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“This is getting out of hand! I’ve called backup, just hold him for a little longer!”
Ochaco had come to this mission with thoughts of coming home to warm stew and lullabies. A rescue-op involving a man with a shockwave quirk seemed to be mundane to the mature pro, She would just swoop in, touch him with a finger, and carry on with her day like nothing happened.
“Where is Uravity?!”
Her head stung. Tripping over the debris which littered the pavement of the street, Uravity sought cover behind a totalled car. She took a moment to examine her injuries, though her fumbled mind made it hard to focus without her vision getting spotty and black.
Quirk enhancers. A drug which scared heroes and villains alike, despite their differences. They knew what one could do, Ochaco knew what one could do, especially now. Her body cold while her comrades fought in her place, she didn’t feel the pain of her cuts, but the pain of guilt stabbed her in every way.
There was no doubt that the heroes would win, of course there wasn’t, but the guilt which ate her remained. She could have done better. She knew she could have, and it rocked her very soul.
There she sat limp, oil from the exposed engine she rested on leaked onto her shoulder, it seeped into her clothing, it seeped into her skin. The gash which pronounced her body bled onto the pavement, a slice through the stomach which she held so dear, she had no way to stop it, at least not in time.
Heavy breaths puffed the smoke away from her inflamed face, the dust from the debris made her eyes clouded and spotty, but her vision was failing regardless. All she could do was hope that the thing she needed most was okay. Under the protective padding which made up the lower portion of her suit, she felt a square block resting.
Broken. Her phone was broken. She stared at the pink cased device with dead eyes, her tears welling up and falling away at last. She let out a cry, dropping both of her arms limp besides her, ignoring the sting they produced as the pointed stones beneath her dug into them.
Think. Ochako. Think. You need to..
With all her might, she threw an arm over her lap, trying to feel for a familiar object she hadn’t touched in years. An aspect of her hero suit she had customized in to make it feel right. Unlocking her utility belt buckle, she lifted the battered thing to grasp at a pink device hanging from one of it's holders. She was lucky the impact didn’t damage her from behind.
With wavering arms, she grasped the old phone, a slow breath, she felt the familiarity instantly. The phone which she carried all throughout high school, the same one which she called her parents, the same one in which held the many goofy pictures of her and her friends, the same phone she held when he told her to come meet her on the roof.
She flipped the device open, glad that it still ran, even through the years, she was always ready for emergency, though many asked her what use a flip-phone would have in emergencies, she insisted on keeping it on her person.
Just in case.
“Just in case..”
The screensaver was what kept her heart beating.
The likeness of her in uniform, a prospering third year, standing tall and proud. Beside her someone even taller, his green hair still messy, his freckles had spread since then, taking on all of his features, she always said that it made him so much cuter.
She didn’t have time to stare at it anymore, her body's clock urging her to press the phone icon on the bottom of the small screen, truth be told, if the object wasn’t as familiar to the girl, she would have trouble finding the buttons. But she knew exactly where she needed to go.
…
…
…
…
“Uh? Ochaco?”
“Hey, Deku..” She muttered, her voice raspy, smoke and dust being let free from her lungs as she hid a cough. Her hand held the phone to her ear.
“Ochaco! I was surprised to see your old contact pop up when it did! Is everything okay? Didn’t you say that your old phone was to be used in emergencies? Are you in trouble?? Send me your coordinates I’ll be righ-”
“You don’t need to come.. Deku.” She interrupted, a weak smile reaching her lips, the boy was the same as ever. “I just thought I’d call you like this, for old times sake..”
“Old times sake huh? How come your voice is all raspy? Are you sure?”
Even if she did tell him where she was, he was on the opposite side of the city, it would be too late. Her smile grimaced at the thought, though she chose to focus on the man's voice instead.
“I’m fine, just a little out of breath is all.”
A few moments of silence. Ochaco tried to hold the phone closer to her ear, hoping, wishing , that he would say something.
“..So if this calls for old times sake, did you need something? Uraraka-san? ”
She hid her sigh of relief, her giggle light hearted, it sounded human, she was glad he wasn’t worried anymore. She played along with his muse, her smile warm, she wished he was here. She wished she could see him again. She wished.
She wished.
Her giggle diminished, replaced with silence.
“How was your day?”
More silence. She felt her heart beat quicker and quicker with every second. She wasn’t aware just how slow it actually was. The stinging had gone, she was feeling warmth. She credited all to the man on the other line.
“Oh! You know, same old same old, stopped a robbery today, I was swarmed with more fans, I still can’t get used to that hehe..”
“Kirishima joined me on patrol today, he did really good! His new and improved Red Riot: Unbreakable Flurry attack was super cool! You should’ve been there! You would’ve loved it.”
Ochaco offered a chuckle.
“Mirio made an appearance too, ever since he entered the top five, he’s been giving me a run for my money on the billboards! I’m glad he got his quirk back when he did.”
“He’s got nothing on you sweetie.” Her eyes went drooped lower, she felt it all shutting down, she didn’t have much time.
“Listen. I’ll be a little late coming home today.” She began, her heart ached even more, at this point she wasn’t sure if it was the blood loss or the guilt of leaving him. “Don’t worry about dinner, I’ll have eaten.”
“O-Oh! I’ll keep that in mind. How come?”
She wished she could tell him, she wished she could stay. She wished she had more time. She still had to be a hero. She still had to..
“And Izuku.” She took in a breath. A pause to think about how to introduce her request without raising alarm, her slow exhale was longer than it was supposed to be. “I’m really glad you take care of my parents.”
Silence was what killed her the most, in this moment.
“.. Well of course! You take care of my parents, and I’ll always help out yours. We have a dream to fulfill, right?”
Another sigh, she managed to smile. Her eyes had closed, but she still saw his face.
“That’s right. We do.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? You sound really out of breath Ochaco..”
“I’ll be fine Izuku.” She had made it so far with her facade, she tried her best to sound normal, but her boyfriend was inquisitive. She didn’t want him to worry, she didn’t want to give him false hope. Her ears had zoned out the war which happened behind the car she hid with. The little bits her mind picked up made it sound like the heroes were victorious, she was glad.
“Never give up on your own dream.. Okay?” She continued, she couldn’t feel her other limp arm, her neck was stuck in the position she stayed in. “I’m sorry.” She managed to croak.
“Ochaco? What do you mean? Ochaco??”
“I love you. Izuku.”
She was glad the last thing she saw was Izuku Midoriya. Even if it was all in her head. She was glad she had met someone as bright as him. She was glad she fell in love, she was glad she became a hero. She was proud.
Her hand finally fell, her body bestowed to the people above. Ochaco Uraraka may have died on the battlefield, gashed and broken, but what she felt in her final minutes was peace. Peace which came in the form of the hand which held hers, displayed on the screen of her highschool phone.