LIGHT IN THE ABYSS
The chirp of crickets' rings through the air as the blond slinks out of the dormitory; tongue clicking in annoyance as his tense shoulders roll backwards a fraction, stress consuming him. It was the first night of their mandatory on-campus stay due to the recent events surrounding his kidnapping and the shift in public opinion towards heroes. The last thing he wanted to do right now was to be held captive by his classmates and forced to make small talk about things he couldn't care less about, especially in a place he didn't want to live at in the first place.
It was difficult to even recall a time in which he actively avoided social interaction; in fact, it was often quite the opposite. With a devil may care attitude, he never had a reason to avoid it, until now. The fiery male dragged his feet as he slipped his hands deeper into his pockets, toying with its lining; piercing red eyes lock on a bench farther up the illuminated path as he released a heavy sigh. They won't even think to look for me here, he muses to himself, kicking pebbles beneath his feet as he averted his gaze a fraction. Although living in close quarters with his classmates wasn't the worst thing that had happened, he could hardly feel enthusiastic about the concept. Not when he lacked personal space and every last one of them had no concept of the term.
The guilt of being kidnapped was all-consuming, as were the repercussions of that followed. One pro hero had died, several others were injured and worst of all, All Might was forced to retire due to overexerting himself. It was gut-wrenchingly painful. How is this even reality? He muses silently, disbelief coursing through his mind as he lost himself in his thoughts. After years of being the strongest at his middle school and undoubtedly one of the most formidable individuals in his neighbourhood, was he suddenly supposed to accept that he was dead weight? Not fucking likely. Taking a deep breath, the stubborn male turns on his heel, planting his rear heavily on the wooden surface. His hands slip out of his pockets and rake through his hair as he dipped his head backwards, growling irritably as he stared up at the starry sky. How the heck did I get to this point? Since when did I become some frickin' damsel in distress needing a rescuer?
Heart racing, an overwhelming sense of frustration swelled within Katsuki's chest as he clenched his jaw, fingertips knotting around his blond locks as his mind was flooded with irritating facts. "How the heck did that worthless Deku end up being someone capable of saving my ass!" he spat venomously, eyes narrowing as he glared into the abyss of space laid out before his eyes in the night sky. Sure, Deku wasn't the only one involved in his hideously embarrassing rescue, but there was no doubt in his mind that he was the brains behind the operation based on the execution. Gritting his teeth, Katsuki tugged roughly at his roots; eyes narrowing as frustration continued to bubble away inside of him; If I knew he was behind this, there is absolutely no way I would've played along with their little plan. To hell with the consequences!"Bakugo?" a sweet voice calls out, light footsteps sounding through the air; drawing closer by the second. "It is you! The others all thought you were asleep in your room," Ochako states as she picks up her pace, a kind smile seizing her lips as she approaches him. Given it was getting late, the brunette was keen to get a quick jog around the block in before showering and heading to bed for the night. Crossing paths with her fierce classmate was not on her to-do list, and yet she couldn't walk away, not after seeing his distressed actions. Did he go outside to clear his head?Katsuki froze, eyes flicking open as his gaze drifted in the direction of the calming voice. Ochako's soothing voice cut through his frustration and stress like a knife. In a mere instant, he felt somewhat more relaxed, it was uncanny. What is she doing out here? He muses silently, a touch of frustration clinging to him as Ochako entered his line of vision. Despite his previous heated exchanges with her, she wasn't the type to hold a grudge. She was similar to Deku. She was kind, unreasonably and irrevocably kind. It didn't matter who it was, or how she was feeling; the brunette just always seemed to seek discomfort out like a missile and make it her business to rectify it, or perhaps it was just dumb luck. It was tough to say, but alas; she always seemed to be playing the role of the comforter. "I couldn't sleep properly with all that god damn noise you were all making. All I could hear was that room king crap everyone was harping on about in the hallway," he grumbled under his breath, leaning forward and promptly resting both his forearms atop of his parted knees; Who honestly gives a crap about styling their room anywaySensing his ever-present hostility, the brunette laughs awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck as she came to a halt before her classmate. "I guess we did get rather excitable over that," she admits sheepishly, pressing a finger against her pillowy bottom lip as her thoughts drifted slightly. The