Chapter TextIzuku woke up with a mouthful of fluff filling the gaps in his teeth as he sat up from the darkened bedside with a rush of cold air coming from all sides. Shivering at the shitty insulation, he ducked back down to his lover and clung to her, feeling some of that warmth return. Quietly he listened to her breathing, feeling her belly rise and fall under his palms. Somehow he'd woken up before her, which was amazing given how much her episodes of insomnia had her waking up in the middle of the night every so often.
He considered whispering in her ear or shaking her, but the last thing he wanted was a crabby, cold and angry Himiko, regardless of how cute that may have been. So with careful shifting he got off the bed and stepped out to the living room where his clothes were exactly where he left them last night. It was a rather drab environment and looked just as lackluster as when he stumbled in so long ago. Yet he still found it to be such a dear place to him despite the shambles and he couldn't help smiling as he got his clothes on.
The air stank of copper, sweat and bodily fluids that brought a bit of joy to him. He was part of here now, his place was with her and everything was right in the world. Though right now he would have killed for some food, maybe he could make some breakfast for the both of them. It wasn't like Himiko kept a pantry stocked with stuff he could actually cook, but a few pop tarts and milk was never a bad dish either.
She'd probably wolf them down like the hungry food gremlin she was anyway, so he made a plate for himself and began to munch as the clock ticked away. There wasn't much to do considering it was Sunday and unless the office gave another emergency ring then he'd be free. Though he questioned whether he really needed to work sometimes with the money in his bank account, granted he knew the stuff was poison, but still he loved to be so close to that fantasy of never needing to worry about money again.
Maybe if he worked hard enough then retirement could be attainable, preferably before he turned feeble and gray. He shook his head at the idea, it was pointless to think about that now when he was here with her, away from his troubles for a while. He may as well stay happy for as long as he can before reality comes calling. However he thought back to those investments Kacchan helped him make and remembered that they were bringing in some money at least, so there was that.
Izuku pushed it all away and took stock of the room, enjoying the smell and the chill of the air. He was simply glad to be and have her with him. They had a whole day ahead of them and enough money to feast which was all he could want, still he considered maybe getting some training in. As a matter of fact how long has it been since he sparred with her? Ever since he enlisted with Sato and learned the basics of training there hasn't been much of a need for him to bother Himiko with that. Lately it's been more of him arriving and using her as a relief valve for his stress.
He cringed a little at the prospect of asking her to teach him some of the things she learned before the Calamity since she knew how to fight better than most. It was just such a dark thing to reference that he might push the wrong buttons and piss her off at best or summon a breakdown at worst. Still, the idea of sparring with her again sounded rather nice and a better use of their Sunday then just lazing about and cuddling.
Yet as he considered that, there was a creak from the doorway to her room and Himiko came out with a slight lurch in her step. She glared at him with those golden eyes, clearly upset that he had left the room, but despite that Izuku smiled warmly at her as he approached. He opened his arms and embraced her, breathing in the scent of her unwashed body while a grin overtook his lips.
"Morning beautiful, did you sleep okay?"
The blonde continued to glare daggers at him, but returned the hug and dug her fingers into his back. For a moment she pushed him away to gather her clothes, which were the same barely washed pajamas she had practically made into a second skin with how often she wore them, and eyed the plate set out for her.
"Yeah, but I wish you woke me up sooner."
He laughed at her grogginess and grabbed her by the belly before she could take another step, running his fingers over her form and letting out a few giggles at the joy it brought him.
"But it's four in the morning, besides you need the rest with how often you stay up. Now how about you and me do a little training today? You know, shake things up a bit like we used to?"
Himiko groaned a little in annoyance at how he kissed and caressed her, but let him have his way for a moment before clamping on his wrist and pushing outward to free herself.
"Fine, but give me a few hours to wake up."
