Work Text:
Braving to throw away his life is both his greatest strength and his weakness. For Izuku Midoriya, it isn’t an option to bow down to evil no matter how hurt he is, because it’s an occupational hazard whenever he faces the world as Deku – the hero known for his death-defying heroism. He’s an instant hit to the public since his debut, never hesitating to step into any kind of danger to save people. It’s what the people needed in times of despair. Someone who’s able to surpass the very thing called fear.
He’s learned the roughness of their world and the harshness of this path as early as his teenage years, but that didn’t stop him from going all out for every fight, carrying everyone’s hopes and faith in him and promising to return with a smile.
However, no matter how bright his smile is, this tenacity to save won’t always sit well with the people close to his heart.
Especially to a married man like him.
“Well, I really want to make it up with ‘Chako…” Izuku’s fingers meet, tips together, with his hands on the table – a habit of Ochako’s he’s somehow adapted to be his own as well over the years.
He didn’t think he’d open about this to anyone if he were to be honest. But they are his friends. He could trust them.
“I mentioned it on e-mail that we’ll be celebrating our seventh anniversary next week. I wanted to ask for some advice…” When Izuku says that, it comes out as a whisper. Perhaps he’s ashamed to admit that he has reached this point.
Not that he dislikes the thought of asking for favors so much. It isn’t that.
He’s just really disappointed with himself. His broad shoulders sink lowly as he traces his scarred hands with his eyes, his figure getting smaller as he remembers the incident months ago.
Izuku will always, always have a soft spot for Quirkless people. He may have reached his dreams of becoming pro, of mastering a Quirk that was given to him, but he would never ever forget his past. It will always be a part of him that would never waver no matter how much time passed. That’s why it surely made him feel elated to witness the government launch a campaign against Quirkless discrimination in his lifetime.
The first batch of Quirkless teens aiming to be trained to aid heroes, dubbed as the “Golden Children” were on their merry way to tour the city. But it was the perfect opportunity for a gang of villains for jeopardy. Popularized as the “Golden Children incident,” pro-hero Deku was reported to singlehandedly save the kids and beat up the villains. Another feat for his stash of bravery and victory emblems, really. But what made it bombard news channels was the fact that Deku disappeared with the children for four days with no trace at all.
Apparently, one of the villains had a Quirk that could erase someone’s presence which made the whole thing complicated. But justice prevailed and he and the forty-six teens were able to come back safe, which was celebrated by everyone.
Once again, Deku saved the day, was recognized for his efforts, and was another hero to be admired. He was many things to be praised. But behind the media coverage was the Izuku who beat himself as a failure of a husband.
What the honor of the heroic feat hid was a worried wife on the verge of giving up. Uravity may have worked with several heroes and authorities, not stopping to get even a hair of evidence. But in those four sleepless nights, none of the most advanced technologies or the most efficient tracking Quirks were able to get anything. It was purely Deku and the children’s efforts that got them out of the situation.
Izuku grimaces upon the memory surfacing. Both of his hands clench tightly to one another, digging into his skin. The thing is that the mission was supposed to be for at least six heroes. But he wasn’t able to take it when he heard the screams that he just moved without thinking, leaping to the other side.
So despite the relief of seeing Izuku safe, Ochako really had to slap him square on the face to sink into his brain that he wasn’t immortal. That he wasn’t alone.
It should have hurt since he accidentally bit his inner cheek when she did that. But what hurt him more is that very image of her crying, her round eyes that looked at him with love, pained by the very thought of losing him.
Izuku had an oath with himself to be so strong that he wouldn’t worry anyone anymore. To be so strong that people would have nothing but confidence and faith in him to not be plagued by their fear of him meeting his demise. Yet the person who trusted him the most was crying in front of him, hugging him and trembling, screaming her worries at him.
“I really thought I lost you…” The way she said it dug deep in his heart and left a hole that couldn’t be cured by time nor her presence. He really hurt her.
Months have passed but that tear-stained Ochako stuck with him and haunted him in his dreams even if they shared the bed every night. What everyone celebrated actually damaged their relationship but they never talked about it.
As if on cue, Tenya brings out a white sheet of bond paper and slides it on the table. The whiteness of the material against the black table cloth is enough to get Izuku out of his bubbling regrets.
Grabbing the paper, Izuku stares at the list neatly written by his bespectacled friend judging by the penmanship; the angular characters and the pressure left by the point on the paper were quite fitting for his friend’s personality. He hasn’t read it yet, but he just looks at the contents then alternates to looking at Tenya – whose chin is on the bridge made by his fingers interlocking with each other, with his elbows prodded on the table. They’ve been friends for years and while Tenya is now a full-grown man with a thin and groomed mustache, his distinctive features like his gawky eyebrows, sharp eyes, and that set of glasses remain.
The familiarity is supposed to ease Izuku, but, in front of Tenya, along with two other full-fledged adult men right by his two sides, Izuku as he has the list on his hand, feels like he is being scrutinized by a set of panelists.
It is more nerve-wracking than when he had his very first media conference as pro.
“Tell us about the frequency of your lip contact,” Tenya states, two fingers adjusting his glasses on his nose.
“What!? Tenya-kun that’s…!” While he has dropped stammering, it is bound to come back in these kinds of situations.
“Why are we talking about CPR?” With red and white hair partitioned in the middle with ends brushing the top of his broad shoulders, Shouto tilts his head and asks. One of his brows is raised, while his left hand secures his tea cup’s ear.
That is a good tension-breaker for Izuku or he’ll end up crumpling the white paper in his hands and destroying it before having the chance to read it.
Dismissing Shouto’s genuine confusion with a “This is not about CPR!” Tenya speedily slashes the air with his hand moving up and down, but careful not to slam the table centering them. “The contact of lips is an important aspect of marriage, Izuku-kun. This is not an attempt to pry into your private wedded life matters, but merely a question.”
Izuku finds himself unable to argue back.
