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Jiro was not looking forward to this stupid test at all. Not only was she secretly an incredibly jumpy person but she hadn't been paired with Momo.
She couldn't quite put her fingers on it but ever since Momo had presented, Jiro had felt drawn to her even more than before. Having not presented yet herself, she was sure that she wasn't able to take in the full extent of Momo's scent but from what she could smell Momo smelled incredible. Like a rainforest after it's just rained or a greenhouse- she wasn't entirely sure. What she did know was that some part of her was responding to that scent and that made Jiro's crush all that much harder to control at times.
Her thoughts were filled with stolen moments spent with Momo where they would talk about everything and nothing. From the moment they'd made up after USJ, Jiro couldn't believe that someone so unlike her was exactly who she'd always wanted. Jiro comforted herself with thoughts of Momo as a coping mechanism for the sights and sounds coming from class 1b as they tried (and often succeed) in scaring the shit out of her and Hagakure. At least if Momo had been with her she would have had Momo's scent to help calm her nerves. But no. Jiro gets stuck with an omega who's a worse scaredy cat than she was.
As they slowly made their way down the path Jiro started to hear a strange sound. She couldn't be sure but it sounded like something heavy was falling to the ground- a couple of heavy things. The musician wasn't sure if it was part of 1b's "act" or not but she began to develop a bad feeling in her chest moments before she and Hagakure were engulfed in a strange purple-colored mist.
She tried her best to keep from breathing the stuff in because her instincts told her it wouldn't be good for her to do so. Being a singer allowed her to hold out longer than Hagakure as she watched the shape of her friend collapse. So that's what I was hearing before.
Jiro's mind raced as she searched desperately for a solution to her immediate problem. She could try to drag the invisible girl to safety- to Momo who would know what to do- but she wasn't sure she could actually make it before she needed to breathe. She threw her hands up and groaned in frustration, only realizing her mistake once her vision began to blur.
The last coherent thought she had before everything went black was that she hoped Momo would find her.
*****
The night is clear and the path amusing. Momo thinks to herself as she watches Aoyama jump and let out another startled scream as they make their way through the Test of Courage. The fact that Momo was a newly presented Alpha and wasn't easily frightened were the two things keeping them on track.
As much as she's enjoying herself, Momo hasn't been able to fully relax since the moment she watched Kyouka disappear into the night. Her friend had looked at her with a mischievous glint in her eyes before smiling and waving goodbye.
"See you on the other side, Yaomomo."
Sure logically Momo knew that Kyouka was only 5 minutes ahead of her. Probably having a hard time keeping Hagakure off of her while pretending that nothing was scaring her. And if it hadn't been for the slight change to her smell Momo would have allowed herself to believe that and be lulled into relaxing- only, Kyouka's scent HAD changed and not just a little. Momo noticed the drastic change at the same time as she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Something was wrong and Kyouka was in trouble
Momo wasted no time in running forward. Only pausing momentarily to tell Aoyama to keep up as she ran as fast as she could toward the smell of her best friend and crush.
It was when the scent was only a few meters away that she noticed the gas. She wasn't sure what it was but the sudden change in Kyouka's scent led Momo to believe that it was dangerous. She quickly lifted the hem of her shirt as the two gas masks she'd created popped out.
"Here." She blindly held one out to her partner as she fastened her own to her face.
"You don't mean to go in there, do you?" The Omega asked, his nervous scent beginning to fill the air.
"Yes, I'm going in there. Kyouka and the rest of our classmates could be in trouble. It's our duty as heroes in training to help if and however, we can." She said as calmly as she could while every part of her being was yelling at her to go to Kyouka.
"We should inform the teacher!" The sparkly blonde declared. His fear outweighing his hero instincts.
"I don't care what you do." Momo gritted out through clenched teeth. "I'm going in there with or without you."
Without waiting to see his response, Momo took off once again.
****
It wasn't long before she found her lying unconscious on the ground. Momo's heart stopped beating at the sight of Kyouka's small body so prone and unmoving. The only thing that kept Momo from losing her shit altogether was the low but steady heartbeat she got from the smaller girl once Momo had checked her pulse. She quickly made another gas mask and carefully slipped it over her love's face as she silently begged Kyouka to wake up.
Momo pulled the still body into her arms and allowed herself a moment to cry over the others' pain.
Why hadn't she run faster? Or responded to Kyouka's obvious fear earlier? God's, why hadn't Momo requested that they walk together?!
None of this would have happened if Kyouka had been by her side. Momo would have protected her and kept her promise to always look out for her friend.
She was brought back to reality when she felt someone try to take Kyouka from her arms. Every muscle in her body tensed and a growl tore from her mouth at the offender who dared to mess with her mate (well, her maybe… hopefully future mate; her Kyouka at least).
