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Midoryia sat in bed, staring at his hands as Blackwhip buzzed around him, enveloping his arms. He closed his eyes, and felt. Blackwhip was an extension of himself. Something that came from his being. As such, it was a part of him. It allowed him to feel. Even when he lost control, when Blackwhip decided to have a mind of its own, he could still feel all that it felt. It was terrifying.
A knock on his door brought him out of his musings. “Deku?” The voice outside inquired, “Can I come in?” He sighed as he stood up, trying to will Blackwhip to dissipate. Unable to do so, he instead hid it behind his back as best he could. “Come on in.” Uraraka stepped into the room, her steps light as she tried to seem neutral.
“Deku. Are you alright?” She stared him in the eye as she asked, begging, pleading for him to answer her honestly. “I-” he hesitated. He could see the resignation in her face, the disappointment, as she prepared herself for him to lie to her. “No.” He croaked out. “I’m not.”
He could’ve sworn he saw her face light up for a second before she schooled her expression to that of concern. “Okay. Okay. Want to talk about it?” He looked down for a minute, deciding to sit on the floor. After a moment’s pause, Uraraka tread over to him and sat in front of him. Midoryia could feel Blackwhip aching, wanting release. He was scared, and his power was reacting negatively.
“I hurt you.” He whispered. Blackwhip grew, covering his shoulders. Uraraka saw as he tried desperately to rein his power in. “Oh, Deku.” She leaned over to try to catch his eye. “It’s alright. It wasn’t your fault.” “But it was!” His voice cracked in guilt. “It was my quirk that hurt you.” “Your quirk. Not you. Your quirk.” “But it was me!” Tears welled up in his eyes. “I felt it. Every moment. Every piece of debris, every slab on concrete, every rebar broken.”
He clenched his fists and closed his eyes as Blackwhip extended further, to his arms. “Every time my quirk hit you and tried to push you away, I felt it. As if they were my very own hands.” Uraraka thought for a moment, processing his words. Blackwhip crept further, to his fingertips. “They feel like extensions of yourself? Like limbs, kind of?” She tried to understand. He nodded, Blackwhip growing further.
He started to grow panicked.”Uraraka, it’s growing. I don’t know if I can control it. You should really leave.” He tried desperately to keep his voice under control. Uraraka stayed seated, and reached out. She gently grabbed one of the growing tendrils in her hand. “Can you feel that?” Midoryia took a deep breath as he nodded.
Blackwhip seemed to calm down. It didn’t shrink, but its movements became less erratic. Uraraka grabbed Midoryia’s right hand with her left, her own right hand carefully holding onto the same tendril. “You’re not going to leave?” As scared as he was, he really wanted her to stay. She was so comforting. She shook her head. “No. I’m going to stay here. With you.”
Uraraka slowly rubbed circles onto Blackwhip and Midoryia’s hand with her thumbs. Midoryia felt it in both. It sent soothing ripples up his arms. He felt the pads on her fingers gently pressing against him. He focused on her hands as much as he could. He didn’t understand this aspect of his quirk, not really. The information he had been given was rushed, and he had no one who could really teach him more. He felt alone. But sitting here, on the floor of his room, Uraraka across from him, that felt considerably less daunting.
“I’m sorry.” He slowly looked up to look at her. “For hurting you.” She let out a small breath and shook her head. “Silly. It’s alright. I’m fine. Look!” She squeezed his hand and tendril and flashed him a smile. He chuckled in response, more out of relief than anything. He looked her over. It was true. She had some scrapes and bruises, sure, but nothing out of the ordinary for a hero. “I promise you, Deku.” She squeezed again, continuing to rub circles. “I’m not hurt bad, and I know it wasn’t on purpose. I’m okay. But, for what it’s worth, I completely forgive you.”
He nodded, trying to regain his composure. “Thank you. I’m happy to hear you say all of that.” He took a deep breath, and tried calming his mind. He focused on her fingertips, using them to ground himself as best he could. Blackwhip slowly started to rescind. The wisp that Uraraka had been holding onto slipped out of her hand as it gradually shrank back into Modoryia’s body. As it did so, she reached to grab his other hand with her now empty one.
“I could feel your hand.” He felt a blush appear as he admitted, “it felt really nice.” Uraraka felt her own cheeks redden as she courageously continued holding his hands in her own. “I’m glad.” They sat in silence, allowing their thoughts to settle. Midoryia felt the pads of her fingers gently massaging his hands. He sat with her, in silent content, centering his thoughts on the feel of her hands. Her touch, keeping him grounded. Keeping him calm.
“Thank you. For everything.” He didn’t want her to let go. “Of course.” He wished he could keep her touch with him. “I’m here for you. Always.” He was unsure if she knew just how deeply he appreciated that, but the way she held his hands told him she did.