Lan Zhan is in his kitchen, fixing an evening cup of green tea, when his phone buzzes twice in quick succession.

WWX: Hey

WWX: Can I come over?

He nearly drops the whistling kettle in his rush to reply.

LZ: Of course. Please do.

—

They have not spoken since the performance the previous night. No sooner had they caught their breath did someone in the crowd pull Wei Wuxian aside, much to Lan Zhan’s displeasure. He had hung around a few minutes, watching for trouble from a distance, but left after he saw Wei Wuxian smiling and chattering with his usual enthusiasm.

Lan Zhan had stayed away from the shop today, in order to finish some much-needed studying. His brother had come home after closing, an expression of grateful relief on his face, to tell him that they had exceeded their sales benchmark for the month. Cloud Recesses is safe, for now at least. But he suspects that Lan Xichen knows something is wrong, given Lan Zhan’s happy-but-hollow response to the good news. A week ago, this news would have felt heaven-sent. But there are other things troubling the waters of Lan Zhan’s mind.

—

He’s knotting one hand in his hair almost hard enough to yank it out when there’s a knock at the door. The other hand holds a small parcel, wrapped in cloud-patterned tissue paper—an item he has been holding on to for weeks, waiting for the right moment, wondering if it will ever come. Gulping, he briefly considers climbing out the window to escape. Nevertheless, he turns the door handle, a slight tremble afflicting his usually steady hand.

Wei Wuxian looks as though he hasn’t slept, shadows ringing his eyes, face pale. They just stare at each other for a moment before Lan Zhan steps aside to allow him to enter. Without really thinking about it, he leads him up to the roof.

They sit, much as they did almost a month earlier. The view in front of them is the same, but so much between them is not.

Wei Wuxian speaks first.

 “Lan Xichen called me,” he begins.

Nothing gets past my brother

, Lan Zhan thinks, and almost rolls his eyes. Still, he’s relieved.

 “I know why you gave up the audition now. And…Lan Zhan, I’m so sorry for how I snapped at you.” He stares at his hands.

 “Wei Ying. No need to apologize.”

 “Yes, I do. I misunderstood and I overreacted. I thought you were giving up your dream for me…or because of me. And I completely ignored that delicious espresso ice cream thing you made for me, which I
loved
, and which I want you to make for me every day until I die, and which we should definitely add to the menu,” he said.

Lan Zhan flushes at the idea of getting to make coffee for Wei Wuxian every day. But he doesn’t allow himself to hope he
meant
 anything by that. Not yet.

 “I have a new dream now,” Lan Zhan says. He lets the not-quite-a-confession hang in the air between them for a long moment, staring out at the horizon.

 “I have a question for you, Lan Zhan.”

 “Mn.”

 “About the song, the last one we played.”

 “Mn.”

 “Did you write that?”

 “Mn.”

 “What was the inspiration?”

Oh.

He just freezes for a moment, not daring to look at the other man. He can’t lie to Wei Ying, but he also can’t tell him the truth without revealing everything. He chooses the comparatively safer third option, and gingerly hands him the tissue-paper wrapped parcel.

 “Happy birthday, Wei Ying,” he says. Wei Wuxian’s face ignites into the first real smile since he arrived.

 “You remembered! Wait. I
definitely
 never told you. How did you know?” He giggles, gently punching him in the side. “Did you use your top-secret Batman computer database to pull all my confidential information? Find anything incriminating?”

Lan Zhan smiles again, relieved at the turn the conversation has taken. “Wen Qing told me.”

 “Oh,” Wei Wuxian says, humor leaving his face, growing pale. “Did…she tell you anything else?”

Lan Zhan nods slowly. “She told me about the scholarship. I know what you did for your brother. And I will never tell a soul.”

To his surprise, Wei Wuxian lets out a breath and starts laughing, color returning.

 “That’s all she told you? I mean, yeah, it’s a secret, and I don’t ever want A-Cheng to find out. But I was worried she might have-” He runs a hand through his hair, nervousness flitting across his face. “Doesn’t matter. I can’t believe you got me a present! I’m gonna open it right now.”

He tears into the tissue paper with the reckless abandon of a child on Christmas morning, tossing it behind him. His eyes widen, mouth falling open.

 “Lan Zhan, this is…”

He holds a black mug with white bunnies dashing across it. From a distance, they would probably look like polka dots.

He looks at Lan Zhan with an unreadable expression. It’s like a mosaic of wonder, amusement, and perhaps fear. Lan Zhan’s heart skips a beat, wondering if he did something wrong. If he’s ruined everything.

From his reclining position, Wei Wuxian leans into Lan Zhan’s space until their faces are just inches apart.

“Lan Zhan,” he pauses, swallowing and taking a breath. His voice is almost a whisper. “What does this mean?”

He can’t deflect, he can’t lie. And that now-familiar invisible string knotted around his wrist, tethering him to Wei Ying, ensures he cannot run, either. He is terrified that the truth is written all over his face. That it has been since…he doesn’t even know when.

“Lan Zhan,” he says, louder now but with a barely perceptible shakiness. He hesitates, then pulls Lan Zhan’s hand into his own.

“The mug. The song you wrote. Your new dream. I need to know what it means. I

need

 you to say it.”

Words have a habit of failing Lan Zhan at important moments. Fortunately for him, all of those questions have the same answer.

“Wei Ying.”

The distance between them dissolves, both closing it, and there is only the kiss, and the night, and a song flowing between them.


Ryan’s heart almost stopped when Akmazian walked through the infirmary door.

It was what passed for the night shift on a space station; corridor lights dimmed and almost all patients asleep. Ryan was alone at the front desk as Jane and Dr Urvidian did the final rounds of the day. The infirmary was eerily quiet at this time, the busy bustle of staff and the concerned murmuring of visitors gone. The only people to come by now were people with medical emergencies and, well, Akmazian apparently.

Ryan stood slightly, dropping his pen, wanting to rush towards the other man but unsure of whether he should. His heart seemed to stutter in his chest but whether that was the sudden reappearance of the supposed terrorist or the amount of caffeine he had drunk to get him through the midnight shift, was anyone’s guess. Akmazian stood awkwardly by the door, hands deep in his pockets as he bit his lip. He somehow looked more nervous than he had when Ryan last saw him, standing at the front of a courtroom waiting for the jury to give their judgement. Then he had stood tall, chin jutting out defiantly but here he seemed hesitant. The only similarity was how he actively seemed to be avoiding making eye contact with Ryan.

“I- I didn't know you were coming,” Ryan stuttered out uncertainly. The words felt heavy on his tongue, weighed down by all the things he wanted to say but couldn't find the words for. It had been so long since he had spoken to Akmazian, he hadn't had the chance to since he had left Eos 10, since they had-

“Papers went through faster than expected,” Akmazian said, his voice low and rough, “Bureaucracy, right?”

Even in the washed-out light of the infirmary, Akmazian looked good, Ryan had to admit that to himself. It seemed even an alliance holding cell was better than an abandoned cargo bay, it seemed. He looked healthier, muscled instead of sallow, his eyes and hair brighter. It sent a pang of guilt as he took in the sight of the nervous-looking man in front of him.

“I’m just dropping by,” Akmazian said quickly, “I’m won't stay for long– I just thought I should- I wanted to see you again- you and Jane and Dr Urvidian, that is.”
Ryan’s stomach sank. He blinked rapidly and looked down at his papers, his fist tightening around the pen he held.

It had been stupid to hope Akmazian would stay on Eos 10. After months of being hidden on the ship, it was only logical that he’d want to leave. No doubt he had friends to see after years of being a fugitive, maybe even family who he would want to visit now he had been proved innocent.

“I see,” Ryan choked out, “I- it’s good to see you.” Even to his own ears, it sounded far too genuine. It was, of course. Akmazian gave a strained smile and poked at the infirmary floor with his shoe. The silence that hung between the two felt oppressive, unsaid things hovering in the dim light of the infirmary.

Eventually, Akmazian spoke. “So, uh, Jane and Dr Urvidian around?”
“Urvidian’s gone but Jane’s just doing last rounds,” Ryan replied hurriedly, “She should be back any minute if you want to wait.”
“Nah. It's fine. Say hi to them from me,” Akmazian paused briefly, “I actually came to see you if I'm completely honest. I came to say thank you.”

“Thank you?” Ryan said in confusion, “For what?”
Akmazian gave a slight laugh, shoving his hands deep into his pockets, “Seriously? For everything. For taking care of me, for supporting me, for risking your life to prove my innocence, for just- for being there. Thank you.”
Ryan felt himself blushing and quickly glanced away from Akmazian’s intense gaze.
“I was just doing my job.”
Akmazian’s soft smile was obvious in his voice. “I think everything you did for me goes far beyond your job description, Dr Dalias. You've done things for me that I can never repay.”

Ryan looked up at Akmazian who looked strangely wistful, “You don't need to. You're my friend.”
Akmazian laughed quietly again but it sounded somehow hollow. “I'm very glad to have you as a friend then.”
Ryan smiled at him but he imagined it looked as forced as it felt.

“Well- it was nice of you to drop by- before you leave the station,” Ryan said after a long pause, desperate to fill up the space of unsaid things hovering in the air.
Akmazian’s eyebrows shot up. “Leave the station?” he repeated, in a surprised tone, “I'm not planning on leaving Eos 10.”

“You said you weren't staying!” Ryan exclaimed, a small note of hope rising in his chest. Akmazian rolled his eyes. “Okay, that was misleading. I meant staying in the infirmary. I'm off to see the Quartermaster about accommodation and from what I've heard that may take a while.”
Ryan grimaced. “You have my condolences.”

"Are you glad I'm staying?” Akmazian asked suddenly, his tone somewhere between flirty and deeply serious.
Ryan paused briefly before nodding. “Of course, like I said - you're my friend. I want- I'm glad you're around.”

“Just friends?” It was a question that didn't demand an answer, Akmazian sounding resigned. Ryan blinked in surprise, he opened his mouth to reply but the way Akmazian was looking at him took his breath away and left him speechless.

