[CLOSED] - Spoonful of Sugar

[floatsaway]

⌛ Who: Uraraka Ochako and Bakugou Katsuki
⌛ What: Celebrating Bakugou's birthday!!
⌛ When: 4/20 blaze it
⌛ Where: Their apartment in Nihonbashi
⌛ Warnings: None, probably.

[It's been a long time coming, and Ochako had sort of...begun planning for this day a long time ago. Perhaps he'd have noticed, perhaps not, but Ochako had been doing more and more little odd jobs around Nippon to store up a bit of money here and there, and also using some of the funds Bakugou got for them to use this month. She...didn't like having to dip into it, considering what Ochako planned to use the money for - still feeling like she should earn it herself - but it did help a bit...

Regardless, it was when the young girl was completely and totally sure that her blond friend was well and truly out for the day that she began to get to work. It was luck happenstance that his birthday fell on a day where it was her turn to do the chores, so it was a good excuse to stay indoors. Perfect, she thought, because Ochako had a lot of prepping to do...and a ton of cooking, too. Starting early, and waking up early, she gathered up just the right ingredients at an early grocer's place and set to work making a cake. Thankfully a rather decent cook, and a skilled baker, a cake is not an issue for the girl at all, and she has one made in no time. It's a popular Japanese strawberry shortcake and while Ochako is fearful it might be too sweet for Bakugou's tastes...she hopes the meal she's prepared for him will cater more to his preference of spicy food. Plus, she got some nice, black tea to go with dessert...something to brew up later in the day when they're ready to eat.

When the cake is done, and sitting in the fridge to remain cool and fresh for after dinner tonight, Ochako does her chores - cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping (she already did that in the morning), and just general upkeep of their space. Plus, she does some decorating with a few balloons and streamers, and preps Bakugou's present nicely in a cute giftbag with a nice card as well. Nothing overly lavish of fancy - just a simple and quiet thing between the two of them, but Ochako still wants it to be nice. Considering she's the only one here who would even know his birthday...she'd like to give it her very best. Bakugou deserves that much, he really does.

Plus, she...she wants to see him smile again. Really smile. It was...

Ahem! Once all that is done, the girl checks the time and is pleased to see that it's still not too late in the day. She can take a nice bath, maybe even a quick nap in the sun, as it shines through their living area from the balcony where the laundry is hanging... Hopefully Bakugou is out for most of the day, because as Ochako lays on the floor with a pillow under her head, she begins to easily doze off in the sun, almost like a cat...only to wake up closer to mid afternoon and fling herself back into the kitchen to hurriedly make dinner, cursing mentally to herself for letting the warm, cozy rays of the spring sun get the better of her. She's praying, truly and dutifully praying her friend doesn't get back before she's done...because Ochako really, really wanted to have everything plated and looking nice before he arrives, but...well.

Catnap got the better of her. :|]

Cook fasterrr...!

Comments

[detonating]

[Part of the reason Katsuki had thrown on his hero costume and went out for a long day of patrol was absolutely birthday avoidance. He had no idea if she remembered what day it was or not, but it wasn't like there was any way to fucking figure it out without giving it away and reminding her ass about it. He honestly would be happy with no one knowing what day it was.

He hated his birthday. He hated all birthdays. Having to deal with all of those people, their cheery, fake ass smiles and shallow gestures... generally followed by ridiculous fucking screeching and more often than not, a slap to the back of his head by his hag mother for not thanking them for some shit he didn't even want! And in the case of classmates and their more weighted birthday wishes and gift giving? It was just awkward. Having to decide if he was going to be his usual self and act like he didn't give a flying fuck, or if he was going to actually have to try to force some of his gratitude through the impenetrable wall he uses to keep crap like that to himself? It sucked. It was just so much easier to try to keep the day of his birth a secret and endure the little bit that his parents always forced him into.

Coming from Ochako, now especially, it wouldn't be any of those things and he knew it. It wouldn't be a sense of obligation, or fake, or anything of the sort. And that almost made it worse, in a way? It made all of the drastic changes to their friendship over the last few months all the more real. Real wasn't necessarily helpful, when it came to the fact that Katsuki was trying to avoid The Other feelings he had for Ochako like the fucking plague.

Dammit. That answers that. Coming into the apartment, he can immediately pick up on the lingering scent of baked goods, mixed with the start of what she's working on now. He sighs as he works the grenadier bracers off of his arms to set them on the floor for now, then leans down to unlace his boots and get them off. Once finished, while noting the streamers and balloons that just confirm it, he makes his way towards the kitchen, peeling his mask up on his forehead just enough that his eyes are uncovered and leans against the nearest wall with folded arms as his gaze lands on her.]

