issue 1・issue 2・issue 3・issue 4・issue 5・issue 6・issue 7・issue 8・issue 9・issue 10
a/n: I had SO much fun writing this and making the banner!! finally starting to post my AM x OC brainrot, sososo happyyyy, enjoy!! I used "reader" in the thumbnail bc the text aligned a lot better & you can imagine her however you want ♡ here's her info page if you wanna know more abt her! working on designing her hero costumes atm
summary: Toshi and Charlotte (hero name: Painkiller) attended Heroes University of California together before partnering up for the rest of his stay in America. After they parted, many things were left unsaid. Decades later, she relocates to Japan, becoming a teacher at UA, and old feelings resurface in full force.
tags: slow burn, yearning for each other for their entire lives basically, fluff, flashbacks
“Oh! It's Painkiller-sensei!”
All Might's piercing blue eyes desperately searched for her down the path outside UA, feeling that familiar ease slip into his muscles the moment he found her.
“Charlotte.”
Jesus, even after so long, he always said her name with such intensity, you could almost hear all the things he wished he could have told her in the last three decades of yearning, all at once. Midoriya was watching their interaction as he always did, feeling like he shouldn't be there, but obsessively overanalyzing every breath either of them took.
“Toshi! Ah, Izuku, too! Sorry, one sec, work email…”
Truthfully, he was always fanboying at least a little. Not just one, but TWO former Number One heroes in his proximity?! Besides, her being one of the closest people to All Might, and still rumored to be lovers, so many years later? He was basically vibrating with excitement already, in addition to the squeal he’d just let out when he noticed her phone charm, bouncing lightly under the motions of her fingers across her phone screen.
“NO WAY?!?!?!?! THE SUPER ULTRA LIMITED EDITION, AMERICA ONLY, VERY FIRST DESIGN OF ALL MIGHT MERCH, PROTOTYPE YOUNG AGE ALL MIGHT!!!!!! MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW IT EXISTS!!!!”
The shine in Toshi's eyes grew brighter as he realized, his heart instantly swelling in his chest. His eyes met Charlotte's as she bit her lip, flustered from head to toe. Their longing stares turned into a simultaneous laugh, leaving Izuku listening to them with his own blush across his cheeks. Despite a few scuffs showing its age, it had obviously been treated with the greatest care.
“That old thing? You… kept it?”
Her expression melted into the sweetest smile, despite the fluster over her facial features still ridiculously obvious.
“Didn't you hear? It's the rarest.”
“Toshi, look at this! I drew you! Except, cuter, and, like, super perfect for a little keychain or phone charm! You said you've been asked for a prototype merch design, right? Here you go!”
He could never help returning her smile, just the same as always.
“It really is."
“Lottie! This is no time to leave that park bench - because I am here! With the first ever…”
Sporting the brightest grin, Toshi proudly pulled out a dangling phone charm, holding it to the side of his face and mirroring his signature pose, “-All Might merch! HAHAHA!”
Charlotte broke out into a giggle, rushing over to him. She placed an arm over his chest for support, rising to her tip toes for a better look.
“Ahahaha! It's even goofier than I thought it would be! It's so cute, though! Really looks like you! Oh-? You're turning kinda red!”
His laugh slowly dissipated into an awkward throat clear before snatching the charm into his palm, a large hand holding the tiny All Might out for her.
“It's the test one. I'd be honored if you kept it, since it's your design. It felt right.”
With a small smile and that annoyingly repetitive feeling of butterflies in her stomach, Charlotte gingerly took the phone charm from him, both of their eyes flickering to each-other as their skin touched. She attached it to her phone and held it up with a laugh, doing her best impression of him before the setting sun.
“Charlotte's favorite phone charm… is here!”
Shit, he was probably turning redder.
“We need to make some small changes, though. I'll simplify the suit design more, so it's easier to recognise on this small of a scale. Then you should be good to have them make the first batch and ship them out!” “Ah, I see! You're really good at this stuff, Lottie.” “Well, I am the most fashionable hero!”
Before he could think, Toshinori's hands had found her sides, lifting her up and spinning her in the air as she clutched his shoulders in surprise. He reveled in his favourite sound, one he wouldn't hear for much too long after they'd part.
“And also - the tallest!” “That's right! Wait-! I almost dropped Smallmight!” “Smallmight?” “Mhm! He's my buddy now!”
“Of course I kept him. I would never leave my Smallmight behind!”
Midoriya grabbed his head in shock, almost falling over from the overwhelming domesticity between them.
“THAT'S WHERE IT CAME FROM?!?!?!?!??!”
“Smallmight” Toshi mumbled to himself in the dark of their shared dorm room, turning in his bed; Dave was probably still in the lab, so he shouldn't bother him...
Unable to sleep, All Might reached out for his phone, unlocking it to a new notif.
‘Top secret image! Don't show this to anyone, it might be too scandalous!’
The selfie of Charlotte smooching her All Might phone charm startled him so badly, he jumped to his feet atop the mattress and hit the ceiling, leaving him a flustered mess as he rubbed his head.
In her own room, Charlotte laughed to herself, turning her lamp off and sliding into bed, staring at her chat with Toshi for a while as she waited for a response. It never came, but the phone ended up cuddled to her chest together with the little charm, idling to her lock screen of the three of them sharing a hug.
“Luckily, I only ever want my eyes to see it” he'd typed out right before falling asleep, but he couldn't find the courage to send it, and by the time he'd woken up, it was an embarrassing memory he tried to forget. His phone had died, anyway.
“What’s that bump on your head?” Dave asked him over breakfast the next morning, only to watch Toshi’s imposing frame deflate. “Don’t worry about it.”
issue 1・issue 2・issue 3・issue 4 ・issue 5・issue 6・issue 7・issue 8・issue 9・issue 10
a/n: as I said before, this is technically AM X OC but you can imagine her however you want ♡ here's her info page if you wanna know more abt her!
summary: Toshi and Charlotte (hero name: Painkiller) attended Heroes University of California together before partnering up for the rest of his stay in America. After they parted, many things were left unsaid. Decades later, she relocates to Japan, becoming a teacher at UA, and old feelings resurface in full force.
tags: slow burn, yearning for each other for their entire lives basically, fluff, friends to lovers, flashback, Young All Might, America era/student All Might, David, Toshi and Lottie might just be a polycule at this point tbh (interpret however you like), slice of life-ish, romantically ambiguous mwm trios my beloved
“Here we have America’s brightest… two kids in adult bodies! Man, what am I gonna do with you two?” The camera panned to a dancing young woman, spinning around with a bright smile, a pop song blaring in the background. “It’s part of being a hero, you know? Besides, aren’t you literally playing with Legos right now?”
The scene shook as Dave adjusted his position atop the carpet, a huff of indignation erupting from the cameraman, zooming in on his current project atop the floor. There were little pieces scattered everywhere around the half-built replica. “This is an intricate model of a space shuttle! Toshi, back me up here!”
The camera switched to a young All Might; blue eyes sparkled in the midday sun coming through the large windows in their dorm, enraptured by the superhero comic in front of him. He spoke in the most serious tone of voice and a slightly comical American accent: “Dreams save us. Dreams lift us up and transform us. And on my soul, I swear... until my dream of a world where dignity, honor and justice becomes the reality we all share, I'll never stop fighting. Ever.”
They’d both stopped what they were doing to stare at him in awe, before the support course student tilted his head behind the camera. “Hold on. Is that a Superman quote? Did you just read your comic page out loud?”
Toshi turned his head towards them from the bed, an iconic grin plastered over his face. “Yes.”
“You’re such an Americanophile, dude!” “HAHAHAHAHA!” A laugh familiar to millions of people in the future resounded through the bedroom, both of his friends’ joining in. The clip seemed to cut before another reel of the same scene started playing.
“Lottie, how’s the costume going?”
“Look, look! Isn’t this, like, totes cute?!”
Still on the floor, David straightened his back against the bedframe and craned his neck to get a better view at Charlotte’s papers. Atop numerous fashion sketches was the renewed version of her very first hero costume, admittedly an improvement over the plain boots, short dress, arm-length gloves and long cape from before that she had basically meshed together from a bunch of Toshi’s vintage comics. “Wait, that’s actually kinda cool.” “Isn’t it?! I’m designing a more stylish cape, too! Definitely shorter. This one gets so annoying! Apparently, long capes and not being able to fly or leap are, like, a super bad matchup.” “That could work, actually. I just read about this new material the other day; it’s real aerodynamic. It could help you glide around. And yeah, I saw you trip on it when you tried to get that kid’s cat out of a tree- ow!”
The heart-shaped pillow she threw at him bounced off Dave’s head to land on Toshi. He snuggled it to his muscular chest, arms crossed, before he gave her a big thumbs up. “Nice, Lottie. Super cool! It suits you.”