She entered the kitchen and set a cooking pot over one of the stove burners, right as she reached into the fridge to retrieve a half gallon bag of blood. Opening the tab at the top she poured it in and allowed it to simmer for a bit, then a ladle was thrown into the crimson and lifted to her lips. Musing on the gore she nodded in approval as the rest was funneled into a tall mug which she set on the table next to her meager breakfast.
Izuku raised an eyebrow at the amount she was ingesting, but over the past nine months he had gotten so used to her dietary needs that it didn't occur to him to say anything. Instead he took a seat across from her and waited for breakfast to be finished, only for the vampire to stare at him questioningly. There was an element of anger, fear and worry in those yellow irises that grew when she took another swig of her sanguine, the red staining her teeth a horror movie red.
"So about last night...I wanna apologize for acting like I did. I know it was immature of me to just break down over something so silly but...can I ask about who this girl was?"
Instantly the glee faded from his being as Izuku darted his eyes off to the floor, appearing for the first time to be almost defensive at what she said. There was guilt in his expression, a heavy, crushing guilt that she knew just from looking at him was still fresh. A grunt came from his lips and he gazed at her with a different sort of emotion, as if she could usher in forgiveness and let him forget the pain.
"I don't wanna talk about it."
The tone was reluctant yet firm that hinted at an avalanche of old emotions that had no intention of being distrubed and Himiko could read both it and him like a book. If Izuku didn't want to pry into his past, however mundane it was in comparison to her own, then she would leave it be. He deserved as much after putting up with her own insanity for so long. Taking another swig and enjoying how the blood lessened her morning migraine she mused on what they could do. Her work was done and Cheeky was still dealing with her bullshit, as she saw it today was a free day.
She really didn't feel like sparring, at least not for a time since it was too active to do right in the morning. Admittedly she wanted to drag him back to bed and just smother him until they fell back asleep, but she was already up. Part of her resented that since with Cheeky around there were less opportunities for her to rest. She just wanted to lay back and veg out to some film or a shitty podcast or just cuddle like they used to. Then she remembered this was her house and he was her baby, so Himiko arose from the table, walked over to Zuzu and latched onto his arm as she made him stand up. He gave her questioning eyes, but didn't say anything when they retreated to the bedroom and she grabbed the comforter off the couch.
With a mild shove Himiko pushed him on the mattress and crawled next to him, draping the blanket over them both as she nuzzled against his back with a loose hug. She felt a spark of good feelings when Izuku ran a thumb over her knuckles and shut her eyes as she enjoyed the closeness. She didn't really want to sleep now, it was too precious a moment to waste on napping, yet as the blonde tried, it was harder to not relax too much. But she didn't blame herself since the bed was nice and warm and there was that creak of the springs from Zuzu shifting around. Then it was the way his belly which was flat and just the right kind of squishy to make it comfortable to hold as he breathed or the way his heartbeat sang into her ears and the smell of his unwashed hair tingled her nose.
Himiko drank in the sensation and brought a hand up to that sweet spot near his neck, rolling her fingers over the scarred skin which made him flinch in the most adorable way. A nice buzz formed in her head at the memories of the times she dug her fangs into that tender patch and listened to him whimper and hold in a scream. Even now there was that element of fear in him as she touched that spot which had his whole body tense yet he did nothing to resist her. Try as she might, it was impossible to not feel a slight high when he was just letting her have her way.
In fact it had become so much of a problem that she pulled the arm around his torso free and flipped him onto his back before climbing on top of him. He stared up with a mixture of restrained fear and adoration, all the while she could feel him get aroused underneath her as something poked her crotch. She continued to stare down at him, enjoying the build up of tension in his eyes as questions doubtlessly began to form in his mind. He was wondering if she'd hurt him or if she would make him feel good and Himiko could see each of those thoughts play out in his eyes and smiled. It wasn't a predatory one filled with teeth and domination, but a soft, kindly one as Himiko brought her hands around the back of his head to cradle it.