Guess that means you remembered. [Most people don't sound annoyed or disappointed at that, but here he is. Sounding mildly disturbed by the fact that his best friend didn't forget, like the jackass he is. Ochako, why would you do something nice like this for this complete fucking goblin? Seriously.]

[floatsaway]

[The voice behind Ochako startles her a bit, she was so invested in trying to get the food prep done that she, stupidly, let a bit of her guard down. Not like she had anything to really fear, but it's still not a good thing to do in their profession. Turning around, her default expression is to happily greet him, and welcome him back home with a huge and genuine smile. She always does; it's just the sort of person Ochako is - always happy to see her friend return home, or see him when she comes back from her own outings. They've gotten close to the point where she honestly looks forward to seeing him every day.

Though, seeing his sour expression, and the tone of his voice, her smile drops a little bit into a more nervous and awkward chuckle.]

Ah...w-welcome home, Bakugou-kun. I thought you'd be out later...ehehe. [Setting the heat down on the stovetop, so what she's making doesn't burn, but still stays warm, she goes over toward him, taking in his appearance slowly. Ochako's never bothered to really look before, but...man, she really did miss seeing Bakugou in his costume. And his winter outfit (though probably starting to get uncomfortable now that the warmer months were drawing in) really just fit him, oddly enough. There was something to it that just...made him look cooler. Th-Though with his mask pushing back his hair like that, revealing his forehead, it's just--...ahem.] Mmh...I'm sorry if you didn't want anything like this, b-but I figured it'd be nice to celebrate together, and I really wanted to do something nice for you, s-so...

Happy birthday, Bakugou-kun!! I'm really glad you're here. [She takes his gloved hands in her own and gives them a squeeze, that kindly smile returning to her face before she lets go and putters back over to the stovetop.] It shouldn't take me long to finish up dinner!! So if you want to change, or take a quick bath, you can do that...I'll set up everything for you, don't worry.

[detonating]

[Ugh. Gross. That smile is not cute, or endearing, or any of that shit and it definitely doesn't make him feel ANY kind of way. Not at all. Not one bit. That's why that frown only seems to sharpen. Because nothing is happening here that isn't normal. And he especially doesn't feel bad about the way her general body language seems to go from that warm welcome to nervous when she lays eyes on him. Not one shred of remorse.

That's what he tries to tell himself anyway, as Ochako approaches him and explains herself. Katsuki begrudgingly allows her take his hands into hers despite the fact that he looks like... he would rather be anywhere else, as she wishes him a happy birthday. Says that she's glad he's here. Allows it to happen because... they're a far cry from where they started, when they first arrived, and while he's uncomfortable as FUCK, he can't stomach the idea of flat out turning Ochako and her efforts down? Not after everything. Not with how that dumb ass happy look on her face makes him feel... or doesn't... whatever.

Dammit.]

Someone making me celebrate my birthday is kinda like dying... I can try to avoid it all I want, but it in the end it's inevitable.

[Jackass... and he knows it. Crimson eyes watch her as she returns to the stove and Katsuki pushes off of the wall, turning to get ready to retire to the bath that yeah, he definitely is going be taking while she finishes up. It was just a little too nice outside and he could use it. He glances over his shoulder though, and after a brief moment of silence, offers something a little less negative... in honor of his mom, who would be slapping the ever living fuck out of him for the shit that just came out of his mouth.

Another reason why he'd hoped Ochako would forget, honestly. Today just brings the fact that he does miss his parents, a hell of a lot more than he lets on, to the forefront. That pathetic homesick feeling is the last thing he wants to be trying to stomach today. Or any day, really. It's easier to just... compartmentalize that shit, seeing as there is absolutely fucking nothing they can do about it.] I'm not ungrateful, y'know. Sappy shit like this just makes me fuckin' itch.

[She knows him well enough to know that that's his backwards way of admitting that he just isn't good with sentimental things of this nature.] I'll be out in a bit.

[And with that, he's off to gather up his grenadier bracers, to put them away in the spare room, and go run his bath.]

[floatsaway]

[There's a...bit of sudden silence at that grim little response, and Ochako visibly tenses, lips pursed together as the sound of sizzling meat and bubbling oil fills the now rather awkward air about them. Hearing him talk about dying on the day of his birth is...very, very uncomfortable, and Ochako's not really sure what the hell to say to it. She's starting to doubt if going to all this trouble was even a good idea, but she really did mean all of what she said before. She is glad he's here. Extremely so. If he wasn't, there's no way that Ochako would have made it this far, mentally and emotionally, without breaking down at some point. She is so, so grateful to have him be such a valuable part of her life right now, and wanted to give back even a little bit of that gratitude in the form of something nice for him.

