Love Springs (Sleepily) 2

They rinsed off after the soak and put their robes back on in separate areas. They had discussed getting a room for the night while in the spring, and went directly from the showers there.

Elly got in first and glanced nervously around. She was nude under the robe this time and though she knew what was to happen, the stark reality of the futon in the corner shook her a little. She pulled it out and lay on it, trembling with anticipation.

She didn't have to wait long. Several minutes later there was a light tap on the door and Aizawa announced himself. She called to him and he walked inside, rubbing his eyes and stretching. When he caught sight of the futon he brightened and he made his way over to her, unabashedly shedding his robe as he went. Elly gasped at his boldness; he was, like her, nude underneath, and she could now see all of him.

His body was scarred all over, as she had noticed from before. He had a splotch of dark hair in the middle of his chest that tapered off and ran in thinner quantities down his lower belly to his groin. He was so extremely fit that his erection had the desired curve - it curled up towards his flat stomach in his excitement.

"Shota!"

"Hmm? Oh, did I startle you?" He yawned, covering his mouth with one hand and blinking. He sat beside her and she absently made room.

"You just - !"

"Ches," he sighed, "we booked a room together. I assumed you knew what was going to happen."

Elly slapped a hand across her burning face. "I did - I mean, I do! Have you ever heard of foreplay, though?"

The scruffy man chuckled. "You're about to find out." He rolled over on top of her, and in an unbelievable display of playfulness kissed the tip of her nose, grinning. "Boop."

"Did you just - ?!"

"I've wanted to boop that nose of yours for months," he snorted. "Damn you, doing all that cute shit all the time."

"Cute? What?!" She was fidgeting under his warm body, the feeling of his hard length rubbing on her thigh a major distraction.

"Rubbing your eyes with the heels of your hand," he murmured, dropping his head to kiss her lips between each sentence. "Lapping at the top of your coffee when you put too much cream in it. Miaowingwith pleasure when a certain someone bought you lobster ice cream for White Day."

Her ears twitched. "That was you?!"

"It certainly wasn't Hizashi." His lips twitched in a smile. "Look, I know it was you who put the package of licorice in my desk for Valentine's. I wasn't just returning the favor as much as wanting to make you smile, too."

She kissed his cheek. "You're right, it was me. I can't believe you were the one to gift me, though. It was killing me for months!"

"Heh."

"Well, if we're doing things we 'always wanted'..." She reached up and carefully undid the tie from his hair, plunging her hands into the dark tresses to bring him close for a kiss.

"Mmn." He drew back, then kissed her again, using his tongue this time. She opened her mouth, purring, pulling him even closer and bringing her legs up to wrap around his waist. "Your legs around me feel very good," he murmured. "You're strong."

"Not as much as you," she said quietly, feeling his abdomen flex powerfully as they moved together. "Mmn. I knew it, but to feel it is another thing." Shivering pleasantly, she cuddled into his arms. "Nice."

"I told you to stop being so cute," he scolded with a frown.

"Stop being so sexy, then."

"What?" His gray eyes widened, caught by surprise by her bold statement. Much to her amazement, he began coughing dry laughter until she started to grow concerned.

"Uh..."

"Me? Sexy?" He gasped hoarsely, pulling in as much air as he could. "Shit, Cheshire - I'm as far away from that word as you could possibly imagine."

"You are not!" She grabbed him and kissed him so passionately that his knees grew weak. "I think," she panted into his stunned open mouth when she parted for air, "you're the sexiest man ever."

His bloodshot eyes were suddenly very soft as he lowered himself on top of her, pressing down enough to take her own breath away by his initiative. "All right, then. Let's find out how sexy you think I am."

She cried out as he mouthed her breasts, his hands busy below her waist. He stroked the purple curls he found and dipped a finger inside her, moving carefully.

"That turned on, hmm? Is it safe to skip the preparations for tonight?"

"Yes. I'm on the pill -"

"And we're all tested by the school," he finished for her. "Still, to be sure: do you want me right now?" He nudged her and she whimpered.

"Yes."

Elly knew better.

She really did.

Once he had a firm moral ground and a solid answer, he often reacted without further thought. In this case, she was suddenly and rather shockingly filled completely, sending a huge thrill up her spine and radiating pleasure below as he continued to move.

"Shota!" She gasped in shock.

"Told me," he panted, "you wanted me." He was grinning again.

"You idiot!" Laughter mixed with moans filled the room as he thrust. "I'll get you back for th - that, Eraserhead."

"Oh? It seems I'm on top." He angled up on his next move and felt her tighten all around him: legs, arms and on the inside.

"There!"

