Third person pov

Kit had so far been with Tenya's family an entire week. He kept his phone off and refused to talk about his mother, though he had begrudgingly confirmed verbally that it was her who'd done it. He also alluded to the fact that it hadn't been the first time on many occasions, though seemed to shut down anything Tenya or Tensei tried to push it. Yumi and Tadao Iida were both becoming increasingly more concerned about him. Kit was practically a part of the family, after all. They didn't mind him staying here, but they were worried because of the bandages and the fact that he clearly had yet to go home.

"Gay or European, it's hard to guarantee! Is he gay or European?" Kit sung with enthusiasm before dropping his voice, "Well hey, don't look at me!"

Tenya watched this all with a smile that seemed deliriously happy. He kept his head propped up on his hand as he watched Kit recite the lyrics along with the musical with a spark in his eyes. He was healing up nicely, and though he'd been down the first few days after getting back, he seemed to have returned to his old self in no time at all. Just as Tenya had assumed, he'd bounced right on back. The Iida teen just hated that he had to bounce back in the first place. It... he shouldn't have had to. He never should have been hurt in the first place.

Kit was amazing. This has been established far too many times. Tenya just... didn't know what to do. He was young and in love. Apparently, that was a common thing, and many of the websites he went to claimed his feelings were either false or wouldn't last. The blue-haired boy couldn't really believe it. It wasn't instant or just a crush. First, he and Kit had been friends. Now, they were best friends, and then next maybe they could be-

There was a small knock on the door, causing both teens to turn to one another before they looked to the door. It was only a moment before Tensei was hesitantly poking his head in, smiling in a way that was both sheepish and uneasy. Kit and Tenya felt a sense of deja vu wash over them, and they shared a glance again. While Tensei hadn't pushed the issue of Kit seeing the doctor again, he'd hinted at it enough times that the pair of friends knew he was severely stressing over it.

"Hey, you two." Tensei greeted tiredly, nodding at them. While he wasn't in his armor, he still had on the rest of his hero costume that normally sat beneath it. That was another thing that felt relatively concerning. "I've got some bad news."

"Is everything alright?" Tenya frowned. Kit leaned back, silent and suspicious. He didn't like the look the older Iida was giving him right now. It wasn't one of pity or sympathy. No... Tensei looked almost angry. Not at Kit. The brunette could tell that much. But there was simmering there beneath the surface, shadowing his eyes as he smiled at them in a tight manner. His expression was steely. Tenya shifted uncomfortably at it. 

"I'm going to need Kit to come with me to the police station." Tensei said. Kit froze, and Tenya felt his shoulders bunch up uncomfortably, eyes narrowing considerably. Had someone reported Kit missing? He knew the red-eyed boy had refused to turn his phone on, tempted to smash it, but refraining when Tenya told him they'd eventually need to use them to communicate again anyway. Especially when school started again. Begrudgingly, Kit agreed to keep the mobile device. It sat in the bottom of one of Tenya's desk drawers now, out of sight and mostly out of mind.

"Is this about the ball peen hammer incident? I apologized for that." Kit pointed out. Tensei's stiff posture faltered, brows furrowing and mask cracking just long enough for confusion to seep through. Even Tenya raised an eyebrow. Kit looked between them contemplatively, trying to deduce where to go. Pursing his lips, he said carefully, "You know what? Never mind. Ignore that."

"...We'll be talking about this later." Tenya said. Kit averted his gaze and let out an innocent whistle, leaning away from the taller teen slightly.

"It's not about... that." Tensei's nose scrunched up just slightly. He wasn't sure he wanted the details of whatever Kit was referring to. "It's about your mother, Kit."

The two brothers both watched Kit pause. His hands curled into fists, and his head lowered slightly, jaw locking into place. Tenya would have reached over and tried to reassure him if he weren't so sure Kit would try to dislocate his arm. Though it didn't happen often, Tenya had learned that there were times when you simply didn't touch Kit. Tenya had almost gotten his wrist snapped once, and that's when it had clicked for him. It was pertaining to something mental. Maybe Kit was reliving something long since passed, or maybe he was just lost in his own head. Tenya wasn't going to pry. If Kit wanted to tell him, the brunette would.

