Chapter Text
Ochako looked out of the window, past the well-lit buildings and into the dimly lit sky. Tonight was a full moon, she supposes. She was completely exhausted from her shift today after one of the kids had accidentally burned another kid’s finger. She just wanted to go home.
It was already bordering past 10 in the evening, quite an early time for the extreme working hours of Japan, but she was spent. Ochako dusted off her boots and placed them neatly on the cabinet behind her desk where her old hero costume was framed.
Dressed in a shirt and casual slacks, she walks out of her office, noting the dimly lit hallways as most of them had already gone home. She discourages the other staff from overworking, hence enforcing strict work hours.
Her hair sways as she walks past the offices for the pro heroes, all of them had already been closed and locked. It was unusual for the pros to stay this time of night as they were usually on patrol or at their own agencies. Ochako’s heels came to a halt when she saw the faint light from one of the rooms.
She knew that room well. It was one of the places she frequented. The lights were already dimly lit, not very noticeable to the eye and she figured it was typical, considering the pro hero who worked there.
“It’s way past your bedtime, Bakugou-kun!”
She gently barges into the room, opening the door slightly and peeking into the room dimly lit by the lamp on the desk. The man in question was looking at her, glasses perched on his nose as he reviewed the report she had just made this afternoon.
“You’ve caught me again, Ochako. Good fucking job,” he sarcastically remarks and adds, “Don’t let me scold you again for using that shitty nickname, I think we’ve already got past that point.”
“‘Bakugou-kun’ is a perfectly normal thing to call you,” Ochako rolls her eyes, sliding into the room, walking over, and placing her bag and coat over the chair in front of the desk, “What are you reading there, Katsuki?”
“That ‘fire arm’ kid burned one of the other students?”
She sighed, sitting on one of the wheeled stools beside him. The offices of the pros are usually empty, save for some chairs, a desk, and whiteboards.
“Yes. I wasn’t paying attention enough and one of the staff forgot to check in on them. He apologized to her, but we had to get the medic and calm her down as they healed her skin. They said it was going to scar.”
“God,” Katsuki clenched his fist, “I know I said I was going to personally help him, shit, sorry I wasn’t there today.”
“Shut up, Katsuki. It was an accident, and you were on patrol. Besides, I personally called you about it and they were both fine. He’s excited to meet you again tomorrow.”
Katsuki’s frown straightens and one of the corners quirked up. He turned his gaze onto her, looking at her form as she leaned onto the table, elbow propped up to support her head, slowly blinking. The blinks kept getting longer, but her gaze remained on him.
He took off his glasses and closed his tablet, flipping the cover over it. He could see Ochako looking at him, blinking rapidly to fight the sleep.
Standing up, he turned to her, “Come on. I’ll drive you home. You’re in no condition to take the damn train back.”
“You shouldn’t—”
“That won’t work on me. Let’s go,” he grabbed her bag and coat and slung them over his shoulder as they both walked to the parking lot together.
Ochako didn’t miss to keep the small talk, clicking on her heels as she walked, beaming up at him. Exhaustion temporarily lifted as she sat with the warmth inside her chest at Katsuki’s gestures.
“How have things been with Izuku since last month?” Katsuki asks, and Ochako briefly remembers fondness, “He’s been great. Apparently, he’s taking a lighter load this semester that’s why he can hang out with us more. We’ve gone out for coffee a few times.”
“Makes sense. He’s been increasingly annoying in my inbox these days. Says you and him are the best of friends again now and I should tag along, fuck that.”
Ochako momentarily focuses on Katsuki’s biceps as he maneuvers the steering wheel and clears her throat, “Just admit you miss him, Katsuki. It’s not the end of the world. And I’m actually glad we’re close friends again, Izuku’s really fun to hang out with, even if he hasn’t gone out of his rambling habit.”
“I— well, I tried to ask him to join my agency-”
“Joining your agency doesn’t mean you’re hanging out as friends!”
“Eijirou said it could be!”
“Eh, he’s biased,” she comments, noting the huff of laughter beside her.
“And you’re not?” He quirks an eyebrow at her, “You’re even more chummy with him now than in UA!”
“We’re adults now who can spend more time hanging out. If anything, I’m more biased with—”
He looks at her, the light is red. Ochako feels her cheeks redden. Pursing her lips, she turns to the windshield, “The light is green.”
“Who are you biased with, Ochako?”
“No one,” she averts her gaze. Katsuki grins wider, “Come on, Uraraka.”
“That’s not fair!” She complains, glaring at him while he laughs. He briefly turns the signal on before turning left, seemingly an expert in finding Ochako’s house. Ochako was still flushed red, wrapping her jacket over her chest.
“Answer the question, Uraraka. Please?”
She gasps, turning to him, mouth agape. “Did you just say ‘please’?”
“Ugh, Eijirou’s going to have a field day with this. Yes, I did,” Katsuki coughs briefly, “So will you answer it or not?”
Ochako’s expression got even more flushed, “What does it matter to you?”
“It matters! I mean, not much… just… I’m curious, I guess,” Katsuki internally cursed himself for being the lamest guy on the planet. He should just give up at this point. But his ears perked up as Ochako sighed and finally relented, “It’s you.”
“Hah, I knew it.”
“Asshole,” she grumbles, sinking into her seat. Katsuki heartily laughs, “Alright fine. I’ll change the topic now.”
“You’re especially mean to me today, Katsuki,” Ochako notes.
“I had to vent my pent-up emotions somewhere,” he replies, “by the way, are you still not accepting my offer, Ochako?”
The mood shifts as Ochako frowns, “I still haven’t given it much thought, I guess.”
“Why?”
“Well, I still have quirk counseling and it’s a lot to handle. It’s hard to manage it both as a pro and as a boss.”
“That’s why my offer still stands. God forbid all of the others have already sent you theirs, which they’re also jealous dicks because they knew I would send mine.”
Ochako chuckles, “Yeah, they have. But your offer is still the best. I’m still working on things and once it’s a bit more stable, I think I could take you up on your offer.”
“Hell yeah, Ochako. Uravity’s definitely going to be a great addition to the agency,” Katsuki couldn’t help the triumphant grin on his face, internally screaming ‘yes’.
“Don’t be so cocky yet, Mr. Lord Explosion Murder Dynamight.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
They arrived in front of her house, and the street lamp only made the light outside. Katsuki pulled up and unlocked the doors. Ochako was about to pull it open before it was locked again, “What?”
“I’ll be there tomorrow to check in on Keita.”
Ochako smiles warmly at him, exhaustion finally catching up, “I know. Anything else?”
“Lunch?”
“Sure. The usual. But to make up for tonight, I’ll be the one visiting your agency,” she says, noticing the brief speck of gold in his eyes as she says it.
“The extras are going to have a field day when they see you coming into my agency,” he smirks, and Ochako playfully squeezes his arm to scold him. She grabs her things and opens the already unlocked door.
“See you tomorrow, Bakugou-kun,” she teases, leaning over the opened window. Katsuki grins, “Good night, Uraraka.”
Ochako waves him goodbye as he speeds off. She skips over her shoes, humming happily as she puts in her keys.
She carefully places her shoes by the rack, her eyes turning soft as she notices the distinct two back dots on each of them.
She felt a vibration in her pocket and laughed as she opened the text from Katsuki, Buy ramen tomorrow.
fin.