LOST // BAKUGO X OC

My Teacher

Estelle sat with Tokoyami and Dark Shadow in a cave she found near the waterfall one day during patrols. She wanted to be away from any distractions as they worked on the night side of Tokoyami's quirk. Going through the breathing techniques one last time, Estelle led the male further into the cave before taking numerous steps back.

"Are you sure you're comfortable with me being here?" Estelle murmured softly.

Tokoyami had explained to her that when Dark Shadow's strength increased in the night, he felt vulnerable and weak. It was why he had refused for Mr Aizawa to join him in the cave during training camp; he felt too embarrassed for his teacher to see him like that.

But, as Tokoyami had explained before. Estelle was different. Estelle had been through a lot in her lifetime, and she was strong and knowledgeable about different abilities. This was probably child's play compared to other stuff she had to suffer through, and just even knowing that helped put the male at ease around her.

It helped that Estelle was an incredibly selfless person under the hard exterior she had around her. Once they had gotten to know her more at the dorms, it was easy to see that there were many layers of Estelle. Yes, she was strong in many ways, but she was also vulnerable in others.

She had shown that side to them, even if she didn't want to. If Estelle could do that and still be resilient on the other side, then why should Tokoyami be ashamed around her in these moments?

He wasn't now that he had thought it through. Closing his eyes to revel in the dark, Tokoyami battled with Dark Shadow once the control had gotten too powerful. The black matter covered his whole body as his quirk roared in the pitch black.

Estelle raised her hands to push Dark Shadow back, lighting her hands on fire. Standing still as the student panted for air, Estelle watched as Tokoyami mentally pulled himself back together.

Turning to her, a pant on his lips, he asked, "What did I do wrong?"

"You fell into your habit of fighting him. You need to work together, and you need to trust him. Dark Shadow's communication completely changes in the dark; it's like he's more primal. Maybe that's his language? The only way to figure this out is to keep trying."

This was why Estelle was so incredible. She could tell these things just from a few moments in the twilight. He wasn't surprised at all, considering everything else they had done together, but he always had to take a moment to appreciate her brain; he could see how Estelle led people in a war. She radiated leadership.

Nodding, Tokoyami closed his eyes once again. He knew that progress wasn't going to be as quick as he would like. But, that was what being at UA was for, and he would become the best version he could be to help people, to be a hero. And Estelle could help him get there.

-_-

Estelle headed back to the dorms with Tokoyami later in the day. The male was utterly wiped from overusing his quirk to a considerable extent in a short period, and it was evident in his posture.

Turning to him once they reached the common room, Estelle placed a hand on his shoulder and muttered, "Even if it may not feel like it, you made great progress today. Be proud, get some food and rest."

"Yes, captain," the male grunted back with an appreciative expression as he nodded.

"Estelle."

Turning forward to face Mr Aizawa, Estelle held a questioning look as she stared up at her teacher. The students lounged around the room, but they weren't paying attention to her as he spoke. "I have more books; come with me."

Nodding, Estelle followed the teacher out of the space as a bit of happiness hit her. She had tried to pace herself with her books, but they had finished at an embarrassing rate. Bakugo would get annoyed sometimes that she wasn't paying attention to him, but he eventually relented as it was clear that she enjoyed it.