Epilogue: The Road We've Walked, The Path to Come (Original)
Ochako stirred from sleep as a sense of unease slowly swept over her. Something's wrong. Her mind raced as she tried to discern what was bothering her. She rubbed at her temple, hoping to chase the weariness from her still-muddled mind, to no avail. With a huff of frustration, she turned, reaching towards the other side of the bed. As her arm passed through empty space, her problem became crystal clear. She was alone.
That idiot.
Ochako sat up quickly. Squinting, she eyed the clock on the other side of the room. 12:36. As she laid back, an annoyed groan began building in her throat, but by the time it passed her lips, it was a giggle. She wanted to be angry, or at least annoyed, with him. It's just so... you. Another low laugh slipped from her mouth. It would be more surprising if he was home on time. She quickly stood, rolling her legs out of bed before she could convince herself to stay.
Standing on shaky legs, she threw on a pair of old shorts, and one of his more weathered shirts. This particular one was yellow with a large profile of All Might splayed across the chest. Wobbling, she made her way across the room. As she moved down the hall, her eyes caught on the pictures lining the wall. She stared at the frames, packed tightly on the wall, and countless memories stared back. A sad smile touched her lips as her eyes passed over an image of 20 students huddled together, shining in their graduation gowns. Reaching the end of the hall, she squinted slightly as the kitchen light reached her eyes.
"Izu?" Her voice traveled across the distance, light and unsure. The chair jerked, and a flowing lock of silvery white spun through the air. The girl's eyes were wide with shock at the sudden noise, as well as guilt. She was, after all, awake far past her bedtime.
"M-Mom! Hey!" Eri squeaked. "What are you.. doing... up?" Her voice trailed off as she recognized the anger in her mother's eyes, and her gaze quickly shot to the floor. Ochako let out a small snort of amusement. At least she knows enough to look guilty. She waited, stretching the silence until the girl met her eyes once more.
"That's my line, Eri. What are you thinking?" Her initial anger had faded, replaced with a tired exasperation. "You have school tomorrow, which I need to wake you up for in," she checked the kitchen clock, "less than six hours." She tilted her head slightly to the side and placed her hands on her hips, awaiting an explanation. Eri looked down once more, biting her lip.
"I..." Something in her eyes darkened. "I wanted to be here when dad got back. So I..." She looked up again, a pleading look in her eyes "waited up?" Ochako felt any frustration fade as understanding took root. She closed the distance between the two, and leaned over the back of the chair, softly wrapping her arms around Eri. The girl leaned into her embrace, longing for the contact. After a silent moment, she looked up to her mother, waiting for her answer.
"Well..." Ochako already knew the answer, but she couldn't help dragging it out a bit. She didn't want Eri to feel like she could get whatever she wanted, just by being the cutest thing that had ever existed. After a fitting pause, she smiled down at her daughter. "No complaining about being tired tomorrow, alright?"
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" Eri cried out as she hugged her. As Ochako gazed down at the joy blooming in Eri's eyes, she felt the love burning in her chest. My sweet girl. After leaning down to kiss the girl's silky hair, she made her way around the table, taking a seat across from her. As she sat, she noticed several books open in front of Eri, as well as a few well-used notebooks.
"What are you working on, sweetie?" She asked curiously.
"Um... homework." Eri shifted nervously in her seat, and leaned forward to rest on her arms. Coincidently, her new position now covered the notebooks. Ochako leaned forward, smiling.
"What kind of homework?" Now that her daughter was hiding something, she had to know.
"J-Just, um..." The small girl was blushing as she paused, but she didn't seem aware of it. When she spoke again, her voice was almost a whisper. "A... Heroics class."
Ochako grinned mischievously, curiosity burning in her chest. She brought her hand lightly down on Eri's arm, and the girl let out a small shriek as she began floating towards the ceiling. Seizing her chance, Ochako leaned forward, getting a glimpse at the large title at the top of the paper.
