Frozen Wings

Chapter 42

Storms' POV

Keigo asked if I could stay by his side during classes today. I accepted after checking with the other teachers. Something about today was worrying me. Besides that, my boyfriend was having PTSD, and I needed to be there for him.

"Keigo I'm proud of you for choosing to continue working rather than taking time off to deal with this. You're very brave, just remember that you need to keep yourself healthy too, okay? Don't let that ego get in the way." He blushed a little before putting on his signature shit-eating grin.

"Don't worry about me, cutie! You know I'll be fine." My boyfriend winked. I growled, tail lashing back and forth.

"Alright, alright. I'll take care of myself." He held his hands up in defense, taking my words seriously. I stood up a little taller.

"Good. Now come on, you don't want Aizawa to be in a bad mood because we were late." I opened the door to 1-A's homeroom. The students immediately sat down and focused on us. I built a little perch-shelf for myself on the wall, turning into a house cat and hopping up onto it. I laid down, resting my head on my paws, watching the class and my anxious boyfriend. He seemed a little more relaxed whenever he would look up at me and realize I was there. My jaws parted in a yawn as I closed my eyes for a moment, listening to the talking. Towards the end of the class I noticed Keigo's voice began to waver as he spoke. It didn't seem like he was anxious; more like something was wrong medically. I opened my eyes, looking at him. His body was faintly shaking. He seemed to be struggling to draw in air. Without another second passing by, I leapt off of my perch, turning back into my human form just in time to catch my boyfriend as his legs gave out. A couple of the students started worrying quietly, seeing their teacher and hero in distress.

"Keigo can you hear me?" I asked. He started panting, clearly hurting and not able to breathe, not responding to me.

"Alright, alright hang in there." I scooped him up, quickly bringing him down to Recovery Girl.

"Did you see any signs that led to this beforehand?" She asked.

"No, he was fine this morning! I don't know what's wrong with him but you have to do something! He's going to die!" I snapped.

"Frostbite I'm sorry but I need to ask you to leave for this." Recovery Girl said.

"What?! No!" I cried. It was serious, I could tell. Recovery Girl always let me stay. But this time I couldn't. I knew this was different.

"Storms, come on." I felt Aizawa set his hand on my shoulder. I growled, unsheathing my claws.

"The sooner we leave the sooner Recovery Girl can help." He said. I grumbled, letting my friend guide me away. I snarled, punching the wall. It left a massive dent in it, ice creating veins in the cracks.

"If I had been more attentive none of this would be happening! I should've been more careful! I could have prevented this! I-"

"Storms stop!" Aizawa raised his voice. "You don't even know what's going on with him! How can you blame yourself when you don't know that you caused or let anything happen?" He said. I paused, staring at him for a moment.

"Keigo's suffering a lot more than you know right now. He's so weak. I'm scared because if this is serious, I'm not sure his body can handle it..." I admitted, sliding down the wall until I sat on the ground.

"I understand how you feel. Hizashi's been in a similar situation to Takami's. And it's really terrifying knowing someone you care so dearly about could die." My friend sat down with me.

"He's the first person I truly felt for. I love him so much. He's my everything. I can't bear the thought of losing him. I don't think I could survive without him."

"Of course you could, Storms! You're the bravest, strongest, fiercest, most independent person I know. You're special. You survived a hellhole all by yourself and managed." Aizawa tried to cheer me up.

"I-I know... it's just... back then, I didn't think I would fall in love, so I'd be okay for my whole life. But now... I feel like Keigo's a part of me. And I can't lose that." I said.

"I get it. I tried to shut Hizashi out after Oboro died. But then I fell for that loud-mouthed idiot. And he's a part of me now," He said. "But Storms, you have to remember, Keigo's strong. He's determined. And even if things got to the worst they could be, you have nine lives, don't you?" My friend asked.

"I don't know! That's the problem! I'm scared because if it turns out I DON'T have nine lives and I'm on my last one, that probably means I can't give it away. I don't think I can give the final life to anyone but myself. And that means that-that... he would die. For good." I felt tears prick at my eyes. It angered me. I couldn't cry. Crying was weak. Crying gave others pleasure and confidence that they could hurt me.

But I couldn't do it anymore. I choked out a single sob. Followed by another. And another. I screwed my eyes shut, crying. I felt Aizawa set his arms around me in a hug. He didn't say anything. Just sat with me, comforting me. And to be honest, that was all I needed in that moment. I realized just how fragile life was in that moment, and why people always said 'if you love someone, tell them while there's time.' Because the second you let your guard down, you would wish you had had done just that.

Keigo... don't go. I'll be here for you.