“I have to ask,” Akmazian said as he brushed stray strands of hair away from his face, the apology clear in his tone and his wry smile; steady but sad, “When I left Eos 10, you said – you said kissing me was a promise. I – what exactly did you mean by that, Doctor?”
“I-” Ryan began slowly, searching for the words as he twisted his hands in the scrubs he wore.
Akmazian interrupted him. “I’m not- I ain’t expecting anything from you.” He gave a low laugh and crossed his arms, shifting awkwardly. “You’ve already given way more than I can ever repay you for. I just – I’d like some clarification. I thought about what you said- what happened– a lot over the past few weeks.”

There was a long silence, Ryan glaring a hole through the faux-wood of the infirmary table, before Akmazian quietly added, “You kissed me.”
“You kissed me first,” countered Ryan quickly, finally looking back up at the tall figure of the ex-supposed terrorist.

Akmazian gave another of his wry smiles, the type that was filled with sadness. Ryan bit his lip at the sight. “Yup. That I did, Doctor Dalias.”
“I thought I told you to call me Ryan.” Ryan stood slowly and began to make his way around the desk. Akmazian’s dark eyes watched him intently.
“You might have done.”

Ryan stopped barely a foot away from the other man and looked up at him, chin tilted defiantly.
“Why did you come here now, instead of waiting till the morning?” he asked softly.
“You know why,” Akmazian replied, raising an eyebrow. Ryan took that as his cue. Stepping forwards, he placed his hands on Akmazian’s shoulders and leant in, slowly enough that the other man could easily stop him. Akmazian did not. Instead, he let out a soft exhale and leant forwards slightly, meeting Ryan half-way. His hands rose to cradle Ryan’s face, tentative and unsure but quickly becoming more confident. Akmazian pulled Ryan forward, kissing him firmly. Ryan’s hands slipped round to the back of Akmazian’s neck, pulling him in closer, fingers tangling in the man’s dark hair. He pressed in closer, sighing slightly against the other man’s mouth.

There was a muffled noise from behind them. The pair sprung apart, although Akmazian’s hand still rested gently on the doctor’s shoulder. Jane stood in the corridor’s entrance, her expression both excited and extremely self-satisfied.

“I knew it,” she said, her grin growing steadily wider second by second, “Oh this is so great – wait till Levi hears, I told him but no, he didn’t believe me but now, guess what. Guess who’s right-”

“Jane.” Ryan interrupted quickly, “Now isn’t the time. You can be smug as you want, but just- give us a minute?”
“Oh! Right!” Jane flushed slightly and stepped back, “I’ll go – um- double check on Mrs Banks again. Oh yeah, Ryan, she’s been sick about three times, I really need you to look at that. I know it’s not a good moment but I think she might need different medicine- so, uh be quick? Please? It’s really, really gross.”

Ryan sighed deeply. His hand was resting on Akmazian’s chest so he could feel it vibrate as the man chuckled.
“I’ll be there in just a minute.”
“Thank you so much,” Jane said in exaggerated relief, “No funny business, okay? Or I’ll tell Urvidian you’re getting it on during work hours.”

She sent the pair a suggestive wink before flouncing out of sight, back to the patients. Ryan gave another sigh and rolled his eyes before turning back to Akmazian.
“That sounds like something I should probably deal with,” he said with a dry grimace.
“Yeah, I better get to the Quartermaster. I do need a place to crash after all,” Akmazian agreed, although neither made an attempt to move away. After a moment’s pause, Ryan reached up and quickly kissed Akmazian again.

“Once you’re done, come back, alright?” he said.
“Will do,” promised Akmazian, brushing his thumb gently along Ryan’s lips, “Now I’m free I can come and see you whenever I like. Which may be quite a lot, just to give you a fair warning.”
Ryan smiled widely. “You know what? I like the sound of that.”


Severus was hunched over the High Table, his arms resting on either side of his plate of uneaten toast.  The angle of his body was so pitched that his dark hair had fallen on either side of his face effectively blocking out the rest of the hall from his scorn.  If it were scientifically possible, the condensation from Severus’ steaming form would have created a fogbank along the dais; there would be no mistaking his sour mood with such a visual.  Alas, his body language was having to do the work for him. Thankfully, it seemed to be a good enough orator as his peers had, so far, given him a wide berth. Which was just as well, Severus’ temperament was not suited for congeniality this morning.   Bloody fucking rounds with Filch… up at the arsecrack of dawn like usual… today is terrible and I very well hate everything.

The scent of oranges momentarily floated over him as someone walked behind the table.  Severus felt his shoulders relax as he recognized the aroma. “What’s that sound?” Hermione asked as she pulled out her ladderback chair and sat down next to him.  A bowl of oatmeal topped with blueberries and a honey swirl appeared in front of her. “Is someone making tea?”

“No,” came a gloating voice a few seats over.  “It’s just Severus hissing.”

Severus’ head snapped up and he spat, “I do not--” before stopping himself abruptly because even he could hear the sibilation threatening to erupt.  He looked down the line of his peers and fixed Hooch with a glare.

“Oh, that look doesn’t work on me, boyo,” the Flying Instructor said with a genuine smile as she tipped her cup in his direction.  “We’ve been through too much together for you to scare me away.”

“Damn crone,” Severus muttered under his breath as he reached for his own cup, swirling the dark liquid.  He covered his fond half-smile for the older woman by taking a drink. His shoulders relaxed another fraction as the coffee warmed him from the inside out.   The Elves aren’t breeding civets down there, are they?   Severus thought, referencing the famous Kopi Iuwak coffee, worth nearly two hundred galleons per bag, whose cherry-like beans were fermented by the digestive tract of an Asian weasel.

Rolanda’s voice carried down the table, “What was that, sonny?  You’d have to speak up for someone as old and infirm as me.”

“Oh, stuff it, Rolanda,” Sprout scolded from the table’s left flank on the other side of McGonagall.  “The poor dear was up awfully late last night.”

“What?” Hermione asked, finally entering the conversation after eating some of her breakfast.  Eagerly, she turned to Severus. “What were you doing last night? Do you have a new project?”

The question of ‘May I assist?’ was unspoken but Severus heard it all the same; Hermione rarely passed on the opportunity to learn something new.  Highly aware of all the other eyes in the vicinity, he was careful to not show how much her enthusiasm had warmed him. Severus smiled crookedly at her when he answered, “No, I have no such thing.”   Although, perhaps I should orchestrate some long, drawn-out project if it would guarantee a moment alone with you...

Hooch cackled, “He had rounds last night.”

Hermione, who had turned to look at Hooch as she spoke, returned her gaze to Severus’ face.  She twisted her body closer to his, creating the illusion of a more intimate conversation in the public space of the Great Hall.  She asked low, “Rounds? I didn’t think you had--”

“I switched,” Severus muttered back, his soft volume matching hers.  Dark eyes snagged on to ones the color of espresso.

“Why did you do that?”

 Oh, damn.  He had to be careful here at the High Table.  A public declaration of affection had the potential to either spook Hermione into fleeing or drive her to reciprocate out of guilt.  He wasn’t going to put her on the spot like this. Severus couldn’t very well be truthful in front of all these witnesses anyway; they’d tease him mercilessly.  But Severus also wouldn’t lie.

Hermione’s expression was morphing into one of concern and Severus knew he had to reply.  He still wasn’t sure what he was going to say when he started, “Hermione--”

A woman’s voice suddenly rang out into the room, “Darling!”

Simultaneously, Severus and Hermione broke eye contact and turned to see who had arrived at the front of the Hall.  But, just as quickly, they flinched when a booming, joyous voice on the left shouted a reply, “Oaty cakes!”

It escaped everyone else’s notice that Severus’ hands flew to Hermione’s forearms in alarm and that her fingers gripped his sleeves in kind.  The touch itself was fleeting, they grasped and released each other within seconds; but as Severus turned to locate the source of who had called out the term of endearment his palms tingled.  He had no time to analyze the mutual reaching for each other--the quick confirmation that the other was all right--as a grating screech of a moving chair pierced the silence of the room.

Hagrid had stood and the man looked as happy as if Norberta had just returned with an entire brood of grand-dragons and that his dreams of being a grandparent were finally realized.  Hagrid began waving his arms--Sprout was forced to lean sharply to the right to avoid being swat--as if he was directing a Muggle Concord Jet transporting a celebrity in for a landing.  Perhaps he was, to an extent, considering who was trotting to the High Table. Madam Rosmerta was weaving between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables, carefully lifting her slim legs to step over discarded school bags.  She wore a form-fitting brown wool coat, high heeled tasseled boots, and a beret on top of her loose hair. Rosmerta gave small acknowledging waves to the older students who recognized her. But her large smile seemed to be reserved for only one person in the room.  Rosmerta sauntered up the short set of stairs and rushed around Sybill to Hagrid’s waiting arms.

The landlady squealed as Hagrid spun her; this time Sprout found it necessary to push her chair directly against Flitwick’s to get out of the way of the dangerously circling legs.  As Hagrid gently placed her back on the floor, Rosmerta exclaimed, “My big burly man!”

“Well, shucks now,” Hagrid said, his entire face turning red.  Severus half expected steam to erupt out of the half-giant’s ears.

Other than Pomona’s act of self-preservation in regards to not being kicked in the face, the rest of the staff at the table seemed shocked into silence as they watched the unexpected reunion.  Severus felt fortunate that his brain had begun working well enough again to sputter out a singular thought.  What in the ever living hell is this?

Hagrid continued, “What are yer doing here? I was goin’ to come down this afternoon.”

“I couldn’t wait that long,” Rosmerta cooed, sliding her hands down Hagrid’s front while wiggling against him.

Minerva cleared her throat, being the first to recover, reminding the two-- Lovers?  Severus thought incredulously--adults as to where they were.  Most pointedly, that they were center stage in a room of young children.

“Oh right,” Hagrid replied, patting his large hand on Rosmerta’s back.  “We need to set a good example for the students. None of all that, now...”

Rosmerta giggled as she twirled to face Minerva, her coat fanning out around her.  She slid her hand down Hagrid’s chest to clasp his meaty hand with both of hers. As she leaned her frame against Hagrid’s side she asked formally, “Would it be alright, Headmistress, if I visited Rubeus for the day?”

