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Ochako looked at the weather forecast with immense dread. 43 degrees on Saturday, 47 degrees on Sunday, then 42 on Monday. She groaned and Bakugou looked up from his desk.
“What the fuck are you moaning about?” He asked angrily. “We just booked all those villains.”
“I’m looking at the weather,” Ochako whimpered. She got up and held her phone to him. “Do you see this?”
“Yeah, it’s going to be hot as hell.”
A ding sounded from his computer and Bakugou glanced at it and cursed.
“They’re cancelling patrols for the weekend. Dammit!”
Ochako went behind him to read the email.
“We’re all still on call and we’re supposed to check in with the community. It’s also with pay, dummy,” Ochako flicked his shoulder. Ever since Bakugou had transferred to Ryukyu’s agency on a mission only to end up staying full-time, they’d built up a decent working relationship. She’d even convinced him to go out to a few bars with her after work, though he didn’t stay long citing “scheduling conflicts”.
“So? Villains don’t give a shit. They’ll still attack.”
“We’ll be there if they do.”
Ochako’s phone rang and she answered it quickly. It was Todoroki.
“Uravity,” she answered professionally.
“I require your assistance. We’re setting up cooling centers in central locations and we need zero gravity for some larger items.”
“Send me the locations. Be there as soon as I can.”
Bakugou was muttering to himself as he worked furiously on his computer. Ochako paid him no mind as she rushed out of the sidekick area to the locations Todoroki had texted her.
Even though the heatwave hadn’t officially begun, it was still way too hot out to be wearing a skin tight, full-body covering suit. Ochako was sweating profusely as she lifted giant air conditioners and large ice blocks that Momo and Todoroki had created to different levels of their makeshift, multi-story cooling center.
By the time she was done with all of them, it was sunset. Ochako wiped her brow and grimaced.
“I can’t take much more of this,” she sighed tiredly. “I don’t even have A/C at my apartment.”
“You can come to our apartment,” Todoroki offered. Momo nodded excitedly. “I plan on freezing everything.”
“It’s true,” Momo giggled.
“Maybe,” Ochako smiled weakly. She didn’t think she’d take them up on the offer. They had just gotten engaged and she didn’t want to intrude. In fact, she probably couldn’t handle them either. Their lovey-dovey relationship made it so much more painfully obvious that she was extremely single.
“The door is open,” Todoroki smiled softly. “We’ve got reservations to get to,” he whispered in Momo’s ear. She perked up.
“Right. We've got to get changed and head out. Thank you for the help!” Momo said to Ochako as the betrothed pair hurried to the nearest train station.
“Want to grab dinner? I’ll buy,” Deku said from behind her. Ochako turned around to see a very disheveled hero who was sunburnt all over.
“Deku, look at you,” Ochako said. “You need to take better care of yourself.”
“Eh, I’ll be alright,” Deku waved her off but then stumbled as he tried to walk towards her. Ochako caught him. She put the back of her hand on his forehead and Deku grimaced in pain. His skin was clammy even though it was sunburnt. She looked at his neck and saw little dots running down his skin.
“What were you even doing?” Ochako asked with concern.
“Just got back from a villain fight to help with the centers. Looks like Todoroki called us both but I was busy.”
“I’m assuming you haven’t had any water?”
“Ha, no time.”
Ochako clicked her tongue in frustration.
“I’m taking you to the E.R. You’ve got heat rash and to be honest, you don’t look good. I don’t want you getting a heat stroke. You’re also probably severely dehydrated.”
“I’m fine, really,” Deku muttered before his eyes fluttered and then rolled back into his head. Ochako quickly used her quirk on him as he fainted.
“Uh-huh. Super fine,” Ochako said quietly.
She floated him to the hospital nearby as the slightly cooler night air began to waft around her. Their walk was longer than expected and Ochako was breathing heavily, still exhausted from the heat and work of the day. Deku woke up as they were entering through the automatic doors and Ochako felt immense relief as the cold, conditioned air hit her skin.
“I don’t need this, Ochako, really,” Deku mumbled but didn’t put up much of a fight. She ignored him as she told the E.R. nurse what was going on. With Deku being a well-known, high ranking hero, he was seen quickly. Ochako didn’t like to think how long it would have taken her to be seen.
Ochako sat in the waiting room, still dressed in her hero uniform, hoping Deku was just suffering from heat exhaustion. She had been the voice of reason for him for so long. He always overworked himself to the point of sickness. No matter how much she told him a break now and then would help keep him on patrols longer before he shut down, he never listened. He couldn’t take a break if people needed to be saved.
Her leg bounced as she waited for the doctor to either release him or admit him. It seemed like forever. A few civilians had come by to say hi or get an autograph. Ochako didn’t mind but she remembered with a smile how Bakugou reacted the first time he’d been cornered in a hospital. They had been on a mission together and were getting their injuries healed. A little girl wearing his merch came up to him as they were leaving. He’d been so flustered at the idea that this little girl wanted to be like him that he’d signed Katsuki Bakugou instead of Dynamight. Usually, it was a social rule to not bother heroes at the hospital but Ochako had noticed that Bakugou had a soft spot for cool kids. Specifically kids that weren’t annoying, as he had put it so eloquently that day.
