Hello, heroes. Rio his back with the next installment of Domestic Heroes. This chapter here is a bit on the different side of things, since the prompt itself was a bit difficult to come up with a story for, but I think I made it work. Honestly, a lot of the prompts that I'm using for this fic are a little on the challenging side, but that's what makes it fun to write. I hope this chapter is enjoyable enough for you all. Take care in reading, and I will see you all again in the author's notes.

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction in dedication to a much grander work. As such, the author does not own the rights to any characters within this story, and any correlation between any original characters that may appear and people in the real world are merely coincidental.

My Hero Academia: Domestic Heroes

Nightly Duties and Self Reflections

"And that takes care of that! Good job on the patrol, everyone! Managed to bag a ton of unruly villains, today! Everyone is free to go! Return to your respective agencies, grab your gear, and head home! You all deserve it!"

"Yes, sir!"

The atmosphere in Ryukyu's agency was positive, everyone being in quite a good mood after a successful day. It wasn't often that such days occur, but the multitude of heroes and sidekicks that were a part of the joint patrol were glad that things went smoothly. Two sidekicks in particular were more than happy with the result, and couldn't stop smiling to each other as they made their way to the lockers.

"Ah. Today went so well! It was super difficult, yeah, but we manage to stop that prison break and round up all those villains without too much problems. Or property damage! That must be an accomplishment for you, Deku." Ochako said, giving her green-clad hero a friendly nudge with her elbow.

"You could say that. Then again, you need the debris I create for some of our better combos, so you can't complain, too much." Izuku countered, a small grin on his face as he poked her on the head, specifically where her large spy-goggles were, and laughed at the pout that appeared on her face. "Seriously, though, today went really well. We're even getting out at a good time. If we hurry, we can make it back home with enough time to get dinner started. Any idea on what to make?"

"I was thinking about having something simple tonight. I'm trying to decide between curry udon, yakisoba, and ginger pork. Which one do you think Eri would like the most?" The zero-gravity heroine questioned, causing the super-strength hero to put his hand under his chin in thought.

"Hmm. That's a good question. We can call her and ask; let her know we're coming home right now. Want me to take care of it while you change? I still need to head back to my place to get ready, anyway." Izuku suggested, getting a nod in response.

"Sounds like a plan. Text me what she wants when you're done talking to her. I'll see you at home, hun." Ochako said, lifting her goggles higher up on her head before planting a sweet kiss on his cheek, causing a dopey smile to form on his face.

"Yeah… You, too, dear." Izuku muttered back in a dazed tone, missing the light blush and bright smile that was forming on his girlfriend's face as she made her way to the locker room, and completely unaware of a certain horned individual approaching him with an aura of amusement surrounding her.

"Wow, Midori. Even after all these years, you still get lovestruck by every little sign of affection she gives you, huh?" An energetic voice spoke up, snapping Izuku out of his daze, and turned his head to see a familiar looking pink woman staring at him with a massive grin on her face. One that he would recognize anywhere.

"Ah! Ashido! Y-You saw all that?" He asked, looking quite embarrassed for acting like the way he did in public.

"Yup. Saw and heard the whole thing. It's nothing to be embarrassed over, though. It's cute, and I like the dynamic between you guys. It's like I'm watching a legit husband and wife talking about dinner plans with their daughter. That's pretty sweet, if you ask me." Mina said happily, giving the now flustered young man a hearty slap on the back. "Alright, lover-boy, lets head back to our agency so that we can head home. You got a family to see and I got a boyfriend to surprise. Eijiro doesn't know that I'm done for the day, so I'm going to stop by his favorite fast food joint and pick up something good for us to chow down on. Ooh, he's gonna be so happy!"

"I'm sure he will. Kirishima's always been a fan of your surprises. He'll definitely like this one." Izuku agreed, slowly coming out of his embarrassment as he followed the acid heroine out of the building and towards the agency they both worked at, chatting amicably on the way.

Ever since the he and Mina found themselves working in the same agency after graduation, the two of them have gotten fairly close as both friends and co-workers. They were often paired together on patrols due to their shared history at UA, and over time, they learned quite a bit about each other. She would even visit his home on occasion and volunteer to watch over Eri whenever she could. It was an unexpected friendship, one full of jokes and teasing on Mina's part, but a strong one, nevertheless…

It didn't take long for them to reach their agency, but the sun had practically set by the time they had changed out of their uniforms. Izuku, suitcase in hand and clad in a black shirt under an open blue hooded sweater, blue jeans and his red boots, had just finished getting congratulated from his boss, getting slightly flustered by the praise in the process, and was making his way out of the building when he saw Mina, wearing a white tanktop with dark skinny jeans and fancy black sneakers, waving at him with a wide grin.

