Work Text:
Everybody scrambles to reinforce the building before it collapses and even then, there’s no promise that it would stay standing. Class 1-A is training in a simulation and everybody quickly becoming focused and controlled.
Ren, one of the new exchange students, is working hard with Ochako for their training session. They’re trying to get any civilians out of the way and to safety. Her quirk is Void, which lets her open small pockets for anyone who looks at her. She uses it to rescue civilians, opening the void back up at the safe zone. It’s exhausting as she hasn’t used it as often as she should be but she pushes through. Ochako is busying herself on the west side of the skyscraper, making debris float so civilians can escape. The two collide as Ren sprints around the corner.
“Sorry!” Ochako exclaims, gripping her hands onto Ren’s shoulder so she won’t fall. Ren has started floating from Ochako touching all of her finger pads to Ren’s shoulder. The two grin stupidly at the other.
Ren shakes her head. “It’s alright”, she says. “Just gotta watch where we’re both going!”
It might be the firelight but it looks like Ochako is turning slightly pink.
Their moment is interrupted by a yell, catching their attention. The building is coming down. Both react and pull each other out of the way. Ren is released, her feet falling to the ground after being released by Ochako’s quirk. Ochako ends up hitting her head on a stray rock when they fall so hastily.
She’s become dazed by the fall, lying there limply. Ren pulls her up, struggling to walk from Ochako’s added weight. She needs to get them both to safe zone where Ochako can be examined and receive first aid.
Ren pulls Ochako’s legs into her arms and sprints. She knows that Ochako’s head hurts from the movement but there isn’t time to stop. She skids to a halt, stumbling over herself as she lays Ochako down in the safe zone. Immediately a volunteer begins looking over Ochako, checking the bleeding from her head. Ren stands idly by but soon is shooed off by 13 as this is training and she needs to continue .
Soon enough, the training session winds down. All of class 1-A is panting on the ground in exhaustion. Ren settles next to Tsuyu, dirty and soot stained along with the rest. Tsuyu looks curiously over to Ren, putting a finger to her lips.
“Where’s Ochako?” She asks .
“Oh, she was hurt...I took her to the safety zone to get checked over.”
Tsuyu frowns, worried. “I saw you running. Why not use Void?”
Ren flushes but doesn’t say anything more as 13 has begun talking now. When he finishes talking, they’re dismissed back to their dorms, trekking back in exhaustion. The showers are busy for the next hour and a half; they play rock, paper, scissors to see who goes.
Ren is sitting on the couch in the common room, impatiently waiting for a shower. She springs up as Ochako walks into the room.
A bandage is wrapped around her head, and her face is paler than usual. Her hair’s messy and tangled under the bandage but Ochako smiles like it’s nothing, scratching the back of her neck nervously.
“Sorry about the worry, guys”, she’s saying when Iida, Tsuyu, Midoriya, and Ren rush up to her. “I got distracted.”
“By what?” Iida asks. “You know you have to be on constant alert in these scenarios, Uraraka. You have to be more careful, there could have been serious damage!”
“I know, I know. Rookie mistake.”
“I’m just glad you’re alright”, Midoriya says. “I saw Ren carrying you and was so worried but I was too busy trying to get people out of the top floor to help.”
Ochako smiles bright and wide again, shrugging. She sways slightly where she stands, the exhaustion starting to show again. Ren puts her hand on the small of Ochako’s back, steadying her.
“I think it’s time you went to bed,Uraraka.” Ren says.
Ochako bobs her head slowly, barely aware of what was happening. Iida agrees and helps with ushering Ochako out of the common room.
Ren is still steadying her when they get to Ochako’s room. Soon she’s pulling Ochako’s arm around her shoulder to properly support her. She smiles up at Ren again with gratitude.
“I’m so tired but I can’t go to bed.” Ochako says sleepily.
“Concussions are tricky like that. I’ll stay with you for a bit. Now get your shoes off and into bed.”