“Again, when was the last time your lips—”
“FOR FUCK’S SAKE, JUST CALL IT A FRICKIN’ KISS!” An open palm hits the table, with light smoke going up in the air. “When’s the last time you two hell of a dorks kissed, huh?”
“This is private property, Kacchan-kun! Despite reserving and paying for a first-class room and table, we are not in any way rightful to apply harm. Please lift your hand this instant before any more damage is done!”
Izuku’s left hand finds the safest place to land by his temple, his wedding ring glistening against the chandelier’s lights. They’re now adults, pro-heroes even, approaching their 30s in a year or so. But somehow, every time they got together, Izuku feels like they’re still those kids back in UA, competing with each other. He shakes his head as Tenya and Katsuki continue arguing. If not for the matter they were discussing, he would’ve asked to meet at home, instead of a restaurant.
However, it’s rare for all of them to have the same day off, given that they all work at different hero agencies at different prefectures. Izuku pushed for this reunion because he needed their help.
“I thought we’re talking about Izuku and Ochako?”
“WE ARE, WHERE’S YOUR BRAIN BEEN FOR THE PAST MINUTE YOU DIMWIT HALF-AND-HALF!?” Katsuki screams, standing and abandoning his seat. This man right here is the very reason why they needed a private area. Izuku just taps on his forehead, feeling the headache crawl as he watches with deadpan eyes.
His childhood friend still sports that spiky hair, which is much shorter, but still has the signature explosive ends. He has notable stubbles combined with seemingly permanent crunched eyebrows. (Shouto often commented that Katsuki looked so much like the now-retired Endeavor even with the lack of flames on his face.) If something really didn’t change, it’s the blond’s temper.
Izuku forces a smile as he feels the paper settled on his fingertips. “Guys, Ochako and I are okay!” He gulps and corrects himself when three pairs of eyes look at him with disbelief.
“Well, sorta. But as my Mom always said, marriage will always have problems. So…”
“In short, you’re useless again,” Katsuki says, tone going down which is strangely calmed, but still had that sharpness that can strike anyone that he targeted. He relaxes on his back, throwing a boot atop the table, only to be intercepted by a chop from Tenya.
After successfully blocking Katsuki’s attempt to ‘disrespect the furniture,’ Tenya says, “Do not say that. As dear friends, we all volunteered to help with Izuku-kun’s preparations for his proposal before.”
Katsuki only clicks his tongue then rolls those red eyes of his to the opposite direction. Izuku on the usual occasion would fight back his childhood friend with smart yet calm comebacks opposed to Katsuki’s outbursts of colorful curses. Their friendship and rivalry would always be one of the mysteries of his life, and their bond only strengthened through time that Izuku got more comfortable with pushing Katsuki’s ‘rage buttons.’ He definitely understood why Eijirou, Denki, Hanta, and Mina (and maybe everyone) loved to get on the blond’s nerves. But since Izuku needed help, now wasn’t the best time to win against Katsuki or release more rage for that matter.
Shouto takes a sip of his tea, still as calm as ever. The sight of him enjoying tea with the usual air of grace totally contrasts Katsuki gritting his teeth on the other side. Yet this nonchalance of heterochromatic eyes is what Izuku needs to get back to the point of their conversation.
“When you said you needed our advice about your marriage, Tenya already asked us to meet earlier.”
Izuku raises a brow. His friends are still the thoughtful bunch and that makes him feel really thankful for them. It’s interesting how such difference in personalities still keeps them tied to each other. Well, they do say that opposites attract so...
“Thanks! So this list is…?” He skims through it and understands what’s written, but he’s really more curious to know where it came from.
Tenya raises his hand by his chest, an open palm pointed to Izuku. “It is a list that we articulated for you. I kindly asked Katsuki-kun and Shouto-kun to share their thoughts in their family lives. Some honeymoon and vacation tips from experience as well.”
“Ah, Kacchan gave the majority. I barely contributed,” Shouto said, taking another sip, missing that glare that Katsuki shoots him followed by a whole barrage of hisses.
“I…” Tenya pauses before continuing, “All of us were worried about you when the media reports and the hero network had vague signs of your survival during the Golden Children incident. But since Ochako-kun was also in that mission, we could just imagine how much it had an impact on her too. This is the least we could do for you two.”
Izuku is too touched by his friends despite that prick upon hearing Ochako’s name, so after giving them another round of his wordy gratitude speech, he stops watching them and focuses on the list they carefully prepared for him. He misses the scenes of Tenya taking the referee role by blocking Katsuki’s attacks while Shouto casually orders for cold soba.
The blend of screams, reprimands, and questions fade in the background as the green-haired man engulfs what’s written on the sheet.
- Do not sleep on the plane. Spend quality time as early as your travel hours.
- Do not bring up work and do NOT work if there are other pro-heroes in the area who can handle it.
- Buy her her favorite flowers. It must be her favorite.
- Feed her with her favorite food.
- Always stay by her side.
- Hug her from behind.
- Kiss in front of the sunset.
“Izuku.” It’s like a lullaby that always puts him to sleep and protects him from the world’s noises. But it’s also the sweetest alarm that welcomes his morning whenever he wakes up. Hearing it is like a dream. He’s heard it so many times for the past years, every hour that they spend together. Even before they took the vows to be bound forever even until their deaths, that voice has always been his beacon, always calling on him. Always saving him.
He wants to hear it more. And he is blessed when he hears another “Izuku.” A smile paints itself across his lips while his eyes are closed, focusing on it, remembering her “I do.”
He feels some nudging on his shoulder, but instead of waking up to let his eyes see the world again, he chooses to nuzzle against that warmth next to him, even taking a whiff of that scent of her favorite citrus cologne.
Just a bit more.
Then he feels her shoulder move a bit, ready to speak, as he anticipates for her to call him again. He processes each movement and each sound, waiting for that sweetness to bless his ears once again.
Instead, something else comes.
“Deku.” It’s firm. Direct. Very professional. A tone she always used when they’re at work.
