Chapter 25: The Date Part 2
Izuku felt like he was on cloud nine. She's holding my hand. He thought, his face warm, holding a wobbly smile as Itsuka led him down the street. Maybe it was a stupidly simple gesture of affection, but he couldn't help it! Her hand was warm, soft, and just gripping his fingers enough to be comfortable. Maybe it was just due to her quirk, but he somewhat expected her grip to be a little firmer, but no, it was…..it was just great. Or maybe it's just my brain is subjective because it's her. He thought.
Itsuka, meanwhile, carried onward, a small smile tugging on her lips as she also enjoyed the feeling of his hand in hers. Though not to the extent Midoriya was, "I thought about driving us there on my bike." She admitted as she used her empty hand to brush a strand of hair away from her face, "But it's pretty nice out for so early in the spring. And it's not too far."
And she didn't exactly need to hold his hand all the way there, but she also didn't see any reason to stop.
Izuku swallowed, "R-right! N-n-no problem um…..where are we going?" He asked.
Itsuka grinned at him triumphantly, "Well,l I was thinking. What's something that we'd both enjoy? I mean, I knew I could probably drag you to something I liked, but I wanted to do something we'd both like," she told him as they continued walking.
Izuku blinked, "O-oh you-Itsuka, I dont-…..I just want you to enjoy yourself." He said, his cheeks flushing at how she was prepared to go to such lengths for his own enjoyment, without hers being considered.
"…..so you're saying you don't want to enjoy yourself," Itsuka replied.
Izuku opened his mouth to try and deny that, but when she turned her head and smirked at him. He closed it, "...no…." He pouted, not at all convincingly. She grinned at him and squeezed his hand as they turned down a lit stairway between buildings. Upon reaching the top, Izuku blinked in surprise at the sight before him.
The large pavilion that was normally a hub of small shops had been filled with many brightly colored attractions. Games, food stalls, and attractions that someone would find at a carnival or festival, but as far as Izuku knew, there wasn't any major holiday that he knew about. Seeing his surprise, Itsuka spoke, "I found this pop-up fair online. These guys go around Japan and throw a small festival. They were in town, and when I found out that they were allowed to use their quirks for games and stuff, well, that was a no-brainer." She shrugged, making his eyes widen even more.
He turned to her, "Itsuka that's-wait, if that's for me. Then…..why were you into it?"
She grinned at him, "Outside of treating you to a nice time? I get to whoop your butt at games." She idly added.
I blinked at the challenge in her voice, now, from what he knew about dating, which was mostly from movies and TV, the right thing to do would be to have Itsuka win whatever they participated in...but this was Itsuka, who would never accept such a victory. And that drive is partially why he had become so infatuated with her. "...what do you want to play first?" he asked with a smile as he rose to the playful challenge, her own smile blooming.
They traversed into the fairgrounds, the burgeoning couple looking at the stalls and attractions as they walked. Izuku's eyes locked on a woman who was using her quirk to move puppets around and perform complicated motions like tiny gymnasts. They watched for a moment before moving on. Itsuka led him past that and to a small booth operated by a young man who smiled at them welcomingly.
The booth had a pool of water, within it was several lily pads, each of which held a small prize. Be it a plush toy, a bag of candy, a keychain, or a pack of stickers. "Welcome! Are you both playing?" he asked in a friendly tone that invited challenge. Kendo smiled and nodded, "Alright, rules are simple," he produced two small fishing rods from beneath the table of the booth, "Use these to fish for your prizes, they're magazines, so they'll stick to whatever you manage to reel in, if they hit the water? They detach. You get three tries each," he explained.
Izuku looked at the rods and the prizes and immediately clocked the use of the stall owner's quirk; he was able to give objects a magnetic property. This was how the various prizes, despite not being metal, could be attached to a magnet. Part of him wished he had bothered to bring his notebook, but he set it aside as he and Itsuka paid for the game. Of course, when he attempted to try and pay for her chance? She shot him a pout. And he quickly withdrew the yen he was about to pay as she put her own forth with a satisfied smile.
"I appreciate the chivalry." She grinned as she and Izuku took the poles; they both noticed they were slightly heavier than they expected due to the magnets on the ends. Casting their lines, Izuku hit the water while Kendo managed to land on the lily pad next to a stuffed bear. She smirked as she flicked the line to try to get the magnet closer to her target, but the small action barely had any reaction on the magnet's end.
Izuku reeled in his line, "Wow! First try!" he said in awe.
Itsukae smiled briefly at him before focusing on the prize on the end of her line, "Thanks, my dad and brother took me fishing a lot," she explained as she tried to flick the line again, only for it to pull the magnet off the pad accidentally. She clicked her tongue as she reeled her line back in. "Darn."
"I didn't know that," Izuku commented.
Itsuka smiled at him, "Yeah, he would take me to the pier once a month growing up," she recalled fondly, thinking back on those trips with her dad. "He was busy with the police, so he couldn't always spend time with us, but he always managed to try," she smiled fondly.
Izuku reflected it back at her, "That sounds nice….."
"Oh, I was creeped out by it at first," she flatly admitted, causing Izuklu to snort at the sudden shift in tone in the fond memory with her father. "Hey, I was like, six, and had to hook a work on a line and then handle a slimy fish! Cut me some slack," she laughed.
Izuku cast his line; this one landed on one of the lily pads. "Well, at least you spent time with your dad. That must have been nice." She nodded, her eyes darting over to him before he continued, "My dad…..well….he tried." Izuku chuckled, "We didn't have a ton of time together, but he always tried to find us something fun to do," he recalled fondly. Itsuka smiled as she cast her own line, this one going into the water as she was barely paying attention to it. "He took me to a baseball game every year."
"....you like baseball?" Itsuka asked in confusion as she blinked her eyes at him a few times, a wry smile spread over her lips. He looked away, rubbing the back of his head with a hand. "You are just full of surprises, Mr Midoriya." She teased.
"I mean. I'm not a huge fan like some people are, but I'll watch a game if I see one," he sheepishly explained. He turned back to the game, "My dad would take me to a game every year, I wasn't…..really into it at first." He admitted, his voice carrying a twinge of embarrassment. "But after a while I really started enjoying them.....until…." He trailed off, his voice becoming more… embarrassed.
"Until???" Itsuka prodded.
".... I got hit in the head with a home run ball." He lamented. Itsuka nearly dropped her fishing rod as she burst into laughter, the mental image of a small child version of Izuku being conked in the head by a home run being too much not to laugh at. "It's not funny! I still have the scar on my head!" Izuku said, his hand reaching up and rubbing the spot. At least he was pretty sure he still had a scar there.
"HAGAHAHA! Izuku! Oh my god!" She wheezed, her rod going in the water again, eliminating her. Which she was careful about as she was able to lean on the stall to catch herself from laughing herself silly. Izuku rolled his eyes, but couldn't help but smile at the laughter she produced. When she finally stifled herself, she covered her mouth partially, "Hehehe, sorry, that's…..that's terrible. It's just…..of course that would happen to you."
The young man shrugged before casting his line, "It's ok. It is funny." He admitted as the magnet sailed over to a colorful bag of candy and snapped onto it. He quickly reeled it in. The young couple looked at the prize, gummy worms. "....that tracks." They both chuckled.
They left the stall with the bag of candy, sharing it between them. Itsuka watched as Izuku slurped one of the colorful candies into his mouth before his face puckered up a little at the sour taste. "Not a big sour guy?" She asked as she plopped one in her mouth. Her taste buds taking the sour flavor fairly well.
Izuku unpuckered his lips, a sight with made Itsuka chuckle, and spoke, "I'm ok with it, but I kind of like sweet flavors more. You?" he asked.
"Meh. I can kind of eat anything." She shrugged. "I like barbecue a lot though." she shared as they approached another stand. They watched with the gathered crowd as a woman used her quirk to fold herself up like a paper person, getting smaller and smaller with each fold.
