It started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this? -The Killers
A few weeks passed by, and Uraraka as well as Bakugo were annoyed with the new arrangement regarding their sidekicks. Not that they weren't full of potential with one possessing an air manipulation quirk and the other a ground-type quirk, but it certainly kept the two pros from being able to flirt as much as they usually did on the job. And with a power team like Ground Zero and Uravity, they weren't that much help. Uraraka personally would try to offer tips and advice anytime an opportunity presented itself. Bakugo would yell and boss them around, but they seemed unfazed and would always do exactly as he ordered. While abrasive, Bakugo was the type of person to demand respect simply because of the way he carried himself. It was one of his best qualities.
Today had been like most days in recent weeks. None of them had received any updates about Sato or his whereabouts. It felt as if he had dropped off the grid since the murder of the police chief Kobayashi in Magome. Uraraka's chest would always feel so heavy when she thought of him and his unjust death. It had been at least a month and frankly, the anticipation of Sato's arrival or the fear of who he would go after next on his list made her more nauseous than her quirk ever did.
Another weight pressed on her chest every day when she arrived at work.
Deku had looked like he wanted to say something multiple times over the past few weeks, but he either changed his mind or she would avoid him whenever she could. She thought of how she'd finally snapped at him, letting out her anger for the heartbreak he'd caused a few years ago. But now, thinking about it, she felt rather silly. She didn't understand why she felt so awkward around him. She just always reacted based on instinct.
Although, she still hadn't told Bakugo about it. Maybe that's why she felt so anxious? She did her best not to dwell. If all went well, she would have no need to tell him anything. She didn't want to risk a fight over something that didn't mean anything, especially when it came to matters involving Deku.
She went to the locker rooms to change out of her hero suit when they returned from patrol that day. She hung her suit in the locker and shoved her boots and other pieces in the bottom before she let the locker fall shut with a clang and began pulling on her civilian clothes.
Changing into less recognizable clothes before they left for the day had been another precaution Todoroki had insisted on and she knew Bakugo was next door in the men's locker room doing much the same as she was. They'd agreed to meet at his car after they'd both changed and she didn't want to keep him waiting too long, so she quickly tied her hair up in a ponytail, laced up her shoes, and exited the locker room only to find that someone had been waiting for her. She felt her heart drop to the pit of her stomach.
Deku stood just outside of the locker rooms, dressed in some of his civilian clothes with a backpack slung over one shoulder. He looked weary. She'd been tense around him ever since he talked to her the other day. With the new arrangements for their safety, he didn't really get many chances to get her alone to try to talk to her again. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable, but he feared that it was exactly what he had done. He wanted that to end, and the only way to make that happen was to clear the air. "Hey, Uraraka. Sorry to surprise you like this, I just thought we could talk for a minute."
Bakugo, meanwhile, was also in the men's locker room changing into civilian clothes. He sighed, letting the day roll off his shoulders. These new sidekicks were so annoying. Half the time he had to tell them what to do. Which, admittedly, he enjoyed immensely, but the whole purpose of having them follow him and Uraraka around was for added protection. He couldn't help but feel like if Sato did show up, they'd spend more time protecting the sidekicks rather than the other way around.
And now he couldn't just kiss Uraraka whenever he wanted, in an alley hidden from the civilians, in their favorite mochi cafe on break, none of it. They still hadn't come out in the open about their relationship so everything on the job was kept quiet. But having sidekicks paired with them was much like having children who followed them everywhere.
He grunted as he shut his locker and rolled his neck from side to side. The last few weeks with Uraraka had been going as well as the ones following their return home from Magome. They were almost always sleeping at the other's apartment and enjoying the physical benefits that naturally came along with it. He certainly wasn't complaining. He hadn't told her that he loved her since that first night, and she still hadn't spoken the words aloud either. He felt pretty sure that they were on the right track, though. And they were just words after all. When she was ready, she'd tell him. Right?
