Work Text:
It was a cloudy night, blotting out the moon and hiding most of the stars from view. The only lights were the security lamps on the farm, casting the buildings in a pale glow.
The creature moving through the shadows was familiar enough with the layout by now to avoid the lights, soaring over them before landing in one of the peach trees with a flap of leathery wings. Carefully, it crawled forward, finding an enticing looking peach to nibble on. With a twist, it let its body hang down from the branch, holding its new treat between its clawed hands as it chewed on the fruit. Green-gold eyes darted around before they caught distant movement in the windows of the farmhouse nearby. Finishing its snack, the fruit bat tossed the pit and stretched its wings, flapping up into the air to land on a tree by the house. It wobbled for a minute as it found its purchase before it settled down to observe.
The window was open, allowing music to waft through from the cell phone on the bed. The occupant of the room was bobbing her head gently to the sound as she hung her towel on a hook by the bedroom door. She had just showered, dressed in shorts and a tank top for sleep. She turned, and magically enhanced vision allowed the fruit bat to easily see the rosy blush on her tanned cheeks, and the soft curl of her eyelashes as she hummed and walked to the window.
The bat froze, but she seemed to not notice it, eyes glancing up at the sky. "Mm, too bad it's cloudy," she mumbled to no one in particular before moving back to her bed.
Just before the light went off, the bat's eyes focused on something yellow by the nightstand, and it tittered in uncontained delight at the bouquet of sunflowers in a vase.
She kept them.
With a deep, enamored sigh, Izuku Midoriya watched the room plunge into darkness and wondered just how he had developed such a huge crush on someone after nearly two centuries of Not Doing That.
XX
Sunrise came all too early in the summer, but Ochako Uraraka was more than used to it by this point in her life. She suspected in another life she probably wasn't a morning person, but years of rising with the sun to get work done around the orchard had left her waking up at dawn by habit.
Finishing her tea, she cleaned up after herself, grabbing her work gloves on the way out the door. She shoved them into the pocket of her overalls, not breaking her pace as she made her way towards the storage buildings and the storefront that greeted customers. Despite it being so early in the morning, the orchard was hardly quiet. Workers were scattered between the fields and the buildings, some picking peaches, others using equipment to keep the orchard in good shape.
It was hard to believe they were so close to losing everything just a few months ago. She tried not to think too hard about how tight money had been, or the series of events that led to her parents discussing their options around selling the orchard she had lived on all her life. Instead, she focused on what happened after. A hefty donation from an anonymous benefactor pulled them out of debt, allowing them to repair the machinery and equipment needed for the season, and to even hire some part-time help for the summer harvest.
She didn't know who had done such a thing, but she would be grateful till the day she died.
Things continued to go up from there with business rising from passing to booming. The Uraraka name grew, and by the time the summer season came, tourists were coming a-plenty, interested in peaches, and everything you could make with peaches. Honestly, nearly every night had been spent with either her mom or herself making three or four peach tarts for the bakery section of the store. They just couldn't keep things in stock!
The familiar figure of her father up by the parking area pulled her out of her thoughts, and she blinked when she saw who he was talking to. It was one of the hired helpers, or rather, she supposed it was more accurate to say 'volunteer helper'. He always refused payment, saying he just wanted something to preoccupy him for a few hours each day. So he would show up first thing in the morning, usually, or sometimes right at the end of the day, and help out for a bit. He was a strong, capable man, easily moving around bushels and crates without breaking a sweat. Despite that, he was also a quiet man, polite and demure.
Maybe a little awkward.
Okay, scratch that. Definitely awkward, and a bit strange, so much that Ochako had started taking notes.
For example, today he was dressed in a high-collar, long-sleeved shirt and gloves despite it being the middle of June, along with a pair of sunglasses despite it being so early in the morning. He also had on a very broad sunhat that should have looked ridiculous, and yet somehow it seemed to just… work. The pale straw color contrasted the fluffy green-black hair underneath, and Ochako couldn't help but think a few sunflowers pinned to the side would be both adorable and hilarious.
But maybe that was just because she was still secretly delighted at someone anonymously leaving a bouquet of sunflowers for her on the farm a couple of days ago. They'd been on her mind ever since. How they got the bouquet up on the window sill of her upstairs bedroom, she had no idea, and her parents said they knew nothing.
Her parents were also slightly alarmed that someone had apparently climbed the house and did so without being seen.
The sound of her feet on the gravel caused both her father and the volunteer – Izuku Midoriya – to look in her direction. She smiled brightly, and her father waved back, but Midoriya froze, mouth hanging open like she'd just caught him trying to sell her father illegal merchandise. She bit back a giggle at how he looked, especially with his unusual attire. She could even picture how wide his eyes probably were behind those sunglasses.
Truthfully, she figured he had a sun allergy and that was why he covered up, and probably why he only volunteered early morning or late evenings. Though it was interesting if he did because he still seemed to have a fairly tanned complexion based on his face.
An admittedly cute face. Boyish. Freckles. Big green eyes that she'd been fortunate enough to see when he took his sunglasses off inside the store. Too bad she never got to see them in the sunlight.
"Oh, morning, Ochako!" her father said cheerfully.
"Morning, Dad," Ochako chirped. "Good morning, Midoriya!"
The younger man let out a tiny squeak that made Ochako giggle, and then he snapped down into a rigid bow that was a touch unnecessary, in Ochako's opinion. The action made his hat flop off, and he yelped, grabbing it and quickly pulling it back on his head. "M-m-morning, Uraraka!"
Neither Uraraka seemed to mind his antics, although both were entirely amused. "Good timing! Midoriya said he'd be happy to help you set up the store before you open it this morning."
"Oh, sounds lovely," Ochako replied warmly, pulling out the keys in her pocket. "C'mon. I'll show you what you can do!"
The young man nodded eagerly, bowing his head to Ochako's father before following her up to the store. Ochako half-turned to him as she unlocked the door. "I like your hat, by the way."
He stared at her, and while she couldn't see past the sunglasses, she could see the way his cheeks turned pink. Oh, she hoped he didn't think she was teasing him. She meant it!
"Really?" he asked, sounding a touch hopeful. Honestly, the realization that he probably did get teased a lot for his attire made her feel a pang of sadness.
"Yeah!" she replied, hearing the lock click. "It's really cute, I think. Part of me just wants to pin a sunflower on it though. Here, come on in."
Ochako hoped he wouldn't be offended by such a statement as she opened the door and motioned for him to follow her inside. He trotted in after her, watching as she pulled up the shutters on the front windows. "A sunflower? Um, any reason why?"
She grinned at him, cheeks a touch pink as she flipped the lights and ceiling fans on. "I like 'em. That's why."
"Oh!" It was clear he didn't know how to respond to that, but hopefully that off-set any potential concern that she was teasing him.
"So, we need to restock the punnets on the shelves. Have you done that before? Do you know where everything is?"
