Songs:
"You Are The Reason" – Calum Scott
"All I want" – Kodaline
"Stubborn Love" – The Lumineers
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"Without you here I don't know who I am,
Who I'm supposed to be.
Despair consumes me every day you're not here,
I need you... I need you... please come home."
Running his fingers up and down her naked back while she slept on top of him, had Tamaki feel at peace. He's never felt so full of passionate love in his life before. He's always been in love with Y/n, but this... it almost felt like they were truly a couple. This arrangement they started six months ago had been complete bliss and mind blowing. In the beginning he feared of this affecting what they already had. However, on the contrary it made them closer than before. It didn't change how they acted towards each other, if anything it added more to what they created.
There was not a day that went by, where they didn't see each other.
It's always been this way regardless, however, now it somehow felt different. It was more intimate. There's always been love in their friendship, a tender sort of love. Now, however, there was passion behind their eyes. This was a side to her that no one else other than himself has seen, and he cherished that.
Tamaki never knew he could love like this, and this was something Y/n was able to wake up in him. He felt fortunate. There were so many situations in life they helped each other along the way. She was so caring, gentle, and patient with him – as was Tamaki with her. Mirio was their fighting spirit – there to support them both, but with Y/n and Tamaki it's always been different.
Tamaki loved feeling her warmth. Her naked skin on his own. They've done so many intimate things and tried out many different fantasies that surprisingly were Tamaki's ideas. However, having her like this, topped everything else. His heart burned and ached when they weren't together. And there was a part of him that feared this would soon end. However, he wasn't going to dwell on that now. He would enjoy this as much as he could.
Massaging her scalp gently, Tamaki gave her small, sweet kisses on her forehead in attempt to wake her. The sun illuminating his room and casting a bright light over them. They're limbs tangled up together under Tamaki's bedsheets. Y/n was always a heavy sleeper. Probably because of how hard she worked to meet her father's expectations and be on top of everything. At the age of twenty she was already in the top-five hero charts. She did climb the hero ranks fast and at such a young age too.
Faster than Tamaki and Mirio that was for sure.
There were people who claimed she only climbed that fast because of a certain red winged hero, Tamaki refused to even acknowledge. He couldn't even have a somewhat tolerable relationship with that guy, because of how much the indigo haired man himself, despised him... and he would rather not think about those cunning golden eyes this early in the morning, for surely it would ruin his day.
Hearing an annoyed grumbling sound, vibrate from her chest, to his own – had Tamaki smile from her protest of being woken up. Bringing his non so healthy thoughts on the winged hero, he loathed – out of his head.
Tamaki completely smitten, chuckled from how Y/n's nose wrinkled in distaste, and the small pout from being woken up from her sleep. She always clung to him when they slept together. Not that he minded, and not that it was any different than when they were younger. Ever since they were little and had sleep overs, she always clung to him instead of Mirio.
Once, when they were ten years old, Y/n cried because Tamaki couldn't join the sleepover one night. It was the cutest memory he's forever cherished out of every memory they had together. He would never forget how she refused to let go of him. Her e/c eyes silently begging him to stay.
"Come on my beautiful butterfly, time to wake up." Tamaki whispered gently. "We have breakfast with Mirio in an hour..." Chuckling softly when she grumbled again and clung to him harder.
Her smaller hands kneading his strong muscles. Then sliding up his body to play with his soft indigo tresses. Her hands already memorized with the dips and valleys of his body. Y/n smiling from remembering where she was, kissed his creamy chest were her head laid. Her heart sighing in content. She was so happy to be in the arms of her lover, even if there wasn't really a label to what they were.
She was content in having him this way.
Yawning Y/n replied sleepily, "Can't we tell him to meet us there..."
"And how am I going to explain, me meeting him there later? We live in the same place Y/n. Mirio is a ditz, but it makes no sense for us to go separately."
"Why are you being so rudeeeee." With eyelids still closed, Y/n whined out her protest. Her fingers doing mindless doodles on his skin now. She always loved to touch any part of him that she could. "I was having such a great dream. I was fighting Gojo on the back of a freaking dragon."
Laughing in amusement from her dream, Tamaki got all of Y/n's hair out of her face, seeing her smiling with her eyes closed. "That's the Jujutsu Kaisen anime character you're so in love with, right?" He mumbled gently while giving her temple small kisses. Not at all fazed of Y/n's random ramblings. He was already used to it by now. It was one of his favorite qualities of her.
"Yes! Have you seen him? He's freaking daddy bro. Ughhhh, his eyes are so blue!" Y/n whisper-yelled, not wanting to be heard by Mirio. She was surprised he hasn't barged into Tamaki's room yet.
Mirio always woke him up, Tamaki never needed an alarm since rooming with his best friend. There was almost a slip up in their little secret, when Mirio barged into Tamaki's room once. Y/n had to hide under the covers and mold her body to Tamaki's at some attempt to hide. It was a good thing her body had been facing the wall and Tamaki's big form covered her body. Thankfully the airhead of their golden blond best friend didn't notice. Chippering away to Tamaki about a mission without a clue of his other best friend listening.
"Then why were you fighting him?" Tamaki delightfully engaged in her random chatter. Y/n's always been a simp for anime characters.
