing. Shielded away by a wall of ice that she never needed when around Rumi. Somehow, that hurt worse. “I have not told you the full truth, and I am sincerely sorry for any distress this may have caused you.” 

Fuyumi bowed, perfectly diplomatic, and Rumi felt her heart crack in the whisper that escaped. “Why didn’t you tell me?” 

“I couldn’t.” Fuyumi’s eyes trained themselves on the floor. “My family is chaotic at the best of times. You saw what went down, and to be honest, I’m not even surprised anymore. Things had been too good for too long. Something like this was bound to happen. And I didn’t want that to disrupt what we have— had.” 

“Have.” Oh god, she didn’t want it to end. 

The wall of ice melted as Fuyumi wrapped her arms around herself, and Rumi wanted nothing more than to leap that cold distance between them and hide Fuyumi away from the world that would hurt her. Fuyumi shook her head, sending a spike of fear through her that Rumi hadn’t felt even when fighting the Nomu. 

“I’m sorry we have to do this now, Rumi. It’s not fair, after everything you went through, but we need to talk about things first before we can continue. And I need to know before I return to my family.” 

Rumi’s throat tightened as she waited for Fuyumi’s next words. She had always been the type of person to jump without thinking, but with this Rumi felt at a loss. Because, sometimes, where you landed risked hurting someone you loved. For Fuyumi, Rumi was willing to wait. 

“I’m not going to ask you to choose between me or your career. That wouldn’t be fair to you or me. But Rumi, I heard about what you did. You didn’t plan on coming back, did you?” Fuyumi took a shaky breath, placing her hands firmly at her sides. Steeling herself before continuing. “You would have left me, too.” 

“My family was destroyed by ideals.” Fuyumi closed her eyes, taking a moment to stop her lip from quivering, as Rumi leaned forward and the frustration grew that she couldn’t bounce over and cast away the waves of pain that radiated from Fuyumi. “And when I was told that you went back in there, to keep fighting the nomu, I had never been so proud that you were my girlfriend.”

“But you went back to die, didn’t you?” A storm brewed behind Fuyumi’s eyes, flashing with her growing realizations barely restrained. “You went back to become a martyr, to cement your name in hero legend.” 

The temperature in the room dropped, Fuyumi curling the arm she held to her chest. Shivers wracked Fuyumi’s body with the force it took from crying. “And that, Rumi is what I can’t deal with. You are the one that told me that sometimes you have to be selfish. So I’m putting my foot down. If you are a hero who only wants fame or to go out in a blaze of glory, I will wish you all the best and walk out that door.” 

“And if I want you to stay?” 

“Then promise me you will be a person first. That you will do your best to come home after every fight.”

Rumi sat up straighter. Since she was fifteen, she worked every waking hour of every day to become the hero she was today. If this recent battle taught her anything, it was that she wasn’t invincible. “You know that might not be possible.”

“I know that. Look who I’m related to. I know the dangers. But promise that you will fight to come home and stop fighting to die.” 

“I promise.”

Tears welled in Fuyumi’s eyes. “I’m so glad you’re ok.” 

“Hey now, I’m tough.” Rumi flexed her right arm, earning a shaky smile as Fuyumi stepped closer. 

“You were fighting zombies, Rumi.”

Rumi hit her thigh, trying to avoid the bandages. Still, she hissed at the jostling injuries. “What can I say? Thick thighs save lives.”

Fuyumi let out a watery laugh. Before she rushed over, the final wall was breached as desperate arms wrapped around the other. “You’re ridiculous.”  

“But you love me.” 

“I love you’” Fuyumi gently tangled her fingers in Rumi’s hair, careful to avoid the bandages, as she kissed her with all the fury and desperation of a winter storm. Tears flowed around the smile Fuyumi pressed against her lips. “I love everything about you, Rumi Usagiyama.” 

Fuyumi’s arms tightened around her, still careful of Rumi’s injuries. Behind them, still unnoticed by her girlfriend, the curtain sneaked open. Peeking out from the corner, Hawks gave her a subtle double thumbs up. Equally subtle, Rumi raised a single finger to flip him off. 

The intense spotlights blared down on them as they entered the Hero Charity gala. Cameras were desperate to catch pictures of Miruko’s elusive wife. And ever since Rumi started to take a step back from hero work, the two rarely bothered to attend these events. Charities events being the only expectation, however, the promise of a good cause luring them from a peaceful date night cuddling on the couch. 

Fuyumi looped her arm through Rumi’s, while the other gripped a small clutch purse with nervous fingers. “Relax. You’re the most beautiful person in the room,” Rumi whispered.

 And was she ever! Anywhere they went, Fuyumi turned heads. Somehow Fuyumi never believed it, but it was true. The white dress laced in blue snowflakes she and Rei had picked out finally convinced Fuyumi that it was time to allow herself to shine. 

“You’re my wife. You have to say that.” But the corner of Fuyumi’s mouth relaxed with a fond smile. 

“But I am also the former number one hero, current number four, longest hero to ever stay in the top day—”

Fuyumi kissed her cheek and interrupted her. “Yes, we all know how amazing you are.” 

“The point is, I will challenge anyone that says otherwise.” Rumi locked eyes with her wife, brushing a stubborn piece of hair that refused to stay in place for all the years she had known Fuyumi. 

