Rain watches nervously as Tess stares off into space, her brow furrowed in thought.
Ronin has just finished explaining most of her tragic backstory...her parents' deaths, her caretakers' deaths, and how she's now being hunted by at least one of the major clans, all for unknown reasons. She also shared her suspicion that at least some of the Legacies at the Academy may be targeting her.
Tess returns her attention to Rain, a concerned look in her eye.
"So, the thing that triggered you during your match with that Legacy..."
Rain's lips press into a thin line.
"He basically admitted he intends to murder Ronin in Asphodel if given the chance."
Tess's expression turns grim, but her eyes become conflicted as she watches him carefully for several moments.
"And you wanted to...protect her?"
His demeanor becomes nervous...hesitant, and he sees Ronin glance at him curiously.
"Not...exactly. I don't want to see her hurt, but I doubt that guy stood any chance against her one-on-one."
Tess's expression becomes puzzled.
"What then?"
Rain bites his lip nervously.
'I mean...if she's going to have a problem with this side of me, better to find out now, I guess.'
Steeling his resolve, he looks back at her evenly.
"It's just hate, Tess...plain and simple. I know what being alone is like, and now I know what having people I care about is like, too. What if I lost you? What if I lost everyone, until I was alone again? What if I knew who'd taken you from me, but not why, and what if I'd been absolutely powerless to stop it? When I consider those questions...I can't ignore how I feel.
"They took her dad, then her mom, then every one of the people that cared for her. And after all that, they can't even let her live her own life in peace. Instead, they send assassins to hunt her like an animal. What the hell did some teenage girl ever do to deserve that?
"I hate that someone can have something so precious taken from them so completely. I hate the people that would orchestrate it. And I especially hate the mere idea of something so...stifling...existing somewhere out there, free to control lives with impunity. I just...hate it all, Tess...with every fiber of my being.
"More than anything, I want to see those oppressive bastards' expectations ruined spectacularly. That's the honest truth...the real reason why I'm involving myself. Not due to my moral compass or my friendship with Ronin, and not for justice or for the sake of humanity, but because I'm hateful and petty and the whole situation disgusts me."
As Rain finishes his rant, a trace of anger starts to invade his voice. Unbeknownst to him, his irises swirl into pits of darkness as hints of the aura he released during his match become detectable to Ronin and Tess, causing them to tense. A few seconds after finishing his rant, though, his state returns to normal.
Tess watches him with concern in her eyes, remaining silent for several moments before responding.
"I'm...not sure what to say, Rain. I'm no well of good intentions myself, but...what about what you told me at the movie theater? About how nice it sounds to settle down and just enjoy your life after the Crucible. How is this going to get you closer to that dream? Putting yourself on the opposite side of Titans isn't going to be safe or enjoyable, Rain."
Rains eyes widen.
'She remembers that?'
After a short silence, he shrugs dejectedly, and directs an apologetic gaze at Tess.
"That was true...and it still is. I want nothing more than to just live my life happily, on my own terms. At the same time, I feel this way about Ronin's situation. I don't know how to make that make sense to you...it just is. I can't live that dream carefree while I know these people are out there...getting their way, willing and able to rot away at the essence of what makes life worth living. But I know that's news to you, so if this changes things...for us...I'll understand."
Rain stares off anxiously, unable to face Tess, and the room descends into silence. When he eventually gathers the courage to meet her gaze, he sees her expression twisted in a scowl, her eyes glinting with a very familiar intensity.
"Rain...so help me...if you suggest that I might abandon you one more time, I'm going to strangle you in your sleep, dumbass."
Rain stutters, and Tess cuts him off with a wave of her hand, her expression still annoyed.
"I don't want to hear it, Rain...whatever it is. I'm sure you feel guilty, or you want to apologize, or you're going to say something about how that's not exactly what you meant, but I don't care about any of that. Because if you think this changes things for me, you haven't been listening, and that kind of pisses me off.
"So, if you don't want me to strangle you, I suggest that the next words out of your mouth be something a little more endearing. Ask me to help you. Tell me how much you appreciate me, and need me by your side. Reassure me that this doesn't change things between us for you. That's what I want to hear right now...not whatever you were planning to say."
