The World Changes: Mom and Dad.
It all started with a dream. A dream of a young boy in a walker. Fatherless, but with a family that loved him, he rose to be the first winner of the UA Sports Festival with a disability of his kind. Fearless! Undaunted! With a limitless smile and gallows humor by the bucketload… he became something more…
He became such a sleepyhead! He was so cute all wrapped up in a blanket! He shifted, his hand hitting me on the face gently.
"Mm… shuddup… sweepytime for… mmeeeee…" he mumbled, I pulled out my phone.
'Ehehehe… priceless!' I thought, seeing him open his eyes.
"Momo… I had a bad dream… that… that we… were in a fantasy world… an' I… I was like a… half-robot thing? An' you were a warrior princess that beat the shit outta me…" he mumbled, "The only reason why I didn't wake up was 'cause I didn't want to wake you up…"
Awwww! He's so considerate! I hugged him and he started to shake a little, then the waterworks started, "I just was sooo scarrrreeeeeddddd! I mean a building fell on me and the fried potato looked into my mind and saw you and I lost it and I broke my legs and I… I… HUWAHHHHHHHHH!" he sobbed, "I just wanted to be a hero, why'd I go and get myself captured?!"
I held him, "There there, sweetie… it's okay…" I soothed, he buried his face into my chest, shaking even more now.
"N-no… No, it's not… I… I almost… went out," he whispered, "I'm so stupid…"
I remembered that he was scared of being lost in dark spaces. He must've been so scared… He clung to me tightly, "I… I… Want to burn even brighter! So you know what?! I'm gonna do just that! I'll change this world! Just watch me! I'll wipe my tears!" he vowed, sparking and firing up, winking out once he realized that he was hungry.
"I'll get somethin' ready, you sit tight, alright? I won't be long!" he chirped. I could only imagine what his mind could be going through. I heard pans clinking and something sizzling. He was working, but… I could tell that he was still fighting something.
His insane drive to become stronger was obsessive. But…
It wasn't just a goal. It wasn't just a dream. It was something to show. Something to prove… to someone who never sees how beautiful he is. How much a miracle he is. How much he sacrificed. Who never saw what they had…
Just like my father never saw what he had, too. If he hadn't gone out on that patrol... he'd be here right now, probably wondering why Renaru was here, or why I was bandaged around my stomach and chest. I saw a note stuck to the door frame that I ignored from before. Mostly because Renaru had me in his arms and we just settled in for the night.
It was from my mother.
Momo,
Something came up at work, and I have to go out for the weekend… I hope that your little boyfriend can forgive our past disagreements, I was too blinded by my protectiveness over you that I didn't see how much you loved him. I haven't been the most model parent, and I hope that you two end up happily married or something similar.
Sincerely,
Your Mother.
P.S. Make sure you two don't make a mess.
I heard something crash and an audible, "FUCKING SHITTY ASS MUG!"
I quickly went over to the kitchen, seeing Renaru trying to balance a bunch of plates in his hands and arms, one of the mugs fell and shattered, and he was tentatively shuffling around the shards. He had a small smile.
"Sorry… I didn't… was this mug important?" he asked.
"I'm rich, as long as it wasn't the bone china…" I assured him, seeing that he wasn't using it for the plates. But… then I saw that the mugs and saucers WERE bone china! I sighed heavily.
"Yes, that mug was a one-of-a-kind part of a rare set… Mother's going to kill me…" I sighed.
"Can't you just recreate it? You can create rafts and stuff, right?" Renaru asked, hope dazzling in those eyes of his, one ringed with a crack-like scar. I smiled.
"You're right, let me help you first though, you're a little klutzy…" I huffed, taking a set into the dining area, it wasn't the formal one, but… that wasn't the problem. Renaru was sheepishly putting the shards into a dustpan, his cheeks crimson.
"I always mess up that kinda thing… I jus' wanted to see ya be impressed a little bit, y' know? You've seen me be a hero and a regular dude, but this was gonna be a surprise that I carried it all to the table without it all breakin' on me," he mumbled, crossing his unladen arms and pouting.
"Now I messed it up… an'..." he was cut off by...