"Faster?"

"Huh - harder! Please!" Several minutes of sweaty, mindless rutting later and he was treated to the sound of her sweetly crying his name. She whimpered and clung to him after, kissing him and stroking the back of his damp neck.

"Ches..."

"I love you."

He shook all over, a small gasp escaping his throat. "Ches," he moaned, "Oh god, Ches..!"

"Shota," she whispered, smiling. He was incredibly handsome in his orgasm, his eyes closed with his brow drawn up, sweating, straining with himself.

"I was ..." He took a deep breath as he carefully pulled out of her body. "Supposed to say that. First."

She shrugged. "Doesn't matter."

"Hnf. Are you tired?"

"Well... not really. I kind of need to go to the bathroom."

He scratched his chin, his expression thoughtful. "You want to take a shower together? Then we can get something to eat."

"That sounds wonderful."

"Good."

Moy mell 41

Elly put on her newest kimono with care, using her tail to help fasten the sash. It was fish themed, featuring various species of the region where the fabric had been made. She loved anything ocean or sea related. That's why tonight was extra wonderful. The new addition to the aquarium would be in debut and she would finally be on a real date. Not to belittle Sanji, but now she understood that she hadn't loved him in that special way. It made all the difference and she was overwhelmed with excitement and jittery nerves as she fixed her hair and some very light makeup. 

She checked herself once, making sure everything was in place, then nodded. "Okay. Ready to go." 

Upon opening the door, she saw Aizawa standing in the hall with a small sprig of lavender in his hand. He was dressed in a charcoal yukata and sandals with his dark hair done up in that messy bun she had expressed fondness for. He looked her carefully over, causing her to fidget slightly, before handing her the flower. "You look beautiful."

She choked a little on the compliment. "Um. Th - thank you. I like your yukata."

"Our colors complement each other," he said quietly, nodding.

Elly found her tongue after a moment of fiddling with the lavender, tucking it into her hair. "Your color would match almost anything."

"But it looks good with yours." He shrugged. "Oh. Wait." 

A hand caught her sleeve before she could walk toward the elevator. "Hmm?"

"I was briefed a bit by others that have worked similar events. But never as a date." He cleared his throat.

"It's not a big deal. I'll go up to make some speech about what we're opening and then it's just everybody patting themselves on the back for doing something decent with their money." She paused, thinking. "They might be interested in you, though. Be prepared for a lot of questions."

His left eye twitched but he nodded, adjusting the folds of his robe. "I set up additional security as usual."

"Are we done talking about that yet?" She flicked her tail at him. "I'm actually looking forward to showing you off." 

"Showing me off?"

"Oh, for goodness' sake. This is the first serious date I've been on in ages. I've never taken anyone to any events, you know."

"Yes, but the phrase 'showing off' implies you're pleased with me." He grinned as he watched her turn red in the cheeks. 

They caused quite a stir at the aquarium. Everyone was interested in the scruffy man and when they heard he was her head of security they were even more surprised. Some people were pleased that she could take an interest in any one, not just another celebrity. Others turned their noses up at the thought of dating 'the help'. The rest just couldn't get over what they thought of her taste in men. She was bombarded with so many thinly veiled insults and suggestions that she ended up staying close to his side so as not to have to deal with anyone.

It was over in a few hours and they returned gladly to the main house to go to bed. 

Aizawa escorted her to her door as usual, then paused. "This was a date, correct?" He stared intently into her eyes, causing her to blush and get flustered.

"Y - yes."

"Well, then..." He leaned forward, curling one arm around her on the wall while his other hand gently held her chin, his thumb stroking her lower lip. "May I kiss you good night?"

She was rendered speechless and simply nodded. Aizawa smiled and bent forward, brushing his lips against hers gently. The tingle she had been feeling all night grew into a palpable electric shock at his brief touch. He did not try to press hard but backed up to gaze into her eyes again, resting his forehead on hers. 

She finally swallowed past the lump in her throat and spoke. "Probably not a good idea to tuck me in, huh?"

"Oh, I don't know about that." He laughed. "It might be <i>very</i> good."

"Shota!"

He grinned. "I agree we should forego our usual bedtime ritual this once," he said solemnly. "Instead - how about another kiss?" 

She shivered. He noticed with affection that her tail had fluffed out, and he took this as a sign of approval. His hands slid down to her waist and pulled her hungrily towards him. This time his tongue flicked out and lapped lightly, requesting permission before deepening the kiss. Her mouth parted with a soft sigh, and he gladly lost himself in her everything for a few fleeting minutes. Long before either wanted it to be over she broke the contact with a shiver.