"Because." She dragged. "He was trying to take you away from me." Opening one eye, Y/n stared at Tamaki's onyx indigo eyes. A glimmer of enjoyment and something else in them. There was something so sweet and alluring of how dark his eyes were. She didn't understand why people were afraid of the dark. The dark always brought her peace and warmth, just like her Tamaki. "Stop laughing at me." She deadpanned when Tamaki couldn't help but to laugh softly at her pout.
"Well can you blame me?" He attempted to calm his laughter to not wake-up Mirio either. That man was always up earlier than the two of his best friends. He was a real ray of sunshine. Sometimes it was too much for them both. "You're just like a bunny when you wake up. Always wrinkling your nose when you're upset." He reached over and booped her nose with his finger. His smile getting wider.
"Uh, no?" Y/n sassed back. "I'm a butterfly Tama."
"No, if you were to be an animal, it would be a bunny. Sure, you have a butterfly quirk, but you always act like a bunny. Always energetic and jumping around everywhere. You even do that thing with both your hands like they do." He shrugged, smiling when she swatted him gently with her hand. "You know, when they clean themselves." He snickered when her eyes narrowed. "Stop pretending you don't know how adorable you are."
He loved having mindless conversations with her, it was moments like these that he cherished the most. They just existed together, speaking of random things. Enveloped and engulfed only in each other.
"Aren't you getting a little bit too confident?"
Smiling gently at her, he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her inner palm tenderly. Y/n couldn't help but to be completely captivated by how tender he was. Her heart sighing from all the loving attention he always gave her.
"And whose fault is that?" His voice was soft, like an invisible caress. Tamaki smiled when Y/n playfully rolled her eyes at him.
Swiping his bottom lip with his tongue. Tamaki gently gripped the nape of her neck and pulled her closer. Gently massaging her scalp, instantly giving her goosebumps for how loving he was. Making her heart explode with want.
With his dark hungry eyes, Y/n already knew what he was intending. What he wanted and craved, her.
"Come here..."
He just couldn't help himself. He loved everything about her. Bringing her face closer to his with one hand, while the other one gripped her naked hip bone. Tamaki slowly kissed her lips, giving her gentle touches, teasing her soft skin with his own.
Y/n giggled into the kiss that started in eager nips, then moaned when it became much slower and sensual. Tamaki's tongue glided with her own as he pulled her up and fully tangled his hands in her hair. With dark hooded eyes he smiled when he flipped them over. His full weight on top of her now.
Nibbling and marking her neck. Kissing his way lower on her body.
"Tamaki..." Y/n breathed. Moaning into the pillow to stay quiet. "W-we have to go-"
"Shh, love... I only need a couple of minutes. Let me start my day, the way I want to..."
.
.
.
"Suneater! Suneater!"
.
.
.
Flashes of cameras and news reporters yelling questions at him, brought Tamaki back to the present. Where he was twenty-three and not twenty – in his room making love with the love of his life.
Gods what he would do to go back to those times with Y/n. Actually, go back way before to when they were younger and confess to her. Fully relish and appreciate the time they had back then. If he would have known he was going to lose her, he would have done everything to not let this happen to begin with.
His white cape to his hero costume was only able to cover some of the flashes from how bright they were. He tried to breathe through the panic attack of being out in public. His life had taken a turn for the worst. He was no longer in his sanctuary, in his warm space with the woman he loved. No, Tamaki was dealing with the aftermath of her capture. With Mirio right beside him for support, as they made their way into their agency.
The agency, him, Mirio and Y/n started together after they made a name for themselves.
Every time Tamaki stepped through the doors of his agency, he could still feel her presence everywhere.
The ghost of her smile greeting him...
It's almost been a month.
An agonizing slow month of finding nothing about the person who took her, or even a location or a sighting. And to make things worse, news platforms heard of what happened on the day of the wedding. Someone leaked information and there was a video of Y/n's speech and disappearance.
Now, all of Japan knew Y/n and Tamaki were soulmates, and the story took a whirlwind on its own. Some people supported Tamaki and the search for the beloved number two Pro-Hero Mariposa.
Others...
Well, others blamed the poor gentle man.
Some people were extreme fanatics of the heroes that they've started to blame Tamaki for everything that happened. Some even laughed at him for not being able to tell the difference between Y/n and her sister. As if they knew anything about soulmates. Still, Tamaki took all of it without a single tear or giving it any mind.
All his thoughts and efforts were in bringing his Y/n back. Even though he attempted to force a neutral face while he was dying on the inside for not having her with him. Honestly the aching pain in his heart didn't feel any different than when she was ignoring him. The only difference in her disappearance from his life was her kidnapping.
He wasn't bringing her back because of who the universe claimed her to be to him, but because of everything they built together before their marks appeared. Regardless of the mark or not. Tamaki realized he shouldn't have let the mark control how he felt inside.
Who he loved.
Yes, he was extremely thankful that Y/n was his soul bearer, but the mess it created because he got it wrong, and she lied to him...
He didn't know how things would be between the two of them once she was back. Just the thought of that had pain course through his veins and poison his already wounded heart.
He was with her sister for five months for gods' sake. And Tamaki tried so hard to forget about his butterfly best friend during that time, but it was impossible. Yes, the mark had something to do with it, but most of it – Tamaki knew, it came from him only wanting to be with Y/n. He's only ever wanted to be with the older Hado. He didn't even kiss Nejire because he couldn't bear the thought of touching another woman's lips. He always saw Y/ns face. However, she didn't know that. She probably thought they'd gone all the way, like Nejire made it seem to be.
