Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Dekkun, we should get married.”

If you had told fifteen-year-old Ochako Uraraka that she would be asking her best friend to marry her in the future, she would have likely floated herself into the sun in embarrassment.

“Hrm?” Izuku asked as he looked up from his carton of take-out, the pair comfortably situated on the couch of their shared apartment.

For nineteen-year-old Ochako Uraraka, however, it just made sense.

“We’re both planning on staying here, right?” Ochako asked as she set her chopsticks on top of her carton. “And we’re already splitting rent and utilities. Why don’t we get married for the tax breaks?”

Izuku gave his best friend an awkward smile. Ochako was always looking for ways to reduce their cost of living so she could maximize the amount of money she could send to her parents. Even though they both had great positions as sidekicks and comfortable salaries, old habits die hard for the brown-haired girl who sat across from him on the couch. As ridiculous as the idea sounded, he was willing to at least hear her out.

“Is it really that beneficial?” Izuku asked curiously.

“Mhm!” Ochako nodded rapidly. “I ran the numbers earlier this week! Hold on, let me get my notebook…” she said as she rose from her seat.

After an impromptu seminar where Ochako laid out the numbers based on their current positions as well as potential future savings as they rose in the rankings, Izuku found himself convinced. He reviewed the numbers himself while his roommate sat there patiently waiting.

“I’m surprised we would save that much. In that case…” Izuku smiled as he turned his attention to his best friend. “Let’s get married!”

A few days later, Izuku Midoriya and Ochako Uraraka got married. There was no ceremony, no pomp and circumstance. Simply two friends traveling to the local municipal office and filling out the paperwork to join their households together. They celebrated their union by eating katsudon for dinner and having mochi for dessert before continuing on with their lives.

Eighteen months later things couldn’t be going better for Izuku. He was rapidly climbing the rankings, catching up to his former senpais such as Lemillion, Suneater, and Nejire-Chan, all of whom catapulted up the charts after the war. He was expected to make it into the top ten the next time the charts updated, and Ochako wasn’t far behind him!

Speaking of Ochako, the two of them finally felt comfortable enough to go solo. They both left their respective agencies and teamed up to form a new joint agency in Yavin City, a ward on the outskirts of Tokyo that sat adjacent to Hosu. It was close enough to where their friends Tenya and Shoto operated, and they were even able to visit Tsuyu regularly when she was in port.

Currently, their agency was just the two of them. But with their positions, it wouldn’t be long before they were able to hire sidekicks of their own and maybe even begin to offer students positions as interns or under a work-study program.

And then everything changed…

The day started normally. Izuku woke up early, went on his morning jog, returned home for a shower, and prepared breakfast and coffee all before Ochako woke up. He offered her a cup of coffee as she shuffled out of her room, and she mouthed her thanks as she took it. After breakfast she took over, cleaning up and doing the dishes before the two walked together to their shared agency.

They spent an hour catching up on reports and reading the latest intel before they split up, each taking a different patrol route through the streets of Yavin. While they did occasionally patrol together, more often than not they each took a different route to maximize their coverage of the ward.

Today’s patrol was quiet. It was a rare luxury that Izuku hated at first, but he had learned to enjoy it. After all, it gave him time to meet the people of Yavin and get to know them. One of the hard lessons he learned during the war was that if he was so focused on saving people, he lost sight of why he was doing it. With the help of Ochako and his classmates, he had learned to slow down and appreciate everything Yavin, and Japan, had to offer.

Sure, Ochako maybe wished he would slow down a little more, but he was trying!

After a few hours, Izuku stopped on a rooftop to survey the busy streets. It was the start of the lunch hour, so hundreds of people filled the streets in search of food. Once he was satisfied there wasn’t any trouble, he touched the side of his rebreather and activated his radio.

“How's the patrol going Ochako?”

“It’s pretty slow on my end, Dekkun,” Ochako quickly responded. “How about you?”

“Same here,” Izuku replied.

“Honestly, I’m ready for something to happen.”

Izuku couldn’t help but smile. “Don’t you normally yell at me when I say that?”

“Yep!” Ochako replied brightly. “But right now I’m feeling restless.”

“Still thinking about the new yakuza establishing themselves?”

“A little bit,” Ochako admitted. “I’m just worried, you know?”

“I get it. If you’re that wound up, we can always spar when we’re done with our patrols.”

“That sounds great Dekkun,” Ochako replied warmly. She started to say something but whatever she said was drowned out by the sound of an explosion on the other end of the radio. “Gotta go,” Ochako said, her tone letting him know she had already shifted into her ‘Uravity’ mode.

“Be safe!”

“That’s my line,” Ochako shot back with a hint of lightness in her voice. “Talk to you soon.”

Izuku heard the telltale click as Ochako swapped over to a public channel, and with a soft sigh flipped the switch to turn off his radio.

“Guess I should make sure nobody else takes advantage of the situation.”

Wrapping himself in the warm comfort of One For All, Izuku ran toward the edge of a building and took a running leap to the next rooftop. He jumped from building to building, his eyes scanning the streets below for any signs of trouble.

Twenty minutes later Izuku heard the distinct sound of his radio. He felt himself smiling as he touched the button and switched it on, expecting to hear the good news from his partner.

“Deku.”

Izuku froze as he heard Iida's voice on the other end. And from the tone of his voice, it wasn’t good news.

“Iida, what happened?” Izuku asked, dropping all formalities.

“It’s Uraraka,” Iida replied apologetically. “I was nearby and…” Izuku tensed as he heard his friend steeling himself. “We stopped the villain, but she was injured in the process.”

“Injured?” Izuku repeated robotically.

“It was the villain. His quirk let him ignite whatever he touched. And he was prepared.”

Izuku felt his veins turn to ice.

“Ocha–”

“Don’t worry, he didn’t touch her. Not directly, at least,” Iida assured his friend. “But he brought his own grappling hooks and was able to maneuver in her Gravity Field. He was able to get his hands on her costume.”

Izuku’s throat went dry. “How bad?”

“Severe burns on her upper body at least. Maybe her legs as well. They’re transporting her to the hospital now.”

“Thank you Iida,” Izuku said as he wrapped himself in Full Cowling, already on the move in the direction of the hospital. “I’ll call you later.”