Ochako was so caught up in her memories that she didn’t notice the subject of them come through the hospital doors, talk to the nurse, and walk over until Bakugou was right in front of her.
“What are you doing here?” He asked her curtly.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Ochako said as she snapped out of her thoughts.
“Got a call Deku was here. What did he do to himself this time?”
“Oh, you know. Overworked himself in the heat. Probably has heat exhaustion.”
“Tch, what a dumbass. For how much of a nerd he is, you’d think he’d learn.”
“Just like you learn?”
Bakugou rolled his eyes at her as he sat in the chair next to her.
“I'm taking a break.”
“Because they forced you.”
“Making the most of it.”
“Yeah?”
Bakugou barked a laugh at her surprised tone.
“No one should be out in this heat.”
“Tell me about it. I’m locking myself indoors, covering the windows with sheets, and sitting in front of my fan.”
“My shitty apartment doesn’t have A/C either. That’s why I sprung for a hotel until this shit is over.”
Ochako pursed her lips. However much she wanted to steal that idea, she didn’t have enough money. She sent most of her paycheck to her parents, only leaving herself enough for essentials.
“Smart,” she said simply. Ochako leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, savoring the coolness while she could. This would be the only time she’d have it for a while. She guessed she could make an appearance at one of the cooling shelters. That’d look good for her image.
“You could---join me,” Bakugou said quietly. Ochako opened her eyes in shock and saw he was wringing his hands tightly and grinding his teeth.
“You sound so excited,” Ochako smirked.
“If you don’t want to, don’t bother coming.”
“Couldn’t split the cost even if I wanted to come,” Ochako shrugged.
“I wouldn’t make you pay. I was already going to do it!” Bakugou said too loudly for a hospital. He noticed his mistake and took a few calming breaths. “It’s better than ending up like Deku because you're too stubborn.”
“I’m not stubborn,” Ochako scoffed and Bakugou laughed loudly.
“You might be more stubborn than me.”
“I don’t think that person exists.”
“We’re fucking friends with him,” Bakugou chuckled. As if on cue, the doctor came out to notify them that Deku was going to be admitted to get an I.V. drip and to monitor his sunburn, which was worse than it had initially looked. They would keep an eye on his other symptoms.
“We’ll call you if anything changes, Mr. Bakugou,” the doctor said before leaving. The pair had stood up when the doctor arrived but Ochako felt awkward standing so close to him. She scooted to the side and then her mouth turned into an ‘O’ as she realized why Bakugou had received a call and the doctor had addressed him directly.
“You're Deku’s emergency contact!” She giggled as she pointed at him.
“And he’s mine. We don’t treat each other like we fucked up for doing what needed to be done. Even if it lands us here. Even if it could have been avoided. I give him a lot of shit but he has his reasons just like I do.”
“Aw, best friends,” Ochako teased. Bakugou rolled his eyes but didn’t deny it.
The two of them decided to leave Deku without visiting him. He’d just try to explain why he needed to get back out on the streets and Ochako didn’t want to hear it. Deku needed to rest.
“So---the hotel,” Bakugou said.
“Maybe,” Ochako said, thinking the same things she had thought when Todoroki had invited her to his apartment. She didn’t want to intrude on Bakugou’s alone time and the first real break he had had in a while.
“I’ll text you the hotel name in case you change your mind.”
“Sure,” Ochako said. They walked out of the hospital and Ochako groaned. It was so much hotter outside even at night. Bakugou laughed at her.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Bakugou said to her as he walked away.
“No you won’t!” Ochako shouted back. Bakugou waved her off as he turned a corner and disappeared.
Ochako went to her apartment and changed into a sports bra and shorts, opened all the windows, then promptly melted into her couch. She picked at a hole in the cushion as she debated with herself about taking Bakugou’s offer.
As she made her mental pro and con list, Ochako’s phone rang on the coffee table. She flopped her head to the side to see the caller I.D and groaned.
MINA ASHIDO
Ochako picked up the phone and answered in her best voicemail voice.
“This is Ochako Uraraka. I’m sorry but I’m currently unavailable as I’m turning into a blob in my apartment. Please leave a message after the beep. BEEP.”
“Haha, so funny, Ochako. Ei and I are wondering if you want to go swimming tomorrow. There’s a pool on top of our apartment building that we plan on cooling off in before the day gets too hot. We invited a few people so you wouldn’t be a third wheel.”
Ochako sighed. Her friends were perceptive.
“What time?”
“We’ll provide mimosas and brunch so come anytime after 10am. Can’t wait to see you! It’s been too long.”
“Mhm,” Ochako managed before Mina hung up.
The next morning, Ochako got up early-ish for a day off at around 9am. She hung sheets over her windows and closed them before she left for swimming. It was already getting hot and she couldn’t risk any hot air getting into her apartment.
