Ch. 3: Blackout
"Ahhh, it's gorgeous out today!"
Ochaco looked over to Mina yelling out in the busy foot traffic, stretching widely and taking up absolutely more space than was needed. She smiled. It had been a rough few days since the warehouse raid. While it had been a success, there had been no coverage from the local media about their exploits. Captain Hosori had been tight-lipped about any details regarding the folks they had rescued after they turned in their reports to her. Ochaco had spent a fair amount of time worrying over them which pushed Ashido to take her out today. A day off to just shop and hang out; a day to just be without the anxieties of heroics was sorely needed. She took in the sun's warming rays and spread her arms to soak in as much as possible. Warmer days were coming and it showed. They were dressed cutely, their clothes picked out to maximize their exposure while also allowing them to stay warm. It felt wonderful to relax and leave their worries to the side, if only for a day.
They had been meandering for the better half the morning so far. Aimlessly walking and window shopping with the occasional purchase from Mina. The smell and sizzle of yakitori wafted toward them on a light breeze, grabbing Ochaco's attention. A food vendor was around the corner, standing behind his small cart as he worked quickly to turn over the kabobbed meat. He was a tall, burly man with hairy arms and strong face. The sleeves of his tan button up were rolled up to his elbow, a stained apron draped over his broad shoulders.
"Hey Mina, you hungry?" Ochaco asked, still watching the cook work his magic over the grill, "My treat."
Mina didn't answer right away. Ochaco had to turn to see what her hold up was and looked at the strange expression playing on her partner's face. It was a smug mix of know-it-all and pity.
"What?"
"Oh, you want some yakitori, huh Ocha'?" Mina asked slyly, slinking towards the vendor with a wink. Uraraka felt her face burn up and rolled her eyes. Just like Mina to have her mind in the gutter.
"Do ya want any or not?" she asked, exasperated at the hoops she had to jump through just for some damn food. Mina turned around and trotted back over to her. Ochaco hadn't moved an inch but was ready to take off if Ashido tried any funny business.
"Well yeah but uh... one sec, okay?"
"What are you - Mina!"
Her partner had begun to physically handle her, pressing her pink hands up to Ochaco's bust with an underhanded touch to lift her breasts up and together. Uraraka did her best to swat her friend away while Mina pressed her invasion of personal space, toying with her clothes and lamenting that they hadn't prepared to flirt with anyone.
"Oh 'Chaco, you're too cute not to flirt with. And I saw the look on your face. Just - let - me - help!"
"Mina, stop! We're making a scene and he's looking!"
The women separated for a moment to peek at the cook. He was doing his best to be subtle as he bent over to tend to his cooking meat but Ochaco swore she could see his eyebrows were raised up. Her face burned up again and she shoved Mina lightly aside. She wiggled her body to get comfortable after being handled so poorly, psyching herself up to order her snack. It was no biggie if the vendor saw her friend grope her. Not at all.
"H-hello! Could, uh, I have some c-chicken yakitori, please?" She did her best to keep eye contact with him as he smiled and answered. His voice was deep and pleasant, like the rolling tide of an ocean. Before he could get to work, Mina crashed into Ochaco's side.
"W-wait! Me too! I want some too!" He chuckled, the baritone rumble vibrating in Uraraka's chest. Her breath flitted and she stamped down the urge to raise her hand to her chest. She kept her resolutely eyes wandering about the food stand to avoid Mina's smug face. If anything about the situation annoyed her most, it would have been the fact that Ashido was right. It had been months since she had done anything outside of her current routine of work-eat-sleep. She was happy to have sacrificed some leftover time off she had gained so she could earn more for her parents but there was a gap she hadn't learned how to fill up yet. Not for lack of trying (or unwanted help from Mina or her parents). It was just that nothing stuck. Part of her wondered if she was looking in the wrong spaces.
Her eyes settled on watching their cook work quickly on the grill. She took in the curve of his thick back, how his pants were just a size too big for his trunk like legs, the daylight blinking off the beads of sweat that escaped his short cropped black hair. Mina nudged her playfully.
"He's cute," she whispered. Ochaco caved in and ventured a look at her partner. Surprisingly, the pink hero looked out at her with an earnest face. Dark eyes with golden irises lifted up with light as Mina encouraged her once more. "Just ask for his number. It'll be ok, I promise."