A slight blush dusted her cheeks as her eyes lingered on the pillow she cuddled it to sleep every night, snugly squeezed against Toshi’s bosom, camera slowly panning to take in his large biceps.
“You guys…!” The young heroine rushed over and wrapped her arms around both, pulling the three of them close. The camera clattered to the floor, capturing an upside-down view of their hug. “I couldn’t have picked better dorks as my sidekicks.” “Sidekicks?! I’m basically a genius, and this guy’s seven feet tall!” “The perfect boring backdrop characters to make me shine!” “Man…” “HAHAHAHA!”
-
“Guysss, why’d you both ditch me? That lecture was sooo-whaaAAAT IS going ON?!”
Toshinori’s incredibly red face turned away, hands fidgeting in his lap.
“D-Dave is… here…”
“Toshiii, sit still!”
Those pink nails that made his skin prickle grabbed onto his face again, and Toshi had never felt himself this close to spontaneously imploding. Shyly, his eyes darted over to David, a confusing mix of 'please don’t look' and 'please don't leave me' combined over his features.
“Y-Yes, ma’am…”
“Alright, this is getting weird.” With a deep sigh, David set his backpack down and took a seat on the floor next to them, taking the scene in with a laugh. Charlotte’s focus was indomitable; nothing could shake the pure concentration as she drew the eyeliner over Toshi’s lids, staring at him more intently than his heart could handle.
“So, you’re turning him into a pretty princess? Did I miss the prom invite?”
All it took was one deadly look from Charlotte for David to raise his arms in defeat. “Alright, alright! Geez…” “He’s already pretty, that’s why I wanted to see how he’d look with some make-up! Don’t worry, you can be next.”
Toshi’s gulp was a lot louder than he’d hoped as her delicate fingers smeared the kohl from the corner of his eye. “Sorry! Did I hurt you? We can stop anytime!”
Dave raised an eyebrow at him, mouthing a not-so-subtle ‘blink three times if you need help.’ The blond’s dazzlingly bright smile blinded the both of them. “You never have to worry about me hurting, Lottie! You look like you’re having so much fun. I’m just glad I get to see it.”
Surprised, Charlotte let out a squeak, dropping the setting spray she had just picked up as her entire body caught on fire. She stood up and stumbled to the bathroom, muttering a faint “you’re such a dork” before disappearing from their sight.
Confused, Toshi scratched his face, slouching as his eyes met Dave’s. “Did I say something wrong?”
A huff, but not exactly a laugh. David recognized the pang of jealousy, but he still hadn't figured out which one of them he was jealous of. “Beats me.”
issue 1・issue 2・issue 3・issue 4 ・issue 5・issue 6・issue 7・issue 8・issue 9・issue 10
a/n: as I said before, this is technically AM X OC but you can imagine her however you want ♡ here's her info page if you wanna know more abt her!
summary: Toshi and Charlotte (hero name: Painkiller) attended Heroes University of California together before partnering up for the rest of his stay in America. After they parted, many things were left unsaid. Decades later, she relocates to Japan, becoming a teacher at UA, and old feelings resurface in full force.
tags: slow burn, yearning for each other for their entire lives basically, friends to lovers, cheesy Hallmark late autumn romance, fluff, pre-Kamino All Might, reminiscing
song: Kiss Me (Sixpence None the Richer)
Geez… he’d really gotten old, hadn’t he?
Despite feeling like a terrible mentor for having these thoughts, All Might really couldn’t help sometimes but dote on just how much of his life had passed as he watched Young Midoriya progress. Even moreso that he knew his time with One For All was coming to an end.
He wouldn't have picked anyone else to pass the torch to; Toshinori knew that for certain. Yet a small part of him was still clinging to being the Symbol of Peace with his teeth. What would the world be like, after he was gone?
It had been a struggle to look forward to his Quirkless future. Or maybe he would go out in a blaze of glory, and the world will have never known his secret.
One of his secrets, at least.
His eyes traced the dance of a leaf through the wind, feeling the cool late-autumn air nipping at his face. The world would keep spinning, right? Maybe he'll have more time. Maybe, finally, he could catch up on the things he'd forsaken for the sake of them All.
"Toshi! Hi!"
Would that be so bad? If he'd finally have time to live for himself a little, too?
What a beautiful picture painted itself before him; even with all the good he'd done in his life, he somehow still didn't feel worthy of witnessing it, watching his old friend run to catch up. She waved so happily, at him, of all people, with the sweetest smile on her face.
Something else had been burning inside his heart for the last four decades, other than One for All. This time, it was something a little more selfish.
Something just for him.
"Hello, Charlotte!"
Oh, shit. He turned into his muscle form out of excitement again. Really need to stop doing that every time I see her.
"Aw, that's not what you call me! There's nobody around."
Good god, that infectious smile and that teasing twinkle in her eyes. Number One Hero, my boot. He couldn't even find the courage to tell her how beautiful she is, even after all this time.
"H-Hello, Lottie."
That dulcet sound of her giggle, like the wind chimes he remembered from his childhood, filled his ears as she approached, her boots clacking against the pavement. "What a nostalgic sound" he found himself speaking his thoughts out loud, mentally punching himself immediately after.
"My heels?"
Your everything. My... everything.
"M-mhm."
She laughed again, the wind blowing through the river of roses atop her head. Charlotte's hands held out two paper cups in a cardboard holder, the scent of coffee reaching his nostrils.
"Sometimes it’s hard to believe we were students once. We've grown old, huh?"
Her words tugged at his heart in the most bittersweet way.
“That, we have.”
“I’m glad.”
Toshinori’s eyes widened. He accepted the coffee, heating up as her arm snaked around his. They slowly started walking to school, much alike they used to, a long time ago.
“I’m glad we got to grow old. I’m glad you got to grow old. You deserved it most of all.”
The words he wanted to say died in his throat, but he felt that familiar burn as it tightened, listening to her soothing voice.
“That’s not a privilege a lot of heroes have.”
As always, she was right. Toshi concluded affectionately that she never failed to get his own head out of his ass, no matter their ages. His eyes filled with tears as he thought of Nana; with a poof, he was back to his true form, looking down at Charlotte. She turned her attention from their path back to him; that concern painted all over her features reminded him exactly why he’d chosen to stay away for so long. How he’d found the strength to.
He obliged as she motioned him to bend down to her level, caught by surprise as her cold hands reached to wipe away his tears.
“When you left the US… oh, you should’ve seen me! I was inconsolable. I started arguing with Dave every chance I got… Horrified that every time I saw your name somewhere, it would be the thing I dreaded to hear the most.”
Despite her playing it off as humor, he sensed the smallest tremble in her voice. He hated worrying her more than anything else in the world. So, he did what he did best; straightened himself up and put on a smile. “Every time I asked him how you were, he said you were busy, or you wouldn’t talk to him. Eventually, I stopped asking. I figured you wanted to leave the past behind.”
“Oh. So he actually did what I told him, for once!”
They both shared a chuckle, their eyes slowly but surely finding each-other again amidst the falling leaves.
“After a while, he started bringing you up again. As if to suggest I should talk to you.” Especially after having Melissa. All Might still hadn’t figured out that it had been David’s nudge towards suggesting he could start a family of his own, too ─ it was a thought Toshinori didn’t have the luxury of even considering. At least, so far; and it was probably too late. A blessing had graced him nonetheless ─ he’d found a son in Izuku, who had found a father in him. Undeserving though he may be, he sworn to himself he would fight until his dying breath to raise that boy to the best of his abilities.
“And?”
Marriage, however, had been something burnt out of his deck of cards since forever; probably since receiving One For All. Even back then, when they’d come so close to saying it out loud, both him and Painkiller had understood that romance wasn’t something heroes could easily sustain, especially not as both of their fame grew exponentially, especially when their paths led them to different corners of the world.
It just wasn’t meant to be, he’d told himself so many times he’d lost count, despite that embarrassingly strong desire to see her, to hear her again, to feel her, haunting him on every darkened night. When he moved back to Japan, it was such a reflex to want to turn to her every time he saw a cute dog, or a pretty skirt she’d like, or some kind of coffee shop they should go to; her absence had him crying in the shower within the first week.
Sir Nighteye was the only one who knew he’d called her name out in his feverish half-conscious state after his fight with All For One. And he, too, had told Toshinori to settle down; to hang up the mantle as the Symbol of Peace and just give her a call, for God’s sake.
Nighteye...
“I was a coward. I am a coward. I thought you were still mad at me. Rightfully so.” His eyes darted away in shame. “You’re certainly not the only one.”
Further enough behind them that they were both too distracted to notice, Izuku felt steam coming out of his ears; nobody would believe him, and it felt like he shouldn’t be there, but seeing this side of All Might was something he just couldn’t miss. With the risk of invading their privacy (well, it was a public path through the park leading to UA, so he wasn’t doing anything illegal), he stayed put, feeling his mentor’s nervousness as his own.
