Izuku opened his eyes to find himself sitting inside of his core's dreamscape. He blinked rapidly, staring at the sandy fields that he sat in, sprawled gracelessly like he'd just flopped down after working out. He appeared as he last remembered himself, with tattered clothes and his black tendrils wrapped around his head, arm, and torso.

"Ah, you are out of deep sleep now. Welcome back."

"Deep–" Izuku stopped when his last memories came rushing back, and he sat up with a start, his visible eye wide. "Wait! Why am I here? What happened?!"

The aurora vortex above him shimmered as Requiem responded, "You fell unconscious shortly after the battle ended, but in a state too deep for me to reach you due to your exhaustion. It is a good sign you are now here. It means you can wake up soon."

"But–" Izuku scrambled to his feet, kicking up sand as he went. He looked around, skimming over the field of cores before his head swiveled to the rift between his core and Ochako's dream. When he landed on it, he stared.

There, instead of simply a hole in the air that showed flashes of sunflowers and mountain skies, was a stone staircase leading up from Requiem's lavender fields into Ochako's dream. The rift itself had transformed into an open doorway, framed by gnarled branches and stringy moss. Patches of sunflowers had blended into the lavender grasses of his core at the base of the stairs, and past the doorway, those lavender grasses had cropped up around the entrance, spilling out into the sunflower field.

Izuku shook his head, taking several steps towards it, before breaking out into a sprint. Requiem's voice made him stop.

"If you seek the Echo's holder, she is still in deep sleep. Neither I, nor her core can reach her. However, she is safe and recovering."

Izuku stared at the stairs, as if uncertain he could take Requiem's word for it and Ochako might be there on the other side. Finally, he shook his head, looking back up towards the aurora skies. "I don't understand. What happened back there? Why did it happen? Will she be okay? And why didn't you say anything?!"

Each question came out more frustrated than the last, as his usual docile manner fell to allow the stress and fear a chance to make its face known.

"Yes, I can answer these questions now. Safely, without jeopardizing everything."

"Wha–" Izuku stopped when he felt a brush of air, like Requiem was asking him to wait. He snapped his mouth shut, blunt fingernails digging into his palms as he clenched his fists impatiently.

The core continued, "Yes, Ochako is safe and will be okay. What you two have done will further protect her from the corrosive nature of unfiltered magic. She may have some scars, but it seems those with healing magic are doing their best to minimize that while she sleeps."

"Wait–wait, healing? –where are we right now?" Izuku asked, only to have the sands shift under his feet in a way that made him lose his balance and fall on his butt.

"Izuku."

"S-sorry," He muttered, pulling his legs up to hold them and tucking his chin between his knees in a manner most childlike. He felt the wind ruffle his hair, smoothing it back from his face almost like a parent might do a child. It was a strange sensation, but not unwelcome. In a way, Requiem had been the only guardian he'd had through his teenage years.

The core continued, "As I said before, the Echo is the key for you to win against the Blackened Core. Just like the Blackened Core needs to steal the Echo to defeat us, you need the aid of the Echo to defeat it. The Echo's strength is not simply to echo the magic of the world into its holder's palms, but to echo any magic it connects to. And if the Echo connects to us, then not only can it Echo everything we hold, but it allows us to share the other connections it holds."

Izuku went very still, staring into the sands. Slowly, carefully, he lifted his head up to the skies. "Through Ochako… I have access to the ecosystem. And she now has access to you? Is that…Is that why one of her core's threads is connected to me? And why it turned gold?"

"Yes. What you saw was the initial bond's completion. It is still in infancy, but it will continue to grow as you both grow with it."

"But why didn't you say anything? If we had known, we could have been better prepared! Ochako wouldn't have gotten hurt if she knew it was something coming!" Tears burned at his eyes as he glared bitterly at the sky. Images of the burns on her hands and wrists were seared into his mind. The way her eyes and hair had been stained by the overuse of magic. How pale she looked. How frail. This could have been prevented!

"Because if I had, it would have broken the formation of the bond."

Izuku froze, blinking up at the sky. "What?"

