#YEAH THANKS FOR GIVING ME NORMAL THOUGHTS👹👹👹

[diodellet]

*eyes snap open* SMOOCHING THE MER!HARBINJERS NOW RIGHT NOW

TIS HERE! TIS FINALLY HERE!!! REJOICE FISHFUCKERS!!! (its me im fishfuckers)

‧̍̊˚ᵕ⋆ Under the Sea ⋆ᵕ˚‧̍̊

So it turns out that I had more ideas for my Yandere! Mermaid AU. This sequel features more mermaid lore and dark themes. Now why don't we revisit this twisted fairytale??

Characters:: Capitano, Pantalone, Dottore, Pierro

Tw:: yandere, manipulation, coercion, blood, violence, death, Stockholm Syndrome, spice, noncon, animal cruelty, mention of pregnancy

♡ 1.9k words under the cut ♡

Shark! Capitano x Coral Reef Fish! Mermaid

♡ To be fair, there are worse fates in the deep sea. While mermaids and reef fish are getting nerfed by natural selection, you have Capitano to provide for you. Sure, your relationship is far from ordinary nor consensual, but at least you’re safe in his territory. He is still your gentle companion who would never hurt you.

♡ …Yeah, it doesn’t get any easier but he tries to make you comfortable. Pretty sea anemones to decorate your new home. His earnest imitation of your species’ courtship rituals. The considerate adjustments to his own mating behavior as a shark mermaid.

♡ Don’t worry, he’s extremely careful when biting you. His bites are light and harmless, at times pleasurable, so stop struggling unless you want him to accidentally draw blood. He even encourages you to reciprocate the gesture! Your teeth aren’t as sharp as his, but he cherishes the shallow indents you leave on his skin.

♡ You’re forbidden from leaving his territory without him. Since your abduction, Capitano is more protective over you. He scares away nearby sea creatures, hunts down humans on sight, and threatens his fellow predator mermaids for joking about your “tasty” appearance. You attract a lot of curiosity for your interspecies relationship but he doesn’t mind the rumors.

♡ It’s a confusing situation, really. Just as you somewhat understand Capitano’s twisted love, you can’t shake off your previous camaraderie. For every predator he kills for you, you steer him away from manmade fish traps. By now, he’s stopped inquiring about your familiarity with these devices. Instead, he softly touches your scars and promises that no more violence will taint you.

♡ With that, your boiling point shouldn’t be a surprise. It is a usual day in captivity: Capitano returns to your shared cavern with another batch of sea anemone, and you silently accept his gift. What shakes your passive resistance is the sight of his wounded hands. Are those anemone stings?

♡ All this time, you’d forgotten that only reef fish are immune to sea anemone. You immediately tell Capitano to stop picking it for you, but he insists that the pain is nothing. Setting your gift aside, you treat his wounds and tell him that if he won’t stop, he should let you accompany him. You can’t allow your mate to hurt himself for you.

♡ For a few seconds, Capitano is silent. Only after he accepts your proposal do you realize the words which slipped out. Before you can take it back, he kisses you and leaves for another hunting trip. Unable to follow him, you can only await his return and question your sanity.

♡ Meanwhile, your mate is mulling over your first lover’s spat. For you to be so concerned that you’d willingly spend more time with him…perhaps you have begun to accept your new life. He does feel guilty for worrying you, but make no mistake: What would be the point of his strength if not for your sake?

Jellyfish! Pantalone x Exotic Pet! Mermaid

♡ Despite his desire to own court you, there are times when Pantalone questions his decision. Until now, you struggle to adapt to the deep sea due to your sheltered upbringing and weaker biology. But when he is with you, he can almost believe that he isn’t heartless—at least in a figurative sense.

♡ Your background is useful for his side job as the top trader of human treasures. Just forget the time you informed him that his precious “dinglehopper” is actually an eating utensil. He talked about subjective value afterwards, but you could tell he was just trying to repair his pride.

