(One-shot 23/? in a collection of My Hero Academia one-shots posted regularly on Saturdays - and sometimes Sundays.)
Read on AO3.
Tags: Snipe, Choku Dan, Pro Hero Snipe, Snipe x OC, Snipe x Reader, Original Female Character(s), Ichijiku Aoki, Angst, And When I Say Angst, I Mean the Cliche Damsel in Distress This Time, I'm Not Sorry, I Committed to the Chivalrous Cowboy Trope, Snipe Rides in to Save the Day, I Gave Myself a Panic Attack Writing This, It Was Worth It, Snipe is So Underappreciated, I Did My Best to Remedy That, We Stay Writing 1.6K Words This Week
Word Count: 1,639 words
Summary: As Ichijiku contemplates life, a villain decides to make her contemplate her life specifically when he kidnaps her to get back at Snipe. As the clock for Ichijiku's life ticks down, Snipe finds a hint left behind as to where she's being held. When he finally arrives, he might be able to save her, but at what cost?
Ichijiku (Tigress)
If I stare at the sky for too long, it almost seems like a cardboard cutout, ready at any moment to fall forward and reveal its Great Creator behind it, spanning out into the dark, expansive realm of space. Will galaxies seem finite in the infinitesimal vacuum of space? Or will they only seem that much bigger with my own microscopic existence soiling the atmosphere?
Those thoughts plague my mind before a blue-haired man with tattoos wrestles me out of my rocking chair and through my house to steal me away.
Now, tied to a railroad track and left with nothing but the sky to look at, I’m not wondering about the vast expanse of the heavens any more. I’m wondering what Snipe will think of my absence. Will he think I’m ready to move on from our year-long relationship, unaware of my predicament? Or will he be lost and confused, distraught when he doesn’t find my warning in time?
Death doesn’t even cross my mind, despite the fact that Chameleon makes it very clear I’ll be dying at precisely 3:00pm.
“You’re awfully calm for someone in this situation.”
“You’ll have to forgive me. I’m an introvert and not entirely sure how I should respond to this.” My tone is, in fact, far more calm than it should be. “If this is your idea of catching a date, you’ve got the wrong idea. This isn’t a girl’s idea of a fun time, nor is it what she means when she says she wants to be railed.”
“Shut up. That’s hardly an appropriate response.” I hear him huff out a breath before he continues. “You’re not nearly as fun as I’d hoped. I’d been banking on hearing you scream until you lost your voice.” He drawls, apparating into existence in my line of sight.
What I thought to be a simple blue, turns out to be iridescent scales camouflaging him with every winking beam of sunlight, a kaleidoscope of color with every step he takes. He might be handsome if he didn’t just hogtie me to the tracks.
“I’m so sorry to disappoint you.” I roll my eyes as I glare at him. “But it’s Snipe’s job to make me scream, you know.”
A moment later he’s got a rope tied around my mouth, effectively gagging me.
“On second thought, it’s far too irritating listening to you talk. You have no class.” He crosses his arms across his chest before looking down one side of the tracks. “But don’t worry. You’ll be screaming soon.”
When I feel the ground rumbling beneath me followed by a thunderous horn in the distance, panic sweeps through my chest. Even so, death still isn’t my first thought. Instead, I squeeze my eyes shut and think of Snipe. I think of the sky. I think of infinity and my cat and love letters and regrets and what could have been.
Only when I see the approaching silhouette of the train do I allow myself a fleeting thought for death.
. . . . .
It’s 2:23pm when Snipe dismounts from his horse. It’s 2:25 when he whips past the overturned rocking chair and bursts into her open door, barely hanging onto its hinges.
It’s 2:26 when he finds the note plastered to her fridge.
Been a while since we’ve had a fair fight, Snipe. Let’s see if you’re still on your A-game. Your lady dies at three o’clock sharp. See if you can save her in time.
C
Snipe’s world is out of sorts. The world is not in harmony because she should be here and she should be making tea. She should be turning to the door with that blue-ribbon winning smile as he offers her a bouquet of her favorite flowers. She should be gazing into the corral of his eyes that he leaves open just for her.
She should not be gone.
Snipe slams his fist into the wall trimming, using the pain to pull himself back together. He doesn’t have time to waste. No time at all. Time that ticks down with every second he spends rummaging through the house, searching for any sign of where Chameleon might have taken her.