"A forced bond is weak and brittle. It can be easily severed and the connection is fragile. A natural bond, born from the right emotions and desires, is unbreakable. It is powerful. To inform you what you needed to do would have put pressure on both of you to form the bond in a way that would not be sustainable. Instead, I waited, hoping that you would bond on your own, and you did."

Izuku frowned, squeezing his knees tightly. "What if we hadn't? How did you know we would?"

"It was obvious that you would. She took us in at her own risk and nursed you back to health. She cared for you and wanted nothing more than to keep you safe. In turn, you wanted to protect her, not just because of what she was, but who she was, and that protection turned into the love you now have for her. The night she gave you access to her dream was when the bond was initiated. But it was not a dream she gave you access to."

Izuku paused, eyes searching the sands for something in what he said, before he looked back up towards the staircase leading to the sunflowers. His eyes widened. "That's…That's her core. That's the Echo!"

A warm rush of energy came billowing in through the doorway, wrapping up around him like a friend he hadn't seen in a while. He sat up, blinking as that magic draped over him like a heavy hug. It was familiar, not because it was Requiem's, but because it was Ochako's.

It was the Echo.

He sucked in a sharp breath as a new voice touched his mind, like a thousand warm whispers. "It is me, yes. Ochako wanted to have her sunflower field to hide away in, and when she made that request, I simply took that face, becoming her dream, so that when she hid, she hid in me."

Izuku looked around, despite knowing he couldn't actually see either core, because he was simply inside of them. Slowly, he let go of his knees and pushed himself to his feet. "So… now what?"

Requiem's voice sounded in his head. "Your bond will continue to grow as you both recover and find yourselves. As the link has been established and is not at risk of breaking, we can now better guide you forward."

Izuku looked back towards the doorway once more. "Can I wait for Ochako in there?"

The Echo responded this time, words brushing up against him like fresh spring breezes. "I do not know when she will be out of deep sleep. However, it would be better if you wake up and alleviate the worries of those watching over you. Your mother, especially."

"Mom?" Izuku echoed, eyes wide. "Wait, what happened? After I passed out?"

"It has been two days since you fell unconscious. You both are being guarded in Yuuei's castle, with your allies watching over you. It is likely the Blackened Core knows where you are, so this location is not ideal. However, until both you and Ochako recover, relocation is not an option."

Izuku frowned. The castle was probably safer than Ochako's cottage at this point, unless they bolstered the enchantments and protections hiding it from the world.

"Worry about it after Ochako wakes up. For now, you have other priorities. Go. Wake up."

XX

Izuku opened his eyes to find himself staring up into a canopy of rich red fabric. The bed was large, with a frame of lacquered wood holding up the canopy that draped around him. The sides were pulled back, allowing him to see everything around him, and as he vision came into focus, he stared at what he saw.

Mina was asleep on his chest, having made a little nest of flower petals and leaves atop of the fine linens. She rose and fell with his breaths, unaware of the fact he had woken up. Her little antennae made of ferns twitched periodically, implying she was dreaming.

He looked past her, beyond his bed, to see Kyouka and Katsuki sitting across from each other at a small round table. A game of chess was laid out between them. Izuku didn't know the rules of the game, but judging by the number of missing pieces and Kyouka's face, Katsuki was winning.

The windows were closed, but the curtains pulled back, showing it was daylight. Maybe late afternoon, judging by the angle. In a lavish chair by the window sat his mother, a blanket wrapped around her and a tray with a tea set beside her on a small side table. She was staring out the window, holding a handkerchief to her chest. With his eyesight, he could easily see the redness at the corner of her eye, indicating she had been crying.

He looked back in the other direction, to the large wooden door that led out of the room. Just beyond it were two small cores he didn't recognize, but given how they were positioned on either side of the door, they were likely guards. Idly, he noted he didn't have to focus to see the cores. His vision immediately shifted as soon as he thought about it.

With that thought, he saw the golden thread connected to him and followed it with his gaze, finding the Echo not very far away, maybe one or two rooms down. It shimmered softly, not like the blinding light before, but more like normal, except it was now a glittery gold. Izuku then noted all the cores around Ochako's.

