Chapter Text
"Today, for some reason I wanted to talk more with you, Uraraka. And I feel that way... more and more."
A pause. The memory of Himiko in Ochako's dreams crawls out of her mind with more details than she can ever remember.
"Well, what do you think?"
Himiko's voice bounces around in her mind, the clearest she's heard it in years. I want more for you...for you to do whatever you want, and more!
"What a coincidence," Ochako finally responds, flustered and teary eyed both by Deku and Himiko's words. Her heart swells with a mix of so many feelings at once that she can't pick any specific one to name. "I've been feeling the same way."
They both smile at each other warmly and clasp their hands together in a firm embrace. Finally, the feelings in her chest rest there with pure gratitude and adoration.
Deku is the first to remove his hand, instead moving to scratch the back of his neck sheepishly. "I meant to talk to you during the dinner but, you seemed really pulled in by Mina's conversation. And well, then we all got the call about the speed chase," he ends his sentence with a nervous chuckle.
If Izuku was a lesser man, his words would sound like a sad excuse. Thankfully, Ochako was one of the closest people to him for years and despite growing a part due to work since UA his mannerisms are consistently just as honest as they were back then. That fact alone brings out a genuine chuckle of endearment from Ochako.
"Oh please, you're all good. It was nice seeing everyone and working together again! It might have been a little overkill though," Ochako's cheeks are starting to hurt but this was truly a good night for her. Seeing an opening she drops her smile a bit to something gentler. "Seeing you outside of a billboard was certainly huge plus."
Izuku's face seems stunned for a second when Ochako meets his eyes. Ochako isn't sure if the compliment just didn't land right, so in hopes to not make things weird she points and turns her eyes to the billboard backdropping them that's displaying him on loop next to one with Bakugou and Todoroki's protein bar sponsorship. His eyes follow hers, and his face relaxes, taking in her last-ditch joke.
Okaayy, so that was too forward then. Noted.
Deku's easy smile returns, a little embarrassed if anything. "Wow, I haven't seen this one. I will say, being right next to Kacchan and Shoto makes me look a little silly. They're naturals at this kind of stuff." His voice is filled with admiration almost, and tinge of sadness that Ochako doesn't know how to interpret.
Ochako now turns fully to look at both billboards looping next to each other. Comparing his to theirs seems unfair, Deku looks great in his but to a trained eye you can tell he's a little stiff holding his pose in comparison to Bakugou and Todoroki. There's also the fact that theirs is an official sponsorship as opposed to Deku's debut shot from his return as a hero a month ago. Maybe he's just self-conscious that he isn't as media trained as the rest due to barely getting back to doing hero work.
"You look great Deku," Ochako says softly while placing a hand on his shoulder for reassurance. "Trust me, Todoroki might be a natural model, but Bakugou can make a short shoot last a whole eight-hour shift." She's trying to lighten his insecurities but she herself feels the same way when seeing her friends plastered everywhere. The comparisons are never ending if you let your mind wonder too much.
Suddenly, Deku turns to face her fully with excitement. "Wait, have you done shoots with Kacchan?"
Stunned at his sudden excitement, Ochako stammers out an answer. "Oh! N-no, no, no..."she laughs a bit trying to give him an honest answer that isn't too embarrassing. "Not officially that is. Our hero costume agency did try to get us in a shoot together right after UA since we have the same designer and well, he was ranked no.4 at the time so they thought it would help boost up my numbers..." Her voice diminished at the memory but breathed out a sigh before finishing quickly.
"But he bailed completely for whatever reason, and a few months ago I had a shoot for a sneaker brand in the same studio as one of his shoots. I think his was for a sportswear brand or something, but oh boy for someone being told to just stand and pose he was running that thing like he was a director of a short film." Ochako smiles a bit at the memory, "My photographer was losing his mind just hearing the yelling." She ends with looking back again at Izuku, only to find him already staring at her with full attention.
Well, now I feel like I just got caught projecting my own experiences to make him feel better. And he totally knows now, great. God, I must look so lame.
"Kacchan is very meticulous in everything he does, I can totally see that happening." This time he places a reassuring hand on Ochako's shoulder. He was trying to make her feel better now. She did miss this about him, the way he could read her like an open book. Ochako chooses to focus on that feeling instead of the bitterness on her tongue from misunderstanding the sadness he had earlier.
"He does have that about him," she sighs in defeat and turns back towards the sidewalk. She felt an urge to change the subject but didn't want to lose this chance to be around him. "I got to get to my agency to submit the paperwork for today's chase, want to join me so we can talk more?"
