Chapter 1: Townie
Chapter Text
Katsuki Bakugou is a Pro-hero.
His face is on every catalogue, billboard and on-screen ad you can think of. Hitting the top 10 of the ranks comes with the additional perk of seeing your own face whenever you're out getting grocery or stopping by 7/11 for gas.
“Hey Bakubro! Me and Denki saw you when we were out shopping, there was a whole magazine rack dedicated to just your mug.”
“An ugly mug might I add!”
“Can it Pikachu, or I’ll show you what a real a fucking ugly mug looks like!”
Katsuki Bakugou is a Pro-Hero
Katsuki’s idiots, coworkers always crowd around his office early in the morning. Usually to drop off papers and shoot the shit until it’s time to roll out for patrol. Up until patrol however, Katsuki handles the finances, payrolls, schedules and insane and ridiculous request and no Denki I am not putting a fucking ball pit and fondue fountain in the goddamn agency.
“But it’s for morale!”
“Find some damn morale in your field work. You’re a pro-hero for god sakes, and this ain’t a fucking Chuck-E-cheese.”
Katsuki Bakugou is a Pro-Hero
His body is built to perfection. State of the art Gym equipment is just a baseline requirement for Heroes of his agency’s caliber. He’s shelled out an insane amount of fucking money on nutritionist each for his heroes, included with personalized meal plans and workout routines, and doctors with years of experience to ensure all of his heroes are in top shape. If you’re gonna work for the Dynamight agency, that comes with fucking standards damnit. A fucking mint won’t even make its way to someone’s mouth without the agency’s health team knowing.
Katsuki Bakugou is a Pro-Hero
His status has granted him quintessential creative-mode level powers on a societal level. He can walk into anywhere and demand anything for free of charge and he’ll get it. He’s allowed to essentially destroy any property as long as the villain is captured, he gets to cut to the front of the line at the DMV, and gets his coffee served first during a rush.
Despite these perks, and the seemingly dazzling lights of heroism, and the constant highs his position of power currently offers. He is secretly unsatisfied. You, see there is just one thing.
One teensy, weensy little thing.
Bakugou Katsuki is gay.
Faggot is too harsh of a word, and queer feels way too accepting for Katsuki’s current relationship with his sexuality. When did he discover this? There was no set timeline, honestly. Could have been at age 13, when he began to get really focused on the ripped pecs of the golden-age Allmight poster in his childhood bedroom. It could have been at 16, when he started watching his dads collection of Pre-quirk American movies on DVD, and got really obsessed with re-watching Broke-back Mountain to the point he scratched the disk. And then promptly exploded the evidence to ensure that no one would ever question why the disk was so used in the first place. Or was it when at 18, he was clicking around on…certain websites and accidentally discovered his very particular taste. He’s ashamed to admit how excited he was when the very cisgender-looking girl in the video lifted up her dress to reveal a hard, dangling dick in place of what he assumed was going to be female genitalia.
There was no big moment. He never came out the closet, rainbow balloons in hand, glitter coming out of his ass as he strutted, owning his newfound sexuality.
Instead he did what any other male would do when they want to be successful in a hypermasculine and physically demanding career:They internalize those experiences, bury them deep, deep within the crevices of their mind and never talk about it again.
While all his other peers began to experiment with romance, he perfected his quirk usage. Exercising day in and day out. Going to bed at 8, and waking up at 6. Katsuki knows the road to being a pro-hero isn’t paved with gold. And he’ll do whatever it fucking takes to get to the top.
“Hey Katsuki, are you alright?”
The blonde hero zones back in, looking up at his best friend and coworker Red Riot, they're going over this week's schedule.
“Yeah I’m good, fucking peachy.”
“Great then! So you approve these changes then for Patrol schedules and days off?”
Katsuki rolls his eyes. “Yes shitty hair it’s the exact same fucking schedule I approve every week. Why are you acting like I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing?” Bakugou grabs his stamp and presses down harshly on the paper, unbeknownst to the devilish smile Red Riot has across his face.
“Here” he hands the form over. “Take this shit, photocopy it and send it out. And make sure you staple one to Denki’s forehead, I’m tired of him asking me what days he’s working all the fucking time.”
“Aye Aye captain” Kirishima salutes. “I’ll make the copies as soon as you leave”
“Okay sounds go-“ Katsuki stops and slowly turns to the other pro-hero. “What the fuck do you mean leave!?” He says through gritted teeth.
“Today is your first day off in years Mr. Boss Dynamight” the redhead replies smugly “You approved it”
“Fucking When!?”
“Right now when you stamped this paper”
Katsuki gets up and snatches the form out of Kirishima’s hands. Right there under his name is a blank slot for Tuesday which, lo and behold happens to be today. It’s a stark contrast to all the other slots sporting his upcoming long and grueling hours.
“I should take this paper and shove it down your fucking throat. Why the fuck would you do that?”
“Because Bakubro, you never take a break like ever.”
“Never taking a break is the reason why you’re even able to work at this fucking agency.”
“Exactly! Dude I don’t think I’ve ever seen you truly relax ever, in like all the years I know you. We’re at the top right now and you're still as high strung as ever, I’m worried about you.”
Bakugou gets extra defensive “I don’t need you to worry fucking about me-“
“Don’t say that, not after everything we’ve been through together.” Kirishima’s tone gets uncharacteristically serious, and it causes Bakugou to get his head out of his ass for a second and listen. “Get out of here, take the day off. Go frolic in the flowers, take a long drive, something. Just go touch grass and get out of this office.” Kirishima holds up Katsuki’s satchel for him to take. The blonde hero aggressively pulls on his coat and snatches the bag out of his hands. Displeasure written across his face.
“Fine you fucking idiot, but don’t do that shit again. I didn’t put you in charge of scheduling so you can fuck around with it.”
“Um, that’s exactly why you put me in charge of the schedule.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Kirishima’s lips press shut as Katsuki basically slams his chair into the desk. “We’re talking about this when I get back. I’ll be so well rested so get ready for me to kick your ass”
“Yeah yeah” Kirishima just blows him off, completely used to his friends' violent threats “Go blow off some steam blasty, the office won’t burn down because you're gone for a day.”
“Knowing you idiots, that’s exactly what’s gonna fucking happen.”
Katsuki shoots one last middle finger at Kirishima and leaves his office. The elevator ride down feels strange and unnatural. Like he’s cheating by leaving in the middle of the day. The walk to the car is even worse. It’s been sitting in the parking lot for about 2 days, his shifts lasting so long that he’s been utilizing the overnight dorms in the agency. Coming from patrol at 3 and 4 am, and waking up at 6 to do it all over again.
“Fucking stupid overly concerned dipshit” Katsuki grumbles as he shoves the key into the ignition. And turns to drive out of the parking lot.
He refuses to admit that he feels a subtle inclination of relief, his knuckle-white grip on the steering wheel loosening by the minute.
He did try to relax.
Really, for real, okay. He fucking tried.
At first he tried baking and cooking, but he found himself more concerned with following the steps of his dishes exactly instead of letting loose and going with the flow.
He then tried to just sit on the couch for 5 minutes to not think about fucking anything. But it’s so hard to not think about anything at all because what if Denki forgets his fucking schedule and Mina needs someone to sign paperwork and he needs to put in a order for a new workbench-
Okay so yeah, he can’t just sit and not think about fucking nothing. That’s a power only idiots and extras with nothing better to do in their life and no higher thought process possess.
He was forced out of the office at 8am. It’s 4:37pm and the sun has yet to go down. He’s got about 12 more hours left of this forced shitty day off. Kirishima must have thought ahead because when went to login on his work laptop, the password had been changed, successfully preventing him from doing any work for home. Katsuki resist the urge to destroy the fucking laptop.
Right now he’s jealous of people who constantly drink and smoke, they always have something to do, even when they have nothing to do.
The only thing he hasn’t done is take himself for a walk.
Its laughable. A walk. Like he’s a fucking dog or something.
But the TV isn’t interesting to him. And just like every other late 20-something, the last thing he wants to do is be alone with his thoughts.
He slides on his heavy jacket and shitty red baseball cap, finding that less is more when he wants to conceal his appearance and not be recognized.
Katsuki walks.
He walks and attempts to take in sights. Key word: attempt. He forgot to bring his headphones, but it’s not like he’s a big music listener to begin with. He thanks god that at least no one has recognized him. He never did too well with interacting with fans, and he sure as shit doesn’t wanna see any right now.
The snow crunches under his feet. Winter has become brutal this past few weeks, November is starting to feel like late January, and he wished he had bought a sweater. His quirk gives him slight solace as it naturally keeps his hand warm.
This is fucking pathetic. I’m just wandering around aimlessly like some loser. I’m going fucking home.
Katsuki begins to turn back on his feet when hears it.
He follows the sound of laughter and people chattering. He goes down a long steep stairwell, crushed between stacked buildings and signs on either side. When he gets to the bottom he can hear the sound closer. Tucked deep in an alleyway he sees people going inside and milling about. The neon sign sticks out of the alley. One for All is written in bright red and buzzing letters.
It seems real fucking lively for a Tuesday evening, but Bakugou once again stops himself.
Really Katsuki, drinking by yourself on a Tuesday night? You’re off one day and you turn into a hopeless salaryman lamenting his fucking woes.
You said it yourself, drinking and smoking is for those who have nothing better to do? Do you have shit going on right now?
Katsuki shakes off his thoughts and heads inside.
It’s a stereotypical dive bar. There’s fairy lights strung about, and boxes and tacky decor everywhere. Katsuki takes a seat, and grimaces when his hand brushes against something sticky.
Jesus fucking Christ.
Katsuki is too proud to admit he feels out of his element. This bar is completely different from the swanky rooftops clubs and private venues Pro-heroes frequent.
He makes eye contact with the bartender, it’s a tall man with tired eyes and brown hair, he’s wiping a cup clean, with a cloth that’s definitely seen better days.
“Hey ‘scuse me!” He calls out. The man barely acknowledges him, wordlessly looking up from his cleaning. “What do you have on tap?”
“Whatever the fuck we give you” he deadpans.
The Hero is taken about because what the fuck is this guys problem? “Hey fucktard” Katsuki growls “Watch your fucking mouth. Do you know who the fuck you’re talking to?”
