With the mountain of pressure being added to Rohan's shoulders with every step he takes on his new journey, he began to question if perhaps the solo path wasn't the best, and instead he should turn to companions for help.
However, such a search wouldn't be as simple as just asking any random person to be his sidekick in his efforts to fight the bad guys, as it had to be someone he could truly trust to be a solid support, both in being able to help tactically and also alleviate stress rather than add to it. It had to also be someone who could keep his secret, since he had already technically broken the law, using Exhuman abilities in public, even going as far to use them in a combat situation.
By this point, Rohan knew full well that he was eligible for capital punishment, and if he was exposed, he was very much dead.
In order to both protect the people around him from enemies he makes, secure a safe future for himself to live a normal life if necessary, and avoid the guillotine, he had to make sure to be incredibly cautious with his circle.
The thought stays in his mind throughout the week, as he knew he had to still go into the city again over the weekend, for he couldn't waste a week. However, he knew it wouldn't fare much better than the week before, as while he had already started working on new designs of more armored variants of the suit, it wouldn't remedy the fact that he was slipping alone.
He decided to spend the week more with his companions in an attempt to see if he could make any progress in his search for allies.
The supersun sets over the campus, with a beautiful blue sky creating a warm atmosphere to end the day. The day had been long and tedious, but now it was finally wrapping up, and the students of the Superversal Academy of Tomorrow were finally allowed to rest for the night.
Inside Erica's dorm, the sound of chatter among a soothing hum of fire originates from the living room, more specifically the mini kitchen built into it.
In the kitchen are both Rohan and Erica, who seem to be cooking food, as Erica was at the stove managing a pot while Rohan searches for ingredients in the refrigerator.
While it was a school night and was already getting rather late, Rohan wanted to spend some time with his girlfriend, since he felt compelled to spend more time with the people he had.
Erica wears her classic pajamas, once again being a white shirt and green shorts, staying comfortable in her own room.
Rohan instead wears his jacket over his presentable clothing, as he was still bouncing around earlier, and he also wanted to look presentable when returning back to his dorm.
Erica lightly giggles, and she says, "Roh, are you okay back there? I'm still waiting on the tomatoes."
Rohan swipes through the holographic inventory, his eyes reading the full screen in not even a full second before swiping again. He responds anxiously, "Uh...I can't find it...are you sure we have them?"
Erica thinks for a few moments, and then answers "I'm pretty sure I got more a couple of days ago. It should be there."
Rohan sighs, and while swiping, he admits, "I can't find it at all. I checked the vegetable section and it was nowhere, and I even checked the fruits section just to make sure; it's not there either."
Erica smiles, and shakes her head. She then stops what she's doing, and walks towards Rohan, her footsteps gentle as she peeks over at the screen.
Rohan seeks to find reason: "Maybe there's a glitch and not everything is showing. There could be some software update or something-."
Before Rohan can finish however, Erica pounces behind him, her left arm curled around him. She nudges her head against his, and extends her right arm next to Rohan's. She slips her fingers between Rohan's, and then drags it to the top left of the screen, where there seems to be a button labeled 'VEGETABLES G.'
The holographic screen then pops up a menu of more labels, such as 'FRUITS,' 'SNACKS,' and 'VEGETABLES.'
Erica presses yet holds on the 'VEGETABLES' button, and a few moments after she begins holding it down, another menu pops up beside it, with new labels such as 'VEGETABLES G,' 'VEGETABLES F,' and 'VEGETABLES J.'
Erica moves Rohan's hand over the button labeled 'VEGETABLES J,' and presses on it once, allowing a new inventory to appear, one with a select few types of vegetables. Among the inventory were pickles and tomatoes, with the latter being exactly what Rohan was searching for.
Erica giggles, confirming that it was indeed there, and she moves Rohan's hand to press on it twice in short succession.
A light hum mixed with what sounds like a laser comes from within the fridge for a few moments, and after silencing, a small door opens in the center of the fridge. A chamber reveals itself, and inside that chamber are two tomatoes.
Erica nudges Rohan's head with hers again, and says, "There, see, I told you we had it!"
