It Started With a Touch
Finally got this baby done for our server exchange in @kuroshironekoserver for the dearest @rosechi 💕 I sure hope you like this dear and it was a pleasure writing for you even though we both know I grumbled a lot through the hardships of getting it done 😂😘 enjoy!
“Hey Tsu!” Ochaco Uraraka shouts to get her friend’s attention. The frog hero turns around to see her cheery friend running to catch up with her.
“Hey, Ochaco-chan. What’s up?” Tsuyu asks just as her friend catches up panting through deep breaths with her hands braced against her knees. She holds up a finger as she catches her breath then stands back up, her cheeks flushed from running through the crowded sidewalk.
“Whew! I was hoping I’d catch up with you,” her face beaming with a subtle glow. “I saw you outside the window while I was shopping with the guys. Well, we were talking and decided to plan a get together with some friends for the holidays. So, what do you say? Please, come! It’s been forever, and it wouldn’t be the same without you,” The burnette grins with pleading eyes. Her bubbly personality never failing to bring a smile to her friend.
With a smile, Tsuyu replies, “Wow, thanks, Ochaco. Ribbit. That sounds really great. Count me in.”
“Great! I’ll text you the details. Talk to you later, Tsu!” She bounds back the way she came waving goodbye. Tsuyu waves to her bubbly friend then turns back around to head on home.
I wonder who else they plan on inviting… the frog hero can’t help but wonder walking through town.
Tsuyu arrives at Ochaco’s apartment carrying an apple pie to help contribute to their Friends-giving night and knocks gently on the solid door before her. A few moments later, she’s greeted by Izuku Midoryia with his usual bright smile. It was no wonder how him and Ochaco got along so well to be roommates. Although, she couldn’t help but still wonder if there was more between them. Everyone back from UA had expected them to get together at some point.
“Tsu! You made it!” He opens the door wider allowing her through. “We’re so glad you’re here.”
Tsuyu passes the green haired hero seeing a few others had already arrived before her standing around talking. All from their class back when they were attending UA, before they all went on to become heroes.
“Thank you both for inviting me, Deku-chan. Ribbit. It’s really cool of you and Ochako to host this for everyone,” she replies as he closes the door behind them then leads her in.
“Yeah, we thought it would be a good way to see everyone again since we’ve all been busy with hero work lately.” He sees the pie in her hands and his eyes glow excitedly. “Wow, Tsu! Did you make that?”
He takes the pie from her hands as she nods. “Ribbit. Yeah, it’s apple pie. I hope that’s alright.” She scratches at the corner of her mouth nervously.
“Of course!” Izuku’s bright smile growing wider. “Wow, this is great! It looks delicious!”
He turns to take the pie to the kitchen just as Ochaco comes bouncing out from around the corner.
“Tsu! You’re here!” The rosy cheek hero hugs her fiercely.
“Hey, Ochaco-chan,” she smiles sweetly hugging her friend back. Ochaco hooks her arm around hers, dragging her further into the apartment.
“Let me show you around!”
She’s led around the spacious apartment to find out Iida was also a roommate of theirs. During their tour, she managed to catch up a bit with a few of her old classmates that were already there. It wasn’t long before more arrive as the space quickly begins to fill up. When Ochaco had mentioned inviting a few friends over, Tsuyu didn’t expect to see everyone from class 1-A to arrive. Yet, here each of them were. All heroes brought together for the sake of friendship and food.
“Great!” the bubbly hero announces, getting everyone’s attention. “Now that everyone’s here, we can eat! If everyone will find a seat at the table, we will start bringing the food out to everyone.” She let’s go of Tsuyu’s arm, giving her a gentle push towards the table meant to fit everyone.
