Ch. 12 The Warehouse
"Where's Mi- er, Pinky? She decide to give us a day off?"
Uraraka scoffed. It was a cloudy mid-afternoon, a curtain of gray skies punctured by the occasional stream of sunlight. They were dressed to fight, as always. Deku walked up to her while wiping his face with a handkerchief. The green curls across his forehead clung to his skin. His face was flush, no doubt from running. He was ten minutes late to their next stakeout, which was rare. Midoriya always managed to be the one waiting for her. The rest of him looked as if he had been thrown into rush hour traffic. Tie askew, one end of his collar popped up haphazardly, a shirt tail poking out between his vest and pants. Uraraka shook herself, almost amused at his disheveled appearance. Bright, emerald eyes that gleamed with a boyish enthusiasm. A warmth grew in her chest that flooded her whole body in a breath. Uraraka turned away and did her best to sound annoyed.
"She needed today off, and you're late. What happened? Got caught up in robbing someone?" Deku looked away thoughtfully. Uraraka almost blanched as he took his sweet time to ponder an answer.
"No," Deku eventually gave, "But there were a few people I passed by that had some choice-looking jewelry. Might have made a nice gift for you." Deku winked, which Uraraka returned with a deadpan stare.
At least he seems to be back to normal. Can't believe I prefer the flirting over the moping.
"Thanks for restraining yourself. I know how hard it is for you."
"I have a really hard time around you, Sunflower. Now really, is Pinky coming or not?" He was fiddling with his mask, stuffed into an inner pocket of his coat. Deku looked a bit goofy as he struggled to pull out his signature disguise and Uraraka felt herself biting back a smile.
"She needed some personal time off," Ochaco lied, "Something about an anniversary of sorts with her boyfriend." Deku hummed in acknowledgement, pulling his mask over his face. Uraraka held no qualms about baldly deceiving Midoriya. She and Mina had agreed that they needed to go deeper into the audio they recovered three nights ago. The officer who Ochaco had spied on was as crooked as they came. In the time her drone was hiding under his seat, he had made two more stops to pick up what he dubbed "a protection tax." She checked the GPS history and confirmed that they were also little shops in different parts of town. Not only that, he also managed to sneak in a few moments of alone time with a woman he had driven up to. Uraraka gagged at the memory of listening to him groan while his cruiser's shocks continuously squeaked for about thirty seconds. Part of her wondered if it was Yuang that he had found.
Surprisingly, they never got his name. He never introduced himself, and the people he had armed barely acknowledged him with more than a grunt. Thankfully, Mina had the foresight to snap a few pictures of the serial number painted just above the fuel tank. With the little bit of information that they had garnered, the heroes set to work on nailing down who this sellout was. Ashido had volunteered to do more digging. Their plan was simple enough: Ochaco would keep Deku off Mina's trail while she went snooping around. They had agreed that they needed to wash their hands of Midoriya as quickly as possible. If they could find Yuang quickly, they could arrest Deku that much faster. Uraraka didn't fight Mina as hard as she probably should have, but she had a plan of her own. Deku was open about his preference for Ochaco, and she had to use that to their advantage. She was also aiming to use this opportunity to talk to him about his origins. So here she was, next to him under a weary sun hidden by folds of concrete clouds.
"Now this looks more like what I was expecting, Deku." Ochaco pointed towards the compound below and across from where they stood. A series of warehouses sat on a huge slab of unbroken concrete. Galvanized chain link fencing surrounded the perimeter. Ochaco felt a familiarity with the complex. Her parents often utilized warehouse storage for their larger equipment, and she remembered riding along with her dad in the seat of a forklift truck as they hauled pieces of lumber around. She had totaled the number of buildings to eight. There was nothing peculiar or special about them, though. Each was capped with a sloped roof of ridged aluminum that peaked in the middle. Uraraka thanked her lucky stars that it was a cloudy day, and with that, wasn't in danger of being blinded by any potential light reflection.