'Just another HERO!' his phone went off… he pulled it out and put it on speaker.
"The fuck do you guys want?" he snarled.
"Hey! How are things?" Sero's voice said.
"Uhm… things are… fine…" Renaru mumbled, looking at me and mouthing, 'Get to the table.'
"Did you guys… you know… storm the castle?" Denki supplied.
"What the fuck? What're you guys doing?" he wondered.
"Take a listen!" Denki said, in the background, I could hear shifting weights and his brother howling like a banshee.
Since I was on speaker, Momo could hear everything. I sighed and listened to them prattle on until…
"So… here's the deal… we wanna know one thing and one thing only…" Denki wondered, "This is from your brother, and you gotta answer… Is there… gonna be a… Lil' Renmo baby?"
"WHAT?! H-HELL NO! I MEAN…. EVENTUALLY?! HOW THE FUCK DO I… UGH!" I screeched.
"Bad news, Bakugou! You ain't gonna be an uncle!" Sero yelled.
In the back, I could hear weights slam down and heavy breathing dominated the phone, "Listen, that's good, but Ma wanted to know… also… uh… we got a Code Hurricane... so stay with Momo until the weekend's over…" he warned. I went pale and looked over to Momo.
"Momo… if we have to go down to the station, please hold me back," I mumbled.
"Why?" she asked.
"Momo… do as I say because I can detonate a whole city block, just take me nowhere near home," I said, "My Dad's trying to insert himself again, and you gave my mom the bat," I sighed.
"So… I've been meaning to ask you this, baby… but what's up with you and your dad?" she ventured as we ate, I stopped.
"My dad left my mom when she was pregnant with us… Katsuki replaced him and… well, here I am, one hell of an Endeavor fan without a person to call my dad…" I huffed, "At least you knew yours…"
Momo nodded slowly, her little bang bobbing along with the motion, "I have a little bit of a surprise for you, Ren, close your eyes," she said, I shut them and she put something into my hands. I didn't know what it was, but when I opened my eyes, I just about exploded into sparking joy.
They were tickets…. To a special gala? What? I was happy that it was something I wasn't too excited about until I saw the guest list stapled on the back.
Bakugou Masaru was there in big ol' fine print! "My mother can't make it, so I'm going in her stead. You're my plus one… so we have to get another suit for you… in fact… I made one for you," she said, "Of course… I have your measurements down pat!" she giggled, making me almost cough up my water.
"You had to say that?!" I gasped.
"Of course I have a very… intimate knowledge of them, of course, I never told any of the other girls…" she cooed at me, her teasing smile making me go beet red.
"Uhhh…" I mumbled, "Let's move on!" I snapped.
"No one's around…" she muttered.
"Oho! But I know your sizes! Should I tell Mineta?" I taunted.
"No! Please don't…" Momo sighed.
"I won't… but… what're we going to do?" I ventured.
"Well… I was thinking we could reveal that you're his illegitimate son, you told me your mother and father weren't married when they had you two, so… Does he think his reputation matters? Let's show him what you are now," Momo suggested, "You're becoming one of the most popular aspiring heroes of our generation, many people just want you to skip training and jump right in,"
"Do they realize that I had a fucking BUILDING dropped on me?!" I snarled.
"No, but...just imagine it. Me, hanging on your arm, escorting me into that room, a dazzling smile on your face, seeing your dad just… realize he made a mistake leaving your mother... then we dance and you're grinning like a madman," she sighed wistfully, "Then… I don't know…"
She grabbed my hand, "Maybe… something even more special?" she proposed, smiling cheekily. I gulped at the insinuation. She grinned and kissed me.
I hated this. I officially hated this. Not only did I have to be shoved into a white suit that I didn't like the color of, but I had to grin and bear it. When we got there, I was already pissed off, because I knew HE would be there.
Momo didn't wear the same dress as she did at I-Island. It was a dark blue, bringing out her eyes a little more, and it hugged her body close. She wore her hair down, curled too. When we got in the door, we felt someone come up behind us.
"Madame Yaoyorozu!" a voice called. We turned and saw Yuga standing there, his smile wide and him shining, "Salut, Monsieur Bakugou!" he greeted warmly.
