Once Again another random story following my other favorite couple that will probably never see the light of of this story as a bit of an Ear-Worm that wouldn't go away till I finally wrote it. Highly Random but Exceedingly interesting, this started out as a strange dream and then grew from there,
She dove behind a random car. Assessing the scene told her both Ground Zero and Deku had engaged the villain, though she was pretty sure there were supposed to be two villains at the scene. Did the other one get away? She shook her head, she needed to focus. Very likely she had received miss-information. It was like her classmates, however much they fought, to let a villain get away. She was trying to get in close, the villain hadn't seen her yet, if she could just sneak in behind him and take away his gravity then they might have the saw her opportunity and while Bakugo had him sufficiently distracted she went for her chance. Unfortunately her fingertips had just barely brushed the edge of his coat when suddenly hands wrapped around her midsection and she was airborne.
She yelped in surprise, her mind going into overdrive. There was another?! She knew she had heard there was a second villain!
She twisted in the grip ready to put all her combat training into action and was instead met with a familiar mop of green hair. She stopped mid strike.
"What?! Deku! What are you doing?! Put me down!"
He landed on a nearby roof and let go of her- she scrambled, slipped and ended up falling on her butt. She looked up at him with a scowl.
"What was that for Deku?"
He rubbed the back of his neck and looked at her sheepishly.
"Sorry Uraraka, didn't mean to let you go so roughly. I was just trying to get you out of there."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "I had it under control, why did I need to leave?"
She glanced back over the edge of the roof to see Ground Zero curse loudly at the guy as he avoided an attack. She pouted, if she had managed to grab him then Bakugo could have finished the fight already.
"I didn't want him to hurt you. Did everyone get evacuated?"
She stood up, brushed herself off with a sigh and turned to her friend.
"Of course Deku. Jiro, Momo, and I took care of it."
"Ah well that's good. " He looked away from her and began to fidget slightly.
She was used to his ticks and knew he had something to say so she crossed her arms and tried to hurry him up anxious to assist in the villain's capture. "Alright Deku. Tell me what's up."
He looked up at her mildly shy and for a moment she thought he might confess to her like all the other girls assumed he would. It could be so dramatic - to whisk her away from a battle "her hero" and all that crap. She mentally snickered at the thought of him in medieval armor- how corny. He would be riding a horse to slay a dragon on his way to rescue the princess.
He cleared his throat and she realized she had been spacing out- too wrapped up in the humor of the thought. She waved at him to continue.
"Sorry. I'm listening."
"I was just saying you should stay here."
"What?! Why?!" She blinked at him owlishly- stunned. " I'm not just going to stand by while you guys fight and capture the villain- I'm a hero too, you know!"
He nodded slowly. " Yes you're a RESCUE hero."She paused to take in that statement and her eye twitched in irritation.
"Excuse me?"
He hurried to try and explain.
"Of course you are a great hero and you are perfectly capable of doing your job it's just that doing your job is getting civilians out of harm's way and clearing debris so it's safer to transport the injured granted you do a lot of hard work having to constantly use your quirk to relocate everything and make the environment safe again potentially during a fight- "
She began to tune out his usual rambling as she realized what he was saying. He was telling her he didn't want her in the field because she would be in the way or get hurt. Her skills were for search and rescue- maybe some maid service cleaning the streets- nothing more. She glared at a spot on the roof, and let the thought sink in as she mentally went over the situation. He thought she was weak. He still thought she couldn't take care of herself so he took the 'problem' into his own hands and removed her from the equation. She was in danger as far as he saw, nothing more than a civilian that comes in handy to lift heavy stuff. She looked up at him again, still talking and watched him. He was weary like she might try to fight him and kept edging to his left so he could stand between her and the edge of the roof.
"-i just think you'll be more useful somewhere other than in the fight-"
"Do you now?"
She had interrupted his muttering and he jumped in surprise trying to recover his long winded explanation.
"- you know you're the best at getting the civilians to safety! Even if the fight is too much-"
His words were burning into her ears, searing a brand across her heart. WEAK.
How could he … after all this time!
She stared at the edge of the roof just behind him and bit the inside of her cheek, trying to reel in her temper simmering to the surface.
"You think I'm going to get in your way don't you Deku?" Her jaw clenched tightly in apprehension hoping she was wrong.
"N-no!-" She ignored his attempt to speak and the taste of copper in her mouth did nothing to stop the coming storm.
