There wasn't a time in Ochako's life when she was so happy to be looking up rental prices. She saw a nice little villa by the sea with a beach and a private pub and a pretty decent nightlife scene, all while being well within her spending budget. It was perfect for what she wanted, just the three of them alone on a nice trip for a week while they hopefully close that gap. Or if that isn't possible to get Zuki and Miko to act like rabbits in a dark room, then they could just have a fun time with each other.
Briefly she thought back to Momo's bacherellete party and all the joy they had. It was literally the most extravagant event she had seen with a mountain of wealth being burned for the enjoyment of it. Two thousand dollar wine bottles, a fifty thousand dollar banquet with the finest food she ever tasted and more, but Ochako couldn't stop blushing at how drunk Momo got and tried to go find Shoto, only to call him up and declare her love for him while her clothes were stained purple with wine while Mina hugged her as she cried joyful tears.
It was hard to believe that was four years ago and the two were already working on their first kid. Which raised a question of what monstrous quirk that child would have since both of the parents had near God level quirks, hell Momo could literally make money come from her tits if she wanted and Shoto can freeze or burn everything in a five mile radius with just a thought. Maybe it'd have the ability to make armies of elemental dolls to fight with?
Pushing the idea away, Ochako started to ponder what she could do in the meantime. Miko had an easy enough job, but Zuki was a different story since he had a typical nine to five. She considered just bringing up the idea of her taking care of him as her little boy toy, but realized how weird that sounded in her head. Besides Himiko might throw a fit and Izuku had some pride about himself so just moving in with her so that she could have a living relief valve on hand wouldn't slide well.
She contemplated calling him just to see how he was doing, especially after Miko had her talk with him. It likely had gone well judging by how they interacted over more dangerous stuff, but curiosity and loneliness stuck to her and she also wanted him to come over since she was alone tonight in her home. Maybe she could make some cinnamon rolls and hot cocoa for them and they talk about stupid stuff. She liked that idea, Izuku did have a warm, innocent presence to him and it would be pretty nice to just relax in her slippers and robe with a belly full of sweets while that sweet guy cuddled up to her.
A twinge of jealousy erupted when she recalled how often Izuku would cling to Himiko and how that woman would just drown in his love. She knew it was right since they've been together longer than she had with either of them, but she wanted that. She wanted Izuku's eyes to explode in joy when they met and for him to scoop her up like it was her last day on earth and kiss the air out of her lungs.
She wanted to be suffocated by his affection just like Himiko was, even if the blonde had earned it far more than she had. Sure, she could invite Miko over as well, but right now she just wanted time with him and not even in an intimate way, she just wanted him to share in the silence of her home. Well it was Saturday and Miko had been here yesterday so he should be free.
Reaching for her phone by her desk, Ochako pulled up his number, only to have another number instantly ring and take over her screen. She paused for a moment as a wave of emotions came over her that washed away all her warmth and replaced it with that savior urge of the heroine as she saw Katsuki's name pull up.
There were so many questions and emotions that came with seeing just that simple name, but she was still Uravity so that obligation to her fellows was still there, even if she wanted nothing more then to let it ring out and vanish so she could call up the guy who didn't carry a lifetime of emotional baggage for her. Answering the call she put the phone to her ear and gave her best voice.
"Hey Katsuki, everything okay?"
The number one pro had a voice that sounded almost childlike in his joy as he spoke, it was a tone that she hadn't heard from him in years, the last time being from before their ambush at the USJ so long ago.
"Hey Round Face, sorry I haven't called as much, work's been a bitch like always. Anyway I haven't heard much from you so I thought I'd check in."
Ochako withheld a sigh as countless nights of comforting this poor man and defending him against their classmates and coworkers came back like a smack in the face. There was a part of her that still loved the man, but any romantic intention that lingered had turned to ash even as the memories of their young romance flickered in her mind and brought a sensation of heartbreak that still bore fresh pain. Quickly she grew numb to it and gave an even tone as she tried to flush the times away.
"Ah I'm fine, same old same old with me. Anything new with you?"
Again came the childish sound of excitement and joy which was so unusual for such an explosive and wrathful man as him, but it was still better than his episodes of rage or unfeeling depression.
"Yeah actually I've been hanging out with Deku again after half a decade so I've had a lot of good stuff going on. Of course it could have started on better footing since his mom reached out to me since he's in a weird ass relationship with some blood sucking bitch, but other than that it's been like old times with us. Granted work takes a good chunk of time for everyone so we can't hang out as much as I'd like, but we make due. Hell, last night he and a few other scrubs from our class went with me to a party."