He nodded, pulling off his sunglasses and hanging them from his shirt. "Yeah, I did this last week. Your mom showed me where everything was."
"Great! Let me know if you need anything. I'm going to set up the bakery. If anyone tries to come in early, just call for me and I'll handle it so you don't have to."
He nodded, offering her a shy smile that looked really cute on him, then disappeared off towards where the punnets were kept. Ochako watched him go before turning on the lights around the bakery section. Her mother had brought the tarts over while Ochako had finished breakfast, using the back entrance to place them in the prep area. Now that they had cooled, Ochako quickly sliced them up in the trays then placed the tarts out on the display shelf, along with the cards indicating the ingredients and allergens.
Humming to herself, she went about the rest of the morning routine, brewing some peach-infused tea to serve, arranging the display baskets and shelves to highlight the other goods they had for sale, and setting out the chalkboard sign. Midoriya moved about the floor space, refilling the shelves with punnets filled with just the right amount of ripe peaches. He had a tiny smile on his face as he worked, and more than once Ochako caught herself admiring him.
"Okay, I think that's all of them. What else can I help with?" Midoriya asked, dusting his hands on his jeans. Ochako looked up from where she had finished checking the dates on the jars of preserves and smiled. "Ah, one last thing actually. Hang on."
He watched as she pulled out one of the tarts and removed a slice, placing it on a small plate along with a dollop of freshly whipped cream. She then held it out. "Here you go."
He blinked owlishly, taking the offered plate in his gloved hands. "Um… what do you want me to do with this?"
She grinned. "Eat it, silly. You're my taste tester to make sure they're fit for selling."
"Oh!"
She had to laugh, because his expression indicated the idea never crossed his mind. Carefully, he took a bite, expression curious. "It's… really good. Did your mom make this?"
"Technically she put it in the oven this morning, but I prepped it last night," Ochako replied smugly, folding her arms across her chest. "Figured if you're not going to let us pay you, you can at least avail of free food."
He blushed, glancing away. "You… you don't need to do that. I just like helping."
"And I like rewarding people for their kindness," Ochako replied simply. "So eat up, and then pick out some peaches to take home with you, and you're not paying for them this time."
He whined, looking affronted that she dared to tell him to not pay, and she laughed. "Cute."
The word came out all too easily, and she froze slightly, eyes wide at her own admission. He was much the same, fork slipping out of his fingers to land on the plate, cheeks a deep red. They stayed like that for a solid seven seconds before Ochako began to mentally flail. "I-I mean, uh–"
She trailed off when he glanced down at the plate in his hands, a shy, but pleased smile on his face. "T-thank you."
The desire to backpedal melted away at the sincerity in his voice, and she instead found herself blushing and tucking her hair behind her ear like a schoolgirl. "I'm going to finish the last of this prep-work. Take your time finishing that, okay?"
Without waiting for an affirmation, she turned her back to him to inspect the shelves she had already inspected, giving herself a chance to regain her composure.
She just called him cute. To his face. Thank goodness neither of her parents had been around to hear that.
Finally remembering something she hadn't yet done, she turned her attention to the till, making sure it was set with change for the day. Midoriya was off to the side, quietly eating, but she could see him watching her out of the corner of her eye. Oh gosh, had she made things awkward? She hadn't meant to say it. Yes, she found him cute, even though he was a little skittish and dressed funny, but that didn't matter. He was super sweet and helpful, and the days he came by and volunteered were always a little brighter, in her opinion.
Oh. Maybe her little crush wasn't so little after all. But even if he always got nervous around her, it didn't mean he liked her back. He was shy around everyone, even if he was eager to help. And while she did have the anonymous flowers, there was just no way he was responsible for those, right? He would have had to climb up to her window and put them there, probably at night because during the day he would have been seen, and well, he was far too shy to do something like that.
Right?
But damn, now she was curious. Did he actually like her? The way he reacted to her calling him cute had made her little seed of a crush start to sprout quickly, watered by the hope that he might be interested based on him thanking her for calling him cute. But… if she was wrong, it might make him feel uncomfortable coming back to help out. She didn't want to scare him off either.
Midoriya crossing the room with an empty plate broke her out of her thoughts, and she watched him disappear into the backroom. The sound of water running indicated he was cleaning his own dishes, and that made her smile. He didn't need to do that, but she wasn't surprised in the slightest.
When he emerged, he offered her another shy smile. "That was really delicious. Thank you."
"Uh huh," Ochako replied, happy for a topic to focus on. "Don't forget to choose some peaches."
He scratched his cheek with a finger, eyes cast off to the side. "Are you sure? I really don't mind paying."
"I insist," Ochako said, leaning forward and folding her arms on the counter. "You're the only one who doesn't get paid, and I'd feel a lot better if you got something in return for the things you do for us."
"I get plenty!" Midoriya replied, lifting his hands in mild protest.
"Oh yeah? Like what?"
He paused, as if realizing he hadn't thought that statement through, and Ochako couldn't help the smug look that spread across her face. She waited, biting her lip to hold back the grin forming as he floundered. "I… I…"
"Yes…?"
She hadn't planned to tease him, but the way his eyes were darting back and forth as if caught in a little lie was adorable, and she couldn't help but press the issue. What did he get in return for all his volunteer work? The satisfaction of helping out? The occasional sampling of fruit? The–
"I-I get to see you!"
She stared at him, lips parting at his admission, and he flushed a deep shade of puce. "I mean– I just– you're really nice and sweet and you never treat me as a weirdo and-I-really-am-glad-you-kept-the-flowers-and-I–" he paused, glancing around, but then he froze, staring at the bright morning sunlight coming in from across the room. His eyes widened to comical sizes, mouth hanging open. "Oh no! It's later than I thought! I gotta go!"
And without waiting, he slapped on his sunglasses and dove out the open front door, shielding himself like one might do if they were dashing out into a heavy thunderstorm as he ran to his car.
Ochako watched the vehicle pull away, idly noting the heavy tinting on the windows that was probably not street legal. What had… that been about? It was only seven in the morning–
'Kept the flowers'?
The sunflowers?
Her hand came up to cover her mouth in surprise. It had been him after all!
XX
As soon as Izuku was out of sight of the orchard, he pulled over and parked his car, pressing his forehead to the top of the steering wheel. With a pathetic sort of whine, he thunked his head against the steering wheel a few times, gritting his teeth as he went.
He was usually good about paying attention to the time of day, but whenever he got around Uraraka it was like his attention to detail went down the drain. Or rather, she became the only thing he focused on, which would be fine if he wasn't at risk of incinerating himself. At least he had on enough layers to prevent himself from smoking as he fumbled with his car door, but he didn't even say goodbye. He just left! Ran right out the door, right after admitting he gave her the flowers.