Both of the familiars were in the room, their tiny cores indicating they were likely asleep at Ochako's feet. He wondered who brought them from the cottage. Tsuyu was in the room, as well as the Creator core who came with the Queen. However it was the last core in the room that gave Izuku pause. Shouto was sitting beside Ochako, his core burning a beautiful combination of red and white fire. His core must have awakened during the fight, although Izuku couldn't remember seeing it happen. He observed the magic, letting its purpose greet him, and his brows lifted.

"She may have some scars, but it seems those with healing magic are doing their best to minimize that while she sleeps."

Shouto was trying to heal Ochako. Some of the tension in his body left at that, and he sighed, looking back up at the canopy.

It was then he realized he was only seeing out of one eye. It took a moment to understand the reason why, and that it was because his magic was wrapped around that side of his face, not unlike bandages. Vaguely, he remembered doing that during the fight after the Nomu's claws caught him, but it was weird that it persisted while he slept.

Memories of the damage he took came back to him, and he shifted his right arm slightly, surprised to find it responded. It felt strange though, in a way he couldn't quite understand. There was a tingling sensation kind of like frosty leaves brushing against his skin, and the weight was… different. Carefully, he moved his arm out from under the blankets, only to find his magic was wrapped around it, too. Before he could command it to go back, the movement caught the attention of others in the room.

"Deku!" Katsuki all but shouted, nearly flipping the table over. Everyone else jumped at the sound of his nickname, focusing their attention on him. Mina looked up and cried out, climbing up to cling to his neck, her petals tickling his chin. His mother pushed up out of her chair, rushing over to him as fast as her body would allow. Izuku smiled at her, working his other arm free and grabbed her hand as she reached for him.

"Oh, Izuku!" Tears were pouring down her face, and he felt his own form as he let her squeeze his fingers as hard as she could. "We were so worried!"

"You've been asleep for two days! Why do humans have to sleep so much!" Mina wailed, rubbing her tiny face into his neck.

"S-sorry," Izuku replied softly, looking around the room at everyone staring at him. "I didn't mean to make you worry."

"Fucking of course you didn't," Katsuki replied, folding his arms across his chest. Izuku noted he wasn't in his royal armor, instead wearing leather trousers and a loose shirt, although his swords were hanging from a belt around his waist.

Kyouka rolled her eyes at the captain before turning her attention to Izuku. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions, just like we do. First, Ochako is asleep just down the hall."

"I know," Izuku replied softly, nodding his head in the witch's direction. "I can see her core, and Requiem told me she was still asleep."

"Oh," Kyouka replied, blinking. "Okay, let's try a different approach. What don't you know?"

Izuku shook his head. "I-I know that it's been about two days since the attack, and um, we're in the castle. I also… know what happened to mine and Ochako's magic during the fight."

Katsuki narrowed his eyes. "So you don't know why your magic's still wrapped around your face and arm?"

Izuku shook his head, slowly pushing himself in a seated position. Mina took that opportunity to climb into his hair where she began to grow mushrooms in it while sniffling. His mother leaned in, taking the other pillows on the large bed and stacking them behind him to help prop him up. He offered her a shy smile, mouthing his thanks. She nodded, sitting on the edge of his bed and folding her hands nervously in her lap.

His core sounded in the back of his head, and Izuku blinked before looking back to Katsuki. "Requiem says it kept the black extensions active to protect my body while it repaired itself."

"That…" Katsuki frowned. "You had bad cuts on your chest and lesser ones everywhere else. Those weren't covered, and Shouto healed them. So what happened to your arm and face that needed special treatment from your core?"

Izuku hummed, thinking back to the fight. "The Nomu hit me in the chest with its claws, but one of the claws hit my face. My magic reacted and wrapped around that side of my head. When I had it tied down, it tried to eat me, and to stop it I punched through its head. I… think it broke my arm pretty badly. It looked really bad and I couldn't move it at all, so I wrapped it in magic, too, so I could keep fighting."

Katsuki stared at him. "You did what?"

