Hellbent | Blue Exorcist/My Hero Academia Crossover

Chapter Ten: On Thin Ice

RIN'S P.O.V

"So you snuck out."

"I know."

"In the middle of the night."

"Yup."

"On your own."

"Sounds about right."

"All because you wanted some air."

"I don't know what else to tell you." I wish I could say I don't shrink down every time Yukio pushes me further. I wish I could puff up my chest and stand my ground. But with all the other exwires huddled around him, it's a little hard to hold onto my dignity. Because, once again, Rin broke just another one of the unspoken rules of the universe, and the council must judge him accordingly. I'm starting to notice a pattern.

Speaking of patterns, that very recognisable vein on Yukio's forehead is making its way out again. Just to say hi.

"Why don't you tell me how you thought that could possibly be a good idea?!" He eventually snaps. Honestly, that took longer than I was expecting. I thought he'd go straight in with the yelling, but now is when he cracks. "After everything you've gone through, you still can't be responsible for more than five minutes," he growls, taking a step closer. If I didn't know my brother better, I'd think he was going to hit me. But he just keeps his fists at his sides and his teeth tightly gritted.

"Hey, I'm responsible. Why can't I go for a walk at night?"

"Oh, let me think. Because there's a curfew? Because you're a prize for any demon that gets their hands on you? Because, oh I don't know, we've been called here to deal with highly dangerous villains?" Oh yeah. "You need to get a bit of perspective, Rin. What if something had happened?"

"Well that's easy. He'd just light up like he always does, and we'd have to play damage control," Bon huffs, sternly narrowing his eyes. Okay, I get it. Maybe I shoulda thought first. But how was I supposed to just ignore those flames I saw, huh? If I had- Well then... Well I wouldn't have met Dabi. If I could tell these guys about him, things would probably be settled much faster.

But I can't. No matter how I spin it, it wouldn't help me. If it wouldn't make Yukio freak out about us having another brother, then it would probably lead to every person here brushing it off as one huge lie. A ploy to get out of trouble as always. So, instead, I just have to swallow my pride, tuck my tail between my legs, and utterly embarrass myself.

"Alright. I'm sorry," I eventually sigh, sweeping my eyes to one side. They can't want more than that, right? They don't need more than that. All I can be is sorry. Even if they don't really know the true extent of it. I'm sorry that I have to lie to them. I'm sorry for making them worry.

Thankfully, the apology seems to settle in pretty quickly. Yukio once again takes a step back from me, straightening his cuffs as he does.

"Thank you. You just need to stick to the rules, okay? We're not here on a vacation, and you're not an exwire anymore. You're an exorcist now, you need to act like one," my brother huffs, struggling to hide the slight twinge of pride in his tone. That enough helps to pick me up a little.

"Right. Yeah."

"You were responsible once. You just need to keep it up." Then, with that, he's on his way out of the room. Most of the others follow him, but Shiemi actually hangs behind. Hands between her legs. Shoulders tense around her neck.

"I saw you talking to someone last night," she quietly admits after a few moments of silence. You wouldn't think such a timid confession could make your stomach drop, but it feels as though my entire middle just gained a small black hole.

"You-... You did?" I stammer, trying and failing to not trip over my words. But there's no use denying it. If she saw me talking to Dabi, then she saw me. I can't pretend she's crazy. There's no way I could possibly cover it up as anything other than what it was.

"He's not dangerous, is he?"

"No. No I-... I don't think so."

"Is that enough for you to trust him?" Wow. Oof. Y'know, sometimes I forget how sensible Shiemi is, underneath all the ditsy, soft smiles. There's not a lot she doesn't see, is there?

"I don't trust him. Not totally. But he told me something, and I really need to see it through."

"Why didn't you tell Yuki?"

"Because I just know he'd flip," I mutter, keeping my head low. Part of me fully believes that she's gonna run off and tell Yukio about all this, especially now I've pretty much confessed to it. I'm hiding something from my own twin, expecting him to never figure anything out. Yukio, who's sharper than the blade I carry around everywhere with me. Maybe it's delusional to think I can withhold a secret like that from him.

"Okay. I won't tell him." Wait, what? Quickly looking up, I find myself meeting none other than one of Shiemi's kind smiles, her eyes all warm and filled with understanding. "Yuki's stressed enough. I'll pretend I didn't see anything. Just... Please be careful," she coos, padding over and gently patting my shoulder. "If you get hurt, that'll make him flip out more." Then she pulls away, smooths down her skirt, and tucks a couple strands of hair back behind one ear, taking her light herbal scent with her. She offers me one last smile, then off she goes too, leaving me sat alone.

The quiet is nice while it lasts, but it isn't long before an all too familiar face pokes its way around the corner.

"You're not banned from my room, are you?" Kaminari giggles, shuffling over and plopping himself beside me, handing me a few gummies out of the packet nestled in his palm. I just chuckle, popping some of the candy in my mouth.

"Not yet."

"So... Probably best to hold off on these then," he hums, gently prodding the tiny bruises on my neck. Immediately, my face burns salmon, and I give him a small shove. "Okay okay, I'm sorry. Here, you finish these for me. I've gotta go get ready for class. I'll see you for training, yeah?" he chirps, pecking my cheek before skipping off. Huh. He must be in a really good mood. He never skips anywhere.

Still, I smile and settle back with the small bag of sweets, glancing down at the gummy I've got pinched between my fingers. They must be blueberry flavoured, I think, as I flick another into my mouth.