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Katsuki poked his cheek as he stared at his reflection. Anytime he looked too long he saw his mother. He tilted his head and inspected his jawline; it was the same. His eyes, which he rolled at the stupid thoughts plaguing him, were identical to hers.
“Are you almost ready?” Ochako asked from their bedroom.
“Yeah,” Katsuki replied. He ran his fingers through his hair and grimaced. “Just a fucking carbon copy.”
“Hm?”
“Nothing.”
Katsuki walked out to see his girlfriend in a nice olive green dress and black heels. She was putting her cards and phone in a clutch purse. When she saw him, she grinned widely and closed the distance to peck his cheek.
“So handsome,” she murmured.
“Tch .”
Ochako straightened out his collar and wiped off some lint from his shirt.
“I know you don’t like them but we can try to make this wedding fun,” Ochako said with a smile.
“Why do you even want to go?”
“Your parents specifically asked us to be there. It’s important to your father to be there for family events.”
“Be there for a cousin I barely know?”
“Don’t shoot the messenger. We’ll leave as soon as dinner’s over, okay?”
Katsuki nodded.
They sat by his parents during the wedding ceremony. It was incredibly boring but Ochako held his hand the whole time, rubbing the back of his hand with her thumb, her pinky extended so he didn’t float over the guests. Katsuki couldn’t understand why people felt the need to declare their love in front of everyone.
“What a long ceremony,” his mother whispered to his father. “Hopefully the reception is better. Don’t they know no one is here for the vows?”
His father whispered in his mother’s ear and Katsuki took a deep breath through his nose. Ochako looked up at him and he shook his head slightly to signal to her that she shouldn’t worry.
After all these years, Katsuki still hated it when his mother and him thought and acted the same. He couldn’t help that he looked like her but he tried to manage the other aspects of himself that reminded him of her.
Growing up, he’d always thought that how she treated others was her way of knowing what was best. Going to U.A., meeting his friends, becoming a pro, and dating Ochako had all shown him how much he actually resented his upbringing. Not because of how he had been treated. His parents loved him and he knew that. His mother’s intense nature had set him so far back when it came to social interactions. Along with that, she had tried to set him straight when his ego was inflated by others so she often addressed his weaknesses outright. She had been right, of course, but he still didn’t like how she brought him down so he could bring himself up. Also, her temper was apparently genetic.
Some days he could stand to be around her and others he couldn’t. Today was a day he was reminded of everything he hated about himself because she was near.
Ochako stood up before he did as Katsuki hadn’t noticed that the bridal party had left the altar.
“Lost in thought?” Ochako asked him quietly.
“Anything to distract from the feelings,” Katsuki muttered. Ochako giggled but his mother slapped him on the back.
“Were you even paying attention? Katsuki, even if things are boring you still have to listen. Poor Ochako must never get to talk about her day.”
Ochako squeezed his hand but it didn’t calm Katsuki down.
“Ochako’s day isn’t boring.”
“Let’s not do this tonight, you two,” Masaru whispered. “We’re here to celebrate family, not make a scene.”
Mitsuki pursed her lips and Katsuki led Ochako to their table at the reception space. They were still seated next to his parents.
“So, Ochako,” Masaru grinned at her as he set his napkin on his lap. “Do you enjoy weddings? These two have never managed to get through one without an outburst.”
Mitsuki crossed her arms in indignation and Katsuki shoved his hands into his pockets.
“Um, kind of? I’ve always thought big weddings were kind of a waste of money. Small weddings with just friends and family are fine. I’d rather people not stare at me as much as possible though,” Ochako laughed awkwardly.
“Oh, so if you two were to get married-,” Mitsuki pursed her lips and glared at Ochako. “-it’d be short and sweet just like you?”
“Mother,” Katsuki growled.
“Yes,” Ochako said with a smile. “That’s the dream. I wouldn’t want to make anyone sit through the vows. We all know no one comes to a wedding for that.”
Katsuki covered his mouth to hide his smile. He loved her so much. She wasn’t afraid of his mother and she didn’t back down.
“Katsuki, what do you think of this plan?” Mitsuki asked him directly. Masaru readjusted his glasses anxiously.
“It’s perfect. I’d even get rid of the guests.”
“Elope!?” Mitsuki said too loudly and some of the other wedding guests glanced in their direction.
“Really?” Ochako asked, tilting her head in disbelief. They hadn’t addressed the next step in their relationship. It made him happy to see that she wasn’t scared of the subject; just shocked he’d even bring it up.
“Less money, less drama, less time,” Katsuki shrugged. Less chance of his mother ruining things by meddling and trying to make everything ‘perfect’.
Mitsuki fumed next to her son and Masaru placed a hand on her shoulder. She shook it off and stormed out of the reception area.
“Let’s not talk about this anymore,” Masaru told Katsuki as he ran after his wife.