Don't go getting all insecure now, Bakugo! He yelled at himself mentally. Just live in the moment and be glad she's with you now.
As much as he'd been loving their progress so far, she'd seemed off in recent weeks in the workplace. Everywhere else, she was perfectly fine. Whenever they were in the office, however, she seemed stiff and tense. He wasn't sure what exactly was going on, but he felt that she would tell him about it if she wanted him to know. He'd already asked her here and there if she was all right. She would always respond that she was just anxious about Sato but that she was okay. He couldn't blame her for that, considering the villain had been MIA for the past month. But he couldn't help but feel like there was something else on her mind. Without proof, however, he just assumed it was intuition and did his best to remain patient.
"Later, Kacchan. Be safe." Deku lifted his hand to wave before heading towards the door.
"Yeah, yeah, fuck you, Deku." He muttered. He watched Deku leave the room towards the back exit lobby. Even if he was the Number One hero, he'd always be a damn nerd to him. Bakugo felt himself smirking before he could stop himself.
He gathered the rest of his things and took out his car keys, then walked back into the main building to head for where he parked his car. He never parked it in the lot attached to the office building, just as another precaution to make him more difficult to locate. He'd been walking to grab it before coming back to pick Uraraka up to take her home. This was their daily routine. She lived so close that he never minded. Getting to keep one hand on her thigh for the drive was also a perk.
He pulled around the curb and sent her a text that he was here. When she didn't come out after a few minutes, he grunted. She knew he was coming, so what was the hold up? She never took this long. A slice of fear cut through his chest and he immediately got out of his car to head inside the lobby that was between the men's and women's locker rooms.
Ochako had stopped just outside the door of the locker room, looking a bit like a deer caught in the headlights at the sight of Deku waiting for her, but her eyes caught the time on the clock hanging on the wall behind him and she knew Bakugo would already be waiting for her outside. Her text tone going off confirmed it. "I really don't have time for this right now, Deku," she said, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder and moved to walk past him.
"I just wanted to apologize!" he said, his nerves making his voice quiver slightly.
Uraraka froze. He continued, "I wanted to say that I'm sorry. I shouldn't have expected anything from you. I rejected you three years ago, and that was a different time. Things were still a little out of control for me then and I wasn't sure where I was going to end up. I didn't want to ruin any chances you had at making a name for yourself on your own, having your own life and experiences. I thought that was the best thing, because you were one of my best friends, Uraraka."
Bakugo came to a stop just outside the doorway, overhearing their voices. He peered discreetly around the frame and spotted Uraraka and Deku. Good, at least she was safe and that Sato bastard hadn't shown up. But something else was going on. He felt his stomach tighten, but he held his ground and waited.
"For the record, Deku," said Uraraka, "I was perfectly capable of deciding what I wanted and what was right for me back then just as I am now. I didn't need you to look out for me. I wanted you to care for me. But honestly, that just proves that you only saw me as your equal and friend. Not as someone you could love."
"I was a stupid kid. I hurt you and now I'm paying for it because I finally understand how you must've felt when I turned you down that day. But listen, I didn't mean to make things awkward for you at work by telling you how I felt. I'm sorry for that, too."
Bakugo's eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. What the hell was this nerd talking about? How he felt? What the fuck? He looked at Uraraka, waiting for her to say something that might explain it further.
She sighed, glancing down at her phone. "It's fine, Deku. I'm sorry for being weird. And I'm flattered, truly. It takes guts to admit you like someone."
And there was his answer. So Deku had feelings for her, did he? What gave him the right? After he told her no three years ago? Bakugo could feel his whole body tensing up now, anger building from his head to the end of his toes. How long ago did this happen? Why had she kept this from him? If there was anything Bakugo hated more than idiots, it was feeling stupid. What game was she playing by keeping something like this from him?
