Chapter Text
"Hero..."
That single word rang through Shinsou's head over and over again as he shut his eyes to sleep for the fifth time that night. He already had a rough time sleeping, but your smile and the way you called him your hero after he had rescued you plagued his thoughts too much to make sleep a possibility.
He doesn't understand- he's been a pro hero since he was 18, he's rescued countless people and stopped more villains than he could count so...
Why couldn't he keep you out of his head?
As he watched his alarm clock blink 3:00 AM again, he decided then and there he has to see you again. He absolutely had to figure out why your face and voice haunted his every thought. Surely you’d be so grateful for his rescue you’d ask him out, right? It would be rude of you not to. And that would be his chance- he’d use it as an excuse to get to know you and once his curiosity was satiated, his mind would stop conjuring up images of you, terrified out of your mind and clinging to him like he held your life in his hands. He’d have to get your address but given his status that wouldn’t be hard, and you’d be so caught up in thanking him you wouldn’t bat an eye as to why he’s magically at your front door. It would be much easier to brainwash you, but the thought alone made him cringe. He was no villain. Slightly obsessed maybe, but he’d never stoop that low.
Even if you do ask too many of the wrong questions and you aren’t as happy to see him as you should be, as grateful as he deserves you to be, he’s pretty good at picking locks on windows. And how could you be mad at him for that? You pushed him aside, it was your decisions that led to this direct consequence. He’s at least partially self-aware, he knows these aren’t exactly normal thoughts to be having, but what other choice does he have? This is the 5th night he’s gone with barely any sleep because the thought of you simply would not dissipate. One way or another, he was going to find out more about you.
Delusional thoughts swirling in his mind, he finally fell asleep as the clock hit 4:00.
...
...
...
You, on the other hand, didn't think much about him. You were grateful, there was no mistaking that, but when thinking back to the villain attack at your work, all you could see was blue flames lighting up the sky.
So, it's not hard to imagine your surprise when you see underground hero Hitoshi Shinsou, AKA Mindjack, leaning against the doorframe of your apartment.
As he noticed your presence, all you could manage was a small "Oh- um, hello...," to which you immediately kicked yourself mentally for. This man saved your life and all you can do is say "Hello"?
"Hi," his voice was still as deadpan as you remember from when he rescued you, but the slight smile on his face differed from before. "I just wanted to see how you were doing. That was quite the attack you got caught up in." Your mind briefly flashed to the burning warmth of the fire that ate up your workplace, and you had to suppress a shiver at the thought.
"I'm alright." The stammer in your voice told a different story, but he didn't comment on it. “Thank you for… everything.” A nervous smile adorned your face as you wrung your hands together. You’d never spoken to a hero, much less been in such close proximity to one, and the less he spoke the more nervous you got. Your only saving grace is he seemed just about as uncomfortable as you were. You got a short nod and the ghost of a smile as a response before he began walking past you, satisfied that he now knew he had the right address- and that you were okay, of course.
“Wait!” You called out before he could walk to far, and immediately cringing at how loud you were. He looked over his shoulder and you did your best to not lose your courage. “Um… Would you like to get coffee some time?” He looked stunned, his shoulders tensing eyes widening, and in the silence that followed you awkwardly tried to fill it with what your friends affectionately called ‘Word Vomit.’
“Sorry, I know you’re busy being a hero and all, I just thought since you saved my life and all it was the least I could do. Do you even like coffee? I should’ve opened with that, but the place I know sells tea and smoothies too and Jesus, I’m sorry. I bet you think I’m some ditz-“ Shinsou turned to face you, and the laugh that chimed from him effectively shut you up and made your face an unappealing shade of red.
“Sure. I don’t have patrol duty on Thursday, so I’m free then.” There was something similar to relief in his eyes, like he was waiting for you to ask him out, but you shook it off as your imagination.
“That works. It’s about a block from here and called ‘Stardew Café’ and it’s kind of small, it’ll be easy to miss it. I have to work that day but I can meet you at 2?”
“Works for me. See you then.”
And with that quiet agreement, you parted ways.