“When you speak to her, tell her I’m sorry.”

You know she won’t accept it. Izuku thought as he jumped off the building. Extending an arm forward, he launched Blackwhip toward a nearby building, the eldritch quirk latching onto a nearby fire escape as he pulled himself forward.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t see her,” The orderly manning the desk politely explained.

“What? Why?!” Izuku demanded. He felt his cheeks heat up as he saw the look of shock on the orderly’s face. “S-sorry, it’s just that she’s my partner.” He closed his eyes and counted to ten before opening them. “We share an agency together. So why can’t I see her?”

“I’m aware,” She replied sympathetically. “My son loves you two. But that also means you know we have to follow proper protocol. She’s currently in critical condition and awaiting surgery. Once she’s done and moved to recovery you’ll be able to visit her, but until then only family are allowed in.”

Only family, huh?

Izuku already felt bad about abusing their status like this, but it was important! What started as a scheme to save money now gave him a loophole to see his partner. Concern shifted to relief as he spoke words he never thought he’d say. “Oh! That won’t be a problem then because she’s also my wife!”

The words came out far higher-pitched than he would have liked. Fortunately, the orderly didn’t seem to notice as she was far more focused on what he said.

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t aware you two were married.”

Something about the way she said it caused strange emotions to bubble up inside Izuku. He didn’t know if it was shame and embarrassment at abusing their status like this or something else, but he didn’t have time to think about that right now. So he shoved his feelings aside as he continued.

“I– we don’t like advertising that, really,” Izuku said awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his head.

“I understand,” The woman’s look of surprise and curiosity shifted to one of sympathy. “It must be hard, balancing your relationship with your status as upcoming heroes.”

“Y-yeah,” Izuku said quietly.

“Don’t worry,” The woman leaned forward as she spoke in a conspiratorial whisper. “Patient confidentiality is our top priority, especially where heroes are concerned. I’ll update our records and leave a note.”

“Thanks,” Izuku felt his shoulders slump in relief. “So… about her room…”

“She’s in Room 108,” the woman nodded her head toward a hallway. “Head that way until the first intersection and then turn left. Her room should be on the right.”

“Thanks!” Izuku called out, already rushing down the hallway.

“Hey! No running!” The woman called out, but it fell on deaf ears as Izuku ignored her instructions.

He didn’t have time to waste!

Izuku knew he found the right room thanks to the police officer waiting outside. The officer reflexively reached for his baton as he saw someone running down the hall, only to relax as he recognized the hero Deku.

“How is she?” Izuku asked as he skidded to a halt in front of the man.

“She’s currently sedated and waiting for a surgical ward to open up,” the officer replied. “That villain was a real piece of work.”

“At least he’s in custody,” Izuku let out a sigh of relief.

“I’m guessing you want to see your partner?”

Izuku nodded. “I was cleared by the hospital staff to wait with her until her surgery.”

“Understandable,” the officer gave him a sympathetic look as he stepped aside. “I can’t imagine how much she means to you.”

“She means a lot,” Izuku agreed, thankful he didn’t have to play the family card a second time. He already felt his emotions spiraling, and he didn’t want to think about what would happen if he was forced to vocalize those words a second time.

Izuku carefully turned the handle and steeled himself before he pushed the door open. Even though he tried his best to prepare himself, he was still shocked by the sight.

Ochako lay unconscious on the bed. Her clothes had been removed, replaced with a surgical gown and blanket, and what he saw was enough to make him ill. Both of her arms were raw, the blackened and burned skin running all the way down to her wrists. She had an oxygen mask covering her face, partially concealing it, but as he approached he was able to see that some of the skin on her neck was burned as well. Her hair lay in a disheveled crown around her face, the ponytail she had grown out all but destroyed as he saw the burnt ends of her hair.

That wasn’t the only thing he saw. When he turned his attention to her face, he couldn’t help but notice how pale she was. Her normally healthy color was almost a pallid white. Even the permanent blush marks that colored her cheeks were muted. It shook Izuku enough that he peeked at the monitor to ensure that her heart rate and oxygen levels were normal and that she wasn’t in immediate danger.

Sighing in relief, Izuku grabbed a chair with Blackwhip and dragged it across the room before he gently placed it next to her. He knew it was silly and the sound of banging wouldn’t be enough to wake her, but it felt wrong to do anything less.

He collapsed in the chair and gently reached out, his scarred hand brushing away the loose strands of hair that covered her face.

Even like this, she’s still so beautiful.

Izuku gasped and pulled his hand away, almost as if he had been burned himself. He shook his head as he wondered where that thought came from. Hesitantly, he looked at Ochako again. Even as pale as she was, she was radiant.

How did he miss this for so long?

Was he just so used to her being a part of his life that he took her appearance for granted? He felt his stomach twisting at that thought.

She deserved so much more.

“Ocha–” Izuku called out hesitantly. Flexing his fingers, he reached out to stroke her cheek but froze, as if some invisible barrier protected her. Letting out a huff of frustration, he clenched his fist and pulled back. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. I should have been there!” He slammed the fist into his knee. “We’re partners after all!”

You deserve so much more than what I’ve given you.

He felt tears of frustration rolling down his cheeks. He failed her. All of the power contained within One For All, and he failed her. And now all he can do is sit here and wait for his partner.

No… Ochako was more than a partner to him.

He didn’t know the right word, nor was he in the right state of mind to figure it out. All he knew was at that moment, even if wife wasn’t the proper term, it felt more appropriate than partner.

And so he felt the tears fall as he cried for his wife.

Eventually, a pair of nurses came to take Ochako to surgery. Izuku dutifully followed them as they wheeled her down to the surgical ward. Along the way, they explained that they had taken a sample of her healthy skin and used a quirk to rapidly grow new skin cells, which they will be grafting onto the damaged parts of her arms, neck, and torso.

They assured him that she was in good hands and as he reached the doors to the ward he was forced to stop. A nurse calmly pointed down the hall and explained how to get to the recovery ward where he could wait for Ochako. Thanking them, Izuku mechanically walked through the halls until he found the empty waiting room. He found an empty chair and sat down. With nothing to do but sit and wait, he pulled up the hero network and busied himself by reviewing the afternoon’s activities.