♡ Likewise, you are humbled by the brutality of mermaid culture. It’s common for beauties like Pantalone to lure humans into the sea to kill them and steal their valuables. And who can forget the time you adopted a shimmery fish as a pet, only for Pantalone to tear off its scales for his nail art? Don’t be afraid, darling, he’d never be this cruel with you.

♡ For all it’s worth, his attraction is mutual. There is some friction at the start of his courtship when you initially reject Pantalone’s advances. You go on a tangent about purebreds, selective breeding, arranged partners, all that nonsense taught by your human breeders.

♡ Pantalone is offended. Are you implying that he isn’t valuable enough for you? Darling, in the wild, what matters most is not your imagined worth but your survivability. He isn’t even courting you for your potential offspring, assuming you can have any with him. And he's smart enough not to subject any hybrid children to a difficult life in an improper habitat.

♡ That conversation is what changes your mindset. Compared to humans, Pantalone treats you so differently. Rather than show you off to his peers, he prefers to keep you safe by his side. That time you got badly injured by a predator, he prioritized your health over your damaged scales. The only reason he purchased a scar-healing potion was to appease your distress. See, you should have listened to him. Do you know how much this cost him?

♡ He even protects you in a way that no caretaker would! Swimming after you when you get swept up by the currents, putting himself in harm’s way to save you from predators, even sharing his treasures with you. So what is the point of your biological differences? You already live together and find each other attractive.

♡ Yes, he is the perfect mate. You still have a lot to learn about the deep sea, and he will teach you everything there is to know. Between your domestication and his manipulation, you can be confident in one truth: That out of all the fish in the sea, Pantalone chose to love you.

Octopus! Dottore x Artificial! Mermaid

♡ He understands that you are mad at him. It is a natural reaction after being forcibly drowned, kissed, and transformed into a mermaid. Yet despite your silent treatment, Dottore refuses to shut up. He isn’t a talkative person, but he’s so excited to properly communicate with you. Think of all the personal and scientific conversations!

♡ Good luck trying to escape from him. The deep sea is no place for an inexperienced mermaid; and among your favorite sea creatures, Dottore picked a species weaker than him. Not to mention that transformation potions can only be custom-made under his guidance.

♡ You should also give up on seeking help. Do you honestly believe that your former brethren won’t use your body for scientific research? On the other hand, mermaid society shuns you for your human origins and association with Dottore. You’re essentially an outcast like him.

♡ Don’t cry, darling, he will always be here for you. He is an attentive mate in the first months of your courtship—teaching you how to swim, helping you hunt and gather food, overseeing your adjustment therapy. He is neither strict nor overbearing in that regard.

♡ You do realize why he is feared by his peers. During your tour of his territory, you are horrified to come across the skeletons of humans and mermaids. Worry not, these are no different from the experiments conducted by your kind. Be grateful that he went with magic and not surgery for your transformation.

♡ Because of his research, Dottore is also known as the Sea Witch. Every so often, he accepts potion commissions in exchange for knowledge, human relics, or mermaid DNA. He prefers the last payment since it’s less easy to obtain by force. It’s especially true for the orca blood and jellyfish stingers provided by two of his important clients.

♡ Despite your situation, you can’t help but be fascinated with your new circumstances. Humans tend to view mermaids as inferior animals, and even sympathetic marine biologists are hindered by the language barrier. Thanks to Dottore, you’ve gained a better understanding of his kind. And as a fellow researcher, you are morbidly impressed by his scientific accomplishments.

♡ It helps that he has a soft spot for you, though he’s more…touchy now that you’re his mate. He likes to wrap his tentacles around you in what he claims is an innocent hug. He marks you with his suckers and comments on the taste of your skin. He also teases you with camouflaged jumpscares; it’s especially scary during your escape attempts.

♡ A part of you hopes this is all a dream, a nightmare you can wake up from. As much as you love exploring the sea, you can’t enjoy the newly accessible knowledge when you are trapped in Dottore’s grasp. Sadly, your life is now in his hands and he will take great joy in seeing how your relationship develops.