Deku smiled in relief and gently reached for her arm. "I'm glad to hear that. I just wanted to make sure we were okay. I really do want us to keep being friends. Lunch is pretty boring with just me. And heaven forbid if I'm alone with Iida."
Uraraka chuckled. "That's fair." She glanced at her phone again. She was surprised Bakugo hadn't come looking for her yet. She took a few steps forward, leaned in, and placed a soft kiss on Deku's cheek. She pulled back, smiling. "Consider yourself forgiven. I have to go, now. Bakugo's probably mad that I'm taking so long."
Bakugo felt really cold. As if he had suddenly been plunged in the deepest snow. His world felt out of control. Watching her kiss him, even if it was a chaste kiss on the cheek, felt like the hardest punch to his gut he'd ever known. As if Deku himself, using his power at 100%, had thrust his fist into his rib cage. It felt hard to breathe. He didn't know what he felt more at this moment, anger or hurt. He swallowed, fighting the urge to storm in and blow them both to hell. He turned away and went back to his car, doing his best to keep his breathing steady.
Deku blushed and gave her a small smile. "Of course. I'm sure he doesn't like to be kept waiting. I'm glad he's looking out for you outside of work. He can be kind when he tries."
She laughed. "Yes, he definitely can. See you tomorrow, Deku." She held her hand up to wave and followed the same path that Bakugo had taken just a minute before, little to her knowledge.
"Bye." Deku said softly, barely above a whisper. He sighed and placed his hand on the cheek she'd kissed and watched her leave the lobby.
Bakugo barely even looked over when she finally got to the car to open her door and get in. "Sorry about that. My stomach wasn't feeling so great and I had to go back to my locker to get my nausea medicine for it." she said as she buckled her seatbelt.
If his stomach dropped anymore, it would've fallen out of his body completely. Why the fuck was she lying to him? Right to his face!
He inhaled quietly and put the car in drive. "Did it help?" he managed to avoid spitting out his words and merely spoke them.
"Yes! They were custom-made for me since overuse of my quirk can make it so bad. These save my life more than you know." she chuckled.
"That's good," he said. He continued with eyes on the road. He did not put his hand on her thigh. He didn't trust himself to fake it that much.
Uraraka frowned slightly at him. Why wasn't he looking at her? And why wasn't he touching her leg? He always did that when they were in the car together. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." he replied immediately. He didn't like lying, but he didn't want to have the discussion that was to come in his car. They were almost at her place. He could make it.
"You seem a little...off." she said.
My, what great perception she has, he thought to himself. He'd never been good at hiding his true feelings when he was in the middle of feeling them at their highest peak. But in return, he was really good at reading people and calling them out on their bullshit.
Which he was about to do. They just needed to get out of his car.
"I've got a lot on my mind." he replied, as if it was no big deal. He turned into the lot across the street from her apartment complex and parked. He turned the keys and pulled them out of the ignition quickly before stepping out of the car.
Uraraka knew something was wrong. He was being really brisk with her and it wasn't normal. Had something happened at work? Did his mother call and bother him? Why wouldn't he talk to her?
She opened her door and got out shortly after he did and walked behind him to her apartment door. She unlocked it and let them inside, then gently shut the door behind them. When she turned back around, Bakugo was sitting at her table in the small dining area. Normally it would have been covered in clothes and bottles and other junk, but he had helped her purge her place of trash a while ago and she'd been managing to keep it closer to clean than it had been previously. It was easy when she spent most of her time at his place.
She sat down next to him in another chair, turning her body to face him. "What's wrong with you today?"
"I'm just not feeling great." he lied.
"It's more than that, and we both know it. Why are you lying to me?" she asked.
He scoffed. "That's a rich question, coming from you."
Her brows pulled together, a crease forming between them as she looked at him. "What are you talking about, Katsuki?"
"You dare ask me why I'm lying to you when you and I both know damn well you lied to me, too. And yours was worse. I know you weren't sick. I know you were talking to Fucking Deku!" His red eyes finally made contact with hers, and the emotions there must've been plain to see. He was feeling everything all at once. "And I saw you kiss his fucking face before you came running to me."
