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Ochako stood alone, the empty apartment filled with a gray haze that clung to the walls and filled the rooms like a thick smog. Ochako didn’t know where she was, or who this apartment belonged to. She wandered around the single living room, where a small kitchen sat in the corner of the space that looked at an empty cheap couch facing a dusty old flatscreen television. She continued to wander around the apartment, the walls covered in the memorabilia of other heroes.
The posed actions, smiles, and symbols of other heroes decorated the empty apartment, providing what little color they gave as she inspected each calendar, picture, and poster. Ochako stared at a simple Uravity poster hanging above the television set, an image of her raising a fist out towards the room with a gallant smile as a flurry of pink, white, and black splattered behind her image. But something was off. She had the exact same poster in the apartment living room, only it was a picture of her and Izuku posing together. She never remembered the version of this single poster being just of her.
Ochako wandered around the apartment a little more, inspecting the kitchen which had a clear sink and an almost barren refrigerator filled with leftovers and ordered-out food in plastic containers. She looked around a little more till she found a door left open, the mysterious darkness calling to her as she approached.
“What in the hell?” Ochako said, aghast. It was her bedroom. Their bedroom. The bedroom that Ochako and Izuku shared. It was a simple twin bed sitting alone in a room filled with All Might memorabilia. Posters and photographs hung from the walls; toys, clocks, and calendars littered the desks and countertops as she looked around the room; and on the bed, after lifting up the blanket only slightly, found small bloodstains on the sheets.
Ochako’s stomach churned and her eyes stung, her tears held back as she backed away from the bed. This was Izuku’s room. Or rather it shouldn’t be. Whatever it was. But this wasn’t her Izuku. Ochako’s heart leapt as the front door creaked open, heavy boots hit the floor with a rhythmic thud thud thud as toes scraped against the carpet.
“Izuku, what is going on? What is this place?” Ochako jogged out of the door, wiping away tears from her cheeks as she did her best not to sound upset. But she couldn’t, fear and sadness boiled and rolled within her, bubbling out as she attempted to keep her composure. But Izuku did not respond. Ochako gasped at how bad he looked. Blood dripped down his forehead as he gritted his teeth, fighting through whatever pain he was enduring. His arm looked like it belonged to a mummy, all wrapped in bandages and bloody, as he walked over to his couch and slowly slumped down.
“Izuku, look at me-” Ochako said, reaching out to hold Izuku’s face so he could look at her, but her hands passed through his face, like touching a rising steam or fog. Ochako jumped back almost, her hands trembling as she brushed through Izuku’s face. She didn’t know if this was real or not. Maybe it was the effects of a quirk? Or maybe a bad dream?
Ochako stared at Izuku, tears rolling down her cheeks as she saw his face. Dark bags of skin formed under his tired green eyes, the shine she usually saw in them dimmed. His breathing was almost ragged and heavy as he looked to the side table, picking up a picture frame. In it was a picture of him, All Might, and Inko, all of them smiling. Izuku winced as he lifted his other arm, but he fought through and opened up the frame and took out a folded piece of paper. He slowly unraveled the paper, revealing a creased picture of him, her, and Tenya, all of them smiling as they held their graduation scrolls as they posed in front of a springtime UA. A small smile formed from his dry cracked lips, and Ochako tearfully smiled.
Suddenly a cell phone rang and Izuku’s tired hand trembled as he reached for the vibrating device. Izuku coughed into his fist, grimacing at the pain as he lifted the phone to his ear. “Yeah… No, I can come… People need me, what kind of hero would I be if I can’t be there… No, I’ll manage… I’ll be fine.” Izuku said, his voice hoarse as he slowly stood from the couch, groaned in agony as he put on his mask, worn green ears flowing over his hooded head as he limped out the door.
“No! Izuku, don’t go!!” Ochako screamed as the door slammed shut, and darkness met her. She shot up, sitting up in bed as she panted heavily. Izuku, who still had his arm over her waist, looked up and around, startled by the sudden commotion.
“Huh? What? Ochako, what’s wrong? Are you alright?” Izuku asked, sitting up in bed, his arm around Ochako’s shoulder as he spoke softly, trying his best to console her. Ochako sat, her head hanging over her knees as sweat and tears rolled off her chin, cheek, and nose. She felt Izuku’s hands and arms wrapped around her, his soft voice speaking to her, telling her that he is there and everything is okay. “Now can you tell me what happened? What’s the matter?”
She sat up against her bed, her breathing slowed as she wiped her tears away, her eyes a little puffy as her sniffles died away. She told him everything. What his apartment looked like in her dream, when he was alone. How banged up he looked. How no one was there to take care of him, because he had no one.
Izuku was left troubled, almost stunned. He never thought about it. What it would’ve been like if he never got to be with Ochako, if he never found the courage to find love with her. “Ochako, I don’t think I can ever think of what my life would be without you in it. You’ve… We have done so much together, and I don’t plan on leaving you behind. Not ever.” Izuku said, kissing her forehead as he rubbed her arm with his arm around hers.
Ochako smiled, resting her head on his shoulder as they stared into their low-lit room, the warm light revealing their blanket-covered feet as they rubbed their feet together. Ochako leaned up and kissed Izuku’s cheek as they stared at their room, filled with photographs of their time together and their shared accomplishments.
“I had a pretty bad dream too, you know.” Izuku said, his matter-of-fact voice trying to hide faint laughter as he looked at her, both of them face to face as they laid in front of each other.
“Oh yeah, what was it?” Ochako asked, her hand caressing his freckled face, with a single pinkie lifted up.
“I dreamed that all my All Might stuff came to life and then deflated while vomiting blood.” Izuku snickered, Ochako almost bursting out laughing.
“Well, let’s hope we get a good night’s sleep for the rest of the night.” Ochako said as she slipped on her mitts.
“Good night, Ochako.” Izuku said, kissing her forehead as he folded his arms around her.
“Good night.” Ochako smiled, closing her eyes and putting her face in his neck, the warmth keeping her secure for the rest of the night.