All the emotional pain she must have gone through for him...
Now he understood why she stayed away from him. It was all to keep him alive and give him a choice. A choice she did not realize meant to be with her. In a heartbeat, he would always choose her. Always.
And even though he suffered silently too because she didn't know how much he loves her. He gave in to what he thought she wanted... What she needed. Thinking she distanced herself because she regretted everything that happened between them.
He gave up willingly... And so easily too... Just that thought had him hate himself all over again. He should have been stronger for them both. He should have fought for what they had... he should have... not been afraid or scared of rejection.
And the worst part, was that Y/n didn't know that Tamaki didn't touch Nejire, not even once...
It was just a fucking mess.
Would she even believe him? Would she even want to be near him again? Would she ever forgive him for being so stupid...?
So naïve?
Y/n would be proud of him for not letting his insecurities control him anymore. That was for sure. The only good thing out of this predicament was how surer of himself he felt. Though there was still a part of him that was so angry at himself too. He valued who he was now. Y/n helping him yet again, even without her being there.
From his thoughts and memories, it was clear as day every time after they started to become intimate how much Y/n loved him – even before then, and he acknowledge that now. Seeing past the fog of what his dark demons made him feel about himself. Y/n loves him in not just, 'I can't lose you, friend' kind of love. But in a 'I can't live without you, lover. You're the one,' type of love.
Why did he let his insecurities and self-doubts get in the way of what they could have had for the longest time should he have not been so afraid?
Afraid of being a failure...
If only he didn't feel like he wasn't enough at the time, then none of this would have happened...
However, now that he was ready, was it too late?
He will always fight to bring her back, that was a no brainer. If she didn't want to be with him, then so be it. But she and other soul bearers had to be saved from the hands of Souleater.
"Suneater! What do you have to say to the public, regarding Pro-Hero Mariposa!?"
"You haven't made a statement yet, are all the rumors true? Is she really your true soulmate?"
"Was it your fault Suneater? And what are you doing to get her back?!"
"The crime in Japan has skyrocketed ever since her disappearance. Crime rate numbers are getting close to even All-Might's retirement from six years ago. Do you have anything to say on the matter?!"
Tamaki stopped, when he heard the last reporter's question. Mirio stopping right behind him, knowing he wouldn't like that question. Tamaki and Mirio were the only ones who acknowledged and realized how hard to the bone, the older Hado woman worked herself to get out of her family's grasp.
A deadly glint in Tamaki's onyx eyes shined through, as he stared at the reporter who asked that question. They eagerly shoved a microphone in Tamaki's direction for getting his attention.
"You're saying, you only care about bringing her back so she can protect you all?" His eyebrow raised in question. His purple see-through goggles from his costume, not doing much to hide how disappointed he was from that question. "Do you even know why she climbed so fast in the hero charts?"
Tamaki's voice hit a deep tenor no one's heard before. He was usually so shy and gentle. But ever since Y/n's disappearance he's become a different person. A darker version of himself.
"She killed herself every day for you." He bit out lowly. "Working long hours for you to sit on your fat as-"
"Okay!" Mirio's chipper voice interrupted his best friend before he could say anything else.
Gently pushing Tamaki behind him to take over. Clapping his hands to get the attention of all the reporters. Mirio's voice boomed with commanding confidence.
"Sorry folks, we'll be cutting these questions short. Suneater has nothing to say at the moment. We're all doing everything in our power to keep the streets of Japan safe and to bring our beloved Mariposa back." With a huge forced smiled, because Mirio was upset from that question too – he continued with ease. "Please support us to make that happen as soon as possible. Let's all stay positive and give our best to bring not only Mariposa home, but also the other affected soul bearers."
Looking into some of the cameras that were running live, Mirio turned to them.
"I encourage and implore anyone who see's anything to please reach out to our agency, 'Big-3'. Now we must leave to continue our search. Bye-Bye for now." He finished with a forced chuckle.
Mirio didn't wait as the swarm of questions kept coming. Reporters trying to push past the security team of the Big-3 agency. With a stern look passing over his eyes, he turned Tamaki around with him and pushed past the reporters. Safely making it into their building after pushing past the crowd of protestors that were outside their building as well.
Entering the lobby of their shared agency, Mirio greeted their receptionist and warned her to stay diligent in case someone made it through. The people outside just kept growing as the day's passed. They were angry and hungry for answers. However, how could they answer questions, they themselves didn't know. They knew they had to tell the public something soon or they would be coming for Tamaki's head.
"Jeez... these reporters are just getting bolder every day." Mirio commented to no one in particular. Tamaki following silently behind him. Both making their way to the elevator of their pristine kept agency.
"They're not wrong you know." Tamaki told him hollowly. "I am to blame for letting this happen."
"Stop." Mirio told him with a stern tone. "You couldn't have prevented this even if you knew the truth from the beginning. That villain... he's smart and cunning. We just have to figure out a way to outsmart him."
Nodding his head, Tamaki shook his worries away and stayed side by side with his best friend as they walked. "Are we meeting with the pro-hero mates today?"
Nodding Mirio pushed the button of the elevator to the top floor. "Yeah-p. It was hard to get Pro-Hero Deku in. His secretary was given me a hassle. Kind of reminds me of our secretary!" Mirio laughed from remembering the long conversation he had with Izuku Midoriya's secretary. "It's a good thing Y/n had his number on her phone though. Good thing I also kept her phone at the reception of the wedding too."
