Wonderland: 18

They had gotten together on her last night in Japan, uncertain of what to do. It was difficult to think about what lay ahead for both of them. They ended up eating in at his apartment, unwilling to be apart for more than a few minutes at a time. It was currently late, her flight was early in the morning, yet neither felt like sleeping.

He was kissing her like it would be the last time, aware that was always the possibility. His hands cupped her cheeks and she tangled her fingers in his long, dark hair as they desperately tried to memorize each others' touch, taste, and feel.

"Let me love you, my queen," he pleaded softly, his gray eyes earnestly staring into her own. "Stay with me tonight."

"I'm so sad, Shota. I - I don't want our first time to be when we're both so messed up."

"If this <i>is</i> our last night together..."

"No! It can't be!" She tore away from him and flung herself onto the other side of the couch, weeping openly. Her sobs were so powerful they wracked her body, shaking it violently as she struggled with herself.

"Ches, please. I'm sorry, I only want to be close to you right now. I don't care how!"

"Huh - hold me!"

He reached around to grip her tightly. "I'll go with you," he whispered. "I know you don't want it, but let me walk you as far as I can into the airport. I'll be with you as long as possible."

"Nezu said Yagi was coming," she sniffled.

He made a face. "I don't fucking care if All Might is escorting you or the whole damned school. I'm going as well."

She smiled at his defiance. "Thanks. You know... I know I'm high maintenance, and I have a lot of issues." Aizawa opened his mouth to protest but she laid a finger on his lips. "No - let me finish. I am. It's me, and I can't change that. But I've worked so damned hard to make sure my skills offset the bad, so that I could be seen as worthwhile!"

"I think you're highly underestimated and not being given a proper chance. Your records, your actions, all speak for themselves. You are - " Aizawa paused, sighed, and covered his eyes with a shaky hand. He was unable to continue; his emotions had caught up with him at last. He finished with, "my queen," in a husky voice near to tears.

"Oh my god, Shota, how am I going to do it? How am I guh - gonna make it without you now that I don't ... oh my god!" She buried her face in his chest and cried. 

He stroked her hair, swallowing past the lump in his throat. "Ches, you would never hurt yourself, would you?" 

"What?" She raised her head. He saw her eyes now matched his; they were deeply bloodshot and tired, with dark shadows under them. He wanted to fix it but could only offer kisses. "Do you think I would?" 

"No," he mumbled. "Shouldn't have said it. I'm sorry."

"If I ever did, it would be my decision. I couldn't see myself doing that, though. It would hurt you and I would never do that."

"Yes." He took both her hands in his. "I bleed if you so much as fucking get upset. Like now. I feel <i>useless!</i>" He yelled this loudly, his hair flying upright as he raged.

"People manage to make things work in more difficult situations. Hopefully we can, too." 

"Let me mark you one more time, then. Something. <i>Anything</i>."

"Will it make you feel better?"

"I don't know," he confessed. "I want to give you a piece of me to take with you, but that's impossible."

"Unless you use the cheesy 'you're always in my heart' line," she chuckled weakly.

He snorted. "Too simple. You are. I want to do more."

"It will be enough if we see each other again, in person. That's all I want - to be with you." Her eyes were leaking again, she knew it, she just couldn't seem to stop.

"There is no if, Ches. Just when. I'll <i>make</i> it happen." He paused, then sighed. "Now. It's late, and you need sleep. Let's get you back to the hotel."

He ended up dropping her off and heading back to crash on his couch just as he was. His phone was set to wake him long before her flight so they could be together again for what little time was left.