Logan x Reader pt.13
So my mate and I took my little brother out and he was like guys can we watch Deadpool/Wolverine so I watched it a fucking 3rd time
Upon my 3rd time watching I'm disappointed that Origins!Wade/Deadpool wasnt with the Deadpool core
And also I've realised how much dialogue I've like messed up 🤣🤣 thank y'all for sticking with me for chapters 1-3, if I ever post this on AO3 I'll have to spend years editing
This is like a part 1 of 2, the chapter was getting really long sorry
<<Part 12 Part 14>> Masterlist
The phone buzzed next to your head causing you to jolt upright.
You grumbled, eyes half open, patting the bed in hopes to stop the infernal noise.
It was your alarm, the one you had set to get up and go. Only you had set it when you didn't have to spend half the night rearranging your room.
“Morning sunshine.” Logan's voice made you turn. Where was he? He was normally right next t- right. He wasn't here. He was heading towards Nebraska.
“Logan?” You muttered, eyes barely blinking open.
“Hello baby.” He purred.
“Hi.” You smiled, God, his voice could just ease you back to sleep.
“It's pretty early for you to be up.” There was the tiniest echo to him.
“Where are you?” You pulled the phone closer, clearing the morning voice out of your throat.
“On route.” He revved the engine.
“Y-you're on your bike?” You squeaked. “Logan! That's dangerous!”
“It's fine, bub. You're on Bluetooth.”
“It's too early for me to even begin to learn what that is.”
He chuckled, the noise warning your chest. “You're fucking cute.”
“No, you're fucking cute.”
“Mm, wish I was.” He drawled, you could picture the smirk on his face.
Eventually you heaved yourself up and dragged your feet over to the drawers. Pulling out a suitable outfit. Some cycling shorts and a large shirt, no one would know it was Logan's but you.
You contemplated putting a bra on but you really couldn't be bothered with it, spending years in the Void with a broken one - snapped wires were a menace - you had grown accustomed to wearing what essentially was a sports bra so now as you looked at the padded cups they felt stuffy. The shirt was a thicker material - you think it was maybe loungewear? - it had long sleeves and a loose neckline where Logan had worn it.
Your hair was washed yesterday in preparation for today, wanting to look your best, so you didn't have to worry about looking scruffy. No, you looked comfortable.
You were put together well enough and when you looked in the bathroom mirror it was an outfit you would see other women wearing. Not that you cared. Maybe a little bit.
You stuffed your feet into some trainers, seriously debating sliders - you had thought socks and sandals were a big no no but the kids these days loved them - but decided on the trainers in case you needed to run. Preparing for some issue or display or anything.
You chucked your half full backpack over your shoulder, tossing a phone charger into it, and went to find the others.
As you opened the door Blade’s back was leaning against the frame.
“Fuck me!” You jumped, hand over heart. “Blade, you're actually going to kill me one day.”
He hummed. “Why has your bitch ass husband stolen my bike?”
“I did tell him not to.” You shut the door behind yourself.
“Mother fucker has a bike.” He tutted. “Ain't as pretty as mine.”
“Blade, I am sorry, I-” You shrugged, having no clue what to say. “He's an ass.”
“If he scratches it…”
“If he does, you have my permission to fight him.” Mock knighting him as you said 'permission'.
He laughed lowly. “We did fight once. Ended up on the same side. He gave me his coat.”
“Who were you fighting?”
“Some bloodsucker. Had an M name.”
Blade hadn't told you that. He hadn't mentioned he had once known a Wolverine. Not even when you had cried on his shoulder as Laura joined your party. You had mourned her, as well as the rest of your family, so seeing her alive and well really did mess with your psyche.
Laura's door opened to your left and she let out a surprised sound. “I was coming to see if you were awake.”
“Me and uncle Blade were just talking.”
“Anything interesting?” Her pupils fluttered between the two of you.
“A wolverine gave him a coat.” You repeated. “I didn't know he had met one.”
She crossed her arms. “Me neither.”
“I don't jabber like you.” He winked, a sly smile revealing his fangs.
You rolled your eyes and passed the man to knock at Gambit's door.
“Why are you up?” Laura asked Blade just in your earshot.
“Wanted to see you off.” He patted her shoulder. “Seeing less of you nowadays.”
She wormed her way into hugging him, not that he really resisted, and squeezed him. “It's strange being here.”
“I know.”
You wish you hadn't knocked at Gambit's door because the fucker opened it pulling your attention from them. “‘ey.” He nodded at you. “Who' ready for some drivin’?” Gambit ruffled your hair and shot passed you to the others. “Didn’ kno’ you'ere comin’.”
“I'm not.” Blade informed.
Gambit shrugged and tugged at Laura, “C’mon!”
You all trotted towards Logan's Jeep and climbed in. Your baby had the back row to herself and she had been clever enough to pack a small pillow in her bag.
Laura was wearing a Megadeth tee on top of a long sleeve with a pair of jeans. Gambit had opted for jeans as well but his seemed to be intentionally low waist. He'd paired it with a shirt that you're sure he had done a DIY crop job on.
All in all none of you looked like you were going to the same place but you looked good and you all felt comfy, all were able to decide what to wear. Not forced into the same outfit day in and day out. Laundry day in the Void was hilarious.
Everyone - bar Laura of course - had seen everyone else naked. You remember Magneto scoffing at yourself, Johnny and Gambit for sitting playing checkers in practically nothing, the odd sock and a ratty old shirt for modesty.
Y/N: setting off now x
You knew Logan would want to know so as Blade tapped the side of the car and Gambit pulled away from the curb you sent the text.
Your phone was sitting on your lap, Waze telling him where to go interrupting your playlist.
The Killers were your newest conquest. They were brilliant. You loved everything they performed, so dancy and fun!
Waze instructed you to get onto the highway you and Logan had had your hot steamy car sex and you had to fight the blush. If you were anywhere else people could've spotted you, well, they probably saw your car rocking… could you get a ticket for public indecency if they didn't have actual proof?
What if the car rocking was on camera?
“She's ‘sleep.” Gambit whispered next to you.
You turned back to see Laura spread out, sparko. “I hope she has fun at the Mansion.”
“Why wouldn' she?” He flicked the blinker on.
“I dunno, she hasn't been there.”
“Neither, chere.”
Gambit merged.
“Well, I know she had herself a Charles, I know he died in front of her. And yeah she's seen the one here for a millisecond, she had him look into her mind, but that's different. This will be informal, this will be- oh, I don't know.”
“You jus’ ‘ave to let things be things.” He shrugged. “You're worrying for her, when you don't need to. She strong. If she need you, she'll ask.”
You let that sit with you. He was right of course. She was tough and she would ask but since your little incident you were worried she had taken a step back. “It's just hard. We've lost so many people, I want to keep you all safe.”
“No such thing as safe.”
Again he was right. Say, right now, someone could have a brain aneurysm and crash their car into yours. There was literally no such thing as safe in a world of ever increasing variables. You, even, still entertained the notion that this was Cassandra toying with you.
“I don't think people give you enough credit, Remy.”
He chuckled. “Yo’ kno’ it serious when you use're my name.”
You laughed with him.
~~
The mansion came into view and you felt a nervous twinge in your stomach. “Laura baby.” You nudged her knee.
The girl cracked an eye and realised where you guys were. “We're here?”
“Yeah, love.”
She sat up and eagerly undone her belt.
“Laura, Gambit, this is the X-Mansion.”
The building was the same, there were slight differences in the foliage but it was eerie how exact everything was. You could see Colossus was standing like a statue at the door to greet you.
