Weak [BNHA Fanfiction]

Chapter 18

Trigger warning: self harm

"Charlotte, do you want to team up with me?"

Charlie blinked, her expression switching from confusion to careful pondering.

Nemuri had explained the competition in a way that made it seem simple, but in reality it was not. The Cavalry Battle was a phase that required careful consideration of strategy.

"Why me?"

Midoriya scratched his cheek, grinning, "your quirk would work better for the defensive in this type of competition. And I'm in a situation where I need better defence than offence."

Teaming up with the guy with a 10 million point target on his back didn't seem like the greatest idea, but in a game of strategy she wanted the best strategist in the class on her side.

Charlie glanced at his two other teammates: Uraraka and a support department student. "Alright, count me in."

As Midoriya explained the plan, Charlie got increasingly more anxious. Their strategy relied heavily on her and their formation had her on top. "Hey, Midoriya, please don't overestimate my abilities. I can't use my ability too many times in a row without rest and when I overuse my quirk I become a burden."

"Don't worry, Uraraka and Hatsume will keep us in the air and hopefully out of reach of everyone. You'll be our last line of defence. And I'm putting you on top so you can focus on being aware of our surroundings."

Charlie nodded, feeling a bit more assured.

Soon enough Charlie found herself sitting atop their formation on Uraraka and Hatsume's arms. "I hope I'm not too heavy..."

"Not at all! Uraraka assured, Midoriya simultaneously responding, "well you are all muscle..." earning him a light smack on the head from Uraraka.

They all snapped to attention as Nemuri began the countdown. As expected, as soon as the competition started all the teams surrounding them jumped into attack.

Charlie jolted in surprise when she felt her team start sinking into the ground. Must be someone's quirk trying to trap them.

"Escape plan, now!" Midoriya yelled, activating the jetpack Hatsume provided him with. Jirou extended her Earphone Jack to try to swipe them out of the air but Charlie activated her quirk and shut her down quickly. Charlie didn't have even shoot her a pitying glace as she broke down in loud sobs.

As soon as they landed, new teams were on them. Tsu's tongue shot towards them and Charlie ducked, using her quirk on her formation's horse, Shoji. Shoji collapsed with a gasp, breaking their formation and disqualifying them.

Bakugo came at them next. Charlie could see the hesitation in his eyes. She had already used her quirk on him twice but she knew he wouldn't give up that easily. She averted her eyes as he screamed when she gave his consciousness a tug.

Her hands were shaking, she couldn't feel her fingers, and her insides were knotted into a bundle. That stunt she pulled in the beginning of the festival was starting to show it affects.

Seven minutes had passed and the current scores showed up on the big screen. Class B was doing surprisingly well, with only Charlie and Todoroki's team moving on from Class A. Charlie closed her eyes and rolled her tense shoulders. Perhaps this would distract some of their classmates and give them a moment of rest.

When she opened her eyes she saw a pair of mismatched ones staring at her. She winced suddenly and looked down at her arms. Rolling up her sleeves carefully she saw that there were two neat gashes on either wrist—right where her major veins were. They were gaping and dribbling blood, and they hurt like a bitch.

"Shit, Midoriya. I'm nearly at my limit and we're only half way through. Please buy me some time." She hiccuped as she pressed her wrists to her sides, hugging herself and letting the blood soak into her costume.

As Todoroki's team charged, Charlie's team tried their best to avoid. The minutes ticked by and Charlie began to get hopeful that they would be able to stay on top. But their opposing team was made from four stupid strong students: Todoroki, Tokoyami, Momo, and Iida. Todoroki's team already seemed to have gathered enough headbands to move on but she seemed intent on first place. Just as the last minute ticked down and her hope raised, Iida decided to play their final card.

Charlie blinked and Todoroki's team had disappeared. In a flash they were behind her, Todoroki grasping her headband in a victorious fist.

Charlie stared in shock before she grit her teeth. Her eyes flashed with competitive rage when she met Todoroki's passive gaze. She could feel the panic closing up her throat and her arms shook in pain from the hallucination. She brought her thumb to the silver ring on her middle finger, flicking out a small blade and slapping her thigh. The flash of real pain from the needle piercing her leg caused the pain from the hallucination to dissipate. The panic in her chest cooled and she took a deep breath. "Guys, they're immobile, go after them."

Her teammates nodded, all running towards the other team. First, she took out Tokoyami. His quirk would be annoying and keep them at a distance. With a cry, his shadow disappeared and he grabbed his head, covering his eyes. Iida was still recovering from that burst of speed and Momo's quirk wasn't as useful for defence so Charlie let them be. Todoroki's eyes widened and he brought up his hands to fend her off, flaming starting up and licking his forearm.

Charlie wasn't really thinking it through. Even if she sent Todoroki into a panic he would curl up to protect himself and she would have trouble quickly grabbing the band before the time was up. One thought consumed her with no logical backing. Make him afraid of our headband.

She activated her quirk and Todoroki suddenly went pale. He began to breath quickly, hands flashing to the his neck as he grasped around for the 10 million 280 point headband. He ripped it off with a terrified gasp and threw it like it had burnt him.

Midoriya, without missing a beat, grabbed the headband from the air and activated his jetpack, propelling the group away from the other team as Charlie's connection snapped.

"TIMES UP!"

Charlie's breathing was irregular as the second phase ended. Blood seeped through the small but fairly deep hole in her leg and onto her costume. "Put me down," she whimpered. No one heard her as her teammates celebrated. Her heart was beating hard, it felt like it would fall out of her chest. She choked, she couldn't breathe. "Put me down," she rasped, her vision tilting sideways.

Charlie hardly felt herself hit the ground, curling up immediately and grasping at her chest. She could vaguely hear her teammates calling her name.