MHA Hiryu Rin x Reader - Just Like Jade
Summary: Rin's scales have begun to shed, but luckily you have found a use for them.
Warnings: pure fluff, short, rushed/not proofread, gn!reader
Rin groaned, dragging his nails down his forearm as he collected his things into his bag at the chime of the final bell. Occasionally, when the weather began to change, his scales had the tendency to shed, drying out his skin and making it terribly itchy. Unfortunately, now was one of those times, and even worse, he ran out of the lotion that normally fixed the issue.
"Hey, Rin!" You chirped, coming up behind him, giggling when he jumped, startled.
"Don't sneak up on me like that," He sighed, only annoyed at his quickened heart rate. "Did you need something?"
"Are you by chance shedding your scales?" You asked, leaning in curiously, embarrassing him. He looked away from you shamefully, throwing his bag over his shoulder.
"I am," He responded defensively. "Why?"
You smiled sweetly at him, unzipping your bag and digging through it, pulling out a bottle with a pump. "I noticed you've been itching lately and usually you carry a bottle of lotion with you, so I assumed you were out." Rin couldn't help but blush at your observation skills, never having thought you'd put so much stock into him. His cheeks warned all the more when you handed him the bottle and he realized it was the exact brand he perfered.
"I-I, uh-" He stuttered, his breath caught in his throat. "I-I don't know what to say, this is for me?"
"Of course! I don't use this kind, but I was already at the store so I figured I'd pick you up some!" You are holding it in his rough hands. "Also, there was something else that told me you were shedding." You admitted sheepishly.
He wasn't sure how he hadn't noticed your left hand closed behind your back. "Oh yeah?" He asked, his smile dropping nervously. Cautiously, you bring your hand in front of you, opening it to reveal a pile of shiny green scales in your palm.
"I-I've been collecting them when they fall," You confessed shyly, looking away. "And I'm just now realizing how creepy that is..."
"Could... I have them back, please?" He asked with a faint blush on his cheeks, admittedly a bit unnerved by the thought of you following him around and collecting what was essentially his dead skin. Before you could answer, he was already reaching into your palm, pinching one of the scales between his fingers.
"W-Wait!" You paled, watching his face contort with confusion as the rest of the pile lifted with the first scale, all connected with a black string and little gold beads in between. "I-I was gonna tell you..." You swore nervously as he studied the creation with an unreadable expression.
"What is this?" He asked skeptically, rolling his wrist to make the object spin.
"A-A bracelet?" You said timidly, shrinking away from him and taking your hand away, twiddling your thumbs. "I-I started collecting them when I noticed you were shedding and I intended to give them back because I know you keep them in your gauntlets to shoot them in battle," You explained, rambling into oblivion. "B-But they were just so pretty and smooth and I realized they kinda look like jade so that got me thinking- you know those videos where they make jade jewelry with a water jet?"
"I-" Rin tried to interject, a small smile tugging at his lips at your nervous ramblings.
"Well, that got me wondering if I could make jewelry out of your scales and so I decided I'd just keep a few just to experiment with and it worked and-" You finally stopped to take a breath, peering up at him like a kicked puppy. "I'm sorry, I know I should have asked your permission, oh, promise me you aren't mad!"
"I'm not mad," He finally said softly, smiling to himself as he continued to study the piece. "I'll admit, I was a bit unnerved to find you've been keeping my scales but, it's kind of sweet..."
Your cheeks began to glow as your eyes took on a hopeful glimmer. "You really think so?"
"Mhm," He nodded, laying the bracelet flat in his palm. "This must've took a great deal of effort."
Your cheeks burned at his praise and yopu dismissed it humbly. "It was nothing really..." You waved him off, despite knowing you'd spent many hours frustrated at the process. "W-Well, actually, it was kinda hard to drill the holes, your scales are super tough!"
"Thank you," Rin laughed, knowing it wasn't intended to be a compliment. "I eat a lot of keratin-rich foods to keep them tough and shiny..." He admitted sheepishly. "I try to take good care of them."
"I can tell," You beam, blushing a bit. "I made that for you, by the way, you can keep it..." You said, bringing the conversation back to topic.
"R-Really?" He asked, stiffening slightly in surprise, reptilian eyes shining as they darted between you and the gift in his hand. "But don't you want it? If you thought they were that pretty, you should keep it for yourself."
Smiling sweetly, you slowly roll up the sleeve of your blazer, revealing a nearly identical bracelet, albeit a bit less refined. "I kept the prototype..." You admit with a nervous laugh. "I hope that's okay, I thought we could match..."
"Y-You wanted to match... with me?" Rin swallowed a lump of nerves, the rose dusting his cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink. He'd never been the type to feel close to others and often felt left out with traditions such as wearing friendship bracelets, so the gesture made his stomach flip.
"Y-You don't have to wear it," You suddenly suggested, reaching for it, taking his hesitance as a sign he wasn't interested in the idea. "I-If you don't like it, I could give it to one of the girls or-"
"N-No!" He yelped, yanking it away and holding it out of your reach childishly. "I-I'll wear it..." He promised bashfully, bringing his hand back between the pair of you before slipping it onto his wrist. He could hardly bring himself to look you in the face, seeing your big glossy eyes and excited girn out of the corner of his vision. "On one condition..."
"Anything!" You instantly agreed.
"Don't make this stuff for anyone else, okay?" He muttered, a bit embarrassed. "I like matching with you and I don't want anyone other than you wearing my scales." He explained shyly, brows furrowed. "Knowing it's you wearing them is special to me..."
"Why is that?" You asked knowingly, inching closer, face leaning in close to his.
"Because...you're special to me..." He finally confessed, rolling his head and shoulders back to put space between the two of you, only to have you chase him, planting a kiss on his cheek.
"Deal!"