“No I don’t know, and I don’t fucking care. Do you want a beer or not?” Katsuki growls out a “yes” unhappy with the fact that his attempt at throwing his pro-hero weight around was entirely unsuccessful. A beer slides into his view and he catches it before it slides off the bar to the ground.
“Are you gonna start a tab?”
Katsuki pauses mid sip, confused “What, it's not on the house?”
The bartender regards him incredulously, letting out a mocking laugh “What are you, a fucking chick? Big, manly, gaping assholes like you don’t get a free pass. Pay up or get the fuck out.”
Katsuki roughly pulls out his credit card, slamming his Amex down on the counter. “Here you piece of shit extra, and you better not overcharge me or I’ll have this place fucking shut down.”
The bartender snatches the card, clearly disgusted by Katsuki’s overall presence, but the pro-hero himself couldn’t give a damn. He gulps down the bottle, slamming the beer on the table. The bartender snatches it, and for a second Katsuki’s worried that the guys gonna break it over his fucking head. He certainly seems like the type.
Another beer bottle is put down in its place, and Katsuki immediately grabs the neck and takes a sip. He sits there people-watching, and at least attempting to enjoy his evening.
He scans the room as slowly takes a sip of the cheap IPA he’s been nursing. His body is warm and he can feel himself slowly cross over from tipsy to drunk. There’s people sitting at tables and milling about, the voices of the bar coming together in one comfortable hum. There’s a group of men all surrounded by the pool table, more focused on catching up and leaning against their cues instead of the actual game. Everyone here seems so casual, so comfortable.
So unlike how Katsuki’s been feeling these last couple hours.
His head turns towards the stage at the front of the venue and he notices two people have come and began setting up on the stage. A young, scrappy looking girl in a highschool uniform and pigtails tunes her guitar. The amps frequency covers the sound of her bantering with a tall, pierced, and frankly fucking freaking looking fellow.
He takes his place behind the drum kit, as the girl grabs the mic addressing the crowd.
“Hey guys!” She says and no one pays her any attention, still counting to talk amongst herself. She doesn’t seem deterred by this in the slightest, and instead clears her throat and grabs the mic once more.
…..
“HEY GUYS” That certainly gets everyone's attention. “I’m Little Miss Toga, but my regulars already know who I am” whoops, cheers and whistles sound throughout the room. “But for those noobs in the crowd, We’re The League of Villains, and we have a fucking bitchin’ lineup for you guys tonight!”
Great a shitty fucking cover band, to top off this awful night. The pro hero rolls his eyes. It seems the bartender is good for something, because a fresh beer is already being placed down, ready for when finishes his current one. Katsuki is well prepared to tune out whatever b-rate bullshit song they were about to play.
“Before we get started we’re missing our star of the show! Everyone give it up for the biggest dork on this side of Japan, Mutafusu’s own: DEKUUU!!”
The cheers got way louder and Bakugou turns his head, expecting some other punk-rock freak to come from behind the curtain.
Instead a blur of green stumbled on stage, tripping over a power cord before barely finding his balance, truly earning himself the “dork title”. The crowd was greeted by a baby-face splattered with freckles and a nervous smile.
Cute. Katsuki’ instantly thinks. He pulls his cap down further to hide his staring. Really fucking cute. Just my type actually.
The kid’s hand shook as he grabbed the mic, feedback echoing on the stage “Thank you ..toga for that…lovely introduction.” The cute Kid- Deku straightens himself up a bit more. “In case you're new here, I’m Deku and The League of Villains can’t wait to play for you guys tonight!” The crowd seems to go nuts over his slightly awkward and can-do attitude. Katsuki is more focused on the way his green curls bounce with each step.
Izuku throws an electric guitar across his body, it's worn down and covered in stickers, he strums the few first chords of the song, the notes hypnotizing the crowd
The drums in the background pick up tempo and the green haired boy grabs the mic.
“There’s a party and we’re all going
And we’re all growing up”
“Damn” Katsuki says to himself, finishing his bottle and starting the fresh one. At least the kids got a good voice.
“Somebody’s driving and he will be drinking
And no-oh-one’s going back”
“Cause we’ve tried hungry and we’ve tried full”
“And no-thing seems enough”
Deku’s voice rises and cracks, adding the sultry undertone of the song, and Katsuki can say he’s never seen someone outside of the Pro-hero world be so in their element. It’s like when the nerd got on stage he transformed into a completely different fucking person.
“So tonight tonight”
“The boys are gonna go for”
More, more, more”
The crowd is eating it up, and apparently so is Katsuki. The blonde hero slightly sways as watches with rapt attention.
“I want a love that falls as fast as a body from the balcony”
“And, I wanna kiss as my heart is hitting the ground”
“I’m holding my breath with a baseball bat,”
“But I don’t know what I’m waiting for”
Deku’s green curls bounce as he bobs his head while singing, his grip on the mic tightening with each verse, and begans strumming his guitar with one fucking hand. Katsuki’s got all fucking senses focused on this kid. He’s seen countless performers over his career: Singers, dancers, entertainers at countless galas, you fucking name it. But none of them have grabbed Bakugou’s attention in this way.
“I’m not gonna be where my daddy wants me to be”
“Fuck” Katsuki swears under his breathe, shifting in his seat, he ignores how suddenly tight his pants feel near his crotch.
“Smell that it’s wet grass and smoke in my hair”
“I think I’ve had enough”
“But he wants a finale and I came prepared”
“And we’re not going back”
“And I’ve tried sharing, and I’ve tried caring,
And I’ve tried putting out”
“But the boys, boys, boys”
“Keep coming on for more, more, more”
Deku runs his hands through his green hair, and all down his body, movements earning whistles and woos from the crowd. Katsuki is fucking amazed at how this coy and teasing persona has essentially taken over him during the perfomace.
“And change, change, change
“Is gonna come but when, when,when”
“And I want a love that falls as fast as a body from the balcony”
“And I wanna kiss as my heart is chasing it down”
“I’m holding my breath with a baseball bat
but I don’t know what im waiting for”
“I’m not gonna be where my daddy wants me to be”
Deku shreds on the guitar guitar, the guy on the drums is going nuts and the girl keeps in beat with her own guitar, her back leaning against Deku’s as they play in tandem.
“Im not gonna be where my daddy wants me to be”
“I’m not gonna be where my daddy wants me to be”
The spotlight shines on him, and Deku looks up through his long wispy lashes, and Katsuki swears those round Viridian fuck-me eyes bore directly into his soul.
“I wanna be what my body wants me to be”
The League of Villains finishes up the last few notes of the song and the crowd instantly goes wild, applauses and cheers coming from each and every space of the bar. Deku takes hands with his female band member and they bow. The green haired singer has a bead of sweat dripping down his brow from performing.
Katsuki almost punches himself in the fucking chest because he wants to lick it off.
“Thanks for coming out tonight guys! Where gonna take a short break and come back to you! In the meantime, get drunk, piss away your money, and make out with a stranger! BRB”
Katsuki watches as Deku leaves the stage, walking towards the entrance of the bar. He watches him leave hungrily, his oversized jacket sporting several patches, and pins most of which look handmade.
Katsuki gets up to follow him out and the slightly sober part of him stops himself in his own tracks. Katsuki, you are a 27 year old pro hero. Do not go follow that (very fucking hot) guy outside. People will recognize you dipshit.
But so far no one has. Within the walls of this bar, no one has even suspected him to be anything more than an average patron. He certainly has been treated like one since he first walked in. He doesn’t know if he finds it refreshing or a major blow to his ego.
Okay so no one recognizes you. Whoopty- fucking -do. That doesn’t give you the excuse to go skirt-chase after some twink.
Yeah, Bakugou, good job Bakugou, have some self control.
He turns his head toward the stage and sees Deku’s guitar leaning against an amp. He thinks back to the performance, his voice, his lips, the way his hips swung to the tempo-
Fuck my self-control. This is my day off and my night to do what I want. I’m Bakugou-Fucking-Katsuki, fuck everyone else. The pro-hero finishes a random leftover shot near him for some liquid courage(not that he needs it), wipes his lips and struts out the door.
He steps out into the night air, his boots crunch under the snow and leaves, puffs of air coming out from each breath.
Deku, in all his glory is smoking under an awning, the night sky’s blueish tint reflects on him, painting him in an almost ethereal light. He’s wearing denim shorts with striped green tights layered underneath and a worn out t-shirt that funny enough has the phrase: T-shirt written on it. His earmuffs are yellow with golden spikes reminiscent of Allmight’s blonde spiked hair. Though he can barely make out the earmuffs, his wild curly green hair almost covering them entirely.
Katsuki’s getting a sense this kid likes heroes and that’s good he can really work with that.
Katsuki walks right up to him, prepared to say something suave, sexy maybe a “hey what’s up?” Or “Are you busy later-“
“Why the fuck are you smoking”
The pro hero’s brain died on arrival. Yeah that was really fucking smooth Katsuki.
Deku raises an eyebrow. Taking a drag from his cigarette. Katsuki can map out Andromeda with his freckles.
“Why are you asking?”
“Aren’t you a performer or some shit? I thought you were supposed to care about your voice”
Deku flashes a mischievous smile as he flicks the ash “I’m not exactly singing at an opera house am I?”
“Please like they’ll ever let your scrappy ass perform there” Katsuki you drunk idiot what are you doING-
The green-haired performer lets out a small laugh. Good, Katsuki thinks, my automatic dickishness didn’t turn him off.
“It helps me calm down after a performance, I tend to get really into it, ya know adrenaline and whatnot.”
“Hmm” Katsuki grunts “At least you’re not a terrible singer”
“Thank you!” Deku says earnestly, taking another drag, “I’ll have to let my bandmates know that Dynamite is such a big fan!”
Katsuki whips his head around in shock after being so blatantly called out, especially after he didn’t think he’d be recognized at all tonight. “Oh please, don’t be so alarmed” The greennette says, “I had my doubts, but I’ve seen those blonde spikes on the news countless times. That discount store baseball cap isn’t hiding anything.”
He blows smoke directly into Katsuki’s face, the blonde haphazardly waves his arm around trying to clear it. “Oh, you must watch me on the news a lot huh?” The pro-hero teases.