Izuku watched with interest as he observed how she was moving, he opened his mouth as he was about to mutter but forced it closed. Kendo noticed, and thinking he wanted to say something leaned over and whispered, "What is it?"
He jumped a little, looked at her and blushed a little, "W-Well it's just...um….sorry, I'm trying not to mutter." He said with a touch of embarrassment.
Her hand slid into his again, and she smiled sweetly at him. "Hey, Izuku, I am fully prepared to hear your quirk talking." She told him as he blinked at her, "Seriously. I like hearing what you have to say." She told him earnestly.
Izuku felt his face heat up, and the hand holding his gave it a squeeze. "Um…..ok, I was…..thinking that maybe she's only able to fold her joints like that. But the smaller she gets that makes less sense, so I think maybe her body is kind of like Togake's." He said.
Itsuka turned and watched as the woman, now the size of a book, was still folding herself. She found herself blinking as she realized it WAS similar to her friend's quirk. "Oh! So you think she can only find herself so many times." She realized.
Izuku nodded, "Right, I bet she could get even smaller if she practiced." he whispered to her as they watched as she suddenly unfolded herself, the force making her pop up and land with both feet landing on the floor. The crowd clapped in applause for the display, the woman smiling and taking a bow while the young couple clapped. Moving down the isle, they were waved down by another stall.
"Excuse me! You two!" They turned their heads to see another stall, this one had a young woman there with a welcoming smile. She locked onto the pair of them and pointed to them, "Let me guess! A date?" She questioned as Itsuja took the bag of candy it put it in her back pocket.
Izuku's face lit up and his throat calmed shut, but he managed to nod, Itsuka meanwhile could only sheepishly smile. "Y-Yeah." She confirmed, and she felt her chest squeeze in a way that made a sweet feeling of joy spread through her.
The woman grinned, "Well congratulations! May i interest you in my booth?" she asked before stepping aside to show a mirror, "My quirk allows me to show people….well kind of whatever they want, I'm basically a fun house mirror." she said as the couple looked at their reflections. Upon seeing her reflection, Itsuka automatically took stock of herself and lifted her hand to brush some of her hair back, Izuku didn't notice as he was busy watching as a faint flow emitted from the girl's hand as it held the rim of the mirror.
Suddenly their reflections, like sand upon the shore, shifted. Izuku blinked in surprise as his reflection now showed him having hair color that was the same orange hue which Itsuka's was! And she had seemingly replaced her own hair color with his, along with the color of each other's eyes. The sudden sight made them both jump, but Ituska let out a chortle, "Oh wow!" She reached for her ponytail and lifted it around her shoulder, sure enough her real hair was still orange but the mirror she seemingly stole Izuku's look. She couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her haircolor in Izuku's curly locks, "You look like your hair is made of cheetos." she cackled.
Izuku snorted, she wasn't that far off. The mirror shifted again, their hair was back to normal...but now they were both much younger in the reflection. Looking to be around Eri's age or thereabout. Izuku's face lit up as Itsuka gasped, "Oh my god you're adorable!!" she exclaimed, quickly taking out her phone and snapping a picture.
Izuku's face warmed up at her casual compliment, but then again looking at how he used to look? Yeah he couldn't deny it, he was a cute kid. "Um-how did you get it so close to what we actually looked like?" he asked the young woman who was watching them.
"Honestly? Drawing classes, had to study a ton of anatomy." she replied with a shrug as she showed them a few more fun 'redesigns'. This one had Izuku's hair be darker, almost all black and no green, and all but if fluff had been sucked out.
Itsuka gawked at the way his reflection looked, Izuku himself cringing a little. He looked….well….emo. "You look like you need a hug Izuku." She said sympathetically.
"Y-yeah..." he agreed.
One had Itsuna and Izuku as Mt Lady and Kamui Woods respectively, the latest topic of hero gossip. Then she showed the couple as a pair of anime characters, before finally showing them as a elderly couple. Though they looked more like what a cartoonist would portray them as they were both shorter, hunched, and with a cane and walker. Something Itsuka herself was pretty sure she'd never have if she could help it..
"Ok that was fun." Itsuka admitted as Izuku put his wallet away as they walked away from the stall. .
"Yeah, I wonder if she can only do it on a mirror? Or any glass?" Izuku idly wondered before shaking his head. Glancing at Itsuka, he smiled, "This is really fun, I'm glad you found out about this."
"Me too." she agreed as they walked together. Her eyes glanced to the side and her head turned to a food court. Looking over the stalls, she hummed in thought, "You wanna grab a bite to eat?" she asked. Izuku's eyes scanned the options, but when he saw a bakery stand, he blinked. Itsuka noticed his gaze and looked over, "Oh, that actually looks good." she noted.
"Crapes."
She turned back to Gen, "Come again?"
Izuku's face turned red, his eyes didn't meet her and instead focused on his hands in front of himself as they knitted together. "I-well...I was just thinking...we're on a date so….I-I should get you some...r-r-romantic food…..for it." He said with embarrassment.
Kendo stared at him, "...and…Crapes are romantic?"
".....erm…..well…..maybe? I think….the romantic part is sharing one with you." He shyly explained.
The growing amusement that Itsuka felt was quickly replaced with an unexpected adoration for his earnestness. Her own face warmed up as her heart rate quickened at the sweetness of the gesture, she turned away in an attempt to hide her own blush but Izuku was too busy looking at the ground to notice. "O-Oh. That's…..that is…..actually." she sputtered out.
Izuku glanced over, and saw how she seemed embarrassed as well. He opened his mouth to apologize, but stopped himself as he recalled a bit of advice Setsuna had given him. "If she gets shy about anything, and I don't know if she will, don't back down because of it. Stand your ground."
Izuku looked at Itsuka, and then down at her hand. Before she could recover on her own, his hand reached out to her's, her head turned to look at him and she was greeted by him giving her the most shaky smile she's ever seen, trying and failing to hide his own nerves. "Y-Yeah, so….hungry?" He asked, his eyes looking into her's. And as he did, the tremor of nerves? That anxiousness he would normally feel…..lessened….wobbly smile steadied.
Suddenly she was aware of the bag of candy she had stuffed into her back pocket when they stopped at the mirror girl's stall. For a brief second she considered teasing him by holding up the bag of sour gummy worms from the first game they played but...no, she instead nodded and felt her chest flutter a little as Izuku took the lead for the first time tonight and led her to get some food.
Maybe it wasn't the most grand romantic gesture he could have done, but Itsuka knew him, she knew how unsure and nervous he could be. So him not backpedaling, looking her in the eye despite his fears...showed her that he was really trying for her.
They steps towards the stall, hand in hand, and each one made the tight anxious bubble in Izuku's chest shrink, and be replaced with a blooming warmth.
It had taken a few days for the news of the tablet heist to reverberate through the underworld, Black Cat had expected as much and it was Soooo tempting to take all the credit for it as it really was a hell of a heist to pull off. However she stayed her hand for two distinct reasons, the first being that if someone went through all the trouble of making a forgery of an ancient tablet to replace at a national museum? Then one could only fathom what other prizes they held in their personal collection...this was also the only thing that prevented La Brava from verbally tearing her head off when she got home to the couple.
"Well our mystery buyer has been active on the dark-web, he's been trying to track down anyone who might buy the tablet off us. Including international buyers." La Brava informed as the short young woman sat in her computer chair, her eyes dotting across the dozen screens that was her work station. "However because they've been reaching out like this, and I've been the one keeping an eye on potential buyers IP addresses, I was able to find the one that's reached out to all of them, and ping where they are in Japan." she explained, the image on one monitor changing to a map of a building.
