#simplerthings

[syncxma]

“We’re gonna look back on these in a few years and get all sappy, huh?”

AU Izuocha graduation selfie from chapter 2 of my fic Simpler Things 🥰

Absolutely wonderful art commissioned by @LoopVoid on Twitter

[missinvisibleandco]

"All Glittery-Eyed"

They say that diamonds are a girl's best friend; they also say all that glitters is not gold. Well, this particular girl is on a budget and settling for frost on chilly winter mornings.....😊#simplerthings (1.22.20)

[syncxma]

Simpler Things - Chapter 13 "That Wanting Animal"

Feeling is difficult. Especially for Izuku. It’s been something he’s struggled with for years now. Feeling adequate. Feeling… attractive. Now that he’s hearing those things from someone he loves, it’s difficult not believing it himself.

“Okay! Let’s just—hey! Relax! We’re almost there!”

They fumble through the hallway. His hands loop around her waist as she sways into him, away from him, back into him, and suddenly (with no warning) starts barreling forward with all of her weight. Black Whip nearly launches out to catch her, but at the last moment, her foot pounds into the ground and she pulls herself back. Unfortunately, the momentum from that move also crashes her into his chest, which—thankfully—stops her from falling. She giggles as he holds onto her and tries his best to keep her upright.

Izuku’s never seen Ochako like this.

Never. And, to be fair, there shouldn’t have ever been a reason before tonight. But even with a blood alcohol content of ridiculous proportions, he would have never guessed Ochako would be such a… such a… such a lightweight.

Especially considering how the night started out.

“I am not a lightweight Izuku Midoriya!”

Pity him for ever implying otherwise.

“Ooooh, you did it now dude…”

“Ah! The lovebirds are fighting!!!”

“Midoriya—kero—I wouldn’t—”

“Chako please! Hear me out! I’m just saying that—” He’s cut off by Ochako dramatically spinning in place and crossing her arms in a huff. “—oh come on!”

“Nah! I’m not taking this! I’ve only had one of these cans!” She begins to stomp her way to the other end of the room, half of which is now stifling their laughter as he cautiously follows behind her in desperation. Once she notices, the sparkling lemonade in her hand nearly goes flying as she whips back around. “I can’t believe you seriously think I can’t handle myself!”

“I never said that!” He didn’t. Not really. “It’s just—I’m pretty sure that punch you were drinking is really strong!”

An incredulous look washes over her as she starts to bubble with annoyed laughter. “Oh, really!”

“It’s just that your face looked so red and I got—” He cuts himself off this time when she scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Okay! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to imply anything like that!”

Now practically half the room is watching (and dying) as he begs for mercy from a very drunk Ochako Uraraka. Great. That’s not mortifying at all! Honestly, he hadn’t thought she was actually drunk before she started yelling at him. He just noticed her cheeks had gotten very red and was concerned because as far as he’s aware this is the first time most of them have properly drank anything at all and if Ochako were to have an allergic reaction to the alcohol and get sick or something how could he just sit by and not say anything—

“Mmmmm, I dunno.” Ochako takes another swig from her can. “Why should I forgive you?”

CONTINUE READING:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/74966046/chapters/211141476

[syncxma]

Simpler Things Chapter 18 - "(Let This) Be More"

After a long, messy night, Izuku and Ochako wake up haunted. Their first kiss was all wrong, but it’s not even about a kiss. Years of mutual yearning have taught them to close themselves off, to not be honest with each other. Not anymore.

It’s nothing like Izuku imagined.

Soft.

Too soft for the way his heart slams into his ribs. For the way his breath falters and the world shrinks down to a single point of contact. Her mouth, plush, and trembling, sloppily pressed against his. There’s no force to it, only desperation. Need. Longing. Raw and open and messy and tired. It steals the words of protest from his throat, literally. Burns the oxygen right out of his lungs. He doesn’t try to kiss her back. Not at first. He’s frozen in place, scared, worried.

And then he’s not.