She didn't sleep much that night, but she <i>did</i> dream.

Counseling: The Sick Day

The umpteenth time Elly ran to the bathroom Hizashi raised his head from his pillow and waited for her to come back.

"You ok, babe?"

"No... my stomach is killing me. Cramps." She shuddered as she got back into bed. "It's gonna suck working through this."

"Dude, you went like, fifty times to the bathroom in the past hour. Yer sick. Just call out." He yawned and threw an arm over her. "You never take sick days. You're like Shota."

"Ugh. I have problems with doing that. Once, I managed to convince my mother I was sick - she never believed me unless I had, like, over a hundred degree fever --  and..." She froze.

"Wha, baby? What's wrong?"

"I don't want to keep telling you these terrible stories. Plus, this one, I don't know, maybe she was right."

"Ohhh no." He rolled over on top of her and deliberately gave her the look he knew made her weak: his one eye squinted and the other huge. "No way, princess. Tell me, or I'll tickle it out of ya."

"You <i>wouldn't</i>!" She clutched her aching belly, her eyes wide.

"Try me," he said, grinning like a fiend. "Plus, it might make you feel better..."

"No no no! I'll talk!"

He snickered. "So cute."

"Don't get off, though. The pressure feels good."

"'Kay. Like I need an excuse to lay on top of you all night." He rolled his eyes.

"Where to start. Well, she never believed me. So one day she did, and I started playing with this science toy, you would connect parts of it to make it work. It was kind of complicated. I managed to get it going and I was so proud of myself. When she saw this, she assumed that if I could do that I had been faking. So she packed me up and drove me to school, even thought the day was already half over, and the absence still counted for the year."

"Did you fake bein' sick?"

"I don't think so. I think I had anxiety so bad I felt ill. I mean, after enough days getting tortured, pretty much, by the kids, it wore on you enough that you needed a day off. But I can't remember. The fact that she let me stay home, though, makes me think that I had to have had <i>some</i> symptoms or something."

"Your poor tummy gets upset right away. Maybe you threw up."

"Maybe," she said dubiously. "I just remember that it was always a fight to stay home if I felt bad, especially after that. I was sick a lot. I mean, people with depression get sick easier, and I was also a worse insomniac than I am now. That could've been part of it, too."

"Nmm. Still think y'should call out." His head had dropped to her chest as he snuggled into a comfortable position.

"I think I might."

"Good."

Counseling: the finger puppets

"Hey, isn't that the new toy the kids are all asking for? The one you said Eri wanted?" Hizashi pointed at the commercial on their television. They were seated on their couch relaxing before bed, both dressed in comfortable clothing. The blond man had a pair of boxers on that were neon pink and blue on, with tiny microphones printed on them. 

Elly glanced up from her phone and nodded. "Yeah. They're like little finger huggy things that laugh and cry and stuff."

He squinted hard at the screen. "They're hideous," he shuddered. "Why is the sloth purple and yellow and ... glittery? Izzat glitter?"

"Pffft. Like you're one to talk. You're dressed like an old mTV logo!"

He whooped laughter and dragged her into his lap. "Damn, that's cold ... but it checks out, and she's right!"

"Ha!" She poked him in the leg. "Don't get me wrong, Zashi, they're adorable on you. But, ah, oh yeah. This reminds me of a story."

"Whuh oh."

"So, we weren't all that rich growing up. We were strapped a lot for cash, so my mom pinched every penny she could. This would mean, I guess, taking me to this kind of cheap store my stepfather worked at a lot. She stayed there for hours! I was little, so I would get bored. One day I took these finger puppets in that we'd made together to play with. I lived them so much, 'cause my mom had made tjem for me. You couldn't buy them in a store or ever get them anywhere else, right?"

Hizashi kissed her neck softly as she spoke, humming soothingly to indicate he was listening.

"Mmn. Um. So I went under the clothes racks to play, and at some point either she called me or she moved away. I was afraid, so I ran over... and forgot them. I really don't remember what happened, except they were nowhere to be found. Someone stole them."

"Ugh," he winced. "Another kid maybe?"

"I can hope. If it was an adult, that was a monstrous thing to do."

"So, you got upset. I mean, duh. Child loses toys, cries. That's a no brainer."

"Yeah. Mom took me to the lost and found, and asked if they got put there that they let us know. But they never were. And what does my mother say while I'm wailing and hurt that my only friends were taken from me?"

He bit his lip. "I can guess."

"Yep. It was all my fault. I shouldn't have taken them in the first place, so it's <i>my fault</i> they're gone forever."