Izuku glanced away, scrunching up his shoulders uneasily. "I d-didn't have much of a choice… but, I guess it didn't turn out that bad if Requiem said it's being repaired…"

He pulled back on the magic around his arm, letting the inky black fade away into vapor, and stared down at what it left behind. Vaguely, he recalled the mangled remains of flesh that had been hanging from his shoulder after he countered the Nomu's attack, but that wasn't what remained now, but it wasn't normal, either. The bones of his arm were whole and intact, and he could see them because the flesh wrapped around them was… shadowy and slightly transparent. Green and pink veins of magic ran down the ethereal skin, glowing softly in the room. Brow furrowed, Izuku poked the dark appendage with his other hand, finding that, despite appearances, it was solid, although the texture was strangely smooth. Touching it made his fingers tingle slightly, but he could also feel his own touch, like it was a true part of his body.

Curiously, he lifted the arm and flexed it, moving his fingers and twisting his wrist. However, when he looked up to everyone else, they were all staring at him in horror.

Izuku blinked, feeling dread set in. "What is it?"

"That–does it hurt?" Kyouka asked, wincing.

He shook his head, turning the limb this way and that. "No. It feels strange though. It has a different weight, and… it's got a lot of magic running through it. I guess this is what Requiem meant by saying it was being… rebuilt."

"Fuck," Katsuki spat, shaking his head. "If that's what your arm looks like, what about your face?"

"Oh…" Izuku said, reaching up to touch the magic wrapped around the right side of his face. It faded away at his command, and he furrowed his brow at the sudden change of scenery. A moment ago, he saw things as they existed in the physical world, as well as everyone's cores. Now, without the magic covering his right eye, he could see all the energy around him. Enchanted objects shimmered softly, and dispersed particles of magic floated in colorful specks around him. A clay cup sat on the dresser, wrapped in Kyouka's sound magic, and the teapot set by the window glowed softly with a self-heating enchantment.

However when he turned his attention back to those in his room to relay that information, he realized that whatever had happened was even worse than how his arm looked, given their expressions. Inko had her hands pressed to her mouth, and even Katsuki had paled.

"Uh…" Kyouka spoke first, grimacing. "Your, uh… eye. Is no longer an eye."

He blinked at that, because he certainly had vision, albeit a bit… warped. Glancing around the room, he looked for something with a reflection and noted a hand-held mirror on the dresser. With a wave of his hand, he pulled it over, catching it out of the air as it got close.

It occurred to him as he lifted the looking glass up to his face that he had a poor idea of what he looked like anyway. Sometimes he looked at his reflection in pools of water, and once he had scrutinized his appearance in a small dusty mirror Ochako kept in the cottage. But generally, he knew he had glowing green eyes, freckles, and curly green hair.

Those all still remained, mostly. He had a few healed cuts on his cheeks that were new, but they paled in comparison to the large, jagged wound on the right side of his face, starting at his chin and climbing all the way up onto his forehead. It wasn't healed like everything else, because his magic had been covering it, but it had at least clotted. However, more importantly was that where his eye used to be was a glowing orb of green magic, shining brightly in a way that cast deep shadows on his face, making him look almost gaunt. Through the light it gave off, Izuku could see it was the only thing in the eye socket now.

Requiem spoke quietly in his mind. "You lost the organ during the fight, much like your arm. With the Echo, I rebuilt both as best I could, but there were limits. Regenerative magic is complex and taxing on the user, and with both you and Ochako exhausted, I had to use magic instead of flesh and blood. However, as they are magic, it means they work differently. Your eye grants you visibility into the dispersed magic in the world, magic not attached to a core. You can see spells that have been cast, enchantments, and curses. As it is overwhelming to always see magic in the world like this, you should keep a magical barrier on it when you do not wish to use it. The black extensions work for now."

"Oh…" Izuku said softly, touching his raw cheek. It stung, and he pursed his lips. "I guess… that's new."

His mother started crying, and he put the mirror down, wrapping half of his face in black tendrils once again.

XX

Shouto sighed softly as he lowered his hands down to his lap, letting them come to rest on the small bundle of black fur curled up on his thighs. The afterglow of his magic clung to Ochako's arms, seeping into her skin before disappearing completely. This was the fourth session, and while he wasn't entirely sure what he was doing, he still believed he was doing something for her. The pink burns that had been on her upper arms were gone now, and she looked less pale than she had when he saw her after the fight.

