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Izuku Midoriya always wanted to be a hero. When he got his quirk, he learned all he could about it. He began to fight tooth and nail for his position. While he was incredibly powerful and cheerful, he didn’t get a chance from most larger heroes. They saw him as trigger happy and unreliable. For two years he battled against them, struggling to gain any standing with the pros. Contacting his old classmates and friends proved useless. Some of them just didn’t want to work with him, a few hung up at the sound of his voice, and many were too busy or already with another agency.
A breakthrough case shot him up in rankings at age 23. That year, he was crowned at the number one spot. When criminal organizations staged many small scale attacks against hero agencies, it became overwhelming to deal with. Many pros were unable to keep up with the sheer speed of the attacks. A hero in green with long bunny ears began to appear at the scenes, a smile on his face while he was driving back the forces of the criminals near single handedly.
There were some struggles that were new to him since becoming the number one. A grimace was always hiding behind the smile that he put up for the press. That smile hid his longing desire to rest. To hide away from the world for even a minute. His desire to become number one wasn't enough anymore. He was working himself harder at home, to find some purpose. Working harder, doing more paperwork, it was all just work now and no longer a dream.
To make it worse, a year ago Ochaco Uraraka had broken up with him. It had left him stunned in her absence, and while he continued his work as a hero, his press appearances became limited. He was practically dragging himself out of bed, only to go to work. Once he’d get home it was straight to paperwork, and then to bed. He couldn’t hold his signature smile that had gained him recognition as long as he used to.
Presently, Izuku sat at a police station. His pen scratched at the already marked paper, eyebrows furrowed tightly. There had been an incident earlier, and while it wasn’t the hardest villain he had ever fought, it was still a tiring fight. He wanted to go home and rest, not fill out more paperwork.
BeepBeepBeep!
The rapid high-pitched chirp of the clock shattered his thoughts. Instinctively he slammed his arm into the table, coffee mugs splashing their contents on to many important documents. A police chief chuckled in the corner, as Izuku began waving his arms frantically.
“I-I’m so sorry chief! I just forgot about the timer for when it’s time to leave, that really startled me. B-besides, I have so much to report on! After that fight today and all, I don’t want to skip over anything important! I should stay longer, especially to recover any of your documen-”
The chief’s hearty laugh cut him off. Izuku looked to the tall man, his nervousness taking hold in his eyes. The chief’s eyes, however, danced in amusement. The brown haired man turned to a window that faced the opposite of the table, pressing his fingers gently against the glass. Snowflakes poured down outside of the window, coating the ground below. He smiled, pulling his hand from the window.
Good night for snow. Hopefully Deku will be fine getting home.
“Deku, call me Yukichi, no need to be formal. We’re friends! And you’re fine. We create copies of all of our important papers before you come, since this isn’t exactly the first time this has happened. Why don’t you take a rest after today? You looked like you tired yourself out today, at least from the TV side of thin-”
He was cut short when he turned to see the sight of Izuku frantically pulling papers off of the table, trying to salvage as many as possible. A mix of a torn green suit, paper, and Izuku moved quickly around the room. Izuku halted when he got close to Yukichi, seeing the face of the now annoyed police chief.
“Deku- no, Midoriya. Sit. Relax for five seconds. Be quiet, and I cannot stress this enough, calm down.”
Izuku sighed heavily in an attempt to calm himself. He plopped himself down on the edge of the table, sliding the ruined papers onto the table next to him. He became very interested in a slow drip of spilled coffee. His foot swung back and forth as a nervous tick. Izuku had always worried about upsetting the chief, though they worked together often. Yukichi would even go out of his way for the hero, nearly resembling the work of Nighteye and All Might.
Though he was the cause of it, Izuku broke the silence.
“...So… Chi- Yukichi, what do you do to escape for a bit? You know, from life. Because life is hard. And I need a break. Badly. Just for a night.”
Yukichi stared at the nervous wreck of a hero, before turning back to the window. Izuku had always worried about upsetting the chief, though they worked together often. Yukichi would even go out of his way for the hero, nearly resembling the work of Nighteye and All Might.
“...Deku, are you sure you want to know? What I say may shock you, and I don’t want you to think of me any differently.”
Izuku tensed back up. The back of his throat was suddenly very dry. A look at Yukichi showed that he was serious. Whatever it was, Izuku no longer wanted to know.
