Chapter 1

How did she get herself into this situation? A question that anxiously repeated itself inside the mind of the curly haired esper as she cautiously floated through the decrepit lonely hallway. Her emerald green eyes frantically scanning for any spirits to phase through the moldy wood walls and devour her entirely. The deafening silence of the dead estate sharply contrasted the quick drum-like beating inside Tatsumaki's chest. Every now and then Tatsumaki thought she heard something or someone peeking out from the abandon rooms all across the hall. Yet whenever her green little head turned in the direction of the doors, they remained closed as if they had never been open. That brought the psychic no comfort for despite none of the doors being open, Tatsumaki could feel a cold breeze coming from behind her which would blow against her curly hair. She couldn't help but ponder how she ended up in this terrible situation in the first place.

Of course she already knew the "how". It was another one of those bothersome company retreats to a camp in the mountains for the S-Class heroes. As always, her schedule "happened" to be open the weekend of the retreat. Today after dinner, the camp counselors decided to spring a horrifyingly long tale about an abandoned haunted hotel nearby. Tatsumaki was forced to listen this dull tale of caretakers succumbing to cabin fever and slaughtering their families every year in the large hotel. Long story short, the hotel was shut down, left to rot away till nature eventually reclaimed it. Upon the completion of the well-written but totally not scary story, Tatsumaki sat with everyone as they decided to offset bedtime to overindulge in endless conversation and booze. Feeling exhausted herself, she berated them on how noisy all of her coworkers were so late at night.

"Are you tired? You should go ahead and head to bed while everyone stays here," Silverfang inquired.

"I am not tired! You're all just a bunch of incompetent bastards that are talking about useless things! A villain could be wreaking havoc around tomorrow but none of you can go because you''ll be too tired! Then I have to go in your place! You all know that I am overworked as is!" Tatsumaki complained loudly.

Of course a very bald idiot decided to butt in, "Then you should go to bed early. Anyways, that horror story was pretty good, huh? Especially that part about the room 237! Maybe we should check it out!"

"Brilliant idea, teacher! We could exorcise the spirits," Genos applauded as he finished writing something in a notepad.

"That sounds like it'd be kinda cool actually," Atomic Samurai remarked amused.

Tatsumaki stared at Saitama mortified as he decided to bring back up that annoying story. Not only that, it was a ludicrous idea for them to even consider going to the place! In disbelief, the green haired woman thought, 'The nerve of that guy! Why does he even like that story? It's so bad that I am shaking!'

"Are you okay?" A dull but sweet voice rudely asked her.

Surprised, she shuddered violently in the direction of the eggheaded hero who dared to suddenly inquire anything about her own well-being. Not that she was scared or anything, just annoyed by the whole tiring ordeal. "I AM FINE!" Tatsumaki responded angrily.

For a few moments Saitama stared at her in irritation, the next moment concerned and curious, ending up with a fascinating realization. Smiling coyly along with the rest of the S-Class heroes, baldy dared to asked the best hero, "Are you scared?"

Blushing, Tatsumaki turned the other way so her colleagues couldn't see her horrified face. "Of course not!" she exclaimed.

"Okay~," he laughed turning away from her.

"Anyway I am going to go check out the hotel on my own," Saitama laughed.

Standing up, Saitama made his way out the exit of the dining hall while waving goodnight to everyone. Everyone was staring at Saitama's back, ignoring a dumbfounded Tatsumaki staring agape at his brazen behavior. A whirlwind of paranoid thoughts began racing through her mind. 'How could he think this was okay? This nobody shouldn't be doing something like this! Of course he's strong so he could probably take it, but even I know that ghosts are on a different level!' Ever since her first encounter with a ghost , she believed that ghosts possessed some resistance to her telepathic abilities. If there was a chance the second best hero could be defeated, how in the world would this loser fair? Not that she cared what happened to him. However if something did happen it was her responsibility as a hero to leap into action since no one else here would be able to do anything. Maybe she was just being paranoid at this point? Tatsumaki knew that he was strong therefore the likelihood of Saitama coming out of a situation such as this was high. Paranoia snuck in again however, 'What if he didn't make it out? What if she was too late to save him? What would she tell her sister? What would she do without his annoying presence?'

Tatsumaki stood up from her seat almost at the same time another hero was getting up, "I'll go with you!" the two s-class heroes yelled together.

