Unforgettable (Shota)

"Oh god, Shota..!"

It was the first thing he heard upon opening his eyes.

The second was a near-deafening cry of "Aizawa!"

He winced and concentrated on focusing. He was in a stark white room, cold and bright, laying on a cot with thin white sheets. He could feel a thick medical dressing wrapped about his head and there was an ache in his skull.

Two people were hunched anxiously over his bedside. One was a woman with short purple hair winged up on either side and elfen locks spilling down past her cheeks. She had furry cat's ears that were perked towards him and from this low angle he could see her nose had a split like a feline as well. He assumed the thumping sound he could hear was her tail behind her hitting the other person's legs.

"Do you know where you are?" The loud guy on her left had lowered his voice considerably after she smacked him on the arm. He had blond hair pulled into a messy bun, red-rimmed, floating frame eyeglasses and too much jewelry, from what he could tell. Two different kinds of necklaces - gold and silver -- lay on his chest, and a red beaded bracelet was on one wrist.

"Obviously I'm in a hospital," he said drily. "The question is, who am I - and you two?"

Apparently losing your memory wasn't enough of an emergency to keep him in there too long, and with two Pro Heroes to look after him they let him out soon.

He learned his name - Aizawa Shota -- and that he was also a Pro Hero.

That was the extent of his knowledge about himself and his interests right now, however. His two friends took him back to his apartment at a local campus where they all worked, pointing out objects and buildings they hoped might spark some recognition for him.

"Here's your place." The man, who he now knew as Yamada, opened the door with a flourish.

Aizawa stepped inside, taking his shoes off and noting with a raised eyebrow the black kitty slippers nearby. Those had to be his, considering his fondness for dark colors. He put them on and wandered the apartment while the woman - Cheshire -- removed her shoes. Once in the bedroom he slipped out of his torn tracksuit and into black pants and a gray sweatshirt. He could hear her talking to Yamada in the other room, and smiled without really knowing why.

"You go out and get those groceries we were talking about. I texted you the list."

"Uh huh. Back in a jiff, Ches!"

"Groceries?" Aizawa's figure reappeared in the hallway.

"Yep. I sent Yamada out to buy stuff. I know you don't have anything here, and since Recovery Girl used her quirk on you, you're going to need to eat real food for once." She opened the fridge and wrinkled her nose at the barren shelving. "Honestly, how do you function like this?!"

"I suppose I make do."

"Well, from now on we're coming over once a week to cook. The only food I've seen you eat is when we go out on Fridays, and you drink more than eat."

"I guess I have a question," he ventured cautiously, cutting through her motherly behavior. "Why don't we call you by your name?"

"Oh, that." She rummaged through his pantry, finding only a couple of coffee tubs and an egg pan. "I don't like my name too much, so I ask folks to use my given one or Hero name, if we're colleagues."

"Ah."

"Yeah," she agreed. "I know people don't use given names much in Japan. Where I come from, though, it was simpler, since it wasn't a cultural thing."

"Where you're from..?"

Elly, he thought, a warm flush spreading across the bridge of his nose. Your given name is Elly.

"America." She frowned, her striped tail twitching as she tried to find enough plates for them to eat off of. "Hey, I know I bought plates, they're here somewhere... aha."

He took the three she offered and opened a few drawers until he found cutlery to set the table with.

The door swung open and Yamada barged in, his arms filled with plastic bags. "Your Hero is here, baby!" He crowed exhuberantly with a huge grin.

"Yamada," Aizawa grunted sourly, "you don't have to be loud all the time just because that's your quirk."

"He remembered something!" She beamed at Yamada happily, causing Aizawa's stomach to clench. He concentrated on setting the plates he held gently on the table.

"Hey, yeah! Thank frick it wasn't memory loss from a quirk. That'd be way harder to reverse." He produced an apron from somewhere and tied it on with a flourish.

She snorted and dug through the bags he set on the counter. "Good. You got everything."

"Told ya." Yamada rolled his eyes at her and cinched his apron a little tighter around his waist. It was a neon pink, green and purple atrocity that was an offense to aprons everywhere. It wasn't only garish colors that made it so hideous but it also stated in bold English: "Mr. Good-Lookin' is Cookin'" with a little heart next to the text. He rolled up the dark sleeves of his dress shirt and started to prep the meal with her.

Aizawa stared hard at the blond man, trying to assess his relationship to her. They had been by his side while he was in the hospital, and their interactions seemed very familiar. They were clearly close. Yamada said something in a low tone to her, smirking, and she stopped mixing the ground beef to giggle like a schoolgirl, whacking him on the arm.