She then turns to Rohan and kisses his cheek before slipping her fingers out of his hand, and letting go of him. She drops back on the floor, and steps towards the fridge before grabbing the two tomatoes.
She turns back and begins walking to the pot as Rohan stands speechless, staring at the fridge in confusion, as he was sure that there weren't any subcategories before.
Rohan's eyebrow raises, and he asks, "Wait, did you change the layout? I'm certain it wasn't that way before."
Erica places the two tomatoes on a board, and draws a large kitchen knife from a drawer under the table. She then begins slicing the tomatoes up, and answers: "I didn't even know you could do that until a couple days ago, and I thought I would take a page out of your book and organize better. I guess I can't help but be fascinated by your way of doing things so I wanted to give it a try. Do you like it?"
Rohan smiles, and he closes his eyes with a sigh of relief before answering, "I think it's cute."
Erica finishes cutting the tomatoes, and she says, "You say that for everything I do."
Right as Erica finishes her sentence, she feels arms wrap around her, as Rohan embraces her from behind. The arms cross over, holding her tightly to himself, causing Erica's cheeks to redden. He lays his chin on her head gently, looking down at the slices of tomatoes she had made.
He responds back, "That's because you are, so everything you follow suit."
Erica tries to hide her smile as her body fidgets in immense joy. She becomes the speechless one, looking down at the tomatoes, not knowing what to say.
Rohan moves his head forwards as he leans, turning to look at Erica's face from the side.
Erica turns her face to meet Rohan, completely flustered, her amber eyes wide and almost watery.
Rohan advances his face towards her, closes his eyes, and kisses her on the lips.
The two stay in their kisses and embrace for a few moments, as the only sound to combat the silence was the soft warming hum of the fire coming from the stove.
The mini kitchen was the only area of the living room that was lit up with a warm yellow light, while the rest of the room was kept in the darkness, the night slowly taking over.
Rohan takes his face off of Erica's, and opens his eyes. He stares at Erica's face, which is even more red, and her eyes are still wide open with surprise.
He chuckles lightly, and reinforces "As I said, cute."
Rohan loosens his embrace with Erica, and steps back from her. He then turns around and walks back towards the fridge, saying "How is the food going?"
Erica blinks twice, and she stutters "I-uh, everything is good here, yeah it should be done soon, don't worry-!"
Rohan walks back to the fridge to turn off the hologram, and he responds: "That's good, I'm hungry anyways."
Erica grabs a handful of the tomato slices, and holds it over the pot. On the top of the once closed pot, an opening forms, revealing a concoction over boiling water, which she adds to by dropping the tomato slices inside.
After she does, she takes a deep breath to calm herself, and asks, "So, when did you start getting so soft? I didn't expect you to be one to be the caressing type, usually you talk in code."
Rohan chuckles, and he answers, "I guess I was just feeling it today. Why? Do you not prefer it?"
Erica reddens again, and she refutes, "No no, I uh-, I'd like to get used to it. If uh...you're fine with...that…."
Rohan smiles, and he says, "You sound like how you were way back when we first met. Back when I only came here to help you with actual schoolwork. You know, I saw you on the first day when we got to campus, I actually think I felt something. I didn't want to look too deep into it at the time since I didn't know anyone's names but, I guess it all panned out pretty well. You're still exactly like how you were on that first day."
Erica smiles warmly, and she asks, "Wait, so that means you fell in love with me way before? I thought I was the one who caught feelings first."
Rohan answers, "Well, I usually don't like girls actually, I used to just focus on studies and gave no thought for relationships and that world. I hardly had friends, most of them were just acquaintances I saw as coworkers. I didn't really understand love besides raising a family, and I especially didn't understand romantic stories and why people would get into them. I don't know, maybe there's a reason why I became more inclined to help you with your work. It lets me spend more time with you."
Erica nods, and she says, "Well, I'm happy you did. I on the other hand envied romantic partners and wanted to experience that love, but I never really got it since, well, I wasn't ever anyone's top choice. There are girls who know how to use makeup better, girls who are just naturally prettier, girls with bigger features guys love, and girls who are actually competent. So when I felt something with you, I felt like it would've been wrong to just let the years go by without acting on it. I was a bit worried that you were already with someone since girls liked talking about you, but after I got to know you and your schedule more, I realized that you never gave yourself the time to be with anyone. I was scared that you wouldn't be able to give yourself time if we were together either...but I would've rather taken that chance."