The blond cyborg stared at Tatsumaki dumbfounded, Tatsumaki's face turning bright red while everyone else focused their attention on the unlikely pair. She could feel her heart beating quickly when she looked passed everyone with her green eyes to gaze at the concerned bald neanderthal. Saitama's head was cocked left in confusion, responding, "You two don't need to worry about me. It's late so you two should go to bed."

"Please, teacher! I cannot allow you to take on this mission without some form of support," Genos pointed in response.

"I don't see the harm. Besides it sounds like it'd more fun than just sitting here chatting about nonsense," the samurai laughed whilst standing from his seat.

All the S-class heroes agreed that it would be a fun venture, except a petite green haired beauty. "Well I guess if you guys all want we can hang out," Saitama shrugged, continuing to make his way out of the dining hall.

Seats began to be emptied, previous occupants laughing and happily anticipating upcoming events in a supposed haunted hotel. Soon Tatsumaki was alone in her seat, watching everyone's back with wide green eyed horror. She didn't want to go to a haunted hotel, considering the trauma of her last venture to a haunted location. At the same time, she couldn't stand being left alone in the middle of the night in an unknown camp. Also if all the remaining S-Class hero died, then all of their missions would land on her instead. What if she be forced to take the ghost on alone? What if Saitama was the first to go? Not that the hero was scared or anything, it's just that her pride was on the line of course! If all of the S-class heroes, except the esper, accompanied some nobody hero to a haunted house then the public would think she was a scared little girl with no guts and no right to call herself a "hero".

Debating back and forth how to prevent this scenario, Tatsumaki looked up and accidentally made eye contact with the dull eyed egghead. His stare was blank, however in her tsundere mind he was challenging her to be one of his many guardians on this death trap mission. Then and there she knew that she could never let him go without her.

So here Tatsumaki floated in the middle of a decaying hallway, all alone for everyone had split up across the large hotel to scout out for the many ghosts that inhabited this realm. With no clue where Silverfang or any of the other S-class heroes were located, Tatsumaki slowly flew to where the only non-S-Class hero was most likely located: Room 237. The most haunted room in the premise, the baldy had brazenly spoke about would most likely be his priority. To be honest, she had been stalling a little getting to the room. In her green haired head, Tatsumaki hoped to bump into a certain someone and be by his side rather than either of them go in alone. Not that she needed him there, obviously he was the one who needed her there.

Suddenly Tatsumaki's ears rang with sounds of a monotone scream to her right. "Saitama!" Tatsumaki yelled concerned, bursting through the room 237 door.

She swiftly flew inside to aid the low grade hero with whatever was trying to do him harm. Her bald headed target was nowhere to be seen in the dingey bedroom area, so Tatsumaki quickly went to search inside the bathroom. There she found Saitama standing in front of a mysterious the figure being covered from Tatsumaki's view by Saitama's frame, she could see it was a very elderly woman with widened eyes, her pupils dilated white piercing through the esper's soul. Saitama turned to looked back at our heroine with concern and bewilderment. He was in trouble, that was all she needed to know to rush into action pushing herself in between Saitama and the ghost. Fearlessly extending her arms out to protect him, she demanded, "Stay away from Saitama!"

However her fearlessness was quickly replaced with disgust, coupled with pure horror upon realizing that the elderly woman was completely nude. Covering her beautiful green eyes and flushed face, she turned around, running straight into Saitama's chest, all the while shrieking wildly. In response, Saitama wrapped one of his strong arms around her shoulder, bringing her into a protective embrace. Despite being gentle with her, Tatsumaki could sense the presence of strength in his touch. A wave of relief washed through her body as she wrapped her arms around him to further the warm sensation of safety. With his other arm Saitama reached for something beside him, throwing it at the ghost. "Put some clothes on," Saitama firmly demanded.

Sounds of a towel being wrapped around a raisin-like body could be heard behind Tatsumaki. "I am not sure why you are still here but someone of your age should have passed on by now," Saitama stated plainly.

"I am sorry. I was murdered with family here and there is a lot of bad juju here that keeps us locked away to haunt every winter," a shriveled voice replied.

"Do you need me to help?" Saitama inquired.

"Please," the elderly women insisted.

He raised the same arm and apparently tapped the elderly women on top of her head. "Next time ask rather than scare people with your body," Saitama stated.

There was a loud heavenly operatic sound, followed by a towel plopping to the ground. "Thank you," a distant shrill voice said.

Although everything would suggest that the ordeal was over and done, Tatsumaki clung onto her hero for fear of any other surprises. A strong hand placed itself over her head and stroked her green hair cooling some of her nerves. "It's okay. You can put that stuff down now," Saitama's cool voice whispered.

