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Things had been changing fast in the city you called home. The walk back to your apartment began to regularly include sights of monster corpses and scorched earth - no doubt left behind by your neighbor, Saitama, and your boyfriend, Genos - and yet living monsters were popping up in equal numbers or greater.
Although you weren’t privy to the same info as the top tier heroes, Genos didn’t have to speak a word for you to know the rumors of monsters organizing in City Z may be more than just rumors. His body language said enough in the way he held you a little tighter and little longer before parting ways, in the way his eyes never stopped scanning your surroundings when you were out, in the way he started following you on trips you would normally make alone. He said it loudest of all in his absences: more and more Class-S meetings with the higher ups. You tried not to feel too confined under his increased protection. It was true, after all, that ordinary heroes like yourself were starting to really take a beating out there, and while you were lucky enough to escape hospitalization while fulfilling your weekly quota, all it took was one rough fight and a couple of bruised ribs for him to up the ante. It came to a head in a hard conversation you had the day before the Monster Association hit the news.
As Genos washed the dishes that night and you lounged in the breeze of the open balcony door, you knew something was up. He stood at the sink with furrowed brows and attacked imaginary grime on plates that were practically clean already, this after hardly talking during dinner. You turned his way and caught him staring back at you for just a moment, looking like he was finally going to say something before going back to the dishes.
“Honey, is something on your mind?” you asked gently. After another gap of silence you stood, padded over to the window above the sink and rested your head on its sill. “You just seem upset about something, I’m starting to worry.”
“(y/n),” he began, not looking up, “... I think you should step away from being a hero for the time being.”
You were completely taken aback. “What?”
“It has become increasingly dangerous and I believe -”
“- Genos if this is about that last guy it’s no biggie, really. It’s just some road rash from when he tossed me, it’s not even gonna scar,” you defended, gesturing to the scabs on your arms and legs from your encounter with a rather rowdy purse-snatcher.
“That’s not my reason.”
“Then what is?” When he still wouldn’t meet your eyes, you gently pressed for more. “You can tell me, can’t you?”
Genos sighed and turned off the faucet. “... In addition to the increase of stronger monsters, there has been a human man calling himself a monster and claiming to be a ‘hero hunter’. He has left many heroes hospitalized, including Tank Top Master and all of his disciples.”
“Oh…”
He finally looked up at you with eyes that were unexpectedly desperate. “The only way to be safe from him is to renounce yourself as a hero. In the event that I’m not there to protect you…” He grimaced. “Please. Just until he is dealt with.”
You could probably count the number of times you had seen genuine worry on the steely face of the Demon Cyborg on just one of your hands. Right now was such a time. You reached through the window to cup his face and held his gaze with your own. “You know I can’t do that, Genos. What kind of person would I be if I ran away from all this hard work just because I was afraid of getting hurt? I know you want to keep me safe; I’ll be okay. Besides, with people like you and Saitama out there, he’ll be toast before we know it,” you said with a reassuring smile.
Genos surrendered to the comfort of your touch and relaxed his expression, then decided he was done with the dishes and would rather enjoy the evening with you. He was unconvinced of your safety, but it was clear you weren’t going to budge on the matter.
Now you were standing in the same exact spot, alone. Normally the derelict City Z was quiet, but today the silence was deafening. The air felt like it was alive, like something really bad was going to happen, and the sudden beat of a helicopter whizzing by only confirmed your suspicion. Perhaps it was a good thing after all that you didn’t resist when Genos told you to stay out of town for a couple days.
Back in your tiny apartment for what would probably be the last time for a little while, you shoved more clothes and what little personal treasures you had into a backpack. An old school friend in City W had been kind enough to let you stay with her, and while all of your essentials were in a suitcase there already, you couldn’t resist coming back last minute for just a few more things.
As you slung the bag over your shoulder another helicopter skimmed over the roof of the building, making the walls vibrate briefly. Saitama and Genos definitely have to be out there already , you thought as you did a final once over of the place, but then came sounds of movement from next door. Or were they?
Before you could even knock on your neighbor’s door it was flung open, the jagged figure on the other side giving you a fright. You eventually recognized it as Genos, but his body had undergone a serious change that gave him sharp, scale-like armor and talons for fingers.
“Genos, what’s going on? Why are there so many helicopters? Why do you look like that ?”
“(y/n)? You shouldn’t be here, it’s not safe. Why aren’t you with your friend?” His concern grew with every word.
“I asked you first,” you demanded.
He glanced around before quickly pulling you inside and closing the door behind you. “The Hero Association is making an attempt to infiltrate the Monster Association today, I am waiting for Sensei to catch up so we can join them. The mission is to rescue a hostage, but with the hero hunter now among them, I am certain it will escalate.”
“I take it that’s why you’re decked out like a dragon?”
“This is my latest upgrade from Doctor Kuseno. He has substantially increased my power, however I cannot exceed 10 minutes of maximum output.”
You felt a dry lump climb your throat at the thought of an even more powerful Genos. Your next question came out in a whisper, “Why, what happens then?”
His answer was matter of fact. “My core will enter a meltdown.”
“ You’ll die?!” When he didn’t elaborate, you leaned against the nearest wall and tried to catch your breath after that gut-punch of a revelation. “... Well, I mean, you probably won't have to go that far, right? They’re sending in almost all of S-Class, plus Saitama whenever he gets here - how can it go that wrong?” But you knew the second those words left your mouth that it was a very real possibility. You saw how bad things had gotten in just the last few days. You saw Elder Centipede.
“It is the absolute last resort.”
Both of you stared out as a third copter swept by even closer now, throwing a fury of air through the open balcony door and stirring up Saitama’s apartment. Now more than ever you wanted to be glued to Genos’s side, but it was a selfish impulse. You already knew what he would say and he would be right.
Shoving off the wall you threw yourself into his arms and held him tightly as he gripped you all the same. Through his vest you could feel the thrum of his core, maxed out with power but still making the same soft noise, the same warmth radiating into the embrace. Every fiber of your being did not want to let go.
Finally Genos had to speak up. “You should go. You need to get somewhere safe while there is still time,” he said, voice muffled against your hair.
You nodded, willing tears away as you pulled back from his arms and held his face one more time. “Genos, if you die out there I’ll fucking kill you.”
“Understood.” When he leaned down to kiss you, you savored every second. “I love you. Be safe.”
“I love you, too.” And with that, you were out the door, soon out of the city, and most importantly to Genos, out of danger.