Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Everyone was in their best dress. New clothes or ones saved for this moment, there was no doubt that pride and excitement filled the halls as everyone enjoyed the celebration. Monoma was quieter than he had ever been, his eyes tracing the outlines of his peers. The flashier ones were easy to define - unfortunately, the most flashy ones being the shining stars of 3-A - but to Monoma, he was most proud of his own class. Though the competition was over, Monoma knew both classes were no doubt going to become a wave of spectacular heroes clawing their way up the ranks. 

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” The most familiar voice peeked out from behind him.

Monoma didn’t move from his spot. “Might as well be, seeing how your poor class never managed to truly surpass the clear superiority of my own,” he snarked, albeit less energetic than his antics used to be. “Guess this starts the real competition of hero rankings, doesn’t it? Will I be seeing you at the top ten?” His gaze finally landed on the man who now came up beside him. 

Shinsou’s hair was styled into a bun, Monoma noticed, akin to when a certain homeroom teacher needed to be more presentable. “I don’t understand why anyone wants to be in the spotlight longer than they have to. Sounds like it would get in the way of any real hero work.”

“A hero working from the shadows, then? I gotta admit that does sound more like your style, Nighthide.” 

Shinsou smiled. “You do know me better than most, so if you say so, it must be true.” 

Monoma was captivated in the moment as is, but every word Shinsou smoothed out pulled him in further and further. It was despairing to think it was the end of their daily interactions. Interactions Monoma now felt he took for granted. 

“Shinsou, you should consider joining me at–”

“Shinsou, my man!” It was booming, if not…electric. 

“Kaminari, hey. How your celebration going?” Monoma knew Shinsou’s gaze lingered on his own at first, but Kaminari’s presence couldn’t be ignored.

“Better than I thought. They really went all out.”

By then, Monoma slipped back into his usual self. The help of not being alone with Shinsou, and the help of another class A student to resume his usual picking. 

He never got to propose the suggestion. He never got to admit that all he wanted was for Shinsou to stay by his side.

~*~

3:34am

Monday, March 5th, 20xx

The report was laid out in front of him on a desk inside a closed restaurant, but he had read it over countless times before and played the ideal scene in his head more than he slept. By itself, the mission was already one of the most risky ones he’s taken on. Surely not the biggest group he's faced, but it involved plenty of risk. Monoma was a hero known for his wit and quick thinking along with the advantage of the villain not knowing which quirk in his roster he'd use against them. It was great for confusion and trickery, exactly what they needed to pull this off.

The file contained every last detail his agency had managed to scrape up in the few months they've been investigating this group. A villain group that used their quirks to steal high end art, jewelry, and weapons. They've been active for roughly six months, evading other heros attempts to capture them. 

“If our scouts are correct, these five should already be on their way to the museum through the sewage line, correct?” Kurorio questioned. Monoma was glad to be working with one of his old classmates, even if it wasn't someone he was ever particularly close to. “What are we still doing here?”

“Waiting for a signal,” The pro hero Matched, or Funai Sakiko, answered. Her quirk was to match the power someone's quirk had and turn that into her own physical strength to use against them. “There's an undisclosed hero on standby that will give us a signal once the villains reach the inside of the museum. It's imperative that we wait for this signal and then follow the plan.” 

“Undisclosed?” Monoma tilted his head. “Is this hero not one of ours?” He grinned. Working with others heros was plenty common, but hardly ever did they take part in his agencies ambushes. 

“No, they aren't, but don't spend too much of your time thinking about them. In the perfect scenario, you won't even notice them. Their goal is to keep the villains inside the museum from the moment they step it to the moment we bring them out. Though, they'll come in handy if we can't capture the villains ourselves.” Funai gathered all the papers near herself for one last commitment to memory. 

Monoma didn't bother. He knew of their quirks, how they moved, what they were after. The only worry he had was accidentally damaging the inside of the museum itself, but that would involve being messy. He had no intention of being that.

With that last thought, Funai's watch started beeping. “That's the signal!” She pulled herself off the table, and the plan was in motion. 

Monoma activated Kurorio's quirk, and the both of them disappeared into the vast shadows the night gave them while the rest of their team darted out the door in the predetermined lines carefully drawn on the map left behind. 