Dressed in a short lavender sundress over her dark purple swimsuit, she made her way to Kirishima and Mina’s apartment complex. It was very nice. Much nicer than hers.
When she got in the lobby, she was given a visitor's pass so she could use the elevator up to the pool. The elevator doors opened and Mina tackled her immediately.
“Ochako! I missed you so much!” She squealed.
“Missed you too!”
“Guess you’re not the only one who’s punctual,” Kirishima said happily and Ochako looked to see him elbow Bakugou in the ribs.
Bakugou scowled at his friend and punched him in the arm.
“Mimosa?” Mina asked Ochako. She nodded and Mina unwrapped herself to go pour her a drink.
“Happy Saturday!” Kirishima shouted with a sharky grin. “First we’ve had off in a while, huh?”
“Yep,” Ochako grinned back. She took off her sundress and threw it on one of the lounging chairs next to the pool. There was no way she was waiting another second to cool down. Throwing off her sandals, she jogged toward the pool, using her quirk at the last second and jumping high into the air. She released and fell into the water with a satisfying splash. Her body tensed at the cold before her muscles released in ecstasy.
She resurfaced and wiped the hair out of her eyes.
“Can’t believe you aren’t already in the pool,” Ochako said to her friends. Bakugou was staring at her, a drink untouched in his hand, as Kirishima laughed before pulling his shirt over his head and joining her.
“Yeah, what were we thinking?!” He said when he resurfaced. His hair was flat and Ochako giggled at the rare sight of the non-spiky haired hero.
“Chako, come to the side to get your drink!” Mina called. She said something quietly to Bakugou who was still staring at Ochako. Ochako quickly looked down at her suit before she listened to Mina to make sure her bikini hadn’t accidentally been moved inappropriately during her entrance into the pool. Nothing looked out of place. When she looked back at Bakugou, he was dishing up a plate of food and taking a large swig of his mimosa.
“Here, lady,” Mina said with a smile when Ochako was in arm’s reach of her own alcohol. “Enjoy!”
Ochako took a drink and sighed at the taste of orange juice and champagne. Just what she needed.
“Thank you!”
The elevator doors opened and out poured the remaining group of friends that Mina had invited. Kaminari, Sero, Jirou, and a couple unknown faces walked out, chatting happily and loudly. Bakugou glared at them as he bit into a piece of sausage and finished off his drink.
“Hey, guys! Glad you could make it! Drinks and food are over here. Party is ending promptly at 1pm so we can all hide out in our homes. No food in the pool. Drinks are okay with lids! Mizushima! Come here for a second.”
One of the unfamiliar faces walked over to Mina. He was a tall, burly, black haired man with kind eyes.
“Ochako, this is Kaito Mizushima. He works with Ei sometimes for partner missions. He’s got a shielding quirk that works well with Ei’s Harden. Mizushima, this is-”
“Uravity. Who doesn’t know her?” He smiled.
“Right,” Mina grinned. “Anyway, I hear you both really like sweets so why don’t you talk about that!”
Mina twiddled her fingers at them and bounced away to be a host. She pulled a curly-haired blonde from the group and introduced her to Bakugou, who seemed annoyed at the interruption of his meal.
“Sorry about her,” Ochako smiled up at him.
“Ah, no worries. I have wanted to meet you actually. Your hero stats are impressive. Trying to break into the rescue game is no joke and you’re pulling it off.”
“Thanks,” Ochako took a drink and the conversation paused awkwardly. She wasn’t good at this.
“I’m gonna--go get food,” Mizushima said, gesturing toward the assortment of brunch items before turning away from her.
“That was painful,” Kirishima said with a sad laugh.
“I’m out of the game, alright!” Ochako splashed him.
“Way out more like,” he teased and splashed her back.
“It’s not like I have time-,” Ochako started and he shushed her.
“You sound like Bakugou. Do you really want that?”
“He has a point! Heroes are busy.”
“Doesn’t stop most people,” Kirishima shrugged as he swam over to hang off the side of the pool like Ochako was doing as she sipped on her drink.
“Well, I’m not like most people,” Ochako side-eyed him. “I don’t need to be set up.”
“You don’t want it. Mina meddles a lot but even I can see you need to get back out there. Don’t you want to find your soulmate?”
“You watch too many soaps with her.”
“They’ve got good stories!” he shouted defensively and Ochako laughed heartily.
After she finished her drink, Ochako got out to eat some bites of food but it was too hot to be outside of the pool for long. She winced and looked at her shoulders. Her skin was already burning.
“Don’t end up like Deku,” Bakugou said suddenly and threw her some sunblock from his seat. He was already rubbing the cream into his legs and arms.
“Thank you,” Ochako responded gratefully before following suit.
“Give it back when you’re done,” he growled.
Ochako put some cream on her stomach, face, neck, and shoulders. She couldn’t reach her back very well but shrugged it off.
