Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

For the life of him, he had never imagined that he would be the one to think about it, let alone suggest.

He doesn’t even remember how they got stuck into this mess. Got tangled into the web of realities, expectations and untold feelings.

Or maybe he does?

It had all started that day…in that party organised by a few Hero agencies to support and appreciate the work of newbies in the Hero industry and to provide them some encouragement and popularity. And naturally, he was invited as well.

…

The place was buzzing. Soft music floated across the air, occasionally punctuated by loud, energetic songs in between. The area was well lit, illuminated brightly, the windows were large, necessary to provide proper aeration and the hall was even larger, obviously, to accommodate the huge congregation of people - more especially Heroes, comfortably.

The decoration was rich and pleasant, of colours consisting of navy blue, azure, and white. The side of the room was solely dedicated to the serving of drinks and wines and perpendicularly to it, on the window side, a wide assortment of heavy snacks and pastries was laid.

The place was brimming with people. Variety of humans, with a variety of quirks, were moving around, enjoying the night to the fullest - eating and drinking to their heart’s content. A few were swaying on the dance floor and some others were spread, gossiping among themselves. A few sharing the juicy details of events and affairs between the famous fellows of Hero society and some others bragging about fights they had, and how they survived life-threatening injuries and how ferocious were the villains they had defeated.

Everything was perfect.

Yet, Izuku was running thin on patience.

Oh, he knew he was plenty patient when needed to be, but this…this entire situation was making him beyond uncomfortable.

The lack of personal space, the unwanted touches and the breath reeking with an overdose of alcohol made him cringe visibly. He jumped at the sudden feeling of the woman’s scantily clad breasts pressed against his chest and stumbled back when her lips almost grazed his chin.

“Please, can you stay away!” He hissed in agitation, hoping that she would understand that he doesn’t want to do anything with her and leave him alone.

“Dekuuuu.” The woman purred, “-Am I not pretty enough for you?”

And he cannot even bring himself to think of the degree with how much he hated the way his Hero name sounded on her heavily painted lips.

Izuku grabbed her upper arms and pushed her away slightly to gain some semblance to space between them. The woman was completely drunk and Izuku was having second thoughts about coming to this party.

His eyes darted all around the moving crowd of formally dressed heroes - in suits and dresses, mingling and enjoying the night, but here, he was eager to find an opening to escape from this awkward situation.

That is when his eyes spotted her.

She was dressed in a baby pink floor-length gown decorated with satin green and black roses. Her hair was done up prettily and weaved through similar but comparatively smaller roses. He would have said that she looked beautiful and blushed fifty shades of red if he had not seen the predicament she was in.

She looked every bit uncomfortable as he had felt moments ago. Swarmed with young males desperate for her attention with some of them boldly overstepping their boundaries by deliberately touching her.

Something inside him snapped when one of the guys present there forcefully grabbed her wrist trying to pull her with him.

Without giving a second thought, he immediately pushed the drunk woman off him in a swift move, knowing that she was intoxicated enough to fall if he was rash but still not caring about it at all.

He cut through the crowd brushing people away from him and by the time he made it to her, she had her hand away from the guy’s grip already and was glaring daggers at him. Her brown eyes burning with righteous indignation.

Izuku smirked.

These idiots didn’t even know who they were dealing with, do they?

But soon, at their very persistent efforts to get close to her, he realised that they are either too drunk to care or too dumb to understand.

So, he quickly moved and planted himself between her and the men.

He couldn't hold back a smile curling up on his lips when her eyes widened in surprise.

It always felt amazing to receive her attention like this.

“Where were you? I was searching for you back there.” He made a deliberate act to make it look like they already have met each other here.

She tilted her head in confusion and opened her mouth to say something before closing it when one of the boys objected, angrily grabbing Izuku’s shoulder.

“Dude. Where did you come from?”

Izuku turned to face them, his eyes unflinching and answered with confidence.

“I’ve been here for a while now. Left to get my g-girlfriend some drinks.” He jerked his thumb towards Ochako lightly.

Wait…what?

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he registered that Ochako had frozen.

Drinks…?

Girlfriend…?

Uraraka-san…?

Wait. What.

URARAKA-SAN…?

WHAT THE HELL?!

His insides were on fire at his own choice of words but outwardly, he maintained his calm because this is what they have been trained to do as heroes.

Stay strong and undaunted in every situation.

The men surrounding them exchanged looks of suspicion when suddenly Ochako jumped on to the chance and latched on to his arm for the show and Izuku swore that his brain short-circuited.

“Come on Deku! Let’s go!”

“Wait. He’s really your boyfriend?!” One of the guy’s yelled in astonishment combined with fury.

“Yes. He is.” Ochako nodded with conviction and Izuku felt himself sweating profusely beneath the collar.

“You’re already taken? Why didn’t you say anything before?” A guy sneered and Izuku did his best to resist the urge to punch him in the face.

Not here. Not here. He reminded himself.

Hero Deku is not known for punching anyone ‘innocent’ person.

“What? I have been trying to tell you all that I cannot and will not accompany any of you tonight but it is not my fault that you didn’t wish to listen.”

If he was, to be honest, One of the things he loved about her was that she never held back from lashing on anyone doing wrong. He knew that she is strong and smart and can take care of herself but there was just another kind of satisfaction to see her roasting some idiots, he thought smugly.

Sometimes, he thinks, if he is getting a little sadistic with age. Or maybe Kacchan is simply rubbing off on him more than he expected.

The men looked shocked at Ochako’s words and a few were decent enough to feel embarrassed about it.

“Thank you, men, for keeping my girlfriend some company but I’d like to enjoy the night with her now.”

He said confidently even though his palms were clammy with the nervousness. He gave them a cocky grin, which he might or might not have learned from Bakugou and ushered Ochako out, his large hand on the small of her back.

None of them dared a glance at one another as they sailed through the sea of people, sticking close enough to not get separated and reach the other end of the room, both of their faces aflame.

As soon as they reached the other side, Izuku burst into an apology.

“I-I am s-sorry, Uraraka-san! I didn’t even k-know what the hell I was doing! Sorry! You just looked uncomfortable and I-”

She stopped him mid-sentence, her hand squeezing his. He was taken back to see a a shy smile forming with her pink cheeks.

“It’s okay, Deku-kun. I’m glad you came to help me. I was really troubled. Sooner or later, I would have floated them to the ceiling.”

He nodded but did not make a move to pull his hand out of her grasp, unconsciously, memorising the soft and warm touch of her hands.

“They were a few persistent guys.”

“Oh, I think they were a few persistent idiots.”

She hissed angrily and Izuku could not help but let out a laugh at the sour face she made. It was adorable.

Well, anything she did was adorable.

Standing side by side, they did not say anything to each other. But the smiles on both of their faces was enough to know that they were happy and content to share the silence.

“By the way,” she asked, her voice holding slight mischievous tint, “where is the drink you went to get me?”

He was about to start apologising again but thanks to those expressive eyes filled with mirth, he realised that she was playing around with him.

So, he gave her a confident smirk and said, “I think I left it on the counter. Couldn’t hold the drinks and save my lady, all at once now. Well, would you like to accompany me now?”

Izuku was violently combusting from inside at the prospect that he was actually FLIRTING with Ochako Uraraka.

“Alright! Let’s go!” She exclaimed, her excitement bubbling up as if they were about to head out on a camping trip.

But point to be noted, we don’t exactly have very… happy experiences when it comes to camping.

Ignoring the thought bouncing somewhere in the back of his head he let her drag him to the counter.

Both of them are not extreme drinkers, so it was only a few shots. Later they found themselves on the dance floor, swaying with the music, arms carefully wrapped around each other. If he would have been in his right mind then her proximity to him would have been enough to making him blush and fumble around like a moron.

But the slight intoxication had made him a little daring. He leaned into her, hands pressing against her waist and nuzzled his nose into her hair, breathing in her flowery scent. The way her palms rested on his shoulder blades made him relax and her head resting in the crook of his neck was oddly calming.

“Uraraka-san?”

“Hmm?”

“You look beautiful tonight.”

“Oh, only tonight?”

“Aha, not only tonight. Always.”

And honestly, it was a night to remember.

….

The next morning he woke up to the noise of his cell phone blaring. He had a late night shift later today so he had planned to sleep in a little but it seemed that fate did not agree with him. The loud ringing was now getting unbearable so he grabbed the offensive gadget and blinked open his eyes.

“Ughhh.”

The display of Iida-kun in bold letters illuminated the screen and Izuku was surprised.

“Iida-kun? Is everything okay?"

He asked, a hand rubbing over his face, his phone resting against his ear, his senses still groggy from sleep.

“Okay? OKAY?”

His loud voice made Izuku jump into an upright position, his hand immediately holding the cell phone at a distance to avoid more abuse of his eardrums.

“Iida-kun what-”

“How can you do this to me, Midoriya-kun?! I thought we were friends!”

The despair in Iida’s voice made Izuku tense. His head considering all the possible scenarios and their all possible interactions where he might have accidentally said or done something to have offended his close friend. But sadly none came to his head.

“What’s the matter, Iida-kun?!”

“I can’t believe that you and Uraraka-kun didn’t consider me worthy enough to have shared your secret. I thought that by now you’d trust me enough that I would have willingly taken your secrets to my grave.”

Secret?

Worthy enough?

Grave?

What the heck is he talking about?

Breathe Izuku, breathe. Calm down.

“Iida-kun? What is that I and Uraraka-san didn’t tell you about?”

“That you and she were dating!”

Iida’s voice is loud but the weight of the words he let out was even louder. As the memories of last night flooded into Izuku’s head, he immediately jumped out of bed.

“N-no! It’s nothing like that!”

“Please stop lying at least now, Midoriya-kun! It’s all over the news!”

Izuku’s jaw was left hung open, his mind unable to form a single coherent thought.

Of course, last night. The party was arranged for Heroes. It was not any other private occasion. Media was there. In fact, some of the important members and officials of the media and newspapers and channels were specifically invited to attend the event for reasons of gaining publicity and to introduce new heroes to ones who could make them popular.

And he had danced with Uraraka-san, in a space which was less than acceptable for any casual interaction. He had got her drinks. And he had publicly declared that she was his girlfriend. And she had publicly accepted it.

Shit. They were doomed now.

“Midoriya-kun? Midoriya-kun?!”

Iida’s voice faded into the background as Izuku considered all the repercussions of this sudden gigantic problem. And the one he feared the most was the damage that this entire situation could do to their bond.

His and Uraraka-san’s friendship.

The cell slipped off his fingers and the voice of Iida-kun fading into the background, Izuku’s fingers pressed the button of the television, visible tremors running through his entire body.

The first new channel boomed-

Finally confirmed: Pro Hero Deku and Uravity are dating!

The second one said -

Hero Deku and Uravity are in a relationship!

The next one displayed -

Uravity and Deku’s romantic relationship confirmed last night.

Along with a photo of them dancing together, close, very close.

Damn the paparazzi!

He wanted to scream.

…

“Stop sulking.”

Shouto commanded. His voice somewhere in between exasperation and amusement. His arms were folded behind his head and his heterochromatic eyes focused on the screen in front of him.

“I’m not sulking!”

Izuku emphasized though the waver in his voice was visible. His back was hunched and the sad frown on his face was betraying his (obviously wrong) claim.

Shouto huffed and shook his head in response to Izuku’s stubbornness. It was late in the evening, office decidedly empty save for the few workers who had the night shift.

“She’s going to hate me!” Izuku groaned into his hands, wanting nothing more than to tear his own hair out. The dread of Ochako actually hating him made him burn on the insides. They have survived the worst of villains and disasters together. He cannot even bring himself to imagine being the one stupid enough to break their friendship up.  

“What makes you think so?” Todoroki questioned, his expression displaying something akin to light frustration.

“And what makes you think she won’t?”

Izuku literally felt his emotional turmoil converting into physical pain. His head was aching badly. The light throbbing being the continuous reminder of what he had done.

“Because she’s Uraraka?”

“…fair point.”

Todoroki insinuating that Ochako was simply incapable of hating people was the truth, undeniable, unchanging truth. She might get angry, she might even lash out, but she never hides and breeds ill intentions or feelings for an undeserving person. In fact, that’s the charm of her personality which he has always admired. Though, admitting that fact scared him even more.

Shouto let out a long sigh, knowing the state he was in, there were no words capable of bringing him out of his misery. He swirled the pen trapped between his fingers in circles, round and round. Biting his lower lip very subtly, he exhaled, finally accepting that there was no other way around.

“Talk to her.”

It took a span of few seconds for Izuku to finally register and react.

“Ehhh?! You can’t be serious?!”

He yelled out, then clamped a hand over his mouth, a pink hue dusting his cheeks as he realised that he was louder than necessary.

“Do I look like I am joking?”

Shouto questioned, his brows arched and his face displaying it’s resident deadpan expression.

"Todoroki-kun. You make jokes with that face. Jokes." Izuku tilted his head to the right, his mop of bushy green hair falling to the side.

“Never mind.” Shouto rolled his eyes “-but I’m completely serious regarding this.”

Shouto would have almost regretted his words at the look in Izuku’s eyes - fear and apprehension and even a hint of hopelessness. But he did not. Now, he knew it better than ever that Ochako was the only solution to this problem. Because if the future symbol of peace was looking so small and vulnerable was anything to go by, then he understood that the boy in front of him held Ochako closer than the scenes depicted. And if the shine in his bright eyes growing by a million times at the sight of her smile was any proof, then she was the only one who could quench his doubts and guilt.

“Come on, Midoriya,” Shouto said, his voice was gentle, calming. “-don’t  you think that if you’re the one who dragged her into this mess, then you should also be the one to get her out of this and resolve the matter?”

Well, well. If guilt tripping him was a way to get him to talk to Ochako without protest then he was fine with it.

Shouto knew how to play his cards well.

Especially in respect to two people.

Midoriya and Yaoyorozu.

Both of them were unquestionably important parts of his life and he would always want them to be happy.

And in Izuku’s case - it was pushing him towards Ochako. They have both always shared a strong unlabelled bond. Something soft, precious, funnily obvious and admirable.

But with him and Yaoyorozu, it was different. Subtle, firm and inspirational.

If the bond between Ochako and Izuku was as clear as the day then the bond between him and Momo was as dark as the night. At least for him.

It was complicated.

But Shouto felt his lips curl into an easy smile when Izuku gave a shy, unsure nod.

…

“You ready?”

Izuku nodded, his green eyes expressing a familiar determination and Shouto did his best to ignore the obvious signs of nervousness in his form with taut shoulders making it visible, so subtle that any other person could have easily missed. But he was not any other person. He’s known him for a while now. After all, they did went  through hell and back together.

“Hey, Todoroki-kun? Are you sure you want to go on the patrol all by yourself? Maybe we can call someone to accompany you.”

It was almost frightening about how much concern this guy had for everyone. But Shouto understands. Izuku’s natural altruism was a part of his personality, his charm, which led people to adore him. But he needed to develop a sense of self-preservation as well, Shouto thought, but then convinced himself that it’s a topic for the talk another time.

“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” He told, his eyes feigning disinterest.

“Alright! I promise I’ll be back as soon as I can! I’ll call you.” He exclaimed, waving.

“Okay, Take your time.” Shouto nodded and watched Izuku squaring up his shoulders and marching inside the apartment complex.

It is the dead of night and the stars are shining bright and Shouto’s lips curve into a small knowing smile.

They’ll be fine.

Chapter Text

There were many things that Ochako Uraraka was proud of. She was immensely proud of her parents - for having lived a major part of their life in poverty and yet never failing to smile and do their best for her sake. She was proud of her brave friends for going through hell and back together and yet blossoming into the best of the Heroes out there. And she was proud of herself for struggling through poverty and yet making her dreams come true.

To transform into Uravity - the gravity hero.

Though, what she was not proud of - was her behaviour today.

She had a morning shift after a night of hard partying. She had only been dropped home by Deku-kun around two-thirty in night and had to wake up at six in morning because her shift started at seven. She had groggily stumbled into her office, only to face the gazes of a few workers who were already there, just like her, thanks to the morning shift. They had given her curious stares but Ochako thought nothing of it.

Big mistake.

As more and more people begin to file in, the number of curious looks increase, which slowly turn is hushed whispers.

What is wrong with people today?

She would ask herself every time she realised that the object of their talks was her. It is only around eight-thirty in the morning when Ichika banged in through the door like a bull.

“Omg! Girl, I totally knew it! You were playing us all along!”

Ochako looked nonplussed at her sudden and loud arrival. Given that Ichika Kataoka was loud person anyway, quite similar to Mina when she thought about it, but louder even by her standards.

“Um...what was I playing to you guys all along?”

Ichika grinnef as if she's uncovered a earth-shattering mystery and replied, “That you and Deku were in a relationship!”

Ochako immediately felt all the colour draining away from her face as vestiges of previous night slowly flicker back to life.

“W-What?! Why? No! There's nothing between me and Deku!” she cried out.

“Uraraka-chan, you can completely drop the 'he's my friend’ act now! Please! It's all over the news, you know?” Ichika said, pulling out a newspaper and handing it to her, and there, right in front of her was a clear picture of her and Deku, dancing together, gazing into each other's eyes. The headline told in bold letters: Heroes Uravity and Deku in a relationship.

Ochako frantically slammed the paper onto her desk and made a poor attempt to hide her scarlet face, feeling herself float up to the ceiling in embarrassment.

“Uraraka-Chan…?” her friend's voice barely reached her brain.

No, no, no! It can't be happening!

…

She spent the entire day welling up in self-pity. Never approaching crowds or going to cafeteria, deliberately shortening the conversations, making cringeworthy excuses to escape out the situations involving others and well, avoiding people in general.

She had even received three calls from her former classmates - Mina, as expected, Tsuyu-chan and even Iida-kun! How she wished for ground to swallow her up whole. She was sure that they all wanted to inquire her about her relationship status with Deku. So, she never dared to pick up their calls. She simply didn't have enough courage.

This was really getting serious, she understood that when she was browsing net on her phone only to have several weird articles about them pop up here and there.

As hours passed by, she felt herself getting progressively terrified of what this particular event could mean for her and Deku's friendship. He had done what any decent person would do to help their friend in need. But she was convinced that he too would have never expected for things to turn out this way.

She didn't know how to handle this type of gossip in Media. She didn't know how to face him after this fiasco. She didn't know what to answer her friends about it.

In short, she was screwed .

...

Oh yes, of the few things she was proud of, her precious apartment definitely came on the list. It was a studio apartment, with one extra room on the side, which was a good addition cause she would occasionally have visitors drop by, mostly her parents.

She had never expected to buy an apartment for herself but her parents had suggested her that buying an apartment would be cheaper than paying for rent in long run. So after a lot of struggle, some tiny financial help from her parents and all the savings she had done during her school years and tremendous help from Iida-kun who had a relative working in real estate business, she was finally…able to buy this small apartment in a proper neighborhood. Iida-kun and Deku-kun had both helped her move in, in fact taking a day off their busy schedules just to help her. And bless Todoroki-kun for coming to check upon them with food, both at lunch and dinner times.

She had arranged a tiny house warming party to thank them for their assistance and a selfish means to have a get together to see their frighteningly busy classmates after so long. Even Bakugou had seemed impressed by her apartment, which she thought was a great feat.

Of all the things her friends bring for her as gifts, she never had expected a real telescope. A joint gift from Iida-kun and Deku-kun. She almost had sobbed and brought them into a group hug only to lament over the fact that they were both, quite taller than her now much to her chagrin. Even Deku-kun! They had laughed and patted her in a sympathetic gesture.

She had so many nice memories related to the house that it undoubtedly became her safe haven. So, among several other reasons, it felt much relieving to return home after a long hectic day.

Entering the house, she threw her shoes and bag to a corner, and plopped down face first into the couch, groaning loudly.

She wondered if he had received the news of this fiasco but then chided herself because of course he would have. Because nobody stayed updated on the hero news like he did. He was a popular hero and the thought of him being swarmed around by media with countless questions, and facing prying looks of others made her squirm in displeasure. And she knew how he had never been good with receiving excessive attention.

Burying her face into the couch further she tried to convince herself that staying like this was not going to solve any of her problems. The food will not cook itself and the files will not be completed. So, with a heavy and frazzled mind she pushed herself off her comfort and went about doing the left chores the house.

It was only after she had stuffed herself with the leftovers that she sat on the small  table to complete her reports. Time passed and the villains she had fought and the civilians she had saved occupied her mind. Signing the final document off, she yawned and stretched her arms up above her head in a cat like grace when the doorbell suddenly rang making her jump. One look at the table clock convinced her that it is too late to receive any visitors now. Curious, she picked up her haphazardly thrown shawl and slipped her feet into her fuzzy slippers, trudging to the main door carefully.

The one her doorstep is the last person she was expecting to see tonight.

…

Bumbling in his own nervousness Izuku never realised how soon he had reached her apartment’s door. Standing there at the prospect of talking to her was so chilling that he had half a mind to turn back and not return. After few moments of internal debate, he took a deep breath and a leap of faith and punched her doorbell button.   

There is some shuffling inside and izuku felt his heart slamming in his rib cage as he desperately controlled the urge to kick on one for all and race away. The door swung open and there she was, wrapped up in a thin shawl with disheveled hair and dressed in a pair of pink kitty pyjamas looking as pretty as she did the previous night. It made his mouth go dry.

“Deku-kun…?” His name tumbled out of her mouth in a confused whisper.

“H-hey!” He stuttered, gulping audibly as she stared at him for a few seconds before jumping away to let him in, apologizing frantically and cursing herself for forgetting her manners.

He entered her house, eyes roving over the familiar place and his eyes zeroed on the pile of files on her desk.

“You were working?”

“Yeah.”

She replied when her eyes followed his gaze. Then she gestured him to sit and he occupied the couch and she placed herself on the bean bag, right across him.

“I hope I didn't disturb you.” He apologized, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Oh no you didn't! I just finished these!” She gave him a smile to wave off his concern. But then her eyes fell on to his attire.

“Never mind me. Why are you here? It's your shift, isn't it?” she asked, pulling out this piece of information somewhere from the back of her head.

And instantly, he looked flustered, eyes darting away from her and gloved fingers fidgeting.

“Err...you see, ah, um, h-how was your day?”

When the implications of his question settle in, she blushed furiously and looked away from him and he mirrored her actions as well. A moment of awkward silence floated in between before the two of them break it in unison.

“I'm sorry for all of that!”

“I'm sorry that all that stuff happened!”

They abruptly whip their heads in each other's directions, eyes wide before Ochako bursted out in a fit of laughter. Izuku soon followed her. The tension melted away to nothing in midst of their giggling and by the time they calm down, genuine smiles are present, gracing their features.

“So? What are we going to do about this?” Ochako whispered, thumbing the hem of her pyjamas.

“I-I don't know. Because, denying it is not an option because...I already stupidly did 'admit’ it publicly.” He said, looking down.

“And I did accept it! Deku-kun, please stop thinking that it's your fault! Cause it's not.”

He looked up at her, surprised and she gave him a soft grin.

“Let's find a solution to this together, okay?” She offered.

“Yes! Let's do it!” He exclaimed, now actually smiling.

“So, what are our options?” She asked, slightly leaning in.

“From what I can see, making a public statement about how it was all a misunderstanding is not going to pacify media. I've studied a few previous cases and all it has done is made the media stalk the celebrities.” He told her.

“I…don't want that.” She made a face.

“Yeah, me too.” He nodded in agreement.

“Other...option is avoiding total contact with each other. It might...push down the rumours for a while.”

Ochako immediately countered it.

“Our line of work doesn't allow that. Especially when we're in the same city and around vicinity. Our agencies do conduct joint training sessions and villain operations once in a while. And besides...I cannot do that. I can't...stop worrying about you when you do something dangerous. Er...you get it, right? What I mean to say?”

She mumbled the last part and raked her hand through her messy hair, nervously. When her eyes travelled up to his, she is startled because he is staring right at her with a fond smile.

“Yeah, I get you. I don't think I'll be able to stop cheering for you when you kick down some mighty villains. That option...is not for us.”

Ochako feels her heart flutter at his admission. Even though, she has never told him how much she adores it when he gushes about how awesome her moves were and how determined she looked saving people, but the sentiment is there.  He makes her feel like a hero more often than anyone else and that feeling of internal satisfaction is undoubtedly one of those important sensations that keep her going.

“Then is there any other way?” She questioned and grew intensely curious when she observed a red tiny spreading upon his freckles.

“A-ah, well, then there is o-one option left.”

He stuttered.

“I'm listening, Deku-kun. Speak up!” She gently prodded him.

“P-pretend. Pretend relationship.”

And that is the moment where Ochako felt her brain crashing down.

What?

Did I hear him right? 

He didn't just say 'pretend relationship’ right?

Right?

Her brain screamed in a gibberish mess internally and outwardly, she was as stiff as a mountain.

It can't be happening.

After years of working on suppressing her feelings for this green haired Hero, her best friend, this certainly felt like a awful joke. It had taken her countless of sleepless nights, thousands of internal debates with herself to function like a decent human being and a proper friend to him. She could feel all of that crumbling away, right in front of her eyes.

But then her gaze settled on him, he was looking elsewhere, his eyes hidden due to the fall of his bushy bangs and his face still scarlet red. And it hit her then - he has never been good at dealing with females, it had taken him years to get as cosy as he was with her. That is why he was as uncomfortable about this as she was. Albeit for different reasons, but it still didn't undermine his troubles. Deciding to hear him out, she took a deep breath.  

“Um-” she gestured vaguely “-how is this exactly gonna work?”

He stole a shy glance at her direction before mumbling.

“A-at first, we'll n-need to admit that we're dating and then we make a few public appearances together which is not difficult because we do meet each other very often - just with disguises, we'll have to ditch them for sometime, and after a few months of doing so, we can break-up. Yes, it is going to be monumental task but I think we can do that. Of course if you agree that is.”

Ochako silently contemplated these options. Logically, the easiest way out of this was mess was the fake-dating one. Because, the media will get bored of their relationship in a while finding new stories to stew. All they have to do is act in front of the cameras for while. That's it! And then they are clean.  

Obviously, this was not as easy as it looked, especially with her heart on line. But she understood that it was better option than all the others Izuku had presented. She nodded to herself.

“I think...well, it is a nice idea.”

Izuku immediately perked up. “You think so?” 

“Yup.” She nodded.

He let out a huge sigh of relief and Ochako stared at him curiously. He blushed.

“Ah, it's just that I found it the most realistic approach to solve our problem. I'm glad you're on board with me!”

She grinned even though her heart was racing. It was funny, how her mind was boggled with the idea of him wanting to be in a relationship with her. 'Fake one', yes, she knew that, but it still made her giddy. She could even hear the deafening sirens blaring in her head. A warning to contain herself before things go out of control. But she knew she was doomed the moment he gave her that bright, brilliant smile at her approval on his suggestion.

“How do w-we start?” She questioned, losing her composure to the red spreading across her cheeks.

“It's easy! I mean, we will not actively confirm our relationship. But if media seeks out out, um, w-we, err-” he looked over to the other side.

“Won't deny them?” she finished for him.

A smile bloomed on his lips.

“Yeah!” he blurted out.

“Alright! And what more?” she asked, giggling. His enthusiasm was definitely contagious.