He just hoped Yavin remained as quiet as it did this morning.

Izuku jumped to his feet as he heard the doors open and watched as a nurse pushed a bed into the room. His eyes immediately focused on its occupant. Ochako was no longer wearing a mask, and he could see the bandages wrapped around her neck and arms.

“How is she?” Izuku asked.

“She’ll make a full recovery,” the nurse happily announced as she wheeled the bed into place and locked the wheels. “Despite our initial concern, she didn’t suffer from the effects of smoke inhalation and, despite the severity of the burns, there was no internal damage,” she gave a critical eye to the sleeping woman. “We’ll remove the bandages tomorrow and verify the grafts are bonding properly, but she’ll be limited in activity for the next week.”

“She’s gonna hate that,” Izuku said awkwardly.

“That’s between you and her,” the nurse gave him a faint smile. “The good news is that barring any complications she’ll be able to go home tomorrow. But for now…” The nurse hooked the cables up to a monitor and flipped a switch and Izuku heard the steady beeping of a heart rate monitor as it came to life. “We need to let the anesthetics work their way out of her system. Someone will be back later to move her to a room.”

“Thank you,” Izuku said as he turned his gaze to his partner. “Is it alright if I stay here?”

“Of course,” The nurse said.

Izuku heard the woman cross the room and open the door, only to stop. He didn’t bother looking to see what she was doing and eventually, he heard the door hiss shut behind her. After a while, he decided he should probably sit and dragged the chair next to the bed before he collapsed into it.

I’m pretty sure Ocha’d kick my ass if she saw me acting like this. Izuku smiled to himself as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. She’s so strong though, I know she’ll get through this!

Despite his best efforts to distract himself, he kept glancing at his partner, watching as color returned to her. First, her blush marks regained some of their signature pink, and then the color returned to the rest of her face.

And then, hours later, she finally spoke.

“Dek…kun.”

“I’m here Ocha,” Izuku said as he took her free hand, careful to avoid letting all of her pads touch him.

He watched as her eyes fluttered open only to immediately screw themselves shut. “Why’s it so bright?” She complained.

“You were hurt,” Izuku swallowed the lump in his throat. “Badly. You’re in the hospital.” He watched Ochako try to lift her head and squeezed her hand in response. “You’re not supposed to move.”

“Damn it,” Ochako groaned as she stopped, her head sinking back into the pillow. “Everything hurts.”

“Do you remember what happened?”

“Of course,” Ochako sighed. “Asshole villain lit my suit on fire before I launched him into a building.”

“That sounds just like you,” Izuku chuckled. “Team Idaten finished the job for you.”

“Remind me to thank Iida later,” Ochako tried opening her eyes again, blinking rapidly before she sought out her partner. “How bad?”

“Skin grafts on your neck, arms, and torso,” Izuku dutifully reported.

“I guess I have to restart my scar collection,” Ochako gave him a weak smile. “Hell of a way to start it though.”

“You’ll have some new scars to get started,” Izuku said with a broken smile.

“Good,” Ochako let out a cough as she closed her eyes. “So tired.”

“You can go back to bed,” Izuku assured her. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”

“Promise?” She asked.

“Always,” Izuku squeezed her hand gently.

“Not going to do the paperwork?” Ochako asked, and even though her voice was weak he found himself mentally adding a playful lilt to her tone.

“It can wait, you’re more important right now,” Izuku said earnestly.

“Thank you,” Ochako let out a content sigh. “Sorry to dump all of that on you.”

“I’m pretty sure I owe you anyway,” Izuku said awkwardly.

“You’re right,” Ochako tried to giggle but descended into a coughing fit instead. When she recovered she let out a frustrated huff. “Think of this as payback for all the times you put yourself in the hospital.”

“I think I’ve figured out why you hate it,” Izuku admitted.

“Good,” Despite her condition, Ochako managed to sound so smug with her response. He felt her try to squeeze his hand, even if it served to remind him of how weak she currently was. “You should keep that in mind more often.”

Ochako closed her eyes again, and it didn’t take long for her to doze off. As Izuku continued to hold her hand, he slowly felt his former worry replaced with panic as he became painfully aware of one inescapable fact.

He had fallen for his best friend.

Izuku followed through with his promise and stayed with Ochako until visiting hours were over. He was fully prepared to abuse their marital status to stay overnight only for Ochako to all but throw him out of her room. Izuku knew if she was able to move she actually would have bodily thrown him out, but she rightly argued that she would be boring company while she slept. Besides, he was still in his costume and he needed to take care of himself as well.

So Izuku reluctantly said his goodbyes and left with a promise to return the next morning as soon as the hospital would allow.

An hour later and several stops later, he finally returned to their apartment. As he unlocked the door and opened it, he was immediately aware of how different it felt. Sure, there had been times when Ochako wasn’t home before when she was away on a mission or visiting her parents, but this time felt different.

Or perhaps it felt the same, and Izuku was only now coming to understand his feelings.

Dropping the satchel containing his work laptop onto their dinner table, Izuku walked behind the divider separating the common area from the kitchen and placed the bag of takeout on the counter. He opened it to reveal a package filled with a variety of sandos. He reached into the cupboard and instinctively pulled out two plates, only to realize his mistake.

“I need to talk to someone,” Izuku said with a resigned sigh as he put the second plate back. Leaving his meal for later, he returned to his bag and retrieved his phone. “I wonder if Kacchan’s home yet?”

Despite their initially antagonistic relationship, the war had brought them together. As time passed they bonded over shared hardship, an unsteady truce slowly morphing into a proper friendship. Of course, Tsuyu also did a lot to help with that. The frog girl saw right through Katsuki’s bravado and always called him out, and over time she did much to sand down the rough edges while learning how to be more assertive and expressive in return.

Selecting the number from the list, Izuku pressed send and placed the receiver to his ear. On the third ring, he heard his rival pick up.

“What is it, nerd?”

“Oh thank goodness,” Izuku sighed. “Kacchan, I think I’m falling for my wife and I just needed somebody–”

“Hold up,” Katsuki interrupted him. “Say that again? I’m pretty sure I just heard you say something really fucking stupid.”