"My Favorite Hero: Deku"
"Oh, Eri!" Ochako squealed with glee. She pressed her fingers together and leaned forward, catching her in an embrace. "This is too cute! Wait until he sees!"
"B-But..." The girl's face was beet red, and she sputtered as she tried to think of an excuse. "It's just an a-assignment... I don't want to bother him with it..." She tried to bury her face in her mother's chest, but was stopped when Ochako's hand lightly cupped her chin.
"Sweetie, do you really think it would bother him? Does that sound like dad?" She tilted her head, smiling. Eri looked down, silver hair covering her eyes, but she couldn't hide the wide smile spreading across her face. Ochako leaned down and kissed the girl's horn, then her hair. "That's what I thought. Now..." Her voice rose, unable to contain her excitement. "Want me to look it over?"
Izuku let out a tired sigh as he approached his apartment door. He shivered, skin still cool from the late November air. I stayed later than I meant to. Just like she said I would. He let out a low chuckle, which transitioned into a yawn. Man, Ochako's gonna kill me. Raising one hand to stifle another yawn, he thrust the other into a pocket, fishing for his keys. As he pulled them from his pants, his eyes drifted to the crack under the door, and he froze. The kitchen light is on. Shit. He took a breath, steadying himself for the impending lecture, and pulled the door open quietly.
Izuku's grimace quickly melted into soft smile, as he closed the door as quietly as he had opened it. He watched, mesmerized, as Ochako sat at the kitchen table, Eri in her lap. They were pouring over a notebook, Eri listening attentively while her mother commented on what they were reading. They haven't noticed me yet. Perfect. He grinned, before beginning to plan his next move. It was unusual for him to make it through the door without being tackled, and he planned to make the most of it. I need to surprise them, but I also need to say something funny. Or maybe something witty? Maybe something clever would get a bigger laugh then a regular joke. Hm... should I just walk up? Or maybe circle around to the back? What if-
"Izu. Izu. IZU!" Izuku snapped out of his thoughts, only now realizing that he had been muttering again. Looking up, he saw Ochako was now standing, tears in her eyes as she tried to restrain her laughter. Unable to hold out any longer, she doubled over, the sounds of her mirth washing over him. As she shook, struggling to catch her breath, Eri stepped out from behind her. Smiling sheepishly up at her father, she quickly closed the distance, and wrapped her arms around his long legs.
"Welcome home, Dadd-Dad!" She stuttered, a faint blush touching her cheeks. Izuku smiled, kneeling down, and pulled her into a hug.
"Hey, Princess." Stroking her hair, he leaned in, kissing her horn. He chuckled again. "You know, I don't mind if you still call me Daddy." The girl only responded by squeezing him harder. After a silent moment, they separated, and Izuku stood once more, now facing his girlfriend. "Hey, 'Chako."
"Hey yourself." Her soft brown eyes sparkled with something he couldn't place. He didn't have long to think about it before she pulled him into a hug of her own. Her warmth spread across him as she nuzzled into the crook of his neck. He closed his eyes, focusing on the contact, and breathed in the scent of her hair. How she felt, how she smelled, the sound of her breath in his ear, she assaulted all of his senses with one overwhelming feeling. Home. His hand found the small of her back, while his lips found her cheek. Her breath was hot on his neck, and he could feel their heartbeats increasing in unison. Pulling back slightly, he cupped her cheek with his hand, and their eyes met. She leaned up quickly, giving him a small peck on the lips. "I missed you." She kissed him again, for a moment longer this time. "A lot." She moved to kiss him a third time, but he moved first. One hand remained on her cheek, the other moving to her back, and he softly pressed his lips to hers. They melted into each other, the mixed breaths coming faster and faster. After lingering together for a while longer, he pulled back, a small trail of saliva connecting them, while she moaned slightly in protest. He gazed deep into her hungry eyes.
"I missed you too." He remembered where he was, coughing quickly while his face heated. "Um, both of you." He separated from Ochako, and looked down to his daughter as he scratched the back of his head. "Sorry about that Eri." The girl seemed completely unfazed by the display, and was actually beaming up at the pair, a wide smile on her face.
