Domestic Heroes: The Early Moments

6th Moment: To Soar with You

"C'mon, Deku, you can do it! Just a little longer!"

"It's…getting too…much…"

"You're doing great! Don't give in now!"

"How…do you manage…to pull…this off…yourself?"

"Hard work and determination! Something you have in spades! Just a few more seconds!"

"I… I…"

"Time!"

"Waah!"

*thud*

Ochako smiled widely as she walked over to where Izuku had landed, water and medicine in hand. Now that she had fully recovered from her mission, she had decided to help the rising hero with his Quirk training at a special room in the dojo she worked in and she couldn't help but feel proud with how far he had gotten. Ever since she was told about the details of Izuku's past during their time in UA, including One for All, All for One, and some of All Might's history, she had been working hard in order to help him master such an amazing power. The fact that her boyfriend was gifted such a Quirk by his favorite hero and remained the sweet, humble boy she first met spoke volumes towards his character as well. Initially she felt a bit discouraged after learning everything, wondering if she deserved to stay with Izuku or was capable of even being able to help him with something so complex. However, with the assurance of Izuku himself, along with All Might and even Katsuki in his own, brash way, she found the resolve to do all she could to aid her partner to be the hero he was meant to be. He was helping her to achieve her own dream, after all. It was only fair that she'd do the same.

"Deku, that was so good. You managed to float for a good hour before having to come down. That's much better than how you first started!" She said as she kneeled beside him and handed him the water and medicine.

"Yeah… I suppose. Not as good as your time, though … Not by a long shot…" Izuku said slowly, rubbing his head as if it was in pain as he accepted Ochako's gifts.

"Deku, I've had my Quirk for as long as I can remember. I'm more or less used to the strain it gives me, especially after all the training we've done together. You just unlocked your new Float powers recently and are still getting used to it. Sure, you're not getting it as fast as that Black Whip power, but it's still cool how far you've improved," Ochako insisted while giving him a gentle back rub.

It was only towards the end of their final year in UA that Izuku had unlocked the Quirk that once belonged to All Might's predecessor: Nana Shimura, and unlike the base power of One for All or Black Whip, the first Predecessor Quirk he unlocked, he was struggling quite a bit to control the power. The two were training together at the time the power was discovered and the two initially thought that Ochako had made him float on accident again, only to learn differently when releasing her Quirk did nothing. After meeting with All Might for more details, the two were determined to properly control such a useful Quirk as quickly as possible. It was a lot more slow-going compared to his other abilities, but he was definitely getting better. The tips she was giving her helped quite a bit as well. She was well versed in floating herself, after all.

"Is that headache of yours gone yet? You don't look as bad as last time," Ochako asked gently as she went to scratch his head.

"Just about… The medicine helps a lot. Thanks a lot for giving them to me," Izuku said while giving her a weak smile.

"I always have a stash of medicine on hand for my Quirk training. Never hurts to have others on hand just in case. Still, I find it funny that both of us get sick in some way when we use our floating powers," Ochako said as she held out her hand and picked Izuku up.

"Yeah, but where yours makes your stomach churn because of the weightlessness, I get migraines from concentrating too hard…" Izuku grumbled as he walked towards the exit to the dojo, and Ochako couldn't help but frown at his attitude.

He's really beating himself up hard about this. I wonder what's up? Is it because the Quirk he's practicing belonged to All Might's mentor? She thought as she followed the stewing hero back to their apartment, It was a quiet and awkward walk, and Ochako couldn't help but worry about Izuku the more she looked at him. She took the chance to clasp her hand with his and give him a reassuring smile, hoping to alleviate a bit of his frustration. It worked slightly if the light blush and added softness in his face were anything to go by, but he still seemed upset by the time they made it to their apartment. It was off putting to see him in such a state, so she was going to do what she can in order to better his mood.

Thankfully, she had two helpful and adorable assistants this time to give her a hand. And said assistants perked up as soon as the couple entered their home.

"Deku! Ocha! Are you done with training?" Eri asked as she got up from the floor to greet them with Mikan in her arms.