"I would love to," Deku's smile is as warm as always. It's comforting for her as they fall into a silence on their walk towards her agency. He's the first to speak up again after a moment. "How come you're submitting the paperwork right now? Why not get some rest and file it tomorrow? It usually takes about a day for papers to get processed anyways." He looks down at her slightly with genuine intrigue.
"Yeah, but tomorrow is my day off so I would like to get this submitted now so I won't have to do anything work related tomorrow ya'know?" There was a time where Ochako would feel selfish and guilty for not wanting to know anything work related on her days off. She had prided herself on being flexible and taking all the calls she could and spending double shifts just filling the paperwork for the amount of calls she responded to. It was the way she was able to get the rank she has now, but the stress and management of it all started eating her alive a lot more once she founded the Quirk Counseling program and was able to make it nationwide. Even now, it's still a conscious effort on her part to have time outside of work for a couple of days. "Besides if I submit it right now, it will get processed first thing in the morning," she finishes with a cheeky tone.
Understanding, Izuku nods and chuckles. "You're right, and I don't mean this in the wrong way, but don't you have sidekicks or assistants to take care of that stuff for you when you aren't there?"
It's a fair question, especially for someone like her with her own agency and an entire nationwide program. It's not like she never took in sidekicks or work study students to help and train. Ochako just always liked being able to open doors for them and get them connected to heroes that would better fit their future goals. Unfortunately, given the few people that applied to a hero in her rank, left her working mostly by herself when it came it hero work. She enjoyed the process the though, besides it's what she signed up for after she left Ryoko's agency to go independent.
"I do have assistants that help me out in regard to the Quirk Counseling program, but well they don't have the access to submit my hero work paperwork. My last sidekick just got transferred to be stationed with Nejire's agency about two months ago and I haven't gotten any applicants since then."
"That sounds like a lot to take on by yourself," Deku's sympathetic voice floats around her for a moment. Ochako's pride of her work makes her want to respond defensively, but she knows he's right. Regardless, this is just the reality of life and it's what she has to do not just to pay her bills but to make a change in people's lives, so she decides to just answer simply.
"I'll be fine, I'm used to it. I've been doing it for years, it's worth it," she turns her head slightly to look up at him with a tired smile. Deku gives her a pity filled smile, understanding that this is the way things are unfortunately for most of them.
They fall into step after that. The sounds of their feet hitting pavement along with the cars driving past them filling the air. A light breeze would shift her hair every now and then.
Now it was her time to speak again, "How has it been being a teacher and getting back to hero work?"
They were nearing her agency now, so Ochako began pulling out her keys from her pocket while Deku took his time to answer.
"It's been really nice actually," Deku's sincere tone doesn't go dismissed by Ochako while she unlocks the door to her agency. "I could never say just how much I appreciate the funding you all made for the suit to be made. I love doing hero work, and I love being a teacher. To me it's honestly like I'm able to have my cake and it eat it too."
Have my cake and eat it too huh, that must be nice. She misses the keyhole like always. I'm working my dream job, supporting my parents, helping children all over the nation daily. She puts the key in properly the second time, but it jams a bit when she turns it. That's a pretty big cake ain't it? Why haven't I eaten mine? Finally, the key turns and the door to her agency opens with a soft creak. Quickly her thoughts shift to the mess of papers and suit upgrades she left lying around in her office upstairs. I'll have my cake once it's more presentable probably.
"I'm glad it's not too hectic, " Ochako responds offering him to enter her agency. He strides in taking in the waiting room around them. "I love working the kids at the program, so I get what you mean."
Closing the door behind them, Ochako notices Deku suddenly turn to her as if a realization was just made. "Actually! I wanted to ask if you were interested in coming into one of my classes this week for a healthy communications and relations session on Tuesday."
Taken off guard, Ochako takes a moment to think about still holding onto the doorknob. The idea is nice, in theory, she doesn't have elementary schools to visit that day until later in the afternoon. It would be a good excuse to see him much sooner than she thought too. Fuck it, I'll make it work.
"That sounds great! I would love to Deku," she decides with a warm grin towards him that he returns with twice as much enthusiasm. The way his eyes light up in the muted light of the waiting room, fills her with so much resolve that she can't second guess her answer now. She can make it work.
"Really? That's great! I pitched the idea to Aizawa sensei that you would be great to host that session given your experience with the counseling program," oh wow he's rambling now, he's very passionate like always. how cute. "They're great kids, but you know they get too caught up in all the fighting and things that they lack how to connect with one another at times. I actually even asked Kacchan to come in too, but he said no because he didn't want to be the bad example." He laughs for a moment as if the memory was fresh in his brain. "I'm sure knowing him he will still show up anyway, but who knows."
