A/N: And here's the prolog to main story Yum Flavored Gum. Song for this part is Bad Romance by Lady Gaga. The formatting is intentionally weird in this first part.

Full warning this story gets pretty dark later on, but the epilogue only hints at things.

["Ta!" ]

[hands and feet are already prickling with sensation.

She blinks and suddenly a paramedic is sitting her up and cleaning the scrape on her check. She doesn't have much in the way of injuries, but he checks her pulse and blood pressure anyway.

"Uravity's heart rate and blood pressure are normal."

Who is he talking to, but she doesn't get to ask because] [were heading to the Endeavor Agency which makes sense. She'd been off duty.

By the time, the car arrives she's able to move again, but she can't quite bring herself to ask who the woman was, or why everyone is so dark grim.

And Bakugou, uncharacteristically, also seems to have decided silence is the way to go.

A few more minutes they're in a conference room. Endeavor is there. Gunhead is there. Deku and Shoto are there. A handful of heroes she barely recognizes are there. A small group of civilians wearing lab coats and scrubs are there.

Bakugou's parents are there.

"What the fuck? Hag, why are you here?"

Ochako winces, but she can agree with the sentiment if not the wording. Absently, she allows the sidekick guiding her to push her into a chair gently. Bakugou stomps over to the remaining free chair, the one next to her, throws himself into it with admirably angry energy.

Endeavor just rubs his temple like Bakugou is a headache he just can't seem to diminish . Which, to be fair, he probably is. "She's here because she and your father are your emergency contacts."

Ochako shifts in her seat, but can't find a comfortable position. "Wh-why does he need his emergency contacts? Miss Aiuchi didn't really do anything to us before she fled the scene." Her parents are far away.

Several glances are exchanged across the table.

A hero she doesn't know turns a very serious gaze on her. His green eyes are grave and his mouth cast in solemnity. "Uraraka-san did she touch you with her nails and-"

"Her gross ass spit! Yeah! Who the fuck cares? We'll just take a damn shower or some shit."

Geez, Bakugou is rude, but she kind of agrees with him. She feels fine. Bakugou is just as rage-y as normal. They are fine.

Aren't they? (Her devastating eyes had been so cold.)

However, the hero just winces in sympathy as he adjusts the odd looking glasses on his face (they must've had to do with his quirk). His lips press together in frustration.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple. Did she say anything to you? About her quirk?"

Ochako bites her lip. "Uh, well, she said you guys would be able to tell us. She just said that 'the condition was possible ' and that 'there was no deadline .' She said she was 'being merciful.'" Ochako's stomach twists remembering how she'd said mercy. The word is overly sweet and cloying in her memory.

"Did she say anything else?" But it is clear he isn't expecting much more information.

"Just some vague ass shit about probably not dying and cardiovascular strain. Fuckin' Bitch."

"Did she mention targets?"

Ochako shakes her head. "No. What's that gotta do with anything, Sir?" Her voice is a little more strained than she would like, but the somber energy in the room is really getting to her. Even Bakugou's mom is subdued.

"Call me Tanaka. The woman you encountered is Aiuchi Sumi. She's a contract assassin. Her quirk is called Desire Script . It's a lust quirk, but a fairly complex one."

Bakugou scoffs. "Well, her quirk is shit. I don't feel a fucking thing."

A lust quirk?

Tanaka grimaces. "Unfortunately, it's not that straightforward; she is able to delay its effects. Once whatever trigger she wrote is met her quirk's affects will be activated."

"Wrote?" Aiuchi had been writing for couple minutes and she had been writing quickly.

Tanako nods grimly. "That's how she sets her quirk. She uses her nails to write with her saliva . She sets a target and a condition to be met to end the quirk's effects. She can set other parameters like a delayed onset," he shoots a glance at Bakugou, "Or a deadline , but those things aren't required. Just the target and condition."

A target and a condition. She doesn't like how those words rest sharp and painful in her rapidly beating heart.

"But Tanaka-san, she didn't say who our targets were?"