"Whoa…Hey, Yaoyorozu!" Kendo said as she held her hands up and took a step back. "I was only trying to help carry her and the others to safety."
One part of Momo's mind heard and understood what Kendo was saying. They had no idea what the gas was, nor how it would affect those exposed to it. The best, most logical course of action was for those with masks to help pull or carry the others out. That's what she would've done or thought to do if her mind was clear. Instead, Momo was overwhelmed and overtaken by her desire to protect the woman in her arms. All she could see was someone who was trying to take Kyouka from her. The thought made Momo growl again. Deeper.
"Mine!"
"Yeah. Okay." Kendo stated as she backed away even further. "I'll just go get Hagakure and…you…you take care of Jiro. Alright?"
It was clear that the other alpha was doing her best to control her emotions while trying to soothe Momo out of her anger. Or at least, she was declaring no further interest in Kyouka which was enough to clear Momo's head a bit.
"Fine. Let's go."
Momo supplied another mask for Hagakure before slowly standing with Kyouka. She made sure to cradle her small body bridal style without too much pressure. The last thing Momo wanted to do was hurt her friend while she was already suffering whatever ill effects this gas had on her. Once Momo was standing, and had made sure that Kyouka looked comfortable, she slowly followed Kendo out of the fog, silence hung in the air almost as thick as the substance surrounding them. There was no way she was going to run and risk dropping her precious bundle or even jostling her more than necessary.
The edge of the fog came into view and Momo finally spoke.
"Kyouka, you're going to be okay. I'm getting you out of here and somewhere safe. I'll make sure they take you to a hospital. Just…," Momo stopped herself and choked back a sob. "Just promise me that you're going to wake up." The tall alpha allowed herself to gently touch her forehead to her friends. "I need you to wake up and be okay."
*****
Momo didn't realize how difficult it was going to be to leave Kyouka or how seeing her in someone else's arms would trigger her. It was almost as if the violet-haired girl had been subconsciously soothing Momo during the walk to the cabin, keeping the full extent of her anger at bay. The moment Kyouka had been transferred to Kirishima and Momo was sure she was going to be okay, her vision tunneled and all she wanted was revenge.
"I'm going after whoever did this to her." She declared loudly, causing the beta male to quickly step away with Kyouka in his arms.
"If anything happens to her while I'm gone, Kirishma. I swear I'll-" Her threat was cut off as Kendo grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the room.
She snarled at Kendo and ready her body for a fight. The redhead simply cuffed her and said, "I know where the fog's coming from. Are you coming or not?"
Then she ran.
****
Luckily for Momo (and unluckily for the kid producing the gas), she'd managed to calm down enough to think up a plan with Kendo and TestuTestu who had joined them not long after they left the cabin. The plan was for Kendo to thin the gas with her quirk while TestuTestu distracted the kid long enough for Momo to strike. And strike she did with all the fury in her heart at the injustice done that night.
She had lain in wait for the perfect moment to advance. Watching as Kendo and TestuTestu did their thing. If she had been in her right mind, Momo would have thought the whole thing quite beautifully executed. The way Kendo's big fist quirk cut through the smoke while TetsuTetsu repeatedly hit the kid, throwing him off balance and temporarily interrupting the flow of the gas. It was only when she saw the gas wielder reach for something shiny that Momo struck.
Racing from her place of hiding, Momo slammed her body into the kid's back knocking him forward before creating a set of handcuffs. Momo also took the time to create a knife which she used to cut the backpack-like thing off the guy and held it to his throat to keep him from moving.
"Do you have any idea of what you've done?!" She roared into his ear causing the guy to flinch away.
Her scent was filling the area around them. The forest was beginning to smell more like decaying vegetation than a rainforest.
"If anything happens to her, I'll-"
"Yaoyorozu. That's enough."
Momo froze when the sound of her teacher's voice pierced through her anger. She pulled the knife away and took a few deep breaths.
"Mr. Aizawa, I apologize." She replied bowing, the shame of her actions already flooding into her mind.
What have I done? Did I really almost kill somebody? What would Kyouka think if she saw me like this?
"Hey, kid." Hands-on her shoulders pulled her from her dark thoughts. "You did very well despite nearly going into full-on alpha rage. Nobody got hurt and you managed to capture the villain. Just remember not to let your instincts take over so much that you become one yourself. Got it?"
Momo nodded, feeling incredibly grateful for her teacher's intervention and praise while also carrying deep shame for her unheroic actions.
******
The first thing Jiro noticed when she came back to herself was that she was (mostly likely) in a hospital. The second thing she noticed was the intense pain that traveled all throughout her body. Why the fuck is this happening now?! Jiro thought bitterly as she fought to open her eyes. If she could just wake up then she'd be able to tell someone that she'd begun presenting and judging by the pain she was an omega.