It felt as if a chunk of ice had dropped into her stomach. This wasn't how she wanted him to find out. She'd been meaning to tell him ever since it had happened, but she knew how he got about anything involving Deku and quite frankly she'd been concerned for Deku's well being after Bakugo did find out. She obviously didn't feel anything romantically toward her high school crush anymore, but he was a good friend and she wouldn't wish Bakugo's wrath on anyone she considered a friend.
"Katsuki…" she began softly, reaching across the table for his hand only to have him jerk his away. She sighed and pulled her own hands back toward her and clasped them in her lap. "Yes, Deku told me he had feelings for me a few weeks back, but obviously I told him I wasn't interested and that I just don't see him that way anymore. You know I don't. Today was the first time we've even spoken to each other since then and he just wanted to clear the air so we could go back to being friends. Just friends. That's it. You're the only man I have feelings for."
"How can I really believe you when you kept it from me for so long? How can I trust you? Especially after you got in my car and lied straight to my face!" He tried his best not to yell, but he was failing miserably. "How does that not register as suspicious? How do I know that you aren't secretly happy that he finally fucking likes you? At long last, precious Deku confesses that he likes you. How can I be sure that it's not what you'd rather have? You haven't given me any reason to believe that you're with me for the long haul. I've been riding this out, because I told you I loved you and I fucking meant it. I didn't hide a damn thing from you. But you? You deliberately kept this from me, for a long time, and then you lied to me about it. Not to mention you fucking kissed him and I had to sit there and watch, feeling like a god damn fool for believing that you actually cared about me!"
He paused for a breath, feeling like his lungs were about to give out. After a moment, he continued. "We said we would be honest with each other. And instead you kept this shit hidden in the shadows and I had to find out like this! Maybe you have feelings for him still and you're lying to me right now?! I feel like...like I've been played for a fucking idiot. You know I hate feeling like I'm stupid. Because I'm far from it. Except maybe it was stupid to think you felt for me as I do for you just because I told you I loved you. And maybe that's why you haven't said you loved me, too. I was okay with that, really. And now I'm wondering if it's because you just can't. Because Deku is going to be there for as long as we work together and maybe you're not comfortable with it. I don't care that he likes you. I fucking care that you didn't think I deserved to know, like you couldn't trust me."
She was quiet for a moment, his words sinking in. "Is that really what you think?" she asked, her voice breaking on the last word.
It hurt him, too, to feel like this. He felt sick to his stomach. But he couldn't help feeling as if he had been betrayed by someone he had finally come to trust. "What else am I supposed to fucking think, Uraraka?" It felt ugly, wrong. But he was just...so hurt. Looking at her, and her sad eyes, picturing them looking at Deku back in the lobby...it was too much. He sighed. "Know what? I think I'll just go." He stood.
"Katsuki...please don't leave. I'm so sorry." She fought back her tears. She knew she'd been wrong to keep this from him. But she never thought it would go this far. She stood up from her chair.
"Don't follow me." He said sternly, reigning in his anger. He walked around her to the door, avoiding her eyes. If he watched her cry, he might lose his resolve. "You'll need to find a new ride for work. Our patrol situation...I'll figure it out. Just. Just leave me be."
"Wait, please.." she whispered.
He paused, allowing himself to look over his shoulder at her. He wanted to cry, too, but he kept the tears back. "Tell me you love me."
Uraraka was startled. "W-What?"
"You love me? Say it."
"Katsuki, I—" she gulped. She wanted to say it, but something she didn't quite understand seemed to strangle her tongue and keep her from speaking. "I care about you, so much. Please just try to calm down and understand."
His expression became somber, and his eyes glistened with unshed tears. He barely smiled. "You can't even say it now. I've been understanding. I've been patient. And even now, when you're about to lose me, you can't even say it." It was like a knife slicing through his heart. He turned away, reaching for the door and opening it. "Give me a fucking break." He whispered, and then he was gone.