Orca! Pierro x Artificial Orca! Mermaid

♡ In the end, Pierro decides to turn you into a mermaid. He makes the most out of your final days on land—cooking your meals, watching TV with you…and indulging in human copulation. With your injured leg, there is little you can do to resist him.

♡ On the last day, he carries you to the sea and force-feeds you a potion. The last thing you feel before passing out is cold seawater, strong arms wrapped around you, a familiar tail intertwined with yours. Back in his true form, Pierro brings you to his new territory and admires your orca features.

♡ The first week could've been better. You’re already tense with Pierro, but he tries to reciprocate your hospitality. His territory is larger than your house with a furnished cavern, a private reef, and the advanced technology created by orca mermaid society. The two of you share a comfy bed of seagrass.

♡ You are also subjected to a checkup with the Sea Witch. As scary as Dottore is, you eagerly listen to his story about Pierro’s human transformation. How he stumbled during his first steps, how pathetic yet determined he looked, how—he stops talking after Pierro darkly inquires about the regenerative abilities of octopus mermaids.

♡ Pierro is a doting, protective mate…to an extreme extent. You aren’t allowed to leave his territory, learn how to hunt, or even interact with other mermaids and animals. After everything he’s been through, he can’t lose another loved one to the cruelty of the world.

♡ Not that any sea creature would approach you. The first time you watch Pierro hunt, you are traumatized by his species’ methods. To him, it’s normal to brutally tail-slap seals and stingrays to death—and justified in the case of passing humans. So that is what he means by "playing with your food"...

♡ He also helps you adjust to your aquatic diet. There are various ways to prepare raw fish and hopefully, you like sashimi. If you miss human cuisine, the two of you may occasionally visit a deserted island to roast your food over a fire. He does miss your cooking.

♡ At some point, you ask him why you were turned into an orca mermaid. According to Dottore, Pierro had to give away more blood to make you the same species as him. Why did he put himself through that? That is when your mate brings out a fertility potion, one that will ensure pregnancy even if your body is incapable of bearing a child.

♡ Calm yourself, darling. You already know that orcas aren’t solitary creatures; and while your company is a blessing, wouldn’t it be nice to raise a few baby mermaids? Never fear, Pierro will take good care of your pod. Together, you will live a peaceful life under the sea.

♡

Welp what a lovely way to use my zoology knowledge. I had a lot of fun writing this and I hope y’all enjoyed this dark continuation. I didn’t expect so many ppl to like my Yandere Mermaid AU, and thank you so much for your feedback (♡˙︶˙♡)

I’d also like to thank @diodellet for peer-reviewing this and @gum-iie for giving me more ideas!! Once again, this is an AU of my Yandere! Harbinger longfic series for those who found the couples and stories familiar~

Tag a Harbinger enjoyer!! @leftdestiny-posts @nicebonescomrades @harmonysanreads @ansy-tea @thescribeoflostmemories @kocherry @oofasleep @crypticbibliophile @lcveaesop @frogchiro @theinnerunderrain @surveyycorps @jinkicake @lucidasara @ghostluu @gxmblinqueen @verdictionist @springtidewaves

[astroboots]

Hi Cici!!💓 I hope your'e having a wonderful day!

I'm not sure if anyone recommended these songs but I feel like they fit SO WELL with Every you, Every me🥺

Cigar by Tamino

I mean the lines 'and you, show me that life, isn't all about extending your time" is just SOO GOOD😭😭😭😭 definitely Miguel's pov, poor man was fighting the whole world to save her, only for her to let go of his arm....showing him life can't be all about extending her time (the lyrics heh)....I was fangirling SO HARD over it the first time I heard it, I legit had the stupidest grin on my face🥴it's all just SO Miguel CODED👹 Death really dies suit him.

