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He wanted to say he fell in love in the little moments born between them, but Katsuki knew his fate had been sealed the second he laid eyes on the fallen star.
The task had been simple. Locate it, retrieve it, bring it back to his clan, and finally earn his birthright as their leader.
Stars only fell to the earth once every five hundred years, and it’s said that to be in possession of one meant years of prosperity and health for whoever owns it—which his people desperately needed. It had been a race against time to get to it before the others.
“Ow!”
He gritted his teeth as he helped the young woman up for the twelfth time that hour. “Are you blind? How many times do I have to tell you to watch where you’re going?”
She snapped her head up to glare at him, bound wrists lifted. “Maybe I would have better balance if you weren’t pulling on me like some dog.”
It would’ve been really fucking nice to know that fallen stars become people the second they touch the ground.
A gorgeous, ethereal, curse of a woman. Katsuki had been spellbound until the moment she opened her mouth. “I’m not used to walking!” Her bare feet were already caked in dirt, offering a stark contrast to the silvery gown draped across her body. “I’m not even used to legs!”
Katsuki wished he had earplugs. She stumbled again and let out a frustrated huff. “Floating is so much easier.”
“Then why don’t you?” He pulled on the enchanted rope binding her wrists as they descended into the forest. “Turn back into a star and give me some fucking peace and quiet.”
“It doesn’t work that way.” Her voice had developed an edge. “You think I want to stay your prisoner?”
“For the last time, you’re not a prisoner,” Katsuki groaned.
“Then untie me!”
“You keep running away!”
“Because I’m your prisoner!”
“Listen—” He stopped himself and took a deep breath.
He needed to keep an even head. She was scared and exhausted and he had no intention of diminishing any more of her light. The glow that had been radiating off her skin had been decreasing significantly since he’d found her and while he didn’t know what that meant, he knew nothing good ever came from a star going out. “I told you. I need to bring you back to my village so you can use your magic—”
“And I told you, it doesn’t work that way.” Her voice cracked. “I fell.”
“Stars are a gift from the heavens.” He tightened his grip on the leash. “You cure everything you touch. You bring light to dark places. You stuck in a meat suit now doesn’t change anything.”
It changed everything. He was almost as terrified as she was, but he had a mission to complete and people to save. She’d have to understand.
She let out a cross between a sob and a laugh. “You’re fools, all of you. I can’t,” she tripped again, “I can’t just—”
She pitched forward and Katsuki's arms instinctively shot out to catch her. In one fluid motion, she yelped as he swooped her into a bridal carry. It took her a moment to gather her bearings before he felt a weak fist bang against his chest. “Put me down!”
“No.”
“I can walk!”
“Two yards without trying to kill yourself?” He rolled his eyes and continued forward. “Yeah. I’m not letting you down until we reach camp.”
She was so warm. It shouldn’t have surprised him.
Crystal-like tears began to fall from her eyes as they continued on. “I shouldn’t be here,” she whispered.
Katsuki refused to feel guilty. He tightened his jaw and pressed forward. “But you are, so get used to it, star.”
“Ochako.”
He paused. It was so quiet, he almost didn’t hear it. “Hah?”
She shifted in his arms to get more comfortable, sighing as she allowed her eyes to close. “My name. It’s Ochako.”
*
“And you call me the reckless one.”
Katsuki winced as Ochako tightened the bandage on his arm. Her form stood out in stark contrast against the campfire’s glow. Even when angry she was beautiful. Two weeks on the road together and yet he still caught himself staring, wondering how a breathing person could look like that.
He cleared his throat and hoped to appear nonchalant. “S’not a big deal.”
It was tense. They had been ambushed and Katsuki had barely gotten them out of there in one piece. Word had spread that the star had a pulse and pretty face and now not even the main roads were safe. The only reason they were able to run was because the moment that dagger plunged into Katsuki’s arm, Ochako lit up like a flash bomb and blinded the bastards.
He was still blinking lights out of his eyes.