Oh, so he asked Bakugou before me?
A small pebble of envy and insecurity hits her chest suddenly, but she smiles past it. "We shall see then! Do you need me to prepare anything?"
"Nope, just show up, I can send you the syllabus I have planned for it," Deku's enthusiasm settles for a moment and switches with a nervous glance as he reaches for his phone. "I don't have your number sorry, is it cool if I have it?"
Ochako freezes for a moment, she completely forgot she had to change numbers about six months ago because her last phone got destroyed during work and she had only added most of her colleagues numbers on it. An immense sense of guilt washed over her at never reaching out to him through socials to add his number all these months.
"Yeah of course!" She grabbed his phone and added her contact to it with shaking fingers from the anxiousness of him asking why she never reached out when she switched numbers and a paranoid fear of him somehow knowing she had most of her friend's numbers on it too but not his.
His phone started ringing the moment she hit save. It was Aizawa sensei.
"Oh, you're getting a call," Ochako said nonchalantly as she could while handing the phone back to him.
Deku's eyebrows bridged together in confusion until he read the name of the caller and then cleared his throat before answering. "Aizawa sensei! Everything okay?"
Ochako watched as his expression changed from confused, to intrigued, to a mild shock, before landing on just blank disapproval with a shake of his head. It gave her enough time to recover from her small panic earlier, but at least that's resolved now so no need to feel guilty anymore she believes.
"Yeah, of course I'll be right there." Deku finishes his calls and lowers the phone from his face with the same look of pity Ochako saw earlier. "Sorry, but one of my students is causing trouble at the dorms. If I don't get there now, Aizawa might just expel them."
Ochako turns his words in her mind for a second before giving him a knowing smile, "No worries, you got my number now so just give hit me up if you need anything."
Deku's face shifts into one of gratitude and heads back towards the door. "Thank you for understanding," he hugs her suddenly. It feels warm and sturdy but only last long enough for her to notice it happened. She opens the door up for him, letting him out. "I'll send you the details about Tuesday once I get this situation under control and hopefully no one expelled!"
Ochako smiles and laughs while he steps out, "Tell Aizawa I said Hi! Later Deku."
"Later!" He exclaims as his body retreats back onto the sidewalk, leaving her alone in the muted lights of her waiting room.
Ochako takes a breath and shuts the door closed again. She only has the speed chase incident to submit right now which shouldn't take too long hopefully. Rubbing a hand down her face, she takes her phone out to see what time it is.
12:23am
Let me just finish this quickly then I can go home and process all of this. It's way too late right now.
Ochako makes her way upstairs to her office and takes in the mess she left before she left for dinner. It can wait until she returns on Monday. She grabs the form that she needs and sits down in her desk. Grabbing her favorite pen, because yes, she has her favorite pen as boring as that sounds, she quickly fills out the information that is needed. The process takes less time than she thought, thankfully getting her done in a quick twenty minutes. From there she scans the sheet and submits in on her computer.
Finally, being done, she gets an idea to post something on her Instagram story. Posting always helps her public image, but most of all she was feeling a mix of insecurity and inadequacy from fumbling most of her interactions with Deku tonight. So Ochako decides to move around most of her paperwork on her desk, so it looks a lot more aesthetic and to ensure no actual private information was shown and took a photo to post on her Instagram story. Perhaps it's a bit selfish, digital evidence that shows she is actually productive and hard working to show to the public.
Am I being petty just because I thought I would have been doing this in Deku's company? Maybe. Probably. Whatever, he won't read into it, and I need to be posting something at least once a day.
Ochako groaned and laid her head down on her desk as she normally did when she was too tired. It often led to her taking way too many naps while on the clock, but at least she got the luxury of being able to do that in the first place.
Near her arm her phone started buzzing, with a rather dramatic groan this time, she lifted her head and looked at her phone.
The caller ID showed Dynamight. Weird, he only calls for assists while I'm on call. Crap, is something wrong?
She quickly answers and brings the phone up to her ear. "Hey, what's going on?"
"Are you still doing paperwork?" his voice is gruff on the other end with small muffles chatter in the background.
"I just finished, what's going on?"
"Listen, Mina drank way too much and now she's crying because I'm dropping off Denki and Kiri and she doesn't want to go home." He pauses for a moment. Ochako's initial emergency drive plummets as she takes in the situation and asks in a tired and groggy voice instead, "Okayy? What does that have to do with me exactly?"
