A Frozen Moment
IsaacBai
Izuku stifled a yawn as he stared through the frosted windshield in front of him. His eyes glazed slightly as they watched the snow-swept countryside fly past, his mind wandering. His shift at the police station had ended almost two hours ago, and he would normally be long-home by now, but today he had a different destination. Christmas was only two days away, and all but a small skeleton crew had time off for it. In Izuku's case, he had the next four days free, and he planned to spend it with his mother. Of course, the three-hour drive had seemed more manageable before it'd begun heavily snowing.
A shiver ran through his body, snapping his mind back to earth. He huddled his arms closer into his torso, and gripped the wheel tighter. Stupid broken heater... Being a junior police detective wasn't the best paying job, and his rundown car had seen better days. Several weeks back his heating had stopped working, just in time for winter, and he had mentally added it to the long list of repairs the car needed. He let out a tired sigh, moving the heating to the top of the list as he counted the days until his next paycheck. I get paid in just over a week... If I cut down to two meals a day, I can probably afford it. He grumbled, annoyed with the situation, but a flash of light in his eyes pulled his attention back to the road.
His eyes squinted at the headlights bearing towards him, the first he had seen in over an hour. His already-foul mood darkened as he realized the other driver had their high-beams on. I understand wanting them on with the snow, but they should've seen me by now... He glanced away for a moment, a scowl growing on his face, and caught a flicker of movement in the corner of his eye. Turning to examine it, he noticed a light moving side to side on the headrest beside him. Looking back, his scowl quickly turned into a frown, his eyes widening in shock as he got a better look at the way the headlights were moving. The lights are swerving. The CAR is swerving. His brain had made the connection, but it was too late. As the shaking lights crossed the center line, he jerked his wheel to the right hoping to avoid a collision, but his efforts were in vain. The other car slammed into the side of his, and metal scraped on metal as both vehicles slid off the road.
Izuku coughed, pushing the remains of the airbag away from him. His eye squinted as he felt a wet sensation running down the right side of his face. He groaned, raising his hand to his head, and lightly probed the spot. His hand came away stained red. Shit. Shit. Shit. I need to call for help. He turned in his seat, frantically searching, and after a moment his hand found the square of glass and plastic, damaged beyond repair. Okay... shit. He let his eyes flutter closed, pausing a minute to collect his thoughts. It's just me. Just me... and them.
His eyes flew open as he remembered the other car. He quickly pulled at the handle of the door, but the steel wouldn't budge. Examining the door, he saw that the accident had caved the metal in several inches. He leaned back, making room, then shot his foot into the paneling. Nothing. He tried again, with similar results. Sighing, he craned his neck to the side, seeing the other door in the corner of his eye. Oh. Right. He chuckled to himself as he crawled over the center console. Taking a final moment to steady himself, he pulled his coat closer to his body and quickly tugged the door handle, exiting into the storm.
The wind and snow buffeted Izuku's body as he made his way to the other car. The blood was cold on his face, and his legs shook as he trudged through the quickly-collecting snow. Approaching the wreck, he yelled into the gale. "HELLO?!" The only answer was another gust of wind. Cold air burned his lungs as he drew in another breath. "HELLO!?" Through the roaring wind, he heard a faint answer.
"HEY!" A shrill yell reached Izuku's ears. Reaching the side of the car, he found the driver's window shattered. Leaning in, he scanned the car, and his gaze quickly found a pair of brown eyes peering at him from the back seat. A girl. He reared back, his face suddenly very hot. He took a breath, trying to steady his pulse. As his partner never failed to remind him, Izuku wasn't very good at talking to girls. Or seeing them. Or being in the same room as them. Despite being 20 years old, he couldn't remember a time in living memory he had managed a conversation with a girl he wasn't related to or working with. But... she's in trouble. WE'RE in trouble. He gulped, hoping to swallow some of the anxiety, and opened the back door. Looking in again, his eyes widened in surprise as a hand reached out, dragging him into the car, before pulling the door closed behind him.
