Follow the River [Shoto Todoroki x Reader: Fantasy AU]

Chapter 12: The Magic Mechanic

Friendly reminder that there is a browser extension to replace '(Y/n)' with the name of your choosing! [If you're reading on PC]

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

The witch bowed as far as she possibly could, the same one who was about to be drugged if (Y/n) hadn't stepped in. The witch introduced herself to the knight as Ochaco Uraraka.

"It's no problem," the knight replied. Tsu was making sure the man left without a fight (and with a tissue). "There's no way I was gonna let that happen."

"Can I pretty please repay you with a drink?" Ochaco smiled. "It's the least I could do!"

"Well, actually... I have a question. If you can answer it, that's more than enough of a repayment."

"Alright, shoot."

"It's about your profession."

"My profession?"

"You see, I've always wanted to try my hand at magic. You're a witch, aren't you?"

Ochaco nodded with glee. "That I am! And you need some help, is that it? I usually don't do this, but you might've just saved my life so... I can lend you one of my spell books! Well, they're not exactly mine..."

"But rather from the government, right?"

Ochaco stopped to stare in surprise, but then nodded. "Do you know who I am, by any chance?"

"I've heard things," (Y/n) said.

Ochaco broke out into a grin and dug into her bag, which (Y/n) thought at first couldn't possibly fit more than a few small items, but apparently, there was a spell to fix that.

"A few are mislabeled, maybe one or two, so be careful! If it looks too good to be true, don't try it."

It seemed that Ochaco thrived on recognition. Easy to manipulate if someone wanted to.

"I can't thank you enough, Uraraka. By when do you need this back?" (Y/n) held the book up to her face, eager to open it.

"Mmm... I have a feeling that we'll meet again," Ochaco said with confidence. "Don't worry about it, just keep it for now. When we cross paths again, I'll be taking it." With that, she leapt from her seat, flattening her dress. "It was about time for me to go anyways, have fun! Oh, and what's your name?"

The knight answered her question. Ochaco repeated the name she was told, then turned to leave.

***

"You stupid bastard," a raspy and tired voice groaned. The owner of the voice shoved his face into his palms.

"I didn't mean to—" a frightened boy began.

"So you didn't mean to walk up to her, flirt with her, then mess up and get your ass kicked out of the tavern? What part of 'keep an eye on her from afar' don't you understand?"

The boy flinched at the outburst, keeping his shameful gaze glued to the ground littered with little bugs. He watched them, trying to distract his racing heart before the man before him cleared his throat loudly, still waiting for an answer.

"Sorry, I uh.. I met her before and kinda.."

"Don't you dare let your teenage boy hormones ruin this for us, got it?" His hands wrapped around the boy's throat. "We're dealing with my brother here, I will fucking burn you alive if you—"

"Dabi, relax for a second," another voice said. "Let him go. It isn't the end of the world... if he had messed up profoundly, I would've just killed him. We can come back from this."