"A Moment's Reprieve"

As the door closed behind Shigaraki and Dabi, I felt a sudden rush of air into my lungs, like a dam had burst and I could finally breathe again. The tension in my body eased, and I let out a shaky sigh of relief. I leaned against the wall, feeling the cool surface against my back, and closed my eyes. The warmth of the blood on my face seemed to recede, and I could focus on the sensation of my heartbeat slowing down. For a moment, I just stood there, savoring the silence. I wasn't used to being alone, not after being surrounded by the League's members for so long. Usually, I would feel anxious or on edge when left by myself, but this time, I was grateful for the solitude. It was as if the presence of Shigaraki and Dabi had sucked the air out of my lungs, and now that they were gone, I could finally exhale. I opened my eyes and looked around the room. It was empty, except for the faint scent of Shigaraki's cologne lingering in the air. I shuddered, remembering the way he had looked at me, the way he had seemed to enjoy my fear. I ran a hand over my face, wincing as my fingers came into contact with the sticky blood. I needed to clean up, and fast. I made my way to the bathroom, flipping on the light switch and wincing at my reflection in the mirror. The blood on my face was a deep crimson, and my eyes looked sunken and scared. I quickly washed my face, trying to scrub off the evidence of Shigaraki's cruelty. As I dried my face with a towel, I couldn't help but think about what had just happened. What did Shigaraki want from me? And what was he planning? The sound of footsteps outside the bathroom door made me freeze. I wasn't expecting anyone else to be here. The door creaked open, and Toga's face appeared in the mirror. She was smiling, her eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity. "Vesper-chan, you're so pale," she said, her voice dripping with concern. "Are you okay?" I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Part of me wanted to push her away, to tell her to leave me alone. But another part of me was desperate for human connection, for someone to talk to. Toga stepped closer, her eyes never leaving mine. "You can trust me, Vesper-chan," she said, her voice low and soothing. "I'll take care of you." I searched her face, trying to read her intentions. Was she being genuine, or was she just playing me? I couldn't be sure, but for now, I was willing to take the risk. I nodded, and Toga's smile grew wider. She reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, her touch sending shivers down my spine. "Let's get you cleaned up," she said, her voice full of promise. "And then we'll talk." I nodded again, feeling a sense of trepidation. What did Toga want from me? And what would happen next? But for now, I was willing to follow her, to see where this new path would lead.