Gambit pulled up in front to the entry stairs.
He turned the car off and you all exited.
“Y/N, Laura, Remy.” Colossus greeted in kind. “Welcome, welcome.”
The three of you trotted up the stairs and into the front doors.
Fuck me, even the chandelier had it's one flickering bulb. This was your mansion. Your home. Your sanctuary.
//
“You needn't fear, Miss L/N.” Charles spoke above your head to your mother. “Y/N will be safe here.”
You could hear giggling to the left, giggling and stomping. There were kids having fun. Craning your neck you could see one kid floating mid air whilst the other had their hands extended.
They were using their powers… they were allowed to use their powers.
“Hey.” A feminine voice caught your attention. It was a young girl - a year or so older than you, maybe seventeen? - with bouncy ginger hair and a kind face. “You're new.” She spoke without moving her lips. “I'm Jean.”
“Y/N.”
The girl gave you a bright smile. “I was asked to show you your room.”
You turned back to your mother who was still engaged in conversation with Professor Xavier. She looked different. Her shoulders weren't sagging and her eyes seemed hopeful. She wanted you here. Wanted you to be safe and, well let's face it, she'd be safer without a fucked up child.
“You're not 'fucked up'.” Jean rolled her eyes. “You're just something new.”
Your eyes widened. “Can you hear my mind?”
“Yeah, sorry. I can't turn it off all the time.” She had genuine embarrassment splattered on face. “I don't mean to, I'm still practising.”
“Okay.” You nodded. “I'll try to keep my thoughts quiet.”
\\
The familiar sound of wheels pulled you from the memory. “Ahh.” Charles came into view. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
The others had clearly picked you as the spokesperson so you smiled. “Thank you for having us.”
“Of course.” His eyes crinkled with glee. “It was your home previously and apparently it hasn't changed. Would Laura and Remy care for a tour?”
The others looked at each other before nodding, unsurely.
“I'll call you both a guide.” He spoke before just sitting still. To an onlooker it would look rude, sarcastic, to say that and then sit motionless but you knew otherwise.
A girl with dead straight, long blonde hair and an unearthly feel to her sauntered into the entry. “I take Laura to Ellie and Yukio.” She spoke with a thick russian accent.
“Thank you kindly, Illyana.” Charles spoke over his shoulder.
You weren't 100% comfortable with Laura leaving but she had an eager expression on her face so you let her go with nothing more than a “call me if you need me.”
The two girls walked up the first flight of stairs, there were many in this labyrinth of an estate, and as they did they passed Rogue. She had darker skin than your Rogue but there was no mistaking that hair. Her hair was thick, voluminous and curly.
Her hips swayed as she strutted down the stairs. Adorned in ‘people clothes’ but looking every bit the X-Man she was.
“Y’all alright Sugar?” She placed her gloved hands on her hips. “I'm Anna Marie, they call me Rogue.”
“Remy LeBeau.” He bowed next to you. “They call me th’ Gambit.”
“Mmm. A Cajun, I can't wait to get some recipes outta you.” She waved him along, towards the right of the stairs and then disappeared underneath them to the kitchen.
Gambit clapped your shoulder before he jogged after her.
You were left with Charles. He was still smiling sweetly at you, it was a little unnerving.
“So…” You clapped your hands. “Who's my tour guide?”
“You don't need one, dear.” He told you simply. “You're free to explore, if you need me, call me.” He then whirled and zoomed off.
You were just left.
Again, to an onlooker it was rude. But maybe he knew you’d feel awkward paired with a X-Man. You would have to pretend to be in awe of the jet or the grounds or even just them. You knew a lot of these people but they had no clue you even existed.
If the TVA really went back and altered the reality was it still the same universe? How could they take their Logan out of it when he was the original Anchor being to the whole thing?
You pushed those thoughts aside and stomped through into one of the sitting areas.
It was large and decorated warmly. There were four sofas, three of which were in a square by the fire and the other was behind the one adjacent to the flames. There were coffee tables with board games and empty cups, messy bookshelves stacked high with trinkets and more games.
Two kids were playing chess, one had wings and the other was orange. Both were humanoid and young. Maybe 12?
//
You didn't care where you landed but you needed to sit by a fire. Stomping the light sleet off of your boots, you slipped out of your wet coat and scarf. Abandoning them on the floor - no one would be awake now - you rushed through into the first sitting available room. You flipped over the back of the sofa, face buried in pillows as your socks felt vague embers of warmth.
It was dangerous that it was still roaring but you didn't give a flying fuck.
“You alright bub?” A voice asked, opposite you.
You scrambled into a more presentable position and saw it was the new guy. What was his name? James? Jackson? Jonathan? It was definitely a J-Name.
He was sitting on the sofa opposite, in an X-Men hoodie and tracksuit bottoms, his feet were bare. The clothes led you to believe he had come from his bedroom.
“Yeah.” You nodded, hands outstretched to the flames. “Sorry, didn't realise anyone would be up.”
“It's alright.” He moved his hand to show that he was nursing a drink.
You questioned in disbelief, “is that bourbon?”
“Don't rat me out and you can have some.”
Now, that was an offer too good to pass up. “Sure thing. I saw nothing.”
He didn't have another glass so emptied the liquid into his mouth, wiped the rim and handed you a full glass. “Don't mind the-”
“It's fine.” After the day you had sharing a glass with a handsome man was nothing. “Working here I'm immune to any disease you could imagine.” You took a healthy swig, the liquid burning your throat. Immediately warming your insides. “I dunno if this is good stuff is but it's fucking strong. So cheers to that.”
He raised the bottle and took a gulp. You both sat in silence. After a while you had to shed your jumper, the heat making you sweat. He waited for you to fold your jumper before asking. “How long you been here?”
You did the mental maths. “Seven years.”
He hummed, the fire casting shadows that danced beautifully against his skin.
“Used to be everyone's favourite student, now I'm their favourite teacher.”
“Pretty thing like you, I'm sure you're right.” You had to pull your eyes away from him as he smirked. “What’d you teach?”
“Self defence.”
“Maybe I'll pop by.”
You took another sip. “You should. It'd be good to show the kids how to take down a bigger opponent.”
He sniggered. “It's a date.”
You prayed that the heat in your cheeks was from the fire.
“Why're you getting in so late?” One of his brows met his hairline. His hair was bonkers but endearingly cute, he looked like a little kitty cat. You wanted to see if it was as soft as you imagine.
You heaved a sigh. “I had to walk, the bike packed in.” Scott had loaned you his bike, drilling into you that you needed to refill it after using it. Well the fucker hadn't because it had conked out halfway through the journey.
The man opposite gave you a guilty smile. “Scott's?” You nod. “I might borrow it without his permission every now and then.”
You rolled your eyes. “So you're why I had to trek in the storm for 30 minutes. You owe me more than a drink Mr.”
“Logan.” He offered. Huh, you could've sworn it was a J-Name.
“Y/N.” You replied.
“I'll make it up to you Y/N. Somehow.”
\\
A buzz in your pocket centred you back to reality.
Logan: Picked up his scent a while back. He's walking in circles
Y/N: Why? X
Logan: Classic misdirection, maybe shield weren't so careful
Y/N: Just be safe baby x
Logan: Course
Logan: How's the mansion?
Y/N: Memory lane has nothing on this place x
Logan: That good?
Y/N: Think so… just remembered meeting Logan for the first time. We'd sorta been introduced before but actually talking was a while after
He had read the message but didn't reply immediately. Perhaps he had to put the phone away to track Victor?
