Inner Peace

It was eerily quiet at the dorm of Class 1A. It was not because there were no people in it. Izuku Midorya watched his friend from across the room. She had been sitting on the couch holding her legs, gaze distant and dissociated. It pained him to see her this way. Someone like her was not supposed to look like that. He would do anything just for her to smile again.

The day before, Izuku was assigned to help Ryukyu and her interns on patrols. He was about to meet up with Tsuyu and Ochako in their patrol when they were suddenly attacked. A group of villains had ambushed them. They were doing well but apparently the ambush was just a ruse, when two men on motorcycles passed by shooting at them. Tsuyu managed to avoid the bullets but unfortunately, Ochako was hit by one of them.

They were given the day off. Principal Nedzu, All Might, Eraserhead, and Recovery Girl were being debriefed on what happened. Before they left, Izuku was tasked to look after her.

"Uraraka-san," Izuku said as he sat down beside her.

"What is happening to me?" Ochako asked desperately. She looked so lost and conflicted.

"Whatever it is, I'm sure it's only temporary," Izuku answered. "Remember when Tamaki-senpai got hit with that bullet and lost his quirk? He got it back. Right?"

"You're forgetting that Togata-senpai was also shot by those bullets and lost his quirk permanently!" Ochako countered.

"True," Izuku said turning to face her. He had never felt so helpless. "Well all I'm saying is… Kami! What am I saying?"

"I know what you're trying to do," Ochako said as she took his hand. "And I appreciate it, really."

"The moment they get back, we'll go to Recovery Girl. She'll be able to help you," Izuku said. "In the meantime Ochako, you need rest."

"No! I can't! I have to keep training," she argued. She stood her seat about to go to her room to change. "My parents are counting on me."

"Don't worry about that right now," Izuku said. Pulling her back down to her seat. "Just rest."

"Deku-kun," Ochako said. Placing her head on his shoulder. "Will you stay with me for a little while?"

"Of course," he replied, wrapping his arm around her. Resting his head on top of hers. "I'm not going anywhere."

A training exercise where she was paired with Bakugo ended in their loss. In his anger, he took to blaming her. Calling her quirkless and useless, inciting the anger of Izuku. The two had a big fight where they both ended up bandaged and house arrested again.

Izuku woke up in the infirmary. The white ceiling and the smell of peroxides was unmistakable. He sees Ochako hunched over her chair.

"Uraraka-san," Izuku called.

"Deku-kun?" She said. Lifting her head, one could see the lines under her eyes.

'She's been crying,' Izuku thought. He gave her a nervous smile. "How long was I out?"

"A few hours," Ochako answered. "Deku-kun, thank you for what you did but don't be so reckless next time. Bakugo was just blowing off steam. You didn't need to confront him for me."

"Of course I did," Izuku argued. "He can say whatever he wants about me but I will not let him…"

"You shouldn't Deku-kun!" Ochako interrupted. She was feeling angry, frustrated and guilty. "He was right. I was useless during that exercise. Now that I'm quirkless… You… You wouldn't understand."

"I understand how it is Uraraka-san," Izuku said empathetically.

"How would ya know what t'is feels like!?" Ochako shouted at him. "You were blessed with such an amazing quirk!"

"I do because the amazing quirk that you're talking about isn't mine," Izuku told her calmly. A memory of Shinso yelling something similar during the sports festival played in his mind.

"Huh?" Ochako said. "What the hell are ya talking about?"

"I'm saying that until the entrance exam, I was quirkless," Izuku answered.

He told her everything. His past, One For All and his duty to stop All For One. Her face changed from one part of the story to the next. Hearing this, Ochako felt helpless. She was already a burden to him. She did not want to add to his already insurmountable responsibilities. Her line of thought spiralled down and she became more depressed.

"What if this is it for me, Deku-kun?" Ochako asked in despair. "What if the rest of my life is like this? What then?"

"Then we'll deal with it," Izuku answered. Hands placed her shoulders. "Just because you're quirkless doesn't mean you're helpless."

"But that's exactly how I feel!" Ochako emphasized meekly.

"Ochako, you and I have been through everything together. You don't think we can handle this?" Izuku reasoned. He then looked her straight in the eye and with uncharacteristic confidence he said. "Ochako, you have me, no matter what. Okay, whatever that means, whatever you want it to mean. For better or worse, in sickness or in health, I am with you. There will always be an Izuku and Ochako! Always!"

