AN: The next update may be a few weeks out, as I'll be traveling. Thanks so far for the likes and reviews; I appreciate you.

Apologies for any oddly worded sentences that I missed. I'm sick and my brain is mush.

Summary: In which Ochako learns a little more about Izuku and his magic, while Katsuki and Shouto find a way to sneak out to look for Ochako.

4: Safe to Trust You

As the rolling clouds from the witch's spell dissipated into the air, moonlight washed over the battleground and surrounding woods. The soldiers used that to their advantage as they combed through the area, ensuring all had been taken care of.

Despite this, they failed to notice someone moving away towards the eastern border and the wall that separated the Kingdom of Yuuei from the scorched ruins of the Shigaraki Kingdom. Underneath a leather cloak with heavy stitching, wisps of white hair reflected back pale moonlight.

It was no surprise that this new Nomu had been taken down. After all, when the bigger Nomu had been so easily crushed earlier, they realized they needed a different approach to get what they wanted, much to his master's anger and frustration. That such a monster could be killed before it could return with its findings meant their ultimate target was still very active and hiding within Yuuei, but it also meant they were not getting any closer to obtaining their current target.

Tonight, however, had been much more successful. From the shadows, he had been able to see exactly what he hoped. With these new Nomu designed specifically to track down Relic Cores, it was easy to know when they found one. The way the Nomu had aggressively switched targets and the gleeful shriek it gave said all he needed to know. That storm caster had a Relic.

Which one, it was hard to say. The caster had a staff, so it was possible they were using powerful magical tools, so they could have been a Creator, or even a lucky Hollow. But it was also possible they were the real prize: the Echo.

And when that damned Protector showed up to destroy the monster in a single hit, he watched as it took off with the Relic holder, and his suspicion only grew.

It was far too risky for him to tail them, and he was certain he wouldn't be able to keep up with that speed anyway. However, the storm caster had shown up alone, indicating they could be lured out. And that was all he needed to know for now.

With a wide smile, the cloaked man came to a stop and looked up at the stone wall separating the two lands. All along the top of the structure were torches lit with Todoroki fire, ever burning despite the elements. The smile turned into a sneer as the man bounded up the wall and catapulted himself over it with feline grace, coming down onto the blackened and dying grass on the other side.

In his wake, the torches nearest to him had gone from red to blue.

XX

It was everything she could do to not drop her staff when Izuku yanked her close and took off. The world around her blurred, and she had to close her eyes to avoid getting dizzy from the way he leapt over farm plots and fences like it was nothing. It was only when he landed with an impact that suggested he was not going to bound off again did she try opening her eyes. She found he had stopped at the edge of the enchanted forest, his green-black magic flickering around them violently.

He hesitated, and she realized it was because he would not know the way back to her home without the forest guiding him. Gently, she pressed a hand to the magic-cloaked arm holding her close, noting the way the inky energy let her through, swirling against her fingers in a warm, sinuous dance. With a soft inhale, she beckoned the forest to hear her desires, urging it to show him the way back to the cottage. 'Guide him to my home.'

She expected the forest to acquiesce, given the relationship she had with it, but it surprised her to hear the wind shiver a response that gave her pause. Like a distant song, her territory replied.

Show, show. We will show. We guide the way for the holder of an ancient one. We trust. He is known. Do you trust?

She hesitated, feeling the whisper against her cheeks like sweet kisses from a child. Holder of an ancient one? She lifted her gaze to look at him, and shining green stared down at her in the dark, the only part of him visible through the haze of magic engulfing him. Despite his monstrous appearance, draped in liquid black, this man was no monster. What he was she did not know, but he saved people. He fought real monsters. He had saved her tonight.

And staring into those haunting eyes, she could see he was so very lost and very much alone.

She felt something inside her solidify, and the forest quivered in delight at her response. 'Yes.'

"Izuku."

Although he jerked at the sound of his name, he stayed surprisingly calm as she reached up with her hand. The only thing that betrayed him was a slight twitch as his eyes locked onto her fingers. Gently, she pushed past the magic and pressed her fingertips to his forehead. Her mouth moved, reiterating her request to grant him the ability to navigate her forest home.

