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Lean On Me
The crowd hustled and bustled in the busy shopping mall, packed with students of all ages off from school and housewives going about their normal business. Aside from the dull drone of chatter, the mood seemed light, the people sated and happy with their everyday life. After all, a big villain had been busted, at the hands of the top hero, the streets were safe and the cold air drove everyone inside out of the first flurry of snow.
What did anyone have to fear with heroes around after all?
The two teenagers wandered side-by-side with an exhaustion to their step at odds with their young age, pausing to peer in windows for a bit, occasionally entering a store to try on some clothing. There was no hurry to their leisurely wander and the two gently bumped each other as they walked despite the height difference. The taller one limped ever so slightly and wore high turtleneck that covered her throat and arms entirely, swathed in a delicate cream color and knits of wool.
Yawning and stretching, a bubblegum pink arm carelessly swung around her taller companion, nearly resting across the generous hips. It was a practiced gesture, a familiar one. A protective, comforting one normally reserved for private out of sight of prying eyes. Their anonymity would only last as long as they remained students but their teachers had pressed cultivating a public image persona on all the students.
Normally, she’d heed her teachers, but today was different.
“Look at this, Mina.” The attempt was thwarted. Mina sighed; she’d been waiting all morning for Momo to put down her guard enough to get her hands on her. Well, nothing for it now. There would always be another time to try, since both girls were on medical leave after their last altercation went poorly. They weren’t sidekicks, not yet, but as they neared graduation, their missions became more challenging and harder to manage. Mina worried about Momo. She might not have been the brightest in the class, but everyone knew their classmates, their strengths and weaknesses. They’d fought together, trained together, built the closest of bonds forged with common experiences, some life threatening.
Momo’s weakness remained the same as it was since the beginning. If Mina tended to charge recklessly, thoughtlessly, into the fray, Momo overthought things. And in some battles hesitation could cost dearly.
Mina wanted to say something, do something, but what was there to say their teachers hadn’t said, what was there to do that Recovery Girl hadn’t done? So she held her tongue, not asking if Momo should be walking yet or so much, even if they were going slowly. Momo had asked her out for once, and she’d be tickled pinker, if she weren’t so worried. It was nice to do something so… normal. Even to the extent of playing their usual game of who could locate the worst outfit in the center.
“Haha, that’s hideous,” Mina wheezed, throwing her hands up in surrender, “I think you win. No way I can top that monstrosity. C’mon, I’ll treat you in the food court to a crepe. I’m sure they’ve rolled out the new seasonal ones since it’s November now!”
The last time they’d been here wasn’t too long ago. They’d been seeking the perfect Halloween costumes for the school party, and Mina insisted that Momo making it to order would somehow be cheating on the spirit of the holiday. The other girls had declined coming, for the first time ever, and it’d left the two of them alone. Mina’s stomach did flips and flops at the thought. Maybe this time she’d be able to say it. Instead they’d spent hours combing through the little pop-up stores crammed with frizzy wigs, wild makeup kits with vivid indigos, crimsons and golds no normal kit would boast and fake plastic fangs. It’d been a fun day that ended at the center fountain with special Halloween crepes that the girls’ dug into with while their purchases lay between their feet.
Mina hadn’t said a thing then even though her fingers itched incessantly to thread through Momo’s, and she almost got up the nerve. Almost. But not quite. The moment had slipped by.
“Sure,” Momo agreed readily. There was a tiredness in her tone that went deeper than just the physical. Mina gave her an encouraging smile, even as she felt the worry gnaw at her, and offered, “You can lean on me.”
For a moment, she thought Momo would refuse, the young woman nibbling her lip. Warm breath huffed across Mina’s bare neck as Momo’s weight settled over her shoulder. It was lighter than she’d expected but also heavier. Heroes had their pride after all.
It wasn’t far to the food court but Mina enjoyed every second of the trip, her arm curling around Momo’s waist to steady her.
“Oh, is it that time again?” Momo asked, her voice so close making Mina curl her toes. She gestured with a head tilt towards the gaudy stands littering the storefronts, displaying a plethora of shiny gift baskets, stuffed animals with shiny eyes and neat stacks of small rectangular boxes. Mina smothered the giggle and pretended innocence. As a transfer student, and a somewhat sheltered one, Momo was often at the mercy of her classmates for popular cultural things, and Pocky Day was no exception. Kaminari almost got a book to the face though, wielded by an embarrassed and confused Momo moments away from brushing lips, as Jirou and Kirishima wheezed with laughter in the background at the entire prank while Todoroki and Iida weren’t nearly as amused. Mina had been leaning over a desk, pocky stick jutting from her lips and golden eyes gleaming, realizing only later she'd wished she'd proposed a game instead of Kaminari.
“Guess so!”
There wasn’t much of a line so late in the day, so they got the crepes quickly and settled into their treat. Mina tried to ignore the way Momo’s thigh was pressed up against hers; she kept her eyes on her food lest they slide sideways to watch Momo eat. Her dainty manners never faltered no matter how messy or awkward the food.
“Thank you, Mina. For letting me lean on you.” This wasn’t just about the trip to the food court, Mina could tell. If she didn’t want to talk about it directly, that was fine. Mina was happy to just be there, happy Momo trusted her not to let her fall.
Causal as possible, she answered, “No problem, anytime.”
Nothing more was said as they finished the sweets, Mina jumping up to excuse herself and wash her hands. Instead she quickly raced to the nearest pocky stall, hastily choosing a floppy brown puppy clutching a pink box and fishing out the last of her monthly allowance.
Momo glanced up at her running footsteps, and Mina’s heart pounded harder. So hard it felt like it was up in her throat, like all those times she was getting ready to fight. A long moment passed, their gazes locked, open and vulnerable.
Mina glanced away first, surprised and a bit frightened by the determination and acceptance she saw beneath those heavy, curled lashes and sweet face. Nearly biting her own tongue, she blurted out the words before they stuck in her throat and holding up the pocky box challengingly, “Rematch?”
Momo snatched the box and Mina’s hand both earnestly, “Absolutely. But prepare to lose. I have been practicing!”