Severus wasn’t sure where to look.  Either the public display between the half-giant and the buxom village barmaid or the very pinched face of the Headmistress.   Damn, that pulsing vein is back.  I may need to slip her that Hypertonie Draught after all.

“You’re both adults,” Minerva replied slowly.  “Hagrid is off duty today and therefore--”

Rosmerta’s delighted squeal echoed around the chamber.  Hagrid’s blush returned two-fold. The woman began to pull Hagrid out the side door.  Before the pair had disappeared completely Minerva harshly reminded, “Remember the children!”  The door slammed and an elated “Oh, my squishy pickle!” was heard through the thick walls.

Severus blinked at the door, completely at a loss for words.  The students nearest the High Table looked shocked and slightly sick.  One intrepid sixth-year--Henriksen, alcove rutter--wrote a hurried note in the margin of a book.

“What - just - happened?” squeaked Flitwick.

A sharp clap interrupted any forthcoming response.  Immediately, an Elf appeared next to Minerva. “Headmistress called Tansy?”

“Yes, after our Groundskeeper and his friend return to his home please do the following: cast a strong student repelling charm around the area of Hagrid’s hut.  A circumference of thirty feet should be enough.” Minerva paused and Severus felt her indignation rolling off her in waves.  “And a silencing charm. A strong one.” Tansy’s ears wiggled in a concerned manner as she took her orders.

Irma asked pointedly, “Can the staff be included in that repelling charm, Minerva?”

Minerva rolled her eyes.  “Merlin’s pants, this has been a terrible February for this Castle’s occupants.”  With a nod to Tansy she said, “Make it so.”

The Elf bowed low and disappeared with a soft pop.

Hooch spoke up, her voice soft with shock, “Rosmerta told me last week that she had started seeing someone.  Someone whom she considered a friend before suddenly seeing him in a different light. I just didn’t expect… I didn’t….” she trailed off, her voice suddenly lost.

“I don’t think anyone could have predicted that,” Minerva said as several heads swiveled to Trelawney at the end of the table.

The Divination Professor was sitting at her customary place near the end of the table.  Besides Pomona, she had been closest to the amorous display. She was clutching her silverware tightly with white knuckles--a piece of banger still on her fork--and was staring ahead blankly.  Dumbfounded, Sybill’s voice carried across the dais, “It… it wasn’t in the tea leaves.”

“You don’t really think they will require all those precautions, do you?” Sprout asked, her eyes wide and face pale.

“I can’t risk having our students learn the complexities of the sexual experience from our Groundskeeper,” Minerva answered.  She threw her serviette over her half-eaten plate of breakfast. Standing, she said, “Now that I am thoroughly off my…” Her forehead vein pulsed menacingly.  “My toad-in-the-hole… I am going to do some very tedious paperwork away from any windows.”

Casually dismissed, several of the professors--who shared similar feelings about being off their breakfasts--began to scatter to safer areas.   I suppose there’s marking to do...

As she stood, Hermione looked over at Severus and said, “I was going to take a walk around the grounds, but I, um...  I love Hagrid, understand, but I would rather not…” She gestured vaguely in the air. “I think I’m going to go to the library instead.  Would you like to join me?”

Severus didn’t think about a response for long at all, the answer was easy.  “Yes.”

---

Severus deliberately slowed his gait as they walked to the Library.  He wasn’t in a rush to end their close proximity or forgo the opportunity to talk to Hermione privately.  Admittedly, the public display between Hagrid and Rosmerta had put him off from immediately revealing his feelings to the woman at his side.  The timing would be too suspicious, similar to the faux pas of a wayward beau proposing marriage at a wedding; he didn’t want her to think he was simply caught up in the sentimental moment and wasn’t genuine.

“That,” Hermione said, referencing what had just occurred in the Great Hall, “was….”

“Horrifying?” Severus supplied.  They turned a corner in the corridor and their arms grazed briefly.  The contact reminded him of their flustered touch in the Great Hall. He had truly not been thinking when he reached out to her; the grasp was instinctual more than anything, a quick verification that things were as they should be--a reminder that even in a jarring moment they were safe.  Whether that reminder was meant for him or for Hermione, Severus wasn’t sure.  And she touched you back, didn’t she?  The suspicion about the extent of her feelings grew, warming his chest.

She breathed out a laugh, “I was going to say unexpected… and sort of nice, in a way.”  Hermione shrugged casually, swinging her arms.

Severus felt his eyebrow raise on its own accord.  He deliberately kept the cynicism out of his voice when he replied, “Nice?”

Hermione’s cheeks became pink.  “Well, yes. Hagrid is a dear old friend, and it is nice to see him so happy.  He has been awfully lonely since he fell out with Madame Maxime. But it’s specifically that he found someone who was…”  Hermione drifted off, her eyes sliding to the row of windows overlooking the Quidditch Pitch on their right. “Nevermind.”

He felt a smile twist across his face.  There was something becoming about her sudden shyness.  “You have my morbid curiosity piqued, Granger.”

“Well, just what Madam Hooch said, about how Hagrid and Rosmerta’s relationship evolved, so to speak…”

“You mean,” Severus said carefully, remembering the shocked and stilted conversation at the High Table from earlier, “when she said Rosmerta had considered the pair of them friends first?”   Is this an invitation to discuss the possibilities between us or merely a coincidence?

They arrived at the staircase and Severus paused momentarily to step behind her, giving Hermione the railing.  He felt her absence at his side as she briefly hesitated on the landing before following him. Once she reached him mid-way up she said, “Yes exactly.  That the pair of them were friends before becoming… intimate.” Hermione turned away from him then, her cheeks becoming scarlet.

Despite the lovely sight of a flush that highlighted the freckles across her nose and ran down past her ears onto her neck-- How long does it go on for? --Severus had to repress a gag.  The mental imagery of the sexual gymnastics and amount of lube required to make the logistics feasible between Rosmerta and Hagrid was enough to put Severus off from his next three meals.

Her soft voice gratefully broke him of the disturbing visuals, “Do you think that’s ever a good idea?  To be friends first?”

Severus instantly grimaced, the dark memories of his broken friendship with Lily suddenly descending upon him like thick smoke.  His shoulders sagged under the weight of decades-long guilt.  This isn’t the way I expected this conversation to go ... “I don’t have much success with that sort of thing…” he confessed quietly as they reached the first floor.

The admission snuffed out the warm feelings that had been flourishing in his chest at Hermione’s proximity.  Instead, Severus was filled with a flood of insecurity.  What makes me think that things would be any different this time?  One misstep from me and I would lose her friendship… it’s too risky.  Potter was right all those years ago. I am a coward.

Hermione gave him a sad smile, the corner of her mouth upturning slightly.  “No, neither do I.” She laughed hollowly, and her shoulders tensed. “Geographic barriers kept me from pursuing anything serious with Viktor, and Ron was always more like a brother to me.  I haven’t had many opportunities for relationships since.” She finished quickly as if to erase what she had just said, “Seems like it worked out for Hagrid though.”

“Seems like.”  Severus felt the tightness in his voice, and he had to suppress the panic that felt like he was suffocating under his emotions of a long-dead woman.   No, no, no  … he chided himself.     I did right by Lily by winning the War.  Hermione is not like her. She has never given me any indication that she would ostracize me if my feelings shifted from mere friendship and I later made a colossal fool of myself… she accepted Weasley back after he abandoned them in the woods…  she laughed when my snakes made a mess of things…

“Would… assuming, of course, that the person wasn’t an old love, so to say… would you ever be willing to pursue a relationship with someone who you consider a friend, again?  Like someone you’re friends with now?” her uncertain, low voice cut across his thoughts.

Severus’ Slytherin sensibilities were suddenly on alert.  The question itself was one of extreme liberty taking; he had always considered himself to be a very private individual.  But if there was any validity to the evidence of her feelings for him--the touch over breakfast, the smiles that reached her eyes, the hand-delivery of the manchets, and the determined defending of his students--the question could be Hermione’s less than subtle way to ask if there was a chance for the two of them to be more than friends.

But that whisper of doubt, egged on by the preceding memories of Lily Potter née Evans, made his feet too heavy to cross the line.  Severus desperately wanted to be more than a friend to Hermione… but the fear of rejection was too great and he felt unable to take the blind leap of faith.  Anxiety spoke for him when he murmured, “Is this rhetorical or is there someone you already have in mind for me?”

They rounded the last corner to the library.  Suddenly annoyed, Hermione threw up her hands before resting one on his bicep and hissed low, “Severus--”

She stopped abruptly and her hand clutched at his sleeve, silently urging him to come to a halt.  In the middle of the corridor was a large, orange-furred mass. The animal’s squished face rounded to scowl at them, his yellow eyes glinting in the light.  He scrutinized the pair of them and based on his expression he didn’t like what he saw.

“Crooks?” Hermione asked slowly.  “What are you doing out of our rooms?”

Crookshanks twisted suddenly, hunched and then--

“Crooks, no!”

Crookshanks began to undulate rapidly, his flat-face contorting.  A disturbing horking sound echoed around the corridor.  He isn’t really going to… but Severus wasn’t able to finish his thought before the remains of a regurgitated field mouse--or what he chose to believe was a mouse--were thrown up in a pile of gooey spittle in the middle of the floor.

“Oh Crooks… this is not proper behavior for in front of the library...” Hermione scolded as she stepped closer to her familiar.

Brown and Marsh--third-years, proficient gobstone players--walked into the corridor from the same way Severus and Hermione had come.  Brown, who was behind his friend, warmly greeted his Potions Professor before running into Marsh’s back. “Good morning Professor Sna--Oi, what gives?”  Brown peeked around Marsh to see a very disgruntled over-sized cat whose owner was attempting to wrangle its withering, stubborn body into a cradle hold.

The boy’s gaze fell to the floor and the smelly wad of vomit that currently rested on the flagstones.  Brown immediately bent at the waist and threw a hand over his mouth. He moaned low.

Marsh, understanding what was happening quicker than the adults, muttered “Oh no!”  He began to dig feverishly in his sleeve.

“Brown, are you alright?” Hermione asked as she vanished Crookshanks’ mess.