2." Please never fall in love again" by ollie MN

It's just a sweet song in general, something I feel like both Nena and cielito would feel about for Miguel🥺 cause y'know their lives were so bleak and grey before meeting him, his presence gave them hope, and an actual will to not only live because they haven't died yet but to actually *live* (if that makes sense😂)

3. "Good looking" by suki Waterhouse

Hehehe this one's a lil bit angsty heheheh🌝

I imagine this playing right after ch 13, she finds her self right in her apartment! Everything's seemingly back to normal! EXCEPT ITS NOT! Miguel LEFT HER! How could he- I imagine this dramatic bit, where she runs to to same large window he'd appear in at earlier chapters , where it only seems like yesterday he would hunch over, secretly trying to eat her biscuits and liking over to see if she's safe..., but he's not here this time. She's actually, really alone. And as she she looks over at the pink sunset, she realizes....she thought she'd uncovered his secrets but it turns out there was more...turns out She didn't know him well enough to figure out he'd do something so awful like this....and the horrible, gut wrenching feeling sinks down on her...and yeah bam! The depression in ch 14😭

On a lighter note,😂 you motivated me to give origami a chance again! The first time in 10 years, and turns out I still suck at it just like cielito 😂😂 atleast Miguel finds it endearing!

Skrunky lookin fella, it's a paper crane if you can't tell😂💕

p.s: I can't WAIT for ch 15, and so happy/sad it's finally ending...like idk I feel like I'm watching a child grow up if it makes sense🥺💓 I absolutely adored the whole ride and it's hand's down one of the best fics I've ever read🥺💕🥺💕🥺

oooooooooooooof!!! these songs are so good! I've never heard them before and I had them on this morning while going to the flowermarket and it's so so so good and I agree the first song definitely Miguel coded. and the second song oooof!!

and I SCREAMED seeing the origami THE LITTLE EYES you drew on it I love it so so much!!!! it looks so peaceful and cute!!!!

and thank you for your increidbly kind comments and following along with this story all the while, it means the whole damn world to me!

[seelestia]

I'm glad ya liked the gift Liaaaa 💗💗💗

And don't worry about the late gift for me, just me knowing that you're gifting me something is already making me melt with happiness fr :'''D

Also- maybe it's just me, but I cannot tell wtf makes my art style distinct apart from my occasionally clean and sharp outlines :'D one of my friends said the same thing about how recognizable it is and I'm like "art style where?? I'm the most inconsistent artist I know :'DD"

But maybe that's just me being critical of myself who knows :P

It actually didn't take me that long to draw these, the one with scara, you, and cryptid ayato was the first I started to draw and I actually had to stop drawing it a little while before finishing the out line cuz I got busy when it came for our school Christmas party :'D but I finished it just in time before christmas eve

The one with normal ayato and you, took just a couple of hours to draw in one day, I thought it was a little cruel to gift you JUST a gag gift of scara and cryptid ayato, so I whipped up something with you and ur husband :33

Also- that bonus scene with Carlin and me, that was the first one I finished cuz even before December came around cuz I got intimidated by the main drawing :'D I was just doing the sketching for the gag gift at first and I knew I really wanted a lot of details and meticulously sharp ass outlines so I got a lil intimidated by it at first and finished the bonus scene before it :'''D

But all in all- I'm really grateful for you, our friendship, and how much you appreciate my art lia :''D I can't gift you anything physical but hey, if my art gives you serotonin then I'll keep gifting you more :3

I cannot even describe how happy I am to have met you, cuz you are one of the most anticipated people I wanna talk to and banter with whenever I go online fr :D