"Is that so? Hrm," Deku mused as he stroked his chin, "Well, this is one of the Chasers' more…obvious spots. It won't be long before the next delivery arrives." The clouds above them shifted and she felt the faint warmth of the sun cascade over her. Deku must have sensed a change because he turned to look at her. Ochaco noticed the apparatus lenses around his eye coverings tighten up to the edges. When prompted to explain his mask before, Deku stated that it was programmed to recognize and mimic his facial expressions. Something must have caught his eye in that moment, and she turned to look behind her to see what it was. Her gaze was met with a sea of building spires against the gray sky. Uraraka turned back and noticed that Deku was staring pointedly at the complex below, his body rigid in a discomfort she almost didn't recognize. How did I make 'im…no, that can't be it. Get ahold of yourself, girl.
A few moments of awkward silence fell on them again. She reflected on the number of times this happened between them. In another life, in any other situation, this might have been cute and welcomed. This silence was strange. They were on opposite sides of the law and society. He was a seedy, flirtatious crook. Where, in his overconfident mind, did Deku find the gall to smash her expectations? Did he think it was funny to wedge himself in her life, to occupy her thoughts constantly? Why'd I let this happen to me?
Her mind drifted to the conversation Deku had with Mina and felt a twinge of guilt reverberate throughout her chest. He must have struggled so hard for his family. Where was his dad? Did his mother get better, or is she still very sick? Ochaco balled her hand in a fist up to her chest. It was now or never. Better to get this over with than live on without knowing anything real about him.
"H-hey, Deku?" She watched as the closest rabbit ear on his mask twitched ever so slightly. Ochaco heard the hesitation in her own voice, but she needed to do this. If she could demystify him, then Midoriya could fall back into the neat little box of villains where he belonged, hereby out of her life, and hopefully her thoughts too.
"Yes, Sunflower?" That friggin' nickname. Always that one. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. What should have been simple and easy was officially turning into an elephantine task. With a low breath out, Uraraka asked her question.
"Can we pla- er, can I ask you a few questions?" Midoriya swiveled his head, a look of disbelief on full display across his mask. She felt a slight heat rise in her face, but pressed on regardless.
"You- you want to play Twenty-One Questions? R-really?" The strangled hope in his voice almost made her cringe. Deku wrung his hands anxiously for a second. "You sure, Uravity?"
"Yes, but I'll be asking the questions. We don't have a lot of time, right?" Deku nodded in agreement, shifting the tails of his coat as he sat down on the ledge. "Okay, let's make this quick." Ochaco joined him, taking one last breath before she continued with a hint of hesitation. "What...what's your mother like?"
Midoriya took off his mask slowly, revealing a sardonic and hollow smile that was fixed on his face. Something about the despondent gleam in his green eyes hurt her to look at him. Instead, Ochaco chose to focus on the passing cars below. They sat in the stillness of her question for a moment before he spoke with a mellow tone.
"Figured Ashido would tell you. I kind of wanted to talk to you about this myself, but it's not a big deal. So. My mom. What do you want to know? Anything specific?" Uraraka shook her head. "No? Alright. Lemme see… Kind. Warm. Best hugs you'll ever get."
Without giving Uraraka a chance to reply, Deku sprung into his memories. "Before she got sick, Mom was always this super bright spot in everyone's life. If you were ever gloomy or having a bad day, she could just walk into the room and make everything better with nothing more than a smile." His own grin became a bit more toothsome, his eyes lighting up for the first time in ages. Uraraka felt herself mimicking Deku as she watched him speak.
"What did she get sick with? Did she ever get better?"
"It was pancreatic cancer, because of course it was. Aggressive, too. Mom was always so busy trying to take care of me that she never got around to look after herself. We didn't realize how bad it was until we got the call. After that, it was an uphill battle for a long time. Money was already tight, and the expensive treatments only made things worse. Dad was overseas and couldn't help out. We needed cash, and well…Mina told you the rest."