Her mind began to cloud as the pain fought with her consciousness. At one point she could have sworn that she heard Momo's voice. The soft, velvety sound of it washed over her like a wave and pushed back the tide of her pain. Then there was a growl. It was Momo's. Jiro internally sighed. Why was her friend fighting the people at the hospital?
Jiro would have rolled her eyes and told Momo to chill if she could have. Although another part of her wanted to shiver at the sound. It was hot. Finally, the soft mummers of what could only be nurses working to feed her a cocktail of painkillers to help with the pain lulled her to sleep.
Turns out, Jiro didn't need to wake up after all. They knew what they were doing and she could give in to her body's need for sleep. Her last thought before fading back into the black was that she hoped Momo was okay.
****
Okay so…Momo didn't mean to growl at the nurse who refused to grant her access to Kyouka's room. She really didn't. Momo respected and admired the hard work and dedication that came from all members of the healthcare field. What she didn't appreciate was this woman's unwillingness to let her see her best friend/crush/mate. So when the woman had put her arm up to block the door leading to Kyouka's room, Momo had just kind of snapped.
She's ashamed to say that it took the woman scolding her and telling her about Kyouka's presenting before she was able to calm down enough to ask how she was doing instead of trying to just barge in.
When the nurse informed Momo of Kyouka's presenting she was confused. She had no idea why Kyouka's presenting would automatically mean that she wasn't able to see her best friend. Sure Momo had a basic understanding of how that all worked but couldn't put two and two together. She'd never consciously thought about Kyouka's presenting- a part of her knew it was inevitable but another part had hoped that Kyouka would just stay her beautiful self forever. The nurse explained that Kyouka was presenting as omega which surprised and excited Momo and also explained why she wasn't allowed to see her.
As an Alpha, Momo wasn't allowed anywhere near Kyouka until she'd finished her presenting which was agonizing for Momo but she understood and accepted the order of things. She felt much calmer after being told the Kyouka had inhaled a mild poison from the gas but that they had an antidote that they had given her already. Now they were just monitoring her vitals until she woke up and quarantining her until she was done presenting.
Momo bowed to the nurse and apologized once more for acting foolishly before thanking the older woman. It was around the time that Momo was leaving to check on her friend Midoriya that she was brought in on the plan to rescue Bakugo. Originally Momo had been completely against it. She was already on thin ice which Mr. Aizawa after what happened with the gas guy. Did she really need to add possible villainous actions to the mix?
But then Ochako approached her and begged Momo to go and help. She was fuming and crying all at once. The brown-haired alpha was a second away from full-on raging at the thought of her mate being kidnapped and possibly brainwashed into becoming a villain. How could Momo deny the request to help- especially when Ochako asked her what she'd do if it had been Kyouka?
Sure there was a clear difference. Ochako and Bakugo were actual mates while she and Kyouka were just friends. Nevertheless, that didn't stop Momo's heart from breaking at the thought of her crush in the hands of those lowlife villains. So in the end, Momo agreed to go after handing a nurse a note to give to Kyouka in case she woke up while Momo was gone. Then she left to be a hero in need.
****
The next time consciousness came to Jiro she was happy to note that her pain was gone and she was actually able to open her eyes. She was still in the hospital connected to an IV and oxygen mask but at least she was back.
Jiro gently lifted herself into a seated position and looked around her room. There was a tray not too far away with food and a note. She slowly brought her hand to the tray and pulled it closer. She wasn't really hungry for food, although she probably should have been; no she was more interested in the note on top.
Kyouka,
I hope this note finds you well. I came by to see you while you were still unconscious, but I wasn't allowed in the room due to your presenting. I'm happy for you and I know you'll come out all the better once it's done.
Fight through the pain as only you can.
I just wanted to let you know that I won't be around for a little while. Midoriya, Kirishma, Iida,Todoroki, and I have all set out to rescue Bakugo. I'm not sure if you know this but he was taken by the LOV during the training camp.
Please don't worry or be upset with me. I promise you that we won't do anything dangerous or illegal. Iida and I are going to ensure that that doesn't happen.
I will come back and see you once everything is done. I wish you a speedy recovery and can't wait to see you soon.
Momo
P.S.- I like your scent.
Jiro stared down at the note after reading it a couple of times. She was worried. It wasn't like Momo to bend or break the rules so casually but Jiro trusted that she probably had a good reason.
She closed her eyes against the hollow feeling in her heart. Momo was out there doing gods knows what. She could be in danger or even hurt while Jiro was stuck in this bed and room. Her eyes began to fill with tears and she prayed to whoever was listening that Momo would come back to her safely.
*****
A few weeks passed by before the two women were reunited after the training camp incident. They knew the reason had been the new dorms set up at UA and the teachers having to assure countless worried/angry parents that their children were safe. Both felt bad for Mr. Aizawa.
Momo's parents didn't seem all that concerned about her safety, only that her hero education continued. Jiro's mom handled it well while her dad tried to act tough but she knew he would cave and let her go back.