He inhaled as she pulled her hand away, eyes flickering around him, and before she could say anything, he took off again. She gritted her teeth, nearly dropping her staff as her feet left the ground. Instinctively, she pulled her knees up, watching as he weaved through the treetops, using his magic like extensions of his body. "I-Izuku," She managed to gasp out, though he did not relent until they were by the edge of the swamp.

It was only then he relinquished his hold on her, and she turned to him, jamming the end of her staff into the damp soil. The tip of the gnarled, lichen-covered branch lit up like a pale lantern, casting her disgruntled expression in a haunting light. "You…"

He flinched at the frustration in her tone. Pursing her lips, she flicked her staff towards the swamp. "Inside. Now."

XX

The core of the enchanted forest was beautiful at night. Izuku wanted to appreciate it, but he was very worried about how angry Ochako was. He didn't know why she was angry, but he recognized the emotion.

More importantly, however, was that the dominating will of his own magic receded of its own accord once he stepped foot inside. He froze when he felt it, like a tightly coiled rope slowly unraveling around his entire form, allowing him to take back full control of his body. Up until this point, wrangling with his own magic had been a struggle and battle of wills. The magic had a strong desire to protect, and ever since that fateful day it had been in control more than he had been, driving him forward to fend off threats while simultaneously sheltering him from harm.

He understood the magic was not malicious. It was protective, but it was also suffocating. He had learned to live with it over the years, but its constant dominance meant his ability to control it was meager at best. So, for it to retreat back into his core willingly, he understood exactly what that meant.

Ochako was safe.

He had already begun to understand that, even aside from her saving his life. His magic had not tried to resurface during his recovery, having originally retreated as he was dying in the forest and too weak to maintain it. Furthermore, it let her touch him. Her fingers had passed through the magical armor like it was vapor, because it recognized she was not a threat.

And here, in this place that was an extension of her, it understood that Izuku was safe.

So even though she stalked across the plush moss, fireflies pulsing around her like twinkling yellow stars, he knew that the emotions she displayed were not threatening. It still made him nervous, because he did not understand, but he followed after her anyway, slowly uncoiling his magic from around his body now that it was no longer needed, marveling at this new freedom.

Once inside the cottage, the remaining magic slid off of him like silk, vaporizing into the floor. Ochako stood there staring at him in disapproval, her arms across her chest. "I can't believe you…" She hissed.

He swallowed, shrinking back slightly. A strange expression flickered over her face like concern, and she sighed, snapping her arm out and pointing to his bed. "Sit. Now."

Izuku stepped forward to obey, and without the aid of his magic, he realized just how much the movement hurt. Oh.

He glanced down, at the red that had seeped through several spots on his robe. Oh.

Was that…why she was…?

He grimaced as he sat down, and when he looked up, she had pulled a book from her shelves and grabbed the basket of medical supplies she had kept prepared by his bed. And despite her anger, her hands were oh, so gentle as she inspected his reopened wounds. Her brows knitted in concern as she considered her options. "Your arm is in terrible shape, and you've pulled open the wound on your thigh and your hip." She sighed in frustration. "Well, since you're determined to try to kill yourself, we'll change our approach in your recovery."

He felt like a scolded puppy as she glared up at him, fingers reaching for the book at her side. Snapping open the bindings, she let her eyes close. "You were far too close to death for this spell before, but now…"

She trailed off, and the book whipped open with pages wildly fluttering in the otherwise quiet room. He felt a warm heat overwhelm the pain radiating through his leg and hip. Ochako's palms lit up, cased in a soft, golden glow that washed over his skin.

He suddenly felt tired.

Very tired.

His brows dipped in confusion as he sank back against the pillows, feeling as though he might lose consciousness any minute. He fought against it, but felt like he was drowning in an ocean of exhaustion. Looking up at the witch through half-lidded eyes, he sighed as he felt her palm touch his forehead, her skin soft and cool to the touch.

