Author's Note: This is a little story I whipped up a while ago based on some recent events. Set around 2-4 months after the bank robbery where they became friends, I hope you enjoy!
Flu season had come to Academy City and as usual young Uiharu Kazari was struggling. Despite all her Judgement training her tiny 11 year old form was still quite weak. The added threat of catching the flu and leaving her bedridden had forced her to wear a mask and treat the members of the public quite evasively. Her partner Kuroko Shirai for one had enough.
Which was presently why Uiharu was running away from the fierce and athletic level 3 girl. She barely lasted 3 seconds before Kuroko tackled her down in a cloud of dust. "Gotcha!" Kuroko declared victoriously.
"Gah Shirai-san I'm not a criminal!" She cried out as Kuroko dragged her back to their cuffed thief.
Shirai sighed. "No but you were any better at running and and the actual criminal would have gotten away." She gazed back to look at Uiharu's mask covered face. "Why do you still wear that clumsy old fashioned thing? You know if you really didn't want to get sick why not just get a shot?" Academy's vaccine program was 10 leagues better than the rest of the world. With no margin for error.
Uiharu's eyes grew wide as she shook her head fiercely, her face frozen in fear. "N-no way needles are way too scary! I'm not letting some random person shove something sharp in my arm."
Kuroko groaned, her face tilting upwards like a yawning animal. "Really? Really? I swear you can be so childish sometimes. Shots are nothing to be scared off Uiharu I've had a ton of em." Fixing Uiharu with a look of disdain, really how'd she get saddled with such a lame partner?
Uiharu's face flushed. "Y-yeah well, your way more brave than I am." Not to mention foolhardy she thought. "Look its fine Flu season won't last forever, I'll just err wait it out" offering her a nervous smile. Even if she didn't exactly believe her own words.
Kuroko crossed her arms and perched her feet in an attempt to look more like their senpai. "And how many criminals will escape us while you "wait it out"?" She knew this was an answer Uiharu had no answer to. "What happened to our promise?"
At that mention of their sacred promise Uiharu's resolve shattered. They had promised to be the best Judgement agents they could be, and her fear was getting in the way of that. "I um... okay fine Shirai-san, I'll make the appointment right away."
Uiharu made the appointment later that night, after looking warily at the phone for over an hour. She did not sleep well. As the few days separating her freedom and the shot shrunk she found herself unable to think of anything else.
Attempts to explain things to Shirai just led to brief terse advice to "Not think about it." "Get over it." and her favourite and most used one. "Stop bugging me, I'm working on this case."
Konori noticed her little kohai's unease and tried to comfort her but despite how much she acted the part she wasn't really Uiharu's mother. It was times like this when she truly regretted coming here, when the feeling's of homesickness was too much.
She finally gave in and called her mom the day before. Feeling every bit the weak baby Shirai had often compared her to. It at least gave her enough courage to continue.
Uiharu woke up frenzied and stressed with only a few hours sleep. Her dreams filled with sharp objects turning her into a human pincushion.
She tried to stick to normalcy, do her normal morning routine, focus on being productive but it was no use. The image of that horrible sharp object, the pain of pierced skin and veins loomed large in her mind.
She arrived at the address of the vaccination site, her thoroughly miserable form stumbling off the bus. And of course as usual there was a big queue. Uiharu stamped her little feet petulantly feeling the sense of sheer unfairness overcome her.
Maybe she could deal with these awful things, if she could just go straight in and straight out. Now she had all the time in the world to contemplate all the things that could go wrong. What if the nurse was too rough and tore something important? What if there were some terrible side effects? What if she plain freaked out or had a panic attack right there in the clinic? Judgement probably has no need for such people.
As her negative thoughts increased and spiralled out of control and the line drew her closer and closer to her inevitable fate she snapped. Sprinting out of the queue running as fast as her little legs could carry her, feeling the shame eat away at her as she hid in a nearby public restroom.
Making sure nobody was there before she locked herself in the toilet and burst into tears. How could she ever show her stupid immature face to Konori and Shirai again? She really should have just quit already.