The professional hacker turned around in her chair to the pair that were observing her work, Gentle was standing beside Black Cat as he watched his love do her magic. "Honey your doing wonderful." he gleamed, making the twin ponytail redhead woman gush. Black Cat rolled her eyes, used to the affection between the two by now, but still painfully aware by how cringe it could be as a third wheel.
All of this however fed into the second reason she stayed her hand from selling the loot, whoever this person was wanted it was connected. If this was spreading like wildfire through the underworld then it stood to reason that it would just as easily spill out into the internet and tabloids soon after. However there wasn't a single peep, which indicated two possibilities.
Either someone was keeping things under wraps, or people were too scared to say anything.
"So what do we know?" She asked La Brava, the girl looking at her with a pout. Black Cat sighed, "Come on, I apologized! Doesn't that mean anything?" She asked, putting her hands over her heart and blinking at the shorter girl imploringly.
"Cat that doesn't work on me." She said pointedly.
Gentle, the older man with a mustache and goatee, nodded in affirmation. "Shes right Cat." he said with a stern voice. The cat bugler groaned, turning on her heel and walking towards the couch as she prepared for the lecture. "Getting footage of us stealing the tablet and exposing the sale would have done wonders for us reputation wise." he said as Cat plopped down on the couch, kicking her feet up across the cushions and giving the man a roll of her eyes.
"What's the point of a reputation if we can't sell the thing once we nab it?" she asked, crossing her arms under her chest.
La Brava shot her a look, "We can't sell the thing now!" She said as she stood up on the chair in frustration.
Black Cat sat up and leaned against the arm of the chair, "Then we just steal from the guy who wanted it in the first place! I'm giving you gold here!"
Gentle stepped between them, "Ladies, ladies, let's keep level heads here." He gently said. Both of the young women grumbled and sat back, but Cat's expression was the first to soften slightly under Gentle's stern but understanding eyes, "Cat, we would have heard you out on your plan if you had told us about it."
La Brava sighed, "I would have had a buyer lined up before you swiped it so we could do both." She explained.
The white haired bugler looked away, her eyes trailing to the tablet that was safely secure in a case that sat on the table where she worked on her gear. She felt a twinge of guilt in her chest that she pushed down, "This is a bigger score, who knows what a guy like this has stashed away?"
Gentle crossed his arms over his chest, "Exactly, who knows if there's anything there?"
"Then La Brava can figure it out!" Black Cat threw her arms up in the air in dismay, "Why are you guys making such a big deal out of this?"
La Brava stood up in the seat, the swivel chair staying still while it gave the short statured young lady enough height to be up to her love's shoulder beside him, "Because we're supposed to be working together!" she said. Black Cat's eyes trained on her, her blue eyes focusing on her, irritation was boiling in them, "But instead you decided to do it all yourself-"
"La Bra-" Gentle began.
She steamrolled past his protest, "-just like your father and look where that got him."
The room became silent, the frustration that pushed those heated words out left La Brava feeling a cold chill as they hung in the air. Regret taking place in her chest where they had been building.
Black Cat's eyes narrowed, her lip curled into a snarl as she stood up and stormed towards the door, "Cat I-" La Brava began in a quiet voice that was drowned out by the throwing open of the door, and her apology covered by it slamming shut. La Brava deflated into her seat, plopping into the cushion as Gentle turned to her with an expression that matched his name, "...I didn't…..I shouldn't have said that." she admitted, stopping herself from trying to cast the blame aside.
His hand reached out to the top of her head comfortingly, his own expression a tender mix of it's own pain and sympathy, "I know dear...." he looked over at the door to Cat's bedroom, "Just…..give her some space." he said, knowing full well that their ward was no doubt opening her bedroom window, sliding out and disappearing into the night.
She made her way across the rooftops of the city, no destination in mind, just a desire to get some air. The setting sun casting her shadow across the rooftops.
She stopped on one, perching atop a water tower to catch her breath, her long white hair being blown past her head as she stopped, raising a gloved hand she brushed part of it behind her. Doing so revealed the fire in her blue eyes, she was able to admit that stealing the tablet to begin was to prove to herself that she could live up to the name she had chosen for herself. But La Brava's words were like a slap to the face, "...dad what do I do?" she asked the emptiness in front of her, beyond her lie the city, stretched out before her with endless possibility.
There were plenty of places she could go to blow off steam, plenty of ways to do that, but honestly she wanted to just do something that would shove La Brava's nose in what she could really do. And make her think twice of ever bringing up her father again.
The feminine figure stayed perched, and then her head suddenly lifted as an idea came to mind, one that made a grin spread across her lips....she knew where that building was that La Brava had shown her.
Crepês were a traditionally French treat, made from thin pancake batter that was flavored to be sweet and filled with jams, creams, or even seafood, depending on what's offered. What caused him to associate such a particular food with romantic intention, however, was quite simple: it was French, and it was one of the most romantic places in the world according to movies, TV, and…..well actually, it was just generally considered that.
And sitting with the orange-haired girl who had asked him out on a date at a table, the treat on a plate between them as they each took a bite? He understood it more now. It wasn't just the food; it was the simple act of sharing a sweet with someone he cared for.
"Oh wow, this is actually really good!" Izuku said in surprise after swallowing a bite.
Itsuka blinked, having been a little caught up in how sweetly intimate the snack between them had been. "You've never had one before?" She asked.
He shook his head as his cheeks became just a little red, "N-No, I mean I'm not really big on cart food in general." He admitted, making her smile. "…..and….well, I've never had someone to share it with." he added.
Kendo felt her chest flutter once again. God damnit how can he be smooth when he's so nervous?!?! She thought as a smile bloomed over her face. She took another bite to steady herself, "Well, next time we go out, we'll have to find something else you wanted to try with someone else." She slyly replied.
Izuku blinked as the fork with his bit of food was stuck in his mouth. Registering what she was saying, Next time. Another date. He felt a pang of nerves that was quickly overwhelmed by the excitement at the prospect, "I…..I'd like that…." He smiled. "…..actually I should be saying I'm having a great time now, too...yeah."
They both chuckled, Itsuka's blue eyes looking at him with relief, "I'm glad…..I didn't want to accidentally….well, overwhelm you." She admitted. Part of her had expected him to become a stuttering, blushing pile of goo once she took his hand. And the Izuku from a year ago most certainly would, but not now. Now he was comfortable with her, and that made it better.
"Oh! No, this has been perfect!" He quickly told her, "I got to go to a fair with a beautiful girl, hold her hand, and share a Crepe! This is exactly how a first date should be." He said with earnestness. A wave of warmth spread out from Kendo's chest at his thoughtless confession, "And honestly...I just like spending time here with you, that just makes it better," he added with a large smile.
Itsuka felt her face warm, her eyes softened their gaze as they looked at his green orbs of warmth. There's a subtle shift in them, she notices, a downward glance on her face and a quick blink as his face warms up. Did….he just look at my lips? She thought, wetting them unconsciously as he took another bite of the Crepe. Would he...I mean it's Izuku, I don't think he'd be bold enough…then again he caught me off guard on Christmas.
As Itsuka considered what Izuku might be thinking of doing, he simply wondered how he was going to politely tell her that she had some cream on her lip.
The building was closed for the night, and the lights were off as she could see from the windows. She didn't see anyone walking on patrol either, which wasn't odd, it wasn't completely night yet, if there were guards, the ones during the day would be all too eager to leave. It didn't matter how dedicated they were; no one wants to stay late on a Friday night. But the lack of security is what made Black Cat pause before getting closer. From what she could observe, there were no cameras, none of those new security robots that patrol in place of human guards.
From her perch, which was atop a billboard with her mask's lenses closed over her eyes and letting her see through the binocular function, she didn't see...anything.
Which was raising all the red flags.
