Chapter Text
You couldn't see the stars from inside the city. But as you gazed at the bright sparkles that danced over every building and road you couldn't seem to mind. Stars were soulless beings. Chemical reactions millions of light-years away. City lights breathed. Behind every one there was a person. A story. Connection. Hope. But just like stars, they weren't within your grasp either.
Hands, were they yours?, clung to the chain link fence. A life line holding you to reality. But you couldn't seem to care about that either.
You climbed just a bit further. Abdomen above the fence now. You couldn't breathe. Just a bit farther. Just-
Words you couldn't make out startled you from your trance. Whipping around red eyes stared back at you. And then you could only see the black hazy sky. That's not right.
The world rose around you as you plummeted into it. Lights blur into a cacophony of color. Move. Move! MOVE! But you didn't. You couldn't.
Somehow those red eyes again met yours.
Somehow as your fingertips grasped to his... You stilled and something inside you ignited.
...
"So exactly how long does the effects of your quirk last Ms. (l/n)?"
The doctors office almost felt inviting. Almost. Plain beige walls. Beige art. Beige chairs. Was this the only color they had at boring mart or something? I guess quirk specialists needed to keep people calm, but this was a bit much.
The kind looking doctor cleared her throat bring your attention back to the current situation.
"Oh, uhm... It depends." You mumble.
"On?" The doctor encourages you.
"On how long it's been since I've last used it." You clarify. "As a kid it only lasted a few minutes or hours at a time... But one time I hadn't used it in a a couple months and it lasted a week..."
"And how long has it been since you last used your quirk."
Guilt sunk deep in your stomach. "... Three years."
The hero beside you that had been doing so well with his mask of indifference finally broke, choking on his own disbelief. He held up your hands that were snugly grasped together. "Then how long are we stuck like this."
...
Your quirk wasn't useful. It never had been. Even your own mother barely tolerated it. Any time your hands and some one else's hands met you were forced to hold them together for as long as your quirk demanded. No matter how hard you pulled, scratched, or shoved, no one could break the connection. You'd first break your bones.
At least there was one upside. If either of you tripped or fell or lost your balance the quirk would gently help you float down instead of falling on your face. How considerate of it.
The doctor told the two of you that for now you'd have to stay attached, but that she is looking into solutions. Even the hero's erasure quirk only temporarily deactivated it.
The hero made a few calls. A principal. A police officer. And someone that yelled so loud you couldn't hear yourself think. You emailed your boss, informing him that you'd be taking a couple days off. You were ahead of schedule anyway, he didn't mind.
Once you had both informed everyone important of your absences, that still left the two of you sitting on a bench in the courtyard of the hospital as far apart as physically possible. You started uncertain, "Mr.... Eraserhead was it?"
"Aizawa." The hero scowled out at the garden.
"Mr. Aizawa... I just want you to know I'm really sorry about all of this. I shouldn't have been up there, and I shouldn't have let my quirk build up like this... This is all my fault. Is there anyway I can apologize to you or make it up to you?" You were just short of getting down on your hands and knees to beg for forgiveness.
Aizawa glanced your way before scrunching up his face in his free hand rubbing away stress lines. "Coffee."
One black coffee later and he didn't look like he wanted to murder anyone anymore. Just a bit tired. those deep bags under his eyes didn't look like a coffee fix.
"So how are we going to make this work." Aizawa leveled with you. "I work at a school and I also work as a hero. I'll have to pause the patrols for now, but will I have to scale back my teaching for you to go to your work?"
"I work remotely. So, I don't think so?" You answered still trying to wrap your brain around all of this new territory. "I'm a graphic designer. I work with holo images. I can work from anywhere really."
"That makes it easier."
Sitting outside of the cafe was a good call. The cool breeze helped you calm your nerves. So did the mug of chamomile infront of you. It's been years since you've even been face to face with someone this long.
"Are you okay?" Aizawa asked, a bit of concern apparent. "You're shaking."
You immediately stilled your hand, betrayed by your own body. "Oh sorry... I'm okay. Just a habit."
He didn't believe you. You knew it, but you were grateful when he didn't press the issue. Instead, he completely changed the subject. "Your house or mine?"
You sputtered on your tea.