Logan: I'm here if things get overwhelming
Y/N: I'm not gonna call you on a hunt, love x
Logan: You're allowed. No one else.
Logan: You have any sort of 'wobble', you call me. No tears without me knowing
Y/N: Okay x
Logan: I gotta go but I love you Y/N
Y/N: You more baby x
The kids kept giving you confused side eye so you carried on into the next room. Surely they had seen a random person before, your mansion had a new person daily.
//
“Big brother is watching you.”
“Please, I beg you, I will do anything. Please do not spoil this.” You begged. He had found you sitting on the floor in a small crevice, 1984 clutched in hand. “This is the only book the students haven't read. ‘did you like that part miss?’ no I haven't got to that part yet, Sanhu!”
“I won't.” His hands met his hips. “What are you doin’?”
“Isn't it obvious? I'm Hiding.” Your eyes scanned the room before you eased yourself up, Logan caught your hand and steadied you.
“Sorry to pull you from your spot.”
“It's okay, wasn't you I was hiding from.” You dogeared the page and closed the book. “They keep finding me. There's only so many inane questions I can stomach.”
Logan chuckled. “It's ‘cause half have a crush on you and the rest are trying to imitate ya.”
You scoffed. “I highly doubt that.”
“Bub, trust me.” He rolled his eyes at your expression. “Here.” He handed you a blank CD case. “I came to give you this, it's the band that sings Sexical.”
“Oh cool!” You accepted the CD and flipped it. It looked man-made; ‘She's an angel’, ‘fuel to run’ and ‘cream’ scrawled in Logan's messy scratch. “You made this?”
“There are some songs I don't think you'd like, so I thought I'd put the good ones together.” He shrugged, the wall behind you becoming interesting.
You opened the case to see he had thankfully written the band's name - Love/Hate - with the same marker on the disc.
“Well, thank you. I'll dig my Walkman out.”
Logan gave you a nod and stalked off.
~~
Christmas was wholly celebrated in the Mansion as there were those who couldn't return home. Storm and Jubilee had convinced you to help with the decorations and it took little to no convincing to get a certain gruff man to assist.
“Every year there's more.” You gestured to the decs.
Logan was leaning against the wall, he had helped you with the foil garlands, arms folded. “You love it.”
“Of course I do but taking it all down haunts me.” Last year it had taken four days to rid the Mansion of every last bit of tinsel. Angel had found a missed snowflake in the middle of June, it had fallen and landed on top of a portrait frame.
“If you had it your way, they'd stay up all year.”
“No.” You were adamant. “Halloween trumps Christmas.” Logan's brows rose to his hairline. “What? It's the superior holiday.”
“Wow, I knew you liked Halloween but hearing that from little miss kringle is something else.”
You rolled your eyes and gave him a playful shove. “Shut up.”
Logan caught your wrist and placed it back down to your side, pulling you closer as he did. “Don't start things you can't finish.”
“Oh, we all know I can take you.” You gave him a smug smirk, spurred on by his intoxicating gaze - there were flecks of green hidden in his dark eyes - you added, “And in a fight.”
Logan's eyes bugled yet they slipped to your lips and back up.
“Hey, tweedle Dee and Dum!” Ororo’s voice called. “I'm seeing a lot of gazing longingly into each other's eyes and not seeing a lot of decorating.”
You turned to see Storm standing at the opposite side of the room, box in hand, one brow raised.
“Gazing longingly?” Logan scoffed as you called out: “We needed a five minute break!” You gave a nervous chuckle at his response and the situation in itself before trotting over to Storm, Logan let your wrist go a second too late, causing another awkward laugh.
“You can't tell me this room isn't festive enough.” Your voice was slightly higher than usual, no one commented but you knew they knew.
“It isn't festive enough.” Storm deadpanned, handing you yet another box, she did crack a smile at your ‘wtf’ face. “This is the last one. I promise.”
You didn't believe her in the slightest but let her vacate the room as you opened the storage box. It was faux greenery, garlands and wreaths and mistletoe.
“Ooh, Logan look!” You presented the herb. “Poisonous to werewolves.”
Logan was still standing by the wall but took a couple steps forward to look. “Lucky we don't have any.”
“Yet.” You added. “With all us mutants it wouldn't surprise me if we got a Vamp or an Undead being. I mean you're pretty grizzly, not far off a wolf.”
A familiar smile settled onto Logan's face, it was the same one he wore whenever you went on a tangent. You suppose being the silent watcher he was, he must be used to people yapping around him, hopefully you didn't annoy him too much.
You tried to refocus. “Where should we put it?”
“Depends on who you want to catch out.”
“Well, Jean won't tell me that her and Scott have a thing… but they totally have a thing. Maybe we try to catch them.”
“‘We’ yeah?”
“Are you backing out of my incredibly complex and well thought through plan?”
“Never.”
~~
“Get out!” You screamed. “Go!”
The children behind you sprinted. They didn't wait for another order.
The humans had decided that they'd start out their New Year by killing children.
Your fields held strong against their bullets but you had known they would - if they could last against Adamantium they could last against a few bullets - creating bubbles of safety.
You were defense. Always on the lookout, always trying to hold back the onslaught so that the others could either fight or flee.
The footsteps behind you were out of earshot, meaning the children had got to safety. An underground tunnel would get them to a safe point. They would wait there for an adult.
You had done many drills and tests but you never thought this was a possibility. Fucking ridiculous!
You made a huge bubble and shoved the humans back, most of them being flung out of windows, glass shattering everywhere, but some hit the walls being knocked unconscious.
You were in bed, meaning that you had no shoes on so you tried to avoid blood, glass, bullet shells and any other debris as you examined each room.
You needed to get back to the others, you were protecting them from afar when a child screaming interrupted your flow. Logan's eyes had made contact with yours from his position in the garden and he gave you a few frantic nods. You didn't need permission but it was good that one of the team knew you weren't hit. If your fields suddenly vanished without explanation they might think the worst.
Shouting across the hall severed the silence and you jumped right back into the action. Jogging down the corridor, keeping low as you passed exposed areas.
Entering the room, you found nothing. It was just some of the teenage bunks. There were no children, no enemies, nothing.
Where had the shouting com-
Hands wrapped around you and you struggled, snarling as they strapped something to your neck. You tried to shove them off and create a field to prevent the rope? from winding around your neck. To stop it getting tighter.
No.
It wasn't a rope.
It was cold.
Metallic.
Why weren't your fields working?
“Not so strong now, cutie?” A masculine voice spoke from behind, he circled you and gripped your jaw with one hand. “It's a shame you're one of them, you're fucking hot.”
“Is that a gun in your pocket?” You sassed. “Wouldn't want mommy to know you liked a freak like m-” He yanked your hair, making your neck click as he pulled you backwards.
“Tsk, tsk. A girl like you should know what comes out of your mouth should be prettier than what goes in.”
You spat in his face.
“That's it, bitch.” He struck you across your face - releasing his grip on your hair - with such force you landed on your knees.
He looked unimpressed as he stalked over to you and yanked on your arm, dragging you along with him. You fought back of course but felt inadequate without your powers. What sort of technology did they posses to force the Mutant gene into submission?
He groaned at the top of the stairs before you were tossed down them.
Your vision was blurry when you came to, he was dragging you again, bruised and aching. You could feel warmth flow from your hairline, down to your eyebrows, also leaking from your nose. Moving your arm was painful but you wiped your nose and found a blurry sticky red substance on your hand.