Ochaco gripped her right hand firmly in her lap to fight the temptation to reach out to him. She couldn't even bear to look at him. His voice wrenched her heart, squeezing it painfully with the weight of his own anguish. Uraraka's voice trembled as she pressed her questioning onward.
"Have you ever thought about quitting?" She felt his curious eyes land on her. Despite her better judgement, Uraraka turned to meet his gaze. Her breath hitched in her throat when her eyes locked onto his bright, emerald irises. Something deep inside of her was burning, and it sent a warm, pleasant sensation down her spine. A bright smile crossed his lips, and Ochaco couldn't help but reciprocate the gesture herself.
"Would you like that, Sunflower?"
Uraraka sputtered as she felt her face flush, hands jumping to clutch her cheeks. She furiously worked up the words in her mind to refute Deku. His grin became wider, which only served to frustrate her more. A funny thought struck her.
"And let's just assume I said, 'Yes.' Would that be so bad?" Ochaco revelled in watching Midoriya's face light up in equal embarrassment. He stuttered and pulled at his collar. To add to the effect, Uraraka leaned in closer to him, fluttering her eyes with a pout on her lips. "Would it be such a bad thing to want you to be good for me?"
Deku huffed and turned away, crossing his arms in defeat. Ochaco laughed and amicably slapped his shoulder. "I'm just messing with ya, Deku. As soon as this is done, I'm takin' your butt to jail."
He muttered something under his breath that she didn't catch, but she let it go. The sun began to sink lower in the air. They cast long shadows that disappeared over the ledge. Uraraka coughed to clear her throat, preparing herself for a final question. "Deku, what happened after you joined that gang? You're not still with them, right?"
"Oh, no. No, no, no! About a month after joining them, I met my, uh…master. He hated that I called him that. Really, he was just my teacher. That lasted about six months before - wait, hold on."
Deku stood up and pulled his mask on. Uraraka looked at him, confused, until she followed where he was staring. A large truck pulled in through the gate. On the side of its trailer walls were small vents that allowed circulation via conductive fans that spun. An ice truck? Just what are they transporting?
"Sorry, Princess. Looks like you won't get to hear more until we go out on another date."
Ochaco took her cue and rolled her eyes, stretching her limbs to limber up her body before standing up. Midoriya started digging around his person while he took a moment to give her some warnings.
"Alright, Uravity. I'm not one hundred percent certain about what we're going into, but I do know that this is where the Chasers and Oozers often do some sort of exchange. Aside from that, I'm at a loss. I've got your back, though."
He pulled out a comically large gun with a three-pronged claw folded at the end of the barrel. It was inverted to how most small arms were supposed to look, or at least in her mind. The handle was large enough to balance out the asymmetrical design. There was no chamber; three small gas tanks clustered together at the head of the handle. Just behind the folded grappling claw stood a large cylindrical container that was hinged on both ends. Thin, spindly wire coiled around the center and was pressed against the delicate barrel casings that kept it inside the container. Ochaco started to laugh with abandon. Deku looked at her, a feeling of hurt expressed across his lensed eyes.
"Deku, you big dummy. You know, I can just float us both down there. Where'd you even get that? The Secret Agent Store?" Midoriya lamely gazed down at the device in his hands. With a huff, he put it back in its spot, hidden away behind his body in the darkness of his long coat.
"Fine," he conceded, "But we should wait until they've fully docked and unloaded."
The two of them shared a pair of binoculars that Deku had on hand. Watching in shock, they witnessed several Oozers hauling large white capsules on dollies. There was frosted glass underneath the metal straps of the capsules. Hidden in the swirling fog of the glass were lithe shadows that barely exposed the forms of the victims. Uraraka grit her teeth in disgust. Next to her, Deku was holding his chin and muttering rather quickly under his breath. She only caught snippets of what he was saying through the rapid ramble that escaped his lips.