A loud knock on the door spooked her and almost made her fall off her seat. "Uiharu come out I know your in there!." It was Shirai! Uiharu's mind raced for a solution an escape but there was nothing in sight. Looking panicked around the room she hurriedly replied. "N-no I'm not."
The banging stopped, and then seconds after the door dispersed appearing behind a very disgruntled and very short redhead crashing against the floor almost as loudly as Uiharu's chest was racing. "Then I must be imagining you here, instead of being at the clinic like your supposed to be." She cooly responded. Hands on hips looking down her partner.
Said partner cringed and hung her head in shame. She had no real excuse, a Judgement agent was supposed to be brave and tough and confident under pressure, Shirai was all of these things and she wasn't any of them. "I-I'm sorry Shirai-san I was just really scared, I used to be really anaemic you see so I had to have a lot of blood tests, and they always hurt so much. And now I don't even have my mama with me" Uiharu broke down again weeping into her hands.
Kuroko's harsh gaze quickly softened at the sad sight, Uiharu was always so cheerful and optimistic, brightening up the lonely cold teleporter's day, it really hurt her deep down to see her like this.
Well maybe she only needs a little support to get through this. Kuroko thought logically. "I understand, you got a phobia right? Okay look how about this, I'll accompany you through the whole thing and keep your mind off it."
Uiharu's crying started to ebb. "R-really?"
Kuroko smiled weakly. "Sure we're partners after all, we're supposed to support each other." She yelped as a red eyed Uiharu suddenly slammed into and hugged her. Kuroko's body went stiff in surprise then she tried to awkwardly return the hug. "Ah please Uiharu people might come in and see."
Uiharu stood quietly in the line, trembling in place. Shirai standing at her side looked over her trembling form and sighed. "Uiharu calm down, its not the end of the world." She said as she patted her shoulder awkwardly.
"It feels like it to me." Uiharu said emotionlessly her face with a look of pure resignation on it. As over dramatic as it seemed, she really could not comprehend anything lying beyond that needle.
Shirai stood silently in response, not knowing what to say, suddenly wishing Konori senpai was here.
"Shirai-san are you ashamed to be associated with me?" Uiharu suddenly spoke up out of the blue, still looking grimly ahead.
"Don't be stupid Uiharu of course I'm not."
"But I'm such a coward."
"Yeah well this isn't exactly convenient I'll admit, but everyone has at least one thing there scared by."
"...Well what about you then? What are you scared off?" Asked a curious Uiharu. Shirai always seemed so fearless in the face of danger, it must take something truly horrific to scare her.
"Pfft I'm not scared of anything." Said Kuroko as she huffed and crossed her arms.
"But you just said everyone which includes you, doesn't it?" Uiharu asked, cocking her head to the side and gazing deeply at her friend.
Kuroko sighed heavily. "Fine fine but you better not tell anybody got it?" She leaned over and whispered into her ear. "Ghosts, I'm afraid of ghosts." Shuddering at the mere thought.
Ghosts, Uiharu raised an eyebrow. "But Shirai-san those aren't-"
Shirai cut her off. "Yeah yeah I know they aren't real. ...Least I hope not." She looked warily around. "But fears aren't always rational. Just like a shot isn't as horrible as you think."
Uiharu frowned, she really wasn't sure about that. Desperate to change the subject she decided to get a little nosy. "So how did it start? A really scary movie or something."
Shirai gritted her teeth. She wasn't used to sharing such sensitive information, but if it would help Uiharu she supposed she could bear it. "I got lost in a haunted house attraction when I was 6, was stuck in there for an hour. Not a pleasant time to say the least."
"Aww that must've been awful. I'm sorry."
Shirai shrugged "Don't be it wasn't your fault."
Uiharu let out a small smile. "Maybe I should replay you by keeping you company next Halloween."
Shirai shook her head fervently. "No way! I'm not scared of any stupid costumes." Despite her supposed bravery, Uiharu could see a flicker of unease on her face. Maybe she'd check up on her then just in case.