“Oit!” He yelled.
You were yanked down another few steps - each one sending a new jolt of pain through your body - but as you felt the floor it was hard. Small cold stones met your bare legs.
Outside. You were outside.
“You Muties, stick together right?” He presented you, slumped on the floor, squinting up at him. “Sorry, one second.” The man threaded his hand back into your hair and pulled you up, deciding kneeling wasn't good enough and forced you to stand on throbbing ankles. “What's her mutant name? You all have one, right?”
Your eyes focused and refocused trying to make out who was on the field. Storm was easy to see because of her hair but you could also see Hank and Scott. You knew Logan was there earlier but couldn't see him now.
“What? No one wants to play now?” He turned your head towards him and gave you an over exaggerated frown.
You had just enough sense in you to spit in his face again.
“That's it you fu-” he didn't finish his sentence because he was too preoccupied with punching you straight in the face.
You, again, landed on the ground but this time you were giggling.
“What's so funny?”
“You got-” You wheezed, closing your eyes. “Mutant spit in your mouth.”
He turned back to the others, addressing them. “I was going to bargain with her life but she's pissing me off, so I'm just going to kill her instead.” He chuckled. “Uh-uh-uh Cyclops. You can't kill a human under the new bill.”
“What?” Scott voiced the question you all thought.
“No mutant can kill a human, not even in self defense. Starting on January 1st. It's too bad for your lo-” He cut himself off with a choked gargle.
“No, it's too bad for you.” Logan taunted. “You had 6 minutes.”
The clamp on your neck fell away and hands were on your cheeks.
“Y/N?”
You tried to open your eyes but it was agony. “Hey, bub.”
“That's my line.”
~~
Laying on the grass had become somewhat a passtime of yours now. For some reason you found comfort in the field.
When you had nightmares of that sadistic man and the bill and the humans and everything in your life, coming outside and laying on the dewy ground recentered you.
Charles and Erik had called a truce and began battling political opponents instead of each other. The bill was bullshit. It had passed and been withdrawn within a month.
It was odd classing Erik and Raven as enemies again when you knew ultimately you wanted the same goal but you would have to get used to it.
“I thought I'd find you out here.” You extended your neck to see Logan standing behind you.
“Hey, Lo.”
He collapsed next to you, sitting with one leg bent, his elbow resting on the knee. “You alright?”
You'd been the only mutant in the Mansion so far to have a collar fitted around your neck. You'd been the only one truly defenceless. Truly useless!
“I like the stars.”
He hummed, falling into a weighty silence with you.
There was no denying the two of you had grown closer, hell, he was probably your best friend at this point.
The two of you were paired together in training drills and in your lessons because you could really fight each other. Neither holding back. Your power could stop his. You were evenly matched.
He had gifted you more CDs and you had let him borrow a David Bowie LP. If he found you laying on the sofa reading he would sit next to you and keep you warm. He was so warm. Once, he even read to you. Your eyes were so tired and he plucked the book from your hands and finished the chapter.
You would never tell anyone, least of all him, but that was one of your fondest memories. His voice was so soothing and, bless him, he had even made up voices for the characters.
Logan always sat next to or opposite you as you ate, he was usually the main reason you ate, saving you a plate or bowl.
He was… well, like every other person with eyes here you'd formed a crush on him. He was just so kind. So generous. And it didn't hurt that he looked like that.
“I was thinkin’,” He started. You looked over, expecting him to still be sitting but he had moved. He was lying next to you, watching you. His nose inches from yours. “Tomorrow, I'll take you to to the bar I like.”
He was known for sneaking off premises at night. Coming home smelling like booze and smoke.
“The bar you like?” He had never confirmed he went to a bar - he was oddly secretive about certain aspects - but you all knew, it was something for him to admit it.
“It's a real shit hole but it's cheap and close.”
Your lips upturned at his blunt response. “Okay. You and me tomorrow. It's a date.”
“It is.” His face was serious. “I am taking you on a date.”
Oh.
“Me?” You were flabbergasted. There were goddesses like Jean and Ororo and Raven and Psylocke knocking about and he wanted to take you on a date?
“There was only so much rolling about in the simulator we could do before I asked you out.” He joked but you could see an undercurrent of fear in his eyes.
“Yeah. Okay.” Your cheeks were warm. “I'd really like that.”
His cheeks pinkened and he looked up at the stars trying to suppress his smile. “Good.”
You felt his hand intertwine in yours and tried so hard to act natural. Tried to keep your breath steady and appear calm and collected.
“So, uh, what does one wear to a real shit hole?”
Logan's shoulders shook with his laugh.
~~
It wasn't easy to take things slow when you lived and worked with the person.
Logan was ever the gentleman and gave you space but it was a strange mixture of wanting to be with him platonically and wanting to be with him romantically.
He was your best friend. You wanted to talk to him about your newest date but you also needed to act cool and casual.
You failed miserably at both of those things.
In fact you almost had a heart attack when he kissed your forehead for the first time.
He was yet to actually kiss you.
Which was good because it meant he liked you enough to listen and wanted to be around you without getting into your pants but you wanted him in your pants.
Which brought you to the present.
You were currently standing outside of his room - having knocked - waiting for a response.
“Lo, it's me.” You called through the wooden door.
“Come in.” He answered, slightly muffled.
You entered the room, he wasn't in view but the door leading to the bathroom was open, and flopped onto his bed. Letting out an exaggerated sigh - definitely not to inhale his smell - you spoke against his duvet, “I'm bored.”
“Yeah?” His footsteps got closer and you lifted your head and took a double take.
The fucker was glistening, a towel sitting far too low on his hips. His torso was gorgeous, he looked spectacular. He had strong pecs and chiselled abs, dusted with a coating of soft hair and there was one vein that disappeared into the towel that you ached to lick.
“Bub?” When your forced your eyes onto his face you saw a cocky grin.
“Yes?” You blunk, trying to figure out if he had spoken anything else. How long had you been ogling him?
A droplet of water fell from his hair and ran down his neck, passed his pecs and journeyed further- no! Don't look again.
Do not get caught twice!
“It should be illegal to look like you.” You spoke to your hands. They were resting on the duvet where your face had been.
“Kettle. Pot. Black.” One of his hands settled onto the towel, he usually had a belt to hold, so the movement could've been innocent but with the way his eyes scanned you, you knew it wasn't.
You eased yourself up, sitting on your folded legs and stared at him. Maybe you shouldn't. No either way you win. Either you call his bluff or... “You got a condom?”
The smile could've split his face in half, he licked his teeth, walking closer to the bed. Leaning down to open his bedside table he presented you with an unopened pack.
“Just for you.”
“I feel so special.”
Logan's right hand met your cheek and his thumb caressed the flesh. He was taller than you in this position so he lent down to kiss you. He was slow about it, giving you time to back out, but once his lips met yours he fastened the pace.
Your hands didn't know where to rest. One was fiddling with his chest hair whilst the other clawed at his back. You didn't want to be the one who disrobes their partner after less than thirty seconds of kissing but there was no robe. Can't disrobe someone who isn't wearing one, right? A mere piece of fabric barely covered him.
Oh my god.
He was naked.
Naked under the towel.
Fuck.
His tongue brushed against your bottom lip and you eagerly allowed access. Logan's chest rumbled, vibrating your hand, and you pulled back eyes wide.
“Do that again.”
He complied and you kissed your way along his chest. Sometimes you forgot how animalistic you were. How primal you could be.
Your cavewoman brain liked big strong man making noise.