There’s no structure or support. Izuku’s hand comes up to fix that, catching the side of her face, his thumb settling just below her ear. His lips part, just slightly, just enough to feel her bottom lip roll between his.

It clicks in that second. Barely there. A breath of a kiss. But finally, a real one. The second they get there, she leans in even more. Her weight presses into him, her chest against his, her thigh shifting over his waist as she deepens it without asking. Rough, sloppy, he doesn’t know what he’s doing, it’s clear she doesn’t either. Not that it matters.

His fingers slide back into her hair. He tries to meet her halfway, match her energy, copy her movements. It’s weird, and all over the place, and still… none of that matters. It’s happening. This is all he’s wanted for years, and it’s happening…

…and it's wrong.

He doesn’t deserve this, not really. Not when every warning bell he's ever learned is sounding in his ears, screaming that he should stop, that this shouldn’t happen, not now. But Ochako is sighing into him, breathing in his air and breathing out hers, tasting faintly of wine and barbeque and a flavor utterly unique to her. She’s breathing so heavily now, putting all of her energy into this, and it’s overwhelmingly difficult to break. Her thumb brushes his jaw. Grabs at his cheek, his hair, tangles in it, holds him in place.

But it’s not like he’s trying to move. Izuku kisses her back as best he can manage, and it’s only when she pulls away, heaving for another breath, a trail of spit trailing off her lower lip, that he realizes what they’ve done.

Between heavy gasps, she begs. “I… I love… I love you.”

Dizzying. “I love you too.” Intoxicating. “Ocha… Ochako, I love you.”

Premature. Drunken. Wrong.

Continue here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/74966046/chapters/218031101

[syncxma]

Simpler Things Chapter 22 - "Forwards Beckon Rebound"

After attending their respective therapy sessions, Izuku finds out some rough news, and Ochako receives some helpful advice. Progress is made. Steps are taken. Forwards, beckon rebound.

“Yeah, yeah.” Katsuki crumples his napkin and nails a perfect shot into the bin on the other end of the room. “Speaking of your sex life, proud of you for finally inching off home plate with Uraraka.”

Izuku stutters. “K-K-Kacchan—!”

“What? Progress is progress. Only took like three lectures from me and everyone else jumping you at the party–”

“Kissing is a big step!!” It flies out way too loud and he instantly wants to crawl beneath the table. “That’s like, at least first base! No?”

Katsuki barks a laugh that ricochets around the room and gets everyone’s heads turning. “Damn, you’re hopeless.”

Undoubtedly, Izuku is hopeless.

That’s what he tells himself as he wraps things up with Katsuki. It’s also what he tells himself as he caves and lets Katsuki drive him back home. The conundrum of ‘romantic progress’ is a blight on Izuku’s admittedly limited experience. Before last week, he hadn’t let himself consider these things. Kissing alone seems like such a leap in what he ever considered possible. Maybe that’s the problem, though. He never considered himself capable, let alone deserving. Now that he has someone to experience these things with, it feels like he hasn’t spent nearly enough time preparing.

If there is anything Izuku Midoriya can pride himself on, it’s his ability to analyze and prepare for a problem. His whole life has been preparing for problems he’s never been equipped to handle. Funny, they’ve always seemed much bigger than this. Trying to become a hero without a quirk. Wielding a power strong enough to blow his limbs clean off. Battling villains that tried, and in some ways succeeded, in permanently altering society. Izuku has climbed insurmountable hills in the past, and to do so, he’s relied on those around him. He’s relied on her more often than not. Now it’s that time again. To climb a hill, and one that should by all means be easy and enjoyable.

And yet… even though she’s right there beside him, it feels just as impossible. Death. Power. The world. He’s handled it all in the past. He’s done it time and time again. After all that, if he can’t even wrap his head around moving forward with Ochako…

Then he truly is hopeless.

It’s what he tells himself as he stares at his phone and contemplates calling her.