He sighed. "Sorry, babe, that's not right. I mean, sure if you hadn't taken them they wouldn't've been swiped. But you didn't mean for it to happen, and that was likely the first time you experienced loss like that. You didn't know it <i>could</i> happen."

"I know that now." Elly shrugged. "After that, though, I was so careful of my toys! I mever took them anywhere and I got paranoid about 'hurting' or losing them."

"Aww." 

He deftly changed the subject after that to other matters and she forgot all about the memory for an entire day. Hizashi had left after school for a gig at a local ballpark and she had worked late. So they over lapped when they arrived home, him getting there first and her after he had left. She sighed, a little sad that he wasn't here so she could receive one of his enthusiastic hugs.

When she opened the door and had removed her excess gear, however, she saw he had left her a surprise.

Elly laughed out loud. In the middle of the jumbled mess of craft supplies on the kitchen table were two very poorly-made finger puppets. One had a hefty chunk of troll doll hair on top of his head, and the other had a pipe cleaner tail with a double tip. He had cut a heart out from red construction paper and placed them on it. When she lifted one up to take a closer look she saw he had written her a note.

"<i>we can make better ones when I get home later ♡</i>"

She smiled happily and gently put the Mic and Cheshire puppets back together.

Alpha & Beta

"Hey!" Elly hissed, falling to her knees as the villain's tentacle latched onto her neck. She heard Aizawa shouting angrily as well and saw he had caught him the same way.

That was all she knew until she woke up in the nurse's office, her neck sore and her loins on fire.

"Oh, dear. Oh... my." Recovery Girl clucked her tongue. "Whoop. You're finally awake!"

"What's wrong with me?!" She noticed Aizawa off to the side, staring at his neck in a mirror.

"The marks you've been given seem to be hormone based. You two have been chemically bonded to each other."

"Is it permanent?!" Elly gasped in horror at the thought. "I mean, Eraserh - err, Aizawa, he's not really a social guy. This would be hell for him more than me."

He grunted but said nothing.

"No way to know. Possibly, but it could last a few hours, days or even weeks and then wear off."

"Ugh!"

"All right, you two - listen up. One of you is the dominant and the other, submissive. That's usually how these quirks function. Weaker villians of the type typically use them as distractions so they can get away, as you've found out. Or they do it just to cause discomfort and confusion. "

"Which of us is which?" Aizawa looked away from the mirror where he had been scrutinizing the mark on his neck.

"Well, these aren't identifying. I'd say if one of you feels strongly possessive of the other that's a fair sign you're the alpha in this case. You'll both become pained if you're seperated from your partner, but alphas can become almost insane from it."

He huffed in annoyance. "Come here, then." Before she could protest he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into the protective circle of his arms. "What do we need to know about our condition?"

Elly squeaked faintly. It was as if his gentle but firm hold had somehow become the strongest force on the planet. There was no chance of her leaving, because unless he let her go she would willingly stay here forever. It was comforting, sure, but the tremendous surge of love and desire she experienced was nearly suffocating. Frightened at this onslaught of emotions, a little whimper escaped her lips.

"That, for one," Chiyo murmured. "You're both going to have a profound effect on the other. And if she's your beta, she's the one most baffled from it at the moment." She pointed at Aizawa sternly. "You need to read up on this. She should as well, obviously, but for now it's going to be up to you. I sent two emails with links to what you both need to know."

"All right," he sighed again, wearily getting to his feet. When Elly did not move to detach herself from him, however, he blinked down at her. "Let's go. We should leave immediately."

"Shota..." She curled her striped tail around her legs and buried her head in his chest, mewling in such a pitiful manner he blushed, embarrassed.

"Ches!" He grabbed hastily for her when she would have fallen limply to the ground.

"I doubt she can think clearly at the moment. You need to take complete control, Aizawa."

"But!" The man finally lost his composure, spluttering with his bloodshot eyes huge. "But she can't possibly consent to - to anything in this state!"

"You're right. She can't."

He looked chagrined. "Chiyo, I thought you were going to help. How can I ... there is a huge sexual component in this! She has to consent!"

"She is consenting."

"You don't understand, I don't ever want her to hate me because of anything, let alone something so - so heinous I deserve to be -"

"Aizawa." Recovery Girl's voice cut cleanly through his panicky babbling. "She's hurting badly. You're the only one that can stop the pain. Now, Elly is just as rational as you are. She's not gonna blame you."

The stricken look he gave the nurse caused her to shake her head ruefully. "Look. I wasn't going to get this involved, but if you want my opinion, you two idiots have been sighing over each other for ages. She'd have 'consented' if you tried anything months ago!"