Her calloused thumbs rubbed against his freckled cheeks, making sure to remember how it felt to touch his face. Slowly she lowered her body down onto him and kissed him with that building passion that was more love than anything else. Three seconds Himiko had locked her lips to him and enjoyed the little pleasure such a simple, silly thing gave her, only to have it sour when Izuku reached into her waistband and planted his hands on her rear. She withdrew from the kiss with a silent, scolding glare as Izuku lowered his head slightly, but kept his hands where they were. The villainess didn't blame him much, really it was her fault for getting him worked up, yet it was just that she wanted something more simple where they could do little things like kiss and hug. Hell, part of her wanted him to tickle her again.
Though thinking about it more, she wouldn't mind sinking her fangs into that nice sweet spot of his. It wasn't a hot urge like the other times, but something akin to a kiss yet more. She knew he didn't exactly like it, but the fact he was consenting was enough. But she didn't want to deal with the process of it all and that began to piss her off. The planning, the first aid kits, the exact communication, making sure he wasn't putting on a tough face, having to hold herself back from everything she wanted at a given moment and consider if it was safe or not. It was enough to ruin a perfectly good day while other people who don't share her tastes can just kiss and suck and fuck without worry since there's no phyiscal danger involved. They get to act without worry or thinking, they get to just go on instinct and be praised by their partners for it.
She on the other hand has to worry about whether or not what she fantasizes about or wants is going to kill him since she was given the short stick with her genetics. Yet that line of thinking made her wonder what kind of quirk a child between her and Zuzu would have. He was quirkless but clearly had evidence of those genes with his hair color and it was clear his mother's DNA was dominate and Himiko recalled how her family always genetically favored the mother so...for some reason she pictured a short, curly haired boy around his early teenage who looked exactly like Zuzu but with her fangs and feline pupils setting the blood of animals on fire with his mind.
Blinking at her own thoughts, she laid herself on top of her lover and preoccupied the time with suckling his neck while the eager bastard played with her rear. She didn't really care at the moment since they'd done far more to each other, but try as she might, Himiko simply couldn't get in the proper mood to match him. The only thing she wanted was to lay there and enjoy his company, which made her sit up when he moved his hands around to touch her from the front. It came as a shock and she gave another tired glare at him as Himiko did her best not to snap at him.
Normally she'd be more accommodating to his wants, but she just didn't want to deal with the hassle. So Himiko shifted herself to the side and laid herself flat on the empty side of the bed with a reluctant frankness.
"Zuzu, I'm sorry to say but it's a little too early for something like that so can you...handle it yourself this time?"
If there ever was a look of dejection, disappointment and anger on his face, it was now. The expression bordered on resentment with how displeased he was and it showed when Izuku turned around and gripped her across the torso, clinging to her in an act of needy defiance. His muscles bulged against her with the force of an iron curtain as he refused to let go and nuzzled into her lower shoulder.
"No. I'm staying right here and nothing's changing that."
Himiko rolled her eyes at the pettiness in his voice, but also felt her heart skip a beat at how cute he sounded. It wasn't like they had a lot to do and if he wanted to make a battle of wills then so be it. Yet her tune changed somewhat when he started to suckle her neck and get more handsy with her body. She knew they'd be here all day at this rate, but the slasher never got the chance to give in right when she wanted due to his adorable ass kissing her in that soft, adoring manner as he got on top of her and gave a smile so warm it likely could pay her heating bill for the rest of the year. A hand was latched to her cheeks and there was a certain restrained giddiness to his eyes, like a hound seeing it owner or a lonely man his lover and she knew he'd start freaking out over her, yet that was more then fine as Zuzu started to speak in that low, attentive way she adored.
"I love you. I really, really do and I don't think I say that nearly enough."
Their faces were a few inches apart and as was his right, Izuku leaned forward and kissed her. All the while his hands touched her neck, her arms, her belly, wherever he could grasp her body. Which made Himiko squirm a bit under the weight, begrudgingly she allowed the smile creeping up on her to win and ran her fingers through his hair.
"You do more than enough Zuzu and I know you love me."