"Since you're still at your agency, and I'm dropping off Denki near there it would be best if I pick you up and drop you and Mina off at your place instead. You know since you aren't working tomorrow."
"How do you know I'm not working tomorrow?" Ochako is confused, it's not like this is the first time Mina has drank too much with them. Why is he passing the responsibility onto her suddenly? Also why does he know her schedule anyways? "Besides, Bakugou I'm way too exhausted right now to deal with her crying, no offense I love her but ya' know."
"Why do you think I called you? You're one of her best friends you can deal with it, I can't after I drop off Kirishima. I'll end up with a manslaughter charge!"
Ochako couldn't help a giggle at his response, "How about this, wait am I on speaker?"
"Do you think I'm stupid? Of course not!"
She can't help smiling now just imaging the antics going on his end. "Good, so how about you pick me up, we say she's going with me to my house, then we take her home and pretend we will stay before pretending to go for drinks. Most likely she will fall asleep on the way there anyways after you drop off Kirishima."
"Hmm, yeah that can work. I'll be outside in ten minutes be outside."
"Okayy, sounds good."
The call ends immediately after and Ochako can't help but smile to herself. Despite the situation and her major fumble with Izuku earlier she can't help but feel grateful for Mina's drunk ass securing her a ride home instead of the train.
Grabbing her things and closing her work computer, Ochako heads downstairs. Her and Bakugou don't speak very much outside of work-related things and the occasional meet ups that land them in the same space. If he's calling her for help in regard to Mina, that means he's very much at his wits ends.
Nearing the door out of her agency, Ochako feels a buzz running through her. I love seeing Mina when she's drunk. She's super funny in an obnoxious way that I'm sure is driving Bakugou up the walls. Especially when she's with Kirishima. It's also weirdly nerve racking to be in such a space with Bakugou involved.
Ochako does wonder why he called her in the first place while stepping outside and locking the door behind her. First time, for once. It must be raining tomorrow. It doesn't really matter, knowing Mina the drive to her place after Bakugou drops off Kirishima will lower her energy a bunch and she will fall asleep on the way. After that, all they have to do is just take her to her apartment, which thankfully Ochako has a key for. I should drink tomorrow. It's been a while since I got drunk, it might be nice.
A load engine sound neared her, and she found Bakugou's car pulling up right in front of her agency. Ochako began stepping away from her agency when she saw his window roll down. "Get in the passenger," he said curtly. He looked the exact same as he did earlier when they all separated after the dinner.
Ochako nodded and walked around the front of the car into his passenger seat. Immediately, the smell of caramel hit her along with the sounds of a muttered conversation between Kirishima and Mina. Bakugou seemed to avoid looking at her as she slid into the seat, but her presence quickly grabbed the attention of the two in the backseat.
"Chakooo,"Mina sang. "Where did you gooo, I wanted us to have a girl nightt after dinner, but I got stuck with these loseerrrsss." The smell of alcohol lingered around her as she moved around to address her.
Ochako just laughed and turned slightly from the passenger seat to face her. "I had to do some paperwork; besides you left way before I did anyways you traitor."
Mina grinned and dropped her weight on Kirishima's shoulder. "I couldn't help it! Kacchan here got a new car, so I had to see it!"
To that, Kirishima giggled and laid his head on hers, "It's really worth it, isn't it?"
Ochako could tell just how plastered they were, so she wasn't sure if they were just talking about the car or not. Regardless she did look around and to be fair it was a super nice car, once could tell it was brand new and well taken care of.
"It sure is!" Ochako responded and decided that would be enough before turning back to sit properly in the passenger seat. She glanced at Bakugou, but his eyes were glued to the road while tapping on the wheel.
"Hey, Chako' you should come out with us next weekend!" Kirishima spoke loudly from the backseat. "I'm sure Mina and Jirou would like to be around less testosterone for once."
"Oh shushh!" Mina replied then they both cackled much louder than Ochako anticipated.
Amused and only mildly intrigued, Ochako smiled and responded, "Maybe, maybe."
To that not committal answer, they both giggled to each other and then started muttering a conversation. It left Ochako and Bakugou in a somewhat quiet silence at the front just staring at the road. It was a really nice car, Bakugou must have saved up a decent amount to get it. Did he finance it or pay it all upfront? I'll have to ask at some point. I do want my own car soon.
Ochako watched as the streetlights passed. How Bakugou weaved his way through the streets with ease with just one hand on the wheel and the other resting on the gearshift next to her thigh. He has really nice hands.
