Ochako looked at herself in front of the full length mirror in her bedroom.
She was wearing the dark blue dress she'd worn months ago in first term that had shown off her cleavage so well. It didn't hurt that it came just a couple inches above her knee too. She had remembered all the boys that had seen her in it that night had given pause for at least a second, even Katsuki.
This had to have been the first time she had ever cared so much about how she looked. She kept checking and rechecking her boobs and her legs, making sure they looked good but not so good that it was obvious she was putting so much effort in.
You're dumb. You're such an idiot, she kept warning herself. And yet, she kept on going, even going so far as to put on some makeup to punch up her eyes and stain her lips a deeper pink.
She was pinning her hair up into a bun as Nate walked by her open door and stopped when he spotted her, backing up a couple steps and peeking his head in.
"Oof," he said, taking her in with a grin, "You're not even gonna give him a fighting chance, girly. That's cruel."
Ochako blushed furiously, "Is it really that obvious? I should take it all off if it's obvious."
"Don't do that. It's not gonna be obvious if you make it seem like you're dolled up to impress the councillor," he advised, "Just bat your big brown eyes at him a couple times when we greet him and then you can make googly eyes at Ground Zero the rest of the night if you want."
"Uuuuggghhh, why do you have to make me sound so desperate?" she whined.
"To be fair," he said with authority, "I'm the king of desperation. I'd be desperate to hit that too."
"Oh my god, Nate, you are a pervert," she shrieked.
"You're just now realizing this?" he laughed, making a swift retreat before she could locate a pillow to chuck at him.
She went back to her reflection in the mirror, wondering to herself if it was enough. Wondering if she was being smart even letting hope grow in her again.
With one more check up and down her figure, she finally made the judgement that she was ready.
Meeting up with Nate, looking stunning as usual in a three piece suit, they began their trek down to the lobby.
Ochako's nerves were making her jittery the lower they went and she grabbed onto his arm for support, trying to keep herself from bouncing on the balls of her feet while they waited.
Finally, after what had to be hours, they reached the lobby and the elevator doors slid open.
She didn't immediately see Katsuki and her eyes searched the lobby, trying to pick out a head of spiky hair among the other guests. But he was nowhere to be found.
"What time is it?" she asked Nate, giving him a confused frown.
Nate fished out his phone from his pocket.
"6:35," he told her, then placed it back, "Don't worry. I can see you worrying."
He was right, she was already chewing at the inside of her cheek. Was he not coming after all? Had he changed his mind?
"We can wait for a few minutes," Nate told her calmly, pulling her toward the front of the lobby so they could be near the doors if Katsuki walked in.
Ochako just nodded, not trusting her voice to sound normal when a lump was starting to grow in her throat.
So they stood near the door for another five agonizing minutes. The whole time, she was doing her best not to search frantically and just kept her eyes on the door.
She felt so stupid. This was exactly what she shouldn't be doing. Getting her hopes up and waiting for Katsuki was such a mistake. She needed to be working on healing and getting on with her life.
"I can't do this," she told Nate, pulling on his arm to leave toward the limo waiting for them outside.
"Are you sure?" he asked, concern lacing his voice as he let her drag him along.
"I don't know," she admitted, closing in on the black vehicle, "I just don't want to be standing there like an idiot all night."
"That's fine," Nate soothed, his hand going to her back to rub at it gently.
They finally reached the limo and she reached out to open the door but another large, masculine hand reached it first.
Ochako started and looked up into the breathless, exerted face of Katsuki.
She backed up from him a step and let him open the door, his crimson eyes not leaving hers as he breathed heavily, trying to cool down.
"Ground Zero…" she heard Nate from behind her with a clipped tone she'd never heard him take before as he laid a hand on her shoulder, "We didn't think you were going to make it."
Katsuki tore his gaze away from her to look over at the man, his eyebrows notching up in apparent surprise as well.
Finally beginning to catch his breath, Katsuki said, "The train was late. I damn near blasted my way all the way over here from the station."
That explained the shortness of breath and the taxed expression on his face.
Ochako took him in now as she realized he was dressed nicely as well in a maroon dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the top two buttons of the collar undone. Simple dress slacks adorned his bottom half that looked like they were stretched a bit trying to contain his thighs. Looking at them made her mouth go dry and she had to glance back up, jolting as she realized he'd caught her ogling him.
Her cheeks burned.
"Alright," Nate said, his voice returning to a more jovial tenor as he stepped into the car, "maybe try to be early next time and that won't happen."
Ochako widened her eyes at Nate as she ducked in after him, giving him a surprised look for the way he was talking to Katsuki. Was he being protective of her? And Katsuki wasn't snapping back at him. Was he really just going to let that slide?
He just gave her a look back with a nod as if to say, "I've got your back."
She took a seat next to him on the long bench seat, leaving Katsuki to sit alone at the back as they took off toward their destination.