Still, despite his efforts, the discoloration on her hands and forearms remained, dark, almost black. Carefully, he took one of her hands, gently running his fingers over the skin. It felt normal, slightly cool to the touch, without any strange texture. It was hard to tell if she had feeling in the fingers, but they flexed just fine, pliable as he gently pressed on them.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see High Advisor Momo watching him, the book in her hands momentarily forgotten. Tsuyu sat in a basin of water by the window, not paying either of them any attention.

"You have a question," Shouto said, rather than asked, gently putting Ochako's hand back down.

The Dragoirian woman pursed her lips, watching him carefully. "I knew of the story, I thought. Of your bride despising you and cursing your family name. That the Todoroki family hated Lady Uraraka for what she did, and that included you. And then, as I learned of those in Requiem's circle, that you were a part of that circle, and that she was the Echo, I realized there was much more to this story. You don't hate her at all, do you? You care for her, and I'd wager she cares for you, too. So I must ask… did she actually curse you?"

Shouto smiled faintly, not looking up at the advisor as he petted the cat asleep in his lap. "She did, yes. Denied me an heir unless I have it with someone I love. Quite the curse, huh?"

"That seems hardly a curse," Momo replied dubiously, a brow raised. "There must be more to it than that."

"There's not," Shouto replied, the smile growing slightly. "She did not want me to be trapped in a loveless marriage if possible. This… was her solution that she left as she fled the wedding. She saved herself that day, but maybe, in a way, she saved me, too."

Momo went quiet for several moments, a manicured finger tapping the edge of her book. "So… you have no ill regard towards her for that day?"

The prince shook his head slowly, still gently petting the cat in his lap. "Not at all. Without her curse, I would already be married and with heirs to someone I likely didn't love. Maybe grew to care for, but not love. There is grace in the curse she bestowed upon me, and I truly do wish to thank her. I really haven't had a chance to talk alone with her after all this time. Maybe… someday soon I can."

Momo nodded thoughtfully, closing her book. "I see. How fascinating, the way you're all tied together."

Shouto lifted his eyes to her, considering that line of thought, when the fabric of space ripped open between them. He startled, the cat in his lap diving under his bed, followed closely by the other. Momo sprang to her feet, grabbing her staff perched beside her, but Tsuyu simply looked over her shoulder, tilting her head calmly like she knew what it was.

Izuku stepped through the hole a moment later, a hand on Kyouka's shoulder for balance. He was dressed in only a pair of linen pants, with magic wrapped around half of his head. The effort it took to walk made his muscles quiver, but he had a look of determination on his otherwise too-pale face as he stepped through the portal. Behind him, Katsuki helped his mother through the threshold, grumbling under his breath. "Can't believe you can just fucking make portals now. Send me to a fucking beach down south, will ya?"

Izuku said nothing, gaze locking on the woman asleep in the bed. He let go of Kyouka, stumbling forward to get to her, and Shouto stood up, directing Izuku to sit in his chair before the injured man ended up collapsing over Ochako's bed. The mage barely acknowledged the action, all of his attention focused on the woman before him as he practically fell into the chair. Carefully, as if he might hurt her, he grabbed Ochako's hand and wrapped it in both of his, pressing the discolored skin to his forehead as he squeezed his eye shut.

Shouto watched the moment, staring at the strange arm now attached to Izuku's body, thrumming with sinuous magic. It also didn't escape him that tendrils were still wrapped around part of Izuku's face, and he could make out the open wound on his chin.

The prince looked back to the others who stepped through the portal, and before he could ask, Katsuki simply said, "Nothing's gonna keep him away from Ochako."

XX

In the last two and a half days, everything King Enji thought he knew had been set on fire and burnt to the ground. Never in a thousand lifetimes could he have imagined what Dragoir's Queen had to tell him, nor the events to come after. Her story was ridiculous, and he hadn't believed her for a second until his own son stepped forward with a proof that his own advisor confirmed.

That had rattled him most of all, in all honesty. Shouto knew about all of this, and had even been aware that Lady Uraraka was involved. He knew that Yuuei's Monster was a man, and that this… Blackened Core was in the ruined kingdom, seeking to find Lady Uraraka to steal her magic.

Shouto knew and hadn't told him, and Enji was not so drenched in hubris to ignore the likely reasons why. He flexed the fingers of his free hand against the arm of his chair, the other holding a goblet of wine as he stared at the roaring fireplace before him.

