protection memes. / @quirkerased
this villain encounter wasn’t like the others.
or, maybe it was, speaking strictly in the sense that they didn’t see it coming – guess you never really do, though, huh? but this time, jirou isn’t with the school at all; they’d been off on their own, probably later than they should have been, and they’re in trouble — like, real trouble.
given the state that they’re in ( bruised, out-numbered, cornered, out of stamina — ), they have every reason to count their lucky stars that their underground hero for a teacher just happened to be out on patrol at just the right time.
their eyes light up when they see him, both out of relief and in awe at the entrance he makes; sure, he’s always been cool, but there’s nothing quite like seeing him in action. their stance changes as he lands beside them, capture weapon at the ready and his quirk already in use at the foes who stand before them; they look rapidly between the enemy team and him, and then over their shoulder at the citizens who take the opportunity to flee. that’s a relief, at least, but… their eyes dart to him, and they force their brain into strategy mode. if they can get out another heartbeat fuzz, then maybe… it’s worth the shot. they take care to lower their voice so that only he can hear, whispering over their shoulder, ❝ i have an ide– ❞
following his order is mandatory, and that’s why jirou’s body moves as quickly as it does – even if it is in the form of stumbling feet that they only just barely seem to brace themselves with in the area of concrete behind him. blood scatters the ground beneath them and they see it, they see it all at once, and even if they did argue as badly as they wanted to – jirou is stunned into obedient silence, and nauseated when they follow the blood trail up to a wound in their own leg. shit.
all that moves is their hand reaching out to him, palm down and fingers outstretched — let me help hangs on the end of their tongue, but it does not fall. maybe it’s for the best. even if they could bring themself to argue – which, honestly, would he listen? they don’t think so – the way that they want to, they’re frozen in place, forced to do no more than watch him in awe, in horror.
don’t happen again. don’t happen again.
the thought doesn’t process to them as a normal one; doesn’t sound like a phrase they’re thinking, it’s scattered throughout their brain in waves of feeling, shocks of fear that send their heart into hyperdrive as they watch him, frozen in place. they can’t move, and even if they could break out of it, they’ve been ordered not to. to stay behind him. will he be injured again? will it be because it was protecting them?
not because of this. don’t be hurt because of me!
the thought wells tears in their widened eyes, and jirou doesn’t know what to think. it isn’t like they don’t believe in him – he’s become someone they looked up to the very most, but the fact is, they’ve never seen him in action. the way it looks, the enemy isn’t an easy one ( easier for him than them, but he takes enough damage to tighten their chest as they watch ), and he’s way outnumbered. they’re only mildly comforted about the stories they heard about what he did for them at usj, for 1-A; because that’s all they heard. stories.
it’s different seeing it happen. it’s different knowing that it wouldn’t be happening if they weren’t out so late. if the entire encounter weren’t a result of their actions. sure, the villain would be a villain either way, but…
jirou didn’t witness it firsthand – what happened to aizawa at USJ, or the recent fight he’d gotten ten stitches from, or anything else he’d been involved with. with usj, they’d been in a completely different location with yaoyorozu and kaminari, but it wasn’t like his injuries were a secret; he’d been at school two days later looking like a mummy, and her heart drops into her stomach with every hit he takes – at the very same time, flashes of the possibilities appear behind their eyes; the eyes that have begun overflowing.
suddenly, an opportunity presents itself.
aizawa’s hands are full, and in a split second, jirou notices one of them coming for them now and they move before they can think it through any further. her jacks plug instinctively into her forearms and she comes slamming into the ground with force that they’ve never been able to accomplish before. due to the nature of the attack – heartbeat fuzz – they can only think, as they watch it unfold, that how hard and loud their heart beats is the reason why.
it’s enough. that enemy goes down, and when they look back to aizawa, he’s managed to capture the rest of them. their eyes are locked on him once again, and the relief that sweeps over them is… overwhelming. so overwhelming that guilt takes them over, guilt for doubting him – for worrying.
they can’t bear to look at him for long.
gaze falling to the ground where they kneel, they bow their head to him.
❝ sensei… — i’m so sorry! ❞ their voice shakes with nearly the same force that ground had just moments before, and jirou thinks about what else there is to say, thinks about how disappointed he must be – it crushes them, and what began as simple tears develops into a full on cry; because of relief, because of guilt, you name it. it’s the most real experience they’ve ever had – worse than usj by a long shot ( at least then, they hadn’t been alone – they had momo and denki from the start ), worse than the summer trip when they’d just been knocked unconscious, and all they can do is hold their sobbing face in their hands.
shit, man. why’d their coolest move have to be used in a situation like this, followed by such a humiliating display, and in front of a man she admired so much — ?
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