Logan's nose nuzzled your neck, kissing your jaw and he ran his tongue across your jaw downwards to your collar bone.
It was almost embarrassing how wet you were but the steadily growing length poking your thigh made you feel better.
“I can smell you.” He ran his nose by your neck again. “Can always smell you. You're so sweet.”
“Always?” That better not be a hint.
“I know if you've been in a room.” He nipped your cheek. “I'm tuned into your frequency but now,” his voice deepened. “I can smell here.” The touch was phantom but his fingers were where you wanted him most.
You only had on a baggy shirt and ratty pj shorts so you were quick to slip out of the shorts, tossing them behind your shoulder.
“Towel.” You ordered.
“I-” He paused, conflict flashing behind his eyes. “If we start I'm not su-”
“There is nothing that could make me not want this.” You didn't know how else to say it. "I would do a lot of bad things to do a lot of bad things to your body."
He smirked and allowed you to tug on the towel, it loosening, revealing his dick.
Oh, it was fucking fantastic.
You couldn't help but kiss his abdomen, dragging your tongue along the low vein. Wrapping a hand around his length you kissed the tip and he shuddered.
“You're beautiful.” You spoke to his dick, licking the slit.
“Take your shirt off.”
You grumbled, ignoring him, and licked the underside from shaft to head.
“Y/N. Shirt. Off.” His hand held your neck, halting your movements - you were stopped, your tongue poking out just shy of him.
Pulling up you made a show of removing the shirt and his hands were instantly on you. One was at your hip whilst the other kneaded your breast. He dipped his head and captured a nipple between his teeth, making your spine arch.
“You, er, you experienced?” He questioned releasing your nipple from his lips, his eyes gazing up at you.
Why did it feel like he was embarrassed to ask?
“I've had a couple not great fucks,” You shrugged. “Prefer my own company.”
“That's about to change.” He captured your lips again.
~~
You were snuggled up in your bed watching the credits roll on a VHS you'd finally got your mitts on.
Logan slipped into your room and under the covers, wrapping a hand around your waist and dipping himself to kiss your cheek.
It was wet. Why was your cheek wet?
“Y/N?” What had happened?! Who did he have to kill?
“Spock fucking died!” You explained, frantically wiping your cheeks. “He just like sacrificed himself?”
If you had known that would happen you wouldn't have watched the movie at this particular time of the month.
Logan gave you a sympathetic noise and rolled you onto your spine, kissing your nose.
“It's okay.”
“No, it isn't.” Your eyelashes were wet but your eyes were no longer glossy. "Jim is alone, now."
"We'll get through this together."
Logan's palm found your abdomen and he kept his hand there, warmth radiating through easing some of the pain. “That's really nice.”
“I always get a fright each month when I can smell blood on you.” He nuzzled his face into your neck, placing delicate kisses to your flesh.
“How was the mission?” Your lips grazed his ear.
He had told you that your neck was his favourite part of you because it smelt the most. He was eager to mark and claim your as his own because it mingled the scents and apparently that was amazing. Logan seemed to get off on your scent alone so when there were hints of him on you he was wild.
“Distracted.” He sucked the junction between neck and collar bone. He had been chosen because of his unique sense of smell. It was a gift that he could track so easily. “Could smell you on my fingers, I didn't want to get bad guy blood on my hands because it would fuck it up. You'd smell wrong.”
Your body twitched as his tongue soothed the sore flesh. “That why it took longer?”
“Hmm.” He produced a small navy box from his jeans pocket, laying it on your chest. “This is why.”
You frowned but opened the lid to see the most beautiful pair of earrings imaginable. Diamond studs, each with three individual chains dangling, covered in more diamonds.
“O-Logan?”
His face was buried into your neck for an entirely different reason now. It was fucking adorable that this big strong man still blushed around you. “Was gonna wait til your birthday but…”
“Thank you, Lo.” You kissed where you could reach on his cheek. “They're beautiful.”
“I brought them because…” He pulled back, his hazel eyes studying your face. “I want to take you out more. Take you to places that aren't natural or manmade disasters. I want to show you off to the world. I like having you on my arm, I really want to show you off. I think we should go out more. You and me just see the world, maybe? Travel? And, well, I've also realised that I fucking love you.”
Neither of you had quite admitted that yet. There were close calls where you almost did after a bad mission but it felt wrong to tell him on your deathbed. Felt like you'd cheat him. He deserved more than a ‘hi and bye’.
“I love you, too. I think I might even love you more, Logan.” Your fingers stroked his temple, gruff hair itching your hand.
He let out a sigh of relief and you almost laughed because how could you not replicate the feelings? Then you considered the way he rambled. How much this must have meant to him, he always wanted to do it right; to make sure everything was perfect for you but it was when he stuttered and said things out of order that you really saw how much he cared. He was unable to form literate sentences because he loved you so deeply. That was true, real love. Not the smooth talking, lady killers in the movies.
“No you don't.” He pecked your forehead.
~~
“Who wants to see me kick Mr Logan's ass?” You cockily placed your hands on your hips.
Logan was standing next to you, hands in his hoodie pockets.
He was wearing matching grey sweatpants and you were dying. How did grey sweats look that good?
“He can't die.” Marcus - a little shit - sassed. “What's the point in fighting someone that can't die?”
“Well, self defence isn't about killing.” You set him straight. “It is about protecting yourself. Being able to keep yourself safe in this world is the most powerful thing you'll ever learn.” Hopefully, they would never know the hopelessness you felt when that collar locked around your neck, hopefully they could live in peace. Live freely.
Marcus just rolled his eyes.
“She's right, kid.” Logan backed you up. “There's a lot to fighting that isn't killing. I've been around a long time, I'd know.”
“Then shouldn't you fight someone more evenly matched?” He raised a brow. You knew this was coming. He had grown up in a very strict household. His parents were cultists, if he hadn't been a mutant he would've been the next leader. Shame. Women were beneath men in his eyes - which wasn't necessary his fault and you were trying to carefully show him but the fucker was pissing you off.
“She's kicked my ass more than any other opponent.” Logan shrugged playfully but you could see the twitch of his jaw.
“That's because you fight often. It's a matter of quantity and not quality.”
“Okay.” You clapped your hands before the kid would get on Logan's nerves. “Who wants to show me their skills?”
The lesson went smoothly after that. You saw a lot of potential in Erica and begged Winston to keep practising.
Marcus refused to show you - or anyone - his ability.
You had assumed it was because ‘mutant is wrong’ was drilled into him as a child but perhaps he just didn't trust you. You'd have to figure out how to bring him out of that shell.
The students left your class with a varying amount of glee.
“I don't know how you're so nice.” Logan lit a cigar. “You just put this smile on and keep going.”
“He's a kid.” You answered. “A stupid kid but a kid.”
“I think we're evenly matched.” He winked.
You scoffed and tidied away some of the equipment.
It was nagging at you.
It had been all class.
‘I've been around a long time’
Yeah, you knew.
Everyone knew.
But woul-would you be old and shrivelled and he'd still be the same?
Would he look at you in disgust once you started greying?
“What's the most dead you've been?” The words were sudden and far from eloquent.
Logan blinked, his brows meeting. “The most dead I've been?”
You nodded.
He pondered the question. “I was a skeleton at one point. My skin and organs regrew it was trippy.”
You considered the answer.
He could literally operate as a skeleton and you were out for a week because of a bad cold.
Was this the first chip?
Was this something that would slowly become a larger crack?
Would your relationship survive this?