“N-no! You don’t have to tell me! I’ll just go home and relax.”
Yukichi burst out laughing, his arm holding his stomach. His other hand went to his knee. Izuku stared blankly at the man, his tense arms starting to relax.
“Chief, you should really stop doing that to me…”
The chief only wheezed harder, before starting to pull himself together. A cough replaced the laughter from Yukichi, and he brushed off his suit.
“Deku, I go to the bar across the street when I want to relieve some tension. Of course it doesn’t always work, but what problems can’t be solved with a little whiskey?”
Izuku blinked at the suggestion. It wasn’t the worst idea he had heard, considering he hadn’t heard any others. His fingers tapped gingerly at the table in search of another option.
“I… guess so? It wouldn’t hurt to try. Though seeing the number one hero in a bar might be a bit strange for the patrons...”
Yukichi looked the boy up and down. Izuku had arrived at the station with a torn up suit, a frown, and an ere of disappointment. The glimmer in his eyes that Yukichi was so familiar with was starting to fade off and die down.
“You could put something more casual on instead of a ripped suit, Deku. I really think you should go there, at least tonight. Let off some steam.”
Izuku moved his gaze to his arms, seeing the tears and scratches at the suit. Crimson splotches peeked out from green fabric in several spots. He traced through some of the patches, wincing when he would reach a cut.
“Yeah… You’re right. I’ll go get changed and go to the bar. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?”
“That’s the spirit boy! Now let’s get out of here. I would like to go home and sleep.”
Izuku smiled before running off. A real smile, not just one for the press. Yukichi grinned at the sight. It had been too long since he had seen his friend cheerful at all.
Izuku stood at the front door to the station, freshly changed into his casual wear. A simple tan vest over a t-shirt, which happened to be an All Might shirt. Khakis covered his legs, with his trademark red shoes on his feet. His messy green hair poked up and out in several directions. He gulped nervously. At least it wasn’t hero wear.
He wasn’t even sure he wanted to do this. A bar full of people he didn’t know, but all knew him. Almost his worst nightmare. Though it wasn’t as bad as the literal nightmare of meeting Mineta anytime soon. Izuku shuddered at the thought.
His hands grasped for the door of the station. It wasn’t a far walk to the bar, since it was quite literally across from the station. Izuku was happy for at least that much. The problem would come from the snowstorm outside, something that he wasn’t warned about. With a deep breath, he pulled at the handle. A cold gale of wind slammed him in the face, instantly covering him with snow. His arms locked up in the cold, but he began to brave his way through it. His feet dragged slowly through the snow, leaving large trails behind him.
Not even thirty seconds later, and he had made it. Several cars sat at street parking outside of the bar. He shuffled by them, approaching the front of the establishment.
He took a deep breath before surveying the bar. He couldn’t tell it was a bar from the outside, it seemed just like every other building in the area. White concrete walls, some windows, the usual building type. The big difference between the other buildings was the door. The dark wood door was obviously the distinguishing contrast from the other complexes.
Izuku approached the door. One more door, and then you get to relax more. He shakily gripped the handle, pushing the door inwards. He gasped at the interior.
He had expected to see a messy establishment with many drunk customers. Instead, a strangely quiet and serene atmosphere encapsulated the bar. Dark oak lined the bar, the walls, and the ceiling. Dim lights cast a warm glow over leather stools. The room was rather large, separated and divided by decorative walls. Many people sat talking quietly amongst themselves.
I see why Yukichi likes it here.
Izuku moved his legs rapidly to a stool. Nobody at the bar had paid him any mind yet, and he preferred it that way. He put his arms on the counter before attempting to sit on the barstool. His body was rigid against the seat, his thumbs fiddling with each other.
“Sir, what would you like to order?”
Izuku jumped in the seat. His already tense posture locked up more, as he pressed himself onto the stool further.
“U-uh, well I didn’t really think of this yet. I don’t go out to bars very often, so I d-don’t really know what I like. I could go with something that’s common but…”
The bartender simply stared at the spiky haired boy patiently, his hands moving around the station.
“How about just Sake for starters, sir?”
Izuku nodded profusely. The bartender swiftly reached for a white bottle and a shot glass, setting the glass down in front of Izuku. He poured the rice wine into the glass, before setting the bottle down. The bartender flashed a smile as he began to walk away.