Distantly, like she was speaking through a wall, he heard her.

"Sleep. You'll feel better in the morning."

XX

After tending to Katsuki's arm, the healers had left the room, leaving him alone with Shouto. The latter listened at the door for several seconds, before he moved close to stand in front of the Captain, dropping his voice low. "Do you think she's okay?"

Katsuki glanced up to the taller man, and Shouto was taken aback by the Dragon's expression. It was rare for him to openly display concern in a way that was not laced with anger. The blond looked away. "I… I don't know. Like I said, the monster's never attacked people. It's always been kinda a guard dog for us against Nomu, but…" He paused, pressing his lips into a thin line. He looked unusually pale in the lantern light. "I… have never seen the Monster act like that before."

"What, kidnap someone?"

Katsuki shook his head, his brows furrowing. "No. What happened there wasn't an abduction. It showed up to protect Ochako. Like, I've seen the damn thing appear plenty of times to fight Nomu, but this time, there was something different. And then she put herself between it and us. Anytime anyone has made movements toward it in the past it's bolted. But it let her move close to it. And it didn't just take her. She turned to it and they had some sort of exchange. Like they knew each other."

Katsuki tilted his head, staring at the floor as realization dawned on him. "Fuck… that's it. It's like she knows it." He dragged a hand over his mouth. "Fuck, 'Chako. What have you gotten yourself into?"

Shouto frowned and folded his arms across his chest. "What should we do, then? Do you think any of your men saw enough to raise concern?"

Katsuki glanced back towards the door, before looking up to the prince. "That magic was hardly invisible, but it was too dark for them to see anything to identify her, and I don't think they were close enough to hear us speak. But they sure as hell saw the monster and possibly saw it take off with her." The Captain gave a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Most common folk ain't going to recognize her face, but her magic's another story. Won't take long for people to start asking who's running around causing storms and chaos like that."

Shouto brought a hand up to his chin, thinking. "And if word gets back to my father, he'll want to know who she is."

"Yeah. And I'm sure he's not forgotten her little round face, either," Katsuki replied wryly.

Shouto sighed. This was a worrisome situation, without much for them to take action on. "What should we do?"

The Captain stood up, gently testing his arm's mobility. "I'll go talk to her."

Mismatched eyes blinked in surprise. "You… know how to get to her?"

Shrugging his uninjured shoulder, Katsuki began to wrap the cloth back on his forearm that acted as a buffer for his gauntlets. "She comes to the market periodically; not sure how often. I saw her there a week ago, but it'd been a while since I had seen her before that. But years ago she gave me a guidestone to reach her should I ever need to." He paused, cinching the fabric tight against his arm. "Problem is, she lives in the enchanted forest and that place is huge. Even with guidance it'll probably put me gone for several hours, which will draw attention. I'll have to find a good excuse to be away from my men."

"I can make it happen," Shouto offered.

The Dragon paused, not looking up at the taller man as he considered it. "It would be suspicious."

"Hm. To use your phrasing… 'Give me some fucking credit, Katsuki.'"

The blond gave his Prince a sharp look, brows high on his forehead. After a moment, he snorted. "How is it that I collect brats?"

Shouto smiled, saying nothing.

Snapping on his gauntlet, Katsuki picked up his helmet and sword. "Let's get back to the castle. I got a lengthy report to give, and you got some strings to pull, you sneaky bastard."

The prince's smile widened.

XX

It was just after dawn when Izuku stirred, inhaling deeply as he opened his eyes. Early morning light filtered in through the cottage windows, illuminating the interior in pale yellow. The only sounds came from outside, mostly soft bird chatter and the bubbling water from the pool on the veranda. Blinking blearily, he forced himself awake, though he felt slightly disoriented by how hard it was to push away the urge to go back to sleep.