After the last capsule had been wheeled into the warehouse, the driver popped out of the truck cab and sauntered over to the group of laborers that had moved their victims inside. They stood outside for a few minutes before they turned their heads to an unseen call. One by one, the Oozers marched in and out of her field of sight. Deku snapped his head up, catching her attention. "It's time to pay them a visit, Uravity."
Ochaco gave him a determined nod and touched his arm. She quickly tapped her own soon thereafter, grabbing Deku by the armpits. With her rocket boosters activated, the two cut through the skyline and landed on the roof of the truck's trailer. They worked in tandem to make sure the area was clear of any stragglers. Ochaco turned into the body of the trailer and felt a surge of righteous anger. The interior wasn't very spacious. She had counted at least fifteen capsules as each of them were pulled out. Looking around, Ochaco figured they must have been lined up three abreast. She felt like she was in a sardine can. It was cold, a chilly breeze cutting through to her bones. Uraraka noticed that the A/C fans on the sides were working overtime. I guess they need to keep those capsules at a certain temp. Wonder why?
She met up with Deku at the end of the trailer's ramp. He spoke in a hushed tone and gave her a small earpiece. "It's clear, but I don't think we should be going through the front. Take this. It uses a secured two-way frequency." He paused for a moment, bringing a raised index finger to his mouth. "I'll try not to be too loud. Don't want to cause you more trouble, Sunflower." He grew quiet as he took a moment to put on his own earpiece.
"Right. Uh, thanks, I guess." Ochaco removed her helmet to place the earpiece in a free ear canal. She shook her bangs loose and tossed her head back. It felt good to be liberated from her helmet, if only for a brief moment. She replaced her gear on her head and looked at Deku. He was staring blankly at her, silently, almost as if he had lost his nerves. "You alright there?"
"Y-yeah. Yeah. Sorry. Lost my concentration for a second. Won't happen again."
He took off to the right without another word, leaving Uraraka in a state of confusion. That was weird. He's not usually so…whatever. Gotta find a window, or something.
It didn't take long before Deku's hushed voice sounded in her ear. He sounded cool and velvety, sending another shiver up her spine. Ochaco's face flushed from the thought that he caused that sensation. Get it together!
"Uravity, I'm in. Taking a look around. It's really dark inside. Bad lighting. Let me know when you're in, OK?"
"Roger that, Deku. I think - Yes! Found a vent. I'm going in." Uraraka climbed up to a metal grate that covered an air vent. She thanked her lucky stars that it was big enough to accommodate her bulky support pieces. With quick hands, she lifted the gravity from the grate and yanked it out of place. Uraraka released its gravity and lowered herself down to earth. After gently laying it on the ground, she hopped back up and pulled herself into the duct. Ochaco pulled her hand back the moment it landed on the metal plates that surrounded her. She could see her breath fog up the space in front of her eyes as her teeth began to chatter. Deku called to her again, and she welcomed the heat his voice brought to her core, a nice contrast to the cramped freezer Uraraka was crawling through.
"Are you in?"
"Y-yeah, I-I'm in. Air-r d-duct is c-colder th-than I thought it would b-be." She took away her own gravity while she used her fingers to pull herself through the aluminum canal maze. After getting used to the temperature, Uraraka found a grate that peeked out to a room where the Oozers had congregated. "Deku, I found the Oozers. I'm gonna listen in on them for a bit."
There wasn't much going on, surprisingly. The stocky green-skinned fellows grunted at each other in weird, broken Kansai. They complained about the wait and how the warehouse keeper should hurry to give them their payment. There were two doors that entered the small, dimly lit room. Out of the door opposite to the wall she was hanging in came a man with a long ponytail and a brown jacket. He had a short, pointed nose under a pair of heavy lidded eyes.
"Hey, boys," the newcomer welcomed in a grease-covered voice, "Sorry about the wait. Had to make sure we weren't shortchanging you. This latest batch is some of your best work! Even I might try gettin' in a session before we break 'em in."
