Archive of Our Own ^beta

Ochako stood at the edge of the dead field, tears pricking at her eyes. Her hands balled into fists hard enough to bite crescent-shaped lines into her palms. The sting of it kept her from breaking down, but she still teetered on the edge. Her family’s field of crops had been destroyed, and not by animals or people. Mother Earth decided not to bless them with rain this summer, which dried up the rivers, made the lakes tiny puddles barely enough to sustain the wildlife, let alone those who lived in Ochako’s small country. 

The cabbages had yellowed, the fruit vines withered and dry. The hot, acrid wind blew dust across the field as if mocking her. Its teasing whistle echoed in her ears and kissed her cheeks as it blew on its path to nowhere. What would her family do now? Growing crops kept them afloat every year. Even then, it wasn’t enough to live a lavish life, just enough to keep food on the table and worn clothes on their backs. 

The tears rolled down her face, and even they weren’t wet enough to say she was crying. A passerby might notice the upset expression on her face and her non-verbal body language, but they’d never see her tears. Not with this burning heat drying up every drop of moisture from the land. With an angry spin on her heels, Ochako returned to her home to find her parents and give them the disappointing news. She didn’t know what they could do to earn money. Her mom, a seamstress by trade, had already taken on extra jobs to help make ends meet. Her father worked in the coal mines. The cough he’d developed from years of working there made her worry. Ochako wanted to do her part to keep them from taking on extra tasks, so she handled tilling the fields, weeding them, watering them, and keeping the animals and bugs from destroying them. Well, she had tried to water them. With the lack of a water source, she had to choose between watering the fields or having water for her family some days.

Even then, It had been a week since she was able to bathe. Baths were a luxury, but she’d grown used to her stink and the stringiness of her hair. Ochako felt terrible for anyone who had the misfortune to catch a whiff of her, and she longed to wash the grime off. She reached the front door and entered, the old wood creaking as it swung open. 

“I’m home!” Ochako called as she entered her house and took off her shoes at the door.

“I’m at the dining table!” her mom called.

Ochako noticed that her father’s shoes were not next to her mother’s. Not unusual, it was midday, and he wouldn’t return home until late that evening, well past dark, covered in soot. That whole “not enough water to bathe” thing hit him the hardest. He’d opted to sleep in their shed to not get soot all over everything. Ochako hated that so much. 

She headed into the kitchen to find her mother, Seijun Uraraka, knitting a dress. Her auburn hair framed her face as she worked, her tongue peeking out of her mouth as she concentrated. Ochako was the spitting image of her mother, right down to their rosy cheeks. Many confused them as sisters because of their resemblance. It made her mother happy when people thought she was so young and made Ochako smile. 

“I, um, don’t have good news,” Ochako began as she sat across from her mom.

“The crops didn’t make it?” Her mother gives her a solemn stare, weathered hands still, wise cocoa-brown eyes tired.

“No,” Ochako said. “B-but that’s okay! I’ll go over to Toru’s! Her family needs help with their horses. I could work with them and at least get us food. For water, the lake has a tiny pocket of water I can get some from. We’ll have to boil it first, and it still might be a little muddy. But-”

Ochako paused when her mother sighed, closing her eyes. Her heart sank, knowing her mom hated her having to do extra work to make ends meet. Although Ochako was nineteen, her mom still wanted to take care of her. At least until Ochako got married. 

“I just wish things were different, but there’s no use in crying about it,” her mother relents with a weary smile. “Let’s get lunch ready.”

Ochako nodded and headed toward their pantry. She opened to find stale bread and enough jerky for one meal for two, but they had to stretch it to dinner. Her father would go without if they let him, but he needed the nutrients more than anyone with the hard labor he did. She bought the jerky and bread to her mom, who’d put down her sewing to help her ration. 

For the first time, Ochako wondered if they’d make it through this year.

In the middle of the night, after struggling to fall into a fitful sleep, a loud thunderclap startled her awake. That had to be a dream. Ochako bolted to an upright position, waiting for another with her eyes adjusting to the darkness of her room. The sound of rain against the house sounded deep around her. Ochako’s face lit up, and she catapulted her ratty sheets off her to bolt into her parents’ room. They met her in the living room. Her father was already wet from running in from the shed. Together, they sprinted to the kitchen for the empty buckets they had. They also grabbed bowls, bins, or anything capable of holding water. 

“I can’t believe it’s raining!” Ochako squealed as they threw open the front door and ran outside into the warm sheet of rain. They had rain barrels out, too. Four of them. This would help them for a while. 

Ochako laid out all of her bins, unable to hear her parents over the roar of the rain. She laughed, giddy, happy, and carefree, as she rushed back into the house, soaking wet, to grab her soap. She didn’t have a plan for what to put on afterward, but Ochako didn’t care. She didn’t want to waste the water they’d collect on a bath when she could bathe out in the rain instead.

“I’m going to wash up!” she said with an excited laugh when she ran past her parents again. “See you in a bit!”

“That’s a good idea, sport!” her father, Akiyoshi Uraraka, said. “I should get this soot washed off, too!”

Her mom’s laughter reached her ears next. “You two are so silly, but you’ve got a good point!”

Ochako let her parents know she would bathe behind the house and hurried into the dark behind it. She can’t see well with only flashes of lightning as her guide, but Ochako makes it work. She stripped out of her PJs and washed up underneath the curtain of warm rain. Her hair slicked to her head as she said goodbye to the dirt that caked her skin for far too long. Goosebumps rose from the slight chill of being naked outside, but Ochako welcomed it, relished it because as she finished washing her legs, the rain tapered off. 

She put her wet silk nightdress back on, shivering as she reentered her home. She must have been bathing longer than her parents did because they sat in front of a roaring fire crackling in their living room fireplace, clothes hanging up in front of it to dry. Her mom gave her a bright smile and got to her feet.

“Get out of those wet, dirty clothes before you get sick!” her mom chastised. “I’ve got clean pants and a shirt of yours I washed the other day laying out in your room. Go on, and get changed!”

“Thanks, mom!” Ochako said while turning on her heels to walk to her room.

Leave it to her mom to wash an outfit for her, even with their limitations. She padded across the worn wood floors, leaving little puddles behind her she would clean up later. Now, her body shivered with more intensity, and getting into clean, dry clothes sounded heavenly. So, she worked fast, striping and putting on fresh clothes. Hair still damp, Ochako braided it down and joined her parents back in the living room. Their excitement bubbled and crackled and lit up the room in a way they hadn’t experienced in months. They couldn’t sleep now, not with thunder rolling. Ochako hoped for more rain because maybe, just maybe, she could save their crops. 

For the next week, they get more rain than they’d gotten in the past year. The parched earth soaked it up with ease, drinking its fill. The lakes and rivers widened once more. Plants got hints of green, painting the forestry with a new lens of health. Ochako hummed to herself as she headed to her favorite oak tree a quarter of a mile from her house. It sat alone on the vast, flat plains surrounding her home, a soul of old with many stories etched into the fibers of its bark. It comforted her through childhood with a swing too beaten to be anything other than a memory. It listened to her complain about her parents’ rules and her first breakup. She’d read many books there, too. The hours often passed until her mother’s call for dinner pulled her from the world the story created. 

Now, she wanted to enjoy the thunderstorm rolling in. This one looked too far to bring any rain, but after a hard day of labor, she tried to relax by watching the dark blue colors teeming with lightning and listening to the gentle roll of thunder. Ochako had about a hundred feet to go when she froze in her tracks. Were those clouds coming closer? That wouldn’t be unusual under normal circumstances, but the speed at which they bellowed toward her defied normality. 

“What the heck?” Ochako said to herself while hooking strands of her hair behind her ear, unsure if she should run or wait. 

A bright white light flashed a second later, and the crash that followed made her ears ring. A gust of wind powerful enough to knock her off her feet sent her sprawling across the dirt. Ochako coughed and got to her knees. The blinding light made it hard for her to see, but the smoke from her oak tree was unmistakable. She blinked a few times, and when her vision cleared, her heart sank.

“No,” she whispered as she got to her feet, the bitter scent of burning wood reaching her nose. 