Love you liaaaa, hope you had a great holidays 💗💗💗

- Ever so sincerely yours, 👹✨ Jae

i loved it sm i'm gonna make it my priv's heirloom fr fr ��� (/hj) AND YOUR GIFT IS FINISHED BTW! all that is left to do rn is post it after this, hehe. i hope you'll like it (it's angst wrapped in a box) <3

other than the clean outlines, the details i find distinct about your artsyle is the way you draw eyes (you make eyes look so squishy like boba pearls), how you shade noses, and the way you draw hair (they look so swirly (??) and it scratches my brain in the right way) AND YOUR CHIBIS OFC <3 i still vv much treasure the ayato body pillow hehe your artstyle just has this smoothness that reminds me of those high quality animation memes you'd find on yt 😭 (/pos) i think i could've worded this better but yeah fjjejwkdk

jae, did drawing this gift actually help you commit to a deadline?? (/j) no but i'm fr super grateful for the gift like literally, i feel like i'm getting bombed with serotonin whenever you drop your art. you have an advantage over me with that talent of yours and idk how to feel (the power you hold) 🚶

thanks for being one of my best friendos on here, jae! when i see you in my inbox, i get a little bit more motivated like you charge up my social battery and that's pretty cool. ily for that, but you gotta stop bullying me with a certain mouchie who will not be named as your weapon. (/lh)

[m1ckeyb3rry]

I LITERALLY ALMOST CRIED READING THE CHAPTER HELLO????? THAT WAS NOT EPINAGI THAT WAS EPITABI WTFFFFFF

I’m crying BABY KARASU??? First of all why’s he using hair wax at such a young age but WHAJDHSJS CRYING POOR BOY WDYM YOURE MEDIOCRE??? NOOOOO ok but honestly this is so in line with his character…like the secret insecurities he harbors and the asshole facade he uses…I love it honestly but why was he getting bullied???

And pause CHILD OTOYA?? Tabieita nation rise in this chapter but I CANNOT with that haircut he’s twinning with baby Hiori in the wtf bowl cut category…but bro really just said YOLO LMAOO

Ok but the tabieita crumbs I’m actually crying out of happiness the way they complement each other??? Truly the power duo get out nagireo but their FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF EACH OTHER LMAOOOO

I didn’t realize when they split chapters up into part 1 and 2 they literally stop dead in their tracks because bro what was that cliffhanger??? It’s not even like a normal cliffhanger they rlly stopped mid sentence I need to KNOW

BUT YEAH SHSHSJSHS KARASUUUU LMK WHAT U THOUGHT TOO

-Karasu anon

LITERALLY EPITABI bro it was so random like i did not expect a whole karasu backstory but i am LIVING for it!! HAHA he popped out of the womb w that hair wax on wbk 🥱 him crying though because he thought he was mediocre 🥹 stop he’s so cute he’s just little baby (but also him thinking he’s mediocre vs being number three in bllk?? HELLO) but also yes i agree i feel like it does fit really well w what we know about him AND confirms the secret sweetheart tabito agenda (him watching the butterfly come out of the chrysalis…i love you karasu never change)!!

HELP ME child otoya was so GOOFY but that haircut truly is so him…like he WOULD be the one who had a fuck ass haircut. also the way we see baby karasu looking at the butterfly leaving the chrysalis and then we see otoya greeting a butterfly…now i’m not saying they’re meant to be but like…best duo 🗣️

YESSS when they’re a power duo AND they have zero miscommunication/angst AND they’ve been together since the start 😭💖 i’m literally squealing like AHHHH KANESHIRO GIVE ME A U20 WC TABIEITA REUNION AND MY LIFE IS YOURS!!

omfg yeah i was so confused by the cliffhanger like did they just forget to upload the next page?? but then i got it and now i’m sooo excited for the next chapter EEEK a little sad abt the lack of nagi though 😔 i miss him sm i feel like i haven’t seen him in forever 💔 my joy at tabieita more thank makes up for it though LMAOAOA (also shirtless karasu 🤫🙂‍↕️👹😏…episode nagi artist you have done the world a great service…now give me hair down karasu and i’ll combust)

[lethargicsunlight]

'Demon': Chapter 1 ♡ BakugouXFem!Reader (Book 1)

First of all, thank you for reading!

Please read the author notes and prologue here if you haven't already!

This chapter is actually super short, but I feel it is apt for the atmosphere. The next chapter will be much longer.

