My Hero Academia: Heavenly Restriction

"Ain't no fucking way!"

My eyes darted between the notification screen and my half-empty cup of now-cold green tea. The numbers couldn't be right. I blinked hard, adjusted my glasses, and looked again.

"IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN 6 HOURS! HOW ARE WE AT 500 ALREADY?????"

I paced around my writing nook, hands running through my already messy black hair, purple highlights catching the late afternoon sun streaming through my window. My Stitch hood flopped back and forth with each turn, the ears making soft swishing sounds that would usually calm me down. Not today.

"You guys..." I stopped, turning to address you directly, my readers. "You beautiful, terrifying monsters. I didn't think you'd actually do it."

My fingers traced over the powerstone count again. The numbers remained stubbornly unchanged. Five hundred. In less than six hours. 

"I made that challenge thinking it would take days!" I slumped back into my chair, which creaked protestingly. "I had plans! I was going to take a nap! Maybe actually eat something that wasn't instant ramen!"

The notification pinged again. Another powerstone.

"Oh come on!" 

I pulled my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them. The oversized sleeves of my onesie covered my hands completely, leaving only my ink-stained fingertips visible.

"You know what this means, don't you?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at the screen. "I have to write another chapter. Right now. Because I made a promise, and if there's one thing Wisteria-san takes seriously, it's promises to her readers."

Another ping. Another powerstone.

"You're not going to stop, are you?" I let out a long sigh, reaching for my emergency stash of chocolate. "This is payback for all those cliffhangers, isn't it?"

I straightened up in my chair, pulling my hood back up and adjusting it until Stitch's face sat perfectly centered. A determined smile crossed my face.

"Well, challenge accepted, my dear readers. Challenge absolutely accepted. But remember - you asked for this. Whatever happens in this bonus chapter? That's on you."

I cracked my knuckles, pulled my keyboard closer, and took a deep breath.

"Time to make some chaos. Because that's what you get for being so enthusiastically supportive."

======

The TV's blue light flickered against my eyelids, pulling me from a surprisingly deep sleep. My phone showed 12:17 AM in harsh white numbers. We must have dozed off during that documentary about rescue operations in mountain terrain.

Camie's weight pressed against my chest, her steady breathing warm against my neck. One of her hands had slipped under my shirt during our sleep, palm flat against my stomach. The other gripped my right hand, fingers interlaced and squeezing gently even in sleep.

I tried shifting slightly, testing my escape options. Her legs immediately tightened around my waist, a sleepy "Mm-mm" of protest vibrating against my collarbone. The movement brought several realizations crashing down at once.

First: My right arm had fallen asleep, pins and needles shooting through my fingers where she gripped them.

Second: The position that had been comfortable hours ago now put interesting pressure on my back.

Third, and most pressingly: Morning was apparently arriving early, and Camie needed to get off me. Right now.

I attempted to extract myself with minimal disruption, but her grip only tightened. Her nails scraped lightly across my stomach, sending shivers down my spine that really didn't help the situation.

"Stay." The word came out sleep-rough but unmistakably commanding.

"Camie." I kept my voice low, steady. "We fell asleep. It's late."

"Early." She nuzzled closer, which was exactly the opposite of what I needed. "Time's fake anyway."

"Your neck will hate that position in the morning."

"Worth it." Her thumb traced circles on my stomach. "Comfy."

I exhaled slowly, trying to focus on anything else. The documentary had switched to some infomercial about revolutionary kitchen gadgets. A car passed outside, headlights painting abstract patterns on the ceiling. Anything but the way Camie's body fit against mine, or how her breath ghosted across my throat, or-

She shifted, and I had to bite back a groan.

"Camie." My voice came out rougher than intended. "I need to move."

"Nope." She popped the 'p' sound, somehow managing to sound both sleepy and smug. "My Izu. Staying right here."

Those possessive words hit differently at 12 AM, with her wrapped around me like she never intended to let go. The rational part of my brain tried to remind me that this was Camie - my best friend.