"...We've had this conversation." Kit finally grit out. "I'm not going to the police. I'm not going back to that hell hole, or that fucking bitch." 

"Oh, you're definitely not going back there, Kit. That's not why you need to come down." Tensei seemed to darken considerably. "Your mother just came in and confessed to your murder." 

Silence fell over the room in a heavy blanket, accompanied by shock. Tenya's head snapped in Kit's direction so fast the taller teen nearly got whiplash. Kit was too busy gaping at Tensei as he processed to even reciprocate the wide-eyed look. His mother had just turned herself in... for his murder? Now that just didn't make sense considering he was fit as a fiddle. While Kit had definitely bled a shit ton from his head wound, he hadn't realized his mother might think it enough to kill him.

"...Oh." Kit finally said. "Why didn't anyone tell me I was dead?"

"Kit." Tenya hissed. Tensei cracked a smile that was more genuine, sagging slightly with relief. It was good to see Kit didn't seem particularly upset or angry at that. Tensei had thought maybe it would mess him up a little to know his mother truly thought she'd killed him. The realization was sickening to both the Iida brothers, but Kit didn't look at all phased as he stood up, bending backwards to crack his back. Tenya averted his gaze from Kit's behind, cheeks flushing slightly. Tensei tried not to snort.

"Yeah, yeah, not the time for jokes. I copy, sergeant." Kit sighed heavily. "Well, let's get a move on. This emotional roller coaster isn't going to roll without any passengers." 

"Are you sure you're okay?" Tenya hopped to his feet, concern bubbling to the surface as Kit moved to hunt down his shoes. They were in here somewhere. Going to the police station in a giant hoodie and hot pink shorts wasn't ideal, but fuck it. That bitch thought she killed him, so he was sure as shit going to show up with his middle fingers raised and no fucks given. And because he was nasty and didn't give a shit, he was going to wear one normal sock, and one knee sock. Like a motherfucker.

"Peachy." Kit decided as he pulled on his single normal sock. Rebellion. "I'm surprised the bitch threw herself under the bus. Guess she is still capable of guilt." Kit pulled on his shoes harshly, chest stinging. His mom was an asshole. An abusive asshole who didn't deserve to be a mother to anyone, not even him, even if he was a miniature shit bag. But he still had some good memories of her, and he couldn't seem to bring himself to completely resent her no matter what he or she did.

"I'll come with you." Tenya rationalized, nodding more to himself than to Kit. "Yes, I'll accompany you to the st- gah!"

"Oh, shit, I was supposed to say 'think fast' before I threw that. My bad." Kit grinned as Tenya fumbled with the shoe, cheeks flushing and face dropping into a scowl that really had no heat behind it. Tensei let out a chuckle, letting the weight of his stress ease off slightly. Kit was a strong kid. The brunette didn't want to see his mother, but he was throwing caution to the wind and agreeing outright anyway. It was mature of him not to refuse. Tensei respected that.

Tenya scurried to get ready as Kit finished tying his shoes with a click of his tongue. The short boy was frowning, but ready to go anyway. The sooner he got this over with, the better. Fuck, they had to confirm he wasn't dead, and he'd probably have to give some sort of statement. His mother had turned herself in, so she'd probably lose custody. That meant she couldn't slap him in foster care while she did her thing and tried to 'recover.' If anything, he'd be going to his mother's sister, his aunt.

He didn't want to leave Tenya, but he knew he couldn't stay here forever. It just wasn't plausible. There were things he needed a guardian for, and he knew his aunt wouldn't mind him continuing to go to Somei. She may even let him stay here with Tenya during the week, but it was hard to say considering how long it had been since he last saw her. There was no telling whether or not she'd changed.

"Apparently she's in hysterics and won't calm down. She thinks your body is lying in an alley somewhere and that it's all her fault." Tensei frowned as Kit waltzed out the door, Tenya following like a lost puppy. The boy looked up at his older brother nervously. Both didn't really like how nonchalant Kit was being with all this. Was he in shock? Would something trigger him? Tenya wasn't sure what he'd do if he had to see Kit cry again...