"What stuff?" Tatsumaki asked gazing up at him.

Tatsumaki had unknowingly levitated most of the furniture in the room due to her fear and disgust over recent clothless events. However now objects were floating greenly in the air for a different reason.

Tatsumaki's face was so close to Saitama's sleek hairless one. His strong arm was still wrapped around her but now instead of giving her comfort, she felt a burst of excitement rising up from within her. Her cheeks felt hot whilst gazing into his serious but comforting face. Noticing a difference between his usual lackadaisical expression and the one present, Tatsumaki realized that he was concerned for her and was trying to comfort her. With her chest pressed so tightly against his, Tatsumaki began to wonder dreamily if Saitama could feel her heart beating so heavily. Normally she would defend her pride by chastising him for trying to protect her, who needed no such comfort let alone protection. However she was inebriated in this moment by his strong embrace and protective stare. He smiled at her warmly stating, "That's the first time you said it."

She cocked her head in confusion, as to inquire what he was even talking about. He chuckled a little, answering her thoughts, "You never called me by my name before and you came in to save me. I guess you're not such a brat after all."

Embarrassed, Tatsumaki jerked her head away while murmuring, "Don't let it get to your head, baldy… It's just what I have to do…"

"That's right because we are heroes," he laughed, stroking the back of her head.

She looked back up at him blushing and frowningly shyly. His fall brown eyes gazed softly into her sea green eyes endearingly. "You're cute," Saitama stated.

Normally Tatsumaki would be enraged by this statement but she wasn't in the position of power at this moment. So she merely glared at him in response, Saitama appeared to be a little concerned about her reaction. A light bulb apparently popped in his head thereupon he nodded apologetically as he pushed her forehead against his. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't patronize you like that. You're beautiful, Tatsumaki…" he stated.

Tatsumaki slowly gazed up at him in disbelief as their eyes met. Everything in the room was glowing and floating around them, surrounding them with a bright green light, but she didn't care enough to notice. He was so strong, possibly stronger than her when she was feeling under the weather. The second strongest man she had ever met, was protecting her and telling her she was beautiful. She felt like she was living out some stupid, weak woman's dream in that moment. As a strong independent esper who didn't need no man, Tatsumaki was unaccustomed to the heat growing inside of her. All she knew was that she wanted him closer, so she slowly began to follow her instincts in this moment. Shifting her arms to wrap around Saitama's strong neck without breaking their intense eye contact. Her body moving on it's own, her lips gradually came closer to his. Saitama didn't fight her, he just closed his eyes while together they began closing the gap between their lips. Tatsumaki's heart was now accosting her ribs as the tips of their lips gently grazed against each other. She closed her green eyes, about to make the move to gift him with her first kiss.

Suddenly a loud engine noise projected from room 237's bedroom, screeching to a halt outside the door of the bathroom. Saitama and Tatsumaki remained holding each other but the shock still zipped their faces away to stare in the direction of the door. There stood a golden haired machine, panting and sweating in the doorway. "Teacher! I heard screaming and I am here! Where is the villain? Allow me to repay you for all that you have done for me!" Genos exclaimed excitedly.

Yellow eyes stared at the embracing pair still standing inside of the toilet facilities. Saitama's back may have been facing Genos but Tatsumaki could clearly see the annoying cyborg. Of course, it took Genos a few seconds to process what he had rudely interrupted. Tatsumaki on the other hand took no time processing the cyborg's entire body through the walls of the building. In an instant there were layers of holes in numerous walls which Genos had previously stood before. Saitama looking behind him in slight shock as the decrepit building began to crumble around them. Tatsumaki, embarrassed by her unladylike actions, flew away through the holes Genos's body had made. She could hear Saitama calling out her name but she refused to turn around to look at him whilst the building crumbled.

How could she be so rash? Did they almost kiss? He probably thinks she's such a child! But what was that idiot cyborg thinking not knocking whilst entering a room with no door? Still a normal maiden would have laughed it off or at least not have reacted so violently. Tatsumaki knew that Genos was fine but it still wasn't a mature thing to do in front of someone she was about to kiss! Everything was a disaster but she needed to sit through another day at this camp thing or her reputation would be ruined! How was Tatsumaki going to face Saitama now? What would have happened if Genos never interrupted? Find in the next chapter of Beautful Wreck.

Meanwhile, Genos sits in a cold maze outside of the hotel in a zen like position thinking, "I probably should have knocked."