He had a quality to his gaze now that seemed almost comforting as he dragged a thumb over her cheeks, one that denoted satisfaction and an almost subtle joy.
"Yeah, but a person speaks through their actions and frankly I think I've been behind in doing that for you."
And there it was, she saw the aroused little sparkle in that sea of green, one that sought to play her heart like an instrument. She let out a rather smug grin at the attempt, even as Izuku knew she saw what he was thinking. Himiko bopped him on the nose as the scene grew more cliche by the second.
"You wouldn't be saying that in an attempt to get me to acquiesce to your whims and get naked, among the many other things you likely wish to do to me?"
The quirkless man mimicked his lover's grin and ran a hand through her knotted hair, making sure to study those eyes of the greatest gold.
"Oh no I certainly am, but...I'm serious when I say that, I wanna do more for you, show you exactly how much you mean to me. So far it's been just the physical and I want to do more for you."
Himiko rolled her eyes once more and hugged him, taking in the scent of his body and the pleasing way he was crushed up against her.
"The sheer fact you're even willing to stay in contact with me after all I've told you about myself is proof enough. You're one of the only people in the world who haven't just written me off as a monster for what I did and then you didn't scream at seeing my quirk which is something else...though I think you liked it a bit too much."
It was at that moment Himiko realized she should not have said that since there was a gleam in his eyes, a jovial, mischievous one that saw the discomfort and wanted nothing more than to annoy it. He brought himself a little closer and watched the reflex she had in regards to her power and gave that stupid grin as he kissed her.
"Hey it isn't my fault you're so damn incredible and taste so good."
Instantly Himiko cringed at his words and recalled how he ate her quirk goop. Shifting her eyes away in shame at her own functions which resulted in a blush.
"Oh shut up, you were just being nasty. Honestly, who the hell sees a pile of gray goo come out of someone's skin and decides to actually eat it?"
Izuku shook his head mirthfully and kissed her again, loving how she was wallowing in her annoyance while he held her.
"I do. I've always had a bit of an interest in quirks and with you being well...you, it was the first time in years I've been able to see such a remarkable quirk, or rather taste. Besides, if I like eating that then no harm done since we're both into freaky stuff."
Himiko glared at him and let her disgust be known.
"But...It's like you're eating my waste or something. That stuff is literally dead skin cells my body throws away after the blood is digested and it always has this gross, lukewarm feeling when it sloshes off. I just don't see how you can touch or much less eat the stuff."
He shrugged and rubbed a hand on her arm.
"It's just a part of you and besides it was a moment of curiosity that made me pick it up."
She gave him a look that was rather testy.
"So you wouldn't do it again?"
Again he shrugged.
"Ah, maybe. I guess it depends on how hungry I get afterwards."
She flicked him on the cheek with a glare.
"Don't be gross."
Now he rolled his eyes.
"Ain't that the pot calling the kettle black. You're a nasty pervert yourself darling or need I remind you of how you've literally drank my blood? Point being we're birds of a feather and if I wanna bite off some of that goop from you then it isn't any different. We're here for each other in whatever we need and if you want to set a boundary there then I'm fine with it, but I told you ahead of time that I was weird."
She held his gaze for a time, seeing how there was a little spark of annoyance that brought a slight smile to her face as she found her own button to push. Yet she set the game aside and cuddled a tad closer to him and enjoyed it.
"Alright Capitan talks-a-lot, you win. Let's just go to the living room since I'm starting to overheat in-"
She was cut off by a knock erupting from the front door, making them both tense up like meerkats in the tall grass. Their eyes met and Izuku was the first to speak with a cautious, alert tone that sounded nothing like his usual self.
"Are you expecting someone?"
Himiko shared in his alarm as this was first time anyone had ever intrude on their home and years of living on the run and surviving raids came back as she reached into the sides of her headboard and withdrew a pocket knife from a built in slot, letting the upward curving single edge blade of dark steel open with a *click* as she got out of the bed without so much as a sound being made.