"After all this time you still think I'm not enough to be a hero. I'm too weak?! Is that it?! That's how you see me?!"
He shook his head violently "Of course no your a great rescue hero!-"
" That's not all I am DEKU! Does all of our training- MY TRAINING- mean nothing to you?!" Her voice was becoming shrill but she didn't care. It was rare she got truly angry- it hadn't happened in years. She adamantly worked to keep her temper in check because she wasn't sure what she would do. Her quirk was dangerous unsupervised and she could get angry enough to expend all her energy leading to her blacking out. Passing out mid battle while potentially holding up civilians or rubble was never a good thing. That being said, all she could really focus on was that her best friend didn't believe she deserved to be here.
" Of course you work super hard but-"
"But that's not good enough for you is it?!"
The searing pain in her chest burned into her eyes and angry tears flowed down her face.
"That's not what I meant!" He looked stricken and conflicted but nothing could back her down from the edge she was on- this was the truth finally coming into the light. He didn't believe in her and he never did. As far as he was concerned she might be a good sidekick as a support hero to come in and fix collateral damage. Her protective mental walls she had created to hold in her temper shattered and pulverized into dust.
I'm a hindrance! I'm in the way! It's all about DEKU and his damn SPOTLIGHT?! HOW DARE HE?!
"Ochako?..." A hand appeared on her shoulder, and her vision honed in on his face. He looked concerned like a parent to a child. Now he was trying to comfort her?He had used her first name? That was unlike him, did he do that just to get her to do what he wanted? He was acting as if she was a four year old asking for candy, she seethed venom.
She grabbed his hand and flipped him over her head in one motion, all her training coming forth with muscle memory. She had surprised him so he didn't have time to react as she pinned his arm behind him, and using his momentum slammed him down into the roof with as much strength as she could muster. She heard cracks- was it the ground or bones? She couldn't find it in her to care.
" DON'T. TOUCH. ME."
She was quiet, almost hissing- but sturdy and no room for argument. She didn't recognize her own voice. She pulled ragged violent breaths in through her clenched teeth as he gasped for air. she had winded him this was her chance.
She grabbed a nearby pipe and ripped part of it out of place; it served as a temporary set of cuffs to attach him to the roof. She knew it wouldn't last long but it didn't matter, she was done dealing with him. She hurried away from him and off the roof- towards the fight. Following the sound of Bakugo's explosions her vision began to tunnel- her breath coming in harsh bursts and she tried to force her temper back. She was just so damn mad- she needed to hit something and get out some frustration. There was still a villian and she would be damned if she would be sidelined any longer. The fight slowly came into view and she grinned, ripping a lamp post from the ground with the assistance of her quirk- screw the damn collateral damage. The wind sizzled with embers as she closed in on the blasts, Bakugo was there at the forefront as usual. Of course he was.
As he came into view her thoughts betrayed her. The fight with him at the festival blasted into her vision, she tried so hard but she never did manage to land a hit. She remembered his expression- he was so smug: like he never thought she had a chance to win.
Bastard. He always thought I was beneath him. I'll prove him wrong! I'll prove them both wrong!
A newfound goal to latch on to and seconds to decide she took a deep breath and shoved her foot down into the crumbling street. With a grunt and one mighty twist of her body she whipped around, and she sent the post careening towards them spinning like a top. Bakugo rolled out of the way- probably on instinct.
Her eyebrow twitched. Of course.
The villain didn't share his reaction- the post slammed into him lengthwise and he was thrown back onto the cement. Bakugo used his roll to spin in the direction the post had come, a new blast already appearing in his palm.
"THE FU-" He stopped mid curse and surprise flashed across his face as he let his attack sizzle out. His scowl returned a moment later in full force. "ROUND FACE?! WHAT THE HELL?! ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!"
She rolled her eyes and stalked by him. "You're fine "
As she approached the villain she collected small chunks of cement, weapons if necessary. The villain coughed up blood as she approached, the sight sent a crazed glee throughout her system, she had done that. She paused mid step at the revelation, her cautious nature peeking attempting to surface in the haze of her mind.
Should she feel happiness? She was hurting someone, she couldn't remember. She found herself at a loss to what his quirk was as well- was she going to be at a disadvantage? Was it something about manipulation? Or water? Would anything hinder her zero gravity?