It had been split in half by what must have been a lightning bolt, and Ochako already felt an emptiness hollowing out a hole in her chest. She blinked again when she saw movement from behind the tree. Who the heck was that? A man stepped from behind it who she’d never seen before. From the looks of him, he wasn’t from Musutafu. He didn’t look, well, poor. Clean, blonde wild hair, and tall. He wore far too little clothing for someone with such a muscular build, and it took everything in her not to stare. Where was his shirt?! The golden armbands looked as if he would burst out of them, and the amount of other jewelry he wore made no sense. His stomach looked like the gods themselves chiseled them out of stone. 

“Oi!”

Ochako blinked as he stalked toward her. “Are you talking to me?”

“Who the hell else would I be talking to?” he snapped as he walked closer.

Ochako scrambled away from him. “Who are you?!”

“Your side,” he said without acknowledging what she’d asked him. “Do you have a flame mark on one of ‘em?”

She stiffened and shot him a hard stare. “Why?”

How would he know about that?! A flame-shaped mark that appeared on her right hip when she was two wasn’t something discussed. How would this stranger know about it?! The grin he sported from her response made her skin crawl as if a thousand ants had taken up residence underneath her flesh. She needed to get away now.

“Stay away from me!” Ochako screamed as she turned to run, but she didn’t even make it ten feet before an iron class grip shackled her wrists together.

She thrashed with all her might, but it was like steel beams had been bent around her wrists.

“Fuck, you smell like a horse’s ball sack! Ever heard of a fucking bath?!”

Oh, yeah. This jerk wasn’t from Musutafu if he had no clue that a drought had almost caused the entire town to die of dehydration.  

“Let me go, you asshole!” Ochako yelled as he flipped up the side of her shirt. “What are you doing?!”

The man shoved her into the dirt a second later, knocking the wind out of her. She glared up at him as she tried to catch her breath, the dust kicking up around them. He seemed startled. It confused Ochako almost as much as the look of rage that crossed his features a second later.

“You’re my Twin Flame? No fucking way this disgusting little insect is worthy of being a god’s bonded partner?! That’s fucking crazy!”

Okay, Ochako had it. She jumped to her feet, no longer afraid of him.

“Who are you to call someone else an insect?!” Ochako bellowed, stalking toward him to poke him in the chest. “You’re obviously not from here since you’re on my family’s land and complaining about how I smell! Do you know what this town has gone through? A drought and you know what happens to water sources during a drought? They become scarce! So, when we get rain, we focus more on, I don’t know, watering our crops and livestock or not dying of dehydration, so sorry if bathing was last on the list of concerns.”

“Who are you talking to like that?!” he shouted back. “I’m fucking Katsuki Bakugou, God of-!”

“God?!” Ochako interrupted before bursting into laughter. “So, all-mighty God Katsuki Bakugou, where were you when people were dying of thirst?! What kind of God lets humans struggle like this?!”

“One who doesn’t control the fucking weather!” Katsuki snapped while crossing his arms over his chest. “That’s not what my fucking powers do!”

Ochako rolled her eyes. “Oh, you have powers, too?! Let’s see these powers.”

She didn’t understand why she bothered to entertain him. She should make him get off their property to plan a ceremony for her family tree. Ochako loved it, and it played a massive part in her growing up. She didn’t have time to deal with this idiot, but the craziness he spewed made her play along.

“Why should I prove anything to you, you idiot?!”

Ochako dusted herself off. “Then leave already, jerk!”

“You’re my fucking Twin Flame! You’re coming with me!”

“What does that even mean?!”

Katsuki growled in irritation and ran his fingers through his blonde hair. “Fuck, this is stupid. You’re coming with me to the realm of the gods.”

“What?! No!” Ochako backed away again as Katsuki advanced.

“Stop. Fucking. Running!”

Ochako turned tail and hauled ass as fast as she could. Her legs burned, her lungs ached from how hard she pushed herself, but she had to get away from this crazy man. She sprinted toward the forest instead of back to her house. The last thing she wanted was this nutcase hurting her family. His intention was kidnapping based on his outrageous story. A god?! Gods didn’t exist, and if they did, they were terrible for letting her town suffer.

The bushes whipped at her bare thighs, leaving stinging marks she did her best to ignore while she dodged in between the familiar foliage. How would she escape this man?! Even if Ochako escaped him this time, she lived here. Katsuki would find her again without fail.

“Oi! Stop, you idiot!”

She did not stop. She wouldn’t, not until her legs gave out. Unfortunately, that didn’t take long. Ochako’s pace slowed as her pace slowed. She tried to jump over a fallen log, but her foot caught from how difficult it had grown to lift her leg. Ochako hit the dirt so hard, a sharp pain radiated through her side. As she slid to a stop, coughing and struggling to pull in breath after ragged breath, she fought to lift her head and saw sandaled feet. 

“Are you fucking done?” Katsuki asked with irritation lacing his voice. “You’re more of an idiot than I thought if you think you can outrun a god.”

Katsuki used his foot to roll her onto her stomach before kneeling to straddle her waist. Ochako’s fear skyrocketed as he grabbed the hem of her shirt and pushed it up. 

“Please don’t!” she cried, pressing against his arms with all her strength.

It did nothing to deter him, and he lifted her shirt. Ochako yanked at the material in a feeble attempt to stop him, but the worn material tore instead, exposing her breasts to him. Katsuki froze, and his face turned bright red. He scrambled off her.

“What the fuck are you doing?!” he yelled.

“Me?! What are you doing?!” Ochako shouted back as she whirled away and covered her chest.

“I wanted to see if your goddamn mark again, not your fucking tits!”

“How do you even know about that?!” Ochako demanded.

“Just let me see it already!” Katsuki demanded.

Ochako glanced over her shoulder at him with a huff. She wanted nothing to do with this insane man, but she didn’t see him leaving her alone without her showing him. Maybe once he saw her birthmark, he’d go away.

“Well, you tore my shirt. It’s not like I can stop you from looking,” Ochako mumbled. 

Katsuki walked over and kneeled next to her right side. “Fucking hell!”

Ochako jumped when he rocketed to his feet, held a hand out, and his palm glowed bright orange. What the heck was that?! She found out soon enough when a giant blast exploded from his palm. The scorching wind flung her hair back and knocked her aside. Ochako struggled to take in a breath, but she couldn’t. It was as if the air had gotten sucked away, and her lungs struggled to bring in any oxygen. After a terrifying second or two, Ochako sucked in a desperate breath. She gaped at Katsuki and scrambled away, keeping her chest covered.

“What the heck was that?!” she demanded.

“A fucking explosion. What else would it be?!” Katsuki snapped as if shooting the equivalent of a bomb from his palms was normal.

Ochako stared at him a second longer, then walked away. She had other things to worry about, not some crazy man with explosion powers. She took four more steps before he flashed in front of her. 

“Dang it, leave me alone!” Ochako yelled.

“You’re my Twin Flame! You’re fucking stuck with me!” 

Ochako let out an exasperated sigh. “Okay, fine. You’re a god. God of what? And explain what this Twin Flame you keep spouting about is.”

“How about you get a fucking shirt first and take a bath, then we talk?” Katsuki said as he glanced down at her, his cheeks still flushed even with the disgusted look on his face.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Ochako said with a roll of her eyes as she stepped around him. “Now, go away!”

Ochako traveled back through the woods until she reached the clearing leading to her house. Whatever this Twin Flame was, it seemed like it was important to Katsuki. She had something he wanted, although she wasn’t sure what. His story about being a god seemed hard to digest, but humans couldn’t use powers like that! Still, the gods had been a myth. No one had seen or heard of them in hundreds of years. Had they watched humanity suffer from droughts, hunger, and war? Was it all for their amusement?

Ochako shook her head and walked toward her home. She’d sneak in through the back so her mom wouldn’t want to know why she was shirtless. The truth would sound like a fairy tale. It still did to her.

Later that evening, Ochako stood by the remnants of her favorite tree. The ache in her chest from losing something so important brought tears to the corners of her eyes. She reached down; the wood crumbling under her fingertips caused a sob to break free. 

“Why the fuck are you crying over a tree?”

