30

Unravel

It was a gentle thudding as the train rolled along. She had a faint smile, leaning against his shoulder. She was a little sleepy so her eyes kept fading in and out, but she took in the sight of the midnight city skyline. She readjusted her bodyweight against him. "Are we almost there yet?" She mumbled sheepishly.

"Yeah, actually, in a few stops." He curled his fingers around her hand.

"You still haven't told me anything." She whined out a yawn, straightening up.

Izuku scratched his cheek, glancing off. "I just think, it would be better if I tell you everything when we get there."

She turned to him, tilting her head. "Everything..?"

But he didn't respond, he simply shifted his face to her and smiled. They spent the next few minutes in comforting silence.

The train came to a resounding stop. "That's us." He added. They stood up, walking off, to the platform. The cool wind brushed past them as the train sped away. She shivered with a stumble, accidentally pressing up against him. "Here, I got you." He had a chuckle in his voice, catching her.

"Ah, thank you and sorry." She replied, a little embarrassed, placing the bunny hood on and brushing away some feathered strands of hair off her face. They interlocked fingers as they began to walk down the stairs. Another breeze swept past them, her nose cutely crinkled like a bunny as she inhaled the scent. "Salty?" She turned to the direction of the wind. Her eyes reflected the glisten of the moonlight sprinkled over the calm waves. "The ocean..."

Izuku led her down a path he had walked many times. Momo glanced around, they were walking down a path that was out of the way, that yet, also led to part of the beach that was also out of the way. The path was lined with trees that hadn't blossomed since spring. Soon the trees ended as did their path. Momo once again took in the twinkling view of the horizon. "It's beautiful..." She let out, awed.

"Yeah. Want to walk along the shore?" He subconsciously asked because they were already walking on the sand.

"Mhmm." She absently agreed, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of their midnight stroll. "Being outside with you is nice... It's something I've thought of for a while. Although, maybe not like this." She giggled warmly.

"Yeah, me too." They walked a bit longer before Izuku stopped them, sitting them down on the sand, facing the ocean. "This place means a lot to me, except I haven't been here since..." He struggled, instead playing a little with the sand beside him. He cleared his throat and looked up and ahead. "Look at how big the moon is out here."

Momo stared at his fixated eyes before following his gaze. "This is..." Momo had never seen the constellations and moon so clear and bright before. "Oh Izuku, it's beautiful."

Izuku's ears perked at her voice of wonder. He turned his face to her. His eyes grew with parted lips. Her porcelain skin was radiating the pale moonlight yet her cheeks had a tint of pink and she had let out a warm sigh of endearment. His breath caught itself when she changed her view from the sky back to him. She had that honest smile and for the first time, it seemed as if there was no restraint to it.

"So what was it that you wanted to tell me, darling?" She turned her body to him, leaning forward, one hand over her bosom the other tenderly holding his hand buried in the sand.

"I, um..." He struggled. He gulped. "Before I do, I just have to..." He trailed off, bringing himself closer to her. Their breaths swirled around each other as their faces grew closer. Momo relaxed her lips and tilted her head, feeling him press his lips against hers. They moved up and down, capturing and releasing, she sucked on his bottom lip as he began to pull away. She slowly opened her eyes, staring lovingly at him. She brushed her thumb over his knuckles, reassuring him, telling him it was okay.

And she didn't know how badly he needed that. He cleared his throat and stared across the ocean. "This is where I inherited his power..." Izuku had a faraway look in his eyes recalling his past with All-Might.

In the middle of the night, on a lonely beach shore, under the constellations and bright full moon... Izuku Midoriya revealed his relationship with All-Might to Momo Yaoyorozu. She had stared intently as he explained how he was born without a quirk and how he met his hero. She smiled as he fondly talked about how All-Might made him his successor and she winced when he explained how he had to adapt to the new quirk, breaking his bones, pushing his right arm beyond its limit. She teared up with him when they talked about All-Might's final battle with All-for-One and how the weight fell on Izuku after that.

And then they talked about him saving Eri...

It was hard for both of them. For Izuku to finally open up about locked away pain and for her to realize how truly big the burden was that was always drowning him. She tackled him with a hug, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly, running her hand through his hair, her cold salty cheek rubbing against his. "Oh Izuku, I never... I was-... I thought..." Her sniffles breaking up her words.

Eventually, the heavy tears led to meaningful comfort.

They were staring at each other, their raspy breaths were coming out condensed, inhaling each other, their lips barely tasting each other. They stayed in their emotional embrace under the truthful stars till dawn, never letting go.

Momo glanced to the side, staring at the person who had opened up to her. She smiled before staring ahead, walking alongside them.

Izuku was wearing a black jacket with pockets, a green shirt that spelled out dress shirt, slim cargo pants, and his signature red shoes. Momo had a gray coat with a belt tied over her hips a black scarf, black leggings, and thigh-high black boots.

"Ah, we're here." Izuku mentioned as he led them into the building. "They have all kinds of games here, Eri! Let's play a lot okay." They shared a giggle as they walked through the doors. Eri's face lit up to the flashing lights and buzzing sounds. She began to bounce in her step with anticipation.