You plastered a grin on your face. “Okay.”
~~
“Hey handsome!” You strutted straight up to Logan. He looked amazing, wearing a dark button down and black dress trousers. You wanted to take him straight upstairs.
“Baby.” His arm automatically wrapped around your waist, kissing your hairline before reconnecting with Kurt.
You didn't catch what they were talking about, too drunk to care but sober enough to nod along when they looked at you.
Kurt poked your nose before he disappeared and you sneezed.
“Bless you.” Logan bent his neck to look at your scrunched face.
“That was so tickly.” You rubbed your nose, hoping your makeup stayed in place.
“Have I told you you look beautiful tonight?”
“Only a thousand times.” You grinned upwards, tiptoeing to capture his lips. “I know it's Hank's birthday but you look so yummy. Want to take you upstairs.”
Logan growled at your words, wrapping his other hand around you, “I won't say no.”
“Let's go then.” You kissed his chin.
“Hey lovebirds!” Bobby called across the room. “I need another teammate.”
“Go on.” Logan nudged you, you had all night and the rest of your life to fuck. Maybe you should enjoy your friends company. Linger in the room too long. “You'll be terrible but it'll be fun to watch.”
He was standing next to Sunspot at one end of a Beer Pong match. Jubilee, Kitty and Rogue were at the other.
You mock gasped but knew he was right.
The game was rigged, you were sure of it. You had to drink every time and barely managed one cup. Logan took pity on you after the second beer and downed your drinks, the others weren't best pleased but no one was going to argue with the Wolverine about his girl.
It was so good to let loose.
After having your hysterectomy and being without your best friend for months this was bliss.
You hadn't realised how much he was a part of you. Removing him from your life left it cold and empty.
It was cliché but you had slowly tumbled into a depression without him. Much like any teenage lead in a shitty romcom being without your boyfriend was agony.
He understood your reasoning, didn't condone the actions but was able to see it from your perspective.
You were rarely allowed to be out of his eyeshot, now. He had become even more protective of you, wanting you to feel loved and supported even if you told him you didn't need that. He wanted you to come to him with any issue, to trust him, no matter how big or small.
And you wanted to be strong.
You wanted to prove that you were okay.
But being carried up to bed and coddled was fucking lovely.
“It's Alice in Chains!” You excitedly clapped Logan's arm. He had played you this song more than once, you think it was called Nutshell. Did Hank borrow some of your CDs? “This is your favourite song!”
He smirked. “Not my favourite but it's a good one.” He wrapped himself around your body, his front to your back, watching Jubilee sink one for Bobby.
“What is your favourite song?”
He hummed and you felt his shoulders move. “I don't know, I'd have to think on it.”
Okay, you'd allow that. It wasn't an easy question so you reworded it. “If you were dying right now what would you want to listen to?”
“You humming in the kitchen.” He answered without a second thought.
You giggled, turning in his hold. “No, come on, seriously.”
He rest his forehead against yours. “When you hummed Elvis… making those flapjacks… the sun was-it made you look ethereal, you were an angel. I want that.”
You remembered that day. Everything had gone wrong even though you followed the recipe to a tee! He had walked in on you mid tantrum and made life better. If he thought you looked angelic covered in sugar and chocolate then imagine what he thought when you made an effort.
“You always leave me speechless.”
He kissed your temple.
~~
“I never meant to cause you any sorrow.” You spoke seriously.
Logan looked up from the papers he was grading. His eyes squinting slightly in a silent question.
“I never meant to cause you any pain.” You injected sadness into your voice, it cracked slightly.
“What's happening?” He looked really worried, taking off his reading glasses.
“I only wanted one time to see you laughing.” You used your hands animatedly.
“Y/N?”
“I only want to see you laughing in the purple rain.”
He heaved a sigh of relief. “You had me worried. I was trying to figure out if I'd missed a birthday or an anniversary.”
“I can't grade these papers. The song is rattling around in my head.” You thunked your head against the desk. “Why did we say we'd help Jean again?”
“You told her you could grade more papers in a day then she could.”
“Pathetic fallacy this, juxtaposition that.” You groaned. “Why do I get so competitive?”
“I don’t know.” He spoke honestly. “We could be spending our evening any other way but you have us reading shitty analysises on An Inspector Calls.”
You didn't answer him. You wouldn't let him goad you. Wouldn't stoop to his level, despite wanting so badly to stoop in front of him. Biting the inside of your cheek you stood. “Nope, sorry, I have to play the record.”
He watched you wander to the shared pile of music. Your LPs and his CDs intermingled in the corner of his room.
“Is the Prince album in here?” You flicked through the LPs.
“All our music is. Did you let anyone borrow it?”
“I don't know.” You knelt, opening the cupboard underneath the record player, he panicked, jumping up.
“Don't look in-”
“Ha!” You waved the cover smiling but your enthusiasm ebbed away making room for suspicion. “Don't look in here?”
A hand stretched his face. “Please don't ask questions.”
“If you're hiding a present somewhere make sure it's not somewhere I'd look, Howlett.” You closed the doors. “That's like the first rule.”
“I don't have that many hiding places.” He defended. “We live together.”
That was technically true and untrue.
You still had a room.
You just spent most of your time in his.
“I can vacate i-”
“Shut up.” He took the record from your hands and secured the vinyl onto the spindle and placed the needle accordingly. He flipped the machine on and the last chords of ‘baby I'm a star’ played before the familiar strum.
He offered you his palm and you took it, easing up from the floor. “Dance with me?”
“Always.”
The two of you swayed to the music. It was the last song on this side of the record so you'd have to change it soon but just leaning against him, listening to Prince sing and play his guitar was heavenly.
Logan's nose was buried in your hair. He would tell you later on that he wouldn't have minded if you found what he was hiding.
He would've just got down on his knee then and there.
He didn't want to propose publicly but he wanted to make the day special. Make you feel loved like you deserved.
\\
“Y/N?” You turned your head. You were upstairs. Outside of Logan's room.
It was empty. Unoccupied.
“Storm.” She looked amazing. Had she even aged? Maybe she was born later in this universe.
“The professor asked me to check on you.” She spoke with ease but it wasn't the friendly chatter you were used to.
“Yeah sorry, I've just been wandering like a ghost around this mansion.” Your cheeks warmed. “I'm absolutely fine, though, thank you for checking up on me.”
Part 14
@littlecrowtime @geeksareunique @lovelyvaderx @br3nt-12 @st1nkabutt @maximumchilddreamland @catiwinky @twinkywink @ravenmedows @electricreader @racetrackheart @vulgarfuckinvirgo77 @bisasterbisexual @tzurue @narniansmagic @seamlessepiphany @4ria790 @caramelatae @mei-simp @slightlymediocree @h0n3y-l3m0n05
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More Than It Seams (Chapter 5)
summary: you're a hero costume tech working for one of the biggest fashion companies in quirk society, and the days until the most important fashion event of the year are dwindling fast. if you weren't stressed enough, a certain half-and-half hero keeps appearing with rips in his suit. (pro!todoroki x reader)
word count: 3k
cw/tags: swearing, mentions of needles, probably inaccurate fashion design vocabulary, strangers to lovers, no specified pronouns for reader but they do wear a dress, mentions of food/eating, mention of character death/disappearance, descriptions of wounds and blood
note: final chapter!!!! i hope you liked this lil series, it's my first time writing a longer story like this so hopefully they only get better with time :D
likes/reblogs/feedback are appreciated :) thank you for all your support <3
The click of heels against wood startles you from sleep, and you fumble around for that pair of fabric shears in a half-awake daze. Your shoulders and lower back ache from sleeping slumped against the couch, legs protesting spending the night on the floor. A gentle voice calls your name from the other side of M’s office door, patient and kind. The voice sounds vaguely familiar, but you can’t remember where you’d heard it before.