Uraraka heaved a sigh. Maybe it would be ok, just once, to try something different. Heaven knew that her last few attempts hadn't been too bad but they had left her wanting. She didn't even want to think about the time before that. Her eyes turned back to the cook as he started handing Mina their food.
"Right, that'll be five thousand yen, please," he requested. His eyes twinkled with a smile as he leaned a little towards her. She felt an old, dead thing in her chest attempt to flutter as she blinked and returned the smile. After some digging in her wallet, she handed the cash and was about to wave him goodbye when he held up a hand.
"One second, Miss Uravity." He placed the money in a cash drawer and began to scribble on the receipt. He skipped over her protest that she didn't need one and handed it over to her when he finished.
"You... know me?" she asked in disbelief. When it became clear he wouldn't respond with anything less than his dazzling smile, she took the slip of paper from him. She tried her best to hide the suspicion that was pulsing through her skull.
"Of course I know you," he answered, "You're the one keeping us all safe. I can sleep better knowing there's someone like you around. So, thanks!"
"I-It's my pleasure..." She blinked as she took a peek at what he wrote. A squeak escaped her lips when she read the digits scrawled on the bottom of the slip of paper. Uraraka looked back at him with an unsure smile. It only grew wider when he winked at her, turning away to attend another customer. Ochaco skipped over to Mina who was watching with that same smug look on her face. She ignored it and took her two sticks of chicken, savoring the flavor as she bit into it.
"Man, he can cook!" Mina exclaimed, winking at Uraraka. She let out a hearty laugh, carefully pocketing the receipt in her shorts. They walked on for a little more, taking a leisurely pace as they talked about the cute yakitori guy and what a date with him might look like. Ochaco felt a rumbling underneath the soles of her sneakers. She exchanged an alarmed look with Mina.
"There wasn't anything about an earthquake was there?" she asked as she pulled out her phone, scrolling through her news feed to look for any hints or clues. Mina shook her head, scrolling through her phone as well.
"No! And there's nothing on here. Wait, no... Damn it! There's an all out gang war going on a couple of blocks from here. The police and a few Heroes are on the scene, but it's getting really messy."
"Mina, I know we said no hero work today but -"
"I know, I know," Mina said, dejection piercing every vowel, "We can't not do something."
They took off, pulling out some minor support items that they always carried on hand when out of costume. As they approached the fighting, they could hear the cacophony of shouting and battle clashing wildly beyond their line of sight. People were running toward them in a panic. Ochaco and Mina took charge, dispersing the crowd rushing at them so that no one was trampled. Uraraka was the first one to break free and reach the scene.
It was in the middle of a crossroads that divided the area into a narrow "X". Patrol vehicles were creating a border just on the other side of the fighting, their emergency lights splashing red and blue on the shadowed buildings that surrounded them. Two large bands of blandly colored villains were striking each other with abandon. Sloshing blows and grunts mingled with the shouts of police officers trying to reestablish order. Ochaco didn't recognize anyone in the melee. She grit her teeth, frustrated that they had to go into this blind. Some brightly colored heroes began swarming the teeming mosh pit. The extra bodies only added to the violence with a spectacular burst of light and smoke. Without any real authority on either side, the brawling would only spread and the damage caused would start to pile up. Ochaco looked at Mina, exchanging an unspoken thought before they jumped into the fray.
The goal was simple: apprehend as many villains as possible. The problem was how to get there while the cops and heroes clashed with the crooks trying to escape. Ochaco ducked as a hulking man dressed in a baby blue jumpsuit threw a few unconscious villains away. She checked their vitals before cuffing them with inhibitors, moving quickly to dodge any wayward punches or kicks. A villain with bruised colored hair turned around and advanced toward her wildly. Panic was in the attacker's dark eyes and Uraraka felt her body tense for a moment. Whatever the situation, no one in their right mind wanted to go to jail or be caught up in a fight. She stepped into the attacker's open space, planting her back flush against the woman's front as she grabbed her outstretched arm. In one fluid motion, Ochaco flung her to the ground and cuffed her with an inhibitor. A foot came into her vision suddenly and Uraraka felt pain radiate throughout her head. She was knocked a few feet away, spinning a little as she drunkenly recovered from the blow. The new attacker, dressed in a gaudy leather yellow suit with red trim, did not let up, which was fortunate for her. They went in for a right hook which she ducked under, grabbing it with her arm as she popped back up. She struck him four times in the rib cage, feeling the bones crunch under her open palm strikes. With a well-timed knee to his stomach, Ochaco had subdued him enough to cuff him.
