I Think You’re Stupid

Blue birds sang out in the hospital grounds, that fateful October morning. Autumn sunshine filtered through the orange leaves on the trees that lines the gardens as Shoto Todoroki walked through the hospital, in search of something he was unsure of. The soft chime of the elevator bell echoed through the sterile hospital corridor as he stepped out onto the polished linoleum floor. The harsh fluorescent lights cast an eerie glow on his distinctive red and white hair, the shadows playing across his angular features. He took a deep breath as that familiar scent of antiseptic and clean linen filled his nostrils.

As he walked down the hallway, his footsteps muffled by the industrial carpeting, Shoto caught a glimpse of his reflection in a reflective wall. For a moment, he simply stared, taking in the sight of his own face, his mismatched eyes, and the scar on the left side of his face that he tried, so desperately, to ignore. It was a part of himself he had always struggled to accept, a physical manifestation of the trauma and pain that had defined so much of his young life.

But now, as he made his way towards the long-awaited reunion with his mother, Shoto felt a flicker of something new, something that felt suspiciously like hope. Maybe he could learn to embrace his left side, to see it not as a symbol of his father's cruelty, but as a testament to his own strength and resilience.

He turned away from his reflection and continued down the hallway, trying to steady his breath as his heart pounded in his chest. He approached the door to his mother's room, having been directed here by a few kind, dedicated nurses. He paused, his hand hovering over the handle, a lifetime of unspoken words and unresolved emotions swirling all around him.

But he couldn't turn back now, couldn't let the fear and uncertainty hold him back any longer. With a final, decisive movement, Shoto pushed open the door and stepped inside.

"Hi, Mom," he said softly, frowning a little in annoyance as he found himself blushing, unsure of what she would make of him.

The woman by the window to face him, her white hair cascading over her shoulders, her grey eyes shifting from an unfocused, uncertainty to widening in surprise and recognition. In this moment, the years seemed to melt away, the pain and the heartache fading into the background as Rei Todoroki took in the sight of her son, a young man now, grown and changed, but still undeniably hers.

Slowly, with a gasp of reassurance to herself, a smile bloomed across her face, a smile that held a lifetime of love and regret and hope. She reached out a hand, her fingers trembling slightly, and Shoto found himself moving forward, closing the distance between them until he was close enough to take her hand in his.

As their fingers intertwined, the young hero felt a warmth spreading through his chest, a sense of connection and belonging that he had been missing for so long. With a small smile in return, the horrors of his childhood seemed to fade away, replaced by the simple, profound joy of being seen, of being accepted, of being loved.

Miles away, in the chic, modern apartment she called home, Ren sat at her dressing table, staring at her own reflection in the mirror. The soft glow of the lamp illuminated the flecks of silver in her grey eyes, hi-lighting the shadows around her plump lips. She was dressed in a simple black summer dress, the fabric hugging her suggestively, the delicate ribbons that ran down the front of the dress were practically begging to be untied.

But Ren's thoughts were consumed by what was happening far away from her. Her thoughts were solely of blue and grey eyes, red and white hair, of Shoto and the momentous meeting he was undoubtedly having with his mother at that very moment. She couldn't help but wonder what was happening, couldn't stop herself from imagining the emotions that must be swirling through him, the pain and the hope and the desperate, aching need for connection.

What could it be like? To reconnect with a parent, to find some measure of closure and healing? Ren's own mother had been taken from her long ago, captured and killed in a senseless act of violence that had shattered her world. The girl closed her eyes, a single tear slipping down her cheek as she allowed herself, just for a moment, to remember. To remember the warmth of her mother's embrace, the sound of her laughter, the way she had always made Ren feel safe and loved and cherished. But those memories were tinged with pain now, with the knowledge that they were all she would ever have, that there would be no more moments, no more chances for reconciliation or redemption. She was so happy, so hopeful, so in awe and envy of her childhood friend, who had a chance to reshape his life. Shoto deserved that much, the peace and the closure that she herself had been denied.