Cautiously pulling back the door, you’re met with a loungewear-clad woman, long black hair messily tied back and looking very flushed like she’d gone on a run. You take in her large, worried eyes and the pieces finally click in your exhausted brain.
“And with the establishment of this company, I hereby pledge my full support to the expansion of Quirk-related employment to all women. Congratulations, M; The Creati-Earphone Jack Agency wishes you the best in your future endeavors. -Yaoyorozu Momo”
“Hi,” she says warmly. Her slender fingers find your shoulders and she looks you up and down for injuries. “Are you two doing okay? I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to get here sooner. I received Midoriya’s message only an hour ago.”
“It’s alright, we’re doing okay; I don’t wanna speak for Shoto, but he’s been sleeping deeply for the past few hours.” A glance over your shoulder reveals his face contorted and breath shaky, like he’s having a nightmare. You’d woken up several times during the few hours you’d spent with him to find his hand desperately squeezing yours like you’d vanish if he let go, or frantically choking out your name under his breath. Now, even with Momo in the room with you, your body moves instinctually, quietly sitting beside him and taking his hand in yours, fingers intertwining naturally. His breathing calms instantly. “You’re here to take him somewhere safe, right?” Deku had mentioned something about making a call before he’d taken off to sort out the rest of whatever mission had gone awry. Like Deku, you couldn’t help wishing that you’d met the sponsor of the company under different circumstances.
Momo continues to stand in the middle of the office, watching you care for Shoto in awe. “Yes, though it looks like you’ve already got it all under control.” She gives you a knowing smile, raising her pristinely-shaped eyebrows. You laugh tiredly, shaking your head. As much as you loved being with Shoto, your body was screaming at you in need of a shower, food, water, and better rest.
A worrying thought pops into your mind. He’d said that hospitals weren’t safe, so it was fair to assume that nowhere else that would recognize him was safe, either. “You’re not planning to bring him back to his agency, are you?”
“Absolutely not,” she says adamantly as relief floods your body. “I’ll probably bring him to our apartment, and I’ll call in a few favors to make sure he recieves medical attention without alerting the press.” A moment passes while you work through what she’d said. Sudden embarrassment and confusion spread across your face as you replay what she said. Our apartment, she said. You blinked, unable to process what you were hearing. Had you been trying to win Shoto when he was already in a committed relationship?
She notices your spiraling thoughts, an equal amount of panic washing over her face while she stutters out an explanation. “Oh, no! No, no, not our apartment,” she supplies, gesturing between her and a still unconscious Shoto. Her elegant limbs flail in a rushed attempt to fix what she’d said, reminiscent of a ballerina trying to dance polka. “I mean, um, my apartment with Jiro. You know, Earphone Jack?” You nod, more pieces starting to click into place. Momo’s face has become several shades redder despite the pink of her complexion when you’d opened the door. “It’s…not something that I’d like the general public to know yet. So if you wouldn’t mind–”
“Of course. You don’t need to worry about me. I have more than enough to take care of,” you reassure her, pointing a thumb over your shoulder at the idiot on the couch. She smiles again, warm like the sunrise and radiating gratitude. Soon, she’s slinging Shoto’s arm over her shoulders and dragging him, half asleep, out the backdoor just as light starts to peek over the horizon.
“Get some rest, and thank you,” she says before disappearing into the city. “I hope to see you tonight!”
You crash onto your bed at 6:00, bloody clothes and all, only waking up briefly to deliriously explain to your roommate that it wasn’t your blood. Thankfully, she must have realized that you needed sleep more than you needed a wellness check, and you blink your eyes open naturally around 2:00 in the afternoon. Your body feels the grossest its ever been as you inspect the blood covering your clothes and sweat making your skin sticky to the touch. You take a few painkillers and stumble into the shower, relishing the warmth of the water cleaning the grime from your body.
“Oh, thank God, you’re awake,” your roommate gasps as you walk into the living room in pajamas, nonchalantly brushing your teeth for the first time in 24 hours. Her eyes run over your body anxiously, and you make a mental note to get her flowers as an apology for worrying her. “You okay?” You give her a dull thumbs up, and she laughs. “Thumbs up if you’re gonna tell me what the fuck happened last night. After you quit your job.” You grin, sticking a thumb up again before returning to the bathroom to spit out the toothpaste.
The ball officially starts at 7:00, but experience taught you that many tend to arrive early to take photos without waiting in line; being at the ball by 6:00 was the wisest choice if you wanted to catch glimpses of the heroes wearing the pieces you designed before they disappeared into the crowd. By 5:30, your makeup is nearly done and you’re ready to slip into your dress when you hear your roommate call for you from the living room window.
“Hey, there’s a police car outside.” You set the curling iron down on the bathroom counter, rushing out to see what your roommate was talking about.
“What?”
“There’s an unmarked car outside.” Sure enough, an unmarked black SUV was parked on the curb outside of your apartment window, concerningly parked on the side not facing the street that only residents were supposed to be able to access.
“Maybe it’s not here for us.”
“Then why’d it pull up to the window where it knows we can see it?”
“Coincidence? I think you’re being a little too paranoid. If I was followed, someone would have kicked down our door a few hours ago.” She looks at you skeptically and you turn back to the bathroom.
“Oh, shit!” Her hand yanks your forearm back to the window, and your jaw hangs open in shock.
“Oh, shit,” you echo as Shoto steps out of the car with a garment bag over his shoulder. He spots you both gawking at the window, giving a casual half-smile and a wave of his free hand.
You don’t even ask how he found your apartment number in the first place as you throw open the front door. “What the fuck are you doing here?!”
His soft smile turns into a face of bewilderment. “You’re not happy to see me?”
Your mind runs at two thousand miles per hour, imagining your job on the line because you kept the number three hero from arriving at the ball on time. “You’re not supposed to be here!”
His voice falls flat. “You’re unhappy to see me.” The disappointment on his face sends you reeling backward to try to fix it.
“No, no, God, no.” You grab his hand in both of yours, tugging him into your apartment while your roommate runs for cover. “I’m happy you’re here, I promise, but you’re supposed to be there early for photos.” You do a mindless spin in your living room, unsure of what to do about the man standing in your entryway. You catch a glimpse of your unfinished curls in the mirror and settle for returning to the bathroom, ignoring the amused smile from Shoto as he watches you hurry about.
His voice follows you into the bathroom, and he leans against the doorframe nonchalantly. “I can’t be there without my plus one, and I need some help getting dressed.” Your eyes find him in the mirror reflection, questioning why he needs your help. He sighs like a spoiled prince who didn’t want to go to court. “I’m not in the mood to explain to my team why I have a dozen fresh wounds.”
Your mouth forms a single oh in understanding, wrapping another strand of hair around the barrel of the iron. “It’s usually stylists that get heroes ready, you know. My job is just to make the clothes, not put them on you.”
“I know. I’m sorry for the sudden intrusion,” he apologizes but makes no move to leave. If anything, his mouth quirks like he’s trying to fight back a laugh.
“You’re enjoying this, you asshole,” you smile, ducking under the sink and rummaging around for the hairspray. Shoto’s pretty hand finds the edge of the counter wordlessly, protecting you from knocking your head.