"Hrm. Just don't break them too hard before we come back." Uraraka recognized the Oozer speaking as the truck driver. The group shared a wicked grin that enraged her. These bastards think they can get away with this. Boy, do they have another thing coming.
A short, static noise scratched out from the long-haired Chaser's pocket. He held up a finger to the Oozers as he turned away, speaking into a little radio he produced from his coat. The green-skinned men went back to snorting at each other quietly while the Chaser dealt with whatever the call was. She hadn't heard from Deku for some time, and she began to worry.
"Deku? You doing okay out there?" He didn't answer. She thought that he had been captured, throwing her into a deeper fit of anxiety. She tried calling him once again, but was interrupted by the Chaser entering the room again. He looked alarmed and was digging in his other coat pockets for something as he spoke animatedly to the Oozers.
"Look, we've got a situation here. You're free to - goddammit, where is the fucking money? - free to go but if you wanna stay and help, we'll double the pay."
Uraraka felt her eyes widen involuntarily. A situation? They can't mean…oh, what'd that snake do this time? She was just about to get moving when she heard Deku speak to her.
"Get to cover."
A split second later, there was a small blast that rocketed the door into the Chaser's back. The light went out, and the Oozers were thrown off their feet. There was movement in the pit of darkness as someone walked through the threshold. A few Oozers' grumbles were quickly silenced as several soft schunks raced through the air. Deku's tranqs! Ah, damn it, I gotta get down there now!
Uraraka abandoned all notions of stealth as she pressed against the grate with all her might. She half thought about activating her boots when Midoriya called out from the dark. His voice was cold and even.
"Hang on and step back, Uraraka." A noisier shot rang through the room below, and the grappling hook clanged against the metal rungs of the grate. He grunted out in some effort and managed to dislodge the covering. Ochaco wiggled out of the air duct, thankful, making sure not to fall flat on her face as she did so.
"Deku, what's going on? I thought we needed to be stea- Deku?"
Midoriya was no longer wearing his mask. His green eyes were ablaze with fury, his brow furrowed deeply. There were scrapes along his face and arms. Somehow, Deku lost his coat along the way to her, leaving him vulnerable. Uraraka watched him in the dark, illuminated by the light pouring in from behind the villain. "Hey, are you okay? What happened?"
Tenderly, she approached him and raised a cautious hand up to his face. Deku flinched before allowing her to touch his wounds. He shook under her gentle touch, tears forming in his eyes. Midoriya was barely holding it together.
"Deku?"
"Ura-Uraraka. It's awful. I walked into - I saw - I'm just so," he stuttered, his breath coming in short rattles. She shushed him by telling him to breathe. After some deep inhales, Deku spoke more clearly, though he still trembled under her fingers. "This place - they're doing awful things. I can't explain it. It's easier if you see for yourself."
Midoriya took her hand, lightly tugging her arm. They ran out of the room and banked hard to the right. Ochaco looked on at the walls surrounding them as they ran. The crew here had built up a series of hallways using whatever they could seem to find. Some parts were made of shredded clear plastic, others with plywood, and some with leftover cubicle walls abandoned from closed down offices. They ran through the maze of halls for a minute before running into the first pair of Chasers. They had a pair of rifles strapped around their shoulders. As Ochaco rounded the corner, Deku let go of her and dove into the pair, taking them by surprise. Moments later, he pilfered their rifles from their limp forms, emptying their magazines and chambers.
They stood in the middle of the warehouse. It was a crossway that had six exits, two that led to longer hallways, the other four mysterious. Deku pointed to a space that was covered with grimy cloth. "That's where…I can't…c'mon. We gotta get them out of here."