“Is your mother okay?” Ochako asked sincerely. “We were just talking. It’s not a big deal.”
“It is to me,” Katsuki said tightly. Ochako looked at him inquisitively but didn’t push the issue as dinner was served shortly after his statement.
Masaru brought Mitsuki back and sat her down next to Katsuki. She wore a scowl on her face for the rest of dinner. Katsuki knew the expression too well.
“Dance with me?” He asked Ochako when the floor was available.
“Sure,” Ochako said and grabbed his hand. He led her to the floor and they danced close together. He was glad to be away from his mother even if it was for just a moment. “You okay?” She asked during the song.
Katsuki nodded.
“Shockingly, I don’t believe you,” Ochako said quietly. “Is it all the wedding talk?”
“Of course not.”
“What do you mean ‘of course not’? You avoid the subject completely.”
Katsuki looked around. This was not the place to discuss this. If a scene were to break out, he did not want to be at fault. He waited too long to reply though.
“Katsuki, if you don’t want to get-,” Ochako started.
“That’s not it. Can we do this later?”
Ochako eyed him carefully and nodded once. Before Katsuki could begin to enjoy dancing with his love, the person he wanted to see least of all butted in.
“If you don’t mind, Ochako.”
“Of course not, Mrs. Bakugou.”
“I’ve told you to call me Mitsuki.”
Katsuki’s mother rolled her eyes and smiled at her son as Ochako gave Katsuki a final glance before she went to sit by his father. He could barely look his mother in the eyes today. He tried to focus on everything he actually liked about her but then she started talking.
“Are you serious about eloping?” She asked him, her eyes never wavering from his.
“Why do you care?”
Mitsuki averted her eyes away from him. Add that to the things he inherited from her.
“Sometimes I think you like to pick fights with me because it makes you feel better. I just don’t know why. But if you’re serious about eloping-”
“I am.”
“I didn’t raise you to run away from your problems.”
“I’m not running away from anything.”
“Says the man who won’t ask the love of his life to marry him.”
“Shut up. You don’t know what I’m going through,” Katsuki growled. Mitsuki looked back at him and he saw tears in her eyes. “Don’t go crying your fake tears everywhere. Dad said no scenes, remember?”
“They’re not fake, Katsuki. If you’d just talk to me-”
“Not a chance, hag. The last thing I want you to do is tell me how weak I am.”
Mitsuki huffed and pulled herself away from her son. She grabbed Masaru’s arm and led him outside.
Ochako hurried over to Katsuki.
“What did you say to her?” Ochako asked hastily. The guests were starting to realize something was up.
“Nothing!”
“Dinner’s over, let’s go.” Ochako grabbed his hand and dragged him out the same way that Katsuki’s parents had gone. “You wait here,” she said when they were out of earshot of the wedding. “I’m going to thank your cousin for inviting us.”
Katsuki cursed at himself internally. Why couldn’t he just play nice with his mother for Ochako’s sake? Now they were going to fight and when they fought all he saw was him being exactly like his mother--again. Katsuki pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. He should just live by the words ‘what would his mother not do?’.
Ochako came back from the reception several minutes later and weaved her arm through his.
“I’ve had enough of being around people. We need to find your parents and tell them we’re leaving too,” Ochako said as they walked out of the venue.
“They’re fine.”
“Katsuki-”
“I’ll just text them.”
“No need,” Ochako whispered as his parents headed toward them, arm in arm. They were practically mirroring Katsuki and Ochako. Katsuki expelled the thought from his mind.
“We’re staying a little longer,” Masaru told them. “Thank you for coming. I know you don’t like these types of things,” he said directly to his son.
Katsuki didn’t make eye contact with him and Masaru sighed.
“The least you could do is look at your father,” Mitsuki scolded.
“Don’t tell me what to do,” Katsuki growled.
“I’ll tell you when you’re being an ass!” Mitsuki shouted and Masaru placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. She took a breath and plastered an award-winning fake smile on her face. “Ochako, dear, it’s been a pleasure as always.”
Ochako smiled back and squeezed Katsuki’s arms to remind him to acknowledge his parents. He bowed slightly and pulled Ochako away.
“You’re quieter than normal,” Ochako looked up at him with worry.
“Isn’t your motto if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all?”
“I know you and your mother don’t always get along-,” Ochako started and Katsuki grit his teeth.
“She reminds me of everything I hate about myself.”
“What?” Ochako asked quickly and pulled him off the path they were on. “What are you talking about?”
Katsuki could feel his emotions bubbling in his chest. He didn’t want to lose it here.
“Let’s get you home. You should have told me you weren’t feeling good,” Ochako said with concern.
“I feel fine,” Katsuki choked. Ochako shook her head.
“You know what I mean, Katsuki.”