“‘M sorry about this. You don’t have to take care of me.”
“I know I don’t have to but I want to”, Ren smiles and leans down to help slide Ochako’s shoes off. “I really don’t mind helping my friends.”
“Mm, thanks”, Ochako mumbles, rubbing at her eye.
Ren takes that as a queue to push Ochako down, pulling the blanket over Ochako. She grabs at Ren’s hands sleepily, clinging to them as she starts falling asleep.
“Stay here for bit”, Ochako manages to say.
Ren can’t say no, if she’s honest. Ochako looks so peaceful, her nose scrunched up with her cheek pressed against their tangled hands. Ren kneels down, looking at Ochako for a moment.
‘She’s so cute,’ is all Ren can think. It’s almost a punch to the gut, the realization. This was nothing friendly or platonic about what Ren feels.
And that’s how it started.
Ren isn’t the only one who realized her feelings. Soon, Ochako began feeling weird around Ren. Her heart becomes too fast and her hands clam up and she can’t stop herself from floating if she gets too embarrassed. People take to noticing and asking if she’s alright. She’s fine! Really! But trying to think through this rationally is becoming harder by the day!
Ren had rescued her from danger and in her dazed state, it had been like she was Ochako’s knight in shining armour. Ren’s hero costume is a black jumpsuit and with all the fire and lights from various quirks activating, it still counted in Ochako’s dazed and delirious state.
It’s worse because Ren is now in their classes. Ren sits diagonal to Ochako, she has a perfect view of Ren. Ochako is always distracted and constantly finds herself gazing, almost longingly, at Ren before she realizes what she’s doing, snapping her attention back to the teacher up front.
“A little bird told me that you like somebody!” Ashido says one day next to Ochako’s ear as the bell rings .
Ochako responds by jumping three feet in the air, her quirk accidentally activating in shock and embarrassment. She covers her face and says, “Who told you that!”
“I’m not telling. But you can tell me if it’s true or not”, Ashido says, winking.
“Ashido, I will have to ask you to stop prying into Uraraka’s personal business and pack your things.” Iida says, terse and formal as always.
Midoriya catches Ochako’s forearm and helps lower her back to the ground safely. Ashido sticks her tongue out but drops the subject , knowing that Iida won’t budge.
Ren walks over curiously, having taken a little longer than usual to pack her things. Ochako manages to control her quirk, looking a little green at the sudden use of it. She waves off any concern though.
“I’m fine! Ashido just spooked me.”
“Are you sure you’re quite alright?” Iida asks. “We will help you with your homework and anything you need if you are feeling off.”
“No, no it’s fine! See, Ren and I, we’re going to go get some snacks before the movie night in the common room so it’ll be fine after I’m walking around a little.”
Izuku seems more placated than Iida. Todoroki and Tsuyu both walk over then and their group is complete, the six finally leaving the classroom together.
“What movie are we watching tonight?” Ren asks.
“I’m not too sure. Who’s picking this time?” Izuku replies, looking at Iida.
“It’s Bakugou’s turn as his name was picked from the hat.”
They always picked names out of a hat so there was no fighting of who would pick the movie next.
Izuku sighs, saying, “He’ll pick an action movie with lots of explosions. Something like Die Hard.”
Ren purses her lips at the movie name. “I will not be joining you all tonight then. I’ve watched the movie twice and both times it was bad. I will help with the snacks still, of course.”
Ochako grins, throwing her hands up in excitement. “Let’s get going before everybody else beats us, then!”
There are three stores that are all a safe distance to walk from UA. Both decide their best course of action is to visit the furthest store possible. If they walk the extra distance, the store isn’t going to be as crowded from UA students that finished class and also want snacks.
Ren grabs some chips and passes them to Ochako. She feels a tap on her shoulder, looking back and seeing another exchange student. He was a head taller than Ren and leans down, playfully smirking at her.
“It’s been so long!” the boy says .