If whoever wanted the tablet spared no expense to get it, no way they would just skimp on security for it...which meant this was a trap. Tapping her mask, the lenses slid away, showing the disappointment in her eyes, "Ugggghhhh. This suuuucks." She bemoaned as she flopped across the billboard. She sighed to herself as she crossed her arms over her front, "Ok. Let's think this through. I could go back home. Sulk in my room, and just give Gentle and La Brava the tablet. And we do a video where we….i don't know. Sneak it back in?" She didn't like that idea in the slightest. Her eyes darted over to the building...where the trap was ready to be sprung...
She was at the roof of the building within five minutes, slipping inside the building was even easier since they left a skylight open. Dropping into the room it led to. She wasn't surprised when a shudder slid closed and encased the entire room in darkness. The slights came on, illuminating the space around her where there wasn't so much as a coffee table on the white floor beneath her feet. She had to fight the urge to roll her eyes, "Oh no. I'm trapped." She dryly commented.
She was met with silence. "Ok, I couldn't help myself." She lamented as she saw a shift in the darkness. With the lights trained directly on her, her eyes weren't able to adjust and look into the darkness. But she could hear the pairs of feet shuffling on the floor, three….four...five, six. Maybe just five? She counted to herself.
"You have something that belongs to our employer." A distorted voice called out from the darkness.
Black Cat smirked, "Look, we both know you're not gonna kill me. If you do, well then you loose that thing that belongs to your employer. Which technically doesn't belong to you, it belongs to the museum." She pointed out cheekily.
"Our leader will make you talk." another voice said, still distorted like the other but different enough for Black Cat to identify another person as they stepped into the light. Black Cat turned and the usual confidence she exuded was replaced with confusion as the person who stepped forward wore a black and white suit but with a….demonic mask with matching colors. "He always makes them talk." he finished as others stepped into the ring of light around Black Cat.
The white haired woman's eyes darted around, and a small smirk appeared on her lips.
Two things happened next, one with each of her hands, one of them raised up and shot out the grapnel from the sleeve of her suit directly up into the light illuminating the room, shattering the bulb and casting them into darkness. The second thing that happened as her dropping a pellet onto the ground in front of her, which promptly exploded with a flash of light and loud BANG!
"GAHH!"
"MY EYES!"
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
"GET THE GIRL!"
The combination of the lights suddenly going out, only to be met with a flashbang had rendered the ambush null, two of the men, one of them a large heteromorph with bear-like talons, slashed wildly where Black Cat had been, their claws tearing into empty air. Then, the sound and light of a doorway opening flooded the room, rectangular light on the floor having a feminine silhouette leaning within it, "Well this was moderately disappointing but also very amusing boys. Duces." Black Cat replied before slipping out the door and slamming it shut. Once it was closed, she grabbed the handle and with a strong yank, broke off the handle before running down the hall.
The door only held for a moment before the wood shattered, two of the men throwing themself against it to force an exit while the others scrambled after Black Cat. Throwing open the door at the end of the hall, she found a stairwell that she threw herself down, falling down the vertices tunnel of stairs like a diver into a pool.
"Call the mother's car the ground floor!" She heard one of the men's voices echoing as she fell. She made a note to use her grapnel to slow herself to a stop a few floors above the ground floor and continue her escape that way.
That would slow her pursuers down for a minute, but not too long, which was totally fine with her. She liked being chased after.
After finishing their food, the burgeoning couple continued walking around the fairgrounds. Their hands still holding each other comfortably, a few more tents with little trinkets were explored, Izuku was eying an All Might keychain that was custom made, which he complimented the craftsman on their attention to detail on. Itsuka watching with a smile the two excitedly talked about the way they had perfectly gotten the fair angle right. "I can't believe he just let me have it." Izuku said, looking at the small keychain in one hand while Itsuka held his other.
The latter being something he was still giddy over.
She grinned at him, "Who'd have thought being an All Might fanboy would pay off?" She asked jokingly.
"Look, you've seen my room, you knew what you were signing up for." Izuku laughed as he pocketed the trinket.
Her eyes rolled good-naturedly at her…..maybe boyfriend, "Seriously though I got to ask, how do you track that stuff down? When I was searching around for your Christmas present I thought I was going to go insane." she asked as they walked past another couple.
Izuku let out a nervous chuckle, "Er…..well…..I kind of, manage a…..All Might Merch Server." he bashfully admitted.
"Of course you do." Itsuka snorted as they stopped to watch one of the attractions. This one had someone with multiple arms preforming complex loop tricks. ".....can I ask why he's your favorite?" she asked suddenly, he turned his head to her, "I mean he's the number one hero for a reason, everyone loves him, but...you kind take it to a personal level." she noticed.
Izuku rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish expression, "Yeah...I do." he admitted.
She nudged him, "Don't be embarrassed, it's…."
"Cringe?" He provided.
Her cheeks puffed out to suppress a laugh, and she managed to hold it but not the smile, "I was going to say cute." she provided. His cheeks burned at the descriptor, feeling his chest flutter at the compliment. "But yeah…..did he save you or something?" she asked. It was the most straightforward answer she could think of, and it made sense given how proactive All Might was before his injury, even now with his time limit he was able to get enough done to keep him well within the higher margins of pro heroes.
But Izuku shook his head, "No, well, he actually did with the sludge villain last year but…..well way before that?" he smiled fondly as he thought of that video he saw. He thought of taking out his phone to show it to her...but that would mean letting go of her hand...so he didn't. "It was over a decade ago now, there had been this really bad disaster and it was his debut as the symbol of peace." he recalled fondly, remembering the iconic image of All Might going into the roaring flames over and over to bravely save those in danger.
"He saved over 10,000 people…..in one night." he recalled with a nostalgic smile. Kendo's lips tugged into a small smile of her own upon seeing it, "...I lost my dad, so I knew what it was like to…..feel that. But seeing what one person could do? See how many people they could save? I wanted to do that...I didn't want anyone to ever go through what I did."
Her hand squeezed his, drawing him out of his reflection, turning to look at her; he saw she was staring at him. "…..you know you say something really heroic and noble like that? And it reminds me why I asked you out in the first place." She said with a smile.
That of course caused his face to glare up as she tugged him along the outskirts of the festival. The sun had finally started to set, covering the young couple in the shadows of the buildings enclosed around the large pavilion. Izuku idly wondered what time it was…..and then wondered if he needed to escort Itsuka home…..wait did they even have a curfew for their date? "Um…..Itsuka….what time do you need to be back home by?"
She smirked at him, "Tired of this date already?" She joked, they both chuckled and she used the opportunity to check her phone for the time as they stopped in front of a alley leading away from the festival, "Well it's only eight o'clock. I'm usually in bed by ten or eleven though…...hmmm."
"What is it?" He asked.
"Well by now I'd be reading Eri a bedtime story." She said, then paused. "....oh god I sound like a single mom." she bemoaned. The green haired young man snorted as she cupped the side of her face. "But honestly? It's a Friday night, I'm ok with staying out until I want." She said as a breeze went over both of them. The martial artist shivered as gooseflesh poked over her bare arms.
Izuku noticed the shiver from his hand, and slipped it out of her grasp so he could take off his jacket. Before Kendo could even offer a word of protest, the brown bomber jacket he wore was around her shoulders. She opened her mouth to tell him that he didn't need to do this, but two things stuck out to her. First was that she quite liked Izuku doting on her like this, and two…..it was actually a very comfortable jacket. "…..thanks." She said, debating to herself if she might just steal this jacket for herself.
He blushed, "W-Well I didn't want you to be cold." He said.
No sooner did he explain his chivalrous gesture, did things quickly turn sideways. Starting with a feminine voice from above yelling, "LOOK OUT!" the pair jumped and looked up in time to see a motion of black and white heading towards them. In the brief half second, Izuku recognized a human shaped body, his reaction time faster, stepped forward and moved in front of Itsuka with his arms out to catch it! He was hit by the weight, his hips dipping down to help absorb the momentum.
