𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐛𝐧𝐡𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬

[21]

Two of hearts

21

___

As Y/n slowly opened her eyes, the harsh, sterile light of the nurse's office greeted her. The throbbing pain in her hands intensified as her consciousness returned, and a low moan escaped her lips. The events leading to this moment felt like a hazy nightmare, and reality crashed over her like an unforgiving wave.

The first thing she noticed was the muffled sounds around her—the distant chatter of worried voices and the hum of the nurse moving about the room. Blinking away the blur, Y/n focused on her surroundings. A crisp white bandage covered each hand, a stark contrast to the gruesome image imprinted in her memory.

Recovery Girl, a seasoned and stern presence, approached Y/n. "Ah, you're awake. How are you feeling?"

Y/n attempted to speak, but her throat felt dry and scratchy. She managed a weak nod, prompting Recovery Girl to hand her a cup of water. As she sipped, the reality of her situation settled in. Glancing down at her bandaged hands, she winced at the sight.

"Take it easy," Recovery Girl advised. "Your quirk reacted unexpectedly, causing significant burns to your hands. You're lucky it wasn't worse."

"Your father was here," Recovery Girl continued. "He insisted on staying until you woke up but had to leave for an urgent matter."

Y/n's heart skipped a beat. Matteo's presence only added to the complexity of her emotions. She couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that his involvement in her life went beyond a concerned parent.

"I'll give you some time to rest," Recovery Girl said, leaving Y/n to grapple with her thoughts as she focused on the paperwork scattered across her desk.

As she lay there, the weight of the recent events pressed down on her. The pain in her hands was a constant reminder of the unknown force within her, a force that seemed to react violently to the intensity of the sports festival. Little did she know that this incident would unravel a chain of events that would shape her journey in ways she couldn't fathom.

Suddenly, the door to the office swung open revealing a man. He was around average height, he wore a yellowish-orange costume adored with gold accents along with a pair of goggles upon his head. "Ah, young lady. You're awake, we need to talk."

Y/n sat up in the bed, crossing her legs below the covers with a confused frown.

"That was quite the display of power back there. I'm Captain Ochre, by the way. I specialize in analysing and understanding quirks, especially ones like yours." His voice carried a mix of sympathy and curiosity.

Y/n nodded, still processing the events that had unfolded.

Captain Ochre stepped forward and took a seat in the chair beside her bed.

"Are you a hero or something?" Y/n asked, her voice hoarse from her previous screams.

The hero nodded. "Indeed I am. But another part of my job, as I mentioned before, is studying quirks, and yours is quite the spectacle."

His eyes fixated on Y/n. "That was quite the unexpected turn of events, L/n," he said with a calm yet stern demeanour. "I've been following your progress throughout the Sports Festival, and your control over fire is truly remarkable. However, what happened out there... that wasn't normal."

Y/n winced as she flexed her hands, still feeling the lingering pain. "I... I don't know what happened. It felt like something just surged out of me, and I couldn't control it."