Augh people are sleeping so hard on Resurrected phoenix man from one punch man, especially considering that he survives in the rewrites
Any chance you could write him with a femme reader post the monster association arc? Possibly someone who works food service in a shop near the crosswalk he works at?
─ Phoenix man x fem!reader
─ Summary: You never thought a guy in a stupid chicken costume was once a villain.
It's been forever, sorry ;(, but I got you, my friend, I'm sorry if this isn't entirely accurate. It's been a long time since I read anything about opm
You'd seen a lot of strange things during your workdays, especially considering the recent global threa, the monster association was a terrifying experience for normal people like you. While you were glad for the short break of work because the risk of dying on your way to your shop, it was stressful walking down the street not knowing what kind of monster was waiting around the corner when you needed to run errands.
The feeling of someone watching you only got worse during the first week that everything returned to normal, but it eased up quite a bit when, during one of your breaks, your eyes met —or so you thought, since they weren't very visible— those of a man in a chicken costume. His costume was funny, and he stood as still as a statue, your lips twisted into a silly smile, and before going back inside to serve customers, you greeted him with a slight wave.
Phoenix Man didn't want to come across as creepy, at least not after all the havoc he'd once wreaked at his most unhinged, when the costume that was once his job consumed him, literally turning him into a monster. He'd learned his lesson the hard way and was trying to live a quieter life, he really didn't want to come across as a stalker, but you were so… desirable. He definitely didn't believe in love at first sight, but you made his knees weak when he saw you laughing with your coworkers, the sight of you subconsciously brightened his day, a constant presence in his new beginning. He clung to that fact like it was destiny, like you were a sign he was making the right decision.
"If you keep smiling like that, you'll scare away the customers."
Phoenix Man glanced at Child Emperor, who was passing by the cafeteria just to check there were no incidents. He rolled his eyes even though the kid couldn't see him, sighing, his back slowly sliding down the back of his seat until he was sitting.
"You talk as if I'm still a monster."
"Well, your costume is monstrously hideous."
He clicked his tongue, preparing his defense, but a group of children began shouting his name through the window, their smiles as bright as the sun, making the words catch in his throat, he returned the gesture enthusiastically, maintaining that soft spot for children —a little less soft spot for the one next to him—, he never considered himself such a monster, his heart remaining intact most of the time the costume consumed him.
"Do you like that girl? The one who works right across the street, at the supermarket."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Child Emperor gave him a blank look, was it hotter in the cafeteria? His suit felt heavy, his hands sweaty, the soft fur of the suit was starting to weigh him down. The man's nervous demeanor only confirmed his doubts, and he sighed like a father disappointed in his son.
"I can't believe you're such a chicken now, before-"
"I'm not like I used to be."
"Fine, yeah, but you could put some balls on it, heh."
Finding the joke unfunny, he decided to keep quiet and drink the rest of his coffee, almost choking when he saw you enter the store. He'd never seen you so close, for once, even the monstrous part of him was speechless, his mind went blank. Child Emperor saw this as an opportunity and immediately caught your attention, even though he didn't know you, curiosity made you approach the table, already holding your coffee, despite your shift being over and wanted to go home, you were extremely curious about the man in the chicken costume.
"Hello, did you call me?"
Child Emperor made up a cheap excuse for your attention, you found his indifferent behavior amusing, while you watched the costumed man out of the corner of your eye, as silent as a mute, as if the disguise gave him immunity, as if it turned him into a statue, a piece of furniture destined to be forgotten, something in your mind made a connection, staring at the costume, the visible outline of his face…
"Oh, I know! Are you the guy who acted like Bird Brain? I knew you looked familiar."
"Did you watch that show?"
You murmur affirmatively as you take a small sip of your coffee, remembering the silly dark comedy show, flowing like a small stream into a large river, from a brief introduction to an hours-long conversation —during which Child Emperor withdrew with another excuse since his friend didn't seem to need his help anymore—, about any nonsense, mostly related to television shows that are no longer on the air.
Time slipped by too quickly between laughter and smiles, despite his face hidden, you could easily decipher his expression from his movements, it was almost as if the suit had a life of its own, which made you even more interested in the former actor.
"Let's talk more another time," although you wanted to continue your lively conversation, the sky was starting to turn dark "here, let's keep in touch."
With a quick movement, you grabbed a napkin, writing with a pen you had in your work bag, you winked at the man as you dropped the paper beside him, making him sigh like a lovesick schoolgirl. You laughed quietly at his reaction, saying goodbye with a polite smile.
Your heart was beating wildly against your chest, your cheeks as red and warm as a sunset, you covered your mouth, hiding your smile. You'd never been so direct or so confident with someone you'd just met, it just happened, and you went with the flow, thinking about him nonstop from the first time your eyes met, feeling confident for once, you decided to go ahead with… whatever these feelings were. What's the worst that could happen? That he was a villain in disguise? He seemed too kind to hurt anyone. What were the odds?
