Chapter 22 - Beautiful

You saw Recovery Girl early the next morning. After her session you could move your arms more freely. The dressings remained around your torso, but the lighter bandages around your arms protecting your burns were gone, the skin back to normal.

You took your seat in Aizawa's homeroom several minutes late, passing the note from Recovery Girl to your teacher as you entered.

"This is the last week of your current partnership. Next week you will be going on internships, opportunities presented by the Sports Festival for some, previous work studies for others." Aizawa passed sheets of paper to each of the rows. Izuku handed one back to you with your name on it.

2,437 agencies wanted you for their internship. You glanced up at Aizawa, assuming this must be a joke. He cocked his head slightly as if to say, "You're pretty popular, huh?" You looked down at the paper.

As Aizawa dismissed the class twenty minutes later, he added, "Kirishima, Shouji, [l/n], and Bakugou come see me for a moment." You grabbed your backpack and walked toward the podium. Kirishima pulled the knapsack from your shoulder, taking the pressure off your bandages. You smiled at him.

"Kirishima and [l/n], last month you helped Fat Gum in patrolling and even took down some criminals. He's requested a follow up assignment regarding that incident." Your eyes widened. Tanaka-san and the delivery? He continued, "As you have different partners currently, I've asked Fat Gum if he could use more help on the case and he agreed. The four of you will report to his agency tomorrow at 3 p.m."

You walked out the massive 2-A door a minute later, your mind racing. "What's so special about these criminals?" Shouji asked as you rounded the corner.

"Fat Gum said the criminals had mugged a man named Tanaka because they were looking for drugs. But Tanaka-san was carrying a package which turned out to contain Hero Association headsets. I wonder what else they could need us for." Kirishima was intrigued as he walked beside you.

***

The four of your entered Fat Gum's agency the next afternoon.

"Red Riot! Cinder!" Fat Gum started to go for a hug but noticed the bandages still encircling your chest. He opted for a high five instead. "And who are your friends?"

"Fat Gum this is Bakugou, hero name Ground Zero and Shouji, hero name Tentacole," Kirishima introduced. The boys received similar high fives. Bakugou stared at his hand disgusted and walked over to stand beside you.

"So, what's this all about? There's more to do on the Tanaka case? Did you find more drugs in the alley?" you asked.

"It's more to do with Tanaka than the criminals." Your brows furrowed. "One of the neighboring hero agencies said they received a box of communication devices a week ago. They hadn't ordered anything. But it was left on their doorstep, dropped off by a courier. The tech was from a company called Gorgon."

"Isn't that where Tanaka-san's package was from?" Kirishima chimed in.

"Exactly. No one thought much about it until I heard from another hero pal of mine that his agency had also received a Gorgon package two days ago. Again, no note, no invoice."

"So?" Bakugou huffed, seemingly unimpressed.

"Do you two remember me telling you about the paralysis victims?" Fat Gum asked in a hushed tone. Your eyes widened and you nodded.

"First responders were mysteriously paralyzed but were fine after a few days, right?" Kirishima said.

"I think I heard about those on the news," Shouji mumbled to your right.

"They may not be connected, but yesterday one of my buddy's sidekicks was paralyzed. I've been following these paralysis cases for a while and we haven't been able to determine the cause."

"Where are you going with this?" you asked, apprehensive.

"We'd be foolish to disregard any lead. Three boxes of headsets from the same company, and one of the recipients ends up paralyzed? All the people paralyzed commonly use coms - police, EMTs, and now a hero. I'm asking for your help to investigate the Gorgon company. It's in the Gion district of Kyoto."

"Kyoto?" Shouji questioned.

"Yes. The current patrol units in the area haven't noticed any suspicious activity, but I'd like to get my own team on the ground. We plan on setting up surveillance." Fat Gum handed each of you a piece of paper.

"So, let me get this straight," Bakugou interjected, his tone suspicious. "Some coms were almost stolen, and others were dropped off at hero agencies, so you want us to watch the building where they're made? To see what? Aren't they just going to keep making more earpieces? Why is that hero work?"

"We'd like to perform our due diligence and make sure that there's nothing going on related to the paralysis victims or these random Gorgon deliveries." You could see from Fat Gum's expression that he knew he was asking you to take a leap of faith. He took a deep breath before adding, "If you'd be willing, I'd like to be your internship host. This surveillance would be your assignment. Who knows, we might get to the bottom of something."

You looked at Bakugou hopefully. "What do you think partner?"

Bakugou scanned the sheet of paper, the agreement to join Fat Gum's agency for the internship. He would have preferred to intern at a hero's agency with a higher rank, someone to boost his standing, to make him stronger. But he couldn't avoid the gleam in your eyes, optimistic and urging.

