So This Is Love

Chapter 31

[Graphic descriptions of Abiteth's quirk backlash!!! I'm also gonna start uploading shorter chapters rather than 40 page essays.]

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Musutafu was bright and beautiful, the sun shining down on the city as May finally rolled around the corner. The cherry blossoms had all bloomed, pink petals drifting down the waterways, settling over ponds.

Abiteth walked with a bounce in her step, eager to spend the evenings settled on the roof of her small home, 'when I have time, of course. Things have been busy but quiet lately...'

The Revelations, at least, had been laying low last Abiteth was aware. Hana briefed her heroes on the details at the beginning of the week, taking over the majority of the evening shifts to give Shani in particular time to rest - Callisthene, too, needed the rest, and Abiteth took most of the morning patrols with Shinji. Evette was scattered between mid-morning, and both afternoon shifts. Hana, as usual, preferred to work alone.

Petty thefts were all that had filled Abiteth's recent week, and on this particular day she would be leaving work an hour early to meet up with Fuyumi.

But first, Abiteth intended to pick up flowers from The Lupine. It had been far too long since she had had the opportunity to catch up with Jeanne.

To her surprise, a certain winged hero was leaving the store, waving to someone inside.

"Hawks!" she called, laughing when his wings puffed up, "caught you off guard, did I~?"

"Deviore!" he greeted, golden eyes darting from side to side, "I was just leaving!"

"Uh-huh," Abiteth placed one hand on her hip, quirking a brow as she appraised the other hero, "and what, pray tell, would you happen to be doing here?"

As professional as he was for how quickly he shot up in hero rankings, Hawks' natural charm could do little to hide the red flush that rose to his cheeks, "oh, I was just getting some flowers."

Did he perhaps think that Abiteth was actually blind, and couldn't see the fact that he didn't have a single flower in his hands?

"Some flowers or a flower~?" she couldn't resist teasing him. His wings puffed up further, feathers rustling as he cleared his throat.

"Well, that remains to be seen! Depends on what Joa-- Ms. Delroy can get in. I've gotta' fly, see you around Deviore!"

Abiteth watched as he shot into the sky, 'certainly is as fast as they say.'

A bell chimed as Abiteth entered The Lupine, green eyes narrowed at Jeanne, who froze in her actions, watching Abiteth's swift approach with rapidly reddening cheeks.

"Miss Plant Plant!" her voice rose in octave as she spoke, hands smoothing down the front of her apron, "what can I get ya?"

"A Bird of Paradise," Abiteth said flatly. An evil cackle that escaped her upon Jeanne's cheeks darkening even further, "you know that tea you're always asking for? I want some of that!!"

"Abiteth Kenka!!" Jeanne squeaked, smacking Abiteth on the shoulder with a roll of brown wrapping paper, "there's no tea!"

"No tea, and yet both you and Hawks are redder than his wings~" the pinkette teased, bubbly giggles pouring from her lips as she dodged around Jeanne's continued attempts to smack her with the roll, "well~? It looks to me like you've gained the attention of Japan's up and coming wing hero~"

"I guess," Jeanne pouted, crossing her arms over her chest, "but I'm sure that's not why you came in here."

"No, no, of course not," Abiteth scanned over the flowers, "I'm looking to get a bouquet for an older woman I haven't met before. Her daughter asked me to come along for a visit."