Chapter Text
Life wasn’t fair.
If anyone knew that, it was Ochako.
Somewhere along the lines, you either let that eat you up—swallow you whole—destroy what you could be.
Or you fight back.
You fight back.
She thought that’s what she was doing. What she’d chosen. That this path would take her parents out of that hole they lived in. That would ensure every bill read as payed, and their bank account had no red numbers. That it meant not scrapping it out at the grocery store in order to feed themselves for the week. Not looking for only deals so they could scramble together measly meals.
She thought this meant she was fighting back.
Fighting her fear, and her parents’ worries.
Fighting to get free.
Free from the hole they’d dug themselves into. Free from the debts. Free from the fear.
Free from the villains.
But none of that was true.
The longer she stayed at U.A., she more she understood.
None of that was true.
Instead of climbing out of the hole, she’d chosen the opposite. Chosen to wander through the entirety of Wonderland, instead of take the right way out. The way that didn’t lead to sticky situations. To danger. To people losing their heads.
She’d chosen wrong.
So very, very wrong.
It was cracking.
The foundation of the building was being broken apart. Torn asunder. Decaying at the touch of the villains.
The villains that shouldn’t be here.
That WOULDN’T be here.
If it weren’t for her.
Taking a short sip of air, she clambered out the window. It was an easy way out. A sure-fire escape. Everyone else is making their way out as well, she could hear the sounds of the students checking on each other. Hear them escaping, fighting back.
And, damn.
She desperately wished she could join them.
But that was an impossibility.
Joining them meant staying with them. Meant being there when the heroes showed up. When the police showed up. When the evidence revealed just who the traitor was. Staying meant being exposed, at the worst of times, and in the worst of places.
It meant jail.
Prison.
Granted, that was probably where she was headed anyway, but.
She’d hold that off for as long as she could. Push away the inevitability with all her might.
After all, she was worthless in jail.
It would be a waste of time. And time?
That’s money.
Money she couldn’t afford to lose.
Her parents needed her. Were relying on her. They had no idea that she was why THEY had stopped coming around. Why the collectors stopped knocking. Why the debt had been considered repaid.
They had no idea.
They might soon. After the smoke settles, and the heroes collect the evidence. Then her parents might figure it out.
But, for now:
She had to run. Had to keep her end of the bargain. Free her parents from this cage.
She had to get them out of the hole they’d dug themselves. The ones they’d made for her sake. So she could have what she needed. So she could go to school.
So she could have a happy childhood.
Was it fair?
Fair that she had this responsibility? That her parents had shouldered this burden for so long? That this was the only way to repay the debts? That this was the path she had to choose—one that was directly opposed to the one she desired?
No.
It wasn’t fair.
But life was never fair. Especially not for those with empty pockets.
Especially not for Ochako.
So she grabbed her backpack. Jumped out her window as the building came crashing down. As the sound of her friends fighting for their lives broke out over the cacophony. Drifted slowly to the ground as she said silent prayers to the skies. As she begged for her friends’ lives. As she hoped, and pleaded, and broke herself, wanting them to make it through this. To make it out alive, okay. As she made her great escape, she said silent goodbyes. Painful ones. Heart fracturing over, and over, and over, with each name that passed into her head. With each farewell.
Deku.
Iida.
Tsu.
Mina.
All of them floated through, memories replaying in flashes as she forced herself back to the ground. As she kicked off the crumbling building so her quirk could bring her to land safely in the grass.
All of her classmates were painful goodbyes.
All of them.
The names hitting her like whip lashes across her heart. Scoring deep into her soul, digging out all the things she’d planted in herself. As she uprooted all the time, and all the emotions, and all the love she had for those people.
It was unpleasant.
All of it.
She’d never felt so much pain in her whole life.
There she was, floating gently toward the earth, completely weightless, and yet.
She was heavy.
So, so heavy.
Weighed more than a thousand suns. More than a million moons. She weighed more than all the contents of all the planets combined.