Ochaco followed him past the cloth. They walked down a short corridor and stopped in horror. Spread before them was a wide area littered with dingy mattresses and barely conscious bodies. Like the rest of the warehouse, it was poorly lit. An awful smell reached Uraraka's nose, an ungodly mixture of body odor and fluids that should never have to meet. There were three guards laying knocked out to her right. She spotted Deku's tranqs in their necks. She took a few tentative steps further in, kneeling next to the nearest person. It was a young girl, no more than an eighteen-year-old. Her hair was knotted and covered in grime, her skin scuffed with dirt and unmentionable filth. She was frail and gaunt, her dark eyes dull. Uraraka tried to get through to her before Midoriya stopped her.
"Look between her toes," was all he gave. Sure enough, what she found were track marks. They've been drugging them. It also dawned on her that, like the girl before her, the rest of the people surrounding them were nude. Another lady nearby crawled over a small pile of bodies laying strung out on a mattress. She reached out to Uraraka, passing out with a gasp. Ochaco swallowed the bile that had risen up in her throat.
"I-I… Oh my God. Deku. No. Nononono. I can't-!"
"Yes you can," he said sharply, "You're a hero and you're not alone." He pulled her up from the ground, using his hands to guide her head. She looked him in the eyes and saw a wavering, but still present, smile. "I am here. We've got this. Let's get them out of here."
She nodded with a numbness that wouldn't go away, despite the energy he had lent her through his smile. The sheer number of people in the room overwhelmed her. With a last look at the sleeping guards, Ochaco had formed a plan.
"Hey, Deku. How long are those guys going to be out for?" He looked at her curiously, checking his tranq gun's magazine.
"I'd say about an hour or so. Might wear off faster if they're bigger. Why? You have something in mind?"
"Let's take the bastards out. It'll be easier to round them up than trying to get everyone out of here."
They pressed through the halls and rooms that they came across. Each new room was its own special little slice of hell. In a few that they entered, Deku made quick work of the guards but quickly stepped out. The women in those torturous spaces had been strapped to benches or saddles, bent over in compromising positions. Their faces were tear-stained and they hung their heads limply. In another room, she charged in and brutally crushed two Oozers who hadn't seemed to care about the commotion going on around them. Just as they were about to engage a passed out woman, Uraraka clapped their heads together. She pulled them away from their victim, stomping on their heads for good measure. After she reassured the women in that room that they would be safe, Deku shot the Oozers with a tranquilizer each. He shrugged at her thoughtful face.
"Just to be safe. Don't want them waking up anytime soon."
In total, they had gathered twenty men (eight of them Oozers) and piled them all in the room that Deku had blown up. Ochaco helped Midoriya drag their bodies. When they were finished, he asked her to start waking everyone inside up or at least try to.
"I'll make sure these guys are taken care of," was all he gave her. Uraraka set to work, racing through the halls and rooms. She took the time to hit her distress signal. Hopefully a few nearby heroes or officers would be able to come for assistance. An agonizing eternity later, Deku caught up to her and began assisting with the victims. They found as many makeshift blankets to cover them as possible. As the two herded the women towards the entrance of the warehouse, the sound of sirens called out beyond the concrete walls. Ochaco felt relief flood her limbs only to have it immediately replaced with fear. She turned to look at Deku who gave a halfhearted smile. "Deku."
"I know, Sunflower. I've gotta go." He closed the gap between them, cupping her face. He hadn't lost his smile and his voice was almost back to its usual warmth. "I'll check in with you later. I'm sorry you had to see all of this, but I'm glad you were here."
"Y-yeah…" Izuku tore off into the bowels of the warehouse, disappearing from her sight.
A swarm of officers and brightly colored heroes flooded through the docking bay. The shuttered garage doors were lifted, allowing the late afternoon light to spill through. Ochaco reached for the nearest hero, crying out for some assistance. Soon enough, she was being swept away to an ambulance. She looked around the driveway, noticing the number of brightly flashing emergency lights that came close to blinding her. Uraraka sat numbly as an EMT ran through the motions of checking in on her. Thankfully, with Deku by her side, Ochaco hadn't been harmed. After a few moments, she was declared in full health but advised to take a day off. Ochaco simply nodded and walked away. She drifted towards the steady stream of first responders escorting the women out, draping fresh blankets over their fragile shoulders. A hint of green caught her eye. A young girl weaved in between the mass of adults that surrounded her. Clutched in her hands was Deku's mask. She held it up like a shield, her eyes blurred with pain. Ochaco put on her brightest smile and carefully approached the young lady.
