It's a Plan(et)

Chapter 7

A/N: Just a reminder that time is measured in "clicks" where one click = one second.

Therefore...

Hectoclick = 100 seconds

Kiloclick = 16 minutes, 40 seconds

Megaclick = 11.6 days

Gigaclick = 31.7 years

Teraclick = 31,700 years

_ _ _ _ _

The first time A'zawa saw an example of the Terrans' ability to throw things, with their upper limbs, with incredible accuracy and decent speed, he thought it just happened by chance. It was when Midoriya threw one of the crocknets that H'zashi had kindly shared with him to Shigaraki that he saw it with his own eyes for the first time. Even though the intention was clearly there for the crocknet to be tossed through the air and make it to Shigaraki's outstretched and waiting appendages, A'zawa had never seen anything like it, so how could he have ever imagined that it was on purpose?

When H'zashi proposed the idea that it was, A'zawa had to rethink everything.

It did make sense, especially with the way that H'zashi reenacted the moment of the throw to try to convince their captors to give the Terrans some crocknets of their own, with the deliberate toss from Midoriya and the way Shigaraki was already posed to catch it like he knew the throw was coming, like this kind of throw and catch scenario was common for Terrans. The curiosity won the Terrans another whole bowl of crocknets to see if the throw could be replicated, and it could, to their spectators' delight, again and again. A'zawa wondered how many games could come out of such a great maneuver, how many defensive and offensive maneuvers.

When he first saw the Terrans, he noticed their lack of claws, their blunted teeth, their largely furless skin, and wondered what options they really had to fight and defend themselves, even knowing what he knew about their species. It's not what they have immediately available to them, but their adaptability, their ability to use what's around them, and their uncanny strength and durability that is not discernable at first glance that really sets them apart from other species, A'zawa had come to learn and appreciate.

A'zawa did not have to wonder for long if their throwing abilities could be used for offensive purposes. Shigaraki did an excellent demonstration when they came to take their first Terran for their Universal Translation Device implantation procedure.

A'zawa and H'zashi recognized the weapons they carried straight away and knew that they'd be breaching one of their cells. It had them on edge right away, and their observant Terran cellmates picked up on their foreign-to-them body language easily enough to figure out that something different was about to happen.

"The Terrans have been learning Standard on their own, one word at time," H'zashi jumped in with, trying to buy his Terran more time when it was clear they had their sights set on Midoriya. "They have been picking up words marvelously and memorizing them flawlessly, even without the written language to aid in their memories. If we could have more time to see how expansive the language centers of their brains are that they can learn a new language from scratch from teachers who don't know a single word of their native language–"

"You can continue your own little research experiment with that one," the dreto said, wing fluttering in the direction of Shigaraki in the cell behind her. "This one will get the UTD implant. It's already been decided."

A'zawa watched as his lover visibly deflated, feathers that were once fluffy and puffed out in excitement and hope that his idea might come to fruition falling limply against his body as he lost hope for saving his Terran friend. A'zawa knew that part of the dismay was H'zashi's inability to warn Midoriya what was coming, knowing that Midoriya was facing his future procedure completely unaware of what was happening and unknowing that he was to be returned to them, soon enough able to communicate with them as easily as he communicates with his Terran companion.