“This one’s on the house, number one. Premium Sake, by the way. Thank you for your hard work and dedication.”
Izuku’s cheeks turned a bright pink at the compliment. He still wasn’t really used to that, and chuckled. His muscles started to relax, and he picked up the shot. When he put the shot back down, it was empty. Fruity flavors were left behind from the drink, and he sat straight up.
Damn. That’s good.
People came and went as Izuku relaxed. The alcohol was doing its work. He didn’t even realize that two hours had passed, and the fact that somebody had sat several seats to his right. However, their voice was almost a slap in the face.
“Bartender! I’ll have my usual, thank you!”
Where had he heard that voice?
Izuku groggily opened his eyes. He was laying with his head down, drool escaping from the corner of his mouth. His entire body felt warm and sluggish. His brain was struggling to hold onto any idea.
Am I… drunk?
He pulled his head up from the countertop. He had clearly overdone his drinking. Most things were blobs of color instead of cohesive shapes. The person who had sat next to him was a mix of browns, reds, and a bit of pale that he assumed was their face. He could see a bright pink spot on the pale blob.
Guess not, just a little too much. Who is…
“Iz- Deku! What are you doing here?”
It slammed him like a train. The way she had said his name. Her familiar attempt at covering it up. His eyes started to focus on her, his sight confirming he was right about who he had thought it was. Ochaco.
She was wearing black shorts that went down a bit past her knees, with a black blouse that had a pink cherry blossom pattern. Her elbow rested on the bar, leaning her head into her hand. His eyes met hers, and he practically melted. Chocolatey brown eyes that he swore he could get lost in. Her recognizable blush deepened a bit, and he woozily smiled at her.
“U-Uraraka, I’ll be very honest with you off the bat. I’ve had a lot to drink. I don’t think I’m drunk? But I seriously might be.”
His body started to go tense again as he locked himself against the seat.
Ochaco just giggled a bit.
“It’s fine, Deku. Maybe we can talk easier if we get a bit closer...?”
His heart skipped a beat, and his hands felt clammy as he shifted awkwardly between the seats. Ochaco met him halfway by standing up and moving down a few stools to make it easier on him.
Being closer to her made his heart beat faster. Her eyes that had already been sucking him in from across the bar were practically absorbing his soul. Her blush brightened her cheeks, a small smile hanging on her lips.
“...So Deku, first time I’ve seen you here. Or at any bar!”
He laughed a bit, relaxing himself onto the seat.
“Guess so. First time here. You probably know that alcohol hasn’t ever really been my thing...”
Izuku had many faded memories of parties that had been held by the original members of Class 1A. Though for most of the now-adult heroes, it just meant an excuse to have a drink or two. He had never actually drank at the parties, opting to be a designated driver for anyone who needed it.
After one of the parties, he gave rides to his friends as usual. The group diminished at every stop, eventually leaving just Izuku and a very buzzed Ochaco in the car. Their conversation started out casually enough; but it didn’t take long for them to find themselves stuttering when speaking to each other. But, instead of their normal routine when it came to conversations, Ochaco finally came forward about her feelings. Izuku was ecstatic to find out they had mutual feelings for each other, and nervously told her that he felt the same.
The Green Tea Couple, as they were designated by Mina, were a power couple. They got through any issue that was thrown at them. If an issue was too much, they’d bounce back and recover quickly.
That was true up until last year. He wasn’t entirely sure how, but something was starting to become different between himself and Ochaco. There was no other problem in the relationship except for that. Time seemed to have worn their relationship down. Eventually, Ochaco confided that they should take a break from each other.
That break never ended.
“Do you come here often then, Ms. Uraraka?”
He watched as Ochaco took a sip of her drink, pinkie out. She gingerly pulled the cup from her lips, and her face brightened with a smile.
“Yeah! I’m actually a regular. It’s pretty nice here, and the drinks are fairly cheap.”
Izuku broke out one of his famous wide smiles. It was a little surprising, but he was glad that she could come here to relax.
Ochaco reached over and poked him in the ribs jokingly, leaning back into her seat and laughing to herself. The action itself was innocent, but it still made his heart skip.
“So you really weren’t kidding back at UA! You made it to the top! Always knew you could do it.”