The seriousness hanging heavily on the Symbol’s shoulders dissipated as Painkiller nudged him with a grin, and All Might felt that very familiar urge to close the distance between them surface again, seemingly having grown almost as strong as his Quirk over time.
“Have you seen your puppy eyes? Who could stay mad at you?”
His face flushed, subconsciously thanking the cold weather for providing a plausible excuse for the color in his cheeks.
“T-That’s-!” “Besides, you’re the bravest man I know.”
A shiver coursed through him, feeling his entire frame bulk up. Really, All Might, again…?
He let out an awkward laugh before downing his coffee, choking on it halfway through and transforming back once more. Regaining his composure, he bit down into his tongue and found himself reaching out, picking a burnt-orange leaf out of her pink hair. Was it his imagination, or did her face started matching its shade?
“Well, I’ve always tried to be at least half as brave as you. Sounds like I’m doing a good job.”
Charlotte timidly took the leaf Toshinori offered her, unknowingly causing his knees to almost buckle with the way her doe eyes stared up at him.
“Still such a terrible flirt” she mumbled, accepting his offer to wrap her arm around his once more as they continued their walk towards UA. He laughed, bringing a hand up to cover his obvious blush.
“Can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
Maybe his inevitably Quirkless future didn't have to be so empty.
"What are you doing here, shitty Deku? Hiding like a dumbass."
"KACCHAN!!!!"
Urgently, Izuku pointed to their two teachers, arms linked. As they followed after them from a safe distance, they noticed them step further away from each-other with an awkward laugh, the main school building approaching on the horizon.
"Huh."
Even Bakugo's expression was clearly flustered as Painkiller fixed All Might's tie.
"See?! I-I think they're d-d-d-!" "Who gives a shit? It's none of your business, loser. Now get out of my way!"
All Might wasn't exactly sure why Young Midoriya had given him nervous thumbs up all day, but he found it endearing nonetheless.
a/n: technically AM X OC but you can imagine her however you want ♡ here's her info page if you wanna know more abt her and what i imagine she looks like!
summary: Toshi and Charlotte (hero name: Painkiller) attended Heroes University of California together before partnering up for the rest of his stay in America. After they parted, many things were left unsaid. Decades later, she relocates to Japan, becoming a teacher at UA, and old feelings resurface in full force.
tags: slow burn, yearning for each other for their entire lives basically, fluff, angst, hurt & comfort, hospital scene, humor, winter wholesomeness, All Might cries a lot, No 1 Yearner Toshinori Yagi, tooth-rotting domesticity of two old people in love who still won't admit it, how many parallels can I make to when they were younger before yall are sick of it, am I edging you with the date chapter yet 😏
song: Forever (The Little Dippers)
The grey in Toshinori’s heart devoured everything he laid eyes on; the city seemed bleaker than it had in years, even post-Kamino; he’d ran out of tears about an hour ago, resorting to just staring out the window and clenching his fists in his pockets, tired of grasping his head in the chair and chastising himself for holding her hand too much. Maybe these old, Quirkless hands were holding her down again, like he was convinced they had his whole life, despite his best efforts to stay out of hers.
They’d finally taken out her breathing tubes, her healing factor having kicked in after they rid her body of the poison, but they weren’t sure how long it would be before she woke up.
As terrified as he’d been every day that he might wake up to the worst news of his life while in Japan, he’d also found reassurance in the fact that Charlotte was, just how people liked to view him, unkillable. She was unbreakable. Despite being underestimated because of her stature, or her gender, or her Quirk, or whatever other nonsensical reasons, Toshinori believed, with his whole heart and soul, that she was the strongest hero, and he’d always be her biggest fan. Painkiller- no, Charlotte was a hero to a fault; always jumping head first into danger to soothe and protect, but a hero so fierce she could do so with a smile. And Charlotte never gave up, especially not in the face of pain.
Charlotte was livelier than people nowadays knew; she was creative, bubbly, funny, playful and hot-headed, and she’d never let a single person ever tell her what to do. There hadn’t been a day of silence during their time together at university or while they lived and traveled together before he’d left the US.
And, despite how badly he’d fucked up, after everything, still; he’d gotten another chance.
He’d never stop thinking about how beautiful she looked when she spoke to him again for the first time, surrounded by the flower gardens on the island, breathtakingly unable to hold a candle to her. What a privilege, to see how she’d blossomed into her older self, face to face. Toshinori had dreamt it every day since. What an even bigger gift he didn’t deserve, that she’d warm his life with her presence again every day at UA. That they’d go back to joking, having lunch and reminisce the good old days, while feeling as if no time had passed at all.
So watching her pale, sleeping face atop that hospital bed had felt much too similar to the death of his Master, and was doing its very best to choke out any hope and will to live he had left out of him.
Dave couldn’t even be there as he was still serving his punishment for the stunt he’d pulled on I-Island, and Charlotte had been unconscious for exactly five days, 6 hours and… 47 minutes now.
He’d never felt lonelier.
Toshinori drew a shaky breath, fighting back the welling in his eyes; these last five days of not hearing her voice had somehow been even more agonizing than the last thirty years. With a quiet sob, All Might’s forehead planted itself against the hard glass, wishing he could give One for All up, all over again, if it meant she would wake up.
How he wished he could be selfish, for once, and give everything up for just one person.
He’d give up his life on the spot if it meant he could hear her voice one more t-
“Brooding all by yourself, handsome?”
Worries about how pathetic his gasp must have sounded flew out the window as he left its side; he’d never moved that fast as Smallmight before, almost stumbling as his long legs leapt towards the hospital bed, voice cracking with emotion.
“LOTTIE!”
She didn’t even get to reply before he collapsed to his knees, both of his hands cradling hers, face buried in between his elbows.
“I thought… I…”
Charlotte’s chest ached as she felt her own tears approaching when he broke down, reaching her other hand to rest atop his beautiful, blond hair with comforting strokes. She’d missed it so.
“Goodness, Toshi… You’ve always been such a crybaby.”
His soft cries filled the room, and Painkiller couldn’t help but glance around, pleasantly surprised. The room was so colorful; full of flowers and cards, from the students and their parents, from heroes all over, from the police staff and, she noted lovingly, from Cassie.
Wake up, partner. I can’t listen to the old man trying not to cry on the phone for one more day.
I’ll see you soon.
When Toshinori managed to look back up at her, Charlotte could’ve sworn he’d stolen her Quirk; that striking shade of blue in his eyes immediately took all of her pain away, that silly, surprisingly dashing mustard suit he always wore brightening the whole room. He’d made sure to not wear black while by her side, not while he watched over her in the hospital.
Painkiller never looked soft; she couldn’t afford to. But Charlotte? Oh, Charlotte never looked softer than when she gazed at Yagi Toshinori.
“It’s okay. I promise. I’m here.”
They both reached out to wipe each-other’s tears as they broke into a smile, earning a weak chuckle from him.
“I believe that’s my line.”
Through a half-opened door, Best Jeanist, Hawks and Endeavor peeked in for a few seconds before Hakamada waved a hand.
“Let’s give them a moment.”
Hawks shoved his hands in his pockets with a tilt of his head, grinning up slyly at a dumbfounded Endeavor.
“Eeehhh… Never took All Might for such a romantic.”
Something flickered in Enji’s eyes, but nobody, including himself, was quite sure what.
Envy? Regret? A realization that while he might have become Number One, in the most disgraceful way possible, he’d still never have even a fraction of what Toshinori did?
Either way, it was a feeling he burnt to a crisp.
. . .
“T-Toshi, I can walk!” Charlotte stuttered as he held her in his arms, looking down with so much love in his eyes that she felt like she might pop her stitches. “Y-You don’t need to carry me everywhere...”
“It’s my pleasure.”
“I can make it to the bathroom just fine.”
“I believe you.”
He still didn’t let go.
She didn’t know if she wanted to kiss or punch that goofy smile off his face.
The nurses had already asked (way too many times) if she was okay, until she finally ripped the heart monitor electrodes off her. She could swear at some point they were doing it on purpose, giggling and sending him in to bring her food and check her temperature instead of doing it themselves.
After a couple of days, they finally discharged her, and Toshinori had taken it upon himself to pack her bags and drive her home.
It was all the entire hero network even talked about anymore.
“I-I CAN PACK THE CLOTHES!” Charlotte tried to beat him to it before he unknowingly reached for her underwear in the pile.
Surely, he pulled those big puppy dog eyes on purpose.
“But… I am here. To help.”
“Toshinori. I am a grown woman. In my 50s. I am, in fact, three years older than you, and I can pack my own goddamn underpants.”