Uiharu got so caught up in her talk with Shirai she almost didn't notice how fast the line moved. Finally they entered the clinic proper and Uiharu's fears started to raise once more, heart hammering away in her tiny chest.
She took a tentative step back only to find Kuroko's hand suddenly gripping hers. "Cmon Uiharu, its nothing I promise." She said firmly but kindly. "Do it for me at least."
Uiharu felt a sudden sense of shame clinging to her mind. She remembered how awfully Shirai was hurt during that bank robbery, bruised all over and stuck limping for a few days so unlike the strong athletic girl she had seen at the training center. And it was all because she was protecting her.
And she couldn't handle a little bit of pain, Shirai must be ashamed of her. "Okay okay I'll do it." She looked at Shirai with a determined look, her bravery fuelled by Shirai's nod of approval.
"Um Shirai could I h-hold your hand until its over?" It felt embarrassing to say but for some reason it just made her feel stronger.
A faint blush covered Shirai's cheeks. "If um that will help sure." The two friend's walked over to a nearby nurse who directed them to one of the rooms the vaccinations were taking place.
A small room with a friendly looking nurse awaited them, although all Uiharu could notice was the sharp looking tools sitting next to the patient chair. This is it, its all over. She thought glumly. Shirai turned to her and said confidently. "It'll be over before you know it I promise."
Promise that's right their promise, she can't forget their promise not ever. She sat down on the chair and hesitantly rolled up the sleeve of her dress. Gritting her teeth as she stared at the needles, heart rate spiking as the nurse picked one up. "Uiharu remember to breath. It'll hurt more if you hold your breath." Kuroko looked over to the nurse. "She's a bit nervous." She said with an easygoing smile, purposely downplaying it to save Uiharu extra embarrassment.
"That's alright honey, just try to relax and it'll be over in no time." The nurse gently replied. Uiharu head started to drift to her but Kuroko moved it back towards herself. "Don't look okay, just focus on me." She said softly. Uiharu faintly nodding.
She focused on her vibrant short red hair. On her deep fierce looking eyes. She could see why her friend was going to Tokiwadai she was just as pretty as all those ojou-sama's. She could feel the warmth and strength in Shirai's hands. "Your going to be fine okay." Shirai whispered to her. Uiharu barely noticed the slight prickling sensation in her shoulder.
"All done!" The nurse said putting away the used needle. Uiharu tore her gaze away from Shirai's now grinning face and stared at the small barely noticeable injection point. "...That's it?" She asked dumbly as the nurse came back and applied a piece of cotton wool to the small wound. The nurse smiled. "You were very brave young lady."
At Shirai's affirmative nod, Uiharu felt her body lighten in relief.
The two friend's exited the clinic, Uiharu practically bouncing out of there with a huge smile on her face. "See told you it was nothing to be so worried about!" Kuroko said with a smug look on her face, then she looked between them and felt a blush growing. "Um you can let go of my hand now by the way."
Uiharu blushed herself, she hadn't even noticed, politely unhooking their hands noticing the stares from some other students they were receiving. "Ah sorry, you just felt so warm and uh anyway thank you."
Shirai smiled, deciding to avoid thinking about that strange aside. "No problem, I think you deserve a little treat, how about some crepes on me?"
Helping her through this and free crepes? Shirai was really spoiling her today. Its a shame she had no real way to pay a rich girl back, except maybe...
"That would be wonderful Shirai-san, thank you so much." She said beaming and laid a soft kiss on Shirai's cheek. Racing off excitedly before she could see the reddening blush spreading all over Shirai's face.
Shirai gently touched the cheek where Uiharu kissed her, it had been awhile since she'd had anything like that done to her. She couldn't say it didn't feel nice, not that she was going to encourage Uiharu to do more stuff like that.
What a sappy brave little dork, She thought as she smiled and ran after her friend.
Author's Note: If your interested in seeing more stories focusing on these two I have a few more on my profile. I originally posted them in the Index section but they didn't get much feedback, I guess since they weren't about Touma or Accelerator or other characters from the LN's. Hopefully Railgun fans will appreciate these a lot more.