Finding the villains didn't take long, though the plan shifted, as they all expected it to. The villains each of them were going to target got mixed up, leaving Monoma with chasing two of the villains into a large open room filled with statues.

“You're fans of the arts, aren't you? Otherwise, you wouldn't spend so much effort to get such pieces in your grubby hands.” There were only two exits: the one Monoma was standing in front of, and one that led to another room far left from where the hero was. “It'd be a shame if all of these got damaged from this fight. Why don't we save the historical catastrophe and you give up.” He recognized the two from the files. One had a quirk that allowed him to turn himself and anything he touched extremely flexible for about an hour, and the other grew steel spikes out of his body on command. “It wouldn't be much of a challenging fight anyways. Better to skip dramatics rather than waste time on a boring fight!” His shrug must have set the spikey one off, but Monoma had already sunk into the floor's shadows. 

The fight was in Monoma's favor, even with two against one. His current goal was to keep collateral damage to zero (or near zero, all things considered) and wear the villains down. They knew their own and each other's quirks very well, a duo that must be close. Despite his continuous egging on, neither uttered a word.

Monoma wasn't necessarily frustrated by it…bored is a better descriptor. Villains were nothing if not people who liked to hear their own voice. A fiet Phantom Thief took advantage of when he could. But these two were being careful. 

“You're wasting your time!” He smirked, easily dodging their attack attempts with Kurorio's quirk. “And mine, at that. Let's wrap this up.:

Almost on queue, a whirring noise zipped through the air. The dim night lights were out in an instant, only to flicker back on moments later, revealing the two villains tightly wrapped up in white cloth. “I thought you shook him off of us!” One yelled.

“Shh! Shut up, don't speak, idiot.” 

“Shit–” The spike villain's eyes went blank and his body relaxed. The other widened his eyes, trying to escape the binds with much more of a hurry. 

Monoma watched it unfold: the binding, the way his eyes glossed over. It was all too familiar. Almost a nostalgic look, if he could call it that. Or maybe it was deja vu, one that brought him back to his high school years. Something like this had happened before, many times at that. It was either he causing it, or…

“Matched, the two that ran to the west wing are captured.” The blond hero's eyes tracked the voice back to a figure that emerged from the other exit, the white binds connecting to more fabric wrapped loosely around his neck. Lavender hair hung over a pale face decorated with eye bags and faded scars. It was longer than it was eight years ago, Monoma thought to himself. Still the same looking texture, though Monoma only ever felt it once. “Phantom Thief will bring them to zone Z.” The hero finished speaking into a device on his wrist and stepped up to the villains, tying off the binds. 

Monoma cleared his throat and his thoughts. No matter the years spent of his mind drifting off to someone who, even at the thought of, caused his eyes to dilate and breath to hold, now wasn't the time to have those reactions reemerge. “So you're the undisclosed hero they were so reluctant to tell us about, hm Nighthide?” 

“I trust you've got these two now.” The hero looked up, finally looking towards Monoma. He reached his hand out – a move full of intent. Monoma knew what it meant, and his fingers responded without need for thought. His palm met the back of the hero's hand, connecting them for only a second, but it was enough for Monoma to stash away a quirk he mastered back in high school. 

“Good to hear your trust in me didn't leave. Not sticking around to see the end?” 

“I'm not a part of your team; all the credit is for you, number ten.” He didn't give Monoma time to respond. “I should be off. Catch you later, Phantom.” 

Monoma didn't notice his stiff posture until Nighthide left, returning to the “undisclosed” nature his career appeared to be built on. There wasn’t time to be struck by memories or old feelings, he knew that, and pushed down whatever was threatening to bubble up. “Let’s get you two out of here.” He brushed off the front of the suit, turning to look down on the successful capture. 

Chapter Text

Shinsou had built a routine. Classes would end, but class A tended to stay behind and socialize for at least twenty more minutes before dispersing. Shinsou’s role in this started by leaving earlier than everyone else with their homeroom teacher to undergo private training. For the first half of the school year, it followed that, but the second half brought a shift. Aizawa couldn’t continue their training directly after class, so Shinsou got to stay behind with the others. Once the first few people, the rest eventually followed suit. Shinsou still wound up returning to the spot near the edge of the forest with his binding cloth to practice. 