The information gleaned just out of reach, blurry, drowning in the lake of hatred. She put her hands on the sides of her head, the feeling of her nails on her scalp bringing mild clarity. This wasn't her. What was she doing?
"What's this? You're their back up? You're nothing more than a cute little schoolgirl."
He pulled himself to his feet and dusted himself off, she watched as if frozen. "You could never beat me you little brat I'll show you what a real attack is!" He darted towards her then, sharp odd weapons in his hands.
Her anger washed over her violently as if she was standing underneath a waterfall: and she was blind. An animalistic noise left her lips and she met him head on, diving around the blades and striking. She hit him only once before he exploded.
Bakugo appeared in her line of vision with another blast, he was using the opening she created in the villains defenses. She barreled back into the fight hitting him with everything she could muster, her ears stopped ringing. Her classmate was fighting with her and they were winning, she focused on that and the pulsing violence crept back into her mind. Water sprang up from underneath them and for a crazed moment she wasn't sure if it was really happening.
Her hesitation led to panic as the water closed around her and Bakugo, seconds left to figure it out how could they fight this? Too much was going on. How could she figure it out in time?! It was too much! A harsh weight slammed into her back and she careened forward and on instinct her quirk kicked in: she was weightless. She landed seconds later and spun expecting another attack:nothing. Instead of another assailant she saw Bakugo. He was trapped in what appeared to be a bubble of water, floating. Even while holding his breath the glare on his face said it all: he protected her AGAIN. SHE HAD TO BE PROTECTED AGAIN?!
The waterfall was back but this time everything was worse, she was nothing more than hatred. How dare the villain do that to him! She spun and flew at the villain, her vision blurry and smothering in her own rage. She was vaguely aware of pain shooting up her felt a few hits connect but he fought back, one of his hits sent her helmet away and her boot was shattered. Her face seared like she was burned and then her ribs before she realized she was airborne slamming down onto the cement. The impact cleared her haze as she focused on breathing. The villain was on her in an instant, both arms pinned to her sides and large hands around her throat. Her eyes narrowed in on his face as he grinned. Red and black spots swam her vision: her eyes started to close…
"Gotta ya girly."
Just as the world began to fade away it exploded above her, literally. "DIE!"
The pressure of the villain flew off of her and she rolled with the momentum, coughing violently. She felt like she was breathing razor blades, tearing through her chest and burning her eyes. Rough hands grabbed at her and she was pulled suddenly to her feet. Before she could even consider fighting the grip she was spun around. Pulled face to face with an extremely pissed off and soaking wet Bakugo
"You alright cheeks?"
She stared at him, willing herself to focus on his face. He was ok, she wasn't dead, he was checking on her. One of her hands rose to her throat, his eyes followed the movement with a steely expression.
"Aw, how cute. Worried about our little girlfriend are we?"
Bakugo snarled immediately and spun away from her towards the threat."BASTARD! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"
He darted forward and she found herself bounding behind him ready to of nowhere a large wave appeared and swept bakugo up, he crashed into her before she could react and in a tangle of limbs they slammed into the concrete. Bakugo landed on her and her ribs groaned in protest as they clambered to their feet. The villain was muttering something when she focused on him again and another cyclone of water burst out of his hands careening forward. It ripped through the ground straight towards them; they both dodged it but Bakugo was faster. He raced forward his hands smoking with anticipation but before he could reach his mark he was blasted back again. What appeared to be a geyser sprang forward and with a curse he was flying. She saw an opportunity and using her last rocket in her remaining heel shot into the air and snatched his boot with both hands. She grit her teeth as the pain in her side stabbed into her lungs and focused on killing his gravity.
"THE HELL!?"
"Shuddup!" She yelled at him through clenched teeth as her gravity brought them back to the ground. She closed her eyes and focused on using his momentum, pressing all of their combined weight into her heels. With a grunt she put all her strength into a spin and whipped Backugo around sending him careening back to the villian. He landed a solid blast on their target.
"DIE DAMNIT!" The villain took the hit flailing back before retaliating by sending another wave at Bakugou: probably trying to create distance. She panted at the strain that maneuver had caused and wrapped an arm around her midsection. Determination had her starting forward again with every intention of landing her own hit, but something jumped In front of her. Deku.
"Hurry Ochako, you're hurt! You should get out of here and get some medical attention. Let me and Kacchan can take care of him, you've done enough."
Frustration pressed a growl out of her but she was too tired, she sidestepped him.
