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If someone had told a younger Ochako she’d meet the love of her life in high school, she’d have been thrilled. She’d always been a romantic at heart! Imagining scenarios where she and the love of her life would fight back to back as equals. Dreaming of coming home to her partner, both as a hero in the field and romantically at home, and enjoying their embrace after a long day. There were still drawings of her and her mysterious hero partner-in-crime kicking villainy butt at her parents house.
Now in her twenties, she couldn’t imagine her life without Katsuki.
They were a superb team with the highest rankings in the district. No other agency had an equal number of won battles and successful rescues. Their success was partly because of their chemistry and how well they worked together on and off the field. Truthfully, it all chalked up to their perseverance—especially Katsuki’s.
Bakugou Katsuki was not only intelligent and strong but also determined and stubborn (with an emphasis on stubborn ). Even when they were heroes-in-training, Katsuki got injured almost as much as Deku. One time Katsuki had broken every bone in his body but continued to fight anyway. He’d refused help from his peers—at least until he passed out from the pain and Ochako had to float his ass to Recovery Girl.
All this to say that Katsuki was incredibly resilient.
“Ochako…”
No matter the injury—broken bones, the several times he was pierced through the chest and/or stomach, the countless times he’d been quirked—Katsuki clenched his teeth, grinned into the crowd, and raised his fist in victory. It was something that Ochako admired him for.
“Ochakooo…”
His resilience .
“Ochakooooooo–”
That apparently didn’t transfer when he was physically ill.
The brunette’s eye twitched. She’d thought if she ignored him long enough he’d stop yowling but, unfortunately, he did not. The longer she ignored him, the louder he called out for her.
“Yes, Katsuki?” Ochako called out sweetly after taking a calming breath.
Silence. Maybe he had wanted some attention? Just as the thought came to mind, she heard a soft, “C’mere.”
Affectionately rolling her eyes she added the onions and jalapeños to the ground beef. “I'll come as soon as I’m done cooking us lunch. I’ll only be a moment–”
“Nooooo!”
She gave the stove a deadpan look. A sneeze interrupted him before he sniffled and gruffly whined, “I wan’ you now! Get your ass ‘ere!”
Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly and tried to get her face under control.
See, Ochako had always thought that Katsuki was incredibly resilient, at least when it came to... well, anything. It turned out the same did not apply when he had a head cold. (He insisted it was a deadly virus and that he only had so much time before his illness overtook him. After taking him to the doctor and testing negative for the flu and other viruses, they’d both reassured him that he’d recover just fine after some bedrest.)
He could sustain injuries with no problem, but when he caught a cold suddenly the world was ending. She loved her incredibly intelligent, caring, strong, and idiotic boyfriend.
When she didn’t answer back, he let out a loud whimper and she felt her heart clench. Despite her teasing she felt for him. The poor man rarely ever got sick. In the ten years that she’s known him, Katsuki had only gotten sick once and it’d been when he was camping with some of the other boys from Class 1A. He was better by the time he’d returned, but Deku had mentioned they had shared the same cold.
Determined to get to her boyfriend as quickly as she could, she sprinkled in the chili powder and got to stirring. The sizzling of the pan and the scent of the meat, spices, and vegetables cooking brought a smile to her face. Breathing in the smell of home always made her nostalgic but she could reminisce later. It was nearly cooked to completion now. All she needed to do was—
Ochako’s phone pinged. Pulled from her thoughts, she curiously took out her phone. She fiddled with the side button, still not used to owning a touchscreen smartphone, and stuck out her lower lip in an exasperated scowl when she saw the notification.
> Get over here
“Really, Katsuki?” she called out.
“Jus’ fuckin’ come here!”
She held back the urge to slam her spatula onto the countertop. “In a few minutes!”
When it became silent once more, she assumed it was safe for her to continue cooking. As she stirred the beef mixture and prepared to add other ingredients, he let out another whine of her name. This time she couldn’t hold back her growl. Taking the pan off the heat and turning the stove off she stomped out of the kitchen and placed her hands on her hips.
Sitting on the sofa—because he threw a tantrum when she had tried to insist he should be resting in bed—was Katsuki, wrapped in about two duvets with a cold pack on his forehead and the most pathetic pout on his face. His red nose and watery eyes revealed how miserable he was feeling. Only his face could be seen from his fortress of pillows and blankets.
Resisting the urge to roll her eyes she gave him a leveled look. “Yes, my love?”
