Spring had come and with it a new set of challenge for UA High's many heroes. Each student of 1A was to be assigned personalized missions tailored to their weaknesses. A partner was randomly assigned to each, in hopes to both help the young heroes overcome obstacles and work as a team. A sigh left Aizawa's lips however, as his class had an infamously uncooperative hero. "What you need to work on is your stealth…and cooperation" he spoke to the young Bakugo. The teachers of UA were one of the few authority figures he respected enough to keep silent for. Though Bakugo's intrinsic weakness were known to him it was seldom that they were addressed. His physical prowess and battle instinct were akin to genius but everything else left much to be desired.
"In this line of work you're going to be in situations where you need to tail criminals, monitor situations, and work with other heroes. Frankly, you're the worst in class when it comes to keeping a low profile." Aizawa handed him a folder. "Uraraka will be joining you to assist. The goal is to retrieve a painting from the Musutafu Museum of Art." He coughed. A man of few words, he felt his limit surpassed and took his leave from the classroom.
Though it did not take long for an annoyance to sprout. "Bakugo," chimed an airy voice that could only come from a round face. "We should set up a plan," Uraraka spoke from the hallway looking into the classroom. The folder in Bakugo's hand quickly burnt to a crisp and left smoke and dust in its wake. Upon his handsome countenance formed his signature grin, beaming with arrogance. "Shut the hell up round face," he barked.
"I'll just barge in and take this shit off the wall." Much to Uraraka's dismay, he was already proving uncooperative. "Jeez Bakugo, you'll trip every alarm in the place. Even if you took off the power the security would identify you by your quirk." Uraraka took a seat in the classroom. Though Bakugo grumbled there was not much he could do to deny the truth.
Assuming him too prideful to ask her ideas she proposed it to save his pride. "The best hiding spot is in a crowd." She nodded enthusiastically, as if having figured it all out. "So let's go to the exhibit together!" Unlike him she had already taken the time to read over their mission. "The painting we're after is called "'War and Peace'", by the famous Italian artist Baracelli. The best time to take it would be night because we can use the cover of darkness to make our escape."
Uraraka had her own reservation about this mission but kept silent. What was the purpose of heroes committing a villainous act? And what could she hope to glean from such a nefarious endeavor? Though with a partner like Bakugo she lacked the time or patience to unravel such mysteries.
Bakugo knew her idea was practical. And if proving he could restrain himself in public was a key part of the mission, blending in with the crowd would provide a fruitful opportunity to prove himself. "Tch, fine. Whatever." He folded his arms and kicked his legs atop his desk. "I'll meet you at the damn museum at 8." Uraraka shook her head in disapproval. "The best way to make it in without causing a scene is to look like a couple. We should go together. And the exhibit it at 9." She was reluctant to pose the question but it was necessity. "B-Bakugo…have you ever been to an art exhibit before?"
He hung his head in silence. "Hmph, of course! It was a fiel-" Uraraka felt the need to interject. "I mean for leisure." He furrowed his brow curiously. Who the hell goes to museums for fun!? Much less, what hero would go to a museum for leisure!? "No," Bakugo responded curtly, somewhat bewildered by her question. Uraraka rested her head in her palm. "WH-WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM!?" his usual anger swelled. Shaking her head to recover she made it quite clear what was to be expected of him. "Bakugo…make sure you wear a suit. Think of it as a date. Hmm…or better yet, think of it as a different kind of battle! Hee hee," she grinned in hopes the comparison would calm down his infamous temper.
"Hmph, all this trouble to steal something we could yank off the damn wall." In truth he wished to carry out his missions the same way All Might did. Epic introductions, overwhelming dominance, and bad ass victory poses! Engaging in a romantic deception did not sit well with him, but this was another obstacle on his path to supremacy. He spat in derision. "Fine." Uraraka was taken aback. "I…uh…really!?" He had gone along with the plan! "Alright, I'm looking forward to it!" Perhaps things would proceed smoother than she thought.