Right, that's five so far. Only a butt load more to go. Her eyes scanned the area quickly, her breath even, but coming in heavy gulps. She felt the adrenaline coursing through her veins and fought to maintain her focus. Off in the opposite corner, she watched Mina skating around three assailants before sweeping their legs to knock them down. The villains were quickly set upon nearby heroes. Maybe I should work on teaming up with some of these rookies. That big guy seems to be doing well on his own though.
Ochaco watched as that hulking newbie clocked out another crook without much apparent effort. He continued to plough through the crowd with abandon, knocking down anyone unfortunate enough to cross his path. She frowned as a few of their allies fell down. The tarmac under his feet was cracked, the spider veined fractures webbed out further as he stomped forward. A scrawny, spindly man tried to creep past the rampage. While he went unnoticed by the other heroes, Ochaco headed towards him. She was a few yards away when the gargantuan man wound his arm back for a punch, knocking the would-be escape artist. He fell backward and hit the ground hard. Now was her chance to catch the villain. She raced forward and watched as rage filled out his pinched face. His skin blazed red, burning brighter and brighter until he struck his fists against the splintering ground.
It had happened too fast for her to be certain what occurred. She thought it looked like his whole body released a burst of energy. The impact was devastating. She was thrown back, the wind stolen right out of her lungs. Large fissures in the earth began to form all around her. Huge chunks of broken road popped up into the air, creating a jagged miniature mountain range. Her ears were ringing and she had the vague sensation of something wet dribbling down her face. Ochaco propped herself up with a struggle, feeling the ground beneath her shift and give. With a yelp, she realized that the ground was caving and that the drop was making its way rapidly to her. Uraraka failed to get up in time and began to sink into the ever widening chasm with the rest of the rubble. She took her gravity away, gliding down and using the falling rocks to help guide her towards the top.
Ochaco looked down with a start when she realized that down below was the way station for the subway tracks. The explosion must have been massive, she reasoned, as she flipped in mid-air and pushed off to rocket towards the bottom.
"Ochaco!" Mina cried out behind her. Uraraka crunched herself to look up past her feet. Her friend held out an outstretched arm with an exhausted, distressed face. She gave Mina a cheeky wink and turned back to keep watch of her descent.
She planted both feet on the ground after a few minutes of floating softly amidst the racing debris and landed in pandemonium. People scurried around in the dark, the overhead lights flickering from the damage sustained in the cave-in. There were two sets of tracks that flanked a narrow platform, the cavernous tunnels gaping out at her on either side threatened to swallow the world around her. Screams of panic jolted her to work. Massive piles of fallen terrain piled up on the tracks, blocking the path of any trains that were scheduled to arrive.
On the thin slab of concrete where people were cowering, Ochaco saw a few injured folks being laid out or moved around so that they could receive some rudimentary aid. She growled and began to clear off the bouldered tracks. It was slow, grueling work. Her limit was creeping up on her with every mound cleared but she pressed through the waves of nausea that constricted the contents of her stomach. A couple of women approached her with wringing hands after she dismantled a particularly compacted grouping of debris. They looked scuffed up, clothes torn in a variety of places but there wasn't any visible bleeding. Ochaco shook off the scowl she had been sporting, choosing instead to give her best smile to ease their clear anxiety.
"Hey, ladies, come here often?" she joked, gritting her teeth as more nausea struck her.
"A-are you a pro hero?" one timidly asked, uncertainty swimming in her eyes. Uraraka let her disappointment slide and answered. She hoped her face or tone didn't betray her frustration.
"I'm Uravity," she gave with a dejected sigh, "Today's my day off. How hurt are you? How many people are injured?"
"Three people with broken legs - one that's really bad - and a few others that were knocked out. We thought we saw some movement in that tunnel," the other said as she pointed to the right most entrance nearby, "Don't know if you wanna check that out or not."