Humming in disapproval, he pulled himself into a seated position. The blankets fell to his waist, and the cool air in the cottage kissed bare skin. Looking down, he noted his robe had been removed, and his right arm was bandaged from shoulder to wrist, supported by a cloth sling. The scent of medicinal herbs smacked him in the face and he wrinkled his nose in response, turning his head away from the offending aroma. It was then he caught sight of his robe, hanging near the hearth. It had been washed, although the blood had left a faint staining on the fabric.

He wondered if Ochako was still angry with him.

Leaning to one side, he peered in the direction of her bed and saw it was empty. Frowning, he pushed off the blankets and rolled to his feet, and it took him a full second to notice the ease of mobility and lack of pain in his lower body. With some surprise he glanced down to see that the wounds in his thigh and hip were almost completely healed, with the only traces of his injuries being the discoloration on his skin.

Curious, he slipped on the sandals and grabbed his robe, finding it dry enough to don. It took some effort to secure the sash closed with only one hand, but once he did he opened the front door of the cottage, looking around for Ochako. His eyes swept across the clearing, from the entrance to the swamp, to the garden full of seasonal crops. Not seeing her, he walked around towards the back of the cottage. Her magic wafted through the air like a decadent scent from a bakery, so he knew she had not left for somewhere else.

As he rounded the corner to the veranda he came to a sharp halt, eyes widening at the sight of morning light hitting pale skin through a thin curtain of steam. She sat in her bath, her back to him and her hands gently wringing water out of her hair. His exceptional eyesight betrayed him, allowing him to catch all the details of a moment he was not meant to see, from the way the rivulets of water danced down the muscles of her back, to how the angle allowed just a hint of soft curves normally hidden from view.

Heart hammering, he stepped back around the corner and pressed his back to the wall, feeling his face burning in embarrassment and shame for what he had just accidentally witnessed. Even if she had been waist-deep in water and with her back to him, it was not something he should have ever been privy to see. Running a hand through his hair, he stared down at the ground and hoped that she had not noticed.

He looked up and saw the orange familiar staring intently at him. The cat flicked its tail, and Izuku decided now was a very good time to go back inside.

XX

"I still can't believe your father believed this half-assed story you baked up, Shouto," Katsuki grunted as he secured the horses. It was right at daybreak, and they were out by the farms closest to the enchanted forest. The two men had come alone, under the premise that Shouto wished to start making rounds to the villages and settlements of Yuuei, to raise morale. Riding on the tailwinds of his earlier lecture to his father about what a proper heir does, Shouto had convinced King Enji that simply showing up, speaking to people and listening, would do wonders for easing the growing anxieties from the Nomu attacks. Additionally, having the Captain of the Guard accompany him would be plenty of protection and add extra impact to the citizens, while not reducing valuable headcount towards the daily tasks.

The Todoroki Prince looked away from where he watched the nearby farmers moving through the early morning fields, and a slight smile touched his lips. "I can. I've been fooling him for years."

The Captain snorted in a way that said 'point taken' and turned away from the horses. "Shall we get a couple of rounds in before we take our detour?"

Shouto nodded, smoothing out the cape he wore over his red and back royal ensemble. "Yes. Let's."

They made their way around the farmhouses, checking in with the families and ensuring that each hearth was lit with Todoroki fire and each homestead had a proper protection charm by the entrance. Once satisfied, Shouto excused himself and Katsuki, stating he wanted to investigate a rumor about the forest.

As they approached the edge of the sprawling woods, both slowed their pace, staring up at the towering trees and thick canopy. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and something that rode along with it caused the hairs on their arms to stand. Shouto swallowed, turning to Katsuki. "Have you… ever been in there?"

"Couple of times. Never too far in. You always feel like something is watching you, and it's hard to get a sense of direction. Every time I traced my steps back, I exited somewhere completely different from where I came in." Katsuki shrugged, reaching in a small sachet at his belt and pulled a smooth stone from it. It was, at a glance, unimpressive, like a rock stolen from the riverbed. However, as he rubbed his thumb over its surface in a circular pattern, the stone changed from speckled gray to a soft, marbled violet with a faint luminescent glow. Giving the prince a look, the blond held the stone in front of him and stepped into the forest.

