Ochako steps forward, and though she wobbles and shakes, she doesn't fall. Her nausea is gone, for the most part–it only comes when she wakes, but fades within the hour. It's been four days since she woke aboard the ship, and she's finally able to walk on her own.
Granted, she needs more time to learn the layout of the ship, but she knows it's just a matter of time.
If she decides to stay. That's kind of up in the air at the moment.
For now, though, she doesn't have a choice. They're days away from any town, and well-supplied enough to not need one for another month or so. She can't swim that long, and she isn't about to steal a boat from the people kind enough to rescue her.
Speaking of rescuing her…
She leaves her room, confident in her stride, and finds the mess hall. It's filled with people–more than she thought could fit on a ship and keep it afloat. There are so many people she has to wade through them, dodging hands that fly through the air in exaggerated gestures and heads thrown back in all kinds of laughter. She's looking for Tsuyu, a girl her age who is wise beyond her years. She's been a part of the crew since she was little, surely she'd know about the boy who entrusted her safety to them.
It takes a few minutes, but finally she spots her, cozying up to Todoroki's right side–his warmer side, if Ochako remembers correctly.
"Tsuyu!" she calls, unable to make it any closer, and when Tsuyu turns, she waves a hand.
"What is it, Ochako?" Tsuyu asks once they're in a quieter place–sitting atop the main deck in the early morning mist.
"How did I get here?" she asks. "Who brought me?"
"Katsuki," Tsuyu says, plain and simple. For some reason, Ochako thought it would be more difficult than that. "He's in the hold."
Ochako is speechless for a moment. "Can I see him?"
Tsuyu nods and stands. "He's probably awake by now. Early to bed, early to rise and all."
She holds a hand out to Ochako and pulls her up, and hand-in-hand they make their way to the bottom of the ship. It's a twisting, winding path that they take, down ladders and staircases and in some cases just plain rope. It's hasn't occurred to Ochako yet, but the ship just seems… really banged up. There are scratches all along the walls, and holes that are barely plugged by planks.
How does this thing not sink? she thinks to herself. She doesn't ask, though, because before she can they've arrived at a door–they must be in the lowest level of the ship, now. A salty, musty scent permeates the air, like it hasn't seen fresh air in years, and the light is practically nonexistent. Oddly enough, she hears water splashing from somewhere, and it concerns her for a moment–the ship could be sinking, and they'd never make it out from here. She almost wants to leave and make sure it isn't.
Until the door opens. She gasps, stepping into the room to get a better look. There are stairs leading down, and when she reaches the last one waves lick at her feet. Tsuyu walks in front of her, shoes discarded on the steps above. Ochako follows suit, wading barefoot through ankle-deep water.
"Katsuki!" Tsuyu calls, and there's only a splash in return. "You have a visitor!" she insists.
"I told you not to call me that, frog face!"
Tsuyu rolls her eyes and gestures to a few rocks across the way. "Katsuki's hiding over there."
"I do not hide!" he yells, popping up above the boulder Tsuyu pointed to. "And if you have to say my name call me Lord Bakugou!"
Again, Tsuyu rolls her eyes and turns to Ochako. "I have to meet with Aizawa now. Will you be okay by yourself?"
"Yes, thank you. I just, um…"
"I'll come back in an hour to help you find your way back."
"Hey!" Katsuki yells. Tsuyu ignores him. "Take her with you! Don't leave her here! Tell that star-bitch I need fresh water in here!" The door closes with a click, no sign if she heard or cared what he wanted.
And then they were alone. Katsuki glares at Ochako, resting his head in his hand. "Well?" he asks. "Whadya want with me?"
"Oh! Um, to thank you, I guess?"
He scoffs. "You don't know?"
"No! No, I mean…" she takes a deep breath. "Really. Thank you. I was in…a lot of trouble."
"No shit. I was there."
Well. There was a good question she didn't know she needed an answer to. She cocks her head and leans against the wall "What were you doing there?"
"Scoping out the place.
Ochako looks down, watching the water ripple away from her feet. "So y'all really are pirates?"
"Yeah. What'd you expect?"
She doesn't have an answer for that, so she asks another question. "How did you get in? I was told no one could get in or out without drowning."