"Tsk. Sure. Why not? I just hope it's more fun than watching some nerds program computer chips for a week." He signed his name at the bottom of the sheet. You smiled before signing your own.

Over the course of the next few days you received regular correspondence from Fat Gum's agency. Thankfully, you were now out of bandages as you discussed strategy with Kirishima, Bakugou and Shouji. As the surveillance expert, Shouji had some ideas on how to best scout the location and make your shifts meaningful. You had been sent building plans, employment rosters, photographs of the tech in question, and your train tickets to Kyoto.

***

The common room was bustling with all your classmates finalizing their internship plans starting the coming Monday. You'd had discussions with the support team to get your hero costume shoes modified further to allow for better propulsion. You also asked for a few backup masks. Your encounter with Tanaka-san made you think of their usefulness outside just your own costume. Last, you asked the support group to make your entire outfit fireproof, not just your gloves. You weren't sure how your quirk would react anymore.

The case with your costume arrived earlier that morning. You sat on the couch and felt the soft fabric with your fingertips. The dark material had a slight sheen to it when held up to the light, from the additional fireproof layer you imagined.

"Mine shines a bit like that." You looked up at hearing the voice. Todoroki had perched himself on the arm of the couch. He looked relaxed and casual in dark jeans and an open tan button-up shirt over a forest green tee. He had a small basket of white cloth propped on his knee. "Have you tried it on yet?"

"No. Not yet." You folded the jacket back into the case and closed the lid. Placing it to your side you added, "Did you make any modifications?"

"Same design, but I had to get it lengthened." You hadn't thought about how much taller all the boys seemed to be getting in even just the two months of knowing them. At least Todoroki's costume would be easy to modify, essentially a navy jumpsuit that faintly resembled the UA PE uniform, except adorned with a utility belt which held first aid supplies and tools like your own.

"Where are you going for your internship anyway? I forgot to ask."

"My father's agency again." You could hear the hint of disdain in his voice. "As much as I'd like to go somewhere else, he's the best for a reason. And I have his quirk. I need to get stronger. I... I can't lose again." You knew he was referring to the Festival and didn't push any further.

"Anyway," his tone brightened, "there's something I wanted to ask you. The Hero Association is throwing a gala this weekend, and with my father being number one, my whole family is invited. He said I should bring a guest and suggested you. Would you like to come with me?"

"Me? To a gala?" The word sounded foreign on your tongue. "I don't exactly know what people do at galas."

"Mostly stand around and talk dressed in nice clothes. Maybe listen to some speeches. There will be food. It'll be less dull if you're there." His eyes looked hopeful.

"Um. Sure. I guess. Why not?" It all tumbled out of your mouth at the same time.

What did I just agree to?

"Excellent. Saturday. Seven o'clock. We'll get picked up from here."

"Great!" Internal panic.

He rose from the couch and walked off toward the laundry room, a soft smile on his lips.

***

"What the fuck was that?" Bakugou hissed as Todoroki walked into the small room. There were four washing machines and four dryers along the wall opposite the door. Two small tables flanked the door for folding clothes. Bakugou stood beside an empty basket, a washing machine newly spinning.

"What was what?"

"Don't bullshit me. A goddamn gala? I thought I told you to back the fuck off."

Ever since the night of the Sports Festival Bakugou had been even more protective of you. He was always standing beside you during your strategy meetings for Fat Gum. He took the seat next to you at lunch. He even insisted on being your spotter in the weight room, barking at anyone who got too close.

Sure, he was your partner, but you couldn't tell if this sudden hovering was because he now thought you were weak and needed protecting, or if he recognized your power and didn't want to be surprised by any developments in your quirk again.

He certainly hadn't been gentle again like that night. You'd replayed the sensation of his hand sweeping your hair behind your ear over and over, puzzling over your feelings.

"Are you jealous because you've never had the chance to invite a beautiful girl to a gala? Or was it something else?" The way Todoroki said 'beautiful' so easily threw Bakugou off guard for a moment. Of course, you were beautiful, but to just throw the word around seemed too cavalier.

"Take it back you bastard." Todoroki's basket of clothes fell to the floor as Bakugou shoved him against the wall, holding him by the collar. Todoroki didn't flinch.

"Uninvite her? That would just be rude." He pushed Bakugou's hand aside before bending down, collecting his basket and brushing past with his shoulder. Bakugou punched the wall before storming out.

***

"Mina!" You practically kicked her door in. She let out a sharp yip of surprise. "What do you wear to a gala?"

"A gala? Why are you going to a gala?" she asked, her heart rate calming.

"Shouto asked if I would be his guest to this gala thing for the Heroes Association. His dad said..." You were cut off by Mina jumping off her bed and wrapping you in a tight hug, bouncing up and down. You couldn't move your arms.