Izuku yelped as he fell forward, the inertia of the girl's tug pulling him across the backseat. His eyes squeezed shut, and he heard a similar shriek as he tumbled onto the other person. Cracking an eye open, he stared into the soft brown eye mere inches from his own. Face burning, he fell back with another scream. He crawled back on the seat, putting some distance between the two, and saw she was now holding her face in her hands.
"P-Please, shut the door!" The girl's voice came out high and shrill, and she shivered as she spoke. "It's freezing!" Izuku noticed she was only wearing what looked like thin scrubs, without a jacket. I'm surprised she's out like that in this weather. He quickly pulled the door closed. Her hands fell from her face, and her arms wrapped around her sides, hugging herself. Her shivering slowed slightly, her gaze now locked on the floor, but with the front window broken, the door closing hadn't helped much. Despite this, she still seemed grateful. "T-thank you." For the first time since he had entered the car, she looked up to meet his eyes, and he watched the shock wash over her face.
"Oh, You're bleeding! Let me take a look at that." In a flash she scooted closer, and Izuku froze as she laid a hand on his cheek. He gazed into her eyes, entranced, as she examined the cut above his eye. Frowning slightly, she turned, reaching under the front passenger seat. "Hold on." The girl sat back up, producing a first aid kit. With a small huff of effort, she undid the clasp, and began rooting through the box. As his brain caught up to the situation, his face heated even more, and he struggled to resist recoiling away from her touch. His eyes darted around the car, desperate for a distraction. Flitting between the first aid kit and her outfit, his mind grasped the first topic that could help him forget the unprecedented levels of physical contact he was currently experiencing.
"S-So, are y-you a nurse?" She paused, looking away from the wound, and met his eyes momentarily. He watched as brown eyes studied green, and his eyes widened in shock as a flicker of annoyance danced across hers. The girl let out an exasperated sigh.
"A nurse? I'm a doctor. You jerk." She turned her head away as Izuku mentally panicked. Fuck fuck FUCK! I'm such a fucking idiot. His eyes closed in a grimace. I can't believe that I assumed... He paused as he heard a soft giggle. Cracking an eye open, he saw the girl had turned back to him with her eyes closed. "Just kidding. I am a nurse." As she opened her eyes, her face froze as she saw his expression. "Hey, are you okay?" Leaning forward, she placed a hand on his arm, fresh worry enveloping her face. "I'm not mad, I was just joking." Despite her assurances, Izuku's heart was still rapidly pounding.
"I'm... I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have assumed." He lowered his gaze, but her hand quickly shot out, cupping his chin. As she raised his head, he saw a soft smile on her face, and an understanding look in her eyes.
"Really, it's alright. Now let me have another look at that cut, I wasn't finished." She hummed lightly as she returned to her work, while he tried to reign in his racing heartbeat. As Izuku got his breathing under control, he allowed his mind to wander once more. Gazing at the storm outside, fresh questions sprang to his mind.
"So, why are you in the backseat anyways?" The edges of her mouth crooked upwards as she taped down the bandage on his forehead.
"There, all done." Her eyes fell away from his now-covered wound, her gaze now piercing into him. "Short answer, I'm cold!" She giggled softly, shrugging, and he realized she was still shivering slightly. She gestured ruefully to the broken window in the front of the car. "I'm trying to avoid the wind. I was just driving home from work, and my car is heated, so I didn't think I'd need a jacket." She scratched the back of her head, a sheepish smile on her face. "You can see how that worked out." I didn't think about how cold she must be. Izuku suddenly felt guilty for the heavy coat he was wearing. His mind raced, and he quickly pieced an idea together.
"Oh! I have a winter kit in my car!" His smile matched hers as the girl's face rose. "It has blankets! Also, none of my windows broke in the accident, so we could wait for help there!" Despite every effort to resist it, Izuku could feel the blush forming on his cheeks, and he glanced away from her. Even in a situation such as this, an inviting a girl into his car still felt indecent. Looking back, his anxiety was slightly assuaged as she beamed back at him, her eyes shining.