"No, I'm not."
Not needing another hint he followed after with his own knife, the one she threw at him those long months ago when they first met, being gripped in a white knuckles fist while he made enough noise to be comparable to a tank with how she moved as silently as the dead. There came another knock when they reached the door and taking the lead after checking with his lover, Izuku opened it, making sure to keep his knife hidden in his pocket as he faced the intruder.
To his surprise Izuku came face to face with two people, one he knew personally and one he knew from television. Standing on the other side of the door in an office attire of suits were Ochako and the pro hero Elemental, who appeared perpetually pissed off as he stared from his half burned face with those heterochromatic eyes of green and blue. They both carried clipboards and pens, looking for all the world like basic public servants, except one of them gave such a cold questioning stare at him that it instantly put him on edge. The hot and cold hero studied him for a moment before speaking in a tone so icy that it could cut air.
"We're employees of the public safety commission here to see a certain woman by the name of Himiko Ito, is she anywhere around?"
Izuku shot his eyes over to Ochako who remained utterly silent and avoided his gaze with guilt and shame as her fingers tapped the clipboard in her hands. Then like a gust of wind Himiko appeared behind him and pulled him aside, sounding for all the world like someone held at gunpoint.
"Oh, Mr. Todoroki, Ms. Uraraka, how nice to see you both again. I apologize for my boyfriend, he's rather unaware of the procedures, now can I get either of you some nice tea?"
The number three hero glared indifferently at the villainess as his eyes studied her expressions then that of the quirkless man. Izuku found himself unable to break eye contact as it was like he was being examined right down to his soul, only to be grabbed back by his partner as the two heroes entered their home. The heir of the Todoroki bloodline sniffed at the air and remained like unfeeling glass as he clicked his pen.
"No thank you Ms. Ito, now let's proceed with the task at hand."
Izuku noticed how neither of them removed their shoes and immediately took both spots on the sofa, leaving himself and Himiko to sit on the loveseat. The tension in the room was mounting as the more successful man continued to stare at the couple with silent, judging eyes that neither of them could read, all the while the woman they had been so close to refused to meet their eyes and kept her attention to the paper on her clipboard.
Todoroki reached into his pocket and took out a small device which was no larger than the palm of his hand and set it on the coffee table before tapping the "power" icon. Again his icy gaze shot through the pair as he cleared his throat and leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees as he brought his hands together.
"Now then Ms. Ito, as of this moment your track record within the rehabilitation program has been spotless which I feel the need to congratulate you on, you've proven that there can be hope for anyone. However this visit is still required as per your agreement with the Commission and the courts, now we'd like to start with the basic questions, but your cosponsor has recently complicated that procedure given your...unique relationship, so I'll be the one conducting the review."
There was a detectable note of discomfort when he said those last words and Ochako blushed to a noticeable amount as she kept her head to the papers. Then the hero shifted his attention to Izuku with a more than curious, if not accusing, eye.
"That being said, I'd like to interview your partner afterwards if that would be fine."
Himiko again smiled like her entire life was in danger and submerged the anxiety as best she could with an attempt at being courteous. Though she had latched tightly to Izuku's arm like he was about to disappear.
"That be more than alright sir, I'm sure Zuzu would happily answer any questions you have."
Not left with many options, Izuku shrugged nervously and agreed as politely as he could.
"I don't mind answering whatever you have to ask."
Todoroki nodded and clicked his pen, starting to mark the paper on the clipboard. Again his chilling eyes bore into the far less powerful man and back to the beautiful murderer, before bringing his line of sight upward to a photo on the wall depicting Himiko giving bunny ears to a man who looked annoyed beyond belief with her antics as his face, neck and arms, burned to a dreadful purple crisp, flickered bits of blue fire. An expression of subtle regret colored Todoroki's eyes that was buried under his professionalism as he gestured his pen at Himiko.
"Now then, to start off, have you been included in, commited or gained any knowledge of any type of criminal activity as of the current year?"