Choosing a spot between Momo and Mina, the frog hero takes a seat looking at everyone. Kirishima and Bakugou seem to be as close as ever. Jirou and Kaminari apparently started dating sometime after school. A few of them seemed to still have stayed in close contact with at least one classmate, and all of them still a close friend to the residents they currently visit for this feast. A smile curls at her lips, glad to see them all again as if no time had truly passed. Sharing stories and laughs fill the room as more platters of food cover the table. Once all the food had been brought out, their gracious hosts finally seat themselves with their guests. They give thanks to the food as well as their hosts before digging in. Conversations continue around full mouths much to Iida’s displeasure trying to correct the ill-mannered guys sitting across from him. No one else gave it much thought, finding joy in the nostalgic interaction. Next thing they knew, Bakugo shoots out of his chair and onto his feet, slamming his hands on the table yelling at Kaminari.
“What did you say?!” He demands from the blond but as his hands came down on the table to show his aggravated state, part of his hand hit one of the side dishes next to him and spraying those on his other side with food. The room falls eerily quiet as they watch. Kirishima looking down at his shirt as cranberry sauce chunks slides its way down into his lap and Sero picking up a chunk already in his lap. Both men look at the explosive man who caused the mess, but it was Kirishima who acted first. Holding the pieces that splattered on him, he throws it back at his friend. A wet slap as it hits Bakugo’s face. His scowl deepens as Kirishima bubbles with laughter and Kaminari immediately joining in. A few snickers surround the table while others still stare in shock, not wanting to draw attention to themselves. Bakugo glares past the cranberry pieces now dripping from his face and directly at his red headed friend who was still clutching his sides from laughing so hard. The explosive blond glances at his plate and quickly decides to grab his baked potato and throws it at Kirishima in retaliation. Kirishima ducks as it comes flying in his direction, past Sero, and manages to hit Todoroki on the side of his face as he sits there quietly eating his food. Then...all hell broke loose.
Food starts flying in every which direction. Some giddy with laughter at the sight of their fellow friends being drenched in food pieces while others becoming quite competitive in this all-out food fight. Tsuyu decides to quietly slip out of her chair to hide under the table, clear of the path food was flying in. With a soft sigh, she hugs her knees close to her chest and smiles to herself. “Some things never change,” she whispers to herself as clattering of dishes ring above her.
“No matter how old they get, they still seem to be as reckless as ever,” a voice nearby startles her. The frog hero flinches and turns toward the low voice to see none other than Fumikage Tokoyami sitting next to her, hiding from the chaos ensuing above them as well.
“Tokoyami-chan! I-I didn’t see you there...ribbit,” Tsuyu gulps almost embarrassed by her lack of perception but the man didn’t seem bothered.
“It’s fine, Tsu. And please, Fumikage is fine,” he smiles at her when she nods then pulls out a bag of chips from under his cloak. He opens the bag and takes out a chip to munch on before offering to her. “Want some?”
Tsuyu gapes at him, surprised to see him so calm about the situation. Did he know this would happen and came prepared? Tentatively, she reaches out and take a chip for herself. “Thank you,” she tells him. He nods his head appreciatively then grabs another for himself just as Dark Shadow appears next to him asking for a bite as well. Fumikage feeds the shadowed being attached to him then looks at Tsu who seemed to be watching.
“I try to always keep snacks on me for him. He always gets hungry and can be very rude in asking others for their food,” he explains. Tsuyu covers her mouth with her hand trying to hide a chuckle at the visual.
“Does he try taking their food or does he try convincing them to feed him?” She asks curiously. Fumikage sighs and shakes his head.
“A bit of both honestly. I feed him usually to keep him from devouring everything whole. Otherwise, I’d never get my own share,” he chuckles. Tsuyu smiles at the pair, then scoots closer.
“May I?” She gestures to the chip bag and looks at Dark Shadow. Fumikage looks from her to his companion, then back at her seeing the sincerity in her eyes. He holds the bag out to her, inclining his head.