Groaning pitifully, he lifted his head to stare out in the direction of the orchard he'd spent the last couple of months volunteering at. He'd not meant to get this caught up in it all. His plan had been to help the orchard not go bankrupt because, well, they were nice people and grew one of his primary food sources, and it made him feel less guilty about 'stealing' fruit when he was indirectly paying for it. But Uraraka had just been so… lovely. Her laugh, her smile, her hard working nature, and the way she liked to help others.
She was always so cheerful and kind. She volunteered around town at different events and functions, and he had heard her talking to another worker about seeing a fruit bat in the orchard at night and hoping it would come back. Him! She was talking about him! Sure, she thought he had escaped the animal sanctuary nearby, even though they said none of their flying foxes had escaped, but she seemed to not be scared of his bat form. No, she called him cute.
And then today she called him cute again to his face. Despite the fact he was dressed in the most ridiculous looking get-up to protect himself from the sun.
He didn't even know he could fall head over heels so fast until he was face-down in the dirt with no idea what direction was up.
He leaned back in the driver's seat of his car, head hitting the head rest as he grimaced. Well, even if she called him cute, he'd probably just ruined things. Blurting out a weird, vague confession then bolting out the door like she revolted him probably set the bridge between them on fire. Sulking, he closed his eyes and decided to head home to sleep. Maybe drink a bottle of wine. It was made from grapes so that counted as fruit, right?
It was days like this he wished he were normal.
XX
When several days passed and Midoriya hadn't shown up, Ochako asked her dad if he'd heard from him. Her father blinked, saying Midoriya had called in to say he'd not be available for the foreseeable future. When Ochako asked why, her father shrugged, saying Midoriya only implied he had other things to take care of.
Damn it all.
She tried to be patient, hoping that was the case, but when her flowers finally wilted to the point she needed to toss them, she found herself pondering on just what to do. Had he gotten embarrassed after his half-confession? Was that it? Or did something actually happen?
Finally, her anxiety got the better of her, and she pulled his number up in her phone. She'd only ever texted him once about something work-related, but it was enough that she felt it not too unprofessional to check in on him.
You: Hey! Are you okay? We haven't seen you in a while, and it's got me a little worried.
She didn't receive a response until after the sun was setting. She was in her room, on her bed and reading a book, and trying to not count how long it had been since she messaged him when her phone buzzed. She jumped, fumbling for her phone to see the notification, and her heart skipped a beat at realizing he had replied.
Midoriya: Sorry! I was sleeping so I didn't see your message until now. Thank you for checking in on me. I'm okay!
She considered his response. Weird that he was asleep at 8 PM though. Was he not feeling well? He'd not given any real explanation, although to be fair, she hadn't directly asked. Should she press? She pursed her lips, digging her toes into the blankets on her bed as she debated on how to respond.
You: No need to apologize for sleeping, but is that normal for you? Are you sure you're okay?
She watched the read receipt activate immediately and the ellipsis appeared to indicate he was typing. He started and stopped about three times before he finally sent his message.
Midoriya: I just have a really weird sleep schedule. I promise I'm okay.
Her response was immediate.
You: Okay, so when are you coming back?
There was a delay between his reading the message and him typing. She chewed on her lip, wondering if she was being too pushy, but he already was avoiding her so she had nothing to lose, right?
Midoriya: Do you want me to come back? I was pretty rude running out on you like that.
Ah! She could work with this. Sitting up, she curled over her phone, hastily typing a reply.
You: Of course I do! I figured you had a reason for leaving that fast, and well, you'd just got done saying something really sweet before then. Did you mean it?
She waited, realizing he wasn't typing back a response. Was he scared? Did he not mean it? She pursed her lips, eyes falling to the now-empty vase in her room. Finally, she added a second message.
You: Well, even if you didn't, I loved the flowers. I kept them until they were browning the water. Thank you.
That finally spurred him to respond.
Midoriya: Yeah. I meant it. I'm glad you liked them.
She smiled, feeling her cheeks heat up at his actual confession. Sure it was by text, but still… A thought crossed her mind.
You: How did you get them up on my window sill?
She watched as he started and stopped typing about six times, and she giggled, imagining the level of panic as he fumbled over his explanation.
Midoriya: I tossed them up there and got really lucky with my aim.
She wanted to call bullshit, but she wasn't about to ruin this. So she let it slide. Mostly.
You: That's impressive! I never would have guessed someone could do that, given the angle.
Midoriya: Hehehe.
Midoriya: So you really want me to come back?
She was grateful no one could see how hard she was grinning.
You: Yup! You owe me extra time since you've been gone for several days.
Midoriya: I do? I mean, I can't work midday for medical reasons, but I can try to stay later in the evenings if that helps?
Ochako giggled to herself, picturing the confused look he probably had. Grabbing a pillow, she tucked it against her chest, hugging it as she typed her next attack.
You: Nah, I was thinking something else. Do you like stargazing?
Midoriya: At the orchard??
She snorted, squeezing her eyes shut. Gosh, he was dense.
You: I'm asking you out on a date, dummy.
Midoriya: ME???
For some reason, the incredulous response made her laugh, and she curled up on her side, clutching her pillow and kicking her feet. She'd feel mortified if anyone saw her acting so ridiculous, but instead she muffled her guffaws into her pillow, eyes bright as she reread his message of utter shock.
You: Are you the cute guy with a sunhat and sunglasses?
Midoriya: Yeah but
Midoriya: Wait…
Midoriya: Me??
Her face hurt from grinning.
You: Yup. So when are you free?
Midoriya: I mean…
Midoriya: I have a lot of health issues, and it's not like I want to say no, but they're really inconvenient for others.
You: I'll be happy to accommodate you, and I won't find you inconvenient. Tell me what works.
When he listed out his available evenings, she muffled an excited scream into her pillow.
XX
Izuku sat staring in disbelief at his phone. His hair was in disarray from having just woken up, and the only light in his room was the glow of his phone screen. He hadn't expected Uraraka to text him.
He really hadn't expected her to ask him when he was coming back.
And he never, ever would have guessed she would then ask him out on a date.
He scrolled back up through the messages, running a hand through his messy hair as he skimmed over her replies. She actually wanted to go out on a date with him. Him! She wasn't put off by his aversion to sunlight or awkwardness or… questionable fashion sense. No, she took it all in happily, then asked for more.
He flopped onto his back, arms splayed out as he stared up at the ceiling.
Crap, what had he done? He was a vampire. Sure, he didn't drink blood anymore, but he was still a vampire. He was allergic to sunlight, couldn't enjoy garlic bread, and needed permission to come inside houses. Silver burned his skin, the thing about crosses was at least bogus, but he could turn into a bat. He was immortal.
He hadn't thought this through. He never thought he'd get this far.
Now what?
He pursed his lips, picking up his phone and reading the last few messages agreeing on a place and time for their first date.
'Good job, Izuku. You managed to get a date after 200 years. It's practically the start of some terrible romantic comedy. The 200 Year Old Virgin, coming to theaters near you! Now how are you going to navigate this without her finding out you're not human?'