“I-um..well-uh” Izuku sputters nervously, eyes darting around, his face has turned a delectable shade of pink “Not all the time! The news is just..on in the background and I just so happened to catch ..glimpses here and there of you fighting. It’s not I watch pro-hero stuff, just waiting for you to show up.”
“I didn’t ask if you waited for me to show up.”
“Um…-well…you-“ Deku makes a strangled noise in embarrassment, and the smirk on Katsuki’s face is downright predatory. The blonde hero lets out a small laugh “I like this side of you, this awkward, nerdy and embarrassed shit is fun”
The singer whips out another cigarette from the box, dangling it in his lips as he looks for his lighter. “You don’t even know me enough to know what sides of me to like.” He looks up from searching to find Katsuki’s hands cupped below his cig. The blonde snaps his fingers, sparking and lighting the cigarette instantly. Deku lets out a small “Thank You” and resumes his smoking.
Katsuki’s leans down so close, hand resting just above Deku’s head
“So let me get to know you”
Deku stops in his tracks “W-what are you talking about?”
Katsukis’s attitude is all drunken bravado and suave, he leans against the railing connected to the building behind them, blonde tufts blowing as the wind starts to slightly howl. “I might not fucking know you, but I like what I’ve seen so far. I wanna know the nerdy fuck who trips over his own two feet, and I wanna know whoever the fuck was singing on stage about disobeying his daddy.”
Deku’s face turns red at the memory of his previous song. “I didn’t write the song you serial teaser, it’s just the lyrics”
Katsuki bends down to get even closer to Deku’s face, eating his embarrassment up “You like it enough to sing it, don’t you?”
“I just like the artist, her names Mitski.”
Bakugou’s eyebrows furrow in confusion. “You were singing in English, but it’s a Japanese artist?”
Deku shakes his head, looking down as he speaks “She’s Japanese American, she writes a lot about feeling misplaced, used, and just beaten down by life and society. It’s beautiful honestly. She’s really popular in the states.”
Bakugou shrugs his shoulders “I haven’t heard of her. I’m not really a fan of all the Melancholy “I hate my life” shit, can’t really relate to it as a pro.” That’s is an absolute fucking lie but I’ll be damned if I look pathetic in front of this hottie. He looks over at Deku and his expression is unreadable. Shit maybe if you're gonna flirt with the damn guy you shouldn’t be a dick about his favorite artist or whatever. “But It won’t kill me to try something new.”
Izuku head shoots up “Oh you don’t have to do that-“
“Nah you made it sound interesting, I’ll give it a listen just for your nerdy ass.”
Izuku's smile is bright. He lets out a small puff of smoke but doesn’t respond . Katsuki can feel the conversation drying out and circles back to his original statement, refusing to let this opportunity pass by. “You didn’t acknowledge what I fucking said Deku” the singer looks anywhere but him. “Don’t act so shy on me now dammnit.”
“Can I get to know you? Let me get to know you.”
Deku looks at him, the singer has drops of snow on his lashes, his face is flushed from the cold and his own nervousness. “I don’t understand. Your a pro hero Mr. Dynamight-“
“Katsuki” Bakugou quickly interjects “Call me Katsuki”
“I’m not calling you that” Izuku deadpans. “Look I’m just confused I’m just some random guy from a bar-“
“A fucking cute random guy from a bar”
The singer sighs “You’re drunk and you think I’m attractive, I appreciate it Mr. Dynamight, really! “ He takes a long drag of his cigarette, before finally putting it out, it makes a hissing noise as the flame is eaten by the snow. “But you’re just talking to me because your blowing off steam from your very physically and mentally demanding job of saving people day in and day out.”
Katsuki can barely get a word, he goes to interrupt when Izuku beats him to it.
“I appreciate it, but no thanks.”
Izuku turns on his heels, his bright red converse crunching against the snow. The All-might patch of the back of his jacket mocks Katsuki, reminding him of his failed attempt at flirting.
And Bakugou Katsuki is not a failure.
“Hey shortstack!” Katsuki calls out and Deku stops in his tracks, but doesn’t turn around to face him. Katsuki won’t ever admit that he’s fucking annoyed by that. “When can I see you again?”
Izuku doesn’t speak for a second, and slowly turns his head, just one eye visible to the blonde hero. “Every Tuesday and Friday.”
“I’ll be here” Katsuki remarks without missing a beat.
The hero can see Izuku rolled his eyes, but a small smile graces his face “I’m sure you will Mr. Dynamight, make sure to sober up for me when you get home.”
I’d do fucking anything for you Katsuki thinks as he watches him retreat back into the building. He’s standing out in the snow, buzz from the alcohol drumming through his body, and katsuki feels like someone just electrified his fucking chest by 1000 volts.
Chapter Text
Katsuki wakes up with the most killer hangover in the history of human hangovers.
He doesn’t remember getting home. His walk was a blur of trudging through snow, green eyes and a soft, angelic voice bouncing through his mind.
He didn’t get a fucking phone number, or any way to contact him. Just a name, a probable stage name at that: Deku.
Deku, Deku, Deku.
Deku with the green hair and even greener eyes. Deku with the quirky tights, and bright red converse and voice like saccharine, that’s slightly raspy due to smoking. Deku with the soft, cherry pink lips and freckles that mimic all the millions of stars in the sky.
“Uh Dynamight..-“
He’s never drinking again. There’s a reason he hasn’t heavily drunk since his early 20’s. Horribly irreversible decisions get made, such as going to bars, borderline blacking out and falling for aloof singers.
“Dynamight-”
The angel nerd said every Tuesday and Friday, it’s Wednesday, so he would have to wait a whole two to three-days to see him perform. Plus he would have to make it back early enough from patrol, which there’s no telling how long that’ll last-
“Katsuki!”
The blonde hero jumps in surprise. “Fuck” he zones back in, realizing he’s been pouring coffee in the same cup for minute straight. The hot, brown liquid spilling over the cup and onto the floor. He quickly grabs some nearby paper towels and begins cleaning the mess up.
Kirishima rushes over from his desk “Do you need help Bakubro-?”
“I got it” Katsuki barks out, hurriedly cleaning up the large mess off the tile.
Kirishima regards his friend with a concerned look, before slowly making his way back to his desk. Still sneaking concerned looks every now and then. Kaminari approached with a small stack of papers and dropped them on his friend's desk. “Is he still acting…like that?”
“Yeah dude, I don’t know what happened. Ever since Tuesday he’s been acting so…un-Bakugou like.”
Kaminari looks over to him “Yeah he’s been dropping shit left and right and zoning out. Dude, what the fuck happened on his day off?”
“I don’t know, but let’s hope Japan’s finest hasn’t cracked up.”
Both boys immediately close their mouths, as Bakugou walks past them, throwing the pile of soaking paper towels in the nearby trash.
He wordlessly enters his office and shuts the door.
“I’m gonna go talk to him.”
“Good luck,” Kaminari says as he turns back to the computer, “Don’t get your face blown off.”
Kirishima walks over and takes a deep breath. He doesn’t bother knocking and opens the door.
“Shit!” Katsuki almost jumps out of his fucking skin. His headphone falls out of his ear, loud punk? music blasting through. He quickly begins closing tabs, but Kirishima catches a glimpse of the word “Deku” in the search bar before the page is exited.
Useless??? Why is he looking up useless?
“And I want a love that falls as fast”
“As a body from the balcony”
“Um Bakubro..I think you left your music playing.”
The pro-hero uncharacteristically fumbles pausing his Spotify and Kirishima is left to wonder what the fuck is going on?
“I didn’t know you liked that kind of indie music. Especially, English punkish-indie music-“
“Do you fucking need something Red Riot?” Katsuki asks impatiently. Kirishima feels like he just caught a kid with his hand in the cookie jar. He is currently very weirded the fuck out by his friend’s behavior.
“I wanted to drop off these papers Denki gave me because I’m pretty sure he filled half of them out wrong and signed the rest with smiley faces.”
Katsuki grunts, grabbing the papers and putting them in what the hero has dubbed “the fuck-up pile.”
“I also wanted to ask…if you’re alright. You seem spacey and out of it since your day off. I’m really sorry I forced that on you since it’s had this effect. Did..did something happen?”
“Nothing happened and I’m fine”, Katsuki opens a tab on the computer to seem busy, but he can tell his friend is just clicking around nonsensically.
Yup, Kirishima sighs finally cracked up.
“Oh” Bakugou says, suddenly remembering something. “I updated the schedule. Give me your approval so I can stamp it and send it out.”
Okay now Kirishima is seriously confused. I already updated the schedule and gave it to you yesterday-“
“And I fucking updated it again! Now sign it and send it out.”
“Okay, okay” Kirishima says, putting his hands up in defense. “Stop being such a Drama queen, I’ll approve it right now-“
His eyes widen as he looks down at the paper, Katsuki’s slot for Friday is completely empty. No patrols, no desk work, no work-from-home, nothing.
“Dude are you requesting Friday off-“
Katsuki jumps up and wraps his palm around Kirishima’s mouth. “Don’t talk too loud. Listen to me. I need this Friday off. Do not ask why. Approve it and move on.”
Kirishima, completely unbothered by his boss’s antics, moves the hand from his mouth to speak. “Dude what happened on Tuesday? Are you finally becoming a normal person? Did you go on a date-?”
“I will shove your hair so far up your ass, you’ll taste it in your throat. Approve the changes shitty hair.”
“Yes, Yes you got it boss.” Kirishima can only smile. Finally, an explanation for his friend's recent antics are coming to fruition.
Friday comes and Katsuki has excitement drumming through his body.
He tried to research Deku, but turned up nothing. No real full name, no addresses, no school records, it was like the kid was a ghost, or at least completely off the grid. He was starting to believe he hallucinated the entire thing and Deku was just some Perfect Blue style, figment of his imagination that only appeared because he was on the verge of insanity induced by his perpetual loneliness.
Kirishima almost figured him out. It wasn’t a date, it was a meet-cute that had the potential to be a date, if Katsuki stops being awkward and gets his head out of his ass. Of course there are cons to this:
- Deku could go to the press, and tell them all about how Pro-Hero Dynamight likes to flirt with scrappy, and seemingly underage teenage performers. The scandal forcing him to come out and closing down his Agency for good.
- Deku could tell the paparazzi where he’s at for money, forcing him to explain why he's at a random dive bar in Mutafusu to begin with (coming out is a possible consequence of this.)