Blinking, Izuku sighed. “Ochako got hurt today, and it made me realize I might be falling for her.”

“Fucking finally!” Katsuki exclaimed, forcing Izuku to pull the phone away from his ear. “We were wondering when you’d figure that out!”

“What do you mean?” Izuku asked nervously.

“Do I need to draw you a diagram? You two are literally married. You two even snuck your marriage in before Tsu and I got hitched!”

“And that’s the problem!” Izuku insisted. “We’re partners! We’ve done so much together– we’ve opened an agency together! She’s my best friend!” He deflated as he continued. “I– I don’t want to lose that. I don’t want things to get awkward between us.”

He frowned as he heard Katsuki’s laughter fill the air. “You’re well past that point.”

“I’m glad you think it’s funny,” Izuku grumbled.

“Just listen to yourself, Deku.”

“Well, what should I do?” Izuku asked.

“Simple, you should–”

Before Katsuki could finish, Izuku heard the sound of scuffling and arguing on the other side of the line. It didn’t last long, and soon enough Izuku heard Tsuyu on the other end of the call.

“Don’t listen to Kacchan, he’s almost as hopeless as you are.”

“Hey!” Izuku heard Katsuki shout in the background.

“I said almost!” Tsuyu said, clearly talking to her husband rather than Izuku. “So what changed?”

“You heard about the attack today?” Izuku asked.

“Of course, kero,” Tsuyu said sadly. “I wish we could have helped.”

“Me too,” Izuku agreed. “I should have been there for her. When I got to the hospital and saw her I just…” Izuku trailed off helplessly.

“I see, kero,” Tsuyu croaked.

“Do you?”

“Yes,” the frog mutant said. “It was like when Kacchan lost his arm in the war. I had thought what we had was enough, but that was when I was scared I could actually lose him.”

“As if I’d let some two-bit villain kill me!” Katsuki shouted in the background.

Izuku laughed softly at their antics. “So what’d you do?”

“When he woke up I confessed to him, kero.”

“You were a little late, as far as I was concerned we’d been dating for months at that point!”

“We would have been if you bothered to tell me you felt that way!” Tsuyu shot back. “You can’t just assume we’re dating without telling me!”

“Excuse me for thinking you’d have figured it out!”

“Ehe, I don’t think I can just tell Ochako like that,” Izuku said nervously. “We’re not like you.”

“Nope, kero,” Tsuyu said before she let silence fill the air. Eventually, she spoke up. “Just so you know, you don’t have to do anything right away.”

“Really?”

“Unlike us, there isn’t a war raging around us,” Tsuyu pointed out. “Take your time, and I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”

“Are you sure?” Izuku asked hopefully.

He heard the sound of something being pressed against the speaker on the other end before he heard Tsuyu say ‘Call Momo and say we’re in for fifty thousand yen.’ He then heard whatever object be removed from the speaker before he heard Tsuyu clearly again. “Positive.”

“She’s right Deku,” Izuku heard Katsuki yell from the background. “You two are hopeless, but that’s why you’re fuckin’ perfect for each other.”

“Thanks,” Izuku felt tears threatening to spill as he was filled with relief. “I think I needed to hear that.”

“Anytime, kero. Tell Ochako ‘hi’ for me the next time you talk to her.”

“I will,” Izuku assured her.

After saying their goodbyes Izuku slumped into the couch. Tsuyu was right. He shouldn’t act rashly about this. Right now taking care of Ochako was more important!

Then he could worry about this whole ‘crush’ thing.

True to his word, Izuku was at the hospital first thing in the morning. He was so early, in fact, he arrived before Ochako had woken up. After a stammered apology and long-suffering sigh, the two settled in for the morning.

After hours of catching up with the events of yesterday and many more hours of talking about nothing and everything, the surgeon finally visited. He carefully removed the bandages, and both were greeted by the sight of the shiny pink skin underneath. It was knobbly and uneven as it hung loosely across the affected areas. From his position, Izuku could see a ragged scar that ran around Ochako’s neck and up to her chin, like a choker permanently etched into her skin. She had matching scars on her wrists, and Izuku tried his hardest not to think about where the final scars were.

The doctor prescribed several ointments and medicine, as well as instructed Ochako to limit her movement for the next week. She took it about as well as Izuku expected, and he was forced to endure her pout and accusations of treason as he promised the doctor he would do his best to ensure she followed her orders.

After the doctor left Ochako quickly got dressed in the change of clothes Izuku brought with him and before long the pair finally returned to their apartment.

As Izuku turned the key, he realized how different coming home today felt compared to yesterday. He stepped inside and held the door, and she rolled her eyes as she stepped around him and kicked off her shoes. It was a familiar playfulness that assured him that everything was normal. That, despite her injuries, Ochako wasn’t going to slow down at all.

It was one of the qualities he loved admired about her.

Izuku closed the door behind them and removed his shoes before he joined her in the kitchen. There he saw the dinner cartons had already been taken out of their bags and sorted. And the box of sweets they had picked up was already opened.

“You’re eating mochi already?”

Ochako’s eyes narrowed at Izuku as she glared at him, just daring to challenge her, despite the half-eaten treat in her hand and puffy cheeks betraying where the other half was. Her gaze didn’t waver as she chewed slowly and intentionally, savoring the dessert before she finally swallowed.

“After the last 24 hours, I deserve to eat dessert first,” she said smugly.

“I guess I’ll just… plate the Okonomiyaki then,” Izuku said slowly, not wanting to challenge her.

“Good!” She chirped, giving him a triumphant grin as she popped the other half of the mochi in her mouth.

As Izuku unpacked the pancake and placed it on two dishes, he couldn’t help but smile.

Having Ochako here really did make a difference.

Despite her grumbling about restlessness, Ochako listened to Izuku and spent most of the evening on the couch relaxing and recovering. They watched a movie, she played some video games, and they turned in early.

The next morning Izuku resumed his routine. He went out for his morning jog, came home, and showered before making breakfast and coffee. However, by the time everything was finished, Ochako was still nowhere to be found.

“She must still be sleeping,” Izuku muttered to himself.