She had figured out how to keep her skin from shining anything brighter than a dull glow, but strong emotions were causing her to blink with each furious bandage wrap. “ You should be on your knees thanking me that I was the one who got to you first.” Ochako threw his words back in his face with a glare. “That’s what you said when we first met, wasn’t it? You think I’m bad? You have no fucking idea. ”
“Oi, watch your language,” he grumbled, ears red. It didn’t sound right coming out of her mouth.
“You’re unbelievable.”
There’s something in her voice that causes him to pause. He’s surprised to see unshed tears pooling in her eyes. “Are you crying?”
She jerked her head away and let out a sniffle. “No.”
“I didn’t realize you cared so much.”
“I don’t.” He hissed at another rather aggressive tighten. “I’ve accepted that in order to survive here, I need you alive and mobile.” His arm was going to fall off. “And I don’t need you jeopardizing that by taking unnecessary risks with your life.”
“What unnecessary risks?” He found himself getting defensive. “Protecting you?”
She squeezed down on his wounded arm, hard. “The dagger that caused this almost went into your heart. Your human heart.”
“Because it almost went into your star heart! I saved you.”
“I didn’t—” She caught herself and shut her eyes before continuing in a much quieter tone. “I would’ve been fine.”
“How?”
She didn’t answer. Of course she didn’t, why would she? Katsuki made an annoyed sound and moved to turn before he heard a small, “Why are people so terrible here?”
Katsuki thought for a moment. “Fear,” he settled on. “Fear drives most evil, and this world is full of it.”
Ochako fussed at his bandages. “Is that why you’re so brave?”
He blinked. “What?”
“You’re not evil.” She lowered her gaze, eyes settling just below his collarbone. “You’re good.”
Katsuki barked out a laugh that he hoped hid his blush. He scratched the back of his neck and looked away. “I’m afraid. All the fucking time. Fear of loss, though… That’s what makes me brave.”
“Is your village full of brave people, too?”
The question caused him to pause. Instead of her typical ire when talking about his home, she sounded almost… unsure. Hopeful. “Mostly.”
She was quiet for a moment. “I have to get home.”
He softened. “I know you do.” Ochako had a faraway expression on her face and Katsuki found himself wanting nothing more than to bring her back into the present. With him.
Against his better judgment, he gently took her hand in his and waited for her to yank it back. She didn’t. “Do you even know what happened to you?”
She wouldn’t meet his gaze. “I know that this is a mistake. And that above all, I’m going home. And nothing you say or do can stop me.”
Her words said one thing, but her body language said another. There was too much grief. “Do you even know how to get home?” he asked in a hushed tone.
He could no longer see her natural glow. It was diminished, along with her spirit. She didn’t answer again as a large tear rolled down her cheek. Something twisted in Katsuki’s chest and the words came out without thinking. “How about we make a deal? You help my village, and I help you get home?”
Ochako’s head snapped up, eyes wide. “You’d do that?”
He just wanted her to stop crying. It looked wrong, felt wrong. He shrugged and gave her a crooked smile. “I told ya, you aren’t my prisoner. I just…” He cleared his throat. “I can’t promise when I can help, but it will be a definite when. Not an if.”
He took another risk by wiping away a tear along her pale cheek, transfixed by it. She froze as he did it, but made no move to stop him. “I’ll get you back in the sky, starshine.”
It was quiet between them. His thumb had a mind of its own, refusing to stop stroking her soft cheek. “The Uraraka constellation,” she finally blurted out.
He stopped. “What?”
She blinked rapidly before pointing up towards a part of the night sky. “That’s my home. Right there.”
He squinted up. “Shit, you fell far.”
She let out a wretched laugh. “Yeah. Yeah, I did.” She extended her arm out and brushed their shoulders together, sending Katsuki’s heart into overdrive. “See that dark spot?”
He leaned into her further and was pleased to hear her breath stutter. Katsuki failed to hold back a grin. “Yeah.”
“That’s my place.” Her expression turned wistful. “That’s where I belonged.”
Katsuki stared hard at the void. Even in the constellation, it looked too far away from the others. “Are you sure you weren’t lonely up there?”.
