Beyond (Plus Ultra)

In The Dark

Himiko frowned as she sat up in her parents' bed, she must have fallen asleep watching the movie. She stretched, looking around the room, wondering if her parents were at work already. She huffed, usually they said goodbye before they left. She got out of bed and went down the hall, she smiled when she saw her mother,

"I thought you had an eight o'clock appointment." she murmured

"My eight and nine o'clocks canceled." she murmured, sitting down at the table and looking across the way at Himiko.
"Where's dad?"

"He went for a walk." Ochaco cleared her throat and ran a hand through her hair. She was worried about her husband, but she wasn't going to talk about it with Himiko. He had been asleep in the living room when she woke up, still in his clothes from the day before. He woke up sobbing, and his arms wrapped around her tighter than they had in a long time. It had been years since he grabbed her so hard she couldn't breathe. He was having his nightmares again, and she had no idea how to handle it now that their children were old enough to see him come undone, to really understand. He had kissed her forehead five times, brushing her hair out of her face before telling her he had to go, and walking out the front door. She had called him, he seemed scattered, but not enough for her to worry he wouldn't be coming home. So she had stayed home to wait for her daughter to wake up.

"A walk?" Himiko nodded, she had an idea as to what was going on, but she knew she couldn't tell her mother what she had been doing. All she could do was quit watching that video.

"Mmhm." Ochaco hummed, "Do you want some tea? I can make you breakfast.. I don't have to be at work until 10."

"You don't have to, Mom. I can make myself breakfast."

"I am happy to."

"I can-"

"Please." Ochaco had no idea what was going on in her home, her son didn't live with her anymore, and her husband was slipping away from her, she wanted to do something to feel like a valuable member of the household

"Y-yeah.." She murmured "Uh.. anything with strawberries?"

Ochaco grinned "Okay."

"Can I come to work with you?"
"If you want." Ochaco smiled as she went to the kitchen. She was curious why her daughter wanted to come to work with her, but she was also relieved because she was slightly worried that Deku was going to come home and have an episode. She was cutting up strawberries.

"I'm making pancakes with kitty ears." She said softly, Himiko grinned and nodded

"Thank you mom." she murmured "I love you."

"I love you too." Ochaco sighed, putting a pan on the stove and humming softly, Himiko rested her head in her hands, huffing, her mother was very good at making her feel calm.

"Why did you retire from hero work?"
Ochaco looked at her daughter, frowning as she looked down at the pan.

"Is it true what they said? That dad made you?"

Ochaco sighed, shaking her head. She had put off telling her for long enough, if Himiko wanted to make an educated decision about what she wanted to do for a living she needed to tell her before she started entrance exams.

"I'll uhm tell you over breakfast." She smiled softly at her daughter, who nodded her head and sighed, taking out a book and beginning to read.

Ochaco soon set a plate of pancakes in front of her, and sat down across from her with a sigh.

"So.. uh.. Shortly before your dad and I decided to have you.. We uh.. We decided together that it would be best if I retired."

Himiko frowned "Why?"