Satoru was quite happy with himself.

He had planned an extraordinary Valentine's day for Linda and him, spa in the morning, lunch at Aragawa cooked by the head chef at the table, and pottery in a craft shop with kittens strolling around the room. And the grand final, a six-course meal. Yes Satoru pulled no stops for Linda this time, especially since he knew that he had been neglecting her.

....I wonder what she's doing right now. She told me she had a date with that guy she met on Tinder last time Satoru couldn't help but think distracted as he was sculpting Agumon in his clay. He tried to settle more boundaries between him and her, trying to spend more time with Linda and to have less ambiguous physical affection toward her. She totally understood, chuckling good naturedly, she slapped his back and said "I'll finally get you off my back, shoo leave now!"

The white haired man felt an amused smile bloom on his face at the memory and shook his head, before Linda interrupted his musings.

"Are you okay babe?" She blinked up at him, her own creation a cat, probably taking inspiration in one of the felines going around the tables. Her light brown eyes full of love and happiness. "Today is wonderful, as a matter of fact you've really changed these last few weeks, for the best. Less her, more us, as it should." Satoru felt a frown bloom on his face for a split second at her tone when mentioning his friend. A bit disdainful.

"I'm doing great honey, just thinking about a funny memory. But you know you shouldn't talk like this about her. She's my best friend and she likes you quite a lot, I was at fault for neglecting you but she never urged me away from you, never."

Linda scowled, then sighed, shaking her head, long auburn hair fluttering slightly. "Let's not talk about annoying stuff, today is about us that's all I wanted to say." She goes back to chiseling her cat. Meanwhile Satoru glances at his phone. I hope her date is going okay

After their workshop, Satoru brought Linda to his penthouse, giving her a bag, a cocky smile on his face. "Your outfit for tonight and I got you these boots you were eyeing. The red bottom ones". Linda's lithe form barelled into his as she held him tightly, squealing in joy.

"Satoru oh gosh! Thank you!" She hurries up to change her outfit, meanwhile Satoru freshens up then receives a text.

Biter 3000 She hates the contact I gave her but is it my fault if she can't keep her damn teeth away from me? Scoffing he opened the text.

*Yoo I just met with my date at the restaurant, he's pretty chill I like him

Satoru's mouth twitched in annoyance at the thought of her going to flaunt herself on the arm of a guy who for sure wouldn't be up to standards, but then he just typed back.

*Good for you, don't bite him too hard, I'd hate for him to call the kennel and them putting you down for being rabid. Provocative, not letting her know that whoever that bastard is, he cannot match her.

She sends a middle finger emoji but then shares her location. *In case he tries to make a lamp outta my skin

*Over my dead body you know that, if you feel unsafe, leave, if you cannot leave call me. The text was typed before he could even think, the thought of her being harmed was foreign to him, and that couldn't happen.

"Satoru? I'm done" Coming out of the bathroom, Linda looked stunning, she twirled in her shimmering dress, looking straight out of a magazine. Satoru felt his heart thump at her appearance, even though the thought of his friend was at the forefront of his mind.

"I'm the luckiest guy ever this Valentine's day babe, let's go, our meal is waiting. Well the chief is waiting for us to cook the meal." Leading her outside, he drove them to the restaurant and once there they were immediately sat.

One hour later, after the appetizers and the whole speech of presentation from the chief, the first meal was served. Delicious of course, the conversation was flowing nicely. But suddenly his phone vibrated. He ignored it once, then twice, but then it started ringing.

Her special ringtone He immediately stood.

"Sorry Linda, I need to take this real quick." Hurrying away to the balcony, Satoru picked up the call.

"Yo girl wass-""Satoru, Satoru please help me, i'm scared" the tone was bone-chilling, her dread couldn't be faked. Immediately his easy going behavior faded away. Tight, cold voiced, he asked.

"Where are you, what's happening?""It's, my date, he, Satoru I saw him trying to roofie me. I didn't let him notice I saw it. But he's been acting weird ever since I've stopped drinking and he's been asking me to leave with him. I'm in the bathroom right now. Please help me, he told me he's friends with the owner of the bar and he's a regular, I can't ask for help there. I'm on 3% of charge."

"Stay where you are, I'm coming, as a matter of fact I'll teleport there. Stay on the line." Satoru was tugging at the familiar, comforting trail of her cursed energy, localizing her, before he got interrupted by Linda, scowling, tapping her foot on the floor, the red Louboutin giving out an ominous click.

"Again her? For fuck sake Satoru!" She took the phone from his hand and yelled "Aren't you a fucking grown woman? Take care of yourself for once and stop indulging Satoru in that codependant bullshit." She immediately hung up the phone. "Now come back to the table Satoru, please" her voice was sweet and pleading, but Satoru could barely hear it over the fury raising up in him. A wide hand seized Linda's wrist, wrenching it up, the other took his phone back.

*"Never, ever, do this again Linda. I've been too lenient with you. But you need to know your place. Below her. Go finish your meal, I'll be back once I make sure she's safe. If you're still there I'll make it up to you, if you're not it's okay." The heart wrenched look on his face didn't alleviate his stony expression as he teleported in the woman's bathroom of the bar where she was.

"I'm here you can come out now!" His voice was anxious, looking around the room, before a body slammed into his, like Linda did earlier but this time.

It felt so fucking right

Looking down, he saw his fierce, strong, unstoppable friend looking more shaken than she's ever did in two decades of friendship.

Who the fuck dared to do this to her?

"Thanks, oh God Satoru i'm so fucking sorry, I swear I didn't want to ruin your date, I'm sorry, when Linda took the phone I felt so guilty I always ruin shit for you and, and" she was panicking, her chest heaving up to get more air. "I thought you wouldn't come for me." The last part broke his heart slightly. Hugging her tightly, tucking her face in his chest, breathing in the scent of her hair, he chuckled.

"There's nothing that stands over you." He looked down at her.