Monoma stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel on the rack and dried off before slipping back into his clothes. Now he had to deal with Album in the other room and he didn't know how to do that. Monoma was good at talking to people, great at it even. But Album was the only person he had no idea how to talk to.

With him, everything had always been so complicated. They'd gone from strangers to enemies quickly, and at first it had been simple. Album hated him and Monoma felt the same. Then Album made things weird by trying to be friendly and occasionally helping Monoma out. Then they'd both made things even weirder by kissing each other just a few days ago.

Now Monoma had no idea how to act. He knew he was supposed to have forgotten that kiss. But at the same time, how was he supposed to forget something like that?

Exiting the bathroom he padded into the main room. Album sat on the couch looking as awkward as Monoma felt. Still he pushed the awkwardness down because if he started acting awkward it would only make this more awkward.

This was his apartment after all, Album was the only one who should be feeling awkward. "Hey, so about today…" Monoma thought about what this conversation could turn into. It could be an apology but it was also equally likely this would turn into a fight. "I'm sorry about trying to pry into your life."

"You should be."

Monoma ground his teeth and opened his mouth to respond but Album cut him off, "Don't say anything. It's only gong to make me want to hit you more."

"More? You mean you already want to hit me!" Album didn't say anything but his expression told Monoma all he needed to know.

"You… you gorilla! I invite you in here and all you want to do is hit me. Can't your little brain think of anything other than violence!"

"Can't you think of anything other than insulting people and spouting shit, prying and trying to get under people's skin!"

"I don't do that!" Monoma knew that was a lie and Album knew it too.

Album stood up and was in front of him so fast Monoma had barely seen him move. He almost retreated backwards but stood his ground and glared up at Album. "Listen here, you better forget everything you heard today. I don't have time to babysit and get you out of trouble. But in case you forgot where I came from, it was the villains. Villains don't play nice and neither do I. So stay out of my way."

Monoma tried to calm his heart and smirked a little, "Is that a threat?"

"It's just better for everyone if you don't get involved, got it?"

"Well I don't really care what's better for everyone."

"It's better for you too."

"Are you warning me not to follow you on Friday? Is that what you have me back against the wall for?"

"Yes."

Monoma reached up and grabbed Album's collar, yanking him closer. He felt his own heart rate speed up even though he was in control here. "I dare you to make me stop."

Album's eyes narrowed but he remained silent for several minutes, "Act as tough as you want Monoma, but not even you can hide everything."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll admit your voice is pretty confident but your body betrays you."

"What are you…" Monoma hadn't noticed until Album said that but now he could feel his entire body shaking. And it wouldn't stop no matter how he tried.

"Just drop it, okay. My past life is none of your business anyway."

Monoma wasn't really paying attention to him anymore though. It wasn't fair. He tried to stop shaking, tried to stop thinking of that man's hands and how cold it had felt.

Monoma felt someone grab his hand and almost yanked it away before realizing it was only Album. "Look, you should just sleep. I have to get home anyway."

"Right." He murmured.

"And if you uh, need someone to talk to, I'm here." He said it so hesitantly and awkwardly and carefully too. As if now that he realized Monoma was still in pain one wrong move would destroy him.

And as much as Monoma felt that might be true right now, he also knew he was stronger than this and had faced worse too. He'd gotten through that though. Monoma would get through this too. "Oh um, okay."

"You're still shaking." Album mumbled.

"Thank you for that outstanding observation."

"Alright, whatever, I'm done with this, see you at school."

Monoma felt his heart skip a beat, "Wait!"

Album paused his advances toward the door and turned around with raised eyebrows. "Can you stay here for a little longer! Just a little."

Monoma hated being alone normally, he really didn't want to be alone right now though. "Please?"

Album sighed, "Fine, but just for a little bit, and you're also going to sleep asap."

"Okay, fine!" Monoma sat on the couch and then laid down. Album sat on the floor by the couch, his back facing Monoma. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Monoma broke it, "So, about what Ila was talking about today."

Album stayed silent.

"She was talking about this old school that you attended together. What happened there?"

"You just love pushing my buttons, don't you?" Album shook his head. "It's none of your business. Just leave it."

But Monoma didn't want to leave it. He just wanted to know because he was curious. Even though they'd known each other for a little while at this point, he realized he still knew next to nothing about Album. Meanwhile his life had been laid out in practically perfect story form for Album to read. "Come on, you know pretty much everything about me. It's my turn to know more about you. So why don't you just tell me a little."

"No, I don't have to tell you anything. Just because you're a moron that can't keep his secrets to himself—"

"—Yeah because you're a stalker."

"—Doesn't mean that I have to give up my life story."

"Aw, but don't you want me to know."

"What happened to you going to sleep?"

Monoma ignored his question and sat up, wrapping his arms around Album's neck, resting his chin on Album's shoulder. "After all that's happened I thought we had built some trust up."

Album snorted, "I trust you about as much as I trust a snake not to bite me if I step on it."

"Ouch." Monoma moved his head slightly to see Album's expression. He stared straight ahead, a little too stiff for the position to be natural. "Why so stiff, hun?"

