17So uh... I got into BNHA... and Tsuyu is my favorite and she held hands with Ochako ONCE and I just lost my mind okay. I have a lot of ships but this was the first one I felt compelled to write.
Takes place directly after Bakugo's kidnapping. I wrote this immediately after I saw that episode, so not sure if there are any inconsistencies with the episodes or chapters that followed that, but here it is.
Disclaimer: I do not own Boku no Hero Academia.
Just A Little
Chapter 1.
By the time the medics arrive at the U.A training camp, over half the students require their attention. As the firefighters work relentlessly to douse the forest, the medics try to assess who needs help most urgently.
Ochako and Tsuyu are on that list, but linger towards the bottom with only minor injuries. But the more serious injuries their classmates have sustained, in addition to the knowledge that they'd truly lost Bakugo, make both girls feel sicker than they should.
Before long they get their treatment as well, Ochako for the stab wound on her arm and the puncture on her leg, and Tsuyu for the long cut on her tongue.
But even after the fires have been put out, the chaos ensues. There are so many people calling out and rushing around.
To Ochako, it feels like the world is spinning, like the ground is shifting and heaving beneath her feet and she can't find balance. She sees dozens of her friends being strapped onto gurney's and wheeled into ambulances. She hears her classmates' names being muttered or sobbed out by the others.
But it's only when she hears her own name - in as calm a voice as can be, given the situation - that she snaps out of it.
"Ochako-chan."
She feels the hand on hers, soft fingers encompassing her own, a grip that keeps her grounded when she feels like she might float away without even using her Quirk. She shakes her head slowly, blinking to find Tsuyu looking levelly back at her.
Her expression is as neutral as ever, and honestly it's just the thing Ochako needs right now. The knot in her stomach unwinds just a little bit upon seeing Tsuyu there beside her, still holding her hand. Tsuyu gives her a moment before giving her a small tug.
"Let's go inside."
Ochako can't manage much more than an affirmative hum as she follows.
The 2-minute walk to the building stretches out and feels like miles upon miles. There's damage there too, broken walls and shattered glass, and even a few stray droplets of blood. Seeing that makes Ochako's stomach heave again, and a strong shudder rips through her.
Tsuyu leads her promptly away from that, to a quieter section that was undisturbed and undamaged by the fighting. Just when Ochako feels she can't bear to take another step, Tsuyu helps her down onto a bench, never letting go of her hand all the while.
Ochako all but collapses, trembling from the shock of it all. At the very least it's quieter and calmer here. She knows Tsuyu has brought her here to help her feel better, but she can't even muster up the words to thank her, let alone the courage to look at her.
She can only hunch forward and stare into her lap. Her stomach knots up again, and it isn't long before the sight of the fingers of her unoccupied hand begins to blur. The tears come rushing, hot and messy.
"They took him..." She closes her eyes as the stinging behind them overwhelms her. "They took him... Tsuyu-chan... M-Maybe, i-if I'd just lifted Deku-kun and the others just a little bit higher, o-or released them a second later, th-they could've-"
"That won't help, Ochako-chan." Tsuyu's voice is as steady as ever. Ochako wipes her arm across her face, smearing tears, and finally looks at her friend. Tsuyu meets her eyes seriously, yet gently.
"We can't think about the 'what-ifs.' We only have the reality." She squeezes Ochako's hand just a little more. "We'll get Bakugo-chan back. Whether the pro heros rescue him or he gets free on his own, we'll get him back somehow."
Ochako knows she isn't just saying that to make her feel better, either. Tsuyu is the kind of person who tells what she believes to be the truth, even if it isn't always what others want to hear. She truly believes they'll get Bakugo back one way or another. But that doesn't stop Ochako from feeling this horrible guilt tearing at her stomach.
"B-But... they were so close... if I'd just-"
"You did what they asked you to do," Tsuyu reminds her. "And you did it perfectly. If we're going to blame people for doing things one second too early, or too far, or too late, then I'm equally as guilty, right? If I had thrown them a little bit harder or farther, maybe they could've made it.
"But maybe that would've been too hard or too far. Maybe that would've delayed them even more. We'll never know, because it didn't happen. We can't change it now. We can only do what we can."
Ochako knows she's only telling the truth, but it's still painful to hear. She breaks down crying, which makes her feel even more useless and frustrated.
But then, a soft pressure against her side makes the sobs subside. Tsuyu leans against her, resting her head against Ochako's shoulder.
"The fact that you're blaming yourself for something that isn't your fault... That's also the trait of a true hero."
And just when Ochako thinks she's gotten ahold of herself, she bursts into tears all over again.
She cries for a while, and Tsuyu stays by her side the whole time, holding her hand and supporting her in more ways than one.
Ochako cries until the echoes of her own sobs start to become annoying. She clamps up and tries to get ahold of herself.
That's when Tsuyu lets go of her hand.
"Sorry..."
And Ochako can't describe it, but somehow hearing that one word from her best friend makes her feel even sicker than this entire incident had. She snaps her head up and looks to Tsuyu, but her friend has dropped her gaze to the floor now.
"Ts-Tsuyu-chan? Why are you apologizing...?"
Tsuyu's eyes flash briefly back to her, but then immediately move away again.
"Back in the forest... I'd said I would hold your hand because I wasn't scared. And even though I was holding onto you, I didn't react quickly enough when that crazy girl ambushed us. I should've been able to pull you out of the way, but I wasn't focused enough. Instead, all I did was let go..."
Ochako sniffles, glancing down at the bandages on her arm, then back to her friend.