Wait, what?
Immediately, Izuku opens his eyes, only to be welcomed by dark blue empty foamy seats in front of him. The same color and material cushions his figure, the softness tempting to pull him back to dreamland. But the light entering his eyes stops him and anchors him back to reality to stay.
He looks to his left, to see that small rounded window that lets the sun’s rays seep in.
Oh right . He’s on a trip in one of All Might’s private jets.
Ever since the former symbol of peace started having grayish tones on his golden hair, the authorities and the government gifted him a private plane he could use for traveling with security . All Might lent it to the couple when he found out that they’d be vacationing for a week.
Izuku then looks to his right to see his wife, reading a tourist’s booklet about their destination, lashes flipping as she blinks at the material. At least her voice wasn’t part of his dream. But… did she really just…?
“Dear? Did you just call me Deku?” Ever since they became a couple about ten years ago, Ochako had stopped calling him Deku-kun . While she had given it a new meaning back in their days in UA that changed his whole life and perspective, there’s this different feeling that swished over him the moment she started calling him by his given name.
What could be sweeter than hearing her chant the name his parents carefully chose for him? The three syllables of his name leaving her lips will always, always make his heart turn with how her mouth bends its sound with the dearest and warmest tone that no one else could ever do.
Besides, the citizens, pros, villains, and well, everyone already knows him as Deku . And even if Ochako’s Deku-kun will always be special to him, he couldn’t really hide that wide smile that occupied his lips for weeks (or months) the moment she started to call him Izuku.
So to hear her call him that…
“I had to, to wake you up,” she says it casually, but it shoots some chills throughout his body, as if she had adapted Shouto’s ice quirk with just her words.
Stretching her lips to a forced smile, the skin around her eyes wrinkles the slightest as this dullness in those chocolate browns remains. He frowns at it but dares not to comment, the cold feeling worsening at the curve of her lips.
And when she continues to look at the window right beside him, not even letting her vision pass on him, he feels the chills run down his spine. This coldness that comes from the inside, that makes him want to curl into a ball, hug himself, and just make it go away.
It’s the celebration of their seventh anniversary. Seven wonderful years, or at least from his viewpoint. So what is this distance between them despite being right next to each other? Like a block of ice that’s so cold, so thick and unbreakable. Somehow, the warmth of his hand can’t get through the cold wall that every time he reaches out, he ends up flinching at it, not being able to bear the frost biting through his skin.
Izuku opens his mouth but nothing comes out other than his breath. He could sense that Ochako heard his attempt, but she doesn’t look at him nor does drop a giveaway sign to acknowledge his interrupted speech. Instead she just looks at the window, eyes darting to somewhere beyond the clouds. Still not looking at him.
“We’re arriving,” she says that, still with that decorated cheer at the end, and he wonders; are they really moving?
Because he feels like they are stuck in this loop of indifference.
“Yeah.”
It’s his turn to look into the window and hopefully find an answer to the question.
What happened to us?
Puffs of clouds get swept away and unveil the look of their destination. A heart-shaped island comes to view. He has seven days.
Izuku has seven days to win back Ochako’s heart.
As he sinks to his thoughts, that’s also when it hits him.
Number one. Do not sleep on the plane. Spend quality time as early as your travel hours.
Internally screaming and letting his hand rub on his face with painful weight, Izuku curses himself. They’ve yet to land in the tropical island but he already broke one of the rules.
While he knew he needed the rest since he worked overtime again (as always) at the agency, some last-minute troubles in the city, and to make sure he can leave without worries, the travel time isn’t that long at five hours. Yet he happily slept next to her, not even remembering if they actually exchanged words on the ride or he just suddenly fell to a slumber.
Shit.
Lovers’ Paradise . Japan’s heart-shaped island. The name of the island itself would have embarrassed 15-year-old Izuku if he found out that he’d spend a week here with none other than his cute classmate slash that nice girl named Ochako Uraraka. But at 29 with her as his wife, he couldn’t ask for more. It is the perfect place in the planet, after all, he and Ochako barely took vacations because of how hectic their schedules were. And well, his wife didn’t ask for an extravagant honeymoon at all because of her humble preferences.
Upon marriage, they just reserved a small inn in the mountains and enjoyed the warmth of nature with onsen. The open air bath, the night sky, some mochi to chunk on – it was the perfect set-up to see that bright smile of Ochako, much more beautiful than that starry sky that she admired with her head up. It was a romantic night that Izuku never thought he’d ever have. There’s just something lovely in seeing Ochako with her hair up in a loose robe as she smiles gently with eyes looking into the sky. He couldn’t get rid of that pulsating that notched his heart as he stared at her. He could just melt at the sight of her.
But maybe as heroes, trouble loved them as much as they loved each other especially when some small-time villains decided to rob that inn that was situated in the middle of twin mountains. A valley that was not as popular as other hotspring getaways, but the perfect place for a couple of pros gaining popularity day by the day. Good thing the power couple was in there and while their honeymoon was interrupted, the grandma and grandpa that owned the place were grateful for them despite not realizing that they were Deku and Uravity.
Izuku and Ochako only exchanged smiles, hand-in-hand, telling each other that when they retire, they’d love to own an inn too just like that old yet happy couple.
“Even if we don’t own an inn. As long as I get to grow old with you,” she chimed in then, and Izuku would lie if he wouldn’t admit that he felt his heart squeeze at that.
It was quite an eventful honeymoon but that brief flashback just made Izuku realize that they’ve yet to really throw their hero costumes for a rest to just spend a day free of their responsibilities. It’s just really easy, convenient… and maybe inevitable to talk about work even when they’ve clocked out. With both of them working as pros, devoted and passionate to their jobs, they couldn’t fully let go of it even in the comfort of their home.