"Knock it off! We have to finish this sometime today, you know."

"Yeah, yeah. He's not gonna know what hit him - I make a helluva burger!"

Aizawa sighed. All signs pointed to what he had feared; she was his best friend's girl.

The food was good, though he barely tasted it as he watched them chat animatedly about various things. Elly got up to clean their plates after, and Yamada apologized, saying he had to run.

"Hey - gig at a local club, yanno? Keep trying to remember shit! It'll come back to you sooner or later!" He waved frantically at the door after stuffing his feet back into his boots. "See ya!"

"Bye, Zashi," she said absently, rinsing the plates in the sink.

Aizawa waved before the door shut. "Thank you."

"So," Elly said crisply, scrubbing the utensils they'd used with a sponge, "how about I stay the night? You've got a head injury, after all, and you have to stay awake for several more hours until it's safe to sleep. I know you - there's no way that will happen unless somebody watches your stubborn ass."

He trudged over and took up a dish towel to help. "You want to stay here? What about Yamada?"

"What about him?"

Aizawa grimaced as he set a plate aside. "He might get jealous."

Elly frowned suspiciously. "Of what?"

"Well, I mean... he's not going to be happy if his girlfriend stays here overnight. Even if we're all friends."

Her eyes widened and her ears slowly perked crazily on either side of her head as she turned to face him. "Girlfriend?! Yamada and I aren't dating!"

It was the scruffy man's turn to squint at her. "What." The word fell flatly between them as he met her astonished gaze.

She shook a hand dry, then reached up and lightly brushed the bandages on his forehead. "You must have really gotten scrambled up here to think that. I mean, all shit aside, if we were in that kind of relationship I'd definitely be using his given name. "

"Um." His ears suddenly felt very warm. I distinctly remember your voice calling mine when I woke in the hospital.

"And now you're blushing? I can't handle too many surprises in one night, you know."

"My apologies," he mumbled. "It seemed logical from the way you two acted together."

"We're friends, of course we're close. And we're together because we're both close with you. If this had happened to him, you and I would've been by his side as well." She looked aside as she spoke, a slight shifting of the eyes, and he frowned harder. "There. All done. How about some coffee?"

"How close are you and I? The same?" He shut his mouth with a snap, groaning inwardly. That wasn't what he had meant to say. True, it was what he wanted to ask, but he knew better. His proximity to her was clouding his mind and it tumbled out before he knew what he was doing.

Elly regarded him solemnly for a long moment, her striped tail stilling as she thought. "I guess you could say that," she finally said. Her voice was very quiet and she kept her eyes averted. "We're good friends, too."

"Must be if you're willing to waste a night staying up to watch me." He grunted, shifting on one foot and trying to ease past the awkward moment. "I'm very lucky."

She was worried when she called my name. It meant nothing but a slip of the tongue. She's from America, and that's how they address each other there.

He sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing at them with one hand. His thoughts were melancholy and it wasn't like him - he preferred to rest, recoup and get back to work as fast as possible after any injury. Sitting here wishing his relationship with his friend and colleague was more was illogical, and time-wasting at best. Aizawa wondered if pining like a lovesick teenager was a symptom of this quirk.

"Go sit," she shooed him off. "I'll start this and then join you." Elly bustled purposefully about the small kitchen, getting a filter out and scooping the coffee in. She was all business and clearly didn't need help. He hung his head so his long hair hid his expression and shuffled off to sit on the couch with his hands dangling off his knees.

"Don't you need to sleep?" He realized a flaw in her plan when she sat down.

"I'm a terrible insomniac." She shrugged. "Actually, scratch that. I'm really too good at it. I'll be awake long enough to see you through the worst."

"Oh." He nodded. "You can sleep wherever you'd like," he offered lamely. "I know I don't have a bed or anything."

"Yeah," she laughed softly, patting the couch they were on. "Yamada and I had to buy this for you just so we had somewhere to sit when we visited." Her laugh was genuinely fond, and her eyes were kind as she spoke. "You really should get a futon at least, you know. That bag can't be good for your back."

He shrugged. "I don't need much."

"So you say."

"You can have the couch later, then."

"Thanks."

They settled in for a long evening. Aizawa wanted more than anything to be able to hold her against his side, to feel her snuggle up to him. He stretched one arm out along the back length instead, and his heart started beating fast at the thought that all he had to do was move a little bit and he could wrap it around her.

He did not.

Still, several hours flew by so quickly he had to check the clock when he heard birds singing outside.