Weightless as she was, Uraraka felt the pull of what she’d done. The gravity of what she was doing.
Heart an impossible sort of heavy, she floated downward, and one last name popped into her mind. One last farewell. One that truly, sincerely, broke her.
Bakugou.
Her crush.
The man with a lion’s heart.
With a spirit like fire, and a mind like a rocket. Brilliant, and bright, and burning. Burning forever, across the sky, until he found his mark. The moon, or beyond, she wasn’t sure. All she knew was:
It was the most painful thing, to think that she wouldn’t see where he landed.
She wouldn’t get to see the path he took.
Where all that fierce fire would lead him. Wouldn’t be able to watch him grow as she had been. Wouldn’t be able to ask his advice. See his smirk. Hear his cusswords floating through the walls of the dorm room, a constant stream that bubbled into her mind, gently easing her silent suffering.
In all likelihood, this was it. Today was the last day she’d get to talk to him. Their last friendly encounter had been during the afternoon. When they were all playing old videogames in the common room. When Bakugou had offered her some of his popcorn, and she’d hesitated, and he’d insisted, telling her it was stupid to worry about him losing popcorn.
He’d work for more, if he had to. If he needed more, or couldn’t get more, he’d find a way to get more anyway.
That’s what he’d told her.
Somehow, he knew exactly what to say. Exactly what it was that weighed on her mind at all times. What it was that stopped her so often. That created a barrier between her and the world.
He knew.
And, as if it were nothing, he’d torn it down.
Not just that afternoon, but before then, too.
He was good at that. It was his own personal skill:
Tearing down Ochako’s wall, her worries. Easing that constant nagging in her mind to watch what she spent, what she asked for, what he needed. That constant fear of asking for too much, or costing someone something. With a few simple words, he’d taken that worry from her. Blasted it into orbit, as was his trademark talent.
Brazen as he was, he was also kind. Understanding. Could see through a lot of things. Knew what made people tick. What made Ochako tick.
Honestly, it was a great help. Not just with her monetary worries, but with her skills as well.
As unbelievable as it was, Bakugou was actually a great teacher.
Bakugou always knew where Ochako could improve, and he was always willing to share his thoughts. Always willing to help her grow. Achieve.
“I want to fight you again in the tournament, and I want it to be more challenging this time, Roundface,” he’d told her once, months ago.
So indirect, as always.
But kind, nonetheless. Thoughtful.
Too thoughtful.
In that moment, it burned her. Forced her heart to crack. Implode. Splinter.
As she landed, he was waiting there. The scarred one. With stitches, and a hungry anger in his smirk. Cold eyes, though his hands exhumed flame.
“Glad you made it out,” he said, smiling faintly at her. “It’d have been a shame to lose you.”
Ochako shrugged, unable to respond in any other way.
She was in too much pain still. Her heart bleeding out in her chest still.
If she’d responded with words, they’d have been bad. Negative. Something she didn’t really mean, and something that would make her seem unhinged. Uncommitted to paying her parents’ debts.
And she was anything but.
She was committed.
But.
She was also sad. Broken. Mourning her own choices.
As she landed, and as the greeting was exchanged, she shrugged.
And then.
She heard him.
Him.
The last person she really wanted to see her like this. The last person she’d want to witness this exchange. The last person to float through her mind at night, and the guy that was always the first to push his way into her brain when she woke.
Him.
A sound like a percussion instrument spontaneously combusting caught her attention. Rocked her heart.
And not in a good way.
When she turned, he had already landed, a snarl on his face. His eyes angry, like they always were when faced with wrong.
But, a new emotion joined the anger. Something she hadn’t see in his eyes before.
Desperation.
“Back the fuck up Frankenfire, or I’ll make you wish you’d never been born,” he growled.
Growled.
Not yelled.
That was the difference. She’d watched him—observed him—long enough to know:
When he yelled, all was normal.