Monoma noticed. It was hard not to. He wanted Shinsou in his class for plenty of “selfish” reasons. To watch him grow, to help him build his quirk to its highest potential using the support of the class around him, to stay back studying with him, Monoma wanted to be selfish with him, and he didn’t know why. But, Shinsou ended up in class A. 

That all being said…Monoma still managed to be “selfish”. 

“You’re getting good at those,” Monoma watched from his spot under a tree. Joining Shinsou became a regular. When it started, neither were sure of, but Monoma never failed to plant himself nearby and join Shinsou during this time of day. 

“Not good enough to be a pro.” The boy tugged on the cloth stretched out towards the top of a tree, and it all came back down towards him. “But…” He looked at the blond, a smile creeping on his face. The blinding cloth was fast as it zipped towards Monoma, his reaction time quick enough to jump out of the way and dodge the first attempt. The second – not so much. In an instance, he was wound up tight, his collar held onto by Shinsou’s free hand.

Monoma tilted his head with a smirk. “Are you going to say ‘but good enough to get you’ now?”

“Maybe.”

Shinsou’s eyes glossed over, and the binds were released with one thought. 

“Fell for the oldest trick in your own book.” He didn’t keep him there for long, unactivating the mind control once he was freed. “Not enough to get me with such a cheap move, but you’ll get me again one day. I have nothing but faith in you.”

Shinsou snapped back to himself, half-lidded eyes examining Monoma. “Ha, you can bet on it.”

If being selfish meant getting to be Shinsou’s audience, Monoma would be okay being the most selfish man alive.

~*~

Monoma quickly found out it was dangerous to have free time. It wasn’t the first time he stalked old classmates online, but none of those past scrolls were this in-depth. Three days had passed since his group took down the villains at the museum. The days between then and now, all he had done was patrol the area and assist in smaller villain attacks that popped up: that, and relentlessly research Nighthide – Hitoshi Shinsou. 

Results hardly varied. Nighthide was a hero who had his small set of fans on different online forums that stayed quiet until he was forced to put himself in the limelight. A diligent hero with decent public opinion, though most didn't give him the time of day. As expected, Monoma thought to himself, just like he wanted it to be .

That being said, Monoma still dug. He uncovered public hero records of when the hero's name first appeared, every news outlet from around Japan that briefly mentioned him, even old social media posts of Shinsou and friends back in school. 

His exhaustion made his searching slower and slower, the blue light of his laptop straining his eyes the longer he stared. Words blurring on the screen was the sign Monoma needed to close the laptop and pull out his phone.

[Neito] 4:24am

remember shinsou? 

[Itsuka] 4:26am

why on earth are you asking about your ancient crush so early?!?! god do you ever sleep…

[Neito] 4:26am

oho, but you answered so fast! early morning or late night, hmm itsuka?

[Neito] 4:26am

but to answer…. something along the lines of i had a run in with him earlier

I didn't even know he was still in the city! shocked, thought he'd prefer somewhere less populated 

[Itsuka] 4:28am

….are you dense?

[Neito] 4:28am

ouch, harsh much?

[Itsuka] 4:29am

he's been here the whole time, idiot, it's you who's been jumping all over the world for hero work 

[Itsuka] 4:30am

but in your defense, he does more duo work with present mic than anything on his own

I heard he's been around UA recently, helping around or something

seems to really take after mr.aizawa 

[Neito] 4:33am

and you know all of this how?

[Itsuka] 4:34am 

eehh sorta also had a run in with him two weeks ago while I was with yaomomo shopping

[Itsuka] 4:35am

so he actually found you then? he mentioned he was gonna go and “find you” soon, sounded ominous lol

Monoma's eyes reread their conversation six times, trying to make sense of the surface-level knowledge Kendou gave him. “Found him” wasn't really what happened, at least to his knowing. He wouldn't have known Shinsou was even there if it weren't for him butting into the fight. 

So… Shinsou wanted to get back in touch with him? After so long?

Another text chimed.

