Into your Arms

 It was early morning at U.A, the mist from sunrise hardly cleared and birds just starting to chirp in the cool air. The students were still asleep, but the teachers were slowly waking to get ready for the day.

Present Mic banged open the door to the teachers' office with unnecessary force, trying to act more awake than he felt. This usually worked for him, not counting the tall cup of coffee he held in one gloved hand. Today, however, he could tell something was off as soon as he greeted the room.

"Morning, everyone!"

Silence.

No... there was a faint sound. He spotted his friend at the desk section but the sound came from the right. The head counselor was leaning against the coffee machine, slumped over oddly. Her purple striped tail lay listlessly on the floor and her eyes were unfocused.

"Hey." She tried what might have been a wave but her hand flopped at her side as if she couldn't quite move it.

"Ches? You okay there?" He set his coffe down, his eyes not breaking contact.

Elly did not look okay. She wobbled unsteadily back and forth, frowning lightly in confusion. "I don't know," she mumbled, blinking as she struggled to focus. "I can't... I'm so hot -"

Hizashi exclaimed in surprise as she staggered forward. He moved fast, gripping her under the arms when she might have fallen. "Whoa there!"

"Mic..?"

"You almost ate shit there, babe." He glanced around but it was only Aizawa, who stared blandly back at him. "Okay, okay, I'll take you to the nurse. C'mon."

"Nurse?" Her head lolled forward and came to rest on his chest as he picked her up. He could feel the heat through his shirt and winced; she was far too hot.

"Yeah. S'okay, we'll get you checked out and make sure. Then you can nap."

"Nap..." She sighed and closed her eyes.

To his complete astonishment the counselor actually did fall asleep on the walk to Recovery Girl's office. He found out when he was about to place her on one of the cots and decided to keep holding her instead. 

Chiyo's side-eye was strong as she approached them, speaking volumes without saying a word as he cradled her in his arms. She did, however, have to ask medical questions. "What's the story, Mic? Did she pass out?"

Hizashi shook his head. "Nah, she fell asleep, I think. She was really hot and kept wobbling all around when I got in."

"Hmmm." The elderly nurse checked her pulse and then temperature. "She's skirting the edges of a high fever - high enough for concern, but..." She checked her tablet, nodded, and sat back on her desk chair to think.

"Is she gonna be okay?"

Chiyo smiled at him. "Yes. She's got some autoimmune diseases and they can cause this sometimes, especially if she's stressed. It looks like she pushed herself too far this time. Probably didn't get enough sleep."

"Whew," he let out a relieved sigh. "I thought she was worse. That's good to hear."

"So! She's going to need to stay hydrated, and eat on the regular like any other day even if she feels like she doesn't want to. Snacking will be fine, you need to make sure she doesn't pass out with her blood pressure being low."

"But - what, me? I can't leave --"

"I'll excuse you <i>both</i> for the day," she went on as if she hadn't heard him, "so you can look after her. That's all right, isn't it?"

Hizashi grinned hugely, cuddling the warm bundle in his arms. "Perfect. Thanks, Chiyo."

"Yeah, yeah." She flapped a hand at him dismissively. "You're young and in love. You'll take care of her just fine."

His face turned bright red. "<i>What</i>?! I'm not, I mean, she's not, obviously..."

The nurse gave him a hard look. "Don't bullshit me, Mic."

"But -"

"I'm old, Yamada, and I've seen this play out a million times. Go make her feel better."

Hizashi sighed, giving up. "Yeah. Yeah, okay." He gently picked up the limp body of the counselor, careful to drape her tail over so it didn't drag on the ground. As he was leaving he paused at the door. "Was I really that obvious?"

She gave him an amused look. "Everyone knows except you two."

He thought about that while he drove them home. It was probably true and he knew the others would tease him after today. What bothered him wasn't that - everyone always ribbed on him -- but he was angry that he'd <i>waited</i> this long. 

He parked, got into the elevator and rode up to his suite with the lightly snoring woman held carefully in his arms. It was only when he set her down in his bed that she stirred, opening her eyes.

"Mic..?" She blinked blearily up at him. "What?"

He gently pulled the covers up around her. "You're at my suite in the city, babe. You passed out or fell sleep or something."