"She generally doesn't disclose that or the condition. However, historically she has consistently informed her victims of the deadline, so I'm inclined to believe her when she says she didn't give you one. And, in that vein, if your condition is actually possible your prognosis is much more positive than most of her victims. Her deadlines are literal and how she kills her marks."

"So when," her mouth is dry, "Do you think the quirk will activate?"

Activate sounds so innocuous.

She forces herself not to shudder.

Tanaka shrugs. "It's impossible to know."

Ochako cast a desperate look towards Deku hoping for some encouragement from her best friend, but he looks even more worried than she is feeling.

"Tch! So what the fuck are we supposed to do in the meantime. Before this shitty quirk magically kicks in?"

Leave it to Bakugou to brush off such a scary sounding quirk.

He is fearless.

Gunhead clears his throat. "We'd suggest you tidy up your affairs. Clean your apartment. Possibly, cook a surplus of food. Basically, do all the mundane things you might be too, uh, distracted to attend to. You'll both be on leave until this is resolved."

"On leave?" She can't be on leave. "But I don't know if I can afford that much time off." Or any time off.

Gunhead smiles at her reassuringly. "Don't worry about that Uraraka-chan; this kind of situation is covered by your hero insurance. You'll be paid just like you were at work."

Ochako breathes out a sigh of relief.

Of course, financial security isn't enough for Bakugou.

"Who fuckin' cares! That won't do shit for our ranks!"

Endeavor skewers him with a supremely unimpressed look. "It's a class A violation of your hero license to work knowingly under the influence of a lust quirk."

"I'm not fuckin' under the influence of shit!"

Tanaka just shakes his head. "Not yet, but it's only a matter of time."

"Which brings us to why we've brought in Doctor Kanda and Doctor Matsushita. Doctor Kanda specializes in the effects this kind of quirk on the reproductive and endocrine systems. Doctor Matsushita is a psychologist who works with people who have been targeted by lust quirks. You both will be seeing them as they monitor your physical and mental wellbeing."

"Like fuck I am!"

She swallows a hysterical giggle; Bakugou is stupid consistent.

"If you want to continue working here, you most certainly will." Endeavor almost looks like he wants Bakugou to test out his threat, but Bakugou just grumbles as sparks dance from his hands.

"They will be also working with whoever ends up being your target, but we can't know that until the quirk becomes active."

Ochako shudders. It was unnerving to not even know who she is going to be ... lusting after? Aiuchi hadn't really seemed to know her, so how would she determine that? "So there's no way to find out before it ... starts?"

Tanaka just shakes his head. "Unfortunately, no. Usually it's not a specific person, but a description. Once, she made a target the last person they'd called on the phone."

Who was the last person she'd called? It was Tsu. That wouldn't be so bad.

"But there is really no way of knowing until it triggers."

Triggers: She's reminded of the hunting snares her uncle uses to catch rabbits. To catch small, defenseless creatures. The end result always seemed cruel.

One of the doctors, Kanda according to his name tag, clears his throat. He is a mountain of man with spiky salt and pepper hair. His voice is quiet and calm like a lake at night. "That brings us to potential plans of care. While it is possible you won't be under this quirk's effects for long, we feel it would be best to plan with the potential for this to be an prolonged experience."

"Like how prolonged?" She can't quite stop the wrinkle of fear from being folded into her question. She always just thought these kinds of things lasted for a day or two.

"We don't know. Since Aiuchi generally uses this quirk to kill, most data on it has been collected from victims right before they reach their deadline or-" He cuts off.

The other doctor, Matsushita, says his badge, he sighs. "Uraraka-san, we don't know a lot of how this quirk affects people because most of the data Tanaka's taskforce has on her comes from surveillance videos, very brief and incoherent reports from her victims, and autopsies." Matsushita has a face well suited to laughing and his blue-grey hair is pulled back into a playful ponytail. The look of urgent and earnest concern sits oddly on his features.

She starts twisting her hands together underneath the table.

