Catch-22 (ch3)

Okay, sorry for the angst last chapter, to compensate this one and the next are complete and utter fluff. Also this is mostly Ochako's POV. You can tell because the first sentence doesn't involve the word "fuck."

Disclaimer: I do not own Boku no Hero Academia.

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															Chapter 3.

Even on their days off, the students of the hero classes still tend to do some training during their free time. There's still plenty they can do to hone their skills without leaving the dorms and campus, and even without their costumes.

Ochako, for example, practices perfecting her Quirk out in the courtyards with the help of the other girls, making them float individually, in pairs, or in groups to help her better control her powers.

She also makes herself float in an effort to try and overcome her nausea. She's come a long way since day one, that's for sure, but she still hasn't beaten it completely.

The reason she ends up leaving the other girls a bit earlier today is because her stomach has started to feel knotted and upset. She puts on a smile and assures them some water and a nap will do her good before heading back inside.

It's there that she slumps against the wall, heaving a deep breath with both arms crossed around her stomach.

"Ahh, ow... It hurts a lot more than usual..."

She probably should have known better than to attempt so much practice when she was also being assaulted by natural cramps, but she wasn't about to let something like that get in the way of her hero training.

But even so... it still hurts a lot.

She has to take a few moments to catch her breath, hoping the mess in her stomach will untangle itself. After a few minutes it doesn't seem to really get any better or any worse.

"Guess I shouldn't complain then..."

Wincing, she makes her way to the common room, thankful that just about everyone else is outside training or in their rooms cleaning up or resting. Her plan is to get a bottle of water and then retreat to her own room as well.

She staggers her way toward the common area, hunched over and taking it slowly. When she rounds the last corner she finds she isn't the only person here.

Had it been anyone else in her class standing there, she might've hid just so they wouldn't see her like this.

But when it's her boyfriend...

All else goes out the window.

In spite of her pain, a big grin spreads instantly across her face and her feet take off running. Bakugo turns just in time to see her springing up at him with both arms outstretched.

"Baku-chan!"

With a squeal she jumps up toward him, using a bit of her Quirk to help herself float those few extra inches it takes for her to wrap her arms around his shoulders. But the second her Quirk activates, even just that tiny bit, it sends a pang of pain through her stomach.

"Urk-"

The smile vanishes into a grimace as she collides softly with him. His quick reflexes are probably the only things that keep them both on their feet.

"Oy, watch it!" He braces both arms around her sides and across her back, crouching down slightly to support her when she sags. Ochako feels the embrace she has on his shoulders slackening, but she hangs on, trying to ignore the discomfort pounding in her chest. She gives a nervous little chuckle and plays it off.

"Sorry. Did I surprise you, Baku-chan?"

"Ch. Like hell. Anyone could hear you comin' a mile away when you're prancin' around like that."

He can sense right away that something's off with her, though. Her voice and embrace are lacking the usual vigor, and she feels unsteady.

He holds off on interrogating her for the time being, and instead just holds her like this for a minute. Her breathing is clipped and weird, and she's shaking enough that he can feel it. It puts him into a pissed-off but protective mode.

"Oy, so what the hell was that sound a minute ago like you were about to puke?"

Ochako tenses up. She has to get away from him before he finds out-

"A-Ah, it's nothing. Sorry again, Baku-chan. I bet you have training and stuff to do-"

She lets go of him, but he doesn't do the same. He only lets her ease back far enough that she's forced to look up at him directly. His eyes are narrowed and suspicious and even a little angry, though she knows the anger only stems from concern. Her stomach drops and twists again, causing her to falter. Her fingers fumble and fail to get a grip on his arms.

"S-Sorry, Baku-chan. I think I need to lie down..."

"Damn right you do. Prepare yourself."

"Eh? W-What does that- eep!" The next thing she knows she's being swept off her feet, swiftly enough that she has no chance of escape, but still gently enough that it doesn't upset her stomach anymore than it already is. She feels heat spreading in her cheeks, and when she frantically looks up at him she can tell he's blushing slightly too.

"B-Baku-chan? Wh-What-"

"Just shut up. You're lucky we're alone. And it better stay that way," he mutters.

Bakugo heads for the couch and sits down in the middle. He lies Ochako on her back beside him, keeping her head in his lap. Ochako is so puzzled and flattered and flustered all at once she forgets the pain in her stomach for a second.

"B-Baku-chan-"

"Can it. You said you wanted to rest, right? So shut up and rest."

He doesn't give her a chance to try and argue. Keeping one hand on her head, he gently lays the other on top of her stomach. Ochako nearly forgets how to breathe. It feels like her heart is going to explode. He's never been so forward like this with her before and she doesn't know how to handle it.