"Well if I was in a damn alley somewhere, it would be." Kit griped irritably, fingers briefly ghosting over the bandaged wound on his head before he was scowling again. Tenya put a hand on his shoulder, frowning down at him. All Kit did in response was glance up at him with those alluring red eyes of his, doing nothing else save for offering a stressed huff and crossing his arms impatiently over his chest.

"Let's head out. I don't know what her quirk is, but..." Tensei trailed off, glancing at Kit. The boy huffed.

"Her quirk is that she has nice ass skin and, I know this shit is weird, incredibly healthy hair. It's why she was a model, and how she met my dad." Kit sighed. Tenya had never heard him talk about his family before. "They got married and had my sorry ass, and I was pulled into the industry too. Especially because of my skin. It's pretty fucking rare in Japan to find anyone of Latino descent."

"You're Latino?" Tenya asked, surprised. Kit raised an eyebrow.

"Hell yeah I am. My dad was a Latino, hence where I got the skin tone and hair. Bone structure's more like his too. I think some of the only things I got from my accursed mother was her damn height and her eyes. Temper's from her side, too, but that's obvious." Kit said thoughtfully as they exited the house. Tenya nodded, enraptured in the telling of Kit's past and where he came from, even if the temper part did make him twinge. Tenya was all Japanese from what he knew. He'd had no idea Kit's skin was naturally darkened like it was. He'd just thought he was outside enough to constantly have a tan.

"Do you know any Spanish?" Tensei asked curiously. It wasn't a common language in Japan. Here, English was the secondary language they saw the most, barring Korean and Chinese of course. 

"Some. My mom never wanted me to speak it. Reminded her too much of my dad, I guess." Kit shrugged as though it didn't matter. It did. Tenya frowned more and looked down as they walked along. Kit hadn't grown up in the Hero Industry like he had, but rather the modeling one. In another life, perhaps their childhoods wouldn't have been so vastly different. Both were raised surrounded by business. Kit's parents had apparently been loving once, and they had money to spare from what Kit implied. 

"It's still pretty cool that you're of foreign descent." Tensei grinned. "So you grew up in the modeling industry... are you in any magazines?"

Kit looked like he was in physical pain.

"Wait, you are!? Why did you tell me?!" Tenya looked scandalized as they made their way to the police station. It wasn't all that far from the Iida household. Kit tried to keep his mind off the fact that his mom was there. The fact that his own mother thought she'd killed her son. Her remorse was appreciated, but she shouldn't have had to think such a thing at all. He never should have bled. He never should have been hurt. None of this ever should have happened... and yet here they were.

"I knew you'd go out and buy as many as you could get your grubby hands on, that's why!" Kit swatted his arm. Tensei raised an eyebrow. That was interesting...

"There are ones on the shelves?" The older man asked, and Kit looked horrified. "So if I walked into that gas station-"

"My shoes have shoelaces. Shoelaces can be used to choke people. I am in a bad mood." Kit smiled up at him, eyes flashing with warning and threat. "Would you like to continue?"

Tenya and Tensei both shook their heads, knowing full and well they'd be hunting down those magazines later. The short brunette gave them both a thumbs up, that eerily cheery smile remaining on his face. Tenya's eyes dropped to the boy's legs. He was a model... was that why his legs were always hairless? Had he had laser hair removal performed? Tenya wasn't complaining, of course. Those smooth, tan, toned-

"We're here." Tensei sighed, and Tenya blinked, looking at the doors leading into the station with pink cheeks. Kit sighed and rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck as though readying himself for a fist fight. It was mildly concerning to say the least. While watching Kit throw down was always terrifyingly amazing to watch, Tenya wasn't sure he wanted to watch the boy square up against his own mother.