"For how long?!"

"Long enough to make me worry." He smiled reassuringly at her when she stammered an apology. "No, babe, it's not yer fault and I don't mind. I want to help you."

She flopped down on the pillow, her ears askew. "Ughhh. This is <i>not</i> how I wanted to end up in your bed."

Hizashi's ears turned bright red all at once. "Excuse-me-<i>what</i>?"

"You heard me." She shrugged. "I was in your arms and barely remember, now your bed and nothing's gonna happen."

"Whoooooa, you really lose your filter when you feel bad, don'tcha? You're not even like this drunk."

Elly snorted, shaking her head. "You haven't seen me really drunk."

"Wh - but..?"

"Can't get too drunk in public. Sober is safe."

He looked a little sad, then thinking of drinks he remembered, reaching for a bottle of water on the nightstand. "Speaking of - Chiyo said you gotta stay hydrated. There's water in the pitcher on the table there."

"Thanks."

"All right, you get some sleep. I'm gonna clean up." He slapped his knees getting up and walked briskly towards the hallway. "Oh, and ...Ches?"

She yawned, her voice distorted by the sound. "Myeah?"

"I'll always make sure you're safe." He snapped the light switch off and closed the door behind him as he left.

Hizashi changed out of his hero outfit and showered, preferring to wash his signature spike out instead of leave it to be touched up the next day. The fact that Elly loved his hair was a big factor in his decision, and he wondered as he dried and looped it into a loose ponytail how she might react. He didn't have too much time to reflect, however, because when he opened the bathroom door he heard muffled sobbing coming from the bedroom. Alarmed, he rushed over to check on his patient.

"Babe? You okay?"

She whimpered and shook her head. "<i>Can't</i> sleep."

He looked worried. "Have you not slept this whole time?"

Elly shook her head. "Everything hurts."

"Ohhhh noooo." He sat beside her and stroked her ears back. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize."

"Not your fault."

"You want me to stay this time until you fall asleep?"

"Yes." She blinked back exhausted tears. "Please?"

"I'll do whatever it takes." Hizashi pursed his lips. "Hey, uh, ya wanna listen to some music? I can find some relaxing stuff." He dug around in his pocket for his phone, but stopped when she shook her head again.

"Your voice is better."

"Ohhh..?" He blinked, startled. "You want me to keep talking?"

Elly let her head fall fully back and scooted as close to him as she could get. She reached out and placed a shaky hand on his leg and closed her eyes. "Talk to me," she muttered.

"Uh, okay. Would a story do? I dunno what to say -"

"Yeah."

"Okay..." Hizashi rubbed his mustache points with a hand, thinking. "So, I guess, one day a really pretty lady that had furry little cat ears and a stripey tail got sick. Like, nothing that serious! Just a little fever from workin' too much, ya dig?

"She keeled right over in front of her friend, who rushed her to the nurse where they worked. That's how he knew she pushed herself too hard, but it was nothing bad... she just needed rest. 

"So he, ah, took her home. It was quieter here - <i>uh, there!</i> -- and she could sleep better. But it turns out she still had trouble."

Elly sighed and tugged on the leg she was holding. He gently removed her hand and replaced it with a piece of bedsheet for her to clutch instead. 

"When she woke up after finally fallin' asleep she saw there were flowers on the table next to her. She was shocked, 'cause that seemed weird, but..." He trailed off as he heard her snoring and tiptoed quietly out.

Elly woke up in a cool, dark place with the soft, golden glow of a lava lamp nearby the only light. She was laying on silk sheets that smelled in her sleepy, not-awake brain like comfort and ...flowers?

<i>What</i>? <i>Why the fuck did I think th</i>-

There was a gorgeous bouquet of flowers sitting on the nightstand near the lamp. 

She jolted upright, the sheets sliding off her as she gasped. "Hizashi?!"

"Heyyyyy, there she is!" Hizashi was right there smiling broadly at her. "Feeling better? That yell certainly sounded healthy." He chuckled and sat on the edge of the bed.

"How - how did I..?"