“I don't know Uraraka-san. You've always been much better than me with handling people.” He pointed at her.

“No way!” She denied.

“Yes way!” He emphasized.

Their pointless arguing went for a few more minutes when Izuku stood up from his seat.

“I'll leave now. I loaded Todoroki-kun with today's patrol. I should better join him now.” He said, typing away a message on his cell before stalking towards the door.

Ochako nodded in understanding before she immediately yelled out a 'wait’. Izuku halted and watched her race back to her small kitchen and rummage through the contents of her fridge. She returned back in a few seconds, tossing two cans in his direction. He instantly caught them mid-air.

“It's a night shift, isn't it? You'll both need it.” She claimed.

Izuku glanced at the two cans of tea before admiring the thoughtful gesture from her. It were little things like these that made her so incredible. He admired her even more and more with each passing day. Each new moment.

“Todoroki-kun is going to love it.” He smiled.

“Of course, greet him for me, will you?” She returned it unabashedly making Izuku blush again.

“Definitely.” He sent a curt nod in her direction before slipping on his heavy shoes and walking out of the door. Ochako stood on the threshold, seeing him off before he suddenly whirled around, surprising her before speaking coyly.

“See you soon?”

“Yup, you will. Especially after this arrangement, I guess.”

She laughed and he shook his head at her fondly and then took a serious tone.

“Close the door carefully and don't welcome strangers in night.”

Ochako looked at him unimpressed.

“Don't ‘Iida-kun’ me, Deku-kun!” She wagged her finger at him and he chuckled, raising his arms in mock surrender.

“Alright, I know! You can beat them. Yup! Okay, see you soon. Good night!”

Ochako waved at him, grinning till he was out of sight.

…

When the whole gravity of the situation sunk in, of what he had planned with her, of what they were supposed to be in front of cameras, Izuku almost hyperventilated. Standing in front of her complex, the conversation he just had with her repeated countless times in his mind, over and over.

Her smile, her nervousness, her laugh and her acceptance. It was all making him crazy.

When he saw a familiar car pulled up near him, and a head of symmetric white and red popped up in his vision.

“How did it go?” Shouto asked.

“I'm so dead!” Izuku sobbed.  

Chapter Text

Ochako fiddled with the straw of her cola, her deep brown eyes flitting here and there. Bored. That was literally her mental state right now. She observed the people around her. There was an elderly couple occupying one of the corners. And a mother and child pair present near the display. Her lips quirked up as she noticed how concentrated the child looked, trying to select one of the many pastry delicacies. Another corner had a young boy with frazzled hair and glasses, pouring over multiple papers that littered his desk and a cup of coffee resting beside him.

Then her eyes moved to the counter. There were four Baristas at the front and probably at least a few cooks in the kitchen. All of them serving others with a bright smile and it suddenly hit Ochako - these people were not that different from her or heroes. Yes, they didn't participate in life threatening battles or rescuing citizens, but at the end of the day or the beginning, these people would smile and make others happy in their own charming ways. Uplifting spirits and saving people in a much more invisible way. She watched, mesmerized, the ways Baristas mixed up the drinks, gliding and twirling and serving everyone who came up to them.

This cafe was small, painted in shades of brown and cream, but fairly priced and provided tasty food with a cosy atmosphere. And the staff here was definitely nice and respectful. She and Deku, and sometimes Iida and Todoroki, have come to this place often, but with disguises. So she's not exactly surprised that the staff here hasn't recognised her yet. In fact, nobody has. The perks of being a slightly less popular Hero.

Don't get her wrong. She has her own fanbase. The people she's rescued. Her fans. They have created a few fan pages for her, sharing the experiences of their encounters with her. She is gratified whenever they talk about how she saved them and how relieved they felt when she smiled telling them that it was going to be alright. Ochako wasn't hungry for praise and popularity, but little things like this validated her existence as Uravity.

But lately, her fan pages have been on fire...for an entirely different reason.

Her relationship with Deku.

There were speculations going on about the time since they have been in relationship. Old pictures she'd never knew existed were whipped up from nowhere, going viral on the internet. And it was not only the social media, she was receiving letters and an unhealthy amount of attention by her co-workers and paparazzi. Oh my god, how do people keep up with this kind of attention. And yeah, even her former classmates. Yes, she loves them a lot but this past last week was a...nightmare. With almost everyone ringing her up every now and then exclaiming how happy they are for her and Deku. And obviously Mina, who definitely had taken the role of terrorizing Ochako with her weird and prying questions.

The last time they talked...the question was how was…

"Tell me Ochako-chan, which base you're on at with him now?"

Even remembering that conversation enough was making Ochako a mess of red and hot cheeks. Why did Mina have to ask such overwhelmingly embarrassing things? And in reality, she wasn't actually even dating Deku anyway.

But she doesn't know that.  

Her logical brain pointed it out and Ochako had to agree with it with some reluctance.

Suddenly the familiar ringtone of her phone blared to life and Ochako immediately fished out the small device from the pocket of her shorts. She's almost sure that it's a call from her supposed 'date' explaining and apologizing frantically that he's stuck somewhere in some emergency and cannot make it. She didn't mind it though, saving people would always come first, for both her and him. But imagine her surprise when the name 'Tsuyu-chan' popped up on her screen.

Her fingers glided over the 'call accept' icon and she placed the device on her ear.

"Hello?" Tsuyu's gentle croaky voice reached and she involuntarily smiled.

"Hi Tsuyu-chan!" She greeted her friend jovially.

"Ochako-chan. I'm sorry to disturb you."

"Aaah, no it's completely alright! I'm glad you called!" Ochako immediately waved off the apology, before asking, "-Is something the matter?"

Tsuyu instantly answered. "Yeah. Actually, do you remember? You fought a guy who had a water based quirk. Last... November, I think? What exactly was his quirk?"

"Oh that guy?" Ochako's voice immediately went down by a few octaves. "He called himself Hydra. And his quirk was absorbing water vapour from the surroundings. Note. No liquid water. It was only water vapour that he could use. So naturally he was strongest near Sea."

"Ah, I get it now." Tsuyu said and Ochako pictured her nodding to herself.

"Why? Did he escape or something?" Ochako asked in a hushed tone.

"I don't think so. The quirk you described is slightly different than my target's. But thank you Ochako-chan, for your help."

"No problem Tsuyu-chan! Anytime!"

There was some static on the other side and Ochako almost believed that Tsuyu was almost clicking the end call button before she spoke again, this time a tentativeness audible in her voice.

"Um...I know I shouldn't be asking this... especially not now...but how is your date going?"

And Ochako felt a small wry smile twist on her lips.

"He... isn't here yet."

"What?" Surprise was evident in her voice, though she continued slowly,"That's not like Midoriya-chan at all."

"I know, he probably got swept up in something."

Ochako forked some of the fries on her plate, dipping them in the sauce and stuffing them into her mouth, making a face because they were oily and cold.

"Did you try calling him?"

"Nope."

"How...long are you planning on staying there?"

"Not sure. I think, he'll come around though."

The conversation went around for a few more minutes before the line clicked off. She leaned against the back of her chair thinking about her recent conversation with her best friend. She might not have said it but...she definitely appreciated Tsuyu's concern. Good thing was that Tsuyu understood. Always. There were things she wouldn't say but Tsuyu could always look past her hesitance. And it honestly warmed Ochako to the deep.

The truth was Iida, Todoroki and Tsuyu were the only people who were aware of her and Deku's 'dating' to the roots . She had personally called Tsuyu and explained the situation after her and Deku's conversation two weeks ago. Todoroki had known it since that day itself and tackled it with nonchalance on his part and Izuku had invited Iida to his apartment a day later along with Ochako to clear the situation to their friend once and for all.

Well, to this day Ochako is bugged by the fact that as close as she is to Iida, she still hasn't been able to figure out why he had looked... disappointed that day. Sure, they made a mistake and media flew off the handle cause of it but it wasn't as if they had intentions to make an unnecessary racket or anything. Deku had told her that Iida was angry when he had assumed that they were dating without informing him but even after the confession of their predicament Iida did look...defeated. She was not sure why. Even though she had asked him privately, he simply smiled, shook his head and replied with a 'nothing'.

As she took a sip of her cola and absent-mindedly noted that all her drink tasted a little less stingy now.

Most likely all the bubbles of the carbonated drink escaped.

…

It is probably similar to sixth sense or something that she knew he's here. Her gaze flicked up as a blur of green appeared in front of the glass door and she watched him peek through it, green eyes roving over the area.

She immediately raised her hand to attract his attention and of course, she had it instantly. He looked relieved when he entered the cafe and approached her in a few quick strides, flashing her an apologetic smile.

"I'm so sorry, Uraraka-san, really! I... wasn't supposed to be this late. But yeah, no excuses-"

Her grip on his arm stilled him from rambling on his heartfelt apologies further as he gave her a curious glance.

"Deku-kun, breathe."

She commanded, but with a welcoming smile on her face. He blinked and then grinned, sliding down on the chair in front of her. He rubbed a hand over his sweaty face, sinking deeper into the comfort.

"Yeah, I'm sorry." He said, earnestly regretting for having made her wait for so long. "I left home on time but on the way I came across a bank robbery and hostage situation. And well, I-I couldn't-"

"Deku-kun, relax! I'm not mad or anything. Promise!" She assured him again.

"Really?" He asked, a little bewildered at her forgiveness for keeping her here alone for more than an hour.

"Yup? Do you really think I'd force you choose me over saving those in need? Come on Deku-kun! Don't think that low of me!" He whisper-yelled at him.

"Ehhhhh? I didn't m-mean that-"

"Was the fight serious?" her question came out of nowhere, throwing him off the mark. He tilted his head at her sombre tone.

"Well...I was careless. Though, how did you know?" he asked curiously.

Ochako gave him a sad smile as she leaned in and fingered the bloody inflamed scratch on his cheek gingerly, just below his freckles. And it is only then that he becomes aware of the light throbbing on his cheek.

"You know, it scares me sometimes, that you've been injured to such extents before that you and your body have become simply insensitive to small injuries like these." She whispered, but he could not see her face as she rummaged through the contents of her purse. Her expressive eyes hidden by her long brown bangs. Izuku had an incessant urge to brush them away to make her look at him but he suppressed the desire.

"Uraraka-san, I-"

She surprised him when she pulled out a small and light green strip from her bag with a triumphant smile. A band-aid. She got a band-aid for him. She beckoned him closer and he followed her instructions, sliding his chair near hers and settling beside her comfortably.

"Don't worry! This one has a disinfectant coating on it already."

He watched her side eyed as she peeled the paper of it. Sitting there, he wondered how she had the capability of overwhelming him every single time by her genuinely bright smile and a caring attitude that only Iida could match. Funny thing, given how different their attitudes were at first glance. She's always been there for him. Everytime he was weak. Everytime he needed someone. Everything when he was in danger. Be it falling from the sky or quirk malfunctioning.

He flinched lightly as she plastered the band-aid on his cheek carefully.

"Don't be fake, Deku-kun. I know it's nothing." Her smirk was so cutely teasing that Izuku immediately found himself returning it.

"No fair, Urara-"

Their conversation is once again interrupted by a growl loud enough to draw their attention.  Ochako pulled her palm over her lips to hold back giggles and Izuku flushed a brilliant shade of red.

"Looks like someone's hungry!" She commented, handing him the small Menu card. He averted his eyes, shyly accepting it from her.

"Sorry...I-I was starving…"

Ochako mentally squealed at his adorableness, still biting her lip to contain her smile.

"Of course you'd be! It's way past lunch time, you know?" she replied.

And he immediately dropped into another bout of self-loathing for making her wait for that long. She sweatdropped, taking a note to not mention his tardiness today in any way. That's when he raised his head eyeing the empty can and plate at their table with interest.

"Well, what were you having?"

"Just a plate of fries and cola!" she supplied.

"What?! That's extremely unhealthy!" he fretted.

"Heh! Come on! I'm allowed to eat junk food once in a while!" She protested, trying to intimidate him but failing miserably if his reaction was anything to go by.

"That's like junkiest of the junk you just had!" He accused her, emphasizing his point again, not backing down at all.

She pouted at him in annoyance and Izuku felt something warm and bubbly build up in his throat. Dammit!

Those eyes should be made illegal!

He knew that not even Todoroki can stand against them then who is he to dare? He harrumphed jokingly before looking over the menu again.

"I'll think I'll order a full meal. I'm that hungry, I guess." He said.

"Yeah." She nodded, fingering the rim of the glass wondering why things didn't seem different at all. Then a part of her chastised herself for thinking such things.

This is fake. It might be a date to the world but it is simply a friendly outing to the two of you .  

A pang of familiar wistfulness churned her heart and it made Ochako angry at herself. How much more did she want from him? He was already looking after her. But the ugly truth was this - humans are greedy. They always aspire more than what they deserve and obviously, it was the source of pain and problems for them. And well, guess what?

I'm a human too.

"Uraraka-san? What do you want?" His gentle, all too familiar voice tugged at her conscience and she blinked up at him. He's giving her that genuine smile that never fails to make her heart race. She looked at her menu again and vaguely gestured to an item.

"This one…?"

"Alright!"

"Wait! Deku-kun! You don't have to pay for me!" She blurted out, almost standing up but he simply laughed.

"This isn't a friendly outing, Uraraka-san. It's a date ." He whispered, and Ochako wondered for a second there if had actually put emphasis on 'date'. But of course, he's oblivious Deku-kun.

"And I invited you, didn't I? That's why I should be the one to pay." He tilted his head towards the counter making her openly annoyed at his words. It was as if he was compensating her for having to spend time with him. She wanted him to know that she was enjoying this 'date' with him as much as he was, if not more. And anyways, to be honest, she wasn't that innocent regarding that matter either. She liked him. Yes, still did. So, she narrowed her eyes at him trying to put forth her point.

"Eh! No, it shouldn't be like-"

"Uraraka-san, I am not doing it in respect to some code of chivalry or as something that I should do." He interrupted her gently, but his eyes were sparkling, "-I'm doing it because I want to."

His words shut her up. A wild flush rode up her cheeks and she looked on, stunned that he is already walking to the counter and placing their orders. She observed him carefully. He was dressed up in baggy black cargo pants, a white undershirt and a green hoodie jacket. And Ochako felt laughter bubble up her throat, realising if not for his growth spurt then he'd still look similar to how he looked back then in high school. He still hasn't changed much, has he? Then her eyes fall on to herself. She's dressed in shorts, a white tank top and a yellow cardigan. Both of them... haven't put any effort in their appearances. They're the same as they normally are. And this fact somehow comforted and disappointed her all the same. And in no time, he's back to their table and they talk about this and that.

"I really wanted Todoroki-kun to come! I haven't seen him...since ages !" she whined.

"Ah, yeah, I did think that he'd be at Iida's, at least today. Since, you know, he already missed the previous two gatherings." Izuku nodded, "although, it would get probably harder for us to catch up to him now. He has been selected for an undercover mission. He has been preparing for it lately."

"Yeah. I know. No offense, I don't doubt Todoroki-kun's strength but, don't you think that he looks... way too eccentric for an... undercover mission?"

Izuku snorted, "I...won't deny that. But you see, there's nothing he or we can do about it."

"Oh, by the way, I heard Momo-chan was going to be his partner. Kyoka-chan told me the last time we talked."  

"Well, that's certainly better. Todoroki-kun always been comfortable around Yaoyorozu-san. And they make a fine team."

When there lunch arrived, Ochako immediately bounded up to the counter before Izuku could even make a move. She grinned as she brought the plates to them and laughed again when Izuku's stomach growled at the sight of their appetizing food. The times always flies by faster than you can perceive especially when you're with someone you love being with. It was so incredibly true here for her at the moment that she didn't even realise that another hour had passed by.

They were done with their eating when Izuku asked, "Well, Uraraka-san? Wanna grab some dessert?" His head tilting slightly towards a display of puddings.

"Errr...no? I already had some stuff before you were here and I'm stuffed to the neck." Ochako said.

"No? Do you mind if I get one for myself?" Izuku stood up from his seat.

"Not at all. Go ahead!" She waved at him and he stepped out of the table and Ochako proceeded to gather their stuff that sprawled all over. It was for a second that she saw the entire scenario unfolding in front of her eyes.

As Izuku was passing by, a child of barely around four or five ran past him and slipped on the shiny smooth floor, falling face first onto one of the tables. Izuku's lightning fast reflexes saved the child from busting open his lip against the edge of it. He was crouched down, his arm securely around the boy's torso, holding him up.

"You okay? Did you get hurt?" Izuku asked delicately, reminding Ochako of the countless times when she'd seen him saving people. The child nodded mutely, probably still shaken up. Izuku ruffled his hair with a gentle smile and was about to turn to leave when the child latched onto his pants.

"Huh?"  

The boy looked down embarrassed, then raised his eyes up, shyly.

"Are you...are you Deku?"

It was at that moment that the entire cafe lapsed into pin drop silence. Everyone stared at Deku with wide eyes and she could see that they were trying to rack their brains to determine if this was the fabled Hero or not. It is when she heard a statement from some corner of the cafe is when she realised that their doom has come.

"Wait, if he's Deku, then the person with him...is... Uravity?!"

Both Izuku and her shared an alarmed glance when the child clutched Deku's pants again. They had no idea when he had pulled out a notebook and a pencil from his knapsack.

"Mr. Deku? Can you please give me your autograph?"

Deku chuckled, bending down at the boy's level and signing his name in the familiar messy scrawl she had seen him doing all of their highschool and hero life. It was enough of a confirmation for the crowd's murmuring to rise to the point where everything seemed inaudible. And before they knew it, they were already surrounded by their fans in the cafe. Even some of the staff from the kitchen had raced out to meet them. Ochako greeted all of them with a cheerful and polite smile watching Izuku do the same from the corner of her eyes. Although, as more and more people swarmed around them asking personal questions and stuff that she found to be uncomfortable to share publicly. And obviously, Deku was going through the same thing. And from what she could understand, the commotion inside the cafe was definitely attracting a lot of attention from the people outside. Understanding that if they have to get out then it is now or never.

So, she raised her arm up above in the air and swished it downward in a swift arc to draw attention to her.

"My sincere thanks to everyone here for showering us with such appreciation...but well, we have something to attend so, please excuse us?"

She didn't wait for the crowd to reply. Quickly moving around the haphazardly placed chairs and tables, she grabbed Izuku's arm and dragged him away to the entrance. The crowd only came to its senses when they were already out of the door. They were only around 40 metres far when the cafe door opened and the throng of people stumbled out.

"Deku! Uravity! Wait, we need photographs with you both!"

"We want your autographs!"

"Please wait!"

The frantic shouts from the crowd caused a lot of bystanders turn back at stare at them. And before they could blink, the crowd following them increased threefold. Izuku and Ochako had already been walking with quickened steps but now they were jogging to escape out. But from the looks of it...it wasn't working either. One glance at the back sent Izuku jumping.

"Uraraka-san?"

"Yeah?"

"I think we should run ."

"Yeah. I think so too."

They both gave each other a synchronised nod of agreement before full on sprinting. They dashed through the packed streets like criminals, running and jumping over the stalls and railings on the side walks and twisting through the curves. Running through the path, in front of an ice-cream shop, Ochako almost stumbled trying to prevent herself from crashing into two small kids when a firm grip of her waist pulled her to the side. The arm on her waist vanished and instead her hand was grasped by a familiar, calloused one. Despite running on at full speed, Ochako's body still decided to react to his touch by forcing her cheeks to get red. She bit her lip, trying to distract herself and realising that the crowd following them was even more wild. Aware of the fact that the region they were about to enter was one of the busiest areas of the city, Ochako feared that it would be impossible to escape if they get caught there. Even if they did try to mingle into people...the fans after them might recognise their clothes. Izuku seemed to be sharing the same thoughts as hers cause he had slowed down marginally and his head was swivelling left and right, probably to find another route to escape. She noticed a dark alleyway and immediately jerked Izuku towards it. They were both panting harshly but Ochako's felt her knees almost giving out when the saw that the alleyway was sealed.

"Shit."

Startled at hearing her curse his gaze followed her line of sight and his eyes widened.

"Shit indeed."

"What do we do now?!" Ochako panicked, her heart thudding in her ears as the roaring sound of the massive mob closing in.

"Do you think…" he said, his tone in a way as if wanting her to consider a point, "-that Iida-kun would mind if we dropped on his home...an hour earlier than scheduled?"

"Um...no?" she blinked at him.

"Alright! Then it's settled!" he claimed, stepping closer to her. "Hold on tight, kay?"

It was the only warning given to her before she was swept off her feet, Izuku's one arm around her back and another beneath the crook of her knees.

"W-W-what?!!" She screamed, her entire face burning in a shade of fierce scarlet. The hair on the back of her neck stood up as the static of his power flickered. It was seriously a raw power emanating from him that she watched him dumbfounded. He had a look of concentration that she had come to adore and she felt him bend his knees as if willing the strength derived from his quirk to reach his feet. She let out another shriek of surprise as they soared to the sky in a speed she didn't think was possible to achieve in the air. She might have gotten used to floating above ground this was an entirely different thing! Their upwards trajectory came to an end and the downwards began. Ochako looked at him frightfully as his eyes flicked down to hers for a moment and she was immediately graced with a reassuring smile. Relaxing into him slowly, she wrapped her arms around his shoulder and buried her face into the crook of his neck. His arms around her tightend once again as she felt them fall. It's a repetitive cycle - they jump, they dive. They zoomed over the buildings and Ochako was honestly petrified with the experience. The rapid air whipped her hair around wildly and after a while, Izuku whispered in her ear softly.

"We're here."

They began a rapid descent and immediately he skidded to a halt, breathing deeply. Ochako instantly jumped out of his arms, feeling all tingly and hot.

"You okay?" She asked, her eyes displaying concern. He nodded and Ochako smiled, looking around to make sure that they were actually standing on the roof of Iida's house. The presence of blue, white and silver colours made Ochako grin. Obviously, Iida's home!

"Come on, Deku-kun!" She chirped, pushing the door on the rooftop that led to the stairs in the main house. Izuku accompanied her but as soon as they forced it open, they came face to face with Iida's maid.

"O-oh! Hello Maki-san...we were... just...err-" Ochako felt embarrassed. Of course, how intruding it was appearing to be for them to come down from somebody's rooftop, rather than the main gate like normal civilised beings do.

"Iida-sama is in the living room." the maid said, smiling shyly.

"Uh, thank you so much!" Ochako gave her a bright smile before bounding down the stairs before Izuku followed, giving a smile and nod of acknowledgement as a greeting to the maid.

They were soon in front of Iida's living room. Ochako rapped her knuckles lightly on the door before announcing, "Iida-kun, sorry, we're here too soon! Coming in!"

She swung open the door and almost walked into a solid wall of muscle. Iida towered over them on the gate, arms crossed and eyes narrowed. Ochako gulped. He looked mad. Real mad.  

"What-" he hissed, "-do the two of you think you're doing ?"

"Er...visiting you?" Izuku offered lamely from somewhere behind her.

Nothing about his glare lessened as he slid to a side, revealing a live television screen behind him which was booming with a news channel.

"After Deku's somewhat dubious admission of the fact that he was dating his fellow pro hero Uravity last week, today, the young couple was seen together on a romantic date in one of the cafes in the east of Kobe. When confronted by their fans, the young couple escaped hand in hand causing a huge uproar in the city and great excitement among its residents. Watch this clip of the two heroes together, captured by one of the bystanders."

Three whole seconds of dead silence was soon followed by two simultaneous screams that echoed throughout the mansion.

"WHAT THE HELL?!!"

"WHAT THE HELL?!!"

Chapter Text

Watching Izuku sulk in a corner and Ochako cursing the media with the TV buzzing in the background was not what Iida imagined their get-together would look like. He sighed deeply at his two companions before grabbing the remote and switching off the TV. Wanting to distract them from their woe, he racked his brain to come up with anything. And then an idea hit. 

"What would we having for dinner tonight?" 

The question was simple but it definitely perked up their interest. They both shared a knowing glance then turned to him. 

"Curry and rice?" 

They both asked simultaneously with hopeful puppy eyes. He'd learned this early in their friendship that he was pathetically weak when they looked up at him with that horribly adorable look. 

Iida felt another sigh escape his throat. "Did you two decide it before coming here?" 

"Yeah, in the cafe." Ochako answered, bobbing her head up and down. 

And for a moment it stuck him if that is supposed to be a topic you should talk about on your dates. But then again, these people are who they are, so it doesn't matter. He felt a smile twitch upon his lips watching them excitedly and playfully argue about if the curry should be medium hot or spicy hot. 

"Iida-kun! Come on! Get up!" 

Iida jumped his face twisting is surprise when Ochako grasped his arm, willing her tiny body to drag him to the kitchen.

"Wait-! We are cooking?" Iida exclaimed, a little horrified. He was a person confident in his skills but cooking was not one of them! He and Todoroki could barely cook rice without burning it let alone make something like curry. And for the love of good, he had maids for that! 

"Iida-kun! Cooking is fun! You don't have to be so scared!" Izuku laughed a grin so wide that his eyes narrowed in mirth and Ochako of course followed, still not letting go of his arm. And Iida felt himself melt at their happy smiles. "All right, you two! What is supposed to be my job here?" 

"Cooking rice, of course." They answered in unison. 

"Because we can't trust you with the knife!" Ochako crossed her arms, nodding to herself. 

"Yeah! But I think Iida-kun can help us peel potatoes as well?" Izuku blurted holding a basket of potatoes he obtained from somewhere in the kitchen. 

They set to the humongous task as he and Midoriya peeled the veggies and Uraraka cut them with surprising efficiency. In a few minutes they were done with the preparation and Iida set the rice to be cooked in the electric cooker where he'd just have to wash the rice and press some buttons. While his other two companions were busy preparing curry. He then arranged the dishware on the table for three, hands on hips after finishing up, proud of his work. The spicy aroma that wafted around his kitchen made their stomach rumble simultaneously. They all shared a confused funny glance before bursting into giggles. 

Surprisingly, the dinner was not only edible but tasty as well. Seated together on the dining, Iida felt warmth curling up in his chest, the scene in front of him reminiscent of the years they had spent in UA together. That brought him to the point of concern he had been wanting to speak of since they had first arrived. 

"I have been thinking…" he started, gaining their attention immediately. "If the two of you have anything important scheduled since two months from now?" 

Ochako tilted her head in question, "Why?" 

Iida chopped his hand in up and down movements. "We haven't seen our previous classmates in years. So I was planning on arranging a get together after Todoroki-kun and Yaoyorozu-kun return." 

"That's a brilliant idea!" Ochako exclaimed, all smiles, almost happily bouncing on her seat. 

"Yes, of course. It will be good to catch up to everyone." Izuku nodded, a wistful smile gracing his lips. 

Iida felt elated knowing that two people closest to him were supportive of his idea. Their time together in UA was unforgettable, pieces of the puzzle of who they were and the bonds that they shared. Coming back to his class rep mode, he told them with utter seriousness. "I do understand that Hero work is unpredictable but if possible I would like to ask you both to keep your schedules clear that time." 

"All right!" They agreed in unison with big grins and Ochako pumping her fist up in happy excitement.