"Yes, Eri. We're done for now. Sorry for not bringing you with us but the training we needed to do isn't something most people can see. Were you ok being here on your own for a little bit?" Ochako asked sweetly while gently petting Eri's head.

"Yes! Mikan and I had a lot of fun together! I even did a few drawings of you and Deku together! Do you want to see them?" Eri asked as she pointed at the little pile of paper on the floor.

"Maybe later, Eri. I need to lie down for a moment. Training was a bit rough today for me. I hope you understand," Izuku said with a weak smile that didn't reach his eyes before walking towards the bedroom, causing Ochako to sigh at his actions.

"...Did I do something wrong?" Eri asked worriedly, her eyes welling up.

"No, sweetie, you didn't do anything wrong. Deku's just upset that training didn't go as well as he'd like. He'll feel better soon, I promise," Ochako assured while giving her a tight hug. "Say, how about we work together to make him happy? Today's your last day with us before you have to go back to Mr. Aizawa, after all. Let's end it on a good note for all of us."

"I like that…" Eri muttered while nodding into the hug, getting a proud smile out of Ochako as she let go, when she saw a thoughtful look on the child's face. "Um… May I use your phone? I…want to talk to someone really quick, if that's ok."

"...Sure, sweetie. You can use it. Who do you plan to call?" Ochako questioned while handing Eri her device.

"...Secret," She muttered before running over to the guest room, much to the woman's confusion.

"...Must've needed to talk to Aizawa or something," Ochako said to herself while shaking her head before making her way to the kitchen. "Now… Maybe I can make a little something special to cheer Deku up. I think I got the recipe for his mom's katsudon and Sato's cake hidden here. Now where are they…"

Idea in mind, Ochako scoured her kitchen to find the recipes in question, which didn't take too long, thankfully. It was also a good thing that she had all the ingredients needed to make everything. After getting her phone back from Eri, who told her she was going to start making a special drawing for Izuku, the young hero got to work on making the special dishes. She also mentally thanked both her friend and her boyfriend's mother for the extra cooking tips so she could give her cake a bit of extra personality to it. Satisfied with the look of her bunny-shaped cake, she set it into the oven and was about to start her work on the Midoriya-style Katsudon when she felt a familiar pair of arms wrap around her waist.

"Hey, Deku. You feelin' better?" She asked gently, a soft smile on her face as she patted the strong, scarred arms clinging to her.

"Yeah. I am. Thanks for asking," Izuku's voice answered in a subdued tone, and Ochako could only roll her eyes in a bemused manner as she realized what was about to happen next. "Ochako… I-"

"I know what you're gonna say, Deku. You don't have to apologize. It's understandable to feel frustrated when things aren't going your way," Ochako assured, giggling when she felt him sigh against the back of her neck.

"I still want to apologize, though. My frustration shouldn't have made me act the way I did to you and Eri. Neither of you deserve that. And on Eri's last day with us, no less," Izuku continued on, prompting Ochako to huff in annoyance before grabbing the spatula she used for the cake and smacked him in the face with it, causing him to yelp and let her go. "Hey! What was that for?!"

"To get you to stop being mopey. I know you feel bad, but stuff like this happens all the time. Especially t' people like us. You remember how I was when I first learned about your secret? How harsh I was with myself and wonderin' if I even deserve to know what I do now? And how you got me out of that funk?" She stated while poking his chest with the batter-covered cooking utensil, her accent starting to pick up. "I'm doin' the same thing you did for me. I'm not gonna let you beat yerself over something like this. Just because the Quirk you're usin' belonged to All Might's master, doesn't mean you have t' rush yourself to control it. Take your time with your trainin', Deku. Your Quirk ain't goin' nowhere. All Might is already proud of you for what you've become, there's no need to further please him by doin' this…"

"Wha… You…"

"Surprised that I caught on, huh? You're an open book to me, Deku," Ochako said with a smirk, enjoying the surprised look on his slightly messy face. "I meant it when I said you're makin' great progress with your floatin' powers. Do you have any idea how long it took me to reach the level you're at when I'm tryin' to float myself? You've come a long way since we were teenagers, but you still need t' have more confidence in yerself an' see how much you've accomplished already. You have a bad habit of missin' stuff like that, ya know."

