Cat Got Your Tongue?

Back Up

EmonoSwitch is awesome and commissioned me to finish this story! They're great and they get access to the new chapters before I publish them. Thank you again!

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When Tabeta woke up a bit later, she was confused and disoriented at first: she couldn’t see a thing and a soft thump-thump sound came from somewhere next to her. “Huh?” She got up, tripped, and fell face forward into what felt like a wet pillow. Everything tensed up around her.

“T-Tabeta! Are you okay?”

The thump-thump sound came again. Deku patting his stomach to get her attention.

“I’m fine,” Tabeta yawned and stretched, kneading her paws into his stomach out of instinct. “Was just in a deep sleep, I guess.”

“Were you really that comfortable? And...w-what are you doing?”

“Nothing,” Tabeta quickly pulled her paws away.

“Well, are you ready to try to get out of my stomach? We figured out a way to get you out! I think!”

He explained that one of his classmates had a tape Quirk and that they planned to have Deku swallow some of the tape as a rope and they would pull Tabeta out that way.

Tabeta mulled it over. “Are you sure your throat is going to allow that to happen?”

“Well, it doesn’t sound like it’ll be very comfortable but I don’t know of any other way…”

“Alright, let’s do it then.” Tabeta sat listening to Deku struggling to swallow the tape with much coughing and grunting. Then she heard a voice from earlier, rather close by.

“Tabeta? Can you hear me? My name’s Uraraka and I’m going to help you through this since Deku and Sero are a bit busy!”

“Yeah, I can hear you. What do I have to do? I can’t see a thing.”

“Start reaching up, you should feel the tape!”

Tabeta felt around and eventually touched what felt like a long piece of tape that had been folded in half. “Okay, found it!”

“Good!” Uraraka exclaimed. “You just have to grab it and hold on tight, can you do that?”

Tabeta grabbed the tape and wrapped it around her waist to be sure. “Yeah, got it. You can probably pull me up now.” She heard Uraraka signal Sero and the tape started to inch it’s way upwards.

When she entered his throat, Deku gagged and his body took over, pushing her up and out on its own.

When he felt her in his mouth, Deku leaned forward and coughed Tabeta out into the palms of his cupped hands. He immediately turned and started to cough.

Tabeta blinked in the sudden bright light that overwhelmed her before her field of vision was filled by curious and surprised faces. There was a brunette girl, a red headed male, a black haired male, a green haired female, and a pink haired female.

“Oh, look!!”

“Wow, she really is small! Kero!”

“Her name is Tabeta right? Heh that’s ironic ya know? Tabeta means 'ate'!"

“She’s so cuuuute!”

“Hey, Tabeta! Are you okay?” The black haired boy looked at her while he separated the saliva coated tape from his elbow.

Instantly overwhelmed, Tabeta’s fur stood on end as she crawled backwards until one of her paws slipped over the edge of Deku’s palm. His hands jumped as he was overtaken by his coughing fit. She clung to one of his thumbs, trembling in the sudden chill of the air conditioning while she dripped with saliva. She almost wanted to be back inside where it was warm…

“Everyone!!” A dark haired boy pushed through the crowd gathering around Tabeta and pushed everyone back. “Tabeta appears frightened, I suggest we all give her some space!” He turned and thumped the still-coughing Deku on the back. “And Midoriya, stop coughing and show Tabeta to a sink where she can wash up!”

“H-hai!” Deku cleared his throat and stood up, sheltering her with his other hand. “I-is that okay?” He asked as he weaved his way through the crowds.

“Yes, s-s-s-so cold…” Tabeta shivered.

Deku carried her to the kitchen and closed the door to give her added privacy. He set the neko girl on a clean towel next to a sink and turned the water on, testing the water with his finger.

“Wait, sinks are gross…” Tabeta flicked her tail.

Deku found a shallow bowl and filled it with warm, soapy water before he helped Tabeta into the bowl. "D-do you want me to step out, Tabeta?"

The neko's fur bristled. "No! I mean…no. I'm keeping my clothes on, so…and what if I start drowning or something?"

"Oh! I won't allow that to happen, I'll st-stay with you."

"Thanks…" Tabeta sank into the water and began to wash her skin and fur. As much as her cat half hated being dunked in water, the warmth was soothing to her chilly form.

She glanced up at Deku through the bubbles, then quickly looked back down. In truth, she wasn't afraid of drowning…she was afraid of being left alone by the boy who had rescued her.

Deku, mistaking her shy glance for a look of contempt, fidgeted and clasped at the back of his neck. "I-I'm sorry about all the saliva…and for putting you in my mouth. I-I don't know why I did that in the moment… Gomen'nasai!" He bowed deeply.

"It's…it's okay, Deku. I, um…I can't believe I'm admitting this, but…" Tabeta's blue eyes went to his stomach and her ears drooped. "I didn't hate it. That is to say…I-I felt safe in…in your tummy…"

Deku blushed and covered his stomach with his arms. "N-nani?!"

Tabeta's tail puffed. "Do you have any idea how terrifying it is to be so small and out of control? No one's ever protected me like you did… so don't act surprised if I ask you to do it again…to swallow me…"

"It wouldn't be acting! I don't think I could ever…s-swallow you on purpose!"

Tabeta looked down. "Yeah, you're right. It's stupid…. Uh, could you help me out of here?"

"Hai!" Deku held out his hand and allowed Tabeta to climb into his palm. He draped a small towel over her shoulders and she huddled under it, shivering.

“Ugh, now it’ll take forever for me to try…”

“Todoroki can probably help you with that! Is it okay if I bring you to him?”

“Yeah, alright.” Tabeta clung to his finger as he walked back out into the main room.

Deku brought her over to a stoic looking young man with red and white hair and a large scar.

"Tabeta, this is my friend Todoroki!" He held her up, and Tabeta greeted him with a nod of her head which he returned.

"Um, Todoroki? Do you think you could dry her off with your left side, kudasai?"

"Yes." Todoroki held out his hand and Tabeta slowly crawled into it, she didn't want to leave Deku's hand. The cat stared up at him with apprehension, muscles tense, until she could feel Todoroki's palm warm up beneath her. Steam rose from her body as she dried off and her body warmed up at last. She relaxed and gave a small smile. "Thank you… Could you give me back to Deku, please?"

"Oh, sure. Midoriya," Todoroki awkwardly placed the neko girl back into Deku's cupped palm.

"Arigato!" Deku bowed.

"So…how long is she stuck like that?" Todoroki asked.

"For a few minutes…or hours…it's always different." Tabeta sighed and lay her head against Deku's thumb.

"Now, how to find a way for you to control your quirk…" Deku put his free hand to his chin in thought.