Moy Mell 20

It had been an unbelievable feat to move out of his rooms right underneath her nose. But when he realized he wasn't going to be able to sleep he had made his decision and immediately implemented it. Aizawa's things were there and he would finish packing after they had a most important discussion.

They sat in the security office, Zoro in his chair for the last time as he transferred control of the systems to his successor. 

"Almost done. Huh. I think that's it. It will ask you to put your own passwords and shit in when you start."

"All right." The man seated opposite him spoke in a tired voice that seemed to be his norm. 

"What you'll be doing is really protecting her secret." He drew a deep breath. "I'll forget it by the end of the day. Neuro's wiped it from my memory."

"I presume her secret is how to harm her?"

Zoro nodded, unsurprised. "Prayer slips," he said shortly. "They have to be blessed, and they have to touch her to stick. They'll burn her on contact, but that's not the pain. She's told me depending on the type it's more than an agony of a physical wound."

Aizawa raised an eyebrow. "My capture thread didn't alarm her at first?"

"It did. Probably still does. It would be excellent for binding her. Speaking of which..." He thrust his hand into his haramaki and pulled out one piece of thin paper. "Always keep one on you. Surprisingly, Neuro can get them if you need more. I never asked how."

"The <i>other</i> demon in the compound." He rubbed his dead-looking eyes with the heel of one hand as his other accepted the offering.

Zoro shrugged. "He's a lesser, beneath her. So he serves - but he'll do anything to cause chaos. He helps, but the help can fuck shit up just as bad. He hates humans. You'll figure it out."

"Are you <i>certain</i> I'm up for this job?"

Silence as they both stared blandly at one another. Slowly, Aizawa nodded.

"Your job, by the way, is not only to protect her secret. You have to protect her from herself. She's, ah... she's a handful," Zoro ended weakly. He glanced quickly away before the laconic man could notice the pain in his single eye. 

"I fear she isn't going to take kindly to this change."

"She's not happy," Zoro agreed glumly. He flexed the muscles in his arms as he thought. "But we're  - <i>you're</i> -- the only one she has to listen to now. You have power over her. Don't be afraid to show it but be careful about using it." He stood abruptly and held out his hand. "Take fucking good care of her, please." His vouce cracked slightly on the last word and both men pretended they hadn't noticed.

Aizawa gripped it tightly. "I'll do my best."