“You’re going to be fine,” Junpei says, sounding certain. You can do no wrong in his eyes. “It was self-defense.”

Even if it hadn’t been, he would’ve been spinning the story to make it seem like it was. So what if you attacked some reporter? Maybe they shouldn’t have put their hands on you first. His face twitches at the memory. Despite how empty his expression appears, Junpei hates anyone coming near you: fans, reporters, paparazzi, friends. Of course, he’s never said anything about how badly it pisses him off.

Telling you he’s jealous would do nothing. No, he needs to make you realize he’s the only one you can depend on. Junpei saved you back in middle school from that bully. He defended you when you were mocked for being Enhanced. He beat someone with a textbook for insulting you. He pushed you to become a hero.

No one else but him. And now he’s the one saving you from a scandal that can ruin your career. You’ve been a hero for five years, with Junpei as your manager making sure your image stayed positive.

“Are you hurt?” he asks after a moment. His blank gaze remains on you, unblinking. Usually he doesn’t speak much, even around you. He’s more than happy to remain as your shadow, keep you under watch, but he needs to know.

There’s a familiar itch at his fingers. He remembers how good it’d felt when he lifted that textbook and slammed it into your classmate’s head. Junpei will do anything for you.

You don’t need to ask.

As middle schoolers, he used to follow you around quietly. You were the only Enhanced at the school. He’d been instantly enamored. Nobody liked him either. Too quiet, too off-putting. He related to you.

Well into adulthood your dynamic remains the same. Junpei had convinced you to become a hero and sign under New Vision. Deus City only has two agencies, and he needed to pick one where dating wasn’t allowed. It discourages you from being with anyone but him.

He doesn’t consider the two of you dating, it’s more than that. You’re more than a partner, you’re his life.