Ochako jumped and glared at Katsuki, who stood ten feet away from her with his hands in his pockets. He at least wore a loose-fitting black sleeveless tunic, but it did little to hide how compact and fit his body was. His figure was such a distraction, but her irritation with him made any wayward thoughts disappear. Plus, he was a jerk. Ochako didn’t like jerks.

“You destroyed my favorite tree when you came from wherever you came from,” Ochako huffed. “It was important to me!”

Katsuki rolled his eyes. “You’ll get over it. Anyway, we have more important shit to talk about.”

Ochako’s mouth dropped at his audacity. She couldn’t figure out what to say to such an insensitive comment. Katsuki took that as a sign to talk.

“Alright, human!” he started, raising an arm to flex. “Katsuki, God of Pride, wielder of the magical ability Explosion. The reason you’re coming with me is bigger than you. The entire human fucking race is at stake here, so stop worrying about a fucking tree and worry about how you’re going to help me unlock my powers as my Twin Flame.”

“God of Pride, huh?” Ochako rolls her eyes. “That makes so much sense why you’re an entitled bone head who thinks I should drop everything for him. You don’t even make sense!”

“Are you listening at all?!” Katsuki bellowed, his fists clenching at his sides. I don’t have time to argue with you! We gotta start your training now!”

Ochako sat on the ground and leaned against what was left of her tree. “Okay, let’s say I am this Twin Flame that’s gonna help you save the human race. What are we saving them from?! And for the love of God, a god other than you, what is a Twin Flame?! How am I supposed to help, if I even want to, if I don’t know what that is?!”

“I don’t have time for this shit!” 

“If you want a chance at getting what you want, make time,” Ochako shot back, glancing at her nails instead of him.

Katsuki growled, and it brought Ochako immense pleasure. Her hunch about him needing her was right. He’d have to play by her rules if he wanted her help. He sat down cross-legged in front of her. Katsuki was much closer than she would have liked, but his nearness allowed her to see the intense red hue of his eyes. They were like rubies, glittering in the dimming evening light. Her eyes trailed over his facial features, hating that she admired his sharp jawline and straight nose. He hadn’t met a man with his ears pierced before, but it suited him, the dangling red jewelry matching his eyes. 

“Twin Flame is a bond between two beings,” Katsuki began while placing his hands in his lap. “It doesn’t have to be the same species either. Human, god, demon, faerie-”

“Wait, those all exist?!” Ochako interrupted with eyes wide.

Katsuki gave her an icy stare. “Shut the fuck up, and let me finish!”

“You don’t have to be so mean about it,” Ochako grumbled. “Fine, keep going.”

“Any fucking way.” Katsuki rolled his eyes, and Ochako wanted to do the same. “This bond for gods lets us unlock our full power. I’m strong as hell now, but with my Twin Flame bond, my power would triple, and they would gain powers that complement mine if they don’t have any already.”

“And the mark on my side tells you we are supposed to share this bond?” Ochako asked.

Katsuki nodded. “Yeah, they’re all shaped differently, but if yours matches someone else’s and it’s in the opposite location of theirs, that’s your Twin Flame.”

“Let me see yours,” Ochako said while getting to her knees. 

Katsuki lifted his shirt, and there it was. A marking identical to hers, but his was gold and on his left side. It reminded her of paint, and before she could stop herself, Ochako reached out to brush her fingers along his skin. He recoiled and shoved her back. 

“Oi, don’t touch me!” he snapped.

“S-sorry!” she blurted out. “Wait, you did the same to me earlier! Don’t be a hypocrite!”

Katsuki’s eyes widened. Had no one ever put this arrogant man in his place before? It seemed not if a comment like that surprised him.

“Why is your marking gold?” Ochako asked.

“Yours is, too.”

“What, no, it’s not.”

“Look again, Round Face!”

Ochako squinted at him. “Round Face? Are you calling me fat on top of all the other insults you’ve hurled at me today? By the way, that’s not the best way to win over the person you need to help you unlock the rest of your powers.”

“You don’t have a choice! It’s your destiny!” he argued.

Ochako rolled her eyes. “I don’t believe in destiny, and I do have a choice.” She lifted her shirt to check her birthmark and couldn’t believe the golden mark that greeted her. “What the heck?!”

Katsuki jumped to his feet, but this time, the motion didn’t frighten Ochako. She gave him a solid stare when he glared at her.

“Look, dumbass!” he yelled, his powers popping his hands again. “If I don’t get stronger, I can’t take down the demons! Do you think I wanna have my power locked because of some stupid bond? Get it through your thick skull that I want this even less than you do, but if I don’t, the demons release the Demon King, and that spells doom for you shitty mortals! For some reason, Toshi wants to keep you around!”

“Toshi,” Ochako said, staring hard at the ground. Why did that name sound familiar? Ochako wracked her brain for a moment until it hit her. “Toshi, the god One For All who created the entire universe, according to myth?!”

“So you’re not as clueless as you act about the gods,” Katsuki replied with a lopsided grin. “Yeah, that asshole, Toshi. He loves the mortals, his favorite fucking creation, and he’s not gonna let the king return and control the humans.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re a fucking liability, but we’re not letting demons escape hell and wreak havoc on earth. We’re not gonna let ‘em break the Demon King out of Tartarus either!”

Toshi, the father of Creation, talks of demons and other mythical creatures, her being some link for this feisty god to reach his full potential. Didn’t he mention that she’d get powers, too? This was too much for her to process.

“I gotta go,” Ochako said, her voice distant as she stood and walked away.

“Oi! Where are you going, Round Face?!”

She whirled around, at her wit’s end. Ochako stalked toward him and stopped a foot away to glare up at him. “My name is Ochako, not Round Face! Go away, and let me process this! I still need to work the fields, too, so unless you plan on helping, leave me alone!”

Katsuki grinned and grabbed her wrist. “That sounds like your problem.”

“Yeah, it is my problem, but now it’s yours because if my crops don’t make it, I have to worry about my mom and dad starving! I can’t focus on anything else otherwise!”

Katsuki fell silent as he dropped her arm. “You’re poor as shit, huh?”

Ochako bristled. “Just because we don’t have a lot-”

“I’ll call someone to fix your damn fields. Give you a bountiful harvest if you train with me tomorrow.”

Could he do that? Hope teased the back of her mind about the possibility. Katsuki didn’t seem like the type to lie about something like this. Giddiness thrummed underneath her skin, imaging the what-ifs.

“If you can fix my crops, I’ll train with you or whatever,” Ochako agreed while holding her hands in front of her. “I want more info about all this, but my parents are my priority.”

“Fine!” Katsuki snapped just as wings sprouted from his back. 

“You have wings?!” Ochako exclaimed.

They were breathtaking. Ochako stared, wide-eyed. His wings must have been at least ten feet on each side. The shape of them reminded her of an eagle when he stretched them out to their full span. What caught her attention the most was their color. A solid grey that reminded her of a warm summer storm. They seemed inviting despite his off-putting personality. Ochako wanted nothing more than to touch them. She had to stop herself from reaching out as he gave one mighty sweep of his wings. The gust of wind tousled the hem of her shirt. She covered her eyes with her forearm when he launched himself into the sky faster than her eyes could process.

Ochako stood rooted in her spot before turning toward the fields. She had already done all her chores for them, but she’d say anything to get Katsuki to leave. Once she reached them, Ochako studied them with a nod. Something deep within her told her Katsuki wouldn’t lie about the crops. She let herself imagine what it would be like for their fields to bear a good harvest. It had been almost two years since they’d lived a normal life. Ochako wanted that back. It depended on the rainy season, too, but since Katsuki was a god, maybe he could have whoever was in charge of the weather do something about their drought. 

Ochako snuck in the back of her house and beelined for her room. She crept past her mother humming in the living room as she worked on whatever craft and entered her room. Ochako laid on the floor and stared up at the ceiling. She’d met a god, an actual god. Her brain struggled to process seeing his explosion power. No human could do that! A million thoughts whirred through her mind about everything he’d told her. Fighting demons, them being Twin Flames, which meant soul mates in her mind. Was there a romantic element to it because she’d never fall for a terrible person like him, handsome or not.

Why was she thinking about his attractiveness?! Now was not the time. Instead, she threw an arm over her eyes and exhaled. Tomorrow, she’d told him she’d train with him if he helped her crops. Ochako had a feeling she’d eat her words.