"Oh perfect! But..." Her face fell slightly. She looked back to the front seat, where the snow was beginning to collect. "I need to do something about the snow getting in..." His mind raced, desperate to see that smile again.
"I-I'll use my jacket! We can tape it up!" She looked back to him, eyes widening, her mouth open slightly. He smiled back at her. "Y-Yeah! Just pass me the tape from your kit, it'll only take a second!" She returned the smile, handing him the roll, and he quickly got to work covering the window.
Why does my stomach feel so light?
As he finished, he sat back on the seat, trying to ignore the feeling in his gut. Gazing back at him with a half-smile stuck on her face, she clasped her hands together. "Thank you!" She gasped, the smile falling from her face, and jumped slightly. "Oh, I haven't even introduced myself, sorry! I'm Ochako Uraraka." With her expression brightened again, she looked back to him expectantly.
"Oh! Um, I'm I-Izuku Midoriya. Nice to m-meet you, Uraraka." He smiled awkwardly, unsure of what else to say.
"Please, call me Ochako!" She giggled again, a sound he was quickly coming to enjoy.
"Ah, a-alright, then call me Izu-" He choked on the rest of the sentence as she grabbed his hand, tugging his arm.
"Okay, let's go Izuku! I'm freezing!" She grinned wildly as she quickly opened the car door behind her, hauling him out into the storm. Closing the door behind him, Ochako ran forward into the storm, laughing the whole way. The gale raged around them, but it paled in comparison to the blood rushing in his ears. I'm holding a girl's hand... I'M HOLDING A GIRL'S HAND! With his mind racing, he could barely keep his balance as she pulled him towards his car. Reaching the vehicle, she quickly opened the back door and dove in, dragging him in behind her. As he pulled the door shut behind them, he turned, looking on as she brushed the snow from her hair and shoulders.
Oh my God.
For the first time since meeting her, Izuku took a moment to study the girl before him. Silky brown hair fell to her shoulders in the back, with two larger strands in the front framing her face. Matching brown eyes shined back at him, as a sweet smile formed on her face. Her cheeks wore a permanent blush, which darkened as the seconds passed.
"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?" She's beautiful. The words crossed the distance between them, breaking Izuku from his trance.
"O-oh, no, sorry!" His face set aflame as his mind searched frantically for a believable excuse, but he came up empty. She's the most beautiful person I've ever met. Giving up on an excuse, he promptly changed the subject. "Here, l-let me get the blankets!" Reaching under the seat in front of him, he pulled out his winter kit. Opening it, he rifled through the contents for a moment, before discovering the fatal flaw in his plan to warm up.
He had a blanket.
Singular.
Izuku's mind hit a dead end, and he felt the knot beginning to form in his stomach. Wordlessly, he handed Ochako the blanket, and pretended to search for another. As she bundled up, emitting a small noise of happiness, he leaned over the kit in vain. Maybe she won't notice. After a few more seconds, he closed the kit, straightening out, and mustered all the effort he could to stare out the window. As he watched the snow fly past, he relished in the growing silence. One second passed, then another, and a thir-
"Um, Izuku?"
Fuck.
He turned to her, peering at him curiously from the blanket cocoon she had created. He tried to smile as the burning in his cheeks found fresh fuel. "What's up?" He replied lamely, scratching the back of his head nervously.
"You... um, you didn't get one for yourself." She stared at him like he had grown a second head.
"Ah, y-yeah." He racked his brain for any way to extend this moment, before he had to share their predicament. "W-well, you see... there was... only..." His voice trailed off as he continued, and several seconds passed before he finished his sentence, his last word practically a whisper. "...One." Her eyes opened slightly, and a darker blush appeared as comprehension took hold.
"O-oh. Well, that's fine! I c-can share!" Quickly re-positioning herself, she held up a section of the blanket, gesturing for him to join her. With her arm outstretched, Izuku could see her shaking, but he wasn't sure if it was due to the cold, or the prospect of having to share a blanket with him. Holding his breath, he inched closer, worried that the slightest movement could shatter the moment. In what felt like a millisecond, he had crossed the seat, and stared at the arm extended before him. Shit. Shit. Here we go.