Well… worst case, he'd fake his death and relocate regions.
…Again.
XX
Two nights later, Ochako found herself sitting atop of a hill not too far from her family's farm. The light pollution was pretty low where she lived, so the hill was an excellent place to stargaze. There were a few trees scattered, but plenty of open space.
She'd gotten there early, laying out a large blanket, with a basket and an electric lantern. The night was clear like the forecast predicted, with only a few threads of gray trailing over the starry night sky. The breeze was light and warm, and she smiled, leaning back on her hands to look up at the stars. Part of her humored the idea of wearing her usual overalls and checked shirt combo from work, but she decided to switch it out for a summer dress she rarely got to wear. It was fashioned in the style of the 50s, a halter top with an apron-style skirt and a ribbon belt. The dress was black and white gingham pattern with a cherry and ladybug pattern layered over it. She'd also opted to let her hair down out of its usual half ponytail, and it blew softly in the summer night breeze.
The sound of footsteps crunching grass caught her attention, and she looked up to see Midoriya approaching. She could only make out his silhouette up until he reached the edge of the lantern light, but when he came into view, she was surprised to see him dressed in a short-sleeved button-down shirt and a pair of well-cut jeans. Gone were the long sleeves, the gloves, and the sunglasses. No hat was on his head, showing off how unruly and fluffy his hair was without it.
He came to a stop and lifted a hand in greeting, but when he stopped to take in her appearance, he struggled to find words. "Oh w-wow, um… hi."
"Should I have gone with my work clothes?" she teased, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear and ignoring her own blush.
"No!" he squeaked, flustered. "Just, you know, that's a really pretty dress, and it looks great on you, and um, well, err, you weren't waiting too long, right?"
She chuckled as he fumbled for his words. "Not at all. Come have a seat?"
He nodded, sliding off his shoes and taking a seat beside her, but not too close. "Um…"
She looked up at him, eyes falling over his attire. "You look really good, too."
Even with the low lantern light, she could see his cheeks darken. "Thanks… and thanks for choosing something at night."
She smiled sweetly at him, shrugging. "I figured you have something like a really bad sun allergy, and coincidentally, I love stargazing."
He grinned, scratching his cheek with a finger. "Guess it works out then."
The next two hours were spent with them talking. Midoriya was an animated talker once he felt comfortable, using his hands as he told stories and explained concepts. Surprisingly, he had a lot of knowledge about various things, calling himself a hobbyist. And apparently his sun allergy was so bad that he had just taken to sleeping during the day and staying up at night. When Ochako pressed what he actually did for a job, he laughed awkwardly and admitted he didn't have a full-time job, living off of a family inheritance, so that's why he volunteered to help small businesses, so he felt like he was contributing.
In turn, Midoriya asked questions about her hobbies and interests, learning about her love of astronomy, the different types of things she could bake, and her love for sci-fi series. Truthfully, she had been a little reluctant to talk about herself, but seeing the way he was intent on her as she spoke ebbed away her reservations. She spoke of the charities she volunteered for, and also how she had a secret love of thrift shopping, because she could sometimes find the most unique clothes.
She laughed, gesturing to her dress. "Totally second-hand. Perfect condition. No regrets."
"It's lovely," Midoriya admitted fondly. He paused, before hastily adding, "but I think you look cute in your work clothes, too!"
Ochako grinned, playing with a lock of her hair. "Even that time you saw me covered in mud from the knees down?"
He laughed, and Ochako felt a buzz of delight run through her at the sound. "You made the mud look really good."
They both paused at that, Midoriya apparently surprised at his own smoothness, and Ochako equally surprised. "Gosh, I wasn't expecting so many compliments from you."
"Is… that bad?" he asked, a touch nervous.
She shook her head. "No. Just unexpected. You're not quite as shy as I thought. Oh, but, here!" She twisted, grabbing the basket behind her. He tilted his head, watching as she pulled out a peach and almond tart. "Thought you might like some?"
His eyes lit up, and she swore she saw stars in them.
XX
The tart tray sat off to the side, a third of it missing. The electric lantern had been turned off, and they were both on their backs so they could gaze at the stars.
Izuku couldn't be happier. Uraraka took her time to point out various constellations, most of which he already knew, but when she got to one he didn't know, he leaned over so he better line his vision up with where she was pointing. When she finished, he settled back down and realized their shoulders were touching, if only barely. It was so faint that he almost couldn't feel it, and yet it still made his skin buzz underneath his shirt.
When she yawned, Izuku glanced at his watch. "Oh, I wasn't paying attention to the time. I bet this is late for you, isn't it?"
"Mm," Uraraka agreed, looking at her phone. "Normally asleep, yeah. It's okay though. I told my parents I'd be out late."
"Yeah but you're probably close to falling asleep," Izuku said, sitting up to look down at her. "Let's call it a night."
She pouted, and it looked adorable on her. "Mm… but the house is so far away… can't I just sleep here?"
He laughed. "How about I give you a ride back? My car's at the bottom of the hill."
"Oh, I'm joking. I don't mind walking," she protested softly, but Izuku shook his head.
"I'd be happy to. Besides, um, I have something for you."
She tilted her head at him curiously as he stood up, but when he offered his hands, she smiled and took them, letting him pull her to her feet. However, the moment she was upright, she gasped. "Midoriya! Your hands are freezing!"
Shit.
He forgot about that. "Uh… it's part of my condition. Bad circulation. Like… really bad?"
She looked up at him in alarm, and to his surprise, reached up to press her hand to his cheek, the other still holding one of his. "Oh gosh, you're not joking! You're cold all over!"
He knew he should be panicking that she might figure him out, but his brain short-circuited at the touch of her palm against his cheek. He stammered, cheeks flushing–how did that work anyway–and gently took her hand and pulled it from his face. "It's–It's fine, really! I just wear lots of clothes usually, like you've seen!"
She made a displeased noise, frowning up at him, and while he was flattered she was so concerned, he was also terrified.
"Well… okay. You know your condition better than me. Let me… pack everything up."
She let go of him, much to his disappointment, but he quickly moved to help her pack up everything, not wanting her to do it all herself. And when they finished, he took the basket out of her hands, as well as the blanket, folding it over his arm. She huffed, and he gave her a sheepish grin. "Please?"
"Fine, but I'm carrying the lantern, at least."
He nodded, but before he could say anything else, she reached out and grabbed his free hand, threading her fingers through it. He squeaked, feeling her fingers squeeze his. "Um– but is this okay?"
"I'll warm them up for you," she said cutely, and he was so glad he wasn't in bat form or else he might have started chittering in delight.
When they got to his car, his hand wasn't too much warmer, and yet he still felt feverish, drunk on the knowledge that she didn't mind touching him. He put the basket and blanket in the back, before opening the passenger's seat for her. He climbed in on the other side and after they were buckled in, pulled out onto the road back to her family's orchard.