But even as she hoped, Ren couldn't escape the nagging sense of doubt, the feeling that she and Shoto were fundamentally different, that they belonged to two separate worlds that could never truly understand each other. She was the privileged daughter of a media mogul, raised in a world of wealth and influence and carefully crafted public images. He was the son of a hero, a boy forged in the fires of trauma and pain, a young man driven by a fierce, unshakable sense of duty and purpose. Could they ever truly bridge that gap? Could they ever find a way to meet in the middle, to understand and accept each other for who they were, scars and all? How had they done it as children? Back when life seemed so simple, so uncomplicated?

Ren shook her head, a rueful smile playing at the corners of her lips as she caught sight of her own reflection once more. Look at herself, sitting here in her dress, her hair and makeup perfectly styled, all for the mere possibility that Shoto might come back to see her. It was pathetic, really. Pathetic and more than a little embarrassing. What was she doing, pining after a boy was not only uninterested but entirely clueless when it came to the opposite sex? A boy who had looked at her with such disdain, such disappointment, when she had walked away from the Sports Festival, unable to bear the brutality and the senselessness of it all.

She was trying to keep her distance, trying to pull aware from the stupid, reckless fascination with Shoto Todoroki. It was a fascination that made no sense, that defied all logic and reason. He was the son of a hero, a boy who embodied everything she despised about the world of quirks and powers and endless, senseless violence. And yet, she couldn't seem to stay away, couldn't seem to shake the hold he had on her.

Shaking herself of the thoughts that began swirling in her head, Ren made her way to the kitchen, her bare feet padding softly against the cool tile floor. She glanced over at the clock; it wasn't quite tea time, wasn't quite dinner time…again, she was somewhere in the middle, caught between two things, unsure of herself. Hungry but not quite ravenous, nervous but not quite excited…what could pull her out of this? Maybe a protein shake?

As she gathered the ingredients - peanut butter, protein powder, ice, almond milk - her phone chimed, the sound echoing through the quiet apartment. Ren glanced at the screen, her heart skipping a beat and then stopping completely as she saw Kaito's name.

Kaito Nakamura, the handsome teaching assistant from her journalism program, editor-in-chief of the Musutafu University paper, was sending her a message. Ren caught herself reminiscing about his his warm brown eyes and his easy, confident smile. He was older than her, more mature, and Ren couldn't deny the flicker of attraction she felt whenever he was near. She grimaced at her phone screen as she realised this may just be a cliche a manifestation of her daddy issues, a subconscious desire for approval and validation from an older male figure. She typed out a response confirming her attendance at the weekly meeting.

And then nearly dropped her phone as someone knocked on her door. Her heart kept out of her throat as she set down her untouched protein shake on the kitchen counter and glanced at the clock, her pulse quickening as she realised just how late it had gotten. Could it be...?

Ren smoothed down the front of her black dress, the cotton fabric cool beneath her touch. She moved her hair to one side of her neck as she made her way to the door, her bare feet tapping lightly against the wooden floors. When she got to the door she shrugged her shoulders back as though limbering up for a fight. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.

Her breath caught in her throat as her heart stopped in disbelief, surprise or relief, she wasn't quite sure. Shoto Todoroki was standing in her doorway, his mismatched eyes gleaming in the soft light of the hallway. He was dressed casually, in a dark hoodie and jeans, but there was something different about him, something that made Ren stop, her eyes searching his face. He looked...lighter, somehow. As if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, a burden that he had been carrying for far too long. His face was still serious, still guarded, but there was a softness to his features that Ren had never seen before, a vulnerability that made her heart ache.

"You came back!" she exclaimed happily to a bewildered Shoto as he crossed the threshold into her apartment.

"I said I would," he murmured, watching her go, his eyes hypnotising but he way her dark hair swished behind her back as the walked, the way her black dress draped over her back effortlessly.