"Hey, what's your name? I'm Uravity." The girl shook her head, indicating that she couldn't understand her. Ochaco continued to give a warm smile and gestured to the mask. "Can I trade you?"
Uraraka took off her helmet and offered it. They exchanged the pieces, the girl returning Ochaco's smile. Satisfied, she led the child to the nearest ambulance, letting the EMTs do their work.
She didn't stay long. Uraraka gave her statement to an officer, taking care to omit Deku's involvement. There was some praise from the pros and cops, all of which felt hollow. After she wrapped up her obligations, Ochaco took off towards her home. Mina and Hikari called her while she was in the air, but she ignored them. She wasn't in the headspace to talk about what she'd seen, let alone speak to another person. Just seeing them brought back the images, the terror, and all attempts to suppress them came up as futile.
The moment she entered her apartment, Uraraka muffled a scream with Deku's mask. She shouted until her voice was hoarse and her face was ruddy from the effort. Tears streamed down her face as she threw the mask across her room. Sobs wracked her body as she peeled off her costume and ran into the shower. Ochaco cranked her water up as hot as it could go, scrubbing vigorously until her skin was raw.
She dressed into her night clothes, a pair of shorts and a ragged, plain shirt, and collapsed on her futon. Ochaco hadn't even bothered to pull it out completely. Her stomach ached and growled in protest, but she ignored it for the allure of sleep. Chances are, anything she guzzled would come back up. She closed her eyes tightly in a vain effort to stem the flow of her tears.
It was dark and quiet in her apartment. An eerie stillness fell over the space, overwhelming her. Ochaco begged for sleep to take her away but stayed awake despite her hopeless pleading. A soft knock at her door got Ochaco to bolt out of her bed. Mina, I swear to God. I just want to be alone right now. I just want that one thing.
She swung the door open and gawked at Deku standing before her. He looked horrible. His bright eyes and matching hair looked dull. He wasn't wearing his normal clothes. Instead, he was clothed in plain jeans, bright red boots, and a baby blue hoodie with All Might's logo just above his left breast. Izuku looked desperate, lost in a fog of the same pain she was going through. He opened his mouth in a croak but didn't manage to get a word out. Ochaco pulled him by the front of his hoodie, hiding him from the hallway as she closed the door. They blinked at each other sheepishly before she rushed into him, wrapping her arms around him. The two started to weep bitterly until there were no more tears left in them. Both had fallen to their knees, clutching each other like a lifeline. Finally, Izuku spoke.
"H-hey, Sunflower. I just wanted to see how you were holding up." Ochaco hiccuped a giggle and wiped a few of his tears with a thumb.
"You big dummy. You're worse off than me." They looked at each other, both feeling safe for the moment. Izuku stood up, lifting her with him.
"You're right. Still, I wanted to see you."
"Thanks, Deku. I was having trouble going to sleep. Luckily, you showed up."
"M-me? What? I don't understand," he sputtered as she walked to her futon. She started to pull the mattress out and commanded that he take his boots off.
"Can't sleep with your shoes on. Now get over here."
Deku visibly swallowed the lump forming in his throat, but followed her order. He slowly walked over to her and got into the spot she pointed at. She lay beside him, her back to him, and draped his arm over her waist. They slowed their breathing, covering themselves with a blanket for extra warmth. His breath tickled her neck and ears. A thrill of comfort shot through her limbs and she gave a contented sigh.
"H-hey, Ochaco?" That sent another pleasant shiver through her body. She hushed him, snuggling closer into him and closing her eyes.
"Go to sleep, Izuku. You're making breakfast in the morning."