In the end, the two met up (sans their fellow classmates) when Momo made her way to Jiro's room after her talk with Tsu. The tall brunette was close to tears and knew that only her closest friend could make her feel better.
Momo hesitantly knocked on Jiro's door and waited anxiously. She wasn't sure how Kyouka was feeling towards her which was a strange feeling in and of itself. Normally Momo could always pinpoint Kyouka's moods but not tonight. The violet-haired girl had been quiet since they arrived at Heights Alliance. She'd been clearly embarrassed to show everyone her room while Momo had been overcome with a sense of pride knowing how talented (and modest) Kyouka was.
After the "best dorm" competition, Kyouka muttered something about being tired and went up to her room. Momo had sat in the common room and tried to pay attention to Midoriya as he went over the details of what happened during 'Operation: Rescue Kacchan' to Ochako but found her mind wandering to Kyouka. She was worried that Kyouka might be upset with her and needed to find out if that feeling was right. If so, she would do whatever it took to win Kyouka's forgiveness. If not, well then, she would just take the opportunity to bask in the other girl's presence for a few uninterrupted moments.
So there she was waiting for Kyouka to open the dorm with bated breath. After a couple of heartbeats, the door silently swung open and Momo was pleasantly surprised to find a Kyouka in her arms.
*****
Jiro paced the length of her room anxiously. She desperately needed to think of a way to see Momo. Sure the creation hero-to-be looked to be in good health and of sound mind when Jirou had seen her earlier during the stupid dorm check thing - but Jiro hadn't actually had any time to see for herself that Momo was okay.
She'd spent the past few weeks nearly out of her mind with worry that her crush had been hurt during the Bakugou rescue. She hadn't heard anything which, given the nature of her quirk, made her uncomfortable. She needed to reassure herself that Momo was in one piece herself, only then would her heart go back to its normal beat.
The unexpected knock at her door followed by the smell of wet earth alerted her to Momo's presence. It was like the gods had answered her prayers and she yanked the door open. She gave herself a moment to take Momo in.
Momo was wearing her pajamas. A worn pale blue shirt and her P.E. pants. Her long dark hair was still up in its ponytail and Jiro longed to pull it free and run her fingers through the soft curls.
After absorbing all she could in a few seconds, Jiro threw herself into Momo's arms and began to sob. Strong arms wrapped around her and she pushed her face into Momo's neck. The alpha was releasing a calming scent that was working wonders on the Omega.
"Jiro, why are you crying?" Concern was evident in Momo's tone.
Jiro shook her head and snuggled deeper. Her tears were slowly beginning to dry.
Momo ran her hands up and down Jiro's back, both wanting to comfort and just touch the smaller girl.
"Please tell me what's wrong." She changed again once it seemed like the Omega was more settled.
"I was so worried about you, Yaomomo." Jiro finally admitted.
"What? Why?"
"Why?" Jiro pulled away and looked up at her friend. "Are you kidding me right now, Yaoyorozu?"
Momo flinched at the use of her surname knowing Jiro was upset with her.
"I…" she swallowed hard, unsure of what else to say.
Jiro ranked her hands through her hair and growled (it was more like a kitten growl though - and it was totally adorable to Momo).
"You disappear while I'm unconscious and leave a note saying you're purposely going to put yourself in the path of villains to save the class asshole. Then I don't hear from you for weeks and you want to know why I'm worried?!"
Momo hung her head. She knew it was a sign of submission but she didn't care. She'd gladly submit to whatever Kyouka wanted. She hated that she'd worried and upset her crush and wished to make things right.
"Jiro, you're right. I shouldn't have done any of that and you have every right to be upset with me." Momo kept her head bowed as she offered her apology.
Jiro was a little shocked that Momo would apologize in such a way but her heart melted. Her friend was an amazing person and alpha.
She gently put her hand under Momo's chin and lifted it until their eyes met.
"I'm just glad you're okay." She whispered softly as she moved her hand to cup Momo's cheek.
"I'm glad you're okay too, Jiro. I was so scared when I found you on the ground at the camp. I rushed you out of there as soon as I could and stayed outside of your hospital room anytime I could until I heard you were going to be discharged." Momo said as she covered Jiro's hand with her own.
"Thank you."
Jiro's hand dropped from Momo's face to her hand. Before the taller girl could protest the loss the omega pulled the alpha fully into the room before shutting the door and locking it. Momo's eyebrows pinched in confusion as she looked down at Jiro.
"Cuddles?" Jiro asked shyly and began walking (with Momo's hand still attached to her own) towards her bed.
Momo's heart felt like it was going to explode. Kyouka was just so darn cute sometimes and she was sure that her friend didn't even know it. It was moments like this when Momo was helpless to deny the smaller girl anything. Especially the chance to hold her close.