[Itsuka] 4:38am

do you … still think about him? I know that you were pretty down bad when we all went to school together

He rolled his eyes at the description. It was a high school crush, Monoma was almost offended that she believed he wouldn’t be over something from such a long time ago.

[Neito] 4:41am

a passing thought, maybe, but im a changed man now! trivial teenage crushes dont matter anymore

[Itsuka] 4:42am 

ahuh right…

[Itsuka] 4:42am

well dont let go of him so quickly

he was being serious, i think

[Itsuka] 4:43am

and go to bed already, you freak

im getting ready for a patrol 

goodnight 

He sent a thumbs-down and rolling-eyes emoji and snickered to himself. She was right, he was tired, not having gotten a good night's rest in almost a week.

So, Monoma closed his eyes, running through the brief interaction between him and the other hero over and over..and over..again.

-

Articles were still pulled up on his phone the next day. Stealing glances at any new ones he found when he could, though he didn’t allow himself many breaks. His scheduled patrol was just about to start, all that was left to do was pile a few of the quirks from his coworkers and begin on route. 

“Any more ‘undisclosed’ guests planned this time around, Funai?” Monoma spoke flat, adjusting his hair in the mirror while glancing between himself and the woman's reflection at a table behind him. 

She didn’t need to look at him to understand the tone in his voice. “No, don’t worry. If anything like that were to happen again, it’ll be during another villain group capture. Though the one we had was likely a one-time thing.” He hooked onto that.

“What do you mean?” Monoma turned on his heels.

“You know I can’t share all the details.”

“Not all, but certainly some, right? You’ve never been one to deny a few sprinkles of my curiosities.”

Funai put her papers down, sighing. “The agency was reached out to and signed a contract with a hero. They were very interested in this case and offered their help. Usually, that means the hero has a personal beef with the villains or they’re interested in joining the agency and wants to show off. This hero didn’t want to be named, though. We almost didn’t sign it due to that, sounded suspicious, but they didn’t want anything in return.” She glared up at him. “Happy now?”

He was more than happy. “I’ll get going on my patrol.” Monoma tapped her cheek and swiftly left.

Kuroiro wasn’t in that day, leaving Monoma with only three easy access quirks to hold for the time being. He buffed up his quirk enough to hold onto more, though the more he had, the less time he had to use them. With three quirks, Monoma could hold out for almost forty-five minutes. Enough time to get him started on the patrol and pick up anymore he needed if he thought them useful enough.

Monoma, as Phantom Thief, avoided being seen in busy streets this time of night. Unwanted attention from both fans and criminals was at risk. Both of those were true for the responsible heroic reasons and all, but Monoma knew it helped another itch that refused to leave, no matter how much he poked at it. He stood on the edge of a building, body illuminated with the last remaining sliver of gold sunlight. It was peaceful enough for his mind to drift.

Shinsou requested to join the mission. Hero’s teaming up was fairly common ever since the war they faced in high school. Safety felt more attainable when there were more numbers. That was the thought process, at least, but Monoma couldn’t bring himself to believe that it was purely out of generosity. He thought back to the villains as he crouched down, peering over the streets. All but one were new to art theft, the experienced villain being wanted for two other instances. Those were enough to get on his agency's radar, building a fatter case the more people he recruited. Still, Monoma didn’t know why Shinsou would be so invested in such a random case. He’s done plenty more cases that hit closer to him for himself and likely others, too. Cases of villain fan groups who idolized one of the old members of the league of villains or liberation army members, cases that directly involved an attack on another pro hero, cases of groups vandalizing UA and other hero schools' grounds. Why not those cases? 

His hands covered his face – it was warm. Warm in a way the bite of the cool dusk air couldn’t fix. Warm in the way that he didn’t have time for. It all ended six years ago. That being said, nothing that didn’t start can end.

Monoma pushed out a long and loud exasperated sigh, forcing himself back to a standing position. It was no appearance for a number ten hero to be left unguarded, mind littered with distracting old thoughts. 

He clasped his hands together, ready to jump back down when he heard them. The footsteps behind him didn’t try to hide themselves with each stomp on the ground, but they fled quickly enough to evade Monoma’s eyes. “If you’re gonna sneak up on someone, the best thing you can do is strike before they know what’s happening! You a rookie? ” During the seconds he spoke, Monoma activated a hovering quirk, one to help get an advantage of speed.

