Expect the Unexpected: Mei Hatsume x reader (BOOK 2)

Chapter 41: Scars, Blood and Tears

TW: PTSD attack, blood, scratching

You were back at your makeshift desk in the shack, typing as if your life depended on it. Midoriya was sent to yet another mission, this one potentially leading to a meeting with none other than the devil himself.

"Here's the location," you announced, sending it over HN to all the heroes involved. "Don't be reckless, this could be a trap."

"Aren't you the immobilised one here, General?" One of the heroes stated. "I believe we're better off without you telling us to play safe, considering we all saw you die."

"I strongly suggest you watch your mouth Lieutenant, for until this war is over I'm the one in charge," you threatened, noticing his breath hitch.

"Y/N, send the location," Midoriya demanded. "I promise to not be reckless."

"Fine. Endeavour, watch Deku," you ordered as you sent the greenette the location as well.

"Y/N," Endeavour grumbled. "He ran in."

You instantly attempted reaching out to Midoriya, though the lines were down, causing a ringing in your ear much like the first time during the first phase of the war. Only being able to hear broken parts of the conversation because the ringing drowned the rest out, you attempted to listen for any danger signs.

An unmistakable scream of pain followed, blood trickling down the sides of your head. You couldn't hear anything other than the scream of impact, so you assumed it was Midoriya who shouted in pain. However, as your throat grew hoarse and the ringing never stopped, you realised it was you.

Unbeknownst to you, you'd taken off the headset as soon as the explosion occurred. You scratched at your ears, the ringing never leaving you, and before you knew it tears were streaming down your face and your breathing was ragged.

Your lungs squeezed in upon themselves, your throat went dry. The blood continued to drizzle down your chin, mixing in with the salt of your tears as it dripped off onto the ground.

"Somebody..." you choked out. "Please.... help."

'Now now Y/N,' a voice whispered in your ear, one so foreign yet so familiar it was difficult to place the owner. 'I warned you to not be reckless, I warned you now didn't I?'

You let out a strained sob as you clawed at the ground you knelt on, reaching for something to get you out of whatever pit you were stuck in. For never had you been this clueless, this lost, even when your other half had been taken from you.

'You should have listened, I told you you would only suffer the same fate as your brother,' the voice taunted, hands creeping up to cup your chin. 'But did you listen?'

"Please...." you sobbed, wishing you could just undo everything, wishing you'd relied on Aizawa's reflexes and left him. So that you could return home.

"Mei, I'm so sorry," you gasped out one last time before passing out onto the cold concrete floor.

You weren't sure for how long you were out, or why for that matter, but you were woken up by the heroes who had rushed over as soon as the line went down.

"Can you hear me?" Endeavour asked, eyes wide as he helped you up.

You nodded, though were quick to collapse and throw up into the nearest container.

"Panic attack I'm guessing, the line cut wasn't good for any of us and he knew," Kamui Woods mumbled. "Kid have some water, your friend's been put to rest for a while, go and join him."

You shook your head as you clutched the container, tears of pain pricking at your eyes as the acid burnt in your throat.

"I promised to keep him safe, I have to stay awake," you denied, getting up and sitting onto the wheelchair. "I'm sorry for any inconveniences."

"Don't worry about it dear, we're here to support you," Mt. Lady smiled. "Since the police and military is so busy, only you and Deku have been working. It's only worsened since the incident with Nagant."

"General I mean no harm but you're 16 and paralysed, are you sure-" Edgeshot began, though you silenced him.

"I was there in the battle the other day, I can fight albeit not as regularly as I could before," you glared. "My position remains running this system and sending out orders until something should change."

"She's right, we can't risk losing our top strategist as well," Hawks reminded. "All our best heroes are retiring, just two days ago Death Arms left the job. Are we really going to tell someone who's saved thousands to leave as well?"

"Don't over exaggerate it," Endeavour sighed. "Y/N and you know the most about the Front and the situation with them still hasn't been cleaned up. AFO's going to attack, no doubt, so we have to do something before he can think of a counter."

"Starting with our communication methods," Jeanist began. "The lines were cut twice until now, and both of the times Y/N was impacted. Next time she might go deaf, who knows, but we can't risk it."

"It's alright Jeanist," you shrugged. "The doctor said I'd go deaf soon anyways, considering the first impact was a bad one and the explosion only worsened it."

"You don't need to be the victim of our mistakes every time," Kamui Woods reminded. "For once, choose your own happiness."

'Be a child, worry about romance, watch movies! You shouldn't be trying to save everyone at this age,' Jeanist begged, just hoping he could get you away from your work.

But you'd seen too much.

The pool of blood surrounding your mother, Nighteye's cold eyes as they showed emotion for the first time on his death bed. Your brother, who had turned out to be a Nomu. All your classmates, the scars they held due to the aftermath of the war, the morals they had to break and the rage and grief they harboured which was only visible to you at the memorial service.

But worst of all, you'd seen how these things change people. How they go from being the happiest people you ever knew to the most reckless. You'd seen how it changed those around you, how everyone grew more paranoid as your health returned.

For they had realised that you would be unstoppable once you regained all your health.

"I chose my happiness," you declared. "And nothing will prevent me from returning to it."

And should anything happen to you again, the one person they relied on would loose himself completely.

Happy New Year!! I hope you're all well and healthy and stay so :))

QOTD: thoughts on the character development with Y/N so far?

QOTD pt 2: thoughts on Deku going insane if Y/N gets hurt? 😗

Have a great day/night!