Ochako wasn't sure if that should worry her or not since Katsuki was always so vague about whoever this "Deku" person is, then to add to that he was unnaturally happy, manic almost if she went by the tone of his voice. She needed to dig more.
"Really? That's interesting, what exactly do you two mainly talk about? You never said much about him for years."
Glee flourished through his voice and it sounded akin to those moments where he'd gush about All Might with such reverence that it was actually adorable when compared to his usual pig headedness.
"Ah, with him we mainly talk about life and try to catch up since it's been years. Mostly it's about relationships and that sort of bullshit. Honestly, I'm a little surprised that he hasn't asked about the stuff I do as a hero since I'd figured he would love to hear about it, being quirkless like he is, but being an adult can be fucking exhausting so what can you do? Anyway Round Face, would you mind if I ask you something a little touchy?"
She raised an eyebrow at the sudden shift to his tone and noted a strong hint of guilt in his voice that caused it to drop like a rock.
"Depends on what it is. You're not in any trouble are you Katsuki?"
There was an honest concern in her response and just a certain was the reassurance in his as they redid a dance they had made ever since that time he saved her from the zero pointer years ago.
"Nope, nothing like that, I just…*inhale*...I know we've been broken up for four years now ever since I had that one melt down, which is fine, I was out of control and you kept getting worse because of it so we had to do what was best for us both. That being said...are you seeing anyone right now?"
The guilt grew to a climax in that last part and she could read him like a book which stirred a mix of relief and long held resentment over the fact. He was supposed to be hers to fix and she couldn't do that, she failed him so now any bimbo with fat tits, a mini skirt and a few ego stroking words can just waltz in and take advantage of him? What about the others? What about this Deku guy? Weren't they keeping an eye on Katsuki to make sure he wasn't being abused? No...no, she had to let go now, didn't she?
He was beyond her help now and she had a whole new future with new people to cherish and repair so her happy future could be shared with those that truly loved her. Besides, it wasn't his fault that his quirk made him infertile so it was best she remained removed from those old thoughts for her sake and everyone else's.
"I'm assuming you are?"
There came that obvious sign of his shame, just like those times she caught him sneaking cookies or jacking off to porn when she had a long shift. He was still that innocent, guideless time bomb of a person who had those rare moments of humility and humbleness.
"I...goddamn it, yes. Four someone's in fact, it was just a one night thing from that party the guys took me to and I've just been feeling like an asshole because of it since I don't really know how you-"
She raised a hand out of habit despite him not being anywhere to actually see her do it and grafted a soft, yet firm manner to the soul.
"Katsuki, you've said it yourself, we've been divorced for almost five years. You're allowed to date again so don't think you're being unfaithful or anything. I've moved on as best I can and you have to do the same, find someone who can do what I couldn't for you and be happy. After all you suffered, nobody deserves to live a joyful life more than you so just...do what you want, okay?"
A genuine sigh of relief came from the speaker as the sound of popping cartilage echoed out as he surely was cracking his knuckles like always.
"That's...good, at least I can use that as an excuse to rope Deku into more bullshit. It's just...am I a dick for being mad at the guy all the fucking time for ignoring me? Like he has his own life to live and he at least tries to make time for me, but I just get so fucking angry when he can't hangout that my quirk starts acting out. I mean this is literally the tenth phone I've bought in a year since I keep blowing them up."
The explosion user went on as his temper started to rise and he began to rant with months of unyielding passion, fury and resentment powering his lungs.
"I honestly don't know what the fuck is so wrong with me that he refuses to make any time for us unless I bother him about it or somebody else asks him to bring me along. But he always makes time for that creepy whore of his who does god knows what to him and I'm left by myself with nobody to hangout with. Sure I may have dropped all contact with him when highschool rolled around, but that was on commission orders since Shigaraki was still around. Plus the fucker had somehow pulled triple cram school after the first year of middle school and managed to just skip the eight grade all together, leaving me all alone."
There came a loud *pop* from his empty hand as he got louder and more violent in his tone.
"Didn't he have any idea how that affected me even back then? Yeah I may have given him a lot of tough love, but it wasn't like Auntie was gonna help him man the fuck up. I had to suffer that entire last year of middle school without him and I know it's ancient shit, but I can't get over how bad it felt to not have him there for the first time in my life. I'd known the guy since before we could talk and I found out at the start of next year that he had moved on? That he had abandoned me and gone off somewhere I had no clue about?"