"Congratulations," Elly smiled. They had sat through a few cat-themed movies and a few cups of coffee by this time. She twisted around to peer at the heavy blinds. It was still dark out but wouldn't be for long; her sensitive cat ears could also hear the chirping. "It's early, not late... but you made it. Should be safe to sleep."

He grunted and rubbed at the back of his neck.

"You know, uh - does that hurt? I always meant to ask but never did... the neck thing. You do it a lot." She rubbed at one furry ear in a nervous gesture.

Aizawa paused, his hand still resting at the nape of his neck. "Hnn?"

"Nevermind." She coughed lightly, holding her hand up in front of her mouth. "Um, do you have any spare blankets or anything I can use?"

He reached over and placed a hand on hers as it lay beside her. Elly jumped, and he quickly removed it with a mumbled apology. "Sorry, I, uh. Yes, my neck's tight, but not unbearable. I deal with it."

"You shouldn't have to. I can help, if you want."

He shrugged in a noncommittal fashion but he hopped around to offer her his back.

Elly brushed his hair aside, then pursed her lips in thought. "Do you have a hair tie?" He searched in his pockets for a minute, then wordlessly handed her a black cloth band. She carefully pulled the wealth of hair up and away, her fingers combing gently through the dark tresses.

He had to suppress a shiver when her warm hands touched him, but grew relaxed as she expertly massaged his tense muscles.

"That," he groaned as he let out a pleasurable shudder, "that's amazing. Where did you learn to do that?"

She never paused in her firm kneading, fingers digging into all the sore points. "I took a special course at a chiropractic clinic over the summer."

"Hnf. Why?" He sighed as she worked the last kink out of his sore muscles. "I mean, it's useful now, but why else would you need such a skill?"

"I..." She trailed off, and her fingers stilled. He moved sideways to face her, mindful not to crane his neck and ruin her work. Elly was blushing and once again wouldn't meet his eyes. This time he cupped her chin in one hand and tilted so she had to.

"Cheshire," he asked quietly, "did you learn how to do that just for me?"

She bit her lip, blushing harder.

"You realize that only confirms my suspicion."

That made her flinch. "Aizawa, I'm sorry. I can't do this anymore." Her voice cracked. "It's bad enough you got so hurt, and then your memories..." She paused to gather her scattered thoughts, eyes dark and full of unshed tears.

"I'm in love with you."

Her entire being - body and mind -- froze in place for several seconds. She blinked rapidly, as if trying to reboot her system after such an unexpected shock. The tears spilled down her cheeks when she did, and he wiped them away with his fingertips. "What?"

"When I thought you were with my best friend, it caused me considerable pain." He cleared his throat, then went on. "Without the other parts of my memory, all I could focus on were my feelings for you. Maybe I was repressing them - more than likely, it was a combination of things. But now I see no logical reason to hold onto the truth."

"You..?"

"So, if by any chance you were to feel the same -" He stopped all at once and removed his hand, realizing he was touching her rather intimately. But when he did, she moved, yearning towards his touch so much he used both hands to cradle her face as he met her in a soft kiss. It lasted only seconds, this first, but when they parted each let out a small moan.

"Sh - Shota," Elly gasped, and he noticed somewhat smugly that her voice was breathy and rough.

Of course his was, too. "That's better," he told her seriously. "Everyone calls me Aizawa. I'd like if it you used that, instead."

"Good," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him close. "Then make me say it again."

"Gladly." He kissed her more seriously, lapping at her lower lip and moaning when she opened her mouth to give him access. They twisted and squirmed on the small sofa, their hands stroking and petting, harsh breathing and an occasional groan filling the room. Eventually Elly had to say something.

"The couch is too small for us both. We'll fall off if we begin anything too, ah... adventerous."

"We could make a floor bed," he murmured.

"Do you have enough stuff for that?"

"Let's find out." He stood up and took the cushions from his side of the couch off. She grinned and jumped up as well, gathering the ones under her. "Here - bedroom's on the left." He led her back down the hall to an extremely dark room that had blackout curtains and not much else. When Aizawa clicked the lights on, there was only his sleeping bag and duffel close by.

"You really don't own anything," she gasped in awe, dumping the cushions she held along with his.

He shrugged. "I have enough."

She eyed the woefully small pile for their bed and raised her eyebrows, but he laughed and opened the closet on the far side of the room. This small storage area provided a surprising amount of blankets and one extra sleeping bag, enough for a very cozy makeshift bed.

"Where did you get all these?" She purred, rubbing her hand on a soft polar fleece blanket.

"Donations, gifts." He laid next to her and sighed. "I'm glad I kept them. This is ...nice."