He wouldn't have believed Shouto without proof, but his son had the proof already. He had been waiting with that book for the right opportunity…

For witnesses.

The king pursed his lips, taking another sip of his wine. Pride clashed with shame, because he knew that he would have wanted to not embrace any of this. To think everything he knew about magic was a lie. A lie forged by someone who wanted to destroy the world.

And one of the key players was a woman he had grown to hate all these years for how she humiliated him in front of his own court.

It perplexed him further when he thought about how easily Shouto put aside his personal feelings to do what he thought was right. He knew Lady Uraraka was important to keep safe, and he didn't let the wedding disaster from years ago interfere with that.

No, as far as Enji could tell, it was like the young man didn't care at all, and it baffled the king as to how easily his son seemed to shrug that history off.

He let his thoughts wander, returning to one of the other many related topics that had plagued him for the last two days - his son's magic had evolved during that battle.

He remembered watching with a sense of dread as his guard captain took a blow aimed for the man who was Yuuei's Monster. He had stood shocked as he watched his son's magic erupt in a golden flame he'd never witnessed as blood spread across the captain's chest.

And his entire world shattered once again as that fire fizzled away and left the captain shakily pushing himself into a seated position, his wounds healed.

It had taken an entire day for the weight of what that meant to actually hit him. It was as Keigo read out parts of the book about how cores were sentient and they broke off from a magical plane to bind themselves to objects or people, that Enji lifted his head in realization.

Todoroki fire was not bloodline magic. It felt like such, because so many members of his family had fire magic throughout history. However, an even larger number of relatives and direct family members did not. Even of his own children, Natsuo had ice magic, not unlike his mother, and Fuyumi had light magic, which had no relation to his or Rei's families.

He ran a hand over his face, knowing he owed his wife a million apologies. When Fuyumi came into her magic, he had accused his queen of an affair, and it was only when Keigo confirmed her vehement denial to be true through a spell that he dropped the subject.

So much had changed so quickly, and Enji had quickly realized just how wrong he was in so many ways. Offering shelter for Yuuei's Monster and Lady Uraraka was only the first of many steps he needed to take to repair the damage done by both his pride and his ignorance.

He jumped when a burst of wind shot down the halls, rattling all the doors it passed and leaving echoed giggles in its wake. He sighed, for it was the fourth time it had happened these few days. He wondered if allowing spirits to live in the castle walls was part of his punishment for his hubris.

The king sighed, losing himself in his thoughts once again until a knock sounded and Keigo announced himself. Enji bade him entry, watching the shorter man walk in and close the doors behind him. Keigo turned and bowed, fist to his chest. "Your Majesty."

Enji waved a hand towards his advisor, swirling his goblet. "You may speak, Keigo."

The blond straightened himself, nodding. "The wind sprite returns with news about the Dragoirian mage who had her magic stolen. She has awakened, and once she can travel, she will be brought here to speak of what happened to her. In other news, the prisoner has agreed to speak of what she knows, but only to Sir Izuku of House Midoriya or Lady Uraraka. She will not talk to anyone else. Additionally, I have been informed by High Lady Momo that Sir Izuku has awakened, but he is still weak and not yet ready to be summoned to speak."

"I see," Enji said thoughtfully. "I appreciate the update. Is there anything else?"

Keigo shook his head. "We continue to keep multiple mages and guards stationed after both of them, based on Lady Inko's story about the woman who could change appearances and tried to get Lady Uraraka out of the city just before the battle. Prince Shouto has done what he can to heal the wounds for both mages. His… his magic is impressive, My Lord. Even with a shaky grasp on how his new magic works, he has managed to heal the wounds for most of the guards who took injury in the battle when he's not guarding our wards. It's–I've never seen anything like it."

Enji exhaled slowly, watching the fireplace as it fluttered in response to his magic. "I see," he said, and there was something in his voice that even he couldn't put a name to.

XX

The sun was setting, casting an orange glow in the room. Katsuki sighed, quietly contemplating the chess board in front of him. Shouto waited patiently, both cats somehow curled up in his lap atop of each other. It was ridiculous, and the damned prince had no right to look that… whatever it was. Cute, Katsuki guessed.