Album finally craned his neck to stare into Monoma's eyes. "I'm trying to stop myself from punching you." Album growled.

Monoma only smirked, "Are you sure that's what you're doing. Or is there something else you're trying to hold back."

Album only glared and then turned back to stare at the wall intently. Monoma ran his hands down Album's arms, feeling goosebumps rise. He paused half way, breath catching in his throat. But he reminded himself that this was different. Because this time he was in control.

Album felt Monoma's hands hesitate for a moment before running further down until his hands were on Album's own. "What do you think you're doing?" Album murmured.

"Are you saying you don't like it?" Monoma's own voice had lowered to match Album's volume, almost unconsciously.

"Maybe I don't."

"Then why haven't you pushed me away?"

Album turned so he was facing Monoma, and Monoma withdrew his hands. They stared at each other for another couple minutes before Album smirked. "You want me that bad, huh."

Maybe Monoma should be angry with that comment but he wasn't. Instead he smirked too, "Everyone wants what they can't have."

"And what can't you have."

"You." Somebody that loves me.

"Is that why you're always hanging around me?"

"Maybe."

Album came closer, and Monoma could practically see the cogs turning in Album's head as he tried to figure out what Monoma's game was. But Monoma was too exhausted for games. The thing was, Album didn't trust Monoma, he'd known that. But at the same time it was quite the opposite for Monoma.

In a weird way Album was one of the people he trusted the most. In a weird way, he wasn't that upset that Album knew more about him in a couple weeks than most people knew about him in years. In a weird way, despite knowing trusting Album was only going to get him in trouble one day, he didn't really care.

Album wrapped his arms around Monoma's waist and brought him closer, but that was all. Neither of them moved in any further. "So you're not going to tell me about that school."

"No. I'm not." Album said bluntly.

Then Monoma would just have to find out himself.

There was another awkward silence until Monoma said, "So how's your family doing."

"I don't know why you care, but pretty good I guess. Much better now that you aren't blackmailing me." Album glared at Monoma.

Monoma bit his lip and shrugged. "If you're looking to get an apology out of me I'm afraid you're going to be sorely disappointed."

"I'm not looking for an apology I just thought you should know about the grief you caused all of us."

"Oh I know." Monoma smirked, Album didn't like the look in his eye.

"I'm pretty sure you're a psychopath or something."

Monoma looked hurt, but Album was slowly learning to see through his fake expressions, and knew Monoma didn't actually care. "I'm no psychopath. I just know the trouble I caused, and just don't really care." He shrugged.

"You should start learning to care." Album sneered. "If you can't bring yourself to care about others, don't expect for them to care about you."

Monoma actually did bristle at that. "Why should I care? It's not like they did anything for me."

"Maybe that's because you pushed them away whenever you got the chance, isn't that right?"

"Oh don't lecture me!" Monoma stood up and retreated back to the corner of the couch. "It's not like your such a people person. You're so closed off, people can't even attempt to get close to you unless they want to get frozen solid."

"I don't do that!"

"Oh yes you do! Yes you do, you do it all the time! You do it to Midoriya, Uraraka, and all your other classmates. Hell, you even hold Ila at a distance and isn't she supposed to be your stupid childhood friend or something. It doesn't get much closer than that. But if you two are 'close' I feel sorry for whoever your consider your friends!"

"You're just getting angry at me because what I told you was the truth."

"Yes I am angry, because you're absolutely right okay! I do push people away every chance I get. Because it's better not to have something at all than to lose it! But you can't sit there and deny the truth. That's as good as lying."

"Oh yeah and you would know all about that, wouldn't you? You're always sneaking around a lying about stuff!"

"Maybe, but at least I can admit things to myself. You can't even do that. Not to mention you're one to talk." Monoma let out a bout of forced laughter, "You're entire life is one big, fat lie!"

"I'm just doing what it takes to survive!"

"Yeah?" Monoma grabbed the collar of his shirt and yanked him forward. "Well so. Am. I." then he released Album's collar.

"Oh yeah, well does surviving include chase scenes in dark alleys that end with you nearly getting…" Album paused, "you know."

Yes he did, but only sent a withering look toward Album. "Well I'm still alive aren't I? So it doesn't really matter."

They both fell silent again, tension deescalating. Monoma bit his lip to try and stop the words from tumbling out but he couldn't. "I was so scared." And he hated the shake of his voice, and hated how it came out as barely a whisper. Monoma felt tears gather in his eyes and a burning lump in the back of his throat, but he forced that down. He'd already cried in the shower so he wouldn't have to do it here.

"I know." Monoma stiffened when he felt Album's arms wrap around his body, but slowly relaxed after a few moments.

Monoma rested his head on the other's chest and listened to him breathe. This situation right now felt entirely wrong, but at the same time it felt completely right too.

He didn't let himself think about it too deeply. He was too exhausted to keep awake for much longer anyway. And Monoma begrudgingly admitted that Album was warm.

So he closed his eyes and slept.

A/N Woohoo lets party in honor of our twentieth chapter and the fact that tomorrow is Monoma's birthday! Let's go! Hope you enjoyed, reviews are love!