Bakugou rolled his eyes as he stood up from his seat. He walked over and forcefully took the sunblock from her. With a smooth movement, he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it into his chair. He put some sunblock in his hands and put it on his newly exposed skin. Ochako couldn’t help but stare at his bare chest and his impeccable abs. He looked like one of those Greek statues Ochako had seen in a museum. With every movement, Ochako was in awe at how strong he looked. She’d never wanted to be hugged by those arms that had hit her so hard in the sparring dojo until now. Ochako could see a few scars decorate his forearms and biceps, even a few on his chest and some on his ribs. He even had a bruise that spread underneath his left pec. It took everything in Ochako to not reach out a hand and-
“I’ll do you if you do me,” Bakugou said, interrupting Ochako’s stream of thoughts. Ochako blushed.
“What?” She squeaked.
“Our backs, idiot,” Bakugou smirked.
“Right,” Ochako chuckled awkwardly. Bakugou put some sunscreen in his hands, rubbed them together.
“Turn around,” Bakugou said, starting to get annoyed. Ochako did and she felt his hands on her back. They were calloused but gentle as they rubbed the cream into her back. She felt him move down to her lower back and Ochako breathed out as her muscles relaxed. It’d been so long since she’d been touched there.
Bakugou tapped her shoulder with the container and Ochako took a sharp breath to stop thinking about how touch-starved she was. She turned around to find herself facing his back.
If his front was exquisite, his back was magnificent.
Ochako gulped a little before putting the sunscreen on her hands. She stood on her tippy-toes and tentatively touched his shoulder blades. Her hands ran across his skin, marvelling at how it felt. For some reason, she expected all of him to be rough like his personality. It was unrealistic but so was the idea that she would be touching Bakugou’s bare back at all. The only time they’d ever touched was if they were trying to pin each other on the mats of the dojo.
She put the sunscreen all over his back, taking a little longer than she would have normally since she kept thinking about how amazing he felt underneath her fingers.
“Um, done,” Ochako rushed out when she no longer had any cream on her fingers. She clenched her fists tightly to her sides as he turned around.
“Good,” Bakugou snapped and he took the sunscreen away from her and threw it in the bag near his chair. He ran past her and did a flip into the pool. Their friends greeted him with glee and the curly-haired blonde swam up to him, tucking her hair behind her ears as she tried to flirt with him. Bakugou was oblivious to it as he said something to her and then swam towards Kirishima to dunk him.
Ochako shook off the encounter with her old classmate/co-worker/sparring partner/friend and jumped back into the pool to get out of the heat.
At 1pm, Mina practically shoved everyone out of the pool as Kirishima apologized for kicking them out with his signature smile.
“See you all soon!” Mina shouted as they headed to their apartment while the others headed to the lobby.
Ochako didn’t want to leave the air conditioned lobby any more than she had wanted to leave the pool. Her place would be horrible to stay in.
“You must hate it as much as I do,” Bakugou said next to her as the rest of the group left the complex.
“Hm?” Ochako asked, soaking in as much cold air as she could.
“They tried to set you up with Kirishima’s shield.”
“Yeah, we didn’t mesh,” Ochako said as she watched the person in question pass in front of the complex windows.
“Tch, they set me up with the secretary at Kirishima’s agency. It’s like they don’t know my type at all.”
“Yeah, what’s your type?” Ochako asked, her brow raising at the question.
“Not her,” Bakugou grumbled as he readjusted his bag and started walking toward the exit. He stopped when she didn’t follow. “You coming or not?”
“If I leave it’s just back to my boiling apartment.”
“Stop being dumb and come stay at the hotel. I brought my work laptop and we can finish the reports together. You’re better at recording civilian statements anyway.”
“A genuine compliment?” Ochako grinned as she caught up to him. “You must really want me to come.”
“Come or don’t. I don’t care. It’s my bad for thinking you had brains.”
“Hey!”
Bakugou shrugged.
“I just don’t want to intrude,” Ochako admitted. Bakugou looked down at her and leaned his head back in frustration.
“I’m the one who fucking invited you,” he said slowly.
“I mean, yeah out of, like, pity,” Ochako huffed.
“I don’t do pity,” Bakugou threw back. He opened the lobby doors and both of them squinted as the heat blasted them.
“I’ll go,” Ochako mumbled. The heat had convinced her. “I have to go pack.”
“We check out Tuesday morning. I’ll text you the room number.”
When Ochako left her horrendously hot apartment with her things and a popsicle in hand to keep her cool on the walk to the hotel, she knew she had made the best decision for her health.
The apartment had been unbearable to say the least. When she had opened her door, the doorknob had burned her hand. Her plants were wilting in the heat. The fan was only pushing the hot air around as she packed as fast as she could. She just hoped spending this much time with Bakugou wouldn’t be as unbearable. Ochako could feel her nervousness about the whole event rising as she pushed through the shimmering heat on the street. She wouldn’t be surprised to see an egg cooking on the pavement to fully encapsulate how she felt.
As soon as she found the hotel, she ran the rest of the way into the lobby and almost cried with happiness as the air conditioning washed over her.
“I’m moving to Antarctica after this,” Ochako said as she headed to the elevators to go to room 302.