"Get out of my way Deku."
"It'll be ok." He grabbed her arm and she turned back to him with a glare. Behind her Bakugo realized what was happening.
" Oi nerd! Stop talking-!"
The rest of what he intended to say was drowned out by another blast, and the rush of water.
Deku bypassed her. "I'm coming Kachann! Get to safety Ochako."
Her blood ran cold, she was looking at his back again, his decision made he was leaving her behind ..no..no ... .no..…no……no! NO!
Everything slammed back into her at once and she staggered, hands flying into her hair. Her hands raked down and she screamed as the waves crashed back into her. Violence. Rage. Hatred. Loathing. Her eyes opened to red vision, Deku was in front of her talking again: she heard nothing. High pitched white noise filled the void of sound and her previous pain melted to the back of her bent down grabbing a nearby chunk of cement and started forward. Deku was there again trying to stop her, she blinked and he was gone. The ground trembled under her and she turned towards its source, a building crumbled to her left. She didn't pause, turning back towards her target. Unaware of how long it took or how she got there she found herself slamming down her weapon. Something had happened, somewhere someone was yelling, she didn't care. She slammed it down again: the ground cracked. Her chest heaved violently as she brought it down over and over again. She fell to her knees and she was lost. The rage pumped through her veins and clouded her pain. She could feel the vibrations of the stone impacting but not her body, her muscles weren't sore, she wasn't tired. She watched it move from outside, her vision began to fade. Something happened to her weapon, suddenly it was gone and she was on her feet. Only when Bakugo forced his way into her vision, and his fierce red eyes blazed into existence did she realize the world had fallen into shades of gray. He was yelling at her, teeth gnashing together in a snarl. She strained to hear him and the screaming of her ears began to fade. Her hands, suddenly hers again, pulled up into her line of vision, they were bloody. A face she didn't know flashed across her vision, with snake-like yellow eyes.
"Your mine Ochako. You killed him. This is all you'll ever be, and this is only the beginning, my little puppet. " Sharp teeth appeared a vicious grin, and terror shot like ice down her spine.
"NO! LET ME GO!" Her ears finally cleared and she heard her own thrashed in the grip she was caught in. She hit something and she felt freedom, her fist clenched and swung without thought. Her binds fell away and she spun naturally blasting into a sprint. She had to get away!
A weight slammed into her back and her arms were snatched in a vice grip. "CHEEKS!"
Bakugo? "Bakugo let me go! Please! He's here!" Traitorous tears burned in her eyes..
"WHO!? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!"
She tried to wrestle away from him but suddenly she felt like watched prey, like a rabbit being stalked. Vile laughter trickled in the back of her mind. "I SAID LET ME GO!"
"NOT UNTIL YOU FUCKING CALM DOWN!"
Bakugo's grip only tightened. He had her wrists pinned together and his other arm around her waist in a vice grip. She could feel her anxiety burst and the tears came, trailing down her face.
"GOD DAMNT KATSUKI LET GO OF ME!"
She struggled against his grip but he was stronger, and there was no way he was letting her go. After a few more tries she crumbled in his arms finally spent, and they sank to the ground together.
"...what?"
Her ears perked, his voice sounded quiet and broken. Her tantrum faded completely and she realized she was exhausted and he probably was too. She was quiet while she caught her breath as the adrenaline slowly began to wear off and defeat started to set in. A sob choked her as the yellow eyes flashed in her memory.
"Please…. Just let me go…I have to get away…."
He loosened his grip on her but it didn't matter she was losing all the strength she had left. This time to a numbing feeling
"What'd you say?"His voice was unsettlingly calm, so out of character for him. She struggled to focus on his question, what was so important? "...what?"
She tried to turn to see his face but his bangs were covering his eyes.
He took a deep breath and spoke but he was so quiet, a whisper she hardly heard.
"….you called me katuski…."
Had she? She hadn't realized she'd said his first name. She tried to think back but her brain was too foggy, she shook her head.
"M' sorry….." Words were harder to focus on.
He didn't move."Say it again."
What? Why isn't?
Her lips quirked up slightly attempting a smile. "u're not mad' me?"
Silence one, two, three heartbeats she was passing out. "...no…"
His voice was soft and her heart fluttered.
"T'anks Kauski." What she tried to say garbled together and she tried to focus on his face trying to will the fog away. She began to feel like she was melting as the last of her strength started to fade and she fell into him. "autski..?"