Ren punches him lightly in the arm, smiling up at him. “You’re the one that hasn’t called me back! How’s your new school?”
“Who’s this?” Ochako asks.
“Oh!” Ren exclaims, embarrassed she’d forgotten to introduce Ochako to her friend. “Um, this is Lorenzo, he’s from Italy. He was in the exchange student program with the rest of us. We trained together in the month before we came into UA but he got into the hero course at a different school.” Ren gestures flippantly, her face hardening around the edges. “He hasn’t come around much in the last few weeks so we thought he died.”
“Hey, that’s so harsh, Ren! I thought we were friends.”
“We are but you can’t act like we don’t exist for weeks and pop up like nothing happened. Learn this for next time and text everybody an explanation as to why you disappeared.” Ren gives Lorenzo a withering look and moves on down the aisle without a second glance.
“That seemed a little harsh…” Ochako says almost cautiously.
“Not really...he hurt Mei’s feelings. She had a crush on him and when he just ignored everyone, her especially, she was a wreck. She’s in class 1-B so you might not have seen her around often.” Ren shrugs, pulling bottles of pop out from the fridge, on autopilot as she knows what everybody would want already.
“Wow, you’re so amazing, Ren. You’re such a good friend,” Ochako says with a grin.
Ren fumbles the bottles she’s carrying, trying to control her heartbeat. Ochako quickly taps all the bottles so they won’t fall. She looks at Ren curiously but doesn’t ask anything further.
They quickly make their way through the store, gathering all they need for themselves and their friends. As they walk out, Ochake lets out a small, ‘oh!’
“What is it?” Ren asks, turning to her. The sunlight frames her face, her hair picking up with the slight breeze.
Ochako stares, lost and completely, utterly dumbstruck. Her mouth moves but no words come out untilshe flushes. Saying, “oh no it’s nothing. I just forgot I need to get a card for my parents anniversary! I’ll stay back and meet you at the dorms!”
That was a blatant lie even to Ren but she’s okay with it. Ochako has her reasons for being secretive.
“Alright”, Ren says with a smile. “I’ll see you back at the dorms but don’t take too long because we also have homework and it’s better to do it before we have any kind of fun and forget about it.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.”
Ochako laughs and waves as Ren walked off before her face crumpled and her nerves show through. Ren loves flowers.They’re always arranged around her dorm room. So if Ochako wants to do this, flowers are the best way.
She finally knows that tonight she is going to tell Ren about how she feels. The dorms will be empty and it will be just them. It’s the perfect time to do it. But she also has to accommodate the fact she has no idea where she can even get flowers and where to hide them until the movie. And what is she going to say? Should she lead with her feelings? Should she explain that flowers make her think of Ren?
She’s starting to panic, her nerves getting the best of her. She’s had crushes before but this is...different somehow. There’s more to it than what she’s felt before. Ren is different. She always takes care of everybody and she’s an amazing hero who never falters. Ochako admires her so much that it hurts sometimes and she wants to...be with her — in a relationship. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, it’s what Ochako always circles back to. Ren is amazing in every context and sense of the word.
But what if Ren doesn’t like her back? What will happen between them? Ochako isn’t sure if she could actually — handle the two not being able to talk and joke and be best friends anymore.
She’s interrupted from her inner worrying when she feels a clap on her shoulder, Ashido and Tsuyu come into view.
“You look scared, Ochako.” Tsuyu says. It isn’t a question but Ochako nods.
“Aw, why? What’s wrong?” Ashido asks. She pulls Ochako to a nearby bench and all three sit together.
“I-I’m not sure if I can tell you.” Ochako says.
“Why’s that? Is it about a crush?” Ashido prompts, nudging Ochako in the ribs.
“You can’t prod like that into Ochako’s love life.” Tsuyu pipes up. Ashido has been trying her hardest to get Ochako to spill about her crush.