"I don't mind!" She blushed slightly, but her smile didn't waver. She looked towards the ground. "It's actually... nice. Seeing how much you love each other." Izuku leaned down, running his hand through her hair. To the side, Ochako had recovered, and had already started making tea. Izuku moved to the kitchen table, sitting down, and pulled Eri onto his lap. He looked down at the books strewn about in front of him.
"Working on homework?" He went to look at the closest notebook, but the girl on his lap slammed it shut. Shifting uncomfortably in his lap, she gathered the rest of the books into a pile.
"U-um, yeah. Would you mind looking it over before you go to work tomorrow?" She said, strangely nervous.
"Yeah, of course Eri! I don't mind." He kissed her hair once more. "I'm taking you to school anyways, so you can read it to me on the way." She looked up at him, eyes wide.
"You are?! Awesome!" She settled back down into his lap, nerves forgotten, and was now buzzing with excitement. Ochako returned to the table, setting a cup of tea in front of Izuku and a glass of warm milk in front of Eri. She sat across from him, cradling her own cup of tea, and probed him with solemn eyes.
"So... how did today go? How are they?" She reached out a hand, and he mirrored the action. As their fingers laced together, he took a breath.
"Today was... well, about what we expected." The day's events flashed through his mind. "It's never easy going back. For any of us." He looked up, studying the ceiling, in a habit he hadn't managed to break. "I can't believe it's been four years." Ochako's hand squeezed his, and he returned a weary smile. "But they're... they're doing good. Actually good, for once. Kimiko is actually dating someone now!" Ochako's eyes widened with surprise. "Yeah, I was surprised too. He didn't come to the cemetary with us, but he was at dinner, and he seems nice." He looked down at their entwined hands. "And Sakie... she's doing better." A young girl's smiling face flashed in his mind, pale with shoulder length brown hair. "She's smiling, and laughing, and talking, even on the anniversary." Ochako leaned across the table and lightly kissed his forehead.
"That's great. But..." Confusion flashed across her face. "Why were you so late?"
"Um..." He gulped. He knew he had been hours overdue, and he wasn't sure how she would take his explanation. "So, you see... I noticed that Haruo's grave had been pretty dirty when we visited... Sakie didn't say anything, but I know she noticed too. So, I went back after, just to tidy it up a bit." He risked making eye contact, searching for a reaction. She closed her eyes for a moment, before standing.
"Izu... 'tidy it up a bit'?" She rounded the table. "You're over three hours late! How much did you clean?" She was now standing in front of him, arms crossed.
"Um... well..." Shit. "So, when I was done, I noticed a couple other graves that weren't being cared for... and..." He craned his neck to look up at her again, sheepishly smiling. She stared blankly down at him, before lightly smacking the top of his head. He let out a small yelp, more from surprise than pain, but it was cut short as her mouth covered his. His heart skipped a beat, his breath quickening, and after a moment, she pulled away. She shook her head slowly, smiling ruefully.
"I love you, you idiot." She leaned in, scooping the now-dozing Eri from his arms. "C'mon, let's put this one to bed." Izuku stood, trailing behind her as she made her way slowly to Eri's room. She turned her head, looking back at him. "What time are you starting your patrol tomorrow? I have to be in at eight."
"Oh, um..." He thought about it for the first time. "It doesn't really matter when I start, I'll be out all day, but I'll probably start after I drop Eri at school." He stepped in front of her, opening the bedroom door for her. She began to step through, but stopped as her face drew up to his. She kissed him quickly on the cheek, smiling playfully.
"If you're not home for dinner, you're dead, got that, Midoriya?" He chuckled at her teasing.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll be there." As she laid Eri down, tucking her in, he wrapped his arms around her from behind. Finished, she stood up straight, and leaned back into him. He kissed the back of her neck, and relished in the shivers he felt run down her spine. "I promise." She spun, her face flushing, breathing faster as she dragged him from the room. Pulling him by one hand, she quickly made her way down the hall, and into their room. As he passed through the door, he softly closed it behind him, waiting for her next move.