(Also I know this has a lot of Deku praise, and this is totes not a Deku X Reader fanfic, but I ask for your patience! )

...Also plz comment <3

WARNINGS: Slight, brief symptoms of panic. SFW

👹🖤⛓🔪💣

This was the part of your existence you loved the most.

...It was also, the part of your existence you hated the most.

Gathering intel in the field for upcoming targets, possible enemies, or anything the Head-Honcho wanted the scoop on. It's a dream, but it's a costly one. Even acting like a normal citizen wasn't a time to relax.

But that didn't stop you from getting the most out of it.

In your left hand was a wooden case that rattled as you walked--a sound that would almost make you cringe despite being surrounded by noise. In your right, a water bottle, held up against your side. You were even wearing clothes instead of gear, all fixed up and face exposed. Even your comrades wouldn't know it was you, and that was the most comforting--as, according to rumor, you couldn't remove your mask.

Your shoulders tense.

They could know it was you. Remember that. Assume nothing.

You watch the influx of students leaving U.A. High from a block down. The fickle part was finding someone talkative but not so talkative that they exaggerated their stories. Unassuming. Honest. A little humble...

Shy, but eager to please..

Eyebrows in, shoulders up and frame tightened to appear smaller.. Tripping over big feet, and apologizing.. Empathetic glances towards his friends--

Bingo.

Target acquired. You pick up your feet and start moving, just far enough behind they wouldn't be suspicious. Evidently, you blended in pretty well; no one looked at you long enough to be picked up in your peripheral. This was your age group after all. The why you were set to this task, instead of the other lackeys.

---

The target's friends split off at a bus stop, and he heads on alone. There's a nice café up ahead, saddled up next to a bridge with a view of the ocean. Your feet ached to stop and look out, to enjoy the view of the world you could only see on these sparse missions.. But falter, and you'd miss your opportunity.

Your steps quicken, and you intentionally let your legs kick higher than necessary. You'd practiced this in a mirror, to mimic the girls you saw in the streets.

"Hey!" And your voice, pitch hiked to sound flowery and... sweet.

The target spins on their feet, catching sight of you and shrinking their frame again. They catch eyes, confirming they were the one you'd called out to. "Hm? Uh, " He starts, waiting for you to catch up.

You don't give him time to respond further, "Hi! Sorry,--" You force a couple deep breaths to sound winded--"I don't mean to bother you, but I have a really big project I'm working on to get into an advanced art class. You're a student from U.A. right?"

He stands in silence for a few seconds with a look of shock. He regains composure, touching the back of his neck, cheeks flushing. He's self conscious.

"Ah, yeah--yeah I'm from class 1A." He erks out, followed by a hollow laugh.

Your thoughts race, but no time for that--"Oh, really? Wow, what luck. Do you--do you have a minute? I'm just, my project is to sketch or paint portraits and, well I thought your face was interesting so.." You jumble your speech, eyes drifting away. A calculated charade of embarrassment.

He looks surprised. Even red-faced.

"Oh..Oh! Er--I have a lot of homework to catchup on but--but yeah! I'll uh, I'm up for it. Just, let me call my mom, let her know, ya know?" His voice breaks throughout his response, and the following expressions depict an inner monologue. Like he's chastising himself.

"Of course! I'll set up just over there, I promise I won't take up too much of your time," You move away and place your case on one of the cafe's iron tables. As it clicks open, inside is a small stack of flat canvas, a dish, and tubes of acrylics. Freshly bought.

You hear the target off to the side, murmuring and stuttering and apologizing to his phone. It eventually ends peacefully, or so you predict as he says 'I love you' and 'See you soon' before he approaches the table. It makes your heart lurch. You'd been mentally referring to him as 'the target'--but he was a person. An entire entity. One you were about to schmooze to get intel from.

Granted, this information was at your digression. Whatever you pulled from him was yours, so long as you had something believable for your employer, you could still keep the boy safe.