Mirio's smile saddened when thinking of his best friend. He always did see her like a little sister. Even if Mirio wasn't technically blood related with the young woman that didn't change how he saw her. As family. He's always been the leader of their little group growing up and having one missing, had him feel like he failed them both somehow.
It was still so surreal to him, not seeing her every day in the agency.
Well, when she became a soul bearer, she made it a point to take long missions to stay away from Tamaki... the agency had been too gloomy since this all started.
"I still remember how close she got with all the younger classes. They all really looked up to her." Mirio smiled from the memory.
Y/n broke the stigma from her family and was always open with everyone. Helping her younger classmates in handling their quirks better. She did have a lot of practice with Nejire, so it was natural that her older sibling instincts took over when she was in school and gave advise to those younger to her. Besides she went way easier on them than Mirio did, and Tamaki had been way too shy at the time to give any advice.
"Yeah..." Tamaki mumbled, "Even Bakugou."
Stretching his back, Mirio whistled lowly.
"Those sure were the days, weren't they?" Mirio's blue eyes glided to his best friend. He's never seen him be this depressed before and it was worrying him. "You doing okay buddy? I know the reporters and fans have been really hard on you but remember we're still here for you. Me and Neji, even though a bit weird with the wedding being cancelled and all – we're still here for you."
Mirio was right, even if Tamaki and Nejire didn't go through with the wedding and broke off their relationship. The younger Hado woman held no grudge or resentment for her friend or her sister. Y/n would be proud of her. For how mature and understanding she had been through this whole thing. She was doing everything in her power to get her sister back too.
Nejire acknowledged that Tamaki and Y/n belonged together, even without the soul marks, they were always meant for each other. In Y/n's absence she helped Mirio with Tamaki, whenever the indigo haired man refused to leave their apartment. Refused to take care of himself.
"Who cares what the Hado family have to say. You know Y/n never cared about their beliefs. You're not alone Tamaki. And don't listen to what those, as Y/n would call them, 'vultures' tell you." Mirio giggled, thinking how right that name was for them. "Reporters don't know anything about you guys. After you told me everything, I wasn't surprised at all. You two have always acted all lovey-dovey our whole lives."
Tapping his chin, Mirio grinned at Tamaki, making the indigo haired man stiffen for what the blond was about to ask him.
"Now it makes sense why you spent so much time in your room. Did you two ever get it on in your office? I promise not to tell the boss." Mirio nudged his best friend with his elbow, his eyebrows wiggling with suggestion.
Hiding his crimson cheeks by pulling the hood of his hero cape down, Tamaki grumbled. "Mirio you are the boss and I'm not telling you anything..." After a moment, their breaths filling in the silence. The indigo haired man sighing heavily, whispered, "I'm not worried of my reputation." They both got in the elevator after it dinged, taking them to the top floor where everyone was probably already waiting for them. "I could care less about that right now."
"Tamaki, you do know Y/n will fight every day, right? She's not a quitter."
"You don't understand her way of thinking Mirio. I already know what she'll do. She's probably thinking that its best to stay away from me. If everything you said about the mate mark is true and if Y/n had been the mate instead of me, I would have done the same thing." With tight fists, Tamaki bit out. "There's a part of me that is so mad and upset, and then there's another that understands her decisions." Sighing heavily again, as if the world was on his shoulders. He sagged. "Whichever comes from my mark, I have no idea."
Mirio nodding his head, smiled brightly at his best friend. Y/n wasn't there to cheer Tamaki up and to give him courage. Which meant Mirio would have to take over for a little while.
"Well, you can deal with that once we have her back. I don't want to lose another person in my life. Loosing Sir was terrible... I don't want to think of how loosing Y/n will affect me. I've been keeping it together because I know how stubborn she is. But she is all alone out there. Regardless Tama. We can do this together." Mirio outstretched his fist to Tamaki.
Tamaki nodded with a small smile. Grateful for having Mirio when he didn't have his other half with him.
"Also, I'm very sorry in advance." Mirio rushed out rapidly in one breath.
The elevator dinged again once at the top floor, interrupting Tamaki's question as to why Mirio would apologize to him in the first place.
Not giving him any mind, both men got out with ease and glided through the halls of their agency to their destination.
Their capes of red and white swishing together as they took each step. Other heroes who worked for their agency greeting them and handing them reports they would have to look into later.
Since their other top hero was missing, Mirio and Tamaki were taking most of the brunt work. They were grateful of Y/n coming up with the idea of hiring sidekicks and giving them more freedom to run point on missions. It also gave them freedom to take on big missions like this one. When they started to become popular, they hired more heroes and admin personnel.
They wanted to add Nejire to the mix. However, she was still clinging on to her father. Always wanting his approval. Something Y/n was trying to get her out of thinking before her capture. Of course, she worked on missions here and there with them. But still, it was not enough to get the younger Hado to join them yet.
Besides Nejire didn't want to break their dynamic.
The dynamic the three of them built since becoming best friends at a young age. They really did accomplish their dreams together.
The Big-3 agency – the name keepsake Tamaki, Y/n and Mirio made for themselves at U.A. High, started out small.