Geez, why does he have to look like that? she thought to herself, inspecting him again out of the corner of her eye.
She remembered the wedding they'd worked together and didn't remember him looking this distracting when she'd tried to force him into gelling his hair down. She noticed now that his hair was still jutting out in every direction. He'd made no attempt at taming it for tonight. More was the better, though, because his wild hair was part of what made him seem so irresistible.
It sort of stung her that he hadn't even paused at how she looked. Even now, his scarlet gaze was directed out the window watching the buildings pass by. Maybe she had needed to try harder?
Stop! You're better than this! You know you look good! she admonished herself.
Nate, a man not even interested in women, had said she looked good. Maybe Katsuki just hadn't taken the time to notice.
She shifted a little in her seat, crossing her legs and letting her skirt ride up a little further on her as she turned to Nate who was watching her with a knowing look.
He ducked his head to bring his mouth close to her ear when he said, "You trying to make him cry before we even get to the restaurant?"
She backed up from him, giving him a bewildered look.
He pulled her closer again, "He's clenching that fist under his chin looking like he's trying to break his own fingers and you go and show him more leg?"
Ochako pulled away and discreetly slid her eyes over Katsuki's way.
Nate was right, the fist he had his chin on as he seemed to look leisurely out the window was white-knuckled despite the fact that nothing else about him gave away how tense he was. But was Nate right that it was because of her?
She pulled her skirt back down her legs, feigning as though she'd just noticed it had ridden too high for her liking.
Her heart skipped a beat, realizing Nate had been right as Katsuki let out a long sigh like he'd been holding in a breath for a while, then he finally turned toward them, his eyes going to the prince, "Where are we going?"
"Oh no where super fancy," he answered, "Councillor Sakai loves his steak so we're headed to a steakhouse. It's only a few more minutes away."
Ochako's mouth watered. She didn't get to eat steak very often.
She looked over at Katsuki, letting her excitement show and he let his attention shift to her, giving her a smirk when he saw her face.
"Hungry, floaty?"
The way he said it sounded so lewd. Or was that her imagination? What was wrong with her?!
She looked away from him again and nodded shyly.
"Great! Cause we're here!" Nate exclaimed as the limo pulled up to the curb next to a very fancy looking steakhouse that even had the words written up at the top in English.
Katsuki opened the door and exited as quickly as possible, waiting to the side while she and Nate stepped out as well.
Nate stepped up to the host and mentioned his reservations which the host nodded at immediately and ushered them in through the restaurant and to an area near the bar which had all kinds of incredible libations shelved behind it.
She saw Nate eyeballing some of the bottles back there and already knew he was picking one out. For her part, Ochako knew she had no interest in drinking again, especially not tonight. The last thing she needed was for her inhibitions to be stripped away to allow her to make a complete fool of herself. She did that enough on her own.
When they reached a private knook of the restaurant where their table was located, a relatively young man (for a councillor at least, she thought) stood and came around to greet them. He had simple brown hair, hazel eyes, and a fair amount of stubble that looked like it had grown in over the last couple days. A smattering of grey hairs peppered his temple, making him look rather distinguished in her opinion.
"Councillor," Nate greeted, bowing politely to the older man, "nice to see you again."
The councillor bowed back graciously, then took note of Ochako and Katsuki behind.
"Ah, yes, this is Uravity and Ground Zero. My bodyguards for my visit while I'm here in Japan. I hope it's alright that they join us? I can get them their own table if you'd like," Nate suggested.
The councillor's eyes alighted on her and she bowed along with Katsuki. At least she let herself assume he bowed.
Right right right! Nate said make it seem like you're trying to impress the councillor, she recalled, not wanting to miss her chance to have an excuse for caring so much about her looks.
"It's nice to meet you, Councillor Sakai-sama," she said, giving him a kind smile and letting her lashes lower slightly.
Nate gave her a thumbs-up out of the other man's range of vision.
"Likewise," he replied distractedly, looking somewhat sheepish now.
"No, it won't be a problem if they join us," he told Nate, going back to sit down. Nate followed suit, sitting himself across from him.
Before she stepped forward to also seat herself, a rough hand caught her elbow.
"What the hell was that?" Katsuki growled low into her ear.
Ochako nearly melted at that gravelly voice so close to her.
She had to catch her breath quickly as she replied in a whisper, "Nate said he wanted to impress the councillor. I'm just trying to do that."
"By giving him flirty little smiles and making him sport a semi with your little outfit?" he shot back.
"What is a- No, I don't want to know. Can we just sit? They're going to think we're being rude," she hissed.
He let her go and she entered the little private area, sitting next to Nate. Katsuki took a seat at the head of the table nearest to her, as the councillor was seated on the other side of it.
"Sorry about that," she said humbly, "hero stuff and all."
