Blue Butterfly | Amajiki Tamaki

| 42 |

"GET AWAY FROM [NAME]!"

A conglomeration of noise screeched like angry static in your head.

"POWER!!"

The moment you opened your teary eyes, Mirio's powerful crimson fist had just struck your father's jaw and sent him careening to the floor, the gust of wind he'd created buffeting you and Vindhel backwards. In a moment of shock, Neo's Quirk faltered. You saw the panic creasing her face, watching her wring her hands together in an effort to administer her Quirk again, but before she could control Vindhel, his arms fell slack by his sides and his shadows faded.

You felt yourself drop to the floor, gasping for air.

"[Name]!"

A streak of white and purple glazed your vision.

"... Tamaki?"

Your voice was barely a croak amidst the deafening crash that had just blown the wall apart. Even so, you knew that he'd heard you. Ripples of intense heat fanned across the floor in hot red domes and plummeted toward Neo in breakneck speed. Kissing the back of her teeth, she summoned King and Vindhel back to her side, eyes slit and jaw taut with unbridled fury. The carnal rage radiating from her was impossible to miss even as the edges of her lips twisted into a benign smile; her eyes masking the bloodlust that clung to the air.

With a  jerk of her hand, Vindhel mirrored her lithe movements and created a thin black shield of pure shadow, blocking out Kou's attack. Lashes of wind whipped back and uprooted a cloud of dust, veiling the room in one fell swoop. Once it cleared out, you saw that Neo was unharmed, and grinning.

Kou emerged from the exploded doorway, retracting his outstretched hand with a click of his tongue.

Neo smiled coyly. "Look who we have here, a few uninvited guests."

Before you had a chance to slump to the floor, chest aflutter with relief, Tamaki was at your side, letting your head recline against his shoulder. Eraserhead and Mirio had already rushed over to place themselves between you and Neo.

You felt for your neck, where the grip of your father's fingers still lingered.

'Was I just about to let him choke me to death?'

"[Name]... [Name]!" Tamaki called out, snapping you back to reality. "Y-You're okay now, you're safe."

Your bottom lip quivered as Tamaki's face sharpened in your vision, your eyes suddenly welling up with another river of tears that slowly dribbled across your cheeks. Your heart lurched. 'Tamaki.' Quietly, you staggered against him and leaned your head onto his shoulder, fisting the white fabric of his cape between your fingers. He stared down at you worriedly, holding you tight against him.

"[N]-[Name]?" he prodded. "W-What's wrong?"

"You came..." you sobbed quietly. "I-I thought it was over."

He brought his hand down to swipe away the strands of your hair clinging to your face before lifting up your head. He smiled meekly, but to you, it was the most reassuring smile you'd ever seen. "I... I said I won't ever lose you. And I meant that." He shifted his periwinkle-hued eyes to the front, his gaze steeling into a harsh glare. "But it's not over yet."

You nodded, wiping away the tears.

You still had to take out the trash.

"Aw, how touching," Neo crooned, licking her scarlet lips. "You're going to make an ancient woman like me cry."

Aizawa stared her down for a few moments before glancing over his shoulder.

"Are you in any shape to fight?" he asked.