The rest of my brain was very aware of the way her thigh pressed against mine.

"Seriously." I tried again, aiming for casual and probably missing by miles. "At least let me grab a blanket or something."

She lifted her head then, eyes catching the TV's blue glow. Despite the sleepy haze, I recognized that calculating look. The one that meant she'd figured something out and was deciding how to play it.

"Cold?" Her voice carried an edge of amusement that made my stomach flip.

"Something like that."

"Mm." She stretched, a slow deliberate movement that made everything worse. "Good thing you've got me to keep you warm then."

"Camie-"

"You know what I love about you, Izu?" Her fingers splayed across my stomach, proprietary. "How hard you try to be a gentleman. Even now."

Heat crept up my neck. "I don't-"

"But here's the thing." She pushed herself up, just enough to meet my eyes. "You don't have to pretend with me. Not ever."

My heart hammered against my ribs. "This is dangerous territory."

"Is it?" Her head tilted, studying me. "Or are you just scared?"

"Both." The honesty surprised even me. "You're my best friend."

"And that's not changing." Her hand left my stomach to cup my jaw. "But we both know there's more here. Has been for a while."

I closed my eyes, trying to gather thoughts that scattered like mercury under her touch. "It's not that simple."

"Actually?" Her thumb brushed my bottom lip. "It is. You've got this huge heart, Izu. All that love to give. And that's fine - it's part of what makes you you. You've got enough light in you to illuminate a whole damn city."

My eyes opened at the fierce note in her voice. She stared down at me, expression intense despite the hour.

"And I'm okay with that," she continued. "But-" Her fingers tightened on my jaw. "I'm first. Always first."

The possessiveness in those words shot straight through me. "Camie-"

"No." She pressed her forehead to mine. "Listen. I'm not asking for everything. Not yet. But I need you to understand something - I chose you. Before anyone else saw what I saw, before you became everyone's favorite mystery, I chose you. And I don't share that top spot. Not with Yaomomo's concern or Ashido's flirting or anyone else who's finally noticing what I've known all along."

My hands had found her waist, fingers pressing into soft skin where her hoodie had ridden up. "When did you get so good at reading me?"

"Please." She smiled, but it held an edge. "You're not exactly subtle, Izu."

"Says the girl in my lap at 12 AM."

"Exactly." Her nose brushed mine. "I'm here. In your lap. At 12 AM. Being very not subtle about what I want."

My thumb traced her hipbone, drawing a sharp inhale that made something primal in my chest purr with satisfaction.

"This changes things," I said quietly.

"Only if we let it." Her fingers slid into my hair, nails scraping my scalp in that way she knew turned me to putty. "Or we could just... let it be what it is. You and me. Like always. Just with less pretending we don't notice things."

"Things?"

"Mhm." She shifted deliberately, drawing a hiss from between my teeth. "Things like how your hands flex on my waist when I wear those shorts you pretend not to stare at. Or how your breath catches when I play with your hair. Or how you're very much enjoying our current position despite trying to be a gentleman about it."

"You're evil." But I couldn't keep the fondness from my voice.

"Nah." Her lips brushed my jaw, feather-light. "Just honest about what I want. Question is - what do you want, Izu?"

"You. Here. Always."

I felt her smile against my skin. "See? Simple."

"Simple," I echoed. "Nothing about you has ever been simple."

"No?" Her lips ghosted up my jaw. "Maybe you're just overthinking it."

My thumb traced her hipbone again, savoring the way her breath hitched. "I think about a lot of things when it comes to you."

"Like what?" The question came out breathy, betraying the casual tone she aimed for.

"Like how you always smell of vanilla and citrus." I pressed my nose to her neck, inhaling deeply. "Like how your eyes get this particular gleam when you're plotting something." My lips brushed her pulse point. "Like how you curl into me when you're tired, or how your nose scrunches when you laugh."

Her fingers trembled against my scalp. "Izu..."

"Like how you say my name." I smiled against her skin. "Just like that."