Wet carmine eyes weakly glared at her as he obnoxiously sniffled. A hand stuck out from the folds of fabric and reached out to her in a grabbing motion. “Too far,” he muttered. “I miss you.”
Ochako was a strong woman but not even she could ignore that . With a heavy sigh she stepped forward until she was in front of him. His legs were criss-crossed underneath him, she noted, and she reached out to gently scratch his scalp. With a grunt, he wrapped his free arm around her legs and thunked his head against her lower stomach. He grumbled something incoherent but she understood between the mumbling, “Feels good.”
Ugh, he’s so freaking cute! She squealed to herself. Normally he wasn’t quite so forward with his affection unless it was in the form of “cute aggression” (as Mina and Kyouka had called it).
Now that he was sick, it seemed his reservations were gone.
As adorable as he was being, however, she still had a meal to cook and her sick boyfriend to feed. She bent over and planted a kiss where his blankets covered his hair. “Ok, I need to get back into the kitch–”
“No!” His blankets fell off him and surrounded him as his other arm shot out to wrap around her legs. He hugged her tightly and pressed his head against her torso harder, nearly knocking her off her feet.
Steadying herself with a hand to his shoulder she sighed. Apparently all of his inhibitions were gone. She was dealing with a child, not her boyfriend .
Ochako took a calming breath. “Katsuki. I need to make us lunch.”
The blond tightened his grip even further and nearly caused her to stumble forward. “No.”
It was times like these she felt herself age exponentially. “Katsuki.”
“No!”
“ Katsuki .”
He burrowed his face into her stomach. “No. Stay.”
Maybe she was approaching this the wrong way. She resumed scratching his scalp and he relaxed. “I can't stay here forever, you know. I’m making lunch. Aren’t you hungry?”
Katsuki shook his head in an exaggerated manner and mumbled into her sweater, “No.” At the same time, his stomach growled.
She raised a brow and asked with a lilt to her voice, “Are you sure?”
“... Shaddup.”
Ah, there was her Katsuki. He detangled himself with a pout and rewrapped himself in his blankets. Once he was properly burritoed he slouched into his seat. Only the overextension of his lower lip could be seen. She rolled her eyes and walked back into the kitchen. “I’ll only be about 10 minutes. Then we can cuddle some while it simmers, ok?”
Katsuki let out a hoarse harrumph and she smothered a giggle with a hand.
There wasn’t much else that she needed to do. She brought the pan back to the burner she was using and turned the stovetop back on. All that needed to be done now was to let the chili boil before lowering the heat.
It was as she was rinsing the rice that the wailing returned.
Ochako swore he took to the nickname the westerners gave him way too seriously. He was nicknamed ‘Kat-Cat Murder Paws’ after a quirk incident that had given him cat traits. (He had paws, a tail, and cat ears and it was adorable . She still had photos of the incident in a secret folder in her phone that Mina taught her how to make.)
At first, he was huffy about it. He complained and yelled about it constantly with an underlying growl that was more cute than intimidating. When the quirk wore off, however, some of his cat-like behavior lingered (his growl, for instance, during heated moments). It stayed with him despite the years that passed by. At least that’s what she told herself during moments he started yowling.
Like now.
Sighing through her nose she poured the rinsed rice into the rice cooker. It was quiet briefly as he’d ran out of breath, before an audible inhale and the return of the ‘I’m dramatically dying from the lack of attention’ wailing, now louder than before. Holding back a groan she quickly added water, oil, and salt, set the timer, and slammed a lid on the cooker before storming out into the living room. She crossed her arms and jutted out a hip in a wide stance while looking at him in disapproval. It made her feel a lot like a cat mom, if her cat was a six foot tall wall of muscle.
The moment she entered his vision Katsuki stopped wailing and blinked at her with a weak scowl. Silently, he raised his arms and made alternating grabbing motions at her. The action squeezed her heart and she softly grinned at him. She sighed and took her time getting to him before plopping herself next to him. He instantly wrapped himself around her and leaned his head on the space between her shoulder and chest.
“Better?” Ochako murmured as she got comfortable underneath him. He nodded sharply with a grunt and hugged her tighter. Giggling at his reaction she wrapped her arms around him and nuzzled into his hair. “Good.”
Katsuki all but melted into her arms and melted her heart in turn. He was so cute like this! Contrary to what many believed, Katsuki initiated most of their cuddle sessions. The moment he came home from a shift—no matter what Ochako was doing—he would scoop her into his arms and carry them either to the couch or bed. Sometimes she ran into his arms, other times she’d run from him to initiate a chase.