Nearby, a quiet Ronin is awkwardly watching the exchange play out with a shocked but curious expression. Meanwhile, Rain's mouth snaps shut, and he stares at the serious-faced Tess in silence for several moments, his thoughts in disarray.
He dropped a massive complication on her, and the only thing making her angry is that he's not assuming she'll support it. It's...not what he expected. He can't grasp why all she wants is for him to beg her to get more involved with the mess he's in. And yet...he feels an indescribable warmth flooding through him as he considers her words.
Confusing or not, all the things she wants to hear from him are how he really feels, and what he'd selfishly like to ask. At the same time, now that she's asked to hear them...the words just don't feel like enough. So, he'll just have to do better...
Rain grins unreservedly at Tess.
"Tess, I really do need your help, so...can I count on you?"
She blinks repeatedly, her previously serious face becoming flustered as she directs an indignant look at him.
"Aren't you skipping over a few things, Rain!?"
He chuckles and rubs the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Well, everything else you asked about is true, too, but...now you've made it kind of awkward for me to tell you those things. So instead...since we're both out of the tournament now...how about I make good on that promise I made to you...like, today? Would, uhm...that express something similar?"
Her eyes widen in surprise, and after a few seconds, a small smile finds its way to her lips as she studies him.
"Sure, dumbass, that'll do...for now."
Rain grins happily, but Tess is already turning to face Ronin, her expression growing more serious. To his and Ronin's surprise, she extends her hand towards Ronin nervously.
"Well then, Ronin...I guess you can consider me your ally, too. I'm, uh...sorry for lumping you in with all the other Legacies before now. I didn't realize...you know..."
Ronin glances at her hand, uncharacteristically bewildered.
"Err, that's okay...I am also sorry for...'you know'..."
The Legacy awkwardly clasps Tess's hand and shakes it, then quickly releases. Tess, seeming uncomfortable, nods at Ronin then clears her throat and looks back at Rain.
"Ehem...great...so, uh...what now?"
He blinks repeatedly, glancing between Ronin and Tess.
"I mean...business as usual until the Crucible, then survive, and we can worry about everything else afterwards. Yeah?"
Tess rolls her eyes at the flippant response, but Ronin just nods and rises from the floor. Then, Ronin turns to Rain and extends her hand.
"I agree. Rain, it sounds like you will be...busy...the rest of the evening, so we can forego our normal meeting tonight. Tess, thank you for your support...even if it's not for me directly. I'm going to depart for the night now, but...I'm glad we all talked."
Rain eyes her hand for a moment in confusion, before realizing that she's wanting him to subtly suppress her Quirk before she goes. He gives a polite smile and shakes her hand briefly.
"Understood...thanks again for today, Ronin. Have a good night."
Tess watches the exchange with raised eyebrows. However, she musters a small smile and a wave for Ronin as well.
"See you around, Ronin."
With that, Ronin nods at Tess as well, then turns and exits the room without another word, leaving him and Tess alone.
He turns to Tess with a breezy smile.
"So...any plans this evening?"
Her lips slowly twist into a mischievous smile as her eyes study him.
"Why yes...my boyfriend will be spending the entire rest of the day with me. We have big plans...he'll be baring his soul to me, and whatnot."
Rain chuckles nervously.
'Ah, right...my promise. I guess there's no time like the present...'
He takes a deep breath and nods at her seriously.
"Alright...you ready to do this?"
Tess's expression becomes bewildered, then she shakes her head emphatically.
"Absolutely not. As excited as I am to to go soul diving together, two things take priority."
His face twists in confusion.
"Uhm...and those would be?"
Her face becomes serious.
"First, we have some dinner together...I'm starving."
He blinks repeatedly, then a small smile makes its way to his face.
"Makes sense...what's the second thing?"
Tess smirks at him in silence for a few moments. Then, before he can react, he's knocked to the ground as she falls on top of him, her eyes glinting affectionately.
"Guess..."
However, before he can voice a guess of any kind, she presses her lips against his firmly, pulling their bodies tightly together as well. Then, he feels heat rush through him, and any other coherent thoughts evaporate from his mind.
*****
Almost two hours later, Rain and Tess have been fed and...entertained. To avoid any potential spectacles around Rain, Tess brought food for both of them from the cafeteria and they ate in her room. After that, Tess opted to change out of her training pants and into more comfortable cloth shorts. Now, they've moved to his room, and they're both sitting on his bed.