He let go of her wrists (she didn't realize he still had them) and his finger dipped under her chin and brought her face up to look at his, she blinked heavy eyelids at him.
He kissed her then. Her mind blasted into clarity and short circuited in one last attempt to keep her awake. Emotions swirled to the surface her head was spinning, she was left a breathless dizzy mess. The kiss was gone as fast as it came and he pulled her into his arms, one still securely around her waist and the other on the back of her head. The hug felt desperate. Confusion settled in her senses. She wanted to lift her arms: to hug him back? To push him away? It didn't matter, they were like lead, weights to pull her down.
"...'tsuki?….." what was left of words gummed up in her throat and as she tried to choke them back: a sob escaped her red of his eyes blazed into view as he pulled away to look at her, he was beautiful.
The world finally fell away, shattering into a deep nothingless void. Her head lulled back and his voice chased her into oblivion.
"OCHAKO!?"
Blackness. Calm. Blissful.
She screamed awake. It was a hoarse noise that garbled out with a choke and coughing.
Tears came then. She buried her head in her hands ignoring her body's protest and cried.
A metallic screech indicated the curtain around her bed had been ripped open but she couldn't look at them. Shame and guilt paralyzed her. What had she done!? She had ruined any chance of becoming a hero, cost her parents the chance at an easier life, hurt her friends, killed someone. Strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her into a solid form, she clutched it involuntarily, knuckles burning.
" What happened? Is he dead? Am I going to prison?"
A mild growl rumbled in the person's chest and she recognized Bakugos voice.
"Yes the villain died but it's not your fault."
"Of course it is!" She was bordering on hysterics-
He continued -"There was a second villain, we thought he had escaped but he was still there. He has manipulation powers, the ability to enhance emotions and take away impulse control, he made you do that." The arms tightened. " It wasn't you."
He was trying to comfort her? No he shouldn't -couldn't!
A pathetic distressed noise escaped her, something like a whimper.
"It was! I attacked Deku! I killed the water villian! And you!- I attacked you too"
"Deku's fine, I'm fine- we've had worse."
She ripped away in an attempt to tell him he was wrong but stopped at the sight of him. There were so many bandages. He was wrapped up more than she had ever seen including a patch across the top of his nose- she cringed at his dual black eyes realizing that was her fault.
"Oh God, did I break your nose? Are you ok?"
He grunted. "Said I'm fine, round face."
"You're not! Here I'll go get recovery girl!"
She attempted to climb out of the hospital bed on the other side but he snatched her wrist.
"No you won't! Get your ass back in bed round face!"
"But-!"
"NO DAMMIT! SHES ALREADY BEEN HERE!"
She turned back to him in surprise. "You're still hurt, why didn't she heal you?"
He mumbled something she couldn't hear.
"What?"
"I SAID I TOLD HER NOT TOO!"
He was bearing his teeth in a snarl but his cheeks flushed, was he embarrassed?
"Why would you do that!? How could you say no to getting better?!" She glowered at him and he looked startled.
"The hell? She said she was tired! Healed a bunch of civilians, and I told her to heal you first! She'll be back TOMORROW! DAMNIT ROUND FACE I'M FINE! I CAN HANDLE PAIN FOR ONE DAMN DAY!"
Startled, she looked away from his intense gaze and down at her hands resting in her lap; they were heavily bandaged. She clenched her fists tightly, blood began to seep through on her knuckles.
Dammit I was so mad. I lost control somehow. I only remember flashes. What happened?
"I'm sorry Bakugo."
"... seriously?"
She blinked and tears began to trickle down her cheeks. Not wanting him to see her cry she brought her fists to her eyes and tried to hide it. She heard a quiet sigh between her sobs and then footsteps. Her bed dipped suddenly, she fell into him as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Why are you crying cheeks? You beat the villain, we're fine."
She sniffed and pulled away to see his face. He smirked at her.
"...Deku?" He snorted again.
"The damn nerd? He's had worse. You only smacked him into a building, he deserved it anyway."
"Then why are you here?"
He stiffened and scoffed. "Waiting for you to wake up of course"
"...why? I thought you hated me. Plus I attacked you for no reason."
She pulled back a little further to see his face, bloodshot eyes, black rimmed and his clearly broken nose. Reaching up she placed her hand on his cheek and brushed the underneath of his eye, where it was the darkest.
She sniffled. "I'm so sorry."