Elly nuzzled under his scruffy chin affectionately. "She's right, you know," she purred softly.

Aizawa turned a very dark shade of red across his cheeks and nose. "Err... yes. Well. Thank you."

He pulled up the email from Chiyo on his phone while he walked down the corridor of the apartment complex carrying Elly lightly on his hip.

"If I'm reading this correctly, we're going to require a lot of food and quite a few amenities - Cheshire! Stop that!" He choked, squirming as she began nibbling on his neck. "Please," he amended in a gentler tone when she whimpered sadly. "I need to think."

"I'm sorry."

"I don't have much at my apartment. Is it okay if we go to yours?"

"Yes." She pointed several doors down.

"I know where you live," he snorted. "I need your keys, though." She handed them to him and he walked straight up and unlocked her apartment. There was silence for awhile as they took off their shoes and the more cumbersome parts of their hero attire. When they were done, Elly stumbled drunkenly over to the couch and collapsed onto it.

"Ugh," she groaned. "This is insane."

Aizawa joined her cautiously and she reached out for him by instinct. When he jerked back, she mewed sadly.

"I'm sorry?"

"All right," he said tersely, "listen. It's getting harder for me to think. I'm trying to hold back. I don't want to force myself on you."

"What - what do I have to do to convince you that I want this, too? Damn it, Shota!" Her fist crashed down on the coffee table and her voice rose as tears of rage and pain fell down her cheeks. "If you would rather be in agony than with me, that's fucking fine. Just be honest! Don't pretend you're having a moral dilemma!"

He stared at her in astonishment, his eyes taking in her flushed face and her laid back ears. Her tail tips were whipping frantically about where they dangled off the edge of the couch. Aizawa opened his mouth to speak and she turned away, flinching.

"Ch ... ah." He cleared his throat. "Elly," he amended in the softest voice than she had ever heard from him. His pronunciation was slightly marred by his accent, but he tried regardless. Her ears unfurled slowly and perked towards him. "I didn't mean to make you cry."

"Ha!"

"You know I didn't." He placed a tentative hand on her arm. "All right, look. I'm - I'm afraid," he admitted flatly, then sighed.

"What." She turned her head, puzzled.

He misheard and answered slowly, thinking over every word carefully. "If you regret this later, you might grow to hate me. I don't want that." He struggled with himself further, pulling down at the neck of his bodysuit with a finger. "I didn't want things to happen this way, either. It's too fast, and rather clinical. Like a painful shot you need to have."

"Shota Aizawa."

His ears burned, aware that he may have given himself away. "Yes."

"Are you suggesting you want this to be more than sex?"

He choked a little. It was difficult for him to express exactly what he wanted at the moment. The hormones stirring in his blood wanted - no, needed, demanded, sex. Specifically with her. She was producing pheremones, her scent doubling his desire like he had never felt before. Yet he wanted her to really want him, not just have to because of this situation.

"Well?" She arched an eyebrow at him. "I'll just ask what I need to know. I suppose your literal, rational mind will respond better to bluntness. Is it just the markings or do you feel more ... affection towards me?"

"Affection?" He scoffed, frowning. "You mean more than that."

"I chickened out at the last minute." She shrugged. "Fine. Do you love me?"

"Yes." He forced it out before his mind could clutter it up with logic and embarrassment.

"Then, please," she said with a vast amount of pain surfacing all at once in her eyes, "Please, Sho, help me stop hurting."

"Ches?" He gasped when she curled up, falling over sideways on the couch with her hands stretched imploringly towards him. "Ches! Crap! This is all my fault!"

He picked her up and stumbled immediately into the bedroom, glad that the apartment complex had similar layouts so he knew where the rooms were. She was breathing in short, ragged little puffs, obviously in more pain than she had been letting on. "Damn it, you should have told me you hurt this much!"

"Nggh..."

He placed her on the bed, yanking the blankets back and crawling in with her. "Ches, m'here. Wait..." He pulled her gently towards him, cupping her chin in one hand. "Here. Like this."

The touch of his mouth on hers awakened even more in her, and she sighed, sliding her arms around his neck and snuggling close. "Yes," she breathed. "Kiss me, Shota. More..."

He swallowed hard and deepened the kiss, mouthing gently and slipping his tongue inside to toy with her own. The fiery pain lessened as they clung to each other, their arms and legs tangling as they writhed on her tiny bed. He peeled down her bodysuit, tugging lightly, and removed it with help as she bent to pull it off her lower half. Before he could do more the leaden weight in his groin doubled when she grasped him.

"Aaah!"

