Chapter Text
“Good practice everyone, now go wash up and get some rest for the game tomorrow.” Toshinori’s voice was warm, and he began ushering the team off the rink so the cleaners could get started.
Izuku stepped into the locker room, already tugging at his jersey. The air carried the sharp tang of sweat and cleaner. He could faintly hear someone playing music from their phone. He dropped onto the nearest bench with a tired sigh, rubbing one eye as he shot a quick text to Ochako, giving himself time to shower before she picked him up. Out of the corner of his eye Izuku saw Shoto, one of his closest friends, sit down next to him.
“Tsu asked if we’re going to that party. I told her I’d ask you.” Shoto took off his own gear, setting it aside as he pulled on his after practice clothes.
‘A party?’ That would be new. Izuku shrugged and nodded, pulling off his grey undershirt as he spoke, “Yeah I’m down! Haven’t been to one yet this year.” He shot the other a smile, standing up to take a shower. Ochako wouldn’t be seen with him if he still smelled like sweat, he learned that after she had taken off without him the one time he didn’t have the time to shower.
After his shower, Izuku dressed in the clothes he’d worn to school earlier. A pair of baggy jeans paired with a white long sleeve and an oversized affliction t-shirt. Accessories included a studded belt, wired headphones, and some bracelets he’d been given throughout the years.
Glancing down at his phone, Izuku realized he was late and Ochako was currently making that very clear through a string of impatient texts. Typing out a quick response, Izuku jogged out of the gym and to his friend's car.
“Sorry I’m late!” he said, breathless as he slid into the passenger seat. Ochako gave him a look, but it melted into a grin.
“Smells like you listened to me for once.”
Izuku flushed, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “I’d had enough of your teasing about my 2-in-1…”
Ochako put the car in drive and they left the parking lot, not before getting a little too close to some cars for Izuku’s comfort.
“Oh, relax, I can feel your stress from here. You know I’ve never actually hit a car.” She rolled her eyes, sharply turning right onto the street.
“Yet..” Izuku mumbled, before he was quickly jolted around, and he quickly double checked his buckle was secure. Every time he got into her car he hoped her driving had improved since last time. So far that assumption has been wrong every time.
The two slipped into easy conversation as they drove, occasionally interrupted by Izuku’s nervous driving tips, ones Ochako insisted she ‘didn’t need’.
They’d become friends their freshman year, after she’d caught him in the middle of tripping over his own shoelaces.
Ochako realized they shared a math class, and she introduced him to her friends from middle school. They spent almost all their time together after that, to the point some people began wondering if the two were a couple. Much to Izuku and Ochako's surprise, considering Ochako was quite openly gay, and in a relationship with a girl at their rival school.
Soon enough, she parked the car. They both got out and headed inside Ochako’s house. Izuku said hello to her family, having a small conversation with her dad about his sports progress. They soon made their way upstairs to Ochako's room.
He flopped onto the bed, her comforter cool against his face. It smelled like fabric softener and something vaguely fruity, likely whatever spray Ochako had used earlier.
“Hey! I just made my bed!” Her voice was unthreatening, and she sat on her desk chair, spinning to look at him.
“That was made?” Izuku laughed at his own joke, cut short when a stuffed animal was chucked at his head.
“Ow! I think you gave me brain damage..” Izuku rubbed his head in faux pain, pouting.
Ochako rolled her eyes, quietly huffing a laugh. “Oh you’re fine you big baby. You deserved it anyway.”
Izuku kept pouting for a little longer, eventually getting bored. His earlier conversation with Shoto popped into his head. “Hey, Shoto told me about that party Saturday. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say you’re going?”
His friend had always been more of the party type. Since their freshman year she’d been the first to know about them and the one to convince her friends to go. She’d even met her girlfriend Himiko at one of her first high school parties.
Ochako beamed, clapping her hands together. “Of course I am! Have you never been to one of Bakugou’s parties? They’re insane. And since it’s the first one of the year, it’s gonna be huge.” She went on about the past year's parties, what she was gonna wear, and a bunch of other details Izuku only half-listened to.
She was right. Izuku had never been to any of the other boys' parties. Usually he was busy with homework or hockey practice, but this year it was early enough for him not to have homework to worry about, and his game was on Friday, leaving him with plenty of time to attend. If the rumors were correct, he was in for a night full of illegal substances at one of the nicest houses in town.
Just thinking his name was enough to make Izuku’s stomach tense. Star quarterback, top of the senior class, one of the town's token rich kids. His parents owned some fashion company that kept popping up on local news, typically when there was nothing else to report.
He was terrifyingly impressive. And intimidating in general.
Somehow, the dude was balancing football, parties, and a GPA higher than most people's self-esteem. Jirou was convinced he didn't actually sleep. Izuku didn’t know how he had time for any of it, he could barely keep up with hockey and calculus.
The boy wasn't just well known for his background and physical talent though. What most people talked about was his personality. High strung, that was often paired with his name.
Izuku recalled him getting into a fight on the sidelines at the homecoming game last year. For anyone else, a temper like that would ruin most opportunities being thrown at him. Thankfully, being rich and good at football was enough to make them turn a blind eye.