Once she was there, Ochako’s knuckles hovered over the door. Her heart was racing but she didn’t know why. Did she have a real reason? She and Bakugou were on good terms; they could spend a couple nights together. If she hated it, she could leave.
Ochako nodded after realizing that and knocked a couple times, forcing herself to smile through the nerves.
“Hold on,” Bakugou said through the door and she heard him hurrying around the room. He opened the door as he was pulling down his tank top.
Ochako stared at the spot where she briefly saw his abs again before quickly making eye contact with him.
“Set up your computer wherever. I’m at the table. Fridge is stocked with water, juice, and some snacks.”
Ochako nodded as she walked into the room behind him. She froze when she saw the bed.
“Um, where am I sleeping?”
“Wherever you want,” Bakugou said stoically as he went back to work on his computer.
“You didn’t tell me there was only one bed.”
“Didn’t think you’d care. We’ve slept next to each other on trains, planes, and everything in between.”
“Never a bed, Bakugou!” Ochako shouted, putting her hands on her hips.
“First time for everything, Uraraka. It’s a king so we won’t even touch. If you don’t like it you can sleep on the floor or leave. I really don’t care.”
Ochako looked at the bed and then back at Bakugou who was not so casually putting something behind his computer.
“You don’t have to hide things. I’m not a thief,” Ochako said roughly as she began to unpack her bag.
“I don’t think that,” Bakugou growled.
“Mhm, I see it at work. You cover your hand and put something behind your computer all the time.”
“You see that?” Bakugou asked sincerely.
“You’re not subtle.”
She didn’t want to admit how often she looked in his direction at the office. It was a bad habit she developed early in their working relationship. She’d never seen him as calm as he was when he worked on a computer. It was like witnessing a miracle every day.
“Stalker,” Bakugou teased.
“I prefer to call it observant.”
After Ochako finished unpacking, she turned on her computer, moved to the desk, and started updating their recent case files. They worked for a few hours before Ochako leaned back in her chair and groaned.
“I know we’re getting paid but I don’t want to work anymore.”
“It has to get done,” Bakugou said firmly.
“That can be a future Ochako problem,” she whined.
Bakugou laughed once in his chest but his expression didn’t change. He was squinting slightly at the screen like he always did after a long day.
“You’re tired too. I can tell,” Ochako said, scooting her chair out and facing him directly.
“How?” Bakugou turned to glare at her.
“You’re squinting. You always do that at the end of the day or after an intense battle.”
“Tch.”
He got up from the chair and stretched.
“Fine. Only because I finished what I had to get done today.”
Ochako grinned, shut down her computer, and closed it with a snap.
“Let’s go to the hotel bar!” She suggested. Bakugou raised his eyebrows. “That’s our thing. We got to the bar after work. It’s happy hour!”
“We’ve done that maybe a dozen times total in all the years we’ve worked together.”
“Let’s make it a baker’s dozen then!” Ochako smiled pleadingly at him and Bakugou sighed.
“Sure, whatever. I’m not staying out late.”
“I know. I know. In bed by eight.”
“It’s ten on the weekends,” Bakugou said before grabbing some clothes from his suitcase and heading toward the bathroom. Ochako giggled as she picked out her own clothes to wear to the bar.
Ochako almost forgot that they were sharing a room together to avoid dying in the heatwave when they headed down to the bar. It felt like a normal day after work.
“So, Bakugou, how was your day?” Ochako asked after she ordered her drink. Bakugou smirked at her. The bartender pour them two waters then started making their drinks.
“Fine,” he replied. It was his go-to answer.
“Well, my day was interesting. Hung out with friends, got a lot of work done, realized I’d be sleeping with my co-worker.”
Bakugou choked on his ice water.
“Uh, are you okay?” Ochako asked.
Bakugou nodded and pushed his water away from him. The bartender set their drinks in front of them and looked at Bakugou inquisitively.
“I’m fine,” Bakugou snapped at him. The bartender shrugged and attended to his other patrons.
“What do you want to do while we’re hiding from the heat?” Ochako asked as she sipped her wine.
“I plan on working. Like you should. I’ve got more emails to answer than I thought was humanly possible.”
“Well, when you’re constantly fighting and saving lives, emails come second,” Ochako shrugged.
“Tell that to Ryukyu. Got talked to about not responding to PR fast enough.”
“PR can walk down and get you if it’s that important.”
“That’s what I said!”
Ochako giggled and Bakugou shook his head in frustration at the thought and sipped on his old fashioned.
“You dodged the question, though. What do you want?” Ochako asked again.
Bakugou side-eyed her and then looked at the bottles behind the bar.
“I want to sleep.”
“All day?”
Bakugou nodded.
“Do it!”
“It’s not that easy.”
“Why? You never take any of your PTO. No wonder you’re tired.”
“I don’t sleep well. Not since early high school.”
Ochako looked at him with concern but Bakugou sighed and continued sipping. She needed to change the subject or he’d leave.
“So, I’ve been wondering something.”
Bakugou didn’t look at her, which was her signal to continue talking.