Kit threw open the door and trudged inside like he owned the place. Immediately, the sound of a woman's stuttering sobs caught their attention, along with the many voices of officers trying to calm her down and explain what happened. All they knew was that she'd come in crying, saying she killed her son, Kittrick Suzuko. They also knew her name was Aika Suzuko, and that she was filthy rich and reasonably famous. A hot model who'd inherited one of the largest modeling agencies in Japan from her deceased husband. One that produced a lot of magazines and clothing lines, and such of that like.

"I'm alive, you bitch." Kit proclaimed boldly. His mother's head snapped up, red eyes wide and full of tears.

"K-Kittrick?" She stuttered out, voice cracking. Kit's gaze was cold and level. If he was nervous, he didn't show it as he folded his arms firmly over his chest. Tenya hesitantly came to stand next to him, as did Tensei. The older man watched the woman's reaction carefully as she gaped at her son, who clearly wasn't as dead as she thought he was. Again, Tensei felt his heart break a bit at that. Kit... must have looked pretty bad that night if she thought he was gone. Tensei had only seen the puddle of blood and Kit post-treatment.

"That's my name." Kit snarked, tone bordering on a snarl.

Tenya felt anger twist within himself in the ugliest way. It curled, hissing to be let out. The teen felt his hands curl into fists, the urge to strangle the woman before him overwhelming. He knew rage didn't help anything. Looking at Kit now, he wanted nothing more to capture him in a firm hug and never let go. If you looked closely, and if you knew Kit, you'd see the tears glimmering in his eyes. The subtle furrow of his sloped brows and the small crinkle of his nose. The way he was biting the inside of his cheek.

It was a bit of a blur after that, because hey, Kit apparently hadn't been murdered! Huge shocker. A real plot twist. Despite this, the fact remained that he'd still very clearly been beaten. The brunette seemed resigned, like he knew this was the end, and that his life was going to be uprooted. Why he'd never come to the police before was a mystery, but Kit refused to comment on it. Tenya could see, though. Kit still loved his mother. The woman had beat him black and blue and bloodied him enough that she thought he was dead, and yet he still loved her to an extent. Maybe he didn't like her, and maybe he could barely tolerate her, but that was still his mother. And he still held a certain amount of space for her in his heart, even if it was only a sliver.

Kit's aunt was being called, apparently. She lived in a different prefecture, but she was willingly dropping everything to come get him. Tenya had been suspicious. Aika Suzuko was this woman's sister, after all, so how much could she be trusted? But Kit seemed relieved that his aunt was coming. Tired, clearly wishing he was anywhere else but here, but relieved. Tenya flashed back to when Kit mentioned the foster care system briefly. Was that why? Was he afraid of not having a home? Tenya would have let him stay with him in a heartbeat.

Aika Suzuko was arrested. The woman seemed resigned too, as though she'd known this would eventually happen. The relief in her eyes made Tenya's temper flare all the more. What right did she have to look at her son like that? She'd done this to him, and it wasn't fair. It was never fair, and it pissed him off to no end. He just... he hated it. He hated her. Tenya just wanted Kit to be okay. But he wasn't. All through the questioning, there was a barely noticeable tremor in his shoulders. Even Tensei took note of it, glancing at him with clear concern every so often as they went through the process.

The sun had begun to set when Tenya and Kit stepped out of the station to get some air. Aika had gone into hysterics several times. Her state of mind wasn't anywhere near stable, and anyone could see that just by looking at her. Kit was subdued throughout the process. Sometimes his remarks would bite, and his language was naturally vulgar, but he just seemed so... exhausted. It was a side of Kit Tenya had only ever gotten a brief glimpse of. Seeing it now, so here and present, made his gut clench and his throat close up.

"This is a shit show." Kit sighed, breaking the silence. He and Tenya leaned up against the wall of the building, so close they could feel one another's heat as they gazed out at the street. Tenya glanced at him with a very small smile, feeling his temper dip slightly at the sight of Kit's tension-free expression. He still looked stressed, but not horribly so. He looked a bit more like himself, and maybe a little lighter. Like something reasonably heavy had been lifted off of him. Perhaps it had. 

"Yes, it has been quite... quite the day." Tenya wondered how they'd gone from watching musicals and jokingly bantering to this. "Are you alright?"