Elly unzipped his suit, working it off as well. Aizawa impatiently kicked it off, swearing to himself. Their hands bumped as they both greedily reached out to take the remaining bit of clothing off each other.

"You first." She placed her hands under the elastic of his boxer briefs and slud them down over his hips, pulling slightly so they didn't catch on his erection. Shivering pleasantly at the sight of him, she stroked once, fondly, and he gasped.

"Now you." He rolled over on top of her, catching the strap of her bra in his teeth. Her breathing grew hoarse when he used his mouth to unhook the front. As it fell open and exposed her breasts he moved quickly and caught a nipple between his lips, suckling and licking. "Fffuck," he murmured lowly. "You taste good."

"Hurry!"

"Yes!"

There was no real foreplay, though they kissed every strip of flesh they could reach as they moved. Once they were both fully nude, Aizawa angled himself and thrust to ease the pressure and pain they were both feeling. She nearly wept at the jolt of pleasure when he entered her and he smiled.

"Faster!"

He obliged, bucking madly forward and crying out when she tightened her legs around him. There was love, but the act was raw and fast and hard by necessity. The bed creaked underneath in a quickening rhythm as their cries also grew in intensity.

"You're mine!" He snarled, the weight nearly crushing him as he peaked. This release was going to be of biblical proportions, and his mind was rife with the desire of the alpha to seed his partner. "My woman! My mate!"

She heard this through her own haze of desire and screamed his name so loudly passing students on the grounds nearby dropped their books, startled.

Back at the school, Recovery Girl was muttering to herself as she looked through some of the tests she had run while they had been there. "I really hope their bonding wears off in a few days. If not, they're liable to keep the whole damn lot of us awake all night for some time."

Jessie's Onsen

Elly and Hizashi were visiting a unique hot spring with Nemuri, who had decided on her own to tag along. The spring showcased the quirk of the owner, who infused special bath salts with the ability to predict who the user was in love with.

"Awww, Yamada must have gone right into the spring to show how much he loves you. I'm going to barf."

Elly frowned. "But how did he get in so fast? He was just over - "

His voice coming from the side startled them all. "Hey, babe. I got us a reservation and... wha - heyyy, why're you all lookin' at me like that?"

Nemuri pointed wordlessly to the display area. Beautiful purple striped foam was swirling around as everyone ooh'ed and aah'ed at the unusual colors.

Elly curled her unique tail around her in an attempt to hide it. "But ... but this is special, right? Isn't it supposed to be special?"

"Yeahhh..." Hizashi was staring stupidly at this proof that someone else out there was in love with his girl. "Their quirk is never wrong."

"But who..?!"

"Ms. Cheshire, I'm sorry!" A small weight was suddenly clinging to her leg.

Elly blinked down into a very small, very earnest pale face. "Eri? Oh my god. Aizawa." Her face grew extremely red as she realized who was in the hot spring.

"I told him he would feel better maybe if he went in the hot spring. I didn't know what it was!" Her face was twisted with anxiety.

Elly stroked her hair in comfort. "It's okay, sweetie. It's not your fault!"

"Shota?!" Hizashi stumbled, his green-spiraled eyes huge. "No way!"

Inside the hot springs there was an announcement that sounded innocuous yet was a warning to the staff.

"We want to congratulate Jessie in section 2-B - I repeat, Jessie in the men's spring on the right."

Everyone looked up from their stations in surprise. In a few moments all available workers were gathered in a back room.

The owner cleared his throat. "We have a Jessie situation, people, head's up."

"Who are the people involved?"

"There's a blond man outside, hair in a bun with red glasses - he's our Jessie. In our spring is the friend. You'll recognize him right away: long, black hair also put up in a bun, but he's got dead, bleary eyes and a scar under one. Looks like he hasn't shaved or slept in a week."

One of the older women winced. "Oh, dear. I didn't think he realized what our springs were about. I tried to explain but he seemed so tired - he just wanted to rest, he said."

Hizashi was bundled discreetly in to confront his friend. They escorted him to the communal area where the dark-haired man was already getting dressed again, shooed everyone else out, and then left.

Aizawa looked up in confusion at the commotion. "What's wrong, Hizashi? You look like you're going to be ill."

"You ... you don't know, do you?"

"Know what?" He shrugged. "The thing they gave me for the bath was weird, but it was relaxing. Did I pick the wrong one or something?"

"You can't pick the wrong one."

He sighed and sat down on the bench. "Then what's the problem."

"This is a romantic hot springs, you idiot! Your choice turns the water the colors of the person you're in love with!"

This got his attention at last. The towel he had been drying his hair with slowly lowered so he could stare incredulously at his friend. "Purple stripes," he choked.

