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The smell of burning wood, smoke clogging the air, everything is tinted in blue light. Ochako is running, breathless, confused. Where did they go!? Why can’t she find them!? Then she hears it... Her blood goes cold and her skin begins to crawl. It’s like her soul has been doused ice water. Tears start to pour down her face and she covered her ears to block out the sound but it just won’t stop...
The screaming just won’t stop!
Ochako bolted upright and started sobbing immediately. She scrambled for her phone and hit the contact as fast as she could. The phone only rang twice before a groggy voice answered.
“Ochako? Are you ok?” Shouto asked barely awake.
She couldn’t even reply she just rasped out another sob.
“I’ll be right there!” He said immediately all trace of sleepiness gone.
She let the phone fall to her lap and put her face in her hands trying to stifle her sobs. What seemed like only moments later she heard feet pounding down the hall and her door swing open loudly. She felt one warm arm and one cold arm wrap around her pulling her into a strong embrace. She melted into it and let the tears flow. She just wanted to let it all out.
After what seemed like forever but couldn’t have been more than 15 minutes her sobs turned into deep shuddering breaths.
After a few moments Shouto asked. “The Forest or the Shie Hassaikai Raid?”
“The Forest.” She whispered. “The raid nightmares are never that bad.” She said in a stronger voice. She glanced at the clock. 11:00PM. She had been asleep for only an hour and a half. She sighed. It was gonna be a long night. Sleep was not going to come easy tonight.
“Let go have a cup of tea and then I’ll come back up with you and sit with you until you fall asleep.” Shouto said standing and holding out a hand.
The gesture made her smile slightly. He was such a good friend. They had made the deal a while back. If one had a nightmare they would call the other regardless of time of night or even if they were out late on work study. She wondered if other students of class 1-A and even 1-B had similar arrangements.
She took his hand and he pulled her up off the bed. They walked to the elevator and went down in silence. As the doors opened they noticed the kitchen lights were on and heard the murmur of voices. Who was up? Most hero students went to bed at a reasonable hour and got up early.
As they got closer she saw the bulk of Shoji and the bird head of Tokoyami with his shadow companion floating nearby.
Tokoyami noticed them first raising his tea cup in a salute. “Greetings Todoroki and Uraraka. What bring you downstairs on this foreboding night?”
“The kettle is already hot if you want tea.” Shoji added turning. His eyes widened slightly as they fell on Ochako. “Uraraka are you ok?”
Ochako shook her head slightly and continued walking to the couch as Shouto pushed her slightly on the back urging her forward. “I’ll make the tea. Go sit down.”
The other 2 boys watched her with concern as she came and took a spot on the opposite couch from them. She appreciated that neither pushed for an answer and simply waited patiently.
Todoroki appeared quickly with the tea and she took a hasty sip scalding her tongue a little but relaxed slightly as she felt the warmth of her cup.
After a moment Shoji was the first to speak. “Nightmare?” He asked quietly.
Ochako looked at him in surprise. She should have known he would guess. He was such a quiet gentle giant most people overlooked him and his observation skills. He may not be on the level of Deku or Bakugo but he always seemed to pick up on things others did not.
She sighed and nodded but said nothing looking down at her tea feeling dejected.
“It’s nothing to be shamed about.” Tokoyami said. “We were all warned we would get them. It will also always help to have comrades to lean on when it gets hard.” He finished while nodding to Shouto
She felt the dual quirk user put a hand on her back and rub some soothing circles around. She relaxed further and looked up at the other boys suddenly remembering they were in the forest as well.
“The night they took Bakugo... Deku screaming afterward...” She spoke barely above a whisper.
To her surprise both boys nodded in complete understanding. “I get that one too.” Shoji spoke gravely.
“Me as well.” Tokoyami spoke in agreement.
“Really!?” Ochako asked in shock.
“Obviously.” Answered Shoji. “I hope to never hear something as anguished again in the rest of my life.”
“Tsu and Aoyama get them as well I believe.” Tokoyami further confirmed.
“Tsu contacts Ida when she can’t sleep and Aoyama calls Mina.” Shoji added.