Uraraka's hand flew to her mouth, and she broke down into sobs that wracked her body so hard she fell back into her chair. She slumped over her table. How could she have been so foolish? Bakugo was not the type of man to forgive easily once his trust was broken. While she hadn't lied about her feelings for Deku being platonic, she had kept the whole situation a secret from him. And he was right. She had lied to him about it right to his face. Why didn't she just tell him the truth? What was she so afraid of?
"Why couldn't I tell him that I love him so much..?" She whimpered into her table top.
Ochako Uraraka had had her fair share of heart aches and bad breakups but none of them compared to the grief she felt over the next few days.
She'd barely slept the first night, tossing and turning as she replayed everything on an endless loop, wishing she could go back and change it. She wished she could have fallen asleep, because then maybe she would have woken up the next morning and realized it was nothing but a bad dream, but no such luck.
The lack of sleep was made obvious by the dark circles under her eyes when Tsuyu picked her up for work the next morning but thankfully the other girl didn't ask questions.
Deku actually lived closer, but given the circumstances, Uraraka had decided Tsuyu was a better option. She would have just walked to work as she had in the days before the Sato threat, but she could already hear Iida's lecture about 'blatantly putting her safety at risk' and she wasn't keen to draw any unnecessary attention to herself at work in the state she was in.
Their ride to work was a silent one with Ochako not volunteering any information on why she'd needed to make other arrangements and Tsuyu not prying, a quality Uraraka could appreciate in her friend more now than ever before.
She managed to keep her emotions in check on the short drive to the agency, but the moment they boarded the elevator, she could feel the weight of everything that had happened crashing down on her again. She needed to talk to him, apologize, tell him how she really felt, and just hope that he would listen.
But when he wasn't at his desk and when she got to her own, she knew it was too late. In her chair sat a nondescript brown box. She knew what was inside before she'd opened it but one look at the contents confirmed it.
Inside the box was every memento of their relationship ranging from the toothbrush and changes of clothes she'd left at his apartment to more meaningful items like the strip of photos they'd gotten from the photo booth at a carnival they'd attended in the next town over.
It was hard to believe that an entire relationship could be boxed up and packed away like this, yet here it sat. The tears were flowing down her cheeks before she could stop them and she shoved the lid back onto the box before disappearing into the women's restroom, thankful she hadn't crossed paths with anyone else on her way there.
She leaned back against the wall and slowly slid down so she was sitting at the base of it, her knees pressed tightly to her chest and her face hidden against them while she cried.
Nearly ten minutes passed before she was able to compose herself enough to leave her safe haven but she knew someone would notice her absence eventually, so she cleaned herself up as best she could, splashed some cold water on her face, and trudged back to her desk where she found evidence that someone else had stopped by her desk while she was away: a simple post it note stuck to her computer monitor asking her to come to Todoroki's office whenever it was convenient for her.
-30 minutes prior-
Bakugo sighed as he pulled into the lot and parked his car in the usual place. He was there slightly earlier than usual, in hopes to avoid a run-in with Uraraka in the locker room lobby. The place where it all started going horribly wrong for both of them. He looked over at his passenger seat. A simple box was sitting in her usual spot. Inside this box was every memento he could find or think of that reminded him of her. It was going to be hard enough working together, he didn't need the visual triggers at home, too.
This was absolutely killing him. A small part of him wanted to go back and apologize for his reaction to the events the night prior, however, he really could not abide by liars. And she was the last person that he ever expected to do something like that to him. And to make things worse, it all had to do with fucking Deku.