Instead of answering, he reached out and gently held up the sheet for her with a light cough. Elly's bodysuit had shifted during sleep and was exposing the upper swell of her cleavage. She grasped the fabric and, blushing, held it there clutched in both hands before she remembered the zipper.

He waited until she fixed herself before nodding. "You got woozy at school and Chiyo told me to take care of you."

"Oh." She paused, her tired brain struggling to catch up. "<i>Ohhhhh</i>. Shit. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be such a pain."

"Pain?" He frowned.

"You know, in the ass," she added drily.

He laughed loudly, slapping the bed with an open palm and rolling his eyes for good measure. "Ha! Babe, there's <i>no freakin' way</i> you could possibly be a pain to me. You needed help! I'm just happy you're not mad."

"Mad? Why would I be mad?"

"Well I, uh." He blushed a little harder than when he'd offered her the sheets for her modesty before. "You're in my <i>bed</i>."

"Yeah, but <i>you</i> weren't in it or anything." She paused, then her ears slowly lowered until they were sticking out sideways. "You weren't, were you?"

Hizashi jumped guiltily. "Nuh-uh! Nope! I only sat on the edge - <i>like this!</i> -- to make sure you were okay a few times." He bounced a little as if to prove his point.

"Of course you weren't." She sighed, rubbing her eyes. "I know you're a good person. I'm just weirded out that I was helpless and it's messing with my head."

He nodded rapidly. "It's okay, babe. You got heated up and started talking funny. I figured you were out of it."

Elly slowly turned to him. "I did <i>what</i>," she asked in a flat voice.

"Nothing..."

"<i>What did I</i> say, <i>Hizashi</i>?"

He gulped. "Kinda, um. Insinuated that you wanted me in bed with you and... stuff."

She went absolutely white all at once, a startling contrast to her flushed cheeks. "Ohmigod."

"Uh... it's okay!" He placed his palm on the back of his neck, grinning sheepishly. "You didn't realize what you were sayin', I, uh, won't hold you to it or nothing. Really." He paused, spinning the red bracelet he was wearing on one wrist. "You were dazed and stuff, plus it's not like you actually <i>like</i> me."

"Whaaaat?"

"C'mon," he laughed nervously. "We're close enough you realize the way I am. Nobody gets <i>closer</i>. I always wondered when you'd start pushing me away like everyone else does. I'm a lot to handle," he rushed on, his voice strained. "I know that, I work too much, get bombed on my only days off and I'm, well, fuck. Annoying."

"<i>What</i>?" Her frown grew deeper.

Hizashi ignored her, caught up in his thoughts. "You're the only one that goes with me to lunch an' stuff. The only one that listens to me." He laughed, a strange, soft chuckle that sounded more like a gasp for air than mirth. "And that's your job, so of course ya do."

"I spend time with you because I like you."

"You do? For real?"

"Yes!"

"Oh." He grimaced, running his hand through his hair. "Well. Uh... ignore the pity party I dumped on you, then? Shit. I sound like an idiot."

"It's okay. I didn't know you felt that way, though. I thought I was being way too obvious about how much I like you." She decided to change the subject when she saw his eyes widen in shock. "Did you get those flowers because of the story you were telling me? And how does it end, anyway? I fell asleep before you finished!"

"Well, then..." He took a deep breath and handed her the spray. There were many beautiful flowers but she noticed something odd. 

"One of these is fake? That's weird."

"It'll make sense, I promise." He took them from her and placed them safely back on the small table. "So, yeah, there were these flowers and it was weird, 'cause one of them wasn't real. So she asked him what was up with the fake one?"

"Uh huh."

"He solemnly told her he would love her until all the flowers in the bouquet died." Hizashi sat back and waited with a wildly beating heart while she processed this information. Eventually he saw that her eyes were filled with tears when she looked up at him.

"That's... that's so..."

He leaned close without realizing, drawn in by her expression with his ears starting to burn. "So what, babe?"

Elly's lips twitched and she flicked him on the nose with a finger. "...cheesy, you dork!"

He started laughing. "Hey!"

"You could've just told me."

"Yeah, but you deserve more attention... 'specially after dropping like that on me!" Hizashi paused. "I guess I better start keeping an even closer eye on you, huh? Don't want my girl hurting herself."

"I feel better already."