He stumbled back a few steps with the weight, looking down he was shocked to find that in his arms was a beautiful….young….woman...in a black skintight costume…..which had a deep v which exposed her...her...
"B-B-B-B-B-B-Boobs???!!!" Izuku whimpered as his face turned an atomic shade of red while the blue eyes that said breasts belonged to, looked up at him.
Black Cat didn't exactly expect to be caught by a strong young man from her fall but she wasn't one to question her luck….but looking at him? And noticing the muscular arms holding her by her legs and back? She found herself smiling at how lucky she had been. "Well hello there cutie."
Obviously the natural reaction to someone falling from the sky was shock, that's what Itsuka experienced first. Then, surprise and confusion, upon seeing Izuku manage to catch the young woman almost effortlessly and seeing what the woman was wearing. But then given what sins pro hero's wore? It wasn't too shocking.
That, however, was also quickly overridden with a emotional cocktail of irritation, jealousy, and a hint of possessiveness which ignites a fire inside her. "Excuse you." She growls out, Izuku's head snaps over to her, and Black Cat's head lulls back so she's looking at her upside down. "Could you please get your paws off my Boyfriend?"
"...."
"..."
"....He's/I'm your boyfriend?"
The question causes the orange haired girl to blink, and her mind to go back over exactly what she said….and then to blush. But her stance didn't waver, "Yes!"
Black Cat took a good look at her, and then her black lipstick covered lips smirked, "Well that's a hottie sandwich I wouldn't mind being in between." She purred.
"…..huh?" Itsuka ask, her cocktail of emotions draining out of her as the beautiful woman winked flirtatiously at her.
"You there!" a masculine voice called out, making the trio's heads turn to see a pair of men in black and white demon masks. "Give the woman over and you leave with your lives!" One of them threatened before brandishing a knife from the pocket of their suit jacket while the other grabbed his phone and called someone.
Oh thank god we're being threatened. The young couple somewhat relived by the interruption of…..whatever their unexpected guest was doing., Black Cat flipped herself backwards out of Izuku's arms and with a smooth motion, shot her grappling hook out to one of the men in the masks.
"You two cuties stay put, this will be a second." She called out to them as she reeled herself into the opponent? Her legs slamming into his chest and knocking the goon onto his back and into the pavement, she looked up at the other and leapt up as he slashed the knife at her, flipping over him and landing g behind him in a crouch before swiping her arm out, the sharpened claws at the end of her gloves extending and slicing into the back of the man's legs!
As he crumbled to the ground with a scream, Izuku and Itsuka watched the entire fight unfold. And as the first guy got back up to fight, Itsuka spoke up, "…..Izuku…..is she a pro hero?" She asked suddenly.
The fact that she wasn't trying to draw these thugs away, or tell them to run, or inform the police were all giving her red flags….which were currently dimmed due to the fact that the white haired woman had sent a wink their way mid kick to the thug's head, the skintight suit….accentuating the toned leg.
Which they both noticed and choose not to comment on.
"I….um...hmm…." Izuku hummed as he went through his mental Catalogue of pros…..only to come up blank. "Maybe she's new?" He asked as they watched her dodge a knife.
Itsuka tilted her head, "Maybe? I mean….she looks like our age, or around it. Doesn't she?" She asked unsurely,
"...Itsuka this is my first date ever, but even I'm not stupid enough to make any comment about a young woman's age." He said stiffly as Black Cat locked her leg around the neck of the thug and applied pressure, cutting off air and suffocating him with a hold.
She looked up at the comment, "Smart boy!" Itsuka's eye twitched as the woman choked the bad guy out with her legs...it was really hard to be angry at a woman who could choke someone out with her legs, Oh, wow I am learning a lot about myself today.
"There she is!" A voice called out, the three looked down the alley and saw….a lot more men in demon masks. Izuku's eyes narrowed: turning to Itsuka he grabbed her hand and turned towards the festival and ran.
"Everyone! Run! There's villains attacking!" He called out as he and Kendo ran, her hand reaching for her phone and dialed the police. Running through the festival, people immediately started running through it to get away. Looking back he saw there were little over a dozen men attacking the woman, she leaping off one an onto the top of one of the stalls for distance.
The men in masks had weapons or their own fists, which all….sense to glow with an eerie emanating light. Almost like a halo of darkness pulsing out, and it was….across all of them? He watched as one knocked over someone as they perused the woman. They barely spared a glance but raised the blade regardless, casting a quick glance at Itsuka he saw she was looking and speaking into her phone as she described where they were to the operator.
Raising his hand at the thug, he shot a web at his hand as he tried to swing, he tumbled and Izuku used that second to pull back on the web, pulling him off his feet! He let go of it and turned to Itsuka, grabbing her shoulder and turning her to him, "Itsuka, we need to leave!" he told her before pushing her away, his other hand grabbing her and hoisting her over his shoulder to run, making Itsuka squawk at how he gingerly picked her up.
What he really needed was a chance to get away from her and change, but only after he made sure she was safe. As Itsuka sputtered at how easily he was able to lift her, she looked back to see more of the masked men tearing through the festival to try and catch the woman. But….she also saw that she wasn't the only one in danger. The man who sold them their food was hiding behind his cart fearfully, the woman who did the mirror trick was tripping to get away…..these people needed help.
"Izuku, wait!" he stopped as she pushed herself down in front of him, "Go get help, I'm going to try and get people to safety!" she told him.
Izuku stared at her in shock, "Itsuka-" he began, he didn't know if he was going to argu with her or offer to help her before she grabbed the front of his shirt. …..oh no she's gonna throw me. He thought.
She didn't throw him. She did something just as impulsive.
She pulled him in, and slammed her lips onto his.
His eyes widened, "MMMPPHHHH?!" His lips tasted her's. "MMMM-mhh." He leaned into her, "Mmmmm…." His hands raised up to cup her cheeks before she pushed him away.
"Go!" She told him before turning around and running back to help, he didn't see the way her cheeks lit up red from what she had done. Of the beaming smile that her lips were tugging into as she charged at the masked man who pushed the food cart aside, his knife raised to strike at it's owner. "HEY!" he turned to see a standing kick slam into his mask hard enough to crack it, and fall over. She didn't see the way Izuku watched this happen, or the admiration that crossed his face as he kept backing away from where she had urged him away. She didn't see the way they shimmered with admiration.
And she didn't see him stumble back and tip over a table into an empty booth.
Sprawled out on the ground, Izuku blinked, "...I'm going to process what just happened later." he decided, reaching for the seam down the middle of his button up shirt, pulling it apart and exposing his costume beneath his clothes. Good thing I dressed appropriately.
Across the festival grounds, one of the masked men charged at the Black Cat, thinking he had been able to flank her and run into her, grabbing her and hoisting her up before slamming her down through an overturned table that someone was hiding behind, the man who had been hiding yelped, making the masked assailant turn to him and give Black Cat enough time to roll back onto her hands and spring up, kicking him in the face with both her feet. "Ngh! That hurt!" she hissed out as the man whose cover she had broken stood and took off running, only for another of the men to step out and pull out a gun at him!
Before he could pull the trigger, a big fist punched him through the air and into a stall fifteen feet away. The man jumped and turned to see Itsuka's fist extended out, her blue eyes turned to him. "Run! That way, it's clear!" she said, shrinking her fist down and pointing the way she came.
"T-Thank you!" the man sputtered out before taking off. Itsuka's head was on a swivel as she scanned the surrounding area. Her heart was racing, and not in the way she had wanted it to this evening.
"You stupid bitch!" She turned to see the glint of a blade and ducked as it sliced through where her head had been a moment ago. The masked man swung back, but she was quicker, catching him by the wrist. She turned into him and swept his foot out as she shoved his arm back! The unexpected shift in weight caused him to slam back into the pavement. Her foot came down on his head.