So with green eyes that are full of determination, Izuku pumps a fist in the air as he looks at himself in the mirror of their private restroom. He may look silly doing so in his taller physique, more muscular (but still more on the lean side) built, and much emphasized jawline. While he still has that baby face that barely has wrinkles, he really has aged. Sometimes, it’s hard to process since he’s known Ochako since high school. Sometimes, he still feels like he’s that tongue-tied boy who couldn’t speak a word to her, especially when he sees how beautiful she’s becoming to his eyes every time he woke up next to her.
While he didn’t look much older, the bags and dark circles underneath his eyes are definitely letting his age and stress slide for others to see. Yet, Ochako who’s also 29 just looks beaming every time he would land his eyes on her. Her hair is much longer now, reaching past her shoulders, the short fringe she sported so cutely before, also extending to be tucked behind her ear. The lack of bangs shows her forehead and he’s more delighted to see more of her face because of it. She still has this naturally rosy cheeks and while those aren’t as round before, it still stands out when she pouts at him. She’s both cute and beautiful and he just loves her so much. He could talk about it all day if he wasn’t so invested in hero talk.
He sighs as he glares at himself in the mirror. What a loser he is. Acknowledging his wife but not even doing it consistently.
“Izuku? I’ll just run down and confirm our booking info at the reception,” she says it after a knock on the door.
“What happened? Is there a problem?”
“Not really. Just that room service called and told us our stay was suddenly extended to two weeks.”
“What?” That’s weird. They had this settled at least months ago.
“Yeah. I’ll make it fast, ‘kay?”
While he doesn’t like the fact that he can’t see her face, hearing her call him by his name again kind of eases him. “Sure!” he responds.
“I’ll be back!” In just a few seconds, a thud is heard which he assumes is her leaving their room.
He washes his face with a splash and looks at his reflection again, the dripping water framing his jaw and chin. He opens his mouth to say ‘You can do it’ just like how she viewed his nickname. But he drops the first two words and vows himself. “Do it. Do it, Izuku.”
If he can save people, he can save their marriage.
But realization hits him again this time.
Five. Always stay by her side.
He smacks his face this time for the stupidity. He can even remember the line Tenya placed under the word “Always.” Two lines for double emphasis.
If this is a mission, he’s already failed the entirety. In less than an hour, he just ruined two out of seven rules.
Shit .
No, no, no . Izuku didn’t let the repeated panicked word slip out, but he must be making an expression that mirrored it judging by the guilt and worry on the storeowner’s face.
Their first day passed by quite quickly with Izuku thankful that he didn’t butcher more rules. While they did have more conversations with a lot of free time, he couldn’t shake off that uneasy feeling. Not once had he seen Ochako smile genuinely the whole day. Her lips may still be curling but probably out of habit or out of her nature as a person.
The management of the hotel said the extension of their accommodation was already paid. But they said they’ll look into it and will update the Midoriyas once they get the full information. It surely got Ochako stressed (and maybe weirded) out. But while there were no details yet, he just told her that they could just enjoy and proceed as planned first.
But did he succeed in making her smile a real one? He didn’t.
Not to mention, Lover’s Paradise, in the name itself is a huge island for couples. Establishments are colored red with heart-shaped roofs, big decorations like hot-air balloon displays with the word “love” boldly printed on it, to smaller ones like chairs, and even the minute details like plates and utensils on restaurant tables. Somehow his red shoes fit the whole blushy (if he could call it that) atmosphere and he wouldn’t be surprised to see the waves by the waters to shift to heart shapes too.
It’s a whole island that seems to celebrate every date on the calendar as Valentine’s Day. The whole ambience just screams of love and all the couples gathered in there are in their own merry euphoria, running by the bay, holding hands, hugging, kissing even.
Yet Izuku couldn’t even get close to his wife’s heart. Did they actually look like a couple? A married one to be exact?
When they dined in and just talked, not once did he feel her happy at all. Even when they called it a night, she was already asleep, back facing him when he got out of the bathroom. He would have hugged her after turning off the lights, but a part of him was too scared to wake her and just ruin or disturb her rest.
Now here he is, in front of the flower shop owner on the second day, panicking because, “You mean there are no daisies?”
“I am terribly sorry Sir. But the deliveries of those batches of flowers were delayed because of a villain attack. While pros and the police arrived at the scene, I am afraid to say that that particular set of flowers was destroyed in the process.”
Izuku places a hand by his forehead which is oddly turning into a habit as of late. The mention of villains initially takes him aback and he’s immediately relieved to hear that no one was hurt and that authorities settled it already. But now, he has another problem.
As the woman before him apologizes, bows, and says that she’ll just return his reservation fee, he just tries to smile it off, not wanting to have someone feel guilt over an accident. The list given by his friends specified that he must give Ochako’s favorites, but even if it wasn’t written, he knew that a bouquet of daisies would make everything perfect. But what can he do now? He shakes his head.
“Or Sir, if you’d like we can just give you this bundle of pink roses? You can have it for free.”
He frowns but since he doesn’t have much choice anyway… “Ah, it’s fine. Maybe my reservation fee can serve as payment? No need to return it.”
After getting the bouquet, Izuku rushes out of the shop and is on the hunt for mochi . His sheen of sweat coats his skin uncomfortably and he’s glad he chose to wear that white beach polo made of cotton. Usually, he’d close all buttons despite the place being a tropical island, but the heat is a bit overwhelming that he allowed it to be fully opened. Not even the shade provided by the palm trees beat the raging heat by the sun. Hopefully, his sweat won’t turn off his wife when they meet later.
Oddly, Izuku loved the discomfort. Feeling this kind of heat is definitely better than that cold he’s been enduring for months.
He sprints and glances at his watch. He’s done his research of the place when Ochako told him about it that’s why he was able to reserve some flowers. However, the place only had one Japanese restaurant and it didn’t take online and call reservations. Izuku just hopes that the gods are with him in this operation.
But well, his hopes get crushed that afternoon. “We’re sorry, Mister, but the customer before you just got the last boxes.”
You’ve got to be kidding.
