Underground Hatred - My Hero Origins (MHO)

14: Conflict of Interest

Word Count: 1572

(Kat)

 The forest green sweater was straightened with a sharp turn, tugging down the woolen material slightly. A breath blew from Kat's mouth as her hand snatched the door knob and threw the barricade open.

A blast of cold air smacked Kat in the face, damp leaves creating a thick smog of mold and mildew in the air. Though, some of the wind was blocked because of Davis standing at the doorway, hands in the indigo pockets of the jacket, mouth in the usual tight line that was his normal attire.

The smile that cascaded over Kat's face slightly faded, her amber eyes holding something behind them that switched demeanors. One hand clenched her antique leather purse's strap, her throat clearing slightly. A nervous giggle escaped her mouth. "I just realized half the time I'm with you, your face is covered in shadows. I... I don't think we hang out in good lighting much."

Davis's lips slightly twitched, a breath blown out in a fashion of humor. "Yeah... I guess you're right."

"S—Sorry," Kat shook her head mindlessly. She stepped out of the shelter of her house, closed the door behind her, and stuck a key in the lock. As she fiddled with it, she continued, "Just me making fucking weird observations." A few more curses huddled under her breath before Kat pulled away from the door, the lock secure.

"Y—You're fine," Davis reassured, his tone upping a tad. He took a step back away from Kat, giving more space to her. "Y—You have some interesting observations... I like to hear them."

A dry, short laugh coughed from Kat's lungs. Her fingers slipped the chain with only two keys into her purse, leaving her free hand to latch onto the strap with her other. She began her walk, Davis following beside. "Well, that makes one of us. Stupid shit usually just falls outta my mouth most of the time."

"You have good ideas, though."
Finding the sidewalk at the front of Kat's lawn pulled Kat's eyes up to peer at Davis's face. His red visor was pointed directly in front of him, but an odd force watched her. A meek smile crossed her lips, her awkward spirit lifting.

"Anyways," Kat hummed, hugging her purse's strap closer to her, "you texted me last night about heading to our... destination today. I was already planning on taking the bus, so I don't—"

"O—Oh, I've just been flying us around lately," Davis started. The biting cold red on his cheeks exploded with another layer of flush, his hands digging deeper into his pockets. "M—My quirk was used a lot yesterday, a—and it's weak today. If I u—use it a lot today, it may not work when we need to use it."

Kat's jaw slowly dropped, processing Davis's words. She nodded in agreement, "Don't weaken yourself! Oh God, if I'd known yesterday that you used it too much, I wouldn't have had you fly us to different places."

"Kat, don't worry about it. H—Honestly, I thought I could handle it—well, I did, but today I'm just weak... My quirk is weak, not me."

The reassurance at the end confused Kat, but she shook it off. Her stomach sensed that she wasn't the only one with self esteem issues.

The two turned the corner of the block to continue their stroll to the nearest bus stop. Wind bit at Kat's back, the glaring sun from the midday light blinding her sight a tad. The bitter air froze a sheet of ice over the inside lining of her lungs, but the molding leaves wafted an organic tang in the air. The temperature was not the same chill it had been days prior, this more warm and comforting. A good feeling drifted around Kat, the sun's rays illuminating that truth more than ever.

"Th—The bruises on your face are getting better," Davis commented, breaking the brief silence.

"Oh, yeah," Kat muttered, reaching a hand up to her face and brushing her chilly cheek for a moment. "It's still there, but the makeup has made it easier to cover. Thankfully, people at my work didn't question too much."