…

They were cuddled up on Iida's couch together, trying to pick up a movie that aligned with the tastes of all three of them. After endless arguments going back and forth, they picked up an average Hero movie after wasting almost an hour scourging through the DVDs Iida had picked up for them.

It was an ordinary story, though. Of a new overpowered sidekick wanting to achieve his goal of becoming the best Hero out there and then getting wrapped up in some stuff about a villain gang. Obviously, all of that normal stuff that happens in the movies of this kind. 

Ochako was sitting beside Iida, cross legged on the couch, her chin resting on the palm of her hand, looking bored. Where as the boys beside her talked excitedly about the action scenes and the quirks of the characters. Leave it to Deku to pull on a full report on the fictional quirks of a movie. And of course, leave it to Iida to be seriously fascinated with it and discuss it with Deku with equal fervor. After for god knows how long, the movie seemed to be nearing its end.

"I love you! I've been in love with you since the day you saved me! I've never thought of anyone else but you!" The love interest of the main lead screamed in a nasally high pitched voice that grated on Ochako's nerves. 

She watched the Hero kiss the girl passionately, arms wound tightly around her waist as she held onto his neck and they parted with a tearful goodbye, promising that she would wait for him to return back after his final battle with the Villain leader. 

Ochako stared on the lit up screen blankly, wondering why even the ever fantasizing, always rabid media could not come up with stories about two Heroes being in love? Was it that difficult for two people to love each other and fight side by side, protect and support one another through thick and thin? 

Was it that unattainable? That impossible?

Oh no, she wasn't, in any way undermining the love between two people. It didn't matter if they were civilians or Heroes. There are several happy and admirable couples made between Heroes and civilians that she'd known and idolized.  

But what Ochako didn't understand was why did people think that it was so hard for two Heroes to fall in love and stay together? Her eyes flicked towards her object of contemplation who was so cluelessly sitting beside Iida, so unaware of the whirlwind of thoughts inside her head. Maybe it was simply some wishful thinking on her part. And then, Ochako was not conscious of the moment when the sleep hit her into the land of dreams.  

…

"Oh!" Iida gasped causing Izuku to lean over to see the matter. 

"She fell asleep." He pointed a finger at the sleeping girl leaning on his shoulder and whispered, bringing the finger back on his lips to signal Izuku to be quiet. 

Izuku felt a lazy smile curl upon his mouth watching her sleep. Her face was relaxed, hair slightly disheveled, mouth parted a little. She was letting out a barely audible wheezing sound. Gosh, even in sleep she looked adorable.

"We must not disturb her!" Iida whisper-yelled at him and Izuku nodded in agreement. 

"Do you have a blanket?" Izuku asked, standing up from his seat and stretching a little, feeling the satisfying pop in his shoulders. 

"I don't think it is a good idea for letting her sleep here in my house. She has work tomorrow? Doesn't she?" Iida tilted his head. 

"But didn't you just say that we mustn't disturb her? And anyway, she's been doing overtime for the past few days and barely had the time to relax today." Izuku said, looking over their female companion with concern before letting out a mirthless chuckle. "And even that didn't end well...today." 

Iida extended his large hand to pat Izuku on the arm. "Do not worry Midoriya. We must accept that we will face many more adversaries similar to what happened today." 

"That isn't very encouraging, Iida." Izuku sighed, exhausted, letting his head fall back on the backrest. 

Iida made a sympathetic sound. "Probably you should return too. You must have been tired as well? I heard that you were involved in handling a bank robbery today despite your day off." 

"Hero work." Izuku said with a boyish smile, tilting his head towards his friend.  

"Hero work, indeed!" Iida laughed. 

They let a companionable silence envelope them. Izuku relaxed further into the couch, eyes roving over the blue walls of Iida's living room. He had a lot of framed photographs and collages pinned on to them. Some included Iida's family. Some were from there time in UA. A photo of the entire class. Another one was of the three of them plus Todoroki in what seemed like a chaotic selfie. Iida had been the one to take that picture, reason being that he was the tallest one among them, Izuku guessed. Ochako sat on a bench merrily, and had her right cheek bulging, thanks to the large bite of burger he could see in her hands. He was grinning, poking his head over Iida's shoulder, his hair wilder than it normally is for some reason he didn't remember. And well...Todoroki was almost asleep, leaning on the backrest of the bench, with some sort of fruit shake in his hand. 

A smile cracked upon his lips at the sight of the photo, even more so knowing that he had an exact copy of it in his own apartment. Iida had loved the photo way too much and had decided to gift them all a copy. It had been a hilarious shock to him and Ochako. They had always expected that Iida's favourite photo would have been something in which they were all dressed in suits or formals and then lined up in a straight line, looking eye to eye in the camera with no weird faces or bulging cheeks. Oh, how wrong they were! Izuku bit back the chuckle which was about to escape. 

Then his eyes fell on the next photo. A fairly recent one, he noted. In which his friend stood beside his brother, Iida Tensei, the former pro hero. The older man was grinning ear to ear and had an arm wound up around his younger brother's shoulder. Iida was smiling gently as well. 

Hatsume Mei, the now renowned Hero Tech Engineer, had taken a personal interest in helping the older Iida to walk again and well, her efforts had paid off. She was able to create some special prosthetics and support items that allowed Tensei to stand and move, albeit, only for a short amount of time. But it had made Iida happy. For that purpose, they all were deeply grateful to Mei. 

Izuku was so lost in his thoughts that he almost jumped right off the couch when Iida breached the quiet. 

"Come. You can take one of my cars and drop Uraraka off before heading home yourself." He suggested. 

"Ehhhh? No.That doesn't sound like a good idea. What about you and your work?" Izuku protested a little, waving his hands around. 

"Listen Midoriya. My agency is nearby and I barely ever use vehicles to get there. I believe walking over is a better option for me. And you or Uraraka don't have your car here at the moment and it's too late for trains. The best option now is to use mine. And anyway, I can have my chauffeur get the car back any time I wish." Iida insisted. 

Izuku shook his head in fond exasperation, defeated by Iida's logical reasoning and persistence. 

A few minutes later, they were in the garage of Iida's mansion. He pressed on the button of the remote, unlocking the car as Iida carried a sleeping Ochako in his arms behind him. It is honestly shocking that even so much of jostling up wasn't waking her up. 

She must have been exhausted.

He mused, stealing a glance in their direction before rushing in to open the passenger seat so that Iida could place her. He smiled to himself when Iida carefully dropped Ochako on the seat before leaning in and securing the seatbelt over her firmly. A wave of affection spread across his chest, thankful to every element out there for allowing him to meet these genuinely caring people. There was nothing to hide about. He adored them with every fibre of his being and was damn proud of it. 

Seconds later, he was reviving the engine and thanking Iida for the get together and waving a farewell before pulling away from his friend's mansion down the main road. 

He hummed to himself, trying to remember what all files and reports he must stuff into his bag for tomorrow's presentation. Despite his careful driving, the dark of the night concealed a bump on the road. Izuku squeaked as the car jumped a little and then immediately glanced at the woman sleeping beside him to see if she was disturbed. But she still looked deep in her sleep. Unconsciously, he took the time noticing the calm rise and fall of her chest and the way her eyes were fluttering behind her eyelids. Her pink lips looked soft and pretty; so inviting. He abruptly felt a furious blush rise up his cheeks, painting his whole face in a shade of burning scarlet. His eyes flicked back to the road instantly, feeling steam rushing out of his ears. 

Damn it Izuku! Get a grip on yourself!

He chastised himself inwardly, stealing a glance again, a little terrified, if she has caught him in the shameful act. But sighed a little when he processed that she's still fast asleep, so blissfully unaware of his lecherous thoughts.

He tried his best to divert his attention away from her by thinking about the areas he has to patrol tomorrow. Fortunately, his distraction works and he is fully able to drive through the roads without feeling the intense need to check upon his companion. It takes a little more than fifteen minutes but Izuku feels a twinge of something like anxiousness delve into his senses as her apartment building comes into view. 

He pulled into the parking, absently slowing the speed down before slowly slamming on the brakes. 

He turned to her and she was still sound asleep. He honestly felt bad about disturbing her after she finally got the chance to rest but he didn't have any choice on the matter. If he could then he would have carried her to her apartment floor just like he had done today when the mob had attacked them. Maybe he still could. But...him carrying her like that when there was no emergency to defend themselves from would be a little overboard. He didn't know how she felt about it and more than that, his entire body hacked up to the prospect of holding her so close like that. Yeah, they were best friends but not more than that. He didn't have the right to enjoy their proximity. It was wrong. And it was a violation of her personal space which he couldn't do. Not now. Not ever. 

After a little more agonizing over the situation, he finally called her out softly. 

"Uraraka?" 

She did not respond. So he made another attempt, a little louder this time. 

"Uraraka?" 

She hummed a little, her sleeping noises cute enough to make him slap a palm over his mouth to refrain from squealing out. Though she was too deep in her dreamland to wake up it seemed. He let out a breath, before stretching out a hand towards her, hesitating twice before he gently shaking her shoulder, vaguely noting how deceptively small it felt. 

"Uraraka, wake up. We're home." He nudged her gently again but pulled back as soon as her eyes fluttered open. 

"Deku?" She questioned, eyes still hazy with sleep. 

"Yeah, it's me." He answered, smiling. 

She blinked thrice before taking in her surroundings, before her eyes went wide with awareness. 

"Wait! Isn't this Iida's car?" She exclaimed, sweeping her hand over the dashboard of the car. 

"Yup. He insisted that I borrow it for going home and dropping you." He said, stressing over the word insisted. 

Ochako chuckled, "He got us again. That's Iida for you!" 

He laughed before suddenly remembering. "Oh, we got your stuff from there. On the back seat. Is that all?" 

She immediately unbuckled her seatbelt before half rotating towards the backseat. Taking one look, she nodded. And before he could react, she was already climbing the seat and bending over to grab her things. 

"Got 'em!" She grinned and then appropriated her position and unlocked the door. 

"Thank you for today, Deku!" She gave him a sweet smile, tilting her head a little. 

"You d-don't have to say that!" He muttered but she was already out of the car, walking away. He watched her climb the small set of stairs to enter the apartment premises. 

She suddenly stopped halfway and then peered over her shoulder before flashing him a smile so obviously beautiful that he felt his heart skip a beat in response. He fished out his cellphone from his pocket and scrolled upon her chat with him. Typing a quick 'Good night and good luck for tomorrow!' he pressed send.

It was only a few minutes before his cell chimed with her response. It said. 

Good night and hope you have a great day tomorrow as well:) 

Izuku did not hold back a grin at it.  

...

Something didn't add up. Ochako had her chin resting on the fists of both her hands, staring at the papers in front of her for the past half hour. The reports were of three different incidences. And all of them had the collapse of a building as their main happenstance. 

She dragged the report about the bank collapse towards herself, the one she had written because of her primary involvement. It had happened three days ago when she was patrolling the sector 67. A deafening rumble had startled her before the tell tale sound of a building shattering apart and falling had made her sprint towards the source of the sound. 

It was a bank. The walls had cracked, falling and the broken shards of glass were littered all over the streets. People were screaming for their lives, rushing out of demolished building, customers and staff alike. Fortunately, Ochako had rescued three people before the structure finally gave away but the whole fiasco ended with zero casualties. Sadly not every accident could be that lucky. 

She grabbed another paper, the one which reported the incident that happened a month ago. An apartment building. Even though she had not been primarily involved with the incident, she had assisted in rescue and had saved twenty three people. Mournfully, the casualties consisted of five children, eight women and seven men, making it a total of twenty deaths. It had been a gruesome sight. The visuals still made a shiver run down her spine. 

The third was a collapse of a shopping complex. The incident took place two months ago. Caused a lot of property damage but no serious harm to lives had been done. 

What bugged her was that even though the earthquake around the area did damage the nearby buildings, it appeared as if the epicenter itself, had existed inside of these collapsed buildings. Japan was a country familiar with earthquakes and natural hazards. They have gone through a lot of calamities - natural or man-made. A building being torn apart like that was not mundane. It was suspicious. All of this was. But she was not sure how to reach up to her higher ups when the cases were all closed off as natural disasters. 

For some weird gut instinct, Ochako was unable to rule out the possibility of a villain capable of causing earthquakes. It is completely plausible. Her mind said. In the kind of world where they lived? Everything was possible.  

What terrified her the most was what could be their next target? A restaurant? An Office? 

...a school? 

She immediately grabbed a water bottle, screwing up the cap and taking gulpfulls in. Bringing it down, she sighed. Not sure what she was trying to prove to herself with these reports. It could be her paranoia speaking. She didn't know. 

"So it is true after all."  

The voice coming out of nowhere bad definitely startled her, and she was immediately able to associate it with the physical form of unpleasantness in her working environment. It made her fingers twitch. She took a moment to breathe and school her features to not show any prominent displeasure. 

"Yes? How may I help you, Lance?"  

She said, tone clipped, swiveling her head to look at the intruder, eyes too sharp to be considered as welcoming. But the guy either didn't seem to notice or care. Lance - a hero in her agency who was two years older than her...had decided that she was worth taking an interest. He had been relentless in his romantic pursuit of her and it annoyed the heck out of Ochako. Nonetheless, it was unwanted attention that she had never desired. 

He stared down at her and honestly, Ochako hated the way his eyes wandered all over her form.

"Lance?" She said loudly to have his attention on her face, not on her body. 

"Is something the matter?"

"Uh, no." He said, eyes flickering away to meet hers for a moment but then coming back to rest at her form again. She felt disgusted. 

"Lance?" She tried again, now angry. 

"I'm just wondering...what did you actually see in that Deku guy?" The question came out of nowhere and threw her off guard for a few moments. The masked insinuation of belittling her friend and expressing that she had poor taste made Ochako blink in disbelief, and a foul taste developed in her mouth. 

"Huh? What are you even-" She started, enraged, standing up, but he cut her off spouting even more nonsense. 

"Tch. Even his Hero name is lame. Like what? 'Useless'?" He smirked infuriatingly. Ochako felt every fibre of her being shiver with the urge to bash this bastard in the face. 

"Deku" was the name she had given him. And he has never hesitated in reminding her that he valued that name more than anyone else could her understand. For him to accept a name that tormented him before and then declare the same name as his Hero name - the title that the whole world will know him as - meant so incredibly much to her. By insulting that name, this person insulted her bond with him. Their friendship, their struggles, their fears and hopes and dreams. What did this guy know? What right did he have to call "Deku" lame? And who was he to decide what she saw in Deku? With her anger burning and a heavy retort ready on her lips Ochako stood up. 

"But then again, Ochako-chan, if you were that desperate to rise in popularity ranking then you could have always dated me. After all, dating me would have been much more beneficial than dating that Deku who's like fifteen ranks down? Uravity dating Lance, I think it would have sounded much better."  

Every next sentence that tumbled out of his mouth was like a harsh slap on Ochako's face. Everything she has worked hard for? It was all reduced to this? Her dating another Pro Hero for gaining popularity? 

Was her status as a Hero going to be measured in this way?

All those times when she had risked her life to save people. All those moments when she took life threatening injuries for someone else's sake. All of that amounted to nothing, and simply equated with her dating a man of higher rank. This was what it was…?

"Anyways, it was your decision. I wish you would have made better choices. Hope you don't regret it later." The man said, waving his hand in utter nonchalance as if he just hadn't denigrated her unfairly. As if he just hadn't questioned her existence as a Hero.

"The only thing I would regret is having this conversation with you right now. Please leave." Ochako hissed, venom dripping from her every word. She clutched the bottle cap in her palm, her knuckles turning white. She bowed her head a little, her eyes shadowed by her bangs, hoping that he could not see the hot angry tears that threatened to roll down her face. 

"What-" he protested, looking offended. 

"I said Leave! Right now." She trembled, withholding all the rage and hatred in her small form, counting her breathe to stop herself from breaking apart. 

He huffed as if he was an adult failing to make her understand some sort of simple logic. Giving her one last condescending look he exited her office cubicle. And Ochako immediately collapsed on her chair, burying her head in her hands, trying to comprehend what exactly happened here a moment ago. 

…

Izuku twiddled his pen, trying to complete a report on his recent apprehending of a gang of villains in a supermarket. With lethargy overcoming his senses, he almost fell asleep with his cheek against the palm of his hand. 

He yelped with wide frightened eyes, when his 'I am Here!' ringtone bellowed out of nowhere, scaring the heck out of him. Realising that it was only his phone, he rubbed a hand over his forehead, slightly relieved before picking the device up. Checking out the screen made a smile light up his features. His finger tapped on the call accept icon and he pressed the cell to his ear. 

"Hi Mom!" He said excitedly. 

"Hi Izuku! How have you been, my sweet boy?" 

Izuku felt a pink settle upon his cheeks. He was a Hero, an adult, but still, affection from his mother would always make him feel like a giddy five year old. He felt his heart swell with warmth at her lovely, sweet voice. 

"I've been good! What about you?" 

He settled into the chair more comfortably, swirling the pen between his fingers, laughing out loud and getting emotional with her. But her next question actually caught him off guard. 

"How's Ochako doing?" 

"Ehhhh! Um, she's good. Doing great!" 

Izuku bit his lip, inwardly grimacing that he has to hide things from his Mom about it. His mother had been ecstatic about his and Ochako's 'relationship'. She said she was fortunate to have Ochako as her possible daughter in law and Izuku had felt his soul leaving his body. And then she had gushed about happy she was that he had finally managed the courage to confess to her. Izuku had been a stuttering mess when she had pointedly asked him why he had never informed her about it before though. 

How could I? 

He had wanted to say. Whatever he had with Uraraka-san...was fake. Was pretend. At least to the world. And to her.  But he could not tell his Mom that. 

They talked for a while more, happy to catch up with each other. There was so much to tell and so much to listen. Izuku felt as if there talks would never come to an end. 

He hated leaving his mother behind but she liked it there. And more often than not, All Might was there to accompany her as well. After his graduation, the two of them realised that the person they were raising with all of their hearts was finally leaving the nest. But he was glad that they found home in each other. If he was honest, he didn't know about the nature of the relationship the two of them shared but he understood that his mother was giving Toshinori the home he had never expected or worked for. And it filled Izuku's heart with elation. 

"I really miss you a lot, Izuku." She whispered at the end of the conversation, and both of them didn't pretend to notice the slight tremor in her voice. For both her sake and his.  

"I miss you too." He replied, softly, but without any hesitation. He knew she was smiling with tears flowing down her cheeks. She was like that. He understood her. 

"I hope I get to see you soon." She wished and he almost choked back a 'Me too'. He collected his breath before saying, "I hope so too!" The line cut off after those words. 

His eyes turned misty, but he did not cry, reminding himself that his Mom's birthday was coming soon and she deserved the best he could get her. He had this plan to surprise his mother in his head for a while now. And in accordance with that, he has been carefully stacking up his holidays. He was about to hand over the application for a five day leave tomorrow. So that his leave gets sanctioned a day before her birthday and he is able to buy her a nice present and appear on her doorstep early in the morning. 

A perfect plan!

Though the only hitch in the plan he could see...at the moment was that he didn't know what to get her!

It hit him suddenly, Uraraka would know! Women know women well! Some wise men had said. 

He grinned, very proud of himself. He immediately tapped his finger on Uraraka's number and waited for her to pick it up.

Ochako was lying on her bed, in pyjamas, with an arm draped over her eyes. She had returned home back an hour ago but had no energy to move a limb. She felt confusion, anger and hurt swirling inside her in a mess of dark, grey and dull that she could not separate. 

Thinking, thinking and thinking. 

If the oath of dying for the sake of others was not enough then what else was? To gain the respect that she deserved. For all the countless scars that marked her skin. 

What else was? 

So when her phone rang, her first idea is to let it blare till the caller decides to stop. Four rings later, she whined, getting up because the guilt of not receiving someone who has called for her especially when she can reach out to them is too much. When the name Deku with a bunny emoji flashed on her screen she got even more unsure. She contemplated for a second, her thumb hovering over the accept button before answering his call. 

"Hey Uraraka!" He greeted her as cheerful as ever.

"Hi Deku." She hated the way her voice trembled in the end and prayed that he would not notice it. But today, it seemed that luck would not favour her. Because the silence that followed her words stretched long enough to deduce that it hadn't escaped his observant self. 

"Is everything alright?" He asked, worry in his tone emphasizing his question. 

"Yeah! O-of course! Why wouldn't it be?" She exclaimed, lying, and despite knowing that he was well aware. She didn't know what to say. How would she tell him that people thought that she was dating him for her popularity's sake. She knew he didn't think like that. He trusted her, he believed in her worth as a Hero, and as a fellow comrade more than anyone. He knew her dreams and her aspirations. He accepted and supported them. But still, it hurt. It hurt a lot. Another uncomfortable pause marked their conversation before he continued. 

"Do you want me to come?" 

Something inside her snapped at the moment. She blinked repeatedly, wetness appearing in her eyes, completely undone with his careful but equally considerate question. So incredibly overwhelmed that her body shook and she curled up like a ball on her bed. 

Yes. 

No. 

Yes.

No.

Yes.

No.

"It's alright! You don't have too!" She blurted instantly, somehow, wet tears trailing down her cheeks. 

"Um, Uraraka? It's okay if you don't want to talk about it." He said, softly, unsure of himself and it hurt Ochako even more than she was the one making him doubt his adequacy as a friend. 

"But it's alright-" he yelled suddenly on the phone like a clumsy lovable oaf he is, "I want you to know that I'm gonna be here if you need me. I promise." 

Ochako shuddered at the burning sincerity in his words, so true, they rang against her ears like a chant and she felt a few more tears slip down her cheeks. Bringing her hand up to muffle her sobs, she bit her knuckle. The talk stilled again and he waited till she was able to reply. 

"Really? It's alright, if we talk about it later?" She muttered, a little shy and a little afraid, but desperately wanting the reaffirmation of his words. 

"Of course. I'll do it. Whenever you need me to. I'm not leaving. Not now. Not ever." His voice did not shake or waver. A voice so much his, lit up with the same determination that she admired so deeply. She felt a smile break out on her lips. Again, few moments of quietness interrupt their talk before he dared to continue it.

"Feeling better now?" He questioned. 

"A lot!" Her smile transformed into a full blown grin.

"I'm glad." He sounded happy, and even a little relieved if she was bold enough to assume. 

"Why did you call by the way?" She suddenly remembered. 

"Oh. Oh! Please, Uraraka. You have to help me!" He yelled, a frantic edge to his voice.

"Ehhh? What's wrong?" She gets a little nervous, seeing, well…more like hearing him getting that worked up. 

"You see, my Mom's birthday is coming up and I don't know what to get her!" He almost whimpered. 

That's all? She almost said but then bit it back, because it is not just all. Because parents are never just all. They're much more precious than that. They are everything all.  She understood that and admired him even more for it.

"Fear not, Deku! I can help you with that. If you want my opinion that is." She grinned. 

"Of course I do! And yeah, can we be the only ones to go this time? I remember that one time in UA, we invited Iida and Todoroki and the entire class tagged along somehow." He laughed, a little grimace hiding in his voice. 

"Stuff happens, ya know!" She giggled and heard him chuckle on the other side of the line. 

"Like how Mina learned of it from Tsu and then Bakugou decided that a nerd like me would suck in gift buying so he should involve himself. Or how Aoyama believed that I could not buy a sparkling gift for my Mom? Yeah, sure." His chuckles grew louder before they turned into a full blown laughter and she soon followed. They laughed like maniacs because hearing each other over the phone allegedly makes this fiasco even more hilarious. She is not even sure when they started recalling the entire event in reverse but it made her laugh till her belly hurt. 

I love you.

She wanted to say, but it dissolved somewhere in the midst of laughter. Although, she did not regret it. It was surely the first time ever that admitting it made her a little happier. A little braver. It was a soft feeling of warmth and colour. Something precious to preserve and hold tightly. If possible than never letting it go.

Ochako had the phone clutched tightly against her chest long after the conversation had ended and the plans for the gift buying had been made. The night that fell was devoid of stars and their beauty, the man made light ruining nature's perfection. Though despite it all? She slept soundly with a peaceful smile on her face. 

And to imagine that a phone call could make such a difference. 

But it did. It really did. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 5

Saving lives is what we do

The streets were busy, and Ochako marvelled that her surroundings were swarming with people despite it being office hours now. Every once in a while, she would be greeted by civilians, vendors and pedestrians who would thank her for her work and show their appreciation. Needless to say, Ochako was honoured and she would of course let them know that she acknowledged and treasured their admiration for her. Sometimes with words and sometimes with a smile.

Her patrol hours were nearing the end. The next shift was supposed to be taken up by Lance. There had been a lot of tension between the two of them since that day and Ochako was thankful to their controller to be so considerate towards her and the current circumstances. 

Deep in her thoughts, she still waved at a child who excitedly tugged his mother’s skirt to point at her. She giggled, remembering the early bits of her childhood when she would be in similar awe of the local heroes and show the same enthusiasm when they used to pass by. What good days they were!

"Uravity! Come in, Uravity!" A voice in her intercom screamed, all of sudden. 

Ochako's hand immediately flew to the right side of her helmet, and pressed the com to reply. 

"Yes, this is Uravity speaking. Is something the matter?"

"Yes!" The voice exclaimed, "we just received information that a grocery supermarket ‘Love the Stuff’ has been invaded by villains. Sector 13, Block B." 

"On it!" Ochako yelled.

Swiftly moving through the crowd towards her destination, her head spun with possibilities and dangers that could possibly make the situation worse. As a Hero, one of the first things they were taught was to always assume the worst but never let the public know. Her feet pounded on the concrete beneath as she felt adrenaline pumping through her veins. 

Fast. 

Faster. 

People were now staring at her. Because a hero running off to somewhere is a sign of emergency. But she didn't have the time to look back. Her legs burned, but she appreciated the feeling. It was then her com buzzed to life again. 

"Uravity, come in Uravity!" 

"Yes, Uravity speaking." 

"We just received information. Lady Octopus is on the scene. Please coordinate with her and rescue the civilians." 

"Alright! Please connect me to her." 

The voice faded instantly and a familiar click of connections switching could be heard. 

"Uravity!" The sound of her fellow Hero was laced with urgency. 

"I'm here, Lady Octopus! Right around the corner." Ochako turned sharp around the corner and immediately spotted the center of trouble. Four police cars were hoarding the entrance of the store and Lady Octopus was standing with the police chief. 

Her comrade was a red-brownish being with tentacles sprouting from her back. Her quirk even allowed her to shoot dark ink from her mouth. She had a lot of octopus traits, hence, her Hero name.

Ochako halted near them and asked, breathless, "What's the status?" 

The younger officer beside them immediately reported, "One Villain. Male. Probably a quirk which gives him the ability to transform into a wolf. Four hostages. Three adults and a child." 

Ochako nodded before turning to the chief and Lady Octopus. "Any plan of action?" 

"No, not yet." Her fellow Hero shook her head, frowning a little. 

Ochako swiveled around to look at the site, and observed the structure of the building and surroundings carefully. Her mind raced with all the possible and necessary actions that can be taken with the limited information she was given.

"Hm...he has a quirk that gives him wolf like abilities, right? It means that he has an excellent sense of smell and sight. We won't be able to use any kind of ammunition cause he'll smell it, so it's better if police steps back a little. He has hostages, things can get ugly fast if we're not cautious enough."  