Kyouka and Advisor Momo had left some time earlier to get dinner. The original arrangement was that two mages and a spirit were to be stationed by Izuku and Ochako at all times, but when Izuku refused to leave Ochako's bedside, the need for so many in one room was redundant, so the women agreed to take a break, offering to trade off later in the night.

Katsuki didn't care, and frankly, it was better this way. Neither of them really had a solid grasp on Izuku's… unusual mannerisms, especially in regards to Ochako, and were they here right now, they would have a lot of questions that he really didn't feel like answering.

His eyes flickered over to the bed, and how Izuku had crawled up on the far side of it, curling in a fetal position atop the blankets as he stared at the unconscious woman across from him. It wasn't improper, despite what some would think. There was no unscrupulous motive in his actions. The poor dolt was simply too tired to keep sitting upright in the chair, and he refused to let Ochako out of his sight. So, now, he could keep watching her, lying on his side with his knees pulled up and one of his hands holding hers.

Inko had draped a blanket over him so he wouldn't be cold, as he was only half-dressed. The magic was still wrapped around his head, though Shouto had convinced him to drop it temporarily so that the prince could heal the jagged wound on his face. Despite Shouto's best efforts, it still scarred once he was done, though it was likely because the wound was two days old before it got treated.

It was clear Izuku couldn't care less about that, his attention only on Ochako. It was… painful to watch, especially because sometimes he was crying, and other times he was quietly mouthing words to her that no one else could hear.

For a while, Inko had sat behind him, stroking his hair and whispering words of comfort, but eventually she retired to another room to rest, having stayed up far too long fretting over him before he woke up. It was for the best. The poor woman had to be at her wit's end.

A soft sigh across from him snapped Katsuki out of his thoughts, realizing Shouto was still waiting for his move. The captain grimaced, shifting in his chair before returning his attention to the board.

"You're worried about him," Shouto said softly, despite knowing Izuku could probably hear them.

Katsuki rolled his eyes, not bothering to keep his tone down too much. Izuku was probably ignoring them anyway. "He's not going to rest until Ochako wakes up, or …shows up 'in the sunflowers', whatever that's supposed to mean. We gotta make sure he doesn't stress himself to death."

The prince nodded, pursing his lips. However, before he could respond, the door opened and Kyouka came in with a tray of food and tea. "Thought you all might wanna eat–"

She paused, looking over at Izuku, and after a moment, her expression turned pained. Shaking her head, she placed the tray on one of the other tables and poured two cups of tea, offering one to each of the men playing chess. Both quietly nodded their thanks. Leaning forward, she pulled out her top and placed it on the table. Izuku stirred slightly as the magic took effect, but as he saw no threat, he ignored them and went back to staring at Ochako.

Katsuki frowned. "What is it?"

Kyouka shook her head. "Nothing urgent. Just updates on what we've learned from the woman we took prisoner, and some updates from Denki about the mage Fumikage found. I figured we can fill Izuku in once he's less stressed."

"Yeah… he's a fucking mess," Katsuki sighed, sampling his tea.

"Well, I'm not surprised," Kyouka replied, giving Katsuki a look. "You weren't there for most of that battle. He watched Ochako almost die in front of him. I can't imagine what that must feel like, to watch someone you love so dearly nearly die, then get torn up so badly that they're still unconscious two days later."

The chessboard was suddenly covered in tea as Katsuki spat it out. "The fuck, Kyouka?"

The sound mage gave him a hard look, "What are you being so dramatic for, Dragon?"

"What do you mean 'someone you love'? I mean sure, Deku fuckin' cares for Ochako. We all do. But don't talk like they're fucking lovers. Shit, he probably doesn't even know what love is."

He ignored the way Shouto glared at him, but when Kyouka straightened up and put her hands on her hips, he realized he was about to hear something that would make his tea taste sour.

"Well, right now, the only thing he keeps saying over and over is, 'Please wake up. I love you.' So you might want to go ask him yourself if he knows what love is."

Godfuckingdamnit.

XX

Ochako blinked when she suddenly found herself standing in her sunflowers, the cool mountain breezes of her dream rolling up against her from behind. She didn't remember falling asleep, and as she tried to recall what the last thing she remembered was, a whirlwind of memories assaulted her, of how she almost died, of the fight against the Nomu, and of how she and Izuku managed to defeat it.