Pulling the blanket over his body, his heart stopped as he realized the size of the blanket was forcing contact. His mind went blank, unable to acknowledge anything besides the feeling of her arm and leg pressed against his. With her skin meeting his, Izuku could feel her body trembling, and he knew his was no different. He internally panicked, smoke pouring from his ears as he tried to think of something, anything to say. He pieced a few thoughts of lame small talk together, but as he opened his mouth, she spoke.
"U-uh... hey, Izuku." The palpable anxiety in her voice set his mind racing. "This is... embarrassing... but, uh..." a moment passed, his brain filtering through hundreds of possible endings to her sentence. She turned slightly, her body brushing along his, and looked into his eyes. When she spoke, her voice came out low, barely audible over the storm. "I'm still cold." What?
"What?" She shifted uncomfortably as red splashed across her cheeks. Taking a breath, her shoulders squared as if bracing in anticipation, and her eyes bored holes in the floor.
"Well... u-um. Can we... sit closer?" Izuku sputtered as the words reached his ears, his cheeks flushing instantly to match hers. She continued speaking, her gaze locked on the floor. "It's j-just that, I know that huddling together helps s-stay warm..." Her voice warbled weakly, and trailed off. After a moment of silence, she jumped, waving her hands in front of her, clearly embarrassed but with a steadier voice. "Sorry, I'm not trying to be weird! You don't have to if you're uncomfortable, It's just really cold in-"
"Ochako." Wait, what? Was that me? "It's fine." Izuku didn't know how his voice had managed to sound so confident, not when he was internally screaming. He forced his mouth into a small smile, which she quickly mirrored. Vague memories of old classes swam in his mind. "Actually, the winter training at the department taught something similar about huddling together for warmth. It may be a little embarrassing, but holding another person to conserve and share body heat is extremely effective, and It seems fitting for the situation." It was partially true. The line he had given was similar to one he had heard in the training, but that scenario had been for treating hypothermia. We're not in that dire of a situation, but... I want this.
"Just give me a minute." He spoke, trying to distract himself from his thoughts and, seeming a little more comfortable, she nodded in response. Sliding to the other side of the car, he turned his shoulders, and rested his back against the door. Pivoting his hips, he splayed one leg along the fold of the seat, and beckoned to her. She scooted in, eyes wide, and silently approached him. As she drew close, she turned, laying her back on his chest. He reached over her, grabbing the blanket, and pulled it over the pair. Hearing a small sigh of comfort escape her lips, his heart skipped, and he felt the tension leave her shoulders as she settled into him. Despite his rapidly increasing heartbeat, he felt a smile cross his face. "Better?"
"Mmm." She hummed her assent, followed by a small giggle. "You're very..." her body twisted slightly, shooting electricity through him. "...warm." She leaned back farther, and his chin naturally found the crook of her neck. Turning his head slightly, he whispered into her ear.
"Um, Is this okay? The training mentioned several areas to keep covered, including the neck." Izuku was treading on unfamiliar ground. He felt like he was walking on glass, and that the slightest wrong move would send it crashing down. I don't want this to stop. He was surprised at how much he wanted this. But only as long as she's comfortable. She turned her head towards his, whispering back.
"Yeah, this is great." She bit her lower lip, holding back a laugh, as she pulled at the blanket to cover the exposed half of her neck. She spoke again, this time at normal volume. "I have to say... you're really comfortable." He chuckled, all nerves suddenly absent. Sensing her confidence, he replied in kind, looping an arm around her waist. He felt her breath catch for a moment, before relaxing back into him. Another small sigh slipped from her mouth, transforming halfway through into a yawn.
"Are you tired?" He teased. She giggled again, beautiful music to his ears. "I can talk to keep you awake, if you need it."
"Shut up." He could almost hear the grin in her voice. "But yeah, actually. Talk to me."
