Hitoshi doesn’t mind team-up missions, most of the time. It’s just his luck is bad, is all, dooming him to minor annoyances and obnoxious partners.
This one is a rather large mission, with several spotlight heroes and elements to keep in mind. The briefing was as normal as could be hoped for with only two heroes missing it entirely. There’s nothing to complain about, really.
Now, Hitoshi is enjoying the wonderful standing around waiting for their latecomers, politely ignoring the spotlight heroes whispering behind his back, normal part of the process.
Two more stragglers walk in.
Hitoshi glances up.
The first is a hero who carries himself with the bearing of a man who has never been anything but praised and really lets it get to him. Yet another potential point against this mission. The other, Phantom Thief by the outfit, surveys the group and grins with all the mischief and danger befitting his name.
Finally, they have a full team.
Phantom Thief catches Hitoshi’s eye, tilts his head to the side and winks. He hadn’t even realized he was staring.
Hitoshi ducks his face down into his artificial vocal cords to keep from visibly reacting. He’s just handsome, is all. Hitoshi has to stop himself from watching him, the way his every movement is controlled and precise. From every subtle adjustment to his support equipment to the way he stands.
Hitoshi has never in his life understood what some people see in suits. He is coming to the speedy and humiliating realization that he may get it now.
One of the other heroes starts going through the final reminders, the latest intel on quirks and such. Hitoshi does his best to listen, to keep his eyes away from the blond head of hair across the room.
She notes Hitoshi’s planned role and he nods in agreement, it’s a pretty typical assignment for him. Go in, find a hidden spot, adjust his support gear and mutter some choice insults before the heroes get in.
It’s nothing he hasn’t done before and if he gets it right it can be the difference between a coordinated response to the heroes and a botched one.
Mr. Basic Strength Enhancer doesn’t like this plan. He doesn’t like it at all, pulls an unattractive little sneer and everything.
Great.
Hitoshi resists the urge to sneer right back.
Phantom Thief narrows his eyes.
The hero heading the operation starts to elaborate on the benefits, which won’t help.
“I think–” Mr. Basic Strength Enhancer interrupts.
“Awww,” Phantom Thief coos, with all the condescension of the meanest kid in middle school. “You think?”
The temperature in the room drops.
Hitoshi is doomed.
Phantom Thief is an asshole. A really attractive, hot, asshole who just insulted a man for him.
Hitoshi is so doomed.
No one seems sure how to respond, the hero in charge turns a nervous laugh into a cough.
Mr. Basic Strength Enhancer flexes his hands in and out of fists, glaring.
Phantom Thief puts on a pleasant smile and fiddles with one of his watches, it’s smooth and deliberate with a hint of a threat. Hitoshi thinks he could watch him do that for hours.
He should really set more team-up restrictions.
The moment ends with a cleared throat and reiteration that it’s a little late to change their plans now.
“Well, I should get going.” Hitoshi sighs, glances at Phantom Thief one last time in a manner he really hopes is subtle and leaves the room without another word.
He channels his frustration into picking out the fractures between villains and poking at them. A comment thrown to the leader from one of his lackeys complaining about the timing of the meeting. A murmur from the leader within earshot of a slower lackey about efficiency. A derisive half-snort directed at the second-in-command when he reminds them to double check the locks before meetings.
It takes them precious seconds to even notice the rest of the heroes have arrived.
Hitoshi watches the raid go down from his perch in the rafters, not wanting to jump in and interfere with the flow the others have settled into.
It’s a good place to watch Phantom Thief. He fights like he moves, careful and precise.
Hitoshi can’t help but admire it. He makes it look easy, switching between quirks he only just obtained and taking villains down with a flourish.
Hitoshi could watch him forever.
He doesn’t, because they’re in a volatile situation and he’s a goddamn professional, but he could.
He surveys the rest of the area, notes the heroes who are struggling and throws his voice around to give them an assist.
One of the lackeys tries to sneak up on Phantom Thief and well, Hitoshi can’t have that. He sends his capture weapon out and catches the knife wielding hand before it can connect.
Phantom Thief looks up with surprise. Hitoshi grins, a triumphant, challenging little expression that once made his classmates wince.
Phantom Thief grins back for a moment before finishing his take-down and dusting imaginary dirt from his jacket.
Everything moves quickly from there, arrests and paperwork and what sounds like some kind of nightmare for the investigation team.
Hitoshi settles himself on the edge of the roof as soon as he can get away, takes a breath.
“Hello.” A voice he honestly wasn’t expecting but hoped to hear again.
“Hey.” He raises an eyebrow.
“Monoma Neito.” Phantom Thief says with a flourish that makes Hitoshi’s heart squeeze.
“Shinsou Hitoshi.” He returns, normally he wouldn’t but…
“I believe a thank you is in order.”
“Just doing my job.” He drawls, he would have done it for any hero, and Monoma probably would have been fine anyways.
“Ah, but I’m afraid I can’t quite agree.” Monoma argues. “You must allow me to thank you properly.”
“Alright? You’re welcome?” People don’t usually thank Hitoshi for this kind of stuff, at least not fellow heroes, it’s part of the gig.
“Are you free this friday? We could get coffee?”
What.
“It doesn’t have to be coffee, um, do you like tea?” Monoma goes on, fidgeting with a watch in a way that looks a lot less deliberate and a lot more nervous.
Is he nervous? There’s no way, Hitoshi is the one who should be nervous. He leans closer, examining him. He could almost swear Monoma blushes pink.
“Are you asking me out?” He blurts, incredulous.
Monoma flushes further, it’s the cutest thing Hitoshi has ever seen.
“Maybe, yeah.” He admits. “I like your voice.”
“Oh,” Hitoshi doesn’t know what to say to that. You’re supposed to return compliments, right? “I like your suit.”
“I noticed.” Monoma grins, his confidence returning like it never left in the first place. He spins to show it off. “I have good taste.”
“Yeah.” Hitoshi swallows, he really does. “Uh, I could do Saturday?”
“Saturday sounds wonderful.” Monoma smiles, something almost delighted in his eyes. “I’ll text you?”
Hitoshi nods and blankly exchanges numbers. He can’t believe this is happening.
“See you then, Shinsou!”
Hitoshi lays back on the roof with a groan as soon as he leaves.
He is so completely, utterly, doomed.