Flicker (KatsukiXOC)

6. Breathe

Breathe.

"Fight me!" Awako repeated, launching water straight at Katsuki's face. He dodged it easily, moving to sweep his feet underneath her legs. She fell, knocking the air out of her lungs.

Gasping and coughing she stood, wiping her mouth.

"I don't have time for this, Wanko," he snarled, moving closer to her. He looked demonic with the way he bared his teeth at her. His muscles flexed beneath his shirt and his palms crackled.

Awako's heart pounded in her ear and she pushed herself forward, ramming her body into his and pushing him back with all of her strength. She found him staggering back and began to launch stream after stream of water at him, hoping to knock him down. Without fail he began to recognize her patterns, dodging them easily as he made his way back to her.

Breathe.

"Wanko," he growled at her, reaching to grab her wrist, "Don't make me hurt you."

Stepping back she moved her hands, pulling back the water from his clothes and hair, the water swirling up her arms and forming orbs in her hands.

"I have to get to that worthless Deku," he barked at her, before slamming his palm onto the ground causing an explosion. She dropped the water, bringing her arms up to block her face from the rubble that flew in every direction. That's when he moved past her.

She whipped around, just in time to block and push away his arm. She counted with a punch of her own, which he caught in his hand. She pulled away with a twirl, hopping back and launching another stream of water at him.

But he was on her in an instant, much more faster. It seemed like they were dancing now, dodging and feinting and launching themselves at one another. Countless hours they trained with one another before and it seemed to be Awako's greatest downfall. She never once won against Katsuki and she knew it.

He launched her into a dizzying spin before both of his hands latched onto her backpack.

"No," she whispered, her eyes growing wide.

With a loud 'bang' there was a splatter of water and the sound of broken plastic on the ground. The force of his explosion pushed her forward, causing her to stumble and fall to her hands and knees. She stared at the ground, trying to catch her breath.

The last thing she saw when she turned was Katsuki walking away, leaving her alone.

Her ears rang.

~

The hero team had won the battle. Uraraka had successfully captured the nuclear weapon for the team. Izuku was the only member of the team who had gotten pretty badly injured during the test.

Awako stared at the replays of Katsuki's and Izuku's fight as All Might spoke.

"Kurage-san seemed to fight hard but didn't do much after Bakugou damaged her bag. She just seemed to wander around."

She snapped out of her trance and turned her attention to the one who spoke. Yaoyorozu Momo was her name.

Awako's cheeks flushed and she looked down at her feet. She was right. All she really did do after her ears stopped ringing was wander around the building in a daze.

Turning her attention to Uraraka she reached out and rubbed the girl's back. She still looked a little green from the training exercise. She refused to look at Katsuki for the rest of the time, taking this chance to speak more Uraraka and cheer on Tsuyu when it was her turn.