"Um..." Ah, shit. He had offered to talk, but when prompted, his mind went blank. Think, think! He could feel her waiting, patiently listening for what he had to say. "Um, so... you're a nurse?" Fuck! Even as the words left his mouth, he cringed at his feeble attempt. She laughed awkwardly, likely to alleviate the uncomfortable situation, although it had the opposite effect as he mentally face-palmed.
"Um, yep! Remember, I took a look at that gash on your forehead?"
"A-ah, right." He silently wished to the ability to disappear from existence. Sensing his discomfort, she turned her head slightly, lightly touching the side of his, and continued.
"What do you do for work? You mentioned a department earlier, right? Are you a firefighter or something?" Izuku quietly sighed in relief as the tension drained from the situation. At least one of us knows how to have a basic conversation.
"A detective at the police department, actually. Well, a junior detective, that is." He grinned, oddly proud as she gasped in surprise.
"Wow, that's super cool! Aren't you a little young for that? I thought you looked pretty close to me in age." Her voice slid into a teasing tone, but she still sounded genuinely impressed, much to Izuku's delight. "Oh, I'm 20, by the way." She added, as an afterthought.
"Same here!" The light feeling in his stomach returned as she made another surprised sound. "It's true, I am a little young for the position. My partner and I are the youngest detectives they've had for a while."
"That's crazy!" He shifted slightly, a little uncomfortable with the amount of praise he was receiving. With that, she fell silent, and Izuku turned his focus to her warmth, enjoying the physical connection between them. As his anxieties melted away, his mind cleared, and several questions floated to the forefront of his mind. Questions about her. Huh. He looked into himself, trying to analyze what he was feeling, although it was pretty obvious. I want to know more about her. A lot more. He opened his mouth to ask a question, the muscles in his jaw gliding slightly along her.
"Hey, Ochako." She didn't respond, but the almost imperceptible tension that entered her neck indicated she was listening. "Why did you want to become a nurse?"
"Why? Well..." She hummed in thought. After a moment's pause, she hummed again, shorter and more resolute. "I guess because of what happened to my parents."
"Your parents?"
"Yeah..." She cleared her throat. "When I was six, there was an accident in our apartment complex. A gas explosion. My mom..." Her voice caught for a moment, and she took a shaky breath. Almost unconsciously, Izuku found himself running his other arm around her waist, and twined his fingers together over her abdomen. She shivered against his touch, but still seemed comforted by the gesture, if only a little. She took another breath, stronger this time. "My mom died instantly. My dad was still alive, but he was covered in bad burns." She shivered again, and he tightened his arms around her. "I was mostly fine, thanks to dumb luck. I had gone to the bathroom, so the blast hadn't reached me. It was just me and him..." Her voice was starting to sound wet. "I was so scared... I didn't know what to do. I just sat with him, crying my eyes out, and then... And then she came."
"She?" Izuku's voice came out low and soft.
"An EMT. Someone had called them. Her partner went to my dad, and she... just held me." She sniffled softly, and Izuku realized that she had started crying. He pulled her in even tighter, rubbing small circles on her stomach with his thumb, and one of her hands drifted to the top of his. "My whole world had been taken from me in an instant, but for one moment, one split second, she made me feel okay. Like everything was going to be alright." She hiccuped, the tears flowing freely down her cheeks.
"Ochako..." Izuku's chest was in a knot. His mind raced as he tried to think of something, anything, to comfort her.
"I never forgot that." Her voice sounded stronger, snapping Izuku from his thoughts. "That feeling of being helped. My dad was in the ICU for a few weeks before he... passed." She took another long breath, but her tears had stopped. "The whole time, they were there. The nurses, I mean. They treated my dad, but they were also there for me. They played with me, read to me, distracted me." She managed a soft chuckle. "They fed me. Took care of me. I basically lived in the ward while my dad was there, and they accepted me in. I knew from the second I walked out of there, that I wanted to do that when I got older. Find people who are at their lowest, and make them feel... safe." She sighed, rubbing at her red eyes. "Um... sorry. I didn't mean to go that far into it." Izuku gave her another squeeze, trying to convey his intent. It's okay. She giggled, hiccuping again, as both hands moving to her face as she covered her eyes. "You know, I've never really told anyone that." She paused for a moment, deep in thought. "Izuku... thank you. For listening. I don't know quite how to explain it, but... I just feel really comfortable talking to you."