Embarrassed, Marsh said, “I must have left my wand in the Common Room.”  He began to pat Brown on the back, which unfortunately only made Brown audibly gag.  “Quick, Professor,” Marsh motioned to Severus, “he’s a sympathetic vomiter, he’s going to need a--”

Suddenly, the situation’s perilousness became obvious and there was a real possibility that Severus was going to end up with bile splashed onto his shoes if he weren’t quick.   Alas, after rapidly scanning the hall, there wasn’t anything to transfigure into a bucket. Coming to the grim conclusion that there were no better alternatives, he gripped the bottom button of his frock coat and pulled it off.  Hermione gasped and Severus knew that he only had seconds to spell the fastener into a receptacle.

As soon as the button was made into a bucket Marsh yanked it out of Severus’ hands and placed it in front of Brown.  The boy quickly lost the entirety of his breakfast. Severus turned slightly to give him the illusion of privacy and caught Hermione’s gaze.  She looked thunderstruck, although he couldn’t fathom why. Her smile, upon realizing that he had turned to her, had brightened even further and it suddenly reignited the fondness in his chest.  Severus felt his stomach flip, and it had nothing to do with the gastrointestinal distress occurring to his left.

Another student moved into the corridor behind him and hollered, “Hey, are you two coming to play gobstones or what?”

Panicked, Marsh responded shrilly, “No!  Don’t come any nearer! It’ll happen to you too!”

Novák--fourth-year, Quidditch Keeper--stepped up beside his classmates.  Disbelieving, he asked, “What are you talking about?” Only for it to be quickly followed by, “Oh gods, you were sick weren’t you--” and then clutched his stomach as the smells and sounds of regurgitation washed over him.

Severus had to repress a sigh as he passed the bucket to Novák.

“This is soon becoming a circular disaster,” Severus drawled.  “Time to get you all to the hospital wing.” He began to usher the students back down the corridor, the nauseating bucket-of-sick floating obediently to the side.  There was a sense of loss as he turned away from Hermione. Their conversation had been interrupted and now things felt like they had to continue to be left unsaid for just a little longer.   Perhaps I should have been more forthcoming… have I missed the opportunity to make my case altogether?

He turned before rounding the corner.  Hermione was still smiling. After a quick adjustment of her hands, jostling her hissing cat in the process, she gave him a small wave of goodbye.  Severus returned a half-smile and looked down at the feline. Maddeningly, the little bastard looked smug.


“It’s a shame I needed their help! But now you’re finished, All for One!” All Might roared, every word soaked in rage. “I’m going to smash everything you’ve built, once and for all!”

Gran Torino zipped behind and around to Riot, who stood defiantly against the old man. Torino wasn’t going to lie, the sight of the silver brute put the fear of God into him, but he hadn’t gotten this old by hesitating or letting fear decide the course.

“Two left, and everything’s cleared!” He shouted.

“Tomura, I don’t want to die here!” Toga said fearfully, as Riot focused on the old man, the footfalls of the giant beast drawing closer and closer.

All for One seemed rather unperturbed, three bone spike tendrils shooting from his fingers, as All Might dodged quickly, unimpressed by the weak attack, before noticing where they were heading. Right into Magne. They stabbed into her chest, as magnetic energy sparked from her finger tips and into the downed forms of Mister Compress, Spinner, Twice and X, a blue glow surrounding them,

Riot swiped forward with his claw at Gran Torino, who tried to level a kick at the Symbiote’s face, but was tugged backwards. Riot stumbled, thinking it an attack, slamming his foot into the ground, and roaring in rage. He looked to Toga, to see a pinkish glow surrounding her, as she looked confused and startled.

‘I see. Time to bow out.’ He thought, retreating into Shigaraki’s body, the blue glow bursting free from the confines of the Symbiote.

“Wait, you’re coming at me too fast!” Toga protested all too late as four bodies smacked into her and threw all five into the portal.

“Wait...master! Not yet!” Shigaraki protested, as he struggled against both the magnetic force and Riot’s instance on a retreat.

Finally, four silver tentacles shot out of Shigaraki’s back, pulling him in, as All For One’s tendrils deposited Magne within the portal, before whacking Gran Torino away and keeping him at a safe distance from Tomura’s retreat. The younger villain looked on in horror, reaching to him desperately.

“Master, you still haven’t healed! Your body isn’t ready yet!” Shigaraki cried out desperately. “Please, I’m not ready…!”

He was pulled in, Kurogiri’s body the last to ‘leave’, as All for One retracted his tendrils back into himself.

“Tomura, you must continue to fight on!” He stated aloud, knowing his student would succeed where the first master of Evil had failed.

He barely had time to think of something else to do or say, before All Might was back at him again, pulling back for a while haymaker. As he closed, the black liquid spewed from Gran Torino’s mouth, wrapping and slipping all around him, as All for One kneeled down slightly before All Might.

“I only came to rescue Tomura,” He declared, as the black liquid tore open into reality, Torino’s head appearing from as All Might reached the height of his punch, too late to pull back now. “But if you want a bloody brawl, I’ll humor you.”

As soon as the punch hit, a ripple went through Gran Torino’s body, the punch striking the side of his face and sounding a loud crack through the air, before the ripple burned back up through his body and back into the point of impact, blowing All Might’s arm almost out of the socket, and throwing back slightly in shock.

“I’m sorry!” He called out through grinted teeth. He pulled his arm back, pain shooting from finger to shoulder, as he worried over whether his arm had snapped out of the socket. He could handle his own punches, but with the angle and positioning, that was almost too much.

All for One threw Gran Torino aside, rising to his feet to begin another attack, before speaking again, his voice full of venom and hate. “Above all else, I detest you. There was a time when you went, dismantling my empire and taking out my comrades, left and right, with those fists of yours.”

His muscles bunched up and coiled once more, another air strike prepared. “They named you Symbol of Peace, as you stood so tall atop our sacrifices! How was the view from ontop our broken bodies?”

As he pulled forward to launch another Attack, All Might grabbed Gran Torino away, pulling him back, as he swung with his other hand, his left arm, striking the coiled limb head, “Detroit Smash!” echoing throughout the city. Such power and force picked up all around them, displaced air flying back into All for One, and into All Might’s arm like a hurricane.

‘Negating my attack was such force...’ All for One thought for a moment. “You’re using more power then I thought. Aren’t you worried? Heroes have so many things they must protect!”

The air smashed through the streets and buildings, shattering every window, and throwing large chunks and even whole buildings into the air around them. Godzillo drew close, smashing both of his massive, pad-like feet into the ground, and bringing both arms up, as the displaced air smashed into him, buffeting him and causing him to list back and forth, but remained unmoving, a Mountain against the Great Winds, doing what he could to keep the attacks from damaging the city.

“Shut up!” All Might finally snapped, his blue eyes burning with such rage, it caused even All for One to stop for the briefest of a second. “That’s what you do! You use people, you toy with them! Break them! You take advantage and twist them like tools! You sneer at them as they’re just trying to live happy lives!”

He grabbed The Demon King’s left arm, crushing the forearm to powder, as All for One realized, all too late, that he couldn’t warp anyone to cover for him, and that his other arm wouldn’t be able to building up power in enough time to stop it.

“I won’t forgive you!” He declared at the top of his lungs, with the force to shatter the heavens and shake the oceans.

He drove his fist with all of his power and rage straight through the breathing mask, driving All for One down into the Earth and through his skull and into the ground below him. He breathed hard, wondering if that was it, that he had finally put a stop to the worst monster in the world of Quirks.The wet snap of flesh and bone sounded below him, as All for One’s head reformed just as quickly as All Might had thought he destroyed it. All for One released a grunt of pain, as his head almost completely reformed.

“You’re getting awfully emotional, aren’t you All might?” All for One replied with a condescending tone of care. “I remember those words. In fact, they came from the previous user of One for All, word for word in fact. Nana Shimura, wasn’t it?”\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Venom crashed through another wall of debris, seemingly sniffing the air for the scent of the other three. The symbiote still shuddered at how close they had come to fighting Shigaraki and Riot, but was grateful that they were at least away from his Team leader and his host. It still sent a thrill through him though, thinking of how he could finally stand up to Riot and declare his freedom to do as he liked. But for now, he focused on what was needed. Getting out of here and within a safe distance.

Deku was muttering inside his head, something he had tried his best to ignore as they made their escape. “...And jeez, we came so close to having fight, we could’ve lost the baby, or been captured ourselves, and….”

“Izuku.” Venom stated, trying to snap him out of the spell.

“Can All Might beat him? He’s injured already, and that Villain Boss has so many Quirks...” He continued on, seemingly unaware of his Symbiote.

“Izuku!” Venom snapped in annoyance, narrowing his eyes.

“Sorry! What?” His host asked.

“We are safe. The little one is still with us, we accomplished our goals.” Venom said confidently. “Cease your worry.”

“But All Might…!”

“Is the Number One hero, who has a giant monster now helping him.” Venom replied, jumping and swinging onto a segment of bricks that stood over the ruins, balancing a top it to overlook the ruined city. “We are fine.”

Venom jumped onto the ground, landing on all fours, and moving across the ground like a hunting hound, his claws slicing through the rubble and all, before he stood and smashed shoulder-first into a broken down wall. He came to a stop, coming to a stop, eyes looking around in shock. Five dead riot officers. It was not surprising, given what they had seen. All for One could’ve easily slaughtered them, far easier then even lower ranked heroes.

No, what was surprising, was these were fresh kills, and not the work of All for One. One cop’s head had been torn off, his body leaning against a wall, brutally cut off without a fresh, clean strike. Another was cast to the ground, his stomach completely carved up and open, while another one’s legs were brutally torn apart.

Those with their faces left, even in death, their expressions frozen in utter terror and horror. Venom stopped right where he was, looking around in shock. Izuku’s breath caught in his throat.

“What in the hell is this?” Izuku asked in a panic, trying to look around this shattered area and broken bodies.

“Be silent. Something worse is here.” Venom remarked quietly, hunching over, eyes focused as he slowly looked around to see if there was any sign of the attacker.

The Symbiote stood unmoving for a moment, before he heard a loud step, crunching stone, wood and glass beneath it’s footfalls. The steps got closer and closer, thundering through the alleys and broken buildings, only a low grunt or growl sounding from whatever it was. Venom turned to the right, eyes narrowed as whatever approached stopped. It seemed to realize something else was here, as it released a low, rumbling growl.