"Apologies--" Your tongue almost ties into a knot. A miss-step. People your age didn't say that. "I didn't introduce myself, I'm Hamasaki Asuka." You offer a polite bow, then add water to the dish you'd set out next to the case. You'd carefully tailored your fake name. Repeating syllables were harder to remember.

"Midoriya Izuku," He responds, awkwardly standing across from you after a bow of his own. "I've uh, never had anyone ask to paint me before..." He admits, hands going to his face again, index finger grazing a cheek.

"Oh? Shame. You have a nice profile, and I've never seen anyone with that kind of hair. I like how the light reflects off of it."

You can hear the air catch in his throat. Might need to tone-down the compliments--

"Really? Wow.. AH--er, how do I.. do I just need to stand still or?"

You motion to a chair, "you can sit down if you want and get comfortable. This should only take ten minutes or so." You pop a sweet smile that makes your insides feel chilled. "So long as I can see your face, I'm good!"

He goes quiet for a moment, as you prep up the inner stands of the case--working as a miniature easel for your canvas. Everything's ready. After slapping a layer of white across its surface, you look back to the.. target..

You have a lot of self control. You've spent years mastering your body, being mindful of every muscle and nuance of flesh. But god if you didn't almost break.

He looks so serious.

Face--literally--posed into the most picturesque anomaly of focus. Someone could make it an advertisement. The need to laugh bubbles up, and you can only quell it by defocusing your attention. You swallow. Your eyes move back to the canvas as you force the impulses further down.

He notices.

"..Am I trying too hard..?" He asks, his volume dropping. Thank god his expression turns into one of concern. It wasn't that he looked ridiculous--just comical. It was honestly... nice, for someone to react so seriously in your presence. To care about your interpretation of them.

"Ah, no--but, like I said you can relax. Since it's quick, I can only get the main details anyway.." You're wasting precious time. Get to it.

He opens his mouth like he means to say something else, but you cut him off.

"So, Class 1A? You must be pretty skilled! I bet it's a lot of work." You fire the question with an air of nonchalance. Like it's small-talk.

"Yeah it certainly is! But everyone's really doing their best. And All Might is teaching this year, I'm so lucky to be a part of it." He beams, but..

Your vision drifts, as a source of noise draws your attention. Through the iron-work, you can see him gripping the fabric of his uniform, hands balled into fists. His eyes drop after flickering to the left; his brows even out. He's remembering something.

He was a student from the Hero Course. There'd been an accident a few days prior, as Villains had attacked the school. There was a chance that might be what he was thinking about...

But a chance is not enough. Keep going.

"I can't even imagine what that must be like... And I mean, with All Might there, you guys are getting more attention than ever before."

"Hm."

A grunt of agreement, but nothing else. He's still staring off, and his demeanor is gradually cooling. You were losing him. Even worse, you couldn't fathom what exactly was said to cause it. Unless... it was All Might. A personal interaction perhaps.

Of course, All Might was also your main reason for this act of espionage. Figures.

You let the silence stretch a few minutes as you wet-paint the colors of his skin and hair unto the canvas, shaping it to resemble him. You're heart was in it, but your mind was calculating your next choice of words. You needed to get to him. Inside him.

"...Since you're in the hero course, I have to ask. What do you think makes a good hero?" You purposefully allow the inflection of your tone to flatten, so you're speaking naturally. Doing this was an invitation for honesty--digging beyond the boundaries of small-talk. Your brush stops moving, and you look directly at him. Full attention.

It works. Suddenly he's sitting straight up and his lips fall into a straight line. He doesn't have to think about his answer for long.

"Someone who stands up for the weak and does everything they can to make sure everyone is safe and  can look forward to a bright future!" He's grinning, albeit with a tinge of pink across his cheeks. In a more serious tone, he adds: "Even if it means going beyond our limits. That's what I want to be, a smiling face everyone can rely on!"

You pause.

