MHA: A King's Legacy (BNHA x AOT)

Morning light streamed through the sheer curtains, casting a soft glow over the cozy room. Celeste stood in the doorway, her golden-trimmed spectacles glinting in the sunlight as she took in the sight before her.

Aiden and Toru were nestled together under a single blanket, their forms close and intertwined, their breathing slow and peaceful. Their clothes—scattered haphazardly—hinted at nothing scandalous, but the intimacy was unmistakable.

Celeste pushed up her glasses with a smirk, her mind racing even as she kept her expression composed.

"Rise and shine, lovebirds," she chimed, her voice lilting and playful.

Aiden stirred first, his arm tightening protectively around Toru as his groggy eyes blinked open. Toru followed moments later, her cheeks flushing as she registered the situation. "C-Celeste! Knock next time!"

Celeste chuckled, stepping further into the room with a deliberate sway in her step. "Oh, but where's the fun in that? Besides, someone has to make sure you two don't sleep the whole day away." She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, her smirk unwavering.

Outwardly, she was teasing, the ever-poised older sister figure with a penchant for playful jabs. But inside, her thoughts were far from lighthearted.

It was happening again. That gnawing, aching feeling she'd been pushing aside for weeks now. At first, it had been a fleeting thought—a vague curiosity about how Aiden and Toru seemed so effortlessly connected. But as the days passed, it grew.

Desire. Longing. And jealousy.

This isn't right, Celeste thought, forcing a smile to her lips as Aiden sat up, running a hand through his dreadlocks. She couldn't let herself feel this way. She'd known Aiden all her life, shared memories with him no one else could.

He was her friend, her partner in mischief during their childhood, her confident rock. She'd always assumed her feelings for him were entirely platonic.

But lately, she wasn't so sure.

Her mind drifted to their shared past, to the small but tightly-knit group they'd formed as children. There had been four of them—Aiden, Celeste, and their two friends whose laughter and camaraderie still echoed in her memories.

Aiden had always been at the center, his vibrant energy and unwavering confidence drawing them all together.

Back then, she'd been content just to be near him, to share in his adventures and match his wit. She never thought twice about her feelings for him because they were simple, clean. Or so she had believed.

Now, watching him with Toru, it was impossible to ignore the tight knot in her chest, the way her heart ached when he looked at Toru with such adoration. She hated it. She hated feeling envious of someone she genuinely liked and respected.

Toru was wonderful—kind, clever, and everything Aiden deserved. But that didn't stop the ache.

Why now? she wondered, shifting her weight as Aiden yawned and stretched, his lean muscles rippling under the blanket. She forced herself to look away, focusing instead on a loose thread on her sleeve.

Celeste remembered the small moments that had chipped away at her resolve: the way Aiden laughed, the way he leaned close when they strategized, the way his eyes lit up when he spoke about his passions.

She'd dismissed them at first, chalking them up to admiration, respect, or even sibling-like fondness. But admiration didn't leave her awake at night, replaying every shared glance. Respect didn't make her stomach twist every time Toru touched him. And sibling-like fondness certainly didn't make her feel like she was losing a piece of herself every time she saw him kiss someone else.

Back in the present, she masked her turmoil with another teasing remark. "I must say, Toru, you look quite comfortable. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to steal my best friend away for good."

Toru buried her face in her hands, her muffled voice squeaking, "Celeste, stop!"

Aiden chuckled, throwing an arm around Toru's shoulders. "You're just jealous no one wants to cuddle you like this," he said, grinning up at Celeste.

The words, meant in jest, hit her harder than she expected. Jealous? If only he knew.

Celeste pushed her glasses up again, a nervous habit she only indulged when her composure was slipping. "Oh please," she said, her tone light and sarcastic. "I could have suitors lining up if I wanted. I just prefer my peace and quiet."

But as she said the words, she realized how hollow they felt. Peace and quiet were fine, but they weren't what she truly wanted.

What she truly wanted was sitting right in front of her, utterly oblivious to the storm brewing behind her calm exterior.

Forcing herself back into the moment, Celeste crossed her arms and tilted her head. "Anyway, I came to tell you breakfast is ready. If you don't hurry, Nimbus might eat all the fruit."

Aiden laughed, standing and stretching. "Alright, alright. We'll be down in a minute."

Celeste turned to leave but hesitated at the door, glancing back over her shoulder. The sight of Aiden ruffling Toru's hair, the way they smiled at each other—it was beautiful. And it hurt.

As she walked down the hall, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor, she resolved to bury her feelings deeper. She couldn't afford to let them grow, couldn't risk ruining the balance they'd built over the years.

But no matter how hard she tried to suppress them, the feelings remained. A tangled, complicated mess of love, jealousy, and longing that threatened to consume her if she let her guard down for even a moment.