“You talk a lot, blondie.” Monoma zeroed in on where the voice came from. Behind the electrical box. His speed caught up enough to watch the other dash across the roof, getting closer and closer to the edge. He held out his hand in a flicking position, eyeing and aiming at the figure. Just before he could launch it at the one running away, they pushed off the railing and came flying right for him. It was too dark on the roof to get a clear view of their face, but he could tell they were wearing a half mask. 

Monoma stepped forward, securing his arm in place and releasing the energy. But, by the time the shot left his finger, his body was immobilized. He couldn’t twitch a muscle, and the other was smart enough to cover his eyes. “You were right,” They spoke up, grabbing at his collar and pulling him closer. Monoma could feel their hair brush against his face, and the movement of the mask getting lowered from their own. “I was able to get you.” Their voice gradually changed as the mask was lowered, going from a higher pitch to a lower grumble. 

His inhale was sharp, almost concerning, before it snaked back out. “Another cheap surprise attack?”

“Is it really cheap if you’re like this?” Monoma still couldn’t see, but he felt the man's eyes on him.

“I was hoping for something flashier.”

“Yeah well we don’t always get what we want.” His voice finally sounded like his , albeit older. Was it his voice, or the way he carried it? 

Monoma felt the binds weaken around him, and his first order of business was to swiftly remove the piece blinding him. 

It was him, it was Shinsou. He looked the same as he did during their first encounter in six years. His shoulders were more relaxed, Monoma noticed, but there was still a tenseness lingering around him. 

“You’ve got a strange sense of humor, showing up two times unannounced like this. Any reason I should be aware of?” The binds were back on Shinsou’s body, though Monoma still felt tied to his spot. He crossed his arms, at least, resembling more control over himself than he felt was true. 

Shinsou didn’t give him an immediate answer. He looked lost in thought, how his shadowed over eyes took in the way Monoma stood. The silence was killing him.

But Shinsou spared him and answered. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you.” He admitted, leaving Monoma a little dumbfounded. 

“So…” Monoma held back a laugh..half unsuccessfully. “Shin, what on earth are you saying right now?” He stepped towards him, running his fingers through his own done-up hair. “If you wanted to get a hold of me, you should have asked Itsuka. Pft, unless you wanted to be this dramatic!” The hero gestured to the world. “Hmm?”

Shinsou paused, scratching the back of his neck. “It didn’t feel right.”

“What does feel right?”

“Nothing, really, but at least this way I can see you. Starting this with a text or call…eh...”

“And,” Monoma cleared his throat, his steps leading him to circle the other hero, “why do you need to see me so bad?” 

“I .. hm…I missed you.” 

He stopped right behind him. Those words latched onto every fiber of his being. Shinsou..missed him. He missed him, and because of that feeling, he's here. He didn't let it stay as just another passing emotion to come and go as it pleased. There was no other explanation for it. He just…missed him?

“Missed me so hard you requested a mission with my agency, interrupted my fight, and stalked me up to a roof to wrap me up like a present.” The heat in his face was burning. “You take after your classes' need for flair. I respect it, but I'm curious about your timing.” Six years is a long time, but he couldn't help but fan that old flame.

Shinsou turned, returning to the eye contact that worsened his state. “You've been in the city for a month. I thought maybe now you'd be staying here for longer instead of leaving again.” Whether it was an excuse or Shinsou’s true thought process, Monoma felt like the six years that had passed weren’t even an afternoon. At the thought that Shinsou had been thinking of him for so long, Monoma felt as if he were seventeen again, sitting next to the purple-haired boy in the cafeteria, talking about how the food tasted worse than the day before. Praying to whoever would listen that Shinsou thought of him the way he thought of Shinsou. “If you have time to catch up –”

“Hold out your arm,” Monoma interrupted, a soft smile brushed on his face as he came back into Shinsou’s view. 

