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The dishcloth nearly slipped from metal fingers, the worn fabric making it difficult for the prosthetic to get a firm grip. But enough dishware had been sacrificed for her to know it was better to dry with her left and hold with her right. Rest in pieces, Endeavour mug , Rumi thought to herself. A real shame, but at least Hawks couldn’t get mad at her for finally getting rid of the thing.
“I watched you on the news today.”
“Pretty badass, right?” Rumi hummed while drying the next dish Fuyumi passed her.
“Very impressive.” Fuyumi laughed, the bell-like sound gracing the air between, and one Rumi didn’t think she could ever grow tired of hearing. “I think you gained an entire class worth of new fans after I told them you’re my girlfriend.”
Rumi scooped a handful of bubbles, blowing them lightly towards Fuyumi. “Pretty sure they only like me cause I’m dating you.”
“You have other endearing traits, I assure you.” Fuyumi’s nose twitched as a bubble landed and bumped her gently with her hip, smiling as she returned to the last of the dishes. But even as gentle as Fuyumi was, Rumi still had to suppress a wince.
What should have been a very run-of-the-mill takedown of a bunch of upstarts that wanted to be viewed as the next League turned nasty. It turned out the group had a member with a particularly strong transformation quirk who could double his muscles when in direct sunlight. It was just her luck the summer season decided it was a good day to warm up. The giant almost matched her blow for blow, and a mean right hook left a darkening splotch along her side. Rumi cringed thinking back to it, how she could have avoided the embarrassment of the injury if she had just been a little bit faster. But she stumbled at the last second, the edge of her prothesis catching on the curb she misjudged the position of, making her just a second too slow to avoid the hit completely.
In truth, she forgot about the cameras recording from the sidelines. Feeling moody grey clouds beginning to gather, Rumi looped her arm around Fuyumi’s waist, placing a kiss on her forehead. Joy washing away any other feelings. With her busy hero schedule, it wasn’t often they got to enjoy a night in together. Curled together on the couch and soaking in the other’s presence.
Amazing how a person made all the simple things seem extraordinary.
“What do you say to going to bed early?” Rumi whispered as she peppered kisses on Fuyumi’s shoulder and wrapped her in a hug from behind, mildly observing how the water droplets that free from Fuyumi’s hands as she finished the last dish. “We can watch a movie or just hit the hay.”
Soft rumbling waves rippled of sound filled her with warmth, such a contradiction for someone with an ice quirk. “For you anything.”
“After you then, my lady.” Rumi clasped her girlfriend’s hand, twirling her to soft hums and laughter into bed as the two of them collapsed against the cloud of thick blankets. Fuyumi burrowed beneath the covers the second Rumi released her, leaving just her nose sticking out, waiting for Rumi to join her.
Feeling slightly off-balance without Fuyumi by her side, Rumi gingerly made it to her side of the bed. Sitting down on the mattress with more care than usual as the connection port gave a sharp spasm, and Rumi had to bite her lip to stop the involuntary gasp.
“Are you ok?” Fuyumi’s concern looked tainted the blissful moment.
Rumi brushed Fuyumi’s worry aside with a wink and a smile. “Just bothered my side a bit.”
Fuyumi narrowed her eyes, not believing her for a moment. Rumi supposed, with her track record of brushing off serious injuries, that was fair. The blankets rustled as Fuyumi shuffled closer, pulling the edge of her shirt up and hissing at the rainbowing bruise. “Can I do anything?”
“Nothing more than what you’re doing already.” Fuyumi cast her a skeptical look but didn’t comment further. But, really, there wasn’t more that she could do. The onsight doctor at her agency already gave her the green light to return to work tomorrow, if Rumi took it easy tonight. It was just a bad bruise that would cause her pain now but would be gone soon enough. By far, not the worse injury she got on the job.
No, it’s more the how she got it that pained her the most.
“Here, let me.” Fuyumi’s cold hands brushed against her shoulder, unclasping the seal of her arm before folding down the sock and gently placing the arm on the charging stand. The metal fingers looked even more lifeless than usual now that it was separated from her. Yet Fuyumi just nudged her to lay down.
Fuyumi pulled the blanket around the two of them and curled around her side, filling in the empty space. Her girlfriend’s natural chill was already beginning to soothe Rumi’s bruises.
“Penny, for your thoughts?”
“Hmmm,” Rumi buried her cheek against the top of Fuyumi’s head. “Nothing, just thinking about how to be better next time.”
Fuyumi stilled beside her before releasing a slow, steadying breath. Rumi grimaced as the weight behind those words and who she sounded like settled in the air around them. “Hey, I didn’t mean that. I just—”
“I know what you meant.” Slow Fuyumi traced a pattern along old scars, leaving a faint cool trail along her skin.
“It’s just that I used to be faster.” Rumi stared at the empty space on her right side. “I never would have gotten hurt before. Hell, the guy wouldn’t have been able to get close to hitting me.
Fuyumi didn’t say anything as Rumi gathered her thoughts. “I guess it’s just frustrating knowing I won’t be as strong of a hero as I could be.”
“Can I tell you what I think?”
Rumi glanced down at her girlfriend, but Fuyumi kept her gaze on the invisible pattern she was creating. “Of course.”
“I think you’re too hard on yourself.” Fuyumi curled closer. “I think you didn’t see how my students looked at you when you took down that villain. Or how I see you when you do things for me, like break that god-awful mug.”
Rumi felt a small grin blossom across her cheeks. “You noticed, huh?”
“Of course, I noticed.” Fuyumi’s blue-grey eyes locked onto hers, full to the brim with tender emotions. “You always know how to be the hero people need you to be. And you, no matter what Rumi, you will always be the person I need the most.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I love you.” Fuyumi placed a gentle kiss on the line where her arm ended. “All of you, in any shape, and through any changes. Rumi, I love you.”