The slight slip of her Southern accent whenever she got mad, especially when she said his name, felt like he’d been tossed into a frozen lake with the shivers it gave him; that, and, well, feeling like he was boiling alive at the same time as he realized his long fingers were hanging onto a scandalous bit of lace that she immediately snatched out of his hand.
She stifled a laugh before considering her next move for a moment and, unable to resist the thought, threw them at him just to see his reaction.
“HOLY SHITTO DA!!!!”
All Might fumbled with the red lace panties so bad he fell over, trying his best to catch it and not touch it or look at it all the same, his horrified squeals covered by her roaring laughter as it ended up floating in the air before landing smack dab over his face.
“AHAHAHAHA! THEY LOOK GREAT ON YOU!”
“P-P-PLEASE STOP TEASING ME!!!! C-COULD YOU- PERHAPS- G-GET THEM OFF??!?!?”
“Hmm…hahahaha! I will, I will! I think. Eventually.”
. . .
All Might’s footsteps crunched in the snow, hurrying ahead of her so his dress shoes could shovel the snow out of her path. Charlotte shook her head, placing a hand over her heart as if to steady it.
“You don’t need to do that, you goofball…”
He balanced the two paper bags of groceries in his arms, turning towards her with that trademark wide smile.
“It’s the least I can do for my favorite hero and best friend.”
She rolled her eyes, stepping along the path with a spreading blush over her face. In the near distance, she spotted a snowman, sporting a very familiar pair of bunny ears made out of two sticks wrapped in yellow tape, two blue buttons for eyes, a carrot for a nose and an an arrangement of sticks that perfectly mirrored the grin of the man in front of her.
“Oh my! Ain’t that adorable! Look, Toshi!”
His eyes followed her curiously, watching her carelessly step into the knee-high stack of snow to reach the snowman, letting out the sweetest, childish laugh. He remembered how David had teased her the first time she said ain’t in front of them, and how much more comfortably she spoke around them now. Not to mention how endearing he found it.
“Hahaha! He looks just like you!’
He flushed, eyes wide.
“Lottie! Be careful-”
“Hmmm, it’s missing something, though… Oh! I know.”
All Might’s arms trembled viciously when she placed a kiss on the snowman’s face, leaving some of her lipstick behind.
“That’s more like it! Since All Might is so popular with the ladies and all.”
He almost died when she looked his way with that little twinkle in her eye and that teasing smile, suddenly struggling to balance the bags.
“Well? What do you think?”
Oh God. She was staring him down like a hawk.
“I-I-I-”
“You’re right! Maybe…”
She turned around and held the snowman’s face with her hands, giving it a few more kisses all over its face, making sure to make the last one smack dab over his smile with a loud smooch.
“There! Much better. Toshi? Where’d you go?”
Charlotte dragged herself through the snow before she found him buried in it a few steps away, groceries spilled all over. She bent down above his head and gave him a curious poke.
“Did you die?”
He said nothing, scarf still pulled over his head in shame.
“Should I step on you with my heels to see if you come to?”
“I AM ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!”
He shot up so fast their foreheads crashed into each-other, leaving them grabbing their heads in pain before she burst into a fit of giggles. Toshinori watched her, relaxing further into the blanket of snow, and felt that familiar desire to keep making her laugh for as long as he’d live settle comfortably into the dreamy smile that took over his lips and the star-struck downturn of his eyes.
. . .
Hours later, he stood outside her home, truthfully more torn over having to leave and go back to his own place than he wanted to admit.
“Will you be okay?”
Her manicured hands fixed his scarf and made sure his jacket was fully buttoned up, standing a few steps above him so they could see eye-to-eye, a pretty rare occurrence.
“As long as you get some rest, too. And… thank you so much for the groceries. And cooking lunch. And helping me with literally everything the last few weeks. I guess this is the best time to say it… my hero.”
All Might felt all the blood in his body rush to his head, and, quite disconcertingly, somewhere else.
“PLEASE!!! Y-YOU DON’T NEED TO THANK ME, LOTTIE, IT’S AN HONOR TO- AUGH- PFPFFFFTTTT!!! I- I do not mean to alarm you, but I might be going into cardiac arrest-”
“Just come here.”
Before reality sunk in, she’d already grabbed him closer by the collar, placed a very visible kiss on his cheek, and let go, already climbing back up the stairs and waving with a cheeky smile.
“Don’t let it get to your head. I’ll see you at school, big guy.”
Toshi felt like he was 20-something again, staring after a mirage of her younger self as if she took every ray of sunshine with her every time she left.
“See you, Lottie.”
She grinned from the doorway, leaning against it the same way she did the day they met.
“You might!”
The gift that found itself back to me… Maybe I can still hope you’ll wear it again.
a/n: technically AM X OC but you can imagine her however you want ♡ here's her info page if you wanna know more abt her and what i imagine she looks like! this chapter is dedicated to anyone who deals with any debilitating conditions, especially chronic pain. Charlotte-centered chapter, so the accent color in the banner is pink 💖
summary: Toshi and Charlotte (hero name: Painkiller) attended Heroes University of California together before partnering up for the rest of his stay in America. After they parted, many things were left unsaid. Decades later, she relocates to Japan, becoming a teacher at UA, and old feelings resurface in full force.
tags: slow burn, yearning for each other for their entire lives basically, Painkiller kicking a metric fuckton of ass, graphic violence, an ode to the myriad of anime, comic and videogame women I adore, angst, hurt/comfort, haha I tricked you didn't I... you thought this would be a cute date chapter, didn't you... (I'm sorry), post-Kamino All Might
The first rule of being a hero is keeping your head on straight when surrounded by nothing but chaos. Toshi had taught her that the most - to always keep smiling.
The scowl on Painkiller’s face was borderline grotesque as she approached the escaped prisoners, crowding around an injured hero and spouting the most disgusting threats. She felt her blood begin to boil; felt that aching hatred prickling beneath her skin more than she felt the heat of the surrounding flames.
“You have to stay calm” Olivia’s voice rang in her head. It was always her sister and Toshi trying to be the voice of reason. “The strongest heroes-”
She twitched, dispelling their voices; fists clenched. Her shoulder was still killing her from a previous fight, knees still weak. ‘Still’, as if she was getting any younger. As if the pain would ever lessen. As if there was space on her skin to bear more scars.
“God, can you guys shut the fuck up? Get out of my head!"
“What’s your name?” Charlotte’s soft voice rang out over the villains, gathering their attention on her. Some recognized her and slowly started backing away, leaving a more accessible circle of degenerates around the younger hero, still resisting despite her fear.
“T-Tsukuri… Patch-Up Hero, Tsukuri…”
Tsukuri’s terrified eyes darted over to a fallen hero nearby holding his leg in pain and barely breathing beneath the foot of a villain; a warning. A silent cry for help in between the whispers.
“Hey, isn’t she that one American hero?” “What, All Might’s bitch?”
Click, clack. Click, clack. No hero costume this time; just her teaching outfit; office blazer, shirt and skirt, the one outfit she promised herself she wouldn’t drench in blood.
“Your name, sweetheart.”
One of the prisoners stepped up, crackling fireworks in between his fingers as he grabbed onto Minori’s arm, tugging her upwards with a sneer.
Some of the escapees attempted to defy the overpowering presence by tightening the grip on their weapons. Soothing Hero: Painkiller. “Don’t be scared. Eyes on me, okay?”
“Hanazawa Minori… My name is Minori!”
“Haha, you that one old hag? What are you now, like, 60? That fraud All Might got what was coming for him, and so will every fucking hero. We were gonna start with her, but both of you will do just nicely. Won’t they, boys? We’ve gotten real pent up in there!”
Charlotte stopped dead in her tracks. The gears inside her body shifted; everything dialed back. Heartbeat slowed. Breathing slowed. She’d learned it was much better to instill some calm before the storm. Give her grating bones a break. Ease her throbbing muscles.
Let it rest.
“Let it prep, Lottie, or you’ll break. All that pain, the adrenaline? The sensation you’ve lost in your extremities? Your body stitching itself together? You won’t be able to take it. Just promise me you’ll use Second Skin if you have to fight again.”
I’m not that frail, Dave. Could everyone stop fucking acting like I’m falling apart? Like I’m unstable?
“Me too. I’m real pent up. So why don’t y’all do yourselves a favor and come quietly?”
Just about 50 up front. Account for at least 10 to 20 concealing themselves with their Quirks. Some got caught in the rubble at the entrance, most dead. The rest would’ve gotten out by now if they could. Account for maybe another 40 inside, fighting any staff that’s left.
“Come quietly? I’ll come as loudly as I fucking please!”
Small to medium sized prison. Security system was easily overpowered. Only 2 novice heroes at the scene in... twenty minutes? This country is stretched thin.
The country he fought to protect to the last ember of One for All. For decades. This is what’s left of it?