Shouto followed, taking two steps in. His feet came to a stop as he felt the atmospheric change between where he had just been and where he was now. Eyes wide, he turned to Katsuki, who looked back, brow arched. "See what I mean?"

Shouto nodded slowly. "It is… intense. I'm surprised Ochako lives here so easily."

The Captain shrugged. "She told me she can talk to the forest. I guess whatever magic's going on here doesn't bother her like it does us. Anyway, let's go."

Shouto blinked. "Go… where?"

Katsuki turned and gave the Prince a sharp look, red eyes regarding him intently. He glanced down to the pulsing stone in his hand and then deeper into the forest, before cursing softly. Before Shouto could question further, the captain reached out and grabbed his hand, pressing the stone between their palms. The moment their fingers connected, the guidestone lit up like a purple lantern, and a shimmering path erupted in front of them, highlighting the way deeper into the forest.

Shouto sucked in a sharp breath, brows lifting, and Katsuki grunted. "Figures. You have to be touching the damn thing to see the way. C'mon. You'll get fucking lost if I let go of you, you useless royal brat."

Without waiting for a response, he stalked off down the trail, firmly dragging Shouto with him, their fingers intertwined around the guidestone.

XX

When Ochako came back inside, she was surprised to not only see Izuku awake, but that he had started a fire in the hearth. She blinked, adjusting the loose robe she wore over her dress and walked up to inspect the green flames dancing warmly. Although unusual in appearance, casting the cottage in a warm green light, they produced a delightful heat that made her smile.

Izuku sat atop his bed, watching her intently with bright green eyes. As usual, the moment she met eye contact, he looked away, gaze dropping to the fire. Nodding his head, he said, "I started boiling water." His voice was still scratchy, but it did sound a little better.

Smiling, Ochako nodded and moved into the kitchen to prepare her kettle for tea. "Did you sleep well?"

"A lot."

The witch hummed, not looking back at him as she went through her variety of teas. "That is normal. The type of spell I used requires the recipient's own energy to work. I couldn't use it before, because, well, you weren't exactly in good shape. Even now, I still had to focus on one area, so I chose your leg and hip since you are a terrible patient and won't stay in bed."

She leveled a pointed stare at him over her shoulder that made him flush and look away again. Softly, she heard him mumble an apology, and any of her remaining irritation melted away. It was strange that such a powerful person had such a demure presence. The contrast was hard to reconcile without seeing it like she had.

"Well," She said, setting the tea to steep, "Instead of apologizing, I want you to try better to take care of yourself. You have a lot of power in your magic, but you still seem quite mortal to me. It would be best to not test that, no?"

She smiled at him, and this time the wide green eyes did not look away, regarding her in quiet wonder. She lifted a brow which provoked him to respond, nodding his head. "Okay," He murmured, his voice cracking. He touched his throat, pouting.

Upon seeing his childish expression, Ochako couldn't help it. She giggled, which only made the poor man blush, glancing down awkwardly at the floor. "I'll put honey in your tea. It will help," She offered, her voice laced with amusement. She began to prepare breakfast, moving deftly around her kitchen. After a few minutes of silent work, she spoke up. "I think I need to understand more about your situation, Izuku."

She did not stop to look at him, but she suspected he was listening to her quite intently, so she continued. "All of the kingdom thinks you're a monster.. I don't know why you've let them think that, but it's clear you're not. And it's clear you mean no harm to the people of Yuuei. But you've been… hiding, and you've isolated yourself, to your detriment, I might add, and you're implying there's great magic at work keeping secrets from the world."

She turned to him, waving a wooden spatula. "I took you in, and I don't regret doing that. But I do think I am owed some insight into just who…or what is gracing me with his presence." She flashed him a brief smile.

He said nothing, shifting uneasily from his perch on his bedding. Ochako regarded him carefully before asking. "Are you human?"

She noted he seemed surprised by the question, as if not expecting her to ask that. Brows rippling under his messy bangs, he pondered before replying, "I… think so?"

