no. 10 adopts some of the energy radiating off vice-captain hoshina, including the ones that are about you (manga spoilers!)
feat. hoshina soshiro hoshina soshiro and numbers 10 (the series)
── ⟢
weapon no. 10 is just so interested in you and hoshina soshiro is absolutely livid about this. how did you find out?
when number 10 was turned into weapon after its deal that only hoshina soshiro could wear it, it was the start of the chaos.
of course, it's known that number 10 is the only sentient weapon that the defence force has ever had to deal with, so if anything, hoshina is forced to go through torment almost every single day, which is something he definitely didn't ask for. a numbered weapon? sure, how wonderful, but a talking one?
and one that's becoming more and more obsessed with you by the day?? no.
the first time hoshina put the suit on, number 10 was just full of bark and bite. he was too focused on making it obey that he didn't have time to think about you. when he wanted to go left, it went right. when he wanted to strike up, its tail dug into the ground. they got into arguments here and there to the point where the operations team wasn't too sure that this could be carried on any longer.
the second time was when hoshina had to fight in a simulation with it. it was a test run and okonogi wanted to see how far his abilities would take him. his twin blades were attached to his back and number 10's tail was, for once, poised high in the air, ready to strike at the provided training dummy. their cooperation was better than before, but it still wasn't enough. they continued to bicker like children.
it was the third time when number 10 realised that hoshina soshiro had a purpose. not for himself, not for the defence force but for one individual. they were in the middle of making adjustments to the suit when suddenly, number 10 squeezed and hoshina was forced to inhale a sharp breath.
"oi!" he winced. "what do you think you're doing?"
"hoshina." number 10's face wasn't as visible as it used to be, but everyone in the room was positive that they saw a smirk bounce off of it. "you have a woman?"
number 10 hadn't met you. yet. hoshina wanted it to remain that way.
"can i see her?"
"absolutely not."
it asked him every single day, every single bloody time the suit was on his body.
today isn't any better.
number 10 glows more red than before. "when can i see this special woman?"
"never," hoshina snaps.
"hoh, did you meet her today?"
"shut up."
"i can tell from the way you're still thinking about her."
"i'll rip your vocal chords out, if you even have any."
"your heart is beating faster, are you thinking about her—"
"okonogi!" hoshina's fingers fly to his earpiece. "get this suit off me!"
half of the operations team believe this to be their form of entertainment. the vice-captain is famous for victimising so many of the new recruits with his endless teasing that seeing him about to erupt under number 10's consistent yapping is actually kind of hilarious. they'd never admit that though. their jobs are still important and so are their lives.
word spreads fast in the third division. you try to turn a deaf ear to the obvious fact that number 10 is now infatuated by you. you've brought it up to hoshina before, but he's absolutely insistent that you will stay away from it. for your safety and for his sanity. mainly his sanity because now that he knows number 10 feeds off his thoughts, he makes it certain that if it ever hurts you—he will. oh, he will.
hoshina is stubborn, but number 10 is just a different level. it doesn't bother talking to the members of the operation team, it only converses with hoshina because it enjoys his strength and adrenaline when they're paired together, but now it wants to meet you more than ever. now, whenever hoshina wears the suit, he feels like he's unable to breathe the more he refuses number 10's incessant whining.
"but you see her everyday," it complains. is it a child?! is it that desperate for a human mother?! hoshina wants to scream. "let me see her too. i want to see what kind of woman is making you even stronger. maybe it will be the same for me."
and he can't believe it, he really can't believe it, but he makes it happen.
when you enter the room—with hoshina so close behind you—none of the operations members dare to speak. hoshina has his hands in his pockets but his eyes pierce into the glowing blue hues of number 10. it's like a mental battle of who's going to break the silence first, and it certainly isn't going to be okonogi, who's on the edge of her seat.