She reaches into the bag, grabs a chip, then holds it out the shadowy figure. Dark Shadow hovers over her seemingly to leer at the chip in her hand. It was only a few seconds longer before he gently takes it from her hand and quickly eats it. Tsu couldn’t help but chuckle, then reaches out to pat the top of his head. She wasn’t sure what she had expected him to feel like, a bit surprised just how corporeal he really was. He was cool to the touch and soft like velvet. She felt him flinch in surprise at her sudden touch, but as she pets him, he couldn’t help but relax into it letting her continue a little while longer. Fumikage sits there stunned as he watches, knowing Dark Shadow typically didn’t like being touched by others or treated like a pet no less. He could recall several times being almost scolded by the shadow reminding him how he was not to be treated like some house pet but a powerful entity. It was an ego and pride thing, something Fumikage learned to respect and better understand. He began to relax as the tension left his body once Tsu had stopped petting the figure, who retreated back behind him to take more chips from the bag in his hands, and to his guess probably to also keep a little more distance from being pet again. They settle into a silence as sounds of the food fight could still be heard overhead. It was Tsu who finally decides to break the silence.
“Is that what you feel like, too?” she manages to finally ask, curiosity had been gnawing at her after petting Dark Shadow. Stealing glances at Fumikage’s feathers each time she grabbed a chip from the bag he shared with her, each time wondering what they felt like. Did it feel like petting a crow or a raven? Or was it softer? Was it soft at all?
Tokoyami nearly chokes on the chip he was munching on from her question. What could she possibly be asking? “I don’t understand what you’re referencing to, Tsu.” he replies, his tone a bit curious but trying to remain impassive.
“When I was petting Dark Shadow, I didn’t realize how soft he would feel. Not like fluffy soft, but smooth, a bit like velvet, maybe. Cooling to the touch, which makes a bit more sense now that I think about it,” she explains with her forefinger tipped at her chin as she thinks for the right descriptive words. “The temperature is typically cooler in the shadows or at night so it only stands to reason he would feel that way, especially with his sensitivity to brightness.” Tsuyu continues to ramble in her musings.
The jet-black hero clears his throat trying to determine how best to respond. Instead of trying to explain or compare himself for her, he looks at the sweet frog hero. She always was one of the few female classmates he got along well with. Nothing against the others but when they were happy or beaming with positivity, it was a bit overwhelming for him while Tsuyu had a calmer demeanor that was more comforting to him. He glances down at his lap where he holds a half empty bag of chips, his voice a bit quieter than before.
“Would you like to feel for yourself?” He tries to keep his voice neutral. If he had looked at her while asking, he didn’t think he could keep his composure. The question felt strange even as he spoke it, yet even his curiosity began to grow. Her big round eyes blink at him a few times and a soft ribbit leaves her lips. She scoots a little closer and slowly reaches her hand towards him. Fumikage closes his eyes, unsure of how to react in this sort of unprecedented situation. He takes a deep breath and then he feels it. Her hand gently stroking the feathers on his head. Her touch so light it was actually quite soothing. She pets a few times along the vanes and before he knew it, she withdraws her hand almost too soon for his preference, shocking him. He peeks through one eye to see her sitting back down where she was previously and her hands folded in her lap. Opening his eyes, he turns to her. “Well?” he wonders curiously. She smiles that sweet signature grin of hers with a slight tilt of her head.
“I think you’re softer and warmer than Dark Shadow. I’m not surprised though, ribbit,” she says almost cheerfully. He couldn’t help but smile a little, relaxing his muscles he didn’t realize were being held tense and exhaling a soft breath he apparently had been holding. A soft silence settles between them as laughter and shouts from above still ring out loud and clear.
“Hey, Tsu,” he starts softly, “would you like to go grab a coffee or something? I’m not sure how long they plan to keep this up and…” he pauses to rub the back of his neck and takes a deep breath. “I would like to talk more with you, but maybe not cramped down here under the table. If you’re hungry, we could grab a bite while we’re out.”
A soft blush dusts her cheeks as she swallows past a nervous lump in her throat. “I would love to, Fumikage. That sounds lovely,” Tsuyu replies with a smile. Seeing him smile back at her sends butterflies to her stomach just before turning to crawl out from underneath the dinner table. They dodge the flying food and dishware, covertly making their way out of the boisterous apartment.