"So it's up to you and me now? Huh, Uravity?" The Octopus Hero asked, coming to stand by her side. 

"Yup! I hope you're up for it!" Ochako exclaimed, flashing her a smile. 

They watched as the police forces retreat under the chief's commands. 

"Any thing in your mind?" Lady Octopus questioned, eyes focused on the shop in front of them, but the way her tentacles were wiggling, Ochako understood that she was quite anxious about the situation.

They were the same age, but most Heroes out there never experienced the same terrors as their batch of class A. Their time at UA had been full of life threatening incidences right from the beginning of first year. Despite how terrifying it was all, it taught them a lot of things. And one of them was do not lose yourself to fear . 

Not wanting her fellow Hero to feel this way, Ochako gripped her shoulder lightly and smiled encouragingly. "Don't worry, we'll save them." 

A look of wonder crossed over her red face, as if the assurance that Ochako had provided was completely unexpected, but then suddenly her eyes lit up with thankfulness. "Yes! Of course! We'll save them all. Any plan Mam?" 

Ochako could not hold back a confident smirk at that. 

 “I do have one.”

...

There were times when she would be disgruntled about her small built compared to a lot of other female heroes, but today was not one of them. She was of a good enough size to push herself through a tiny window on the second floor. And probably lucky enough for the villain to forget about this miniscule detail. An inaudible grunt escaped her mouth as she squeezed herself through it, landed softly and looked around for anything suspicious. Finding it all okay, she turned back to the window and peered down on the two young police officers who had helped her get in. She waved at them signing that it was all good and gave them a thumbs up before ducking in between the shelves.

Her eyes flickered everywhere to look for any material that may prove of assistance in their operation and couldn’t help but smirk nastily when her eyes fell on a shelf. 

Ohhhhh...this is going to be so much fun, that bastard won't even know what hit him.   

...

The child whimpered pathetically when the villain glared at her, attaching herself to her mother’s side. He gave her a snide smirk, eyes glinting with hatred, taking pleasure in the fear reflecting in the eyes of the hostages. 

The wolf man had his eyes, nose and ears all open. He knew these shrewd heroes very well. They will soon be getting desperate when the media arrives and pull something either sneaky or stupid. He was prepared for all of it. That was when his sensitive ears picked up a faint thump on the back of the store. He immediately twisted at the sound, striding two steps and that was all it took for the heroes to act. 

A  hero sidekick, called Sonic, with a quirk which gave him the ability to scream loud enough to shatter glass let out a shriek and the glass immediately cracked, falling apart instantly. Unable to bear the insane screaming, the wolfman screeched and pressed his paws against his ears to reduce the abuse to his poor sensitive hearing. It did not even take a second for Lady Octopus to act and use the opportunity to shoot out her tentacles to swipe at the hostages huddled up together a safe distance from the broken area. 

She had almost dragged them to safety when a shrill shriek resounded throughout the area.

“Mummy!!!”  

They had miscalculated. Big time.  

Wolves were powerful and agile beings. The heroes hadn’t realised that the child was still within his reach. It came as a terrifying shock to everyone as they watched the small girl writhe in his cruel sharp grasp.

“You did it Heroes! You fucking did it! Now watch as I rip this child into shreds!” He laughed maniacally, as the child screamed for her mother.

Her mother sobbed hysterically, trying to flail around wildly in an attempt to dash to save her child as she was being restrained by the police forces.

“Not on my watch!” 

Ochako declared, releasing her quirk from above and allowed gravity to aid her descent. She sprung forward and immediately made a grab for the child only for the wolf guy to pull back in time.

He sneered, “You know I can smell you, right?"

“We are giving you one chance to surrender and hand over the child safely. Please negotiate and we might get lineinet with your punishment. Otherwise? Things won’t look good for you.” She warned, eyes blazing with righteous fury, standing on the counter a few feet away.

“Oh come on Hero. Do you really think I’d believe you?” he mocked.

Ochako smirked, “I knew you were probably going to say that. And as for you smelling me…” She was swift as wind as she jumped at the villain and whipped out a bottle of the strongest perfume she could find and sprayed it all over his face. The unexpected attack rattled him and this moment of disorientation was the only chance Ochako needed to attack. 

She flew to him and twisted his arm savagely and he howled in pain, letting go of the child and Ochako instantly shoved the kid behind her. Lady Octopus did not disappoint as she whipped out a tentacle to make a snatch for her. As soon as the child was out of danger zone, Ochako inwardly relaxed.

A fatal rookie mistake. She should have known better. 

The villain immediately seized the moment to swipe at her. She grunted as a white hot pain seared up through shoulder and blood splattered. 

“Uravity! No! Move!”

She heard Lady octopus scream in alarm and Ochako realised that it was meant to serve as a warning and even in a haze of pain she immediately slid aside as the man aimed his claw at her. The martial arts instincts that were honed in her from the countless hours in training, since her times in UA came into play. She quickly whirled and grabbed his arm, activated her quirk threw him off her shoulder, smashing him into a table. She was determined to not give him even a jiffy to recover as she dashed and made a grab for his ankle, swung him around like a baseball bat and slammed him into a shelf harshly. His yelp of pain got drowned in racket of tumbling shelves and the police outside making a commotion as they entered and fired quirk-nullifying bullets at the perpetrator. The man screamed in agony and collapsed unconscious. 

She was clutching her shoulder and breathing heavily as the police started on their mission to restrain him. 

“You alright?” She hadn’t even realised when her fellow Hero arrived at her side scrutinizing her injury with worrisome eyes.

“Yeah, it’s alright! I have seen worse days.” She claimed, giving her a blazing smile and Lady Octopus could not help but be in awe of this woman in front of her. 

“You. Are. Incredible.” She admitted, overwhelmed by the brightness that personified itself as Ochako Uraraka. 

Ochako simply gave her another adorable but shy smile and Lady Octopus laughed at her colleagues’ humbleness. Together they trudged down towards the medics on the scene with Ochako being supported by the molluscan Hero leaving the police to wrap up the scene.   

...

{Same Night}

"You wouldn't believe what happened!" Mina exclaimed and Ochako could feel her excitement even through the phone, over distortion of voices being carried over miles. 

"I'd do if you'd tell me!" She laughed, working around the kitchen and fixing up a quick meal for herself. A packet of instant ramen sounded good. The stove had some water boiling and she had the phone on the stand on loudspeaker as she peeled an apple to have some Fruit salad as dessert. 

Mina babbled about how a cute reporter was adamant on interviewing Pinky and how much fun she had with him. Ochako chimed in between as required otherwise letting her friend do all the talking. 

They are ten minutes in the call when her phone suddenly vibrated. 

"Huh?" She peeked over her shoulder and saw another notification popping up despite Mina's on going call. Wiping her hands with the front of her apron she approached the phone and a smile lit up her features at the name on the screen.

"Mina" she said, "I have another call coming up. Can you stay on hold for a sec?" 

"Oh, sure!" Her reply was instantaneous and as Ochako picked up the phone to receive the second call, Mina yelled suddenly,"It's your boyfriend, isn't it?" 

Ochako immediately felt her face burn, "Ehhhh! W-what! No-" she cut herself off at the moment because it hit her that the answer for that question should be 'yes'. At least for others. 

"I knew it! I knew it!" Mina shouted with glee and Ochako just wanted to melt into a puddle of embarrassment and seep through the crevices of the floor at the moment.

"Go talk to him, baby! I'll call you later!" Mina squealed before the familiar click of the line being cut off reached her ears and she had to bring herself out of the zone of click accept for the call that was still making her phone vibrate.

“Hello?”

“Uraraka!” Izuku yelled that she had to push the phone away from her ear for a second “-I saw the incident on the news! Are you all right? Was the wound deep? Does it hurt? Are you in a hospital right now? Do you need something? Should I-”

“Deku! Calm down!” She giggled, hardly able to hold herself upright after his adorable display of franticness. 

“I’m alright! The wound was deep but there was a medic with healing quirk among the paramedics. He patched me up real quick!” She exclaimed, lowering herself onto the chair present on the side and then continued chirpily, “There is just mild discomfort and tenderness on my shoulder but that’s all!”

“Really? You’re okay?” He asked, questioning her status of self care and she had to bite back a smile at that.

“I’m fine. I promise.” She said softly.

“Please take care of yourself. You really worried me there for a second when I saw the news that you confronted him all by yourself.” 

“Ah, as if you should be the one to lecture me about that mister I’ll-break-my-bones-till-everyone-is-safe.” She scoffed.

“Yeah.” He admitted, “I’m probably not the best candidate to do that.”

“I wasn’t alone though.” She leaned back on the chair slightly, “Lady Octopus and police forces were there.”

“They were outside.” He insisted. “They were not the ones involved in a hand to hand combat with that guy and a hostage on the line.”

“Deku, I’m really okay. My agency even gave me the rest of the week off. I’ll rest properly. I'll take my meds regularly. I promise.” she assured.

That somehow seemed to calm him down. He sounded much relaxed when he spoke again, “I’ve been trying to call you for a while now but things kept happening. I called you as soon as my shift ended.”

A surge of appreciation overwhelmed her heart. The fondness she felt for him was beyond her control in every possible way. 

“Thank you, Deku.” 

She whispered to the phone before her brain registered her words but it was too late to take it back. There was a moment of silence and she could even visualise his emerald green eyes growing wide in confusion. 

“Uh, what for, Uraraka?” he asked, a little uncertain.

For letting me love you. 

“For worrying about me.” Her words were sincere and she knew that they reached him. 

“You know right? I feel the same way.” There was something... knowing hidden inside those sentences, as if he had felt these same emotions countless number of times before. As if he has spent nights marvelling over them. Little things. People often overlooked. But she knew him well.

“Did you have dinner yet?” His casual question reminded Ochako of a little detail in her kitchen.

“DINNER!” she screeched, jumping up from the chair and racing to the stove only to grimace that the water she was boiling was only the remainder half of what she once previously put on the stove.

“-aka?! Uraraka!” She could still hear Izuku bellowing her name through the phone. 

“Yeah...I’m here.” She murmured, feeling a little defeated against the universe. “I just burned water.”

“Wha-” She could hear him unable to continue in an attempt to suppress his laughter but occasionally a little chuckle would slip up and slowly even that became difficult for him to hold. In a few seconds he could hear his full blown laughter booming and gosh , how much she had missed that laugh. She let him laugh for a while, her own lips twitching into a smirk.

“Are you done yet?” She said in a low voice, pretending to be intimidating.”Or I’ll arrest you for your villainous conduct, Midoriya Izuku.”

“Ohhhhh...” his voice dropped a few octaves lower and it made something stir in her. “Is lovely Uravity doing the honours of arresting me?”

She stopped for a second there before convincing herself that it was not what she thought it was.

“Villain,” She addressed him with a smirk, “If I didn't know better, I’d say you were trying to flirt with me.”

The other side instantly went quiet and Ochako realised that she shouldn't have mentioned that. This got awkward fast enough and she surely did not wish to make him uncomfortable. 

“Maybe...Maybe I was trying to.”

Came the soft, unsure reply in a little while and if Ochako had not been leaning against the kitchen counter, she was sure she would have been sitting on the floor right now. 

...

{Next Day} 

"Don't you have somewhere to go?" Shouto questioned, leaning a little over the partition. 

Izuku blinked, his trance of attention broken from the reports he was going through. 

"Go where?" He asked, waving the papers clutched in his hands insinuating that he still had work to do. 

Todoroki raised a thin white brow. "To meet your girlfriend? " 

There was a moment of silence. Izuku looked at Todoroki and then at the small table clock sitting on his desk. And his face immediately paled. 

"Oh shoot! I'm gonna be late!" He yelped, jumping up and haphazardly collecting his files. He stacked them as orderly as he could before rushing into his captain's office and asking for permission to leave. Shouto still stood there casually, arms crossed as Izuku returned back, his face scarlet red. 

"Did something happen?" 

Had Izuku not known the ice and fire hero for as long as he did, he would have entirely missed the teasing tilt of his voice. His glare would have been slightly more effective if his face would not have resembled a ripe tomato. Shaking his head at his friend, he bounded to the locker rooms, removed his uniform and donned civilian clothes. It took him barely five minutes to dress up and check on things like his phone and wallet and other necessary stuff. Coming out, he tossed the keys of his drawers and file shelf to Shouto before waving goodbye and racing down the stairs. 

The warm air of summers greeted him as he stepped out of the air conditioned agency building. He looked around, taking and deep breath in and watched people who are busy with their lives, trying to make past every moment. A smile graced his lips as sound of his feet hitting the pavement beneath made him realise that he was finally getting to see her. 

His apartment was extremely near to his agency so he barely ever used his car. It was a good thing that when he arrived at the bus station, a bus was already there to the Mall. He quickly boarded it, got a ticket and a seat. A few stops later,an elderly lady entered the full bus and Izuku being the Hero he is, immediately offered his seat, opted to stand but couldn’t help but blush as the lady blessed him. Stations passed, he peeked out of the window, noticed two heroes guiding a few tourists to whatever place they needed to reach. Obviously, they must have been on their patrol. 

Speaking of patrols, it was one such event a three weeks ago...in which he had publicly declared or... not his relationship with Uraraka. 

After saving a bunch of people after a bus had rammed it's front into the pillar of an overhanging bridge. The bus was dangerously stuck, almost leaning over the edge towards the dark deep waters. He had been holding back the bus and its passengers from falling to their doom with his black whips. He grunted in pain because who was he kidding? Holding onto a bus with passengers was no joke. At times like these, he desperately wished for Uravity’s presence here. 

No matter what, she always lightened his burden: both literally and figuratively.

Suddenly, a large chunk of the platform remaining under the bus gave away and  Izuku got dragged along the hanging bus. He almost panicked but the shrieks of terror echoing in the sky of the stuck people grounded him. He immediately corrected himself, concentrating strength into his legs to behave like anchorage to prevent any further descent of the bus.

“Deku!” 

The shout of his name made him whip his head in the direction of the call and a wave relief crashed over him at the arrival of backup. As more of the bridge crumbled, he decided that he was not going to wait any longer. Using the strength derived from one for all, he let the power surge through his limbs, taking a second to regulate the use of both the quirks simultaneously before yanking the vehicle back with fifty percent of his might. 

The heavy bus flew back like a toy and people screamed madly. But Izuku knew the games he was playing. Among the back up that had arrived was Glue Gun: a Hero with a quirk of releasing sticky resins through his body. He was quick enough to build a large sticky net of resins that caught the flying bus before it could crash on the other side and damage the passengers anymore. He carefully approached the bus sticking to the net at an odd angle and helped the shaken up civilians climb down the bus. He assured them with a large, unwavering smile and felt his heart thrum in satisfaction when they shakily returned it back. Fortunately, the incident ended with no casualties and grave injuries.

No sooner was the danger over, a massive hoard of reporters rushed in towards him. Even with the police trying to hold them back, they pushed and pulled at one another, somehow managing to thrust a mike under his nose.

“Deku! You did great! Thank you for saving everyone!” a few reporters thanked him for his efforts. And other few disagreed with his methods, “that was incredibly reckless of you, Deku! Your stunt could have cost people their lives.”

Izuku expressed his gratitude to the people who praised him for his efforts and to the others who criticised his actions, he said firmly, “Yes, that was a risk but anymore waiting could have made the situation even more dire. I acted in the best interests of the civilians trapped in there and also believed in my fellow comrades. Glue gun was very precise and fast with his actions and it was all thanks to him that we were able to save everyone on time.”

“Give yourself some credit man! There is no way I could have helped had it not been for you.” Glue gun hollered from somewhere behind and Izuku almost jumped. He had not expected the guy hearing the interview. 

The sudden interjection from the new Hero caused a lot of reporters rush to his side, leaving the crowd surrounding Izuku half. He almost smiled at how baffled the guy looked at the sudden flux of attention. 

Although he was unprepared when a microphone was thrusted at him out of nowhere, almost making him scramble back in surprise when a lady reporter asked the following question.   

"Deku! Deku! Is it true that you are dating your fellow Hero Uravity?" 

It is true that he had been preparing for this question ever since the moment that idea had hit him but right now? His mind was as blank as an unused white board. 

"Uhhh, ah...you see" he stuttered, trying to collect his words, "Well, Uravity and I, we have been comrades since our days in UA, so, I deeply respect and admire her. Not only as a fellow Hero but also as a friend and partner." 

As soon as he paused the entire scene burst into chaos. 

"Is that a yes or no?" 

"Oh my god, does that mean they are high school sweethearts?" 

"HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS?!!" 

People were screaming and throwing questions at him from all directions and him being the person he is, felt as if he was drowning in the waves and waves of questions being thrown upon him. 

"Sorry! S-Sorry!" He squeaked loudly, raising his hands up in an attempt to placate the rabid reporters. "I do not wish to answer further questions!" He announced and then stepped away. The police force at his side immediately gathered to stop the advances of reporters. He turned around, hidden from the view of rambunctious media and placed a hand over his chest. He could feel his face go red hot and hear his heart pounding in his ears. 

I can’t believe I did this?!

Hardly able to come in terms with whatever he declared in the media right now and a nagging worry about Ochako’s reaction to the recent developments was churning him under a lot of stress and wild thoughts. 

“You okay there? Midoriya?” It is Shouto who brought him out of his misery as he blinked thrice, watching the Half cold - Half hot hero approach him.

“You looked like you were about to have a heart attack for a second there.” The man commented bluntly like always and Izuku felt himself shake his head at his friend’s frankness. 

…

As the mall came into view, his steps become urgent. In the last call they had, he had argued that she does not need to accompany him because he wanted her to take rest but the Uraraka he knew, always had a stubborn streak. So, he was not surprised when she vehemently denied him. He simply chuckled at the flash of the memory.  

“And Uraraka? I was thinking that maybe we should drop Saturday’s plan.”  

“Eh? Why?”

“I want you to take rest, that’s why.”

“Deku. Don’t go there! I told you I’m fine.”

“And I told you that you need some rest.”

“Two days are more than enough for some rest. Besides, it’s for your Mom!”

The way she said the last sentence, about it being for his mom? He couldn’t deny it. If someone understood how much he loved his mother and appreciated the sacrifices parents make for their kids, it was no one other than her. He still remembered the day when she had confessed to him and Iida about why she wanted to become a hero and how she desired to give her parents a happy life that they deserve. She had always been admirable. But that moment made him see her in a new light and he confesses - that light has never faded away, in fact, only turned brighter with each hurdle they crossed together. 

Lost in his thoughts, he never realized when he is inside the mall, eyes wandering around to spot a brunette head. His gaze travels to the water fountain automatically knowing that it was her favourite spot in the mall and of course, there she was. He could only see her back, but now he knew her well enough to tell her apart from the crowd immediately. Talking to some young kids, her bangs hide her face a little, but the animated hand gestures she was making told him that she was enjoying herself thoroughly in her attempt to entertain the tiny kids.

It was sudden. As if she had sensed him staring at her, she turned around, her warm chocolate brown eyes meeting his and a smile bloomed on her face. A smile so lovely that he felt his breath left his body. And like a sporadic epiphany, a thought crosses his mind in passing and he doesn't even realise. 

She is beautiful. Oh god, she is. 

…

A lot of people associated Momo Yaoyorozu with propriety but with short fluffy pyjamas, head resting on the palms of her hands and fingers tangled in her own dark locks she looked anything but. 

The incidents were planned masterfully. Even if she did not approve of the way of the villains, especially with a ring of drugs and weapons on the play, she had to admit that their exchanges and meetings were skillfully hidden from ordinary eyes.  Every happenstance had layered roots, one connecting to other and Momo found herself gasping at every twist of events. Their opponent was a mastermind, finely tuned with the workings of the society and definitely a champion in ways of deceit. 

Exhausted, all spent up, she laid her head on her beautiful mahogany table, one of the only belongings of the mansion that she has here. When her phone buzzed, she was lightning fast in picking it up, hoping to see a message from Kyouka. But instead the notification displays:

1 new message from Shouto Todoroki

Surprised, but pleased nonetheless, she opens the chat and his message says:

Can you please email me a copy of the reports of last five incidences?

Sure. Momo immediately typed back. She went to her laptop, collected and attached the file to the email when her phone chimed again.

Did you have dinner yet?

Momo remembering how exhausted she was a few moments ago realised that she hadn’t eaten anything. 

No, not yet. 

She  stared at the three little dots dancing for a while, and it made her realise that looked as if he might be contemplating or hesitating with his words and she is not sure why. But she definitely did when the new message from him finally popped  up on the screen and Momo bit her lip to refrain herself from smiling too much.

I’m near your apartment locality, there is a good soba restaurant downstreet.

Do you want to grab dinner? Together? 

Sure. I will be there in five minutes.  Was her reply.

Chapter Text

She was almost panting when she reached the small restaurant establishment. Dressed in a black knee length pleated skirt and maroon shirt, with her purse swinging by her side, Momo Yaoyorozu was there. She raised the flap blocking the view and her nose was immediately assaulted with delectable aromas that made her hungry stomach churn. 

Onyx eyes swept over the bustling small space of the restaurant before coming to rest over a lone figure at the left corner of the booth on the second last seat.  Years of knowing each other certainly allowed her to recognise his back profile. He had a navy jacket on his shoulders and a black cap to hide his differently coloured locks. 

She strutted towards him purposefully and tapped his shoulder lightly upon reaching him. A smile bloomed upon her face as his eyes followed the hand on his shoulder up to her face. 

"Oh, you're here." 

He gave her a tiny smile and gestured to her to take a seat. Momo noticed, his smiles were never wide like Kaminari's or Kirishima's but they were as genuine and blinding as theirs. 

He smiles a lot more now. 

She thought and is ready to sit on his right when he suddenly blocked her. She looked at him perplexed, but then he tilted his head towards his left, gesturing at the empty seat beside him. It is only for a second, but Momo's eyes follow his flick of gaze towards the right end of the booth where a rowdy group of young boys were making a mess. Understanding his protective intentions, Momo immediately seated herself on his desired seat, almost biting back a laugh at the adorable display of his worries. 

Uraraka was right. Todoroki is cutely overprotective. 

She remembered, Ochako often mentioned Todoroki's careful attitude when it came to them. And she is right. Probably having an older sister at home made him protective? She is not sure, but she undoubtedly appreciates it. And because she is Momo Yaoyorozu, or better known as Creati , she always had a hard time dealing with men.  So, she was really touched by his considerate gesture. 

"Here." Todoroki muttered while passing her the menu card. 

"Have you decided already?" 

"Mhm. Cold soba." 

Momo chuckled at his predictable answer while browsing through the Menu card when the waiter arrived. 

"May I take your orders?" 

"Aa. One regular sized cold soba." 

"Do you serve ramen as well?" 

"Yes Mam. Our restaurant specialises in serving all kinds of noodles. Soba, ramen, udon, somen? You name it!" The waiter proudly declared. 

"Then, I'll take one large size Miso ramen please." 

He waiter nodded, jotting it down on his notepad before suddenly halting. 

"L-large size, Mam? It comes quite big, you know?" 

Momo blushed. She knew she had a larger appetite than most people assumed but it is not that she can do something about that. Her profession and her quirk does not allow her to have small meals. 

"Ah, um, you see…" she hesitated, gaze flicking downwards. She was contemplating when Todoroki's firm voice cut through the silence. 

"Sir, you asked and she gave you her order. Please bring our food as soon as possible." 

"Y-yes!" The waiter scrambled off through the small door to what seemed like the kitchen after an apologetic bow to her. 

"Don't mind it, Yaoyorozu." Todoroki said gently, "They don't know about your job or your quirk."

Momo smiled. She had always been a little self-conscious about her food habits. It warmed her heart that Todoroki was so understanding about it. 

"Thank you." 

"No problem." 

"Oh yes, did you hear something from Iida?" 

"About the class reunion?" 

"Yes. It'll be amazing for the entire class to collect together and meet everyone face to face after so long, don't you think?" Momo, lost to the world in her fantasies of the reunion of their beloved class, failed to notice Todoroki's faint chuckle at the way her eyes sparkled at the prospect of meeting everyone. 

"Really Yaoyorozu? I can see that you're already planning it." 

"Of course! There is so much to think, you know? Venue, snacks, drinks and what not!" 

Momo's eyes were sparkling with even more enthusiasm now, her fists clenched in front of her chest and Todoroki was left dumbfounded. He felt his ears burn. He wondered why she always seemed to shine brighter when excited. 

"Todo...roki?" 

She must have noticed his absent mindedness, if her questioning eyes were anything to go by. 

"Ah, yes?" 

She might have misinterpreted his silence as his anxiousness for the forthcoming mission.

"Are you... nervous about the mission?" She is tentative, he noted, but decided not to mention it. 

"Hm, should I be? You'll be there with me. So I am not that nervous." 

He stated his words like a fact, unaware that those same words almost made her heart tremble in a way that only he seemed to be capable of. His absolute belief in her and her abilities never wavered and it almost made her want to grab his hand and never let go. Embarrassed at the direction her thoughts were wheeling towards, she averted her gaze and whispered. 

"I'll do my best." 

"I know you will."

Even though her gaze was elsewhere, she could still feel his smile in his words. But before the conversation could continue, the waiter brought in their dinner. For the first time in a while Momo had the chance to eat dinner with a friend. She hummed merrily to herself. 

Food always tastes better when you're together with someone you adore. 

….

"Do you have anything in your mind? Anything that your mother needs now?" 

Ochako's question is obvious as they walk around the mall hoping to come across something good. 

"Um...no. I mean, I haven't been home in a long while. So I don't know."

Deku shrugged. Ochako hummed but then looked at him. 

"When was the last time you went to see her?" 

"Uhm...around seven months ago?" 

He was a few steps ahead of her before realising that she wasn't beside him anymore. He swiftly turned back only to see her eye twitching at him. 

"You….!" She hissed, "seven months?! You didn't go to meet her for seven months?" 

"Ahhh, sorry! She came to see me once though! Around three months ago." 

"That was when you were in hospital!" 

"....yeah." 

She buried her face in the palm of her hand and mumbled. "Really, what am I gonna do with you?" 

 But then her gaze returned back to him. Eyes blazing with determination. 

"...well, I was just hoping if we knew what your mother wanted. Because the best thing is when you gift someone something they need." 

"Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry."

"Don't be!" She grinned, grabbing his bicep, "We're gonna find your Mom the bestest gift out there! Promise!" 

She declared with a big, bright smile before dragging him along and he decided not to point out that his arm was still in her grasp. 

"Is there something you mom is specifically fond of? Like dresses? Or accessories and stuff like that?" 

They were crawling along the crowd, close enough to feel each other's body heat but far enough to not touch. They were walking leisurely, gazes flitting here and there. Izuku, for the first time, appreciated the wide array of stores and products lined up. Glittery and shimmery. Things ranged from dresses to toys to footwear and whatnot. 

"No. Nothing in particular." He answered nonchalantly. 

Gift choosing was proving to be more difficult than he imagined. It was a good thing that he had her as his companion here. There were an uncountable number of times when he appreciated Ochako Uraraka's presence in his life. Like the day they met when she saved him from tripping, when she gave him the name Deku , when she cheered for him without hesitation, when she saved him from his own quirk. Her little acts for kindness that she brushed off as something that friends do for each other made her existence so very precious to him. 