The councillor nodded while Nate rested his cheek on his fist, giving them a look that said he was not at all convinced.
It turned out to be a rather uninteresting dinner, all things considered.
The councillor ordered some very fine sake for the table that he wished for everyone to take part in.
Ochako poured the smallest amount she could from the bottle and drank once with everyone else at the table out of respect. She nearly gagged trying to swallow it though. Sake was not for her.
Nate drank wine along with his dinner and had consumed nearly the whole thing himself before it was through.
Katsuki also didn't drink more than the one shot of sake, though his cup seemed to be considerably fuller than hers had been before he drank it down.
Nate and Councillor Sakai talked shop over dinner and none of it interested her. It was all about economic stuff, trades, other politicians they did or didn't like. She had to stifle a yawn or two before the end.
Katsuki stoically sat, not really paying much attention, just staring off into the middle-distance or focusing on his plate. She occasionally traded looks with him over what was being said by the other two men or sometimes just because she could.
"I think we're gonna need to help Nate out of here," she whispered to him after seeing the prince nearly spill his glass of wine for the third time and burst out laughing at his clumsiness.
Councillor Sakai wasn't far behind him, having taken a few more shots of the sake himself.
"Probably," Katsuki said, rolling his eyes and giving Nate a pointed look that went unnoticed.
"A small price to pay for this dinner, though," she commented, rubbing her stomach appreciatively.
"Yeah," he agreed, his eyes following her hand down.
Ochako swallowed, noticing how his gaze lingered on her.
"Um…" she began, her face flushing, unsure of how to go about asking her question. His eyes came back up to her face. "I was wondering if, when we get back to the hotel, you'd want to-"
"Uravity, honey, my most darling, dearest friend in the whole world," Nate broke into their conversation, "I do believe it's time for us to leave."
He went to stand and nearly stumbled just doing that.
Ochako stood immediately and went to his side, lending him her arm to stabilize himself with. She wasn't sure she should actually carry him out of the restaurant with the councilor watching if that might tarnish his reputation somehow.
Councilor Sakai stood as well, not quite as drunk as she had initially thought he was, and came around the table, putting a hand to the small of her back, "I can help him back to the car, you don't need to burden yourself."
Katsuki, who she hadn't even seen stand, cut between them to get to Nate, not caring at all about propriety and throwing the prince over his shoulder.
"We've got him," he snarled, then turned to her with a fierce glow in his eyes that made her heart skip a beat, "let's go."
"Oh," Nate said from his back, "this is pretty nice, actually."
Ochako turned to the kindly older man bowing, "Sorry about… the both of them. We'll handle the bill. Thank you for an enjoyable dinner."
"Thank you, young lady," he replied, bowing politely in return.
"Floaty," Katsuki growled at her, putting a hand on her waist and pulling her away toward the exit.
He removed it the moment they were out of the vicinity of the bar and Ochako grabbed Nate's card to pay at the front while Katsuki carried him outside to get the limo to pull around. Both of them were relatively well practiced in handling these tasks, having worked with Nate before. Although carrying him was rather new.
By the time she got outside, Katsuki had Nate packed into the limo already and she took up her seat next to him, letting him lean against her for support.
"Uravity," Nate whispered hotly in her ear, his breath smelling purely of alcohol.
She glanced at Katsuki, who watched them, eyes unreadable, saying nothing.
"What," she responded.
"I thought you should know. I was back there a while and his ass is unbelievable."
Ochako's eyes went wide and she had to keep from covering her face with her hands as it grew hot at his words.
"Nate!" she hissed at him quietly, "No more talking!"
Nate breathed a velvety chuckle as he said, "I'm just saying."
She chanced a look over at Katsuki who still watched them but didn't look like he had heard anything at least.
She didn't need Nate to tell her about his ass, though. She'd ridden on his back often enough to have seen the curve of that part of him and gotten a plenty good idea what he was working with. She was kind of disappointed with herself, though, for having never copped a feel any time she'd had the chance to let her hands roam his body in the past. He'd gotten to do so to her after all.
"What were you wondering?" Katsuki asked abruptly, causing her to abandon her train of thought and look up at him.
"What?" she asked, confused.
"At dinner," he reminded her, his eyes pinning her where she sat, "you said you were wondering if I'd want to….?"
Ochako ducked her head slightly, trying to staunch the heat she was practically glowing with. She'd intended to ask him to come up to the penthouse with them, with her. To do what, she wasn't sure. She just didn't want her night to end with him. Now the notion seemed ridiculous to ask. She was hoping for too much, pushing her luck too far.
"It was nothing," she said, trying to brush it off.
"Shitty lie," he retorted, frowning at her.
"It's nothing," she said again, more firmly this time as she felt her blush spread down to her neck.
She turned away from him to look back at Nate who just slouched against her with a smile on his face, looking comfortable but completely out of it.