"I thought you were just behind polite, I guess." Shoto heard her call as he took off his shoes and followed her into the kitchen. The sun was beginning to set, long streaks of golden light were illuminating parts of the kitchen, reflecting on the surfaces, making everything glitter. Ren turned as Shoto entered the kitchen behind her and leant against the kitchen cabinets, her touched protein shake on the counter between them. Shoto swallowed hard as Ren's grey eyes sparkled and softened as she appraised him. Suddenly he could feel that tension in the air between them, shift and move into every nerve ending, every cell of his body.

"How was it?" Ren asked seriously, folding her arms. "With your mom, I mean." The boy let our a cold breath as if ridding himself of some of the weight of his thoughts and emotions.

"It was...good," he said finally, looking up at her, the corners of his mouth lifting ever so slightly into a smile. "Really good, actually. She's doing well, and she was happy to see me."

Ren tried desperately to stop her heart melting at the sight of the small, tentative smile tugging at the corners of his lips. In that moment, all the distance between them, all the animosity and misunderstanding, seemed to fall away, replaced by a shared sense of joy and relief.

"I'm so glad," Ren said, smiling broadly at him. He nodded, his gaze dropping to the ground hurriedly as he rubbed the back of his neck, a gesture that Ren had come to recognise as a sign of his discomfort, his vulnerability.

But as Shoto lowered his arm, his gaze shifted, his brow furrowing slightly as he caught sight of the glass on the counter. It looked cold, condensation building up on the side of the glass, he liked cold drinks.

"What's that?" he asked, nodding towards the concoction of peanut butter, almond milk, and protein powder.

Ren laughed, and tilted her head at Shoto as he asked an innocent question in a sweet, childlike manner. "It's a protein shake," she explained, picking up the glass and swirling the contents. "You can try it if you like, I didn't really want it." Ren held out the glass and Shoto took it gratefully. She watched him with a small smile.

"Thanks," his voice was quiet, almost shy. Ren's heart skipped a beat, a flutter of warmth spreading through her chest at the sight of this powerful, stoic boy, looking so endearingly unsure and innocent.

Shoto took a cautious sip, his eyes widening slightly as the rich, creamy flavour hit his tongue. "It's good," he said happily to himself. "I like peanut butter."

Ren grinned, her eyes sparkling with an emotion she couldn't quite place as she watched him take another, larger sip. "You like peanut butter?" Shoto nodded at her, his hair falling into his eyes as he did so. "That's fucking adorable," she said, laughing as his brow furrowed in confusion. Ren shook her head with another laugh as, a sudden, impulsive idea took hold of her. She reached out to him and removed the glass from his hand.

"Hey!" He exclaimed, not having finished his drink, but he had no time to sulk as the dark haired girl tugged the hood of his sweatshirt up over his distinctive hair.

"I have an idea!" She grabbed a jacket from the hook by the door, shrugging it on over her dress and pulling a baseball cap low over her eyes. Shoto watched her, bemused, as she grabbed her keys and wallet, stuffing them into her pockets.

***

They emerged onto Ren's street a few minutes later, the cool night air giving the two teenagers a chance to breathe and escape the heat between them. Ren's apartment was in the heart of the city, where all the bustling, busy nightlife was. She led him down the block, weaving through the throngs of people until they reached a small, brightly lit ice cream shop. Children were running around, crying, nagging, shouting in excitement. Couples were on dates, sharing licks of each other's ice cream and stealing kisses when they thought no one was looking. Shoto glanced around them as Ren went up to the counter to order, he watched the normal families, the normal teenagers and wondered what it felt like, to live a normal life.