"Well… hey," I said, seeing Todoroki out of the corner of my eye, looking like he didn't want to be here. He saw me and made a beeline for me.
"So, you're here too?" he asked.
"Dad?" I asked.
"Yeah, the old man's a workaholic…" he griped.
"Well… I don't know mine… and I'm here to make him see me," I said, "I want him to know that I made my way here to tell him that I won't ever let him go again, he'll face Mom and Katsuki and I… I don't give a damn about his rep," I snarled.
He left my mom. He left me and Katsuki. He willingly did that. He wasn't FORCED. I saw him, talking it up with his rich friends. I drank some water, taking a step forward, another and another, marching angrily, muscling through the crush of bodies.
I pushed so hard. I trained and fought. I almost DIED. He has no right to disappear and reappear like Mom never remembered. I felt myself stop, barely even across the room. I shut my eyes, opened them, seeing him, seeing my dad across the room, Momo grabbed me, pulling me into her arms and pulling me back from my past.
I forced myself back, I was so close to ruining him. All those father's days, all those valentine's days. All those birthdays wondering where he was. All those times I wished he'd be there for anything I did. Yet… I realized something…
I…
I…
I didn't need him. I didn't need him. What I needed was something else. All For One saw my innermost self. The scared little boy in the walker, scarred and beaten, the scared little boy fighting for his life. Scared and beaten. Tempered by the world through struggle and anger.
I…
I…
I saw him look up, I saw him look up and make eye contact, and I turned to Momo, the girl I never deserved. Why did she love me? She smiled.
I knew. Our fathers didn't matter. Yet, when I turned, something told me to not move. Something told me to try. Something told me to talk to him. Something felt raw, something felt hurt. The void in my heart wasn't filled.
It was hurting… it was hurting me. I was so scared, so scarred up by all the times I broke. So hurt. So painful and dead. I felt like I was a footnote. An afterthought. Slapped together, born broken and born strong.
Mend it. Fix it. At least one of us has to. I led Momo with me, my eyes shut, and I took a deep breath.
Fix it.
Be the hero. Be the one who tried. Be the one… be the one who still has his light on, be the one who waited so long for him. I saw his face light up in a smile, and I realized…
I smiled like him.
"Hey…" I greeted. He smiled and walked to stand right across from me, a smile on his face, and I found myself looking down.
"Renaru…" he breathed, "I know I wasn't around… but, I'm… I'm… sorry," he admitted.
"I was never there. I was never there to help, or ever see you grow… I'm not just saying this… you're… you… and I'm me. Ren, I… I regret ever CONSIDERING leaving you and your brother, your mother gave me one hell of a wake-up call," he sighed, yanking me into his arms, and…
I broke, in this party, in this suit, fighting so hard to see him. Fighting so hard and…
"I regret ever leaving you. I regret it all… When I heard about Kamino Ward… when I heard that you got hurt… when I heard you were fighting for your life… I realized how much better of a man you are than me, I ran, I ran from the ones I loved… my parents, my… my wife… my sons," he sighed, putting his arm around my shoulders.
I cried. I'm admitting it.
He took me outside with Momo following quietly behind, she calmed me down.
"So… let's talk, I see you brought your girlfriend with you!" he said, his grin so much like mine… I was almost a carbon copy aside from being more like my mom than him.
"Yeah," I said.
"To tell you the truth, Mr. Bakugou, I thought he was going to wipe the floor with you. I was thinking he was going to, but…" she faltered, nuzzling me, "He's pretty tame…"
Dad coughed, smirking, "So…"
"Don't ask," I snarled.
"Ten-four, son," he said.
He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, "I'm proud of you, y' know,"
"You're not just saying that, right?" I asked.
"I would be lying if I said yes," He said. "If I had another chance to talk to your mother and make things right, I would in a heartbeat. It's just… I don't think it'll be easy without causing any destruction to the household, let alone me making it out alive."