To her relief, Katsuki didn't push her further on the matter and they were able to ride in silence the rest of the way to the hotel.
As they stepped out of the limo, he waited for them once more, and shut the door when she finally got Nate to stumble his way out.
They stood awkwardly in front of the hotel entrance for a few seconds, Ochako unsure if she should really ask him to come up, not at all wanting to have to tell him goodnight and quite possibly goodbye for a long time, if not forever.
The silence hanging between them was oppressive as Katsuki stared at her, indecision swirling in his eyes. Did he not want to go either? Was he realizing, just as she was, how permanent this parting could be?
"Ugh, I'm bored," Nate practically whined, "It's not that late, let's watch a movie when we get upstairs."
Sighing a little too heavily, Ochako turned to her wobbly friend who had hold of her arm to keep his balance.
"Ok, I guess," she told him, sweeping hair back from his face that had fallen in his eyes. He was such a mess when he was drunk.
She turned back to Katsuki with sad eyes, preparing to say her goodbyes, and his eyes met hers with a heat that made something her chest compress painfully.
"You're coming too, right?" Nate's voice came again,obviously directed at Katsuki.
He didn't look away from her, a question in his molten gaze now.
"I was wondering if you wanted to come up," she said, her heart leaping into her throat at finally getting up the courage to spit out her original question.
He was quiet for a few more seconds as his ruby eyes burned into hers, making it harder and harder for her to breathe.
Finally, he tore his eyes away from her and addressed Nate, "Fine."
He didn't wait for their reactions and headed toward the automatic door.
"You gotta be a little braver than that, girly," Nate whispered into her ear once more as he threw an arm around her, resting his hand on her shoulder as though out of friendship but it was mostly for his own balance.
They rode the elevator up in silence as Nate began shucking off his jacket.
He threw it in a heap on the counter when they got up to the penthouse and she saw Katsuki halt a few steps in, looking around as discreetly as possible.
"It's all pretty much the same, right?" she said with a grin as she unbuckled and removed her heels
He nodded and walked further in toward the living room after her when she was done.
"What do you wanna watch?" Nate asked, ungracefully hopping over the back of the couch to claim the left of it.
Ochako looked at Katsuki but he shrugged. Why was he acting so awkward all of a sudden?
She smirked at him and said to Nate, "How about that new puppy movie?"
Katsuki scowled at her. She knew there was no way he would ever want to watch such an overtly sappy movie but she wanted to force him into a more open discourse. He'd been so standoffish so far tonight.
She could hear Nate's grin when he replied, "Oh! You know I've been wanting to watch that…"
"How about that new horror movie with the family that eats people?" Katsuki offered up, a dangerous glint in his eye as he lifted his brows in challenge.
Now it was her turn to scowl. She wasn't a huge fan of horror movies despite them not really scaring her. She just didn't like all the blood and guts in most of them.
"Oh, ah, yeah… that's a thought," Nate said unconvincingly.
"Or maybe that romcom where the princess and the regular school girl swap places," she said with a raise of her own eyebrows, hands on her hips.
"Or maybe that heist movie where they rob a bank to expose corrupt heroes," he countered.
Damn, that one actually sounds interesting, she thought to herself and she saw his eyes spark, noticing her apparent interest. She set her jaw again but she was too late. He knew.
Nate had stopped responding but she wasn't giving this game up yet.
"Or maybe that cute animated one with the mice-"
"My god, this is harrowing," Nate exclaimed, "Fine, I'll pick it and we're watching a comedy. Now get over here." He motioned to the space left on the sofa.
Ochako threw a self-satisfied look at Katsuki as though she had won and he sent her another one of those glares that wasn't a glare before she moved around the couch, taking up a seat next to Nate.
She wondered where Katsuki might sit as there was a recliner and still enough space on her right for a seat if he so chose.
She saw him considering the same as he came around as well.
These decisions had never been so complicated before. They would always just sit next to or away from each other with no extra thought to it. Even at her parents' house, she'd had no problem pulling him down to sit next to her. Now her nerves were bouncing around inside her like those little pieces of snow in a snow globe when it got shaken up.
"You gotta be a little braver than that," Nate from 15 minutes ago reminded her.
Ochako caught his hand and pulled him down next to her, quickly letting him go and looking away from him to Nate who was searching through the channels for a movie to rent. She wanted to be brave but she wasn't that brave yet.
Katsuki was rigid as she pulled him down but he relaxed into the couch a few seconds later.
"This one," he said casually as Nate landed on a comedy about a group of friends going on a road trip.
Nate looked at her and she shrugged.
"What, don't trust my taste?" Katsuki grinned wickedly.
"Well now I'm questioning it," Ochako said with a wary look at his expression.
He nudged her gently and she pushed him back.
Nate started the movie with a shake of his head.
Ochako burst out laughing, practically cackling, as she watched a group of college age kids getting into yet more trouble on the road to… she couldn't even remember where.