“Enjoying what? Being in your company after missing it for a day? I wasn’t aware that was a crime.” His two-toned eyes shine, and you give him a single spritz of hairspray, sending him laugh-coughing as you move back into your room.
Shoto stands respectfully at the doorway of your room, waiting to be invited inside with an expectant look. “Go change in the bathroom first, then I’ll help you with the finishing touches.” His mouth opens in protest, but you beat him to an answer. “I’m aware that I’ve already seen you with no shirt, Sho. It’s different when you’re not bleeding out at 1:00 in the morning.” Rolling his eyes dramatically, he closes the bathroom door. While you wait, you finish touching up your hair and slip into your dress.
You almost cry when he leaves the bathroom, frozen in front of him. He looked incredible, the way the button-up accented his lean body and the trenchcoat swept elegantly in the back. He’d combed half of his hair back, leaving a few red strands falling on his forehead. When he turned to let you see the other side of the coat, your heart stopped as you took in the dueling cranes stretching across his back. The detail you added made it look like the design was printed, but the texture revealed that all of it was thread.
“Wow.” At first, you’d thought the word came from your mouth, but you looked to see Shoto’s jaw slack as he took in you in your dress. “You look…wow.”
You chuckle, suddenly a little bit embarrassed at how much skin you were revealing around your neck and shoulders. “You look pretty ‘wow’ too.” There it is, that stupid smirk that sends butterflies into a frenzy in your stomach. “C’mere, though. I think one of the buttons loosened while you were getting dressed.”
He lets you drag him in front of the full-length mirror in the corner of your room, and you grab a spool of white thread from your drawer. Standing in front of him, you smell his cologne again and his breath, minty and fresh. His eyes rake over your face and your body as you fight to keep your hands from shaking. It felt harder than ever to focus as you looped the thread through the buttonholes and tied it in the back, dropping the thread to maneuver the button into its hole.
His hands stop you, holding them there against his chest as you meet his eyes. “I have a confession.” His voice is a murmur meant for only you to hear. Your eyebrows raise in question to make up for the words caught in your throat. “I broke the button on purpose…and all the buttons.”
Your eyes trail down his chest, confusion setting in as you see fully intact buttons. Maybe he hit his head when Deku brought him to you.
“Not…not those.” His gaze turns down and he smiles fondly as he brushes the pad of his thumb over yours. A lightbulb goes off in the back of your mind, and you look at him, stunned.
"No."
"Yes."
“All those visits to the office?”
“On purpose.”
Your heart slams against your ribcage and your mouth struggles to create coherent words. “But why?
“Because I wanted to see you.” He looks down at you like you are all the lights in the sky. "All I've wanted is just to see you."
"And here I am."
"And there you are."
“So you still were interested even after I made that dumb thumb joke the first day?” You huff out a laugh to relieve some of the tension in your chest, and he grins at you.
“Especially after that.” His thumb brushes over your bottom lip. He was so close, close enough that you could…
“Can I–”
“Please.”
You’re barely able to nod before he pulls you in, pressing your lips against his. He kisses you sweetly, hands finding your hips and your arms settling around his neck. You fiddle with the hair at the base of his neck and he hums into your mouth, rubbing his nose against yours as he pulls away. He leaves a feather-light kiss on your forehead and your eyes flutter close, leaning into the gentleness of his touch.
You sigh, head tilting to check the clock on your nightstand. He groans when you look at him, silently telling him you both have to go and you can’t help beaming. “I know. As much as I also want more–”
“I have to show off your craftsmanship first,” he finishes.
His hand finds a home on your thigh during the entire ride to the ball, absentmindedly tracing circles with his fingers on the silk of your dress. You realize that kissing him was unlocking a part of Shoto he’d previously shut off purposefully, giving you a chance to back out if you didn’t reciprocate his feelings. But now, since you’d made your feelings clear minutes before, you found that there wasn’t a time when part of him wasn’t touching you. His hand was on your thigh in the car; his arm wrapped around your shoulders as you stepped out; his fingers firmly intertwined with yours as he guided you through swarms of cameras. Before you have to go separate ways so he could pose for pictures, he squeezes your hand and shoots you a thumbs-up. You give him a thumbs up back and steer around the backdrop of the red carpet.
“Oh, you’re here.” A high-pitched, shrewd voice you’d only heard for the past weeks in your nightmares cuts through the sounds of camera shutters and interview chatter. You pivot on your heel, face to face with M. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here considering the shitshow of an office you’ve been running in my absence.”
Your eyes narrow suspiciously. “What are you talking about?”
“My phone has been blowing up lately with agencies calling my number. My personal number! Of course, I haven’t answered any of them because I’m on leave. But that just goes to show how well you’re running the business,” she says, giving you a conniving smile. “I can’t say that I’m not disappointed. All these years and you still haven’t learned anything about running a company.” You’re speechless, and your gaze falls on her pregnant belly. “Oh, her? Yeah, she’s not supposed to come for another four months, so I’ll have to leave again, but not with you in charge.”
Frustration wells up in your eyes and throat, threatening to spill over and confirm to M that you’re too weak to run a business. She had zero idea what you’d been doing these past two weeks, cleaning up her mess and carrying her slack on your shoulders all without her industry contacts that did most of the hard work for her. If you weren’t in public, the back of your hand would already be finding the side of her foundation-caked face.
“Love?” A gentle, familiar hand finds the small of your back as Shoto’s voice registers in your ears. All of his focus is on you and only you, not even a breath directed in M’s direction. Your boss is rooted to the floor in astonishment, and you watch in real-time as she puts on her entrepreneurial mask, sticking out her hand and introducing herself with fake diplomacy.
“My friends would like to meet the designer of their pieces,” he says evenly to you, seemingly unaware of M’s presence.
“I–”
“That would be me! So nice to meet you Todoroki. My name is M.” She shoves her arm out further, and you recoil backward. Shoto’s eyes flick over to her for a second, then return to you as you give him the faintest shake of your head.
He makes a great deal out of looking at M’s still-extended hand and her strained smile. “Why should I care to know you?” Brilliantly acted confusion paints his handsome features and you bite down the urge to laugh. You cut M off before she can reply.
“She’s my former boss, Shoto.” She whirls on you, red spreading across her face.
“Former?”
“Mhmm. I’m quitting.” Shoto mirrors your smirk and mouths a satisfied let’s leave, snaking his arm around your waist.
“You can’t quit,” M hisses to your back. “You need me. You won't make it in this industry without someone like me.”
“No, M. You need me, and I’m done with you.” You leave her trembling with rage, and Shoto pulls you closer to his body as he notices your fingers shaking from adrenaline. Looking up at him, you let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding. “What the fuck did I just do?”
“You freed yourself.”
“But the clients–”
“Are all right here,” he says, gesturing to the lineup of beautifully-dressed heroes standing around a cocktail table that cheers and smiles when they notice you approach.
Momo snatches Jiro’s hand, pulling her to meet you in her extravagant gown and wrapping her arms around your shoulders. You’re hit with a wall of expensive perfume and Jiro looks kindly at you, nodding in understanding as your nose scrunches from the strong scent. Deku looks relieved to see you both, bouncing on his heels excitedly as he takes in Shoto’s more-than-friend proximity to you. Bakugo gives you a curt nod, and you swear you hear a small apology for last year under his breath. Sero, Mina, and Kirishima introduce themselves as well, singing your praises for the amazingly crafted pieces they wear. In the midst of all of this, Shoto settles at your side, poking his thumb up as you ease into this new life, this new life with him.
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