When people saw you and Fatgum on the street they naturally thought, “what a good hero team up.” Or things of that nature. When the interns or office workers at your respective agencies saw thought though was, “They GOTTA be dating!”

It was the small things at first.

Coffee and foods hand delivered to Fatgum by you over the course of a work week.

Small protective things from Fatgum, “oh they don’t drink but I’ll take it!”

The way you two could talk for hours on end with no sign of the conversation ending.

Eventually people started talking, fans speculated, but nothing was confirmed.

“Fatgum~!” You sing songed out. A tray of drinks in your hand that you placed on his desk. While your boba was in your other hand. He glanced over at the tray his favorite on a hot day like this sat carefully on his desk now.

“You’re too good to me (hero/name),” he took a cup, which was a x-large, but in his hands looked like a medium at most.

“I know, I know,” you smiled at him leaning over his desk to look at all the paperwork he was going through on his computer. Compensation forms for villain take downs, hero reports, and a few other things like merch ideas that needed approval lined the screen. You sighed seeing it all, “should I bring you dinner? Looks like you’re going to be here late.”

He glanced as another email marked ‘URGENT’ came in. He pouted taking a defeated gulp from his drink, “if you don’t mind…”

“Of course I don’t! What are we having, Tonkatsu? Soba? Sashimi or maybe sushi? Pizza!?” You thought seriously about what you were craving looking for any kind of interest in a word you said from Taishiro. “Any wishes that I can grant for you?”

As he tapped away he glanced over to you. He wasn’t sure why you were so nice to him, but he did know that you were a godsend. When you transferred in from the bustling capital of Tokyo saying you were looking to enjoy more of the little things. He was suspicious, sure you were cute, but he was worried that he’d had gotten a lazy big shot hero who wanted to do nothing but laze around as a heroic neighbor.

Thankfully he was wrong! You were hard working and even felt like you were around each corner. Helping kindergarteners cross the street safely(there was no danger you just thought the little outfits were cute), or checked in on the elderly, or normal hero things like getting a villain off the street.

No job was too small for you and half the time you did what he called charity work. You rose up the ranks in the Osaka region quite fast. So as you worked together he realized that he wanted you to stick around. The friendship came naturally and after that so did his massive crush on you too.

There was one thing you weren’t good at picking up signals on, love. His gestures of romance went straight over your head. Fatgum didn’t give up though.

Flowers? “Oh they’re so nice this time of year!”

Coffee/tea exactly how you like it? “Did you tell the barista it was for me? it’s perfect!”

A particularly rowdy villain giving you a really hard time? “Thanks gummy! I was definitely struggle bussing with that one. You should claim him since you did the final takedown.”

There were more but he wouldn’t dive into right now… right now you were scrolling your phone looking at restaurants perched up on his desk. Shooting off ideas for dinner like you were a little food (goddess/god). When he didn’t respond you glance up at him, “Fatgum? You okay?”

You leaned over to him, “gummy? (H/n) to Fatgum you in there?”

Breaking his thoughts and little daydream he jumped, “Yeah, sorry just forgot that,” he thought of any excuse, “I’ve got a meeting tomorrow so I was trying to think about my schedule.”

Concern was in your eyes as you glanced over at him, “o..kay. Are you sure you’re sleeping enough? I worry about you, I know you struggle to sleep with the heat like this.”

He nodded a blush sprinkled on his ears as he changed the subject, “So you were thinking what again for dinner?”

“Oh yeah I was thinking Gyudon, still filling but also on the lighter side? So it won’t feel so heavy in your stomach. Plus the one shop on.. what’s that street called again?” You paused looking at the ceiling for an answer, “oh whatever it’s called I’m talking about the one ran by the granny who sells it to you in a Fatgum size.”

Fatgum watched as you debating over the name of the street. Sure you knew the streets like the back of your hand now, but god forbid someone asked you for a street name. It would send you into a spiral of street names.

He nodded along, “that sounds good to me. Do ya’ want my card? Ya’ already bought me drinks so I wouldn’t mind payin’. ”

“No it’s okay Tai! I offered so it’s only fair I pay right?” You smiled petting his head. Before hopping down from his desk, “Kay I’ll be back Tai!”

