A Very Naughty Word. A Game of Chance
AN: Thanks for the love and support so far. Are we having a good time?
The level of comfort that cradled her body and the silky sheets covering her held her in such bliss that moving from this spot would be a sin. A slight sigh came from the other side of the bed, and she could feel a small shift as a body turned to face her. She debated whether that should worry her. She was sleeping with the enemy, even if nothing happened. But the sheets were just sooooo good, and the mattress fit to her body in a way that convinced her she needed to let Bakugo use her couch for target practice. She didn't care that he was a villain. She would not surrender sleeping in this bed. If that meant a little morning nooky to keep it…well she might be able to live with that.
Letting her curiosity about her price for bedded bliss get the better of her, Uraraka opened one eye to her bedmate, and shot both open wide when she noticed a prominent horn poking out from a mop of long white hair. A small hand reached up and brushed the mess away, revealing a small child looking back at her. They held each other's gaze for a second, and both opened their mouths.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
The girl shot up, standing on the bed and pointing at her. Uraraka tried to get to her feet, but her legs tangled in the covers and down she went. She scrambled, fighting the blankets, and ultimately standing in time to see a shirtless Izzy crash through the door.
"DAAAADDDDY! ONE OF THE SLUTS FROM THE BAR FOLLOWED YOU HOME AND IS IN YOUR BED!"
"WHAAT?!" Uraraka's mouth dropped as she tried to figure out what the fuck was going on.
He has a kid? Did she call me a Slut? HE HAS A KID?!
Izzy went to the little girl, picking her up and placing her on the floor. She clung to his side, looking at Uraraka with a mixture of horror and rage. She began to calm down as the man ran his fingers through the child's head, shushing her as he went.
"Hey, it's okay. This is my guest, Eri. Now why would you call her something so terrible, huh?"
"That's what Auntie Molly said to call anyone who I find in your bed."
Uraraka covered her face. She noticed she was still wearing her dress from the night before. The beautiful fabric wrinkled and bunched on her body in odd places. She didn't look her best. The shoes were set at the foot of the bed. At least she didn't have blisters to worry about.
"At this rate, I'm going to have to fire, Aunt Molly. You're not having lessons with her anymore at the very least."
"That's not fair! And you promised Sunday Morning Pancakes," Eri crossed her arms. Between the incursion into her father's room by some rando, and the lack of pancakes, the world had wronged her in a very big way. Izzy looked at the petulant girl, hung his head, and rubbed his eyes. He guessed he should be thankful, considering where she started. If this was the biggest tragedy in her life today, he'd been doing his job. He squatted down to her level, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"That I did. Pancakes it will be, and Uraraka will be joining us. You will call this lovely lady that, or Ochaco, if she allows it. You hear me?"
"Yes, daddy," she rolled her eyes, and looked towards Uraraka. "But does she have to join us?"
"That's her choice, but I hope she will. Now scamper. If you don't start the batter, Riggs will have to do it."
"But he doesn't add enough vanilla," the unicorn girl was off like a shot, worried beyond doubt that involving the old man in Sunday Breakfast would lead to disaster. Uraraka watched the little girl leave and returned her eyes to her host.
Save a pair of sweatpants, Izzy was bare to the world. She was sure she'd never seen him with even his sleaves rolled up, let alone without gloves. Hard lines of muscle covered his wiry frame, each curve chiseled and proportioned. She could have been looking at a Greek statue, were it not for the scars. Healed induction ports criss crossed his body like a bad connect the dots picture. The skin on the back of his hands looked mangled and painful, like he'd been a nursing school pin cushion and not one of them could find a vein. Izzy followed her gaze, blushed, and slid his hands into the pockets of his pants.
"Hchm…I'm making breakfast. If the kid hasn't scared you off, I'd love for you to join us."
"I think I have to…no. That'd be nice. I'll stay."
She watched his face as it began to drop, and pop back up in surprise. He smiled and started rubbing the back of his neck, moving quick to keep his hands hidden.
"I'm happy to…ummm…yeah that's great. O-okay. I left some clothes for you at the foot of the bed if you want something a little less formal. Shower's through that door. Help yourself," he nodded to the glass door behind her, and slipped back into the hall. The door softly clicked behind him. She listened to the soft pad of his feet as he walked to the kitchen, and when she was sure he wouldn't hear her, she collapsed on the bed.
What the hell am I doing! she screamed in her head. Looking at the clothes he'd picked out for her, she held them up and examined them. Simple pajama shirt and sweatpants, but the fabric was excellent. She closed her eyes, admonishing herself for each thing she enjoyed and would enjoy in his room.