Uraraka yawned again, and Izuku gave her a sheepish grin. "Sorry for keeping you out so late."
"I enjoyed it," she replied sleepily as the familiar sound of tires on gravel greeted her. "Oh, but didn't you say you had something to show me?"
Izuku smiled, parking his car in front of the store. Reaching around, he grabbed the bouquet of sunflowers sitting in the backseat and held them out for her. "Since the last ones wilted…"
Her eyes lit up, a pretty smile on her face as she took them, holding them to her chest. "I feel really spoiled right now."
He lifted a brow. "You brought me a tart you made and gave me a lesson on astronomy. I think I got the better deal."
They got out of the car, and Izuku grabbed the blanket and basket, while Ochako carried her sunflowers and the lantern. He followed her up to the back of her house, which led into the kitchen. "Wait right there," she said, unlocking the door and slipping inside. She came back out with free hands and took the blanket, leaving behind the basket. Izuku blinked but didn't follow in after her. He couldn't. He hadn't been invited.
She came back out, pulling the door to, but not quite closed. "The rest of the tart is yours. You can bring the basket back later when you show up for volunteer work."
He grinned, eyes bright. "Really?"
"Yup. There may also be some peaches inside, too."
His mouth hurt from smiling. "Thank you. Um… I had a lot of fun."
"I did, too," she admitted, clasping her hands together in front of herself. "Would you… like to do it again sometime?"
"Yes," he said all too quickly. He bit his lip, before adding, "please."
She smiled, eyes twinkling. "Okay. I'll text you. Have a good night, Midoriya."
"Good night, Uraraka!"
And just when he thought things couldn't get better, she quickly stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. He gaped at her, speechless, watching as stepped inside, giving him a playful, girlish smile as she closed the door.
Oh, he was in so much trouble.
XX
The next few weeks were amongst the best in Izuku's rather extended life, possibly even better than the day some small, angry wizard cursed him into being unable to consume blood. Well, he said it was a curse, but when Izuku realized that he could eat fruit instead and his days of consuming animal blood were over, he knew it was anything but a curse.
He hoped that little wizard guy was doing well, whatever his name was. Gran… something. Grand Marnier maybe? No, that wasn't right. Gran Turismo? Eh, close enough. It was like a hundred and fifty years ago.
The point was, Izuku had successfully gone on six dates with Ochako Uraraka and all of them had been amazing.
All of them had been at night, and she was a wonderful, blessed person for being willing to stay up late just to accommodate him. He tried to make it up to her. Their second date was another night of stargazing and fruit desserts, and she almost fell asleep on him, which made him feel guilty. So on their third date, he picked her up and took her to the nearby city for dinner at a nice restaurant, choosing a location with a carpark so he could avoid the setting sun. She'd heavily protested him paying for everything, but he kindly pointed out she kept baking him desserts so this was the least he could do. When they finished, it wasn't too late that she was exhausted, but late enough he wasn't at risk of sun exposure.
Another date was spent watching fireflies in a field not far from her house. They sat with their backs to a large tree, laughing softly as they watched the soft pops of light appear in the fields. She had her shoulder pressed up against his, fingers laced through his own and uncaring of his cooler body temperature and every time she giggled at something he said, he felt his chest flutter like he still had a heartbeat. And when she got up to dance around the fireflies, it left him awestruck, watching as she spun and twirled in a pretty peach-colored sundress that went down to her calves, the skirt swishing with each pivot.
She made him dance with her, and as much as he wanted to just watch her instead, he found himself up on his feet, hands in hers as she laughed and swayed. Eventually, he gave in and moved with her, shyness fading into genuine happiness, fingers folded over hers and fireflies in his eyes.
For their fifth date, he actually took her dancing. He had to bite back a giggle when she stared at him, slack-jawed as he admitted he knew how to ballroom dance. When she nervously stammered out that she didn't, he asked for the privilege of teaching her. By the end of the night, she was smiling in his arms, although she admittedly squeaked when he dipped her. Her face was dark pink when he pulled her up, and she hid it in his chest, thoroughly embarrassed. Izuku wanted to feel bad, but it was hard to do so when it gave him an excuse to hold her close.
Their sixth date was a late showing of a movie. It was an action comedy, although a lot of it was kind of vague in his mind, because he just kept thinking about the way she kept rubbing her thumb against the side of his hand so sweetly. And when the main character passionately kissed the love interest at the end, he had to wonder if he would ever be brave enough to do such a thing. He'd managed to kiss her cheek once so far, but the idea of kissing her on her lips still made him freeze.
He wanted to. He also wanted to not scare her off with cold lips and no experience.
Now they were on their seventh date. Izuku had driven them down to the seaside to have a late night walk on the beach. Distant music could be heard from the boardwalk, but both of them were just happier to stay out on the sands, listening to the nearby waves.
Her hand was in his, and even though he'd asked a few times if his 'circulation issues' bothered her, she always smiled and said, 'nope!' So he didn't ask this time, just happy she enjoyed being with him.
"You're kind of quiet tonight," she commented softly, stepping in to bump her shoulder against his. They were both in sandals and shorts, with her wearing a tank top and him wearing a button-down shirt.
He hummed, looking down at her. "Don't mean to be. Just thinking."
"Bout what?" she asked playfully.
He hesitated before quietly confessing, "You."
She laughed, though he could hear the embarrassment in her voice. "Oh, c'mon."
"I mean it!" he replied, not willing to back down after saying it. "You're just… so kind and funny, and I love talking to you, and I like holding your hand, and well…"
He trailed off, unsure of where he was going with all of it. Finally, he admitted, "I'm enjoying myself. More than I have in a really long time."
She came to a stop, holding his hand so he'd stop, too, and he turned to her to find her smiling up at him, her profile barely visible from the distant security lights. "I really like you, Midoriya."
His breath might have hitched if he had any. Instead he licked his lips, eyes trained on her. "I…think I'm starting to figure that out."
"Oh, was it not obvious?" she asked, tone teasing.
"I… might have a thing about doubting myself," he admitted, eyes cutting to the side. "And my appeal, I guess."
"Do you still have doubts?" She tilted her head, sending her hair bouncing against her shoulder. How was she so cute?
"Um…I mean, a few, but–but it's not because of you. It's just…it's me." He winced, scratching the back of his head with his free hand. She was perfect. He was … a vampire. If she ever found out, she'd drop him so fast. Run away screaming. He'd have to go change his name, relocate continents, and–uh…
The act of her grabbing the hand rubbing his neck derailed his train of thought, and he blinked as she tugged it down until she had both of their hands trapped between them. Despite the fact she was smiling, he couldn't quite tell what she was thinking. "Um…"
"I think I might can help chase some of those doubts away," Uraraka whispered, taking a step closer.