"Midoriya!" The sudden call of his surname from her lips startled him. She was standing a little distance away from him, pointing out a dress store.  For a second when his brain froze up before realising that she only did not call him Deku here, if she had then maybe they'd be running away for their lives the same way they had done a few weeks ago. 

"Y-yes?" 

"This one here! Come on!" 

She opened the door to the store slightly before gesturing to him to accompany her. 

"I like this store! The clothes here are nice and the price is affordable!" 

She told him with her eyes sparkling and he just chuckled. 

"Welcome!" The store employee called out to them in a bright voice, "How can I help you?" 

They share a mutual glance before nodding to themselves, ready to march into the battlefield. It is an hour later when they emerged from the dress store with a bag swinging on Izuku's arm. They bought a peach coloured knee length dress that he was sure would look lovely on his mother. He felt pleased. 

Deciding that they had done enough of wandering around for now, it was inevitable that they wanted lunch and some rest. Heading to the food court, both of them reached the unanimous decision of wanting to eat burgers. Selecting the meal and paying for it, they rushed to get into comfortable seats. 

"Aaaahhhh." Ochako let out a long sigh. 

"Tired?" 

Izuku put their bags to the side and leaned back into the chair, relishing the comfort. She had her elbow propped upon the table, face resting on the palm of her hand and a lazy smile curled upon her lips. For some reason, her straight gaze at him and that smile made his ears go pink. 

"Mhm-mh. I don't know why though. Today there was no villain to fight and no people to rescue. But still." 

"Your injuries?" 

"I told you last time. They were healed." 

"Right."

He smiled to himself as they sat there in silence waiting for their food. "You know? I've been thinking about it." 

"What is it?" 

"Your Mother hasn't seen you in months. You call her barely. I think...the best present for her would be you giving her some of your time." 

Izuku hummed. He understood where Uraraka was coming from. In his mess of a schedule, calling his own mother was bare. 

"What...do you suggest?" His hesitation was visible in his eyes. 

Ochako smiled. "Why don't you take her on a dinner date?" 

"Huh?" 

"The dress we bought just now! Ask her to wear that and take her to a dinner date. Does she have a favourite restaurant or something? You can take her there. Spend the evening with her. I'm sure it will make her super happy!" 

"You... really think?" 

"Yup!" She nodded enthusiastically and Izuku laughed to himself. He can imagine his Mom blowing out in tears. Why didn't he think of this earlier? But then again, because she was here for him. 

"There is one restaurant she likes but doesn't go often. I'm sure she'll love it there. I'll make reservations using directory when we reach home."

Ochako's lips curved into a satisfactory smile before she suddenly stood up and grabbed her bag. 

"De-Midoriya." She paused, as if not sure of her own actions but then continued, "I'm coming back in a bit. Try to stay here, okay?" 

"Alright." 

She nodded and turned on her heels, her powerful stride taking her away from him. His eyes kept following her till she was out of sight. Her absence allowed him enough time to think of all the recent things that have been taking place in the duration of the few last months. 

Todoroki and Yaoyorozu's S rank undercover mission. Him and Uraraka getting into a pretend relationship. Iida's reunion plan. His Mom's birthday. Him and Uraraka going on... dates . Random phone calls and getting chased around by mobs. He exhaled a deep sigh. 

When did his life become so hectic? 

He didn't regret it though. Todoroki, Yaoyorozu and Iida were his important friends. He liked to be involved in their lives. And his Mom was his only family. He would do anything to make her smile. And those moments with Uraraka...even though they were weird and frightening to some extent, he knows that someday and somewhere down the memory lane these moments would be worth remembering. 

But he is still unable to get it out of his head. The phone call, that day. Uraraka had cried. And he still feels a swirl of discomfort in the pit of his stomach at the memory. She was strong. Stronger than so many people he knew. He desperately wanted to know what happened. What made her cry? It must be no small matter. 

And of course, he had his eyes on the net tabloids as well. He knew what they posted and the information they dug up and wild assumptions they made. Their attempts at demeaning Uraraka filled him with righteous rage. Who were they to decide her worth?

His gloomy monologue came to an end when he watched her return back. She had a small white and pink paper bag in her one hand and with the other one she was fiddling with her purse. Both of them noticed their token number appear on the display of the burger joint and before he could stand up she waved at him to sit down and rushed to get their meal. 

He is...not sure what drew his attention towards this person. Probably it had to do something with the chills he got from the traumatic memory of Shigaraki’s cold and thin fingers wrapping around his throat and that sick, gravely voice whispering evil taunts in his ear. The weird stagger and the black hood covering his face was suspicious enough to Izuku.

As Uraraka exited the line with the tray containing their meal, this person made a beeline towards her and stumbled, right onto her shoulder. 

That...was deliberate. 

Before Izuku could rush to Uraraka's side, his quirk thrumming in his veins, she turned to this person, an apologetic smile on her face. The person said something and Uraraka was startled for a second. She blinked and they raised a hand towards her in a gesture of handshake. She gave a thankful smile to them and took their hand warmly before parting her ways from them and rushing to him with a big smile on her face. 

"Who was that?" 

The question shoots out of his mouth as soon as she is in a hearing range without shouting. 

"I don't know them. They said they were my fan though." 

"They...recognized you?" He asked, eyes wide in shock.

"Yup. I was surprised as well!" 

He raised his brows as she placed the tray in front of him and proceeded to seat herself. 

"Did they say anything weird?" 

"Hm... nothing out of ordinary." She replied, sliding the tray towards him to grab his meal. But of course, his anxiousness was not able to escape her careful observation. 

"Is something the matter?" The tips of her fingers were gently resting against his, brown eyes glazed with worry. 

"Nope! Everything is fine." 

He proceeded to take a sip of his drink to avoid speaking anymore but he noticed that her fingers still did not leave his, so he too, did not pull away. If he was honest...he liked it. They ate their meal accompanied by some small talks. He was finishing the last sip of his cola when she asked, "So? Which flavour cake are we gonna get for your Mom?" 

"C-Cake?" 

"Yup!" 

"I don't think I'm taking a cake…" he avoided her excited gaze bashfully. A few moments of silence ticked by and Izuku felt sweat collect beneath his collar bone. 

"Unacceptable!" She roared and stood up.

"Huh? Wha-" 

"A birthday without a birthday cake is unacceptable!" Ochako haughtily declared, hands on her hips, eyes narrowed at him. "You said you were going to be the first one to wish her that day." 

"Yeah, I know. I was planning on surprising her by appearing on her doorstep in the morning. But cake?" 

"Yup! A homemade cake sounds good. Don't you think she'll be happy to get a cake from you?" 

"Yeah... she'll be happy, but. Um, I don't know how to bake a cake." 

Embarrassed at his confession, he rubbed the back of his neck. He readied himself to be laughed at, and her sweet laughter did reach him but there was no trace of mockery in it. 

"Isn't this where I come in?" 

She leaned towards him, all sweet and cute. "I can help you bake a cake for your mom! How does that sound?" 

"Really?" He blinked in astonishment. 

"Mhm-mh!" She nodded and continued, "we can shop for the ingredients from the supermarket below." 

"You do have an oven, right?" 

"Yeah."  

"Alright~! Let's go!" She exclaimed with pumping her fist in the air and marched forward as if on an important mission and he could not hold back a grin as he followed her before placing the tray in the bin.

After a lot of deliberation it was decided that they were going to bake a simple sponge cake with pineapple and whipped cream toppings. So gathering the ingredients was not that difficult and in an hour and half, they were already in his apartment, dropping the grocery bags on his dining table adjacent to the kitchen. 

His apartment was rented, and was a little larger than hers. But somehow along the years it became a familiar place. Not exactly home...but definitely somewhere near it. He had a living room and a seperate bedroom. Three years of living together in dorms had accustomed her eyes to relate the burst of reds, yellows and blues to his personal living space. His room had always felt like a shrine dedicated to All Might but this house, without much of those memorabilia looked empty. 

A little less like Deku's. 

But she knew better than to assume that just because his precious collection wasn't in sight doesn't mean that it wasn't there.  Ochako chuckled and he cocked his head. 

"What is it?" 

"It is a little disappointing to not see your place filled with All Might anymore." 

Izuku gave her an embarrassed glare. 

"It still is. In my bedroom. Although I left a lot of stuff in my Mom's home." 

She bit a laugh at how peeved he looked. They arranged the items they had bought on the table and Ochako grinned, clapping her hands together loudly. 

"All right! Let's start the baking!" 

Her enthusiasm was contagious and Izuku followed her closely. But before they got to work she announced that things could get messy, so he should get an apron and better yet, change his clothes. Her excuse was 'since you don't buy a lot we wouldn't want some of your nicer clothes to get ruined.' 

As he changed into some homewear consisting of a plain white t-shirt with the print "T-shirt" and dark green knee length loose shorts, he wondered if she should be disappointed that she considered him clumsy enough to believe that he'd ruin his clothes. But of course, he knew better than to argue. 

He exited his bedroom and rushed over to the kitchen but something about the sight in front of him made him halt. He stood on the threshold of the kitchen, somehow, unable to step in. Her cardigan was discarded on his couch and she flitted around his kitchen in his All Might apron that was a size or two little too big on her. It was held in place by a cute neat bow on her waist. Her hair was all gathered up in a messy bun atop her head and of all things, somehow his gaze lingered at the exposed nape of hers. He immediately felt his ears and cheeks burn red but could not bring himself to tear away his gaze from the expanse of that white milky skin. 

Dammit! You can't have such thoughts about her! It's Uraraka! You idiot! Don't. You. Dare. 

Even if she's your girlfriend (pretend?)

He probably needed someone to punch him right now and even considered calling Kacchan to give him one and he is sure that his request will not be refused. Unable to take it any longer he banged his head on the wall and exhaling a long sigh.  

"Deku." Her voice pulled him out of his misery. "Don't go around banging your head into the walls for no reason." Even though she is reprimanding him, there is a teasing lilt to his voice. 

"Ehhh? Y-you knew I was there?" 

"Of course, silly!"  

"Since when?" 

"Since the moment you stepped here!" 

"W-Why didn't you say anything?!" He screamed, face burning scarlet. He could die of embarrassment at the moment. 

She still had her back to him but chuckled. "Come on! We're heroes. We've honed our instincts to be aware of our surroundings. It helps in battles, ya know."

He inwardly groaned. She turned to him and pointed at the bowls containing all of the measured ingredients. "I couldn't find the flour. Please get it for me. You said there was a packet somewhere. And measure out a cup and a half." 

"Yeah!" 

"I'll be back in a sec." 

She unfastened her apron and tugged it over her head before handing over to him. She was almost out of the kitchen when she swirled around and gave him a tiny smirk. "Try not to mess up while I'm not there."

"Hey! I won't!" He yelled, indignant, but she was already out of sight, her giggles reaching his ears.

He scourged through the cupboards beneath before remembering the flour  packet was on one of the above cupboard. He opened one door and grinned when he saw it on the topmost shelf. He raised his arm and tugged it at one end but it did not budge. He then made another futile attempt. Groaning at the situation, he tried one more time,  more forcefully. 

There was a loud rip sound and before he could fathom what happened... everything turned white. 

…

Ochako had just exited the washroom before a large crash echoed throughout the house. 

"Deku!" She screeched and sprinted to the kitchen and skidded to a halt. Her jaw hung open at the sight in front of her. 

Everything was white. 

The floor. The counter. Even the humanoid shaped lump on the floor which she assumed was Izuku. It would not take a genius to understand the situation. It was simple. He accidentally ripped the packet when trying to bring it down from the above shelf. Moments of painful silence continued before he croaked. 

"Uraraka, I...messed up."  

Ochako gave him a blank stare. 

"I...can see that." 

He looked down, so dejectedly that she could sense her heart twisting. She stepped over the floor and crouched down in front of him. Bringing out her handkerchief, she gently wiped his face, taking extra care over the eyebrows and lashes to prevent the flour from getting into his eyes.

He had his eyes closed obediently. As much as he was thankful for her kindness, the proximity was honestly too much for him to handle. He was not sure if his face covered in flour was a good thing or not because he knew he was blushing scarlet. 

It came out of nowhere and he was startled enough to open his eyes because he felt her trembling. 

"U-Uraraka?" 

There was no answer as she continued to shake, biting her lips and it took him a while to understand. 

She was laughing. 

"You're laughing?" 

That question was all she needed before her gleeful laughter rang throughout the house. 

"Oh my god! Deku! Deku! I'm so-sorry!" 

Not able to control herself any longer, her laughter turned more boisterous and he gave her an annoyed pout. But it did not deter her as she continued laughing. Deciding that he wanted to catch her off guard, Izuku leaned in, deliberately brushing his green and white bush of hair against her cheek. She yelped at the unexpected contact and stumbled backwards. Realising she was going to fall, his arms shot up, almost on reflex, and his fingers curled around her lithe wrists.

He grinned triumphantly. "You were being mean so we're even now!" 

Ochako sighed, but still her lips quirked up into a small smirk. "That was so painful to watch, and I’m sorry for laughing.”

Izuku returned her playful smirk. "Oh, are you?" 

They both laughed a little and then Ochako tugged his sleeve. "Go, take a bath and shampoo your hair. I'll clean up the mess." 

Izuku nodded and stood up, dusting away the extra flour on him and walked away. By the time he returned, the floor was spotless and devoid of any whiteness. Ochako was busy whipping the butter up. 

"I didn't wipe the counter off. It's gonna get messy again. So we'll do it after everything is done." She spoke to him as he came to stand beside her. She impressively took the charge and guided him through the procedure and in no time they had the cake batter ready. 

"Whisk it a little more. I'll heat up the oven for ya." 

Ochako had barely reached the oven when there was a loud splatter. She whirled around and there was a guilty looking Izuku with a bit of batter on his cheek and some on the counter. 

"What happened?" 

"I thought I'd be able to do it faster with my quirk…" 

"Deku…." 

She let out a long sigh before sauntering over to him. Her thumb wiped the little dollop of batter on his cheek before her tongue flicked out to taste it. She was near the oven again when she hummed "Mhm. Not bad!"

And Izuku almost collapsed. Gosh , he knew, he knew she was talking about the cake batter then why was his heart thudding so loudly in his ears. Maybe he is exaggerating but even when his ribs had pierced his lungs once, breathing hadn't seemed so damn hard. 

Okay, okay…calm down Izuku Midoriya. Think about it rationally. 

He was her best friend and she was super comfortable around him and it didn't mean anything. It shouldn't mean anything. 

She was comfortable with Todoroki and Iida, too, right? 

But somehow the idea of her doing something like this with any of them made his stomach churn. He should be happy that she trusted him so much but no matter how you looked at it...he is a man too. Her actions would give wrong impressions to even someone like him. She should be careful around the opposite gender. Even if it was him. But how exactly was he going to explain her that? He gulped. 

The entire next hour he shuffled around her awkwardly. Careful not to make any excessive skin contact, he skirted around with caution, stealing glances in her direction as often as he could. She really seemed unfazed. Maybe he is the one here overthinking. Yeah, he does that a lot, doesn't he? 

"Deku, we need to make the frosting now. Lemme whip the cream." She smirked, "or you'll be around making a mess again." 

"Hey!" He complained but her brow raises up as if daring him to and he knows he cannot win. He exhaled dejectedly. 

"Oh, if you're that eager to do some work then how about you cut some pineapple pieces. And yeah, make some sugar syrup for it as well." 

"Sugar syrup?" 

"Yup, when we do frosting and layering of a cake, we brush a little sugar syrup on each layer. It helps keep the cake a little moist and makes it sweeter." She is already squeezing out the whipped cream in a bowl as she continued, "And we need to dip pineapple pieces in it too. You know, since they are naturally sour, it's original taste clashes with the cream and cake. So, sugar syrup to make it sweet." 

She whisked the spatula gently but then realised that her companion was still looking at her in awe. "How do you know so much about baking?" 

She smiled. "I like sweet things and we did spend three years together in the dorms with Satou, right?" 

He accepted her words as enough of an explanation and continued with chopping of the pineapples. He remembered that she was searching for canned pineapples in the mall supermarket earlier.

"They are sweeter." She had told him. "Because they are kept in sugar syrup cause it's a good preservative." 

Suddenly, a gentle hum from her brings him to present. It is one of the recent songs that weirdly got popular. He had heard it on the streets and in the mall and she is humming it sweetly without a care in the world. And it relaxes him. The tension melts away from his shoulders as he watched her busy with the task just beside him with a small contented smile on her face.

Ah, the world seemed right. 

An hour later, they are done. The cake now has icing over it and pineapple toppings and Izuku hoped that it was as tasty as it looked. With all the effort Ochako had put in it, he doubted it would not. He feels a little bit accomplished. 

"Thank you so much for today, Uraraka! Really!" He bowed to her gratefully and she grinned, waving her arm around. "No! Don't worry about it. I had fun!" 

He had really wanted to drop her off to her apartment in his car but she adamantly refused saying that he should rather pack up for his vacation rather than fussing over her. After a lot of back and forth, she convinced him saying that it was not yet late and she can easily catch a bus to her locality.

"Atleast, let me walk you to the bus stop!" He does not give her a chance to refuse as he is already wearing his footwear and swinging the front door open. 

She gave him a wry smile before nodding her head. She is now on his doorstep and she sliding her foot into her sandal when he blurts, "Call me when you reach home, kay?" 

"Sure!" 

Seconds later she flew out of his door and her purse swinging by her side. He clicked the lock in place and they walked down the stairs talking about everything and anything. The walk to the bus station takes barely five minutes but he insisted on waiting till she boarded a bus. 

She shifted a little to his side when a flux of passengers crossed over at the city bus that just arrived and he curled a protective arm around her waist lightly. And thankfully enough, she didn't seem to mind. 

"Deku" she said lightly and he glanced at her to show that she had his attention, "When you return back, I want you to help me with those weird earthquake cases." 

"You find them suspicious?"

"A little. I really wanted my agency to look a little more in it. But they closed off the case. I'm sorry, I didn't want to bother you. Since we'll have to hide it from our agencies and all." She looked a little nervous and he didn't like it one bit. She was not doing anything wrong.

"Uraraka." He gently called out to her. Happy to have all of her attention on him now, he firmly explained, "We are heroes. We don't work for our agencies. We work to save people. All right?" 

Her eyes instantly brightened as if his words were all the reassurance she needed and if that really was the case then he was glad too. Uraraka was a fast thinker and her intuitions were barely wrong. He had been watching her closely for these past years so if she was suspecting that something was wrong then he'd do all he could to help her with that case. 

"Oh, the bus is here!" She chirped and he reluctantly let her go. The tips of his fingers hovering over her slim waist for a second too late to be considered casual. She is already boarding the bus and waving at him with a large grin on her face and he waved her back thinking that the light discontentment brewing in his chest was returning to an empty house again. 

He...would have liked it better if she had stayed a little more. 

But...then again, who was he to demand that from her. 

They were fake lovers to the world. And best friends to each other. It was an oddly complicated situation that he had brought upon himself so he had no right to demand more and complain, right? With such thoughts he dwaddled to his home. 

He was almost done with his packing when he went to the kitchen to get himself a glass of water when his eyes fell on the small pink and white paper packet that he had seen Uraraka get for herself when they were in the mall. He scrambled to get his phone and was about to call her when his own ringtone bellowed. 

"A phone call is here! A phone call is here!" All Might's familiar voice rang through his home as he grinned at the name of the person calling him. 

The caller ID he had for her was from their school days. In their second year, when they had all attended a summer festival together. She was in a pink and purple yukata, smiling at the camera as the fireworks glittered behind her. He thought her presence in the scene alone was enough to make it precious to him. He was no good photographer and he knew that but this particular photo was one of the best he ever had taken. And he was damn proud of it. Although now was not the time to reminisce about it and he hastily clicked on the call accept button. 

"Deku!" Her voice chirped from the other side. "I'm home!" 

He felt an involuntary smile twitching upon his lips. "Welcome home!" He greeted her back with the same enthusiasm. "Ah, by the way, you left your paper bag here." He supplied. 

There was a small pause before she giggled. "It is a gift for your Mom from me, Deku. Give her that with the dress? Okay?" 

"Wha-!" He yelled loudly, "You didn't have to get her anything!" 

"I know. But I wanted to." 

She is so soft and bright with her words, loving and thoughtful with her actions and that he cannot argue further over the matter. He doesn't want to put the phone down and she, surprisingly, doesn't either. They make a lot of unnecessary small talk to keep the conversation going and it is on for a few more minutes when she suddenly exclaimed. "Ah, I've got a file from work. Sorry, Deku, gotta go." 

"All right! See you when I get back!" He instantly announced, hoping that she wouldn't mind the last sentence. 

"Of course!" She laughed and all his worries vanished off. "Take care! And have a safe and happy journey! Lemme know when you reach home, okay?" 

"I will." 

"...." 

"...." 

"Deku?" 

"Hmm?" 

"Good night. Sweet dreams." 

"A-Ah, good night and sweet dreams to you too." 

The line ended with a familiar click and he buried his face into his palm with a large 'Haaahhh'. 

Despite spending the entire day by her side, it made him even greedier for her presence. Her smiles, her eyes, her touches, her voice, everything about her made him miss her even more. He wanted to cling to that feeling. That aura of gentle warmth and affection that surrounded her with the hidden fierceness lurking beneath made her everything she is. He wanted more. But, because it was her he couldn't help it. 

She always made him selfish and truthfully, he didn't mind it one bit.  

Chapter Text

Sleep does not come easy to him. He jumped out of bed in cold sweat, terrified, and a little out of breath. Sliding off his bed, he trudged to the kitchen and got himself a glass of water, gulping down in three mouthfuls. 

It had been years since he had such horrific nightmares. The feel of the cold rugged skin of Shigaraki's fingers on his throat still lingered somewhere in the deep of his memories. It still haunted him. The want to itch his neck felt unbearable. He took a deep breath to ground himself and wondered for a second. What had triggered those memories to resurface? 

The answer came after a bit of reckoning. It was the person who had approached Uraraka today (well, technically yesterday) in the mall. No matter how much he wanted to brush it off as an incidental meeting with an avid fan, something about the entire scenario bugged him incessantly. 

He glanced at the wall clock with All Might's face, one of the only merchandise he kept outside. It was two in the morning and he is supposed to drive off to his Mom's place at five. He'll have an hour and half to reach home and then he'll be able to wish her a happy birthday. But he still felt anxious. Maybe it was just his paranoia speaking, but he couldn't get the suspicious person out of his head.  

He entered his bedroom and grabbed his phone, browsing through his LINE messages before coming to rest on Uraraka's chat. He sat there for like half an hour, pondering over if he should or should not send her a message. He thought of a million scenarios in his head and finally came to the conclusion that they had nothing to lose. Better safe than sorry, right? 

... 

When Ochako rose from the slumber in the morning, the first thing she did was an extremely difficult navigation to the washroom with drooping eyes and a sleepy brain. She brushed her teeth languidly and splashed her face with cold water. Now that...was a good wake up call. Taking a shower and wrapping a clean cream coloured towel over her torso, she stepped out of the bathroom and trudged to her closet for clothes. Dressing herself appropriately, he grabbed her phone to check for any messages. There were two from Deku. 

2:34 Do you remember the person you bumped into the mall yesterday? I don't know why, but I feel a little uneasy about it. Can you please be careful and look into this matter? Sorry to trouble you! 

5:15 I'm off to Mom's home! See you in a week. And yes, I'll wish her from your side as well! :)

Ochako found herself smiling at the tiny smiley face at the end of the last message before her gaze flickered up on his first message. He was fretting over this issue at two-thirty in the morning? Was he not able to sleep? Was he...that worried? She didn't want him to ruin his vacation over such superfluous issues. She had met that man face to face but...if there was no particular malicious intent she sensed from him. But then again, in her career, she had already met more than enough people who were pretty capable of hiding twistedness in their hearts. And Deku's intuitions were rarely wrong. 

…

Inko Midoriya rose up from her bed like she would any ordinary day. Brushing her teeth was a routine activity to do as well. By the time she entered the kitchen to grab a cup of morning coffee, a stray thought wandered in her mind. Today was her birthday and like some of her recent previous birthdays, she might be spending this one alone by herself again. 

Of course, Izuku wouldn't forget. He never does. Her sweet boy, despite how busy he is, never forgets to be the first one to wish her a birthday and no matter what happens, she always receives a beautiful arrangement of carnations, pink roses and tulips, orchids and peonies along with a “Happy Birthday Mom” Card that is delivered to her by the local flower shop at noon. 

She loves them. 

She understands that even if Izuku is busy, he is still thinking of her and yes, she loved him for that. Of course, spending a bit of time with him will always be welcomed but her son was a dedicated Hero who saved countless lives everyday so she cannot afford to be selfish. 

Inko let out a sigh and headed to the refrigerator to grab the carton of milk when the bell rings. She jumped, eyes flicking towards the wall clock. Who would want to visit her - at six - in the morning? Confused, and a little wary, Inko set the carton aside and stalked to the front door, swinging it open to greet the visitor. 

There stood her object of affections laden with a backpack, a small suitcase and a rectangular container, in all his glory with a big bright smile that could even rival the sun. Inko blinked twice before she uttered out a "I-I-I-Izuku?!" 

He grinned mischievously as he saw tears pool in the corner of her eyes before exclaiming, "Happy Birthday Mom!" 

At his words her tears sprouted out like a fountain and Izuku laughed out louder and then leaned in to place a clumsy kiss on the top of his mother's forehead before smiling sheepishly. 

"I surprised you, didn't I?" 

Inko wiped the tears off her eyes before nodding in response. She swung the door wider to let him in. He placed his stuff on the floor and got out of his coat, hanging it on the hanger. 

"Izuku? You're really here for today?" Inko asked, a hopeful tint gracing her voice. 

"Ah, about that…" he smiled awkwardly, "I'm planning on staying here for a week. If Mom doesn't mind?" 

Inko teared up again as she clutched her son's arm, "really? For a week? Will it be alright with your work?" 

"Of course!" Izuku gently placed his hand over his mother's grip on his arm in a reassuring manner. "You know, I've been saving my leaves for this vacation itself!" 

"I'm glad... I'm so glad Izuku! That you came to see me!" 

The happiness in his mother's green eyes suddenly reminded him of how scandalously offended Uraraka seemed to be when he had confessed that he hadn't seen his mother in months. He chuckled inwardly, promising to himself that he'll be in touch with his mother more often or maybe invite her to his place more. 

"Go settle in. Coffee? I'll cook breakfast later." Inko said, smiling. 

Izuku nodded, gathered his stuff before deciding that he should probably place the cake in the fridge. After doing so, he wandered to his old bedroom with his luggage for a few days hoping that his mother would love all the surprises he had planned for her. 

He smiled wistfully at the name plaque "Izuku" hanging on the door, the upturned bangs of All Might looking more like antennas like structures. The door opened with a creak and Izuku noticed how the place seemed to be spotless. A weird, nostalgic feeling seemed to envelope him and he relaxed, letting the excitement of today wash over him. 

He wondered how Uraraka was doing? 