It's not like you expected him to say something else. You'd picked him out of the crowd for this exact reason; this facet of one's personality that made them good. A lacking quality in your every day life at the base. You feel inexplicably drawn in--because he means it. You can see it in the hand he has braced against his chest, in the way his smile contrasts with his deadly serious eyes, and the ever-present flush across his cheeks and nose.

Even if it means going beyond our limits.

"Even if... the hero had to do something bad?"

"Hm? What do you mean?" His hand drops an inch, and his righteous determination almost looks deflated.

The question had flown from your mouth. Flown, as in, you had not been able to control the impulse that wanted validation. You chose your selfish feelings of self-doubt over your mission. You want him to say it's okay. You want him to tell you, a Hero must do whatever  it takes to do the right thing. You want him to admit, that Heroes can't be smiling idols all the time.

You want him to tell you the dark things you do, are all for a good reason.

Not that you were even comparable to a hero.

Your second miss-step.

"Nothing, I was just going on a thought I had. You sound super determined!" You fake that cheery smile again, eyes shut tight in emphasis--but as they reopen, you see he isn't charmed. He's studying you. But, he remains polite.

"Oh, heh.. thanks."

Then the moment returns to silence as you focus on the painting. There was no need to continue. You had failed. The most unacceptable outcome. Your mind raced between dotting his freckles on the portrait and fabricating a new plan to extract information somewhere else; perhaps by giving him the portrait you would be able to swipe his identification card--

"What do you think makes a good Hero, Hamasaki?"

You freeze. Your hand holding the dish begins to shake behind the canvas. You force it down into your lap and swallow hard.

This boy.

He'd remembered your fabricated name. He'd seen through your fake smile. And, worse.. it wasn't because he was trying to determine your motives or that he suspected you as an enemy. He was evaluating the situation and taking your feelings into account. Your opinions. He wasn't going to let the conversation you'd mistakenly started slip by, because he was concerned with your... well with you. Your interpretation of a Hero was important to him. Yours.

Your mouth is dry, but you know your answer.

"I believe a good hero is someone who is willing to sacrifice anything to save lives."

"...I think you're absolutely right." He palms to his chest again, "and I won't forget what you've said. After all, heroes risk everything--even their own lives to protect everyone. Even if it means having to make hard decisions sometimes and being criticized for it."

Please, please stop talking.

He's beaming, smiling, giving you the most sincere child-like enthusiasm; making it extremely hard to act like someone else. Someone not you. Your slip of control on your surroundings has blood pumping in your ears and bile rising in your throat. You drag in a deep, silent, shaky breath.

"...That means a lot. I just wanted to let you know, I really appreciate your time and..  I'll be cheering you on in the Sports Festival!"

You hide the cracks in your mask, and force yourself to finish the painting.

But you weren't expecting him to keep talking.

-----

His Hero name was 'Deku'. It was a name given by his childhood bully--which, he'd termed as 'Ka-chan' or 'Kahchan'--but the term had been flipped around by a sweet girl he'd met in his class known as Uraraka.

He loved going on about his 'Amazing class-mates' and their unbelievable quirks. His strict teacher, the famous Erasure-Head (or not so famous). And All Might.

It had been grueling torture to continue listening to him, but once the flood gates had opened they just would not close. He was so happy to just talk, that you allowed your façade to crumble for the moments you weren't forming a response. Your impromptu portrait request far exceeded ten minutes, and verged on an hour. And ultimately, your mission was successful.

Throughout the nuances of his stories and explanations, you'd pieced together some ideal points to present to the Head-Honcho. And, information that prepared you for any future entanglements with the hero class and their teachers--should the resulting decisions head that direction.

...You still gave him the portrait. You had pulled out a phone and took a picture of the canvas still on the easel, then promptly removed it and placed it in his hands.

"I just need this for the project, so I want you to take it. Consider it a gift for your time."

"Oh wow! You're really good! A-are you sure?! This is amazing!"

You relive the moments of your conversations over and over, as you watch the phone and painter's case burn in a metal barrel. You were back in your uniform, back to your reality.

Mask and all.