The chlorine smell of VA headquarters still clung to my skin, a ghostly reminder of the pool games with Avis and Simon. Avis, with her chaotic elemental energy, and Simon, the stoic leader of Star, always managed to ground me, even if it was just for a fleeting hour. But the playful banter couldn't drown out the echo of Dabi's words: Shoto had told him that Momo told everyone that 'we were on a break.' A break? I'd been gone for a few weeks, swallowed whole by the demands from hero work previously a while ago.
I landed on my penthouse balcony with a soft thud, the city lights blurring beneath me. Inside, the sterile perfection of the apartment felt suffocating. Dabi's words had been like a punch to the gut. It had been a long day, a long week, and now this. After a quick shower, I stood in the kitchen, the scent of brewing coffee barely penetrating the haze of my thoughts. 7:00 AM. Saturday. Thank fuck for small mercies. I needed answers, and I needed them now. My Superman side wanted to bulldoze through Momo's window and demand an explanation. But Dark Phantom, the vigilante, knew better. Stealth was key.
The flight to Yaoyorozu's mansion was a blur. The sprawling estate always felt too formal, too…perfect. I slipped in through her window, my senses on high alert. She was at her desk, bathed in the soft glow of a lamp, scribbling furiously. Notes, probably. Or maybe…a goodbye letter?
"Momo…we need to talk."
She spun around, startled. "Oh, hey babe! What's up!" The grin felt…forced.
My jaw tightened. "Did you tell Shoto and everyone else that we were on a break?"
Her smile vanished. The silence hung heavy in the air, confirmation enough. A knot formed in my stomach. "Why?"
She avoided my gaze, her fingers twisting a stray strand of her black hair. "Anos, it's complicated. You left without a word. No calls, no texts for weeks."
"I know, I know, but you know the situation. The missions came first, I needed to lay low and finish the missions before pro heros get involved. " I mumbled, frustration lacing my voice. "You know I had no control over it."
"I get it. I do. But…I need something more, Anos. You're gone too much. You're always moving. I need stability."
Each word was a tiny pinprick. "I get it, and I'm so, so sorry, Momo. I promise to do better."
She offered a weak smile. "Thanks."
I left, the word echoing in my head. Stability? Could I even offer that? My life was a tangled web of secret identities, dangerous missions, and the constant threat of exposure. Could I truly balance Dark Phantom with being a reliable boyfriend?
The sky was lightening as I flew back to my place. The city was waking up, oblivious to the turmoil raging inside me. I knew I had messed up. I knew I needed to change. But how? And where do I even start?