"Are you sure Midnight is okay with this?" You asked.

Monarch had flown you across town and back to his greenhouse. You didn't even mind the flying this time - granted it was difficult to feel anything at this point.

He settled you in your room and presented you with a gallon of ice cream. If you had been in a better mood it would have made you chuckle.

"It was her idea actually," he said, handing you a giant spoon, "You don't mind staying for a while, do you?"

"Not at all."

"Good. I figured... How are you, sweeting?"

You sat criss-cross on your bed, the gallon of ice cream in your lap. Monarch examined you from afar, sitting backwards of the chair next to the desk he bought you.

"I'm scared," you admitted, "I'm scared that I ruined my friend's future. I'm scared that I ruined my own. Yours. Midnight's. UA."

"You didn't do this," Monarch raised a brow, "Some idiot with a laptop did. We have friends in high places who can put the flames out, so just wait this out - okay? In the meantime, I think it'll be best if, maybe, you stayed here."

"Like, not go back to school? What about my exams?"

"Ha! School is a joke and everything can be done online," he laughed, but when you frowned he cleared his throat, "I mean, school is very important and worth the money..."

You snorted, "I bet you were a peach to have in class."

"Don't be rude, child," he could sense something weighing on your mind. You felt his eyes studying your face while you gazed at your untouched ice cream. "He doesn't blame you either, dear. If that's what's troubling you."

"I know, but maybe he should," you sighed. Remembering the look on Shinso's face was a punch to the gut. He was like a hurt kitten on the side of the road, and you just walked past.

"I told him we should hold off on seeing each other," you explained, "It's not what I want, I just... If I can do anything for him I will, and that's all I could think of - and kill that reporter."

Monarch mulled, "You are sweet. Of course, he'll be butthurt for a while but I think he'll see that you had the best of intentions for him. However, if he was willing to risk it anyway, that's kind of romantic, no?" He winked.

"Shinso works hard for everything. I just don't want him to focus on me at the expense of everything he wants..."

Monarch rolled his eyes, "Oh dear..."

"What?" you snapped.

He snorted, "Ugh, you're so hopeless. And here I thought you had all the experience in the world."

"W-what's that supposed to mean!"

"Virgins," Monarch mumbled to himself and shook his head, "Anyway, eat your sad ice cream and let me know if you need anything else. I have some damage control to do, but you're welcome to anything downstairs. I'll be back for dinner."

"Wha- how did-... Okay," you grimaced as he ruffled your hair before leaving, "Thanks."

"Monarch!" He paused in the hallway, "Um, off topic, but... I've been having these dreams lately. I think about mom."

"Oh?"

"Sorry, it's just that I think it might be a memory. The music box you gave me, did she used to sing that song?"

He smiled, "She did. So, I wouldn't be surprised if it dug up some old baby memories. You should... try it sometime."

"Try what?"

"Singing."

"Yeah, okay," you chuckled, "Thanks for keeping me, Monarch."

"Of course," he bowed.

You spent some time alone, trying to eat your treat but it didn't have much taste. Unfortunate, Monarch even got one of your favorite flavors.

After realizing the calories wouldn't be worth it, you returned it to the freezer downstairs. It felt like it had been ages since your internship. Monarch's posh interior design didn't exactly mirror is greenhouse, but both were lovely in their own way.

You went back upstairs and sprawled our across your bed. Crying was exhausting, and you had done enough of that today. It didn't take long before your eyes slowly started to close.

Bzzt. Bzzt.

"Mmm..." you groaned at the annoying noise. When you opened your eyes it was almost pitch black, minus the moonlight from outside your window, and a small light from your phone.

You lifted the phone to your ear, not bothering to check who it was. "Hello..."

"Where are you." A blunt and somewhat angry voice asked.

"Hm?" you scoffed, "Who the hell wants to know that..."

"Me, dumbass! You drunk or something?"

"Your moms drunk..."

"Tell me where you are, idiot!"

You rubbed your eyes, "Excuse me, sir, calling at such an... ungodly hour, I will not allow you to boss me like this. Why don't you go and... um, who is this?"

"It's 7:30... and who do you think!?"