The man looked confused, but slowly raised his left arm. Monoma took it and pushed the dark sleeve up. His other hand searched the side of his belt, unhooking a small utility keychain and popping open a marker. “Don’t let this smudge or all your efforts will go to waste.” In ten swift motions, ten numbers were drawn out on Shinsou’s skin. Monoma blew on the marks and returned the man's sleeve to its original place. “The ball is in your court.” 

They split ways shortly after –  Monoma using his experts in theatrics to wink and take a bow before falling back first off the building, Shinsou took a peek down to see the blond hero casually walking towards the street. His eyes softened, and he put his mask on. 

Chapter Text

There was no explainable excuse why Monoma was walking towards the teachers' dorm building alongside Shinsou. Shinsou had a perfectly acceptable excuse – he was seeing his family. Monoma, on the other hand…

“Thanks for coming along, I know it’s kind of weird.” Shinsou’s hand was nervously itching the back of his neck. Monoma wondered when that habit started.

“Weird? What makes you say that? I know both your parents, Mister Aizawa especially, and I’ve met Eri before, so it’s not some weird first meeting. Besides, I’ve been wondering how she’s been doing after everything, anyway. I think Eri holds a special place in many people's hearts.” Ask any second-year hero course student, and they’d most likely at least know who the seven-year-old is. “It’ll be good, don’t worry.” Shinsou gave him a stare. “I’ll be good.” Monoma grinned, and Shinsou looked away.

“I know.”

Monoma was loud, obnoxious, sarcastic, rude, competitive, over the top, and many more descriptive words that constantly landed him in ‘certain’ situations with his peers. He accepted that the view the world had of him would always be something he didn’t like. It led him to chew away at himself, growing complexes that fed into the negative words people threw at him behind his back or even to his face. His attitude was constantly shifting based on who he was confronted by. Classmates from his class vs. the other class likely had similar opinions with some variations. Rare was the person who spent enough alone time with the boy to recognize his confidence wasn’t all that he talked it up to be. Shinsou was rare; Monoma felt lucky. Around Shinsou, the flaws that consumed him felt lighter. He didn’t need to use his brainwashing to take those off his mind.

“Hey dads,” Shinsou waved as he opened the door to a lounge area on the floor that Aizawa and Yamada lived in. Aizawa was sitting on the floor next to Eri as the young girl drew, Yamada on the couch with his hair tied back and glasses on doing some kind of work on a laptop. They all went to greet him, then all had the same shocked look. “I hope it’s alright I brought a friend.” He blurted out after seeing their faces.

Eri was the first to actually say something. “Is he a part of our family now?” Her smile was bright, waiting for good news.

“Ah, no,” Shinsou stepped into the room and joined her at the coffee table while finishing, “I just wanted him to come today.” He petted the top of her head as she took a moment to understand.

Monoma tried not to think about the conversation in depth; he didn’t know if he could handle it. Instead, he followed Shinsou’s lead and sat by the table. “I hope I’m not interrupting. Shinsou told me you all try to meet like this whenever you can to strengthen your family dynamic.”

“Gwaahh,” Yamada put his laptop to the side, “you put it like this is some kind of assignment!”

Shinsou laughed. “That’s what you said it was when we started doing this.. but I don’t think of it that way, it’s more an opportunity to relax.” Yamada’s mouth hung halfway open, shaking his head.

“Still sounds like a project,” He sighed, shrugging. 

Aizawa spoke up. “Let him be. You still have files to fill out, don’t waste your time.” He was stacking the papers Eri had drawn on, looking through each of them as he did so.

Monoma didn’t react to the scene; instead, he looked to Shinsou – the boy was smiling, looking between the married couple with affectionate eyes. Though he noticed that the softness he saw wasn’t as apparent while actually speaking with them. His tone and expression were just that of another child embarrassed at their parents' interactions. He really liked being a part of the family., Monoma could tell by the hints, but maybe there was something stopping him from fully expressing that. Though being a teenager could very well be the reason. 

The bickering ended and they all melted into the two new members of the room. Eri and Monoma drew together as Shinsou caught Aizawa up about his discoveries with his solo training, asking for tips or recommendations on techniques. It was the most domestic thing Monoma had done ever since the previous year when he stopped living at his family's house and moved into the dorms. 

It was nice, not being held to any expectations. He wasn’t a hero course student in this room. He was Shinsou’s friend sitting at a table surrounded by other people wanting to relax their shoulders. 