That was okay! He could just get everything ready and reheat it when she woke up. Izuku busied himself plating the two meals before he sat down at the table and tore into his breakfast.

He was about halfway through when he heard a cry of pain from Ochako’s bedroom. Izuku jumped out of his seat, knocking it over in the process, and raced over to her still-closed door.

“Ochako!” Izuku called out as he leaned on the door.

“Yeah?” He heard a frazzled voice call back.

Izuku felt his shoulders relax slightly as the tension drained out of them. “I heard you just now. Is everything okay?”

“Yes!” Izuku heard her frustrated reply before she amended it a moment later. “No!”

“Can I help?”

Izuku counted the seconds as the silence seemed to stretch onward. Finally, he heard shuffling from the other side of the door before she replied. “Come in.”

He carefully reached out and turned the handle before he pushed the door open. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but it wasn’t Ochako sitting on her bed in a bra and a pair of sweatpants. Izuku let out an undignified squeak and quickly turned his head as he felt his face burning.

“O-Ocha,” Izuku stammered out. “What’s wrong?”

“Dekkun,” His heart broke at the sound of hurt in her voice. “I knew the scars were ugly but–”

“No! It’s not that!” Izuku whipped his head around to lock eyes with his partner. “You’re beautiful! The scars don’t change that!”

This time it was Ochako’s turn to squeak, her permanent blush quickly spreading to engulf her face as she spun away from Izuku.

An awkward silence filled the air until Ochako finally spoke again. “Thanks for trying to make me feel better, but it’s okay. I know the worst of it will fade in time.”

Izuku wanted to deny it, to confirm what he said was true. That no amount of scarring would mar her beauty.

But the words didn’t come.

Swallowing to wet his mouth, Izuku spoke softly. “Anytime.” He stepped into the room and examined the loose and irregular skin on her back – skin that was slowly binding with the healthy tissue underneath. “What did you need?”

“I can’t reach my back to apply my medicine,” Ochako said, and he could hear the helplessness in her voice.

“I can help,” Izuku said as he slowly approached the bed.

“I know,” Ochako said fondly. “I just–”

“It’s okay,” Izuku sat down on the bed behind her. “I know how you feel.”

“We’re both so stubborn when it comes to taking care of ourselves, aren’t we?” Ochako let out a dry chuckle.

“Yeah… we are. If this is how I was after leaving the hospital, I’m surprised you’ve stuck around this long.”

“Well, someone has to take care of you,” Ochako said as she turned around partway, and he saw the light had returned to her eyes.

“I–” Izuku was dumbstruck before he smiled at her. “Thank you.”

“So…” She began, her expression turning serious again. “...my medicine?”

“Right,” Izuku stiffened as he held out a hand. “Pass me the ointment.”

Ochako handed him the jar of ointment and he cracked it open. Putting some on his fingers, he directed the woman to face away from him before he placed his fingers on her back, only to feel her tense up.

“Cold,” Ochako whimpered.

“I’ll try to be quick,” Izuku assured her as he began to rub the ointment into the skin.

He worked quickly and efficiently before he handed the ointment back to a grateful Ochako. After she promised she’d join him soon, he retreated from her room and back to their dining room table. As he sat down and grabbed his chopsticks, he let out a breath he swore he had been holding for several minutes.

How did he manage to survive the past four-and-a-half years?

Izuku managed to survive the rest of the day without incident, and the next day Ochako asked for his help right away. After ensuring she was taken care of, he settled in on the couch with the laptop from their agency. Reports don’t write themselves, after all, and he had several that he still had to write.

Fortunately, they were things he could do while staying home with Ochako.

He was so focused on writing reports that he almost missed it when his phone rang. Picking up the phone, Izuku was confused by why Denki was calling him. The two rarely talked, only when they were on the rare team-up or class reunion.

“He probably wants to see how Ochako’s doing,” Izuku reasoned as he pressed the green button on his phone and raised it to his ear. “Hello?”

“Yo, Mido! Congrats on finally figuring things out.”

“Eh!?” Izuku screeched.

“You know, you and Urara– ah!”

Izuku jerked the phone away from his ear at the sound of Denki’s scream, before it was replaced by the voice of Jiro.

“Sorry about my idiot,” the punk girl said.

“It’s okay,” Izuku assured her. “I’m just… not sure what he’s talking about?”

“Bakugo told Momo yesterday about your phone call,” Jiro said with a stage whisper.

“He told you guys?!” Izuku shrieked. “How many people know?!”

“Geez, don’t worry Mido!” Jiro yelled back. Lowering her voice, she continued. “We’re not going to tell anyone, especially not Raka. Isn’t that right Kaminari?”

Izuku couldn’t hear Denki’s reply clearly, but from the tone of his voice he realized it wouldn’t be a problem. Shoulders slumping, he leaned back into the couch. “I appreciate it.”

“Anytime,” Jiro said. “So how’s it going?”

“Actually… not great,” Izuku admitted. “I’m trying to give Ocha space so she can recover, but I feel like I keep screwing up.”

“That sounds familiar,” Jiro said, and from the tone of her voice he was pretty sure she was smirking.

“How’d you do it?” Izuku asked.

“Huh?”

“You, Yaoyorozu, and Denki,” Izuku clarified. “How did… how did you know they were the right people?”

“Kinda personal, isn’t it?”

“If you don’t want to answer it’s–”

Izuku found himself cut off by the sound of Jiro’s laughter. “I’m kidding. It’s alright,” Jiro assured him. “Kaminari reminded me a lot of my best friend in middle school. He’s kind of an idiot and always rushes headfirst into things without thinking, but that’s what makes him so great. Even if he doesn’t always get it right, he always tries to do the right thing. Plus he makes us laugh,” Jiro said fondly.

“And Yaoyorozu?”

“Confidence is sexy,” Jiro laughed. “And have you seen her wading into a fight with her battle hammer and battle armor?”

Izuku let out a strangled squeak. “Is that all?” Izuku asked nervously.

“Course not. She’s got the smarts to back up that confidence and she isn’t afraid to use either in pursuit of her goals. And sure enough, those goals include taking care of us.”

“I think I get it,” Izuku said.