However, as they grew in fame and gained more money with their hard work. They were able to get a bigger building. Their offices were in the top floor, side by side with each other's with their personal assistants working with them. Top ranked heroes, sidekicks, and other personnel they hired had their own offices on the lower floors.
Most of their building was made of glass. The conference room they were headed to was see through and they could already see all the pro-heroes waiting for them.
One hero standing out to Tamaki, that he did not appreciate having around in his life again. Scoffing and grinding his teeth in anger, the usual gentle man, made eye contact with an apologetic looking Mirio.
Now it made sense why Mirio apologized. Still, he could have warned the already annoyed timid man...
When inside the room, they could feel how tense the atmosphere was. Even if they already knew who the mate marked bearers were. With how gloomy they were without their soul bearers – they could tell right away who they were if they hadn't gotten the information beforehand.
It was surprising how long they've survived, which only meant one thing.
The soul bearers were still alive so there was hope.
Everyone was already seated in the long glass table, patiently waiting for Tamaki and Mirio's arrival.
Well one, made it a point to just lean back on the wall like he owned the place. Tamaki couldn't help but to scrutinize every movement the golden-eyed, older man made.
Who in turn only smirked at Tamaki when he stared at him in challenge.
God he really hated the guy...
"Tch... took you two long enough. We can't start this stupid meeting without the two of you. This is your agency and your mission after all." Pro-Hero Dynamite, aka Katsuki Bakugou grumbled from where he lunged on the chair.
Tamaki didn't pay the short-tempered blond any mind. How could he when his rival was standing right in front of him.
Though something's hadn't changed since high school. Katsuki was well known for his explosive and short temper behavior. He sometimes still gave Tamaki the chills for how brutal Katsuki was with him that one time in training for Tamaki's third year.
Smiling brightly Mirio bowed to the room. "We appreciate your help even if you are not one of the affected, Dynamite."
"Yeah well, I can't do shit in my company if one of my allies is missing and the other is losing his mind because of it." Katsuki grumbled annoyed.
"Kacchan... you said you would behave." Pro-Hero Deku aka Izuku Midoriya who was sitting next to his friend tried to chastise him. Though he was extremely sleep deprived and depressed from the situation they were stuck in. His usual chipper voice and tender smile, completely gone from how miserable he felt.
Just like Tamaki, Izuku was a mate bearer himself and his soul bearer was kidnapped.
Shouto Todoroki had not been seen in months. And though Izuku and Shouto did complete their bond and Izuku was slowly dying on the inside, he still has hope. His soul bearer is alive, he just knows it.
Izuku being alive was proof that Shouto was too.
Scoffing, Katsuki got up with a loud bang from slamming his hands on the table. "Explain to me why the fuck you seem fine. While every other mate here is close to deaths door? Are you sure you're really Y/n's mate? Or was that all a ruse to get out of marrying her younger sister." He pointed directly at Tamaki, who only narrowed his eyes.
Temporarily breaking the stare off Tamaki had from the man he really wanted to punch in the face.
Everyone in the room becoming silent from the accusation.
"I knew you were a coward, but I didn't peg you as a fucking liar too." Katsuki spit out bitterly.
Katsuki, while at his time at U.A had been one of the many people who admired and looked up to the older Hado girl. He'd seen her as a rival, and a friend. Though he would never admit it.
Mirio putting his hand in front of Tamaki to stop him, and an outstretched hand to calm down Katsuki, sighed out. "Come on guys, were all on the same team. The quicker we can get this started the faster we can find them."
"And how exactly are we going to do that?" Pro-Hero Uravity aka Ochako Uraraka called out from beside Pro-Hero Pinky aka Mina Ashido who was looking deader on the inside than ever.
Even her pink shaded skin, seemed duller.
Ochako, the brunette younger hero, volunteered to help on the rescue mission. She also wanted to help in finding her missing classmates and Y/n Hado. The older girl helped her a lot when growing up. She was also here to support her best friend Mina, because Mina's soul bearer Pro-Hero Cellophane aka Hanta Sero. Was also missing.
He was actually one of the firsts to be taken when the villain first arrived.
"You and Y/n have been working on this for months, haven't you? If you two couldn't find anything, how are we advancing now that your partner is missing?" Ochako asked gently, not wanting to start off the meeting so brutal like her old classmate Katsuki wanted to.
"Alright, enough." There was a loud clap from the man standing in corner of the room.
Getting the attention of everyone back on track. Well not quite everyone, Tamaki grumbled when his onyx indigo eyes clashed with golden sinister eyes again.
"This is why it was a terrible idea to involve the mates LeMillion." Retired Pro-Hero Hawks, aka Keigo Takami chuckled from all the glares he got in the room. "Hey woah! Relax with the stares my younglings. Just because I'm retired now doesn't mean I can't come in and help every once in a little while. Besides..." He stared right at Tamaki, a huge predatory smile adorning his face. "Mariposa was special to me." Tamaki grit his teeth for how suggestive that comment was. "No way I'm letting her die so soon. I trusted my spot to her for a reason."
Tamaki unable to hold back anymore with a tense jaw bit out, "What is he doing here?"
Let's just say if the gentle man, Tamaki Amajiki ever had a rival, it would be Keigo Takami.
Keigo wasn't that much older than Tamaki, but he always talked down to him. Making him know how more superior he was. He was one of the many reasons why Tamaki didn't believe he was good enough for Y/n.