It had only been about a half hour and she was not at all regretful they'd chosen this movie. It was hilarious and full of all kinds of low brow and slapstick humor.
Nate had been laughing at first too but he'd calmed into something more of a chuckle here and there. His alcohol addled brain must've been finally exhausting him.
Katsuki laughed often as well, the laugh that she hadn't heard since the last time they'd been in this penthouse together. It was startling and intoxicating for her every time it happened but she never got up the nerve to actually look over at his smiling face.
Ochako did her best to remain on her cushion in the middle of the couch but she would occasionally lean into Nate's side and vice versa.
Eventually, Nate leaned into her, putting his arm around her and his head on her shoulder.
"I'm tired, girly," he said in a whimsical voice.
"Good," she laughed, petting his raven black hair, "you need to sleep off that bottle of wine."
She saw Katsuki watching them from the corner of her eye but he turned back to the movie before she was able to look his way.
They stayed this way for another few minutes until Nate's body slumped onto her completely as he fell asleep.
His full torso weight was uncomfortable and he was starting to slide so Ochako scooched over a little bit to give him more room to lay at least his top half on the couch, gently laying his head in her lap.
Ochako's heart stopped when she shifted her legs to cushion Nate's head more comfortably and her knee met Katsuki's as his legs were spread relatively wide.
She stilled, her eyes slowly moving to see her bare knee against his clothed one. She could tell he'd stilled as well, not reacting to the movie any longer.
Her heart beat wildly as she looked down at the smallest connection between them that somehow had her whole body on alert.
She feared he might pull away. He had lots of room to move his knee in after all.
But he didn't.
He kept it there, not moving.
Katsuki loosened up once more, letting more of his knee relax against hers and her body felt like it was on fire.
Ochako could hardly breathe as her eyes went back to the screen, too much of a coward to look up at him.
She did her best to relax again but that pressure against her knee had her whole body crackling with energy. Any time he brushed against her or laughed even minutely, she could feel it to the tips of her toes. What was wrong with her?
They watched the rest of the movie like that. Nate's sleeping head in her lap, her knee resting gingerly against his.
When the credits rolled, Ochako wondered how long she could stay like this with him before he moved away from her. But Nate's head was getting heavy on her lap and it wasn't like anything was going to happen with him there, even if he was asleep.
"I gotta get him in bed," she said, lifting Nate's head and floating him so she could stand and put his arm around her shoulders so she could take him to his room.
Before she could get a few steps, Katsuki took up the spot on the other side of him, putting Nate's other arm around his shoulder.
She considered telling him that she didn't need help but didn't see the point in doing or saying anything that might push him away.
They brought Nate into his room and Ochako unbuttoned and pulled off his vest, then untucked his shirt before laying him on the bed. He would cover himself if he got cold or undress himself further if he got hot. She just wanted him to be able to sleep comfortably.
They exited the room and she shut his door behind them.
She walked hesitantly down the hall, not wanting to be the first to mention how familiar this situation was.
Then she realized abruptly that this was the end of the night once again and, most likely, the end of her time with him. He was going back to his regular patrols tomorrow.
Suddenly she wished the elevator were miles away instead of yards.
"How much longer will Nate be here?" Katsuki asked disinterestedly, as though just trying to make conversation.
He never tried to make conversation, though. Was he actually trying to ask her how much longer she would be here? She wanted to believe he was but she also didn't want to get her hopes up that it was for any positive reason. He could've been asking so he knew how long she was going to torture him with her presence.
"He's here two weeks this time," she told him casually, "so another week after this one."
He didn't ask or say anything after that and they reached the elevator too soon.
Ochako's heart sank further and further as he hit the elevator button.
"Thank you for coming today," she said, feeling her face heat slightly, "not that I needed the help or anything…."
He lifted a blonde brow at her, "I never said you needed it."
That comment pricked at her for some reason. What an obvious lie.
"Well, I mean, you did because you showed up without being asked" she commented putting a hand to her hip, "but it's fine because Nate liked being able to hang out with you again."
Now who was the liar?
"You never asked why I was there. You just assumed that I was undermining you," he argued back, his brows lowering.
"And, I assume, you're gonna tell me you weren't?"
He gave her a hard look, his expression irritated, "I've never once underestimated you or went easy on you, now you're gonna act like I have all along? Tch."
She considered this. Technically, he was right. He'd only ever assumed she was strong and capable. In fact, he'd depended on her ability plenty of times, knowing that she could pull through.
"Fine, then why were you there?" she asked, crossing her arms.
She thought he might be too stubborn to answer her now that she'd copped an attitude with him, but he did to her surprise, "I had an in, Edgeshot said I should take it. He said to trail Nate as long as I needed to if I thought I could get more info on Miyake."
"You could've told me," she chided.
"You could've let me tell you," he shot back.