When they had spoken to each other in Magome about the events of the past, he felt that they had finally cleared the air. Honesty and communication seemed to be their new priority when it came to each other and it was great at first. Perhaps if she had told him about Deku when it had occurred, he would've been much less angry and way more receptive. Because then he would have known for sure that she completely trusted him, even after all of the misunderstandings from three years before. But keeping this from him on top of not being able to admit she loved him, even though he asked her directly to her face, was just far too much for him to bear. If she didn't love him, and she didn't trust him, how could he expect anything more than a farce of their relationship?
He was sure there was no other woman out there that he would love as much as he loved her. He'd been open about his feelings, at long last. He didn't make himself vulnerable often. Very few in his life ever saw that side of him, and he had decided long ago that she was one of the select few who was worthy.
But with this betrayal, a lesson was learned. Even if you love someone with all your heart, it doesn't mean they feel the same way about you. He flinched at his own thoughts. He felt his chest start to cave in, and it was momentarily difficult to take a deep breath. Eventually he managed to, though, and he ran a hand through his hair. Sometimes it calmed him.
He always liked when she ran hers through it more, though.
He growled in frustration and got out of his car, carrying the box with him. He proceeded to the locker room, changed into his hero gear minus the gauntlets for now, then continued on to the office upstairs. No one else was here yet, except for probably their boss.
He came to a stop at the cubicle belonging to Uraraka. Very slowly he placed the box in her chair. With a resigned expression on his face, he turned and made his way to Todoroki's office down the hall. He did not knock. He never knocked.
Once inside, Todoroki looked over at him from his place by the window.
"I need a new partner," grumbled Bakugo, coming to stand a few feet away from him with his arms crossed.
Todoroki went back to looking out of his window at the city below. He enjoyed the view this early in the morning. "All right...I'll humor you. Why do you need a new partner? You and Uravity seem to have been doing quite well."
"I just need a new one, okay? Put me with someone else."
"Not without an explanation. Do you think pro heroes just fall from the sky? No." Todoroki crossed his arms as well and turned to face him. "That requires paperwork, and lots of it. As well as new contracts, persuading them to join our team for an expected amount of pay. I can't just shuffle someone new in here like trading cards."
Bakugo groaned. "I'm sure you have some pull being Endeavor's son, don't you? I bet plenty of pros wanna work for you. Just fucking figure it out, but I'm not working with her anymore."
"You've gotta give me more than that, Bakugo."
Bakugo growled and threw his arms up. "It's just bad, okay? Really bad!" He paused a moment, and his red eyes were no longer angry, but somber and full of regret. "Look. She and I started dating when we got back from the mission in Magome. It was going really well, but then something happened and now it's gone to shit. I think that we would both be better off if we didn't have to be paired up all the time. At least...for a while."
Todoroki's head tilted slightly. I'll be damned. Momo's plan actually worked. Then he realized that it had failed for unknown reasons and he closed his eyes for a moment, thinking. That's too bad. He's been more tolerable since Magome and I guess this explains it.
Todoroki looked back at him, seeing the blonde looking out the window now, too. He could tell this was hard for him, for more reasons than one. "All right. You stick with Sakura for now on patrols. But you're still not going to be doing much of them until Sato is caught. I'll explain this to Uraraka when she comes in."
Bakugo had started to protest at being the sidekick's babysitter, but decided against it. "Fine."
"Can you tell her to come to my office when she gets here? Or is that going to be too much interaction for you?"
Bakugo grumbled. "I can do it. Lazy boss."
Todoroki smiled. "All right, I'll send an email to Sakura and Kareino. He'll just be staying alongside Uraraka for the time being. He'd be good physical strength support if something did happen."
Bakugo scoffed. "He's a clumsy fool, but you're right I guess. I'm leaving now." He turned and made for the door.
"Bakugo," called Todoroki. The blonde stopped and grunted without looking back. "I'm sorry things didn't work out."
Bakugo said nothing, just stood for another second then made his exit.
When he came back down the hall, he froze as he watched Uraraka arrive and find the box. She looked tired. He figured she probably didn't sleep any better than he had the night before. But it was what it was.