The bed blew her little couch out of the water.
His clothes were luscious. Of course, they'd be.
His bathroom would be expansive and tasteful because it was.
Finally, the shower would have water hot enough to steam a sauna and water pressure to blast away aches and pains and every bit of regret from a night out. She'd continue to fawn over this man and his things because she'd spent the last four years alone in a tiny little apartment where, if she got creative, she could cook her ramen while she shit. She slipped out of her dress, cursing herself for being the poor girl falling for her target just because he had money and fancy things.
The water poured forth and down her shoulders, and her knees went weak.
Fuuuuuuck but the shower is good though.
As she let the water run through her hair, she took stock of the situation.
So far she'd learned some helpful information about the man. The scarification over most of his body alluded to a possible violent past, or even experimentation in the right villain circles. No one knew that there was a child associated with him in any way, shape, or form. She wasn't stupid. The girl looked every bit of ten years old, and while she still didn't have an age for him, Uraraka had a hard time picturing twelve-year-old Izzy being a father. Most likely, the kid was adopted in some way. That left this Miss Josephine. It would take some digging, but she was sure they might be able to find a connection. A solid lead could help them know who they were really dealing with and help her keep some distance from this man.
Uraraka looked through the soaps, delighted in using something that wasn't a three-in-one bottle wash, and got herself toweled off and dressed in her barrowed clothes. She felt snug in the shirt and pants, enjoying the way the nice cotton brushed her skin.
Padding her way to the kitchen, she arrived to see Eri and Izzy hard at work behind a griddle. Eri furiously beat the batter, adding in large chunks of apples and spilling small spurts to the floor as she went. Izzy had donned a pair of gloves and an apron during her shower. He flipped pancakes as needed, spending the moments between Eri's batter pours running a small paper towel he pinched in between his toes over Eri's messes. He'd lift the soiled rag into the trash can with his foot and drop another towel when needed.
A pancake went too long without being flipped and small tendrils began to curl at the edges.
"Daddy, you're supposed to watch the pancakes. I'll flip them."
"And put me out of a job? Not happening little one."
He placed a small kiss on the little girl's head. She swatted him away, but Uraraka noticed the look a joy that even the most obstinate child couldn't hide. It really was his child, adopted or not. She leaned against the wall, watching the father and daughter make breakfast.
Maybe he's not a villain. The thought came unbidden and unwelcome to the front of her mind. She tried to remind herself how unlikely that was. Men don't just disappear before high school, and then reappear in the world unbelievably wealthy and well connected. All of this had to come from something. She wasn't blind.
But what if he isn't a villain. What if he's good
She tried to ignore the thought again, but she kept watching them. She felt the subtle ache in her legs and core from dancing last night. She felt the way he paid attention to her, asking about her, and enjoying her company. Two nights and an awkward morning and she felt more important to this man than she'd felt in her five years with Iida. Was it wrong to want this to be a good thing? Was she stupid for hoping that maybe, somehow, Izzy could be a good guy?
"Daddy, she's staring at us," Eri pointed at her. Without taking his eyes off the griddle he pushed her hand down.
"It's rude to point little one. Now go set the table. I'll finish up here."
The girl nodded and bounded off deeper into the apartment, giving Uraraka a couple of glances before disappearing behind a corner. Izzy watched the child leave and shook his missy head. He noticed her watching him and nodded to a place beside him. Uraraka walked to him, letting the cinnamon from the apples and smell of pancake batter wash over her.
"Coffee's by the fridge."
"Thank you." She poured herself a cup and wrapped her hands around it. The heat leached through the ceramic, warming her hands. She blew on the cup and took a sip.
"No cream or sugar?"
"Easier to live without it if you learn to like it black."
"I can respect that." Izzy raised his own cup and downed what was left. He used his other hand to flip the last of the pancakes and killed the heat on the griddle. His movements looked practiced and fluid. She wondered what else he could do in a kitchen.
"So," she spoke up. "You have a kid?"
"Yeah…is that awkward?"
"When were you planning on telling me?"
"Well Molly said I should wait until I've at least slept with someone to bring anything like that up."
Uraraka spit out a bit of coffee. Izzy's eyes widened.
"Not that…oh shit…that came out weird. I'm not saying I agree with that exactly."
"No, it's fine," she put her coffee down. "I mean…I guess…I did spend the night here…"
"Alone! I mean…I took the couch. I'm sorry. Eri used to get these horrible nightmares and it comforted her to know she wasn't alone and I've never been used to having such a big bed and-" he stopped and took a breath. "Sorry."
Uraraka looked at the man, trying to piece him together.