“Well, it is about my crush on somebody. I...want to….conf-tell them about my feelings. I want to tonight. But how-“
Ashido bounces in her seat, her arms waving up and down blindingly fast, as she says, “Oh that’s easy. Get them away from everybody and say how you feel! Just be honest. Oh, come on, who is it!”
“...it’s Ren…”
“I knew it! Oh, you two will be so cute. You have to, please, Urakaka.”
“I-I don't know what to do though! I’ve never...told anybody about my feelings for them before. She loves flowers...do you think getting her some would be good?”
“She’ll love them”, Tsuyu says. “But are you ready for telling her with everything that could happen?”
Ochako bites her lip, her stomach squirming and twisting. Is she?
Slowly, Ochako nods. “Yeah...I think I am. It’ll be weird but hiding it is….it’s harder now.”
Ashido throws her arms around Ochako’s neck. “I have just the shop for you! Follow me!”
She steers the other two farther into the town, arriving at a cute little flower shop. Ashido knows the shop owner and soon Ochako has her bouquet of flowers to give to Ren.
The bouquet is vibrant and colourful and everything that Ochako knows Ren will love.
Ashido calls ahead to Izuku and asks him to distract Ren by leading her away from the common room when they get back in twenty minutes. Ochako sprints to her dorm and collapses into a heap on her floor before anybody can ask her who the flowers are for.
She can’t stop sweating. Ochako dazedly takes a shower and changes into a frilly blouse and shorts. She’s gotten a lot of compliments from other girls in her class on this outfit so it’s the best thing to wear. Ochako paces nervously around her room after that, there’s nothing more to prepare. Izuku and Tsuyu visit her room, Izuku looking sympathetic.
“It’ll be fine,” he kept saying. “You have a solid way to say what you want and the flowers are a peace offering.”
Ochako nods numbly, mumbling, “Yeah...it’ll be fine. If she doesn’t like me back it’s no big deal.”
And soon the time came. Everybody scrambles to the couches, trying to get a good seat before it starts. And just like Izuku promised, it was Die Hard being shown. Ren stayed in her room, texting Ochako back and forth after she was told the movie name.
Ashido comes to Ochako’s room and insists on spritzing her with a light perfume, before messing with her hair. Before she can protest and fix it though, Ochako is pushed onto the elevator and she’s going up to the third floor.
Ren’s room is something you can smell from the hall. It comforts Ochako. It’s familiar. It calms her heartbeat and soon she’s standing at the door.
She knocks, steeling herself. Ren seems confused when she sees Ochako there, even shocked when she’s handed a bouquet.
“I have something I want to...tell you. I-I...um...well, I know you like flowers so this was perfect!” Ochako is barely able to get her words out.
Before she continues, though, she looks at Ren and sees her face working. Something is wrong.
“Ren….is something up?” Ochako asks softly. Her mission of confessing completely forgotten in the moment.
“Ah, well. My mom, as you know has a growing quirk and I always knew a lot about flowers. I mean like...flower languages too. There’s hydrangeas and those mean breaking up and yellow roses mean cheating. Petunias mean resentment and marigolds-“ Ren suck in a breath, shaking as she says, “So if what you want to tell me was you don’t want to be friends anymore I understand.”
Ochako blinks. She doesn’t know what to do. This is not what she meant at all. Before she can even think of what else to say, Ochako surges forward, bringing Ren into a kiss.
It’s brief and hesitant and full of her own fear but Ren chases her lips when Ochako pulls back. It lasts this time, the two smiling and laughing into each kiss that got longer and longer.
Ochako pulls back soon enough and asks, “Is that a better way to tell you how I feel?”
Ren laughs against Ochako’s lips, trailing her nose softly along her jawline. She nods.
Ren places the flowers in her desk and wraps her arms around Ochako’s neck. They kiss again, lingering and savouring the closeness of each other and the soft touches and sweet caresses. This is something both dreamt and longed for and now it’s happening and both can’t be happier.