Ochako stood in awe as she stared at her blooming field. Thanks to a Goddess of Rebirth, Ibara, everything blossomed into rich fruits, bringing her crops to life. Had Ochako not seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn’t have believed it. Ochako begged Ibara to use her magic on the rest of her townspeople’s crops because many were in the same predicament she was in. Still, the moment Bakugou had told Ibara she was his Twin Flame, refusing to cooperate with the battle of the demons, Ibara refused. 

“If you help us beat the demons, I will help your people,” Ibara said, her hands folded together in prayer. “I want to save my people and your people, too. Defeating the demons is how we do that.”

Fine. Ochako’s hands were tied. Now, she stood in annoyance across from Katsuki, who stretched his neck before catching her gaze.

“First, you’re not training in your shitty clothes,” he said. “I’m changing ‘em.”

Ochako shrugged. “Whatever. Let’s just get this over with.”

“Don’t be an idiot!” Katsuki snapped. “We’re gonna be training for months to make sure that number one, you don’t fucking die the instant you run into a demon, and two to figure out make this stupid Twin Flame bond surface, so I can gain full use of my powers!”

“It sounds like this entire process is for you to get stronger, not for the good of humanity,” Ochako pointed out, crossing her arms over her chest.

“That’s not fucking it!” Katsuki snapped before exhaling. “I promised a friend I’d do it, okay?”

“Do what?”

“Save the goddamn mortals!”

“And that’s it? You’re just doing it because someone else told you to?” Ochako rolled her eyes. “You don’t care about humanity at all, do you? What did we do to you to make you dislike us so much!”

“I don’t wanna fucking talk about it, so shut up and learn!”

Ochako couldn’t believe this guy. She watched him snap his fingers and noticed a bright light coming from her, so she looked down to find herself in a black tank and pants similar to the ones she wore, but they fit a little tighter. They were comfy, at least. A confused look crossed her face as she lifted one leg and then the other.

“How did you do that?” Ochako asked in awe.

“Magic,” Katsuki said with a half-cocked grin. “How much combat training have you had? Fuck, I don’t know why the hell I’m asking. I know it’s none.”

Ochako crossed her arms underneath her chest and gave him a defiant look. “I didn’t plan to help a deity fight off mythical creatures that actually exist. I’ll put that on my calendar next time.”

“You, brat!” Katsuki seethed, which brought a smile to Ochako’s face. “Alright, we’re gonna start with the basics, but I’m gonna warn you now. I’m not going easy on you.”

It was then it dawned on Ochako that she was going to fight physically. She wasn’t a fighter! With her throat dry, Ochako tried to swallow as Katsuki closed the distance between them. She refused to step back even though she wanted to, but his nearness as he walked behind her didn’t go unnoticed.

“I’m gonna fix your stance first,” Katsuki said, grabbing her arms with a gentleness she didn’t expect. “Fists up; set them apart just like this. What’s your dominant side?”

“Right,” Ochako answered, wondering if she sounded breathy to him because she didn’t want that.

Katsuki set her feet with her left foot back, her feet a little more than shoulder-width apart. His nearness, the heat he gave off, stole her focus, made her hands shake, and turned her throat into a desert void of any oasis. Ochako couldn’t understand why glimpses of wild ash-blonde hair in her peripherals had such an effect on her. She better focus on what Katsuki was teaching her instead of the vein snaking down his left bicep.

“Don’t stand with your feet together. I can knock you over like that. You want a stable base to start off with, got it?”

Ochako nodded, not trusting her voice. Katsuki continued showing her the basics, like how to make a fist, breathe, and punch. The hours ticked by with a quick break before getting back into it. Ochako’s shoulders were so sore from how many punches he had her doing.

“Tomorrow, we’re doing endurance training, so you better fucking hydrate, Round Face,” Katsuki said before his wings appeared.

“Endurance training?!” Ochako echoed, but all he offered was a smug grin before blasting off into the sky.

Dread built in her stomach, wondering how horrific this endurance training would be. Her stomach growled for dinner since they’d skipped lunch, and Ochako headed home, but not before changing into her old clothes. She’d leave her new ones behind the house until she could wash them. An asshole god could just make her more tomorrow. Ochako didn’t want her parents to see him and ask questions.

Weeks went by with Ochako sneaking away to train with Katsuki, and this day, Ochako had it. He was a bigger jerk today than usual, and that was impressive. This time, he’d knocked her onto the ground next to the flowing river with dense forest to their backs. The blow to her cheek had left her face throbbing hard enough that tears spilled down her cheek. Now, it hadn’t been the first time she’d gotten hit like this. It was part of her training, and Ochako came to terms with she had to help Katsuki because the demon race were monsters who would enslave humanity and put them through horrific torture. However, she didn’t understand his distant attitude and short answers, so she called him on it.

Katsuki insisted she go with him and Deku, God of Perseverance, to take out a demon and see what had him so pissed off. Deku was the sweetest person Ochako had ever met with a boyish face and a sculpted, muscled body that made her wonder if all the gods looked this incredible. When they arrived, the bloodshed in the small village left a giant hole in Ochako’s stomach. The demons didn’t care about who they killed, and many mangled bodies of mothers trying to protect their children lay strewn across the blood-stained grass-like trash. That happened in twenty other villages, and that was what had Katsuki so riled up. Demons sifted through a rift between hell and earth, already wreaking havoc just for fun. Anger bubbled in her chest, and understanding cooled her annoyance with her Twin Flame.

That evening, Ochako sat by the river to think. She didn’t want such violence and slaughter to happen to others, and what if demons came to her home? The demon they’d fought had such immense power, and according to Deku, it was still a low-ranking demon called a nomu, mindless and killing just because it could. As the ranks increased, demons grew more self-aware. Along with that came a power that rivaled and sometimes exceeded that of the gods. How small she felt sitting there with her finger swirling in the cool flowing water, wondering if she really could serve as a beacon to unlock Katsuki’s powers. She was only human, after all.

Katsuki stood next to her, his presence familiar and warm. Despite their constant arguing, Ochako needed him. Needed someone who experienced what she’d seen that day and could sympathize with how terrible it was.

“It’s bad,” Katsuki said as he sat down and crossed his legs. “That’s why I’m pushing you so fucking hard. I don’t have a choice, Cheeks, but you’re strong for a human, especially one that never fought before. Don’t fucking quit on me now.”

Ochako’s resolve solidified that day. She would help Katsuki unlock his power and accept her role in stopping the demon race. They trained day after day, week after week, into month after month. Her body grew more muscular, toned, and powerful. Still no sign of this unlocking of her Twin Flame, no matter how hard she strained her body. On days they trained, Ochako and Katsuki would eat lunch together or sit and watch the sunset, talking about different topics. Some of Ochako’s favorites were stories of the god realm. It sounded gorgeous with trees of every kind, every fruit, and some not grown on earth in abundance. Katsuki said there was a vast lake that smelled of the ocean with a glittering pink surface. Ochako wanted to see that someday.

“These are rotarnas?” Ochako asked, holding a fruit in her hand that looked like a kiwi on the outside but had an orange fruit center.

“Yeah,” Katsuki said, plopping down behind her. “Now you can stop bitching about fruit.”

“I didn’t know you could be nice,” she teased, chuckling when he pressed his back against her to shove her forward a little.

“Shut up, and don’t fucking get used to it,” he mumbled.

Ochako bit into the fruit and sighed, her eyes closing as the juices melded over her tongue. She couldn’t describe what it tasted like. Sweet, like melon, but tangy like a mango that wasn’t quite ready. A dash of cinnamon, maybe? The skin, even though it looked like a kiwi, had the texture of an apple.

“This is so good!” she moaned, trying her best not to inhale it.

“Tch, I knew you’d like it.”

She continued eating her fruit in silence before turning around and getting on her knees. Katsuki had his back to her, his broad wings tucked into his sides. He started leaving them out a few months ago. Although Katsuki denied it obnoxiously, Ochako liked to think it was because he grew to trust her. To be honest, she could say the same for him. They spent so much time together. It wasn’t unusual that she tolerated him more than usual. What troubled her was how long she caught herself staring at him when he’d take a dip in the river, the broad expanse of his muscular back glistening from the rivulets of water dripping off him.