That earned her a small laugh as Fuyumi patted her arm, smiling as they made their way to the center of the carpet to be surrounded by nosy journalists. Questions hurled their way in quick succession, trying to draw Rumi’s attention. 

Rumi didn’t miss a beat as she spread her arms wide to point dramatically at Fuyumi, and she turned to face the sea of cameras for all the world to see. “This is my wife.” 

The cheers and waves of questions grew ever louder, with Rumi answering exactly none of them. 

To her left, Rumi saw the whisper of a Hawks’ feather-patterned jacket striding towards them. Spinning as best she could on heels, Rumi yelled across the crowd, waving madly in his direction and ignoring the sideways looks sent her way. “Hawks!” 

Next to her, Fuyumi stilled, knowing what was about to happen before she could open her mouth. “Rumi, don’t do it.” 

“Have you met my wife?” Rumi gestured furiously at Fuyumi ignored her whisper of ‘and she did it,’ got Rumi’s grin to double.

Well-versed in their antics, Fuyumi gave a resigned greeting. “Hello, Hawks.” 

“Hello, wife.” Hawks gave a dramatized bow filled with flare as he scooped up Fuyumi’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” 

“You were Rumi’s best man, Hawks. You’re over every Saturday, Hawks. We’ve met.” The exasperation in her wife’s voice intensified at Hawk’s showmanship; meanwhile, the reporters had a field day greedily taking photos of the interaction. After years of introductions, Fuyumi had finally become used to their game. “Are you two going to do this every time?” 

“I don’t know what you mean.” Rumi shrugged innocently, placing an arm around Fuyumi’s waist. Ignoring the clicking shutters of the reporters, she pulled out her phone to show Hawks. “Would you like to see pictures of my beautiful wife?” 

Fuyumi sighed but leaned closer into Rumi’s grasp. Rolling her eyes, Fuyumi gave a ‘what can you do gesture,’ smiling softly at Hawks cooing and Rumi’s enthusiasm while she swiped through the newest photo folder. 

“Have you been seeing my brother lately?” Fuyumi whispered closer to Hawks’ ear so as not to be overheard. It took all Rumi’s self-control not to gawk at her friend. After the war between heroes and villains, Dabi’s arrest and return to being Touya took backstage. For some reason Rumi would never understand, Hawks had been a central figure in pulling Touya back into the world. 

“Hmmm,” Hawks hummed not committedly, brushing fingers across the blue watch wrapped around his wrist. 

“You did not,” Rumi hissed at Hawks. “You’re back with Mystery Man.” 

Hawks grinned, ignoring the question entirely as he kissed Fuyumi’s hand in a theatrical farewell. Rumi’s mind short-circuited, and she let Fuyumi answer some of the growing reporter questions before loudly exclaiming she needed a drink. While Fuyumi just laughed at her. 

“Aw, look at Shouto.” Rumi pointed to where Shouto had his arm around the shoulders of the current number one. 

Fuyumi gave a small wave in her youngest brother’s direction. “Hard to believe he’s all grown up.” 

“My favourite petty bro-in-law.” Rumi quickly took a photo to embarrass him later. Shouto climbed the ranks faster than even Hawks, beating his record by months when he reached the number two spot. For as long as she lived, Rumi would cherish the look on Endeavour’s face when Shouto had publicly announced at the ranking ceremony that if the hero boards raised him any further, it would be the day he retired. 

“Think one of them will propose soon?” 

Fuyumi’s grin would have made Touya proud —not that Rumi would ever tell him. “Not my secret to tell.” 

 “Oh no, my own wife betrays me!” Rumi leaned back, hand over her heart as she faked an injury. “The only thing that could possibly fix this is if you agree to dance with me.” 

Guiding a laughing Fuyumi to the center of the dancefloor, Rumi positioned her left arm around Fuyumi’s waist, the prosthetic awkwardly bunching the fabric of Fuyumi’s dress. Even after all this time, the fingers refused to bend in anything that resembled a fluid moment, yet Fuyumi took her hand gently with hers and placed it more securely on her hip. As the music began, slow and easy, Fuyumi guided the two of them through the melody. Blue-grey eyes framed by the rim of her glasses trained themselves on hers. And god, her wife was as beautiful as the day Rumi met her all those years ago. To think, if she had left any earlier from that meeting, she would have missed all this. 

As they twirled past a particularly noisy group of reporters, Rumi twisted to block Fuyumi from their camera. Too late, though, as the furious blush blossomed on Fuyumi’s pale cheeks. For the wife of the current number four hero, Fuyumi never liked being in the public eye. A leftover effect of being kept in the shadows of Endeavour’s failure, or the shame and glory of her brothers, Fuyumi somehow never managed to see the beauty of her accomplishments.   

Through all the family drama and tragedy, Fuyumi continued to radiate light all her own. So different from her father and brothers, Fuyumi was like a ball of warm yellow that blanketed Rumi’s own rougher edges. 

Even though the top support company constructed Rumi a sleek new leg, capable of matching her quirk in speed and strength, the heavy metal joint wasn’t suited for the swaying turns and soft steps needed for this intimate dance. A harsh bark of laughter escaped Rumi as she caught herself on Fuyumi’s arm, and after a moment of concern, Fuyumi’s laugh like tinkling bells echoed after. 

“You okay?” Fuyumi’s eyes stayed locked on her face, completely trusting the other for support. 

“Yeah.” Rumi leaned in close, pressing her lips to her beautiful wife. “As long as I have you to hold me steady.”