She pulled back just enough to meet my gaze, and oh - there was that gleam I'd mentioned. Her lips curved into something between a smirk and a challenge.

"All that thinking," she murmured. "When are you going to do something about it?"

The last thread of hesitation snapped. I surged forward, capturing her lips with mine. She made a sound - surprised, pleased, hungry - and melted into me. Her fingers tightened in my hair, using the grip to angle my head exactly how she wanted.

Of course she'd kiss like this - demanding, playful, absolutely in control even as she gave herself over to it. Her tongue traced my bottom lip, and I opened for her without hesitation. The taste of her - mint and something sweeter - made my head spin.

She broke away first, breathing hard. Her lips were slightly swollen, eyes dark in the TV's dim light. "Took you long enough."

I laughed, the sound catching in my throat as she rolled her hips deliberately. "Evil."

"Yours though." She punctuated the words with smaller kisses, each one stealing more of my breath. "All yours."

My hands slid up her back, under her hoodie, tracing the curve of her spine. Her skin felt like silk under my callused fingers. She arched into the touch, making a sound that shot straight through me.

"Careful," she breathed against my mouth. "Those hands of yours..."

"Problem?"

"The opposite." She caught my bottom lip between her teeth, tugging gently. "They're very... distracting."

I smiled against her lips. "Good."

She pulled back slightly, studying my face with an intensity that made heat pool in my stomach. Her thumb traced my jaw, my lips, mapping territory she'd claimed long ago without my realizing.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted this," she said softly. "How many times I've thought about kissing that stupid smirk off your face."

"Which smirk?"

"That one." She poked my chest. "Right there. The one you get when you think you're being clever."

I caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. "Only think?"

"See?" But she was smiling, soft and real in a way few people got to see. "Exactly that expression. Makes me want to-"

I didn't let her finish, pulling her back into another kiss. This one was slower, deeper, full of all the things we'd left unsaid. Her hands framed my face like I was something precious, something worth savoring.

When we broke apart, she rested her forehead against mine. 

"My room. Now." 

I stood in one fluid motion, lifting Camie with me. Her legs tightened around my waist as she laughed against my mouth.

"Show off." She bit my lower lip gently. "All that training pays off."

"You have no idea." My hands slid lower, supporting her weight effortlessly. She took full advantage, pressing kisses along my jaw.

"Oh?" Her breath tickled my ear. "Planning to demonstrate?"

I started down the hallway, muscle memory guiding my steps in the dark apartment. "Depends."

"On?"

"How quiet you can be." I pressed her against the wall beside her bedroom door, using the support to free one hand. "Don't want to wake the neighbors."

She rolled her hips deliberately. "Make me."

The challenge in her voice sparked something primal. I captured her mouth again, swallowing her gasp as I pressed her harder against the wall. Her nails scraped my scalp, and I growled low in my throat.

"Hurry," she panted between kisses. "Before I decide the wall works just fine."

I fumbled for the door handle, refusing to break the kiss. My training meant I could probably navigate blind at this point. Probably.

My shin caught the edge of her dresser. Probably needed work.

Camie's laugh vibrated against my lips. "Graceful."

"Distracted." I nipped at her throat in retaliation, drawing a sharp inhale.

"Excuses." But her voice shook slightly. "Left a bit. Unless you want to explain the bruise to Recovery Girl tomorrow."

I adjusted course, muscle memory taking over again. The back of my legs hit her bed, and I sat, keeping her in my lap. She immediately took advantage of the new angle, deepening the kiss until my head spun.

Her hands found the hem of my shirt, tugging insistently. "Off."

I pulled back just enough to meet her eyes. Even in the darkness, I could see the want there. But something else too - a vulnerability she rarely showed.

"You sure about this?"

Her fingers traced my abs, feather-light. "I've never been more sure of anything."

I caught her hands, pressing a kiss to each palm. "No going back."

"Good." She pushed me onto my back, following me down. "I'm exactly where I want to be."