Work Text:
It was winter in Japan. The winter that followed the huge battle that would change the world forever. The winter in which Heroes all over could peacefully enjoy the holiday season.
Izuku and Ochaco were doing just that.
The school day had just ended an hour ago, and they had decided to take some time to enjoy the crisp feel of the air for a while before heading back to the dorms like everyone else had.
Ever since their talk on that cliff after the war ended, they had found some more time to be able to just sit down and talk, just the two of them. They had really grown closer over the past months.
Close enough to rekindle and strengthen many feelings between them.
Mainly on Ochaco's part.
Izuku leaned forward on the bench they had found in a small field area by the dorms, letting his chin rest in his hand. It was a very beautiful spot in the winter with a clear view of the white sky and frost covering the grass in front of them.
He adjusted his scarf so he could take a deep breath, letting his face feel the chill of the air around them. It looked quite refreshing, so Ochaco did the same.
A minute or so passed, the two of them enjoying the silent presence of each other before Izuku spoke.
“I can't believe it's already been six months since everything happened.” He said, a small, but slightly sad smile on his face.
Ochaco’s smile mirrored his. She knew what he was thinking, and she was having similar thoughts. They had both fought so hard, but in the end… they couldn’t make it. Himiko and Shigaraki were…
She blinked back her tears before they could fall. She had been able to let out her feelings about the whole thing months ago, but thinking about how they couldn’t have lived to see another holiday season was a lot. They could’ve been so much happier…
She risked sneaking a glance at Izuku, just to find him subtly lifting his scarf up to his eyes. She knew he was wiping his tears as well.
She wanted nothing more than to just reach out her arms and hold him, but would it be too much? The only time she had ever hugged him was back when she had finally told him how she really felt about Himiko’s death, but he was the one who initiated it! He had probably only done it to comfort her and for no other reason, and, well, if she hugged him to comfort him, it’d technically be the same thing, right??
But…
Her stomach erupted into butterflies.
That’s the one thing she couldn’t get out of her mind when thinking about Himiko. During their battle, she had finally admitted out loud to her and herself that she was, in fact, in love with Deku. It had taken her so long to do it and now it was finally out in the air.
But only the air between them.
Not the air between her and him.
.
Was it getting warmer outside??
She adjusted her scarf again, pulling it farther away from her mouth. Her hand grazed her cheek and she knew she was blushing. Please don’t notice!
He sat up from his hunched position, turning to look at her.
“Hey, are you alright? Your cheeks look a bit flushed.”
She stiffened. “Yep!” Why was that so high pitched? “I was just thinking about something, it’s no big deal.”
“Oh, do you want to tal-”
“Hey, is it just me or is it getting warmer out here??”
He paused, moving his scarf down again to feel the air on his face. “Uh, I think it’s actually gotten colder.”
Crap.
“Are you sure you’re alright? Maybe we’ve been out here for too long. You’re not feeling numb or anything, right? Sometimes being too cold can make you feel too warm and-”
All she could do was stare at him before his words became background noise to her thoughts. He was not making it easy to forget about her previous thoughts.
“Just tell him.”
What?
“Tell him!”
No!
“Tell him! Tell him! Tell him! Tell hi-”
She felt a warm hand on her forehead.
“Uraraka, your face is getting really red. We should head inside now-”
“No!”
He slowly retracted his hand.
What was she doing?
“I um, I have to t-tell you something f-first!”
Nonono, stop!
“Keep going!!”
“Oh? What is it?” He looked concerned, but there was that gentle look in his eyes, encouraging her to continue.
“I-”
He held eye contact.
“I-I..”
“Say it!!”
She couldn’t stop.
“I lik-”
.
.
.
Cold.
She touched her forehead where it landed. Wet? It wasn't raining, right?
Little white flurries could be seen as she looked up at the sky. Izuku's eyes followed.
“Oh, snow! I guess it's around that time of year, huh?” He looked back down, his eyes landing on her face.
He gave her a curious, friendly smile, leaning in a bit as he spoke. “What were you gonna say?”
She felt a bit of warmth on her fingers, looking down from the sky to their hands. His fingers were touching hers and- oh, he was closer now!
She looked up to see his warm gaze, hardly bothered by the cold anymore with how warm she was from her fluster. And wait, had he asked her what she was going to tell him before she got distracted?
She took a moment to think it over. Earlier she hadn't been able to really stop herself, but now she has a choice in the matter.
It really wasn't… that bad to start the confession process. Maybe she could start slow and see where it goes.
But first…
She slowly moved her hand further under his, his fingers now fully on top of hers. That stole his attention for a moment as she mustered up the courage to speak.
“So um… first snow of the season, huh?”
“Uhhh, yeah…” Ochaco could see his cheeks starting to turn pink. It gave her an ounce of hope.
“Y'know, I've heard people say that the first one can be pretty… romantic…” She almost whispered that last word, but he seemed to hear it, as she felt his fingers tense.
There was a pause.
“Pretty.. w-what?”
She glanced back up at the sky, not wanting to meet his gaze. She really didn't want to repeat herself.
“R-romantic.”
Despite her stutter, she felt a bit more confident.
Another pause.
A million things were going through Izuku's mind. What the heck was even happening?
The only thing he could really focus on in that moment was the feeling of her fingers under his. Soft and warm… He had only really felt them like this when he had held her hands back when she was letting all of her feelings out all those months ago.
He wanted to feel them again.
“Um.. yeah.. I-I guess they do say that..” He scooted over on the bench a little, letting his hand fully cover hers. It felt quite small under his.
Ochaco sucked in a breath and let her gaze fall onto their hands. Noticing her line of sight, Izuku gently moved his thumb to draw her attention to him.
Their eyes met.
The air between them was warm.
“I like you.”
And just like that, she filled it. She really didn't mean to say it yet. It just kind of happened.
But she wasn't upset with herself. She felt.. relieved somehow. Lighter. Fulfilled.
Izuku on the other hand? Well, he felt like he had just been struck straight through the heart. No way he heard her right!
….right?
He blinked, managing to refocus his sight on her face.
One look was enough to confirm it.
She smiled softly at him, feeling a bit bolder now that it was off her chest. “So… how do you feel about that..?” She moved closer. Their shoulders were almost touching now.
She kept her face forward, as to not push too far into his space, but her gaze remained on his. Her heart beat in her ears as she awaited his answer.
His hand enveloped hers, lightly taking it and placing it on top of their legs as he pressed their shoulders together.
“Warm..” He whispered.
She snorted at that.
“M-me too..” She softly replied.
The snow had become slightly bigger as they were talking, multiple snowflakes sticking to the grass and themselves now.
But they were still warm.
Ochaco let her head lay down on his shoulder, and Izuku responded by laying his head atop hers. They were both ignoring their nerves and just let themselves relish in the feeling before going back to the dorms and freaking out about it later.
He traced a heart on the back of her hand, just to make sure he was giving her a clear answer to his feelings. She squeezed his hand in response.
Neither of them spoke any more words until they had both felt cold enough to start walking back to the dorms.
Their hands never left for a moment.
As the snow fell, they were together. And they'd continue to be together through any weather.