The thought brought a jitter in her heart forcing her to look back onto the road. What was that about? Hands can be attractive no need to make a big deal about it.
Ochako fiddled with the small rings on her fingers while watching the car turn onto an apartment complex. They were going to be dropping off Kirishima next most likely. Choosing to enjoy the ride, Ochako relaxed into the seat a little more. Her back lightly popping as she let it stretch properly on the seat.
"All right loser, you're home." For the first time during the ride, Bakugou turned to look at the backseat to address Kirishima. To this Kirishima chuckled and opened the backseat door to get out.
"All right, all right. Goodnight lovebirds!" Kirishima said a bit cheeky before holding his hand out to Mina who was still in the backseat.
"Hah?!" Bakugou exclaimed.
Wait what? Oh no, what does Kirishima mean by that?
Mina takes his hand and steps out from the backseat with a loud giggle, "Have fun, Chakoooo!" She sang before accidently slamming the door behind her.
Oh. No. Nope. Mina thinks I'm going to hook with Bakugou or something! OH my god this is such a nightmare.
Ochako couldn't help groaning out, "Greeatt" at the implication they left behind.
"I'm going to fucking kill them I swear," she heard Bakugou mutter next to her, he seemed just as exhausted as she felt.
"I thought you said she had been crying and throwing a fit," all of Ochako's frustrations bled through her words. She was tired and did not need a rumor in her friend group to be an added stress to her life.
"She was! Then you got in the car, and she was fucking fine! Kirishima was also bitching about how he had work tomorrow which is why Pinky couldn't stay with him!" Bakugou took a second to breathe while holding a death grip to the steering wheel. "Fuck! Fucking dipshits, I'm sorry, I'll take you home."
Annoyed and tired and just really missing her bed Ochako spoke without thinking for once all night with more venom in her voice than she ever intended, "Do you even know where I live?" It's not far at all really, but seriously Bakugou and I don't even hang out much less has he been at my place. God, why am I so bothered by what Mina and Kirishima said? I can't do this right now.
After another breath from Bakugou, he started driving again out of the apartments. "I do actually, remember the crisis mission we had a few months ago where I had to pick you up from your balcony?"
The memory sobered Ochako's mind for a moment. It had been around 3am, most heroes in the area got called. Dynamight had called her first since he was in the area and her quirk was a major need given the falling debris and her rescue hero work experience. Since it was such an emergency he demanded she share her location and ended up just launching himself to her balcony and grabbing her. Then he launched them to the crisis area.
"Yeah, I remember," she muttered a little defeated that she couldn't argue that, but it still rose questions. "That was like four months ago, how do you still remember where I live?" She was being genuine, they weren't close by any means, so it was odd to her for him to remember such a detail. Especially when that had been such an immediate crisis.
"I have a great memory, it's not a big deal," he responded nonchalantly with a shrug.
"Right, of course you do," Ochako sighed and closed her eyes instead and leaned back into the seat. Despite her annoyance she remembered what Deku said about the communication class. "Hey, are you going to Deku's class on Tuesday?"
"Hah? Oh that, I don't know it depends how work goes why do you care?"
"I was just wondering, I agreed to it and he motioned he asked you about going so I figured I would ask. It would be nice not do it alone." Ochako said much more sincerely than she meant to reveal, so she tried to save face. "It would be a lot easier, is what I mean."
A moment passes. The sound of the engine and the tapping of Bakugou's fingers keep her brain from overthinking just long enough.
"I want to go, despite what people think I do like working with kids, I just won't really know until the day of." His response was so clear and genuine it took Ochako back a little. Because he's right, she doesn't know that either, but she will do whatever she can to be there.
"Yeah, I get that," she responded with a sigh. The car was warm and the hum of the engine mixing with the caramel scent brought a great distraction to her. It felt homey enough if she could imagine it. Like a warm fireplace in winter.
Who knows if something may come up that day? What if there's a family stuck in a collapsing mountain again while they were hiking? Or one of the kids in her program accidently released their quirk and got themselves and others hurt suddenly? Could she still make it?
"I can make it work if you're there though," Bakugou's voice vibrates in the air and pulls her mind out of its spiral. She opens her eyes to realize that they were parked right outside her apartment building, and his ruby eyes were staring at her with a strong softness that she had never seen before. Ochako feels the warmth radiating from his hand on the gearshift onto her own laying curled in her lap. She can't help the urge to get a look at his lips. They're the lightest pink tone and look like they're made of velvet silk. The moment takes her breath away.
"I would love for you to be there," she finally responds, meeting his red eyes once more.
What the fuck is happening?