- Nothing, there is no consequence and nothing bad happens to him ever.
Because Bakugou Katsuki has an unresolved god complex and an ego the size of the moon, he determines that option 3 is obviously the most sound and logical answer. If Katsuki is questioned he’ll just say it was a private stakeout that led to a dead end. And if Deku is underage, he will do what every other Pro-Hero and celebrity has done before him: Back off publicly, but wait privately for the proposed partner to turn 21, and then enter a full fledged relationship with them, while forever ignoring the constant discourse surrounding whether their relationship is morally right and ethically sound.
(After some deep reflection he determines he will not be fucking doing that and in instead taking a page out of Kirishima books: and getting a fucking grip”)
He cursed god, Buddha and AllMight for this out-of-nowhere obsession with Deku. He secretly hopes that when he gets there sober, he’ll see the nerd is super ugly and it was the alcohol providing him with a filter. That way he can end the Deku obsession once and for all and-
Holy fuck, he’s in more beautiful with all five senses in tact.
It’s 6:47. The bar's chalkboard sign says the event starts at 7:30 and he had a feeling that if he got here early enough he could catch Deku right where he suspected: outside smoking a cig.
“Hey nerd”
Izuku jumps out of his skin and looks at him in mild shock. A cigarette dangles from his lips. His wild hair is pushed back with an AllMight themed headband, and he’s wearing denim shorts and blood red tights, different from the striped ones from before.
“Y-You’re here?”
His black and white striped sweater is so oversized, half of shoulder and neck are exposed. And Katsuki can see that his freckles don’t just stop at his face and neck, but his entire body is covered in an entire solar system’s worth.
I can see the Milky Way on his collar bone and I wanna leave it bruised.
Calm down you fucking dog. You just met the guy two days ago.
“Yeah I’m fucking here” Katsuki stands next to him. “You happy to see me nerd?”
Izuku tilts his head at him and it reminds him of a curious cat. “I don’t know. I thought for sure you were just drunk and hitting on the first thing you saw.”
“Wow” Katsuki deadpans “You think so highly of me”
“I also thought the great pro-hero Dynamight had better stuff to do than hang around dingy-dive bars during the week.”
Katsuki rolls his eyes “The great Pro-Hero Dynamight can spend his time doing whatever the fuck he wants.”
Izuku just “hmms” and doesn’t look at him, continuing to smoke. “I once saw you say in an interview that you don’t really drink or smoke, and those are activities for people with nothing better to do.”
Katsuki rolls his eyes so this is the game he wants to play huh?
“Yeah, I said that so what?”
“Well, you're actively hanging around and drinking at a dive bar, and you're getting real chummy with a guy who’s a chronic smoker.”
“I have my exceptions”
“Your a hypocrite Mr. Dynamite”
“Hey! Who are you calling a hypocrite you little shitst-“ Katsuki goes to defend himself when he notices Deku is trying hard to hide his smile, face turned away from the blonde hero purposefully.
The little bastard’s fucking with me.
“Oi, stop with the teasing and aloof ass attitude you dweeb. I can see right through you.”
“What attitude?” Deku asks and he genuinely sounds confused. Katsuki Eye twitches, this fucking kid is not good for his blood pressure.
“Fucking Nevermind” he waves his hand “So what uh, what song are you playing tonight?”
Deku flashes him another mischievous smile “Wouldn’t you like to know weather boy?”
“Tchh, I’m a paying customer, I gotta know if I’m getting my money’s worth.”
The singer finishes his cigarette, flicking it skillfully into a pothole “How about you meet me out here tonight, and let me know if you think it was worth it.” Those green fucking eyes are staring at him so intensely and Katsuki can’t find any part of him that wants to say no.
Bad Idea, Abort , Abort, do not say yes to him!
“I’ll be out here shortstack, I won’t keep you waiting.”
Goddamnit Katsuki you weak man.
The young boy smiles, and checks his watch, his face morphing into concern, “Ah shit I’m-I’m late” he speeds off, tripping on the frozen ground, and Katsuki catches him just in time before he falls flat on face. Deku makes a small “eep’ noise and stands up, “th-thank you Mr. Dynamight I’ll..um see you inside”
“Y-yeah me too.” Deku hurries off onto the stage and Katsuki takes a steadying breath before heading to the bar, taking the same seat he was in two days ago.
Katsuki slaps his palm down on the bar “Hey asshole, give me the same shitty beer as before” He’s patiently waiting, watching as The League of Villains talk amongst themselves as they set up their equipment. Izuku is bent down plugging something in and Katsuki can’t help but admire how well his shorts fit around his nice a-
WHAM!! Katsuki jumps back in shock as a massive kitchen knife is slammed blade down in front of him, the knife handle comically sticking out of the wood counter. Bakugous’s hands began to smoke at the sense of danger. “The fuck!?”
He looks over and sees the same bartender from a couple of days ago ( now that he’s getting a closer look he sees that his tag has the name “Chisaki” on it) is staring him down, his expression filled with extreme contempt. “Why do you keep coming here?”
Katsuki also gets in his face, trying to resist grabbing him by the front of shirt and slamming him over the counter and to the ground. “Cause I’m a fucking paying customer-“
“That’s not what I meant and you know it. You see, for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why someone in the top 10 was hanging around this area. I thought it was some type of stakeout mission bullshit where you guys were hunting down some poor sap in this area.”
Katsuki doesn’t relax, watching Chisaki’s every move to see if the crazy bastard was gonna try to strike or get one-up on him.
“And then I saw you outside with him”
He points discreetly to the strange, his line of vision pointing directly to the green haired object of his current obsession affection.
Fuck. Katsuki looks away, embarrassed on being called out so easily “I don’t know what the fuck your going on about you crazy bastard.”
“Don’t play fucking dumb Dynamight” Chisaki says his hero name is a Mocking tone. “Whatever’s going through that roid riddled, testosterone pumped brain of yours, tell it to stop. You heroes have the world to yourselves, let us have this and Leave. Him. alone.”
It’s a warning clear as day. He’s received both an indirect threat to his life and a direct threat to stay away. Katsuki doesn’t respond to Chisaki, and wordlessly accepts the beer being handed to him.
“Can you take the knife out of the fucking counter?”
“Fuck no” Chisaki leans down on the bar, getting closer to Katsuki’s face. “Let it serve as a reminder to not think with your fucking dick whenever you’re here. Tonight you’re a paying customer, not a cradle robber.”
“I’ve decided I fucking hate you.” Katsuki retorts bluntly. “I don’t know why this place is always so packed. The drinks are shit and so are you.”
Katsuki hears the crowd cheer as Izuku begins to perform, the first notes soft and more toned down compared to his previous performance.
“They're here for the same reason you’re here, to watch hot misfits perform on stage. Now shut the fuck up and let me do my job.”
Katsuki opens his mouth to hurl an insult back when Izuku’s voice immediately grabs his attention.
“Don’t take me down”
“Where there’s no way out, no way in”
“The plants can’t breathe down here.”
The song is flowy and slow, Deku’s voice sounds like sweet melted butter on his ears, and his soft swaying to the beat is a complete 180 from the sexy, punk persona on Tuesday.
“Everyday there’s another thing on my mind”
“It weighs me down to the ground.”
Katsuki could watch him sing for hours, and Jesus Christ that’s a problem. He needs to stop coming here. Before he’s recognized, before paparazzi gets wind of what he’s doing.
“Tell me, Tell me something swee~eet”
“And I won’t stay away”
“Bake me, Bake me up a treat”
“And I can’t stay away”
I can’t stay away either, Katsuki thinks, leaning forward to drink up the sight of him.
“I don’t have a class”
“Got a lot of time on my hands”
“To sit, wait around for a sign”
“Lay in the grass open up a can of new flavor”
“That I’ve never tried”
Class huh? Katsuki thinks as he’s taking a sip. Please be a college class so I don’t have to put myself on a list.
“Tell me, tell me something swee~eet”
“When my day seems so long”
“Bake me, Bake me up a treat”
Deku looks dead at him, and he knows it. The green-haired singer shoots him a wink and lifts up his finger in a shushing motion.
“I won’t tell anyone”
The band finishes out the song with an instrumental. The usual rounds of applause sound and Katsuki watches the stage like a hawk to determine his next move.
Chisaki is turned around, cleaning cups and serving a barrage of customers. The Pro-hero sees Deku look at him over his shoulder, viridian eyes beckoning him as he leaves.
I won’t tell anyone.
Katsuki slips off the barstool and out the door. Against his better judgement he heads outside.
“You always have a damn cigarette attached to your lips huh?”
Deku looks up at him, flicking the lighter. “Yeah amongst other things.”
Fucking Christ this kid.
They stand together in silence. As Deku smokes, his oversized sleeves slide down inch by inch. Revealing a surprising amount of thick healed-over scars all over his forearms, hands and fingers. He’s not disgusted by any means, but more so intrigued.
What happened to him to get scars like that?
“Did you like the show Mr. Dynamight?”
“Yeah it was good” Your voice is hypnotizing “Solid Performance” You’ve kept my mind fucking racing for two days straight.
“Damn” Izuku says, shaking his head in mock disappointment, “Only good and solid? Looks like I gotta step up my game if I wanna impress the amazing Dynamight.”
“Don’t be coy, you little shit. I’m telling you it was good. I don’t say shit I don’t mean. And stop calling me Dynamight, it’s weird as fuck to hear it when I’m not at work.”
Deku blows out a puff of smoke “I was told not to name things”
Katsuki raises an eyebrow “oh yeah and why is that?”
“If you name things you get attached to them.” The singer's voice sounds sweet but the tone implies anything but.
The Pro-Hero raises an eyebrow “Well you’ve already broken your own rule you hypocrite. I’m already calling you by your name, and might I add: Terrible name by the way. Next time you see your parents you should fight them for that one.”
.......
Deku looks at him with a blank and unreadable expression. Cigarette hanging lamely from his mouth. “Yeah, sure my name’s Deku, let's go with that.”
Wait, What?
Katsuki’s eyebrow twitch “Is..is your name not Deku?”
Deku(?) Just smokes quietly, seemingly oblivious to Katsuki’s irritation.
“Hey Mr. Dynamight, can you walk me home?”