“I-Is that so?” He really couldn’t say anything else as he pants. He’s been running around and while he’s confident with his speed, he still missed the chance. Should he have used Full Cowl? No, they can’t use their Quirks here. Izuku sighs.
Then his phone rings. “’Chako?”
“ I’m done now. Where’re you ?” Izuku suggested Ochako to go to the spa to relax that morning. While she questioned why he wouldn’t go with her, he just made up an excuse about work. Which is stupid of him, Izuku beats to himself, but he couldn’t think of another reason that’d convince her to go on her own.
Tenya, Katsuki, and Shouto would be so disappointed when they hear this. “Annihilating” four rules in two days?
“Ah… I’m just walking… walking around. Meet you at the seafood restaurant?”
“ Okay, almost here. Want me to order the food first? ”
“Yeah, that’ll be neat.”
“ Gotcha. See ya.”
The gods are completely not in Izuku’s favor but that won’t stop him. So he faces the young man of the store and declares, “I’ll be back tomorrow!”
Izuku packs all his remaining courage and hope, as he runs again with the bouquet in his arms.
It doesn’t take him long to reach the seafood restaurant that’s just by the bay. They’ve made reservations but he didn’t want to make Ochako wait more.
But the moment he gets there, catching his breath, he couldn’t see her familiar brown locks. What was she wearing again?
A pink tank top. Floral shawl wrapped by the waist.
There! There’s a woman that looks familiar, her back facing his direction as she’s seated. The attire is a given but that chocolate color is something he would never be mistaken with. But the hair…
It’s… huh?
He comes closer, careful steps on the wooden floor, some remnants of white sand trailing on the ground he’s stepped on. Is that… Is that...
“’Chako?”
The woman turns to him, but no long strands of hair wave with the movement. The locks of her hair that used to grace her arms are now just touching her bare shoulders into a curved bob. Just like in UA.
She doesn’t respond to his call and lifts her shoulders a bit, catching his reaction. “The one and only?” She tries to lighten his reaction but he still couldn’t find the right words to say as he stands there. “Err… I know I’m not as young, but d’you think it’s weird?”
Ochako allows her hands to play with the brown tips, fingers stroking the hair as she looks down just to not meet his gaze.
Izuku finds himself wordless. He’s always seen her face, already memorized her features. Her cute eyebrows, her pink cheeks, her supple lips, and her round eyes. But with a shorter hairstyle, he could see it clearer again. And he can’t help but be mesmerized. “You look really cute.”
She only looks at him, as if watching him, before the laughter erupts out of her mouth. “Izuku! I’m not sure cute suits someone about to reach her 30s!” She’s laughing and it’s like a music that’s making his heart dance. It sounds so soothing. It’s been so long since he heard it.
“You really do. You’ve always been cute,” he tells her, remembering the very first time he laid his eyes on her.
Ochako ends up with her mouth closed, but the growing blush on her face betrays her. They certainly aren’t teens anymore but he can pick up those signs of bashfulness. His wife really is cute. And if there’s one thing he’s regretting, it’s that the younger him and the current him couldn’t say it a lot.
“Wha-What’re those?” He would be lying if he wouldn’t admit that he’s amused by that small stammer, but now that her eyes are on the thing in his arms, he’s now the one who’s going to stutter.
“We-Well, uhm… it’s five days early, but happy anniversary!” Izuku says and hands her the bouquet of flowers. “I know… you don’t like roses. But daisies weren’t available,” he says somberly as he takes the seat in front of her.
“Some villains attacked the—” Izuku immediately stops himself.
Do not bring up work and do NOT work if there are other pro-heroes in the area who can handle it.
Shit. He’s really massacring the list.
“But the workers are okay now! The shopkeeper told me authorities handled it well.”
Ochako nods at him. “That’s good to know.”
Silence comes in the form of a short moment but Izuku couldn’t calm down. Did she think he rushed out to save other people? Should he explain to her? But wouldn’t it just make him be too defensive? As his thoughts eat him out, he finds himself unable to look at her as much as he wants to bathe himself in her current image. But now, he’s just returning to feeling bad.
“Sorry.” One word to sum up all those feelings. “For that… and the flowers.”
She looks at him and he couldn’t interpret what that means. It’s as if she’s observing him, deciphering him, but also accepting him even if she didn’t fully ask the details. “It’s fine…” she tells him, hands stroking the petals before bringing it closer for a sniff. “Besides, it’s not that I don’t like roses.”
Izuku blinks at her. They’ve been married for seven years and he’s always thought she didn’t like it. “But, didn’t you say that when we first started dating? Aren’t daisies your favorite?” Astonishment fills every word.
Ochako lets her eyebrows soften as if remembering that, and scratches the back of her neck. It’s a habit she didn’t lose over the years, but it’s been a while since he saw her do that. They really haven’t been talking that much about each other, have they?
“I did. But our first date was around Valentine’s Day… and well roses were really expensive that time. Y’know… supply and demand.” She laughs at herself. “I didn’t want you to give me something expensive. Daisies are my favorite, but it’s not that I didn’t like roses.”
Izuku looks at her, observing that smile on her lips. It’s small. But it’s the first time he’s seeing it again ever since they arrived. “I’m… so glad…”
She looks back at him, eyes shot open. “Were you worried about it? So sorry!”
“Ah no, it’s not that…!” He’s just so glad to see her smiling again. He was about to say that when a waiter comes and brings them the food. Now he’s lost his chance to say it and explain, but while the waiter is serving them, he couldn’t help but be drawn to that face she’s making. The way her eyes are lowered, her lashes fluttering as she blinks while looking at the bouquet, and that tint on her cheeks. It’s such an affectionate look… and he wishes she’d look at him like that.
As the waiter leaves, she looks at him and catches him staring. Izuku fakes a cough, trying to pry away from her face to save himself from the embarrassment, but he still peeks at her as she only tilts her head at him.
“Is… something wrong?”
Izuku shakes his head. “I just… I just really think you’re beautiful.”