pair had always had a somewhat interesting relationship. She couldn't help but find Katsuki a somewhat intimidating individual despite knowing he meant well. Sure, he had a blunt approach to conversations, and sometimes he did cross the line with comments she overheard, but that wasn't intimidating strangely enough. His unrivalled confidence and combat skills were a completely different story on the other hand. "So, are you going to tell me why you are out here in the dark, yelling at the sky?" she enquires, her hand slipping to her other arm, tugging it up against her form somewhat nervously; He looks so annoyed. Perhaps I should've just let him be, but how could I?The discourse between the pair was few and far between. Sure, there was the occasional exchange in class; or jab in Katsuki's case, but beyond that, they were simply cordial from afar for the most part. The Sports Festival changed all of that, however. At first glance, Ochako appeared to be no different than all the other sweet-natured females he had encountered; flowery, a little shy and lacking in any battle worthy skills. But how wrong he was. The match between the pair had been eye-opening to say the least. There was something different about her, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "Why would I? It's a free country. I will do what I want when I want," he fires back hotly, defensive walls skyrocketing as the male huffed defensively. "I don't need to explain myself to you or anyone else for that matter.
Owch. His prickly response wasn't exactly unexpected, in fact; it played out exactly how she imagined, but it was still slightly disappointing. Given everything that had occurred recently it wasn't exactly a mystery as to why he might look more annoyed than usual. After all, his pride was somewhat legendary in class 1-A. Such a huge blow to his confidence was sure to shake him given his golden child mentality. "It's because of what happened with the League of Villains isn't it?" Ochako enquires slowly, the words flowing from her lips before she even had a moment to question whether he would be receptive to such a discussion. It was always about timing with him after all.
"Oh, you think you know everything now do you?" He snaps, eyes quaking as he lets his emotions take hold like always. Part of him knew it was unfair to not hold back. It was clear that she was merely hoping to comfort him, but such a feat was impossible to achieve while he felt completely and utterly vulnerable. He bites down hard on the inside of his cheek, a poor attempt to stop himself from continuing to rant. Saying anything further would only further her cause to aid him in some way, right?
"You have to forgive yourself. It's not your fault that you got captured, they were seeking you out," She replies, her eyes softening as she crouches down in front of him, bright eyes beaming up at him hopefully. Being supportive of her classmates was an unspoken duty she had bestowed upon herself; what kind of comrade would she be if she turned her back on him at a time like this? No, giving up was simply not within her skillset. Besides, how could she call herself a Hero if she couldn't do something so minor? It's weighing on his mind. I don't even need to hear him admit it to know that simple fact, she notes silently as she leaned forward; breasts pressing up against her knees as she twisted her lips in sympathy and tilted her head slightly.
He wasn't exactly depraved like some of their classmates, but staring was outside of his control, after all, it was just 'there' suddenly. What was he supposed to do? Eyes widening, Katsuki quickly averts his gaze, frowning as the image of her bosom peeking out of her tank top seared into his mind. Why are those tops so low? She should cover-up, those fools will make uncomfortable remarks if they see so much of her, he notes silently, pushing the thoughts to the back of his mind; it wasn't the time to focus on such trivial and distracting matters. "Fine! Since you're so smart, how am I supposed to live with the fact that I caused All Might's Retirement?" He demands, his face contorting as his gaze swung back in her direction, focusing on her hopeful stare. It was impossible to keep his wall up forever, not when someone with pure intentions stared at him in such a manner. Does she even have a selfish bone in her body? Katsuki wonders to himself, shoulders slackening as he sighed reluctantly.
She hadn't thought that far ahead, was there even truly and answer to that question? It was something that she just assumed that facts and mindfulness would permit. But seeing the pain and frustration in his eyes it was clear he needed much more, the cut was deep. Twisting her lips she rose to her feet, fingers entwining behind her back as she lost herself deep in thought. "By simply accepting the facts. It's sad but no one goes into this profession thinking they will live forever," she responds calmly, her eyes downcast as she scuffed her right sneaker back and forth against the pavement; "I think All Might would have been happy to die protecting one of his precious students, and that's his decision. He acted of his own free will."