Katsuki looks at Deku like he’s grown two heads. What the fuck is up with this kid? “So you won’t call me by my name, but you trust me to walk you home?”
“Are you a Pro-Hero or not?” Deku replies smugly, “Isn’t it like, against the law for you to deny a public service request?”
“I hardly call walking aloof brats home, public service”
“So is that a no?”
Katsuki regards him in a deadpan tone “Don’t you have to perform another song or something?”
“Nope, Toga and Dabi got it from here. I usually only do one or two songs anyway and dip.”
“How the hell can you be part-time in a bad that’s already so fucking unserious?”
“What can I say?” Deku flashes him a cheeky smile “I’m a busy guy, don’t have time to be performing at all hours of the night. Now walk me home Mr. Dynamight”
Deku(?) looks up at him expectingly, and despite their banter, Katsuki is not gonna tell the kid no, not at all. He adjusts his scarf and stuffs his hands deep in his coat pocket. “Demanding much? Lead the way idiot.”
The walk down the twisting and crowded city streets. Katsuki walks on the sidewalk like a normal human being, while Deku walks next to him tightrope walking on the sidewalk ledge. He expected for the nerd to have his arms out for balance but he seems to be walking perfectly on his own.
“Hey Mr. Dynamight”
Katsuki turns his head, curious as to what the young boy’s going to say. Their banter died down, and they’ve been walking in a relative, comfortable silence for a couple minutes.
“What’s up?”
“When we get to my place, do you wanna come inside?”
Abort, Abort, Abort!
“Why are you asking that?” Katsuki decides to play dumb. The only way to protect his sanity is to play completely, and utterly dumb.
Deku looks at him, incredulously “so you can look at my pet rock collection obviously. Come on Mr. Dynamight, I thought you wanted to get to know me?”
ABORT! ABORT! ABORT!
“How old are you shortstack?”
A smile comes across Deku’s face. “Who’s asking?”
Me, because I need to know if I’m going to be turning myself in to my own agency tomorrow.
“Answer the question, you coy little shit.”
“Duh, obviously I’m 16.”
Katsuki in total shock walks and crashes straight into a lamppost, head hitting the pole at full force.
“Ohmygod- Mr. Dynamight are you alright!!?”
The Pro-hero holds where it was hit, he can already feel a bump begging to swell. He lets out a chorus of “oohhs,” “awws” and “shits” as he tries to collect himself.
“Is there anything I can do Mr. Dynamight, oh my god-“
“Deku” the teen (teen, god Katsuki hates himself so much) looks up in concern “Yeah Mr. Dynamight what is it? Do you need a bandaid or-“
“Are you really 16?”
He only has a couple of seconds before a harsh slap is delivered to the back of skull.
“Gahh! What the fuck-”
“You just almost knocked your brain out of your fucking skull due to a lamppost and that’s what you’re concerned about? I was messing with you Dynamight!”
“…so your not 16-“
“No! I’m 20! Christ, I was dicking around! I just told you a joke at a bad time!”
20 is still bad, definitely not as bad as 16, but that’s a 7 year age difference. Yikes, Kirishima would probably chew his ass out if he knew what he was doing.
“If it makes you feel better I turn 21 in a couple of months, and I’m a sophomore in college.”
That actually doesn’t make me feel better Katsuki thinks but thanks for trying. “…let’s just get you home.”
The rest of the walk is quiet once more. Deku doesn't bring up the pro-hero coming inside again and Katsuki doesn’t address their age difference. They make it to the front of a dingy and run down apartment building. Precariously walking up a rusty and slightly unstable fire escape to get to Deku’s place. They stop at what is assumed to be the younger boys' door.
Deku turns to him, suddenly saying “Wait one moment Mr. Dynamight, don’t leave.” The boy runs inside, the door barely managing to slam shut behind him.
Katsuki, takes in his surroundings, and makes eye contact with what looks to be Deku’s name on the mailbox. It’s graffitied up, covered in marker, paint and stickers, but he’s able to make out a faint name through the mess:
MIDORI-
Checkmate. Katsuki smiles to himself. Izuku comes back outside, holding something in his hands.
“I come bearing gifts.” He quickly slips something in Katsuki's hands with suspiciously practiced ease. The Pro-Hero opens his palm to reveal a cigarette.
“Thanks for a such a kind gesture, but as you can assume this is pretty fucking useless to me”
Deku just simply rolls his eyes “Turn it over smarty-pants.”
Katsuki rotates the cigarette to reveal something written on it:
3XX- 48XX- 72XX ☆
He got his name and his phone number-
Katsuki suddenly feels something stick on his head. He attempts to peel it off to see what is but Deku pulls his hand away.
“No, stop!! I felt so bad, so I put a bandaid over your bump.” He holds up a semi-crushed box with various Sanrio characters on it. “I hope you don’t mind Pompompurrin, that’s all I have left.”
“I’m not wearing this home.” Katsuki says, but makes no real move to remove it from his head. “Are you…okay, for the night? This place seems..” he swivels his head around. Deku’s neighborhood looks like super hell. He watches as a group of homeless people crowd around a burning trashcan that definitely wasn’t on fire before.
“I think I’ll manage” Deku says quietly. He looks up at him with those hypnotic green eyes, and god Katsuki is bordering on obsession. “Thank you for walking me home Mr. Dynamight, I appreciate it.”
“It’s not a problem Deku” he says and he truly, earnestly means it.
“Will Mr. Dynamight call me?”
Mr. Dynamight wants to pound your ass into the mattress.
“As soon as I’m up, alive and breathing tomorrow I’ll call you.”
Deku smiles and shyly goes to stand on his tiptoes, giving Katsuki a small and innocent and small peck on the cheek. The pro hero turned beet red. Deku lets out a small wave and promptly shuts the door.
Jesus fucking Christ my heart. Katsuki thinks, he’s gonna be the fucking death of me.
Notes:
The will not kiss for another 5 chapters so enjoy this will you can.
Lemme know what u think byeeee.
Chapter Text
The walk back from Deku’s Apartment leaves him fucking reeling.
The icy cold weather provides the Pro-Hero solace as he trudges back to his apartment, mind still racing on the green-haired performer. Katsuki, thinks around in circles to the kiss (not really a kiss but a kiss nonetheless), his phone number, the way Deku looked at him before he went back inside to his shitty apartment.
For starters the nerd is mysterious. Frustratingly so. He’s only seen him twice, and so far he has little to no fucking information. He got the name Midori, but there’s no telling whether that’s a first or a surname. Hell, now that he’s realizing, the kid hasn’t even mentioned his fucking quirk or anything like it. He seriously considering seeing a fucking shrink or something because he’s starting to believe he cracked up and Izuku’s a fucking ghost or hallucination.
“Stupid, mystery, shitty, sexy fucking, nerd” He grumbles as he aggressively turns the key to his apartment. His kicks his shoes off as if they’ve offended him and collapses on his couch. Reaching around for his phone-
Thats right, the nerd gave me his number. Katsuki fishes out the cigarette, slightly bent from swimming around in his pocket, but intact nonetheless. He reaches for his phone and stops in his tracks. Texting him immediately is crazy work Katsuki, Jesus Christ get a hold of yourself.
But he wants to know more about Deku, and his nerdy obsession with English music, and his penchant for wearing all might merch. He wants to ask which his favorite all might movie because he knows the nerd has one. He reasons that it’s normal, to be interested in a new person, it doesn’t make it weird or sexual or gay-
Right the gay thing.
He’s not exactly out to the world. His true sexual desires are right where Katsuki believes they belong: Deeply hidden in his searches on pornhub and no where else. If he pursues anything with the Deku, there’s a chance it could leak to the public, or they could be seen together, permanently affecting his image as the all-powerful, masculine ticking-time bomb of the hero world.
He wrestles with his conscious. They don’t have to be anything. They can just start off as friends - acquaintances even. There is nothing inherently weird about getting to know a new person.
Katsuki roles the cigarette around in his hands and groans. For fucks sake, he’s a top 10-ner goddamnit, and he’s only know this fucking nerd for two days. It should not take this much brain power to decide whether or not he wants to text someone, but he’s a public figure, no matter how he spins it. The power is tipped on his side, and the consequences even greater.
But maybe that’s why Deku gave him his number first. Giving katsuki the choice to reach out is smarter on the nerd’s end, it puts less consequence on him.
……
He examines the cigarette between his fingers, brow furrowed, face hardened with thought.
…..
….
…
No. Absolutely not.
He’s needs to rein it the fuck in, and not let anything drop down his ratings or success, no matter how sexually enticing that thing is. Deku is mysterious, and arousing and a Man. Which in Dynamight’s world, is a recipe for disaster.
So in a split decision, he does what any sane closeted homosexual does, and buries it metaphorically and literally- he shoves the cigarette deep in his pocket and decides to ignore it completely. He shucks his coat off, leaving it crumbled on the couch and heads to bed.
This is the most morally safe and responsible decision, on both their parts. It’s the right thing to do.
If so, then why does it feel so fucking wrong.
Saturday passes in a blur.
Weekends are for paperwork, moreso correcting paperwork. Kirishima comes by with coffee for everyone, Denki gets smacked upside the head for using a smile stickers instead of an official stamp to approve documents and Mina and Sero go on patrol and come back with with scratches, bumps and mugshots of villains they all make fun of.
“Dude this is so nuts, I mean look at the guy”
”Yeah it’s crazy we had to call in the national guard over a man with a fucking Lego brick for a head.”
It’s mundane, it’s routine and it’s exactly as expected.
But Katsuki is distracted.
The cigarette is an anvil in his pocket. He freezes a little bit when he’s digging with for his keys or checking his phone. He ignores it, because Deku is not important. He needs to focus on moving up spots for the weekly hero ranking. This week he’s stuck at 7th, with him Red Riot and fucking Monoma of all people trading 7th, 8th, and 9th place every other week like it’s fucking hot potato.
Katsuki will be damned if that dick Monoma is announced as 6th place come Monday morning.
“Yo Bakubro” Kirishima enters once more enters his office without knocking. “I’m getting everyone’s days together for this week, do you need any days off?”
Katsuki mind instantly wanders to red sneakers, and unkept curly hair and cigarette smoke. Without even looking up from his work he lets out a resounding “Nope” and continues about his day.
Sunday comes in like a fucking speeding train.