His mouth pulls downward, annoyance clear on his face even from across the room. "Is everyone at the castle an idiot? Half the people on this ship could get in and out before anyone noticed. Besides, you should've seen it anyway!"
"Seen what?"
She swears Katsuki growls, then disappears behind the rock. Surprised, she steps forward, the bottom of her rolled pants legs soaking in water. She looks around, eyes and ears open. She can't see much, but she can hear–she hears water dripping and splashing, and she hears wood creaking and popping.
She hears no movement, however, so it's a surprise to her when she's sprayed with water. She turns to find Katsuki sitting on the floor next to her, a shark-toothed smile spread across his lips.
"Great. Thanks." she says, completely monotone. "These aren't my clothes, you know."
Katsuki shrugs. "You need to pay more attention, round-face."
"Uravity."
"That's not your name."
"Neither is 'round-face.'"
He waves a hand. "It's good enough. You know it gets rounder when you pout, right?"
Ochako straightens her lips, then walks toward him. She squats down beside him, studying his face. Her eyes catch on his teeth–sharp little teeth in a neat little row. And then they drift down, past his chest–bared except for a white scarf and array of necklaces–to his waist and hips. His skin fades into scales where the two meet, but the belt he wears hides the exact point.
It's a tail. He has a bright red tail where his legs should be, swishing through the water. She reaches out to touch it, curious as to how it feels.
Katsuki snaps his teeth at her, startling her back to land on her bum. She shivers as the water chills her through her pants–it's winter, and the water is cold.
"How can you stand it?" she asks, and as soon as she does the water starts draining.
"Get out!" Katsuki says, shoving her away.
"What? Why?"
"Because I said so!" He can't move fast, but he scoots to the steps, pushing her towards them. The water has completely drained by now, and the room sits empty except for a pile of rocks and barrels.
Ochako freezes, then blinks. "That–" she starts, pointing, but Katsuki shoves her forward again, into the door.
"Get out!" he yells. "I'm tired."
She hmphs, then marches through the door, slamming it behind her. She'll ask about the giant hole in the bottom of the boat later, then.
…
"Katsuki! What's with the hole?"
"Call me Lord Bakugo!"
"More like Baku-butt," she mutters as she walks away.
"I heard that, round-face!"
She sticks her tongue out at the door before she leaves, climbing the steps and ladders that lead to the main deck. She gets lost, of course. It's practically a maze below decks, with long hallways and plenty of empty rooms. It's only when she hears someone call out that she finally recognizes where she is.
"Oh, my!" She hears, and a pair of arms lands on her shoulders. She blinks, looking into the eyes of a wizened woman–not quite as old as Chiyo, but not all that young either. "I'm so sorry about that, dear. When Tsuyu told me Katsuki needed fresh water I just went and changed it, without listening to her fully. If I had known you were in there… and the water's freezing, too!"
"I-I'm sorry?" Ochako asks.
"The water in the hold, dear! Were you not there when I changed it?"
"You changed it? I saw it drain out of the bottom of the ship, but I was kicked out before anything else happened."
The woman's face relaxed. "Oh, thank goodness. He's such a good boy, that Katsuki."
"He's a bit grumpy," Ochako pouts.
"Ah, don't mind that. He's just stubborn." She hook her elbow through Ochako's. "Come on, those clothes are soaked. Let's go get a change for you! My name is Lucy, by the way!"
She carts Ochako back to her room, chatting away like they're long lost friends.
"It's always so smooth, you know?"
"I know. Ms. Lucy's amazing!"
"I heard the new girl was down there when it happened."
"Is she okay?"
Ochako tries not to listen to rumors or gossip–they just start needless drama and she never wanted any distractions when she was learning. But when rumors are about yourself, well, everyone's curious about that. So she listens, sipping on meager tea and chewing on plain bread.
"Bakugo didn't hurt her, did he?"
"He's probably the one that saved her. You know what happens when they change the water." A beat of silence, then, "You know! The entire bottom floor floods! If she were still in the hold she'd probably be dead now!"
Ochako stands, leaving the rest of her food on the table.
A/N: I won't be updating next week, so sorry in advance! Please review :)