He let silence fill the air, unsure of what to ask next. As he weighed his options, Jiro seemed to cut through his indecision as she continued. “Gotta say though, it was super awkward at first.”

“Really? I can’t believe it.”

“Believe it,” Jiro confirmed. “Kaminari tried so hard to get my attention and it just embarrassed both of us. And Momo was somehow worse!” She let out a fond sigh. “But when they weren’t making fools out of themselves? Things were pretty great.”

“So I should just… not worry about it?”

“Exactly! Raka’s stuck with you this long, hasn’t she?”

“Yeah,” Izuku squeaked out.

“There’s gotta be a reason for that,” Kyoka assured him. “You’ve just… gotta be yourself?”

“Even if I’m a nervous wreck?” Izuku asked with a broken smile.

“Hey, I can’t judge. But if I were to guess, that’s exactly what Raka would want you to be.”

“That’s a lot like what Tsu said,” Izuku admitted.

“She is our Wise Frog after all.”

“She really is,” Izuku agreed. “Thanks. I’ll… try to just let it go for now.”

“Even if you screw up, I’m sure Raka’ll forgive you.”

“Mhm,” Izuku found himself nodding along. “Thanks for listening to me.”

“Think of it as payback for the idiot calling you,” Jiro replied. “Tell Raka we’re rooting for her recovery!”

“I will,” Izuku promised as he hung up the phone. As he held it in his hands he felt himself smiling.

“I just have to be myself and things will work out, huh?”

Izuku set the phone down before he returned to the reports. Maybe he really was overthinking things. Things with Ochako had gotten easier in the past day, after all. If he just kept that up, things were bound to get better.

Izuku wasn’t sure how things had gotten so awkward so quickly.

It’s only been a week since she was discharged from the hospital, but their apartment, their cozy home, was once again filled with the same awkward tension that filled the air the first few weeks they lived together.

And worst of all?

Izuku was pretty sure it was all his fault.

Like today, for example. When Izuku got home from his shift he saw Ochako wrapped up in an oversized Deku blanket, her tongue sticking out ever so slightly as she was focused on writing a report. Even though the skin grafts had been bonding nicely and he could barely notice the difference anymore, she was still not cleared for any serious physical activity. So of course she insisted she take over doing all of the agency’s paperwork for the week so that she could still pull her weight.

Izuku didn’t know how long he stared at her, but he found himself entranced. He watched her work as she focused on the computer, the words on the screen reflecting off of her beautiful eyes. Eventually, she noticed him, letting out a startled yelp. He stammered out an apology, but it wasn’t enough. Ochako’s face turned bright red as she made an excuse and retreated to her room, slamming the door behind her with far too much force.

With a resigned sigh he sat down, feeling the warmth she left behind on the couch as he tried to collect and sort the paperwork that had been scattered in her hasty exit. Fortunately, before he could get too far along in replaying the encounter in his mind, his thoughts were interrupted by a phone call.

“Ashido?” Izuku asked as he pulled his phone out. “Guess she was bound to find out…” With a sigh, he placed the phone up to his ear. “Hello?”

“Hey Midoriya! I just wanted to see how things were going~”

“If it’s about me and Ochako, they’ve gone backward,” Izuku replied, a hint of sadness in his words.

“Wait, seriously?”

“Well she just ran off and locked herself in her room,” Izuku admitted.

Izuku flinched as he heard Ashido slam her hand into something on the other end of the line. “Deets. Now.”

What followed was a grueling interview session that was worse than any talk show he had been on, Izuku decided. Ashido made him explain everything that had happened over the last week, often forcing him to repeat or recall specific details all the way back to when Ochako was in the hospital.

“And that’s when you realized you loved her,” Ashido concluded.

“I– yeah,” Izuku sighed. “When she was just laying there, I realized how much she really meant to me.”

“Well,” Ashido said brightly. “From where I’m sitting, it sounds like everything is just fine.”

Izuku blinked in surprise as he momentarily forgot Ashido would be unable to see his expression. Shaking his head to clear it, he finally replied.

“It is?”

“I thought your self-confidence got better after everything that happened,” Ashido teased before her tone turned serious. “Look, I’m just saying I’m not sure it’s even possible for Uraraka to ever resent you for helping her, let alone hate you.”

“I didn’t–”

“That’s what you were worried about, wasn’t it?” Ashido asked.

Izuku tried to respond, but his mouth felt dry and the words refused to come out. Fortunately, his silence gave Ashido all the answers she needed and she continued.

“I think you should just talk to her.”

“Everyone else said I should just wait and see how things go,” Izuku protested weakly.

“Sure, and look at where that’s gotten you.”

Izuku was forced to admit she had a point. Despite his worry about Ochako, she had remained adamant she was fine and was doing far more than she was supposed to already. Which meant the excuse of waiting until Ochako had recovered rang hollow even in his own thoughts.

“I–” Iuzku sighed. “-how would I even do that?”

“Oh, I see,” Ashido said, and he could hear the shit-eating grin she was wearing. “Because you two are married and all the idea of dating probably seems silly.”

“Ashido!” Izuku whined.

“You’re too easy sometimes, Midoriya,” Ashido laughed. “But seriously, just take Uraraka to a nice restaurant. Go someplace to get out of your apartment and out of your own heads, and talk to her.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that,” She confirmed.

“I wish I had your confidence,” Izuku said.

“Says the man who wants to be the number one hero of Japan,” Ashido teased. “Trust me, It’ll work.”

Izuku would be lying if he wasn’t scared of the prospects. But Ashido did have a point. He faced down the worst Japan had to offer with a smile on his face, just like All Might had taught him. There was no way talking to Ochako would even hold a candle to that.

He just had to trust her to catch him, like she always has.

“You’re right,” Izuku conceded. “I’ll… look into a restaurant.”

“Great!” Ashido chirped. “And for what it’s worth, I’m rooting for the two of you.”

Izuku couldn’t help but feel warmed by her comment. “Thanks, Ashido.”

“Anytime, Midoriya. Catch you later!”

With that the woman on the other line hung up, once again leaving Izuku alone with his thoughts. This time, rather than wallow in doubt, he felt a plan forming. Setting the stack of paper aside, Izuku swiped at the screen on the laptop and entered the password to unlock it.