When Ochako smiles at him with her eyes half-closing, not missing this twinkle, he feels his knees grow weak. Good thing he’s already seated. Because he’s falling for her more and more.
They say that you barely feel like time is passing when you’re having fun and this is exactly Izuku’s mindset as they reach their sixth day in the island.
It’s funny how months of feeling the cold embrace him and separate him from Ochako has now melted to nothing but warmth. And it’s not even because of the sun that loved to illuminate and warm up Lovers’ Paradise. In this island, having fun and getting to know his wife all over again, melt away all his worries.
He’s known her for more than a decade, but he still didn’t know everything about her. He’s always known how pretty, smart, brave, kind, and loving she is. He’d have a whole list of all the things that she is. But this whole trip proves to him that there’s just so much more to know about Ochako.
Izuku feels ashamed for not being the best fanboy of Ochako. He had several notes about heroes, like a note-taking maniac that he is. But he only knew a few things about his most important person?
They were so focused on being strong heroes on their own that they weren’t able to see each other more as a married couple. Deku and Uravity. It was inevitable when their paths crossed as heroes in the making. They didn’t know that they’d stumble upon one another and end up choosing this path to forever.
Yet, can't he just be a better husband?
Izuku almost feels bad, if not for the memories of the past days pulling his lips to a permanent smile. He rolls on the bed, pulling on its covers to wrap himself like a burrito. He just couldn’t forget the faces that Ochako had made these days they’ve been together.
How she laughed at him when he placed this mini umbrella behind her ear. He was unable to secure another mochi box in their third and fourth day, so he got her a bubble drink tea with mochi balls in it as a last resort. The small umbrella decoration on the glass just notched on his silly side and he couldn’t contain himself from decorating her with it.
How he had the audacity to surprise her with a back hug (as per rule number six), totally forgetting that she is one of his generation’s most formidable pros, which made her use Gunhead Martial Arts on him so hard. Sure the physical pain that lingered on his back (that came with his age) is unforgettable, but that worried face of hers, instantly healed him. He found himself smiling though his torso suffered this blow. Maybe his heart just got a blow too?
Or how about that time she snuck in a kiss on his cheek when he’s happily eating ice cream? “Thought ya looked cute” was what she said.
The 29-year-old almost screamed in delight, muffling the happy squeal with a smile. When no one was looking, he even started hopping on his way to their room, suddenly humming a little song that probably doesn’t exist. He couldn’t help it! It’s like he’s a teen all over again, just tip-toeing, checking out his crush from the corner of his eyes. Already satisfied by getting a glimpse of her but getting more than his usual fill. He didn’t even want to see his face in the mirror, too embarrassed to see his adult self bathing in red.
Good thing he’s alone in their room right now. Ochako stayed at one of the cafes that afternoon. She forgot her purse and Izuku volunteered to go get it for her. As much as he didn’t want to be separated from her even by a second, he’d prefer to serve her.
He reminded himself that he’s trying to make it up to her, so he is trying his best to just pamper her whenever he had the chance. Though he might have gotten carried away since it’s his only alone time. And he couldn’t help but just wallow in that smile of hers as he feels his heart clench. Oh how dear Ochako really is to him and he feels so lucky to have asked for her hand.
Izuku gets up from the bed and tries to fix the covers he had ruined by his mushy moment and tries to be an adult again. (Gotta get rid of the evidence.) Yet that boyish smile on his flushed face betrays him. So to shorten their time of being apart, he goes on ahead to fulfill his task.
Where was it again ? Ochako said it’s in their cabinet so he proceeds on going through her stuff, looking for her pink purse. Hands rummaging through, Izuku manages to pull it out when something catches his eye. A folded paper right beside her clothes.
Could it be? Izuku immediately jams his hands inside his pockets and feels himself calm down after realizing that the list is still in there. How embarrassing would it be if Ochako found out that he’s been following a list made by his friends? Well, not exactly following since so far, he’s managed to butcher almost all rules.
“Except the seventh,” he defenses to no one but himself.
Kiss in front of the sunset.
At least he still has today to fulfill that sunset kiss. He may have failed all the other six items on the list because of this clumsy side of his that hasn’t dissipated after all these years? Or maybe it’s because he’s been gawking at Ochako for days letting himself be swayed off by his feet, just drowning in those chocolate eyes of hers. Or… it could also just be his bad luck.
But how can he have bad luck when he’s actually married Ochako, right? He’s just the luckiest man alive to be able to be hers.
Izuku chuckles to himself, the familiar warmth of a blush filling him and embracing him more comfortably. His smile must be bigger now, his cheeks tiring out of the pestering curve. Shaking his head, he opens the paper casually and the warmth immediately drains out of him.
“…”
His eyes go wide. Blinking, thinking that his eyes are just deceiving him. “… Eh…?”
In just a split second, he sinks to an endless cold, a void of chill, freezing him on the spot, shaking him to the bone. He could barely feel himself tremble if not for the paper starting to shake in front of him. Is this real? Aren’t they happy? She looks so happy. She looks so happy with him.
So what is this?
What is this !?
Izuku tries to make sense of the divorce paper in his hand, questioning and questioning. So many whys. So many whens.
But that stroke of writing, her penmanship, inked at the signatory boxes only spells out one thing to him.
Ochako wants to divorce him.
He had a lot of plans that sunset. He wanted to kiss her hand, to look into her eyes, as they bask in the orange light, with the waves of the ocean as the music to their hearts’ dance. Everyone could be a witness, he didn’t care. All he wanted was her.
He had a lot of words in that sunset. He wanted to say sorry for focusing too much on his job. He wanted to apologize for being a great hero all the time but not being a good husband. A husband that she deserved. He wanted to renew his vows to her on their wedding day, to redeem himself, to be his best version for her. He wanted to tell her how much he loves her, every waking second. That his heart beats for her and only her.
So how come the sunset has passed, the darkness has bitten the skies, and here they are by the ocean, the water slapping their bare feet? Nothing but coldness creeping to their skins, the shivering making him feel so sick.