'He didn't?' Ochako screamed in her mind. All thoughts of the earlier predicament were halted as a new one took priority. 'Did he just?'

Their face flushed. A warmth encompassed them as the smiled at each other. Going with the mood, Izuku leaned as Ochako closed her eyes.

"A phone call is here! A phone call is here!"

The two internally cursed whoever was on the other end of that phone call for interrupting their moment. Izuku begrudgingly took his phone from his pocket. Having half the mind to drop the call.

"Hello?" Izuku said.

"Midorya! Is Uraraka with you?" Recovery girl asked.

"Uh, yes," Izuku answered.

"Great! I will get there in an hour or so," Recovery Girl ordered. "I might have something that could help her."

"Really!?" Izuku said. A relieved smile appeared on his face as tears fell from his eyes. "Thank you Recovery Girl. You don't know how much this means to her."

"So what did Recovery Girl want Deku-kun?" Ochako asked. To which he responded with a smile.

Izuku told her that Recovery Girl was coming. When she arrived, she administered some sort of vaccine to the semi-quirkless girl. Ochako had to undergo something akin to physical therapy for her quirk but in the end, she was able to use her quirk again.

A week later, the duo can be found sitting at Dagobah Beach. Watching the sunset. They enjoyed the sound of waves crashing on the shore, the calmness that being with the other brings them, and the peace of mind that no matter the obstacle, they will overcome it. Afterall, they had each other.

"Are you sure you're feeling ok?" Izuku asked her worriedly.

"I'm fine, Deku-kun," she answered. A little annoyed because this was probably the thousandth time he asked that question in the last hour. "You can stop worrying about me now."

"I never stop worrying about you," Izuku said in a 'matter of fact' manner. "That's just the way it is."

Ochako laughed which confused the green-haired boy. "Who are you, my parents?"

"Hey!" Izuku protested.

"It's alright," Ochako said. "It goes for me too."

"Hmm?" Izuku hummed.

"I worry about you too," Ochako said before lecturing her best friend.

She listed out the events to which caused him injuries. When she finished scolding him, it amused her how the boy could manage to look guilty and adorable at the same time. Izuku looked like child who was just caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Feeling a bit guilty for sending him into that state, she decided to change subjects.

"Deku-kun, can I ask you something?" Ochako asked.

"Sure," Izuku answered.

"Um… Back when Recovery Girl called you. When you helped me with my meltdown," Ochako said. "Uh…"

"Yeah?" Izuku replied curiously.

"Were you about to…" Ochako asked.

"Oh, uh... So you remember that," Izuku answered. His cheeks turning red and a sheepish expression on his face. "I was kind of hoping you didn't."

"Why didn't you?" Ochako said matching the shade that he adorned.

"Oh… Uh… Erm," Izuku stumbled.

"Why didn't you?" Ochako repeated sadly.

"Huh?" Izuku sounded. "It's because you were so vulnerable. Doing that during your time of weakness felt like taking advantage of you."

"I see," Ochako said with relief. There was only one thing left to ask. "Deku-kun, do you like me?"

"Yes," Izuku answered almost automatically.

Releasing a breath that she did not know she held. Hearing him say those words, cleared the fog that was clouding her mind. Quieted the noise in her head. Her stormy emotions calmed. Her confusion disappeared and everything became clear. For once since a long time, she felt at whole. She felt at peace.

'It was all so simple,' Ochako thought. 'How could I have been so stupid?'

"Uraraka-san?" Izuku called. He turned her way but was tackled to the ground. Something soft and warm were on top of his lips. Tears landed on his skin.

"Thank you, Deku-kun, for everything!" She said before resting her head on his chest and let all her worries of the world melt away.

Author's Notes:

Hi everyone! I hope that you enjoyed the prompts. One of them was a bit on the tragic side but they were all fun to do. Some of the prompts actually coincided with side stories that I was writing which was cool. The story that they are connected to differs depending on the prompt.

Now the question, would you guys like me to post the optional one?

Thank you for reading. If you have any ideas, opinions or just find mistakes in the chapters, I would be more than happy to hear about it. Every little thing will help me improve.