Ochako sniffed before sharply looking away, much to his displeasure. “It doesn’t matter. It’s my home.”
Katsuki wasn’t convinced. “My old man says home is where your people are.” He gestured to the rest of the spread out constellation. “How can you be home when you’re all alone?”
He waited for a response, but one never came. “Ochako..?”
He angled his face towards her and froze. She was curled in on herself, crying again. “Shit, I didn’t—”
“I’m cold.”
He blinked. “O-oh.” When Ochako gave another pathetic, congested sniff, he sprung to action.
Katsuki wrapped his cloak around her and drew her close, unsure of what to do next. “This better?”
Ochako nodded and relaxed into him further. Silence had settled between them, but he didn’t mind it. They’d created a cozy pocket that Katsuki knew he was already addicted to. When she spoke again, it was barely audible. “I think… I’d like to see where you call home.”
“Really?”
She nodded, biting her lower lip. “And then, maybe I can show you mine.”
The air shifted between them. Katsuki’s throat tightened, and he wasn’t sure if what he was feeling was joy or fear. He cleared his throat and tried to pull off a scoff. “Wanna show me how you use your magic, too?”
It was meant to be a joke, but she chewed on her bottom lip as she thought. “...Maybe,” she decided. “Maybe. It’s strange, I…” She turned away and if Katsuki didn’t know any better, he’d say she was blushing. “I can’t promise anything.”
Her hand found his again and she gave it a timid squeeze. “Katsuki?”
His heart gave another agonizing lurch. He’d never stop getting used to hearing his name uttered by such an enchanting voice. “Yeah?”
Ochako turned her head and smiled softly, her starlight finally stabilizing into something hypnotic and breathtaking. The sight was so comforting he didn’t know what to do with himself. “I… understand how lucky I am now. That it was you who found me…and…”
She trailed off again before clearing her throat and murmuring, “Just, thank you. For everything.”
Katsuki was fucked.
*
He wasn’t sure what had happened, when he suddenly became so consumed with someone else’s happiness—to the point where he was currently clamoring out of a stream to deliver her the pale pink lotus she’d marveled at earlier in passing.
No, he damn well knew. He just didn’t want to admit it. Katsuki made sure not to squish the flower as he took a deep breath. But he had to. That was the entire point.
Today… today was the day. He was going to tell her how he felt and pray to the gods she didn’t run away screaming. They were only a few leagues away from his village and he knew that the moment they entered, he’d never get another moment like this again.
Katsuki grimaced as he made his way towards their camp. Gods, he hoped he wasn’t wrong in thinking she felt the same. How could she not? Ochako had taken to sleeping under his cloak with him and found every opportunity to hold his hand in hers, emitting a pleasant glow when doing so.
That meant something, right?
“Fuck,” he muttered.
Even through his nerves, seeing her come into view as he entered the small clearing felt like a calming balm. No matter how mundane the task, she still looked so ethereal as she completed it. How could she make stoking a campfire appear so captivating?
She peered up and caught him staring, face breaking out into a wide grin. He grinned back and wondered why he was so nervous to begin with. He always wanted to see her gaze at him like that.
Until her expression morphed into one of pure terror as something pierced Katsuki from behind. He looked down in mild shock to see an arrow sticking out from his chest, blood already gushing out down his torso. The lotus in his hand was now stained red and when he tried to speak, blood spurted from his mouth. The world went dim.
He fell to the ground and suddenly the air was filled with her screams.
Katsuki gasped out as he clawed at his chest, trying to get the arrow out. He had to get to her! He had to protect her, to stop them—
Blinding light caused him to shut his eyes, a pained yell leaving his own throat. Amidst the confusion more screams scattered through, but this time they didn’t belong to his star. An overwhelming smell of burning assailed his nostrils the same moment the light finally faded.
The men had stopped screaming.
Katsuki was still too out of it to fully understand why, his attention immediately falling on Ochako’s panicked and sobbing form now above him. She wouldn’t stop crying. Katsuki kept trying to blink the lights out of his eyes only to realize Ochako’s glow was only growing more blinding. “O-Ochako—”
Searing pain in his chest had him choking on his words. It was making it impossible to breathe. He tried to look down only for her light to force his eyes shut again. “Och—” He coughed. “Ocha—”
“Stay with me! Katsuki, stay with me.”