His thoughts were interrupted as Ren's face reappeared in front of his, holding two cups of peanut butter ice cream. Her smile was just as he remembered 10 years ago; mischievous and alluring. She could get a lot of people to do bad things, he thought to himself, before shaking the thought from his head. As they made their way to a small table in the corner of the shop, Shoto reached up to tug his hood back, his red and white hair gleaming under the fluorescent lights. But before he could remove it fully, Ren's hand shot out, stopping him in his tracks. Immediately she withdrew her hand as the quirk associated with his left side seemed to burn her.

"Don't," she said pleadingly. "You're too recognisable, Shoto. If someone got a picture of us together..." She trailed off, her eyes flicking away from his as a faint blush stained her cheeks. Shoto nodded, understanding dawning on his features as he settled back into his seat, his hood still firmly in place. As Ren settled into her seat, she pulled her cap down, securing it fully.

They ate in silence for a few minutes, savouring the rich, creamy flavour of the ice cream. Ren watched Shoto out of the corner of her eye, taking in the way his brow furrowed in concentration as he scooped up each bite, he looked like he was enjoying it. It was strangely endearing, seeing him like this. So focused, so intent on something as simple and mundane as enjoying a bowl of ice cream. It made Ren's heart ache in a way she couldn't quite explain. He caught her eye and raised an eyebrow at her. She stuttered for a moment.

"Good, right?" she asked, breaking the silence between them. Shoto looked up at her, his eyes wide and serious as he nodded.

"Really good," he said sweetly, earning a weak smile from his childhood friend.

Ren smiled, her gaze softening as she watched him take another bite. Ren went back to enjoying her ice cream and mused to herself that the two of them often sat in silence, eating Hana's red bean cookies, on either side of the fence. Now, there was no fence between them. Just all this infuriating, irritating tension due to their political differences. Just all this intoxicating, intimidating tension due to their stupid teenage bodies.

the girl was glancing around the shop, watching with a small smirk as another couple on the other side of the restaurant, intertwined arms and whispered to one another as they waited for their ice cream. She did not notice that Shoto had stopped eating, but was watching her intently. As Ren ate her ice cream, her lips wrapping around the spoon with delicately, her tongue cleaning the spoon delicately, she had no idea that the temperature of her mouth was dropping.

Shoto felt a sudden flush of heat wash over him, as he caught himself wondering where along her body did the temperature change? Could he find it? Heat her back up? It was a foreign feeling, this sudden, visceral awareness of Ren's body, of her contrasting temperatures, of the riddle she posed to him. The mere idea that he wanted to find out, search her for the answers, was a revelation that left him feeling off-balance. Shoto had never been good with emotions, had never been comfortable with the messy, complicated business of attraction and desire. His life had always been about control, about keeping his feelings locked away behind a wall of ice and indifference.

But this ache was a wanting that went beyond anything he had ever experienced before, a hunger that threatened to consume him from the inside out. And as Ren looked up at him, her grey eyes wide and luminous, Shoto knew that he was in trouble. Knew that the carefully constructed walls he had built around himself were crumbling, falling to pieces in the face of this girl and the impossible, irresistible pull she had on him.

"What?" Ren asked through a mouthful of ice cream. Her thoughtful smile faded as Shoto simply stared back at her. She faltered under his icy gaze; it was as though he were assessing her, examining her, seeing right through her. Their eyes locked and Ren felt as though she had to grip onto the table to stop herself being swept away by this handsome boy. The two jumped as a sudden commotion near their table surprised them. A group of girls, a few years younger than them, had approached, their eyes wide with excitement and their voices hushed with barely-contained glee.

The young hero felt a flicker of unease, his hand automatically reaching up to tug his hood back into place. But it was too late - the soft fabric had already slipped from his head, revealing his distinctive red and white hair, the strands gleaming like fire and ice under the warm glow of the shop's lights.

"Oh my god," one of the girls squealed, her voice high-pitched and breathless. "You're Todoroki, right? From the U.A. Sports Festival? Endeavor's son?"