More explosions the power of firecrackers echoed from the speaker as his emotions got slightly unhinged.
"That hurt me so fucking much, then UA rolled around and that was such a clusterfuck. Ever since that attack on the USJ and Shigaraki fucking stalking so much, I still remember finding that severed head in my desk a week later with that note. I was so fucking scared that I was gonna die at any moment. I couldn't fucking sleep unless you were there and I kept expecting that bastard to appear out of a portal at random or that shapeshifting bitch to sneak in and take me without anyone noticing or a horde of Nomus to descend from the skies."
A groan of pain came as a crack came into his voice as old trauma resurfaced in full.
"Deku was all I had to keep me going. He was my best friend ever since we were born and he always believed in me, he always had my back regardless of how much of a dick I was. But I couldn't see him, even when that bastard teleported into my room and drugged me, offering me a place in his group or after he came back when Kamino was over and killed my dad. All I wanted was to just talk to Deku again, to hear him say everything was alright and that I could still be like All Might, but I just never could because of that monster."
A snap came from the speaker as he struggled to regain some control of himself.
"Now I've killed the damn fucker and all his little followers so there's no reason Deku can't hangout with me like when we were kids, but I understand why he isn't but there's this jealous part of me that wants race over to whatever bitch he's seeing and pay her however much to fuck off. I seriously have enough money to have the guy set for life and I could build him a whole three storey house with all the food and stuff he could want, but I haven't fucking asked him because he hasn't given me the chance. I owe him goddamn everything for helping me get through that hell, even when I faced that devil I could feel him cheering me on and telling me to win. That's why I never gave up and now that he won't let me repay him I feel so damn shitty and pissed off. I mean...what exactly am I doing wrong here when all I want is my friend back? Am I an asshole for wanting that?"
There was a lot to unpack in those statements, most she already knew about. Ochako still recoiled at the memory of when Katsuki opened his desk and screamed at the sight of that gore splattered head, she could even recall how horrible it smelled when they walked into the classroom. But the past aside, he wasn't overtly monstrous in what he wanted, it sounded more like his old scars were getting in the way of his healing. Shrugging, she readjusted the phone and spoke as bluntly as possible.
"No, but you're taking every chance to sound like one. Look Katsuki, you're only making this more complicated than it needs to be, I get this guy means a lot to you, hell we all know that, but it isn't like you need to seduce him or bribe him with money just to spend some time with him. Call him up tonight and ask to go somewhere tomorrow, if he can then great, if not then act like an adult and let him do his thing and maybe contact him again in another day. Though, I'd suggest not bringing up buying him a house until you guys get comfortable enough and I'd wait five months before that. Alright?"
A few seconds passed in silence from either end of the line, yet soon after the top hero had a far more relaxed aura about him and adding to it was the serenity of his voice, like he had seen what had to be done.
"Thanks, I...needed to hear that."
Ochako smiled at the answer, proud that she had helped someone so dear to her in some way. In fact she felt almost a little smug at how easily she managed to fix his problem like a heroine should.
"Anytime Boom Boy, just promise me you'll let me know if you ever need any help and maybe introduce me to Mr. Deku sometime."
A laugh snuck out of the phone that was undeniably warm when he finally settled into a better state of mind.
"Sure Cheeks, I'll be sure to keep in touch. Anyway, I'm gonna go since I have a field trip to plan, so talk to you later."
With that he ended the call and granted the anti-gravity user her peace once more as she returned her attention to the computer screen where pictures of a budget paradise were pictured. It was all she could hope for and with those two beside her she couldn't wait. Still she wanted to dial up Izuku and hog his attention for herself, the idea of those cinnamon rolls sounding better by the moment.
Yet she wouldn't get the chance as a message from the commission popped up on her monitor and detailed how her latest arrest records needed to be turned in before next week, along with another email demanding her evaluation on Miko and if she should continue with her parole or be revoked from the rehabilitation program entirely. Sighing at the requirements of her career, she opened her mobile and shot both Himiko and Izuku a text saying she wasn't free tonight.
With that done and seeing it go to "read" and even getting a "Goodnight, you can do it" from Izuku, Ochako began to type away and push her own desires away as the duties of a hero called once again. She only hoped that they could share in the perfect day she was preparing for them both.