"Well, hello Suneater. Haven't seen you in forever. How are things?" Gasping in mocking amusement Keigo smiled brightly at him, the smile never reaching his golden eyes. "Oh, my bad! That's right you lost your soul." He seethed in venom.
After finding out that Tamaki and Y/n were soulmates. Well, the retired hero wasn't very happy.
"Aren't you lucky to have been with both the Hado girls?" Keigo's eyes narrowed. "I would say congratulations on the wedding, but we all know how that fell through. I know how much you clung to Y/n and here I was thinking you would protect her with your life in my absence. Guess I was wrong about you. Such a waste of a quirk... You managed to disappoint both Hado women... myself and the world. Y/n was rarely wrong in a lot of things, but her choosing you was a huge mistake..."
"Holy shit." Katsuki breathed to Izuku who was also shocked, both eating up the drama. "Did Y/n have a thing with Hawks? I didn't know that."
"Enough!" Mirio's usual chipper voice raised in volume.
Stopping an all-out war from happening between Tamaki and Keigo. These two did have a history and it was all because they fell in love with the same woman. Though it was clear who Y/n had chosen. Still, that didn't stop Keigo from attempting to get with her instead.
Smacking his forehead, Mirio mumbled. "This is why I waited in contacting you guys until I was ready to share everything I had."
Seeing a head of periwinkle blue barge into the conference room had everyone stop in their tracks.
Nejire looking around the room and clashing with golden eyes, she made a point to look at Mirio with disappointment. "Why is Hawks here?" She asked in a tight lipped smile.
"That's exactly what I want to know..." Tamaki grumbled again.
Tamaki and Nejire as well as Mirio – though he pushed it aside for Y/n's sake. Didn't like Keigo because of him almost getting the older Hado killed all those years ago, while they were still in school.
"Guys..." Mirio pleaded to both of his friends. "Believe it or not, he actually helped me and Y/n a lot on this mission."
"Yeah, these past two years, we've managed to reconnect while away on missions. She even forgave me." Keigo smiled when seeing Tamaki tense up, "That came with long nights of reminiscing... high tension... yada-yada."
"Oh my god..." Nejire sighed, already done with Keigo's antics. "Don't listen to him Tamaki... Y/n didn't have sex with him if that's what you're worried about." She smiled brightly at Keigo who rolled his eyes. "She wasn't in love with him and knowing my sister. She doesn't have meaningless relationships with just anyone." Nejire made a point to look at Tamaki who didn't look away from her.
Just because they weren't together anymore, that didn't mean they didn't care for each other as friends. Besides it wasn't awkward since they never had any intimacy between them. It was never there, it was more like a close friendship and even then, there was a lot they kept from each other.
"She loves you."
"Can we please... get on with today's meeting without all the drama." Mina mumbled. Her dead eyes connecting with everyone in the room. For someone who loved to gossip saying she wanted to get back on topic, made everyone remember how serious this situation was. "All our loved ones would be ashamed of how childish we're all acting."
"Thank you, Pinky!" Mirio smiled brightly at her. "Where's Red-Riot, I thought he was coming with you guys?" He asked, trying to sway the conversation from getting any more tense than it already was.
"He had to deal with a villain downtown, I'll brief him later." Tamaki responded.
Pro-Hero Red Riot, aka Eijirou Kirishima was close with Tamaki ever since their high school days. The red-haired hero managed to get Tamaki out of his shell somewhat too. He was one of the people, who was helping him with dealing with all the bad press. Eijirou didn't care about the details of what went down in Tamaki's wedding. He, however, did know how much Y/n and Tamaki were in love with each other from the start when he met them.
Being one of the people to see it first than anyone else. Him and Pro-Hero Fat Gum had been the ones to encourage Tamaki to take the reins. Even though Tamaki couldn't go through with it at the time, he was grateful for their friendship and loyalty.
"Are you sure it won't be awkward with the ex-couple here." Keigo jabbed at Tamaki.
"You're the only childish one here Hawks..." Tamaki's deep voice bit back.
"Alrighty! Moving on!" Mirio interrupted them. "Let's all take a seat and pay attention to the screen on the wall!" Not waiting for any other commentary, he turned on the power point he had spent so much time on. Ignoring their protests as they all listened to him.
A photo of the villain Souleater, greeted the already tense heroes.
Of course, there were no distinguishable features with the way he was dressed. All in black and with a black cape. Even his head was completely covered with a black mask. If Y/n was here, she would probably comment on him looking like Darth Vader or Kylo Ren, from Star Wars – to break some of the tension.
Tamaki stared at the photo with contempt. He hated this guy more than he hated Keigo. And that said a lot.
"Question?" Ochako's sweet voice wrung through the silent room. "Why are we calling him Souleater? Isn't that going to cause confusion with our Pro-Hero Suneater?" she asked in worry.
"I've been wondering that as well. Why would you call him that? I know it was you." Tamaki chastised his best friend.
Scratching the back of his head, Mirio grimaced when he saw his best friends' eyes narrow.
"Y/n already yelled at me for that too! It was just something that popped to my mind, and I sent out the story to the news stations without thinking it through. I was tired okay!?" Mirio attempted to scowl. "I mean come on! It makes sense, he only goes after the people who have soul marks and who knows maybe he does eat them?" He shrugged. "There's nothing we can do about it now. Only someone clueless would confuse those too, I mean look at him. He looks nothing like our Tamaki."