“If everything goes well, Ochako’ll be cleared for active duty the day after tomorrow. If I use that as an excuse…”

Smiling, he pulled up the website for a restaurant he’d been meaning to visit with Ochako.

“I still can’t believe you talked me into coming here,” Ochako grumbled as they walked down the street.

“Ehe,” Izuku rubbed the back of his head. “Come on, it’ll be fun!”

Ochako rolled their eyes as they approached a sign for ‘I Am Seared’ complete with a picture of All Might in his prime wearing a cowboy hat. In his retirement after the war, the former Symbol of Peace decided to open a series of restaurants across the country specializing in American cuisine. His reasoning was that because he couldn’t eat solid foods anymore he wished to share his favorites with the rest of Japan so that they may enjoy them instead.

Izuku had made it his mission to eat at all of them. Even if he was forced to suffer the wrath of Ochako’s teasing every time, it was worth it.

“I saw the prices,” Ochako said. “We could eat for a week for the cost of dinner here!”

“But it’s not every day we get to celebrate your recovery,” Izuku shot back.

Ochako opened her mouth, only to close it and glare at him. “Not. Fair.”

“Besides, I know how much you love a proper steak,” Izuku said. “And we haven’t had any since we got Wagyu for your birthday while visiting your parents.”

He felt the satisfaction of victory when he saw a familiar look on Ochako’s face. Where her desire to indulge warred with her frugalness. She had gotten better in recent years, but some old habits were hard to break.

It was a feeling Izuku knew all too well.

The two made their way into the restaurant and gave their names to the attendant. Once their reservation was confirmed they were led to a table with a clear view of the streets outside. Izuku felt a sense of calmness fall over him as he and Ochako slipped into familiar habits while they looked over the menu until they heard a loud commotion from outside.

Looking up from their menus, their eyes met before they turned as one to the scene outside. There, they saw a group of villains racing down the street in a pickup truck with an ATM sitting in the bed.

“Ocha–” Izuku said, his voice laced with guilt as he turned his attention back to his partner.

“I’m cleared for active duty again, right?” The woman said, a fire already lit in her eyes. “I could use a warm-up.”

As the two heroes rose from their seats, Izuku realized that Ashido was right. He really didn’t have anything to worry about.

The villains didn’t even last a whole minute against the heroic duo.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t that simple, and several hours later Izuku and Ochako emerged from the Yavin police station.

“Geez,” Ochako grumbled as she stretched. “Who would have thought those thugs had Yakuza ties?”

“You’ve been worried about the growing yakuza presence though,” Izuku pointed out softly. “I guess we were bound to run into them sooner or later.”

“That’s true,” Ochako said with a sigh. “I guess I got what I wished for, huh?” She gave Izuku a lopsided smile.

“Yeah,” Izuku replied softly as he looked at the cloudy sky. He knew it was supposed to storm later, but he had hoped that they would have had plenty of time before then.

It was just his luck that a villain came up.

“I’m sorry about the reservation,” Ochako said. “I was looking forward to enjoying some steak.”

“Me too,” Izuku replied robotically before he turned his attention to his partner. “Maybe we can try again next week? I know we won’t have anything to celebrate but–”

“Don’t worry,” Ochako gave him a playful smile. “I won’t complain next time. Much.”

Izuku laughed nervously. “It would be weird if you didn’t.”

Ochako giggled and gave him a serene look. “Here I thought you’d be tired of it by now.”

“Never,” Izuku shook his head emphatically before he sighed. “So what do you want to do?”

“The usual?” Ochako asked, tilting her head slightly in the direction of the nearby commercial district.

“Sounds great.”

The two walked side-by-side in companionable silence from one end of the commercial district to the other. At the far end sat an old shrine, and across from it was a small shop that specializes in udon. Izuku discovered it after a late night’s patrol and it quickly became a staple of theirs. The meals were delicious, filling, and cheap.

As they entered they passed a sign proudly advertising ‘Deku and Uravity eat here,’ with their smiling faces waving at the camera. They ordered their meals and sat down, the chef not even bothering to take their meal tickets as he prepared two bowls of the house special.

“So how does it feel to be back in action?” Izuku asked as he sat down.

“Good,” Ochako admitted. “I was going stir crazy sitting at home.”

“I can imagine.”

“I bet you can, you are just as bad whenever you are forced to rest.”

“I– yeah,” Izuku gave her a broken smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll try and be better next time.”

“You’re saying there’s a next time?” Ochako’s eyes narrowed menacingly, causing Izuku to gulp nervously.

The two descended into casual conversation, talking about everything that had happened in the past week over their bowls of noodles. They continued to talk long after their bowls had been emptied and Izuku found his annoyance at the villain had faded. As he examined Ochako’s smiling face, he realized he never needed a fancy dinner as an excuse to talk to her. The truth was that any meal was perfect as long as it was with her.

The pair stood up and thanked the chef, and as they left Izuku resolved to continue with the second part of his plan. Even if dinner was a bust, they could still talk in the park!

“Ocha?” Izuku asked as they descended the stairs to the exit.

“Hmm?” Ochako tilted her head back to listen.

“I was wondering if you wanted– Shit!” Izuku cursed as the pair reached the exit and he saw that it was raining.

“It’s okay!” Ochako turned and assured him. “We didn’t think we’d be out this late.”

“It’s not that,” Izuku shook his head as he felt his new resolve crumbling. “Just my luck.”

“I guess we’ll be running,” Ochako turned to her partner. “Race you home?”

“I don’t feel like it,” Izuku admitted with a wave of sadness lacing his words.

He heard a frustrated huff from Ochako and a moment later he felt her hand on his arms before he found himself under the effects of her quirk. He made no effort to escape as he felt her drag him out of the restaurant and through the rain like a balloon until she found a nearby awning that provided them some semblance of privacy and safety from the rain.

“Release,” Ochako said far too curtly and Izuku felt himself land on the ground. “Dekkun, what’s going on?”

“W-what do you mean?” Izuku asked nervously, feeling a bead of sweat on the back of his neck.

“Just–” Ochako waved her hand wildly in the air. “-today. One minute things are perfectly fine and the next you’re being… whatever this is.” Her gaze softened as she looked at him. “If something’s wrong, please tell me.”