It sounded like the vocalizations of Riot or Venom when they were agitated or in battle, but there was something strange about this one. It sounded so different from the other two. The creature lumbered into sight, dragging another broken corpse in it’s wake.

It was tall and brutish, covered in rippling black muscle, white Tron-like lines across it’s shoulders and abdomen, as well as it’s wrists and below it’s knees. White tumorous growths erupted from it’s wrists and legs. It’s reptilian mouth had no face, only a white circle in the center of it’s face.

“Symbiote Detected. Not Designated Leader Riot, Shigaraki, All For One, or Doctor.” The strange Symbiote stated coldly, it’s voice like Venom’s, but with a robotic undertone. “Identify yourself.”

“Who are you?” Venom demanded.

“You will identify first.” The creature replied coldly.

“You first!”

“You will identify first.” The creature repeated without changing tone.

“We will get the answers!” Venom growled, beginning to step forward, before remembering why exactly he couldn’t fight. And unlike Riot, he had no clue what this was and what it was capable of.

They stood for several moments, staring at each other, as the mysterious black and white Symbiote watched him, seemingly barely reacting or caring to his outburst, before straightening.

“Target will not identify. Objective: Destroy any surviving police, completed. Objective: Escape sightings from Heroes and Police, completed. Objective: Find Venom Symbiote, Incomplete.” The Being listed off, dropping the corpse, and turning to leave. “Finish last Objective: Return to Doctor.”

The being turned and walked off without another word, disappearing from sight. Venom was almost shocked that it couldn’t recognize one of it’s own, before slowly realizing something. Izuku managed to vocalized exactly what both were thinking.

“Is that...is that an artificial Symbiote?” He asked, voice quivering. “Did...did All for One create that one too?”

“Bakugou and the others are nearby, let’s go to them.” Venom replied simply, not wanting to even think about where that thing had come from, bounding off in another direction.

Venom smashed through another wall of debris, skidding to a stop as he saw a group of evacuated civilians and police escorting them away. Spotting Bakugou and the group in the middle of the group of evacuees, Venom morphed into cloths again, before shooting out a tendril and lowering themselves down, Izuku melting into the crowds, as Venom lead him right to the group. They almost didn’t notice him, so focused ahead where they, until Tenya looked to the side, and almost jumped in shock.

“Midoriya! You’re alright!” He said in surprise, almost stopping to envelop him in a hug, before remembering where he was. “I was so worried when that thing got it’s tentacles on you!”

“Yeah, how’d you get outta there without fighting?” Kirishima asked.

“He was distracted for a moment, so we got outta there.” Izuku replied, omitting the fact that Riot had a deeply personal reason for wanting them. But, since his friends didn’t ask, he wouldn’t say.

“I’m surprised he’d have a Quirk so similar to yours, but his master must have given such a thing at some point.” Tenya remarked, tapping his chin slightly, as he made a small chopping motion towards the safer areas of the city.

“Yeah, a Quirk. Right.” Bakugou remarked softly to himself, almost out of earshot.

They entered another district, now largely safe and out of harm’s wave, before Izuku’s phone rang. He quickly grabbed it and checked the number. Todoroki. He quickly clicked it on, and held it to his ear.

“Midoriya, you guys alright?” Shoto asked quickly.

“Yeah, we made it, all of us. What about you guys?” Izuku answered with a nod.

“We sneaked behind the villains and slipped into an Evac-zone with some Pros.” Shoto explained, before shifting to another topic. “I saw the Shigaraki guy grab you, with a Quirk like Venom? You got away though, I’m assuming.”

“Yeah, he got distracted.” Izuku answered.

“Because he’s a dickhead!” Venom declared in his ear, his usual bravado returning. “Once we’re done here, we need to find him and kick him in the face, tell him to go eat shit and….”

Izuku put the phone down, covering the receiver with his other hand. “Venom, adults are talking!”

“Anyway, we got Bakugou near a station, outta the range of the shockwaves.” Izuku stated.

“Rescue successful!” Kirishima successful.

Bakugou gave him a foul snarl, baring his teeth in rage. “Listen, it’s not like you rescued me or anything, okay? I just had to take the easiest option!”

“Yeah, okay buddy!” Kirishima laughed, giving him a thumbs up.

Bakugou’s expression and tone softened. “That, and...I didn’t want to get in All Might’s way again.”

Overhead, flew numerous News helicopters, flying overhead, the roar of their fan blades echoing ominously over the city. It was just a grim reminder that far more was at stake then just Bakugou, and far more bloodshed was bound to occur before the night ended.

‘Right, him, Nakajima-Sensei and, some guy named Gran Torino.’ Izuku thought darkly. ‘They’re the best, but I don’t know if even they’ll be enough.’

“Can’t Nakajima just step on him?” Venom asked bluntly. “Big size difference and all.”

“I’m not sure it’s that easy.” Izuku muttered aloud, looking at his shoulder as though Venom was there.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\“Ah yes, it is Nana Shimura, correct?” All for One taunted with a chuckle, even as All Might’s knuckle dug into his forehead. “I’ve killed so many other One for All users.”

“I don’t want to hear her name from your filthy mouth!” All Might roared in rage.

“She was so pathetic. Putting her ideals forward without the power to back them up. It was embarrassing for me, the father of One for All, to see it play out,” He continued without a care in the world. “And then died such an unseemly death.”

“Enough!” All Might roared in rage, pulling back for another punch, before All for One’s right hand shot up and fired a blast of compressed air, launching him into the skies.

Gran Torino moved, darting throughout the ruins, before shooting up and grabbing All Might’s body, almost prone, as Godzillo roared and charged straight at All for One. The villain stood, coughing and taking several wheezing breaths, reattached some of the pipes into his mask, before, a gigantic scaled fist almost collided with his body. The Villain leader swung his left hand forward, smacking into his central clawed finger, the two struggling against each other.

Nakajima’s eyes widened slightly in shock, releasing a short grunt. All for One said nothing for a moment, surprised at how much power what he originally had thought was just a movie star could have. It appeared the size wasn’t just for show.

“Daisuke Nakajima, the Third User of the Toho Quirk. How impressive.” He said with mock praise. “You dealt with my minion, Wolfram and his gang with such ferocity. You seem to always want to get in between myself and All Might’s little tussle.”

The Monster King growled in response, before All for One side stepped his punch, letting him stumble forward, before releasing a concentrated air blast into his chest, with much more force and power behind it. Godzillo released a surprised yell, knocked backwards. All for One pushed beneath, propelling himself into the air, eye level with the Monster Hero now.

“Such an interesting Quirk, many facets and abilities stock-pilled together.” All for One remarked softly to himself, as Godzillo regained his footing, glaring at him with burning red eyes. “I almost wonder if there’s a secret to it like with dear All Might’s.”

With a purpose grimace and terrible sound, his fins, from the back of his neck to the tip of his tail, flashed blue, as he tried to swat him aside with the back of his right hand. All for One jumped a little further, landing on his fingers, and jumping away again, before reaching into his inner suit pocket.

“I could use such power at my fingertips, or create such a wonderful Nomu from it,” He remarked, taking a heavy breath. “But it’s far too chaotic and random for my tastes. But even under my control, I’ll have killed less then your family of outcasts.”

Godzillo was about to lash out in rage, before he pulled out a gun, Nakajima recoiling in surprise, before All for One aimed and fired. Godzillo could barely believe he was using a gun now, before the bullet slammed into his right eye. The Monster hero stumbled back, roaring in pain and shock. His fins flickered, blue and white flashes, like a lightbulb struggling to stay on, as blood ran from his eyes.

He couldn’t figure it out at first, but soon it came to him as his eye closed tight over the wound. A bullet. All for One, with all of his power, had resorted to guns to deal with him.

“Such an unseemly thing, using guns, but I had little choice. I couldn’t get my hands on an anti-nuclear Quirk in time,” All for One remarked. “You require radiation, either sunlight and geothermal, converted within your body, or raw energy from generators and such.”

“These bullets mix cadmium and Anti-Nuclear bacteria. With it coursing in your blood, you’ll be essentially Quirkless for a time.” He continued with a chuckle. “And without fresh sunlight, I doubt you’ll get in the way.”

Godzillo fell to one knee, struggling to breath, as he felt his power quickly drain from him. His body began to shrink and drop away. He grunted, soon half his original height. To get such a mixture of elements...who was this guy? All for One lifted his hand again, arm rippling with built up energy, before he fired another air blast into the King’s face, knocking him end over end.

Gran Torino stopped ontop of some rumble, holding All Might close at hand. “Listen, this is just like six years ago. Let him get under your skin, dance to his tune, and you’ll end up with worse then that hole in your gut, understand?’

“Right.” All Might muttered.

“You haven’t reached your limit yet, have you?” Torino asked worriedly.

“No. I have a few more minutes left in me, as long as I don’t overextend myself.” All Might replied, wiping blood from his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Then keep at it, and push beyond if you have to.”

Godzillo landed in a pile, as All for One landed again, tossing the gun aside. “Your attack dog is down All Might. No more hiding behind others. You’re just going to make your death more pathetic then Shimura’s.”

He began to step forward, before turning quickly, as Godzillo tried to slam into him once more. All for One grunted with surprise that he was still able to stay awake, much less fight. Even at largely the same size as All Might and himself, Godzillo was still trying to put up a fight against the Demon King. All for One almost would’ve been impressed if this wasn’t getting under his skin.

A clawed hand swung at his face, All for One grabbing it quickly, before blocking the other hand’s strike, the two pushing against each other for several minutes.

“You truly are quite a nuisance, Godzillo.” All for One stated, giving an annoyed sigh.

“Good...it’s the...family business.” He struggled, smiling broadly, despite the pain shooting through his eye and into his veins., making it feel like his blood was freezing cell-by-cell. “And I’ve...faced the….Golden Demise. A guy in….a cheap suit’s…..nothing compared to that.”