Her dubious expression said all she needed it to say, and he rubbed the back of his head with his good arm uneasily. Carefully, his voice rough, he replied, "I… was born human. I think… I still am. But… a lot has c-changed."

Ochako thought back over what she knew, and the image of ink against parchment flashed in her mind. "Was it your Core?"

Wide eyes looked back up at her and he nodded hesitantly. "...yes."

"Is it hurting you?"

Whatever question he had expected next, she could tell it had not been that. He looked taken aback, before he shook his head slowly. "Not…n-no. It is… hard to work with."

Ochako noted the particular wording he used. "You said 'work with' instead of 'use'. You can communicate with it?"

His brows lifted up, and he gave a singular nod, although his expression indicated that it was more complicated than 'yes' or 'no'. She watched as he bit his lip, thinking, before he pushed himself to his feet and walked towards her. Idly, she noted how well he was moving and was silently grateful the spell had done its job. After all, it was clear he was terrible at staying still and resting.

He stopped just outside of arm's length, looking down at her through a veil of messy curls. His expression was pensive, but finally he asked, "Can I… try something?"

The brunette looked up at him, placing her spatula on the counter. She could have asked him to elaborate, but something in her felt like she didn't need to. She nodded, turning to face him. "Sure."

She got the impression that what he did next took a considerable amount of bravery, given his aversion to interaction. Swallowing, he reached out and lightly grasped her wrist in warm, calloused fingers. Gently, he tugged her hand up and pressed her palm to his chest, holding it there. Eyes nervous and voice a breathy whisper, he instructed. "Listen."

She regarded him for a moment before she closed her eyes and opened herself up.

For a moment, there was nothing. And then, there was everything. The world intensified around her in a burst of sensation across every part of her being, and before her mind could process just what was happening, she found herself standing in a field.

It was unlike any landscape she had ever seen before. The black starry sky was washed in a film of rich emerald green, with endless shooting stars of bright chartreuse. She stood in fields of tall grasses growing out of pearlescent sands, the stalks waving in beautiful gradients of lavender and pinks. In the distance, a wide waterfall of the most peculiar shade of teal cast rolling clouds of iridescent mist, the source of water seeming to come from nothing. Large rocks jutted out from the fields, so black they reflected no light. Atop one such rock sat a young boy with wild green hair and a chubby face full of freckles, his arms wrapped around his knees. He wore a simple tan shirt and brown trousers, the toes of his bare feet curling against the surface of the rock.

Ochako squinted, before she gasped. "Izuku?"

The boy turned and looked at her, an unsure smile touching his lips before he disappeared with a ripple. Her breath caught and she looked around. "Izuku?"

"I'm here."

The voice came from behind, and she spun to see the child standing behind her, watching her with eyes that did not glow. She smiled and crouched down in front of him. "Hi there."

The boy smiled shyly, rocking on his feet. "Hi."

Ochako regarded him curiously for a few seconds before asking, "So… where are we, Izuku?"

The boy looked up to the sky, fingers playing with the hem of his shirt. "We're inside my Core. I thought that since you're an Echo, and I can see cores, that if we combined the two, you could talk to mine. But you can't seem to hear it, even though you're here."

Ochako followed his gaze, watching the ever continual meteor shower cast streaks of green light across the emerald sky as she considered his words. He was right. She could tell there was an intense, heavy magic that fell over everything like a winter snow, but she could not hear its whispers, only that it was whispering. She was silent for several seconds before deciding to ask some careful questions. "Does it know I am here?"

She turned her head to see him nod vigorously. "It let you in."

Ochako hummed in thought, considering what that meant. "Does it trust me, then?"

Another shy smile, coupled with a little nod. Unlike the adult counterpart living under her roof, the boy version of Izuku seemed to not struggle to maintain eye contact, despite the timid demeanor.

"Okay," She breathed, unsure what to do with that. After a moment, she asked, "Why is your core hard to work with?"

The boy hummed in thought, still fidgeting with his shirt as he dug his toes into the pearly sands. "It wants to protect me."