"I know what you mean. I feel the same way." Izuku's eyes fluttered closed, focusing on the feeling of her against him. Her warmth emanated from her, washing over him, enveloping him in her presence. He sighed, enjoying the moment. She was his comfort, bringing him to a place he had never been. This just feels... right. He felt as if a hole inside him was being filled, one whose existence he had never really noticed until now. I think... I may want to see her more after this.
"Hey, Ochako." He spoke without hesitation, suddenly wanting to share his thoughts. "Ochako?" Soft, even breathing answered him. He smiled contentedly as she laid against him, fast asleep. Turning his attention to the window across from them, he gazed at the snow swirling past, enraptured at the sight, until his own consciousness slipped from him.
Izuku woke to the sound of sharp tapping on glass. He cracked an eye open, confused, as the sound rang out again. Behind me? Moving slowly so as to not disturb the slumbering girl against him, he tilted his head up. The window? Making the connection, his eyes widened, and he quickly moved a hand from her navel, reaching down to the hand crank that controlled the window. As he turned the handle, the window shifted down, and as the sound of the storm filtered in, a louder sound rang out over it.
"YOU FUCKING DUMB A-" The boy hovering above them paused as he took in the sight of the pair before him. "What the fuck?"
"Hey, Kacchan." Izuku kept his voice low out of respect for the sleeping Ochako, although it was likely pointless. She must be a heavy sleeper, to sleep through Kacchan's yelling.
"Hey yourself, shithead." To Izuku's surprise, his partner matched his volume, his voice barely audible over the storm. "Mind explaining what's going on?"
"Oh! Um..." Izuku felt the embarrassment creeping back into him. He paused, unable to find the ability to explain, deigning to change the subject instead. "How did you find us?"
"It was a pain in the fucking ass, that's how!" His voice rose again, before returning to a mutter. "Your mom called me in tears, cause she didn't know where you were." He scoffed, turning his head to the side. "Can't do anything without my help, huh Deku?"
"Wait, what?" He shifted his arm slowly, not wanting to disturb Ochako, as he checked his watch. We've been sleeping for hours. Shit. "Shit..." He vocalized his thought, moving his now free hand to his face. "Sorry, Kacchan, I fell asleep waiting for help..."
"Save your 'sorry'". Izuku flinched at the other boy's tone, and shifted his head to look at him. His partner's eyes bore into him with an expression demanding answers, as an evil grin slowly spread across his face. "Who's the chick?"
"Uh..." Fuck. He didn't want to explain this right now, especially to Kacchan. "Well, she's the other driver. She lost control of her car and crashed into me." The other boy's stare didn't waver, silently shooting daggers at Izuku as the unanswered question hang in the air. "And we, uh..." he cleared his throat. "Her window is broken, and same with my heat, so we were trying to stay warm." He felt the flush on his face, and several moments passed as his partner stared at him, his face as still as stone.
"Hm. About time you got a girl." Izuku's eyes widened in bewilderment as his brain processed the words.
"Wha- No! What?" The blush Izuku was sporting now put the previous one to shame. Kacchan cackled, forgetting the sleeping girl, before waving his hand.
"Don't worry about it Deku. Though we will be discussing this later." His mischievous eyes were glowing as he eyes took in the pair, burning the view into his memory. After a moment he turned, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Just hang tight, nerd. I already called a towing company..." He chuckled before continuing. "I'll be in my car. I took one of the cruisers, so you two should probably just wait here." Without waiting for a response, he trudged off through the snow, and Izuku rolled the window back up.