She pouted, not wanting to admit that he had her again. The minute she'd seen him, she hadn't given him a chance to explain himself before marching up to him and giving him a piece of her mind.
"Fine," she spat with contempt, "I'm sorry I assumed you were undermining me. But also you're welcome for letting you come and do your little recon mission."
Katsuki lowered his lids like he was unamused by her attitude, "This is Lurkers jurisdiction, you know. I had more right to be there than you."
She snorted, "But would you have even been there if it weren't for me and Nate?"
"Rrrrrgh, why are you being so impossible?" he growled, "You can just say thanks for being there and leave it at that."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" she snapped, "Me to thank you for just being around and existing."
"Yeah," he snapped back just as quickly, his expression showing more and more frustration, "I probably would like that if you could stop being such a brat for five seconds."
"A fucking what?!" she shrieked, her face growing hotter as adrenaline shot through her veins.
"I said, you're being a brat, pink-cheeks," he growled, poking her cheek where she, no doubt, had pink splotches staining them.
Fury bright as a flame rose up in Ochako as she smacked his hand away viciously.
Katsuki's crimson eyes glowed a warning that she wholeheartedly ignored.
"And you're being an arrogant know-it-all jackass, like usual," she barked back, "and you don't get to call me your little pet names anymore. You lost that right."
What was she doing?! She liked when he called her those names! She was screwing herself over by trying to hit him low! Stupid stupid stupid!
"I'll call you what I want, pink cheeks," he growled again, not phased at all by the boundary she'd laid, "What are you gonna do about it, brat?"
Katsuki's eyes flamed with challenge and Ochako thought she might burn alive with the rage that flared inside of her.
"You're such a bastard," she breathed just as the elevator finally reached their floor.
As the bell chimed its arrival, Ochako launched herself at him, capturing his lips with her own and kissed him with fervor.
Katsuki easily caught her and responded as if he'd been expecting it, waiting for it.
His lips were soft and warm and welcoming as he let her tongue pass to meet with his own.
The taste and the caress and the way his soft growls issued from his chest felt so familiar, it was like shifting a loose gear back into place in her life and suddenly everything made sense again. Everything felt real and vibrant around her instead of the subdued, desaturated world she had been forced to endure these past few months.
His hands at her waist, pulling her into him felt like the comfort blanket she never knew she needed as she pawed at his chest, unable to help running her fingers over the thick muscle there.
He groaned deliciously when she took his bottom lip into her mouth and sucked on it seductively then went to kissing and nipping at his neck.
Removing his hands from her hips, he began pulling the pins from her hair, running his fingers through it when he finished and it fell down her back as though it were a toy he was endlessly fascinated with.
Eventually, he tired of toying with it and he grabbed a fistful instead, eliciting a gasp from her lips as he pulled her head back from his neck so he could claim her mouth again.
The hand not in her hair ran delicately over the curve of her ass and cupped it, pulling her closer yet.
He grunted into her mouth when she audaciously pushed her thigh between his legs and lifted it, caressing his groin lightly.
The hand on her ass pushed and squeezed, willing her to keep it up.
Ochako moaned, feeling drunk on the way his breath shuddered every time she pushed her leg back between his and his hardness throbbed against her.
She pulled back from him, looking into his heavy-lidded eyes full of lust and some other emotion that clouded them.
"I missed you so much," she whispered with adoration she was otherwise unable to express, before taking his lips with her own, more gently this time.
Katsuki pulled his hands away and gently placed them at her neck, his thumbs on her cheeks, like he had once the first time he'd kissed her.
He let his movements slow and his kiss deepened, becoming less feverish, more loving.
I've missed you too, his kiss told her and she clutched at his shirt, her heart aching with the love she let pour in.
Then he suddenly inhaled sharply and pushed back from her as though she'd just burned him.
The way he looked at her when she looked up at him, confused, was that of torment and fear.
"Ochako," he said quietly, his voice weak, "I can't do this."
What the fuck?! the voice in her head screamed.
"What? Why?" she asked in a strained voice, already feeling that blissful world she thought she'd glimpsed in his arms shatter like glass back into that colorless hell she'd known before.
"We were just- You were-" she didn't know how to describe or argue the evidence she had of his obviously shared desire to reconnect. He'd willingly accompanied her and Nate to the Miyake estate and to dinner. He'd agreed to come up! He'd kept his knee pressed to hers. He'd kissed her back!
"I know, I shouldn't have," he said, his voice sounding harsh like he was admonishing himself.
The elevator dinged again, startling her. The damned traitor. It decided to cut in just in time to remind him he had an easy getaway?
"Don't you fucking do this to me again, Bakugo Katsuki!" she yelled at him, rage transforming her features even as tears streamed from her eyes.
She grasped at his arm, his hand, anything. But he slid from her grip as though he were practically ethereal and stepped onto the elevator.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly, his voice and eyes conveying that he really meant it.
