Chapter Text
Ochako loves everything about her new neighborhood. It’s modern and family-friendly. There are excellent areas to walk or bike and it’s not far from the train station. Sure, she already misses her parents and friends, but they can always video chat between visits.
It helps that the few people she’s already met have been nice. The freckled man across the street, Midoriya, is quite friendly. He greeted her and offered to carry in her boxes as soon as she began unloading them in the driveway – a true gentleman.
But she declined. She can carry her own things.
A neighbor, Kirishima, is incredibly outgoing. The huge man made an effort to introduce himself within minutes of her arrival, and after talking with him, she’s certain he’s one of those gentle giants who weeps during a romance movie.
If these are standard interactions for the area, she’ll feel right at home soon.
While getting her boxes inside didn’t take too long, unpacking them seems incredibly daunting. Ochako settles for opening the essentials first, and in the midst of that, stumbles across her holiday decorations. Staring at the box of Christmas lights, she’s reminded that this will be the first holiday season she’ll spend out on her own; no parents, no roommates, only her and the new house.
Eyeballing the scissors in her hand, Ochako makes a split-second decision and slices right through the tape on impulse. In an instant, she’s rummaging through the strands of lights, a smile illuminating her face when she realizes her father snuck in some of his own stock – she recognizes his favorite brand. He’s always taken decorating the inside and outside of her childhood home way too seriously. Yet it’s never failed to make her or her mother happy.
She knows that’s why he’s always insisted on doing it, even if his back hurt or if business was slow. He didn’t bat an eyelash when it cranked up their electric bill or when the elderly woman down the road would complain about it being too bright. Over the years, her father had become quite the Christmas celebrity in their small town.
Continuing his legacy here would be the right thing to do.
Who is she kidding, anyway? She’d much rather unpack this than all her dishware. There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell that she’s cooking tonight.
Plus…this might make her feel less homesick.
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A few hours and escaped expletives later, Ochako’s proudly standing in the driveway and admiring her handiwork. It might only be the first day of December, but she can’t wait for the sun to go down so she can witness the display in all its glory. Is it up to her father’s standards? Not yet. Will it be? She’ll make sure of it.
After adjusting her sweater, the brunette begins making a mental note of all the things she needs to order or pick-up to bring her idea to life, when a resonant voice remarks, “That all you got? Damn, I was hoping to see some actual competition this year.”
Turning toward the abrupt comment, Ochako almost chokes on her own saliva. Standing only a few meters away is the most attractive police officer she’s ever laid eyes on. He towers over her, the arms across his chest certainly testing the integrity of the fabric that covers them. His jawline is a work of the gods and his hair…does he dye it that color?
It almost makes her forget that he’d practically insulted her hard work. That detail alone makes it easier to gain her bearings. “Excuse me?”
The man shrugs and she unsuccessfully ignores how handsome his face is when he smirks. “Pretty pathetic for an outdoor display, is all I’m sayin’ – especially for around here. It’s cute that you tried, though. You’re new. You don’t know any better.”
How would he know that she’s new?
Ochako lifts her brow and mirrors his stance, raising her chin to demonstrate she won’t back down that easily. “I might be new, but that doesn’t mean you can speak to me that way,” she retorts. “I thought officers of the law were respectful, upstanding citizens. Do you make a habit of disturbing contributing members of society during your patrol when they’re minding their own business?”
His smirk transforms into a feral grin. “I’m off-duty.”
She openly rolls her eyes and scoffs. “Wow, lucky me.” She certainly hadn’t factored this into her afternoon plans.
“I’m only being honest. You’ll have to step up your game if you wanna win the competition.”
That piques her interest. “Competition?”
He gazes at her as though she asked his favorite question of all time. “This neighborhood hosts an outdoor decorating contest every year. And this house,” he gestures to the one next door – toward the neighbor she has yet to meet – “pulls out all the stops. It’s the best and it always wins. He absolutely smokes the competition.”
Each word out of his delectable lips is coal to the growing fire of her need to prove this loud-mouthed man wrong. “Not that it’s any of your business, officer, but I’m only just getting started.”
That really appears to amuse him. “That so?”
“Yes. Do you know the reigning champion personally or something?”
A laugh barrels out of his chest. “As a matter of fact, I do. I know him well.”
Tucking a stray hair behind her ear, Ochako steps closer, her brown irises boring into his crimson. “I’ve yet to have the pleasure. I’m sure he’s a nice guy, especially if you two are so close. You think you could give him a message for me?”
Still grinning in a way that grates on her nerves yet excites her in ways she tries to overlook, he states, “I don’t see why not.”
She plasters on a wide smile and wills her voice to sound as sweet as honey. “Please tell him to watch his back. I’m gunning for the win.”
Ochako’s breath hitches when he leans down to whisper in her ear, “Message received, Pink Cheeks. Just know that he’ll be working twice as hard now, too.”
To her embarrassment, she’s unable to collect herself before he withdraws and pelts her with a wink, her pallor unfortunately living up to the nickname.
When she doesn’t speak, the officer ambles away toward the front door and pulls out a set of keys, causing her jaw to fall slack. He looks at her devilishly, giving her plenty of time to process the fact that he’s her neighbor.
And in that moment, Ochako is struck with a deep-seated, burning desire to utterly and completely defeat the very, very hot man.