“I know you had to move when Mina moved in with Kirishima but why did you choose a shitty apartment like me? I know you make more than me. Sidekicks are ranked just like pros.”
“I’m saving.”
“For what?”
Bakugou sipped again.
“A house.”
“Really?” Ochako was shocked. He was always working. Why did he care if he had a house?
“I don’t want to keep paying a shitty landlord. Hate being told what I can and can’t do in my own space. I want a big ass kitchen too. That’s why I haven’t started my own agency yet. House first then I can set up an agency nearby.”
“That makes sense. A house would be great.”
Ochako daydreamed about her own house. She pictured it somewhere secluded next to nature but not too far away from the city. Not so big that cleaning would be a hassle but big enough to have a couple kids. She knew being a mom and a hero was next to impossible but Ochako was ambitious.
“I want to get away from the city,” Bakugou continued, looking up as if he was picturing his perfect house just like Ochako was. “It’s too dangerous here. I want to actually relax when I’m not working.”
Ochako nodded contentedly. She began to picture a little garden of fresh herbs, fruit, and vegetables.
“I don’t need a mansion or anything. Comfortable, you know. I wouldn’t mind learning how to grow food either. Tastes better anyway.”
“Definitely,” Ochako agreed, remembering the taste of fresh strawberries on her tongue.
“Lots of space to practice my quirk outside. Mountain climbing nearby maybe.”
Bakugou snapped out of his dream and scowled.
“Sorry,” he muttered before going back to his drink.
“Don’t be. Sounds like we kind of want the same thing.”
Bakugou looked at her and shook his head.
“Told Kirishima that and he acted like I was crazy. Thought I wanted to quit hero work. What an idiot.”
“They’re city people. They like the hustle and bustle. I like quiet.”
Bakugou chuckled.
“Sure talk a lot for someone that says they like quiet.”
“Yeah, it needs to be quiet for my voice to be heard,” Ochako said.
They laughed together and she could have sworn she saw Bakugou smile for a millisecond before it turned into his signature smirk. They finished their drinks and decided it would be a one and done night.
“Hungry? I was planning on getting sushi tonight. Don’t throw a fit because I’m buying,” Bakugou told her firmly.
“Fine. Thank you.”
Bakugou placed the order on his phone and asked it to be delivered to their room. Luckily, the restaurant was only a couple blocks away so it wouldn’t take long. Both of them had changed into shorts and a tank top for sleeping. Ochako laughed when she saw him come out of the bathroom. They were practically matching.
“Fucking copy cat!” Bakugou shouted.
Ochako kept laughing as they heard a knock at the door. Bakugou jogged over to answer it then paid quickly in cash. Ochako wiped tears from the corner of her eyes before falling on top of the bed.
“It’s not that funny,” Bakugou grumbled as she sat on the opposite side and handed her chopsticks.
“We both want the same house, we dress like each other, we hate being set up. I never knew we were so similar.”
Bakugou tapped the chopsticks on his thigh nervously.
“Eat up,” he said as he dug into some sashimi.
Once they finished dinner, they put on a random movie and laid next to each other. Like Bakugou had said, they’d slept next to each other many times before. This felt different. Ochako was very aware of how close their bodies were, feeling his breathing slow as he drifted to sleep.
She wanted to do anything to break the silence or fall asleep herself. It was driving her crazy.
Suddenly, all of the lights, the voices on the T.V. and the hum of the A/C turned off.
Bakugou sat up, immediately turning his hero voice on.
“Blackout. Suit up.”
They jumped out of bed and Ochako slipped on her backup hero costume. The one she had worn yesterday had been soaked in sweat. It looked a little different but that didn’t matter. People needed her.
Bakugou put on his earpiece first and started making calls.
“Pick the fuck up, Icy-Hot,” Bakugou growled as he strapped his gauntlets on.
Ochako put in her earpiece to find Ryukyu’s voice on the other end already barking orders and sending her sidekicks in different directions.
“Uravity here,” Ochako said quickly as she put her own cuffs on. Bakugou touched her shoulder and Ochako looked up. Even in the dark, Ochako could see him nod towards the door. She looked around to make sure they had everything they’d need.
“Don’t forget the keys,” Ochako mouthed at him. Bakugou nodded and slipped the hotel keycards into his suit.
They ran out of their room and out of the hotel to find chaos. The streets were filled with scared civilians. Ryukyu’s voice rang in Ochako’s ear and she could tell Bakugou was on a different channel since he wasn’t answering her.
“Bakugou! Ryukyu needs you at the hospital. Villains are attacking. She thinks the target is Deku,” Ochako said, loud enough for him to hear through the panic.
“Those fuckers!” Bakugou screamed before blasting off.
Ochako got into her hero mindset and began directing people to cooling centers.
“Uravity,” Mina’s voice came over her earpiece.
“Here,” Ochako responded as she continued directing people.
“Chargebolt and Earphone Jack are heading toward the generators to try and restart the street lights but there’s been a really bad crash at Espa Avenue. Tons of cars. We need you to clear the wreckage so ambulances can get through.”