"Yeahhhh. Uh. Kinda hard not to see who that means, Sho."

His frown grew more intense. "I would never have gone in if I had known. I intended to keep this a secret."

"Forever?" He paused, then blurted out, "She's here too, by the way. She was the one who figured it out!"

"Hurk." He placed a hand to his throat where his Adam's apple bobbed wildly. "This isn't a situation I know how to handle. Can't we all ignore this? Logically..." But here he paused and stared blankly ahead of himself for awhile before sighing. He set the towel next to him on the bench and rubbed at the bridge of his nose with two fingers. "This isn't logical at all. I'm sorry, Hizashi."

"But - but you never said..."

"I only want you to be happy." He shrugged. "Since you both do that for each other, remaining silent seemed the best way to ensure that happiness continued."

"I guess I'm just thinking about if I felt that way and had to stay quiet."

"You? Quiet?"

"Ha. Ha, ha," he said flatly.

"Sorry." He stood, took his shirt off the neatly folded stack of clothes and started dressing. "And anyway, perhaps we're being too worried. Ches is a liscensed counselor. I'm sure she can handle this better than you think."

"No. No way, uh-uh. This isn't happening." Elly lay in a half-faint on a bench in the shade with Nemuri fanning her. "Aizawa Shota?!"

"Hey, if he swings that way there was a chance, right? Plus, you're - you know -- a cat. The man has an absolute adoration of those animals."

"But - but the Pussycats..."

"Fake. Slapping a costume on a human doesn't compare to the real thing. Look, you've actually got a real tail, fangs, ears."

"And nose," she added.

"Really?"

"Yeah, underneath."

"Plus, you two have gotten to know each other better. I've been his friend for years and he never took me anywhere besides work."

"That was just shelter work. Because he loves cats!"

"He took you out to eat after."

"Augh!"

After the men had spoken and Aizawa had fully dressed once again, the two met awkwardly in a room off the hot springs. Nemuri had taken Eri to eat, so she was being looked after nearby.

"We need to talk."

"I apologize for causing a disturbance," Aizawa murmured. "It was not my intent."

"I know." She sighed, ducking her head and rubbing at her furry ears with a baffled expression. "Shota ... really? I never would have guessed, for one."

He grimaced. "I tried very hard to keep it from you. From Hizashi, as well. I'm not that kind of man."

"I know," she repeated. "And now everyone's looking to me for the solution because I'm a counselor." She raised her head, staring up at the ceiling. "I don't have one, you know. Things happen and I help people deal with them. I'm not so great at dealing with them myself."

"If you can both forget -"

"I'm not going to negate your feelings so easily. That would be callous. I love Zashi, though, with all my heart."

It was Aizawa's turn to mouth 'I know', though he didn't speak out loud. He hung his head, miserable. "He makes you happy," he murmured. "That makes me happy. If we can drop it at that, it would be... okay. I think."

"No." A new voice was added to the group and they turned around, amazed as Hizashi walked in. His face was burning across his cheeks and his forehead was wrinkled in worry. "Look, I've known you all my life, Sho. You've never acted interested in anyone except Ches. I thought you were asexual. And I was okay with that, right? To each his - or her -- own. Ahh, but this, it just doesn't seem right to just act like nothin' happened."

"What do you suggest, Hizashi," his friend said drily, "you add me to your relationship?"

Elly blinked when her boyfriend gave her a strange look. He shrugged tentatively. "Uh... sort of? How about if we like, give you something to get it out of your system?"

"Zashi?"

"Huh?"

"You should probably have spoken to me first about this." She sighed and dropped onto a couch along one side of the room.

"He's just joking," Aizawa snorted.

"Uh. I thought maybe, I don't know. You said you wanted us to be happy. But you're not really happy."

"I'm fine. I'll live. I'm not the first person to suffer through an unrequited love."

She put her hands up to her mouth as he spoke. "Oh," she said in a trembling little voice.

"Yeah, see?"

Elly nodded tearfully. "But - but this isn't... I don't know how to help -"

Aizawa shook his head. "I'm not going to ruin your relationship," he said very firmly. "I don't need anything except for you both to forget this happened." He refused to look at either one as he made his way to the door.

"Wait," she called out before he could leave. He paused in the act of reaching for the handle to look surprised as she rushed over. "I know this is the wrong thing to do, but I can't help it." She kissed him softly on the cheek.

"Ches," he said brokenly.

"I do love you, you know. Maybe not exactly the same way, but I do."

He stared wordlessly at her, his gray eyes troubled. And then he turned and quietly stepped out of the room.