Her gaze fell to her hands, black and angry, with pink burns all the way up to her biceps. Her dream self always appeared as how she last saw herself, and she definitely recalled the painful burns of her magic eating through her. In this world, it didn't hurt, but she wondered if that damage was permanent.

"In some ways, yes. In others, no."

Ochako jumped at the voice in her head, coming from all directions. It was like hushed whispers similar to when the ecosystem spoke to her, but there was no way it was here in her dream.

"Who's speaking?" she asked, looking up into the beautiful blue skies of her dreamscape.

"The one who lives in you. We finally speak, after so long."

Ochako's hands came up to her mouth, brows lifting high in her head. "You're my Echo? How?"

"Through the connection you made with Requiem's vessel, you now have access to the Hollow magic he holds, just as he now has access to me."

"Connection I made…?" Ochako wondered aloud, brow furrowing. "I didn't…"

She paused, pursing her lips, as she turned to where the hole into Requiem should be, and her lips parted in surprise at seeing the rift was now a doorway, with sands and lavender grasses spilling out into her field of sunflowers. Carefully, she took a step towards the doorway. "Requiem?"

The voice that answered was not her Echo, but something deep and resonating. It was ancient and powerful, but still… familiar. It was the same as the presence she felt whenever she was in Izuku's core. The same as the magic that thrummed under his skin as she held his hands. The same magic that rolled up into her body the moment she grabbed his arm during that fight - that soothed over her burns and urged her forward despite her injuries.

"Hello, Ochako."

The Echo mage shuddered and bowed her head. "Hello, Requiem. Please tell me everything."

XX

He was so tired.

He needed to sleep.

He wanted to stay awake.

What if something happened while he was asleep? What if she woke up and he wasn't there?

She wasn't in her core yet. Requiem would say something.

He stayed awake. Watching her. Begging her to wake up.

She probably wasn't going to wake up yet.

He needed her.

He loved her.

'Please wake up.'

"Izuku."

He stirred at his name, chapped lips parted slightly. It took him a moment to realize it was Requiem in his head, and not someone in the room getting his attention. He blinked slowly, eyes not leaving Ochako's sleeping face. Again, the core called his name, gentle but insistent.

"Izuku. Sleep now. Ochako waits for you."

He exhaled shakily, eyes watering at the words that weren't quite what he wanted to hear, but close enough. No longer fighting the fatigue drowning him, he let sleep take him over, plunging him into the fields of his core, landing beside his Hollow.

He pulled himself to his feet gracelessly, diving for the doorway that separated her core from his. The scent of her magic called to him, urging him forward as he dashed up the stairs and into the sunny fields.

She was there.

She turned, brushing hair away from her face, smiling as the wind ruffled her dress and bumped sunflowers against her hips.

This version of Ochako still had brown hair with a white streak and brown eyes, but with burn scars on her arms. Her dress was tattered like it had been during the fight, but she was otherwise uninjured.

This Ochako wasn't pale and shaking in his arms. This Ochako wasn't unconscious on the bed, unresponsive to his pleas. This Ochako smiled at him, relief washing over her face at seeing him.

He almost crashed into her as he closed the distance, wrapping his arms around her as a sob escaped him. They lost their balance, and he didn't care, shifting to take the brunt of the fall, landing on magical soil with her cradled in his arms like she was the most precious cargo in the whole world.

She was, of course.

His breath came out in shallow pants as hot tears rolled down from his good eye. She was sprawled on top of him, head against his chest, their legs tangled together and caught in the tattered skirts of her dress. Sunflowers waved overhead, cheerfully oblivious to the well of emotions overflowing in him. He felt his chest grow damp, and he realized she was crying, too.

"I'm here; I'm here," She whispered, and that made him cry harder, squeezing his good eye shut. She was always taking care of him. Looking out for him. Even now, she was reassuring him that she was here and alive, once again being his support.

He gritted his teeth, his grip on her like a vice, but then she spoke again, her words broken and strained with vulnerability.

"I was so scared I'd lose you."

His breath left him in one fell swoop as she wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him like he was her world.