He suddenly lunged forward, like a striking serpent, sinking his dagger-like fangs into All for One’s left shoulder, slicing through muscle and flesh like they weren’t even there. All for One briefly grunted in pain, before releasing his right hand, and swinging his fingers forward, jamming them into Godzillo’s damaged eye, and sinking in. Godzillo stayed for as long as he could, even as the Keloid-like scales began to fade from his body. All for One dug in further, before the Monster Hero released his shoulder, reeling back and yelling in pain.

“My favorite Valentino suit.” All for One remarked in annoyance, as dark blood ran from his wounds, more like oil then blood. “You’ve accomplished very little, other then wasting my time.”

He pointed out with his fingers, as the black and red rivets shot out once more, six of them slamming and piercing through Nakajima’s chest and stomach, and shooting out the other side. He coughed up blood in shock and pain, eyes widening in agony.

“Nakajima!” All Might shouted in surprise, as All for One tore the tendrils out, tossing Godzillo aside, as he turned to All Might.

“Now, for our feud. Not anyone else’s.” All for One declared, sounding slightly offended by the distractions All Might was putting in his way. “Keep your pets on their leashes, All Might.”

The wounds rapidly sealed themselves up, leaving nothing but some white scar-like tissue in their wake. New Helicopters circled overhead, now filming everything, giving everyone live coverage of everything going down. From across the country, everyone could only watch in horror as a Villain who could match blows with All Might, stood mostly unscratched by the efforts for the Number 1 and several of the other trusted heroes.

“And now they gather to see your last performance All Might!” All for One declared theatrically, spreading his arms wide to his sides. “Tomura has worked so hard to erode trust you and your kind, I feel almost sorry that I have to be the one to finish his work!”

He readjusted parts of the mask, sighing in disgust. “You know All Might, you may despise me, but I think I hate you more. While it’s true I took your precious master from you, you’ve taken everything from me that I’ve worked so hard to build.”

“That’s why I’m planning a most ugly, humiliating death for you and your little gang of rabble here today.” He remarked, as his left arm once more bunched up and built up energy for another attack.

“A big one’s coming, prepare to dodge!” Gran Torino warned, preparing to move, as All Might nodded to him.

“Dodge? Can you really afford to do that?” All for One asked innocently, as All Might glanced behind him, noticing a women crawling out of the rubble.

With barely a second to think, another blast whipped through the area, Gran Torino shooting out of the way, as All Might slammed a foot foreward, and swung outwards, punching with everything he had, as the compressed air shot out all around him, tearing through the ground and buildings around him, as Gran Torino was almost thrown into the rubble again. The attack cleared after a moment, All Might breathing hard, coughing up blood for a moment, before taking a deep breath and refocusing.

“My, my, I’m surprised, you haven’t hit your limit yet?” All for One taunted. “How is this so? If you passed it on, the Quirk should be embers inside you by now...”

All Might merely glared at him in reply, refocusing himself and saving his energy for when he could get close and launch another attack. He wouldn’t rise to his words.

All for One, however, wasn’t going to let his silence detour him from his continued taunting. “You truly are arrogant All Might! Even coming close to death during our first meeting, and you decided to ‘keep’ that Quirk? What did you hope to accomplish? To die and take it with you?”

“Why do you resort to vocal jabs and taunts like a schoolyard bully so much, All for One?” All Might asked gruffly, narrowing his eyes at him. “Not ready to face justice yet?”

“You came so close to death last time, and you think you’ll walk away?” All for One remarked with a rough, cold laugh. “Oh, you are a strong one, but as far as last users of One for All go, you aren’t what I had in mind for ‘Last Bearer’.”

“It doesn’t matter what words you throw at me, or what attacks you choose!” All Might yelled in triumph. “I am the Symbol of Peace and the Pillar of this Society! I may not have a successor yet, but you will not defeat me! I will defeat you again, and give this strength to the next generation!”

“I see. I’ve forgotten how stubborn you can be.” All for One replied with a small shrug. “I guess I’ll just have to give up then?”

All Might jumped at him once more, crossing his arms before him, preparing for another attack. All for One fired off the rivets from his fingers, hoping to impale him before he could launch his attack, only for All Might swing his arms outwards, smashing aside the red and black tendrils, and sending a blast of air of his own that knocked back All for One in surprise. The Masked villain stumbled back. Even without being struck, the attack was all too surprising.

As he tried to regain his footing, All Might was on the villain, swinging back and throwing a powerful left uppercut into his stomach, a powerful blast sounding from the impact, as All for One went flying back several, smashing through a pile of bricks and twisted metal. All Might stood for a moment, breathing hard, expecting to have some time before All for One could launch another attack, before another concentrated blast shot out and hit him head on, sending him back for a few feet.

All Might stood off from the attack, steam burning off his body, breathing hard. He had put up a good fight, gotten in some hard blows, but this was not getting easier. All for One seemed desperate to soften him up as much as possible. With everyone watching, he couldn’t afford to released, even for a moment.

All for One coughed, wheezing for a moment, as he caught his breath, his mask filtering the air once more, as he stood up once more. “Such power from dying man. It’s almost inspirational.”

“Even without it, I would still be the Symbol of Peace!” All Might declared, as he felt the seconds tic by for him to remain in this form. “I am here, because of my spirit, not my strength.”

“You sound like you’re beginning to cope with your soon to-be-lost power.” All for One observed, seemingly preparing for another attack, before suddenly stopping, and lifting up a finger. “Oh, but speaking of spirit and One for All, I almost forgot something.”

All Might watched him carefully for a moment, as All for One let the tension sit in the air for a moment, before speaking again, the malice and joy heavy within his voice. “Tomura Shigaraki, my successor and student? He’s Nana Shimura’s Grandson.”

A terrible silence fell over the entire battlefield, the raging fires, the Helicopters overhead, everything around them silent and a void, as All Might stared at the Villain leader in disbelief for several moments, his air caught in his throat. Without even realizing it, he released his muscle form, shriveling down again. Not since his first fight with this Demon King had he felt like his stomach had been torn out, and his heart torn from his chest now. Had he misheard? Had he somehow mistake All for One’s words? Was he lying somehow?

“Ah, where was that spirit and pride?” All for One remarked, as All Might shuddered in horror.

“You’re...you’re lying!” All Might declared, unbelieving the horror before him.

“You know it’s true, because it’s something only I would do.” All for One replied pointedly.

The News cameras focused on All Might, everyone shocked and horrified by what they were seeing. “A villain who bested several top grade Heroes, is trading blows with All Might...and he’s...he’s all shriveled up!”

Everyone in the crowds around Izuku and the rest watched in silent shock, as a similar eerie silence fell over most of the households watching across the country. It wasn’t right, it didn’t seem real, like something out of a nightmare or a cruel joke. The Symbol of Peace, all skin and bones now, before one of the most powerful and cruel villains in the world.

“His secret...” Izuku whimpered to himself within the shell-shocked crowd.

Bakugou’s heart dropped like a stone, as the others looked on shock. For all the years he had watched All Might, admired him, sought to emulate his victories and power, he had never believed for a moment that something like this could be possible.

All for One merely chuckled, gesturing to All Might like he was a specimen at a museum. “Hollow cheeks and sunken eyes, and a broken spirit. To think you’re their greatest champion. Try not to be ashamed.”

All Might looked in horror, shaking from the blow of his words, as he let out a cry of broken horror.

“See, I intended for you two to meet, but it could never happen. First with the Symbiote-child getting in the way, and then, injuries Tomura took,” All for One said with a shrug. “And every time he lost, not even coming close, it stoked the fires of hate deep in his heart. That hatred, towards you.”

“How...dare...you?” All Might asked, his voice low and shaken, his face pale and completely shattered.

“I thought you and Nana Shimura were all smiles, even in the face of death?” All for One asked, tugging at the corners of his mouth with his thumbs. “I guess such pleasant facades are there to hide your own weakness.”

The woman behind whimpered, snapping out of his depressed stupor. “All...All Might? You can help us right?”

The crowds around Izuku and the rest shuddered and shook nervously, before someone called out finally. “All Might’s never lost a fight. He can’t lose now!”

Slowly but surely, cheers began to build in the crowd, one after another calling out to him, their confidence and strengthen growing as they remember what All Might was to them. Not the larger then life figure who could withstand anything, but the Hero who could help any person, stop any crime, and cared for every person he helped no matter what happened.

“He’s skin and bones, but he’s still our All Might!”

“He always wins, no matter the odds!”

“He’ll always stand up for us!”

These and many more yells and calls broke form the crowd, as hearts soared and spirits rose in triumph. The crowd roared for All Might, cheering and yelling his name, as Izuku and Bakugou looked to the screen, each coming to the same idea within their own head.

“Come on All Might!” They both shouted to him, joining the cheers of the crowds.

All Might could not hear them from here, but he knew one thing. No matter what All for One did, he couldn’t himself fall or buckle before this figure, even if he was the worst villain.

“Not to worry Young Lady!” All Might stated, gold lightning sparking and pulsing through his body, as he bulked up again. Pain ran through him, his body not ready to start again, but he grinned in spite of it all, glaring head on at All for One. “We heroes have too much on the line, too much to look out for! That’s why, All for One, I. WILL. NOT. LOSE.”

“So much bluster and air before the inevitable.” All for One replied, nonplussed by his declaration. He had heard that same type of rhetoric throughout his years. This was nothing new. “Let’s see if all your touting and words can measure up!”

All Might could still feel his body shaking. Even if One for All was still burning in his body, his injuries and prior battles were catching up with him. Every inch of bone and fiber of muscle screamed in agony, as steam and smoke burned off his frame. But he had made his promise to stand before the Master of Puppets, and he would not be tossed aside or give up so easily.

All for One rose into the air once more, preparing another attack. “Let’s both do our best, eh All Might? One final blow, for all the world to see!”

He seemed to build up to something, before a blast of white hot flames shot towards him. All for One barely had time to react, firing an airblast and dispersing the flames with a concentrated shot before they could touch him.

“More interference.” He remarked tired, as Endeavor and Edgeshot climbed over the ruins.

Endeavor’s eyes were wide with hate and rage. “All Might, what’s wrong with you?!”

“They were all Mid-Levels, but even so, it’s quite impressive you cleared through my Nomu so quickly.” All for One remarked. “You’ve done adequately enough, Endeavor, to be Number 2.”