When he was quieter?
That was when hell stirred.
Oh…
Oh no.
What was she supposed to do? It had already been decided by Shigaraki that she was to escape now. That she was too valuable a pawn, and that this situation was too dangerous to try to pretend through, or wait out.
This was her escape.
The moment when she would be exposed.
Damn.
Damndamndamn, her brain chanted.
Of all the people who could’ve been first to know…
…it just HAD to be Katsuki Bakugou.
Her favorite classmate.
Her mentor.
…her crush.
Damn.
Life was so unfair.
Dabi laughed once, staring at Bakugou with malice displayed openly on his face. “That’s funny Bakugou. Real funny. But, surely you can see what’s going on here.”
Teeth showing, Bakugou’s snarl deepened.
“I don’t know shit,” he rumbled, flooring Ochako.
No…
He was lying.
Clearly, he was lying.
The way he wouldn’t really look at her. The way his palms were splayed, ready to fight. The way his snarl turned into a grimace.
He knew.
He HAD to know.
There was no way he didn’t understand.
“Bakugou, stand down please.”
It was amazing, how quickly he moved. Responding to her, as if in a trance.
Standing up straight, his hands went to his sides. Face a mask of calm surrender and surprise. As if he, himself, hadn’t expected to react so immediately. To obey so wholly.
Looking at the ground, he spoke again.
“You… you’re really with that bastard Roundface?”
It was such an accusation. One that felt heavier than it should have. Sounded doubled over with meaning.
She felt compelled to answer him. To answer every meaning of the question.
“The League of Villains? …yes. I am with the League,” she said, bringing her meaning back. Drawing an invisible line.
Was that what he wanted to know?
And… why?!
To her surprise, he spoke again, as if answering her question.
Yes.
It was what he wanted to know.
“Okay, but you’re not with HIM are you?” Bakugou asked, tone dark.
It was such an odd thing to ask. In a situation like this, didn’t that count as a personal interest? It didn’t matter if she was WITH Dabi or not, she was a villain.
He ought to be putting that above all else.
That’s what a hero would do.
“No, I’m not,” Uraraka answered, curious as to his reaction.
Relief.
It hit him in a moment. Clearing his head, making his expression smug again.
“Then, drop him.”
“What?”
Bakugou nodded. “Drop him. Come with me. I’ll take you back Ochako. I’ll vouch for you. I came looking for you Ochako. I didn’t want to lose you. I DON’T want to lose you. You… you’re important. Damn. I thought I’d have more time. That I’d be able to tell you clearly, but I can’t. I don’t have the time. Come back with me Ochako. They won’t take you. I won’t let them take you.”
Earnest, he pleaded with her. His voice like a fishing lure, dying to snare her and drag her to shore.
And she still wasn’t sure what he meant.
Did he mean he wouldn’t let The League take her? Or the police?
She didn’t know.
And, to be honest, it didn’t matter.
She couldn’t afford to go back to U.A.
Couldn’t afford to stay with him.
Couldn’t afford anymore happiness. Not here. Not from her classmates.
Not from him.
For a moment, she wondered if she had been missing this all along. If she could’ve had him by her side this whole time. What if she had made a move? What would he have done? Could she have spent her last few months happy? With Bakugou standing next to her?
…she didn’t know.
In all honesty, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to know.
It’d just be another thing she had to add up. Another price she was paying for these actions, to repay her debts.
And, regardless, she didn’t have time to figure it out.
She had to leave. Had to escape. Had to stop thinking about it.
Or it would drive her mad.
She was used to life being unfair.
But this?
THIS?
It was… too much.
Way too much.
As she opened her mouth, something snagged her around the waist.
Dabi.
“Sorry Bakugou, but this one is ours. Has been for a while now. And we’d really hate to lose her. She’s precious to us, you know,” he purred as he drew her closer. “And we’re not afraid to show it.”
His breath…
It was tickling her ear.