She grabbed his hand and they took a cab back to their tiny yet cozy apartment. They had done a lot to make it feel like home, especially since Katsuki was used to more space. When they walked into the door, Ochako immediately went into the kitchen to make tea. She pulled out their jar of honey, which she saved for moments of pain, sadness, and sugar cravings.
After the water was hot, she poured them both a cup and drizzled honey into each of them.
Katsuki sat on their couch, shrugged off his dress jacket, and undid his tie.
“Here,” Ochako said softly as she handed him his tea.
Katsuki took it and sipped. The warmth spread throughout his body and seemed to take the edge off whatever he was feeling. Ochako grabbed his free hand and placed it in her lap. The silence was both welcome and nerve-wracking. Katsuki didn’t want to talk but he knew he couldn’t avoid it forever.
“There’s a reason I don’t bring up marriage,” Katsuki said after a while. Ochako looked at him with those big eyes he loved to stare into. He saw too much worry for his liking. “It’s not that I don’t want to marry you.”
“I never thought that,” Ochako said quickly.
“I-,” Katsuki stopped. All he could see in his mind was his father constantly having to deal with his mother. He was always taking her out of situations or chasing after her when she stormed off. Katsuki’s father spent his whole time with his family being the peacekeeper between his son and his wife. “I’m exactly like her.”
“No, you’re not,” Ochako put down her cup and held his hand with both of her own.
“Close enough,” Katsuki side-eyed her and finished his tea, placing it next to her empty cup. “You deserve better.”
“Better? Who is better than you?”
“So many people,” Katsuki pulled away from her and put his head in his hands. “I couldn’t live with myself if you ended up like my father.”
“Your father is very happy,” Ochako tentatively put a hand on his back and Katsuki exhaled slowly.
“My father is stressed. Dealing with my mother was enough then I came along.”
“Your father loves you deeply, Katsuki,” Ochako leaned on him and Katsuki could feel tears in his eyes.
“I know.”
“Do you?” Ochako asked sincerely. “Because your family is not big on talking.”
Katsuki allowed himself to smile slightly but it didn’t last long.
“Imagine if that was you. What if we get married and have a kid and suddenly I’m just like my mother? Screaming and yelling at you or them because I need to be in control or whatever reason she does it. I look in the mirror and I see her, Ochako. That's all I see.”
“I’m so sorry, Katsuki,” Ochako murmured, still absentmindedly rubbing his back. “Can I tell you what I see?”
Katsuki sighed. She was going to try to cheer him up. He didn’t want that. It was just what he feared. She would always have to put her own needs away to deal with his out of control emotions.
“I see someone who recognizes where they’ve been and is always trying to be better than the day before.”
Katsuki turned to face her and leaned his back against the arm of the couch. She cupped her hands around his face and looked deep into his eyes, wiping away what little tears were left.
“You see your mother? Well, I actually see your father.”
Katsuki couldn’t stop his confusion from spreading across his face. Ochako giggled.
“No, you look nothing like him. Well, except for that smile,” Ochako stroked the corners of his mouth with her thumbs. “You’re a hero because, deep down, you want to help. You stop people from hurting themselves or others. And even though you're not as polite as him-”
Katsuki grimaced.
“-everyone who meets you knows they can depend on you.”
Katsuki grabbed her hands and kissed them.
“I can’t escape the feeling that I’m dooming you to a life of mediation. You had to do it tonight and my mother and I weren’t even that bad.”
“You practically told your mother we’re not inviting her to our wedding. A wedding we’re not even planning.”
“I called her a hag too but that’s normal. It’s our love language.”
“Is it?” Ochako said with squinted eyes. Katsuki chuckled.
“For me it is. It’d be weirder if I didn’t.”
“Katsuki--we can’t joke ourselves out of this.”
“Come on.”
Ochako shook her head and Katsuki groaned. She pulled her hands out of his and ran her fingers through his hair.
“You know, I actually envy your parent’s relationship.”
“Bullshit!”
Ochako grinned.
“No. They love each other through everything. Why do you think your father is so willing to deal with your mother? It’s not out of obligation.”
Katsuki eyed his girlfriend carefully.
“He knew what he signed up for and he does it with pride. Because he knows that he’s the one that Mitsuki trusts above anyone else. Your father is your mother’s favorite person, her rock, her calm after the storm. Your mother wouldn’t keep someone around who didn’t love her completely; flaws included.” Ochako stroked his temples with the backs of her fingers but her eyes were glazed over as if she was somewhere else mentally.
“Are we still talking about them?” Katsuki asked after several moments of silence.
“Of course,” she whispered.
“Shockingly, I don’t believe you,” Katsuki used her own words against her with a smirk.