“On it,” Ochako said. She made herself weightless, pushed off the ground, and used her grappling hooks to swing to the crash.
She could hear people’s cries as she flew through the air and sirens rang throughout the city. Ochako was already overheating in her suit but she couldn’t think about that right now. Saving the crash victims was her only focus.
As soon as Espa Avenue was visible, Ochako grappled to the ground and released just before slamming into the pavement.
Mina and Kirishima were working on breaking people out of the car pile up while Sero taped up the area since people were gathering around to see the wreckage. The light from the ambulances illuminated the crunched cars and Ochako saw the shimmer of blood and gasoline on the pavement. Her chest tightened as she saw body bags being loaded into a few different ambulances.
The night was a blur after that.
It was after two in the morning when Ochako finally made it back to their room. Certain grids had come back on but it hadn’t included their hotel yet. The heat was creeping in but it was still cooler than it had been outside.
“Bakugou,” Ochako said weakly in her earpiece.
“Here,” he replied.
“I’m back. Are you?”
“Still at the hospital. Everything’s taken care of. Finishing up.”
Ochako sighed.
“I can’t get in. Power is still out but you have the keycards anyway.”
She heard Bakugou curse tiredly.
“Be there soon.”
Ochako closed her eyes as she leaned against the wall and slid down it. Her hero suit was ripped in places and she was bleeding. Her body was sore from all the grappling. All she wanted to do was sleep. So that’s what she did.
Her eyes groggily opened to see Bakugou leaning down next to her, gently waking her up. The lights were on in the hallway so the power grid the hotel was on must have been restored while she was asleep. She could see his head had a bandage around it and Ochako saw some bandages around his shoulder.
“Bet those villains look a lot worse,” she mumbled sleepily. Bakugou chuckled.
“Damn right. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Ochako tried to stand but her ankle gave out. Right, she had fallen badly after trying to grapple back to the hotel. It hadn’t hurt that much on the way up. Bakugou caught her and in one swift movement picked her up bridal style.
“Get the key out of my pocket,” Bakugou said.
“Uh.”
“Inside. Left.”
Bakugou looked down at his chest and Ochako blushed. She put her fingers inside and fumbled around until she found the pocket with the keycards in it. Ochako pulled one out with an awkward smile and reached down to unlock the door and open it for him. He kicked it open with his foot and carried her to the bathroom, placing her carefully on the toilet.
“I’ll let you change,” Bakugou said hurriedly.
“I can’t stand right now,” Ochako groaned. The pain was all coming in now that she wasn't asleep or running on adrenaline.
Bakugou stood there for a second and cursed to himself.
“Let me change and I’ll---help.”
He left the bathroom and Ochako closed her eyes again. She didn’t even care that Bakugou would see her in her underwear. It wasn’t any different than a bikini. She just wanted to go to bed.
Bakugou came back dressed in the same sleepwear he was wearing before the blackout except he was now adorned with several bruises and bandages.
Ochako scooted around so that the zipper in the back was accessible.
She felt his fingers grab the top of her suit.
“Fuck. It’s gone.”
“The zipper?”
“What else would I be talking about?”
“Just rip it off. I’m too hot, tired, and hurt to give a shit at this point.”
Bakugou stifled a laugh. Ochako heard the fabric rip and his fingers brushed her spine as he worked his way down. She sighed in relief as the suit fell off her.
“Damn, Uraraka, what happened?”
She felt fingers gently caress a part of her spine near the bottom of her back. Ochako tried to remember. Right, Ochako had broken up a fight in the street and someone had accidentally hit her with a baseball bat.
“Accident,” Ochako muttered. She winced in pain as she slid the sleeves of her suit off.
She moved a little to try and shimmy the rest down her thighs but every moment aggravated something, whether it be her back, her foot, or for some reason her ribs. What had she done to her ribs?
“So stubborn,” Bakugou said quietly as he grabbed her suit at her hips and pulled it down for her.
“You wouldn’t ask for help either,” Ochako muttered, her eyes closing tightly at the pain.
“We’re too much alike.”
“Eh, I think it’s just right,” Ochako smiled weakly. She felt the fabric slide off her legs and Ochako hummed.
“We need to clean whatever happened to your knees and there’s a gash in the back of your thigh.”
“Do whatever you need to do. I’m just going to snooze a bit.”
Bakugou chuckled.
“Whatever,” he whispered but it was with a lot more care than he usually put into the word.
Ochako felt his fingers gently clean up her wounds and when he was done he stayed at her level.
“It’s a good thing you’re here,” Bakugou said. “The hospital was packed when I left.”
“This is nothing. The foot sucks but it’s manageable.”
“You--did good today. I heard how quickly you cleaned up the crash.”
Ochako looked at him. There was blood in his hair and she could see a new bruise forming on his neck. Against her better judgement, Ochako reached her fingers up to his hairline but hesitated before she touched him.
Bakugou looked at her fingertips and closed his eyes.
Ochako’s heart started racing again. He wanted her to touch him.