"Oh my God! You're going on a date with Todoroki?!"

"I can't... breathe."

"Oh, sorry." She released and you took in a deep breath.

"It's not a date date. I'll be his guest. He just didn't want to go alone."

"Exactly. And he asked YOU! He had eighteen other options. Well, I'm sure some would certainly be off the table..." Her buoyant tone turned to muttering as she counted in her head.

"Mina!"

"Right! Oh my God, what are you going to wear?" Her eyes were nearly bugging out of her head.

"That's why I came to see you. I don't have anything formal."

"Wait right here!" Her giddiness was infectious, and you found yourself smiling as she flung her closet door open and started tossing garment after garment into a giant pile on the ground. Your brow creased looking at the ever-growing stack.

Who has this many clothes?

"It's no good. I don't have a single thing that will make him fall in love with you at a gala!"

"That's not exactly what I'm going for," you said dryly and shoved your hand into the pile, pulling out a long black dress. "Why isn't this good enough? It's nice, classy."

"Ugh! You're such a tomboy. You don't understand the mental gymnastics I go through in picking out the exact perfect outfit to fit a scenario." You rolled your eyes behind her head as she started toward her door.

"Where are you going?"

"To Toru's room. Maybe she has something!" Mina bolted out of her room and down the stairs. You followed behind to Hagakure's room, not sure why you were running.

"Toru!" Mina flung open the door and the invisible girl screamed. You appeared beside Mina a moment later, scanning the room for a second before you spotted the floating shirt and shorts. "Toru, we have an emergency outfit situation. [y/n] has been asked by none other than the devilishly handsome Todoroki Shouto to go to the Hero Association Gala this weekend."

If Toru had visible eyes, you were sure they would have widened with glee. Without a moment's hesitation Toru's form leapt from her desk chair and started picking through the hangers in her closet. Mina joined her, the two discussing the merits of satin versus chiffon. You sat on the edge of Toru's bed and stroked the fabric of her comforter, waiting.

"This one!" Mina finally gushed a minute later. She pulled a long royal blue evening dress from the closet. "Put it on! Put it on! Put it on!" She waved the hanger toward you.

"This looks so... not me," you said, standing from the bed and taking the skirt of the dress in your hands.

"Are you really doubting us right now? Go in the bathroom and put it on."

"I don't have the right bra on for this." You looked at the sweetheart neckline and off the shoulder sleeves and self-consciously thought of the scars on your back.

"You won't be wearing a bra!" You started at the thought.

"But I..." you tried to protest.

"Just shut up and put it on!" Resigned, you took the dress by the hanger and walked into the washroom. You stripped off your clothes and stepped into the dress. No. Gown. This was a gown. "Hurry up! I'm dying to see you in it!" Mina's voice rang through the door.

"Just a sec." You managed to pull the zipper up to your mid-back. You looked at yourself in the mirror. You could only see from the waist up in the small bathroom but could tell the dress was gorgeous. Taking creative liberties, you undid the braid in your hair and let the loose waves created from the plait tumble over your shoulders and back. When you looked back into the mirror, you felt it suited the dress a bit more and gave yourself a quick smile. "Ready."

You stepped out of the bathroom and turned to your friends. They didn't say anything for a long time, making you feel painfully self-conscious. "We... we can find something else if it doesn't look good." You impulsively wrapped your arms around your torso trying not to feel so vulnerable.

"You look like a princess," Toru finally said, her voice laced with awe.

"Look at yourself in the mirror." Mina pulled you toward Toru's full-length mirror, her voice also tinted with wonder. You stood in front of it, looking down as Mina fluffed out the skirt.

You looked up and scanned the reflection for a few too many heartbeats. The sweetheart neckline and off the shoulder sleeves elegantly showcased your neck and collarbone. The gown hugged each of your curves, creating a sleek hourglass shape before it flared away at the knee in a pool of blue silk. You forgot all about your scars.

You finally pulled your eyes away from the mirror to look at your friends. "Is this really me?"

"You're so pretty [y/n]." Mina couldn't take her eyes off you. "You should never take that dress off. Unless Todoroki does it for you." You slapped toward Mina, but she pulled away before you could make contact. You merely glared at her instead.

"How has that dress never looked good on me? And here you put it on, and you look like a model. Typical," Toru pouted.

"Can... can I really wear this?" you stammered, turning again toward the mirror.

"You better wear it," Mina said, walking behind you and grabbing your hair. "Now we have to figure out hair and accessories. I think Yaomomo has some amazing silver shoes."

The girls pulled out shoes and earrings, necklaces and hair clips. Mina texted the girls in the dorm for make-up and hair products. Toru found a silver clutch. Mina began holding up different nail polish colors to see if they clashed with the dress. You couldn't help but smile. For the first time in a long time, you felt beautiful.