"Hey, Midori! Had fun chatting with the boss like the rest of us?" She questioned as soon as he reached up to her, punching him playfully with her free hand while the other was holding a hot-pink suitcase that most likely held her hero outfit.

"It was more awkward than anything, if I can be honest. I know that our patrol mission went well, but I wasn't expecting him to be raining praises on all of us. It was a little overwhelming, really." Izuku admitted, scratching the back of his head as the pair began to walk down the street and away from their work.

"I can understand that, but hey, at least we're getting a big bonus in our checks for doing so well. Can't complain about that, eh?" Mina pointed out, prompting Izuku to nod in slight reluctance.

He didn't really believe he did anything special. Just doing his job as a hero. Sure there were more villains out and about than usual thanks to the break-out, but it wasn't really anything he or the others couldn't handle. Especially his former classmates. They've been through much worse in high school, so dealing with something as simple as a prison break wasn't much of an issue. Still, though, he accepted the praise and pay bonus without much fuss. If his superiors believed they were deserving of such a reward, then he might as well take it.

Besides, the extra money would be very helpful for both him and Ochako. With the extra money he got, they may be able to put their special plan into motion sooner than expected. And if Ochako was getting a bonus for the day as well…

"Hellooo. Miiiidorii. You're having a mumbling storm again." Mina's amused voice spoke up, causing Izuku to snap back into attention before turning to the pink heroine in surprise.

"Huh? S-Sorry, Ashido. Did you say something?" Izuku stuttered, looking a little embarrassed.

"Eh, don't worry about it. Just wanted to let you know that we're getting close to your place and we have to split here." Mina explained as she gestured at the crossroads. "Good thing I told ya, huh. If I hadn't, you'd probably end up coming over to my place by accident again. Can't have Ochako and Eri worried about you going missing, now, can we?"

"Ah…right. Thanks, Ashido." Izuku said, looking a little sheepish at his own flightiness.

"No worries. Just convince Ochako to have me as her maid of honor and we'll be even." She teased, causing the young man to begin sputtering on in surprise, before turning the corner and began running off with a wave. "Welp, gotta go! Take it easy, Midori! And say hi to that cutie Eri for me!"

Izuku could only watch in awkward silence as he slowly waved the active pinkette goodbye, face still flushed at her words. Marriage talks always seemed to leave him in a mess, and he knew that Ochako was no different. They talked about it, of course. They had been together long enough and the subject was inevitable. They both agreed to put such plans on hold for the moment, though, as they had more immediate plans to take care of first. Weddings were expensive, after all, and they needed to save all the money the could for a certain…something that they've been planning for some time now. Once that was done, though, then they can properly think about that stuff…so long as neither of them explode in embarrassment in the process.

At least he was prepared to do the proposal whenever he was finally ready. He really owed his mother for helping him find a ring…

It didn't take Izuku long for him to finally reach the complex, and not for the first time did he think they were lucky to have found a nice apartment on the bottom floor. There were days when he and Ochako would come home utterly exhausted and sore to the bone, and climbing even a few steps would've probably had them keel over if they were living in one of the higher floors. God forbid if they had gotten one on the top floor. Shaking his head from such thoughts, the young man proceeded to head over to the door to his home and pulled out the keys to it, knowing that Ochako had locked it shortly after coming home first out of habit. Smiling, he opened it, and was greeted by the smell of well cooked meat that had him practically salivating almost instantly. Ochako had definitely gotten better over the years.

"I'm home!"

"Welcome back, Deku!" "Hey, hun! Welcome home!"

Izuku couldn't help the massive smile on his face when he heard the pair greet him back, and became even happier when he saw Eri walking over to her with Mikan following right behind her. As much as he loved being a hero, nothing beat coming back to a home were someone was waiting for you. Once again he was grateful to have accepted Ochako's plan to live together after high school and Aizawa's request to take in Eri. They were the best decisions he had ever made, and the warmth he felt as he hugged his ivory-haired ward made all his worries melt away in an instant.