When the sun slipped beneath the horizon and evening had come, under starlight and spotlight the girls of 1A gathered to transform and observe Uraraka from lovable airhead to the kind of high class, sophisticated woman that attends art exhibitions at night. "Actually, there's a lot of drunk people at these things" Momo was quick to shatter the ideas her classmates had about evening galleries. "If not enough people are interested, owners will provide free wine and food to entice people to come." Ashido frowned. "Way to take away the magic, Momo." Jirou merely laughed in amusement. Though she appreciated the arts it was quite unlike her love of music.
"I think it's fine," Uraraka was quick to interject. "It may just be a mission. But still…dressing up, and going with a hero to a museum!" She squealed the way only a teenage girl could. "It's definitely on my high school bucket list." It was hard to hide her enthusiasm. "But a mission is a mission! And that piece will definitely be ours." Her sweet smile was unprepared for the horrors the evening would entail.
Not even a knock and his presence was known: "Round face, haul your ass out here already!" It was a tone to turn the mood sour. Momo sighed in annoyance. "Good luck. I think you'll need it." Clad in the armor of a strapless, lavender evening gown the would-be thief approached her date. A tall, broad shouldered and athletic youth, with explosive hair and passionate crimson eyes–––it would be easy to mistake him for devilishly handsome. Unfortunately for Bakugo his mouth was infamous on its own.
It did not matter how charming her hair bounced as she walked, nor her lovely form shone in every step, nor the twinkle in her eyes of innocence and youth. There would be no compliment. What mattered is what he could gain from this opportunity. He grinned not for Uraraka but the goal: Bakugo would be the best! To her however the way his eyes bulged with excitement was more menacing than inspiring. "A-Ah….Let's get going then." Though the unease in her voice was not lost upon Bakugo he could not find the right words. Into night they stepped.
Distant but close the young Uraraka did her best to walk beside him. Bakugo's strut was intimidating in its own right. Even in a suit his hands were buried in his pocket. His legs heaved upon the earth as mammoths. The expression worn upon his countenance was downright villainous. It called to mind images of a stereotypical yakuza–––criminal–––gangster! Mentally they might as well have been in different universes. He was itching for a fight. A chance for measure, to grow and impress. Someone's ass was getting kicked tonight. In contrast her mind slipped elsewhere, to different waters. "Izuku…" she whispered nonchalantly.
Hearing the name Bakugo's ears instinctively perked up in annoyance. Laughter spilled from her maw. Even if she was posing as his date, Midoriya nerves probably would have made the situation equally calamitous. "Hey," his voice spoke dark and threatening. His strong back towards her. "WHAT'S SO DAMN FUNNY" his signature roar, with the addition of embers flickering from his maw. "E-EEH" she squeaked. As usual his intensity proved overwhelming. "W-Well it's nothing. I just thought of a joke I heard earlier. Something Jiro said…about stop signs!" Uraraka improvise to save herself. Their walk continued in awkward silence till their destination had emerged.
A building of stone, cold and grey–––erect high in the sky. Elongated windows were stylishly placed in its modern construction, and light spilled from its interior. The art exhibit had attracted much attention. Its glass doors were held open by valets, permitting entry to the dignified personages that were in attendance. The city's mayor, its upper echelons, young lovers, art enthusiasts, socialites, a cavalcade of beings glamorously dressed. There was money in that building. And where one would find money, they would find evil.
She knew their cover would crumble before even crossing the street. Uraraka's heart skipped a beat. She immediately tugged at Bakugo's arm, wrapping her own around his in an embrace. "Wh-what the hell are you doing!?" he barked out much to her expectation. "Bakugo. I don't like it either!" Uraraka spoke clearly. "But we really need to sell this cover. S-So…just for a bit. Please." Uncomfortable. Inexperienced. Women were a whole other world. Kicking her ass again was far more preferable than having her latched onto his arm so intimately. "Tch," he spat in derision. But he did not free himself from her grip, allowing for a brief moment the delusion they came as a couple to continue.
"Tickets please," the attendant beckoned at the entrance. While Uraraka handed them over with a disarming smile, the villainous mug of Bakugo once more sent tremors running down their spines. And thus they embarked into the lofty museum for a night of thievery and intrigue.
/Apologies for an errors! I wrote this during a lack of sleep so many probably escaped my notice. If you enjoyed it, please look forward to chapter 2!