"You can't see his face dumbass..." Katsuki grumbled.
"Moving on!" Mirio ignored him and showed a document of the next slide.
A photo of each soul bearer that was taken displayed. The last one being Y/n Hado.
Looking at her smiling face, had Tamaki tremble in fear. Already thinking of the worst and what this villain could be doing to her.
Mirio with a heavy sigh spoke first. "Okay, since Y/ns disappearance Souleater has stopped taking soul bearers. He would usually appear every week or so, but it's almost been a month. Which either means he has enough soul bearers to do what he needs to do or-"
"-he found the one he was looking for." Tamaki finished for him. "I have a feeling it's the latter."
"Your reasoning?" Keigo asked.
"She's the only one on this list who didn't complete her mark. The reason why I'm fine, as Dynamite accused me of, is because my life is not tethered to hers. I'm thinking Souleater's been doing something to the other soul bearers which is why you all look like this... maybe taking their life force somehow? I guess... his villain's name does make sense after all."
"So..." Nejire whispered afraid. "What is he going to do with Y/n?"
"Is there a way to get him to come out again?" Ochako asked.
"Why would he, if he has what he needs?" Keigo answered her. "Our only way to find her and everyone else is to use the mate's connections to the souls."
"We've tried that already. With a soulmate mark locater and even asking some of the mates to use their bonds to sense the souls somehow." Mirio pitched in. "We couldn't find anything, and somehow I think Souleater is blocking our efforts when the mates try to reach out."
"Have you tried using Amajiki?" Keigo asked him knowingly.
"Well... no... but he didn't complete his mark, so that wouldn't work." Nejire quipped. Keigo gave her a big smile like he knew something she didn't. "Spit it out already..." She grumbled annoyed.
"Just because it's not completed. It doesn't mean it's any less valid." Keigo walking closer to Tamaki, stood in front of him and scrutinized the younger man. "Soulmates are tethered in life and in death regardless of the bond being completed or not. I learned quite a lot in Y/n's notes and from my own research." Keigo took out a small notebook from his back pocket and tossed it to Tamaki. "She was using herself and Amajiki as test subjects." He nodded towards Tamaki.
Tamaki with wide eyes gasped when he went through her notes. It was full of dates and findings. "Why w-"
Keigo didn't even let him finish. "She was obviously finding a way to break it to be with you and not harm you."
"But that's impossible." Izuku finally spoke up. "You have to complete the bond... I don't even understand how she stayed so long away from you... Shouto told me, it hurt him to stay away from me. He only tried fighting the bond once and his mark burned him. Knowing you're twenty-three that means she fought it for two years."
"Yeah, well she found a way." Keigo smacked his teeth with his tongue. "I was there when she would fight it, even if it hurt her, she pushed through it."
"Wait she told you she had a mark?" Tamaki couldn't help but to feel insecure.
Scoffing, Keigo shrugged. "Of course not. She forgave me, but that didn't mean she trusted me again. I'm not an idiot though. Even if she attempted to hide her pain and lie, I knew what was happening. I've been doing this longer than all of you. I can tell when someone has a mark."
"I saw it a couple of times too... It helped her when she came back here only to be near you somehow." Mirio told Tamaki in a sad tone.
"This whole time...." Tamaki whispered.
"Yes, chosen one." Keigo bit out. "This whole time she was in pain because of your ass. While you felt none of it."
"Alright let's not get off topic again. We can ask how Y/n was able to get away with two years of pain when she's here. How are we going to use Tamaki to find her then, Mr. Know-it-all?" Nejire chimed in before they could start arguing again.
"Simple..." Keigo smiled. "Like my old friend Deku mentioned, soulmates have to bond. Which means, Y/n's and Amajiki's marks are itching to be completed. More Y/n's than her mate's. They've been ignored far too long not to try and seek each other out. You know like destiny and shit."
"What you're saying is, I walk around feeling the mate mark vibrate around me until I find her? All I'm feeling right now is silence and cold. The world is huge Hawks, it'll take forever that way. And I only feel things at times, it's not constant or else I would have known from the beginning that Y/n was my soul." Tamaki rolled his eyes.
"Don't get sassy with me Suneater. Just look at her notes, it's all there." He looked at the notebook Tamaki was holding. "Page seventy-one." He smirked.
Grumbling, Tamaki with gritted teeth asked him, "How long have you had this for?"
"All night." Keigo shrugged nonchalantly. "You two idiots didn't look in her office because of how it hurt you to remember her. She's not fucking dead dimwits. Stop treating her disappearance like it's some imminent doom. Start thinking like fucking heroes and use your brain for once."
"You son of a bitch." Tamaki couldn't stop the seething venom from leaving his lips. "How about you stop pretending to be all high and mighty. You never loved her. You only showed up whenever the hell you needed her for something."
"At least I wasn't a coward in telling her about my feelings."
"What?" The indigo haired man mocked, "Your shallow feelings?" He knew the truth behind what Keigo called 'love'.
It wasn't real.
It was infatuation and nothing more. Who wouldn't admire someone who put others well-being before theirs? Who had ambition to escape her chains, who was incredible not just because of the quirk they carried, but also because of how relentlessly they fought for what was right.
Keigo didn't have a history with Y/n, like Tamaki did.