His eyes widened. Was she…?! Wait! No. He needed to stop reading into things. Was he reading? Did he know how to read? He swallowed, fingers twitching against hers. "Y-yeah?"
"Yup." She popped her lips on the 'p', lips curving upward into a playful smile. She was closer now, standing on her tiptoes, and he could feel her breath on his chin. He swallowed again, mouth feeling dry. He probably looked like a frightened animal, unsure of what to do, but if he did, it didn't seem to scare her away.
Nothing about him seemed to scare her away, and that realization made him weak in the knees like he'd just found salvation.
Her lip gloss tasted like peaches.
And now, so did his first kiss.
It ended all too quickly, and he realized as she pulled back that he never closed his eyes. He stared down at her, lips parted in soft surprise, and she gave him a shy smile before kissing him again. This time he remembered to close his eyes and kiss back, nervously moving his mouth against hers. Her lips were hot against his, and he was torn between enjoying this moment to its fullest and being terrified she was going to pull back and feel revolted by how cold his mouth was against hers.
When she pulled away this time, he took one look at the shy smile on her face and leaned in and kissed her again. It was a quick peck, really, but he could still feel her smile against his mouth, and that made it worth all the passionate Hollywood kisses in the world.
She squeezed his fingers as they pulled away. "So… do you still have doubts?"
He gave a shy grin, glancing down at the sands beneath them. "Maybe some… but they're less now."
She opened her mouth to reply when a fat water drop hit her nose. Her eyes crossed, and that was the only warning they got before the skies opened up to tell them date night was over.
XX
They laughed as they ran back to the car, rain seeping into their clothes. The moment the car doors shut and they saw how wet they both were, they burst into giggles. Midoriya had some spare clothes in his back seat, so he grabbed a couple of shirts so they could towel off the excess water. Ochako was just grateful she hadn't worn light colors.
The rain followed them back to her house, although it had lightened up considerably. Of course, Midoriya had an umbrella in his car, and he insisted on walking her to her back door so she wouldn't get wetter. She kissed him goodnight under the umbrella, her hands cupping his cold cheeks and her nose smushed up against his. He made a happy noise she barely heard over the rainfall, and she held there as long as she could, the air from her nose puffing against his cheeks.
When they finally pulled away, they said their goodnights, and Ochako disappeared inside. When she got to her room, she shut the door quietly and leaned against it, staring out into nothing.
He hadn't been breathing.
She noticed something was off when they kissed, but it was so minor she paid it no attention. But that last kiss had been long. She should have felt his breath against her face. There was no movement under her fingertips as she pressed them to his chest. There was… no way he could have held his breath during all that. Right?
Not breathing. Always cold. Even after dancing, he hadn't been winded. Even after holding his hands for an hour, the best she got was lukewarm.
It was like… he was dead. Clearly he wasn't, but…
Aversion to sunlight. Sleeping during the day. He told the waiter at the restaurant he was allergic to garlic.
She froze. No. No no no. This was the stuff of cheesy horror movies. There was no way he was a vampire.
She laughed nervously, slapping her hands against her cheeks. She was wet. She needed to change clothes. Get into some clean pajamas and find a logical explanation for all of his issues to calm her brain down. WebMD surely had answers other than 'vampire' right?
And hopefully also answers other than 'he's dying'.
She sighed, pulling off her shirt and tossing it in her laundry basket. She made to unhook her bra when she heard a strange, strangled screech coming from right outside of her window. She whirled, eyes wide at seeing that sneaky fruit bat take off from the peach tree right outside her window.
Wait.
Fruit bat. Outside her window.
Sunflowers. On her window sill.
Midoriya really liked fruit. Like, really liked fruit.
No. No no no.
This was stupid. This was so stupid.
She was not a conspiracy theorist. Midoriya was a delightful, sweet young man with some very questionable health issues. He was not a –
A what?
Fruit… vampire?
She laughed again, the sound somewhat hysterical, then realized if that bat was Midoriya, he'd just seen her without a shirt on.
"...I think I need to sleep now."
XX
She dreamt about bats.
Pre-dawn pale light pulled her out of her slumber, and she blinked several times, pushing away the sleep. With a sigh, she grabbed her phone off the charger and glanced at the messages. Three from Midoriya.
Midoriya: Thank you again for a wonderful night. I hope you sleep well!
Midoriya: When would you like to go out again?
Midoriya: Oh, before I forget, here's the photo from the boardwalk! [Attachment]
She tapped on the picture. He'd taken it, both of them smiling on the pier, his arm around her shoulders. It was hard to tell he was the same awkward volunteer who would show up in just a few minutes wearing long sleeves, gloves, and a sunhat.
She paused. Wait, that's right. Wasn't there something about vampires not showing up in photos or having no reflection? She pursed her lips, typing back a reply.
You: Sorry, I went to sleep pretty fast after I got back! Um, are you free on Friday night?
Getting up, she threw on some work clothes and pondered on just what to do.
She was being ridiculous, right? There had to be real, logical explanations for all the weird things about him that did not equate to 'vampire.' She paused, glancing back out her window at the peach tree the bat had been in.
Yeah. Ridiculous. That was it.
XX
Midoriya was already there when she left the house, helping her father move some equipment from one building to the next. He hadn't seen her, so she paused, taking her time to observe him. The stuff was heavy, so much that her dad was struggling a bit. Midoriya looked like he wasn't even breaking a sweat. She walked closer, watching as they put the equipment down. Her dad exhaled, catching his breath.
Midoriya looked unfazed. No rising or falling of his chest. She pursed her lips, watching as he adjusted his hat and asked where he could help next. Her dad smiled at him and pointed off towards something else.
As he walked off, she was struck with an idea.
After quickly making her morning rounds in the store, she stepped back out to find him helping one of the other workers with the fertilizer, and it just so happened to be someone who knew she was dating Midoriya and who also knew about the bat thief. Perfect. "Morning, Midoriya! Morning, Toru!"
Both workers looked up. "Morning, Ochako," Toru called back cheerfully, waving. Midoriya gave a tiny wave, still a little shy about interacting with her when they were working.
"I saw our bat friend last night," Ochako said cheerfully, watching Midoriya out of the corner of her eye. He perked up slightly, glancing up at her. She pretended to keep her attention on Toru.
"Oh yeah? Stealing peaches again?" Toru asked, giggling. "Gonna have to start sending him bills!"
"Oh that's not the worst of it! Little scoundrel spooked me while I was changing clothes! Right outside my window! If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was watching me!"
Toru laughed, waggling her eyebrows. "It wanted a show, did it? Careful, Midoriya! You got competition!"
Both women looked over at him, and Ochako lifted a brow to find Midoriya standing there, mouth hanging open and face beet red. But was he just flustered because of the topic, or was he flustered because he was the sneaky bat?
Ochako was trying to figure out how to get him to slip up, but fortunately, Toru was naturally gifted in such things. When he didn't respond, she grinned at him, leaning against her shovel. "Looks like someone's being as naughty as the bat with his thoughts, eh, Ochako?"