"Hey, Eri. How was your day? Did you have fun at school?" He asked shortly after ending the embrace.

"Yup! We had a special lesson about the police force today and a few officers showed up today to help out, and one of them was Mirio! I was so surprised, considering he's suppose to be doing hero work full time now, but it was nice to see him again, even if he and the other officers had to leave early because of the prison break you and Chako were helping out with." Eri said in an excited manner, causing Izuku to laugh at her enthusiasm as he took off his shoes and began walking towards the den, petting Mikan on the way.

"Well, Eri, even though you were able to returned his Quirk, Togata still stuck around the police force afterwords to help them out. He's got a close bond with his co-workers, and is considered an honorary officer after taking back the mantle of Lemillion. It's kinda like how Ochako is with her martial arts teaching at Gunhead's dojo, if you think of it like that." Izuku explained, getting a nod of understanding from Eri, before making their way to the dining table, pausing when they saw an apron-donned Ochako placing a set of plates on the table.

"Just in time, Deku. Food's all done. Hurry and get yourself cleaned up so we can eat. I got something great that I want to tell you!" Ochako said, looking even brighter than normal that it took all of Izuku's willpower to keep himself from letting loose another 'ugly face' as he felt his heart clench.

"I think I have an idea of what it is, considering it probably happened to me as well." The young hero said, grinning at the shocked look on her face, before making his way to the bathroom to freshen up.

After getting cleaned and saying a quick prayer, the three of them proceeded to eat the delectable looking pork, all of them letting off soft moans of delight as they ate. Ochako had definitely outdid herself this time, and the all around good mood that was enveloping their home seemed to be making the food taste even better. Izuku watched with a smile as Eri managed to devour her meal with impressive speed before excusing herself so that she could go finish her math homework. Izuku gave her the ok, telling her to call for help if she ever needed it, and gave the girl a pat on the head as she departed before turning his attention to Ochako, who was grinning back at him with an empty plate before her.

"So… I take it you're gonna get yourself a big bonus on your next check too because of today?" Ochako asked, smile growing even wider when he nodded in confirmation.

"Yeah. We all are. The higher-ups were so impressed with our performance with today's break-out that everyone is getting extra pay as a result. I wasn't really expecting us to get something like that, really, but I suppose I can't really complain. Helps push our plans forward at the very least." Izuku explained as he finished the last of his food, thanking Ochako for the meal before gathering up the plates and headed over to the sink to get them cleaned.

"Oh you have no idea, Deku. I checked our bank account on my way home, and with all the money we've been making from our hero work, my side job at Gunhead's dojo and the extra missions you go on with Gran Torino, we're making even more than what we were expecting! And if the bonuses we get are big enough, we might be able to pull off our plan within the next few months! Isn't that great?" Ochako asked, growing more and more excited as she spoke that Izuku had to place a slightly damp and soapy hand on her head to get her to relax.

"I know, Ochako. I know. I can't wait either. Once the next payday comes in, we'll sit down and go over our budget again. If we really are going to accomplish our plan faster than normal, then we're going to have to set a date for when we're going to going to do it. The sooner we decide, the more money we'll save by booking ahead." Izuku stated calmly, an amused smile on his face as he watched the woman beside him do her best to reign in her elation.

"Heehee… Sorry, Deku. Guess I'm getting a bit worked up, huh." Ochako said with a sheepish laugh before leaning onto her boyfriend, resting her head on his shoulder as she grabbed a nearby towel and started drying off the dishes for him. "Still, though, I can't believe this is actually happening. I'm about to accomplish one of my dreams so soon thanks to you and you help… Its unbelievable, really. I never would've image getting this far this quickly…especially if I was on my own. I owe you so much, Deku. For everything. I…don't even know if I'd be who I am right now if it wasn't for you…"

"…You don't owe me anything, Ochako. If anything, I'm the one who owes you." Izuku stated as he turned off the sink and dried his hands, turning his head to look at her stunned expression and stared straight at her chocolate brown eyes before speaking softly. "Since the first time we met, you've been there for me. Don't forget, you saved me from falling back at the UA entrance exam. Both before and during the test. You tried to give me some of your villain points to make sure that I get into the academy. You befriended me on our first day of high school, becoming the very first friend that I've made since I was a kid. You even went and change the meaning of the name Deku for me, from someone who is worthless and can't do anything to one who is strong and can do anything. You've been a source of inspiration to me for the longest time. A pillar of strength that I cling to when things get rough. You're just as significant to me as other important figures of my life, including All Might. I know for a fact that I wouldn't be who I am now without you…so thanks. For believing in me…and for being with me. You are truly amazing, and I'm grateful that you chose me to be with."