Ochako shook her head and reached up to tap Izuku on his nose. Green eyes crossed to look at her finger as she explained, "That is a motivation, but not a reason. Why is it hard to work with, Izuku?"

He scrunched his face up in thought before replying, "Because it is so strong that I can't control the magic it has…so it takes over to keep us safe."

Ochako felt her mouth go dry. Magical possession? Was this why he stayed isolated? Did he become the Monster of Yuuei because the magic commandeered his body? She swallowed, suppressing the urge to shudder. "O…okay. But it's not in control right now, right?"

He shook his head, ringlets of green hair bobbing from the action. "Nope!"

"Why not?"

He grinned, showing her a set of baby teeth, including a gap where one was missing. "Because it knows Ochako is safe!"

She paused at that, blinking rapidly at the boy. "It… what? Me?"

Izuku nodded, but did not elaborate. She chewed on her lip, pondering on that for a few seconds before she sighed and elected to go down a different path of questions. "Okay, well. I'm glad, then. So… You told me something changed with your core. Can you tell me what happened?"

It was hard to tell if she was actually talking to a child, or if this was simply how Izuku's consciousness manifested in his Core, but she found herself speaking to him like a child anyway.

The boy rocked back and forth on his feet, puffing out his cheeks as he thought. "I was born with a different core. One that let me see everyone's cores. It's called a Hollow Core. But then the core I have now was transferred to me when my master died and it merged with my core. I'm the successor."

"Cores… move between people?" Ochako asked, eyes wide. She had never heard of magic transferring. At least, not like that.

"Mmm…" The boy hummed, pursing his lips. "Only two cores can do that. The Origin Cores."

"Origin…?" Ochako narrowed her eyes, cutting off her question and instead asking another. "Wait, so, you have… one of these two cores?"

The boy nodded in a slow, exaggerated fashion.

"Who… has the other one?" Ochako asked carefully.

Izuku's eyes dropped to the ground, voice falling to a tiny whisper. "A very bad person."

Slowly, Ochako found herself putting together the pieces. "Is… this person after you?"

"Yes," He said in a loud whisper, looking up to her with wide eyes. "And you. And then, everything."

She felt dread pooling in her gut. "Why?"

Izuku stepped forward, not breaking eye contact. "Because the Blackened Core can steal cores. And if it steals the right ones, it can take my core. And if that happens, everything ends."

"What?" She asked weakly, hearing her voice falter. She reached forward to touch Izuku's shoulder, stopping when she saw her hand and arm start to fade. She sucked in a breath, staring at her ghost-like fingers. Softly, against her ears, she heard the core buzz a message too muffled for her to understand.

Izuku, however, nodded, his too-wide eyes fixating on her hand. "You're at your limit, so it's pushing you out now so you don't get hurt."

"What…?"

The boy smiled, rocking on his feet once again as he waved. "Let's talk again later. Bye Ochako!"

XX

Ochako opened her eyes and found herself staring up into glowing emeralds framed in a curtain of inky curls that dangled over her face. Izuku hovered over her, supporting her back with his good arm, her lower body sprawled out on her kitchen floor unceremoniously. He searched her face anxiously, though the tension started to leave him when she met his gaze and offered a fluttering smile. "Hey…"

He nodded to her, his breath slightly labored, eyes still searching her face for something. She wasn't entirely sure what, though it clearly had to do with what she'd just been told. "I… take it I didn't dream that, huh?"

He shook his head, offering a breathy apology. "Sorry… I didn't realize… it would do that."

She laughed a little, her own voice equally as breathless. Her limbs felt somewhat heavy, and she was grateful for his help as he got her to sit upright, his arm still cradling her upper body. "I guess… it's like working out a muscle you never use."

He made a thoughtful noise of agreement and moved to help her to her feet. He steadied her once she was standing, his good arm supporting her, and idly she noted he was far less concerned about touch if there was an aspect of helping or protecting involved. "I need to think about everything you told me, if that is okay."

Izuku nodded, walking her to sit at the table. He pulled away, though his expression indicated he had something to say. She waited patiently, letting her strength return, and finally he offered. "Thank you."

