Switches & Spices

Chapter Twenty Three

TW: Gaslighting, Forced Sexual Sensations, Intentional Triggering. All around uncomfy shit. Make sure you're in a good mindset in case you get triggered easy.

Damn, the coffee was extra tasty tonight.

The path to work was clear and quiet, the moon shining brightly down on everything. It seemed a bit more beautiful tonight now that I looked at everything. The fullness of it being one thing, but just like the coffee tasted better than before, it felt more refreshing. The moon always brought me peace, thinking possibly that my grandmother and others I knew and cared for would be looking up at the same glowing orb in the sky, united under it.

It looked new though, a peace in my heart with how things unfolded. The party, then the, ahem, afterparty, had been incredibly stabilizing. Even with the guilt before we left. All three of us were relaxed once more, taking delight in a quiet walk as we drank coffee.

Arriving in time yet again for the lanterns to be lit, I still cooed at the sight, wings out in the open. I found myself flustered as one of the people lighting them offered for me to light the last lantern, a massive smile on my lips as I took the match and did so. A vivid blue paper lantern, looking near the shade of my wings.

Apparently, the man had caught my delight the first night I had shown up and meant to catch me since then, timing had been off. Eijiro and Tamaki both chuckled at my shy tint, and I gave a short bow of thanks to the man, quite the added pep to my step at the kind gesture. He grinned as if he received an equal amount of joy from letting me do it, waving us off as we wandered off to get skewers.

The vendor looked absolutely thrilled when I approached and tugged out my wallet, his insistent push of six skewers to our hands, two each for the three of us making me pout. He didn't want us to pay, said it was on him. Made sure I was okay. He had been worried when I didn't show up yesterday for the skewers... I grumbled repeatedly, attempting to pay him for it anyways, and he threatened to add in Takoyaki.

My cheeks puffed in a pout, and I turned as if I was going to walk off, sneaking a strand of water to curl around the proper payment and drop it on the counter once another customer came up to distract him. His head shot back towards our group with a faint scowl, and I scampered off quickly, giggling. Victory!

Eijiro had a grin on his face, Tamaki smiling warmly as I glanced back to them, scarfing down the skewers I had dearly missed, wings flapping a couple times in delight at the flavor. Tastier than ever.

A soft realization hit as I walked to the agency with my loves in tow, making sure to clean every last piece of meat off the sticks. Others were thinking of me. More than light waves here and there from a few fans I waved back to, more than a calm nod from an off-duty Hero or two enjoying the festival that was familiar with my wings and the two gentlemen that flanked me.

The man certainly didn't have to hold out to let me light the lantern, and the gentleman that ran the food stall absolutely did not have to offer free food. Or check up on me. It wasn't just because of me being a Hero. They saw past that, taking bits of pieces of me they noticed without a title to gain favor. I had to Quirk away a tear at the soft joy that swelled my heart, my cheeks hurting with a massive smile at the knowledge.

It's more than just my wings, my Hero persona; people were starting to like me. Even after I had been numbed out. Something I had hoped for, that many were starting to show me in such a short time. Eijiro had mentioned it was more than the Hero façade that made people feel at ease, it was the one beneath it that brought hope forth for everyone. I was finally in a position where it could slip...

Maybe I could finally shove that 'cloak' off my shoulders, be open and honestly myself as Eijiro had been with everyone. Tamaki as well, I noticed. Even with his uncertainties, he was still steadfast and true, showing his sturdiness and reinforcing everyone's faith in him. I was learning so much more by being a public serving Hero under Fat Gum's leadership, a faint pang in my chest at the thought.