As soon as he finished his impromptu speech, Izuku pulled Ochako into a soft embrace, one that was returned quickly and tightly, and smiled lightly as he felt her crying lightly on his shoulder, most likely touched by his words. He didn't know where they came from, but they were the honest truth, and he was happy that he said them. Ochako was an important part of his life, and he wanted to ensure that she knew that. She worked so hard and deserved so much, and he was going do everything in his power to support her, just as how she was doing it for him.

"…When the heck did you get so smooth, you jerk?" Ochako said after a moment, her voice muffled by his shirt as he began chuckling at her statement. "Seriously, you're making it really difficult to keep our promise about marriage. I swear that sounded so much like a proposal…and I know I would've said yes if it was."

"We could always elope. Just go over and sign the marriage documents and be done with it. Save a lot of money if we go that route." Izuku joked, wincing playfully when he felt the woman lightly pounding his chest with her fists.

"Dummy, we can't do that. It wouldn't be fair to our parents and friends if we went and get married without telling them." Ochako pouted, pushing away from Izuku as she crossed her arms and frowned in though. "Besides, I doubt they'll let us do that anyway. They're definitely hoping that we'd do a big, fancy wedding and invite everyone. Iida would be our planner and convince Yaomomo to be in charge of decorations. Hatsume would probably help her out and she'll get Todoroki to make those massive ice swans we see on tv. Jiro would want to be in charge of the music and have Kaminari do the lighting. Aoyama and Hagakure would definitely be the ones to get the tuxes and dresses for everyone, and Bakugo would be complaining like usual after you convince him to be your best man and-"

"Ashido wants to be your maid of honor, just so you know." Izuku chimed in, more than a little amused to see his girlfriend go into a mumble spree of her own. It looked like he was rubbing off on her more than they thought.

"Mina's going to be one of my bridesmaids. Tsu's already called dibs…" The girl responded almost instantly, causing the man to laugh at her words before pulling her close and gave her a quick peck on the forehead.

"Let's hold off on the marriage talk until after we get our main goal over with. I haven't even proposed to you yet, you know." Izuku teased, getting a giggle out of the girl in his arms, before the sound of footsteps approached them, and separated just as Eri walked to them with a piece of paper in her hand and a worried look on her face.

"Deku…? Can you help me with this? I can't figure out what to do here…" Eri said as she handed over her homework to Izuku, who accepted it readily and began looking through it.

"Ooh. Math homework, huh. That was never my strong suit, but Deku's good at it. Good choice going to him for help, sweetie." Ochako said, giving the girl an approving smile before turning to her boyfriend with a warm fondness her eyes. "I'm gonna go check on the laundry. I got it started when I got home from work, and the first batch should be done by now. And don't worry, I made sure no ribbons ruined your undies this time. Have fun with Eri, hun."

Giving him a quick on the lips, Ochako started making her way to the bathroom, leaving both Izuku and Eri alone in the kitchen. The lone make of the household couldn't help but shake his head at his girlfriend's words with an amused smile. That woman was something else at times; always finding ways to tease him and keep him on his toes. He didn't mind, though. He quite liked that side of her, among other things. Letting off a soft chuckle under his breath, the young successor made his way to the living room couch with his charge in tow, ready to help her out with her homework before helping out Ochako with the laundry and calling it in for the night.

All in all, today had been a good, if slightly emotional, day for Izuku, and it was about to end in a quiet note for him and his 'family'. It would be an easy night for him and the girls, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

Prompt 5: Nighttime routine

Author's notes: And that is that for this chapter. Like I said, a bit different than what the prompt intended, but what's writing without a little creativity in it. I wasn't really sure where I was going with this chapter until I reached the end, but I am somewhat satisfied with how it turned out. I'm sure I could improve on it if I had more time, but so few of us writers are ever perfectly ok with what we've written, always trying and seeing new ways to improve. New chapter coming out tomorrow, lads, so look forward to it! Until then, thank you all so much for enjoying my story so far, and I will see you all next time.

Take care, Heroes, and remember. Go beyond! Plus Ultra!