"They just keep coming!" You huffed. "How much longer until the heroes get here?!"

"You ask like I'm supposed to know." Aizawa groaned, currently pinning down a low-level villain who has slipped past.

It didn't take long for the door to be breached. Despite that, there weren't even many villains who got past. They were being kept plenty occupied by the slew of heroes that had infiltrated the base. The five or six that managed to get into the captives ward were quickly stopped by you and Aizawa. Sure, you weren't the strongest fighter, but the combination of your ability to predict the enemies movements combined with Aizawa's ability to shut down their quirks and take them in hand to hand combat proved to be the ultimate wombo-combo.

"Aizawa, another's gonna get through in t-minus 5 seconds! Expect a jab from his left fist!" You called out.

"Quirk?" He quickly questioned after a swift knock out kick to the man beneath him.

"Simple mutation; doesn't seem like much of the threat."

As if it were spoken into existence, a villain emerged from around the corner and was swiftly dealt with by Aizawa. Another few minutes of wait patiently. The fighting echoed down the corridor, sounding closer and closer.

"Shit..." You muttered.

"What is it?" Aizawa asked calmly.

"A tough one's coming..."

Aizawa blinked a few times in confusion, noticing the dread on your face.

"Who is that? What's his quirk?"

"It's-!" You pulled in a sharp breath and lunged towards Aizawa. "Watch out!"

You reached out and shoved your friend out of the way before an invisible force yanked you back down the corridor.

"(Y/N)!" Aizawa screamed, his voice unable to reach you. You had already been pulled around the corner and out of sight. He panicked and glanced back at the startled children. "Stay here! I'll be right back!"

He sprinted down the corridor and turned around the corner, only to find you pinned against the ground with a large man's hand gripping your throat. Aizawa stopped dead in his tracks. The villain grinned smugly.

Crap! I knew this bastard's telekinesis would be hard to deal with!

You struggled for air, both hands wrapped tightly around the man's hand, trying to tear them away.

"Well now, you've caused quite a ruckus it seems." The villain snarled at Aizawa. "Personally I'd like to keep things from getting any messier, which is why I have her."

He gestured to you with a tight squeeze, causing you to cough and gasp.

"Let her go." Aizawa said, remaining calm to the best of his ability.

"Gladly!" The villain jested. "So long as you come quietly."

Aizawa's teeth clenched. He could only watch as you grew paler. His voice remained stuck in his throat.

"Well~? What's it gonna be kid?!" The villain continuously badgered. "It won't take much longer for her to pass out. You better make a decision~"

Aizawa prayed with every fiber of his being that the heroes would burst through the door behind the heathen.

"A-Aizawa-" You choked out. "Don't... you dare step aside..."

"Quiet you!" The villain lifted your limp body and slammed it against the ground like a rag-doll. Aizawa's eyes widened but he was still rendered unable to move.

"Listen to me..." You gasped once more. The villain didn't torment you further. He couldn't risk his only leverage dying on him. Your head pounded, your body ached, but you had to get the words out. "I was supposed to die today anyway... I was going to die without any sort of purpose... But all this- those kids? You gave me an opportunity to make it mean something-"

"Stop talking like that. I'm not going to let anything happen to you, idiot." Aizawa scoffed.

You...

How can you care so much?

I just really can't see to tell you any differently.

With what little strength you had left, you pulled your legs up to wrap around the man's arm. This granted you just a little extra leverage

I'm not sure what it is, but something about you gives me hope.

While the villain immediately noticed your actions and attempted to further clamp down on your neck, the newfound angle gave you the means to pull your head back just barely. In combination with you desperately prying his hand opened, enough time was provided for Aizawa to leap forward and land a firm kick against the villains blocking arm.

"You damn BRAT!" The agitated man yelled, pushing back against your friend and sending him backward.

Dammit! It wasn't enough!

He had a grip on you that you just didn't have the strength to shake. But the enemy was shaken now and an opening appeared. You saw it, and so you freed your foot just in the nick of time. His arm lowered slightly and at the moment you nailed the man right in his chin.