Don't use One for All, don't use One for All! She repeated to herself internally. Just hit them, get the innocent people to safety. She thought, suddenly feeling like she had jumped into this whole thing without much thought.
….ok she hadn't! But she couldn't just stand there and do nothing!
Pain suddenly took the back of her head as a hand grabbed her ponytail and lifted her up. She yelped as she felt herself lift up from the ground, her foot kicked out as she grabbed at the hand holding her up, "Got her!" The man said with triumph before Black Cat's flying knee cracked the back of his skull.
"No, ya don't." Cat sneered at the man, reaching her arms out and catching the ginger-haired girl in her arms to steady her. "Asshole." She spat out before turning to Itsuka, "You hurt hottie?" she asked. Itsuka hissed at the feeling of her scalp stinging, but she nodded through it.
She turned to the thief, "Yeah, I-Watch it!!" She pulled Black Cat away as an axe swung towards where her head used to be, a few strands of blonde hair falling. The man swung the Axe again, but as Black Cat ducked beneath it, she swung her clawed hand up into the handle, manning the weapon useless…..and sending the blade spinning through the air and embedding into the light post just in front of a fleeing civilian who shrieked. Itsuka shot her a look, "Watch it!"
"Whoops! My B!" The thief called out as she kicked the man away while Itsuka ran to help the girl, whose life was flashing before her eyes, up off the ground.
As Itsuka looked back towards the Black cat, she grimaced as a dozen men in masks coalesced upon them from the surrounding area. The inheritor of One for All grimaced; she was keeping her focus solely on acting her quirk only briefly out of fear of accidents using her new, untested, and VERY dangerous quirk. Ok, the cops or other pros should be here any minute, so we just need to stay safe until then. She thought, her eyes darting around to see if any had arrived already.
For only a brief second, Itsuka felt the presence behind her. The masked man who had grabbed her by the hair was about to repeat the act before a red-gloved fist cracked him in the side of the head, while Spider-Man leapt towards him, his lenses narrowed angrily as the man sailed through the air and crashed through a light post. That's for hurting Itsuka. He thought with disdain as Kendo turned, before she could let out a surprised exclamation; however, his other arm wrapped around her waist while his extended arm flicked its wrist and cast out a webline to pull the two of them up into the air.
.....in hindsight, he probably should have expected the reaction.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PUTMEDOWNPUTMEDOWNPUTMEDOWNPUTMEDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Itsuka screamed as she threw her arms around Spider-Man's neck and squeezed tightly as the ground got further and further away. The further he got, the tighter her hold around his neck became, so he wisely set her down on one of the buildings overlooking the plaza.
Itsuka, however, didn't know this as her legs were wrapped around the side of his waist, and her eyes were closed in an attempt not to see how high up they were. "Kendo...can't....breathe!" The vigilante wheezed out, making her open her eyes and loosen her hold, "UGH! Oh, thank god." he coughed as she touched down on the roof.
She stumbled away, fighting the urge to drop to her knees and stabilize herself on solid ground again. She turned back to the vigilante as he rubbed his neck. "Don't. Ever. Do that. Again!" she pointed at him.
"Y-Yes ma'am." Spider-Man stiffly replied as she leaned forward, bracing herself on her knees, "You good?" he asked.
"Yeah...just…..life flashing before my eyes here." She told him.
There was a crash from the fairgrounds below. He turned to see the Black Cat elbow another of the masked men in the face. "Um, look, I'm gonna go deal with these guys. You ok staying here until I come back?" he asked. She didn't answer verbally, only threw her hand up, curled into a fist save for her thumb. That was all he needed before diving off the roof and shooting out a webline to swing on towards the group of men. As the masked men closed in, strands of white webbing flew through the air, while the distinctive TWHIP! Sound came from above, the webs trapping a few of the men against the stalls they were beside, a few bonding their hands to their chests, and one directly in the mask. "Now, now, the lady doesn't want to dance with you guys! You need to respect that!" The vigilante examples as he swung his feet directly into the one closest to Cat,
Black Cat's eyes watched as he jumped off the kick, flipped back, and landed between her and the other masked men in a forward crouch…..giving her a very good view of his form. "Heeeelloooo." She purred out, Spider-Man hopped to a standing position as one of the men started at him with a sword. He easily ducked under, and she used the opportunity to vault over him and tackle the man to the ground, slamming his head into it. "Thanks for the assist, handsome!" she called out as the vigilante looked after her in surprise at her using him as a prop.
"Hey, I'm not a springboard!" he protested as two more men closed in on him from either side. One swung a fist, which he ducked backwards to dodge, which allowed him to see the other opponent. "Right, guys?" he asked, curling his foot as he shot a web into the chest of the man. He lifted his leg up while kicking off the man who attacked, kicking him back while catapulting Spider-Man himself over his secondary attacker. The webline pulled him up while Spider-Man landed, and with a single hand holding the webbing, flung the webbed enemy around like a flail! Slamming him into another.
Black Cat swung her elbow up into one of the men, knocking them back into another, which she then kicked, sending them both sprawling onto the ground, before the one on the bottom could push the man atop him off, she leapt up, spun, and came down on top of the man, knocking the wind out of the one beneath and the one on top out. She stepped up and, for good measure, spun and kicked the one below in the side of the head. She smirked to herself as she turned to one of the last two men who backed away from her. "What's wrong? Scared of little ol' me?" she asked, flicking her wrist and extending her claws.
The pair backed up towards a gap between two buildings, only for a large web to spin into a wall from above. Looking up, they saw Spider-Man sticking to the wall above by his feet while his hands were aimed with the innermost fingers on his palms. "You heard the lady, stick around guys." he joked as she used the chance to lunge at and knock the pair back into the webbing. They struggled against the substance, but trying to break free was no use.
Spider-Man dropped down in front of them as Black Cat stood up, casting an appreciative look over at the Vigilante, "The lady is very flattered." she smirked back at him, making the masked do-gooder turn to her, she lends into his side, her arms resting across his shoulder like one would a desk, he leans back as his face ignites in a shade of red that matches the mask that covers it while her….very…..very noticeably large chest presses against his bicep…..which she hums in appreciation of. "You were really fun to tango with handsome." she compliments.
"I-er-um-" he turns his head and coughs into his hand, his other at risk of brushing against Black Cat's chest, "Ahem, Um, n-no problem Ms…um…."
"Cat. Black Cat," she grins at him as her eyes turn to the two men in masks, stepping away from the vigilante, she reaches out to the demon masks. "As for you-" she begins as she removes the mask. What she sees stops the rest of the bubbling threat.
The face of the man beneath it wasn't extraordinary, it was normal...but….too normal. Despite the struggles he made to get free of the webbing, his face was passive. No frown, no stress, no sign of discomfort. But...his eyes were pure white….and glowing? Spider-Man tilted his head before he stepped forward and removed the other man's mask, and was met with an identical sight on a completely different face. "Uhhh…..I've heard of gang initiations and all, but this seems extreme…." she muttered, a little creeped out by the visual if she was being honest.
Izuku's eyes darted between them, his hand cupping his chin in thought. He dropped the mask and snapped his finger in front of the man's face, he didn't react. "I think….I think these people are in a trace or something?" he theorized. Suddenly, their eyes dimmed and the whites receded back around the irsis, the two men blinked in confusion.
"I-wha….what just-where am I?" He asked, Spider-Man and Black Cat both taking a cautious step back. He saw the vigilante and sputtered, "S-Spider-Man???"
He raised his hands, "Easy now, I think you were…..influenced by a Quirk." He said as the other man made a similar grumble of confusion as his companion. Spider-Man looked back at the other 'thugs' as they all seemed to have the same clarity overtake them. Some taking the masks off themselves and looking down at it in confusion before looking around.