Where is that warmth that he nuzzled into? Where is that warmth he yearned for?
Where is that warmth that comforted him and made him forget everything? Because right now, his heart is in the middle of a storm, grappling to get out, to be free from everything.
“What’s wrong, Izuku? Are you okay?”
He couldn’t shake it off. He said he’d make this their best night. He said he’d fulfill that kiss. Yet he couldn’t hide how it broke him.
Yet no tears were leaving this crybaby of a man. All he has is this silence as he listens to that cracking sound in his brain. Is that his mind at the verge of insanity trying to make sense of reality? Or is that his heart shattering, ready to crumble, ready to fall to broken pieces?
Izuku doesn’t know.
“Izuku…”
Hearing her call him by his name hurt. He could sense the care, the genuine affection in the way it rolls off her lips. So what are those papers? Why is she divorcing him when he could feel her love for him!?
Then her hand taps on his shoulder, resonating that care in her, but instead of healing him, it breaks him more. He could feel himself shattering in her hold, ready to just fall and drop… be part of the sands and hopefully be washed away by the waves.
“Why?”
“Eh?”
Can he say it? Can he ask he really ask her? It’s been hours… and yet time seems to have stretched to infinity the moment he saw the dreaded documents. Time stopped for him. He’s just lost…
It’s now the night time and he thanks the absence of the moon that fails to illuminate his face. He couldn’t imagine how he looks right now. But he’s also thankful that he couldn’t fully see her face. Can he even stomach seeing it?
So he just looks into the ocean, hoping it could pull him in. Hoping that he could just drift and let his feelings be carried away.
But that’s impossible.
Izuku opens his mouth, hearing that shattering sound again. He’s sure it isn’t from the physical world where only the waves by the shore in their background, but the ringing sound in his mind is so painful that he almost wants to cover his ears. Maybe he also didn’t want to hear her answer and that sound is his warning.
But he doesn’t let himself succumb to it.
That’s why, he finds the courage to look at her, neck slightly craning to face her. “You want a divorce?” Maybe it sounds like a croak more than a question. But Izuku doesn’t mind. He doesn’t have the energy or the will to mask the pain, the loneliness, the confusion, or whatever mesh of emotional mess he is right now. But he still smiles at her as he sees her take a sharp breath.
He could never hate her.
Even if she had wanted to leave him.
“That’s---”
“Is that why you wanted to come here?” Somehow he got it. It’s the perfect way. The most bittersweet too if he may add. To spend their last seven days of being together in an island for lovers before ending it on its seventh year. But Izuku would never think of her as cruel.
Given by how busy he was, how blinded he was by his job, he couldn’t even give her time as a husband. It’s what he deserved.
But, does the realization mean he can stop that pain stabbing him?
“No, Izuku—”
“Ochako… I!” He doesn’t raise his voice, but he makes it stern, cutting through the air between them. It’s enough to make her halt in her attempt to approach him, her hand hanging awkwardly trying to reach out to him. He isn’t sure if he could take it if she touches him again.
“I’m sorry for not being the good husband who promised you happiness.”
“It’s always been a dream to be a pro… and to have you here with me is like a blessing… Everyday, I always thought I didn’t deserve you. But, you always looked so happy… you always supported me. You’re the first person who trusted me so much…” His voice is cracking, resembling that shattering sound inside of him. It’s reflecting those gaps inside his heart that’s waiting to collapse. But he has to let her know. So he gathers himself, keeping it tight, not letting it spill yet until he manages to let her know.
But as he holds on tight, the tears start to fall, clouding his already dark vision.
“I’m sorry for not being able to live up to my promises. To your parents, I told them I’d always make you smile. But I only realized these weeks… that we haven’t been who we were. I was so used to having you by my side… so used to having you support me. You’re my best friend and my wife. And yet I wasn’t properly spending time with you.”
She tries to step forward but he starts speaking again, not wishing to drive her away, but not hoping to get closer. “I used to think it’s because of the Golden Children incident… but this trip has made me realize that all these years, I was too satisfied with what we were. That I was being complacent because it’s you. You always understood me. So I pushed it to the side, thinking that we’re okay as we were.”
Izuku feels like he’s frozen. Just one touch and he’d fade. But before he does, he must let her know. “And these seven days definitely… made me realize that I am very much in love with you even if I’m a failure. But…”
Can he say it? Can he say the most selfish thing in his mind?
But he doesn’t. “Do you want a divorce?”
He doesn’t know for how long he has stopped and for how long the ocean continues to fill in the silence between them. But he feels the coldness crawling to his skin, almost choking him, almost making his heart stop.
And then she speaks and breaks the quiet. “Yes.”
That breaks Izuku that the tears just stop running. He has already recognized that cold wall that’s been built between them. He wanted to destroy it. But who knew that he’s the one who’ll end up broken like this?
Could he take more of it? He wants to run. He wants to leave, just to spare the whole parts of himself. But he’s too petrified. Stuck in there. Waiting for her to just land the final blow. To just do it.
“I’m sorry,” she says and that sweet voice of hers sounds so broken too.
Please don’t apologize . He wants to say it but he feels his throat get stuck. He couldn’t speak at all as some stubborn tears fall from his eyes again.
But then Ochako starts sniffing, trying her best to not cry it all out but her shoulders quiver violently. “I thought… I thought that was the best solution.”
Izuku opens his mouth… unsure if he could bear hearing her talk.
“I trusted you so much. I knew what you’re capable of. You’re my hero, you know that. But… But ever since that incident, I couldn’t help… I couldn’t help thinking. Will you return home with me? Will I see you again?”
A hiccup.
“I’m so sorry… because I couldn’t fully support you. I hated myself for this, Izuku. I told my Mom… and she said that it’d be best to at least take a break before deciding. I was thinking about it while we’re here, looking at the papers if my heart would change.”
He wants to make her stop apologizing. It should be him who’s doing it. He’s the one who hurt her after all.