…

Ochako narrowed her eyes on the schedule posted on the notice board. All this time, she had somehow managed to avoid contact with Lance, but now it was over as indicated - she had a morning patrol with the said Hero. 

"Ughhh." She groaned, knowing that she was fortunate to have avoided him as long as she did. After all, he worked in the same agency and was her direct superior, so it was actually shocking. Maybe he was avoiding her too?She did not want to know at the moment.

She trudged towards the female dressing room, waving at and greeting any person he passed by. Few minutes later, she was in her uniform, climbing down the stairs swiftly to reach the lobby and as expected he was there waiting. Lance has always known to be punctual. 

He perked up as soon as he saw her and Ochako immediately averted her eyes. She was not going to forgive him. Not until he apologized for all he said that day. About her. About Deku.

Together they exited the building and wandered around, and Ochako rolled her eyes beneath her helmet at his attempts for the small talk. Man, he was persistent. Her assumptions proved to be a bit wrong. 

When he was talking about the weather for the third time, a loud crash echoed through the streets. She shared an alarmed glance with Lance before sprinting in the direction from where the sound came. Lance was not far behind. They hid behind a close alleyway wall to take the first hand notice of the situation. 

A city famous jewellery store. Armed muggers. Eight of them. A black and white large van. 

She snickered mentally at the luck of these goons. They attacked in morning hours to avoid traffic and more guards and police. Too bad for them though. Uravity signalled Lance to let her see if there was some kind of hostage situation and Lance nodded. She pressed her fingertips together and floated, using the anchor ropes on her wrists to guide her in the right direction. Floating at a safe distance, she saw one of the gunmans holding the security guard and two workers hostage. She immediately let Lance know.

He nodded and sneaked into the building. She waited for the inevitable chaos that would start with Lance sneaking in for the gunmen to be distracted before swiftly entering in as well. The man swirled around at the sound of the glass door slamming back in but Ochako was too fast for him. She disarmed him and knocked him out with two successive furious kicks and he lay sprawled on the floor. She winked and waved at the employees for letting them know they were in safe hands before tying up the fallen goon to a chair with a rope that the employees of the shop gratefully supplied her with. 

"Keep an eye on him." 

They nodded as she carefully peered over the staircase to see what kind of commotion was going down there. 

"Um, Mam…" one of the male employees called out to her. She glanced at him and he immediately pointed towards a computer system. "We've got CCTV down there." 

Ochako immediately gave him a thumbs-up of appreciation as he immediately showed her the footage of what was going down below.

Lance, had one of the weirdest and powerful quirk that Uravity had ever known. He had the power to control sharp metal objects. This quirk gave him the power to manipulate all sorts of swords, knives, needles, spears, lancelots in a radius of fifty feet. Lance's quirk of efficient way to end things before someone got seriously injured. Because most of the time, villains and thugs do carry knives and daggers and it is almost always hilarious when their own weapons turn on them. Ochako, for her part, is glad that Lance decided to become a Hero, not a serial killer or something. 

As expected, her partner was holding on his own pretty well but they still needed to restrain and subdue every harmful element. 

She made a quick strategic plan to knockout all of them before giving a two finger salute to employees before running down to help Lance. Only a few minutes later, Uravity dusted her palms with a grin as Lance tied the last of the thugs for the police. 

"Good job, Uravity!" Lance gave her a genuine smile. 

"Thanks. You too." Well, she gave credit where it was due. She stepped out of the shop in fresh air as sirens drew closer. 

"They're almost here." She announced to Lance who was still inside, keeping a vigilant eye on criminals. 

Ten minutes later, they are on their merry way after receiving a heartfelt thanks from both the police and employees they had rescued. It is then Lance dropped the bomb. 

"I'm-I'm sorry.” 

Ochako’s gaze snapped to him. “What?”

“I’m sorry.” Lance repeated, raking a hand through his blond curls, lips drawn into a frustrated line. “Everything I said that day...look, I-I shouldn’t have.”

Ochako doesn’t reply immediately. She lets him stew in guilt, a little pleased with how he could not seem to meet her eyes. Lance was a decent hero and she is aware that he deserves her respect for it. But a decent hero doesn’t always make you a decent human being. 

Or a decent father. She thinks bitterly when a certain friend comes to mind. 

The silence stretched for an entire minute before she opened her mouth, voice low enough to be a whisper. “You...think...an apology is enough? You insulted me and my boyfriend. You insunianted that I am not a capable Hero in my own right. You used my friends and people I adore to undermine me and my efforts to be a Hero and I didn't like it. I have the right to be upset, you know. Because your sexist ideals do not apply to me.”

Lance looked as if someone had punched him in the gut. And Ochako felt utterly satisfied with it.

“Shit.” he cursed, almost keening. “Shit. I-I did not mean. Dammit. I’m sorry! Really, sorry. I know an apology won’t cut it. W-what can I do for you? Please?”

She grinned inwardly.”Are you trying to bribe me?”

He looked appalled at first but then nodded stiffly.

“Hmm...what can you do for me?” she faked a thoughtful gesture already knowing what she wanted, one hand propped up on her hip and another on her chin.”Do you remember the earthquake incidents that have been happening recently?” at his nod, she continued. “There were three places right? All of them had cctv cameras if I’m correct.” A nod again. “I want the data related to all three of those incidents.”

“But the cases are closed?” he tilted his head questioningly and Ochako gave him a withering smile. “There is always much more to it than what meets the eye.”

He seemed to wonder something before giving her a one final nod. “I’ll transfer those files to your account when we return back.”

“Thank you.” ochako smiled and then marched on forward, not waiting for his reply. 

…

Izuku made another futile attempt to tame his rabid curls wondering if feeling this relaxed was acceptable. He had not been this...carefree in years. Probably since the day he had been admitted to UA. Dressed in a crisp white shirt and a green-black casual blazer, he had to admit that he was looking satisfactory to escort his mom. Huffing the umteemtpth time at his rebel locks, he decided to give up on them and exited his room. He could not wait to see his Mom in the dress that he and Ochako chose for her and also the brooch that she had brought specifically without telling him. He wondered if Mom was excited too. 

His questions were answered when Midoriya Inko appeared in the hallway with the clicks of her heels. 

And Izuku grinned. He had always thought his mother was one of the most beautiful ladies he had ever known. Her soft warmth and quiet strength was astounding. But tonight, she was positively glowing. Her soft round features were brushed up slightly sharp with a touch of makeup. She was dressed in the dress of his choice and the amber coloured brooch lined with green sparkling stones looked absolueltly stunning but the most beautiful part? Her absolutely overwhelming million dollar smile. And Izuku, in his mind, couldn't thank his best friend enough. At the sudden passing thought, his phone pinged. He saw a message for Uraraka and smiled. 

“Mom, let me snap a pic! Uraraka wants to see you.”

“Oh my!” Inko looked delighted at the mention of Uraraka and Izuku grinned in fond exasperation as she straightened her hair and posed gracefully. Only after four consecutive efforts on his part, only one was approved by his Mom to be sent to Uraraka. He rolled his eyes before pressing send and fumbled when response was immediate.

She looks absolutely gorgeous!!!;)

He handed over the phone to his Mom to see her reply as they shuffled out of the house, locked it and trudged to his car, letting his Mom chat with his girlfriend. A moment later his mom handed his phone back with a big blissful smile on her lips.  

 It meant so much to him to see his mother smile like that.

He offered her his arm with all the grace of a gentleman and his mom laughed, her voice twinkling. 

“Shall we?”

“Of course, Izuku!”

The dinner was a lovely affair. Her favourite italian restaurant. At first she had been surprised and then elated at his choice of resturant and then downright shocked when she learned that he had already booked a reservation since the previous night. They were guided by a waitress who seemed to be surprised but pleased nonetheless that she was going to be serving a mother-son pair. 

“What may I get you to drink? Sir? Mam?”

“Water is fine for me.”Izuku replied politely and then turned to Inko. “Mom?”

“Lemonade?”

Waitress gave them an agreeable nod left to fetch their drinks after handing over the menu.

“So?” Inko asked, eyes on the menu card, “Who was the mastermind?”

Izuku immediately let out a sound somewhere between a scoff of disbelief and a snort of amusement.

“You knew.” he stated and Inko Midoriya simply smiled.

“I know my son well.”

“It was Uraraka.” he grinned softly remembering the particular conversation. “She was furious with me when she learned that I hadn't met you in months. This-” he made a sweeping gesture “-was her idea. She told me that I should take you out for a nice dinner or something. And I’m glad I did.”

Inko smiled broadly, “I’m glad you did.”

The waiter arrived with their drinks and took their orders before vanishing off again. 

“By the way, the brooch you are wearing was a gift from her too.” he commented offhandedly and his mother looked surprised, her eyes flicking down to the beautiful brooch before travelling up to meet him. At her repramanding look, Izuku immediately  raised his arms in a placating gesture. “She didn’t tell me! We went for your giftshopping together. We bought the dress and then she ran off on her own and left the package with me. I learned about it quite late.”

Inko looked fondly exasperated. “That child - she should do such things for herself. Girls that age should spend money on themselves. Not buy fancy stuff like this for ladies twice her age.” 

As much as he believed that his Mom was right, he knew Uraraka is just not that kind of person. She had never been a fan of extreme luxuries and lived as simple as she could with required neccessities. As much as she earned now, Izuku figured that she would not dispose of her humble beginnings. She was admirable that way - to him, at least. But yeah, like his mom said, she might also be in a bad habit of spending her money on others. And he knows her reasoning will be - “But, they are the people I love, Deku!” He chuckled to himself knowingly.

“Mom, you know she likes you. We’ve spent a big chunk of our highschool lives with the both of you teaming upon me and making me the butt of your jokes.”

And Izuku wasn’t lying. If Midoriya Inko ever had a secret desire to have a daughter then Ochako Urararka fitted the bill quite effortlessly. Around the end of his first year in UA, his Mom had forced him to invite his closest friends for lunch and both Iida and Uraraka had become her favorites. Iida - probably for his motherhenning which Inko seemed to appreciate and Uraraka for - being just Uraraka? Because who wouldn’t love her . 

“And the cake was delicious. I assume she had to do something with it as well?” Inko asked, taking a sip of her drink. Izuku gwaked for a second before coming to the conclusion that all mothers had some kind of secondary quirk.

“How did you know?” he asked in awe.

Inko softly giggled. “I would have known if my son was a closeted baker, Izuku.” 

Izuku snorted in response. “Yeah. That was her idea as well. She was mad at me because apparently birthdays are not birthdays without a birthday cake.”

Inko laughed, imagining an indignant Ochako saying the same thing with hands on her lips and eyes narrowed at her son.

“When will you bring her home?” Inko asked, eyes glinting with hopefulness and he almost sputtered out the water. “Wha- What?”

“You heard me.” Inko insisted, and he could hear the mischief in her voice. He shook his head and replied, “You’ve met her plenty of times.”

“As your bestfriend. Not as your girlfriend.”

Her words leave him at a loss. He considers telling her the truth but realising that it might ruin her joy for the day, he refrains. And if his Mom notices his uncanny silence, she kindly doesn’t say anything.

“She is good for you, Izuku.” Inko gives him a loving smile but gets distracted when the waitress arrives with their orders.

“She is too good for me.” He whispers under his breath, watching the city lights blinking, knowing, believing - every single word.

...

They were driving through the smooth roads but the traffic was quite stifling. Izuku hummed some kind of tune he might have picked up from Uraraka when they were baking when his gaze flitted to his mom. She had her head turned to the window so he could only see her reflection from the driver’s seat. She looked sombre.

“Mom? Is everything okay?”

His voice seemed to have broken the trance she was in and he swirled to him distractedly.

“Are you not well? Should I drive faster?” his eyes were on the road but he could not subdue the worry in his voice.

“What? No! I’m all good! It’s just…” she hesitated and Izuku patiently waited for her to arrange her thoughts. 

“I’m so happy, Izuku.” she admitted, her voice almost teary. “You’ve gone through so much in such a young life and still - you are so kind and brave-” she choked “-and I am so proud of you that I can’t express it in words and gestures without crying.” she sobbed and Izuku had to pull over to the side of the road before pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket. He gently wiped her tears as more and more seemed to roll down.

He swallowed the heaviness settling in his throat as his own eyes glistened with unshed tears. Because this person in front of him had sacrificed so much of herself for his sake that everytime she mentioned about being proud of him - it made him feel it was worth it. Worth all the tears she has shed for him. Worth all the sleepless nights she had spent worrying over him. Worth all the wait he forced upon her by getting in all kinds of messes he could.

He was glad that he made her proud. 

“ Thank you, mom. ” he said, letting out a wet chuckle at how raspy his own voice seemed to be.   

“I love you, Izuku.”

“I love you too, Mom.”

And that was an undeniable truth.

…

Ochako reclined on her chair, languidly going through the CCTV footage that was provided to her by Lance in a flash drive with an embarrassed and apologetic smile and Ochako had called it a truce. Sensibly enough, he hadn’t pushed for more. Her eyes travelled to the digital clock on her office table and she let out a sigh of relief. A few minutes more and then her shift will be over. And then a good night’s rest will follow. 

As she clicked on more videos, she realised that at the moment Izuku might be preparing for taking his Mom to a dinner date like he had promised and hopefully enough, she would be dressed in the one-piece they chose for her with the brooch Ochako had sent. 

Ochako wouldn’t deny - Inko Midoriya was nothing if not warmth and affection. In her time as a UA student, she had met her best friend’s mother more than often and all those meetings with the older woman left her smothered in maternal affection. Yes, Ochako understands that Inko is not her mother but she might be the only person close enough for Ochako to at least consider her.

Ochako smirked to herself as she picked up her phone and swiped to Deku’s chat before typing : Send me a picture of your MOM.

Exactly, three minutes later, her phone buzzed to life. It was a photo of Midoriya Inko dressed as he had expected but looking more beautiful than she imagined. She furiously typed : She looks absolutely gorgeous!!!;)

Her phone pinged before she could put it down, Thank you Ochako! This is Inko.

Ochako smiled, assuming Deku had handed over the phone. 

Happy birthday, Auntie!

Thank you so much, sweetie! By the way, the cake was delicious!

Omg I’m glad you liked it! Deku is a disaster at baking!

The dots danced on the screen as Ochako waited for a response when another photo opped in. This time, it was a photo of Deku. He seemed to be opening the car door and the photo seemed to have been taken discreetly because he looked focused on the work on hand.

Dressed sharply, in white shirt and blazer, he looked...nice.

What do you think? Inko's next message and Ochako suddenly had a crisis over what she should say. Because Inko probably still believed that they were dating and Ochako was not planning to ruin her happiness for today but this was Deku’s phone and what the hell is she supposed to tell her pretend boyfriend’s mother about his appearance. After a few seconds of intense brainstorming, she came to the conclusion that he would understand why she did what she did.

She gulped as she typed and pressed send.

He looks dashing:)

Aww. Thank you Ochako! I’m sure he will love to hear it from you. She was replied to.

And I’m sure he will not. She thought to herself as she noticed the time again. Finally! She swiftly sent a message that her shift was over and she’ll be heading home and they can continue the conversation later and Inko replied again with an affirmative and ‘be safe’.   

A knock on her cubicle was accompanied with the poking head of the person reliving her and Ochako immediately flashed him a thankful grin before shutting off her system and collecting her stuff scattered around her cubicle. She had already prepared and submitted her report for the day beforehand and now she was all free. Probably it would be a solo movie night with some nice but quick to make dinner today. She was down to her lockers and changed into her civvies in record time before running back to her office and grabbing the last of her stuff. Almost out of the door, she stopped, a weird but sudden sense of foreboding made a shiver run down her spine. 

She whirled around for one last check over the space before her eyes went to the drawer that held the flash drive. Almost absentmindedly, she slid open the drawer, grabbed the tiny drive, stuffed it into her purse before turning on her feet and going on her merry way after waving goodbyes for the day to her colleagues. 

She wouldn’t know how lucky she was for her weird impulsive decision only until hours later when driving to the citymall at breakneck speed as she dialed numbers of every possible emergency services known.   

…

"Izuku!" 

The sound of his mother's shrill scream startled him into wakefulness. 

"Izuku!" She yelled again, and he felt something twist in his gut as the horror in her voice was evident. He vaulted over the bed, not bothering to put a shirt on, he sprinted out of the room, even using his quirk to power his strides. 

"Mom?" He called out as soon as she came into sight. She was standing, a palm over her mouth in stunned terror and eyes wide with fear. He followed her gaze to the television. It was morning News. 

"On the fifth of July, in the wee hours of morning around 3:15 am, a series of earthquakes shook the city mall destroying property worth millions. But fortunately, as far as we know - despite the 24x7 open hours of the mall, there was almost little to no damage to civilian lives. All thanks to the efforts of Gravity Heroine: Uravity." 

"We were told that some civilians spotted Uravity in all battle gear around 2:50, racing towards the broadcast room and soon enough they were directed to evacuate the building. The staff of the Mall was involved in it as well alongside Uravity and they helpfully guided everyone to the safe grounds." 

"Then slowly the Mall staff started to file out as well but before the staff in the broadcast room could get out, they experienced powerful tremors of earth - each one stronger than the next. It was reported by the last few evacuants that Uravity was seen dashing towards the broadcast room. Before anyone could fathom - the large building began crumbling. By the time the chaos ended - the proud building of city mall was reduced to rubble." 

"Unfortunately, we know nothing of the situation of the staff in the broadcast room and Uravity herself. Most people believe that they may have been buried beneath the massive rubble - and we are praying - hopefully still alive. Of course, the hero agencies and police forces which were probably informed of this certain catastrophe appeared on time and are conducting a full scale rescue operation to save the broadcast staff and Uravity." 

"Sadly despite their best efforts, there has been no News of rescue of these people. But let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that all of the broadcast staff and Uravity are all safe and alive. I, reporter Suzuki Akira, with cameraman Hayato Yuki would be reporting you with any updates and developments on the live scene further ahead. That is all for now. Thank you." 

The screen then immediately switched from the live destruction in the background to the pristine whiteness of studios and Izuku felt his knees go weak. He gripped the edge of the couch backrest to steady himself and then turned to his mother, pale faced. 

"Mom." He croaked out. "I have to... I need to go." 

But Midoriya Inko was already on the move as she was collecting the scattered stuff of his, helping him to pack up.

As he stood there staring at her, she turned to him, an eyebrow arched up stoically. Her face showed hardened steel lines.

"Then what are you waiting for, young man!" She growled, "get moving, now!"

And that was all he needed to hear. 

Chapter Text

The journey that normally should take him an hour and a half took four. The maddening traffic was a reflection of panic that the incident might have induced. Izuku thought so because he was driving through the traffic like a headless chicken and did not intend to stop until he reached his destination. When he rushed to the hospital, tension bubbling under his skin. He parked the car haphazardly but thankfully, had enough of a sensible mind to keep it out of the way so he was not disturbed later for such trivialities and then bounded up the entrance of the hospital and raced to the reception table.

The moment the receptionist confirmed the room number, Izuku was dashing in. He used the staircase instead of the elevator (because it's too full and he is not capable of waiting enough) and took two-three steps at a time and hurried around as fast as he could without possibly running. 

On the third floor. Room 314. 

He was breathless by the time he stood in front of the room. More from anxiety, less from physical exertion. 

He raised a fist and gently knocked the door. 

"Come in." 

His first thought is wait, that's not Uraraka. And second is wait, I can recognise that voice anywhere. The deep baritone voice was extremely familiar and as he pushed in the door to enter and the first thing to greet his sight is the mop of perfectly parted red and white hair. Todoroki was staring at him with a perfectly arched brow which smoothed when he entered the room silently. The figure on the bed was partially hidden by Todoroki’s larger frame. His gaze flew to his friend again and then settled on the occupant of the bed. 

She was sleeping, serenely, if he might add - courtesy of pain medications, he assumed. Her entire left arm is in the cast and there are clean white bandages wrapped around her head. If not for a more broken arm, he would say she looked slightly better than he was dreading. His brain took everything in. The bland, colourless walls, the white sheets and the air tinged with disinfectants and he subconsciously decides how someone bright and exuberant like Uraraka seemed completely out of place in the hollowness here.

"I knew you'd come." Todoroki said, breaking his train of thoughts, dual coloured eyes gazing at him but his voice still mindful of the volume.

Izuku nodded. "What happened?" 

"We don't know in detail yet. Uraraka might be the only one who does. She phoned me in the middle of the night saying that I need to be as standby if something happens to the city mall. She called police forces and nearby agencies too. By the time we realised what exactly was happening the building was in shambles and a few people were trapped inside alongside her." Todoroki cocked his head towards their sleeping friend. "We just got her out three hours ago and two of which were spent in surgery. They patched her up and drugged her with painkillers."

"Her injuries?" Izuku asked, and settled himself on the foot of her bed. 

"Arm cracked in two different places." Todoroki did not hesitate to drop the bomb and Izuku paled. "Thankfully, clean breaks. Minor concussion, minor cuts and bruises." He continued, eyes flicking towards Uraraka for a second.

Izuku released a shaky breath, eyes lingering on Uraraka before turning his attention to Todoroki. 

“Casualties?”

Todoroki actually smirked, a tiny thing that spoke volumes, pride radiating from his voice as he replied, “ None. She saved them all.”

Izuku was stunned. “None?”

“Yes. She got almost all of the civilians and the staff out. The ones in the broadcast room were the only people left. They haven’t interrogated them yet, probably because of the shock I’d say, but from what I can infer, Uravity might have done something very reckless.”

“Like floating an entire shit ton of debris?” Izuku offered, horrified at his own suggestion which increased tenfold when Todoroki gave him an expression displaying something between a grimace and a proud smile. He exhaled out another deep breath, shoulders hunched in defeat. “We...can’t even lecture her for being reckless.”

“You certainly can’t. It would be hypocrisy at it’s best.”

“...You...can’t cut me some slack, can you?”

“I try not to.” Todoroki shrugged.

"I'm surprised you're here though." He commented, a tiny but wry smile quirking upon his lips. 

"You know I was on the prep-leave for the undercover mission." Todoroki relaxed on his chair, eyes not straying from Uraraka. "I didn't want her to wake up alone."

And Izuku understands the sentiment. He has been in hospitals enough for both himself and others now that he knows the sense of security and warmth that is felt when you come back to the land of the awake and see a familiar face on your side is nothing to scoff at.

“Did you contact her parents?” He questioned after a while of waiting.

Todoroki replied in affirmative. “They said they will come to see her as soon as they can.”

Izuku eased and settled himself as nurses and doctors came around every once in a while to check upon her.    

…

It was around two hours past noon when she woke up. Groggy, and stirring around on her sheets, blinking rapidly and trying to block out the light. Izuku immediately stalked to the window to drag the curtain in order to dim the natural light in the room. It seemed to help as by the time he returned to his former spot, Todoroki was already helping her sit up. He is amused when she doesn't even notice his presence and thanks Todoroki for arranging the pillows behind her back. He stood on the edge of her bed while she got comfortable with her position. 

Then she finally noticed his presence. She blinked twice, confused brown eyes trained on him before cautiously tugged the sleeve of Todoroki's blue hoodie. 

"Hm?" He questioned. 

"Am I really awake? Is this a dream?" She wondered out aloud, still staring at him with wide unsure eyes. "Am I hallucinating? High on painkillers?" 

A realisation dawned upon Todoroki's face, his gaze flicking up to meet him before a small, almost unnoticeable mischievous smirk curled upon his lips. 

"Whatever do you mean?" 

"Uh-" Ochako hesitated, finally drawing her gaze from him to Todoroki for a second and then snapping back to him. "I-I can see Deku? Right in front of me?" 

"Oh, do you?" 

"Mhm-mhm." She nodded, eyes still the size of saucers.

Izuku was having a hard time controlling the laughter that threatened to boom out of his chest. She was too cute. He infered that Todoroki thought the same if the minute smile on his lips and eyes twinklikg with amusement are anything to go by.

“I don’t see anyone.” Todoroki said after a while, looking around fakely.

“Uhmm.” Ochako made a small noise and then blinked rapidly and Izuku almost warned her not to when she moaned in pain. 

“Careful.” Todoroki chided gently, “You’ve got a concussion.”

Uraraka ignored him in the favour on still staring at Izuku, now with a suspicious gaze. “He is still here.”

Izuku smirked inwardly, a part of him completely aware that she was not going to appreciate it as he moved closer to Todoroki and Ochako looked alarmed. She yanked Todoroki harshly towards herself and took a slightly protective stance. “He is coming near you!” she told him and then glowered angrily, “Stay away from him, you Deku - ghost!”

Deku bit back a laugh and Todoroki snorted. 

“This isn’t funny!” Ochako complained and Todoroki snickered, “Oh, yeah it is.”

He gripped Ochako’s small hand in his and then offered it to him. Izuku took it without hesitation and Ochako startled at the warm, solid sensation beneath her fingers. Both him and Todoroki share a knowing glance before they start laughing out loud together. “See. He’s real!”Todoroki supplied between laughs and Deku followed with a “Yes, I am.”

Ochako bristled. Before he could react, she yanked back her hand from his grip, grabbed a pillow and whacked them both on the face.

“Now that-” she gave them a feral smile, apparently satisfied with her revenge “-was fun.”

The silence that followed is deafening and Izuku wondered why they always stupidly underestimate Uraraka and her grudges. But then someone started snickering, he is not sure who, which in a span of a few moments turns out into a full blown laughter challenge of three adult heroes but they only seem to stop when Uraraka pulled her wrong arm and winced.

“Uraraka!” Izuku leapt to steady her and Todoroki stuffed another pillow beneath her injured arm to make it comfortable. 

“Thank you boys.” she said lovingly, gratefully and he blushed, cheeks staining pink. Todoroki smiled and gently messed up her hair which she pouted at. It was then a nurse entered and smiled brightly when she saw her awake. She immediately fussed over the injured heroine, checking her vitals and injuries and nodding to herself when they appeared to be satisfactory and proceeded to inform them that the Doctor will come around for a check up round in a few hours. Ochako inquired about the others trapped with her and Nurse cheerfully informed her that they were all safe and cared for. He noticed that Uraraka seemed pleased. They thanked the nurse for her assistance and she gleefully waved a farewell.

“How are you feeling?” Izuku questioned, coming to sit near the foot of the bed as Ochako attempted to scoot over to make room for him and flinched from the pain accompanying so much jostling and he immediately grabbed her legs to steady her as Todoroki whispered, “Easy, easy.” to her in a soothing voice.

“Like a building fell upon me.” she commented grinning, pain forgotten in a moment’s notice and Izuku found himself half amused and half horrified at her morbid sense of humour.

“But why are you here?” Ochako asked, her head tilting in genuine confusion and Izuku immediately frowned. 

“Where else was I supposed to be?”

“With your mom?” 

“What? You...were in danger. Mom freaked out.” he said glumly, the hand resting on her leg slowly coming back to him. “And I did too.” He mumbled quietly. 

Few moments of silence followed his quiet admittance and Ochako bit her lip, frustration clear on her face.

“I ruined your vacation…! You’re supposed to be with your Mom.”

“Uraraka.” Izuku frowned, “Do you really believe I care about the vacation? I was worried about you!"

“But-” she complained.