Spider-Man frowned beneath his mask, if all these people were under a thrall of someone then whoever their leader was had a really powerful quirk. Turning back to the roof he left Itsuka on, he leapt up into the air and shot a web to pull himself back up there. The young woman, who was about to look over the ledge Spider-Man zipped over to, jumped back as he landed in front of her, "JEEZE!"
"Sorry! Sorry." The vigilante said as Black Cat, with her grappling hook, pulled herself up as well. Her eyes locked onto Itsuka, and a Cheshire-like grin stretched over her lips, "It's safe now, I can bring you back down."
"Also, where's that cutie you were with?" Cat asked shamelessly, causing Kendo's cheeks to flush and Spider-Man to stutter.
"I-he-I told him to go get the police." Itsuka shook her head. Her expression shifted from embarrassed to indignant at the open flirtation towards Izuku…..despite not knowing he was right there in front of her.
Black Cut strutted over to her, "Oh, well then, if your date ditched you. Are you free?" she asked with a grin, causing both the Vigilante and the orange-haired girl to sputter. Her face turned red as Black Cat leaned in close. Izuku, feeling both awkward at how a beautiful young woman was flirting with Ituska while he was standing there, and...admittedly a pang of jealousy as well, cleared his throat. "Oh! And Spider is welcome to join." Cat added, shooting him a flirtatious wink.
The couple both sputtered at her, "W-W-What!?"
Itsuka blushed beet red, "I-I'm not-Spidey isn't…." She shook her head, she looked at the vigilante for help, but the way he was looking away and sputtering...which made a familiar light flicker in her mind. She pushed that aside as she realized he wasn't disputing the suggestion, "Well, say something!"
"EEK! I mean, urm…..I'm not…..dating…at the moment." He lamely replied.
Black Cat looked at him unconvincingly, "... you're telling me with a tush like that, you're not getting any action? Shame. Damn shame." She shook her head.
"OK MOVING ON." Ituska loudly declared before turning to the white haired woman, "Shouldn't you...call this in to your agency?" she asked.
"What agency?" Black Cat asked, tilting her head.
"....your….pro hero agency?" Spider-Man supplied.
"....."
".....your own agency?" Ituska tried skeptically.
"....."
"..... you're not a pro hero!?!?!" they both realized at once.
Black Cat stuck her tongue out in response, "Yup. I ain't with no one." she said proudly before the police sirens started to wail in the distance, "Well, I gotta go." she turned and ran towards the ledge of the building, blowing them both a kiss, "Later cuties!" she said before vaulting over the side of the building and shooting her grappnel hook to swing from.
As she left the flabbergasted couple behind, they both watched her leave before turning to one another, "...Should….I go after her?" Spider-Man asked unsurely.
Itsuka held up her arms, "Hey, I'm aiming to be a pro hero, it's not not my bag." she said.
"Erm…..fair." he decided. Offering her a hand, "Need a lift down?" he offered.
Itsuka gave the hand a wary look, "No offense, Spider-Man…..but….you swinging me up here was terrifying….I'm going to just….take the fire escape," she insisted, causing Izuku to blink at her beneath his mask.
"Wait....are….are you scared of heights?" he asked her.
She gave him a look, "No. I'm afraid of nutjobs in spandex suddenly grabbing me and swinging me up into the air at forty miles an hour," she blankly replied. The vigilante sweat dropped…..suddenly, he was very glad that Itsuka didn't know it was him under this mask.
The police arrived promptly to investigate the disturbance that Izuku had his picotech call into the police as he changed into his costume. By the time they arrived, however. They were met with a dozen confused people and witnesses alike, Izuku and Itsuka both reunited with the former, explaining that he called the police and was looking for her when an officer asked for their statements. As they did so, they then called and informed both their parents what happened, and they decided to downplay it as much as possible, given that it really wasn't that big a deal.
Villain attacks were common enough but this was…..odd to say the least. So all the facts needed to be gathered, corroborated, and checked out. So by the time the young couple were allowed to leave the fairgrounds….it was well past ten o'clock. The sun was down, the street lights were on, and Izuku knew he had to walk Itsuka home….but he wished they had more time on the date before all this happened. "How'd your mom take the news?" she asked him as they walked down the street.
He gave her a sheepish expression, "She's not too worried, she was more concerned I got distracted taking notes on whatever heroes who showed up than focusing on our date." He explained, Itsuka snorted, smiling a little bashfully as her hand, that wasn't holding his, adjusted his jacket that she still wore. "And what about your dad?"
She smiled, "He just wanted to be sure I was alright. And to tell him exactly what happened tomorrow." She said.
"...so your probably going to get grounded for charging back to help people huh?" He guessed.
Her read dropped, "I'm just…..going to omit that….part." She said, her cheeks turning a little red as she recalled what she did right before that. Izuku seemed to ask recall at that same moment, his head turned away as his other hand reached up to his lips as though her phantom lips brushed over them. He had really been too shocked to really….experience it….
He glanced over to Itsuka, his eyes looking directly at her lips. They looked so soft, her cream colored flesh now had an alluring appeal to it that he couldn't entirely describe. The thin line of shadows that hid the inside of her mouth suddenly widened as she let out a yawn. Her other hand raised up to try and stifle it. "Sorry," she apologized, looking over and seeing his focus on her moth she felt a twinge of embarrassment. "It's uh….kinda late. And this whole thing has left me kind of tired."
Izuku blushed with a shaky smile, "Y-Yeah. I um….well I should probably have gotten you home sooner….at a more reasonable hour." he said, he looked back to see Itsuka trying to suppress a giggle. "What?"
"You are…..so dorky." She snickered, he balked at her as she shook her head. "I'm sorry you sound like a teenager in one of those cheesy B movies." She teased.
He blushed, "I-I'm being sincere."
"I know." She smiled at him, her hand fighting around his, "And it's very sweet. Dorky. But sweet." She clarified. That brought some relief to the young man as that continued walking, her arm brushing against his as she moved a tad closer. Another yawn erupted from her throat, "Aaaaoooohhhh. Sorry."
"Um…..do you need to rest?" He asked.
She shook her head, "Unless you want to carry me home, I feel exhausted. So if I'm resting I'm probably falling asleep." she admitted.
Izuku looked away bashfully. "Um...I can carry you if you want….." he offered softly.
Itsuka turned to him, ".....Izuku it's ten blocks."
He shrugged, and simply smiled at her. "I don't mind."
.....how could she say to him when he looked at her with those soft green eyes? Pausing on the wall, he slid his hand out of hers and scooped her up into his arms and effortlessly carried her down the street. A few people gave the couple odd and amused looks, but neither paid any mind, they were lost in their own private world that rotated along the earth itself. His arm holding her legs and supporting her back, Itsuka had to actually fight to stay awake as her head leaned against his chest.
Izuku felt a blush strike across his cheeks but he ignored the flushed feeling and carried on, reaching the dojo. He stopped in front of the door, "um…..final stop….heh." He laughed lamely.
Itsuka was quiet as her mind drifted...she didn't want this date to end, as he began to set her down, her hand reached up to his shoulder. "...you know if your gonna carry me home…..you gotta go the whole nine yards." She said, her eyes looking away from his but feeling the way he tightened his grip on her whole letting out a sound that resembled a squeak.
He stood frozen for a moment, seeming to register exactly what she said before he swallowed, and reached to the door and opened it with the hand supporting her legs. Holding it open with his foot, he carried her silently across the threshold and up the stairs that led to the kendo household.
He slowly, and silently maneuvered his way through the home to her room, briefly stopping outside the door to Wei's room where inside Eri was sleeping soundly. Upon entering Otsuka's room, he brought her to her bed, It was late, darkness had fallen over the Kendo dojo, the moonlight was the only thing that illuminated Itsuka's bedroom as her body laid back onto it, her eyes were half open as she looked up at Izuku, her arms looped around his neck as his face, which was only a few inches from her own, blushed red in the limited light the moon cast.
Oh….oh god. Izuku swallowed as he looked down at her.