He watched her eyes glisten and she walk away. He felt a heaviness creep back into his chest, but he shook it off and angrily walked over to his cubicle and scribbled something on a post-it note. He brought it around and stuck it to her computer screen. Then he decided to make use of the agency building's training area for a bit. Maybe he could punch out some of these nerves before he lost control.
When Uraraka arrived in his office, Todoroki was seated at his desk, scribbling away at some document. He offered her a small smile in greeting. "Good morning, Uraraka. Please have a seat." He gestured to the chair in front of his desk. Once she was seated, he continued. "So. This is an uncomfortable situation for us both, so I'll get straight to the point. Bakugo has made me aware of your relationship, and that it has not ended on the best of terms. I'm sorry to hear that. I was spared the details, not to worry. Those matters stay between the two of you and whoever you wish to share them with," he paused, trying to think of how to say what he was about to say as carefully as possible. "He thought it best for the both of you if you no longer functioned as partners here at work. I agree with him. We have the Sato threat to worry about already, and putting two distracted heroes together doesn't bode well for your chances should he appear. And so, for the time being, you will remain partnered with one of your already assigned sidekicks, Kareino. Bakugo will keep on with Sakura. I am currently working on getting more pros in here, including Cellophane and Invisible Girl. Once that transfer has been cleared, you will both be assigned with an actual pro. I just ask that you be patient in the meantime."
He looked at her eyes and could tell she had been crying. And he had the worst feeling that she was going to start crying right in front of him. Maybe he'd been too blunt? He reached over to pat her hand as a gesture of comfort. "I am sorry. Workplace romances can get...complicated. Is there anything that I can do for you?"
Ochako hadn't even realized the tears had been brimming in her eyes until the first one spilled over, rolling down her cheek and splashing onto her lap, followed by the second and third in short succession. She felt weak and pathetic, sitting here crying in Todoroki's office. She was a pro hero but this was hardly professional. She blinked, trying to fight back the tears, but it only seemed to make them come faster.
"I should go," she said, standing quickly and adding weakly "I have reports to do."
The door to the office opened just as she reached it and Uraraka nearly collided with Momo as she entered.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't know you were in here, Ochako. I'll just—-" She'd been about to say she would leave until she caught sight of her husband's face over Uraraka's shoulder.
"Save me." Todoroki mouthed. He did not do well with crying women. Momo was an exception but she basically never cried.
Momo frowned and came around to see that Uraraka was crying. "Oh, honey. What's wrong? Do you need to go home for the day?" She glanced at her husband.
Todoroki coughed. "Yes, erm. If you would like to take the day to uh, cope,er, adjust to this new arrangement, Uraraka, it's perfectly fine with me."
"What arrangement?" demanded Momo.
"She and Bakugo aren't partners anymore and they're paired with sidekicks for patrols instead." Todoroki answered. He gave her a knowing look.
"Oh, I see." Momo said, turning her eyes back to Uraraka.
"No, that's not necessary." she said, swiping under her eyes with the cuffs of her sleeves. "I just need to get back to work. I promise I'll have myself pulled together in time for my patrol shift."
She wasn't quite sure she even believed herself, but picking herself up and continuing on was the only option she had. When she got back to her desk, she pulled the box out of her chair and shoved it as far back under her desk as it would go, out of sight as she dropped into the chair and powered her computer on.
Back in Todoroki's office, Momo closed the door softly after Uraraka had left and turned to see her husband giving her a knowing look.
"Just go ahead and say it. I know you want to."
"I wasn't going to say 'I told you so,' actually, but I do hope you see what your meddling did."
"You can't possibly think this was my fault," Momo scoffed. "All I did was make them partners. And even you have to agree they made a fantastic team. They got together and then screwed it all up on their own."
"Alas, it's true." Todoroki nodded in agreement. "Such a shame. Bakugo was much easier to work with there for a minute. I'm going to miss that."
"Me, too."