The blonde let go of her lover and sat up straight with a polite, even and controlled demeanor that anyone facing the legal system used.
"None save for a bit of internet piracy."
The youngest son of fire nodded and scribbled it down, flipping over to the next form and absentmindedly fingering his pen.
"Have you been in contact with any persons connected to a criminal record as of this year?"
Himiko shook her head and answered frimley.
"No, not one."
Again Todoroki nodded and marked it down before turning to the next page.
"Are you in possession of any illegal contraband?"
She shook her head once more without missing a beat, even as Izuku felt the knife in his own pocket start to weigh down like an anvil.
"No sir."
Another nod, another mark and a new turned page from the hero.
"Have you been consistent with the required consumption of blood mandated by the courts, which is no less than a half gallon per day to maintain your sensibilities?"
She nodded and gestured to the overly large cup on the dining table which was still stained red at the rim.
"Yes sir, I keep my daily intake at over a gallon a day and my stock is filled with at least sixty gallons at a time."
It was written down and the page flipped, but this time he looked up from the board and gave a judging, if not pitying gaze as he put his tool aside.
"Going off the records, are you in need of any help in procuring your stock?"
Himiko pursed her lips with lowered eyes, not scornful as she usually would be and dragged her attention to Izuku for a moment as if needing his reassurance as shame mounted on her face.
"I appreciate the kindness sir, but I manage well enough. Most of the stuff is dirt cheap since most people just throw the blood away and the government helps cover the cost."
Todoroki studied her for a time and nodded as he brought his pen back up.
"Very well, moving on, have you had any homicidal urges, thoughts, fantasies or actions in the past three months?"
There was a pause and a blush from the villainess as she looked to her boyfriend like he was the evidence of all her wrong doings before sticking her gaze to the floor.
"No, but...as of late I've been given the circumstances to exercise some violent ones."
The hero eyed Izuku coldly as the quirkless man blushed three times as much, feeling like he had been stripped naked when that removed tone struck him again with a hint of aggression leveled at either of the two lower people.
"I assume these were consensual happenings?"
Izuku blinked as he realized what was asked and became instantly flustered as he sought to perhaps hide Himiko in his arms to preserve their dignity.
"Y-Yeah, completely consensual all around."
Disgust possessed Todoroki's face for a few scant seconds as he dotted down the information. Soon he scanned the next page and drew his vision at his fellow top hero for a sparse time before clearing his throat.
"That concludes the basics of the visit, the rest of which were filed away weeks ago by Ms. Uraraka. Which leaves us to your part Mr. Midoriya, so if you would, may we proceed?"
Izuku flinched at his name being used, but assumed it was simply due to either Ochako telling him or how his name was listed in the hero registry. Supplanting his own discomfort, he tried to return the professionalism given by the crime fighter.
"By all means."
Todoroki clicked his pen a few times and began to cross and dot whatever was on that page for a few moments until he brought his attention upward to the other man. His eyes squinted for a heartbeat then they went to Ochako like the woman held some blame in this. He said nothing as he inhaled deeply of the stained air with a tired, fed up expression under his stoic persona. Then the clipboard was cast to the coffee table along with the pen, leaving the element user to stare at the quirkless sidekick with yet another calculating gaze, one that seemed to hold...concern? It was hard to tell.
With a slow move of his left hand Todoroki extended it, palm open, as a slight chill gathered in the room and a small sphere of ice no larger than a gumdrop formed in that hand.
"Would you care for one Mr. Midoriya? I find it helps clear the mind."
There was a part of that statement or rather the situation which bit at his mind. It rang close to those scenes in movies where the interrogators tried to gauge guilt with an offer of food and if it was accepted or not. Keeping that in mind, Izuku reached out and took the ball.
"Thank you."
Popping it into his mouth, the hero nodded in approval with a heavy expression hidden in his person.
"Not a problem. Now then, if you mind me first getting to the core of the matter so this may go far smoother, I'll be upfront and ask, are you aware of what she has done? The crimes she commited?"