“I’m hungry.” Todoroki cut her off, sensing an argument brewing, “I'm going to the hospital cafeteria.” He stood up and stalked to the door and glanced back, “Do you want something?” 

Izuku was both impressed and thankful to him for breaking the squabble before it escalated.

“I  want a cheese sandwich.” Ochako answered, even though the question was meant for Izuku. 

“You can’t Uraraka-” Deku said gently but it didn't seem to work when she cut him off. 

“Cheese sandwich!” 

She glowered at Todoroki as if daring him to challenge her. 

“But the hospital is providing you with meals-” Izuku attempted again but then Ochako scowled at him and wagged her finger at him, cutting him off “-which are frankly gross!” And then her face morphed into a sad frown as she looked up at them with the most pitiful eyes she could muster. “I haven't had the chance to have a meal since yesterday and I’m really hungry.”

Izuku immediately felt his heart throb at her puppy eyes. Though Todoroki wondered out aloud, “Why cheese sandwich?”

Ochako promptly lit up, “Cause I wanna eat one. They’re delicious!” At twin unimpressed looks she received, she faltered and then her gaze fell on her broken and an idea dawned upon her, “Uh, I need calcium! For my bones! You know dairy products are rich in calcium, don’t you?”

Both the men shared a look and Shouto made another attempt, “Okay, Then I’ll get you something healthier-”

“Todoroki Shouto.” she snarled, “Do not make me count the number of times I’ve smuggled bowls of soba in your rooms after you do something spectacularly stupid that lands you in a hospital.” There. They lost an argument. Two simultaneous sighs of defeat were let out by the two boys and Ochako proudly gave them a victory grin signing V with her good hand. 

“Get me a light bento as well and a milkshake for her.” Izuku hollered for Todoroki as he slid open the door and stepped out.

“Strawberry? Or Mango?”

“Strawberry.”

With another nod of acknowledgement, he pushed the door back to its place and left them alone to their devices. Silence followed his departure, punctuated by some occasional beeping of machines.

After a while, Izuku asked, “Can I call my Mom? She was kind of, uh, anxious. For you to wake up.”

Ochako gave him a sure nod, mindful of her concussion and Izuku fetched his phone out of his pocket and swallowed. He had only seen the conversation between his Mom and Ochako, and had grimaced over how the entire ordeal must have made her uncomfortable. But he was still grateful to her for not revealing the state of their relationship to his Mom on her happy day. He was not sure why, but his mom seemed to be quite invested in the idea of him being in a real relationship with Ochako. His plan was to apologize for what his Mom did in the morning and take a few days to gather the courage to face her again. But, of course, the universe works in mysterious ways. He was here, sitting on her bed, five days too early with no plan of action and no words ready for damage control but found that it didn’t matter anymore. They had way too many overly important issues to deal with now and she had too much to think and worry for. 

It took not only a complete ring  for his mom to pick up the phone and he assumed that she had been waiting for it and knowing her, she probably was.

“Hi Mom.” He could feel the heat of Ochako’s gaze on him.

“Yeah. Yeah. She is awake.”

“Oh?”

“I’ll let her know.”

“No. She was not alone. Todoroki was here.”

“Cafeteria right now.”

“Hah. ok.”

He swiftly raised his eyes to meet hers and signed ‘do you wanna talk?’ and then quickly mouthed ‘you don’t have to if you don’t want to’. Ochako gave an eager nod and made grabby hands for the phone and Izuku handed her over the phone with a smile. He stood up and gestured that he was going to get himself some water and he left the room at her nod to give them privacy. He wanderded around, taking astute observations for the area. The pale walls of the corridors were stiflingly familiar and wailing families and friends were not always the encouragement people need to get in the right mind.

He roamed around a bit more before stumbling to a water filter and filled the empty water bottle he had stolen from Uraraka’s room. Taking gulpfuls of water he refilled the water again when his eyes fell on a familiar figure at a distance. 

Detective Yamamoto. 

While Uraraka was sleeping, Todoroki had revealed that Detective Yamamoto was taking this case. He might have more information about the entire disaster. He trudged towards the man who was currently conversing with a few fellow officers. Izuku remembered working on a few cases with this guy. Hopefully, he did too because it would be good to not start with a fresh page. When they close enough for him to greet them without raising his voice the man whirled around because of the nudging of the officer who had spotted and recognized him. 

“Hello detective.” Izuku greeted respectfully as a flare of recognizition lit up the man’s brown eyes.

“Ah, Deku.” The man nodded and stretched out a hand to shake. Izuku immediately intercepted amicably. He also greeted the two other officers at the detective’s side before they shifted away for some work.

“Heard you were taking the City Mall case?”

“Yes, that’s how it seems to be.”

“How is it going?”

“Honestly? I’m kind of baffled by the system and impressed by Uravity for handling it all as well as did and as quick as she did.”

Izuku could not help but let his chest puff out in pride at the praise for his best friend.

“Is she alright? I’m assuming you might know given the nature of your relationship.”

The man said but Izuku chose not to respond to his words. They were not wrong, publicly, anyway.

“Ah, um, yeah. She’s doing good. Woke up a while ago. I was planning on returning back to her before I spotted you.”

“Glad to know.” The older man sounded relieved. “Last time I saw her she had a nasty fracture and caked blood on her head.”

“Then she’s doing a lot better than you saw her last time.” He smiled.

The man seemed to appreciate it. “Will it be alright if we ask a few questions to her? Not now, of course. We really want her to recover from the shock, but when she is ready?”

“Yes, I’ll let her know. Possibly, I can even assist her to write her report. It’ll be of use to you.”

“Yes, that would be great.”

“Uh, detective. I know I'm not supposed to ask this but still, what may you know about this case?”

“It’s fine, Deku. I trust you.” The man replied, nodding to him and continued, “Well, not much, for starters. Only that Uravity called around 3:02 AM to the police department and requested them to assemble near City Mall. She informed them that City Mall might collapse tonight and she needed them there to be at their earliest. Somehow, when the police reached, the building was being evacuated and like Uravity had predicted, a series of earthquakes hit the area. The tremors increased to the point where even the sturdy structure of the mall gave away. I...suspect, it was not natural." 

“People were trapped inside?”

“Yes. A few. They were the staff that were helping with the evacuation and manning the broadcast system. And Uravity was with them.”

He nodded but their conversation was cut off when one of the officers who were formerly present came running towards them.

“Sir. Mr. Suzuki seems to be stable enough. He said he would like to report to you.”

“Oh” the man perked up and glanced at him. “Deku, if you wish, you may accompany us.”

“Will that be alright?”

“Of course.” 

They walk through the hospital corridors, Detective and his officer at the front and he, on their heels. On their way, he is informed that Mr. Suzuki is the manager of the broadcast team and helped Uravity in evacuation of civilians. 

It is a short walk and soon they entered the room and a man, presumably in his mid forties, looked up. 

“Hello. Mr. Suzuki. I’m Detective Yamamoto. How are you feeling?”

The man looked exhausted with drooping eyes and unkempt dark hair streaked with greys and Izuku cannot honestly blame him. Disasters like these normally do a number on a person’s mental psyche and this man was stuck in the middle of it. To agree to get interviewed and relive the trauma for everyone else’s sake was a brave thing to do and apparently, Detective seemed to believe the same.

“I’m as fine as I can be, sir. But before you ask anything, I’d like to ask something too.” The man stared at them with enough intensity and desperation for them to concede to his demands. 

“You can.”

The man shot out immediately, “How is Uravity?” The question shocked all of the people present because they were honestly not expecting it. The man continued though, “You see, that child-” he almost choked, “-The only reason me and my colleagues are even alive and, of course, all those people she got out - it was because of her. She was hurt. Badly. I want to know if she’s-”

“Alright now!” Izuku immediately interjected, sensing the growing panic in the man’s voice. Successful in getting the man’s attention, Izuku relaxed his stance deliberately. “She woke up a while ago. And was worried about you all. But we were able to calm her down. She is better now.” Izuku said in a soft convincing tone.

“Thank you.” The man replied, his eyes watering and voice grateful for the news. He told them how he has a daughter around Uravity’s age and felt worried for her. Then took a few deep breaths and nodded at the detective. 

“Fire away your questions detective. I’ll answer as much as I can.”

Yamamoto smiled. “Of course, that’s all we need from you sir.” 

“First of all, we need a rough report. Tell us all you can remember from the beginning. My pal here will record you statements.” Detective pointed a thumb at the officer on Izuku’s side holding a pen and a paper pad, ready to scribble down anything and everything necessary. The man inclined his head to Suzuki with a small smile and that made the man nod in agreement.  

He talked about how it was an ordinary night for business and how his colleagues tottered around as usual. They were told that his team consisted of seven people including himself and how their normal work was to guide the other staff and people. It was around 3:08 or something when Uravity dashed into their room in her uniform and barked orders to see Suzuki since he was the manager. He wasted no second because apparently this was serious and protocols for their work stated that they must always listen to a Hero on their job. She told them she suspected that the building might collapse and they had only around five to twenty minutes at tops in their hands. They asked her if some kind of bomb or explosive was there but she denied. She told them there might be something similar to an earthquake. “We didn’t believe her at first.” Suzuki told them distraghtly. “But she begged us to believe her. Told us that if it turned out to be a fluke, she’ll take the responsibility. Lives were at stake so we did what she asked. Evacuation went smoothly for the most part but at the end when our staff was leaving...the earthquake began. A lot of us were shocked we were honestly expecting it to be fluke. I mean who the hell can predict an earthquake?”

They decided that others were their first priority. They guided all others out. 

“To be honest? We never expected Uravity to return back to get us. Especially after how we treated her.” The man said. “But she was incredible. She realised that the building would not hold much longer, asked us to push our tables to the most sturdy wall and get beneath them and shield our heads. We were almost done when a large chunk of ceiling gave away. Even under tables we would have gotten crushed but this kid-!” Suzuki exclaimed, “She fucking floated the entire chunk of ceiling! Saved us all from getting crushed! Then lifted it and slanted it against our wall, making a kind of makeshift shelter. It prevented the falling debris from trapping and killing us.”

He talked about how they realised that her arm was broken a few hours later. Despite having the most injuries, she was smiling and convincing them that they would be rescued because she had already contacted emergency services on her way here. 

“She must have been in so much pain.” Suzuki whispered, wiping the tears gathering in the corner of his eyes. “We didn’t have any medical supplies to ease her pain. As soon as the rescue team got us out, the poor girl fainted.” But immediately backtracked, “No. Not poor. Never poor. She is undoubtedly the bravest person I’ve ever known.”

Yamamoto nodded, earnestly convinced about Uravity’s courage and strength. And Izuku felt his heart ache.  He was so damn proud of her that words cannot be enough but a part of him felt she did not deserve to go through this kind of hell. 

They thanked the man for his assistance and commended him for his bravery and detailed recount of the painful memory and left him alone after wishing him a quick recovery. Izuku amiably parted ways from the detective and his team and hurried to her room not wanting to leave her alone longer. Todoroki was already there by the time he returned, both him and Uraraka with eyebrows raised questiongly. “That was an awfully long time you took there to get a glass of water.” Ochako commented, sipping her milkshake. 

Izuku smiled sheepishly as he entered remarking how he got stuck with someone. None of them pried any further and Todoroki casually gestured to the packed Bento on the side table and a set of chopsticks lying on it. Izuku thanked him and grabbed his lunch and sat on his designated place on the foot of Ochako’s bed making a face at the bland taste. 

“How’s the cheese sandwich?” Todoroki asked, stuffing another mouthful of rice.

“Could be better. But it’s fine. For now.” Ochako took another bite and tilted her head to a side. They were finished with their lunches and 

Todoroki collected the wrappers and dumped it into the trash can in the corner of the room.

“I think you should go home Todoroki.” Ochako said, shifting a little. “You have been out since night. You need some rest.”

“She’s right!” Izuku immediately supported her. “I’m here. You can go home and take a bit of rest.”

He narrowed his eyes at both of them, his face morphed in a thinking frown, then he nodded, after a lot of consideration. “Fine. I’ll leave for now. I’ll come back during the evening visiting hours.”

“Sure.”

He collected his stuff, pocketed them and then approached the bed, ruffled Ochako’s hair gently and smiled kindly, “Take care, okay? It was kind of scary to wait and not be able to do anything when your friend is stuck beneath a ton of debris. I don’t want to experience something like that ever again.” 

Ochako gave him a sweet smile and leaned into his touch, nodding a yes. “I’ll try not to.”

“Do your best not to.” He growled, without fire though. Ochako laughed, the crinkle in her voice they loved so much was evident. 

“Yes, sir, yes!” She saluted loosely with her undamaged arm making Todoroki chuckle. “Alright. I’m leaving Officer Midoriya to keep an eye on you.” He warned. They both snorted at his ‘Yes, sir, yes!’. He suddenly remembered something. “Yaoyorozu was worried about you. Will it be alright if I bring her to see you in the evening?”

“Of course! I’d love to meet Momo!”

Todoroki smiled, ruffled her hair again and left the room before she could blurt out a complaint.

…

Momo Yaoyorozu was restless. She did not happen to be like this often but nobody should blame her after the recent events. 

Uravity had survived . 

Uravity had saved . 

And Momo was so proud of her friend that she felt her heart would burst out of her chest.  Todoroki had convinced her that he could look after their mutual friend himself after Momo was spent because she had been working non-stop on their case. Later she was messaged that Midoriya was already there. Momo wanted her mind to calm down and think rationally that two such capable heroes will not let any harm befall Ochako but somewhere down the line...reading about more and more detailed tellings of the incident scared her enough, that even Todoroki reassurances were not adequate. 

A part of her blamed Iida for this churning anxiety in her gut for their friend, because apparently working alongside him for three years as Class President and Vice president respectively,  had made more than a few habits of him rub off on her. Or maybe she already had this motherly instinct buried deep within her from the start, like Jirou liked to say, which occasionally resurfaced when her precious friends would get into trouble. And to be honest, she did not mind at all. They were important people to her and she would give up anything for them in a heartbeat.

Well, now, the matter at hand was she wanted to see Uraraka.  

So, when Todoroki’s message dropped in her inbox, she immediately scrambled with no dignity of a lady to pick it up.

They asked me to leave. Said they wanted me to rest. 

Momo giggled. Because even through the text, she can imagine his petulant expression with a jutted out lower lip and frowning heterochromatic eyes. 

Are you listening to them? She typed and pressed send.

He replied.

Yeah.

Oh, btw, I asked Uraraka if she would like to see you in the evening. She said yes. I’ll pick you up around five?

Momo felt a relief filled smile graced her lips. She could always count on him for making her feel better in unexpected ways. She tapped on the keys fast.

Okay. Thank you Todoroki. 

Do you think she will like some soup?

Todoroki sent her a laughing emoji.

I’m sure she would love your home made food. Everyone does.

Momo grinned, pleased and furiously typed another response. 

If you’ll excuse me. I’ve some soup to cook.

Todoroki last message read - Yeah sure. Try not to cook up a storm.

…

Okay, Izuku is sure this could have gone better.

Writing a report for Uraraka Ochako also known as Uravity should have made things easier for all of them. Not fill him up with rage and helplessness. 

It started when he asked, “How did you even know the building would be hit by an earthquake?”

“Oh, do you remember the three building collapsing incidents that happened in the last few months? Shopping complex? Apartment building? Bank Sector 67?”

Izuku felt his eyes go wide. “Yeah. They’re related somehow, aren’t they?”

She gave him a sad quirk of lips. “Well, I think I should thank you for that.”

“Huh?”

“You remember? The guy we met in the mall?”

Izuku did not like the direction this was going towards. “What about him?”

Ochako took a long breath and then met his eyes, lips tugged into a serious frown. “He is the perpetrator. Name is William Kanzaki. Half English and half japanese.”

She told him about how his unease about the guy had warned her. “I was already under the belief that these previous instances were not natural. I somehow secured the CCTV footage and was surprised to see him in the first incident - a shopping complex destroyed - two months ago. If I didn’t know what I was looking for then I might have completely missed him.”

Izuku was breathlessly horrified. “He is a murderer. Apartment complex demolition killed twenty plus people.” He choked out, taking a deep breath to ground himself.

She nodded and told him how she cropped an acceptable shot of him and had it sent to one of her coworkers who had attachments to government databases and other ID databases. By the time results came, Uraraka was seventy percent sure that this guy had involvement in all the aforementioned incidents.

“What information I received about him was alarming. This quirk is Vibration Time.”

“What…?”

“From what I was able to understand that anything he touches with all five of his fingers for a certain amount of time - vibrates. He probably has limits but I was not able to discern it.”

“So...these superficial vibrations created earthquakes?”

“Yes. I mean as much as I could understand.”

“All the four incidents were caused by him? Are you sure?”

“Yup, as much as I can be. And also, I think he can control the intensity of vibrations but not the time of it.”

“That’s weird.”

Ochako nodded solemnly. “I made a few calculations. The time of activation is approximately thirty five to thirty seven hours.”

Izuku fell silent taking a moment to consider the damage that could have been done if this kind of quirk could be controlled on will. “That is quite a time frame.”

“It is. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to narrow it down further.”

She sounded dejected and it made his gut twist.

“No, Uraraka. You’ve already done more than enough. Now let others do the work further.” He insisted, leaning in slightly. It was unexpected but when his gaze fell on her arm in the cast, something flipped in his head.

“Wait..? Does that mean...your arm?” He asked, utterly afraid of the answer.

Ochako’s eyes flicked to her broken arm and then turned to him and a choked laugh escaped her lips.

“Shit. shit!” Izuku raged, a hand raking over his green curls but when his emerald eyes settled on her honey browns, his features irrevocably softened. “It...must have hurt?”

Ochako smiled wryly. “Yeah. At first I ignored it. Told myself I must have hit my funny bone somewhere in a hurry. Then it became unbearable...till my bone snapped in three different places.”

He inhaled sharply. A rabid wave of anger sweeping over his senses, fists clenched to the point where his knuckles turned white. Sensing his emotional distress, Ochako tried to make things better. “Deku....” she called him, leaning back a little “Yes, it hurt like hell back then but it’s okay now.”

“No, it’s not!” He snapped and grimaced when he realised that she had recoiled in shock. He felt terrible. She was hurt. He should be the one to comfort her - not the other way round.

“I’m sorry…” He muttered slowly, not being able to meet her eyes in shame. “I’m really sorry.”

Ochako waved off his apology with a gentle and understanding smile. It made his chest burn. 

How many times was he going to fail her. How many times was he going to let her down?

She deserved better. She has always deserved better.   

Izuku drummed his fingers against this thigh, before tentatively asking, “Are you...okay?”

Because he understands. He knows what it feels like when you’re the only wall between the impending danger and people who need to be protected. The desperation to put your pain and weaknesses behind you and smile and make promises that you would almost have to die to keep. 

“Hm? Yeah. I’m glad everyone came out alive.” She chirped but Izuku shook his head.

“I’m….asking about you.”

Ochako went silent and he kind of expected it. She had never been the one to show her insecurities and pain to others. Sadly, despite all his efforts, he was one of them. And he tries that fact to not let a bitter taste develop in his mouth.

“I-I” she paused, eyes averting and he patiently waited to let her collect her words. “I think...I’m fine.” she whispered after some consideration. “I mean, I didn’t have the time to think or panic. There were several lives at stake and every second was counting. I had to save everyone. I didn’t have the time to be scared, you know.” She took a deep breath and stared at her trembling hands. “I had to be...I had to be okay. There was no other option.”

Izuku felt a heaviness constricting his throat. He didn’t have words to soothe her so he slid his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together. He met her surprised gaze head on and brushed his thumb over her knuckle. 

“You...saved everyone.” He started,”And now, here, it’s okay...to be not okay. You understand, right? You and everyone else here are safe. And you have me and Todoroki here. To protect you and everyone else.” He bit his lip and cleared his throat, “What I’m trying to tell you is...you don’t have to keep smiling anymore. You don’t have to hide that you’re afraid anymore.”

He watched her eyes go wide and squirmed on the inside when her breath hitched. She ducked her head down and willed her bangs to hide eyes and shuddered, fisting the blanket on her lap. Izuku let her have her moment without interrupting, content that she had yet not pulled her hand away from his grasp. She was not crying, nor did he expect her to, but he was...kind of relieved? That she was willing to show this side of hers to him. He smoothly kept rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand in comforting and lazy circles. 

Sometimes, processing trauma takes hours to weeks to months to years. He is always told patience is the key.

Izuku wanted to consider himself plenty patient. Uravity, despite her immeasurable courage and strength and abundant brightness - was only human, in the most fragile of the ways.

He knows Heroes have their fair share of traumas, both physical and mental. Seeing the worst that society has to offer every day and night does that to you. But being able to see past that fog is what makes you a Hero. All Might has always been a prime example of that. 

But sadly, that does not mean it hurts anyless. 

His train of thoughts are halted when he feels a trail of wetness slide down their conjoined hands resting on her lap. He could see the silent tears dripping down her cheeks from the side of his gaze but he respected the need for her privacy and did not turn his head and make some half hearted attempt to soothe her. He knows she needs it better than she does. All comfort he could offer her, at this moment, is a squeeze of hands. Stunningly enough, he is answered when her grip on his hand is tightened by a fraction. And he is utterly content with that.  

Several minutes passed with nothing but quiet permeating the atmosphere when she murmured, softly, “Thank you.”

He smiled. 

“You’re welcome. Always.”

Chapter Text

When Ochako woke up the next time, her senses whirred together at first and slowly sorted out. The first thing she noticed is how her white hospital room is bathed in the warm orange glow of the setting sun. She felt the cool breeze on her skin. Then her eyes fell onto the lone figure on the far end of her bed. Deku was reclining on the stiff plastic chair that the hospital provided, his fingers moving over the keyboard of the laptop with such precision and quickness that if Ochako didn’t know better, she’d assume he was using his quirk. Using the quirk would have crushed the laptop. As much collateral damage his quirk does, Izuku isn’t consciously fond of it. 

“Awake?” He asked, without looking up from the screen.

“Mhm-mhm.” Ochako mumbled, rubbing her bleary eyes. 

“Do you want water?”

“Yes, please.”

Izuku immediately deposited his laptop on her bed and stood up, stalked over to the table beside her, grabbed the jug and poured a glass of water for her, before carefully handing it to her good arm. 

Ochako tried to not choke on water as he stretched, his arms extending above his head. He was completely unaware of his predicament as his shirt was riding up and exposing a strip of fair freckled skin. She dutifully averted her gaze. 

He took the empty glass from her and she questioned, “Did my parents call?”

“They did.” He chirped, “They are wrapping up their works as fast they can. They'll be here tomorrow by noon.”

“I told them not to come. But they wouldn’t listen.” She complained. 

“That’s parents for you.”

He shuffled to his seat again and they settled into that familiar comfortable silence that they’d spent their teenage years with. Working on homework, projects, assignments and whatnot. Ochako sighed. She was aware that she sounded like an eighty year old grandma who reminisced about her youth on death bed, not a twenty two year old who was just here for a broken arm. Unable to bear her train of thoughts, she decided that she wanted to pester her companion. So, she did.

“What’cha workin’ at?”

His head immediately turned to her. “Oh? Me? Just working on your report. I thought I’ll atleast do something this simple for you.”

“You didn’t have to!” Ochako exclaimed, but then smiled softly, “Thank you though. It means a lot.”

“Always Uraraka. But I’d like it if you would stop thanking me for everything. I think we’re way past these formalities.” He smirked.

Ochako felt her lips quirk up in response. “You’re the one to talk.”

“I guess I shouldn’t be. Hm?”

“Nope!” She chirped. 

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door and a nurse entered, carrying a board clipped with multiple charts.

“Hello, how are you doing, honey?” She came to stand beside Ochako and offered a kind smile. 

“Better.” 

“That’s good. The doc’s planning to decrease your pain meds dosage. And we have contacted Doc Ortho to accelerate your healing.”

“You contacted Doc Ortho?” Ochako asked, surprised.

“Yes honey. He is a Hero. He has a quirk that accelerates the healing of bones. You’ll be able to get out of here in four days completely healed.” She informed them.

“That is amazing!” Izuku is delighted by the news but shrinked at the knowing look on the older woman’s face. She laughed at his reaction and commented, “Honestly, you two look so cute together!”

Both young adults shared an alarmed glance, faces turning scarlet. “Uh, thank you?” Ochako answered dumbly after a few seconds. The nurse chuckled, patted her on the arm and left the room as inconspicuous as she came. 

They both let out a simultaneous groan and bury their heads in their arms. 

"It never gets easier, now, does it?" ” She muttered more to herself than to him but nonetheless received a grunt of acknowledgement. 

They stewed in their embarrassment for a while before a sharp knock on the door shattered the silence and Todoroki strolled in with a food bag hanging in one hand. But Ochako’s eyes flew to the other figure on the entrance. 

“Momo!” She squealed, delighted to see her friend.

In just two seconds, she is enveloped into a firm and soft hug.

“Oh god. I was worried about you! Ochako, how are you?”

“Alive and well for now.” Ochako grinned and the other woman tutted her lightly and slowly separated from the hug. 

“Midoriya.” She greeted him gracefully and respectfully as always and Izuku immediately returned it.

The sterilely empty room breaks into an excited chatter and the abundant joy on Ochako’s face made Izuku wonder if they should have called Yaoyorozu sooner. 

He helped Todoroki empty the food bag and arrange the food containers in a neat stack. 

“What are all of those?” Ochako tilts her head. 

“Food.” Todoroki shrugged and gestured to Momo who straightened up at Ochako's narrowed gaze. “Did you...cook up the entire kitchen or something?”

“Nonsense!” Momo rebuked, “You need nutrition. There’s not much anyway. Soups, salads and bentos and rice. I just made simple foods.” 

At the nonplussed look she received she shied away but then turned to them. 

“Please fetch me the fruit salad.” 

And before Izuku could even fumble, Todoroki snatched a pink tupperware from the pile and tossed it to her, grabbed one for himself and dropped himself on the stool beside his chair and Yaoyorozu comfortably settled herself on the bed. As Izuku sat on his chair, Todoroki wordlessly offered the assortment of apples, oranges. They both munched on the fruits listlessly watching Ochako do the same but hers had bananas and strawberries as well. 

Izuku thinks how hilarious it was that his best friend was busy stuffing her mouth like a squirrel whereas Yaoyorozu was sitting there with her back straight and ankles crossed, all lady-like. 

That easy elegance that Yaoyorozu exuded attracted people to her like moths to light and endeared them to her but as her fellow colleague on the field Izuku has always been aware of the fact that she was a force to be reckoned with. 

But Ochako, with her easy smiles and optimism inspired her own fans. Deku had trustworthy comrades in both of them. 

He made a face at an especially sour orange piece and it kicked him out of his trance.

They seem to be talking about the cover mission that these two were about to take on. 

“And how will Todoroki stay hidden?” Ochako questioned and Yaoyorozu clapped her hands together gleefully. “We’re dyeing his hair black! And he’ll be using eye lenses as well.” 

“I am?” Todoroki frowned, confused. “I thought I was going to use a wig?”

“No Todoroki.” Momo stated gently as if talking to a child, “Wigs don’t work on your hair properly. We’ve had too many of those experiences. And anything less than perfect is unacceptable.” 