"W-Wait, B-Baku-chan, I-"

"I said be quiet, idiot."

It isn't much, just the tiniest bit of his Quirk, but he activates it in his hand. A subtle warmth spreads throughout his fingers, and he slowly begins rubbing his palm in circles over her stomach.

Ochako flinches at the initial pressure of his hand, light as it is. But not a second later, the comforting warmth begins to spread across her body, canceling out the tightness in her stomach. Her furrowed brow soon relaxes, and a deep, shaky sigh deflates her chest.

"Ahh..."

Bakugo snorts as he starts carding his other fingers through her hair.

"Idiot. That's what you get for overusing your Quirk."

"Bah... Baku-chan-"

"Quit yappin' already."

He moves his hand slowly and keeps the pressure balanced – hard enough for her to feel, but light enough not to hurt her. He can feel how tense she is, how her heart is pounding way too hard because of the pain. He applies a bit more heat in an effort to loosen the tightness.

Ochako's eyes have already fallen shut from a mixture of things; it's only a little bit from embarrassment, but most of it is from the warring sensations of discomfort and relief. It's all a bit too overwhelming for the time being.

So she tries to focus on his fingers in her hair, curling around a few locks while brushing against her temples, stroking in slow, soothing patterns. The heat from his other hand is doing wonders for her cramps and nausea. He knows exactly how and where to move, how to shift the weight of his fingers before it can become too hot in one place. A shudder runs through her, and she whimpers, but it's more from the relief than anything else.

Bakugo moves his palm up toward her chest, letting it settle for a second at the center. The heat spreads from her core and starts to untangle the last of the coils in her gut. He can tell by the way her brow keeps furrowing and relaxing that she's still thinking too much, still worrying about being nervous. Her breath hitches more than once, and he has to lean down over her to hold a kiss to her forehead.

"Oy, don't forget to breathe, idiot."

She peeks up at him, face almost entirely pink. She swallows and nods. He straightens back up and grumbles.

"Seriously. You said you wanted to rest and you can't even do that."

He shifts his hands again. The one in her hair cradles her head, his fingertips massaging the back of her neck. The one on her chest goes back to her stomach, tracing circles all up and along her sides.

Only then does Ochako finally begin to calm down. The twisting feeling in her stomach dissipates and is replaced by a pleasant warmth. Her breath comes more easily, and the aching pulse that's been pounding throughout her body finally settles back to where it's supposed to be in her chest.

It's a lot to feel all at once. She can't help it when sniffles start to crinkle in her nose.

When he notices, Bakugo freezes instantly, his voice struggling and failing to keep the usual aloofness free of any concern.

"O-Oy, what's the deal? If this is making it worse, you should've said something, damn it-"

"No-" She hiccups the word with a smile. When she opens her eyes a tear slips down from each. "Baku-chan, I feel so much better now... It feels really nice..."

It's his turn to relax now.

"Shit. You can't just do that to me, idiot. You can't just start cryin'-"

"Sorry," she sighs. Her eyes fall shut again, but her hands reach out. She holds loosely onto his shirt with one, and rests the other over the back of the hand he has on her stomach. Her head rolls a little limply into his other hand, tilting to one side as another breath leaves her chest.

"Thanks, Baku-chan..."

She'd wanted to say more. But the feelings overcoming her now are too cozy and relaxing to beat.

Bakugo claims his victory silently as she finally drifts off to sleep. He keeps his Quirk activated for a little while longer for good measure, and only stops when he's sure she's completely out. But he keeps his hand there beneath hers, feeling the faint rise and fall of her chest as she breathes. He leans his head back over the top of the couch and heaves a sigh.

"Guess I ain't movin' anytime soon..."

He closes his eyes too, silently vowing to kill anyone else who comes into the room to see them like this. But with how nice everything feels, all thoughts of consternation eventually fade away.

When the others eventually come in later that afternoon, they find Bakugo snoring on the couch with Ochako on his lap. They all know better than to ever mention it out loud after that, but for that afternoon, the image of the two of them warms everyone's hearts.

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A/N: I just (clenches fist) LOVE the idea of Bakugo taking care of her when she's not feeling well. I feel most people would expect him to suck at it, but in reality he's actually surprisingly good (mainly because she's his gf, he wouldn't care that much about anyone else probably).

Also the idea of her crying in relief and him misunderstanding for a second and getting scared he hurt her somehow. God.

Next chapter is also short, but it's basically the reverse of this! Ochako taking care of a hurt Baku-chan!