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

After a long and exhausting day at the lab, Aiden and Honey trudged back to their dorm in companionable silence. The evening air in San Fransokyo was cool and carried the faint scent of cherry blossoms from the nearby park.

The occasional buzz of a passing hovercar filled the space between their quiet footsteps.

Both of them were visibly tired after finalizing their projects for the upcoming exhibition, yet the underlying awkwardness from the morning still lingered, unspoken but palpable.

Baymax accompanied them, rolling slowly behind, and as they arrived at the dorm entrance, the healthcare companion gently nudged them toward rest.

"Your energy levels are significantly depleted," Baymax observed in his calm, soothing tone. "I suggest at least eight hours of sleep for optimal performance tomorrow."

Honey chuckled, though it was tinged with weariness. "You're right, Baymax. Sleep it is."

Aiden nodded, giving Honey a sidelong glance as he unlocked the door. "Can't argue with the doc. Let's call it an early night."

As they stepped into the dorm, Honey stretched her arms overhead, a soft yawn escaping her lips. She looked over at Aiden, who had already begun taking off his jacket and placing it neatly on a chair.

For a brief moment, her heart skipped a beat. The day had been filled with laughs, camaraderie, and the occasional mishap in the lab, but through it all, Aiden's presence had been steady and comforting.

The awkwardness from earlier that morning still lingered in her mind. It wasn't just the way she had woken up so close to him or the way he had reacted.

It was the way she couldn't stop thinking about him throughout the day—the way his laugh had sounded, the subtle gestures he made when explaining something, the kindness he showed toward everyone.

Before she could overthink it, Honey decided to act. She turned toward him, her cheeks tinged with a faint pink. "Hey, Aiden," she began softly.

He looked up from where he was setting down Baymax's case. "Yeah?"

Honey hesitated for a fraction of a second before stepping closer. "Thanks for today. It was... fun. And, um, goodnight."

Without giving herself time to chicken out, she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.

Aiden froze. His eyes widened slightly as Honey pulled back, her face now bright red. She avoided his gaze, her lips curling into a nervous smile.

"Goodnight!" she blurted, turning on her heel and practically darting into her room, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

He stood there for a moment, his hand instinctively reaching up to touch the spot on his cheek where her lips had been.

The warmth lingered, and despite his initial shock, he found himself smiling faintly.

"Well, that was unexpected," he muttered to himself, shaking his head as he walked to his own room.

Once inside his room, Aiden flopped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. The day's events played in his mind like a highlight reel, but that one moment—the kiss—stood out.

It was small, innocent even, but it left an impact.

What am I doing? he thought. His feelings were a whirlwind, and he knew he couldn't keep ignoring them.

Reaching over to his bedside table, he grabbed his holographic communicator and initiated a call. The device hummed to life, projecting a soft blue glow as the familiar face of his mother, Eleanor, appeared.

Her caramel complexion was illuminated beautifully, and her sharp, knowing eyes softened when she saw him.

"Aiden! Sweetheart, it's late over there. Is everything okay?" she asked, her voice warm and soothing.

"Yeah, Mom, everything's fine," Aiden replied, scratching the back of his neck. "I just... I needed to talk."

Eleanor leaned closer to the camera, her expression shifting to one of concern. "What's on your mind, honey? You look troubled."

Aiden hesitated for a moment before exhaling deeply. "It's about... relationships. There's this girl—well, two girls, actually. And it's complicated."

Eleanor's eyebrows lifted slightly, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Ah, love triangles. A classic predicament."

"It's not funny, Mom," Aiden said, though a small smile crept onto his face despite himself.

"I'm not laughing," she assured him, though her tone was light. "Tell me what's going on."

He explained everything—his relationship with Toru, their closeness, and how much she meant to him. Then he described Honey, their growing friendship, and how it had begun to feel like something more.

Eleanor listened intently, nodding occasionally, her expression thoughtful. When he finished, she leaned back in her chair, folding her hands in her lap.

"Aiden, it sounds to me like you're at a crossroads," she began. "And that's not a bad thing. It means you're growing, learning what your heart wants. But you need to be honest—with yourself and with the people involved."

"I don't want to hurt anyone," Aiden admitted. "Toru's been there for me, and I care about her so much. But with Honey... it's complicated. I don't even know if it's real or just... I don't know."

Eleanor's gaze softened. "Love is never easy, sweetheart. It's messy, confusing, and sometimes painful. But it's also beautiful. What matters is how you handle it. You can't control how other people feel, but you can control how you treat them. Be honest. Be kind. And don't rush yourself into making a decision. Let your heart guide you, but don't ignore your mind, either."