Ochako turned, pressing her hands to his chest, as she captured his mouth on hers. She leaned back, smiling coyly. "Now... what am I going to do with you?" He let out a low noise, half laugh and half grunt, as he swept her from her feet. She pulled herself close, her arms wrapped around his neck and her legs around his waist, and they kissed once more. He inched towards the bed, stopping when his legs met the footboard. As his tongue drifted past her lips, a soft knock rang through the room. Breaking apart immediately, Ochako buried her face in his neck, trying to stifle her laughter. After a moment, she came up, untangling her legs, and leaned into his chest once more. She laughed again, quietly. "I swear, she does it on purpose." Izuku smiled, kissing her forehead.
"Oh hush." He turned back to the door, and Ochako followed. He opened the door, revealing Eri, standing wrapped in her blanket. He kneeled down, their faces level. "Hey sweetie, what's up?"
"Dad, I can't sleep." She looked up at her parents, wearing the cutest face she could manage. "Can we... watch a movie? Please?"
"Eri, hun..." He smiled at her. "It's late, and we need to be up early to take you to school." Next to him, Ochako kneeled down as well. She studied Eri's face for a moment, before turning to him.
"I don't think it should be much of a problem. Eri, sweetie, why don't you get it set up? We'll be out in a minute." The girl's face split into a broad smile, before she spun, running down the hall. Izuku looked over to her, an inquisitive look in his eyes. She smiled sweetly at him. "Izu, she looks exhausted. She probably just wants to be able to fall asleep holding us." She laughed quietly. "She's probably too embarrassed to ask, because she thinks she's 'too old' to sleep with us now." She leaned into Izuku, smiling wistfully at the ground. "God, Izu, can you believe she's almost 11? Her birthday's coming up next month." He turned, leaning into her, slightly too hard. They collapsed to the ground, his body pinning hers down, and his mouth found the side of her neck. She moaned softly, pulling his body closer to hers. He pulled his face back, smiling.
"Her birthday isn't the only one coming up. You're getting old 'Chako! You're not going to be a teenager much longer." Her face flushed red as he teased her.
"Oh, shut up." She pushed him off of her, her hand lingering on his navel for a moment. She bit her lip, looking as if she was debating staying, then stood. "Change into something more comfortable, then come meet us out there, okay?" With a last look at his supine form, she left the room. He stood, smiling to himself, and changed quickly.
Izuku stepped into the hall, closing the bedroom door behind him. Whispers and giggles washed over him as he drifted down the hall, moving towards the pale light illuminating the living room. As he passed the many pictures lining the wall, several caught his eye. Many memories lined their wall, some heartwarming, some bittersweet. His eyes lingered on a picture of 20 graduating students, with two teachers on the fringes. His eyes swam as he remembered the three in the picture who weren't around anymore. It had only been about two years since the picture had been taken, but it felt like decades. God, we were still so young. His gaze drifted to a group photo, Showing Ochako standing with her arm around Kimiko Kubo, while Eri and Sakie played on the ground. He smiled. I remember taking this.. Eri and Sakie were completed covered in dirt by the end of the day... His eyes and feet moved in unison. Step by step. Picture by picture. Finally, he reached a blank section of wall. Strangely, he smiled even wider at this, imagining the memories that would one day occupy this space. They had plenty of memories hanging on this wall, but there was room for many, many more.
Reaching the end of the hall, he paused, appraising the sight before him. The two most important people in his life sat before him, huddled close under a blanket on the couch. He froze as his brain seemed to realize for the first time exactly what he was looking at. My girls. My world. My family. He noticed a familiar wet feeling run down his face, and he rubbed quickly at his eyes. Lowering his hand, he saw Ochako gazing at him, a knowing smile playing on her lips. She lifted the blanket wordlessly, and nodded her head slightly at the empty space beside her. His foot moved forward, followed by the other, and he began slowly making his way towards them. He was in no rush.
They had the rest of their life ahead of them.