‘Tai’ was in a full blown blush now, watching you leave the office closing the door behind you. He placed his hands on his face, paperwork was fully paused now. When you called him Tai like that it was always a surprise. Even though you were on first name basis now he didn’t expect a nickname from you. He groaned and pulled his hands off his face, as he looked back at his computer screen typing away.

You delightfully walked down the street, “Gyu! Don! Gyu! Don!”

From what you saw on the outside you wouldn’t expect the melt down that was happening inside. ‘He HATES me! No reaction whatsoever when I called him Tai!!??! I even said it in a dumb cutesy voice!!?!! C R I N G E!!!’

Looking as you crossed the street, you sighed out loud internal thoughts running wild, ‘I’ll just crawl into a hole and die… no! I’ll make him love me damnit! Okay well I can’t MAKE him but you understand my point…’

Clicking the door open on the shop you stepped inside, you were definitely not the only one who thought of gyudon for dinner. Families and college students flooded the place. Someone called out to you saying they’d be right there. You nodded with a smile and a thumbs up letting them do their work.

You shot Taishiro a text, ‘going to be a while I guess I’m not the only one who thought of gyudon tonight!! Σ੧(❛□❛✿)’

You slipped your phone into your pocket as the owner granny walked up to you. She was a sweet but stubborn old woman who had grown accustomed to scolding you for dumb trick shots or anything equally stupid. Speaking of which she hit a knuckle to your head, “that’s for that dumb leap of faith you did off that apartment building! Even if Fatgum did catch you!”

You held your head, “I’m sorry granny. I won’t do it again.”

“Now how many? Just you or are you picking up for fatty as well,” she tapped on the register.

“One for me, one for Fatgum,” you smiled at her.

She glanced at you, “you and that boy dating yet? Cause I’ve got a grandson who would be perfect for you.”

“All quiet on the western front granny,” you looked at the ground, “I don’t know.. maybe he’s just not into me?”

She laughed, loudly. Making you jump at the suddenness, “I’m having a crisis what’s so funny about that!?”

“That boy? Not like you? You’re crazy! I think if you asked him too he would pull the moon from the sky for you,” she continued to laugh.

As your face grew hotter and hotter from the embarrassment you stared at her like a deer in the headlights, “What!?! I’d never! What..?”

“That boy is head over heels! I’ve seen it! Buying you flowers and things like that! What’s he gotta do? Spell it out?” she smiled as a waitress came over with two to go bags. You paid for the food and were practically pushed out the door by granny.

As you walked back the sun setting behind you. You thought about every little thing Fatgum had done for you. Flowers, drink orders memorized, door opened for you, rinse and repeat. Your brain nearly imploded as the pieces fell into place.

‘He— I— He definitely likes me!!?!?? I’m just a dumbass!!’ You thought to yourself. Scrambling to Fatgums office again, you swung open the door loudly, Fatgum jumped, and you immediately shrunk, “sorry I definitely put too much strength behind that”

“It’s alright, how was granny? Energetic as always?” He looked at the bags as you placed them down.

“She scolded me for the jump I did the other day,” you held the spot where she had gotten you earlier.

Fatgum chuckled a bit, pulling the bowls out from the bags. Glancing around in the bag he realized that there was no utensils, “I’ll got to the break room to get some utensils, do ya’ want a water?”

You only nodded quietly, playing with the hem of your shirt. He glanced at you squatting in front of you, “ya’ okay (y/n)?”

He reached up to touch your face, you could feel your face heating up as he touched your skin gently, “ya’ feel kinda hot. Are ya’ feelin’ okay?” Suddenly touching your forehead to take your temperature. “I think it’s just the hot weather,” you glanced to the side.

The space in between the two of you got smaller and smaller as he checked on you. Before he leaned back, “I’ll grab ya’ a cooling pack as well.”

You nodded, watching slyly as he walked out the door. As the door clicked shut you fanned your face with your hand, you closed your eye ‘I’m acting like a lovesick high schooler. Calm down!!’