He’s nearly given up hope by 2:35, where he sinks to his knees and reminds himself to breathe. She will not die. She will be in his arms again. She will hide little love letters in his hat-shaped ring box that once housed her engagement ring now sitting on her finger.
Love letters. Without thinking, he opens the box and what should he find but a note? A blue, crumpled sticky note folded more haphazardly than the rest, and on it is a scribbled word in her handwriting: train.
The box falls to the floor and the door slams shut as Snipe leaps onto his horse and spurs the mare to motion, flying through the forest and into the open plains like a bat out of hell.
When a train comes into view, his eyes follow the tracks on an uncomfortably close trajectory towards two figures. He knows even as he urges Kuroashi faster that he won’t make it.
At 2:59 he aims his gun.
. . . . .
The train is here. It’s close enough to feel the heat from its smoky breath as it rattles the tracks. All sounds drown out from the steady rhythm of chug-a-chug-a-choo-choo until my brain turns the cadence into an ominous Death is coming for you.
The train is here. The train is here. Death is here and all I can worry about is whether or not Snipe will keep the box for my engagement ring. Will he hold it when he wants to remember me? Or will he get rid of everything so he doesn’t have to remember what he lost?
Chameleon’s timer goes off to the sound of a gunshot.
Click. Clank. The switch lever swerves with the tracks and suddenly the train zooms past me, still far too close for comfort, but no longer on course to swallow me with its iron jaws. The warmth of the train mingles with adrenaline and suddenly I can’t stop wiggling and whimpering in my restraints, muscles buzzing as I fight to get off these damn tracks.
“More vocal now, huh?” Chameleon hisses, disappearing and activating his quirk just as Snipe rides into range.
“MMPH!” I try to warn him.
But his camouflaged offender sends him flying off his horse and into the dirt, gun still primed in his hand. He’s on his feet quickly, but what can he do? I watch helplessly as Snipe’s homing quirk becomes useless. How does one shoot what he can’t see?
My eyes scour the dirt, searching for footprints and other minute signs of his movement. When a cloud of dust swirls by Snipe’s feet, I thrash in my bindings, desperately trying to free myself and help him. My fiancé’s head arcs back into the ground from his unseen adversary, kick-starting my heart.
Blood drips from his nose as keen, pro-hero eyes start searching for the same tell-tale signs of Chameleon’s movements I’ve been watching for. It costs him a hit in the stomach and his ribs, but he analyzes his foe’s movements to reclaim the upper hand. Snake battles snake in the hot, barren plains while my body quivers with fear.
All it takes is another dust cloud and bam! Snipe wrestles the invisible villain into the ground, appearing to fight air until Chameleon relinquishes use of his quirk.
“Glad to see you’re still in tip top shape, Snipe.” Chameleon growls, turning his glare to me as Snipe pulls out the restraining tape. “But you cut it kind of close, and next time she won’t be so lucky.”
“There won’t be a next time if you’d prefer to keep breathing.” Snipe barks out, his voice feral and sharp.
Snipe gets Chameleon’s hands behind his back and calls the cops as he sprints in my direction. Calloused hands act as a balm to the tremors tainting my muscles. When he cuts the bindings loose, he grabs my face and presses his forehead to mine; we share each others’ oxygen, our eyes promising the other what our mouths can’t say right now - I’m here and you’re safe and I’m not going anywhere.
My life remains finite while stretching infinitely before me, stretching straight out for Snipe.
I don’t ever want to let him go.
“You’re okay.” He whispers; it’s hard to tell whether he says this for me or himself. “Are you hurt? Did he do anything before he tied you up?”
“A few bruises and cuts.” My fingers card through his hair and slide down his cheek, soaking in every ridge and bump of his body. “And that’s only because I put up a fight before he got me here.”
“That’s my girl.” He grins and the world clicks back into place.
The heat sears my body and pain torments my bones as I become abruptly aware of the world around me. His presence anchors me as I’m swirling dangerously close to the edge of unconsciousness. He catches me with whispered coos, keeping me tethered for now.
“You’re having an adrenaline crash. And, hell, I can’t blame ya. But take a few deep breaths for me, okay, darlin’? Police should be here soon.”