Elly cuddled into his arms and sighed. "You're remembering more," she said. "I'm so glad."

"You should be," he grinned slyly. "I might have just remembered a few things that are going to make this night memorable."

"S'already memorable." Her hands lifted the hem of his shirt and caressed his chest underneath.

"Hnf." He pulled it over his head and tossed it aside. His chest was firm, well built, and moderately hairy. She exclaimed softly in delight as she traced his rough skin, toying playfully with the trail that led into his sweatpants. Aizawa huffed louder, his eyes squeezing shut. "You're wearing too much."

"So are you." Her fingers lifted the waistband and she thrust a hand inside. He busied himself with lifting her shirt and unfastening the bra underneath, but when her palm curled around his stiff member he froze, shuddering hard.

"Ches..."

"Here, take these off." She pushed the pants down around his hips and he wormed his way out of them. His erection poked eagerly up at once, flushed red at the tip and dripping with fluids. "Do you always go commando?"

He snorted. "I hadn't done the laundry yet."

"Oh." She smiled as he stared hotly at her, his gray eyes dark with lust.

"Protection?" His voice was husky, rough and hungry.

"We're okay. Monthly testing and I'm on birth control."

He groaned thickly. "We won't have to worry about that if you keep that up."

Elly glanced briefly down at her hand and realized she was stroking him with a firm but gentle touch, easily giving a good handjob due to the amount of lubricant he was producing. "Oops."

"Don't apologize. Your touch is amazing." He kissed her again, a little sloppier this time and much harder. "You do need to stop, however, or I'm going to come too quickly."

She nodded and removed her hand. Aizawa tugged on her shirt, and she propped herself up so he could pull it off. Elly discarded her bra and laid back, lazily stroking the back of his head as he bent towards her breasts.

"Oh, Shota," she whispered shakily as his mouth devoured her hardened nipples. His dark hair tickled as he licked and sucked, one hand playing gently with the opposite breast. It wasn't very long before she was gripping him around the waist with her legs, twitching uncontrollably and begging for his sex. Aizawa smirked and slid his hot mouth just above her chest, worrying a few love bites into her pale skin. She clawed at his back, hissing with pleasure.

"Up," he said quietly, and she lifted her lower half again while he slipped the rest of her clothes off. Her tail proved a challenge, but then they were both completely naked. He let his gaze linger on her lush figure and pale skin, so much lighter than his and far less scarred. "You're beautiful," he murmured.

Elly spoke not a word, but her fingers traced the rough skin of his elbow, her heart in her eyes. He nodded and lowered himself down and into her, sighing with satisfaction as he felt her heat envelop him. She trembled, her head thrown back and her lips parted.

And then they moved ...together.
He was extremely gentle with her, cradling her in one arm as he thrust. His other was keeping him propped up enough so his weight didn't crush her, his fingers tangled in the blankets and muscles straining. It was good to lose himself in the act of loving her - the give and receive, the clean sweat and steadily building pressure in his groin burned away any worries of the present. He had been injured and in the hospital only hours before, but that seemed a vague dream now as he listened to the cat woman's cries underneath him.

Elly tried desperately to keep up with him, but he was a slow, steady lovemaking machine. She grew weary of meeting his thrusts with her own, jerking her hips up as he moved. Her pleasure only grew, however, and she found new strength as her position caused him to angle up at the perfect spot inside her.

She bit her lip, her toes curling. "Sho," she gasped raggedly, "Up, like this. Not as much in." He immediately changed tactics, arching his thrusts to meet hers, and she cried out so loudly he faltered.

"Ches?"

"Yes! Yes yes yes! Don't stop, baby, I'm gonna -!"

Aizawa choked and doubled his efforts. Their bellies slapped together in a quickening beat, and he joined her in a series of short, rough moans as the weight in his lower belly threatened to crush him. "Ah, ah, ahh!"

That was it; no more holding back. He shivered, hunching forward with his hair tenting over them to cover both their faces. His kiss was frantic as his hips jerked, losing his rhythm as he spilled his essence inside her. He heard her screaming his name and a weary - though satisfied -- smile touched his lips.

"That did it," he announced softly.

"Mnn, Sho baby?" Elly rubbed her eyes in a cat-like gesture. "You feel okay?"

He looked down at her as he pulled out and chuckled. "I remember," he said simply.

Her ears shot up. "Really? Everything?!"

"Yes."

She squealed happily and threw her arms around his sweaty neck. "Thank god!"

"I was going to eventually, you know." He rolled over, pulling her half on top of him.

"Mnn?"

"I never forgot that I loved you. The rest just took longer, that's all."