"I wanted to become a hero because of him," Katsuki states coldly, eyes void of emotion as he gazed downwards at his sneakers; "I repaid his inspiration by ending his career. I have jeopardised the safety of the public because now we lack his protection." It was painful admitting the truth out loud, sure it was probably the backstory for countless other heroes, but he didn't care. It wasn't them that cut their idol's career short, it was him. Clicking his tongue in irritation, the blond straightens his posture and rubs his temples roughly. "I couldn't do shit when it came down to it! I'm not supposed to be weak!" he adds, raising his voice; Nothing I did on my own was enough. If those idiots hadn't stepped in, things would've gotten even more out of hand.
Vulnerability would be difficult to process for someone who's used to feeling powerful and in control I guess, Ochako notes to herself; instinctively walking over to the bench and claiming the spot beside him. It was difficult watching such a confident and proud individual crumble, she almost felt as if she was suffering along with him; he was devastated. "He won't care about his career-ending. Your life is more valuable to him. Saving lives is our ultimate goal after all," she states firmly as she traced the palms of her hands down the length of her track pants; "Besides that, who says his career is over? He's alive, isn't he? It's just going to evolve with him. After all, being a hero isn't about whether you have a quirk or not. It's all about what's deep within your heart."
Katsuki freezes, her words ringing through his head as he silently stared up at the night sky. She sounded like Izuku, which was irritating but she had a point. How did something so painfully obvious escape me? Gritting his teeth, his hands slipped down to his lap, gripping his knees as he frowned. "Why am I even talking to you about this? You're basically a walking cinnamon roll," he states bluntly, shooting her a sharp glare; "I know that everyone will never forgive me. Don't go assuming that you understand how I feel!"
A cinnamon roll? Twisting her lips thoughtfully, the brunette glides forward, soft palms slapping lightly against his cheeks; kind eyes softening as she bent forward. "You need to snap out of it," Ochako states flatly, her tone uncharacteristically serious as his shocked eyes locked on her visage. Perhaps she was overstepping the line. Heck, at this point the line was so far behind her it was a speck, but he was hurting. If no one was going to help, she would be that person without hesitation. "I can't speak for our classmates, but I don't blame you and All Might won't either, I know that much!" she exclaims emotionally, eyes welling with unshed tears as she broke eye contact; "To be honest, I admire how well you handled the situation. I would've been so scared. I doubt I would've been able to move an inch, let alone fight back."
Arching a brow, Katsuki stares back at her unsurely. "All I did was get in All Might's way and manage to survive by the skin of my neck because of the others," he states bluntly as he eyed her tearful expression quizzically; You've lost your mind. There's nothing to admire about what I did. It almost felt as if it was an attempt at mocking him, but she wasn't the type, not when things were this serious. She legitimately cared about how he was feeling, such reactions couldn't be falsified to a level such as this. Why does she even care about any of this, about me?
He says that like it's a bad thing, Ochako muses to herself, scuffing her feet back and forth on the footpath, as she contemplated what to say next. Their conversation was comparable to a game of chess, every suggestion or comment she made was immediately parried by her comrade; something she couldn't quite say she was used to when offering motivational comments to her friends. "What's wrong with that?" she asks unsurely, brows knitting together as she looked back at him in complete and utter bewilderment; "You need to remember that those villains have years of experience on you. Even Pro Heroes struggle when they face them, especially when they team up." Was it possible that she was irritating him? That seemed to be the most likely reason and yet somehow, she was positive it was merely his defensive nature. "Also, you keep fixating on being rescued like it's a bad thing. It means you get to live. Maybe one day you can teach them a lesson for messing with you! So, be kinder to yourself. Okay? Promise me you will try!" Ochako urges, carefully analysing his reaction to such a request; It's okay to smile. You did your best!