"You were always a danger to her Hawks, you only ever wanted what you wanted and never thought about what was best for her." He walked to his direction, not backing down like before. "You put your stupid missions with the hero commission first. If they told you to fucking kill her, you would have in an instant." Tamaki snapped his fingers for emphasis. His onyx indigo eyes turning to that of malice, surprising everyone in the room.
Even Mirio and Nejire, who had never seen him be this... angry before.
Tamaki chuckled darkly as he continued.
"Just a servant to their bidding." He bit out. "We all know why you were forced to retire. Working with the league when we were younger came to bite you in the ass didn't it?" Tamaki turned his head to the side. "Wasn't it your fault why she almost lost her quirk to All-For-One when he was alive? You put her in danger knowing she might have died because you worked for the league and to prove your loyalty, they asked for her. Which you so willingly gave up. All for your mission, right? All for the better of Japan?"
And there it was, the reason why Mirio was so iffy about working with Keigo again and why Tamaki and Nejire didn't take a liking to him.
He wasn't wrong.
When the battle between – almost the whole world, against All for One happened six years ago. For Keigo to prove he was with the league at the time, even though he really wasn't. The villain asked for the person he cared for the most. And because the hero commission and all of Japan's future was riding on that one act. Keigo didn't hesitate to hand Y/n over. He tricked her and she almost lost her life, had it not been for Tamaki interfering.
He almost lost his life too.
Still, there was no way in hell Tamaki was letting Y/n die in the hands of that monster.
"I may be a coward with my emotions." Tamaki smiled sweetly at Keigo, his dark eyes however, telling him how he truly felt. "Still, I'll never and will ever, put anything else first before what she wants, what she needs or her wellbeing. Not even if it meant the world's survival."
"Tamaki..." Mirio whispered. Reaching out to stop him from throwing the first hit.
Tamaki shook him off, his hands shaking with rage. Rage he's been holding onto for almost two years. Rage no one noticed because of how well he composed himself, even if he felt his blood boil with red anger. Tamaki always hid his emotions the best he could.
"It's getting hard to control your emotions, isn't it?" Keigo not fazed at all egged him on.
"What the hell are you talking about." The tall man was boiling with anger. "Of course, I fucking hate you."
Chuckling softly Keigo motioned to the notebook. "No child, page one-hundred." He stated simply.
"She notes how you were having some... emotional outbursts every now and then. Some she felt course through herself. Very dark shit. Let me explain it to you, since you don't know how grave this really is." Keigo now smiled at Tamaki.
Almost like a tense game of silent chess between the two. Each man not giving up and one upping each other at every turn.
"That's your mark making you act out for not bonding. A consequence for ignoring the bond. It's all right there..." he motioned to the notebook again. "She felt most of the brunt force. Probably even took some of your anger too since she can do that, with being the soul bearer and all. And she went through all of it alone... for you. Her precious Tamaki Amajiki." He spit out. "But the more you two ignore the bond, the more you two get lost either in pain, insanity, emotional duress... then finally death..."
"What?!" Mirio took the notebook turning to the page, skimming it quickly. "There's nothing on here about death? How do you know that?"
"Because unlike all of you young chicks, I've been working this past month. You and Y/n weren't the only ones who ignored the bond. You're not that special." Keigo seethed bitterly to Tamaki, who couldn't believe what he was saying.
He was wrong, right? He must be... It was clear how jealous Keigo was, but...
"It was classified information in the closed cases database. If it hadn't been, Y/n would have found it right away... She had no idea ignoring the bond would end up killing you both regardless of her efforts to free you..." Keigo smirked. "You know it's very easy information for a retired, 'top servant' to get from the hero commission with a simple request." His smile turned cynical. "You're welcome."
"You're lying..." Tamaki breathed out, trying to contain his anger.
"I'm not." Keigo handed Mirio a folder of top secret classified information – he had hidden in his brown jacket.
"In there you'll find a soulmate pair who decided to ignore their marks. Pushing past the pain because they just refused destiny." He feigned concern. "Only three years passed when they both died together, regardless of them not completing their bond. They were young and completely healthy. The doctors ruled their death as unnatural soulmate mark distress... A very nasty burn mark on both their bodies from the mark acting out... and they weren't the only ones to die this way..."
Tamaki felt his heart drop.
If there were more cases like those then that meant...
"There's been a lot of buried cases. The global hero commission didn't want to make the world panic. So, they let everyone believe soulmates where this wonderful thing and encouraged society to complete their marks. Makes less of a panic happen. Besides the marks only appear in less than one percent of the world. Very easy cases to hide under the rug if people choose to ignore their marks, then die." Keigo smiled sweetly to Tamaki. "How long has it been for you two again?" The blond retired hero asked him, pretending not to know the exact time, though he did.
"Two years and a few months..." Nejire whispered with dread.
"It's always three years and it looks like you two are almost out of time... You're both screwed regardless of who gets you first. The villain or your soulmate's mark." Keigo innocently turned his head to the side. "I wonder how you're going to save each other this time... and she has no idea of this, or she would have bonded with you a long time ago... the ball is in your court now Suneater..." He motioned towards Tamaki's deep breathing form. "And I tote's love the new you by the way. Look at you, taking charge of your life and shit. It's more respectable than your usual timid persona..."
"I still despise you." The trembling indigo haired man seethed. "This doesn't change anything."
"Oh, I know." Keigo smiled again. "But you still need my help if you want to save Y/n. So, when do we start?"