MHA: Harbinger of Fear - Male Reader x Midnight

Part 56

There was a saying for almost anything. But quiet as a church mouse or buzzing like a beehive isn't what Rachel would say to describe Y/N's home.

She stared at her open door, puzzled. It was a new environment and felt as foreign as the country she was in.

Downstairs she heard the faintest exchanges of Japanese. Given her quirk, she could put some time into studying and become as fluent as any native of the country. But then the idea wasn't any more appealing than taking up Spanish.

Time trickled by as she mulled over anything to come to mind. She wasn't procrastinating or waiting. It was more like her mind began to wander and she found it hard to focus on any individual thought.

She worked through this process until she noticed a little girl staring at her. Or rather at Hopper nestled in her arms asleep.

"Uh, hi." She greeted and the girl's brow crinkled.

"Who are you?" She whispered and took cover behind the door frame. Her English was surprisingly good with only a moderate accent slipping through.

"I'm a friend of your dad." Rachel nodded. "And you?"

"My name's Rachel." She beamed. Little blue eyes were scanning her as she waited for her name in turn.

"Rachel." She murmured as both a reply and realization. Nostalgia came flooding back and a warmth caressed her chest until it slipped away from the moment. "My name's Rachel, too."

"Really??" The girl frowned. She didn't believe her for a second.

"Yeah!" She turned back and reached into her bag to show her her wallet. Inside was her picture and name. "See?"

"That's not how you spell it!" The girl accused.

"That's how you spell it in English." Rachel snorted.

"Hmm..." Her eyes narrowed. It amused Rachel to no end with how seriously she took identity theft. "Are you American, too??"

"Uh, yeah." She flipped her wallet closed and hummed. "I was born in America but moved to Mexico later on."

"Mex—ico?"

"I guess you never heard of it, hm?" Rachel chuckled. "It's right next to America."

"You live all the way up there??" The girl gushed.

"That's Canada." Rachel giggled. "No. It's a bit farther down."

"Where cactus grow and cowboys ride!"

"Y—yeah." Rachel hesitated but nodded. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen a western movie but it was the right answer.

"Coooool." She stepped closer, close enough to lay a hand on Hopper's belly and offer a few pets. "How old are you?? I'm six."

"Thirty-two." Rachel held up her fingers, clearing up the girl's confusion.

"You're old." She snickered.

"I know." Rachel said with a small sigh.

Before she could mull over the terrible thought any longer, her phone rumbled over her desk. Giving a quick glance at its lit screen she held the phone up with a whisper.

"It's your dad."

"Is he coming home?" She asked, excited.

"I-I dunno." Rachel hesitated to say. She hoped to ease the girl's disappointment and answered. "Yeah?"

"How are you doing? Torino isn't giving you any trouble, is he?"

"He gave me the stink eye earlier today," She chuckled. "But I'm used to it now thanks to you."