The ache in her bones burned stronger. That subtle tremble she always suppressed.
Breathe. Talk.
“You got three seconds before I forget I’m a hero.”
Her voice was chillingly calm; eyes focused. Something creaked and crackled inside her. Begging.
One.
Let me out.
“You don’t really think-”
That terrified expression on Minori’s face satiated the hatred inside Charlotte; it grew fangs and tore into her heart, splattering her empathy and forgiveness against the walls of her ribcage as it devoured her whole.
“We ain’t scared of-”
Two.
It was laughably easy to grapple herself onto their leader, maneuver behind and twist his arm back so painfully that his scream deafened his closest allies, hooking her heel against his Achilles’ tendon. He helplessly fired a firecracker against her arm, desperate enough to do a little damage; to burn through her sleeve and sear her flesh. If not for the putrid scent, Painkiller wouldn’t have even realized she’d gotten hit.
“I-I thought you said three seconds!”
She could just use her Quirk on them. Or she could make them earn the pain. He’ll probably walk again, if he gets medical attention quick enough. Her heel dug in, piercing through to the other side. She didn’t even have to put any effort into throwing him as he fell to his knees and whimpered at her feet. Harmless as a puppy.
It wasn’t quite murderous intent, but the closest to it she allowed herself to reach.
“I lied.”
“You boys are so emotional.”
Before she launched at them, she clacked her shoes together, black heels expanding upwards around her calves, turning into her favorite Go-Go Boots.
There was certainly a love-hate relationship with this version of herself. That cocky, egotistic part of her that All Might would despise. That taunting superiority in her voice.
Maybe they were enemies, in another life.
“Can’t handle a little pain?”
Charlotte could never quite get used to the crunch of bones and wails of agony. In a bizarre way, it kept her going, comforting the anxiety of faltering to her emotions.
Dodge, right, left. A jab, a kick. Drop down. Block some guy’s elbow knives with the blades on her boots.
Be safe. Be smart. Be careful.
Spin, roll. Grapple closer. Crunch, groan, thud. Use the roller blades to twirl. Ah – machete.
Her spine could still bend painfully fast backwards, avoiding the blade before she propped herself up on her arms against the concrete and pushed as hard as she could, launching herself at the massive villain about to pick up a piece of concrete and throw it at the incapacitated heroes.
"Nice to meet you, Minori. I'm Charlotte. Friends call me Lottie."
And always be ready to be none of those things, if it means saving someone’s life.
Hook your legs around his throat. Use the grapple wire. Twist it around. Now pull. Pull.
PULL! HARDER!
He couldn’t quite get her or the wire off his neck before he passed out from struggling so aggressively, leaving a cloud of dust in the wake of his collapse. Using the environment to her advantage, Charlotte skated over to Minori and the other hero, taking their hands in hers and their pain along with it.
Jesus, they completely shattered this guy’s foot.
They both breathed a bit easier, giving her a weak look of appreciation.
“Can you both move and get to safety? I’ll make a path.”
Fueled by renewed determination, Tsukuri used her Quirk to create and wrap bandages around his injury, aided by Painkiller in getting him to his feet – much easier, now that he couldn’t feel that excruciating pain. He noticed how the pressure Charlotte put on her foot was ever so slightly less than it had been before. Instinctively, he got a deep sense of what kind of hero she was.
Move, useless legs, MOVE! Push yourself HARDER! Push them out the way-
“Thank you. We’ll get out of your wa-” “Watch it-!”
Charlotte’s elbow met an attacker from behind, dislocating their jaw to prevent a grab; but before she could react, another one had shot a bullet through her thigh -
- and another one through her chest, puncturing a lung. Standing still as a statue before the ones she’d saved. Head bowed down. Blood dripping.
The dust settled, bringing the fight to a halt; villains held their breath just as much as the heroes.
A splutter of blood erupted from her lips, painting the concrete beneath her. A hand hovered over the upper bullet hole. The distant voice of a kid she couldn’t even recall the face of hammered nails into her head.
“I-Is she…”
“H… ha ha ha…”
Why don’t you try taking your own pain away, loser?
She tried to fill her lungs, hearing the wheeze echo in her chest. Gurgling, too.
Oh man, Dave’s so gonna kill me.
“Dead…?”
“Ha ha ha, ha HA HA HA…”
“Wait, s-she’s raising her head…” “What?!” “Is she laughing?”
Satisfied, she threw it to the side and spat another mouthful of blood, back straightening. Aching shoulders rolled, searing legs stretched; stiff neck cracked with a loud pop.
When all else fails, always be ready to be brave.
It was a good thing she’d kept her nails long; useful for digging into the muscle of her thigh and fishing out the bullet - but she was no rookie. Painkiller looked the villains dead in the eye with a wide, twisted grin on her face, dipping her fingers into the fire before fearlessly enduring the extraction through the disgusting quenching sound echoing against the silence of the battlefield.
Was this the part where she gave them a grandiose speech about how the strongest heroes always smile?
“Sorry, you thinking that would hurt cracked me right up. Now, where were we?”
“Quick, get her while she’s wounded!”
Electricity screeched her way as it whipped at her feet, sending electric shocks throughout her body. Her eyes widened before brightening in the light with a deranged sense of motivation. Trembling arms reached for the neon-colored whips, grabbing onto them through grit teeth. Grinning.
With a groan, Charlotte tugged, pulling the Quirk user and herself forward simultaneously; she’d kicked him into the dirt mid-air, knocking him unconscious before his brain could catch up.
“Cute, but you’ll have to try harder. I’m the type of girl who plays a little hard to get.”
For a split second, she turned her head, making sure that the younger heroes took the opening she created for them to escape. A blade launched itself at her again; this time, her hand reached out to grab it, gaze so intense it felt like it could burn a hole through its wielder’s skull.
“Guys, come on. How many times do I have to tell you? These pathetic attempts-”
Another blade buried itself into the back of her shoulder. She reached to pull both blades in tandem, swinging them opposite of each-other, “AREN'T GONNA WORK ON ME!”
Guard up. Leap. Strangle. Kick. Punch. Duck.
The prisoners bumped into each-other in a panicked frenzy to use their Quirks; every time she dodged, shoved or twirled, they hit one another like dominoes. Nowhere near the speed of her prime, the older hero was still fast enough on her roller blades to do laps around disarmed groups and tie them together with her grapple before cutting it off; plenty wire left for the rest.
Dodge, right, left. Jab, kick, drop. Push yourself up. Tank the hit. Stack the pain.
Again, again, again.
After she was done with the large group outside, Painkiller had swept the inside of the prison, rescuing anyone trapped, evacuating hostages and battling any remaining enemies.
By the time that reinforcements had arrived, the scene consisted of approximately a hundred defeated inmates, all immobilized, the majority of which were surprisingly quiet and compliant. Despite their injuries, none of them or the surviving prison staff and first-responding heroes seemed to be in any obvious distress.
Toshinori’s legs dug into the ground as he bolted forward, meeting Charlotte’s blood-splattered figure tying up one last villain who almost hissed out a hateful comment as they spotted All Might; her deadly glare met theirs in time, making them swallow it back instead.
“Charlotte!”
God, how could she possibly smile so lovingly at him through all that pain?
“You didn’t have to come, Toshi. You worry too much, it’s bad for your health.”
Tsukauchi hovered close enough to hear her account of the events, but not enough to intrude. He recognized that distinct sincerity in All Might’s voice as he responded, that intimacy so tender it made anyone around them feel like they weren't supposed to be there.
“Of course I came.”
She was covered in injuries, from burn marks to cuts to blooming bruises and- gunshots?! Painkiller took a step closer to him, wincing the tiniest bit as she held onto herself.
“I, uh, got a punctured lung. My body tried pushing the bullet out and sealing the hole but-”
Toshinori was by her side before he could even process it, much too familiar to the adrenaline crash every time she finished a fight.
“The guy who shot me-” she shivered from head to toe, glancing to the steadily filling pool of blood in her palm, “I think he had- some, um, kind of...poison, Quirk. It’s preventing me. From. Healing pro...per...ly. I’m pro'lly- gonna... need a-”
Fuck, my knees.
She bit down into her tongue at the burning sensation, stumbling over her own feet; the pang in her lung hit her like a truck, multiplied by the ridiculous amount of pain she'd gathered. Soothing warmth met her gaping gunshot wound as a large, gentle hand pressed against it, catching her against his chest when her legs gave out. He never quite looked at anything the way he looked at her; like she was a dream.
Like he'd live for her.
“Everyone here…? God, you took so much. Let me have it, Lottie. Please. You’re being stubborn.”
As if. I caused it, I should be able to hold it. And I’d rather be torn apart, limb from limb, before I ever hurt you.