It starts off slow, Red Riot and Dynamight bounce from building to building, surveying areas in the city, looking out for everything from domestic terrorist to purse snatchers. Kirishima jinxes it of course “Ha, looks like it’s an easy day for us after all!”
“10-4 to Heroes. Paging all Heroes in the area. Active robbery in the Kunbunki district. I repeat active robber-“
Kirishima lets out a whiny “Aww I jinxed it” As they both sprint toward the crime scene.
This his chance, if he can ace this robbery, he will absolutely jump ahead in the fucking ranks. Kirishima is just happy to be top-10 no matter where he falls, but it’s Monoma’s bitch ass he wants to show up.
Katsuki taps into his com “Dynamight to current active Heroes, give me a 4-1-1 on Active robbery in Kunbuki district”
He speeds down streets and over buildings, looking for signs of police men and emergency services crowding the area. A beep on his com catches his attention “Robbery in process, Villain known as “The Punchbuggy” Quirk includes delivering intense punches at the speed of sound, mental state is dangerous. Currently a handful of 15 hostages inside bank, no current demands for hostages.”
Fucking Christ, so he’s crazy as fuck and has no demands? “Coming up on the scene now, tell the other extras to leave it to me.”
Katsuki propels past the cops and other authority, ignoring calls for him to back down as he speeds into the building. Everyone in the bank is on the ground, scared, shaking as they attempt to stay as still possible.
Katsuki immediately spots the villain dressed in all black with an ill fitting ski mask over his face, shoving money in a black backpack. Civilians scared and huddled, run out of the building into the safety of heroes and policemen outside. Leaving Katsuki and the crazed Villain alone. He only gives him one warning of “HEY ASSHOLE” before sending a brutal explosion his way, knocking him to the ground. He runs over to what he assume is knocked out villain, when the guy starts throwing almost inhuman rapid-fire punches his way.
Katsuki wipes the blood from his nose, a crazed look on his face “Oh so it’s gonna be like that huh?“
He mixes his punches with his explosions overwhelming the villain with assault after assault. Full on screaming out a “DIE. ASSHOLE DIE” as he lets him have it. Katsuki will admit, his name isn’t “Punchbuggy” for no reason, because villain puts up one hell of a fight, getting a couple of good swing on him. Katsuki sees an opening during their fight and grabs the guy by his shirt and full on launches him over the bank teller counter, sending him flying through a sheet of plexi glass, shards flying everywhere on impact. Punchbuggy lands against a half open-unsealed vault.
Katsuki is prepared to let this guy fully have it. He’s sick of 7th place, he’s sick of pretending like he doesn’t wanna fuck guys, like he doesn’t wanna fuck Deku and despite being one of the most strongest heroes in the country he sick of feeling so out of control.
Katsuki charges up, the buildup of sweat from fighting has his gauntlets leaking nitroglycerin. This villain found the right one today because Katsuki’s about to give him the punch of a generation.
His ears are ringing, his smile is downright vicious, and the ticking in the background-
Wait ticking-
Katsuki looks up in mild shock and confusion as he notices a makeshift device counting down, strapped to vault behind him. The villain is holding a mini remote in hands, smiling way too serenely.
he only has a split second to run to the entrance, villain in hand as-“
A giant, horrendous, explosion echoes throughout the bank. It quite literally blows the roof off of the building. The brick of the building, metal, shrapnel and fucking money rains down on the entire area.
Katsuki burst through the door, Villain clutched in his hands as he narrowly escaped the explosion, mushroom cloud of smoke and fire pouring out of every orafice of the building.
Paramedics rush to him but he brushes them off with “Don’t fucking touch me I’m fine” He stands the villain up with him roughly, walking through the shrapnel to the police car.
“Ow, HEY! this is excessive force!”
Katsuki only handles him harder “If it was up to me you wouldn’t even be making it to the fucking backseat, that bomb saved your fucking life.”
It’s quite a scene to behold, Dynamight walking the villain to the squad car as thousands of dollars rain down. He aggressively throws the villain into the backseat. Closing the door roughly and leaning against the car arms crossed.
Kirishima and Sero run up to him first. “We got the hostages taken care of. Also, dude that was so freaking manly bro! You came up jumping of that building like it was something out of an action movie.”
Katsuki’s has a smug smirk “All in days work, just glad that fucking loser extra villain is taken care of.”
Sero goes to pick up the leftover money scattered on the ground “And bonus, check out all of this cash-“
”Tapeface anything you pick up I dock from your fucking pay.” Sero immediately lets the bills fly out of his hands back to the ground.
Katsuki looks around, heart beating out his chest. He feels accomplished. Kirishima is handling all the civvie extras with care, and Occhako has shown up, probably from being paged, working with Mt. Lady to move around the damaged building and initiate cleanup assist. Sero slides next to him lighting a cigarette.
Katsuki waves the smoke from him in disgust. “Dipshit I told you don’t do that shit around me, I don’t wanna be caught up in whatever bad-boy image your marketer is trying to push.”
Sero only shoves him off, with a smile. The familiar smell of smoke blowing close to his face- wait a fucking minute.
…..
“Sero” Katsuki starts calmly- too calmly. “Where did you get that cigarette?”
He continues smoking not knowing the massive mistake he’s just made. “Oh it was like shoved deeeep in your coat pocket. I couldn’t find a pen to write something down and I found one in there and saw that you had a cig so I took it- sorry by the way. Also, dude I didn’t know you smoked! I could’ve sword you were like a grade-A health freak!” He elbows him playfully and Katsuki grabs him by the front of his shirt shaking him like a madman.
“You took it out my pocket and fucking smoked it?”
“Dude chill! Was it like your last one or something? I have a whole line of Lucky Stars with my face on them if you want a box-“
Katsuki snatches the cigarette out of his hands and shoves sero away. Fuck. FUCK. It was easy to pretend like had the illusion of self control when he was walking around with Deku’s number. Now he can’t ever contact him, not if he wanted to do it on his own terms at least. The cig had been burned more than halfway leaving only the first digit of the phone number visible. He chucks it on the ground in pure spite and vitriol.
He would have to go One for All if he wanted to see Deku again.
Would Deku even want to see him? He essentially ghosted him, despite showing interest first. Katsuki doesn’t know much about dating, but he does know he just committed a big social faux-pa of some sort.
Sero looks at him like he’s growing two heads, and Katsuki realizes Fuck he’s probably wondering what the fuck is wrong with him.
He takes a deep breathe and releases. Hands clutching at their side. He regards Sero with a crazed look in his eye. “It’s fine, it’s just peachy.” Everyone knows that when Dynamight says “it’s just “peachy” he’s actually 3.5 seconds away from murdering someone. Sero, who looks absolutely weirded the fuck out by his coworkers behavior, just let’s put a nervous laugh and goes “Haha, right…sorry about..that?” His tone is laced with confusion as he makes way to anywhere else that isn’t by Katsuki.
As The blonde hero talks to police and assist at the scene, his mind goes back to the missed opportunity. He’s a weak man, he always gonna call Deku. Definitely later than sooner but he was gonna call or text at some point. Until Sero had to go and fuck it all up.
it’s only Sunday, he was two more days until he see can Deku and a couple more hours until the weekly hero rankings drop live. He hopes this robbery is enough to move up a spot.
Monday comes in- thankfully fucking normally.
The only thing out of the ordinary is the box of Cellophane branded Lucky Star cigarettes, with a note attached saying: “Sorry for smoking your last one :)” written in Sero’s telltale chicken scratch. Katsuki decided against the blowing the box up and-or chucking them in the garbage and instead decided to pocket them as a maybe-gift for Deku.
Deku is another thing entirely, when he’s not paying attention he finds himself wondering to the green-haired performer. He thinks about what song he’s going to sing, what college he goes to. He thinks about he should’ve just texted him that fucking night.
It’s November, but Christmas decorations are already being put up everywhere. He walks by a storefront and sees a Christmas tree, and it’s the same color of forest green as Deku hair.
“Everybody gather around it’s about to start!”
All the heroes are gathered about in the seating area located in the Agency, plastered in front of the massive flatscreen. Katsuki stands off to the side watching the screen intently.
6:58 PM
”Sero move over, you smell like smoke and B.O!” Mina exclaims in fake disgust. Sero sprawls out on couch, all sweaty and disgusting from his from previous workout. “That’s just the odor of a real hero baby.”
6:59 PM
“You’re not made of glass Denki, stop standing up in front of the fucking TV so I can see!” Katsuki yells.
7:00 PM
The room is buzzing with excitement and anticipation. The screen goes black for about 5 seconds and then suddenly, The News-Anchor in too much makeup appears, addressing the viewers.
“Good Evening Japan, I’m your host Tari Furokawa and tonight, we hope you’re all excited for the Weekly Hero Rankings!”
Denki loudly speaks up in the room “I’m so nervous I’m gonna puke-“
”SHHHHH” Everyone in the room shushes him.
“Usually, our beloved Heroes don’t trade places so easily, but it seems this week everyone was really giving it their all! Viewers please get ready as we announce Japan’s current top 10 Heroes!”
“Starting off Strong we have our beloved golden boy Lemilion in first place.”
Everyone just scoffs and rolls their eyes, expecting nothing less. Lemilion has held the first place title since their third year post-grad. He currently number 3 on Katsuki’s “surpass and rub it in their face” list.
“In second place behind Lemilion, we have everyone’s favorite Hot and Cold hero: Shoto!
Whoops and cheers sound through the agency. Occhako letting out a boisterous “That’s our shoto!” At his success.
The announcer goes through each ranking, in 3rd is Best Jeanist, 4th is Kamui Woods, and 5th is Mirko.
6th is about to announced and Katsuki is holding his breath in trepidation.
“There is another New Generation hero rising in the ranks, alongside his mentors.”
Everyone is silent, you can hear a pin drop. Moving to 6th means getting closer to top 5, only something that 2 out of the 200 students from their batch of U.A kids have done.
Come on…..
”We are pleased to announce that the current hero sitting at 6th place is..”
Sweat drips down Bakugou’s brow.