Her heart was pounding in her chest as her hands slowly slid back from around Izuku's neck to the sides of his face, she could feel how warm his skin was beneath her fingers. His breath came out in a shudder, he was leaning over her on the bed, his one hand supporting him on the mattress while the other held onto Itsuka by the small of her back.
Itsuka's neck slowly craned up.
H…..how do I get myself into these situations?!?
Itsuka...was in a similar boat.
Oh god. Brain. Why did you do this?! Why did I go with this? God....i really…..
"...I really want to kiss you again." She whispered. She watched as Izuku's face flushed red, his neck bobbed as he swallowed but his eyes remained locked on her's. His lips parted, closed, and parted again.
"I...um...wouldn't mind that...but...this….this could….um…." His eyes darted around, they were in her bedroom, it was late, and her arms were basically holding him here while she lay before him on her bed.
Her eyes shot open wide, "oh! No! I mean-" She leaned up so fast that izuku didn't have the space to react before she conked her head against his.
"AW SHIT!" Itsuka cursed quietly as she held the spit where she head butted her date.
Izuku hissed out a breath as he did the same. When they looked at each other, they each saw the red mark left from the impact on each other's heads...and then quiet laughter bubbled up between them, "I am SO sorry! I didn't mean to bonk you." Kendo snickered as Izuku sat down beside her.
"It's fine, it's fine, hehehe." He chuckled.
"…."
"…."
"…..I…." Itsuka started, smiling to herself. "I had a lot of fun tonight Izuku."
"Even with the um…..interruption?" He asked unsurely.
"Ok that wasn't great but everything before that was really fun." She replied, her expression turning a little sly as her aqua eyes darted to his lips. "…..everything before."
Izuku's face warmed and he glanced away embarssingly, "I...I had a lot of fun too....and about...the kiss…." He swallowed thickly as Itsuka watched him closely. The selfish part of him wanted to tell her that he enjoyed it, and it wasn't a lie, but...but he was keeping a huge secret from her and he didn't want to keep her in the dark on that if they were….being that close. "It….um...well….it was really surprising."
"...…wow. Thanks." Itsuka said with a wry smile.
His fangs shot up, "N-No I mean, I...well….i didn't....it wasn't really….." he groaned as he got his thoughts together. "….i know why you did it, it was heat of the moment and you were worried about something happening...but…..it was….just you kissing me….i just kind of stood there like a dummy." He admitted.
Itsuka opened her mouth…..but then stopped.
He wasn't….entirely wrong, she really did decide to go 'screw it' and lay one on him. "I…..yeah. Yeah you got me there." She sheepishly admitted, an ounce of embarrassment settling in her chest. She felt a bubble of shame grow in her stomach, she hadn't been thinking when she was laying down with her arms around him. Was she really about to drag him into bed with her on their first date?!
Turning her head, she felt the desire to hit herself, "God I really am just speed running this aren't I?" She asked with a hint of shame.
She stopped that train of thought as Izuku!'s hand reached out to her's. She didn't look back at him, still feeling embarrassed, "....i really wanted you to have a good time tonight because...of his things ended with Natsuki? I didn't want to put any sort of pressure on you."
She whipped around to look at him, "You didn't." She firmly said, wanting to quash any sort of fears that he might have of that. "The whole bed thing was...I know you would never try anything. I just...." She trailed off. "...it felt so good kissing you earlier…..ugh." She groaned, "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to like….lead you on Midoriya, I wasn't planning on it, it was a heat of the moment thing that popped into my head and-"
He shook his head, "N-No! You weren't, I just, you kissed me earlier, and now we're in your bedroom, and things happen with people kissing in bedrooms andijustwahttobedafeandidodntbribganyprotrctionbecsuseididntthinkina-" he muttered off into space before she took his hand to reset him. "-and I didn't know what we were doing and I didn't want to go too fast." He finally got to the point.
She allowed herself a smile, "That's very considerate of you…..but I was just gonna kiss you some more." She said, causing him to let out a sputter. "…..but if you don't want to-"
He shook his head, "I…..I do…..I do want to….just...not right…..now." He said, a pang of guilt welling in his chest as he felt a wedge form between them.
Because there WAS something between them.
There were two secrets they carried, one each. Different in terms of scope but each severe in its own right.
Izuku knew only his side. And Itsuka her's.
It was as though Spider-Man was a phantom, keeping them apart with the secret of his being. And when one tried to close that distance, he would be there to push them apart again.
Itsuka had only just begun to think of hers, while Izuku has had months to ponder his. But this night showed him something, she cared for him, she wasn't ashamed to show it either. And….the thought of being without that in his life? To go back to being on his own, without her in his life because he was too scared to tell her?
That scared him more than anything.
He took a deep breath. "...Itsuka, I think there's something special between us. And if we're going to be together...then we'll be together." He raised her hand in his and put the other over it, "…..this is all new to me. And I really liked what we had tonight. And I want to do more of it...I want to be with you. To hold your hand like this…..and make you smile like I did earlier."
She smiled again, touched by his words. "…..I don't think your going too fast….i think you might um…..get….caught up in the moment."
Itsuka sorted, "Yeah. Guilty as charged." She skirted, her other hand reached up and cupped Izuku's cheek. "…..and I want to be together with you to."
He smiled, "I do too....but um...there's….theres some stuff in my life I….havent told you about." He admitted, causing her to blink. "….and….l want to tell you about it. But…well I wanted to tell you before we…..um….did anything….too…..ugh. I wanted to tell you before I got the chance to kiss you...but you beat me to it." He admitted embarrassingly with a pout.
Kendo was quiet.
"...pffft:" she snorted, causing him to gawk at her, "You…..that is incredibly sweet..." she quickly amended before her expression turned more serious. "...but….now?"she asked quietly, feeling a slight sense of unease.
"...now I...I want to tell you but….,I need to….kind of prepare myself."
Itsuka frowned, she didn't know exactly what izuku was talking about but it sounded deathly serious from the sound of it. "Ok...is this…..Izuku, how serious is this?"
"...you'd be the first person I'd ever tell."
"...…well that's foreboding." She said as she thought. She could tell that this was something he felt like he had to tell her. And the fact that he wanted to before a 'milestone' with her told her that it was very serious. Enough that he needed time to figure out how to tell her, "...ok…..how about this? Next week I have the entrance exam….and shortly after that we'll start at UA."
"...that's assuming we both make it in." He pointed out.
She pushed a finger to his lips, "Sush." She gently told him with a small smile. "So how about this? After the entrance exam. You tell me then…..is that enough time?" She asked him.
Izuku thought about it, "...it will be….yeah." He agreed, feeling a large weight form in chips chest at the promise. Her hand cupped his cheek again, her eyes looked at him with a softness to them. "….im sorry that I didn't tell you before-"
"Zip it." She chided him. "I'm the one who decided to plant one on you....and if it makes you feel better, I was kidding you. You didn't really kiss me." Her expression turned teasing, "Unless that's what you think kissing is, just standing there while I do all the work."
He shook his head, "N-No…..when I kiss you, I want to mean it."
A warmth spread through Itsuka's chest that didn't threaten to overtake her, it succeeded. ...damnit boy you better have a good reason for this because I really want to kiss you now. She thought to herself. "Ok then…..so….next week…..we'll talk." He nodded….and looked down at their hands. Still intertwined, ".....handholding is fine until then right?" She asked.
"I was going to say, I might never be able to go back." Izuku joked, causing both of them to smile. Slipping his hand out of her's, he stood from her bed and gave her a smile, "Um….talk to you tomorrow?" He asked hopefully.
She smirked, "Obviously." She answered.
Izuku left the room, the weight in his chest feeling slightly lighter from the way she said that. As he crept out of the Kendo house, closing the front door, he turned around and let the weight of his decision finally fall on himself.
"....I am so screwed."