The thought of being in the house of someone like Katsuki, even at a party with over 100 people was enough to make Izuku worry. Facing the brunt of his anger was almost a death sentence. He just hoped he and the blonde wouldn’t run into each other. Which shouldn’t be hard, considering the volume of people. If he didn’t meet him, then there was no chance he’d become a human punching bag.
“-ello? Earth to Izuku!” A flick to the side of his head brought Izuku back to reality, he smiled awkwardly, grabbing the back of his neck.
“Sorry ‘chako, got distracted. What were you saying?"
Ochako huffed, flicking him again, returning to their conversation. “I was asking if you wanted to get ready together before the party? I know Tsu and Himiko will be here but you can invite everyone else, it can be a little get together beforehand!”
Izuku thought that was a good idea. It had been a while since they’d gotten together. He pulled his phone out and opened their group chat.
Izuku
hey guys! wsnna get readu at ochas house b4 the party?!! :D
Iida
I refuse to associate myself with illegal high school parties! As the Valeditorian I have to uphold a standard for myself!
Shoto
Sure
We can drive my car
Jirou
sorry!! getting ready at denkis :(
see u there tho!!
Izuku replied to Shoto
u mesn ur dads car
Shoto
So
It’s the least he could do for me
Jirou
does he know hes doing it 😭
Shoto
Does he have to?
Shaking his head with a laugh, Izuku put his phone down. “Iida’s out. Something about his ‘reputation as the valedictorian’.” Izuku stiffly mimicked the other's voice, karate-chopping the air. “And Jirou is gonna be getting ready at Denki’s. But everyone else is down. Shoto’s gonna drive us there, and he has a license so it won’t be illegal, like someone I know..” Izuku side-eyed his friend.
“How would the police know I don’t have one? They can’t tell.” She defended herself, crossing her arms.
“Oh they know, trust me..” Izuku recalled all the times she’d narrowly avoided an accident and shuddered.
Their conversation was cut short by Ochako’s mom, “Kids! Come down to eat!”
. ☆ .
“Thanks again for dinner Ms. Uraraka! It looks amazing.” Izuku smiled politely. He’d begun having frequent dinners at their house after freshman year.
“Please Izuku, I’ve told you to call me by my first name. You’re basically a son to us.” Ochako’s mom, Nako, chided, ruffling his hair.
“Sorry, sorry. I keep forgetting,” Izuku said, smiling sheepishly. The casual use of ‘son’ brought a red blush to his face. He took a bite of his food, the familiar warmth of it settling something in his chest.
It was a simple katsudon. Nako had figured out it was his favorite a few months ago and now made it a mission to serve it at least once a month.
“Wow! Thish ish amazing,” Ochako said through a mouthful of food, swallowing, “Did you do anything different to it?”
Nako blushed, shaking her hands. “Nothing crazy, I saw the paper post a recipe that Bakugou lady uses. Y’know, the one with the fashion company. She talked about how her own family loves it.”
Bakugou lady? Like Katsuki’s mom? Izuku’s eyes widened. Considering how often Katsuki threw parties, he’d assumed the parents weren’t really around.
‘Must be nice getting food like this all the time’ Izuku thought. A twinge of jealousy pinched his chest, but it quickly passed as everyone began to fill the air with warm, familiar chatter.
The rest of dinner passed quickly, and before he knew it Izuku was saying his goodbyes. He gave Ochako a hug and headed out to his house. Thankfully he only lived one block over, so it was a short walk.
After a few minutes he found himself walking up the steps to his house. He paused at the door, taking a second to breathe and prepare himself. He silently hoped his mom had already passed out or was at least in her room.
Turning the knob as quietly as he could, he slowly stepped inside, and immediately his hopes of going to his room without trouble were shattered.
“Where the hell were you? It’s ten o’clock!” His mom’s voice filled the empty house, hostility lacing each word. “You know you have school tomorrow!"
‘So much for going to my room..’ Izuku let out a silent sigh, already biting his tongue so he wouldn't make things worse.
“I was at Ochako’s. You know I go there every Thursday. And it's not even that late, my curfew’s eleven.” Izuku spoke calmly but tired. He closed the door and began walking to his room.
“Don’t walk away! You think you can just backtalk me and get away with it? This is my house, and if I want you home at ten that’s my right as a goddamn parent.” Inko stood up from her spot at the kitchen table. She walked in front of him and blocked the hallway.
Izuku fought from rolling his eyes, just nodding and keeping his head down to avoid a problem. “Sorry mom. I’m just tired, can I go lie down?”
Inko scoffed, moving to the side, gesturing with her arm. “Yea, go to bed and be quiet. Don’t play any of that stupid music.”
Izuku just hummed in acknowledgement, heading towards his room. Once inside, he closed the door and took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders.
His room wasn’t anything special. Just a grey bedset and posters of hockey players. Some All Might action figures from a cartoon he watched as a kid lined his shelf.
As he silently cursed whoever decided his mother should be crazy, he undressed and lay down on his bed. Grabbing his pillow, he shut his eyes and thought back to the party. A small part of him hoped this party would change something for him, even if he didn’t know exactly what he was wanting.
Slowly he felt the stress from the day fade as he slipped from consciousness into a dreamless sleep.