"Don't tell me that! How dare you say that to me for the first time now?!" she cried, her tears not letting up, her voice ripped apart by her pain.
He averted his eyes away from her and turned as the doors began to close. She wanted to stop them. She wanted to follow him but knew that would earn her worse pain for her effort.
"I hate you! You fucking asshole!" she screamed at him, "I've been dying without you! I hate you so much!"
His jaw tightened and his head dropped into his hand just before the door closed and the elevator was moving down.
Ochako screamed in uncontrollable rage at the elevator doors and punched them, denting the metal slightly.
Sliding slowly to the floor, she hugged her arms and squeezed them until they shook.
Warm arms surrounded her suddenly, pulling her into a firm chest.
"Nate," she choked out, "I fucking hate him so much. I wish I'd never worked with him. I wish I never knew him."
"He's an unequaled idiot, darling," Nate said warmly in a low, soothing tone.
Ochako allowed him to coax her up off the floor and lead her into his room.
"Come on," he said in the same tone, "lay down. Let it all out. I'm here."
He lifted the sheets for her to get under them, then covered her up to her chin.
Coming around the other side of the bed, he got under the covers as well, both still dressed in their dinner clothes, neither caring.
He pulled her into his chest again and petted her hair, waiting for her tears to stop.
Ochako fell asleep, tears still staining her cheeks, listening to Nate's slow breaths behind her head.
Waking up was miserable. Her eyelids stuck to each other and she had to pull them apart before opening her eyes.
There was no grace period between unconsciousness and consciousness this time. Her dreams had been no reprieve from those crimson orbs. They'd followed her with their look of regret and self-loathing.
She'd known she was being foolish last night. She'd warned herself not to be an idiot. But she'd been so sure that he felt the same, she'd run headlong into disaster.
Why did he have to hurt her this way again? Why did he have to realize he didn't want this after he'd made her fall in love with him? It felt like some kind of sick joke.
"Hey, girly," Nate's kind, soothing voice sounded behind her, "are you going to be okay for today or should I reschedule my meetings?"
The last thing she wanted was to have to sit around all day having to relive last night's regret or beat herself up over her mistakes. It had nearly driven her insane the last time she'd had nothing to do after graduation.
She couldn't do that again. She needed to get out.
"No, let's do whatever we gotta do."
"Do you just want me to fill the day up with all kinds of meaningless activities?" he asked, seeming to understand what she wanted.
She nodded, rubbing at her eyes.
"Okay then, get your ass dressed and let's get out of here," he smiled, giving her a pat to her back.
So she did, taking a shower and trying to scrub away the grime and sweat and heartbreak of the night before.
When she dressed once more in her suit and threw her hair up into its usual ponytail, she started to feel more like herself, pushing away the feelings of rejection and bitterness, strengthening her resolve and sense of responsibility as a hero.
"Okay," she said to Nate as she strolled into the entrance area, "I'm good."
It was oddly jarring to find Mt. Lady waiting for them in the lobby when they reached the bottom floor, looking cheery.
"Uravity, long time, no see," she said as they approached, pulling her into a hug, "and Prince Nathaniel, I'm so pleased to see you again. I trust Uravity is treating you as well as ever?"
"Of course she is, she's my favorite person," he replied with his winningest smile.
"Did He send you here?" Ochako asked her, trying her hardest not to sound bitter.
"Who?" Mt. Lady asked in confusion, "Oh! Ohhh! Ground Zero. I had heard he was sniffing around these parts." She tossed a sheaf of her platinum hair behind her shoulder, "No, I came to see how things have been going and was hoping I could shadow you two for the day."
"It's a pretty busy day," Nate warned, "I hope you're ready for that."
"Oh, I've had to punch villains all day without rest for hours. I'll be fine," she assured him.
Ochako hoped she was being honest and found no reason to distrust her. Another person to talk with and distract her from the dark cloud hanging over her would actually be a blessing.
So she, Nate, and Mt. Lady spent the day riding the town car around the city, making stops at fancy estates and political buildings, visiting various important people, many of which were excited to see such a well-known hero trailing behind him.
Ochako was able to keep herself busy, especially with Mt. Lady at her side, keeping a solid stream of conversation going regarding hero work and the ins and outs of life at her agency. She was actually making her miss Mt. Office a lot.
Mt. Lady slid into their group dynamic quickly, getting along with her and Nate easily and always making the mood lighter with her carefree attitude. It reminded Ochako of why she enjoyed working for her before and what she wished she were like sometimes.
Back at her smaller agency was nice and peaceful and calming in its own way. But Mt. Lady reminded her of all of the most exciting things she forgot she had wished for as a hero and now made her wish for again.
But she'd dreamed of those things most richly when she'd stood next to Him and shared in his vision.
He was living it still, despite her not being there.
