Chapter Text
BUZZ. BUZZ.
BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ.
The relentless vibration of his phone echoed through Katsuki’s quiet office. He sighed, pushing the paperwork he’d been working on away as he reached for the phone. A glance at the caller ID had him pulling the papers back toward himself.
His mother could wait, the reports needed to be submitted as soon as possible. It wasn’t that he didn’t value their phone calls, it was just, well, there was a lot that could be said about the way they always left him feeling.
He continued, reading the documents before him, and typing away. He sighed, he needed to attend a press conference this week about the crime rate. He knew that becoming a Top 10 hero meant he’d have more work, but this was stupid. How could there be so many criminals coming out now? It had never been this bad before. Was there a new villain in town ensuring the heroes were always tired? He couldn’t fathom the idiots they kept capturing thinking up the ridiculous stunts they were pulling.
BUZZ. BUZZ.
BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ.
There it was again. He knew she would continue to call, but if he could hold out a smidge longer, he might be able to finish this report before he fell asleep.
BUZZ. BUZZ.
BUZZ.
Katsuki growled in frustration, the buzzing breaking his resolve.
Pulling the phone back toward him, he bargained with himself. Five minutes wouldn’t hurt. And it would be just five minutes.
“What do you want?”
A loud, nasally cackle met his ears. “Is that any way to talk to your mother, you ungrateful child?”
“I’m not a child,” Katsuki snarled. “And I’m working. What do you want or I’m hanging up.”
“Work, work, work,” his mother’s voice pierced through the line, anger evident in her tone. “That’s all it ever is with you Katsuki! You never have time for me or your father, or anyone else for that matter. We’re worried about you.”
“I’m a hero, it’s not just some 9-to-5 job like you and Dad have. I don’t see what is so hard for you to understand,” he shot back.
“Katsuki, we just want to hear your voice, hear what you’ve been up to. It’s been weeks.”
Yeah, on purpose, he thought to himself, rolling his eyes.
“Because I’m busy doing my job! It’s not just some part-time gig where I can move the hours around. I need to be ready 24 hours, 7 days a week. And no, I’m not just at the office every day, I do go out on days off.”
“And what about us? Your father and I miss you. If you have so many days off, why haven’t you visited? Do you not love us anymore?”
He knew she was trying to get under his skin. Guilt him into visiting. He didn’t want to though. He never wanted to if he could help it. Holidays only. Katsuki slammed his free hand on the table. “I don’t have the time! I’m trying to make a difference and protect people in this messed up world. Sorry if my wanting to be alone and peaceful on my days off bothers you.”
The line went silent for a moment before his mother took a deep breath.
“Making a difference, Katsuki, shouldn’t mean losing touch with the people you love, with your family,” she said, pausing before she continued. “You were always so focused on being the best hero, but what about being a good son, or a good friend? Have you spoken to Eijirou recently? Because I am doubting it.”
“I have my dream job, and if that isn’t enough for you or you aren’t happy for me, then tough luck. I see my friends at work every day, because we’re doing what we want to do with our lives. It’s not always about you, and I don’t need you to call me and tell me I’m not good enough.”
Silence greeted him, tension hanging in the air as he panted in frustration. Maybe anger? He wasn’t certain what he was feeling.
“We just want you to be happy Katsuki, and I’m not sure that you are.”
The call ended, and confusion overtook him. He slammed his phone down, a mix of anger, guilt, frustration, and something he couldn’t identify settling on his shoulders. The paperwork, once his priority, now lay forgotten across his desk, his laptop screen darkening from disuse. He heaved a sigh, standing up. Maybe a walk would help to clear his head so he could submit this report before his morning patrol.
Stomping his way to the elevator, Katsuki crossed his arms and huffed. The weight of familial expectations and the demands of being a hero couldn’t be affecting him too much, right?
Katsuki exited the building into the cold night air, letting the breeze blow through him. The city’s lights twinkled above, a beautiful sea of sparkles that didn’t reflect how heavy he felt with every step. The weight of their argument, and the accusations his mother had thrown at him, bounced around in his mind.
Sure, it had been a while since he’d visited his parents, but what had they ever done for him to want to visit? Moving out had given him freedom, and if he was honest, he was far more relaxed and calmer than he’d been when he lived with them. Less arguments, to say the least, though, he supposed, now their arguments left him feeling worse and worse.
Why couldn’t his parents understand that this was his job? He had trained his whole life for this. It was all he had ever wanted. Couldn’t they just be happy for him?
The cool breeze whispered through the alleys and the sounds of the city became a constant hum. His shoes stomping on the ground fell into a rhythm, but the emotions he felt refused to dissipate.
Sure, the hag was right. He rarely saw anyone outside of work, even his friends. They invited him, but they never seemed surprised anymore when he turned them down, heck, they’d even stopped pressing him on it. Sometimes they’d say ‘Well, you know where we’ll be if you change your mind’, other times ‘Maybe next time then?’. That didn’t mean he was unhappy though.
Katsuki rounded a corner, his features softening as his footsteps became gentler on the pavement, slowing to almost a stop. Perhaps his parents had a point. He could probably spend more time socialising with his friends, they had stuck around all these years after all. Next time they asked him, he’d go out, he decided.
“Didn’t take you for a late night walking type of person, Blasty,” a deep voice sounded from the next alley.
Katsuki jumped in surprise, his hands popping in warning as he rounded on the person.
“Shinsou,” he growled, peaceful demeanour once again disappearing. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Purple hair, dark circles, and the kind of casual confidence one can only perfect with years of practice. Shinsou stared down at Katsuki with an arched eyebrow.
“I’m doing my job, and I know that you are not. Are you lost?” Shinsou said, a smirk rising on his face.
Katsuki scowled but said nothing, trying to relax again.
“Bad day, huh?” Shinsou said, his gaze softening as Katsuki started walking again.
He grunted in response, not in the mood to speak with the taller man. He’d never spoken to him before outside of missions, he wasn’t about to start now, no matter how hard Sparky had tried to make them become friends. Shinsou didn’t seem to get the memo though.
“Come on Bakugou, what’s got you in such a mood? Someone make your lunch wrong today?”
Katsuki still didn’t respond. He was ready to retreat into the depths of his mind, maybe send a message to Eijirou. His best friend would probably make him feel better. Somehow. He was broken out of his thoughts by a cough.
“Alright, I get it. You’re not in the mood for jokes,” Shinsou said, playing with the edge of his capture scarf.
Katsuki frowned at the movement. Was Shinsou…Nervous?
The silence lingered for a moment more before the taller man continued. “Look, I know we’ve never really talked, or been friends, but if you need someone who’ll listen, I’m around. Like, all the time. I don’t sleep much.”
The blond frowned. Surely Shinsou wasn’t so daft to expect him to talk about his feelings or whatever. He’d only ever done that a handful of times, and the only person present had been Eijirou. He wasn’t about to just start talking to someone he barely knew.
Shinsou must’ve recognised the fact, but continued, pulling out a piece of paper and offering it to him. “In case of emergency, or if you just want to see photos of cats. I only have one but Dad has three so I can find variety.”
Without waiting for a response, Shinsou resumed walking, leaving Katsuki standing in the middle of the pavement. A mix of surprise and contemplation etched across his face as he stared down at the numbers on the piece of paper he now held.
He definitely didn’t need this number and he definitely wasn’t going to save it when he got back to the office.