Ochako tried to fight the smile that worked its way over her lips. She wasn’t an idiot. Feelings she attempted to ignore cropped up after spending months with this god. She realized there was more to Katsuki than he let people see. She learned more about him with each passing day, like how he ate all of one food before finishing another or that his wings grew too heavy when they were wet for him to hold up. Ochako loved that Katsuki kept them out most days now. The way they sparkled when the light hit them left her in awe.

Before the courage left her, Ochako reached out to run her fingers along the base of his wings. She jumped when Katsuki stretched them out to their full length.

“H-hey, what do you think you’re doing?!”

Ochako noticed the breathlessness his voice took on and the way he tossed his head back. She watched through curious eyes as he dug his fingers into the ground and got to her knees to use both hands.

“Sorry, they just look so nice,” Ochako whispered. “They’re so soft but firm, too.”

“Hah, s-stop, Cheeks!”

“Why?”

“It f-feels good!”

Ochako tilted her head to the side. “That’s not a bad thing, right?”

Then she glanced down over his shoulder and saw his very prominent erection straining through his pants. “Oh!”

She removed her hands like he burned her, her eyes as wide as saucers. “I’m so sorry!”

Katsuki turned bright red and dropped his hands into his lap. He scrambled away. “Keep your hands to yourself, alright?! Do you just go around touching people?!”

“N-no! You’re not just people; you’re Katsuki!”

He paused and stared at her. “What the fuck does that mean?”

Crap. Ochako folded her legs underneath her and couldn’t make eye contact. “I just… I don’t know. I feel more comfortable with you. We’re in each other’s space all the time when we’re sparing, but outside of that, too. And.” Ochako glanced up at him. “I, um, I like that.”

Katsuki said nothing, leaving them surrounded by a charged atmosphere. Ochako stood and closed the distance between them. Her heart hammered in her chest, heat flooded her body with the tug of something burning in her chest. Ochako struggled not to look away from his gaze as he studied her, his expression softer than she’d ever seen. The longer she stared at this god, the more she accepted that she’d fallen for him. Was it fate, or was it her own feelings? Ochako wasn’t sure, but she understood she wanted to help him in any way she could, even if he was a jerk about it half the time.

“Ochako,” he said, his voice above a whisper. “I, I want to; you know what, fuck it!”

She was about to ask what he meant, but Katsuki grabbed the sides of her face and pulled her forward to crush their lips together. A thousand thoughts flashed through her mind as they kissed clumsily, but it didn’t stop her from gripping his forearms and leaning into him. Melted may have been a better description of how she toppled into his embrace. Everything, from the warmth of his hands to the stroke of his tongue against hers, felt right. This was where she wanted to be, trapped in his grasp, something she’d never thought she’d say in a million years.

When they pulled apart, Ochako winced from heat melting over her side where her mark was. She raised her shirt and gaped in awe at the now red marking.

“You too?” she asked.

Katsuki held up his shirt to show a matching marking.

“Do you feel any different?” Ochako asked.

“Not really,” Katsuki said as he clenched his fists together. He turned to the side, hand raised, and ignited an explosion. This one had to have been at least four times bigger than his usual ones, powerful enough to knock him back into the water. He came up sputtering and wide-eyed.

“Holy shit!”

“Holy shit is right!” Ochako exclaimed.

Katsuki scrambled out of the water and joined Ochako. He laughed, and the sound was one she could listen to forever.

“Where do our powers come from, anyway?” Ochako asked as Katsuki pulled his soaked shirt over his head to ring it out.

“Elemental ancient gods,” Katsuki answered. “The founders of all magic come from them. There’s a fuck ton of them in a realm not accessible to any current god, and there’s more than just for the ones you humans focus on, like water, fire, or earth.” He turned to face her. “You got your powers from the celestial goddess.”

Ochako’s eyes widened as she raised her hands to look at her palms. “Celestial goddess. That’s amazing. Is it by chance?”

“Nah, they choose you.”

That made pride bloom in her chest. It seemed fate played a huge part in her meeting this boisterous god and inheriting this amazing power. It was a lot to take in.

“I got gravitational powers from a celestial goddess,” Ochako breathed. “That’s amazing!”

Katsuki rapped his knuckles against her forehead, and she scowled at him.

“Fuck yeah, it is, but my powers are the best, Cheeks. Don’t fucking forget it!”

“You wish!”

“Which one of us just unlocked the next level of his fucking powers?” Katsuki snapped.

He tackled her, and they grappled, ending with Katsuki pinning her to the ground. They stared at each other, breathing hard, unable to look anywhere else but at each other. Ochako loved that more than she realized, being in their own little world with the woes of humanity forgotten, if only for a moment. His mouth was only a breath away, close enough she could feel his exhale fan across her skin. Ochako didn’t realize she started arching upward until their lips met again.

With Katsuki’s new power came new responsibility, and the same could be said for her. Gravitational powers?! No one told her she would garner an ability like this! What was even more incredible was how well her new powers complimented Katsuki’s. They trained day and night to perfect their techniques, and now, eight months into their partnership, Ochako felt like she could serve some purpose in defeating the demons.

One thing she still needed to do, though. She had to tell her parents what was going on. Simple, right? Just invite Katsuki for dinner, and he could tell them the entire story. They show their powers; her parents freak out, knowing she could die in war and is also the Twin Flame to a god they didn’t know existed. Easy as pie. It surprised Ochako that her mom didn’t figure it out sooner. Ochako never had luck hiding things from her before, but no matter how late she returned home or how many “accidental” bruises she had, her mom didn’t pry. That alone unnerved her.

Now, they sat around the table, Katsuki on her right with her parents sitting across the table. Her mom had made a delicious feast with roast, an assortment of veggies, and rice to fill them. Even Katsuki remained silent, making the atmosphere thick with tension.

“This smells amazing, mom!” Ochako said as she picked up her chopsticks.

“So, Katsuki Bakugou, when do you leave for hell?” her mother asked.

Ochako choked on the rice she’d just inhaled. Her father smacked her back.

“Y-you knew?!” she wheezed through her coughs.

“Tch, of course, she knows, dumbass. Both your parents know.”

“Watch your mouth,” Seijun said, giving Katsuki a sharp glare. “You may be a god, but you are in my house, and you will not talk to my daughter that way.”

“Sorry,” Katsuki mumbled, glancing down at his plate.

Ochako wasn’t sure if her mouth fell open because Katsuki listened to her mother—in his defense, she could be terrifying—or because her parents knew. Her head snapped to her father, who gave her a warm smile. He reached out to grasp her hand.

“We know everything, hon. Even about you being Katsuki’s Twin Flame.”

“How,” she breathed, still in shock.

Seijun gave her a warm smile. “Katsuki came to us soon after he first appeared to you. He explained everything to us, how the crops were growing, the state of the world as we know it because of the demons.”

Ochako watched her mom pick up her glass and swirl her water in it. “We said no at first. Knee jerk reaction to hearing your child could die in a war humanity didn’t ask for, but you’re important to this battle. The more gods who have their Twin Flame, the more power the good guys have.”

“So, you’re okay with this?” Ochako asked.

“No,” Seijun said, “but we understand the importance.” Her mom grabbed her other hand. “Get out there and win. Help save humanity. We know if anyone can help a god, it’s you, my love.”

Tears pricked the corners of her eyes as she locked gazes with Katsuki. He gave her a solemn nod, one she understood without him uttering a word. They’d have to discuss later the fact that he’d never told her he already talked to her parents. For now, the way he looked at her, his expression soft, Ochako realized she wasn’t afraid, even if it meant her death.

With a nod, Ochako smiled. “I will. We’re gonna win!”

She and Katsuki became almost unstoppable with combo attacks. Explosions combined with weightless propulsion, impressive hand-to-hand combat. Even practice with actual demons who rose from the pits of hell more often than not nowadays sharpened her senses. Ochako no longer feared demons after destroying so many with Katsuki. The more time passed, the more their powers blended into one. Ochako could use explosions, while not as powerful as Katsuki’s, and he could remove gravity from things, although he couldn’t titrate how much like how Ochako could. She also trained with another god, Momo, Goddess of Manifestation, to fight with twin swords. After many accidental cuts over the months, they were like an extension of herself.

