Chapter Text
Authors Note:
You'll understand the title soon, don't worry.
By the way, Síat's views on the cult of Christian Mythology are my views as well, if you have a problem with that, sorry, not sorry. Because of that cult, I can't find a single book on the Celtic Pantheon that doesn't call them "Celtic Mythology". If it sounds cruel to you to call it "Christian Mythology", you should think about how I feel that people who aren't even part of your cult still call my gods a myth because of your cult's influence.
As Síat carried Ochako to the train station, now on his back, to give her a little more dignity, he bore a small smile. This was bringing back memories.
Ochako did her best to fight the sleep. 「So why did you join the hero course?」
Síat's smile faded quickly. 「Because I failed to save someone once. I didn’t have a license back then, so I tried to help without using my Quirk, but I failed. I wasn't... strong enough. That’s actually what drove me to push my body into a raw physical powerhouse. But the thing is, if I had just used my Quirk, my mother would still be alive, and my father wouldn’t have disowned me. That guilt is why I chose to become a hero. To ensure that I never let that happen again, and to make sure no child in my presence is ever forced to make a choice like that.」 Síat's voice trembled.
Ochako was wide awake now. She hugged him tightly, her eyes pouring. 「That wasn't your fault...」
「It was.」 Síat's jaw set. 「When I have the means to stop tragedy, and I let it happen anyway, then it's my fault. If there had been nothing I could have done, then maybe I wouldn't hate myself so much. But I did have the means... I just let the law tell me not to use them. Never again.」
Ochako cringed. Síat noticed, but didn't pry.
「So, deirfiúr bheag, you're aiming for a school a bit of a ways from home...」 he said, giving her a subject change he suspected was mutually much needed.
Ochako giggled. 「You're one to talk... What's that mean?」
Síat chortled. 「Oh, it means 'sweet girl'.」
He felt a sharp flick on his forehead, and Nana Shimura's distinct voice filled his head. Liars don't go to heaven, boy.
I'm druidic, not part of the cult of Christian Mythology, ma. Síat replied in his head, a little too smug.
Easy now, I'm not either, but there's no reason to use harsh language about it... She sounded a little nervous...
Síat's mental reply actually contains a chortle. When they convince the world to stop calling my gods, the Norse gods, and the Greek gods a myth, which their influence caused, I'll stop calling theirs one. Turnabout is fair play.
Síat didn't even notice Ochako using her phone. Wouldn't matter if she were looking it up, anyway, Irish is REALLY hard to spell when you don't know the language.
Ochako📨Mom
[Mom, can we have Kamo Nanban Udon, or something else that's iron-rich for lunch? And could you set a fourth plate at the table?]
The steady rumbling of the train didn't take long to lull Ochako to sleep, especially when Síat started singing about Molly Malone. Ochako's English wasn't great, but his voice, in that deep resonate baritone, slowly pouring out the song about a fishmonger, left her breathing slowly with her head resting in her lap.
The train's first two stops were fine, but that third stop at the home stretch brought a creepy fellow in casual wear that made Síat's skin crawl.
It took him two minutes to notice Ochako. His eyes tracked up her legs, and Síat took off his shades.
The ear hooks liquefied and coated his eyes, and the glasses coated his teeth. The coating on his canines sharpened into fangs, and he tilted his head up to make eye contact with the man, snarling, and hissed.
The man flinched, squeaked, and scrambled out of his seat to bolt into another car.
Síat's blood trickled back over his eyes and re-formed into his shades. Ochako stirred a bit, and he ran his fingers through her hair. 「Easy, deirfiúr bheag, one more stop.」
Ochako mumbled something about cockles and mussels and nuzzled into his lap.
That... Was an approach you took. Yoichi's voice wavered a little in Síat's head.
Oh, don't listen to him, sweetie, that was flawless. Where'd you learn to hiss like that? Nana's voice was audibly beaming.
Oh, that? Síat grinned. I was the class favorite during the Halloween walkthrough in primary. I could even spook the teachers.
Ha! A flawless display, young Rahill! Ghost Might's mental back pat actually stung a little. Oop... My bad...
Síat lifted the still sleeping Ochako carefully and carried her off the train. He paused when a soft-faced woman waved at him.
「You must be the famous Rahill-kun my daughter texted me about. She didn't mention you were so... Tall.」 She gaped up at him as she approached.
「Heh, yeah, it... Doesn't run in the family, believe it or not.」 Síat whispered, and shifted a little. 「I was just making sure she got home safe, she had to get a little healing, and it drained her stamina, making her drowsy. When she told me she was taking a two hour train ride... Well, that's not a trip any little girl should make sleepy without an escort.」
「So you're the one she invited for lunch, then?」 She cradled Ochako's head.
「Oh... No, she didn't say anything about lunch...」