She was cowering and licking her wounds in safety and ease.
"I wasn't being completely honest with you when I said I just wanted to see how things were going today," Mt. Lady said as they rode back to the hotel from the final errand of the day.
"Oh?" Ochako asked, her heart sinking, fearing that He really had sent her in some messed up attempt to make her feel better or distract her.
"Yes, Uravity, I came here hoping to tempt you into letting me steal you away to work for me at my agency again. It was such a pleasure having you before and you are a spectacular hero, with or without Ground Zero."
Ochako's spirits lifted finding out why she had really been there. It'd had nothing to do with Him after all… She wanted her back at her agency… She valued her…
Nate smiled approvingly, lifting his eyebrows at her to nudge her on to answer.
She sighed.
"I… I'm so flattered," she said honestly, "Thank you so much for asking me to come back. And I really want to but-" she shifted her eyes to Nate who only watched her for her response, "but I don't really get along with Ground Zero anymore. Like… at all. I don't think I could work at an agency he's affiliated with. And that's not me saying it's me or him. I want him to stay with the Lurkers doing what he loves. I just… can't be around him."
Mt. Lady gave her a knowing look of sympathy, "I understand, Uravity. I'm sorry things ended so badly between you two. I hope something changes eventually to make you change your mind."
Ochako shrugged, "Maybe. You never know." Though, she was pretty sure nothing would make her okay with working around him again. Maybe when he started his own agency she could come back…
The car stopped at the front of the hotel and all three got out, Mt. Lady turning to her again.
"Well there will always be a place for you. I'd love for you to work for me again," she hugged her again, then gave one to Nate as well.
"Thank you," Ochako said with a genuine smile she mostly felt for the first time that day.
The next couple days Ochako did her best to keep moving forward, letting herself heal and focus on her work.
He was gone. He knew what he wanted and it wasn't her. She had to accept that. She had to stop the hope she felt creeping into her sometimes.
'What ifs' and 'should haves' did nothing to help her.
So she pushed forward and stopped trying to look back at the painful pieces of the love she'd barely gotten the chance to nurture behind her.
They finished their last day of work and she was excited that for the entirety of the up and coming week, she would be able to take Nate around sightseeing all of the amazing places in Tokyo and the surrounding area.
"Mt. Lady offered to take me out for drinks tonight," Nate told her that evening as the sun was setting, casting the living room in a pink glow.
They sat together on the couch, continuing their binge of the drama they had begun days ago, but he was getting up now, putting his suit jacket back on.
"I assume she's aware of your… preferences?" she asked him, quirking a brow.
"Well," he laughed nervously, "I would hope so. If not, she'll be pretty disappointed pretty quickly."
Ochako let out a small laugh, "Do you want me to come with you?"
"Do you want to come with me?" he asked, an offer in his words. He wanted to see her happy again, she could tell.
She hadn't been planning on going out tonight. She was so tired and anxious to start their journey tomorrow.
"Well, since I assume you'll be safe with Mt. Lady I'd rather stay, if that's okay with you."
He smiled at her, petting her head like an older brother might, "It's fine, girly. Get some rest. Relax. Watch a movie."
She nodded, giving him the best smile she could muster.
Nate went around the couch and pressed the button for the elevator.
"Have fun," she called, turning back to the TV.
"You too," he chuckled.
He disappeared into the elevator when it came and Ochako was alone for the first time in a while in the penthouse.
She tried not to consider her loneliness as she turned it off and went to take a bath.
Baths made her feel much more relaxed and cleansed. If there were something she needed, it was a cleansing body and soul.
So she soaked, putting on calming music and just letting all of her worries roll off of her back.
She must've spent an hour in there until she heard the elevator out in the entrance ding and she frowned, wondering what could have possibly gone wrong for Nate to be back so soon.
Drying herself off and draining the tub, Ochako dressed in the nightwear she'd laid out for herself.
"So, I take it she wasn't aware of your preferences," she giggled, walking down the hall to greet him.
But it wasn't Nate who greeted her as the elevator came into view.
No. Please, no, her mind begged, the smirk she'd been wearing melted from her face.
Her eyes met those of impending devastation as Katsuki stared back at her from the entrance.
A/N: "What the eff, Moofy? Why you posting in the daytime all of sudden?" Idk. I finish a chapter and I proofread it once before getting it out to you. There is no schedule. So I finish at 5am, it's posted at 6am.
Mmm still keeping my word with that no angsty chapter end. But LOL the cliffhanger thooooo
Oh ya, I am moving on Wednesday from Florida to Utah so I'll be driving for literal days which means I may or may not be able to post the next chapter quickly depending on just how incompetent I am at posting on Wattpad, AO3, and FFnet all mobile. I know you all REALLY want to know what happens so I will TRY to post it before I make the move. I've been writing on it a ton already so it shouldn't take much longer. Here's hoping, fam.