But as soon as they stepped in, Izuku was attracted to the claw game. "A limited-edition All-Might doll! I've been looking everywhere for this one!" He gushed before remembering who he was with. "Ah, s-sorry." He rubbed the back of his hair slightly embarrassed that his fanboy side came out in front of Eri and Momo.

They both laughed at his actions. Momo waved her hand. "No, don't apologize, Izuku, you stay here and try to get it. I'll get us some tokens and show Eri around." She had eyed the doll Izuku was drooling over. It was modeled after his heroic debut carrying dozens of civilians on his back saving them from danger. Izuku had told her that, that was one of his initial inspirations to become a hero.

"Eh? N-No, Momo-"

She put her hand up, stopping him. "I insist and won't hear any more of it." She dropped her hand and turned her attention to the little girl holding her other hand. "Now, I believe they have an indoor carousel here." She saw her confusion about the word. "Ehm, it's like a horse ride, does that sound fun, Eri?"

"A pony?!" Eri jumped up and down almost dragging Momo along. "Where? Where?"

Momo let herself be taken by the kid. "Don't worry Izuku, we'll be fine, let's enjoy ourselves today, okay?"

Izuku did feel an unknown pressure lift off him. "Y... Yeah, Momo, thanks." His tense shoulders from all day finally loosened up a bit. "I'll catch up with you guys."

Momo gave a small wave of a giggle, walking off with Eri.

Izuku looked on as they disappeared before he turned back to the machine. "Now, it's time to go plus ultra and bring you home with me!" Izuku declared, shoving in a few coins into the slot, beginning the arduous game.

"I know I said that to assure Izuku but..." Momo mumbled to herself, chewing on her bottom lip. 'I'm not good with kids!' She mentally cried. She was barely able to keep the facade up, it was only thanks to the distracting sounds and lights of the arcade that kept the attention off her, that she was able to get by. She took a deep breath to calm herself. They had already gotten tokens and now were walking around to find the riding game Momo was talking about.

"Oh, Eri, I believe I see it." Momo placed her hand over her eyebrows like a visor for better sight. "It's over there."

"Really? C'mon, c'mon!" Eri headed towards the direction Momo was looking at. Yaoyorozu was caught off guard from being yanked again by the little girl. She wanted to tell her to not rush and be proper but didn't know how to, helplessly being dragged along.

"Awe..." Eri had her mouth wide open with amazement at the pretty painted horses and ornaments. "Can we go?"

"Of course, that's why we're here." Momo nodded down to her. She exchanged four tokens for two tickets and gave them to the operator. They stepped up onto the ride.

Momo noticed there were a lot of other kids around Eri's age... and their parents. Momo had to hold back a clog in her throat. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose taking a quick breath before any emotion could escape. She refocused her attention to the little girl in front of her trying to climb on the fake pony. "Oh, how silly of me, here Eri, let me." She lifted her up and placed her on the saddle before also getting on, sitting behind Eri.

The ride was a moderate speed and kept Eri entertained, so when it stopped she asked if they could go again and then again and again. Momo could only smile and nod with her eyes closed, hiding the sweatdrop behind her head.

Izuku dropped his forehead on the glass of the machine game. "I've tried every single possibility. It's impossible." He lifted and hit his head again against the glass. "How much did I waste, trying?" He groaned deciding it was better not to think about it. "Ugh, I should go find Eri and Momo." He gave up on the prize and headed to the last direction he saw them from. "Momo said something about a carousel, right?" He kept his eyes peeled for one. He walked for a bit before he heard the songs of a merry-go-round, he continued to follow the noise until it had a sight attached and it was a pleasant picture to him.

"Having fun?" He asked more Momo than Eri as the ride came to an end.

"I-Izuku, how long have you been watching?" Momo was a bit flustered being seen on a kid's ride.

"Mr. Deku, wanna join us?" Eri happily chirped.

"Sure." He replied with the same delight. He won some tickets from the claw machine and used them to get on the ride. "Sorry Eri, I don't think there's enough room for me." He chuckled, wrapping his fingers around the pole connected to the plastic horse, standing beside them. "But I'm still here."

Momo's breathed hitched, noticing that they were mimicking some of the families around them. A kid on the ride, the mother sitting with them and the dad next to them. Her face flushed and she tried to hide it. 'Oh my God, this is so embarrassing but cute at the same time!"

The ride jerked to a start, causing him to accidentally lean against her.

"Ah, sorry, Momo."

"No, it's fine."

He was about to pull away but her hand reached out and held onto his jacket collar. She lifted her face to him, revealing her rosy cheeks and giving into an enamored stare. He subconsciously gulped, attempting to clear his dry throat, captivated by her passioned presence, staring back with allured orbs.

They were lost to a timeless dance in their eyes as the ride twirled round and round.

As the ride was coming to an end, their bodies began to react to the emotion in their fixated embrace. His hand found her cheek, she leaned her face to his palm.

"Izuku..."

"Momo..."

They whispered against their lips their secret, sharing a quiet kiss in the noise. They both pulled back still sharing a beloved sentimental stare.

"M-Midoriya? Yaoyorozu?"

They paled. They unwantingly turned their heads to the voice. Their insides filled with dread and guilt seeing a stare back with nothing more than confusion and hurt.

And they both carried the same thought.

No... Todoroki... It wasn't... Not like this...