Shoto nodded, his expression guarded as he took in the group of girls. They were dressed in trendy, fashionable clothing - short skirts and tight-fitting tops, their hair styled in perfect waves and their makeup expertly applied. The leader of the group, a tall, slender girl with long blonde hair and sparkling green eyes, stepped forward, her lips curved in a confident, flirtatious smile.

Ren watched the exchange, her stomach twisting with an unfamiliar feeling. It took her a moment to realize what it was - jealousy. The media heiress almost left her body in surprise; she had always prided herself on her independence and self-assurance. What was there to be jealous of?She tried to push the feeling down, tried to focus on the sweet, creamy taste of her own ice cream and the soft chatter of the other customers around them. But as the blonde girl leaned in closer to Shoto, her hand coming up to rest on his arm, Ren found it harder and harder to keep her composure.

"So," the girl said, her voice low and throaty, "what do you think of my dress, Todoroki? Does it suit me?" Ren's eyes flicked to the girl's outfit - a short, tight-fitting dress in a bright, almost garish shade of yellow. She then looked to Shoto, wondering how this completely clueless boy would respect.

Shoto, to his credit, seemed entirely unfazed by the girl's obvious attempt at flirtation. He tilted his head to the side, his mismatched eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the girl's appearance with a critical, almost clinical gaze.

"The colour brings out the yellow of your eyes," he said finally, his voice flat and matter-of-fact. "You should consider speaking to your doctor about an iron deficiency."

Ren nearly choked on her ice cream, her hand flying up to cover her mouth as she tried to stifle the sudden burst of laughter that threatened to escape. She felt terrible for finding amusement in the girl's embarrassment, but the sheer bluntness of Shoto's words, the complete lack of tact or social grace, was so perfectly, utterly him that she couldn't help but be charmed by it.

The girl's face fell, her confident demeanour crumbling in the face of Shoto's unexpected critique. Her green eyes widened, a flush of embarrassment and hurt spreading across her cheeks as she took a step back, her hand falling away from Shoto's arm.

Ren knew she had to act fast, to salvage the situation before it could devolve into hurt feelings and awkward silences. She was so well practiced in the art of social niceties, so well polished for the public, it was practically second nature to her at this point. She leaned forward and smiled sincerely at the girl, a small smile of apology.

"Yeah, he's pretty, but he's stupid," she said, her voice light and teasing, trying desperately to ignore Shoto's completely blank, yet somehow confused face in the background. "Sorry about that," she said to the group before turning her attention to the blonde. "I think you look lovely, though."

The blonde blinked, her gaze flicking from Shoto to Ren and back again. For a moment, she seemed at a loss for words, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly like a fish as she tried to process the sudden shift in the conversation.

But then her eyes widened with a spark of recognition. "Wait," she breathed, her voice hushed with awe and excitement. "You're Ren Ishikawa, aren't you?"

"Who's that?" Ren asked with a smile and stood, dragging Shoto up with her. "Time to leave!" She whispered to him urgently. But it was too late, the girls in the group surged forward, their voices rising in a cacophony of excited chatter and breathless questions.

"Oh my god, I can't believe it's really you!"

"I saw you on the cover of Vogue last month, you looked amazing!"

"Is it true that you're dating that actor, what's his name, the one with the cheekbones?"

"He wishes," Ren replied, feeling a headache beginning to form behind her eyes, a dull, throbbing ache that pulsed in time with the rapid beating of her heart. She had always hated this part of being a public figure, the constant invasion of her privacy, the way people felt entitled to every aspect of her life. Before she could speak, she caught sight of a flurry of movement out of the corner of her eye. The other customers in the shop had begun to take notice of their little group, their curious gazes and excited whispers filling the air like a swarm of buzzing insects.

Ren's heart sank as she saw the first phone being pointed in their direction, the telltale flash of a camera lens setting off alarm bells in her head. She knew that they only had moments before the pictures would start flooding social media, before the rumours and speculation would begin to fly.