Aiden nodded slowly, her words sinking in. "Thanks, Mom. I needed that."

Eleanor smiled warmly. "Anytime, sweetheart. And remember, no matter what happens, I'm here for you."

"I know," he said, his voice softer. "I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, Aiden. Now get some rest, okay? You've got a big day tomorrow."

He ended the call feeling lighter, though his dilemma was far from resolved. For now, he could sleep knowing he had someone in his corner.

-

-

Aiden sat on the edge of his bed, the soft hum of his communicator in his hand casting a faint glow against the dark room.

His heart raced as he debated whether to press the call button. He had talked to his mom, sought her wisdom, but this call felt even heavier.

Finally, with a deep breath, he tapped the button, and Toru's contact sprang to life. The call connected after a few rings, and her familiar, bubbly face appeared in the hologram.

She was in her room, a little disheveled but as radiant as ever, her green eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Aiden! What's up?" Toru greeted, her smile instantly disarming him.

"Hey, Toru," Aiden began, his voice soft and uncertain. "Uh, do you have a minute? I need to talk to you about something... serious."

Her smile faded slightly, replaced by a look of concern. She leaned closer to her screen. "Of course. What's going on?"

Aiden took a deep breath and dove into his confession. He spoke about his growing connection with Honey, the moments they had shared, and how he had started to notice feelings blooming that went beyond friendship.

His voice wavered with guilt as he admitted how conflicted he felt, especially because of his relationship with Toru.

"I feel like I'm betraying you, Toru," he said, his hands gripping his knees. "I care about you so much, and the last thing I want is to hurt you. But... I also don't want to lie to you or to myself. I just... I don't know what to do."

Toru listened quietly, her expression unreadable. She didn't interrupt, letting him pour his heart out.

"I don't even know if what I feel for Honey is real, or if it's just... because we've been spending so much time together. And then there's you, and everything we've been through... I feel like the worst person in the world right now," Aiden finished, his voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, there was only silence. Aiden's heart pounded in his chest as he waited for her to respond.

Finally, Toru spoke, her voice calm and steady.

"It's okay," she said simply, her smile soft and understanding.

Aiden blinked, caught off guard by her response. "What? How can it be okay? Toru, I just told you—"

She raised a hand to stop him, her expression unwavering. "Aiden, I've known you long enough to understand how you think. I had a feeling this might happen someday."

"What do you mean?" he asked, still reeling.

"Honey is... well, she's Honey. She's kind, smart, and so full of life that it's hard not to be drawn to her," Toru explained, her tone light but genuine.

"I'm not surprised you're falling for her. Honestly, I might be more surprised if you hadn't."

"But Toru, what about us? I don't want to lose you," Aiden said, his voice laced with emotion.

She chuckled softly. "You're not going to lose me, Aiden. I knew what I was signing up for when I fell for you. You're not just Aiden Wilhelm Fritz—you're the future king of an entire nation. People like you aren't exactly known for having just one partner, you know."

Aiden's eyes widened. "You mean... you're okay with—"

She nodded, her smile turning playful. "Polygamy? Yeah, I've come to terms with it. I know it's part of the deal. Besides, I don't think love is about dividing your heart—it's about expanding it. If Honey makes you happy, I won't stand in your way."

Her expression turned slightly more serious as she leaned closer to the screen. "But Aiden, there's something else you should think about."

"What's that?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Toru hesitated for a moment, her gaze softening. "There's someone else who deserves a piece of your heart, too. Someone who cares about you a lot, even if they don't show it the same way I do."

Aiden tilted his head, confused. "Who are you talking about?"

Toru smirked, her tone teasing. "That's for you to figure out, Your Majesty. I'm not going to spell everything out for you."

Her cryptic answer left Aiden even more puzzled, but he decided not to press further.

"Toru, I... I don't even know what to say," Aiden admitted, his voice thick with emotion. "You're amazing. I don't deserve you."

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh, stop being so dramatic. Of course you deserve me—and Honey, too, for that matter. You just have to promise me one thing."

"Anything," he said without hesitation.

"Be honest with her. And with yourself. Don't string her along, and don't overthink everything like you always do. Just let things happen naturally," Toru said, her smile warm and encouraging.

Aiden nodded, a weight lifting off his shoulders. "I promise. Thank you, Toru. For everything."

She gave him a thumbs-up. "That's what I'm here for. Now, get some sleep, okay? You've got a big exhibition to prepare for."

Aiden smiled, his heart feeling lighter than it had in days. "Goodnight, Toru."

"Goodnight, Aiden," she said, her image flickering out as the call ended.

As he lay back in bed, Aiden's mind swirled with thoughts of Toru, Honey, and the mystery person she had hinted at.

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