"N-no!" Izuku squeaked, flailing. "I'd never–I–I'm sure the bat was just hungry! Err, hungry for peaches!" He paused, then panicked further. "R-real peaches! The fruit. That grows on those trees. Because they're delicious! Bats-don't-watch-women-undress-that's-very-rude!" And without saying another word, he picked up the very heavy barrel of chemicals and stalked off with it.
"Damn, he's strong," Toru said in awe.
Ochako said nothing, staring after her very obviously batty love interest.
What had she gotten herself into?
XX
Midoriya avoided her, leaving shortly after, and Ochako debated on what to do. She checked her phone, seeing he'd sent her a text about being free on Friday and sending a couple of links for different date ideas.
She didn't want to wait till Friday to figure this out. At midday, she asked Toru to cover the store for her and told her parents she needed to go do something important. After quickly showering, she pulled on a clean shirt and shorts and made her way into the office her family kept all the business documents in, including information on their employees. She'd never looked at Midoriya's record before except to grab his phone number, so she never paid attention to his listed address. Apparently, he lived only a few kilometers away.
Until now, she would have assumed he lived closer to the city, but now knowing he was a… something… she wasn't too surprised to find out he lived in the middle of nowhere.
A part of her was going to feel really bad if it turned out she was wrong after all this.
The bike ride down the roads was uneventful, and the breeze quickly dried her hair. The little back road he lived on was heavily shaded, and the trees only got thicker when she arrived at her destination. His house was far off the main road, but the driveway was paved, lined with lots of trees, many of which she noted were evergreen of various types, designed to provide year-round shade.
Interesting.
She recognized his car at the end of the road, parking her bike beside it. The house itself was a small, modern dwelling using traditional architecture. The shutters were all closed, and the entire house was shaded by the trees around it. She frowned, realizing just how isolated the whole place was.
After a moment of consideration, she pulled out her phone, dropped a pin on her map and sent it to Toru, along with a message to check in on her if she hadn't texted again in two hours.
Steeling herself, she pocketed her phone, walked up to the front door, and rang the doorbell.
No answer.
She tried again, and he still didn't come to the door. Either he slept like a rock, or he was just ignoring the doorbell and trying to go back to sleep.
She sighed and then pounded her fist on the door. "Midoriya, I know you're in there! Open up!"
There was a loud thud, like someone flailed and fell out of bed, followed by footsteps that got louder. She took a step back as the door unlocked and Midoriya opened it just partially, hiding from the sunlight. He squinted at her. "U-Uraraka? Is everything okay?"
She thought about blurting it all out right then, but he'd probably panic and shut the door in her face. So instead she squared her shoulders and pushed the door and him back, forcing her way inside. He squeaked, stumbling back several steps to avoid the light, and she quietly grabbed the door and shut it behind her. "We need to talk."
He stared at her from the shadows of his very dark house, wide-eyed and utterly terrified. It was clear she had woken him up from sleep, because he was also only dressed in a t-shirt that said 'earmuffs' and a pair of boxers that had a lemon pattern on them. She'd have been embarrassed had she not been on a mission.
"W-what's going on?" he stammered, glancing at her then at the clock on the wall highlighting the time. "Did something happen?"
"Other than you're lying to me?" Ochako asked, watching as he went stock still, eyes wide and dilated.
"I–I'm not–"
"You're always cold," she started, taking a step forward. He took a step back, drawing his hands up to his chest. "You don't breathe." Another step, and another retreat. He looked terrified. She tried not to think about it. "You're… 'allergic' to garlic, and you can't be out in the sun, like, at all." She'd cornered him, the back of his legs hitting his sofa, and he lost his balance, landing back on it. She came to a stop in front of him, arms still folded across her chest as he stared up at her, fingers digging into the cushion he sat on. "And… you pretended to be a fruit bat to watch me–"
"NO!" he shouted with conviction, waving his hands. "I wasn't watching! I swear, I honestly didn't mean to look! I was just really hungry because we hadn't eaten, and I thought I'd get a bite before I went home, and I didn't think you'd have your blinds open or-or-or that you'd take off your shirt–oh my god, I'm so sorry, I really didn't mean to look!"
She blinked, watching him curl up and hide his head. "I'm so sorry! I'd never, ever disrespect you like that! I felt awful!"
He admitted it. The bat was him. The bat was really him. Then that meant…
"So… it's… you're really… um," she hesitated, before quietly whispering, "a vampire?"
He froze, still hiding under his arms, before he slowly lowered them and looked up at her with tears in his eyes. Her heart lurched, realizing she'd made him cry. "Y-yeah. I am. I'm… sorry. I didn't–I really didn't want to scare you away."
"But… the fruit?"
He shrugged awkwardly. "I don't drink blood. Just eat fruit. Everything else is mostly the same. I'm… well, I'm not alive. Technically."
Her arms unfolded, falling down to her sides as she stared down at him. He bit his lip, not quite meeting her gaze, but after a moment, stood up and held out his hand for her to take. She hesitated, then carefully placed her fingers in his, allowing him to press her palm against his chest over his heart.
There was no heartbeat. None at all. She bit her lip, then slowly reached up to touch his neck, where his pulse point should be.
Nothing.
He sighed, shoulders slumping. "I'm sorry. I just… you're so awesome, and I was terrified you'd hate me. And… if you do, I get it. I just… I ask you to keep this a secret, and I'll never bother you again."
He flopped back down on his sofa, sagging against the cushions and not looking at her. There were still tears in his eyes, unshed, but shimmering in the very low light of his house.
Ochako stared at him, unsure of what to do. She got a confession. She was right. But… she wasn't angry. Shocked, definitely, and confused. Maybe upset, because she wasn't sure what to do. What did her mother tell her to do when she was confused and upset?
"Break things down. Ask questions. Get a clearer picture. If that doesn't work, take some deep breaths and come back to the topic."
Taking in a deep, centering breath, she crossed over and sat down beside him. He jumped, looking over at her with a bewildered expression, as if scared she might yell at him. She didn't. "So…how old are you?"
He hesitated, before turning slightly to her, rubbing his hands over his biceps. "Um… my body's stuck at the age of twenty-four, but I'm…let's see…I was born in… so that's…" he trailed off, doing math in his head. "I'm 209 years old."
She nodded slowly. "Okay, um. Thought you were a little older than me, but not that much. Right. That's… uh, I'll process that later. Okay, um, what about your reflection? I've seen it."
He gave a half shrug. "That's fake. So is the whole 'religious stuff hurts us' thing. Honestly, I guess it's a good thing it's not all true or I'd have an even harder time hiding."
"But the rest? Sun? Garlic–"
"Yeah, the sun burns my skin really fast. I won't go up into flames unless I'm in direct sunlight for more than a few minutes. Covering clothes helps a lot. And, well, garlic just makes me feel really gross. It's not like I can't be around it. It's more like a food allergy."