He felt like he was floating. He’d probably lost too much blood. Shit. “Ochako—”
“I’m sorry,” she gasped out. “I’m sorry, just—don’t move—”
Her starlight had finally diminished enough for him to be able to gaze up at her gorgeous face, streaked with tears that sparkled in the moonlight. The world was blurring. Thank the gods he’d be able to see it one last time. “How are you always this beautiful?” he mumbled.
She hiccuped out another sob. “Hush, Katsuki, it’ll be okay.”
Ochako pressed her hands down on his chest and Katsuki was subject to the strangest sensation. He must’ve been hallucinating as he took in her intense expression, desperate eyes trained on the bleeding wound. There was a heat so unlike anything he’d ever experienced, spreading throughout his entire body. “Ocha..ko?”
All of her light had concentrated into her lower arms. The heat was emanating from her hands, white and blinding against the dark. She looked like whatever she was doing was taking everything she had. Sweat poured from her brow, but she refused to relent. “It’ll be okay.” She was muttering to herself like it was a mantra. “It’ll be okay, it’ll be…”
Katsuki’s insides felt like they were on fire. It was becoming unbearable, and yet he couldn’t move. “Fuck,” he gasped out.
It hurt so fucking badly. He inhaled another deep breath just to beg her to stop…
Katsuki took another breath, confused out of his mind. It was getting easier. “What the fuck..?”
It wasn’t just her hands glowing anymore. Searing light emanated from Katsuki’s chest as he witnessed his skin slowly being stitched back together. The heat was… healing him?
“Stay still,” she begged. “It’s almost done, I promise, just—please stay with me, Katsuki, please.”
The pain gradually turned bearable. His breathing had evened out, chest still tight but very much arrow-less. Her hands dimmed to a manageable glow as she slumped by his side, utterly spent. He gazed at the already forming scar in awe. “I thought…your magic..?”
She let out a stuttering breath. “I can heal. I can grant long life, but only…” She hiccuped and he realized tears were still streaming down her face. “Star magic only works if it’s t-towards someone a part of my c-constellation.”
He blinked. “But I’m not a star. I’m a human.”
“It’s your fault,” she sobbed. “You, and talking about home, and how it’s in people, and—”
“Ochako—”
“It’s you, Katsuki.” Ochako cupped his face and brought her face close, tears shining like starlight. “When I think of home, I no longer think of the sky, and that cold empty void that used to be where I existed. You were right, I was so lonely. I didn’t know until I met…”
She shut her eyes and took a deep breath. Katsuki could barely breathe as he gazed up at her. “Met?”
She opened them and gave him the warmest smile he’d ever been gifted. “I didn’t know what it felt like to be home until I met you. You’re my home now. I hope that’s okay.”
Despite all the healing, Katsuki’s breath left him once again. His heart felt like it was about to burst out of his chest, and yet he never felt more alive. He couldn’t stop the wide grin breaking across his face as a shaky hand rose to stroke her ruddy cheek. “As long as it’s okay that I feel the same.”
Ochako let out a wet laugh that was music to his ears. “Good. I’m relieved.” Much to his displeasure she pulled away and furiously wiped her eyes. “Right. Let’s get you by the fire and more comfortable. I was able to help a lot, but you still need rest.”
“Help a lot,” he scoffed as she helped him up. The fact that he was able to stand at all after that was a fucking miracle. “It’s not like you sewed my chest back together or anything.”
He tried to keep a scowl, but nothing could stop the happiness radiating from his spirit. Any time she looked at him, his smile only grew wider. Ochako gave him a warning glare that fell extremely flat. Her own smile was threatening to blind him and Katsuki realized he was going to be able to bask in its warmth for the rest of his days.
“Oh, Katsuki.” Ochako’s skin grew brighter, a mischievous glint in her eye that sparkled. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”