You bolted upright, "Bakugo? Why?"

"What the hell greeting is that?"

"Yours wasn't any better!"

"Tch. I'm guessing you're alive and... fine if you answered your phone," he grunted.

"Yeah," you yawned, "Yeah. I'm alive."

"You're not at home."

"No, I'm at Monarch's. Did you-"

"Shut up! I didn't go to your house... anyway. Just stay out of trouble and don't do anything stupid!"

He hung up after that. You shrugged, it was surprising that he called at all. Even weirder was how you slept through the several other missed calls.

You dragged yourself out of bed to see what Monarch was up to. What you found on the kitchen counter was a note and directions to find take-out in the fridge.

Didn't want to wake you - this is going to take longer than I thought, so I won't be back until late. Brought dinner home, though!

xoxo - M

"Aww..." you pursed your lips. You actually wanted to discuss the potential stalker you had. Maybe that person was the one feeding reporters all those photos of you.

You decided to text Izuku to ask him about the rose from your birthday. It seemed silly, but it was a strange coincidence that another rose was left in your locker.

Who would do this? You weren't loud about your "relationship" with Shinso, and you hated the idea of the stalker being anyone from your class...

Izuku took his time responding, no doubt talking to himself over the possibilities:

Your heart sank.

You watched the moving "..." repeat a few times as you waited for his response.

You cracked a small smile, imagining Izuku's panicked expression. Before you could respond and but him at ease, you were receiving another call.

Speak of the sad devil...

"H-hey, Hitoshi."

"Hey..." you heard him sigh, "I wanted to check on you. That's still okay, right?"

"... You know I don't actually want you to disappear, stupid!"

"No?"

"No, I don't. I'm just worried about you."

"I can worry about myself thank you," he scoffed, "I just need to know that's all that's keeping you from me."

You laughed, "Why? You going to kill the reporter?"

He didn't respond.

"Shinso!"

"It's not a bad idea."

"Don't joke," you said, "Just pretend it's a distraction-free semester, like it was supposed to be."

"Right... you know that's bullshit," you could hear his smirk.

"Take care of yourself, Hitoshi," you smiled.

"You too, kitten. You more than me," he said, "I love you."

You bit your tongue - Ugh, what am I supposed to say?!

"You don't need to say anything," he chuckled, "But you get to hear me say it. Goodnight."

You glared at your phone when his voice disappeared. He was knowingly torturing you, but maybe you deserved it. Things were bound to change between the two of you eventually.

It had only been half a day and you were already sick of isolation. Stuck thinking about Shinso and about the city gossiping about you. There had to be something you could do - something other than go back to sitting quietly in your room.

"Everyone else is trying to clean up my mess..." you grumbled to yourself. The idea of Monarch, Midnight, even All Might, fending off the media for you made you feel pathetic. The annoying, nagging guilt in the back of your mind was getting harder to ignore.

Screw Butcher. Fuck the media...

What did they have to be upset about? You hadn't done anything. It wasn't like you had a choice who your parents were when you were born.

You could do something.

An alluring voice whispered into your thoughts. It took you a moment to realize it was your own...

Give them something to actually bitch about?

You shook your head. This was a familiar sensation that only happened when the darker side of your quirk was activated. Like a second person wanted to share your body.

Or just a part of yourself you chose to ignore.

You weren't using your quirk right now, though. You weren't even being threatened. Not really.

They're threatening Shinso.

That's true.

You have the power to stop them.

Did you? Could you fix this on your own? Stand up for yourself instead of making the teachers do it for you.

You sighed. Of course, in your fantasy, you could punch the reporter in the nutsack - or the boob if it was a chick. But that would be borderline villainous - I suppose...

You were about to surrender and go back upstairs to sleep, when a strange scent tickled your nose. It smelled a bit like a campfire?

The smell was getting stronger. You went around the house searching for candles or electrical fires, but when you came up empty you had a strong feeling to check outside in the greenhouse.

Before you even reached the door, your nostrils were on fire. You quickened your pace, feeling panicked now. As soon as you pulled it open, the smoke you were hoping not to see clouded your vision.

😅

😁