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Ochako paused with her hand almost on the handle of the refrigerator door. She had a creeping feeling in her spine, the same that she had learned to associate with an unspotted stalking assailant. It was probably someone walking on a different floor of the dorms, a set of footsteps she had only heard in passing. After everything, it was hard to remember how to relax.
Taking a deep breath, Ochako opened the door and grabbed her box of mochi from the frozen section at the top. Luckily, no one had eaten it. Of course, she had her name written on every surface, but accidents happened sometimes, and few were willing to fess up. She closed the door. Someone was standing behind it.
"Uraraka—" Deku said.
Ochako smacked him in the face with the box in her hand. "Deku!" she said, immediately realizing her mistake, "I'm so sorry! I thought I heard somebody, but I didn't notice you there!
"Don't worry about it!" he said, but he cupped his cheek with one hand.
"Why were you just standing in the kitchen?"
"I was," he sputtered, "I came because I wanted to ask you something, and it's not a big deal if it wouldn't work out, but because of what everyone had been saying before I thought that maybe it would be a good idea. But you don't have to if you're busy or if—"
Ochako pulled a piece of mochi from the package and pushed it into his mouth.
"Mrmfph," Deku said, eyes widening.
"Maybe when you've finished that," she said, "you'll be ready to actually ask your question."
Five minutes later, Ochako stood outside the dorm, the head brace from her hero costume in one hand and an unfamiliar spray can in the pocket of her cargo pants.
"And I really could do it myself," Deku was still explaining, "So if you decide even partway through that it's too much—"
"Deku," Ochako said, "I'm really proud of you,"
"Oh—wait really?"
"Yes!" Ochako said, "And I'm honored that you would ask for my help with something. Stop trying to take it back."
"Oh," Deku said, and had the grace to look at least a little sheepish.
"This shouldn't take too long," Ochako said. Putting on her headpiece, she pressed her fingertips together and began to float into the air.
She had not brought anything to help her maneuver, but it shouldn't be necessary. This was a straight shot along the edge of the dorm building, and she could already see her target up ahead. Deku's balcony was empty like the others, but it was easy enough to identify. There was a large wasp nest curled around the outside handle of the balcony door.
The front door of the dorm slammed, and Ochako heard someone else striding down the front steps and around to the side of the building where the two of them were, but she kept her gaze focused, reaching down for the wasp killer at her side. She was too close to turn her back on the enemy.
"Deku!" Bakugou yelled, "What the heck is happening?"
"Uraraka is helping me with something." Deku explained.
"I know," Bakugo said. His voice was closer now. "Half and Half said she was going to murder somebody for you."
Ochako felt the sting on her arm before she saw the wasp. She fumbled the wasp spray she was holding, just managing to remove it's gravity before it dropped. Unfortunately, the momentum of her movement threw it forward, and it caught against the wall of the balcony.
"Oh, I see how that—that's a miscommunication!" Deku said, "She's just killing wasps for me."
Reaching forward to grab the balcony railing, Ochako realized that her flailing had also pushed her too far away from the wall."
"You're scared of wasps," Bakugou said, like he had found an extra helping of dessert with his name on it.
She wasn't too far off though—and if she floated all the way down and back up again, the wasps would have time to get truly angry. She wouldn't be able to retrieve her weapon. There had to be something she could do.
"Not really—it's just that I've been watching this nest for a while. I was too busy to get rid of it at first, and then I got attached. I don't want to be the one to knock it down."
In a stroke of inspiration, Ochako pulled off her head gear. Flailing forward, she got just close enough to catch it on the railing and reel herself in.
"And anyway," Deku continued, "I wasn't sure how to open the door."
"Huh?" Bakugou said.
Quickly, Ochako vaulted over the railing and snatched the spray. Another wasp stung her under her chin, but it was too little too late. She had already aimed her weapon. The poison streamed out and covered the nest in white foam. Most of the wasps were still sitting on it. They were caught in the crossfire.
Suddenly she jumped back—there was someone watching her from inside Deku's dorm room! She pushed herself against the wall for cover and peered around and through the window. It was a life sized All Might poster.
Rolling her eyes, Ochako returned her own gravity and dropped to the floor. She sprayed the nest a couple more times for good measure, then she kicked it down from the door handle.
The boys were still talking below her. Carefully picking up the now dead nest, she chucked it down at Bakugou.
In all fairness, everyone was a little on edge just now. Ochako had just startled at hero merch. But it was still immensely satisfying to watch Bakugou jump back, scream, and immediately blow the nest to smithereens.