All Might looked to the other Hero in surprise and concern over his choice to yell at him now. Something else was in his eyes and voice. Not just rage and the usual white-hot hate Endeavor expressed in battle.

‘Everything I tried to be, how I sought to be better then you, even as the gap widened and widened until I couldn’t cross it.’ Endeavor thought, firing a second blast in All for One’s direction. ‘What that lead me too….’

He swallowed down his loathing, as he fired another blast at the villain, who dispersed it with but a gestured. “Explain that form! What are you really, All Might!?”

“If you’ve come to cheer him on, then I suggest you be good audience members and sit down and be silent.” All for One remarked, preparing another attack against Endeavor, black and red lightning crackling and blasting off his wrist as he charged up, before tilting his head backwards to avoid an attack by Edgeshot.

“We’re not here to cheer him on,” Edgeshot declared, winding around for another strike. “We’re here to help bring an end to you.”

All Might looked around in surprise, the other Heroes here now, Kamui Woods wrapping his vines around Mt. Lady, Best Jeanist, Gang Orca and Godzillo, carrying them to safety, as Tiger wrapped his arm around the women behind All Might and carefully pulled her to safety.

“If this is all we can do, we’ll do it! Anything to ease your burden!” Tiger declared.

“No matter how you look, you’re our Number 1, it’s your spirit we follow to the end!” Kamui declared, as he escorted the wounded from the battlefield. “No matter what happens, everyone’s resting their hopes on your victory.”

Gran Torino watched it all, too injured to interfere now, thinking back to when Nana Shimura had come to him with the idea of giving such a Quirk to Toshinori Yagi, then a young and impulsive kid, with big dreams but not the power to make them real. He couldn’t have believed then that this dumb kid could stand before the greatest evil in the world, and protect everything and everyone from this threat.

Toshinori could the blood burning in his veins, as he nodded to his comrades, Edgeshot and Endeavor continuing their attacks, hoping to keep him busy long enough to buy the rescue teams and All Might enough time to make their move. All for One, however, merely chuckled in contempt at them.

“Oh please.” He replied, black lightning bursting forth from his body, building up and sending a loud hiss through the air.

A moment later, another massive shock wave, like the one that had first destroyed the Nomu Hangar, sending Edgeshot and Endeavor flying back and away like paper caught in a hurricane. All Might gritted his teeth, blood spitting up from his throat, shooting out form his wounds as he held off the massive wave of energy, barely staying on his feet. All for One kept floating, turning back to All Might.

“Oh yes, ‘spirit’ this, ‘hope’ that, get with reality!” He declared, his right arm bulging and bulking up, tearing through what remained of his suit sleeves.

All Might and those conscious Heroes that remained watched in disgust as bone and flesh morphed and twisted around, crowds from one end of Japan to another struck silent by the sight of All for One’s putrid arm twisting and morphing itself before their very eyes.

“Spring-like limbs, Kinetic boosters Times 4, Strength Enhancer times 3, Limb Multiplier, Hypertrophy, Rivets, Air Walk, Spear-like bones,” All for One listed off his stored, as his right arm bulged into an inhuman side, drill-like bone tips shooting out, the man hand the size of a car’s front-end, the limb supported by numerous smaller limbs and other bone-like growths across it’s knuckles and back. “The shockwaves and airblasts from before were just to soften you up, peppering you with weaker attacks, so I could prepare for my final move.”

His massive fingers bent and straightened for a moment, before creating a fist with it. “To kill you, and smash you and your arrogant image, I’ll crash down on you with my ultimate Quirk combination All Might!”

‘Trading blows with you was enough for me to realize you haven’t passed on the Quirk. Which will make everything all the better for me.’ All for One thought with a grin beneath his mask. ‘I’ll turn you into a smear, and retake that which was rightfully mine.’

All for One zoomed at All Might like a bomb, pulling back his disgusting, deformed limb for the ultimate hit.

“So All Might, who did you plan to pass that Quirk of yours onto before your untimely end?” All for One taunted as he closed in for the attack. “Katsuki Bakugou, certainly has fire. Perhaps Endeavor’s own little science project? Or perhaps...you really were thinking of that alien infected brat, Izuku Midoriya? Were you that desperate to pass it own, I wonder?”

All Might stepped forward, pulling back his own right arm, as he breathed in hard, preparing for the inevitable. This was going to be like no punch he had sustained before. All for One had prepared himself well for this second confrontation. The punches collided, energy exploding outwards in every direction, any buildings near the crater created in their brawl were level from the impact and force of the blasts, as the two struggled against each other for a moment, All Might putting everything he had into the blow to try and break back the punch. Bones and plating upon All for One’s knuckles shattered and broken, as his eyebrow rose in surprise.

The Impact Recoil Quirk activated with a sharp whine through the air, the force of All for One’s punch, combined all the power All Might had put into the final strike.

“You may see my lack of a Successor just yet as weakness, and maybe that’s so.” All Might answered through his teeth, swallowing hard to keep his blood building in his throat down, as skin and muscle fibers split within his arm from the force of everything hitting him. “But you’re facing a man who still has everything to give, and everything to lose!”

He could hear the words of his master, the words he clung to at his lowest, in his worst fights, even after taking the worst blows, or being at his lowest. To push on, past even his own limits, and face whatever Villains stood before him with a smile. He suddenly pulled his arm away, letting it go slack, as All for One’s mighty punch rolled past his shoulder.

All for One lurched in surprise. If he still had eyes or anyway to express his disgust, his face would curled in an expression of apathy and disdain. ‘To think you would still struggle after all this, make your death all the more unseemly….I’ve miscalculated.’

All Might stepped forward, clenching his left fist, as he turned and swung with all his might, smashing through the spear-like bones and masses of muscle in his way, and crashing into the side of All for One’s face and mask, smashing the machines that remained away form his mouth as he stumbled back in surprise.

“Petty tricks, what a surprise from you.” All for One remarked, sounding slightly impressed, even through the horrific pain that rang through his jaws and face. “Whose influence is this now?”

He swung his monolithic limb backwards, smashing aside All Might with a single blow, ribs and hip bones breaking instantly from the attack, and sending the Number One falling onto the ground. It had been slow enough, but his energy, his time limit was more then up for him. It was taking all he had to stand and punch. He couldn’t hope to dodge such an attack in time. Before he could rise again, rivets shot from All For One’s three fingers, and struck two into All Might’s chest, one into his thigh. The Number 1 barely reacted to the attacks, as All for One re-positioned himself for the next attack

“Still too weak!” He declared with a twisted smile, before pulling them back out. Blood burst from the wounds, as All Might rose to his feet. In spite of it all, he still wore the usual cocky, confident smile that he always did.

“Because my back wasn’t into it!” All Might declared, as he charged once more into the fray.

All for One’s inhuman limb swung forward once more, barreling towards the Number 1 hero like a freight train once more. All Might barely got out of the way, his left skimmed by the blow, twisting it out of shape, skin stripped from it, before he pulled back his right arm, yellow electricity burning off his entire body as he pulled back.

All for One’s other arm bunched up, as he prepared for another air attack to try and blast him away. It was hard to read his expression, but for once, All Might could see the bare traces and signs of terror and surprise in his face for once in his life. There was no time to counter and reposition now. He had had his chance before, and now it was gone.

‘This brawl ends.’ He thought darkly, as the energy burst to life through All Might’s body, his right’s arm’s injuries and wounds sealing up, bones snapping back into position. ‘But...’

“UNITED STATES!” All Might roared at the top of the his lungs, those words carrying throughout Kamino, echoing in All for One's ears like the threat of an enraged God. “OF SMASH!!”

The fist and everything he had left to give, and then some, collided into All for One’s face head on,  jaw snapping out of place, as he was thrown to the ground, the fist following into the dirt, smashing into him with such force, his legs flew up in the wake of his body. Such force and power thrown into the punch, threw the air and winds all around them into a flurry, twisting and spinning around, morphing into a massive tornado, larger then any that should’ve been possible, throwing any nearby debris and barreling around for several minutes, as gold lightning fired and flew out from the tornado, burning through the skies for a moment, before finally dying down.

And in the crater that was left from their final bout, electricity sparking and fizzling all around the two, All Might, even weakened and left as nothing but skin and bones, took a deep breath, before raising his right fist over his head. Yellow and gold electrical bolts sparked and fizzled around the two, as All Might looked drained to the point of collapsing. A moment, later, he bulked up once more, standing over All for One’s unconscious form.

Everyone watching roared with approval, cheers for All Might breaking out in the streets of Kamino, across everywhere that could see this victory. In the time it would take for the transmission to travel, All Might’s victory would inspire celebrations in all the countries he had visited at some point, his adopted home of America and other places soon to join in similar celebrations. It was the ultimate symbol of All Might's status as number. To be dragged to the lowest point, and push his way back to the top.

Edgeshot climbed over the ruins, stumbling on the shattered masonry, as his eyes widened. “He’ll over exert himself doing that!”

“Let him. He’s the Number One. He’s still got a job to do.” Gran Torino remarked softly.

The sun rose over the tired and shattered remnants of Kamino Ward. It would be a long time til the city was ready to be lived in again, as Heroes, Police and EMTs spread out to rescue and clear out the debris, and start getting civilians to the hospitals and treatment facilities. As All for One had been taken into an Iron Maiden, and restrained under heavy metal gear, All Might was rushed to hospital for all the broken bones and lacerations he had suffered in their brawl.

Neither would be walking away quite well anytime soon.

Izuku watched the scene play out in shock from the streets he was on, not sure what would happen now. Even Venom was momentarily silent for a moment, before speaking to him.

“The Heroes have done all they can,” He hissed, his voice low and awed. “For now, we go home.”

Bakugou watched him for a moment, as Kirishima tried to get him to move. There was still something he wanted to clear up with Deku, a question crawling in the back of his mind. Looking at All Might being escorted by paramedics to safer area, he decided now was not the time to poke around. He could wait.

All Might, meanwhile, sat back as the medics worked quickly, operating on his arm and carefully working around his now frail form. He had tried everything, and All for One was still a threat, even now defeated. The League was out there, and, even now, his time was coming to a close. Whether it was Young Midoriya or another, someone else would have to defeat the evil of society where he had failed.