You moved the plastic bowls to the couch and small table that Fatgum had in his office. Also placing the napkins they had out in the bag on the table. You glanced at the door again not really sure how to act.

You sighed sitting on the couch pulling your phone out and scrolling on the internet. Checking your hero social media account as you wondered. Fans sending messages, fanart, and other trinkets. As you reposted art and cosplays you smiled lightly. Then you came across a fan art, Fatgum was leaning his forehead to yours, blushing as they locked eyes, with Fatgum asking “can I kiss you?”

While you looked at it you didn’t even hear Fatgum walk back in, “okay I found a cooling pad..?”

You flinched tucking your phone away, “thanks Tai!”

You glanced at him smiling trying to hide the heat radiating off your face. Then the unexpected happened, he leaned close, pulling his mask and hood off. His hands boxed you in on either side, then his forehead touched yours, “You still feel hot, are you sure you’re feeling okay? Maybe I should’ve walked with you earlier.”

You tried to remain calm as his breath hit your face and lips. You locked eyes with him as he looked at your face. You stuttered out, “Tai, your uh— you’re really close.”

Taishiro then realized what he was really doing. He leaned back quickly, “sorry! I didn’t even realize!”

You nodded lightly, “it’s okay.” Holding your face trying to cool down again. You glanced over to Taishiro who held up the cooling pad sitting next to you. Placing it on your forehead and starting to eat. You both ate in a silence.

When you were done you both walked to the front door of the building. Fatgum looked at you, “can I walk you home?”

You nodded looking up at him with a smile, “I’d like that.”

As the days of passed Taishiro and you seemed to play this game of chicken. Each time the stakes rose just that little bit more. It all came to a head when Fatgum, you, and a few other heroes participated in a park clean up in Tokyo.

Your agencies seemed it would be good press for you both Osaka heroes helping out your Tokyo neighbors. After the little speech at the beginning of the work, people broke off into teams and started the work. You smiled as you and Fatgum made jokes about anything and everything. When the break came around Taishiro said he was going to get some waters and a snack for the both of you. As you waited on a bench another hero came around, he was all smiles and flirts with you.

You didn’t want to seem rude so you just kinda nodded along as your little nervous tap of your foot started. You really wanted to tell him you weren’t interested but once again you didn’t want to make him feel bad for shooting his shot. Especially since he was being respectful to you.

As he talked you glanced over to where Fatgum had disappeared to. Nada.

Till a shadow came over you. Fatgum leaned over your shoulder, placing a kiss on your temple, “Here’s your water darlin’. Sorry for taking so long.” He glanced at the other hero a strained smile on his lips, “oh I’m sorry I didn’t see ya’ there!”

The other hero glanced up to him, “all good Fatgum. Didn’t realize you were uh a thing. Sorry about bothering you (hero/name).”

You just nodded a heat coming for your face once again. Sipping on the water that Fatgum had handed to you. You glanced up at him as he took the spot next to you and placing his arm around your back, “What was that about Gummy?”

He glanced down at you finishing his sip of water, “Nothing really. Just keepin’ my favorite hero outta trouble with the tabloids.”

You laughed a bit, “well I appreciate it Tai.”

He blushed once again, “it’s no problem.”

Once the clean up was done, you changed into a civilian outfit, stepping out of your hotel room again only to find Taishiro at your door. He was wearing his civilian clothes as well with a shy smile on his face, “I was wondering if you wanted to go on a date tonight (y/n)?”

You smiled, “I’d love that Taishiro.”

His smile softened, “I know I’m suppose’ to ask this at the end of the date but can I kiss ya’?”

You stepped closer “mhm, I wouldn’t mind that at all.”

His hand held the small of your back as he pulled in to you, leaning down for a kiss. It was soft and sweet. It felt perfect like a dam of emotions from both parties finally exploded.

When he broke off the kiss he rested his forehead on yours, “even better than I had thought it would be.”

You slapped his chest playfully as a warmth on your face softly took its place, “oh hush.”

His hand didn’t leave your back as you walked out, “so what were you thinking of doing Tai?”

“Eating and then going to do something like go to the aquarium or zoo? We’ve got a good chunk of daytime left.” He smiled as he guided you.

~~~