There was a weight to that question, one that sounded sure and puritanical in nature. Izuku chewed the sphere, feeling it break upon his teeth with a satisfying *crunch* that wet his throat when he stared back, with almost defiance alight in his eyes.
"Yes I am. I know about her record in well enough detail and I know she did a sentence in Tartarus, along with the body count. Is that an issue?"
Disbelief was ripe on Todoroki's brow as he heard that, looking like he had heard the man admit to being mad. Yet to his credit, the emotion fled and he regained his usual professional indifference with a strong silence that lingered between the two of them in a way it never had between any of the women. Eventually, curiosity overtook that quiet and he gave another question, perhaps from honest confusion that sounded unshakable as anything.
"Not at all, but if I may ask, why exactly are you with her?"
Anger sparked inside Izuku's soul and he nearly stood from his seat if not for remembering what was at stake for his darling. Still it showed brightly and lethally, like a slowly erupting fire that was kept at bay by the slightest of iron. He exhaled and placed a hand on Himiko's far shoulder, crushing her to him in a possessive, assertive way, in part to calm himself and in part to make it clear that she was his. It was then Izuku noticed the gold wedding band on the hero's ring finger and his ire died down as he threw a challenging, undaunted glare at him for daring to question his devotion to her.
"The same reason you wear that ring for who you love, she completes me."
The hot and cold user stared at him blankly for a few empty minutes until finally, with an almost hidden grimace about him, stood up from the sofa and picked up his recording device and clipboard, along with his pen. He stared at the photo of the blue flame user on the wall for a heartbeat with that same regret obviously eating at him, then turned to address the couple.
"I see. Well, thank you both for your time and feel free to contact us if there's any issues. As for that, we'll be taking our leave now. You can expect us back within a few months, have a good day and I wish you luck in the future."
Todoroki bowed respectfully to them as Ochako arose from the sofa and did the same, then they left out the front door like the whole event never happened, leaving the two to themselves. Izuku and Himiko slowly turned and embraced each other with the blonde decompressing in his arms. She let out a breath neither knew she was holding in and sounded tired beyond belief.
"Thank you Zuzu, you have no idea how much you helped save my ass back there. He's always been a hardass towards me and if you slipped up then it would be hell."
Izuku raised an eyebrow at the statement and found himself drawn to the same photo the number three hero was so attracted to. He had no idea who this mystery person in it was, though he likely had to be a villain since he was seen in other photos on the wall and, loathe as he was to judge solely on appearance, someone who looked like a walking pile of dead, burned skin wasn't the friendliest of faces. Thinking about it there was some news about a member of the Todoroki family fighting alongside PLA troops way back in the war, so...That answered that question at least.
His beloved was an assassin for the people who ruined his life and nearly ruined the world. Surprisingly he wasn't nearly as taken aback by this as he thought he should be, then again after all he learned about Himiko it seemed rather...tame. So she was a villain on their side back in the day, it didn't change who she was now and what they were to each other.
Izuku was brought back to reality when he felt the touch of soft lips on his mouth as Himiko pushed him down and started to assault him with affection. It wasn't a lusty thing, but rather her trying to convey her passion and gratitude as he had learned. Going with the flow, he leaned back and let her have her way with him until it simmered into a deep hug that was accompanied by a few soft whimpers as she rubbed her cheeks on him.
"I need you, you know. I don't think I've ever said that, but my life would be shit without you Zuzu."
He smiled as her nails dug into his back and her eyes portrayed the deepest of thanks which made his heart soar as he wrapped an arm around her.
"Likewise Darling, now then how about we kill some time?"
Himiko gave a thumbs up as she allowed herself to be hoisted into the air and taken back to the bedroom where they laid as they once had, letting themselves enjoy the solitude of their company and taking solace in the devotion of the other as the sun began to rise over the horizon. Promising new challenges even as they enraptured in their comfort.