"Yeah… I know. It's just...really hard for me to see how much I've progressed. I'm just so focused on what I think I need to do that I miss what I'm already able to do," Izuku admitted bashfully before giving Ochako a sheepish smile. "I guess I should be thankful that you're by my side. You always seem to see what I miss. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'd be a mess, that's for sure. And I don't mean the one I made on your face right now," Ochako snickered, her accent dying down as she walked over and gave her lover a peck on his messy cheek, enjoying his flushed expression as she licked the batter off her lips. "Now, how's about ya go hang out with Eri for a bit while I finish up with dinner. It's cake and katsudon today and I'm makin' lots of it. Can't be upset with a full stomach, after all."

"Haha. I suppose you got a point there. I'll be with Eri, then. At least let us know when the cake is done so we can decorate it. I know this whole thing is to cheer me up, but I like to contribute something, at least," Izuku requested as his blush slowly started to fade.

"Deal. Now go be a father and hang out with Eri while I keep up my mother act and cook for you all," Ochako grinned with her free hand on her hip and her other one pointing at the doorway with the spatula, more than a little amused at his flustered response to his words as he made his exit. "...I've been spending too much time with Mina and the others to be teasing him like this so much. The faces he makes are way too cute, I swear."

Satisfied that her words helped, the young woman went back to her cooking, another giggle escaping her lips when she heard Eri call out the spot on Izuku's cheek and Mikan meowing hungrily. She couldn't help but love the little moments of levity she had with the two, and even felt like they were all one big happy family. She felt her heart soar and face growing hot just thinking of that. These moments weren't going to last, though, since Eri would be back with Aizawa the next day, so she was going to make sure to squeeze every bit of enjoyment they had left together. Sighing happily to herself, she proceeded to get the four bowls of katsudon ready, three normal sized ones and an extra small one for Mikan, when she heard the door knock. Confused, she made her way out of the kitchen when Eri suddenly called out saying she was going to answer, and it was only when she heard a very loud and very familiar voice did she figure out why the girl did what she did.

"I AM HERE!"

"A-All Might!?"

"Hi, Mr. Toshinori!"

She called All Might over so he could make Deku feel better! Wow… What a bright girl she is. I am so proud of her. Ochako thought, eyes welling up at the resourcefulness of the little hero-to-be. Blinking away her tears, Ochako grabbed a fifth bowl from the cabanent and thanked herself that the cake she made was fairly large. Now her home had a much bigger family feel to it and she couldn't be happier. She sorely wished for more of these days to come…and for that, she was set to make sure to keep her home, her loved ones, safe from harm. It was her job to preserve days like this and she was going to give it her all in order to accomplish it.

"Maybe I should ask All Might about his master's quirk so Deku and I can learn about it. Maybe that'll help Deku figure out the trick to it. The sooner that happens, the sooner the two of us can soar together to keep the day safe," She said to herself just as the oven timer went off, prompting her to call Izuku and Eri over to help decorate the cake as she got out various frostings and sprinkles she had hidden away. It was the last thing the two would do together as a trio and she wanted to have as much fun with it as possible…

Unaware that, in just a few short weeks, their little arrangement would become a bit more...permanent.

Author's Note:

Hello again, Heroes. Enjoyed this new chapter of the Domestic Heroes prequel. Did a bit of a different take on the Flight theme here, so I hope it was still a decent read for you all. It was pretty convenient that the details of Izuku's Quirk happened not long after IzuOcha week was announced. I will be honest in that this chapter is a bit...weak compared to the rest. I planned to have it a bit longer and with an actual interaction between Ochako, Izuku and All Might regarding Nana. Maybe I'll revise this chapter later on, but for now, this will do. Tomorrow will be the final chapter, everyone, so look forward to the piece that will tie this work to Domestic Heroes. Look forward to that, everyone!With that said, thank you all so much for reading my works! I wish you all a wonderful day and I will see you all for the final update!

Until next time, farewell. And remember: Go Beyond! Plus Ultra!