Come on…fucking please…
”Explosion Murder God Dynamight! He has move up the ranks, trading his spot from number 7 to number 6-“
”YES LETS FUCKING GOOOO” Katsuki screams at the top of his lungs. His coworkers lose their minds congratulating him, the bucket of popcorn flying everywhere as they all jump out of their seats in excitement. The pro hero feels like he could move a fucking mountain. One more spot and he breaks into top 5, finally getting closer and closer to his dream of becoming the Number One Hero.
“Dude look!” Kirishima excitedly points to the screen. “They’re showing the clips of you kicking that villains ass during the robbery!”
“Dynamight-San showed true bomb-tastic bravery this weekend, by saving hostages and taking down an aggressive and unstable Robber who unbeknownst to authorities, had planted a handmade bomb inside of the bank.” Clips of Bakugou beating the living shit of the robber played across the screen, ending with a clip of him jumping out of building right as the explosion went off behind him.
“We hope to see more of Explosion Murder God Dynamight in action, and his growth is testament to the sure willpower a hero possesses-“
Katsuki’s smile is crazed and wild. He feels like air. And nothing can bring him down from this high. He wonders if Deku is watching the news. He wonders if he feels impressed that the man he gave his number to is almost a top 5 hero.
Hope is brimming in his chest, if it was this fucking easy to move ranks, seeing Izuku tomorrow should be a damn cakewalk. His life is looking up, and he finally feels like things are gonna work out for him.
Monday evening comes in and katsuki- Katsuki feels like a fucking god.
Tuesday comes and he’s ecstatic.
He knows after work, there’s one more thing he has to accomplish: successfully re-scoring Deku’s number and maybe a date or a “Hey when your done performing come back to my place.”
Patrol only fuels his ego. People stop him on the street to congratulate him and for the first time he doesn’t hate interacting with fans.. His favorite coffee place gives him free bagels for his “heroic bravery.” He’s got interviews coming up, and since his rough-and-tumble personality helped him move up a spot, they expect him to keep the same energy when interviewed. For this first time in a while he doesn’t have to be media trained. This time-he gets to say whatever the fuck he wants.
His patrol doesn’t end till 8:30 but that’s fine, because Deku doesn’t perform until 7:30 and even then, it’s more like 7:50ish when he finally goes on stage. The blonde hero doesn’t mind being fashionably late.
He heads back to his apartment, washes his hair and styles it. He makes his usual public disguise a bit more sauve. He doesn’t want anyone to know it’s him, but he does not wanna seek Deku for the first time in a week dressed as a fucking bum.
…..
As he walks to All for One, the high of the previous days slowly wears off, and the weight of his actions catch up with him. He did technically ghost Deku for 3 days, (even though it wasn’t his fault entirely) he can’t just waltz in and expect for Deku to be wooed instantly. He has no- he needs to apologize. The situation at hand gives him bubble guts, makes him feel anxious-
But Katsuki never feels anxious.
Being a pro for over a decade will do that to you. Nothing scares him as anymore. He’s seen murder, war, betrayal all almost all fronts. It’s desensitized and hardened him like a concrete.
Okay so the shitty dive bar doesn’t make him feel anxious, but it does it give him unease.
He’s not used to unease. Despite his unpredictable demeanor, Katsuki thrives on routine. Before the phone number fiasco, he at least knew how he was going to be received at the bar, which was well- barely being fucking received at all. It’s very obvious the most upstanding of citizens don’t frequent One for All, and the bartender only barely tolerated him because his Amex is unlimited and he kept his mouth mostly shut. But after essentially ghosting Deku (accidentally?) he has no idea how he’s gonna be received now.
He reels himself in, what the fuck does he need to feel unease about. He’s Bakugou Fucking Katsuki, The Number 6 hero as of yesterday. He literally saved hostages from a bombed building two days ago. It fucking rained money down on him. He can handle this.
He all but saunters in, head held high and-
“Nope, nuh-uh, not you-get the fuck out” Chisaki-he remembers, doesn’t even take a seconds glance at him before telling him to beat it. Katsuki takes this in stride, and walks in anyway, knife still lodged into the table from last week. They stare each other down.
“Give me whatever on’s tap”
Chisaki snatches a cup from the counter and dunks it in a sink filled with water, pulls it back up, and slams it down so hard in front of the pro-hero that It sloshes and spills everywhere, adding to the consistent sticky mess on the counter. The “drink” is rancid sink water mixed in with a brown mystery liquid, and chunks of food that looked hardened and moldy. Katsuki gags in disgust.
“What the fuck is this!!?”
Chisaki flashes a shit eating grin. ”We call it The Asshole Special. We usually serve it to the patrons we hope never fucking comes back. And this one is, how you say, on the house.”
Katsuki eyes twitch in pure irritation. He wants no-needs him to die. He can get him arrested for so many things. Blatantly threatening a pro-hero, health code violations, fuck the guy just looks like he’s constantly up to no good in his own right.
But Katsuki’s on a mission. And his mission is getting back in communications with a certain green haired minx who for the past two weeks, has been glued to the back of his eyelids.
Katsuki grits his teeth. Trying to calm himself out of his rage. “Is. Deku. performing. tonight?”
Chisaki looks at him and smiles harder “I’ll only tell you if you take a sip~”
”You fucking-“ but the blonde hero stops in his tracks as he sees that familiar green blur coming into his field of view. Deku approaches the bar and slides in several seats down away from him.
He’s dressed different. He’s come to associate Deku with a more feminine taste in clothing, but instead of his usual tights and shorts combo, he’s wearing super baggy jeans, red converse sneakers and an oversized-t shirt with an open buttoned-down Hawaiian print shirt layered on top. It’s much more masculine and teenage-boyish than he expected.
Chisaki rushes over to him, ruffling his hair playfully and greeting him with a soft “Hey, squirt”. He hands him a water bottle and a pack of cigarettes as they converse. Katsuki makes no effort to hide his staring at the pair, actually hoping to get the performer’s attention and get him to turn this way, but Deku doesn’t even look at him-not once.
It’s a complete 180 from a couple of days ago, where he was the star of the show, playing the role of commendable Pro-Hero everyone counted on. Now in this shitty bar, he’s been reduced to nothing more than a lowly extra against the backdrop of Deku’s life.
That simply won’t do. “Hey Deku-“
”Can’t you see where having a conversation, fuck off.” Chisaki borderline barks at him. He simply ignores the bartenders protective nature and continues. “Look, fuck, I’m, fucking sorry about last week. Some things happened and I-“
”Deku, do you want me toss this fucker out?”
”Hey asshole what the fuck is wrong with you. I’m not talking to your ass-“
Deku lets out a small, cute laugh as he lights his cigarette, still not entirely looking Katsuki’s way. “Leave him alone Chi-Chi, he’s a paying customer ain’t he?” The fuck? Chi-Chi? He’s got a pet name for this fucking dickwad?
”He doesn’t need to pay though” Chisaki returns that shit eating grin back on his face. “I gave him his drink on the house.”
Deku smiles to himself, blowing smoke out his nose “The Asshole Special? Really, Chi-Chi, that got you into a fight last time.” He huffs out one last plume of smoke, before putting out his gently-used cigarette on a nearby ashtray and hopping off the barstool. Walking over to the stage to set up for tonight. “Give him a beer, okay?”
”Deku-“ Katsuki reaches out to grab his attention but Izuku walks straight past him, not even acknowledging his existence beyond the previous interaction of stopping his bartend abuse. Katsuki watches him walk away and startles when a beer battle makes violent contact with wood counter.
“Stop slamming shit in front of me Chi-chi” Katsuki turns to look at this guy, who is truly pissed. It’s beyond the grumpy annoyance he’s come accustomed to. Chisaki is genuinely upset he has to serve the Pro-Hero tonight.
His eyes are narrowed. “You drink this Heineken and you fucking leave.”
Katsuki goes to take a sip, confusion on his face as nothing comes out. He looks and notices the bottle cap is still screwed tightly, Chisaki not even having done the small courtesy of removing the cap for him. He grips it and sets of small sparking pops between his fingers, propelling the cap off on his own. “You have a really shitty attitude for someone that works in hospitality.”
Chisaki doesn’t miss a beat “You have a really murderous attitude for someone that’s a Pro-Hero.”
Ahhh, so that’s what it is? “Sounds like someone saw me on the news yesterday morning?” Katsuki says smugly.
Chisaki pulls a cigarette from his apron pocket and lights it, blowing smoke directly into the blonde’s face. “Don’t flatter yourself Dynamight. If you mean when I saw you try to murder that guy at the bank and get applause for it, then yeah I did.”
Katsuki lets the smoke circle around him as he immediately gets defensive. “That guy was a villain that held everyone at that bank hostage, and had bomb set to blow the place the fuck up, so yeah I think my behavior was more than fucking justified.”
”They showed the clips on the news, you tried to kill him.”
”Fuck if only, the commission doesn’t give me that much power” Katsuki lets out a deep sigh and takes a sip, watching as Deku gets in position with his guitar. He then ask Chisaki a very obvious question he probably already knows the answer to. “You got a problem with heroes or some shit?”
The cigarette dangles from the bartenders mouth, as he mixes drinks, shaking the stainless steel cocktail maker up and down at the speed of light “Only the self-aggrandizing ones that inflate their own importance, which is basically your entire fucking lot.” He pours the mixture into a martini glass, sliding it down the counter for another patron to catch.
“I also hate overgrown ass adults, that sniff around kids in their prime.”
Katsuki halts his drinking face slightly red from being called out. “I’m not..fucking-sniffing-“
”You know Deku had classes that ran late, which is why the show’s starting at 9:30 instead of 7pm. Classes. College classes. Something you can’t relate to cause you graduated like what-20 years ago?”
”I’m only 27 you piece of shit, you’re making it sound like I’m fucking 60 years old.”
“I was once told Heroes age in dog years so-“
”You bastard ass-“
”Don’t let Deku fool you” the bartender grabs the rag thrown over his shoulder, and begins wiping the counter, ineffectively removing any of the grime that’s permanently etched into the wood. “He doesn’t like heroes either, maybe even less than I do. He’s just way more polite about it and actually cares about not offending people.”
He scoffs in disbelief. Deku not liking heroes is fucking absurd. He definitely gave off star-stuck fan vibes during their first few interactions. Not to mention the few times he’s seen him, he’s sporting AllMight merch of some sort. “If that’s true, then why is he always wearing shit with AllMights face on it?”