She wasn’t alone? Ochako felt such relief at hearing this.
“I told you. You are not alone.” Shouto said at her side. “I call you when I can’t sleep.” He offered.
“When dark shadow is restless or the night is too oppressive I’ll call Mezo.” Tokoyami helped her feel better.
“When I can not get to sleep I call Fumikage.” Shoji finished.
Ochako felt the shame she felt from her nightmares slip away. She finally felt tired and realized she might actually be able to sleep.
“I thought I understood them you know.” Shoji added. “Before that I thought I understood both Bakugo and Midoriya.”
Ochako quirked her head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“I thought I knew what made them tick.” Shoji started slowly. “I thought I understood their relationship. That night made me realize I saw the surface at best and that’s it.”
Ochako looked to her side and saw Shouto sittting up very straight listening with rapt attention.
Ochako turned back to Shoji as he continued to muse. “I now understand at least this much. If their positions had been reversed and Midoriya had been taken we would have heard Bakugo scream the same way.”
Ochako held back a snort. No way. Bakugo seemed to despise Deku back then. He would never had been as broken hearted as Deku was.
Shouto interrupted her thoughts. “Do you really think so?” He asked but the way he said it wasn’t as if he was casting doubt but as actual curiosity.
Ochako whipped her head in his direction. “Bakugo has never worried about Deku nearly as much as Deku worries about Bakugo.” She said hotly.
“You didn’t see Uraraka...” Shoji said drawing her attention back to him. “Do you know what he said as the portal closed around him? As Midoriya rushed to his aid?”
Ochako shook her head slowly.
“Don’t come Deku...” Shoji said quietly. “The look on his face as he looked at Midoriya rushing toward the portal was one of... He was scared. Not for himself but for Midoriya.”
The common room lapsed into silence. Ochako was thinking, dumbfounded. Bakugo said that? He knew didn’t he? He knew Deku was going to try and come for him... and he didn’t want Deku to get hurt anymore...
“Do you know why I couldn’t sleep tonight? Why Fumikage is keeping me company?” Shoji asked them.
Shouto asked. “You didn’t have that nightmare?”
Shoji smiled at the both. A real smile too not with the end of his arms but with his real mouth. Ochako could tell because the edges of his eyes crinkled.
“No... You see before I go to sleep every night...” He stopped and looked away... Almost as if he was... Embarrassed?
Tokoyami put a hand on the boys knee. “It’s ok Mezo.” And Dark Shadow draped himself across Shoji’s back. “ They will understand.” The quirk said.
Shoji relaxed and continued. “Before I go to sleep, as I lay down in bed I extend my hearing. If I can’t hear 20 heartbeats in the building I have trouble sleeping.” He let out a long breath. “I know it will get harder when we get older and some of us will be gone on work studies but ever since Bakugo was taken from us. I have trouble sleeping unless I know everyone is here, safe.”
Ochako was floored... and actually very touched at how much this gentle giant of their class cared of each one of them.
Shouto made the connection before she did though. “Who is missing tonight?” He asked.
Shoji smiled again. “Midoriya and Bakugo.” He said simply. Then quickly added when he saw both Ochako and Shoto stiffened at the information. “They are up at the main building meeting with a teacher! All Might I believe.”
Ochako relaxed after hearing they were both ok. “Do they do that often?” She asked.
“More often than you would think.” Shoji answered. “If they aren’t meeting with All Might they are at one of the training grounds working on Midoriya’s quirk.”
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Shouto twitch slightly.
“No, neither of them are All Might’s secret love child Todoroki.” Shoji laughed seeming to read the split haired boy’s mind.
“I swear they are half brothers of something.” Shouto mumbled making them all laugh.
Ochako felt better now. They were all in this together. They were all supporting each other. Even Bakugo and Deku! She smiled but then Shouto had to break the spell.
“If you can listen to our heart beats I am terrified of what you may have heard coming from Mineta’s room.” Shouto shuddered.
The large boy paled. Then without missing a beat all 6 of his arms made a mouth and in perfect unison made a retching sound like he was trying not to throw up.