It’s been enough time. She’s out of the appointment by now, has been for a while, probably. He can only hope it went well. His thumb hovers over her contact. Her picture is set to a selfie she had sent him a long time ago. Silly, tongue out, beautiful, gorgeous, deserving of so much more than he’s been giving her.

That look she’d given him the other day. When he pulled his shirt down. When he let that side of his anxiety show. And before that. When they’d been making out on the couch, and she’d been pleading with him, begging him to go further, to do more, to not stop. He couldn’t. Somewhere deep inside, she must be disappointed. Or, not disappointed… maybe just worried for him?

The phone clicks off as he leans back into the seat.

Hopeless might be underplaying it, actually.

Continue Reading: HERE https://archiveofourown.org/works/74966046/chapters/221862311

[syncxma]

Simpler Things - Chapter 16 "Familiar Feelings"

The party went well, and both Izuku and Ochako have decided tonight will be the night they kiss. But for now, it’s time for dinner with the Uraraka’s.

“Izuku.” She turns to him, suddenly feeling small, vulnerable. “Does my hair look okay?”

His eyes soften. The genuine concern flickering behind them does wonders for her anxiety. He scans her face with an intensity that makes her want to laugh, despite the pit in her stomach. Even though he’s already told her she looks great half a dozen times in the last hour, he’s still taking her seriously within this moment, he’s still looking for her.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispers, reaching out to gently tuck away what must have been a loose strand of her hair. His touch is feather-light. “There. Perfect.” She almost leans into his hand as it passes her face.

She exhales, relief loosening the tight knot behind her ribs. She doesn't want to believe him, not really, not when she’s been strung between panic and pretending since leaving Momo’s. But he says it like he means it, and that helps. He’s always been good at making things feel a little less terrifying.

“Okay.” She nods, convincing herself. It takes a moment to come up with an excuse to touch him. But it comes to her soon enough. “Now you.”

He blinks. “Me?”

She gestures vaguely toward his chest. “Your shirt, just—let me.” Before he can ask, she runs a flat palm down the front of his shirt, smoothing out an imaginary wrinkle. Her fingers linger on his chest, and then on his stomach. It's a relatively thin fabric, so the warmth of his skin nearly seeps through into her palm. A tingle rushes through her fingertips, and she snatches her hand back quickly, her cheeks burning, it’s all she needs.

“You look beautiful too,” she whispers, hoping he doesn’t hear how unsteady her voice has become. It’s true, he’s looked unfairly attractive all night long. It’s the rolled-up sleeves, and his face, and his hair, and the scars framing it all for her.

His eyes are wide, but warm. He’s maybe a little pink at the ears. “Thank you,” he mumbles, clearly taken aback but smiling, anyway. Smiling is good. She’ll have to keep reminding him of just how good he looks. If Ochako had to guess, he might not fully believe her compliments either—but who would he be to argue at a time like this? Izuku’s too awkward for that.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/74966046/chapters/215826081

[syncxma]

Simpler Things Chapter 23 - "Depollute Me, Pretty Baby"

The time has come for Izuku and Ochako to have their first official date night. Thankfully, the stars are shining over them, so hiding isn’t an option.

The sky above UA is as beautiful as ever. Dense with stars, a cosmic painting right outside, just a few million lightyears away. It’s addictive, the way their problems seem smaller in the face of it, the way they get lost in it. He could spend hours like this, just… looking. Letting his mind drift away into the endless expanse.

But really… it’s not the sky alone that does it. Yeah, it’s beautiful, and mesmerizing, and a million different adjectives, but it’s who he’s with that makes these moments truly addictive. Ochako’s next to him, getting lost with him, and they’re here, in their shared space, at their hero academy, living this life he couldn’t have dreamt of.

It reminds him that this won’t last forever. That sometime, not too far in the future, they’ll graduate, and they won’t have these moments anymore. No sneaking up to the room past curfew. No sitting with her for hours, just doing nothing.

“I’m gonna miss this,” he whispers, not meaning to say it out loud until it’s already past his lips.

“The stars?” Ochako asks, turning his way with a smile. “We can always come back after we graduate and see them, silly.”

