BNHA x OC

T h e _ f o r e s t

[EDITED]

The sound of my pounding heart in my ears is the only sound I register as I bound through the forest, my legs straining with effort as I bolt as fast as I can through sharp berry bushes and low-hanging leaves. Scrapes and gashes kiss my skin as I desperately try to get away. Something is here... something is wrong. I lap up the crisp forest air as I crouch in a bush, the frosted grass beneath me doing little to calm the panic thumping through my veins. I knew I shouldn't have gone past the tree line. I knew the city's risks, yet I still pushed the boundary I had set for myself.

I hug my knees to my chest sitting in the center of the large bush, deep down I know that my efforts in hiding are futile, I will be found eventually. As soon as I locked eyes with the person decked in gear, I knew I would be followed. It's a pro's duty after all to scope out anything suspicious, and as I looked down at my tattered clothes I knew that I fit the bill.

I perk up at the sound of heavy footsteps and rustling shrubbery. My ears quickly flick in every direction to find the source but to no avail, whoever this was, they were too quick and quiet for me to track. I begin to panic internally, as a thump rings out to my right. I snap my head toward the sound only to see nothing but the wintery woods before me.
There are no animals that walk through the forest so carelessly, so it couldn't be anything other than what I had initially run from. I begin to feel my teeth sharpening as I think about what awaits me once I am found.
Will he contact the police? Will I be taken into custody and questioned? Will they send me back...?

No, I wouldn't go back. I couldn't.

I dig my hands into the moist dirt below me, "W-Who's there?" I whisper into the woods, I had attempted to come off as confident, but the break in my voice had betrayed my tone. I listen carefully, secretly hoping that there wouldn't be an answer, and that I had in fact not been followed. But alas, 

"What's your name, child?" The shadows of the woods seemed to whisper in response, its voice seemed to be circling me. I begin to panic even more as the question concludes. I feel my body beginning to shift into the comfort of my other form as I fight the urge to take off again. To flee like a fox would a hound.

I bite my tongue to keep from replying as I rise from my crouch, warily scanning the small clearing ahead for any signs of the bodiless voice. 

"You have nothing to fear... for I am a friend." I see a figure slowly emerge from the bushes, hands raised slightly as if to show he is unarmed, but I was not raised naive, with two pros for parents I grew to learn that that anything could be masked as a weapon. For this tall slim man, it seemed that his outfit, made entirely of denim, was somehow his concealed weapon. 

"How am I to know that?" I question, taking a step back as he takes one forward. I would not give him the opportunity to prove my hypothesis, I know better than to see how things play out.

"I am the pro hero 'Best Jeanist'. I intend only to return you to where you belong, the woods are dangerous" He explains cautiously, his eyes seeming to scan over me slowly. Assessing me as a threat most likely. 

"I don't have a place to be returned, sir... I am at home here." I respond, eyes flicking around the clearing in search of an escape route. The man before me seemed shocked by my statement, although he seemed to mask the emotion well, the only tell being his pause in approach. 

"Surely you have a home, you had to have come from somewhere" He retorts resuming his steady walk toward me again. Only this time he had a warm smile plastered onto his face... well I think it's a warm smile due to the way his eyes squinted, I couldn't see much else of his features. His attire was covering the bottom half of his face, "We can go and find them."

"My uncle has recently passed on," I say, my eyes averting from his as the memory springs to the forefront of my mind. "I don't have any other family... Not after my parents..." I close my eyes tightly, my brows furrowing and fists clenching at my sides as I fight off the unwelcome grief that attempted to wash over me. 

Not here... Not now...

"Hold on..." I open my eyes at the sudden realization in his tone. With a glance toward his wide eyes and stiff posture, I knew that there was no hope of shaking him off now. Whatever dots he had just connected had been too significant.
"Are you... Okami Hitsune, daughter of Emma and Joseph Hitsune?" He questions quietly, his tone seeming to question but also doubt his statement. I wince at the mention of my parents, but it quickly turns into fear as I realize that he recognized me, how had he recognized me? 'Who is this man?' was the prominent question that echoed through my mind as I slowly began to back away. My alarmed reaction seemed to be answer enough as he shook his head slightly in disbelief.

"Hey, Hey don't run. I'm not going to hurt you." 

Was he going to take me back? What would he do if he found me? What would he do in retaliation for what I had done? 

"Just listen to me for a mome-" I turn and jump before he can finish his request, my skin and bone molding with ease into my other form mid-air. I land with soft black paws on the crisp frosted grass before making a run for the nearest bush, hoping to swiftly disappear into the treeline.
Just as I reach the shadow of the overhanging trees, however, something wraps around my tail causing me to yelp and snarl as I try to free it from the confines of blue thread that this man has wrapped it in. I glance toward the hero, noticing the thread from his sleeves was the cause of my confinement. Damn it, a quirk strong even at long range.

The ma- 'Best Jeanist' reaches into his pocket with his free hand once I am detained, taking out his phone and dialing a number before speaking after the third ring.
"Hello, Nezu. I have a... situation at the edge of the city. A young girl..." He begins, walking towards me cautiously, purposely keeping the restraints on my tail tight enough to keep me from fighting.

A pause. 

"Oh yes, I can do that. Oh by the way... I have a strong belief that she's Okami Hitsune." He adds quietly, twisting away as muffled yelling comes from the device, Best Jeanist yanks the phone from his ear in response, rubbing at his ear harshly.

"Yeah, I'll bring her within the hour" Jeanist states and hangs up, shoving the device back into his jeans. He stands for a moment before he turns, walking in front of my defensive form. Although he was sporting a blank expression, I could tell from his movements that he was being cautious. 

"I have someone I want you to meet, Okami. He'll be able to help you in your... situation..." he explains, gesturing to the dormant forest around us. I look up at him and snarl in response, curling into a ball and refusing to move, like that will make much of a difference.
He sighs diligently before continuing in a mumble "Even though I might have to take you there forcefully... I hope that you will see sense and cooperate" 
I remain still and unmoving in my stubbornness to cooperate. Eventually, he just sighs and shakes his head slightly in exasperation before lifting me off of the ground and carrying me toward the treeline. I snarl in discomfort shifting to get loose of his grip, only for threads of his sleeves to wrap around by midsection, tugging on my fur lightly to keep me from moving.

"Stubborn one aren't you?" He mumbles as I glance at the wintery woods longingly, watching as we break from the treeline and towards the loud bustling city.