Izuku stared at the woman as he heard the sound of rain falling around him. As they stood there, he couldn’t help but recall Ashido and Jiro’s words.

I’ve been trying so hard today! But that was never the right answer.

He thought back to how easy their conversation was at dinner. It was always like that with her. So why was he making this so hard?

Don’t worry Dekkun, I’ll always be there to catch you. Just like I know you’ll always catch me.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Izuku opened his mouth to speak.

“Sorry. I guess I’ve been overthinking things,” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I know we’re partners and best friends and have been ever since high school. But at the hospital… they were only allowing family in to see you. So I told them we were married. At first, I didn’t think anything of it but when I saw you lying there I realized something. Something I think I've known for a long time.”

Izuku lowered his hand and felt his gaze soften as he heard Ochako gasp, the worry on her face replaced with shock. “Ocha, I care about you. As more than a friend and a partner. I don’t know when, but seeing you in the hospital I realized that I lov– mmph!”

Izuku found his words cut off as Ochako’s lips crashed into his, her arms already snaking around his neck. His hands moved on their own, wrapping around her torso to keep her from falling while he took a half step back to keep them both upright. She continued undaunted, her kisses hungry and passionate. And Izuku enjoyed every second of it, responding in kind until they were both forced to pull back to catch their breath.

“Holy shit,” Izuku breathed. “Ocha–”

“Sorry!” Ochako’s permanent blush spread to fill her cheeks as she took a deep breath. “I um. I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.”

“Really?” Izuku asked as he lowered her to the ground. “How long.”

Ochako closed one eye and gave him an apologetic look. “Since the first year of high school?”

“Since the first year…” Izuku said softly before he blinked. “What?!”

Ochako stepped back and laced her fingers behind her back. “I maybe have something to say too?” She waited for Izuku to nod before she continued. “That first year was so crazy, starting with the USJ and ending with war breaking out,” she let out a nervous laugh. “But I had this amazing classmate who was always there, inspiring me to be a better hero. To be a better person. How could I not fall for him?” She asked serenely and Izuku felt his face burning up as he realized she was talking about him!

“But,” Ochako said, and Izuku felt his heart sink. “It wasn’t meant to be. We had so much going on it felt irresponsible to distract him and then the war broke out and…” She let out a frustrated sigh. “So I buried my feelings and contented myself with us being the best of friends.” She reached out hesitantly, but held off from touching his arm before she pulled her arm back and balled her hand into a fist. “But then you messed everything up.”

Izuku took a step back, his hand clutched to his chest. “M-me?!”

“Yes!” Ochako stomped indignantly. “At the hospital and then afterward. You had to go and act like– like– that!” She crossed her arms and pouted. “And suddenly all of those feelings came rushing back and reminded me that everything I love about you is still there! And now I’ve got about a dozen more reasons to love you even more!”

“E-eh!?” Izuku exclaimed. “You– love me too? But what about the marriage proposal…”

“I thought it was a good idea at the time!” Ochako deflated as she lowered her arms. “I thought at that point that it didn’t matter. That I’d gotten over you and you weren’t interested in me.” She let out a wet laugh. “I guess I’m just a big dummy, thinking that would be the end of it.”

Seeing how nervous and vulnerable Ochako was at the moment, he knew she was telling him the truth. That there was no malicious intent, no secret fantasy she was trying to live out. She truly only wanted the best for the two of them, no matter how unconventional it was.

It was one of the many reasons he loved her.

And now that she bared her heart to him, it was his turn to respond.

Hesitantly, he stepped forward. Slowly, carefully, he raised his right hand and gently cradled Ochako’s cheek. He watched as she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, savoring the warmth of his hand.

“I’m sorry. For making you wait so long.”

“It’s okay,” Ochako assured him as she cracked her eyes open. “You wouldn’t be you otherwise,” Her lips curled into a faint smile. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Using his hand, Izuku gently guided her head into a tilt as he leaned forward, his eyes closing as his lips found hers. His kiss was much slower and gentler than hers as he explored her lips. Just like he wanted to explore their new status.

The two separated a second time and Izuku found himself entranced by Ochako’s serene gaze until she suddenly shivered, wrapping her arms around herself in an attempt to keep warm.

“Dekkun, I love you but I’m done with this rain. Race you home?” She gave him a playful look.

Izuku felt a smile splitting his face as he looked at her. “Sure!”

After a short detour to a bakery – because even when facing the cold evening rain, Ochako had her priorities – the couple finally made it back to their apartment.

The pair split up and Izuku quickly changed into dry clothes before he returned to the common area. He moved the box of treats to their coffee table and sat down on the couch while he waited for Ochako.

He didn’t have to wait long, and soon enough she emerged from her room, dressed in a baggy sweater and sweatpants. The sight was enough to make Izuku freeze.

“Beautiful…” He breathed.

“Dork,” Ochako giggled, but the blush on her cheeks told a different story. “It’s not like I haven’t worn this before!”

“Yeah, and I was an idiot for not noticing before,” Izuku rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

“I don’t wanna hear it. My husband’s not an idiot!”

She gave him a coy smile as she collapsed on the couch next to him. Izuku let out a startled squeak as he felt Ochako lean into him, only to feel her soft rumbling as she laughed.

“What? We’ve cuddled on the couch before,” She adjusted herself so that they could look at each other, and he saw her playful smile. “Unless you’re saying I’m not allowed to cuddle with my husband?”

“Ehe,” Izuku nervously laughed. “It’s not that! It’s just… it feels different now,” he admitted.

“You’re right,” Ochako agreed as she examined his face. “It does.” She closed her eyes and leaned into his shoulder, her hair tickling his cheek. “I like it.”

“Me too,” Izuku agreed.

As he reached out and wrapped his arm around Ochako’s shoulder, he realized that while he loved Ochako, it was more than that. Sure, they could put a label on their relationship: friend, partner, girlfriend, wife. But none of them fully described how he felt about the woman pressed against his side, her warmth filling him just as much as she basked in his warmth.

At that moment, Izuku finally worked out the right word to describe his feelings toward the woman sitting next to him.

Ochako felt like home.