As he settled back against the door, he found a smile growing on his face. Thanks, Kacchan. Pulling Ochako close to him once again, he leaned into her heat, and as his eyelids grew heavy, he felt himself drifting away, perfectly entwined with her.
Ochako sighed, a small smile crossing her face as she stared out the window. It's snowing again... just like that day. Her smile widened slightly as she remembered her encounter with Izuku, but it couldn't conceal the hollow feeling in her chest. It's been ten days... if I was going to hear from him again, it would've already happened. As the smile fell from her face, she moved away from the window, back to the bedside of the room's occupant. Grabbing the chart at the foot of the bed, she surveyed it for the fourth time that hour. Not that anything had changed. The middle-aged man sleeping in the bed was her only patient currently, and he hadn't needed any treatment for hours. I don't even have work to distract me... She sighed again, solemnly this time, as she sat in the spare chair.
"God... I need to forget him..." She leaned forward, her hands covering her face, as she took a deep breath. But... I don't want to. As much as she wanted to move past it, she couldn't stop thinking about a certain junior detective she had met on her drive home. After the towing services had arrived, his coworker had driven them home. Once they were no longer alone, Izuku had barely spoken to her. As they dropped her off at her house, she had given him her phone number, but she still hadn't heard from him.
"Fuck fuck FUCK!" She rubbed at her face, as if trying to wipe away the desire to see him. Of course he didn't call you... why would he want to see you? A guy like that can do a lot better than me... Ochako knew she was wallowing in self-pity, but it was a comfortable sadness, and she could indulge in it for a little while longer. She groaned into her hands. After a silent moment filled with thoughts of beautiful green eyes, the door handle turned.
"Heeeeey 'Chako!" A nurse called out as she walked into the room. Looking up, Ochako caught sight of purple hair and heavily pierced ears.
"Hey Kyoka!" She answered her friend, forcing a smile onto her face.
"What's with the weird face?" The punk girl tilted her head slightly, staring at her with a questioning look. After a second, her dark violet eyes narrowed. "Are you still pouting over that stupid cop?"
"He's not stupid!" Ochako yelled before recoiling slightly, surprised at her own outburst. Slinking back down in her seat, she moved her gaze back to the floor, before speaking again, her voice lower now. "And he's a detective, not a cop."
"Whatever." The girl crossed her arms, cocking her head to the side. "If he can't see how amazing you are, then he's too fucking stupid to be a mall cop, let alone a detective." Ochako grinned, chucking despite her foul mood. Rising to her feet, she quickly crossed the length of the room and pulled her friend into a hug. Kyoka returned the hug tightly, before turning her head to speak. "Listen to me Ochako. You are an amazing nurse, and an even more amazing woman." She ended the hug, holding Ochako's shoulders out at arm's length. Looking deep into her eyes, a large smile crossed her face. "Someone like you will have a hundred cute detectives to choose from." Her voice lowered slightly. "You'll find someone. Trust me."
"T-thanks, Kyoka." Ochako choked back tears as she pulled her friend into another hug. I love my friends, but... I don't want a hundred cute detectives. I want him. As they held each other, a voice rang out over the intercom.
"Nurse Uraraka to the nurse's station, Nurse Uraraka to the nurse's station." Recognizing Mina's voice, Ochako broke away from Kyoka, waving quickly before exiting the room. As she made her way down the hall, the girl's words danced through her head.
Rounding the corner, she reached the nurse's station, bending over to lean on the counter. "What's up, Mina?" The station's chair spun, revealing a nurse her hair dyed hot pink.
"What's up girl!" Mina beamed up at her, barely containing her excitement. "I have a surprise for yoooou!" Ochako giggled, catching some of the girl's contagious joy.
"Okay, what is it?" She didn't particularly care what it was, as long as it distracted her from a certain green-haired detective. She cocked an eyebrow as the girl jumped from her seat, frantically pointed behind her. Ochako turned.
Oh.