She glanced up at him with a rebellious grin, staining his white shirt with her crimson. Ever since she learned how to contain it, she’d never give him her pain again. Charlotte barely got the words out before she grew faint, feeling the safety and comfort of being scooped up in his arms. He always made sure to hold her in the least painful way possible. Muscle memory.
“The best... heroes... are always stubborn, All - Might.”
She'd already passed out as he carried her to the car, refusing to let go until she moment she went into surgery. He'd been glued to her bedside afterwards, listening to the idle beeps and air pumps as he timidly brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
"You don't have to keep acting tough. You've always been the coolest."
He held her hands for hours, not so much for her comfort, but for his own; to deal with the guilt and helplessness that had torn right through his chest and mercilessly gripped onto his heart.
To stop seeing Nighteye every time he looked at her.
There he was, crying again. Pathetic. Useless. And alone.
"Stop bullying an old man and wake up for me, Lottie. I never got to give it back. Please let me give it back... Melissa, I promised her I would..."
The nurses learned to leave the lights off and give him space every time they heard his quiet sobs echo through the hallway.
issue 1・issue 2・issue 3・issue 4 ・issue 5・issue 6・issue 7・issue 8・issue 9・issue 10
a/n: as I said before, this is technically AM X OC but you can imagine her however you want ♡ here's her info page if you wanna know more abt her!
summary: Toshi and Charlotte (hero name: Painkiller) attended Heroes University of California together before partnering up for the rest of his stay in America. After they parted, many things were left unsaid. Decades later, she relocates to Japan, becoming a teacher at UA, and old feelings resurface in full force.
tags: slow burn, yearning for each other for their entire lives basically, friends to lovers, Nighteye era All Might seeing her on TV (I'm obsessed with Sir Nighteye btw), Painkiller is THAT bitch ✨ and a little angst ofc...
“Are you worried about men saying ‘I’m afraid to mess with her’? Since your supposed breakup with Japan’s Number One, you have had quite negative interactions with other male heroes, garnering a reputation for being an abrasive misandrist under your fake ‘sweetness’-”
Charlotte furrowed her eyebrows for a split second before bursting into laughter, causing the entire studio to go silent mid-air. She didn’t hold back, filling the tension within the room with her copious giggles. Behind the scenes, her PR manager slapped her own forehead with a loud sigh, already picturing the headlines. She shook her head and chuckled, watching Painkiller with a strange sense of pride, despite how much she consistently strained her own public image.
“Oh! What an incredible question. Is this one for every female-presenting hero you interview, or just me?”
“Miss Solace-” “Yes, I do hope they’re afraid of me. That is one of the only ways women get heard, isn’t it? Is that what you wanted me to say?”
As Painkiller tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and calmly picked up her notes, the interviewer panicked, attempting to get a rise out of America’s currently ranked Number Three hero. “Have you been in contact with All Might? He has a new sidekick now, Sir Nighteye. Is it true that you’re still in love with him?”
Charlotte stopped to stare at the interviewer for a split second. Although her gaze appeared cold and distant, something ached inside her chest. Whether it was the sheer heartbreak at all of her hard work and sacrifice being overlooked because of a man, that man having been her best friend, or the constant of having her painful parting with him exhumed and dissected by strangers for their amusement, she wasn’t sure.
Without a word, she walked off, thanking the staff in a surprisingly genuine manner as she left the studio.
“That one’s gonna be fun to damage control” her agent, Angel, joined her side, appreciating the apologetic look on her boss’ face.
“Sorry… Couldn’t hold it in. It’s every interview, over and over-” “You shouldn’t have to.”
A small sigh left the exhausted hero, finally allowing herself to relax as they got into the car, wincing ever so slightly. “That’s why we’re here. So those who come after us don’t.”
…
The TV was blaring in the Might Tower café, late enough in Japan that only Sir Nighteye and Toshinori himself were still present. As always, it was set to an American news channel, keeping him updated on how things were going overseas. It also offered him a strange sense of comfort, homesick for a place that held so many memories.
"...tensions continue to rise as the Number Three hero, Painkiller", Toshinori perked up, immediately diverting his attention to the flatscreen, "once again garners negative attention in one of her recent interviews when questioned about her scandalous relationship with All Might, Japan's Number One Hero and champion of the American spirit."
"Oh, no…”
The mention of All Might's former partner even spiked Nighteye's interest, who paused the furious typing on his laptop to take a graceful sip of coffee, glancing over at the TV above the frames of his glasses.
Toshinori was, to put it mildly, eternally conflicted about how things ended with Charlotte, let alone the immense feelings he still harbored for her, the things he wished he'd found the courage to say out loud. He kept up with her achievements even now, quietly rooting for her from the bottom of his heart, unable to get used to the bittersweet taste it left in his mouth.
He was, however, painfully aware of just how detrimental his presence in her life had been for her career. It hasn't been easy to cut contact for so long, especially considering the embarrassing amount of times he dreamt of Charlotte, catching himself reminiscing their days together much too often; but he'd reassured himself that it was for the best. He'd never forgive himself for standing in her way.
She was a brilliant hero; the very best. The world deserved to know her. She deserved the world.
Despite the trouble she kept getting into for speaking her mind, Toshinori admired her for it - hell, he was even a bit jealous. Even with all his honesty, he still had to curate his image to the picture-perfect, natural-born hero, forbidden from having a life of his own outside the one he devoted to the people. He couldn't be an individual – he had to be a character, an icon. A symbol. He had to be inspiring, infallible and universally digestible. Merchandise, shows, interviews, photoshoots; most times these days, “All Might” felt more like a product than a person.
“Is it true that you're still in love with him?”
That look on her face broke his heart; or maybe it was the thought of another world where they got a happy ending, for once. A world where his mere existence hadn’t hindered her so. Despite her physical absence, All Might bowed deeply, balling his hands into fists.
"Lottie... I've caused you so much trouble once again. Forgive me..."
Nighteye quietly watched Charlotte’s image on the TV, carefully observing every movement, every aspect of her. There were few things about All Might even he didn’t know, and the majority of them revolved around America’s former Big Three. It irked Mirai that he couldn’t gauge just how much of the rumors about them were true, but his admiration and love for Toshinori were far too great to prod. The Symbol of Peace carried more hurt and regret within him than most people would ever know, and Nighteye would respect his hero philosophy until the day he’d die.
“I like her,” he concluded with a tap of his pen against the corner of his laptop, straightening himself in his chair and returning to work. “A pity we haven’t met. I’m sure she had quite a few stories about you that never made the papers.”
That seemed to cheer All Might right up as he unceremoniously wiped the corner of his eyes. “HAHAHA! My career would be over.” His eyes glazed over the recording of Painkiller getting into her car, widening considerably as he noticed the subtle (yet so distinct, to him) manner in which she held her phone; ring and middle finger spread out, forming a V.
“For Victory, you know? And also, your cute bunny ears!”
It was their way of saying everything's okay, a lifetime ago.
With a loud thump, Toshinori took a seat next to Sir Nighteye, with quite the nostalgic look in his eyes. “How foolish of me to forget just how strong she is. ‘Spitfire’, Dave called her once.” He glanced at his phone for a moment, heavily considering something in the back of his mind. Maybe, just maybe…
“Do you think she would? Forgive you.” I hate seeing you like this. Just talk to her, like you talk to Professor Shield.
All Might let out a sigh, shaking his head as if to convince himself of how bad an idea that would be. He turned his phone over and focused on his sidekick, offering him a reassuring smile. “She’s got more important things to think about.”
When he finally made it back to his room, Toshinori found himself staring at the framed picture of the three of them. He wasn't sure how much time passed before he realized he'd picked up one of him and Charlotte; his favorite, back from their Christmas trip to NYC, not too long before he'd gone back to Japan.
“It would be… difficult. You know how ruthless the media already is-” “But not impossible!” “Lottie, this is unfair. To you. I… I have to go back. I’m so sorry.” “What’s unfair is acting like I get a choice despite you already deciding for me! I don’t care where you are, how hard it is! I guess… there’s things even you are too afraid of, huh?”
“You’re such an idiot, Toshinori” All Might told himself in the mirror, hero costume and muscles and all.
His body relaxed, throwing the suit off as if he didn’t deserve to wear it, sitting on the side of his bed with his head in his hands. The picture lay by his side, a couple of drops against its glass.
a/n: as I said before, this is technically AM X OC but you can imagine her however you want ♡ here's her info page if you wanna know more abt her!
summary: Toshi and Charlotte (hero name: Painkiller) attended Heroes University of California together before partnering up for the rest of his stay in America. After they parted, many things were left unsaid. Decades later, she relocates to Japan, becoming a teacher at UA, and old feelings resurface in full force.
tags: slow burn, yearning for each other for their entire lives basically, friends to lovers, flashback, Young All Might, America era/student All Might, David and Toshi find out how her Quirk works, friendship, hurt & comfort, angst (sorry, it's a pattern)
song: Ma Meilleure Ennemie (Stromae, Pomme)
Toshinori’s heart shriveled up in his chest when he got back to the university dorm and spotted a medical team outside, wheeling someone into an ambulance. He was able to check who it was before their face disappeared into the vehicle, breathing a little easier as he realized it wasn’t either Dave or Lottie.