Bakugou leans forward with his hands pressed on the edge of the table. "What the fuck!? So what? You don't know jack shit about this fucking quirk? For all you fuckers know it just wears the fuck off if she doesn't give a shitty deadline." He is visibly vibrating with frustration, clearly not impressed with the information being presented. Although, it is hard for her to imagine something, anything, stopping Bakugou from pursuing his goals with anything less than extreme zeal.

Matsushita nods, but he does not seem to agree with Bakugou's proposed scenario. "Well, that is possible, Bakugou-san, but we believe it would be prudent to plan for the worst and possibly be pleasantly surprised."

Kanda nods at these words. "Indeed. So there are a few options available to you; all of which will be completely covered for the duration by your insurance. One, we could put you in a medically induced coma once the quirk activates. This wouldn't be a great option for anything longer than short term. It also hinges on the idea that we will be able to apprehend Aiuchi, and that she can reverse her quirks effects or that we can get her to reveal the condition you must meet."

Tanaka cuts in sounding very weary. "To be honest, I have been trying to catch her for 23 years. She's excellent at evading capture. I don't think you should bank on her being apprehended in the immediate future."

"That sounds like weak ass shit anyway! Hard pass," Bakugou has his arms crossed now and is glaring at everyone. It's amazing he even let them say their piece.

Kanda looks at her questioningly.

She shakes her head. "I don't really wanna do that either; What are the other options?"

Kanda nods. "Well, another option is an extended in-patient stay at a Musutafu West Mental Hospital where we can monitor your physical and mental health. You also wouldn't have to do any prep at home for this option. All meals would be provided. It might be the best way for us to collect the best data."

"What fucking data?" Bakugou's mom is glaring at Kanda and looks about to pounce.

His dad has a hand on her shoulder, but he has a small frown on his face.

Endeavor clears his throat and diverts the blond woman's ire his way. "It is the nature of hero work that we often find ourselves the first victims of not well understood quirks. Their insurance guarantees their care; their profession obligates that data be collected to better serve and protect future victims of this quirk."

She doesn't know how that makes her feel, but she supposes if it is going to help people, it's okay. She doesn't want anyone else to feel this confused and scared about Aiuchi's quirk after all.

Bakugou just barks out a laugh. "Whatever! Like there's gonna fucking be anything to research. And fuck no I'm not gonna go to a damn mental hospital. Fuck that shit."

She can't say she's super in love with the idea either. After she shakes her head Matsushita tells them of their third option.

"Well, the other option is you can stay at your apartment, but you have regular check-ups from Dr Kanda and I. There will be a check-in system put in place to ensure you eat and sleep. You can even allow for friends and family to check-in on you."

Well, that sounds better? What would these check-ins look like?

Matsushita holds up his hand like he's asking her to wait. "However, this option would leave you to deal with the stresses of this quirk a good deal of the time by yourself. It might not be viable long term."

She carefully smiles at him, "But the quirk might only take a little time to wear off." Generally, lust quirks were a quick kind of thing.

His lips twitch upward, but he doesn't allow them to move from his frown. "That is true, Uraraka-san. If the quirk wears off quickly all of these options will probably do just fine."

"Why would we need check-ins?" If she has everything prepared, she will just eat and sleep and, well, do stuff.

Matsushita winces. "Unfortunately, we do know that people afflicted by this quirk don't eat or sleep without prompting. All victims that were discovered before their deadlines were dehydrated, hungry and physically exhausted. So?"

"Well, the last one seems a little better, I guess. I can stay in my apartment and get help from my friends and family."

Bakugou growls. "Or how about the option where you fuck off with all this bullshit?!"

Endeavor growls right back. "Again: If you still want to work for me, you will pick a plan of care."

Bakugou bares his teeth, jumps to his feet and returns his palms to the table where they immediately start smoking. "Just because I'm not fucking scared of some stupid bitch's shitty ass quirk, doesn't-"

"Son, just pick an option; it would make your mother and I less worried."

Ochako jumps a little at Bakugou's father's soft voice. With his mom being so loud, she's not sure she's ever heard him talk. His voice has an undercurrent of firmness like a stone.