She glanced over at Shoto as he stood beside her, taking in the tense set of his jaw and the wariness in his gaze. He looked like a cornered animal, ready to bolt at the slightest provocation. Ren felt a pang of guilt, a sharp ache in her chest at the thought that she had brought this upon him, that her own reckless desire for his company had put him in this position. "We need to go, now." She whispered to him. Shoto nodded, his expression grim as he followed her hurriedly out of the shop.

"I'm really sorry, Shoto," Ren whispered suddenly. "I don't think it's a good idea for us to hang out anymore," she expected him to be agreeable, if a little confused. But he was neither; when she looked up at him, something dangerous flashed in his eyes. why was he looking at her like that?

For a moment, they just stood there, the world around them fading away until it was just the two of them, lost in the depths of each other's eyes. How could Shoto tell her, the idea of not seeing her was painful to him? How could she explain to him that she was drowning in those eyes, in the swirl of emotions that played across Shoto's face - desire and uncertainty, longing and fear, all tangled up in a knot that she ached to unravel.

But then the moment was broken, shattered by the distant sound of voices and the flashing of camera lights. Ren felt a jolt of panic, her heart leaping into her throat as she realised what was happening.

"They found us," she whispered, her voice tight with fear and frustration. "The paparazzi. Someone must have tipped them off."

Shoto nodded, his expression grim as he took her hand, his fingers lacing through hers with a gentle, reassuring pressure, she grimaced as an icy pain shot up her arm. "We need to go," he said, his voice steady and calm despite the urgency of the situation. "Now."

And so they ran, their footsteps pounding against the pavement as they wove through the crowds of people, their breaths coming in sharp, ragged gasps. Ren's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, a jumble of fear and exhilaration and something else, something warm and bright and all-consuming.

She knew that they were playing with fire, that the consequences of their actions could be disastrous. If the media got wind of this, if her father found out that she had been seen with Shoto Todoroki…it was too complicated, too much for her to deal with.

Ren almost crashed into Shoto as pulled her down a narrow alleyway, the brick walls looming high on either side of them. The ground was damp and slick beneath their feet, the air heavy with the scent of stale cigarette smoke. Shoto released her hand and Ren cradled it, trying to warm it back up with her other hand. She was distracted as Shoto turned to face the entrance of the alley, his shoulders squared and his jaw set in determination. With a flick of his wrist, Shoto summoned a wall of ice, the crystalline surface glinting in the dim light of the alley. It rose high above their heads, blocking out the sounds of the city and the flashing of the cameras.

Ren watched in awe as the ice formed, her eyes widening at the sheer power and control that Shoto wielded. She had always known that he was strong, had always been aware of the incredible abilities that lay within him. But seeing it up close, feeling the chill emanating from the wall and the way the air seemed to crackle with energy, was something else entirely.

"Wow," Ren said breathlessly, taking in how the city lights glittered and shone through the ice, dancing in an enchanting rhythm. She realised Shoto was watching her and as she looked over she could have sworn a small smile cracked across his usually unreadable face. "What?"

"You think I'm pretty." For a moment Ren was completely stunned, a flush spread across her cheeks as she realised what he was talking about. She rolled her eyes at him, not wanting to I've him the satisfaction.

"They think you're pretty. I think you're stupid." They smiled at one another. "Ah," Ren gasped as a hold of cold pain ran through her hand. She rubbed it, trying to coax some warmth back into her skin. But, almost as though fate were taunting her, she knew the only cure for this pain came from the boy before her. Her grey eyes were cast downwards in resignation as Shoto took her hand in his and warmed her skin gently. He begged her to look up as he felt her skin responding to him, he wanted to ask her, to know, could she feel it too? the way her body reacted to him? this aching feeling in the pit of his stomach?