Ochako also discovered her Twin Flame was her everything. She loved him with every fiber of her being, and tonight, the night before they headed into the depths of hell to stop the demons from releasing the Demon King, All For One, Ochako planned to tell him. She couldn’t go into a life-or-death battle without it being said. Ochako waited until the evening, pulling her jacket’s hood up around her ears as she sat by the fire, waiting for him to return. It had been a year since they met. Ochako couldn’t remember a life without him. She learned so much, grew in more ways than she ever thought possible, and she had Katsuki to thank for most of it.

The warmth of the summer’s heat faded to bearable and comforting under the blanket of night. Ochako sat in their tent cross-legged on top of her sleeping bag. They didn’t need to sleep in the woods, but they enjoyed the warm nights, the crickets chirping, their song a never-ending melody around them. Katsuki stopped returning to the realm of the gods every night months ago. He argued he had to stay close by to make sure the demons didn’t kill her. There was one, in particular, Katsuki worried might come for her, but he wouldn’t say who. Ochako wondered if they’d run into them during this battle.

She took slow, deep breaths to calm her nerves, but the second she heard the tent’s zipper rustling, her heart fluttered in her chest. When Katsuki threw the flap of the tent back, Ochako’s breath caught in her throat. Ochako didn’t know how to describe him as anything other than breathtaking.

Katsuki met her gaze and grinned. “Waiting on me?”

“Maybe,” Ochako teased, patting the spot in front of her. “Hey, we need to talk.”

“About what?”

Katsuki sat, so his knees pressed against hers. Even the faint brush of him set her aflame, and he wasn’t even touching her skin. Ochako prepared herself, feeling vulnerable.

“I love you,” she blurted out.

Katsuki’s eyes widened, as did her own.

“What the hell are you talking about?!” he demanded.

“I hoped to say it a little better than that,” Ochako mumbled to herself more than him. She exhaled and met his gaze. “I mean it, Katsuki. You’re so important to me, and I can’t go into this fight without your support; you know that. Every hug and kiss we share means so much to me, and I never want it to end.”

Katsuki stared at her, the rush of her blood the only thing pounding in her ears. Ochako knew in her heart without him saying it. He felt the same way, yet the seconds ticked on like days as she waited for him to say something.

“You’re stupid.”

Ochako blinked. “W-what?”

“You’re stupid!” he said with more conviction and a hare louder. “Being Twin Flames doesn’t mean you gotta fall in love with me! It just means we share fucking powers! You’re a dumbass if you fell in love with me, Cheeks! I’m not, you can’t…”

“I don’t understand,” Ochako whispered.

Katsuki raked a hand through his hair. “I’m… You shouldn’t fall in love with someone like me! I’m a selfish asshole who’ll do whatever to get stronger. I-!”

“Shut up, Katsuki.”

His face soured, but the moment she cupped his jaw, it softened. He gripped her arms as she pulled him closer to her until their lips met again. Kissing had become a regular thing, but the heat behind them increased with each one. The heat of his body pressed against hers caused tingling in places she never experienced before, but Ochako liked it. She wanted to belong to this god, body, mind, and wayward soul.

That night, Ochako gave him her innocence, gave her all to him. Their twin moans as he made love to her, kissing and licking every inch of her skin, filling her over and over until she cried out his name. The way his sinful mouth latched onto her most delicate places without a hint of embarrassment made her toes curl. The following day, she woke to him sitting up and stretching, the scratches along his back and soreness between her thighs a testament to their love.

Ochako sat up, smiling at her lover as he leaned over to capture her lips.

“I love you too, Cheeks,” he said before running his fingers through her unruly hair. “Now get up! We’re going to destroy some fucking demons today!”

She smiled and nodded with enthusiasm. “Yeah!”

Just then, she remembered something Katsuki said to her so long ago. He said he fought for the mortal as a promise to someone, and she remembered him stonewalling her when she asked why he disliked humans.

“Hey, Katsuki?”

“What, Cheeks? We gotta get going!”

Ochako shifted her legs underneath her. “Why did you hate humans when I met you? You said you were only fighting for us because you made a promise.”

Katsuki’s face went as white as a sheet. “No fucking reason.”

“That reaction tells me it’s a very important reason.”

“I don’t wanna talk about it!” Katsuki snapped.

She didn’t miss the crack in his voice and the shimmer in his eyes. Something significant happened. Ochako crawled over to him and reached out for his hand, taking it into her own. He flinched at first but didn’t pull away. Ochako leaned into him, giving his shoulder a kiss.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it,” Ochako said, “but if you ever do, I’ll listen. You can tell me anything.”

Katsuki’s throat bobbed as he swallowed before pulling his knees to his chest. “Eijirou.”

Ochako remained silent. She understood it took a lot for Katsuki to open up to her, and she would let him speak at his pace.

“He was the God of Loyalty and the only person who ever saw me for the fucked up being I was and didn’t judge me for it. That stupid fucker. I couldn’t get him to leave me alone no matter how mean I was to him when we were kids.”

A fond smile crossed his lips as pain etched across his features. “He was my best friend, my only real friend, and humans killed him because his Twin Flame was a princess already betrothed to some asshole in another kingdom.”

Ochako’s heart broke when she heard Katsuki’s voice hitch.

“I told him to just take her to the realm of the gods, but she insisted running away wouldn’t help future generations. She wanted to change the monarchy, allow the princess to choose her suitor as someone she loved. Same for any prince. They could have alliances without having to marry into each other’s families.”

Ochako leaned into his shoulder and placed her hand on his lap. He clasped it; the pause said enough. Katsuki never had a problem speaking his mind. This time, he remained silent, gathering his thoughts and figuring out what he wanted to say and how.

“Did you know if a Twin Flame’s partner dies, the other dies, too?” Katsuki breathed. “Can thank the demons for that knowledge they gave the humans, and since they couldn’t kill Eijirou, why not go for his human counterpart, whose way more fucking mortal than he is?”

“I’m so sorry, Katsuki,” Ochako whispered. “We’ll get justice for them. I promise.”

Katsuki nodded and gripped her hand almost hard enough to hurt. “You’re damn right.”

They washed up in the river, visited her parents for one last heartfelt goodbye over breakfast, and met with the other gods at the edge of the woods. Momo fitted her with armor resistant to hellfire, making Ochako feel like a true warrior. It molded to her like a second skin, comfortable and form-fitting but light. Deku gave her a bright smile with his Twin Flame, Shouto Todoroki, also human, beside him. They held hands as Deku talked, Shouto leaning into his side as he studied Ochako and Katsuki.

“You’ve tamed the wild one,” Shouto said.

“Oi, watch who you’re talking about, Half and Half!” Katsuki yelled, his feathers fluffing up with irritation.

“I did,” Ochako said with a giggle and a calming hand on Katsuki’s chest.

He deflated, still growling under his breath as he shifted behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

“Why are you calling him Half and Half?” Ochako asked. “Is it because his hair is half white, half red?”

A slight grin crossed Shouto’s features before he ignited his left side with massive flames while the other side had ice climbing down his arm. Deku didn’t seem phased at all. A look of adoration crossed his boyish features as he stared at Shouto. Ochako hoped that’s how Katsuki looked at her when she used her powers. Along with them were Momo and her Twin Flame, a male faerie named Tenya, and many others. This was the first time she got to meet Toshinori, too. One For All, brother of the Demon King All For One. His radiant smile made her feel safe; his booming, powerful speech empowered them, made everyone in his presence want to win. Ochako and Katsuki would serve on the front lines along with Deku and Shouto. She’d never experienced anything like this, but Ochako wasn’t scared.

It wasn’t until the portal of hell opened in the ground, empty and black with screams traveling all the way from another plane echoing from below, that Ochako felt the first tremble of fear. Everyone couldn’t live through a war. What if she and Katsuki didn’t make it out of this alive?

“Get out of your head, Ochako.”

She glanced up at Katsuki, who kept his gaze trained on the portal to help. “You’re not scared?”

“Why the fuck would I be scared when I have you and everyone else with me? Use your fucking head!”

She shook her head fondly. “You’re still a jerk.”