His eyes darkened and then anger flashed across his expression.
"Oi stop crying! I'm alive dammit! "
He paused and appeared to hesitate before he made a decision and nuzzled his face into her palm." I'm fine."
She sucked in a surprised breath and his eyes snapped open. Realizing what he was doing he jerked away from her and cleared his throat.
He growled under his breath "...damn it."
Glaring at his fists, now curled in his lap he took a deep breath.
"Look cheeks I'm not good at this shit but you're not allowed to do that again."
Genuinely confused, she tilted her head to the side. " Do what Bakugo?"
He flinched and clenched his teeth.
A few minutes of silence and she was starting to worry she broke him. She reached out intending to be reassuring - to help him get whatever this was off his mind. He snatched her hand before it could touch him and she winced at the jolt of pain.
His grip loosened and their hands lowered to the bed.
"...sorry." He began rubbing his thumb over her knuckles, light enough it didn't hurt.
"Get hurt like that."
"What?"
"You're not allowed to get hurt like that cheeks."
Realization dawned on her slowly. "You were…..worried about me?"
He flinched and turned his face away from her. His thumb never stopped moving and she was stunned to see the tips of his ears turning pink. She grinned at his reaction, this was so like him. A giggle escaped her before she could stop it, his head whipped around, he looked mortified. His eyes were wide, cheeks plastered with a serious blush not even he could deny. Before he could yell at her for laughing at him she all but tackled him. Her strength was still mostly gone so he hardly moved in response. She giggled again when he stiffened at their closeness and wrapped her arms around his middle. She cuddled into his chest with a smile "Your adorable Katuski. I knew you were a softie"
He scoffed but his arms slowly came to settle around her as well, careful of her bandages.
"Yeah yeah only for you cheeks."
She pouted. "You can use my name too, you know."
He chuckled lightly and she felt it vibrate across his chest. "I know cheeks, get some sleep."
As soon as he said it, sleepiness settled over her like a thick blanket, in rebellion she tightened her arms around him. "You'll stay? And you'll be here when I wake up?"
She felt his arms tighten as well "'Course cheeks."
She hummed quietly. " M'kay N'ight Katsuki."
"Goodnight Ochako."
.
.
.
.
.
.
Googgy Ochako rolled over in her hospital bed and opened her eyes slowly, expecting it to be bright, it wasn't. She only had to wait a few seconds to discover what had woken her.
"I said no dammit!"
"But Bakugo! She's in good hands! Plus your mother is worried about you, you could even go while she's asleep and she would never know."
He was arguing with Recovery girl?
Bakugo scoffed and she imagined him crossing his arms.
"That old hag? She can wait till I feel like going to see her! Besides I said I wasn't going anywhere and I meant it. Tell the hag I'll call her later!"
He walked into her line of sight a second later, pulling the curtain back just enough that he could come in and closing it behind him, his eyes met hers. "Well Shit."
She smiled at him as he plopped in the chair next to her bed, crossed his arms dramatically just like she thought he would, and looked away from her. "How much of that did you hear Round Face?"
"Probably just the end. They want you to leave but you won't because you're sweet, and you're a grump because you don't want anyone to know your sweet."
He harrumphed at her but she saw his cheeks pinken a little bit, not that he would acknowledge it. She lifted her hand a bit towards him and he sighed but reached for her hand anyway.
"Go back to sleep Cheeks."
"You're the one that woke me up." She smiled at him but to her amazement she watched his shoulders slump.
"...Sorry"
She rubbed her thumb across his knuckles, he looked up at her.
"S'okay, it made me smile" She giggled. "Why do you call your mother a hag?"
He grinned. "Because that's what she is cheeks!"
She smiled again and yawned. "Sure Kataski."
Something in his eyes softened and he lightly squeezed her hand. "Go back to sleep Ochako"
Surprise had her blink up at him struggling to remain conscious. "You said my name, and I was still awake."
"Yeah and?"
"Nothing, I just like hearing you say it, you should try to get some sleep too. Goodnight Kataski."
She pulled his hand closer and cuddled it up against her cheek, smiling at his warmth before she nodded off.
He waited until he was sure she was asleep before he responded. He smiled, a simple smile with no aggression and no sharp lines, he marveled at how out of place all this must look for him. She was so small, both of her hands curled easily around his one, but she was smiling. He rubbed his thumb lightly against her cheek. "Goodnight Cheeks."