Izuku turns to her, meets her eye.

…

Something in her face changes.

He smiles, and then slowly looks back up to the sky. “Yeah. I know.”

A moment passes. Two. Three. A minute. He can tell she’s still watching him. He keeps his eyes on the sky and fixates on her attention. It’s stuck on him. This moment is lasting forever. Another moment. Another. Two minutes now. She’s still looking, staring right at him. He keeps his gaze on the sky. Not knowing what to say. What to do. How to do it.

Finally, thankfully, her voice finds him again.

“You won’t have to.”

The sky disappears before him, and suddenly, all that exists in the universe is Ochako Uraraka. His eyes find her, easy to spot in the void, easy to stay focused on, get lost in. And he does. In her eyes, her beautiful brown eyes that are wide and reflecting the invisible cosmos back at him. She’s breathtaking. Impossible to look away from. Izuku wouldn’t even want to.

He asks, because he isn’t sure what else to do. “I won’t have to… what?”

Ochako’s hand moves. It loops around his arm, the same one she touched earlier, and her hand grabs hold of his hand, firm and tight with her grip. She holds his gaze as the void gives way to a trillion tiny stars, shining just for them.

“You won’t have to miss this.”

CONTINUE READING HERE: https://archiveofourown.org/works/74966046/chapters/223108866

[syncxma]

Simpler Things Chp 4: "Falling Into Place"

A bright smile is harder to fake when the right person is around. Izuku Midoriya has been putting on a smile lately, and after one particularly rough day, the right person comes around. Turns out, she might be faking it too.

"Oh, gods, is that Deku? Look right there!"

It shouldn't surprise him. He’s gotten recognized enough over the past three years or so, helping save Japan and being the holder of One for All brings a ton of attention. The popularity sort of comes with the territory. But somewhere deep inside he’d silently been hoping that once he graduated, moved on from being the UA student who saved the world into… well, the pro-hero who saved the world, the attention would maybe die down a bit. But it's been a year since graduation, and it doesn’t seem to be getting much better.

"It is! I knew he’d be here! Quick! Get a picture!"

There’s a low, barely noticeable sigh that escapes his breath once the flash on one of their phones accidentally goes off. He glances in their direction, and they stare back in horror before bolting like they’d set off a land mine. He watches as their ruby hair whips past the doorframe.

This time, Izuku’s sigh is a bit louder. “Wait! Hold on! It’s fine!”

It's not that he isn’t appreciative of his fans. Of course he is. He cares for all the people who support him, no matter how diehard they are (he can actually relate in that regard). But now it's Izuku getting worshipped online. With the countless hours he’s spent scrolling through forums, he of all people would know just how concerning it’s gotten. He’s even contributed… more so than he’d like to admit. Sharing fan art of himself, liking and commenting on things he probably should not be liking and commenting on. None of that seemed too crazy, it never feels damaging in the moment. But now the press are stalking his every move, and fans are showing up on the ground floor of his apartment building just to have a chance at seeing him outside of his hero clothes.

Weirdly enough, there's a small part of him that loves it.

Maybe he shouldn’t. Maybe it’s making the problem worse. But it’s still somehow the most direct, clear example of his impact on the world. Inspiring people, helping people. Most of these fans, parasocial or not, look up to him in one way or another. It’s an honor… in some ways.

It’s just so tiring having to deal with borderline stalkers at seven in the morning. There’s no forcing himself to love that part of it. He rented this place specifically to avoid having to make unnecessary trips to stores in the area, and even now he can’t avoid the constant hounding. All he wants to do is buy milk from the small shop in the lobby, go back up to his apartment, and enjoy some cereal on his day off.

Instead, he’s reassuring the two teenage girls that it’s totally okay, and that he’d love to take a picture if they’d like. Izuku might not like it all that much, especially this early, but Deku can’t say no. Outside of the public image issues that come with turning fans down, he genuinely has empathy for these girls. That’s the hardest part. He’d hate to turn them down!

CONTINUE READING

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