But before he could let the words out, she runs to him and wraps her arms around his waist. She buries her face on his chest. “But I still love you. So much.”
Maybe he shouldn’t have heard it when she said it so low… muffled by her face dampening his shirt. But he still hears it anyway that he almost stops breathing.
“O-Ochako…?”
She holds him closer, hugging him tighter and shakes her head. “I can’t. I… I don’t want a divorce. I’m sorry… for even considering it.”
“Wha-What…”
“I’m so sorry…” Ochako’s voice is starting to be louder as her crying becomes more evident with the way her words bend. “These days have been the best… And I, I can’t even think of not having you in my life.” She starts having hiccups, shoulders jolting every time the squeak came.
“I was scared every time you went out to work. But I also admired you so much… you’ve always been that boy I’ve been in love with before. How could I… How could I even…”
Izuku, whose shivering as well dares to place a hand on her back. She flinches at first, but he rubs the small of her back as he places another hand to fully wrap her in his embrace. He kisses the top of her head, letting his nose be tickled by her crown. He inhales deeply, slowly feeling warmth spread all over him though it’s him who’s hugging her fully.
“Please say it again, Ochako.”
Another hiccup. “Wha—t…?”
“I wanna hear it again.”
He wants to make sure this is real. That he isn’t dreaming. That this isn’t his wishful thinking. That—
“I love you.”
Izuku starts crying again, sniffing as Ochako reciprocates the crying. His knees start to give in to the weight as both of them fall to the sand, tearful in each other’s arms, but not even daring to let go.
The coldness fades and all Izuku could feel is Ochako’s figure on top of him. He slowly loosens his grip on her and finds her face. Slightly, he lifts her head and sees the stain of tears by her face, but she smiles at him despite that and he still thinks she’s so beautiful.
He plants a kiss on her forehead, savoring the moment by pressing on it for a good few seconds. His lips brush on her eyebrows and kiss each of her eyelids, feeling the wetness of her tears. He then lands a kiss on her nose as she crinkles it on instinct. He smiles at her as she looks at him, waiting.
“I love you, Ochako.” He says and finally allows himself to kiss her on the lips. Ochako’s hands hold onto his cheeks as she returns it. The tenderness almost melts Izuku despite the crashing waters soaking his garments as he laid on the sand.
Pulling away from one another, they stare into each other’s eyes, before Ochako kisses his forehead, each of his eyebrows, then his nose. Each kiss lasts more than a second. But each time is enough to loosen all those coils in his heart, lingering like the comfort of the warm breeze. She smiles so sweetly at him that he just pulls her for another peck on the lips before hugging her again.
All smiles, the couple holds hands while walking to their hotel’s reception. Their smiles stretch from ear to ear with this brightness in their eyes.
While the vacation is about to end as they checkout, they know that they’ll be having wonderful days from now on. Izuku, himself, couldn’t contain that happiness anymore that Ochako even sees him swaying his shoulders randomly with a sing-song smile.
As she raises a brow, he just smiles at her and pecks her on the lips all of a sudden. “Izuku!” she tells him with a reprimanded tone, a bit hushed as she covered her face but he only laughs at her. So cute.
“That’s unfair!” Ochako says and takes revenge by giving him a kiss too.
Seconds to that, he starts pulling her by the hand and twirling her as they walk, the ends of her white sundress flowing with grace. She allows him to guide her as they dance to something unheard when all they do is laugh.
The people around them watch them, also taken in by their happiness, but the two really couldn’t feel it when they just feel like they’re the only two people in the world.
Finally approaching the reception after minutes of flirting (and them realizing it and coming back to their senses), Ochako hands in their keycard. “Uhm, I wanted to ask. Has that one-week extension been dealt with?” As she leans forward, a lock of her hair strays away to her cheek and Izuku gently brushes it back with his fingers to tuck behind her ear. When she smiles at him, he just feels his heart get squeezed again and he’s just ready to float even without her Quirk.
The hotel staff giggles at them. “Mr. and Mrs. Midoriya, we were supposed to tell you a bit earlier but we couldn’t really interrupt your merry times, but we did manage to contact the person… or persons who extended your stay.”
Izuku and Ochako look at each other.
Persons…?
“What do you mean, Miss?” Izuku asks.
The woman smiles. “Mr. Yagi, Mr. Iida, Mr. Todoroki, Mr. Bakugou, and Mr. and Mrs. Uraraka paid for the extension, a day from each of them. It looks like they didn’t communicate with one another though when we tracked the payments and reservations. We have contacted them and all of them insisted that we urge you to spend more vacation days. And since it’s your seventh anniversary today, we added an extra day to make it seven days.”
“Eh!?” Both of them react at the same time.
For a good number of minutes, Izuku and Ochako try to contact the perpetrators behind their vacation extension but all they get are more urges to stay. Even their hero agencies were informed of the extension and told them to not mind the work for now.
“Why the fuck are you calling me, you moron? Spend the day wisely! ” is Katsuki’s response before cutting the line.
“Izuku-kun, I knew you will be reacting this way, but please consider this as my gift for your seventh anniversary,” is Tenya’s.
“I’m feeding the kids right now. Just take it, ” is Shouto’s along with the sounds of children whining in the background.
“Shounen! It’s about time to make your family grow! Ya aren’t getting any younger! Just accept it from this old man, ” is All Might’s along with his deep laughter echoing. (Izuku ends up cutting the call with a flushed face).
As he pants, too embarrassed by that last call with All Might, Ochako eyes him with a forced smile. It seems that her parents also gave her the same message. “So, guess we’re staying?”
Izuku nods at her as an idea pops in his mind. He brings out the almost forgotten list from his pocket, the evident folds and going limp corners, a good sign of the paper being opened and closed so many times. She observes the paper with curiosity but he snatches it away from her eyes when he folds it to hide the contents. “Yeah, we’re staying.”
Maybe this time, he can finally fulfill each on that list.