Her Touch ~Tomura Shigaraki x OC AU~

Chapter 18: Hand

Illika

It feels strange.

So very, very strange. Almost as if maybe I'm standing in the center of a crowded room naked. I suppose that's a tad dramatic. But it is still very, very strange.

"Go ahead," Dr. Garaki says, pulling the used bandages down and tossing them in the bin. "Feel free to move it around a bit."

I look at my arm and hand – like really look at them. I've seen them before. During bandage changes and cleanings. I saw the jagged wounds stitched up and painted with gnarly bruises. My skin was black and purple for the longest time. Even now, the bruises are still there, just fading to a nasty green. But now the stitches are gone, and the scar left behind is impressively large.

And tender.

My whole arm is. As I bend it, flexing my wrist and wiggling my fingers, the muscles and tendons scream in protest with sharp aches and stiff jolts. It feels as if I am the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz, and I need a good oiling. Maybe I do.

But despite all the pain – and lack thereof – I still have all my fingers.

"How does it feel?" Dr. Garaki asks, looking at me.

"Stiff," I answer with a frown. "And sore. Will it loosen up?"

"The more you use it, yes. But don't overdo it. If you strain it, you're just asking to reinjure it."

Yeah. I guess that makes sense. Too little movement, and I'll rust up just like the Tin Man. Too much and I'll break at the joints and crumble. It's a delicate balance.

"Got it," I nod, then I look at the older man. I'm nervous to ask the next question, but I'm curious, and I know I need an answer. "About the numbness..."

He looks at me through his glasses, almost as if he wasn't expecting to hear that. Then inhales. "Your arm received a fair amount of nerve damage thanks to Tomura's quirk." He takes a seat on the stool, folding his hands in his lap. "We did what we could, and tried to save the nerves to the best of our abilities. However, we weren't able to rescue them all. So, you will have permanent numbness in various parts of your arm. There is a chance that as time progresses, some of the nerves could heal, but you will never regain full sensation. And as a result, you may also have limited motor skills."

I nod. Honestly, I'm not terribly surprised at hearing this. Through all this, the only constant has been the numbness in my left arm. It has been loyal and annoyingly faithful.

"Will I get used to it?" I almost feel like a child, but I am curious.

He observes me for several seconds. Then: "Humans are extremely adaptive creatures. Once upon a time ago, quirks were viewed as a mutation and decease. Nowadays, they are so ingrained in the norm that those born without one are seen as the frail and sick ones." I look at him, puzzled and he smiles. "What I'm saying, Miss Hartz, is that yes, you will adjust and adapt to it. It may take time, but you will persevere."

***

My eyes keep finding their way back to my arm.

The scar is still so fresh and new with the raw pink that can only best describe a freshly healing cut. Then again, I guess this is a bit more extreme than a simple little cut. This was a whole-ass wound that needed stitches and bandaging and time to even start to heal.

But eventually, it will start to lighten up and fade. It won't completely disappear by any means, but it will be less noticeable. And though I'll probably never be able to properly use that hand again, I am grateful to at least still have my hand. I just might have to learn how to rely on my right hand.

I guess another pro is that at least I'll have a pretty badass scar once it's all healed. It starts at the tip of my fingers, then zigzags all the way up my arm, extending to my shoulder. It's so jagged and chaotic, reminding me of lightning. Which will be cool... But right now, it looks too much like raw chicken to be labeled that.

The halls leading away from the infirmary are quiet. Probably because members of the PLF work their best not to end up there. Then again, that might not be it at all. After all, this side of the building is typically pretty dead. All the buzz and hubbub happen towards the center, which is where I'm heading.

When I round a bend and almost come nose to nose with Tomura.

**Bello lovelies! Shorter (filler) chapter, but look. Tomura has entered the group chat lol. Honestly, this book has decided it wanted to take different turns than I planned, but ya know what? We're just gonna roll with it. Just go with the motions. Boy. I feel beat tonight. I went to work two hours early so that I could get off early and go to an event my city holds annually. Because of that, I've been out of the house for over twelve hours, and I am exhausted. Just decided to do a little typing to unwind. Hope y'all are doing well! If not, I hope things improve! Thank you so very much for everything! Y'all are the bestest! Wuv yous!! <3**

-Noel Ross