“I can’t believe you know what she’s talking about.” 

Monoma stood proudly with a blanket tied around his neck, a cape made of fluffy blue cotton. “You’re a seven-year-old's brother, but you don’t know the Adventures of Finn? I feel so sorry for little Eri…” Shinsou frowned.

“It’s okay, you can join us even if you don’t know!” Eri’s small hands grabbed at her brother's arm, pulling him to the open space Monoma was standing in. “Just hold each other's hands and battle me! You two are the two princes that find the baby dragon.” Monoma’s eyes darted to Shinsous. He quietly cleared his throat, extending his hand out.

“You heard the lady.” 

As Shinsou’s hand grazed his, Monoma latched onto it, pulling the boy in close. “You know, in the show, the two princes are said to have one shared heart.” Their fingers moved, now interlocking. “Using that spiritual bond to find the object of their mission.” They were standing so close that it could make sense how two people had one heart beating in both chests.

Eri interrupted them, starting the action by hiding under the table and reciting the lines the best she could remember. 

Aizawa and Yamada, on the other hand, couldn’t get past how Monoma spoke..and how Shinsou reacted. Both the boys had pink blushed cheeks at the start of the innocent play, their fingers still clinging onto eachother even if it wasn’t needed anymore. They looked at eachother, then back at the boys, then back to eachother. There was a recognition in their eyes, a familiarity. They knew how they felt. So many years ago, they were in those uniforms feeling the same way.

~*~

The bags under his eyes were carefully painted over with concealer, hiding his lack of rest in seconds. A trick he wouldn’t have known if not for Yaoyorozu’s suggestion as she started getting closer to Kendou. The two of them ended up in the same agency and have been working closely ever since they graduated from college. They fought alongside each other often, as well as ended up downtown with a few other friends when the opportunity arose. 

“Are you ever going to let that down?” Testsutestu groaned. Monoma was pretty sure they were talking about an incident from a few weeks ago involving the four of them and a boba truck, but he couldn’t give them his full attention.

Not while he still hasn’t heard anything from Shinsou. In the man's defense, it had only been the previous night that he wrote down his number. It hadn’t been enough time to be disappointed, but it was enough time to keep on the edge of his seat.

“You spent eighty-two dollars, I think that’s enough to warrant a ‘never letting that down.’ I’ll definitely never trust you to order our drinks again.” 

His phone was still quiet, earning a frustrated sigh and a sulking sip of the tea Kendo ordered for him.

“Something up with you?” Kendou leaned back in her chair, eyeing him. “You’re not as annoying today…something is off.” Monoma chuckled, shrugging and shaking his head.

“I’m working to the bone like a hungry dog. But if you miss my charming personality that bad-”

“Forget I said anything, go back to looking like a kicked puppy.”

Monoma grinned, giving her a fake pout and looked back at his phone..

..almost dropping it at the notification.

[unknown] 2:12pm

Hey

[unknown] 2:12pm

It’s Shinsou

His attention for anything esle around him vanished, vision zeroing in on the three words. The loudest two parts of his brain told him two things: to make the man wait like he made Monoma wait, while the other was making his heart pound with excitement.

[Monoma Neito] 2:14pm

looks like you took care of what I gave you

[unknown] 2:24pm

It was the end of my patrol anyways, I just made sure not to do much with that arm for the remaining time

[Monoma Neito] 2:15pm

smart boy!

Three dots appeared and reappeared for the next two minutes. They never stayed up for more than ten seconds. Monoma couldn’t stop watching.

[unknown] 2:18pm

what are you doing tonight?

[Monoma Neito] 2:18pm

I didnt know you were someone so into last minute planning

[unknown] 2:19pm

My schedule is wide open, thought I’d give it a shot

[Monoma Neito] 2:20pm

pft haha! well since you asked so nicely, ill be available after seven

[unknown] 2:20pm

meet me at [..] park once you’re done

[Monoma Neito] 2:21pm

sounds like a plan!

see you there, shin

He hit sent, then reread their conversation. It felt like high school again, though somehow more real. After the fifth reread, Monoma finally pressed the number displayed at the top of screen and clicked add contact , add name, 

Shinsou 🪻🐱

Monoma was too lost in his own world to hear Kendo calling out his name,, not until she smacked him upside the side and told him they’ll leave him if he doesn’t stop smiling so hard at his phone. He didn’t want to share the news yet. He wanted this night to be something for him and Shinsou, no matter how it went.