Rohan lets out a soft sigh, and says, "Well, you were more outgoing than me, so you were the one to actually let this get anywhere. You were the one to make the advance, I was just there to help you with your clubwork. I only made the effort to be there for your academic life, but here we are now."
Erica giggles, and she says, "Well, I guess now we're in each other's lives, huh? And we'll only be closer together as time goes on. You know my current life, I know yours. And it's wishful thinking, but one day maybe we could even...I don't know...have a family, of course only when we'd be ready-."
Rohan hums to himself, and then says, "Well, I didn't think that far ahead, but I guess that would eventually be a step we'd take."
Erica nods, and she continues, "Twins would be nice. Then neither of them would ever be alone, and they'd always understand each other. I don't know if I'd want boys or girls though. Boys start off rough but get easier in time, and girls are the opposite."
Rohan chuckles lightly, and says, "Well now, we're still a ways away from needing to worry about that. We still have a life to live together before that, you know."
Erica responds, "Yeah yeah I know, I was just fantasizing. But anyways, you're right, we have a life to live together. Where we can really be together, always there for each other for everything we do, like how we started off with you being there for my work. We'll always work together, right?"
Rohan's eyes widen, and he turns to face Erica. Erica looks back at him, her eyes closed with a sweet wholesome smile, clearly overjoyed by the thoughts produced by the conversation.
Rohan, however, was stuck on Erica's words. Saying how they knew everything about the other, and how they'd work together for everything. It was something Rohan desired, as that love sounded perfect.
However, Rohan had a life that Erica didn't know about. He held a name she never heard of. There was so much that Erica didn't know about Rohan, and there was so much that rather than working together on, Rohan chose to work alone, without her.
That didn't fit in the definition of Erica's fantasy in their relationship, nor the one Rohan shared.
Rohan lowers his head, sighs, and he opens his mouth, speaking softly: "Yeah...we'll always work together…. Well uh…-."
Rohan lifts his head back up, wondering if maybe he should take the step, and open up to her. Besides, if they were planning for a long term relationship, he couldn't keep secrets from her, especially secrets so large. That would only end badly.
But if she found out what he was, what would her reaction be? Rohan needed someone who could be there for him and aid him in his battles, but would she really be willing to stand there at his side while he charged towards death every week, and later what could be everyday?
If she knew what he had become, would she be there to relieve his stress and make him calmer?
The more Rohan tries to picture that future, the only images he's met with are ones of dismay and disapproval, Erica trying to plead for him to stop his crusade, her unable to bear knowing that the one she loved was out there killing himself. She would have no way of helping him as well, as her ideal of helping was about trying to provide healing to others rather than fending off their assaulters.
He could imagine how Erica would bring up Maria in that confrontation, her voice already in his head.
She would be yelling phrases such as: "First Maria, now you?" and "How are we ever going to have a family if you get yourself killed doing this?"
She would also come to the realization that she's dating a criminal who's sentence is death, and while she no doubt loved him, he wasn't sure what she'd do, since she was motivated by good will, and if he was technically a threat to society, there was a chance she'd seek to stop him.
He couldn't bring himself to do it.
He couldn't bring himself to tell her.
Rohan sighs, and he continues, "Anyways, speaking of working together, how's the food?"
Erica smiles, and she answers, "Actually, we're done now! Here, can you fetch two plates for the both of us? Also, I know we have school tomorrow, but can we watch at least one episode of Strike on Giants? Please? That episode left such a cliffhanger, I can't wait till the weekend to watch it!"
Rohan smiles softly, and he begins seeking out plates for him and Erica in the kitchen. While he searches, he answers, "Fine, one episode though. You need rest too, or you're going to try making up for lost sleep in class."
Erica giggles, and points out: "You already act like a dad, don't you?"
Rohan lets out a sharp exhale to contain any laughter, and he continues searching for plates.
He then strikes back with: "And you are much like a mother."