She can't read his face, but his wife is actually crying. It disconcerts her to see them both so visibly disturbed. How her parents would react?

What is more startling is how Bakugou actually stops midrage at his father's softly spoken words. He casts a blank look their way. Then he slumps back into his chair after staring at his father's face for a very long moment. "Fucking fine! I'll go with the last fucking one; at least I won't have to eat shitty hospital food."

It's the option she goes with as well. It seemed better to not be in the hospital. At least, if she's in her apartment she has all her things and can maybe catch up on her backlog of boy love manga that'd been building up as she kept picking up extra shifts.

The rest of the meeting blurs by for her. She can't focus. It's mostly setting up a schedule for the doctors. Advice on how to manage the quirk's effects, talk of non-disclosure agreements, some sort of orientation for her friends, something about phone calls, but she is too scared to really listen. Her blood is drawn to establish a baseline. There is a lot of paperwork to sign, but she does it mechanically and doesn't read any of the words. Her agency, Gunhead, thought that this would be okay for her, and the words just make everything feel too real.

As everyone is leaving, she looks for Deku, but can't find him. Shouto is still in his seat though and he notices her looking.

He quickly makes his wa y to her side. "Izuku left; he was mumbling about making a checklist or something for your situation. Let's go shopping and get your fridge and pantry loaded."

She presses her lips together nervously.

"My treat; I'll bill your agency, since it's due to a work-related incident."

Her wariness shifts down slightly.

"Or I can use my dad's card and not care."

She chuckles. Shouto's continuous quest to irk his father never gets old.

They end up buying a lot of frozen dinners, soups, and various ramens. Shouto knows she's not much of a cook and they silently come to mutual understanding that this probably wasn't the ideal time to learn.

They also buy an obscenely big box of condoms upon Shouto's insistence. Better safe than sorry, he says.

She's already sorry; she doesn't feel safe.

Tsu's waiting by the front door of her building when they arrive with four huge bags of food. She helps her clean her apartment and listens as she voices her growing anxiety over this quirk. Which still hadn't activated. If she couldn't still remember the odd burning on her skin, she'd think that maybe Bakugou is right and nothing is going to happen.

But she's not an optimist; could never afford to be.

She calls her parents and lets them know (lets them know) she'll keep them informed.

Around nine, Mina, Momo, Kyoka and Toru all show up with small overnight bags and sleeping bags. The surprise sleepover is enough to momentarily drag her anxious mind from the dread seeping into her every thought.

Year 23XX, Nov 26

ground control:

i'm scared. today a really pretty villain used her weird, creepy quirk on me. and on bakugou.

i guess it doesn't matter that she's pretty. maybe.

they say it's a lust quirk. bakugou doesn't seem to think anything will happen. but bakugou is, well, himself. ha!

i'm just scared.

:ochako, over and out

It takes a long time for her to fall asleep, but the sounds of her friends sleeping fill her studio apartment and she feels cautiously safe.]

[So it is written-]

[The next morning, she wakes as the early light of the sun starts spilling into her tiny studio apartment; and the quirk is active because she is on fire.]

"Not all stories are grand.

Not all are epics of high craft.

Some start on a lark."

"Chaos theory tested and tried.

Fate can be such a bitch, ha."1

Aiuchi Sumi (愛内墨)

Quirk: Desire Script

Age: 52

Bio: Aiuchi is a contract killer. She likes to write calligraphy. She steals gum for fun and has a collection.

Gum Flavor: Lychee with red currant swirl.

Trivia: Tanka has been pursuing Aiuchi for 23 years. She is excellent at evading capture. Her quirk can closely mimic a natural death, so her exact kill count is unknown. She possibly started killing as early as university. Her exact fee is unknown, but it is rumored she will accept rare jewelry and antique furniture as payment. She ran as a long-distance runner on her high school and college track team.

So maybe see you over at AO3 if you you're interested in finishing this. The rest of the story has explicit content and dark themes intended for adults.