Dances with heroes

 

<b>Note: (approximates) 100,000 yen = 1,000 USD. 2 million is 20,000.</b>

-

Aizawa looked up from the paper Kayama handed him with a grimace.

<b>!! Hero Charity Gala !!</b>

<i>Bid for a night with your favorite heroes, up-close-and-personal on the dance floor! Many different heroes are here for any lucky (or generous enough!) person to spend the evening with in our grand ballroom.

All proceeds will be going to Children's Mercy of Musutafu, which is in in sore need of rebuilding the left wing after the latest villain attacks.</i>

"Is this mandatory?"

"Yes," she said firmly.

"Midnight," Elly scolded firmly, flicking her ears in irritation. "No, Eraser. It isn't. If you want to help without being on the bidding list, you can donate what you can, instead."

"Good." He tossed the flyer on the table. "This is exactly the kind of bullshit I don't go for. I'll donate to the hospital instead."

And that was that.

Everyone else decided they would be involved in the auction, except Present Mic, who was to be the announcer of the event. All Might was on sick leave for a few days, so he was excluded as well.

And that's how Elly found herself fidgeting, first in line after drawing straws for the dubious honor.

She trembled as she stepped onto the stage wearing a dark purple, sequined dress and more makeup than she ever had before. She had serious doubts about her self worth, and though she knew the beauticians behind the scenes had done their best, she feared she would be shamed with low bids. As she faced the crowd, Present Mic gave them a quick background of her career and told them some of her hobbies. She barely heard him, instead concentrating on looking out over the multitude of faces she couldn't see because of the glare of the lighting. Once bidding began she held her breath, waiting.

She had to let it out soon after, however, because something appeared to be wrong.

No ...not wrong. Mic was nearly hopping up and down on both feet, his voice ecstatic.

<i>What's going on?</i>

"One hundred thousand, whoop! More? C'mon, guys! One whole night in this <i>looovely</i> ballroom, dancing with the Insanity Hero -"

"Two million." It was called so casually, yet firm and loud enough to silence all the other bidders.

Mic's jaw dropped comically. By the time he'd recovered, the man was signing his name, the money being withdrawn from his account at a desk to the right of the stage.

"Well!" He grinned as he took Elly's hand to escort her to her date. "That generous bid's gonna be impossible to follow, I kinda feel bad for the others!"

Kayama was pouting at her from the sidelines. Elly ignored her and slipped her hand gingerly into the man's rough palm. She took a deep breath and looked up, forcing a nervous smile that froze in utter and complete shock when she saw tired, bloodshot gray eyes with a telltale scar underneath.

Aizawa had shaved his face completely free of all stubble and tied his long, dark hair back in a messy bun. His immaculate, Western style suit was charcoal gray, darker than his eyes but only just. He held a red rose in one hand and as she stepped offstage he solemnly handed it to her.

"What's going on?"

"I believe I just purchased a date with you." He raised an eyebrow and held one hand in the air behind her back, leading her to their table.

"I - I don't mean that," Elly said under her breath as they passed by curious onlookers, some smiling and others watching him with distrust. "Why did you do it? You could have just cut a check to the hospital. I thought -"

"Thought that was what I was planning, did you." He smiled at her then, a soft smile that made him seem even younger than the shaving did. "Here we are." He drew a chair back for her and she sat, dazed.

"I also got a private table, so that we would be alone." He indicated most of the others and they were indeed communal tables with groups sitting at them. There was an empty vase in the middle of theirs and she dropped the rose into it.

"But <i>why</i>? I'm not anything special. Unless you were just going to pick the first person..."

The look he gave her spoke volumes. She almost giggled at the consternation in his pale features. She was reminded of his expressions while teaching as he rubbed a hand across his eyes with a deep sigh. "No, Cheshire. I did not pick the first person to get it over with. I picked <i>you</i>." He hesitated, frowning, and then reached over to place his hand on hers.

She swallowed hard past the sudden catch in her throat, heart beating wildly.

"However, if you wish to leave, you can at any time," he said uncomfortably, pulling back. "I already donated and I don't want to force you to be here."

"No! I want to. Be here, I mean." She sniffled and laid her ears at angles to her head. "I'm confused, that's all. I'm not special, so I can't imagine why anyone would do something like this."

Aizawa placed his hand on top of hers once more. "You're wrong," he told her quietly. "I hope by the end of this night you'll be able to see that."

They watched the rest of the auctions quietly, Aizawa rubbing his thumb gently over her hand every now and then and getting a shy smile or a shiver in return. When it was over and the music finally started, he stood up and bowed low before her. Elly almost strangled on her own air intake as she watched the unbelievable happen right before her eyes. He held one hand out wordlessly, his expression calm and serious.

She took it, aware that her heart was in her eyes, large and shining with unshed tears. She hated herself for being weak in the moment, but no one had ever treated her with such care. He understood, somehow, and guided her to an open spot before placing a hand in the air above her waist with a quizzical look.

"Hold me?" It wasn't a demand but a quavering plea; Elly bit her lip the minute the words left her and hid her face by looking down at their feet.

She heard him sigh and his arms wrapped around her to embrace her as close as possible. He bent to speak softly into one of her furry ears as they began to move to the light strains of music. "I will do whatever you want. You only have to ask."

He smelled good, like warm, clean clothing fresh out of the dryer and a hint of shaving cream. She never wanted to let go and spent most of the night in a daze, dancing and eating a light meal before dancing again.

Eventually it was time to head back to the on-campus complex they lived at. He walked her to her apartment and noticed that she seemed reluctant to head inside.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm a little sad, is all," Elly said with a smile. She reached up and touched his cheek with the lightest brush of fingertips. "I never wanted this night to end. If it were up to me, we'd be together forever."

He leaned into her touch briefly, eyes half-lidded. "Mnn. What did I say earlier to you before our first dance? Do you remember?"

"That you would, um." She laughed breathlessly. "Do whatever I wanted."

"Exactly." He turned directly into her touch so she was caressing his lips. "So, did you mean what you said?"

"I want to be with you," she repeated firmly.

He grinned at her. "You know, I've never had a girlfriend before."

"I've never had a boyfriend that treated me right," she ventured in a very small voice. "No one I ever loved did. It's scary, but I want it. You."

The grin slid off and he abruptly hugged her close, grasping her as if he could squeeze the past and the hurt away. His hair stirred in the bun, the wisps that had fallen out rising and waving in the cool night air.

"<i>My love will not fail you</i>," he told her in a hoarse voice.

They stood there for a long time, locked in an embrace in front of her door as crickets chirped musically out on the rolling campus lawns. She would often fondly remember that night throughout the coming years, the first time they dated and his promise that he never broke.