Two bright emeralds shined back at her, sandwiched between a mess of green tangles and a shaky smile. "H-hey, Ochako." She stared, her jaw hanging as her brain processed the sight before her. The detective chuckled nervously at her reaction, scratching the back of his head. "I, um..." he spoke, most likely to fill the silence. "Hi!" Ignoring the high-pitched noise coming from her friend behind her, Ochako took a step towards him.
"Hey, Izuku." Swallowing her nerves, she smiled, and her heart leapt as she watched his face rise. "It's great to see you! I didn't think I'd see you again!" She blushed, worried that he'd correctly infer that she had been thinking about him. Behind her, Mina let out another squeal. "What are you doing here?"
"O-oh, I..." His face flushed ever darker, and Ochako's stomach flipped as she watched. "I just wanted to, um, check up on you, it's been over a week since the accident, and..." He trailed off, looking away.
"Isn't it obvious?!" Mina moved around the counter, placing a hand on Ochako's shoulder. "He miiiiiissed you! So, thank him!" Mina teased, as she shoved Ochako into him. Reflexively, her hands shot out, looping around his chest, and her breath caught as Izuku's hands found her hips. Looking up, her eyes caught his, and she saw the terror in his expression. But what's that look in his eyes?
Coming back to their senses, the couple pulled apart, and Ochako spun back to her pink-haired friend. "Mina, what the hell!? How could you think that's okay?"
"Ocha-" Her friend's eyes were bugging out of her skull.
"No! Seriously! That was super uncool! There's no need to make him uncomfo-"
"OCHAKO!" The girl screamed, looking ready to explode. Cut off, Ochako simply stared at her, as she pointed desperately towards Izuku. Or more accurately, where Izuku had been. "He just ran off!" No. No... Ochako's heart felt ready to burst. He came back to me, and I blew it...
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Kyoka's voice cut through her thoughts, pulling Ochako's attention to the purple-haired girl. "FUCKING GO!" She pointed in the direction he had gone, and a split second later, Ochako was running.
What am I doing? Ochako ignored the looks she got as she hurdled down the hall. He left, he doesn't want to see me... Despite her thoughts, her pace didn't slow. Before she could convince herself to stop, she had reached the hospital's entrance. Pulling the door open, she stepped out into the falling snow. She took a few steps outside, looking around frantically, before she spotted the mop of green. Izuku stood at the curb a few feet away, his hands in his pockets, staring at the ground. Ochako took a step towards him. Then another. As she drew close, he turned to face her, a lopsided smile on his face.
"Hey, uh... I forgot where I parked." He said unconvincingly, chuckling at his own expense. After an awkward pause, he looked up to the sky, sighing. "I... I'm sorry, Ochako." Taking a deep breath, he pulled his hands from his pockets, and looked down to meet her eyes. "I'm not good at... any of this. But..." A hand rose to his face, covering his eyes. Ochako took a step towards him. "Your friend's right." She took another. "I know it's weird, just showing up at your work, but..." She had drawn up close, but he still hadn't realized their proximity. "But... I did miss you. Ever since I met you, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. About seeing you again. I know this probably sounds creepy, but-" His voice stopped as her hand covered the one on his face. Wrapping her fingers around his, she tugged lightly, pulling his hand away.
"Izuku." Her heart was in her throat, beating a million times a second, but she held firm. "I... feel the same way. I've wanted to see you..." Her voice trailed off as the distance between them shrank. Their fingers separated, and his hands found her waist, while her arms looped around his neck. Her heart soared higher than she thought possible, and her eyes locked with his. As her gaze darted between his eyes and lips, she gave voice to the one thought, one feeling, one need that they were both sharing.
"I want this."
As the residual distance between them disappeared completely, their lips met, and Ochako surrendered herself completely to the moment. Outside, the storm raged, and the snow swirled. City lights twinkled on the ground, mirroring the stars shining above. In the distance, an ambulance's siren wailed, and 20 feet away, a woman laughed as she talked on the phone. All around, the earth spoke. All around, life marched on. But not here. As existence moved, rushing all around, the pair stayed still, locked in their embrace. In their own little world.
In their frozen moment.
The End