“You’re not the only one who’s worried, Katsuki,” Ochako mumbled sadly. Her eyes watered and she looked away from him as she wiped the tears away. “Am I all of those things? I mean I love you completely, that’s not the question. Am--Am I all of those things to you? Sometimes I wonder if someone else would be better suited. I’m not as nice as your father.”
Katsuki wrapped his arms around his girlfriend’s waist and pulled her into his lap.
“There isn’t another person in the world I want in my life more than you. If you were as ‘nice’ as my father, we probably wouldn’t be together. The only reason they started dating is because he couldn’t say no. What I like about you is that you do.”
Ochako smiled and looked away in embarrassment. Katsuki kissed her newly exposed neck and nuzzled his nose into her skin.
“You hold me accountable. I’d prefer that over whatever my parents are doing.”
“That’s good. Because we’re not done talking about you and your mother.”
“Shit,” Katsuki grimaced and Ochako laughed sweetly. “I almost had it.”
“Not even close,” Ochako whispered and kissed his forehead. “You can’t fool me. I know you love your mother. So--it’s either a bad day or you’ve been thinking too much about the future.”
Katsuki closed his eyes.
“We don’t have to get married to have a future together,” Ochako reminded him. He knew that. It was just--he had wanted to marry her before they had even started dating. The longer they were in a relationship, the more he felt like he would be trapping her. However, Katsuki kept this to himself. They were talking about his mother after all.
“I just know my mom would turn a wedding into a big deal and all the guests would see her and I together and say shit like ‘apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’ or ‘poor Ochako. She’s inheriting a monster-in-law’.”
Ochako laughed and Katsuki raised an eyebrow.
“I actually like your mother, Katsuki.”
He scoffed at her.
“She’s passionate, smart, funny, secretly kind, she raised my favorite person. For better or worse, you are your mother’s son. We can’t change our parents. We can only understand them a little better as we get older. Or acknowledge what aspects of them we don't want to emulate as we grow into ourselves. You’re on the right track. I’ll be here every day reminding you of the man you are and to help ease your fears about the man you’re afraid of becoming.”
Katsuki hugged Ochako tighter as she leaned into him. He breathed into her.
“You’re too good for me,” he whispered.
“No. I’m just a person who loves you more than anything; flaws included.”
“Same.”
Ochako sighed.
“You used up all your words for today, didn’t you?” She joked.
“Yeah.”
“Let’s get some sleep. It’s been a day.”
Katsuki nodded and picked up Ochako who yipped in surprise. He carried her to their bed and jumped into it with her still in his arms. Ochako tried to wiggle out of his arms, which only made Katsuki want to hold on tighter. After she reminded him that they needed to get ready for bed and she was not going to be sleeping in makeup, he reluctantly released her.
At the end of their nighttime routine, they met in the bathroom. Katsuki looked at himself in the mirror as Ochako stood next to him brushing her teeth.
“Smile for me,” Ochako requested with her toothbrush in her mouth. “Look in the mirror.”
With a reluctant grunt, he put on a smile and stared at his reflection.
“No, not that one. Your real one! My smile,” Ochako clarified and smiled a toothpaste-y grin for him. Katsuki burst out laughing.
“Your smile. Got it,” Katsuki said. He closed his eyes and thought of everything he loved about her. How she wasn’t afraid to make herself look like a fool to make him laugh or how she looked in the morning when Katsuki pushed the snooze button for the first time. He relished the duality of her kickass hero persona and her natural state as a sweet, positive, and kind human being. He remembered how they danced in the living room on rainy days and the indoor water fight they’d gotten into during a heatwave. Memories flooded in of them taking bubble baths together, of Ochako teaching him the constellations, of weekend camping trips, and of the nights on difficult days when they only had each other.
Katsuki felt his lips curve into a smile and he heard Ochako spit into the sink and clap excitedly.
“There’s my smile!”
“Marry me,” Katsuki said as he opened his eyes to see the reflection of the smile that belonged to her.
“What?” Ochako squeaked and wiped her mouth in a panic. “What happened to everything we just talked about? And of all the times to ask! You don’t even have a ring!”
“You can pick out your own damn ring with me.”
"But-"
"I get it now-why people get married. They want to brag about how lucky they are and how they think they have the best person for them. Well--I know for a fact I do. So let's shove it in their faces."
Ochako’s head turned to look at herself in the mirror and her eyes moved to his reflection.
“You’re serious?” Ochako asked with a tilt of her head. He held her gaze in the mirror, which was shimmering with excitement.
“You’re leaving me hanging, Ochako,” Katsuki muttered.
“Yeah, okay," Ochako whispered before turning on a determined grin. "Let's shove our love in their faces! They're gonna be so jealous!" She turned toward him and looked up with sparkling, competitive eyes. Katsuki leaned down and kissed her, swimming in a mix of emotions he'd deal with her by his side. He wanted her forever and he was going to do whatever it took to make it happen. Katsuki knew he got that from his mother.