"What about the… fruit thing?" Ochako asked, tilting her head.
He laughed a little, rubbing the back of his head. "Ran into a wizard a couple of decades after I got turned. I'd been living off of animal blood, but it was a rough winter. Not much going around, and I was starving. He found me bordering on delirious from hunger. I kinda remember I was drooling and trying to not give in to attacking him, and well, he said some fancy words, and there was this bright yellow light, and I found myself staring up at the sky. He said something about me never being able to drink blood again. Called it a curse and left me. But then I realized I could smell something nearby. Something really tasty. I followed the scent into a storehouse and found some dried figs. Tore into them, and suddenly everything felt so much better. Turns out, he made it so I could sustain on anything that was fruit. I can't even stomach blood anymore. Makes me sick if I try. So… I just eat lots of fruit, and I'm happier for it. I really owe that wizard, but I never did see him again."
Ochako nodded. "That's… yeah had to be a lot better to survive off of."
Izuku nodded. "Winters were still rough, at least up until food preservation became easier. I actually ended up living closer to the equator for a few decades because it was easier to get food. Plus it helped me blend in easier, since my bat form had changed."
"Yeah, uh, you really stand out," Ochako teased, and when he gave a faint smile in return, she found herself relaxing. "What about fangs?"
"Still got 'em. Just don't use 'em except to puncture really obnoxious packaging," Izuku admitted, pulling back his lip with a finger. She watched as his canines elongated, growing sharp and deadly looking.
She giggled. "You look kind of like you're in a cheap Halloween costume."
He giggled back, letting his teeth shrink. "Yeah. Feels that way. Too bad I was never much into the goth scene. I'd fit right in."
She laughed fully at that, leaning against the sofa. He looked at her, a sad smile on his face. "It's over between us, isn't it?"
She went quiet at his statement, brow furrowing. "Why do you think that?"
He lifted a brow, giving her an incredulous look. "Because I'm a vampire and you're not, and I lied to you about it, and this would be… an obviously complicated relationship."
"It was going to be anyway," she replied quietly. "But you still went with it."
He stared at her mutely, unable to argue against that. Finally, he sagged in on himself, looking down at his hands. "Yeah. I did."
"Why?"
He swallowed, working his jaw for a minute, then finally looked up at her. A single tear ran down his cheek and he gave her a wobbly smile. "Because when I'm with you, for the first time in my entire existence, I feel alive."
He held his gaze, unabashed by the tears in his eyes, or his raw, vulnerable statement. After all, everything else he had to hide had already been laid out before her. And really… honestly? She was calmer about it than she thought she would be. The initial shock was wearing off, replaced by… tranquility. Now it all made sense. And yes, it changed some things, but… it didn't change the core of who he was. Or how she felt about him.
Maybe she needed to process it all a bit more, but right now, she found it just easier to lean forward and press a soft kiss to his cool lips. He held still, unsure if he should kiss back, but after a moment, he very hesitantly returned it. When she pulled away, he was staring at her. "Um…"
"We have a lot of things to figure out," Ochako said softly, smiling at him. "But right now, I'd rather just focus on the fact that I've been dating a really cute bat stealing fruit out of my orchard who also happens to be a really cute guy who is the worst liar I've ever met. 'Bad circulation', my butt."
He pouted. "Hey! It's technically true! My blood doesn't circulate! And I mean, by definition, you could call it a sun allergy, and mmphh–!"
Any more of his technicalities were cut off when she grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him in for another kiss.
XX
A month later…
The night was too cloudy for stargazing, but that didn't stop Ochako from looking up at the sky, back against a tree and a picnic basket sitting beside her. Her legs were stretched out over the blanket she sat on, and she was wearing the dress she wore on her first date with Izuku.
They had graduated to first names in private, but it had been hilarious when he accidentally called her 'Ochako' in front of her parents. He'd almost fainted from embarrassment.
She also found out he was the one who donated the money to her family's orchard, which is why he didn't feel too bad about stealing a peach ever so often if he was flying by and hungry. Apparently he had a really high metabolism and had to eat a lot.
Speaking of flying…
She smiled as a silhouette flapped across the sky, diving down and landing on the blanket before her. Instead of shapeshifting into his human form, the fruit bat that she now knew was Izuku chittered at her, tilting his head. She smiled, reaching out with her hands and picking him up, cradling him to her chest so that she could give him head scratches. He purred, something she didn't realize bats could do until recently, and nuzzled up into her hand, a very pleased look on his muzzle.
Eventually, he tugged back to signal he wanted to be put down, so she did, and a moment later, Izuku sat beside her, dressed in his first date night outfit as well. The only difference this time was that he was wearing his oversized sun hat, but it had been altered to have sunflowers pinned to the side, at Ochako's request. He looked adorable and ridiculous all at once, and it was perfect.
He smiled, eyes bright. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Not at all," Ochako replied, snuggling up to him as he settled beside her and wrapped his arm around her. "Surprised you shapeshifted so quickly, though."
"Well… head scratches are nice," he started, tipping her chin up with a finger as he leaned in for a kiss, "but this is way better."
As his lips found hers, she had to admit she agreed.
XX
They had been cuddling quietly, her back against his chest and his arms around her waist. His chin was on her shoulder, and they both were content to watch the fireflies pop around them.
It was lovely. And yet, lingering insecurities still ate at him. Did this work for her? Was she still happy? They had talked about potential futures. She had a plan, one that admittedly impressed him. They would date like normal until she turned twenty-four. So three years. If things were still going great then, then they'd talk about … conversion.
The idea both terrified him and thrilled him. He'd turned someone once to save their life. So he knew he could do it, even if the small amount of blood drinking would make him violently ill for the following day. And… he also knew the person he turned was the same as himself. A fruit vampire. But… would Ochako want that? A life of undeath? To watch the world pass her by as she remained unchanging, with the only other constant in her life being him?
That's why she wanted the time to pass, he knew. Let their relationship grow, make sure it was something she wanted to consider. It made sense, but sometimes he still fretted over it.
"You're doing it again," she sing-songed, tilting her head to look up at him.
He gave her a sheepish look, squeezing her waist lightly. "Only a little…"
"A little is too much," she said, reaching up to pat his cheek. "We have years to figure this out. And I want you in the present, not worrying about the possible futures."
He nodded, emulating a sigh, even if no air escaped him. "Right. That's… you're right."
She sat up, twisting around his arms so she could properly look at him. His hands fell to her hips, lightly resting there as she cupped his cheek. She smiled at him, and it was so radiant that it was like the moon itself. "You said you felt alive when you're with me."
"I do," he agreed softly, voice a near whisper. "I really do."
"Then let's be alive together, Izuku."
The clouds parted, allowing the moon to shine down on them.
He was pretty sure love tasted like peach lip gloss.