The warmth of the sun kissed my scales as I lay there, curled up just outside the gates of U.A. High, hidden from the world by my camouflage. The soft rustling of leaves and the distant hum of the school grounds were the only sounds that accompanied my peace, and I let the quiet wrap around me like a comforting blanket. The weight of the past few days had been heavy, each moment pulling me further into a haze of exhaustion, but for now, I allowed myself to rest.

As the midday sun reached its peak, a sudden shift in the air caught my attention. The doors to the sleek, high-rise building of U.A. opened with a quiet hiss, and through the glass, I saw the familiar figure of Aizawa stepping out, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings as usual. But today, there was something different about his posture—something that told me he wasn't just on his usual patrol.

He held a bowl in his hands, steam rising from it like a delicate cloud. My eyes widened as I recognized the familiar scent of fish, something I hadn't tasted in far too long. I shifted my position slightly, letting the camouflage shimmer and dissolve into nothingness as I revealed myself to him.

"Aww, thank you," I said softly, my voice warm with surprise and gratitude. I watched as Aizawa flinched, the bowl pausing for a split second in his hands. His face tightened in that familiar scowl, but there was something else there too, something softer than I had ever seen.

"Yeah, don't mention it," he grumbled, his tone still gruff, but there was a shift in his eyes. A momentary flicker of hesitation—like he wasn't sure if I would bite his head off for the gesture.

I couldn't help the small, knowing smile that tugged at the corners of my lips. "You didn't have to do this," I murmured, lowering my gaze to the bowl of steaming fish. The warmth from it beckoned me, pulling me closer to the present, to the simple comfort of a meal shared in silence. The sting of everything that had happened—the loss, the pain, the rebirth—faded into the background as I took in the gesture, something unspoken between us, but so very clear.

He shrugged, his eyes not quite meeting mine. "I figured you could use a break," he muttered. "You've been through a lot. Didn't think you'd be doing much of anything if you stayed curled up out here."

A sigh escaped my lips as I nodded, my green eyes softening as I took in his words. He wasn't just concerned for my body—he was concerned for my mind, the weight of everything pressing down on me like a suffocating fog. And as much as I would have liked to push him away, pretend I didn't need anyone, I knew better. No one could survive alone—not even someone like me.

I took a deep breath, letting the scent of the fish settle around me, a familiar and soothing reminder of simpler days. "Thanks, Aizawa," I said, the words slipping out almost without thought. "Really."

Aizawa's eyes flicked over to me, and for a moment, I caught the faintest trace of a smile—small, barely noticeable, but there nonetheless. It wasn't much, but it was enough. It was more than I had expected from him.

With a gruff nod, he took a step back, allowing me space to eat. "I'll leave you to it," he said, his tone carrying that same clipped finality, but there was something gentler in the way he spoke. "Don't go getting yourself killed while I'm not looking."

I let out a small laugh, the sound rasping at my throat as I gently accepted the bowl. "No promises," I said, but the words were lighter than they had been in days.

As Aizawa retreated back into the school, I took my first bite, savoring the tender fish as it melted in my mouth. The midday sun felt warmer, the breeze gentler, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to rest—body and mind.

Maybe there was hope for me yet.

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"So, you and that guy in that black outfit," came a voice, smooth and teasing, but all too familiar.

I jumped, startled by the sudden interruption, my wings instinctively fluttering as I opened my eyes wide. My heart raced for a moment before I caught the flicker of recognition.

"Muerte," I gasped, the name slipping out of my mouth like a breath I'd been holding for too long. Before I could move, he was already there, standing beside me, his sharp grin flashing in the soft sunlight. Without thinking, I wrapped one of my massive wings around him, pulling him close.

He coughed in surprise, his usual smugness faltering for just a moment. "Yeah, yeah, don't kill yourself, please," he said, though I could hear the slight amusement in his voice.

I couldn't help but laugh, a soft, rumbling sound as I nuzzled him gently, brushing my face against his fur. "You mean Aizawa?" I murmured, my voice a bit softer now, more pensive. The thought of Aizawa's gruff, unapproachable demeanor made my heart twist. Despite everything, I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that still gnawed at me.

Muerte's golden eyes twinkled as he shook his head, a sly smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "No, no. That will never happen," he said, his voice dark with a playful edge. "I've already destroyed his trust in me when I poisoned All Might."

I flicked my tail in frustration, but there was no denying the truth in his words. The poison I had used, the claws I had sunk into All Might's chest, were nothing I could easily forget. The guilt that hung over me like a heavy cloak was something I carried with me every day. But that didn't mean I couldn't make amends... Or at least try to.

I smiled, my eyes flicking to the bowl of cod that Aizawa had left behind. It was still warm, the steam rising like a cloud of comfort. "I healed that silly hero, though," Muerte added, his voice laced with an odd tenderness as he caught the glance I gave the fish.

I tilted my head, a small, wicked grin spreading across my face as I watched Muerte's reaction. "Maybe," I said, the word soft but full of meaning. "But sometimes, Muerte, I wonder if it's too late to fix the damage I've done."

Muerte rolled his eyes dramatically, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Don't go getting all broody on me," he said, his voice lighter now, teasing. "You're still the same old Onyx. You'll fix it, one way or another. You always do."

I chuckled softly, the words settling into my chest like a comforting weight. Maybe he was right. Maybe I could still find a way to fix what I had broken, no matter how far gone things seemed. But first, I needed to deal with the mess I'd made with Aizawa, and the others.

The bowl of fish sat before me, an offering of kindness from a man who had tried to keep me grounded, even when I thought I didn't deserve it. For the first time in a while, I felt the faintest stirrings of hope.

Muerte let out a low chuckle, his dark presence looming over me like a shadow. "Alright, alright. Enough of the pity party. You're not done yet, kid."

I glanced up at him, my gaze steady. "I'm not done yet," I repeated, more to myself than to him.

Maybe, just maybe, I had a chance to make things right.