"Ahh… I'd say you'd be in danger," I sighed, "Not just from Mom or Katsuki… I mean… you've seen what kinda connections I've got, right? If I cry around any of them… they'd be on me faster than light, Momo here is one of them… I have two others, I got my buddy Fatgum, and I got Miss Midnight,"
"Lemme guess, you have the Pussycats on speedial?" he asked.
"I do," I said.
Dad laughed, "Wait, you're serious?" he asked.
"Deadly," Momo chimed in.
"Man, remind me not to make you mad…" he chuckled, "Don't try to force your mother or brother to come around, let them come around on their own time, okay? You don't have to force it," he assured.
I smiled, "Sure," I agreed.
We spent the rest of the night dancing and having a good time… I did something odd though, I don't remember what, but Momo was laughing. Turns out I got a little too excited and blew up the champagne tower.
Party hard as they say. Now I was a bit woozy from the blast I used.
Pretty soon, we got home. Momo was laughing as I sloppily kissed her, "Ren… calm down! Seriously, baby…" she sighed.
"What? Yer pretty! Can't I kiss the woman I love?" I asked.
"Renaru, you're a little… messy…" she sighed.
"Messy? Messy? The only one who was messy was Yuga… holy FUCK was he messy… fuckin' gaudy-ass suit…" I snarled.
Momo and I landed on her bed, my shirt was off and I curled up against her, "At least I got some closure…" I sighed. Momo looked so good… she was so pretty all laid out in her bed, it was way bigger than any bed I've ever been in and…
Oh?
Oh… she's… OH NO! Okay, I can handle her when she's normally… frisky, but she just broke out something I didn't ever want her to…
"NOOOOOOO! YOU'RE GONNA RUIN THAT FOR ME?! NOOOO! Uh-uh! We're NOT stooping to Miss Midnight's levels of kinky!" she… broke out the peanut butter…
NO.
I am NOT gonna have PTSD from goddamn PEANUT BUTTER. I felt her hand steer me down to her chest and she held me.
"Let's just cuddle. I'm tired, you're tired… Just sleep, okay?" she mumbled, looking a little disappointed.
I was stuck all night in my room, barricading myself for safety. Mom was going insane in the other room. The minute 'Whiplash' by Metallica came on the stereo, I knew to run for cover. I was stuck with Kirishima and the two idiots.
"Ro!"
"SHAM!"
"BO!"
"What in the hell are you guys doing?" I asked.
"We're roshamboing to see who gets eaten first…" Kaminari sighed, "I'm losing,"
Fuck, Mom has a song that calms her down and makes her cry, "Sero, use the Roomba," I said.
"HAAH! My child?! Why?!" he gasped.
"Do you WANT TO LIVE?!" I yelled.
Sero looked down at the little black vacuum bot and sighed, "My son…" he sighed.
"There's only one song that reminds her of the good days, other than Renegade, but Ren's too busy with his girl… So here we go…" I sent the little guy out, and the Roomba puttered out, with the speaker taped to it. Mom turned to it, her eyes narrowed, hearing that odd skeleton-make upped guy with the pope outfit belting out a song that I remembered when I was little, Renaru, Mom and I laying on the couch, with Ren curled between us.
Mom sank and the guys rushed out, leaving me with Mom. She was crying. Mom took Dad coming back HARD. If her bat-swinging rage was any indication. "Katsuki… call your brother… I wanna have both of ya here," she sighed.
"Mom, it's ten at night…" I sighed.
"So?"
When I called him, he answered and when he did, "Katsuki, not right now dude… I'm tired…" he yawned.
"Mom wants you home," I said.
He finally got home in a soaked suit and he smiled, "Hey mom, hey Katsu…" he sighed, we noticed a lot of bruises around his neck. He heard the song playing and settled down next to us.
"Tonight's your last night home…" Mom sighed, "I want both of you to know… I'm so proud of you both… my little Renegade and my little Battery…"
"No matter what happens, if you need me… I'll be here, I promise," she said, holding us close. I was oddly at ease.
Renaru smiled at us and closed his eyes. He seemed pretty at ease. We just laid there on the couch, this was our last night at home. We fell asleep to the sounds of that odd band and forgot our troubles. We were the Bakugou Family, Mom, Me, and Ren. Nothing could ever change that.