It’s 3:34 when the police arrive to stuff Chameleon in the back of their car and EMTs arrive to check me for injuries. Only when the blinding blue and red lights disappear from my line of sight do I make myself stop counting the minutes.
“Do you want me to take you home?” Snipe whispers in my ear, securing a shock blanket around my shoulders.
“Not my house.” I whimper. “Will you take me to your place?”
“Of course, honey. I’ll keep you safe. Let’s go home.”
(One-Shot 6/? in a collection of My Hero Academia one-shots posted regularly on Saturdays and sometimes Sundays.)
Read on AO3.
Tags: Snipe x OC, Pro Hero Snipe x OC, Choku Dan, Original Female Character, Snipe is a Gentleman Cowboy, OC is Just Trying to Relax in the Pond, But Snipe's Horse is Eating Her Clothes
Word Count: 1,591 words
Summary: Ichijiku takes a trip to a pond for a swim and a relaxing bath. When a stranger comes by with the same idea, how will she leave with her dignity in tact?
Author's Note: As far as I know, Snipe's real name hasn't been revealed. So for the time being I've given him a name that means "straight shooter" to reference his quirk, at least until he's given a real name canonically in the series. Hope you enjoy!
CONTENT WARNING: Nudity
Ichijiku (Tigress)
Cold, rushing water caresses my skin after a hot day in the sun. The calm, lapping waves wrap around my naked skin like silk as I wipe away the dust and grime from a busy day.
Birds and frogs serenade me from nearby trees and lily pads spinning around me in the pond. The sound of hooves trotting in the distance provides a soothing cadence to steady my wandering thoughts. I take a deep breath and duck under the water, allowing an overflow of serenity to encapsulate every inch of me.
For those few moments, my mind and body hover in a blank plane of existence where I'm untouchable from the hardships of life, until I eventually must resurface for air.
Rubbing the water off my face, I open my eyes to a stranger five feet away from me at the pond's edge. A stranger who's unable to see me as he pulls his shirt off over his head.
My heart jumps in my throat as I glide behind a large mossy rock to peek out from. I've never seen such a man before. He's so handsome. He tosses his shirt aside and then works at the buckle of his trousers. With a soft gasp, I hide with my back against the rock until I hear him step in the water.
A frog disturbs the surface tension and I stay still for a few more moments to make sure my position isn't given away before I peek around slowly again. His bare chest stretches above the surface. Chiseled muscles flex as he moves deeper into the water. Tan skin gleams with rolling droplets in the sunlight as he rubs a wet cloth over his taut skin. He closes his eyes and leans his head back, giving me a better view of his blue dreads.
I should let him know I'm here. I think, but my mouth hangs open when I try to speak. I can only hide behind my rock and ogle him. No, I shouldn't be doing this. My conscience pipes up, making me shake my head and sneak to the other side of the rock towards my clothes on shore. As I move closer, I notice some of them missing.
On the bank, a black horse rubs her nose in my shirt and then pulls my socks and undergarments closer to her along the ground. Internally, I panic, but I try to keep a calm exterior as I duck my head to reach for the clothes when I hear a deep voice.
"Kuroashi! What are you nosing into?"
Just as I reach for my shirt, the man reaches for his horse and we're suddenly a breath away from each other. I glance at the dip of his hips and his eyes droop to the valley of my chest before either of us process what's happening.
"O-Oh!" He falls back into the water with a splash before I see anything, but I'm frozen in horror for a moment before I cover my chest and tuck in the water with a squeal.
His horse remains unbothered and continues rummaging through my clothes.
"I'm sorry, ma'am! I didn't realize anyone else was here." He quickly apologizes.
"I-I should be sorry," I squeak out, submerging every part of my body up to my chin underwater. "I saw you but didn't say anything. I had hoped to make a quiet escape."
"Well, I'm mighty glad I got to see your pretty face before you did." He chuckles.
"I can't say I wasn't fond of the view myself." I smile shyly. My neck gets hot and I pull my soaking hair to the front, shading my burnt cheeks.
An awkward silence stretches between us as we peek at each other. Fantasies of swimming over to touch him skirt the edges of my mind, but I force myself to be good when the sound of munching reminds me of why we met.
"Your horse is eating my undergarments." I giggle as my bra dangles from its snout.