A disembodied voice taunted his thoughts.
What a selfish hero you are, All Might.
Still, something didn’t feel right. Them not being there, anywhere, was also concerning. He stopped his frantic pursuit to ask a few students what had happened, learning that someone training to use their flying Quirk tried to launch off themselves from their dorm balcony but lost control and fell, fracturing three ribs.
"Don't worry! That one first year girl helped them, uh- I forgot her name..." Over the amalgamation of noises, Toshi's sharpened hearing picked up the sound of someone crying, and his legs moved before he had time to think. He recognized that voice.
“Lottie.”
He ran so fast through the campus that people couldn’t even get a good glimpse of what had just dashed past them, checking every room he suspected she could be in. He called her name over and over again, feeling a familiar dread and helplessness creep up within.
“Lottie?!”
Toshinori made it to the other side of the dorms, rushing to the girls’ building as her cries grew louder. He reached her room, slamming the door open as he panted.
“Lottie! Are you-”
“Toshi! She’s...”
David watched Charlotte’s body twist atop the ground in pain, desperately grabbing onto her ribs. Hair stuck to her forehead, drenched in sweat, doing her best to suppress her wails. He shook his head towards Toshi, feeling nauseous at his own uselessness.
“I-I don’t know what to do! She said not to-”
“Don’t... touch me, Toshi…!”
Despite her warning in between groans, he collapsed onto his knees, throwing his backpack to the side and reaching straight for her, large, warm hands finding her shoulders. Toshinori was so confused; there wasn’t anything visibly wrong with her, no open wounds, no bleeding, and Dave hadn’t taken her to the nurse’s office…?
A sudden pang of pain struck inside of him. Watching the heartache on her features, he immediately realized why she’d gone out of her way to not touch either him or David since becoming friends a few months ago.
It was her Quirk. They knew she could take pain away with a touch, but it had taken them until that moment to realize that the pain had to go somewhere. So... every time she used it, she suffered? Like this? Not only that, but she'd borne it in front of everyone, by choice, this entire time? With a big smile on her face… Every time, without fail, without even a whimper. She carried that agony, along with the horror of accidentally touching someone and letting it slip out of her grip.
“How come you’re always smiling, Toshi? Even when you’re scared, even when you get hurt?”
“Those who keep smiling are the strongest. That’s what Master taught me.”
“I wish I could’ve met her. She sounds super cool.”
“She is.”
Charlotte didn’t correct him.
Toshinori felt like such an idiot. What a strong hero, Painkiller. He’d remember that moment for the rest of his life, the titanic strength he came to understand she possessed. Even when he'd become the Number One Hero, he'd always feel like he didn't deserve it. Not when she was sacrificing more than any other hero, more than anyone would ever know.
His immediate instinct was to comfort her, tightening the gentle squeeze he had on her arms and pulling her further against his thighs, beaming the largest smile he could muster down at her.
“Ha! Worried about hurting me?”
He grit his teeth to endure the increasing pain as subtly as he could, micro-movement that didn’t escape her. Charlotte’s suffering seemed to lessen, finally able to breathe in properly. Her eyes softened, hand reaching to weakly grasp onto his shirt.
“I saw you flinch, big guy… Let go…”
What resolve resided inside her, to carry this pain in silence and never ask for help. To never expect recognition. To reject pity and concern.
"My school in Japan has a motto" his smile remained unwavering, that shade of blue she came to look for in everything embracing her in its brilliance. He felt her starting to relax and glanced at a frustrated Dave with a reassuring nod. "Plus Ultra."
Charlotte's knuckles regained their color as she stopped clutching both of their clothes in pain, letting out a small sigh of relief.
A dull pain settled in between Toshinori's ribs, feeling it throb under his skin.
"Yeah?" Her eyes were coming to a close, missing the silent hiss All Might let out as he adjusted his grip on her, pulling her closer and taking her hand in his.
"Go beyond. Surpass your limits."
"Mhm..."
Dave knelt down next to them, reaching to hold onto her other hand, wincing despite the grin he shot All Might. "Sounds like our Lottie."
"It is. It's you, Charlotte."
And he'd think of her, every time he'd say it, time and time again.
First, his Master. Then, his partner. They were the ones that showed him what it really meant.
“Plus… Ultra… huh…”
Oh, what a pleasant feeling. She could barely even remember what it was like, to be free of pain.
─
“So you can give pain, too?” David’s voice addressed the elephant in the room after a long period of silence, much to Toshinori’s dismay.
“You don’t have to talk about it-” “I can.”
Charlotte swirled her canned strawberry daiquiri, pulling the American flag-patterned blanket over her shoulders more. She avoided both their gazes, looking down onto the lively late-night campus from Toshi’s dorm room balcony through the guardrail.
“And you… you feel it. Every time you take someone else’s?”
Obviously distraught, she twiddled her feet together. The boys had put together a pillow-sofa for them to chill on after she woke up, trying their best to make her as comfortable as possible; David had suggested they could people-watch from the balcony so she could get some air, and Toshi had even ran down to buy her favorite drink.
“Dude, we’re friends. We should know these things about each-other! Honestly, I’m kinda mad she kept it from us! Aren’t you?”
He didn’t reply, but he wished he would’ve, after hearing David.
“It almost feels like you don’t trust us.”
Charlotte’s emotions flared up, straightening herself with anger.
“That’s not fair! Of course I trust you!”
“Then why not tell us?”
She was taken aback that it was Toshi who asked, making it all the harder to respond. Her voice broke as she felt the tears begin to spill, reaching up to wipe them like a child.
“Because I didn’t want to scare you off! You’re the first friends I’ve managed to make! Like… ever!”
“Mom, Charlotte’s screaming… Also, I broke my arm.” “WHAT?!”
Little Charlotte’s sobs were inconsolable, kicking and screaming against the nurses at the hospital. Medication seemed to have no effect.
“Ma’am, there’s nothing wrong with your younger daughter… your older daughter’s arm is indeed broken, but she is showing no signs of pain. Is it possible either of their Quirks is manifesting?”
Charlotte’s mother clasped her hands over her mouth, breaking into tears. “Oh my god, it can’t be…”
Seated stiffly in the nurse’s office, Cynthia Solace felt her entire world crumble around her.
“So your Quirk is the ability to numb a small amount of pain, correct? And you use this in your career as a… dentist?”
“Yes, that’s right...”
“But you do not feel this pain. The needle that comes out of your pointer finger injects a small amount of anesthetic that your body produces. It is limited to only a few milligrams of mildly potent anesthetic per day. Correct?”
“Yes...”
“Your husband’s Quirk is…” “Survivability. He can go a few days without eating, drinking or sleeping, and his body is more resistant to injury as well as the elements.”
“And he is… a fisherman…?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, past history… it says here that he was a firefighter before sustaining a considerable injury. The medical report states he made a full recovery, and would have been apt to return to his-”
“No.”
The nurse blinked in surprise. “Oh, I didn’t mean to-” “My husband almost died for the sake of ungrateful strangers.”
“My apologies. Well, if I may… you should probably keep your daughter from coming into physical contact with anyone, lest she takes their pain. It also seems that she feels pain more intensely than most.”
“Charlotte! How many times do I need to tell you?!”
“B-but… the little kid was crying so much when they fell off their bike, and I could help!”
Cynthia looked down at her with tears in her eyes. She cried a lot, throughout the majority of their childhood.
“You can't help! Look at you! Day in and day out, in bed, in pain! You need to stop playing outside with other kids.”
“But, mom!” “You won't listen to me, sweetpea… I can't keep seeing you like this…”
“Hey!”
“Oh no, it's her! Run!”
Middle school Charlotte didn't know why the kids had started avoiding her, but she could take a pretty good guess.
“Have you heard her scream? She touched that highschooler who got burnt last week. It was so scary!” “Her mom chewed me out for just talking to her one time, so I stay away from her...” “I heard she bumped into a teacher after, and they yelped as if they got burnt too!” “Yikes, her Quirk is so messed up. You think she'll turn into a villain?” “Definitely! What kind of hero scares and hurts people?”
Her friends listened to her story in between tears, watching her hiccup and fidget. “I-I’m sorry” she choked out, burying her face in between her knees. Her mother’s admonishing voice echoed in her head; all Charlotte did was prove her right, in the end.
“You don’t need to apologize” David let out a small sigh, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry I was a jackass.”