"How can you be so put together out there on the stage, but fall into mumbling and muttering when you start talking about something you care about."
"Well, out there it's a performance I have a role to play, and I've practiced doing it. Here, and around you, I guess it's only me." He smiled at her. She thought over what he was saying. There was more she wanted to say, wanted to ask, but she elected to keep the silence between them. Still, she looked at him, and he her. They stayed like that till the impatient pleas of a little girl told them it was time to stop making eyes at each other and eat.
Izzy loaded the last of the pancakes onto a platter and left for the dining room. Uraraka followed a little ways behind, making up her mind on something she'd been mulling over since a small unicorn child woke her up this morning.
The car pulled up in front of her apartment building. Izzy put it in park and killed the engine. She sat next to him, holding her dress from the evening, and lounging in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt Izzy "appropriated" from Molly. She figured she'd just get out, but he was already walking around the front of the car and getting the door.
"Such a gentleman."
"You know, that's what they call me. 'Izzy the Gent,' heh." He looked at the ground. She could see the words forming in his head, trying to find some way to the surface. In the light of day, his freckles popped and he looked…almost vulnerable.
"Ochaco, I know you came last night because of your work, and I'll get it if it's out of line…"
"Yes?" she leaned forward.
"I know it might be a bit much and it's inappropriate, but I've had a lovely time these last two nights and I was hoping…that maybe I could…"
"Give me your phone."
She held out her hand. He looked down at it, back up to her, and handed it over. She began typing
"So you had no problem asking me out at your place, and you put on a big number for me after dropping an invitation that made my friends swoon. What's changed between then and now."
"You have all you probably need for your investigation. I figure it won't benefit your work to keep seeing me. But…I'd really like to keep seeing you. If you'll let me."
He looked down and away, failing at hiding the red spreading across his face. Uraraka smiled, took a deep breath, and put his phone back in his hand. As his hand closed around it, she held on and pulled herself to him, locking her lips on his. His mouth opened from the shock, but he settled into kissing her back till she broke away from him. Both stood there in silence, before Uraraka rushed into her building and up to her room.
Izzy watched her go, and looked down at his phone. On the screen was her number and a note reading,
MY SHIFT ENDS AT 5. YOU CAN PICK ME UP AT 7
DINNER. NOT YOUR PLACE
He stared at the phone till a car came up behind him and began to honk. Violence didn't even enter his mind. He slid across the hood of his car and hopped into the driver's seat. He didn't think about schemes, or revenge, or anything other than the unbridled happiness that comes when a long odd comes in when you bet big and win.
Uraraka ran to her door, shut it, and let herself slide to the floor and her eyes to shut. This was stupid, reckless, and irrational and she hadn't been this proud of herself since graduation. She'd made up her mind that she was going to see him again, but now she'd have to wait. The idea of sitting behind a desk waiting to see how this gambit paid off felt unbearable. She shot a quick message to Ryku to see if she could get back into the patrol rotation for tomorrow. It didn't take long to get a response.
GETTING YOUR ASS OUT OF MY OFFICE? OF COURSE YOU CAN PATROL! I WAS STARTING TO WORRY ABOUT YOU.
Uraraka read the message, and let out a sigh of relief. Being in the field meant plenty to keep her distracted. Distractions meant less time that she had to file her report on Izzy while important rescues were being attempted and villains were being apprehended. She could buy herself time, and with enough of it, maybe Izzy would turn out to be the good man she saw this morning. She was sure that if she got him into the world, she knew the good man she saw in him would shine through.
"Iiiii think that I'm falllling!" THWAACK. CRUNCH.
"For the love of god, someone send back up!"
"We can't! Lines are cut and someone's jammed the…Oh sweet jesus! No. NOOOOOOOO!"
"I think I'm falling in looooooove!"
Riggs kept look out at the front of the inlet. For the past hour, the boss had been singing his way through a mountain of drug runners that felt the taxes they should have been paying to him were better spent going to AFO. Normally this was the kind of thing he would handle for the boss, or even Molly. But the boy had come home in an exceptional mood.
"It's that Uraraka girl. The one in that purple number from the other night," Molly said. She looked into the base. A burst of orange flame erupted from one of the ships and illuminated the entrance against the night sky.
"Of course it is," Riggs remarked. "Dangerous pursuing a relationship with a hero, though. Too much exposure. Especially this close to reaching his goal."
"He's a big boy, gramps. Besides…"
The screams of smugglers and mercenaries comingled and created a cacophony of noise. Molly closed her eyes, leaned against the stone wall, and stared into the sky. A dreamy look came into her eyes.
"Our little Izuku is finally in love."