He gives Tess a concerned look.
"Okay...you sure you want to do this? You could just tell me what your Quirk is, you know?"
Tess shakes her head, sitting up a bit straighter on the bed with resolve in her eyes.
"Definitely not...I want to bring you into my Soul Temple, just like Bright did. So, uhm...how do I do it?"
Rain bites his lip nervously.
'I was worried she was going to say that...'
Sighing internally, he just nods at Tess and tries to steel himself for the task ahead.
"Okay, suit yourself. In that case, you'll need to alter the flow of your Ichor to pass through my Mark before concentrating it around your own. Uhm...essentially...we'll need to put our left hands on each others Marks at the same time, so you have a path between us to do that."
Rain can't help but glance away in embarrassment, feeling a bit of heat come to his face. Even though Tess is his girlfriend now, and they've since shared many steamy moments , he's still been relatively respectful in that regard, even when Unhinged is triggered. So, this will definitely be the most...handsy...he's gotten with her.
He glances back to her nervously, and is surprised to see a very serious look on her face, suspicion written all over it.
"You sure you're not making this up just so you can cop a feel?"
Tess's voice is skeptical, and her eyes seem to study him intently. Rain immediately feels heat rush to his face, and he stammers indignantly.
"O-of course not! You have to do it this way, I swear! You're pulling my soul into yours with your Ichor, so it has to pass through my Mark! I'm not some lech!"
Her expression seems to slip, then she raises her hand to cover her mouth, chuckling uncontrollably for several moments. Eventually, she gives him an amused smile.
"I'm just teasing, relax...I believe you, Rain. Put your hand where you need to...I don't mind."
Rain slouches over a bit as he lets out an exasperated sigh, then he cuts her an admonishing glare.
'She's going to kill me if she keeps it up with these stunts...'
Taking a steadying breath, he shakes his head at her disapprovingly and reaches his hand towards her chest, noting her amused expression as he does. A few inches away, he stops and looks expectantly at her, glancing at her tank-top. It's rather tight, and mostly obscures her Mark.
"Tess, I...uh...need to touch your skin directly with mine over your Mark. You'll need to, uhm...adjust...your shirt there. Please..."
Her eyes widen in surprise as she glances down at her chest, studying it for a moment. Then, her lips twist into a small smirk, and she looks back at him with a mischievous gleam in her eyes.
"Oh...my bad. Here..."
Tess nonchalantly reaches to grab her shirt...and pulls it off over her head in one clean motion. As she unceremoniously tosses the shirt aside, her wavy, light brown hair spilling back over her bare shoulders, a black bra is exposed on her caramel-colored skin. Her green eyes study him intently as her lips twist into a smug smile.
"Got a good enough view of it now?"
Rain feels his mouth go completely dry, unable to tear his gaze away from her body, or to think straight.
"I...y-...that's..."
After several moments of stuttering, Tess smirks at him, her tone becoming openly teasing.
"What was that? Did you say the bra is in the way, too?"
He feels his mind snap back to reality, like his head was just plunged into ice water, and his eyes widen frantically as he becomes quite flustered.
"No! No, I said no such thing! I can see your Mark perfectly!"
She chuckles, her eyes studying him approvingly.
"Good. Now, I'm having trouble seeing your Mark with that shirt on, too, so...hop to it."
Rain blinks repeatedly, then he feels more heat rush to his face.
"I...uhm...yes, sorry..."
He reluctantly pulls his shirt over his head and sets it aside. When he turns back to Tess, he sees her eyes scanning over him intensely. Catching his gaze, she smiles approvingly.
"Perfect. Now then..."
She leans over towards him on the bed and places her left palm onto his Mark, and he feels a fresh wave of heat radiate through his body. Then, before he can recover, he feels her grab his other hand and swiftly press it against her chest, the soft sensation almost causing him to squeal.
'Gods, is she trying to give me a heart attack!?'
He glances at her frantically, expecting another one of her sadistic smiles, but he's surprised to find that her eyes are already closed and her face is full of quiet focus. Then, he feels a surge of heat through his Mark, and...
His vision goes black.