Chapter Text
Leaning over the coffee table, Ochako turned the page in the photo album, giggling when she found a picture from their first year in High School.
"Look, Katsuki! You were so cute back then. What happened?" She teased. Katsuki gave a dismissive snort and flipped to the next page with a bit more force than entirely necessary. Ochako smiled brightly, her features softening as she watched her partner flip leisurely through the photos in front of him.
She felt a wave of affection crash into her chest as she took all of him in. Katsuki was taller and more muscular now, having filled out his frame in the second year of high school. He had soft, blonde stubble that covered his chin and neck, and he was riddled with faded scars from years of fights. Some of those scars were from protecting her, and Ochako's stomach flipped at the recollection.
Looking back on it, Ochako couldn't tell you when she'd fallen for him. It had been a slow burn that she hadn't even noticed, until it was a full blown forest fire inside her chest. Until she was irrevocably in love with Bakugo Katsuki.
They had a morning routine, as many who live together develop. Katsuki always got up first, and went for his jog while Ochako sleepily prepared breakfast for two. She adjusts the placemats and table settings, so that Katsuki just had to sit down and enjoy his meal. It's obnoxiously domestic (something Katsuki tells her often, though it doesn't sound like an insult the way he says it) and it brought a smile to Ochako's lips. She liked being able to do this for him, to be there and waiting when he gets home. It made her think of her parents, and how they interacted with each other in such an easy, adoring way.
"I'm back." Katsuki announces himself quietly as he slumps down and starts eating. He looks up at her, and her heart swells with love for the man sitting across from her. They both finish their food with smiles on their lips.
Katsuki would wash the dishes while Ochako showered first. There's a long standing, unspoken agreement that if he finishes fast enough, Katsuki can join her in the shower. The times that he does join in, Ochako was always reminded of how attractive Katsuki is. He's made up of hard muscle and tan skin and blonde hair that catches the light just right. He'd stare at her with those burning red eyes and she could swear he can see right through her.
"Hey, airhead. Wanna stop ogling me and pass me the shampoo?" Katsuki breaks her out of her reverie, standing with a hand held out impatiently. Ochako blushes at being caught staring, but really, you'd think he'd be used to it by now! They'd been together for three years (since their final year at UA) and Ochako still got hot below the collar when she saw Katsuki naked.
Once they'd finished showering, they both gathered all the parts of their Hero uniforms (Katsukis thrown off in a messy pile, Ochako's hanging up neatly in the closet) and they'd set off for the Hero office they both worked for.
Ochako sighs contentedly as they settled in for bed. It was a busy day, full of high speed chases and street fights with punks who thought they were above the law. It was exhausting, to say the least. Ochako took great pleasure in knowing she'd contributed to three arrests, though. And at the end of the day, she and Katsuki had both come home safe.
That was the most stressful part of being in the hero business. The worry that something might happen, and one of them might get hurt (or worse).
Ochako rolled onto her side and planted her face in between Katsuki's shoulder blades. He wasn't really one for cuddling, and he grumbled about it, but didn't outright refuse her like he might've in the past.
"Hey.." Ochako's voice was small. There's no response for a few minutes and she knows he might have drifted to sleep.
"..Yeah?" Katsuki's voice was slow and sleepy in response.
"I love you." Ochako whispers to him.
Katsuki snorted in response. "Yeah, it's hard not to. I'm great."
Ochako wants to punch him, but in a loving way. A love-punch was not uncommon between them, but it would be a shame to start a fight when they're both so tired. She snuggles in closer and lets her breath ghost over the back of Katsuki's neck (the way she knows he dislikes) and he shivers.
"Kaaatsukiiiiii..." Her voice is low, and her tone is slightly annoyed. "Tell me you love me, too." She insists.
"Tch." Katsuki turned over to face her. "You're so demanding." He lets an arm flop over her shoulders and pulls her in until he's almost smothering her with his bare chest. Ochako struggled weakly, but eventually she gave up and accepted that she was going to be sweaty when she woke up. Once he's asleep, Katsuki doesn't move. A light giggle bubbled up from her chest, and she closed her eyes.
Just as she thinks Katsuki has fallen asleep, he sighs.
"I love you too."