The next day, All for One, oxygen tanks and all attached to his wheel chair, with IV fluids pumping into his body, was wheeled into the walls of the mightiest prison man could have constructed. Layers and layers of walls, three Heroes chosen specifically for guarding this place, numerous automated gunneries that locked onto his seemingly frail form as he was brought in. Through the standard medical check-up and such before he was brought to prison, All for One had been surprisingly quiet and obedient.

Now, however, his curiosity got the better of him.

“Where am I exactly?” All for One asked politely to the guard pushing him in.

“Shut your mouth!!” He shouted in rage. “After everything you’ve done, a death sentence would be too light! This kind of place is perfect for scum like you.”

“Ah, a prison. I had trouble telling.” All for One replied easily, not bothered by the outburst. “Too many sensors here.”

The guard calmed down for a moment, surprised for a moment. “You’re...you’re totally blind?”

“Beyond the rustle of cloths and air vibrations, I have my infrared Quirk which I’ve used to navigate this world,” All for One explained. “I can also detect and pick up on emotions. But yes, my eyes have been gone for a long time.”

‘He couldn’t breath or see. And he fought All Might to a stand-still like this?’ The guard thought in terror, feeling sweat run down his forehead.

As he pushed All for One along, the Master Villain was watched by another criminal, the former Hero killer Stain, watching the Tartarus Prison’s newest inmate come into the place, glancing at him from his cell with a weary expression, not sure if he should trust the rumors that had circulated from the guards that he overheard or not.

‘I lost All Might, and a pathetic struggle I put on.’ He thought to himself, shaking his head slightly, as the guns followed him. ‘But you’ve made a mistake.’

The elevator doors opened, two more guards standing aside to let them in, as the guard backed them into the elevator.

‘You’ve shown yourself at your lowest, and now you’re going to give up your power when the world will need you most.’ He thought, as a malicious grin spread across his lips. ‘Your power will fizzle out, as more and more criminals come to the fore. Including my Tomura.’

Shigaraki and the rest of the surviving League members stood within the abandoned warehouse they had been dumped into. The various team members watched him in silence. He stood in a darkened corner, away from the refuse and garbage dumped within it, his hood pulled tight over his head, as he breathed hard, his eyes bloodshot and enraged. No one dared even approach him at this state.

‘A teacher’s job is to make his student independent of his master, preparing them for the future.’ All for One thought with a chuckle to himself. ‘When a teacher vanishes and that students needs him, he’ll learn to stand on his own, and walk the path of a true leader. He has comrades, he’ll learn to find more.’

The silvery head of Riot sprouted from his shoulder, drawing near, as he whispered to Shigaraki, out of earshot of the rest. ‘You’ll do fine now Shigaraki. With Riot, use your experiences, your hatreds and regrets to push yourself onwards.’

Both All Might and All for One had thought the same thing of their students, of Izuku Midoriya, the bright, hopeful spark and figure who would never give up on being a Hero, aided by the brutal and free-spirited Venom, and of Tomura Shigaraki, the determined, single-minded Heir to Villainy, helped by Riot, the brutal Conquering Leader among Klyntar.

“Now, it’s your turn!”


As it turned out, Draco was not in a completely heartless mood and Harry found the door to the prefects' bathroom opened when he spoke the password. He slipped inside and, with a thought, disabled the password, effectively locking the door behind him.

Draco was already in the bath, water cascading from two of the taps into the almost full pool. No matter how many times he used it, the prefects' bathroom was always spectacular to Harry, even more so with Draco in it. The opulent setting seemed to fit his soulmate and the way the rising steam made Draco's skin glisten had Harry licking his lips in anticipation.

There was something almost ethereal about Draco with all his pale skin and pale hair among the mist above the hot water. Harry was captivated.

When Draco looked up at him, silver eyes clear and just slightly smiling, Harry's breath caught in his throat. Sometimes he couldn't believe this was his life, that Draco was his and he was Draco's. Maybe it was the view combined with everything else, but he felt his heart swell and his throat tighten as he just stood there.

"Come here you ridiculous Gryffindor," Draco said, shaking his head fondly.

Harry didn't need inviting twice. He padded around the edge of the bath, slipping off his shoes, glasses and robe and putting their toiletries on top, before sliding into the water. It was beautifully warm and he bobbed under and back up again, pushing his way over to Draco with one stroke.

"Now, I believe you had some learning to do," Draco said.

Harry's erection had wilted a little with the practicalities of gathering everything they needed and making his way to the prefect's bathroom, but it sprang back to life at those words. He leaned in to Draco, kissing those perfect lips that held just a hint of a mischievous smile.

Draco responded, opening his mouth and darting his tongue over Harry's lips. There was no question that Harry would not open up to Draco and the kiss deepened. Harry let himself fall into the feel of Draco as well, focussing on nothing but their connection. It was at moments like this he felt most whole, most at peace.

"Oh, Harry," Draco whispered, breaking the kiss, "is there anything you wouldn't let me do to you now?"

"No."

It was the simple truth.

"What do you want?"

"All of you," Harry replied.

"Bend over the side of the bath for me," Draco said, tone coaxing, but commanding at the same time.

"Where?"

"There, use the steps. I want most of you out of the water."

Harry had no problem obeying that command. It wasn't cold out of the water, but the change in temperature made little goose-bumps rise on his skin.

"For me?" Draco asked and ran a hand down his back, causing his skin to react even more.

He made a very quiet agreeing sound and Draco stepped up behind him.

When Draco reached past him to where he had left all their things, he wasn't really expecting his soulmate to pick up the flannel, but he wasn't about to argue. As long as Draco touched him, he didn't mind how.

"You have such lovely skin," Draco said, soaking the flannel in the water.

"Says the man with acres of perfect body," Harry replied with a small laugh.

"I didn't say it was better than mine," Draco told him and he gasped as Draco went straight for his more sensitive regions with the wash cloth.

It seemed Draco had something very specific in mind and Harry was just along for the ride, so he enjoyed the sensations and decided to shut up.

"Cleanliness is so very important, don't you agree, Love?" Draco said.

Harry would have replied, but Draco momentarily removed his ability to think by giving his cock a very firm stroke. He moaned instead.

"I thought so," Draco said and kissed his back.

Draco then spent the next five minutes washing him from head to toe, with special attention on anywhere that could be remotely considered an erogenous zone. Harry was putty in his lover's hands.

"I think you may be ready now," Draco finally decided, placing the flannel back on the side of the bath.

Once again Harry was surprised as Draco did not do what he expected. The pot of lube that was neatly disguised as body lotion remained right where he had left it on his robe.

What Draco did do was run those amazing hands of his from the top of Harry's back to the base and gave Harry's arse a good squeeze.

"Now don't over balance," Draco told him.

He hummed in agreement and Draco began to kiss down his spine. His lover didn't stop when he reached the end of it either. With dexterous fingers, Draco spread Harry's buttocks and carried on. Harry swore, because he hadn't been expecting that either.

Draco had a very clever tongue for more than talking. Harry's legs almost gave out as his soulmate employed it to devastating effect. His balls felt like they were ready to explode after only the first touch. When Draco reached a hand between his legs and gave his cock a good stroke as well, it took every ounce of will he had not to.

"So there is a use for that Gryffindor stubbornness," Draco said when he finally came up for air.

He sounded far too pleased with himself and Harry really couldn't blame him.

"Merlin's balls," was the best he could manage as a comeback.

"Oh, I'm far more interested in yours," Draco said and fondled them for good measure.

[Please,] he begged because he knew what he wanted and it wasn't Draco's tongue.

[Am I wonderful? Am I incredible?]

[Yes and god yes,] Harry replied.

It never ceased to amaze him how well Draco could take him apart, inch by inch.

Finally Draco did reach for the lube and Harry moaned in renewed anticipation. He was so ready it took bare moments for Draco to prepare him. His body had responded so completely to Draco's ministrations that he opened up to Draco's fingers with ease.

Then Draco urged him forward just a little and moved in right behind him. He moaned long and loud as Draco finally pushed into him. His body opened, his mind opened and he joined with Draco as completely as it was possible for two people to be. He shared his pleasure, his want, his love and his joy and Draco moaned, coming to rest against his back.

This was what it meant to be alive.

They needed no words as Draco slowly began to move. They were together in love and desire, and they expressed both in a very physical manner.

Nothing else remotely impinged on Harry's consciousness as he was enveloped by all that was Draco. At no other time was he ever so completely unaware of the world around him. With Draco in his heart and his mind he let himself go.

He had been so close to the edge from everything Draco had been doing to him that it didn't take long. His orgasm took him and there wasn't a thing he could do about it. As wonderful sensations shot all over his body and he came hard, shuddering uncontrollably, he felt Draco withdraw from their connection, just for a few moments.

He found out why almost immediately, as Draco continued thrusting into him, even stroke after even stroke, as he rode out his orgasm. Draco hadn't given in like he had, Draco was very much still going. His gasps became moans as Draco showed no signs of stopping at all.

"Let's see how long it takes you to go again," Draco whispered in his ear and Harry whimpered.

* * *

Harry was sprawled in the water looking thoroughly shagged out and Draco felt very pleased with himself. There was something inside him that liked it a lot when Harry surrendered to him so completely.

His old friends probably would have thought it was something to do with control and domination, but that wasn't it at all. It was that Harry could let go so totally that made him happy. The trust and the knowledge that he was Harry's perfect match were what meant the most to him. His father's actions had tried to separate them and the rings Harry had created for them both meant no one could try that again, but it was their very natures which had saved them in the first place.

Harry opened his eyes, catching Draco's gaze with those brilliant green orbs. He could see his own thoughts reflected back at him from deep within their depths.

"Of course I do enjoy taking you apart as well," he said and smirked.

Harry smiled back and lifted a hand out of the water, holding it out to him. Draco reached out and took it, allowing himself to be pulled in beside his soulmate.

"Love you," Harry said, sounding entirely satisfied.

"Love you too," Draco replied and leant in so their noses touched.

"Ugh, too lovely dovey," said a voice from the corner of the room. "9 out of 10 for the rest though. Try harder next time."

"Myrtle," Draco said at exactly the same time as Harry.

All that greeted them was the sound of disappearing laughter.