She blinked up at him, her brows dipping in confusion. "For what?"

He shifted, glancing away. "You trusted me."

She huffed a little, a warm smile touching her lips. However, before she could reply, the forest erupted around her with an excited announcement.

Someone approaches. A guest, a guest. No danger, no threat. They know the way, guided by you.

Her breath hitched, eyes going wide. Of all the people who could get to her, there was only one who made sense. Both relief and anxiety washed over her as she glanced up at Izuku, then back towards the path to the swamp. "Shit."

Before Izuku could ask what was wrong, a voice called out, "Oi, what the hell is this madness, 'Chako?!"

"Stay here," Ochako hissed before bolting out the door. She found herself staring down at three figures at the edge of the enchanted clearing. Prince Shouto smiled warmly at her, bowing his head in greeting. Katsuki of House Bakugou stood next to him, glowering with his arms crossed over his chest. Sitting on his shoulder was the petite form of Tsuyu, her long hair draping over Katsuki's pauldron like a partial cape, and her precarious perch likely the reason for the Captain's very unhappy expression.

Gesturing up to the spirit on his shoulder, his brow twitched. "What is this thing? It insisted it had to escort us."

Despite it all, Ochako had to bite her lip, doing her best to hide the smile that wanted to form. "Tsuyu… is my guardian spirit. She escorts my guests and wards off trespassers."

"Well, we're here now, so can you get off of me?!" The Dragon snarled, gnashing his teeth up at the spirit.

Tsuyu looked down at him, pressing a finger to her chin. After a moment, she replied. "I could, ribbit."

"It was not a fucking question!" He reached up to grab her, but his hand met nothing but a splash of swamp water as she melted away. The spirit reappeared at the edge of the swamp, her expression unfazed.

With a frustrated growl, Katsuki swiped at the water on his armor before wiping his fingers on his trousers. "Fucking spirits…"

"Thank you, Tsuyu, and please ignore his lack of manners," Ochako said, eyes on her magical friend. It was important to show appreciation to the spirit for doing her job. Tsuyu nodded, casting one last glance at the two men, before disappearing back into the swamp. Turning her attention back to her two visitors, Ochako held out her hands. "Your Majesty. Katsuki. Welcome to my humble abode." She paused, her tone turning serious. "But… why are you both here?"

"What do you mean, 'why are we here'?" Katsuki snapped back, his expression incredulous. "Did you think getting carried off by our pet monster wouldn't cause a scene? What the hell is going on, 'Chako?"

She hesitated, lips parting. "That's… not…" She trailed off before taking a steadying breath. "...It's not what you think."

Katsuki opened his mouth to snap a response when he froze, eyes moving from her to something behind her. Ochako grimaced, turning to see Izuku standing in the doorway, green eyes focused on her guests. She realized quickly she needed to do something to prevent things from accidentally escalating, however before she could begin to diffuse the situation, Izuku spoke, his voice a mixture of confused and hopeful.

"K…Kacchan?"

The singular word made Katsuki freeze, as if someone had cast a paralysis spell on his entire form. Eyes wide, he stared at Izuku. It was clear the name meant something to him, albeit something very alarming. Ochako looked between the two men, then to Shouto, who also seemed confused by Katsuki's response.

Several emotions flashed across the Captain's face, starting at bewilderment before ending in pained confusion. Hesitantly, Katsuki replied, "...Deku?"

Izuku nodded, wide green eyes staring intently at the other man. In response, the Dragon of Yuuei dropped his hand to his sword, stance guarded, his expression melting away into cold anger.

Ochako's eyes widened as she looked between the two men, Katsuki ready to attack and Izuku panicked. Weakly, Izuku pleaded, "Kacchan… it's me."

"Fuck off," Katsuki spat, eyes burning. "You're not Deku. Deku is dead."

And in sensing the building threat, the ancient magic of Izuku's core hissed to life, billowing up from his form in the telltale tendrils that belonged to the Monster of Yuuei.

- XX -

AN: Feedback welcome.