For now, she'd keep pretending. Pretending that she was happy for him, that her teasing was nothing more than sisterly affection, that her heart wasn't slowly breaking every time he smiled at someone else.

-

-

After Celeste left, the door clicked softly shut behind her, leaving Aiden and Toru alone once more. The room was warm and comfortable, the morning sunlight casting a golden glow on their tangled bedsheets.

Aiden turned to Toru, his face breaking into a soft smile. She was still tucked under the blanket, her cheeks flushed with sleep and embarrassment from earlier.

Leaning down, Aiden placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Good morning, beautiful," he murmured before pulling back just enough to meet her gaze.

Toru's blush deepened, but she managed a shy smile. "Good morning. We should get up before Celeste comes back and teases us more."

Aiden chuckled, sitting up and stretching, his toned muscles flexing as he ran a hand through his messy dreadlocks. "Yeah, yeah, but first…" He leaned in again, this time pressing a lingering kiss on her lips.

Toru let out a small squeak of surprise before melting into the kiss, her hands resting lightly on his chest. When they finally broke apart, she buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled. "You're impossible, Aiden."

He grinned, pulling her hands away from her face. "Only for you."

As Aiden slid out of bed, he turned to her with a playful smirk. "What do you say we make the morning even better? How about a bath together?"

Toru's eyes widened, and she threw a pillow at him, her face a deep shade of red. "Absolutely not! We're not there yet!"

Aiden caught the pillow midair, laughing. "Alright, alright, I was just kidding… mostly."

Still giggling, Toru climbed out of bed, clutching the blanket around her like a shield. "Go take your bath, you tease."

With a mock bow, Aiden grabbed his towel and headed to the bathroom. "As you wish, my lady."

After their separate baths, the two of them met back in the room, both dressed in casual but stylish outfits. Aiden wore a fitted white shirt with rolled-up sleeves and dark jeans, his long dreadlocks tied back loosely.

Toru opted for a light green blouse that matched her eyes, paired with high-waisted shorts.

"You look amazing," Aiden said, offering her his arm.

Toru rolled her eyes with a small smile but took his arm anyway. "You're lucky you're cute."

The smell of fresh coffee, pancakes, and eggs greeted them as they descended the stairs. Celeste was already at the table, sipping tea and reading something on her tablet. She glanced up as they entered, her expression unreadable behind her golden-trimmed glasses.

"About time," Celeste said with a smirk. "I was starting to think you two fell asleep again."

Toru laughed nervously, while Aiden just shrugged. "Can't rush perfection."

As they sat down, Baymax waddled over, his gentle voice chiming, "Good morning. Breakfast is ready. Would you like me to serve you?"

Aiden smiled at the robot. "Thanks, Baymax, but we've got it."

As they ate, conversation turned to the upcoming internships.

"So," Aiden said between bites of pancake, "who are you two interning with?"

Toru beamed. "I got an offer from Yoroi Musha! I know he's not as flashy as some other heroes, but his combat and discipline training are legendary. I think I can learn a lot from him."

"That's an excellent choice," Celeste said approvingly. "Yoroi Musha's focus on defense and strategy will complement your quirk perfectly."

"What about you, Celeste?" Toru asked.

Celeste adjusted her glasses, a rare flicker of pride in her expression. "I'll be interning with Ryukyu."

Aiden raised an eyebrow. "The Dragon Hero? Nice. You'll get to see some serious action."

Celeste nodded. "She's one of the few heroes who can match me in terms of power absorption. I think studying under her will help me refine my quirk even further."

Toru grinned. "That's amazing! Looks like we're all going to be in good hands."

After breakfast, Aiden excused himself to head down to his lab. "Gotta make sure everything's ready for San Fransokyo," he said, leaning down to give Toru a quick kiss on the cheek.

As he walked down the hall, Nimbus scampered after him, chirping excitedly. Baymax followed at a more measured pace, his soft footsteps barely making a sound.

In the lab, Aiden surveyed the neatly packed boxes and bags containing his gadgets, tools, and prototypes.

His lab coat hung on a nearby chair, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement as he thought about the opportunities that awaited him in the technologically advanced city.

"Alright, guys," he said, addressing Baymax and Nimbus, "let's do one last check to make sure we've got everything."

Baymax nodded. "Scanning inventory. All items are accounted for."

Nimbus chirped in agreement, hopping onto one of the boxes as if to claim it.

Aiden chuckled, ruffling the chinchilla's fur. "Good job, buddy."

He stood back, hands on his hips, and took a deep breath. The upcoming internship was a big step, and he couldn't wait to see what challenges and adventures it would bring.

"San Fransokyo, here I come," he said with a grin, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

=========================================================