"Tsuyu-chan... now who's blaming themselves for something that isn't their fault?"
Tsuyu closes her eyes.
"Even so, it was your job to let Midoriya-chan and the others go. But it was my job to hold onto you, and I failed."
"But you still saved me, Tsuyu-chan!" Ochako reaches out and grabs both of her friend's hands earnestly, causing Tsuyu to open her eyes again. "Tsuyu-chan, you pulled me away from her and gave me a chance to run! And you defended me to the point where you got hurt, too!"
Tsuyu finally makes eye contact with her. Ochako squeezes her hands. "I'm glad it was me she cut instead of you. I'd rather it be me any day, Tsuyu-chan!"
Tsuyu gives her a wry smile.
"That's what any good hero would say. But it's still unfair of you, Ochako-chan." She sighs, and a troubled expression crosses her face. "I still don't like that she took your blood. Who knows what she's going to do with it. I don't like it at all, Ochako-chan..."
"We'll deal with her some other time," Ochako vows. Tsuyu nods her agreement, but she looks away again.
"Ochako-chan, there's still one more thing I should apologize for."
"What? You don't need to, Tsuyu-chan."
But Tsuyu shakes her head.
"I'd said I wasn't scared. That's why I offered to hold hands. But when that crazy girl jumped out and cut you, and then stole your blood when you were protecting me..." She closes her eyes and bows her head, and for the first time since Ochako has known her, she feels Tsuyu tremble. "That scared me," she mumbles.
Tsuyu has always been one of the most realistic members of their class, the most sensible, and one of the quickest thinkers. She's never been one to let her emotions get control of her.
But this time it seems she really can't help it. She shakes her head and fidgets as if trying to fend off a pesky fly.
Ochako, who conversely has always felt things rather strongly, feels plenty now. It's a mixture of a lot of things, a bit of guilt and a bit of regret, and maybe a little bit more of helplessness.
But more than anything she finally feels an ounce of relief.
They may have lost Bakugo, but Tsuyu is right; they'd get him back somehow. Ochako still has the rest of her friends. And she has Tsuyu.
"Tsuyu-chan..." She gives a tug to her friend's hands, pulling her closer, then throws both arms around her in a big tight hug. "I was scared, too. When that girl trapped you and started doing all that weird stuff... I was so scared she was gonna hurt you, too!"
She's never really hugged her like this before, now that she thinks about it. She's hugged her briefly here or there, but never this tightly or this closely.
She knows that normally Tsuyu wouldn't want to be touched more or for longer than was necessary. But when it's Ochako, she doesn't seem to mind.
Tsuyu returns the hug gently, resting her chin on her friend's shoulder.
"Thanks, Ochako-chan. You could have ran back for help when I told you to, but you stayed. You saved me, too."
"Of course I stayed!" Ochako squeezes her a little tighter. "I'd never leave you alone with such a creep!"
Tsuyu chuckles softly.
"Gero. Thanks, Ochako-chan."
Ochako hugs her for a moment longer, relishing her closeness, and the fact that she's safe. She's started to feel a little bit better, but that only makes her remember that Tsuyu had been hurt as well. She eases back a little bit and looks her over.
Tsuyu is still trembling slightly, and her shoulders even jolt the tiniest bit, as if from the smallest hiccups. Ochako holds both of her hands in earnest, voice soft.
"Sorry, Tsuyu-chan. I've just been selfishly thinking about myself all this time. I never asked how you were feeling. Are you okay?"
Tsuyu lets out a breath, keeping her eyes trained on her lap once more.
"Of course I'm worried about Bakugo-chan..."
Ochako nods, slowly lifting one hand to support Tsuyu's back.
"Yeah. I get it..."
"My stomach feels weird," Tsuyu continues, hunching slightly. "I'm not sure if it's because I'm worried, or because I swallowed some blood earlier."
"Ah, that's right! Does your tongue still hurt?"
"Just a little. It's fine."
But Ochako shakes her head, moving just a little closer, until their bangs are touching.
"That's no good, Tsuyu-chan. Even a little bit is too much. So... is it okay if I help...? A little pain just needs a little healing, right? Just a little..."
She rests her forehead against hers now, pulling her in by the hand on Tsuyu's back.
Tsuyu has always been quick to catch on and always reads a situation as it should be read. She knows what Ochako is asking, and she doesn't honestly see any reason to refuse.
"Gero." She gives a tiny nod as her answer.
Ochako sighs, resting her free hand on Tsuyu's shoulder and turning her to face her. Eyes closed, she waits for a second, giving Tsuyu the time to adjust before leaning in.
It's just a small thing, just a very little, brief kiss - as promised. Ochako brushes her lips softly against Tsuyu's mouth, tasting the faint tang of blood.
As she kisses her, Ochako breathes the tiniest bit of her Quirk into Tsuyu, just enough to make her feel weightless for that brief moment, taking away just a fraction of the stress. She feels her relax, feels her hands timidly reaching out.
Ochako eases back, not taking more than she'd promised, and pulls Tsuyu into another tight but soft hug. Tsuyu reciprocates, her hands covering most of Ochako's back as she spreads out her fingers, wanting to make her feel as safe as Ochako is making her feel.
It's only for a moment. They know they'll have to go back to facing their problems in an instant, go back to worrying about Bakugo and the League of Villains.
But for this moment, just this little bit is enough.
A/N: I hope just this little drabble is enough for you too. If it's not, don't worry, cuz I have a second chapter coming! Like this one, it won't be much, just some offhand fluff.
Please review!