-

It seemed fitting that all three times Monoma has seen Shinsou after six years have been during the night. Monoma wasn’t very poetic by nature, preferring visuals over words, but if he were to describe Shinsou to someone who never had the honor of seeing him…Monoma might just explain how the moon and dark sky were nothing compared to the light complexion and dark locs of the man leaning against the railing. He never would, in reality, Monoma wasn’t that easily romantic. Still…Shinsou looked like he was meant to be seen at night under the moon, face brightended by the lights reflection in the water of the pier. It was like a painting, one that he was going to cause an off balance in. 

“Why this place?” Monoma found a spot next to the other, looking out to the water. He was thankful there weren’t many other people around, appreciating the serenity.

“It’s quiet,” His voice was as well, urging to Monoma to lean in slightly closer to hear better, “and I thought a good spot to catch up.”

Monoma chuckled, turning so his back was to the railing. “Cafes and restaurants are traditional for that kind of thing. This feels more like you’re going to tell me something serious.” He crossed his arms and closed his eyes. “You told me you reached out now because I’ve been in Musutafu for a month. You know, just because I wasn’t here didn’t ever mean I wouldn’t have accepted an offer to chat with an old friend.” That took Shinsou by storm, if the way his face coward in response said anything. “Better late than never, though… I can’t say much…it’s not like I did anything either.”

Shinsou shook his head. “No, you were busy. Your career has been wonderful to watch from my point of view. Ha, I even saw the giant billboard with your face on it. It’s– you’re – really something. I didn’t think..” He hesitated. “Ah, I didn’t think there was room for me. At least not in the way we were in high school. Maybe as a hero I could be, if you’d let me.”

Their eye contact was broken long ago, despite how directly Monoma was staring at Shinsou. The vulnerability in his voice was overwhelming, Monoma didn’t know how to feel. He felt waves of joy that he was a thought in Shinsou’s mind for long, but despaired the way he was envisioned.

Monoma sighed, stepped forward and closer to Shinsou, popping any resemblance of a personal bubble. “I remember you mentioning that you didn’t go to UA to find friends, that you were working towards your goal to be a hero and that alone. I’m never going to be one to try and change someones mindset on anything, I really couldn’t care, but think of friends and allies as the same thing. I was both at one point, wasn’t I? Maybe I wasn’t as ‘busy’ as you say I am now as I was then, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for someone like you.” His hand found a home on Shinsou’s shoulder. “I wouldn’t complain being a hero with you, but it’s not some compromise for us to have time together. I’ve always thought of you as a friend, even while we’ve been apart. There will always be time for you.” Monoma wasn’t good at spouting comforting words or discarding someones negative thoughts. Frankly, he didn’t believe what he said would fix six years of doubting. “I should apologize for my own radio silence. I got a new number during college and started doing more international missions, never getting the chance to find you. You’re good at staying out of the news.”

He ran his hand down Shinsou’s arms, briefly lingering at the very bottom until letting go. What he said was all true, even if there was much more he wanted to admit. Monoma didn’t know where his feelings laid anymore; it had been so long since he was able to have those old feelings for Shinsou, the distance made it easy to burry anything left over after graduation…but meeting him like this and Monoma could feel something in the back of his heart start to boil.

Shinsou smiled, looking down at their connected hands before Monoma had let go. “Sorry for making this awkward, I didn’t know how to tell you…you’re the only person I’ve felt this way for.” That hit Monoma in more ways than one. “Hm, and you’re right, it’s better late than never. I wish it didn’t take this long to recognize that.” There was a leftover sense of self reproach in Shinsou’s tone, a bit that Monoma didn’t want to address. Instead, he started blabbering on about the six years Shinsou had missed. Shinsou did the same,,, with far less hand movement. Then, the world belonged to them, filling the brisk night air with memories once carried alone yet now shared between just the two of them.