"Gah! She's–Ashi!" He exclaims, hopping out of the pond with everything God gave him exposed to the elements. "Give that here, you nosy thing!" He laughs when she nickers, moving back and forth to make him work for it.
I grin when he finally snatches the bra from his mischievous mare and coaxes her to walk with him so he can toss it into my pile of clothes without letting me see him naked.
"Sorry about that," He rubs the back of his neck, before patting his mare fondly. "Kuroashi can be such a busybody sometimes, but at least she ain't crowbait."
"Crowbait?" I ask as I extend my hand to her and wait to see if she'll sniff me. When she bends her head, I stroke the fur on her cheek.
"Crowbait's just another way of saying she ain't a good quality horse."
"Oh, well I agree. She isn't crowbait. She's lovely." I coo.
"She's a good girl." He gives her a good pat on her shoulder. "Just doesn't know when to keep her nose out of the dirt and mind her own business."
"Does she take after her owner?" I tease.
"I've been known to get involved in another's business a time or two." He smirks. "But only on the odd occasion."
I look down with a grin as I comb my fingers through my soaking hair. My eyes cut over to him a few times. What I wouldn't give to touch him at least once.
"What's your name?" I ask.
"Choku. Choku Dan." His goofy smile reveals a set of pearly white teeth. "And what about you?"
"Ichijiku." I take a few steps toward the shore until I expose my shoulders again.
"Oh! Right. Well, Ichijiku, let me help you out." Choku moves back around the edge of the pond to his clothes before grabbing a large, red cloak. "Here, darlin', use this to cover yourself."
He holds it open for me and I gather my clothes as I step out of the water and on land. Wrapping me up in his cloak, the cool wind isn't so bad, especially when he's trapping me in his warmth being so close. He buttons the clasps and I find myself mesmerized by the look on his face.
"What were you doin' out here anyway, sweetheart?" His brown eyes sparkle under the setting sun. "It ain't often I happen upon someone as beautiful as you in this pond. It's not exactly easy to get to."
"I often come to the woods for an adventure. Sometimes I need to go for a swim; though, skinny dipping today was a first." I chuckle nervously.
"I'm sure not complaining." His gaze shifts to my lips for half a second before his cheeks tinge pink and he looks back at me. "I-I mean, unless that makes you uncomfortable, ma'am."
"I'm more uncomfortable that you keep looking at me like that without kissing me."
I don't know where my boldness comes from but I can't say I regret it when he dips his head and closes the distance. Warm, soft lips dance with mine and I melt against him, his thin cloak the only thing separating us. It ends far too quickly, but that's probably good considering how fast my head spins when he pulls back.
"Sure didn't expect to do that when I came out here today." He presses his forehead to mine and we're close enough I hear the beat of his heart.
"I didn't either. I doubt there's anything more surprising to top it." I admit.
"Really now? What if I told you this pond is on private property and you're under arrest?" He slips his hands under the cloak to snag my wrists playfully.
I might be worried except he's smiling far too big for him to mean it.
"I'd say, 'Well, I can scratch that off my bucket list.'" I giggle.
"Who puts getting arrested on their bucket list?!" His laughter bounces off the trees as he shakes his head in amusement.
"The same lady who just kissed you wearing nothing but your cloak."
That seems to flip a switch in his head as he lets out another yelp and goes to grab his clothes and shuffle into them.
"Shit, that's right! I meant to offer you a ride back to wherever you needed to go. I'm sorry. I've been hanging fire this whole time!"
"Hanging fire?" I ask. I think I like learning about his cowboy slang.
"Delaying or getting held up." He explains as his pants zip and he throws on his shirt. "Come on, honey, Ashi and I will have you home lickety split."
"Oh, thank you. I don't mean to inconvenience you. I can walk if–"
"Nonsense. It's no trouble at all, ma'am. Let me help you up." He lifts me up as I keep his cloak secured, then he stuffs my clothes in his saddle bags.
By the time he reaches my house, the crickets sing to us as the remaining daylight wanes. He helps me off Kuroashi and I take my clothes gratefully.
"Wait here and I'll change so I can give you your cloak back." I say as I fish my keys from my jean pocket.
"Don't worry about it, ma'am. I've got more at home, I promise."
"Oh...are you sure? It's yours. It doesn't feel right to take it."
"I'm sure, darlin'. I imagine it'll give me a reason to come back." He winks.