It was one of her favorite things about their relationship.
“You know I’m going to have to get up in a few minutes,” Ochako hummed after some time had passed, her hand petting his hair. “The rice should be done soon.”
Katsuki grunted. “Don’t care.”
Ochako huffed and ruffled his hair. “What am I going to do with you?”
The blond shifted until he could tilt his head back comfortably while meeting her warm gaze. “Stay here and suffer.”
She snorted and threw her head back in a laugh. “You’re so dramatic!”
“Says the one not dying.”
“Oh my gosh, Katsuki,” Ochako giggled. “For the last time, you have a head cold. You’ll be fine in a week.”
Just as he let out a weak growl, she heard the rice cooker timer go off. “Alright, up up up! I gotta plate our food.”
She shifted to gently push him off her, however he wasn’t having any of that. Instead he curled himself further around her. “No. Suffer with me.”
“After I get our food,” she giggled as she wiggled herself out of his arms and stood. “I’ll be right back. I promise.”
Katsuki pouted but relented, staring hard at her back as she retreated into the kitchen. The aroma of her family recipe’s chili made her mouth water. Her dad would always make it for her whenever there was a reason to—family gatherings, holiday feasts, birthday celebrations, someone being sick, or if he just felt like it. There weren’t a lot of recipes that she knew from heart but this one had always been an exception.
Turning off the heat to the stove and unplugging the rice cooker she immediately plated two bowls of rice before pouring the chili on top of it. After garnishing it with the extra jalapeño slices she had left over and some shredded cheese, their lunch was ready. She took care as she carried both bowls and silverware back to where Katsuki was seated. The scowl on his countenance shifted to curiosity as the scent of the chili wafted to him. He really is like a cat sometimes. So cute, she smiled to herself.
“Behold,” Ochako announced with flair, “an Uraraka family recipe: Meteorbomb Chili!”
Katsuki gave her an exhausted lopsided grin. “That’s a pretty kickass name, Cheeks.”
“I know. I came up with it.” She winked as she put down her bowl on the coffee table and sat down with his in her lap.
He hummed as he nestled up next to her and fixed his blankets to cover both of their legs. “I’m surprised you made chili and not soup.”
When his statement met silence he looked up to see Ochako giving him a serious look. “I hate soup.”
“Wh–” Katsuki blinked. “The hell you mean you hate soup?”
“I hate soup.”
“Saying it again doesn’t make it make more sense,” he croaked. “How could you hate soup?! You always eat mine!”
Ochako’s seriousness gave way to a sheepish expression and he gaped at her. “You’ve got to be shitting me.”
“I like your cooking?”
“But not my fucking soups apparently!”
She bit her lip with a poorly hidden smile. “I love you?”
Katsuki scoffed and sniffled. “I can’t believe you’d betray me like this.”
“I’m sorry!” She clutched her hands together, careful of the bowl of chili in her lap. “It’s not you! I’ve always disliked soup. They’re just so… soupy!”
“What do you mean they’re soupy?!” He gradually raised his volume hoarsely with every sentence spoken. “That makes no fucking sense!”
“Exactly that! I don’t like how soupy and watery soup is.”
“That’s the entire fucking point!” he balked. “It fucking hydrates you while getting nutrients into your body! You can add anything to it!”
She made a face. “But it’s all liquid-y.”
“YOU CAN MAKE IT THICKER–”
The blond broke out into a coughing fit. Ochako patted his back sympathetically as he grabbed a kleenex and coughed into it before blowing his nose. “Ugh, this sucks ,” he groaned miserably.
“I know… Here.” She took a moderate spoonful of rice and chili. “Let me help you feel better?”
Katsuki stared at the spoon for a moment. When he processed what she was asking, he flushed from his hairline to past the collar of his shirt. With a timid nod he opened his mouth and she carefully fed him. He molded himself more comfortably at her side and leaned his head on her shoulder as she fed him. There was a soft blush that lingered—his ailment and vulnerability painted across the bridge of his nose and the top of his cheeks.
By the time the bowl was empty he was nodding off. Snuggling into her chest, he mumbled, “I’m tired.”
Ochako hummed and petted his hair. “Me too. Wanna take a nap?”
As he nodded into her chest she closed her eyes and smiled when he reached across her lap to squeeze her hand. “I love you.”
“Love you, too, Katsuki.”
Bakugou Katsuki's immune system might not be as resilient as he was, but he was still her perfect partner in crime. Ochako wouldn’t change him for the world—cat wails and all.