She gingerly ran her fingers through his hair to get some of the blood that was caked in. Her fingers ran down his face and found a cut on his jaw that she hadn’t noticed before.
Bakugou opened his eyes and his hand came up to hold her hand to his face.
“Don’t talk,” Bakugou said shyly. Ochako nodded. She’d never heard him speak that way. He took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes.
“You asked me what I wanted earlier today and I didn’t lie but--I didn’t tell you the real reason I invited you. I want more time with you. You’re the only person I can stand to be around for more than a few hours. I stayed at Ryukyu’s all these years because I didn’t think I’d ever find that anywhere else. Not to mention she’s badass and I still rank highly even in her agency but I’m getting off track.”
Ochako laughed and Bakugou smirked.
“After tonight, I realized I’ve been stalling. No one comes close, Uraraka. I can understand if you don’t want me but-” Bakugou’s brow began to furrow as he talked like he was getting angry and Ochako couldn’t stand it. She had promised not to talk. She hadn’t promised not to interrupt him.
Ochako cupped her hands around his face and kissed him. Bakugou seemed surprised by her making the first move but he kissed her back with a hunger that Ochako knew well. He’d been touch-starved just like her.
“So-was this your way of asking me out? Gotta say it’s bold to get the hotel first,” Ochako said and Bakugou laughed breathily.
“Kind of turned into that. Wasn’t the initial plan. That included a lot more stalling and flirting.”
“You’ll still feel the same way in the morning? This isn’t just a super late night, post dangerous situation confession that you'll regret?” Ochako asked with a tired smile.
Bakugou shook his head.
“I thought I was being obvious before. I think you’re just oblivious,” Bakugou smirked. He held out his hand to help her off the toilet.
“Probably. Can’t believe you didn’t tease me when I was putting sunblock on you today. My brain kind of short-circuited seeing you all,” Ochako gestured to him. Bakugou laughed.
“I was staring at you for so long that Ashido called me out on it.”
Ochako leaned against the counter and a sly smile spread across her lips.
“I could really use a cold shower right now. I don’t know if I can stand through one by myself with this injury.”
Bakugou took off his tank top and let Ochako trace the curves of his body.
“Finally,” Bakugou and Ochako said together and they both laughed some more. Bakugou picked her up and Ochako wrapped her arms and legs around him.
He kissed her again as he started the cold shower. Even though Bakugou was still wearing his shorts and Ochako was in her underwear they climbed under the stream of freezing water. She giggled at the whole situation. Bakugou ran his fingers through her hair as he kissed her forehead.
“Your bandages,” Ochako whispered.
“Guess you’ll have to change them when we’re done cooling off,” Bakugou said before leaning her against the wall. Ochako winced. He’d accidentally hit the spot in her back.
“Gentle.”
Bakugou kissed her lightly on her cheek.
“Psh, not that gentle,” Ochako said and Bakugou grinned before exploring her skin as if he’d never see it again. Ochako looked down at her underwear. “You can take them off, you know.”
“I’m too tired to appreciate it fully. Half the fun is about the anticipation.”
Ochako smiled as he lifted her up higher so he could kiss her stomach.
They rinsed off the night and their inhibitions with each other, changed into new clothes/bandages, then climbed into bed as the sun was beginning to rise. The sheets were cold and Ochako groaned as her body instantly tensed up from finding pain after trying to relax too fast.
“Don’t wake me up before noon,” Ochako pleaded as she positioned herself next to him. Bakugou wrapped his arms around her stomach, clutching at the tank top fabric.
“I’m gonna...sleep in,” Bakugou said, already falling asleep.
Ochako grunted in acknowledgement as she knocked out.
When Ochako woke up in the afternoon, she was no longer in Bakugou’s arms. She turned to find him and saw him on his laptop. He froze when he saw Ochako’s eyes open.
“So that’s what you’re hiding,” Ochako said as she stretched. Bakugou hurriedly took off his glasses and put them away.
“You didn’t see shit.”
“Oh, we both know that I did.”
Ochako sat up and rubbed her eyes.
“Why do you care?” She asked with a yawn.
Bakugou scowled at her.
Ochako swung her legs out, tested her foot, then limped over to him. She carefully sat on his lap, and took the glasses from his hiding spot. She put them back on his face and he closed his eyes as she ran her fingers through his hair.
“I like everything about you. Glasses included.”
“I hate getting older,” Bakugou whispered.
“We’re not even thirty. Plus, I think there’s perks to it,” Ochako whispered back as she slid her hands down his chest and kissed him. “Like how we can use PTO to stay in bed all day. Join me?”
“Hell yes!”
Bakugou carried her back to bed, kissing her all the way there. He dropped her carefully on top of the comforter before climbing on top of her to continue kissing her body.
"I thought you wanted to sleep?" Ochako asked breathily.
"I want this more," Bakugou replied. Ochako grinned as he went back to work exploring her skin. It felt amazing. After everything, this was the moment she was the most thankful for the A/C. Ochako needed all the help she could get to stay cool for the rest of the heatwave if this was how the next couple days were going to be. She didn't think they'd be doing much sleeping.