Her way of saying 'thank you' for being there for her. Besides, she just...wanted to. Deep down, she just wanted to do something nice for him, and spend a bit of time with him, celebrating him. It's what she was used to with all her other friends, even in middle school, but he's...not like that at all, huh?

But then he explains himself, and Ochako lifts her head a little, looking back over her shoulder with quiet surprise, before another smile spreads on her face, warmer and softer than the last. That sort of honesty is...unexpected, but appreciated. Something she'll make a note of - the little things about him she has yet to learn. Things he doesn't really admit to people. It makes her feel...happy? Ochako turns back to the stove again, and the tension is gone from her shoulders, replaced with a floaty sort of feeling instead.]

...If it's easier for you, Bakugou-kun, I can leave you a piece of cake, and your present, in your room for later...while you take a bath. We can just have dinner together, and I'll take everything down after. I really don't mind. [And she actually means it. If it makes him more comfortable, Bakugou can just be by himself after dinner, it's totally fine. This is for him, after all, not her.]

[detonating]

[Katsuki stops after taking just one step, frowning hard at the offer Ochako presents to him. She doesn't mean for him to take it that way, but hearing the words 'If it's easier for you, Bakugou-kun' makes him immediately want to default to the habit he'd picked up with his curse, of grinding his teeth together in order to curb the negative emotions that threaten to overtake him. And he does, jaw tightening to keep himself quiet for a moment... because it's not her. It's him. It's the way being offered an easy way out in general makes him feel- pissed and insulted- and he fucking knows that's not what she means by it. It's just another case of having something so ingrained in him that his knee jerk reaction is to lash out.

And he won't do it. Not today. Not when Ochako has gone out of her way for him... to make him cake, to decorate and get him a present, like any normal fucking person would for their friend on their damn birthday??]

No. Don't change anything about your plans. [Katsuki cranes his head to look over his shoulder at her, noting the way that the tension she'd held moments before has gone away. He can't see the smile, but he can see that at least, and it makes it a little bit more comfortable to say the next part.] People who take the easy way out are cowards. There's no room for growth on that path.

[And he hasn't forgotten how he felt that night that they'd had their meltdown, and what he'd vowed to himself. To do good by her, to be better to and for her. Ochako lets so much of his baggage and bullshit just roll right off of her shoulders, just sticks by him no matter what the fuck he throws her way... just like she promised. It's his turn, to keep his word.

He doesn't say anything further. Now he's off, gathering up his stuff so he can go get that bath running.]

[floatsaway]

[Ochako doesn't realize the error she made in how she presented her statement. She really did just want to do right by him, and make him comfortable in his own space. This really was all meant for him, after all, and though Ochako would love to spend time with her friend on his birthday...she respects him enough to know when he needs his space, and his time alone. Smothering him will only make him uncomfortable, Ochako gets it. But she'll need to change how she speaks, too, because she still hasn't realized how Bakugou bristled just now, either. Perhaps she would have if her attention wasn't divided on making dinner, but...she needs to learn how to better understand him, too. It's about learning his limits, his likes and dislikes, and peeling back the hundreds upon thousands of layers that make up one Bakugou Katsuki.

And, to be honest, Ochako would gladly take up that challenge. She...really does care about her friend quite a bit. He deserves to smile more, laugh more...like he did when he wasn't so high strung. It's a little embarrassing to admit, but when Bakugou was, uh...well. High. W-When Bakugou was high as a fucking kite, it was kind of nice. He was still himself, obviously, but so much more...relaxed. His smile was beautiful--

Ah.]

R-Right!! Sure! Put...P-Put out your costume, and I-I can wash it, tomorrow, too!!

[Her voice squeaks a bit as her cheeks redden from the intrusive thought just a second ago, but Ochako busies herself with assembling their food. She decided to make a simple and rather easy tantanmen ramen today, and separated the pork a little. one portion was spicier for Bakugou, the other was a little more mild for herself. Plus, she had two different chili oils purchased as well. Honestly, Ochako doesn't know how he can stand it - just taking a whiff of the hotter spice made her nose burn to the point of sneezing like a madwoman.

After assembling the bowls, and making them look nice with all the proper toppings, she sets the table and puts out their chopstick and spoons, various sauces, some steamed rice she made as well in smaller bowls, and mugs for tea. It's actually a really nice set up, despite the recipe not taking long as all for Ochako to make. It's not the traditional way of making it, but...she doesn't exactly have literal hours to make the broth. It'll still taste good, of course, and Ochako only hopes the spice levels are to Bakugou's liking.

She'll actually be pouring herself some tea right as he gets out of the shower, probably, with the various pots and pans soaking in some hot, sudsy water for later cleaning.]