Katsuki grinned before pressing a chaste kiss to her forehead. “Yeah, yeah. You fucking love it, Angel Face.”

The nickname caused a blush and giddy smile to cross her features. Ochako jumped onto Katsuki’s back, and with a flap of his wings powerful enough to kick up the surrounding dirt, he plunged into the darkness. The free fall lifted her stomach into her throat, and she locked her legs tighter around his waist. Ochako waited for the heat of hell, but it never came. When they stopped falling, and she opened her eyes, a barren, grey wasteland greeted her. Dead trees, an icy bite to the dry wind, fires off in the distance, and the distinct scream of tortured souls surrounding them. Ochako climbed down as the rest of their warriors landed. The familiar sound of her swords unsheathing reached her ears, her body on high alert.

Nothing else sounded. No one else appeared. Ochako glanced over at Deku, who stood on her right.

“Where are they?” she whispered.

“Everywhere,” he answered as his eyes shifted around him, and the green energy of his power licked up his arms. “Stay sharp, Ochako.”

A second later, a blur of black slammed into Deku, he and whatever attacked him skidding across the uneven ground. Ochako’s eyes widened when more of these creatures rushed toward them from every direction. She had no time to think, no time to panic. All she could do was trust her training and her Twin Flame, who aimed an explosion at a giant, crazed-looking creature with chainsaws sticking out of odd parts of its different appendages. It moved so fast, Ochako almost didn’t see it.

“Get your head out of your ass, Cheeks!”

That voice. Katsuki. Ochako blinked and did as she was told. She couldn’t be frightened now. Her hesitancy could cost someone their life, and she couldn’t live with that. With her back to Katsuki, she slashed, blackened blood spraying around her and covering her like paint. Her inner warrior roared with every slice of her swords and explosions Katsuki ignited. The sound of his power became her mantra, and soon, her blasts joined. Katsuki used her gravity powers to catapult the massive chunks of ground broken up from the battle toward their enemies, crushing them without mercy. They were like two halves of a hole, and this was the moment she truly understood what it meant to have a Twin Flame.

Her muscles screamed, her lungs burned, but Ochako kept pushing, kept fighting forward with her comrades.

“You guys are so annoying!”

They whirled to their left to see a man with severed hands covering his face, shoulders, and arms. They looked weathered and decaying. The closer he got, the more pungent the smell of rot grew. The creatures they’d been fighting joined his side, along with others who looked more human. Ochako studied each of them, swords raised as they approached.

“You know you have to beat us right here because All For One is almost free of his prison, right?” the man said with a bored wave of his hand. “We figured out how to use the human’s life force to break the chains holding him in Tartarus. You, idiot gods, didn’t think that binding spell, though, huh?”

“We’re gonna stop you, Tomura!” Deku replied, tense and ready for battle.

A girl who looked around Ochako’s age glanced at her and ran over. Ochako swiped her swords at her, but she dodged and stayed out of range.

“She’s so pretty!” the girl exclaimed, cupping her cheeks. “Can I have your blood, pretty please? I’ll be good, I swear! Just let me taste a little drop!”

“Fuck off, Toga!” Katsuki yelled as his power crackled in his hands.

Toga giggled, crossing her arms behind her back and giving Katsuki a cheeky smile. “Aww, you can’t still be mad about your friend, right? We didn’t make them kill his girlfriend. Humans did that all on their own. Seems like you’re not as pissed at humans as you try to act, though. Serves you right for ignoring my love for you.”

“What the heck?” Ochako said while falling into her fighting stance. “Who is she, Katsuki?”

“Oh, your boyfriend didn’t tell you?” Toga said with a laugh. “You should tell your new girlfriends about your old ones, especially if she’s as crazy as me, don’t you think?”

Ochako’s eyes widened as she gaped at Katsuki. “What?”

“Fuck you!” Katsuki yelled as he rocketed toward her.

Toga just smiled at him, and seconds before Katsuki would have landed an explosion to her face, something crashed into him, sending him catapulting hundreds of feet away. The demon that attacked Katsuki looked like a man overloaded with way too much muscle. He yanked Katsuki up by his shirt midair and punched him hard enough to send him crashing through the rock wall at least two hundred feet away.

“Katsuki!” Ochako cried, turning to chase after him.

“Looks like Muscular is ready to have some fun,” Tomura said without looking over at the crash that caused a gush of wind powerful enough that most of them had to cover their eyes.

The way Toga bounced from foot to foot, pulling out syringes with glistening needles coupled with that insane smile on her lips, made Ochako believe her claim of craziness. She dodged the knives Toga aimed at her head with a scowl. Blue flames also ignited around them as another man with charred skin jumped toward them and blasted white-hot raging fire around them. The sharp sound of Shouto’s eyes reached her ears and formed a wall in front of her, the scorching air turning frigid from it.

Deku took off like lightning toward Katsuki, only for more demons to jump him, but Shouto didn’t let them get away with it, creating another wall of ice to freeze them and for Deku to smash. Momo and Tenya fought hard, too, taking out demons left and right with Tenya’s engine-powered kicks and Momo’s tommy gun with bullets that incapacitated demons. Tenya was so fast, Momo didn’t have to watch where he was to avoid hitting him. He flew in between demons, taking them out as she injured them. Their teamwork was terrific to watch.

Ochako prepared herself for Toga to break through the melting wall of ice to attack her. She fought with everything she had in her, putting every lesson Katsuki and the other gods had taught her into her battle. In hell, the sunless sky never changed, the sounds of screaming souls didn’t lessen, and the heat grew worse and worse.

“You’re finished!” Ochako shouted as she stabbed Toga through the chest.

This wasn’t the first time she’d killed, but it still took her breath away for a moment. Ochako realized she didn’t have a moment to spare. Momo had been killed by Tomura, which led to Tenya’s demise, but they had no time to mourn. Tenya’s body disappeared into little white spheres, and it made Shigaraki cackle into maniacal laughter.

“Looks like your engine dude was half-human! Probably kill two more annoying mortals, and that’s all we need to free One For All!” he yelled as he jumped back from Denki’s lightning.

Ochako watched him disintegrate another god with a giddy laugh. His power had no other purpose than to bring death. Humanity wouldn’t survive slavery with masters like these. They had to stop the demons here and now.

Her gaze flickered over to Katsuki, who still fought hard against the muscular demon. Her heart sank when she saw his broken left wing and blood pouring from many wounds lining his body. Her feet moved of their own accord toward them, ignoring her own aching injuries and running to touch large boulders to make them float. She circled them, staying away from their battle to ensure Katsuki’s opponent didn’t notice her.

Hang on just a little longer, Katsuki, Ochako whispered in her mind.

More and more rocks of all shapes and sizes floated above them with their enemy not catching on. Ochako waited for the right moment, and when Katsuki blasted his opponent away, she pounced, using her smaller explosions to propel her toward Muscular. She sliced his chest with precise cuts, blood splattering everywhere as she sped away and grabbed Katsuki by the waist. Ochako yanked him out of the way of the meteor showers she was about to rain down on Muscular.

Ochako tossed Katsuki away and pressed her fingers together to return the gravity of the rock storm above them. The torrential downpour of rocks buried him underneath tons of rubble. Had she not sliced him with her swords, she knew that attack wouldn’t have fazed Muscular. With the power granted to them, it neutralized demon power temporarily.

“You’re fucking amazing,” Katsuki said, coughing as he rolled onto his side.

When she turned to look at him, Katsuki passed out. His pale skin and shallow breathing terrified her. She couldn’t live without him. Sure, Twin Flames died together, but that wasn’t it. Ochako couldn’t go on without her other half, if only for a few seconds. She loved him too much.

“Don’t go, Katsuki!” she wailed, slicing a strip of his pants to press it into his gushing chest wound. “Come on! Stay with me!”

Just then, bright pink light surrounded her, wind whipping around her as a power she’d never experienced before exploded from her. It left her breathless as if her lungs expelled all the air available in them. Pain, pleasure, power, weakness. It all hit her at once in what felt like an eternity and two seconds all at once. The gods and their Twin Flames glanced around in confusion, but not for long. The flames surrounding the battle extinguished in an instant, and all the demons fell to their knees. As Ochako caught her breath, the remaining gods and their Twin Flames incapacitated their enemies.