"so, you're the woman."
you stand a metre away from the glass, a metre away from number 10, the one that almost blew hoshina's head off from the raid. to be honest, as long as it does its job on the battlefield as a numbered weapon, you don't have the biggest qualms against it. sure, it almost flattened hoshina like an ant, but it's under the defence force's command now.
you feel hoshina's chest pressed against your back. when you agreed to meet number 10, much to hoshina's annoyance, he had made you promise that under no circumstances would you ever go see it alone. it's weaponised, yes, but that still doesn't stop him from worrying or imagining what could happen if he's not there to protect you. he knows you're very capable, but it's just what you do when you're hopelessly in love with someone in a world where love doesn't stop death.
"what a decent choice," number 10 says.
the room is so silent you're sure you can hear captain narumi from the first division having a fit. it isn't what you expected, but you'll take it. a praise from a kaiju? a daikaiju too? yes, you'll definitely take it.
"let me tell you something, woman of hoshina," number 10 continues.
'woman of hoshina soshiro'—the nerve—what does he think you are, a human pet that was picked up from the road?
"he is stronger when he thinks of you, i believe you to be of great value."
you're getting free information about hoshina soshiro from a weaponised enemy. is it a win-win or is it a tragedy? but you don't have time to process this because from behind, hoshina pipes up. "if that's all you wanted to say, it's useless. she knows that already."
"then, woman of hoshina, i have a proposal," it says. you hear your vice-captain huff. "make me stronger and i will never let hoshina fall."
it's a big request. it's a big proposal. you'd do anything to guarantee hoshina's safety, anyone's safety in a place where everything is so unpredictable, but before you can say anything, hoshina pushes you behind him and glares up at number 10.
"that's enough. she'll do no such thing."
you're sure you can see number 10 snarl. "i asked her, not you."
"i control you, you don't control anyone around me."
and from that day onwards, it's not about making improvements towards the suit anymore or 'how does wearing number 10 feel like today, vice-captain?' it's always, "okonogi, dear, it's choking me." "okonogi, is there any way you can make this stupid thing stop talking?"
on the rare occasion where you're paired with hoshina—well, with the addition of number 10, who is very happy—you admit that hoshina is faster. with number 10, his accuracy is merciless and he's unafraid to slice anything that comes hurtling your way. this is when number 10 sees your abilities too and it's impressed. it scans your every move, the way you streak across the battlefield and blind a yoju with your weapon. it has an unfathomable amount of pride for itself and user, but bit by bit, it starts to extend that to you.
especially when they win against kaiju no. 12 together. you had helped shinonome from the first division, but after hearing about hoshina's victory, you sprint like never before. he's sitting with his head resting against a boulder, his legs stretched and sword carelessly tossed beside him. you don't know if weaponised kaiju ever get tired, but humans certainly do. so, you dash over, gripping his hand and searching for any major injuries, but luckily, when you discover that he's ok, you envelope him in the biggest hug and you don't let go.
"when okonogi said you were losing in a close-combat battle," you say, lips lightly pressed against his neck. "i was going to make number 12 wait for me to kill you first."
hoshina laughs, raising his hands to smooth your hair. "i'm sure it would've agreed."
"you can't kill me, woman of hoshina soshiro."
with a blink, you remember that number 10 is still stuck to hoshina, but you snicker as you pull away, sitting in the gap between hoshina's spread out legs. you lean towards the glow in the centre of his chest. "you'll be surprised, suit of hoshina soshiro."
you swear you can hear it grumble. "i am not just a suit."
"well, i'm not just his woman either," you reply, shrugging when hoshina looks at you in disbelief. are you genuinely having a conversation with . . . a weapon? "if i wore you, you would've given up being sentient."
hoshina grins through his bloodied face. you reach out to gently swipe some off the fresh ones off and he leans into your touch. "i agree."
you keep your hand on his cheek. "you think i can tame it?"
"no, it'll probably grow sick of you."
"stop performing whatever you're doing in front of me," number 10 warns, but when have you or hoshina ever cared about what it thinks? "it is making me sick."
hoshina raises his brows. "hoh? (name), dear, please continue."
"do not."