"What the hell is this?" Shoto released Ren's hand and turned in surprise as he heard a police officer appraise the giant wall of ice in the alley. He knew he could not get caught using his quirk like this so he turned to Ren, expecting to see her smiling at him in her usual, mischevious manner. But when he turned back to her, he found only empty air. She was gone, her footsteps echoing down the alleyway as she moved away from him, her shoulders hunched and her head bowed.

Shoto felt a flicker of confusion, a pang of hurt that he couldn't quite understand. He had thought that they were in this together, that they were on the same side. But now, with Ren's sudden retreat and the way she seemed to be pulling away from him, he wasn't so sure. "Ren?" He called out to her but she did not listen, she kept walking away.

He followed her, his long strides eating up the distance between them as he tried to catch up to her. But she was fast, her movements quick and purposeful as she navigated the twists and turns of the alleyways, her dark hair flying out behind her like a banner in the wind.

It wasn't until they reached the front door of her apartment building that Shoto finally caught up to her, his hand closing around her wrist as she fumbled with her keys. She gasped at his touch.

"Ren," he said urgently. "What's going on? Why are you running away from me?" But Ren didn't answer, her eyes fixed on the door in front of her as she finally managed to get it open. She stepped inside, her movements jerky and uncoordinated as she tried to pull away from his grasp.

"Let go of me, Shoto," her strained. "Please, you have to leave me alone." But Shoto couldn't let her go, couldn't walk away from her when every fibre of his being was screaming at him to stay. He followed her into the building, his footsteps echoing loudly in the empty foyer as he tried to keep up with her.

"Ren, please," he said, his voice rising with each step. "Talk to me. Tell me what's wrong."

But Ren remained silent, her pretty eyes fixed on the floor as she walked to her apartment. Shoto could feel the tension radiating from her, could sense the way her body seemed to be coiled tight with some emotion he couldn't quite name. He followed close behind her, his heart pounding in his chest as he tried to understand what was happening, why she was pushing him away.

His long lost friend reached her door, her hands shaking slightly as she unlocked it and stepped inside. But before Shoto could follow her, she turned to face him, her eyes wide and shimmering, what was this look on her face? What was going on?

"Shoto," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You have to leave."

"Why?" He asked, looking down a her, panic etched across his handsome face. Ren's lip trembled as she realised she had no idea what to say to him. Because we're from different worlds. Because I am trouble. Because you're so good and sweet and a part of me kind of wants to break you. Because I am no good. Because I'm beginning to feel the agony of realising I can't have you. Because I hate that you're a hero. Because they will hound you and break us both if they find out.

All scary, looming thoughts, too big, too dark, too much for our Ren to face, let alone articulate them to the boy she was falling for. With one last look at him, his sweet face showing nothing but distress and confusion, Ren's heart broke a little as she shut the door in his face. The sound of the lock clicking into place was like a gunshot in the quiet of the hallway.

Shoto stood there for a moment, his hand still raised as if to knock, his mind reeling with confusion and hurt. He didn't understand what had happened, didn't understand why Ren was suddenly pushing him away when just moments before, she had been holding onto him like a lifeline. He leaned against the door, his forehead resting against the cool wood as he tried to gather his thoughts.

"Shoto," he leaned away from the door as her voice, quiet and timid, came through from the other side. "Are you there?" There was a moment of silence, a pause that seemed to stretch out into eternity. Ren had her back against the door, the last divider between them. And then, softly, she heard his voice, muffled by the door between them.

"No," he said, his voice trembling with a mix of something and laughter. "You're talking to the door right now." He stood there, his body tense and his heart racing, waiting for her to speak again.

"Shoto," she said, her voice so low that he had to strain to hear her. "Do you also feel like you're going to die if we don't…?" Something in her voice made him shudder. A rush of heat and desire coursed through his veins. He had never heard Ren talk like that before, had never heard her voice so raw and desperate with need. If they didn't what? It ignited something in him, something primal and hungry that he had never felt before. He needed to see her face.

"Ren," he whispered, his throat dry, his voice hoarse. "Open the door."