Puppetry

14

A/N: Part two of Training of the Dead! Let's get into it!

"Habuko... kero" Kuroza sees that Tsu and Mongoose are able to connect with each other, but can't pay much attention since she has to quickly start moving to the cave with the group of zombies catching up. She sees Aoyama bite Tsu as she runs off, "FUCK! THAT'S TWICE NOW!" She catches up with the group since they slowed down to let her catch up, just as All Might lands near them, and becomes a smaller frame. "What? Am I the only one who saw that? Wait... Midoriya seems panicked, a different panic than the others, he knew All Might had that look" "Who is that?" "I don't know! Maybe just some someone who got caught in the mist" The group makes in the cave, and Todoroki makes an ice wall blocking it off. Kuroza sits on the ground, not sure what to do. "You okay?" "No. I failed at keeping my classmates safe. I didn't notice that Koda fell behind, and then I didn't Aoyama coming up behind Tsu!" Ashido sits down next to her, "You know, you're very kind... you put on this act of being cold and distant, but you really care about your friends" "Of course I do. Who wouldn't? Doesn't change the fact I messed up!" She slams her palm on the ground before getting up and pacing the cave, the rest of the group not sure what to do since they've never seen her like this. Midoriya catches her fist before she punches the cave wall, "Azugo... I know you're upset, but you told Hagakure that we need to stay calm and focused, listen to your own advice" Kuroza gives a light scoff before her arm drops to her side, and she gives a deep sigh before quietly speaking, "What if... that guy lied? What if it doesn't wear off in time? What if-" "Stop Azugo. No more 'what if' okay?" Kuroza groans and walks over to the ice wall, seeing a zombie Kirishima.

"Kiri..." Kuroza sighs out her nickname for the boy, resting a hand on the ice. She wasn't expecting to see the zombie Kirishima put his hand where hers is, "Kiri?" She doesn't know what to say, yeah she saw that Mongoose paused when interacting with Tsu, but she figured it was because the two knew each other for years... but to see Kirishima doing this, she felt a flutter in her heart. "Azugo? What's going on?" "I think they still somewhat are themselves" "What do you mean?" Ashido walks over and sees the two with their hands against the ice, "Oh~ I see" "Yeah yeah. Regardless, they still are themselves... somewhat" "Should I break the ice so we can escape?" "You break that ice with your quirk and I break your arm" "N-nevermind" Kuroza steps back from the ice, and runs a hand through her hair while thinking. "A-Azugo?" "Yes Hagakure?" "Your hand is bleeding... I think you cut it when you hit the ground" Kuroza looks at her hand, and yep, it's bleeding. She hums in thought, and shrugs. "Meh, I'll deal with it later" "Azugo. You need to at least put something over it so it's covered and stops bleeding" "Yeah yeah, I'll be fine Todoroki"

"I'm sure that they'll turn back in time, we just need to wait" "I know, it's just... I'm frustrated because I could have prevented some of them from being caught just by being paying closer attention" Azugo clenches her fists, causing some blood to drip from her palm, "Azugo. You need to put something on your palm" "I'm fine" "No you aren't." Todoroki tears a bit of his sleeve off and wraps it around her palm, "That should be good enough until you can get to Recovery Girl" Kuroza stares at her now cloth wrapped palm, "Thanks I guess" Kuroza goes back to the ice wall, and rests her head against it, letting out a sigh. The group watches her, unsure what to do to comfort her. "Ashido, you hang out with her sometimes, what can we do to help her?" "I'm not sure Midoriya, I've never seen her like this" Midoriya walks over, setting his hand on her shoulder, "Azugo... it'll be okay" "How can you know...?" "I... guess I don't... but we need to stay calm" "Yeah yeah" "I mean it, okay?" "I know... I know I have to stay calm, but I just... it's hard to do that knowing I could have done something to help. I did nothing today... I only caused others to get infected by not acting" "We were all panicking, it's okay" Kuroza slams her already injured hand into the ice wall, "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, MIDORIYA!" "Then help me understand" Kuroza breathes out, trying to calm down before talking again. "I didn't notice that Koda fell behind, I was holding his arm and I didn't notice. I was watching Tsu and Mongoose when Tsu got bitten by Aoyama. How are those two NOT my own fault?!" "You were focused on keeping yourself safe, and that isn't something to beat yourself up about!" "A hero is supposed to put others above themselves! IF I CAN'T EVEN SAVE MY CLASSMATES HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SAVE CIVILIANS?!" "By not beating yourself up about mistakes and let yourself grow and learn!" Kuroza stays quiet, although she clearly wants to say something back to Midoriya. 

"Go on. I know you want to say something" "I have spent years trying to master my quirk and fighting skills, to the point where I begged, BEGGED, my uncle to train me! All so I can prove to people I'm not useless, so I don't get called a villain just for my quirk, and what does that get me?! Into UA, yes, BUT NO MATTER WHAT I DO I STILL GET CALLED A VILLAIN FOR MY QUIRK, I RUSHED IN TO SAVE MY UNCLE, OUR TEACHER, AT THE USJ! I COULD HAVE DIED! BUT THE OTHERS STILL LOOK AT ME WITH WORRY, WITH FEAR, LIKE I'D SNAP AND KILL THEM ALL ONE DAY! NOTHING I DO CHANGES THAT, SO I'M SORRY FOR BEING STRESSED ABOUT THIS OKAY?! I'M STRESSED BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE BLAMED FOR SOMETHING I HAD NO PART IN! IF I KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, AWAY FROM BEING INFECTED, MAYBE I'LL BE FINE!" Kuroza shouts at Midoriya, years and years of quirk related fear towards her and bullying for having a 'useless' or 'villainous' quirk weighing on her, all bubbling up right here, right now. She doesn't even register that it's not just her and Midoriya. "Azugo... I under-" "SHUT. UP. DEKU! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND SHIT! UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF UA YOU WERE QUIRKLESS! NOTHING YOU CAN DO OR SAY WILL MAKE ME THINK YOU UNDERSTAND HOW IT FEELS TO BE CALLED A VILLAIN JUST FOR THE QUIRK YOU HAVE!" "I know, okay? I know. I know how it feels to be bullied for something you can't control, I know how you feel..." He feels a bit hurt at her calling him Deku, it clearly being the same way Bakugo does, but he understands that she's stressed and hurting, so he pushes it aside.

Kuroza sighs, and looks down at the ground, "I... I'm sorry for snapping at you" Midoriya pulls her into a hug, "It's alright. I don't blame you" Kuroza stays quiet, only looking up when she starts hearing noises on the other side of the ice wall, and looks over, "They're turning back to normal!" Kuroza pulls away from the hug and goes to Todoroki, "Melt the ice" "You sure?" "Yes" "Alright" He lets out a small flame to start meting the ice. Once it's fully melted, Kuroza goes over and hugs Kirishima "Woah! What did I miss?" Ashido walks over, and pats him on his back, "I'll fill you in later" "Alright...?" He looks down at Kuroza, and notices that she fell asleep, "Why'd she fall asleep?" "Shit happened... she's probably emotionally tired, let her rest" "I was going to, but alright"