Katsuki rolls his eyes and throws his torso backwards, arms threading behind his neck as he stared up at the streetlamp towering above them. It was impossible to deny the fact that there was truth to her statement. Surviving the ordeal due to All Might and his friend's protection meant he would be able to exact his revenge. Next time he would be more than ready for them. His tongue traces across his glossy teeth as he turns his head to face the round-faced hero beside him; "That sounds like some kind of loser mantra Deku would say," Katsuki states flatly. I'd rather die than admit that was actually helpful advice, he muses silently.
It was difficult to admit, but she knew she was fighting a losing battle, he was stubborn; painfully so. The best thing she could do was accept that his mind was not going to be swayed overnight; for now, the best thing she could offer was a distraction from reality. Escapism always worked wonders. "You can keep acting all tough, but I know you admire him. Just a little bit at least," Ochako states, as she gently brushed her bangs behind her right ear. It was quite confronting to see the vulnerable side of Katsuki, from his pained outburst through to his reaction to her kindness.
She just doesn't know how to quit. But everyone calls me stubborn! he muses silently; a smirk gripping his lips as he shifts forward once more, elbows press down on his thighs as his gaze scans her face curiously. "You're imagining things," Katsuki states flatly, lifting his chin upwards confidently; "Such an idiot."
Ochako chuckles knowingly under her breath as she leans forward, eyes locking with his striking gaze once more. The ferocity that was once evident in his eyes had now dissipated despite his feisty remark. Smiling she reaches outwards, ruffling his hair affectionately, her companion's eyes widening in surprise, catching him off guard for the second time in recent weeks. "You live and breathe that tough-guy act," she teases, heart rate accelerating as she boldly trespassed into his comfort zone; "It's okay to relax you know. Everything will work out, it always does." I hope I helped, even if it was just a little, she muses with a smile, her hand slipping from his hair, finding its way back to her thigh; I'm just glad to see you smile.
Huffing Katsuki's piercing eyes lock with the patient woman sitting beside him. Somehow, she appeared to understand him, whether it was intentional or by observing him and reading between the lines remained yet to be determined. It was shocking really. After years of being misunderstood, and of being labelled as a precociously bratty child; she was there reaching out to him, believing in him and most importantly understanding him. Why her? The answer escaped even him. Unable to know what to say, the blond reaches forward flicking her forehead somewhat gently as he smirked; "No one touches the hair. Got it shorty?" he teases, rising to his feet. Chilled hands slip into the warm depths of his pocket as he shoots a glance over his shoulder at the smiling brunette; "Get your ass inside before you catch a cold and infect all of us. We have the licensing exams to start training for tomorrow."
Ochako's eyes widen, heat rushing to her cheeks as she nods meekly in response. I wonder how long it's been since he smiled like that? She muses as she rose to her feet, her chest tightening as she eyed the blond carefully; He is just like the rest of us deep down inside. Taking a deep breath, her smile broadens as she watches his back from afar, it was impossible to not feel enraptured by someone so complex; Has he always looked so handsome? It must just be that smile. Yeah, that's it.
"What's taking you so long? Are your legs too short to catch up to me or something, midget?" Katsuki barks as he walks off towards the entrance of the dormitories; an amused smirk plastered across his face as he marched onwards. I need to keep an eye on her. She keeps surprising me. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. But I'm curious, he notes to himself, eyes fixed firmly on the building at the end of the dimly lit footpath; "I don't hear those mousey footsteps of yours following behind me!" It was fascinating. Somehow in one of his darkest moments when none of his closest friends or family could truly understand the depths of his struggles, she was there; hands outstretched, and eyes filled with hope rather than pity. A light in the abyss he found himself sinking into.
Half laughing, Ochako runs forward, "Hey! I'm not that much shorter than you!"
AUTHOR:
I hope you enjoyed this one-shot. This is my first venture into BNHA, I haven't quite caught up with all the events in the Manga just yet so I'm sure more reflective pieces will be on the horizon as I immerse myself even more in this delightful story.
If you enjoyed this fanfic and would love to see more BNHA content from me (Kacchako focused as I'm addicted to them) please be sure to leave a review as I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Thank you so much for your support and for taking the time to read my content. It means so much to me.