You’re worthy, Ochako…

That voice, soft as the tinkling of wind chimes on a spring day. Although Ochako didn’t recognize it, in her heart, she knew who it was. The celestial goddess, who granted her extraordinary gravitational abilities, allowed her to unlock a new level of that power.

Deku ran over to her, skidding to a halt. His right arm was one gigantic bruise hanging limp at his side. Ochako clung to Katsuki, giving Deku a pleading stare.

“What was that?!” Ochako asked. “I-I didn’t know I could do that!”

Deku shook his head. “We have to figure it out later!”

He was right. Katsuki might die if they didn’t get him help right away.

“Katsuki needs help!” Ochako screamed as she cradled him in her arms, the fabric pressed to his wound soaked through.

Ochako felt her bond with Katsuki slipping away, and along with it, her energy. Each breath became more difficult until black tinged at the corners of her vision. Was Deku calling out to her? She wasn’t sure because of the ringing in her ears. Tiredness overtook her, and she wondered for a moment if this was it. Ochako didn’t mind if it meant she’d see Katsuki on the other side.

“She’s waking up!”

“Shut the fuck up, Deku!”

“S-sorry!”

“Katsuki, watch your language!”

Ochako groaned, feeling more exhausted than she ever had in her life. She tried to sit up and felt warm hands on her arm, and when she opened her eyes, she saw her mom, dad, and comrades surrounding her. She let out a garbled cry before wrapping her arms around her mom’s shoulders and sobbing.

“We did it?” she asked through hiccups.

Seijun stroked her daughter’s hair while struggling to keep her own emotions in check. “You did it! You guys defeated the demons! All For One’s chains tethering him to Tartarus have been fixed and reinforced. He’s never getting out of there.”

“We can’t thank you enough, Young One!”

“Oi, old man, don’t you fuck with her!”

Ochako felt a hand on her chin, turning her head. Her heart melted when Katsuki came into view, but she didn’t get a second to whisper his name before he pressed his lips to hers. She kissed him back with fervor, her arms wrapping around his broad shoulders. They pressed their foreheads together when they pulled apart, partially because of her father clearing his throat.

“You’re okay,” she whispered. “I’m so glad.”

“Tch, it takes more than some dumbass demons to take me out,” Katsuki scoffed, “but if you die, I’ll fucking kill you.”

Ochako giggled and leaned into him. They’d done it. They foiled the demon’s plans, and now the world would know peace.

Ochako glanced at Toshi standing nearby with his fists on his hips. He was a giant of a man with muscles that defied logic and a smile radiant and dazzling. This was only the second time she’d met Toshi, One For All, leader of the god realm, and it was an intense feeling. Her back straightened of its own accord as he walked over to her. Her head stopped at Toshi’s waist before he sat in a chair next to her, Katsuki gripping her tighter around her waist, opting to climb into bed with her.

“Young one,” Toshi began. “Your power was the tipping point of us defeating One For All’s minions. While I battled the Demon King, your ancient power manifested a new level.”

Ochako remembered Katsuki telling her that her abilities had levels that not everyone could reach. Only the ancient god associated with that power could grant access to more strength. Had she gained Andromeda’s approval? Ochako blinked, realizing that name came to her without hesitation, like the name of a close friend.

You’re worthy, Ochako.

“Oh, yes!” Ochako exclaimed with a bright smile. “Andromeda talked to me right before my powers manifested!”

Toshi’s eyebrows shot up. “The goddess spoke to you? That’s impressive! You’ve formed a bond with your ancient god!”

“What does that mean?” Ochako’s father asked.

“Young Ochako can learn more about the levels of her powers and how to control them. This second level she’s shown allowed her to render demons powerless and fall to their knees.”

“You know, it was kind of like gravity forced them down,” Deku said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Do you think that’s what it was, Ochako?”

Ochako tapped a finger to her chin. “It could have been! That’s so cool!”

“There’s something else,” Toshi said while resting his hands on his massive thighs. “Your ascension to the next level of your powers adds vitality to your life from your ancient god. This means you are immortal.”

“Immortal?!” Ochako chokes, her eyes wide as saucers. “Like, I can’t die?!”

“Technically, you can. However, unless a fatal blow is administered to you, you will never age or die.”

Ochako’s arms felt numb and heavy. Her brain whirrs a million miles a second as she glances over at her parents. They weren’t immortal.

“Did you know this would happen if I unlocked another level of my abilities, Katsuki?” Ochako asked, turning to face him.

“You think I’d keep something like that from you?!” he snapped. “Of course, I didn’t fucking know!”

“But I can’t be the first one to unlock the second level of power!” Ochako argued. “How could you not know?!”

“Please, go easy on him, Ochako,” Deku intervened, moving over to sit next to her. “A mortal Twin Flame has never done it before.”

Ochako watched Katsuki clench his fists, and she reached out to wrap her hand over it.

“I’m sorry,” she said with an apologetic smile. “This is a lot to take in.”

“Yeah, well, stop being selfish and thinking that you’re the only one this affects,” Katsuki said with a huff.

Ochako realized Katsuki was right. This was a lot of information and changes to how her world was supposed to go. They continued chatting about her powers until her mom grew tired of it and threw everyone except her dad and Katsuki out, but Ochako respectfully asked them to leave, too. She needed time with her lover after a near-death experience. By the end of the evening, Ochako climbed out of bed and headed first for a bath. Katsuki joined her, their hands desperate to feel, to map the planes of every curve or ridge of muscle. The heated kisses underneath the warmth of the waterfall on the outskirts of town she would remember forever. Their love-making held the promise of lasting emotional and physical connection, unlike anything Ochako had ever experienced.

Clean and sated, Ochako and Katsuki sat near the restored tree that was the source of many of their arguments. Now, it serves as a place of grounding. Every few days after grueling hours of training, they’d sit side by side with their backs to it, chatting about everything. Today’s topic tore at her heart, but they had to talk about it.

“You know I gotta go back to the god realm, right, Cheeks?” Katsuki murmured. “Gods can’t stay in the mortal realm forever.”

Ochako sighed, leaning into him. “I know.”

“You’re coming with me, right?”

There it was, the most challenging question she had to answer. Ochako thought long and hard about this. She’d known for some time Katsuki would have to return to the god realm, but she’d put off thoughts about whether she’d go with him for the cause. She figured she’d deal with it after the battle if they survived. Ochako dragged in a shaky exhale, reaching for Katsuki’s hand, which he encased in his larger one.

“I can’t,” she whispered. “Not yet. I want to spend my time with my parents on earth.”

“You know when they die, they’re coming to our realm, right?” Katsuki argued. “Why not just fucking wait until they get there? Time is different in the god realm. It will be like four fucking minutes!”

Ochako heard the panic in his voice. “I know my parents, Katsuki. They will want to stay on earth until it’s their time to go. It’s the natural order of things.”

Katsuki said nothing. She glanced up at him and studied his profile, her heart-melting from his handsomeness and the insane amount of love she bore for him. Their bond pulsed in their minds, the link that forever connected them together.

“Alright,” he said after a tense pause. “I get it. Stay with them and make lots of fucking memories. I’ll be down as much as I can to see you, but Toshi has to close the gateway between our world and yours. Shit can’t stay open anymore.”

Ochako nodded. “Okay. Hey, Katsuki?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

“Gross, stop being so fucking sappy.”

Ochako chuckled and pushed him. “Stop it!”

The next moment, Katsuki grasped her cheeks, facing her. His wings encased them as he pulled her face to his for a kiss. Ochako relaxed into his embrace as they kissed, forever grateful that fate brought them together.

“Did you really date that demon Toga?” Ochako asked, giving him a sly smile. “She was the one you were worried about finding me, huh?”

Katsuki flushed and pinched her cheeks. “It was a one-night stand, dammit! Well, I’m mean, maybe not one night. She’d do this thing with her tongue in my-”

“Okay!” Ochako interrupted as she turned beet red to match her lover. “I don’t need to know the details!”

Katsuki chuckled and rested his chin on top of her head. They stayed like that until the sun dipped behind the horizon, dozing off amidst the scent of fresh grass billowing in the wind.