Hellbound | Blue Exorcist/My Hero Academia Crossover

Chapter Thirty-Four: Mixed Signals

*hey, check out the OP I made for this story if you feel like it (a lot of love went into it)*

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RIN'S P.O.V

When I next open my eyes, light is the only thing I can see. I don't process much else- just that there's sunlight filling my vision, eating away at anything else. And I just stare into it, watching the white beams slowly shift and melt into various objects. A window here, a bed over there, and... A person, stood beside me. Watching over me, their hand wrapped tightly around my own.

"Mnh... What happened?" I finally croak, after what feels like years of trying to build up the strength to choke my words out. My voice, as I expected, is incredibly hoarse, clearly still as drowsy as the rest of me. Even my tail seems to limply hang off of the edge of the mattress.

As soon as I speak, however, whoever's clutching my fingertips suddenly jolts up a little, a few sparks quickly zipping down to my knuckles. Letting out a hiss, I instinctively whip my hand away, right before the realisation hits me. "Kaminari?" I murmur, finally forcing my vision to focus on that black lightning bolt slicing through his hair. Damn, how did it take me this long to notice it? Just how messed up am I?

"H-Hey, don't try to move too much. The nurse said you need a lot of rest," he murmurs, scooping my palm back up once he's gotten all of the nervous fizzes of electricity out of his system. I don't think he's ever held me this gently- Yeah, we've been gross and cute and fluffy before but... Well he's cradling my hand like I'm seconds away from breaking in his grip.

All the while, it feels as though balls of cotton wool are floating around in my head. There's something I need to remember, but it's like it's just lying under the surface, trying to remain sheltered. Even when I try to peel back the layers, nothing gathers up the nerve to come forward. What happened? I don't- All I remember is the mountain.

And then it comes in a flood. Lucifer. Lucifer using Yukio's voice. Yukio's in Gehenna. My sword. My sword! The instant the whole incident replays in my head, I shoot up in my bed, a sharp gasp catching in my throat. My sword it- it was shattered! My flames destroyed Lucifer. Burned him to a crisp. They could've killed Deku! They nearly killed him!

Immediately sensing the panic that's starting to descend upon me, Kaminari presses a hand to my face, a hush escaping from between his lips. I wish it comforted me, but all I can think of is the swirling sea of blue fire I purged the mountain in. I didn't do it with the intent of taking control, I just- I could've killed everyone up there. And I didn't even care at the time.

"Rin, it's alright. Stay calm, it's fine," he quickly hushes, tucking back a few strands of my hair. When he does, I feel how far he has to reach to get it around the tip of my ear. Did they get longer? Are they how they used to look whenever my sword was unsheathed? How much has changed since Kurikara broke?! H-How long have I even been asleep?! "E-Easy."

That's when I notice the anxiety his tone cradles. He's trying to console me and yet... There's something he's scared of. Me? Is it me? Does he think I'm gonna flare up? I-Is he gonna treat me differently? Is he always gonna be nervous around me now?! Eventually, it all becomes way too much. The fears come crashing down, and the panic sends spits of blue fire out of my skin. Flames twist around the bed, and, for a moment, they snap at Kaminari too.

Yet, not a single burn shows up on his skin. "It's okay. See? You're fine," he softly hushes, his soothing tone settling my flames as quickly as they decided to burst out. I barely have any trouble switching them off again, despite how frantically my heart is beating. I was worried about nothing. All of this internal torment I'm subjecting myself to isn't worth it at all, is it? Why the hell is my first instinct to just panic?

"I-... Sorry. I guess I'm just a bit freaked out by all this," I eventually mutter, taking the time to compose myself. I glance down at my hands, and just give myself a chance to take it all in. I let Kaminari explain what happened after I passed out- how Bakugou and Todoroki took it upon themselves to get everyone back to True Cross safely. How the Exwires came back as soon as they heard about what happened, and have each taken their turns to sit with me till I woke up. 

As for Lucifer... Well, everyone thinks he was killed in my outburst. Which means, without him, I've got no way of knowing where the hell he's taken my brother. "I've gotta find Yukio. I-... He's gotta be out there on his own," I finally murmur, trying to push myself out of bed. Only to almost keel over the second my feet touch the floor. Instantly, Kaminari has his arm around my waist, shaking his head as he helps me back onto my side.

"You need rest. You can't help him if you can't even stand up," he hushes, shoulders dipping a little. He looks tired. No... He looks absolutely exhausted, the dark circles under his eyes really taking centre stage when the fluorescent lights hit his face. Just how long has he been here with me, waiting for me wake up?

"Here, I'll cut you a deal. I'll stay here if you go get some sleep," I chuckle, running my thumb over his knuckles. For a second, he looks a bit taken aback. But then he just smiles, laughs, and gently nods his head.

"Deal," he hums, leaning to press a kiss to my cheek. And that's when the door opens up without so much as a knock, Suguro practically staggering back and whipping his hands over his eyes. For such a tough guy, he sure does get embarrassed real quick, huh?

"Suguro? Uh... Hey," I murmur, peering over at his flushed features. Damn, does a pair of gays really affect him that much? Honestly, that's kinda cute.

"Sorry, I didn't- Ah... Well I got some news. Can't really say if it's good or bad," he mutters, finally peeling his palms away from his face, clearly relieved to see that Kaminari is no longer mere inches away from me. All I do is quirk a brow, scanning every piece of him. His posture, right down to the way he has to almost force his expression. I'm gonna go with my gut and say it's bad news.

"Yeah? What kind of news?"

"Uh, well... It's the Grigori. They're holding a meeting tonight and- Well they're gonna send that Arthur guy to come get you. Ain't too sure, but it sounds like-"

"-Another trial," I murmur, lowering my eyes. Of course they'd wanna put me on trial after everything that happened. I used my flames to an unsafe degree. I put a hell of a lot of lives in danger, and, from what Kaminari's said, at least everyone from UA came outta the whole ordeal with some sort of injury. Whether or not that was because of me probably doesn't even matter.

Satan's kid fucked up again. And, this time, I think I know exactly what sentence they're gonna hand me. No sword to hold my powers back, and no guarantee that I won't snap and go full psycho-demon on them. Knowing all that, there's only gonna be one option, isn't there?

They're gonna execute me for sure.