He put his hand back on the countertop, leaning onto his side. A small laugh escaped from his throat.
“I-I suppose I wasn’t. It’s been a hard fight to get there, ya know? But I’m proud that I made it. All Might really had me inspired.”
Izuku saw her smile drop as her eyes narrowed at him. He took in a nervous breath of air as she studied him.
“You’re lying. Something’s wrong, and I can see it plastered on your face.”
He could practically feel the tension between them. It wouldn’t need a knife to cut through, rather probably several chainsaws.
“U-Uh, well, there’ve been some struggles… It’s kinda hard to enjoy my work, you know? Being Number One has its perks, but also a lot of problems.”
Ochaco nodded at him, slowly taking a sip of her drink before resuming the conversation.
“You can continue, Deku.”
“W-well, I enjoy being a hero- saving people, all the normals. But at some point you’re just repeating a cycle you know?”
Ochaco dipped her head again.
“Eventually yeah, it is a cycle. What matters is that you’re still willing to get out there and fight for people, Deku. You know that. And that’s what you’ve done. With every fight you always seem so… in control. Conscious of every action you take.”
Izuku managed a smile. She smiled right back. No matter what, he would always try and do his best to help the people who needed it. She was right about that.
“How about you Uraraka? How’s your hero work been going?”
Ochaco froze. Her smile quivered for a second, and she let out a small sigh as she set down her glass.
“I um… I lost my ranking. By a lot. But other than that, I guess it’s been going fine.”
The blush that he loved so much was fading off Ochaco’s face. He noticed that her lips were fighting to keep a smile on her face. Her eyes were focused onto the countertop.
“...Uraraka. Are you… Are you okay?:”
She turned her body to face him, but kept her head looking at the ground. A few seconds passed before she shook her head.
“Not really, Deku. With my lower ranking I can provide for my parents, but I’m barely keeping myself afloat. It’s… not going well. I can afford everything but I’m just barely managing.”
Ochaco looked up at him. Her eyes were glassy, and her lips were trembling. Her hands moved to the cushion of the stool, clenching it tightly. Izuku looked at her with worry in his eyes. She was still his friend, and he wanted to help her through her problems. She had already been there through so much for him.
“I-Is there anything I can do to help?”
Ochaco shook her head again. She released her death grip on the stool, moving a hand back to her glass. Within seconds, the drink was gone. She let out a sigh and rubbed her eyes.
“Deku, I’ll be fine. You’ve got your struggles, and I’ve got mine. Can we um… Can we talk about this some other time?”
Izuku cracked inside. He didn’t want to see her hurt. After all, it was time to return all the favors she had done for him. So many times she had supported him, and now it was his turn.
“Uraraka. We’re talking about this now. If you can help me, I can help you.”
Shock spread across Ochaco’s face. He winced at the sight, hoping he didn’t overstep his bounds. His hand clenched as his brain raced to find a solution to her problem.
“Rather bold of you, Mr. Midoriya.”
His mind grabbed onto an idea. If he hadn’t overstepped yet, he was definitely about to. It was time to stop being timid and take a leap of faith. His lips curved into a small smile as the words left his lips.
“Ochaco.”
Her cheeks turned a deeper red as he said her first name. The background noises from the bar felt hushed to him compared to the sound of his heart.
“What if… What if you moved in with me? Even if it’s temporary. I mean of course you don’t have to, and I’m not going to force you into anything you don’t want.”
Ochaco was staring at him, a mix of surprise and joy on her face. Her smile came back to her face. This time, he could tell it was genuine.
“Are you sure you want that, I-Izuku?”
Izuku shakily took a breath before nervously putting a hand on one of her shoulders. His smile matched hers.
“Yeah. I-I’m positive. I mean, unless you don’t want to. Which is completely understandable. I won’t force you to, your life is your life after all. We can split the bills if that makes you happy, to-”
Ochaco only responded by throwing her arms around him. She rested her head on his shoulder, crying into him. He instantly put his arms around her back, ignoring the heat building in his face.
Her voice came out as a whisper.
“Thank you for always saving me, Izuku. I’m sorry that I’ll have to ask you for one more favor.”
“And what’s that, Ms. Ochaco?”
“Can we… end that break?”
It didn’t take long for Izuku to join in with his sobbing. The both of them happily cried together in each other’s arms.
The Green Tea couple was back.