Uravity took a moment to assess the area around her. She had barely cleared up half of the track. Without knowing when the next train was due to pull in, she would be hard pressed to give first aid, clear up, and look into the potential threat lurking in the shadows. Ochaco needed backup fast.
"Ok, let me try to call for some help. Do you happen to know when the next train's supposed to roll up?"
"Uh... I think in ten minutes?" the first lady gave. Uraraka swore under her breath. If that train came in too hot, the passengers would be toast. The ladies offered their help, explaining their Quirks as they followed Ochaco while she rushed to clear the area. One could halve objects with a single touch but couldn't cleave them back together; the other had built in wheels in the heel of her feet. Uraraka began to utilize their aid in dispersing the clusters. She checked the tracks as they were cleared, looking for any damage to the rails. A sharp cry from the platform caught her attention. Ochaco whipped her head up and saw someone pointing at some commotion. Out of the tunnel's shadow sauntered out a group of four brutish, green skinned men, dressed only in loincloths, with large tusks protruding from beneath their lips. They snarled in their own twisted attempt at grinning, revealing their jagged teeth. The largest among them walked behind his cronies, crossing his thick arms across his broad chest. When he spoke, it felt like gravel being poured into her ears.
"Well, well... lookit what we got here. Easy pickin's boys. Go on! Get at it!" They started to rush the civilians when the cavity above them rumbled. Ochaco recognized what was happening, terror clasping her heart. The fighting had not concluded up top and caused more debris to fly straight at them. She shouted at her help as she pounced into action.
"Get back to the platform! Move everyone away from the tracks!" Ochaco slapped the remaining blocks of rock and asphalt as she passed them. The effect on her guts was immediate. She resisted the urge to drop, her knees buckling against her mind's urgent need to run faster. Ochaco urged the rocks to float up faster, the roaring of the falling remains of the street above growing louder with every second. The largest newcomer spoke again as he pointed at Uraraka. She couldn't bring herself to look at him as she sprinted on.
"Say, ain't that Uravity? That's gotta be her! Oh we are in for a treat today! Take 'er out!"
Uravity spun around, glaring out at them as sweat beaded down the side of her face. Her bangs were matted against her forehead. Her body felt hot and the nausea was becoming worse with each passing moment. She looked up to the hovering mass that she managed to wrangle in a makeshift barrier. Focusing on a few smaller pieces that could act like deterrents, the pro hero tapped her fingers together for half a heart beat.
"Release!"
Three sizable chunks of rock fell around the thugs. They were startled and fell back on their rears. The largest one, the leader she assumed, looked unimpressed as he took stock of his lackeys.
"That all you got, gravity girl? Pathetic..." he grunted as he coiled himself to attack her. There were about a hundred yards between them but given that she had been rendered stationary from using her quirk, it didn't look good. Just as he was about to launch himself, Uraraka watched his eyes widened in surprise as he slapped a hand to his neck. Confusion etched itself into his wretched face. His body swayed in spot and when he spoke again, it was slurred and groggy.
"Ya rat bastard... we had a... deal."
With an unceremonious flop, the crook was flat on his face in seconds. The other three scrambled to stand up but soon joined their leader within moments. Ochaco tried to figure out what was happening but then falling debris crashed against the hovering rubble she had lifted. She screamed out in agony, the effort to keep up the barrier becoming weaker with every ounce of rock that bounded against the mass of ruins. Her world began to fade. Head swimming with pain, Ochaco dropped to her knees, and pushed against the urge to release the objects in her care. She was vaguely aware of a figure running out of the shadows towards her, skipping over the fallen crooks as they tossed something toward the platform. Golden light blinded her moments before the figure swooped upon her. Strong, gentle hands clasped her arms. Their voice was kind and warm. She barely understood what they were wearing on their face as they dragged her away.
"It's ok, Uravity. Just let it go." Her mind protested and railed against the suggestion, but her body was beyond her limit. The mere thought of relief nearly brought her to tears.
"Oh- okay... re-release..."
She felt this new person pick her up and dash away from the incoming avalanche. Ochaco was fading, quickly, as she looked up to the person one last time. Bright green eyes beneath a strange rabbit mask looked down at her. She could swear that their eyes were smiling as she faded away, the horrible sound of falling debris dwindling as she lost consciousness.