"I will be." Kit shrugged. He looked to Tenya with that same snarky grin the taller teen had grown to love. "Thanks for coming with me and shit. Probably not how you wanted to spend your afternoon, but... thanks."

"Of course! You're my best friend, Kit." Tenya stressed. Kit looked up at him with something unidentifiable shadowing his red eyes. Tenya felt his heart rate increase exceptionally as Kit stared at him, not saying a word. It was rather odd. For a moment, Tenya wondered what it would be like to dip down and plant his lips right on Kit's. The brunette's would probably be soft and smooth. Warm. And then Tenya could finally put his hands on the boy's small waist and hold him, and draw him closer. And Kit would wrap his arms around him in return, and-

"Right, right. Of course." Kit hummed out, tone implying he knew something Tenya didn't. "But really... you've been letting me crash at your house for the longest, and I've been eating all the shit in your pantry."

"Freezer too." Tenya said thoughtfully. Kit snorted.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I need to eat a damn salad. You've said." Kit waved a hand at him. Tenya grinned back.

"Maybe two salads." Tenya offered. Kit swatted at him with a laugh that made Tenya so giddy for a moment he wondered if he'd accidentally taken some sort of drug at some point. He'd never met someone who made him so terribly happy before. It was... astonishing, and addicting. The realization struck Tenya hard. He wasn't sure what he'd do without Kit. If Kit ever left... Tenya didn't know what he'd do. Where he'd go. How he'd go about his day. Now that he had Kit, he wasn't sure if there was a way he'd be able to happily live without him.

"Keep your sass to yourself." Kit said. Suddenly, he looked as though he'd remembered something. "Oh, shit, I've got to tell you something important."

Tenya blinked. "What is it?" He asked. It wasn't often that Kit really had... secrets, or anything like that to tell. He was pretty open. He'd proclaimed he was gay with no real issues, and certainly didn't have anxiety about the things he said or did. He wore whatever he wanted, said whatever he wanted, and generally did whatever he wanted. Kit waved him down fervently, glancing from side to side in a frantic way that left Tenya with no hesitation as he stooped closer. Tenya held his breath as Kit clapped his hands on his shoulders, looking Tenya in the eyes and offering a sly grin.

Tenya wondered if Kit could hear how fast his heart was beating. He'd been close to Kit before. There had been plenty of times when Tenya had woken up to find Kit curled up against him. And when Kit would wake up, both of them would just lay there. Sometimes they'd simply rest, and others they'd talk in quiet tones. This shouldn't have been a big deal... and yet it was, for some reason. Tenya felt like he was out of breath just from that single, small movement of leaning down.

"You know, that article you've been reading so often..." Kit breathed, his voice a purr as he drew closer. Tenya tensed, eyes going wide and heart skipping a beat. He could feel Kit's breath against his lips, smelling of orange and chocolate. Blue met red, and Tenya's entire body was set aflame in an instant, "it was pretty enlightening."

And then Kit's lips were on his, and just like that, nothing else mattered.

"Ten Signs You're Low-Key In Love With Your Best Friend"

1.) Physical contact

Even something as minor as bumping shoulders is enough to send your heart running. If any form of physical contact with your best friend sends your cardiac muscle into mayhem and caused even the butterflies in your stomach to go doki-doki, you might be in love with them. Does your face and body get hot? Do tingles race up your spine? Do you get random urges to just touch them and be closer to them in hopes of maybe you'll brush hands? Maybe you even stare at them and admire their body or face. Maybe their smile or the way their brow crinkles when they laugh. If you're experiencing literally any of what I just said, brace yourself. You've got the love bug, honey!

2.) You want to be with them all the time

They could move into your house and you'd be totally and completely happy. You want them by your side at all times if at all possible. If they're not in your line of sight, they're on your mind. How are they doing? Are they getting enough sleep? Are they talking to someone else? Oh god, should you text them?! You hope and pray they'll ask to hang out. You genuinely adore their presence. You bask in it. Handcuffing yourself to them doesn't actually sound like a half-bad idea when you really think about it. Check yourself. You're either in love or unhealthily obsessed.