Hizashi walked to her side and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Sorry about before," he muttered. "I don't know what I was going on about, either. I've just never seen him like this."

"I know." She rested her head on his shoulder. "He's right, though. He'll get over it. Might take awhile, and it will probably suck. But he will."

Aizawa slipped into a single bathroom and closed the door, setting his back to it. One hand stole up to his eyes, hiding them from view though he was the only one in the room. His mouth worked soundlessly as tears started to pour down from under his fingers, and he slid slowly down to the floor, crumpled in a heap but carefully silent.

He honestly wasn't sure he was going to be able to get over her.

A Wild Chad Approaches

"Good idea, going out to eat." Hizashi leaned back in his chair. 

"Yep." Elly smiled. "Hey, hon, I've got to use the ladies' room first. Be right back." She checked her surroundings and saw the sign for the restrooms. Nodding to herself, she headed there with a purposeful stride. She <i>really</i> had to go.

The man at a table two down huffed and snapped his fingers at Elly impatiently as she passed. "You, there," he called out in an imperial voice. "We need our drinks."

The woman that was with him cringed visibly. "I don't think she's..."

"Nonsense!" He snapped some more.

Hizashi had turned around in his seat to watch his girl walk off in adoration and he saw this happen. His eyes doubled in size and he covered his mouth with one hand. 

<i>This was going to be good.</i>

"I'm sorry," she said without missing a step. "It takes more than two fingers to make me come." She flicked her tail dismissively as she entered the bathroom.

Hizashi burst out laughing. The man glared at him, furious, and shouted, "You think that's funny? A waitress should never say such a disgusting thing to a customer!"

"Oh, it's freaking beautiful," he sniffled, smiling hugely and wiping a tear from his eye with his napkin. "First, 'cause like, I know she said it just to piss you off. I'm her boyfriend and it's not true." He winked. "Oh! And she's not a waitress, you idiot. Not that they deserve to be treated like animals and be snapped at, either. So, you know... be nice to people, okay?"

The man pushed his chair back and hauled himself to his full height, his face growing red with rage. This would have perhaps had more of an impact if Hizashi hadn't been a little over six feet tall. He simply stood and stared the man down. 

"Hey, sweetie." Elly reappeared and hugged him when she saw he was up. He grinned and hugged her back. 

"You want to order something special? I feel like it tonight." His mustache wriggled with mischief. 

"Aww. We can if you'd like! What were you thinking?"

The man at the other table was nearly apoplectic at this point. "He's afraid. Did you hear how soft he spoke to me? Knew I'd punch his lights out." With that, he stormed off to find a manager to complain to. His date rolled her eyes, checked around to see that he really had gone, and slipped out of the restaurant. 

They heard the man coming back long before he arrived.

"You wouldn't see quality people behaving this way and pretending to be customers to get out of working! Pro heroes, for example. They have dignity."

Hizashi bit his lip and Elly gave him a stern look, though she too was smiling. 

The manager arrived at their table looking confused. "Sir, these <i>are</i> customers. Moreover, they are regulars to this establishment." He bowed in apology. "I'm so sorry... is there anything I can do to make it up to you both? Some free dessert? Drinks?"

"Nah. S'okay." 

"Yeah, it's not your fault! I feel really bad for his actual waitress, though." 

"She has to be a waitress! She's wearing a scarf to keep her hair from getting in the food!" The man had doubled down on his insistence instead of giving up. 

Elly had enough. She pulled her bandanna off, as well as her tail sleeve that hid who she was to the public. "I wear this so I can go about unnoticed," she said quietly. 

Several people gasped and a few took out their cameras. The man faltered, taking a step back. He looked first at her striped, double-ended tail, then at her boyfriend. It was well known who she was dating, and he made a terrible face as he realized he had insulted not one, but two Pro Heroes. 

Hizashi sighed and walked over to stand by her side. "You might've wondered why I didn't raise my voice," he said quietly. "I don't think you'd want <i>me</i> to do that, huh?"

He shook his head numbly.

"Oookayy... then why don't you either sit down and eat, or try to find your date. She bailed on you quite awhile ago." He jerked his thumb at the entrance.

He blinked, noticing that for the first time, and scrambled off to quickly pay his bill and leave. The manager rushed off behind him to make sure he left.

"You're so lucky, babe," he grinned. "You get to tell it like it is."

"I am the Insanity Hero, after all." She laughed. "That's one perk to being looked at as crazy, at least."

"Aww. You're not -"

"I know, dear." She laid a hand fondly on his. "I'm just saying."

"Well. I guess we're gonna end up bein' tweeted about a bit." 

"Is there a day when it seems we're not?"

"Good point."