“Oh.” Todoroki said, thoroughly nonchalant, as if it was a common day occurrence for him to give into Yaoyorozu’s demand. Knowing them, it probably was. Todoroki respected Yaoyorozu like he did no one else and got along with her surprisingly well for all his quietness and blunt remarks.

“I am surprised this crisis is not setting your mission back.” Izuku wondered out loud. 

Yaoyorozu turned to him and nodded. “I understand what you might be thinking, Midoriya. But this mission is incredibly important. We’ve been working on it for almost an year and this might be our one and only chance to infiltrate it and get it done. Once these drugs and arms dealers are shut down, the streets will be much safer.”

They are all in soundness agreement. A heaviness settled in the room, a moment of pondering where they all doubt their own decisions. But Ochako, as always, is quick to break.

“Hmm that makes sense. But I really want you both to be safe.”

“We’ll do our best.” Yaoyorozu said, with a brilliant smile. 

The time passed and after the last round of checkups, they argued about who should be allowed to stay with the patient for the rest of the night. Yaoyorozu won the battle with a wide margin when she sternly reminded them that Todoroki has been with Uraraka since last night and he had been there all day. So, they conceded to her demands. 

They gathered the empty containers in the food bag, swept the room for anything and everything. Todoroki juggled the car key, tossing it up and down as he swung the food bag over his shoulder and Izuku proceeded to grab his laptop and backpack.

He pressed the key of his car into Yaoyorozu’s hand. “In case of emergencies.” 

He smiled as Todoroki ruffled Ochako’s hair and she growled at him. He swiftly escaped the room before he could be reprimanded. 

He bit the inside of his cheek, not sure how and what to say and then he finally settled on a ‘Take care’. 

She grinned so brightly at his words that his mind stuttered for a moment and in a show of unexpected boldness, he placed a chaste kiss on the crown of her head. And then he ran away, without a backward glance and a flaming face.

By the time he reached the parking lot, Todoroki was leaning against the hood, waiting for him. The light in the lot left nothing to hide in the darkness of night and Todoroki raised a questioning brow at his apperance. 

“What happened?”

“Nothing!” He squeaked and ducked to the other side, opening the passenger door. Thankfully, his friend chose not to pry and Izuku was thankful for that, because he is not sure how exactly he is supposed to explain his internal freak out about his stupid lapse of judgement over his best friend and pressing a kiss on her. 

God, I’m screwed.  

He squeezed his eyes shut and leaned into the backrest of the seat and secured himself through the seatbelt and Todoroki did the same. They are safely down the road and the hospital building is being left behind. 

“You’d want to return back tomorrow morning, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll come. Pick you up.” 

“Eh? No need. I-Ican take the bus.”

Todoroki waved him off. “I’ll visit Uraraka and have to take Yaoyorozu back anyway. There is no need for a bus when I can come and pick you up. We can grab breakfast for girls on the way.”

“Alright then.”

“You won’t be coming after that, right?”

“Yeah, we don’t have much time now. I and Yaoyorozu will be dropping off the radar soon enough.” 

They don’t talk much after that and a few minutes later, he is climbing up the stairs of his apartment complex. His bones felt heavy with a lethargy he hadn’t expected to feel. The terror he had felt after hearing his mother’s shout and subsequent events was uncoiling, slowly. 

But this moment of quietness helped him to enjoy the calm he was feeling at the moment compared to the frantic nerves of when he was returning back. He twisted the key in the lock and heard the tell-tale click of the door opening. He stepped over the threshold and quietly revealed the familiar scent of home, free from any trace of disinfectant. And that allowed it to occur to him now that -  

Uravity was alive.

She was safe. 

Not yet. 

A haunting voice in his head whispered. And he knows what that meant. She was not safe till the criminal was not locked up in maiden and shipped to Tartarus. So after a quick shower, a fresh change of clothes and a steaming hot cup of coffee in his hands, he set to work.

…

The morning comes like it always does, with golden sunlight and a whiff of fresh air. Izuku was tempted to curl up and sleep a little more than he remembered the current circumstances and bolted out of his bed, head swimming because of sudden movement and lack of sleep. It took a moment for his head to orient itself rightly and then he is moving around, doing chores and getting ready for Todoroki to pick him for the ride to the hospital. He even prepared his mother's special broth recipe in case Uraraka isn't up to eating solid foods.

Later, he waited for the familiar black car to pull on the sidewalk in front of his apartment complex and didn't have to null around for long. Todoroki soon showed up and they greeted each other as Izuku fastened his seatbelt. 

"Where to?" 

"Name any nice breakfast places on the way." 

"Got it." 

The car moved almost at a leisure pace for a while before they pulled up to a famous breakfast joint. As they waited for their orders, they get cups of coffee. 

"You didn't sleep last night, did you?" Todoroki questioned but it is more of an observation. 

"Yeah." 

Soon their packed orders are retrieved from the counter and they take the car to the hospital. When they reach the hospital, there is a comparatively lesser rush than evening. And it makes sense, since people have to go to work and schools in mornings. Even both him and Todoroki would have had a hard time staying with Uraraka if not for the breaks they were both having. 

Iida was so swamped by work that despite his best efforts he was not able to visit Izuku nodded and he took another sip of his Americano and made a grimace. He didn't hate coffee, but he didn't like it either. But it was needed for today. 

"Are you working on Uraraka's case?" 

That surprised him. His shock must have appeared on his face because Todoroki shrugged.

"How did you guess?" 

"Well, you seemed... interested. And if it's her then...it becomes kind of personal, doesn’t it?” 

It did. And all of them knew that it was troubling him even though Uraraka had assured him it was alright. 

When they reached her hospital room, it was surprisingly quiet from the outside. 

Todoroki knocked. “Uraraka? Yaoyorozu?” 

“Come in.” Yaoyorozu’s voice crossed the door. 

“Good morning gentlemen.” She greeted with a bright smile and Izuku’s eyes flicked to Todoroki’s bright expression for a second before coming to rest on her. “Good morning to you too.”

But there was no Uraraka. 

Both him and Todoroki stared at Yaoyorozu, brows raised questioningly.

“They took her for a check up. She’ll be coming back anytime soon.” 

That was a good enough explanation so Todoroki pulled out the coffee container from the paper bag and handed it over to her which she accepted with a grateful smile. 

Izuku might not be good at normal social interactions himself but that didn’t mean he was not observant. Not wanting to intrude between these two, he cleared his throat and mentioned he’ll be outside for whatever reason. And before he is aware he is already moving towards the orthopedic ward hoping he would catch Uraraka when she exits. The lit up board of the ward flipped his stomach in a weird way and he plopped down on the benches lining the large entry. 

Almost ten minutes later, the doors open to reveal a bright and cheery Uraraka in a wheelchair talking to an equally excited nurse pushing her around. She noticed him instantly. 

“Deku!”

“Hey.” He smiled and then stepped forward to the nurse. “Thank you Mam, but will it be alright if I take her back to her room?”

The nurse was still looking at him with a flabbergasted expression before blinking back into awareness.

“Uh, yes. You can. Or maybe take a detour to the gardens? It cannot be fun enough for Miss Uravity to be stranded in her room all the time.” She winked at Uraraka in a way that is supposed to be subtle but is entirely not and he had to duck his head to a side and cover his laugh with a cough at the incredulously coloured expression on his best friend’s face. 

“Why not? That’s a good idea!” He is already pushing her away to spare her from the embarrassment and say anything that might blow up their cover. He watched in amusement as Uraraka buried her head in her good hand and groaned. 

“This is embarrassing, every single damn time.” 

And he did not try to hold back the laughter that escaped his chest, as they crossed the gates to the garden and to his utter delight, Uraraka followed him with the giggles of her own.

When they were a safe distance away, nobody noticed a phone snapping the pictures of the laughing couple. 

…

They return back to her room after a thirty minutes walk and find Todoroki and Yaoyorozu engaged in some kind of important conversation. They were hunched over the small desk together, the wrappers and containers littered on the top and their shoulders close enough to touch. They welcomed them with smiles on their faces inherently unaware of their closer than causal proximity. Ochako shared a glance with him and they decided not to mention anything about it. 

As he helped Uraraka settle on her bed, Todoroki stepped forward with a thermos and a bowl. 

“Here, Midoriya made broth for you.” 

At Uraraka’s surprised glance at him, he shrugged with a bashful smile. “It’s Mom’s special recipe. I made it just in case. You don’t have to eat it.”

He gave a reprimanding look to Todoroki who ignored him spectacularly and proceeded to empty the thermos of steaming hot broth in the ceramic bowl. 

“I’d love to!”  She made a grabby hand at the bowl, “I’m not in the mood for something heavy anyway.”      

Todoroki carefully placed the bowl on a tray with a soup spoon on the side and brought it to her. She immediately took a spoonful of hot broth and fortunately had enough patience to blow on it for placing it in her mouth. 

“It's so good!” She moaned and then took another mouthful of soup and Izuku felt a blush colour his cheeks. He was not a bad cook per say, he could definitely fix himself a decent meal, but he was not what you could call an excellent cook. But Uraraka’s expression of bliss made him proud.

They chatted a while after that about most inane topics, and soon the noon rolled around. The surroundings were depressing when they realised that it was time for Todoroki and Yaoyorozu to leave and go underground for their undercover mission in a few days. 

Uraraka exchanged hugs with Yaoyorozu and he offered a handshake and a promise to come help them at first call if needed. And she agreed with a small smile that she would definitely contact him if things go south and they are unable to control it. 

They stand on a side solemnly as Uraraka wiped the tears gathering in her eyes as Todoroki rubbed her head soothingly. She nodded at something he said and as he pushed himself away from her bed, she clutched his sleeve desperately. 

“Be safe! Please-!” 

Todoroki’s eyes softened as he crouched in front of her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. 

“Of course. We’ll be back as soon as we can.”

Uraraka bobbed her head in a gesture of ‘yes’. Both Yaoyorozu and Todoroki dragged him into a collective hug with her and Izuku could not help but hold them close, basking in their presence and warmth, hoping and praying that they would both come back home in one piece. 

They left together - Todoroki and Yaoyorozu on their way and Izuku went to the station to fetch Uraraka’s parents and dropped them at her home to clean up so they could come and see their daughter. Mrs. Uraraka insisted that they’ll come around the evening visiting hours with a cab and food for their daughter and Mr. Uraraka asked him to not worry about them and to keep their daughter company. Izuku had blushed furiously at the clear innuendos and teasing and bit his tongue every time he wanted to insist that they were not like that .   

…

So imagine his surprise when he returned back to Uraraka and there was already someone inside the room.

He paused in front of the door, frowning because despite being muffled by the door, he could still hear some on-going conversation between two people. One was Uraraka, definitely, but he didn't recognise the other one. That made him uneasy. So he rapped his knuckles on the door twice before sliding it open. 

Uraraka was sitting on her bed as he expected her to but the man who was sitting beside her was the one he didn’t recognize. They had both turned to him at his arrival, Uraraka with a welcoming smile as always but the man with a weirdly calculated expression. That is when he also noticed the small bouquet of sunflowers and white gerbera daisies. 

“You’re back!” She grinned up at him and patted the space beside her in a gesture to sit which he did without hesitation. 

The man was still staring at him, as if sizing him up, without trying to be obvious and Izuku did the same. His unease over the recent incidents flared up at the prospect of Uraraka anywhere near unfamiliar people without someone he could trust by her side. He wondered for a moment if he had seen this person somewhere before. Something about him was recognizable, but he could not put a particular finger at it. 

“Let me introduce you to each other.”

She placed her hand on his shoulder. “This is Midoriya Izuku. Deku as well.”

And then she tilted her head towards the newcomer. “Deku, this is Watanabe Eiji. Better known to us as Hero Lance.”  

Of course, he knows Lance. That's why the person seemed a bit familiar. It's just that Lance wears a helmet that hides most of his face. He had personally never worked with the older Hero but Uraraka had. He was her senior in their agency. 

"Nice to meet you, Sir." Izuku bowed respectfully which seemed to startle the guy. 

"Of course, nice to meet you too." He raised his hand in a gesture of handshake which Izuku returned with a firm grip and smile. They made a small talk about Uraraka's recovery and other topics. It was nearing the end of noon visiting hours when Uraraka steered their conversation. 

"There is something I need from the two of you." 

Her words were enough for both of them to spare her their undivided attention. 

"With me in this condition, I don't think I'll return back to this case anytime soon so I kind of...made a few arrangements." 

"What?" Lance questioned, brows furrowed in confusion. 

"I had a talk with detective Yamaguchi about the case. I requested him to form a team with the two of you and lead the investigation." 

"You want us to work on that case? Are you sure?" This time, Izuku asked, eyes trained on his friend. 

"Yup. You're the best people to work on this mission. Lance, because he is one of the most capable Heroes in my agency and you, Deku, as outside help for both on the battlefield and your analytical and detective work in recon." 

Her eyes flickered to her injured arm and then turned to meet their gazes, lips pressed in a thin line, replacing her loving visage with a serious one. 

"If he is as dangerous as I'm predicting him to be, then we need the best people we can get to stop him." Her lips twisted into a complicated smile.  

“I know it might be uncomfortable to you both. But you’re the only people I can trust to pull this case up.” She whispered, her good hand fisting the thin blanket draped over her legs. 

They shared a glance, trying to search for any reluctance in each other’s faces at the prospect of working together and when finding none, a nod was provided to each other and then, to her. 

The brilliant smile she offered them in return was worth it.

And also undeniably worth all the trials they might face in future. 

It will not matter what comes their way, because as Deku, he was not planning on giving up anytime soon.

Chapter Text

 The cacophony of the bustling traffic down below, at the street was filtered by the glass and Izuku absently noted how it would increase in the evening as the work hours ended. He placed his hand on his face, exhaling deeply and straightened out his legs. He had been working nonstop for two days after he had cut short his vacation to work with Dectective Yamamoto and Lance to apprehend the criminal at Uraraka’s request.

“Coffee?”

If he was any less trained he might have jumped at the unexpected entry of Lance. The man was offering him a coffee and a donut with a smile on his face and Izuku returned it, accepting the treat. 

“Thank you Mr. Lance.”

He nodded and proceeded to drop himself into the chair across from Izuku with his own beverage. Izuku nursed his bitter-sweet concoction and studied Lance with a careful nonchalant gaze as the older man went through his phone. 

Working with Lance was unexpectedly difficult and somehow still easy. The older man liked to nitpick almost everything he did and asked deliberately difficult but kind of obvious questions. On the other hand it surely looked like he had some experience working with Uravity and they manuevered around it managing to work together better than he does with someone completely new. 

They discovered a lot of things about William Kanzaki and the entire team they were working with was mind boggeled about how quick Uravity was in her investigation and subsequent actions. 

“I gave her the CCTV footage, you know.” Lance once declared proudly when Detective was praising Uravity for the idea of actually searching the footages of the places that were hit. It was not wrong but Lance talked about it as if it was his idea when indeed Uraraka had been the one who had requested it.

Izuku was not sure what annoyed him about this person but even if he could work civilly with him, Izuku did not actively hate the man but did not like him either. 

“I’ve been wondering Deku, how long have you known Uravity?”

Ah, there it was. The careful but incessant probing about personal information. Call him paranoid but his experience with UA taught him to be wary of people, even if they were heroes. He has made it a habit to not share any private information. He knows this is kind of hypocritical coming from him - as a self proclaimed Heroes obsessed fan, but each to their own. 

He took a long sip of coffee.

“Since the entrance exams of UA.” His answer was curt and short. 

“Have you always been this close to her?”

He gave the man a firm nod. “You may have no idea how we met. But yeah, we have been close since the very first day.”

And there was no lie in that. He still remembered the day they met like the scars on his hands. Deeply engraved. He remembered the puff of her hair and the colour of her coat. He remembered her smile and exact words like it had happened just yesterday. He remembered her saving him and then him saving her and then her saving him again. He remembered how emotional he had been when All Might’s hologrpahic message had shown her requesting Present Mic to share some of her points with him. 

He wondered if he had ever let her know how much that gesture of her meant to him. Probably not. He doesn’t know why but when it comes to her, his brain malfunctions more than not and right words won’t come out. 

Lance opened his mouth to say something when Izuku’s phone beeped.

“Excuse me.” 

He quickly left the room, grateful to end the frankly slightly stressful conversation with him. He ducked in the lobby and rushed straight to the balcony which was a good spot for taking phone calls. 

“Hello Iida, glad you called!” 

“Midoriya!” Iida’s voice was slightly distorted through the speakers. “Good to hear you too. I finally had the time to visit Uraraka. So I believed I could bring her something of necessity. You know how she is, she will not speak.”

“Yeah, I know how she is.” Izuku said fondly, crossing his legs and leaning against a wall. “But I don’t think she needs something specifically, except for maybe some...nice company.” 

Iida laughed at that. Both of them reminsinng about a young scowling Uraraka stuck on a hospital bed after a scuffle that shattered her leg and Recovery Girl refusing to heal her hoping to teach her teenaged charge a lesson. 

“Will you visit her later?”

“Yeah, probably in the evening. Oh, by the way, Did I tell you her parents were here?”

“You indeed not. I’ll be happy to see Mr. and Mrs. Uraraka.” 

“I’m sure they’ll be happy too.”

They made a small talk of some minutes before hanging up. That is when he noticed a text from Uraraka. 

I hope Lance is not giving you trouble! I’m really sorry if he is!

Okay, so that confirmed his theory of Lance being a difficult coworker. 

No, not at all. Izuku typed, biting the inside of his cheek. He's a nice guy.   

 Her response is immediate. 

Alright then. Don’t have too much fun without me ;)

Izuku chuckled and slid the phone back into his pocket with a smile. He rolled his shoulders and marched inside with his spirits high. 

…

The meeting later consisted of the selected individuals that Detective Yamamoto had hand picked himself, and Izuku had to admit that most of these people here had clean and impressive records. All of them were listening attentively, adding their inputs wherever it was needed. 

“Uravity, despite the short frame of time she had, was able to discern William Kanzaki’s quirk quite accurately. There is a sixty to ninety minutes time lapse that does not match up. And his quirk does not necessarily generate time controlled earthquakes but rather he can mimic a variety of vibrations to the point where he can actually generate sound.” 

Izuku explained his notes about Kanzaki’s quirk systematically through the presentation he had made. 

“What I’m concerned about is the level of control Kanzaki has over his quirk. If it is refined, then he will be extremely difficult to apprehend and lethally dangerous. But if he is not, then he’ll be disastrously dangerous.”

“Disastrously dangerous? What do you mean by that, Deku?” Police head Yonoki looked perturbed.  

“What I mean is if he is unable to control the intensity and distance to which his vibrations travel, our confrontation with him will end up endangering hundreds of innocent bystanders.” He navigated to the slide where he ad created a simulation of the damage Kanzaki was capable of inflicting. Everyone was horrified. 

“That is insanely dangerous!” Someone exclaimed and Deku gave a solemn nod. 

Detective sighed. 

“I’m quite impressed and troubled with the data Deku has pulled up and his concerns are valid. Apprehending William Kanzaki might turn into a full blown operation with heroes on the front line, police and military special squad teams on standby and rescue teams for civilians.” 

Silenece settled over the room and Yamamoto sighed again and gestured to him to take a seat. Izuku instantly did. 

Then he nodded at the leader of the Alpha squad to report. 

“Based on the attack patterns of Kanzaki, which frankly are quite random, we were able to determine his living quarters are present in one of these following residential areas.”

Some addresses popped on the screens and Izuku inwardly groaned at the fact they were well populated areas. 

“A few more days of surveillance and we will be able to pinpoint his location.” The man announced with absolute confidence. 

“Good work!” Yamamoto applauded. 

He shot more than a few instructions at the other incharges gathered and turned to him and Lance.

“I want you both to create a team plan which you believe will have the easiest and most non lethal way to capture and secure Kanzaki. Choose the heroes you want to work with and conditions you want to work on. Send me the files by two days. I’ll approve of a plan and contact the heroes you want with you on this. Is that understood?”

“Yes sir!” 

The two hour meeting was finished with proper conclusions derived and Deku already had a list of heroes who could be helpful in this mission. His attention snapped on the present when Lance let out a long suffering sigh.

“Is something the matter?”

He scowled. “How are we supposed to create an entire plan in just two days? That is too less! We atleast need a week for that.”

He was not wrong. Standard procedure allowed them three days to research heroes with appropriate quirk for the situation and two days to form a plan, one day to put forth the shortcomings and one day to write about how to deal with them and that made it seven days in total. 

But practically it is difficult to follow the protocol because of how quickly and unpredicatbly the situations change. 

He knows that the only reason he might have been comfortable with the time given to them is that he does not have to waste time in researching the quirks of different heroes. 

His childhood obsession and fanboying had its perks at times like these.  

“I understand why you’re this upset Lance. But with someone as dangerous as Kanzaki on the loose we do not have time to wonder about such things.” 

Lance blinked and then his stance relaxed. “I guess you’re right. I won’t gain more time by scowling around now, will I?” 

Izuku gave him an understanding smile and then pulled out his phone to message Uraraka. 

Meeting is over. I’ll let you know the details when I come over.  

He was about to slide the phone back into his pocket again when it buzzed.

Sure. I’ll be waiting. 

It said. An intense warmth flooded his chest when he saw the message and it radiated through his burning red face. To have someone to return home to must be great. This conversation seemed innocent enough but he felt it was like something that would happen between a husband and wife. The mere thought of it made steam exscape his ears. Izuku buried his face into his palms in embarrassment. 

“Is everything alright, Deku?”

Sudden call out from lance made him jump up. Swiftly he pocketed his phone back and turned to nod at his companion, hoping his face was not crimson. 

Lance looked skeptical but did not pry and Izuku was grateful for that.      

…

Ochako was having a mind-numbingly boring day. She was ecstatic that her parents were here and embarrassed that she loved the way they doted over her but that did not ease the boredom idleness brought. She was itching to do something productive but she was supposed to be strictly off work now. So she huffed and puffed and scrolled down the phone she was allowed after her minor concussion had gone away. There was only so much you could chat to with the nurses before their work called for them.

Iida had come to visit her previously that day and her parents were glad to see him. Her friend had returned the sentiment and apologized to Ochako for not coming sooner. She had waved him off knowing that disasters like that cause a mess for the heroes involved in the clean up and probably the only was not being pestered for the case because Deku was meticulously dealing with the case and making sure she was bothered as less as possible so that she can get plenty of rest. She felt some guilt over the fact that he had spent his long earned vacation taking care of her and her mess. 

Iida had offered to drop her parents back to her apartment to freshen up and relax after they spent the entire day keeping her company. It was going to be evening soon and visitations hours were supposed to start. Maybe she will get some comapny then. 

She was scrolling down the recent news when his message popped up. 

Meeting is over. I’ll let you know the details when I come over.  

In a flash she remembered he was supposed to attend a strategy meeting with Lance today. 

She swiftly typed a reply. 

Sure. I’ll be waiting. 

As soon as she hit send, something in her stomach flipped. Didn’t it look like something an actual girlfriend or wife would text to her overworking boyfriend or husband? A furious blush adorned her cheeks and she shook her head like a dog does to get rid of water after a bath trying vainly to dispel the sweet traitourous thoughts.  

Suddenly her phone lit up displaying a message from Mina which said-

I’m so sorry about this honey. did’t want u to see this but better I show u rather than u seein it accidentally yourself. 

Attached to the message was a link to some kind of article. 

Ochako closed her eyes for a second before warily clicking on the link, steeling herself to see something nasty because Mina had already warned. 

It started:

Trouble in Paradise? Is Dekuvity in danger of breaking apart?

A few months ago, Hero Deku, had indirectly admitted to sharing a romantic relationship with his former classmate and current colleague - the Gravity Heroine Uravity. 

The young Heroine had recently been allegedly famous for her incredible rescue of hundred plus people when a City Mall had collapsed. Her heroic feat has been praised far and wide and we thank her for her efforts. It was reported that she received some servere injuries during the rescue but has been healing perfectly fine. 

The pair of Deku and Uravity has been a fan favourite since the day Deku had adorably confessed his romantic attachment to Uravity and the two of them have been seen on romantic dates together several times. The couple got so popular that they were given the name - “DekuVity” by their amazing followers. 

But to the disappointment and shock of all, during the entire episode of City Mall incident and Uravity’s daring rescue mission, Deku had been notably absent on the scene. The city had mobilised almost all of his heroes to the scene where Uravity herself had been trapped beneath the rubble and Deku had not been seen even once. In fact, some of their former classmates like Shouto and Ingenium were spotted and Shouto even accompanied an injured Uravity to the hospital. 

Some of our internal resources had informed us that Deku was on a vacation the entire duration of the event and there was no involvement of him in his girlfriend’s rescue and surgery.   

This fiasco raised several questions but the most important of them being Is a vacation more important enough to Deku than his own girlfriend?

Does Deku not treasure Uravity as much as he had pretended? 

What does this mean for the young couple’s future?

The article started good but every next sentence infuriated her more and more. What did these people writing tabloids know about her and Deku’s relationship? 

Those ‘internal sources’ did not have the decency to mention how long it had been since his last vacation. What did these people know that the so-called vacation was one Deku had taken in months just to see his mother? What did these people know how she was the one who forced it onto him. 

And the worst of all... Does Deku not treasure Uravity as much as he had pretended? Really?!

Ochako has doubted the nature of their relationship for a long time but she has never once doubted if Deku cherished her or not. He expressed how much she meant to him in his own clumsy ways and Ochako loved him for it. 

It was a good thing that Mina had been the one to discover it and because stumbling across this mess on her own would have hurt more. 

A sudden knock jarred her out of her thoughts and she distractedly mumbled a ‘come in’. A familiar head of green hair poked in.

“Deku?!” Ochako jumped. “What are you doing here?”

He entered the room fully now, in civilian clothes and a backpack slung over his shoulder. “Didn’t I say I’d drop by?” He tilted his head to a side. 

No you didn’t. She wanted to say. You just said that you’ll let me know how the meeting went the next time you visit me. But she didn’t.

At her lack of response, he shuffled uncomfortably. “Is this a bad time to drop by?”

“No!” She responded without thinking. “I mean...I’m, I’m glad you’re here.” She tucked a strand of her hair back. 

He gave her a soft smile at that. “Yeah, I’m glad to be here too.” He said with sincerity. 

She felt wind knocked out of her lungs at his unabashed admission and affectionate look and maybe he realised the implications of it as well because next minute he was blushing scarlet. A laugh bubbled out of her chest and he ducked his head down to hide the redness of his face as he dropped himself on the chair on her bedside and slid the bag to the floor. Suddenly his head sprang up. 

“Uh! Uh, I mean, this case is yours more than any of us so I didn’t want to keep you out of the loop longer than necessary-” he rambled on and the conversation slowly shifted from why he was here to what happened in the meeting and Ochako found herself smiling fondly at the man who was narrating eveything with such detail that was so much like him.

Suddenly she had a thought of not wanting him to see that stupid taboloid. He already felt more than enough guilt over his absence and she would never let anyone else make him believe that way. She discreetly slid her phone beneath the blankets, eyes on him. And then she made a promise. 

She will protect him. That was her job as his fake … girlfriend. 

And his best friend.