3.) Attractive

You find them attractive, but hey, you'd think that about anyone attractive. It's not just them, you say! Hahahahah! Yeah, you're wrong. You catch yourself admiring them all the time, don't you? I bet your heart even picks up it pace anytime they show even just a little more skin. Yes, I'm calling you out. Get it in your head. You're totally in love, or at least a little bit. Just admit it. They're hot and you've noticed. Open your eyes and see the light! Smell those roses! Love is in the air!

4.) Jealousy

Oh my, what's this? Does your heart lurch painfully whenever you see them with someone else who isn't you? Maybe they're flirting with someone, or someone is flirting with them. Maybe they're on a date, or simply interacting with another friend. It doesn't matter. If your gut flips uncomfortably and you feel an odd amount of resentment towards the person they're interacting with, you're probably jealous. You just want them to be by your side, right? You want their attention on you and not whoever the hell they're talking to. Check yourself. If you're overly jealous, you may be in love.

5.) Oh no, thoughts

Are you having some inappropriate thoughts about your dearest, best friend? Maybe you find yourself staring at their lips and wondering what it'd be like to kiss them. Maybe you imagine holding them in a way friends don't hold one another! Hey, perhaps you've even had a dream or eight about what being with them sexually might be like. These are clear signs you're at least attracted to them. Are you in love? Depends on how many of these you're experiencing. Either way, you at least want in their pants, or you want them in yours. Reel in your urges and thoughts, kids. Nobody wants a sexual assault charge on their person.

6.) Their pain is your pain

If they're upset, you're upset. You get mad on their behalf! Sad! Happy! Excited! Anything you can think of. Their mood effects yours, doesn't it? I bet it does. Not like other, normal people's do. No, this person is special, aren't they? Them crying breaks your heart into a thousand tiny little pieces. But hey, when they smile, you probably feel like you're basking out in the sun with a martini. If your best friend's mood heavily impacts your own, to an extent that is quite frankly a little off, then you may be in loveeee. Oo la la!

7.) You would do anything for them

Everything is on the table. They need someone murdered? Yeah, I know. You're seriously considering it. Maybe they're in trouble! Maybe they're the one who hurt someone. You'd do anything to protect them though, wouldn't you? You'd let them hide out with you for as long as they needed. Any favors they need done, you're helpless to refuse! If you're seriously willing to do just about everything for this person, you need to explore the possibility that maybe you're in love. Especially if you've made it this far down the list.

8.) It's not a normal day if you haven't talked somehow

Maybe you texted, maybe you called. Hell, maybe you showed up on their front door out of the blue. Doesn't matter. If a day goes by and you don't hear a word from them, is it weird? Do you get uncomfortable tingles? Maybe you're just obsessed, or maybe you're in love. But if your days feels completely off and all out of sorts just because they didn't say good morning to you or ask how you were doing, something's amiss. Whether or not it's love depends on how many of these hit their mark.

9.) You trust them more than anyone

This one's a given! You trust this person more than you trust anyone in the whole, wide-ass world. Now, this could vary depending on what kind of person you may be in love with. They may be an untrustworthy asshole you've had the displeasure of falling for. However, if the friend you've fallen in love with is generally pretty normal and not a total bag of shit, then maybe you find yourself trusting them just a bit more than you would anyone else. Or hey, maybe you trust them way, way more than the rest of your friends, family, and other miscellaneous acquaintances. 

10.) Step

This is less of a sign and more of a step that you need to take. If over half these signs have slapped you upside the head, you should give this a whirl. I want you to do something. I want you to put an arm around their shoulders, or give them a hug. Maybe you kiss them, maybe you tell them how you feel, maybe you just fist bump. Maybe all you do is have a conversation. But do something, and really think about it. Really, really test. Focus on your reaction and what it means, and if you're in love, then... well, I'm glad. Because love's a pretty beautiful thing. It hurts sometimes, but it's pretty damn great too. 

Best of luck to anyone reading this. If you're in love, you're going to need it!