One more gift

 Aizawa Shota swore under his breath.

He was trying to find a specific place to buy a gift. More than once he'd had second thoughts and almost turned back, but somehow he kept going.

The flower shop he wanted was known for their employees abilities to cater perfectly to all manner of customer needs. They didn't just do flowers, for instance. They partnered with all the other well-to-do cafes and shops in the area, including a hot springs farther up the trail into the mountains, to deliver the best gifting experience.

Aizawa ignored the looks the rich patrons in the area gave him as he wandered about, slumped over as usual and wearing a black shirt with dark jeans. He'd taken the time to wear the stupid eye patch his doctors insisted on, though his grizzled face was mostly hidden by his long, unruly hair. To make his appearance even worse, his casual prosthetic leg was far chunkier than his work one and caused him to walk with a stiff limp. He'd already had to show his hero liscence to several officers that were on patrol, and he <i>really</i> wanted to get what he needed and slink off back home where he didn't have to be bothered.

When he reached the opulent storefront he wondered again if this was such a good idea.

<i>Remember how she cried</i>, he thought as he released a long, drawn-out sigh. <i>She was the only one who cried out of fear of what</i> could <i>have happened to you</i>.

The bell over the door tickled merrily as he opened it, and several customers inside gasped audibly at his disheveled looks. The clerk popped up behind the counter right away.

"Hello there! Welcome, and can I help you in any way tiday?"

For a split second Aizawa wished he could rip the damned bell off and throw it down the street. But no, he needed the help, so instead he lifted his head and greeted him in return. "Good afternoon." He approached the counter and rubbed at the back of his neck. "I need to order a gift basket. Possibly more."

Close up he could see that the man seemed out of place in this district, a spider anthro with several arms and a bunch of eyes set in a human head. Yet he was dressed impeccably and his voice was cultured and soft. Aizawa felt slightly better until he was asked another question.

"Is this for a lady?" He blinked several eyes at once at the scruffy man standing in front of him.

"Yes."

"Is she a colleague, girlfriend or..? I'm not trying to pry, mind, but it will make things easier if I understand exactly the vibe you're looking for."

"Colleague, but," Aizawa grit his teeth, "she's special to me. I'd like her to know that."

"Okay, then!" He typed a few things into a form on the computer. "All right... now I just need some of her favorite things. If you don't know we can guess, or you can look through our catalog."

"She likes the color purple." His face was almost that exact shade by now but he continued firmly, "and the ocean, anything related to <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> -"

"Ha, sounds like she might like some Cheshire merchandise. It's been hard to keep in stock lately, but we do have some available."

Aizawa coughed dryly, unable to keep a faint undertone of amusement out of his voice. "I think we can do without that, thanks. Anything cheshire cat related would be fine, just not, ah, the hero Cheshire."

The clerk's eyes widened - all of them -- and every one of his hands stopped as he focused on the tired man in front of him. "Wait a minute... I <i>do</i> know you. I saw you on TV once with - ohhh. Oh dear! No wonder you don't want Cheshire merch! She doesn't need any of her own for a gift, right?"

"No, she doesn't." He rubbed a weary hand over his face, cursing inwardly for choosing the one shop where someone recognized him.

"Please put yourself at ease. I certainly won't talk about this to anyone. I'm just excited you came here!" The man placed his main arms on the counter and folded the others neatly behind him. "I promise that I can whip up an excellent gift basket filled with the best we can offer. Food, sweets, a stuffed animal or two, and lots of flowers, to start. Is there anything else we could add?"

Aizawa thought about it for a moment. "She likes things that smell good. Candles, those - those ball things to put in a bath?"

"Bath bombs! We have exquisite ones the hot springs gives us, as well as salts."

He smiled at the clerk, bolstered by his professional manner and how he'd kept his voice down even in his excitement. After listing everything he could possibly think of that she liked and some things to avoid, he handed his card over.

"If you think of anything else, just add it to my account," he grunted, scratching his scruffy chin.

The clerk paused slightly, then motioned for him to see what was on his screen while turning it slightly. "This is what I've got so far, but if you <i>really</i> want to blow her away could I suggest something?"

He narrowed his eye, then nodded. "Show me."

The next day was her birthday and the shop delivered everything early with Aizawa's help. After school was let out she was allowed to leave early as well, and she headed to the teacher's dormitory to clean up and change.

Elly opened the door to her room and froze in absolute amazement. There were flowers that perfumed the air in all her favorite scents and colors, a giant basket wrapped in pretty, iridescent cling on her desk and balloons floating to the ceiling.

But the most ridiculous, the most <i>incredible</i> gift lay sprawled on her bed: a gigantic, black furred, stuffed bear wearing Eraserhead's gear.

She sat on the bed and threw her arms around the huge thing, cuddling close into the incredibly soft fur. That's when she got her second shock - it not only had his goggles and capture weapon, it <i>smelled</i> like him. Elly nuzzled deeper, purring loudly and kneading the plush.

"I take it you like the gifts."

Elly gasped, jolting upright to find Aizawa standing in her room with a curiously gentle smile on his face.

"This - this one smells like you," she marveled quietly.

"Yes, well." He cleared his throat and ducked deep into his capture weapon to hide his face. "The shopkeeper suggested I sleep with it for a few nights."

"You - you... what?" Now it was her turn to blush as she imagined the scruffy man clinging to the giant bear at night, cuddling it close so it wouldcretain his scent. "Oh. Oh, my." Elly reached out for the wall to steady herself but ended up in his arms instead.

"Are you ill?"

"No, it's not that, I ..." She shook her head in wonder. "I think I'm jealous of the bear."

Aizawa paused for a beat, and then his hold on her tightened, his arms curling more intimately around her waist. "Oh? The bear can substitute for the nights I work, then. If you want something that snuggles back, I'd be more than happy to accommodate."

Her ears flicked in amusement. "<i>Do</i> you snuggle?"

"Want to find out?"

"I would very much like to see for myself, yes."

"I'm free tonight," he offered, his eyelids lowering slyly. "I made myself available in case you wanted one more gift to unwrap."