“LEAVE HER ALONE,” Bakugou roared, taking a step forward instinctively. Shoulders hunching, ready to fight. “Stop touching her,” he growled, more controlled.
She felt Dabi’s chuckle reverberate through her back. Sending a round of shock into her system.
His voice came out smug, pressing against her back as he spoke, his words sneaking by her ear.
“Only if she tells me to.”
Bakugou’s eyes went wide.
Horrified, maybe, or shocked.
Dabi curled his arm tighter around Ochako. His lips gliding dangerously close to her face as his heat began to seep into Ochako. Hand snaking around her waist, he played with the bit of skin that was showing. Ran his fingers and brushed his thumb over the places where her sleep-shirt had ridden up.
And she did nothing.
Nothing.
Katsuki looked on in horror, and every moment was bitter to Ochako. Her heart twisting away from the taste of the present. Coughing and grimacing and dying for a sip of air. For fresh water.
Dying to be anywhere but here.
Breaking every bridge to her future.
Every bridge, except one.
Another chuckle rolled against Ochako’s back. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his smirk.
“See? She’s ours. Belongs with us. Give up on her Bakugou, if you know what’s good for you.”
Before he could roar at Dabi, a swirling mass of black appeared.
“That’s our cue,” Dabi said evenly, releasing everything but Ochako’s hand to pull her through.
“NO—”
She heard him.
That broken, strangled yell. Heard a desperately timed explosion go off.
But it was too late.
Darkness swallowed her. Brought her to someplace else. Someplace new.
A warehouse. Or an abandoned building. Something like that. Something of that nature. She didn’t really know, and she didn’t honestly care.
As soon as they were there, her brain started to shut off.
Did shut off.
It was too much.
Way too much.
In one moment, she’d lost it all.
Lost everything.
Lost her current path, her friends, her home.
And, more than that, she lost what could’ve been.
All this time, he liked her.
He liked her.
He could’ve been hers.
And she could’ve been his.
…they could’ve belonged together.
Before the despair could nail her to the floor, Dabi dropped her hand. The warmth leaving her palm startled her into the present for just a moment.
“Sorry,” the villain said, much to her surprise.
And he seemed to mean it.
“I just thought that that’d be the easiest way for the both of you,” he continued. And he looked…
Guilty.
“Sorry,” he said again.
But he didn’t saunter off like she expected him to.
Instead, he stayed.
Even when it hit her again. When the weight of her heart became too much and came crashing down. When the sobs began working their way out of her body. When the tears fell like leaves in fall.
He stayed.
And awkwardly patted her back.
“Easy now. I guess, uh, let it all out. Just… do what you gotta do, okay? I won’t tell anyone. Don’t worry about it. Just let it out,” Dabi chanted, his tone going from scared to uncertain to calm.
She cried a while.
An hour. Three. All night.
She wasn’t sure.
But, when she was finally done, she found that she didn’t have any energy left.
She was exhausted.
As she began drifting out of consciousness, she felt arms come around her. The wrong arms. The one she liked were warmer. Well-muscled. Felt like iron bars rather than leather ropes. The arms that she favored were toned, and came fitted with grenade blasts. Beautiful explosions like tiny rockets in his palms.
These were not the arms she wanted.
As she drifted, she had forgotten everything—knew nothing—except that.
She was not in Bakugou’s arms.
She was in someone else’s.
A sigh broke, registered in her mind as her eyes drooped further. Right as they began to shut, she heard a droll voice speak, tone wary beyond her own years.
“Welcome to The League of Villains.”
And then promptly passed out in the arms of a guy who wasn’t her crush. In the middle of a derelict building. Right after establishing the fact that she was the traitor. That she had lied to her friends. Set them up. Destroyed their collective home. Right after she gave up everything, she fell asleep in the arms of a guy who wasn’t Katsuki Bakugou.
Why, you ask?
Because.
Life was a lot of things.
But it sure as hell wasn’t fair.