Her first reaction was to tense up, scared to pass more pain onto him, but her fear subsided as she realized their skin wasn’t touching. She mumbled, tearstained face buried into All Might’s blanket. “I hurt you. And I scared you. Just like they said…”
“We chose to help” Toshinori moved closer, placing his own arm around her. God, she could never express how safe she felt around them. How loved. She clutched the blanket tighter, noting the comforting scent of Toshi’s cologne, the one she gave him as a birthday gift. “It’s what friends do.”
She’d grown so attached to them; dependent. Charlotte had never leant against anyone for help before. She’d never felt accepted. It was a kind of bliss she didn’t know she’d ever be privy to.
But what will happen to us when we become heroes?
Lottie just couldn’t shake the stomach-turning sensation that she’d one day lose their warmth; that one day they’ll be out of her reach and she’ll be screaming in pain all alone, just like she used to. She tried to bury that dread deep inside her, somewhere the future could hopefully never reach.
a/n: HOHOHO, I AM HERE... WITH A CHRISTMAS SPECIAL! (this is not the date chapter but a sweet treat for your patience) technically AM X OC but you can imagine her however you want ♡ here's her info page if you wanna know more abt her and what i imagine she looks like!
summary: Toshi and Charlotte (hero name: Painkiller) attended Heroes University of California together before partnering up for the rest of his stay in America. After they parted, many things were left unsaid. Decades later, she relocates to Japan, becoming a teacher at UA, and old feelings resurface in full force.
tags: slow burn, yearning for each other for their entire lives basically, fluff, cheesy Hallmark Christmas romance, a little sexual tension here and there, gift-giving, enjoy this little scene that spawned itself in my brain
songs: This Christmas (Donny Hathaway), Baby It's Cold Outside (Dean Martin)
Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas!
Peace had settled over the room, leaving the two of them in a soft silence. He smiled when he caught her eye before even noticing the beautifully-wrapped box resting atop her palms, invitingly extended towards him. His eyes grew wider, feeling a flurry inside his heart that the one rattling the windows would envy.
“I figured you’d prefer if I did this when it’s just us.”
“Charlotte…! You didn’t have to…”
“I know. I wanted to.”
He gave her a tiny bow of appreciation and held the present so gingerly in his hands, admiring it like it was a long-lost treasure he’d never again let go of.
“Y-You can open it, unless you two need some privacy” she stuttered when he graced at her with the same look of adoration on his face, letting out a small laugh.
“Apologies.”
All Might was careful not to even tear the paper as he unwrapped his present, reaching inside the box to pull out a brand-new mug. As he turned it around, his entire face caught on fire, a large hand coming up to cover it. He fell silent, burning up as an oblivious Painkiller chattered away just like she used to when they were younger.
“I hope you like it! Don Quijote was the only store still open… I know it’s not much, with all the stuff that’s been happening, I couldn’t manage to get you something nicer, but I know your old one broke and it tore me apart to see you so sad over it, so I wanted to get you a new one! I thought it really fit you. I know I don’t always say what I really think, but I truly believe you’re the World's Best-”
She reached out to turn the mug in his hand to read it out loud, her smile collapsing into a look of pure horror,
“Tea...cher…”
as the word HUSBAND stared her dead in the face.
Oh. That explained his reaction.
His blush became contagious, spreading to her own features as she tried to grab it, but he instinctively pulled it away, cradling it to his chest. They completely avoided each-other’s gaze, stiller than a statue.
She broke their silence first, grabbing her forehead.
“I can’t fucking believe- oh my god, Toshi, I’m so fucking sorry- I swear- you know I don’t-”
His face was still buried in his hand, voice muffled: “-like grabbing the first thing on the shelf-”
“so I grabbed the second and didn’t even check if it was the same! Christ-”
“Lottie.”
“Oh my god, I’m such a fucking idiot! I’ll take it back and-”
“I like it.”
His voice was meek but sincere, gathering the courage to glance back at her. “I would like to keep it. If- if that’s alright with you.”
Charlotte practically jumped in place and launched herself at him, attacking once again in a fit of pure shame-channeled rage. “KEEP IT?! ARE YOU INSANE?”
He started laughing as he poofed into Bigmight, having an even easier time holding it out of her reach, “HAHAHA! SO I’VE BEEN TOLD!”
It only took a moment of quiet contemplation for her to start jumping, heels clacking as she attempted to grasp onto his shoulders and prop herself higher, met with a large, shy hand on her waist keeping her down, the collar of his shirt suddenly feeling much tighter as her body crashed into his.
“YAGI TOSHINORI, YOU HAND ME THAT DARN MUG RIGHT THIS INSTANT!”
He nearly dropped it when she managed to climb on him enough to wrap her arm around his neck and prop a knee against his chest, getting dizzy at the sight of her cleavage in his face. He tried to cover it up with a chuckle, suddenly swinging her like he’d done so many times and securing an arm around her, physically holding her away from his gift.
“GOMEN, LOTTIE! EIGO HANASHIMASEN!” (Sorry, Lottie! I don't speak English!)
“YES YOU DO, YOU OLD DOG! PUT ME DOWN!”
“NO CAN DO!”
The door opened before either of them could react, the both of them filled with dread as they came face to face with a familiar detective.
“Toshi? I was wondering if we should go over the plan a...gain...” “TSUKAUCHI-KUN! I CAN EXPLAIN-”
“You two, uh, have a good evening.”
It had closed just as abruptly, awareness suddenly dawning on them both. All Might’s hands felt surprisingly hot against her body as he carefully placed her down, feeling the sensation of his fingers sliding down her thighs for many moments after he returned to his true form.
They both awkwardly cleared their throats, facing away from each-other.
“P-People might talk” Charlotte mumbled.
“They always have. You've taught me not to listen."
He was right.
“The mug is- too much! Besides, they’d be wondering who… um, who has the matching one.”
He wouldn’t realize what she meant or why she was so visibly distraught until later when Tsukauchi was chuckling at a flustered Toshinori, leaning back in his chair after Charlotte had left.
“So, when were you going to tell me?” “Tell you what?” “The marriage! Keeping it secret so many years! ...Oh no. I know that look. Don't tell me... Does hers not say-”
All Might’s desk chair fell backwards as he shot up, hastily grabbing his coat.
Gran Torino was right. I am an idiot.
“Toshi! Where are you-” “Donki! It’s still open!”
She was sighing every few moments as she walked home, holding her umbrella with one arm and carrying her handbag with the other, cheek puffed out and eyebrows furrowed.
Maybe he’d give a matching mug to Inko. They seemed awfully close. Basically raising a child together. If he’d have to pick anyone, surely, it’d be her. It wouldn’t be weird. People would laugh. Haha, how cute! My son admired you all his life and now we're like a married couple!
The worst part was that she really liked Izuku’s mother, and Inko deserved someone like Toshi. That being said, Painkiller’s white glove let out a squeak as she tightened her grip on the umbrella, eye twitching.
Of course. She’d be so happy for them. Toshinori deserved nothing but the best, and a sweet, calm, loving presence like Inko was just what he was missing-
“Charlotte!”
Great, now she was having stupid Hallmark Christmas movie hallucinations of him chasing after her through the snow-covered street, pathetically calling out her name-
“Charlotte! Please, wait up!”
Ugh! Take a hike, imaginary Toshi. I’m mad at you. I should maybe get some professional help if I keep hearing him. Old age is really awful…
“I have it! The mug!”
Her legs stopped, heels turning around. Her umbrella hit the floor and cinematically kicked a swirl of snowflakes into the air, a frantic clack clack clack sounding against the pavement.
Either the hallucination was really getting out of hand, or Toshinori really was standing there, panting and shivering, wearing nothing but his suit and tie and holding onto a wrapped-up box for dear life.
“You absolute dork, you’re gonna catch a cold! What are you doing, running around like this?! You’re not a spry young hero anymore!”
Her soft, pink scarf immediately circled his neck when she reached All Might, her hands gathered in his as a box made them its new home. He melted against her touch like the snowflakes that met her pretty face, his eyes narrowing with delight.
“Merry Christmas, Lottie.”
She held the mug he eagerly waited for her to unbox up towards the streetlamp light, suddenly immune to the freezing temperature around them and considerably weaker to the decade-old overwhelming urge to kiss him.
WORLD'S BEST WIFE.
"Best...? So you've had other wi-" "Please. M-Mercy. I am h-here. F-freezing to d-d-death." "Oh, just come on up. I'll put some tea on. That's what the best wife would do, right? Want me to run you a bath, too?" "PFPPFPFPFFFFT!!!!" "CAREFUL, TOSHI! I swear, you're too easy to bully!" "Careful, she says...! This is no way to treat your h-h-... h...usb..." "Mhm?" "Muri, muri. (Not a chance) I can't do it." "I'm sure you'll get another chance at school when Yamada sees these." "Oh, God... Achoo!"