Chisaki turns his back to him, washing cups and plates in the sink connected to the kitchen. He stops for a millisecond and looks over his shoulder at Katsuki but doesn’t speak. The blonde smiles to himself, feeling pride in getting the asshole to shut up. He drinks his beer languidly as the show finally starts. Guitar notes and drums setting a steady tempo and hyping up the crowd once more.
”See how the serfs work the ground”
”And they give it all they’ve got”
And you give it all you got”
”And we give it all we got”
”Till we’re do-own”
The girl performing with them, provides back up vocals to accompany Deku’s voice. And fuck- Deku’s voice is different tonight. It’s still smooth and airy, but he’s adding an extra edge into his singing. His voice sounds raspy and gravely at certain parts.
It’s masculine, it’s sexy and it does things to Katsuki- certain things.
“See how the brain plays arou-ou-ou-ound.”
”And you fall inside a hole you couldn’t see”
“And you fall inside a hole, inside a-“
”Someone help me”
“Understand what’s going on inside my mind.”
Deku’s up close to the microphone, hands strumming shakily on his guitar. Katsuki looks at Deku-actually looks at Deku for the first time tonight, and notices that his eyes are rimmed red, and swollen, and their starting to glass up, as if he’s about to cry again.
“Doctor I can’t tell if I’m not me”
The blonde hero feels unease, and worry swirl into one.
”See how I run from you”
”No, you’ll never understand”
”No you’ll never understand”
”No you’ll never, ever, ever understand”
Deku’s voice is slightly wavering, and Katsuki’s seen enough in his lifetime to know the kids on the verge of fucking tears. He wants to comfort him. A want that Katsuki hardly ever fucking feels. He’s not good with feelings-never has been and probably never will be. But he’ll do anything in this moment to stop those green doe eyes from looking like they’re about to pour out.
”See how I run from you”
”I’ll never, ever, ever understand”
”No, I’ll never, ever, ever understand”
”No I’ll never, ever, ever understand”
The song fades out into a haunting tempo, and the applause booms throughout the establishment. Deku gives a small sad smile and addresses the crowd. “Thank you guys for coming out tonight. You all know the drill. My friends Toga and Dabi will provide you with sick instrumentals and continue on with the show. Make the worst decisions and have a good night everybody.”
He turns his back to the stage, not even acknowledging the applause from the audience. He’s bandmates start up playing a punky-indie instrumental as he fumbles putting his guitar back into the case. Tears cascading down as clicks the locks, throwing the oversized and beat up case over his back. He leaves out of a back door near the stage-which Katsuki didn’t even notice they had and disappears.
Chisaki is busy with customers and taking orders. The hero reaches into his pocket, and leaves two 500 yen bills and silently dips. Hoping to catch up with Deku outside. He speed walks to the door, and leaves. Frantically looking around for any sign of the performer. The cold air bites his skin, snow is piled up in the alleyway and the only light is illuminating neons from other buildings. He walks a little bit, turning around and examing the entire alley, when he sees that tell-tale green hair and AllMight jacket retreat in the distance.
“Deku” he calls out following him down the alleyway in the snow. The younger boy stops in his tracks and turns around. The music from the bar down the alley is so loud, they can hear it muffled all the way out here.
Deku’s face is tomato-red. And he’s still crying. All snotty and sniffly. Looking exactly what Bakugou fears- like a scared kid. “What Mr. Dynamight?” His voice wobbles with frustration and his pouty lips quiver with each movement.
Bakugou must deep down, be some kind of sick, perverted freak because he still thinks Deku is as handsome, and beautiful and fucking enthralling as ever. Even when he’s blowing a small snot bubble from his nose.
“I-I’m sorry” Katsuki starts. They’re far enough down the alley and away from the bar that he’s feels more comfortable speaking. “I wasn’t trying to-to fucking ignore you or anything. I was gonna call, but Sero- you know Cellophane- the tape hero right?”
Deku just simply nods, still crying. Katsuki notices that he’s slowly distancing himself, putting space between them.
“He-um, he went into my stuff last week to look for something and he grabbed the cigarette you gave me and smoked it. He didn’t know what it was and I got so pissed at him for it. I wasn’t-trying to ignore you or ghost you on purpose on anything. I-I wanted to…call” Katsuki finishes lamely, voice dying out at the end of his stammering. It’s quiet for a moment, neither of them speaking. Deku still stares at him with that scared and bewildered look on his face.
“Is that it Mr. Dynamight?”
Katsuki looks at him “Are..are you okay?” He makes an effort to move towards Deku, but he jumps back as if he’s been shot. Katsuki feels that same unease as he realizes that Deku doesn’t want him to get any closer.
“Do you” Deku sniffles “Do you remember the guy the other day, the one you caught at the bank, and it was on the news?”
How could he fucking forget? That asshole helped push him into 6th place. “Yeah I remember him, it was amazing taking down that fucking dickhead”
Deku’s face contorts from sadness and confusion to full blown anger. “NO. It’s not “amazing”, I-I knew that guy Mr. Dynamight.”
Fuck
Fuck
“What do you mean you knew him?”
The performer’s eyes began watering again. “We were in the same Quirk Assistance program together. We were both supposed to get our supplementary certificates for highschool but on the day of the test he dropped out and never showed back up.” Deku wipes the fat tears from that threaten to spill from his eyes. Katsuki wants to wipe them for him. “He..had a lot going on at home, and I never heard from him again. Until…I saw him on the news the other day.”
Katsuki is speechless. Talk about 6 degrees of fucking separation. “We’re you guys close?”
”No..not necessarily, but I still considered a him a friend. And it kinda sucked seeing you beat him to a pulp on live TV. I’m sorry, I’m such an easy cryer, and when I saw you tonight it just-reminded me of that.”
Deku is sensitive Katsuki realizes. He’s crying and Katsuki has no fucking idea how to fix this because when civilians cry he just handles them awkwardly until someone more skilled in feelings in shit like Occhako or Mina can intervene.
Katsuki decided to approach best he knows how-with rational and common fucking sense.
“Deku…” The nerd looks up at him, giving him his undivided attention. It makes the Pro-Hero’s throat suddenly dry. “Not be a dick or anything but he blew up a fucking building.” Katsuki says incredulously, “Yeah he had a hard life or whatever but at the end of my day it’s my fucking job-“
”I know it’s your job!” Deku raises his voice, taking Katsuki back a because fuck it seems he’s taking every misstep possible with Deku tonight. “But it still hurts, I always get so sad around violence, it seemed you-you genuinely wanted him to die.”
”I didn’t- don’t want him die, I wanted him to learn his fucking lesson.” Katsuki says honestly, bluntly. “Don’t feel sorry and waste tears for some fucker you barely knew, one that was a goddamn danger to society at that.”
Bakugou feels like he just chose the wrong dialogue option again, because Deku gives him a look. One that’s never crossed his face in his very short time of knowing him. It’s not lust, it’s not excitement or playfulness or sadness it’s- its different.
Its disappointment.
“Don't ever talk to me again.” Deku says harshly through tears.
Hold on- “What-why? What the fuck did I do-“
“The fact that you have to ask that is enough. I saw you beat someone black and blue that I know! I had dinner with his family before, he got me a gift for secret Santa! I know it doesn’t matter to you, but it matters to me! I always thought when he disappeared he did something good with his life but…and to see you just..” Deku looks away from him and Katsuki hates it. He only wants those green eyes to focus on him and only him. “I thought getting to know you-I thought you would be different.. but you’re all the same.”
He doesn’t like heroes either, maybe even less than I do. The words echo around in Katsuki’s mind. Deku doesn’t trust him.
Katsuki tries to backtrack, and salvage whatever small connection they had previously. “Okay, I admit what I said was insensitive, and a little fucked up, but a crime is a crime I’m not budging on that. But, let me prove some shit to you- I’m not like other fucking Pros.” Katsuki hastily digs around in his coat and pulls out a notepad, scribbling down his phone number and ripping the paper out and hands it to him. The young boy looks at with confusion.
”W-Why do you wanna get to know me so bad. You can have anyone you want, why me?”
”Because-“ Because you’re beautiful, even when you cry, even when you’re mad at me, even when you ignore me. You’re something unique and I can feel it in my fucking bones. I’ve tried to ignore it but I can’t “Your fucking exhilarating.” Katsuki gasp out. Deku turns pink, this time not from frustration and anger, but from Katsuki’s bold confusion. “Th-thank you Mr. Dynamight, but I’m not taking your number.”
”It doesn’t have to be anything more than my number. You can take it home and wipe your ass with it if you want. But I want you to have it.”
Deku eyes him warily. He reaches out and grabs the paper as if it’s going to bite him, and then swiftly puts it in his pocket.
Deku eyes stares at him, and Katsuki all of a sudden feels naked. As if those green eyes are boring in the deep recesses of his soul.
”You’ll get bored of me.” Deku says with defiant certainty. “I’m exhilarating because I’m nothing like the people you surround yourself with. You’ll eventually get bored of me, and I know it.”
Katsuki opens his mouth to argue, and tell him that’s actually the probably the exact opposite of what will happen-
“You’re also in the closet. That much is obvious.” Ouch that fucking stung. “ I won’t tell anyone because I don’t care and neither does my friends. We all hate paparazzi and tabloids as much as you.” Deku pulls out a cigarette from his pocket, lights it and swiftly turns away.
Katsuki sees his opportunity. “Do you want me to walk you-“
The performer waves him off, hand waving in the air as he walks away. “No thank you Mr. Dynamight. Goodnight”
Katsuki watches him retreat, eventually disappearing and leaving him in the cold loneliness.
Notes:
Hey guys I feel like this chapter is kinda long lol. I wanted to make a playlist for it but I kinda like releasing the songs as the chapter comes along. And don’t worry we won’t be at the bar every chapter, just staging the characters and their dynamics! Let me know what you think🥺
Amelia~Joseph (Guest) on Chapter 1 Sat 06 Sep 2025 04:50AM UTC
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penguinz69 on Chapter 1 Wed 10 Sep 2025 08:00AM UTC
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Koinonkomon on Chapter 2 Fri 05 Sep 2025 09:45PM UTC
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penguinz69 on Chapter 3 Wed 10 Sep 2025 11:02PM UTC
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Dikii_Dako on Chapter 3 Thu 11 Sep 2025 09:01PM UTC
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