Now's my chance!

A final yank back and you were freed from his grip, tumbling back onto the ground. You crawled back as fast as you could, however, he also recovered quickly.

"Now you're gonna fucking get it!" He snarled. He raised his hand quickly, most likely to pull you back in. But his plan was cut short by a swift knee to the side of his head. Aizawa has come flying in out of seemingly nowhere. The villain toppled over.

And that bitch was out like a light.

Your panting started to settle.

That was too close...

"Hey..." Aizawa called over after being sure the villain was downed. He walked over and crouched beside you, eyes tracing the bruising forming beneath your jaw. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah... I think so." You exhaled in relief.

He wasn't really satisfied with that answer. Aizawa sighed, his head tilting down so his eyes no longer met yours.

"I'm sorry."

"Eh? What for?" You asked.

"I should have been more alert. I'm sorry that I let this happen to you." His tone was solemn and regretful.

Aizawa...

You smiled softly at him before leaning forward, hands traveling up and resting beneath his jaw.

With a slight tug, you lifted his head back up and pressed your lips against his cheek, lingering for only a brief moment. Aizawa's body stiffened, completely clueless as to what he was supposed to do with this.

"What was that for?" Aizawa muttered when you pulled away, still clearly perplexed.

"A gesture of appreciation." You grinned.

"R-Right..." He turned his head away in a hurry.

"See! I told you they were in love!" A shrewd voice called from the hall behind you.

"Oh you guys..." You huffed, noticing the group of children huddled around the corner, all struggling to take a peak. "You all were supposed to stay hidden."

"Yeah, but we heard the commotion and you two talking, so we figured it was alright now!" Another girl answered brightly.

"I swear... This whole ordeal is going to be the death of me..." Aizawa whispered.

"Should we get moving?" You averted your attention back to Aizawa. "The fighting sounds like it's settling dow-"

BOOM!

Your ears were ringing so much, that you had barely realized the fire and smoke quickly filling the room.

What that-?

An explosion had erupted from the wall beside you. The kids had fallen to the floor in terror, hands over their ears and eyes tightly shut."

"They're self-destructing the base?!" Aizawa coughed frantically.

"Geez, how stereotypical can you get!" You muttered, swiping down ash from your eyes.

"You didn't see this coming?!" He groaned, quickly helping you up and rushing over to calm the kids.

"Well no, I was engaged in conversation. My mind was KINDA occupied!" You huffed, following after him. But a second later, you stopped dead in your tracks. "Wait a sec..."

"What is it?" Aizawa asked, checking the first child to make sure she was alright.

"Someone's missing..." You muttered, eyes darting around the room.

"What?!"

Another explosion sounded in the distance. The younger children continued to cower as vibrations raced across the floor.

Crap this is bad... Where did he go-!

A flash came across your mind.

"The south corridor..." You noted quietly.

"What are you going on about?" Aizawa asked. "Speak up. Who's missing?!"

"While we were distracted! Someone with a camouflage quirk snagged a child!" You quickly explained. "He'll probably try to use the kid as a bartering chip, but I think I know where he's hiding!"

"Where? I'll go after-"

"No! I'll go after him!" You insisted, starting off in that direction.

You were quickly stopped by a hand tightly gripping your wrist.

"Don't just go off on your own." Aizawa huffed in frustration. "We're in this together, it would be better if-"

"No, I know my way around, and I can predict his movements." You replied calmly. "Aizawa... You need to take these children to the heroes and make sure you all get out of here safely."

Rubble began to crumble from the ceiling. The air started becoming thicker.

"What about you?!"

"Don't worry! The future has yet to be decided!" You grinned brightly at him, hand falling over his with a squeeze of reassurance. "I'll be right behind you!"

He didn't get another word in before you had escaped his grip.

- - - - - - -

When I returned to the States after my experience abroad, I completely fell into a hole. I'm in the process of crawling back out.

Please be patient. Please be kind.

With much love,
TheFicQueen