"Thank you both for helping me with everything!" Nen offered as she brought more trash to the kitchen where Kirishima and Bakugo were cleaning.
"Hey, no problem!" Kirishima said as he finished rinsing out glasses. "We did kinda insist."
"I didn't want to be here!" Bakugo shouted as he shoved trash into the trash bag angrily and then tied it angrily before picking it up angrily. Nen wasn't quite sure how he managed to take out the trash so angrily, but he managed. Kirishima dried his hands and moved to meet Bakugo at the front door. The two started putting their shoes on.
"You sure you're gonna be ok on your own tonight?" Kirishima asked her. She smiled and nodded.
"Of course! I am usually on my own, so tonight will be no different!" Nen explained.
"Well yeah, but what about your creepy stalker guy?" He asked and Nen just looked at him confused. "He waited and followed you after school. Guys like that tend to cause trouble."
"I don't think he's followed me all the way home did he?" She asked nervous. She hadn't really thought about it much. Bakugo cracked the door open and looked outside before closing it again.
"He's standing at the corner." Bakugo reported calmly.
"Wait, what?" Nen and Kirishima echoed.
"You mean he's still here?" Kirishima asked, startled. "Damn, guy's persistant."
"He followed me home?" Nen asked.
"Wait, you didn't notice?" Kirishima asked her.
"Both of you, shut up." Bakugo told them forcefully. "What's his quirk?" Bakugo asked her as he threw his back pack on.
"He's an electricity user." Nen told him.
"Lock your doors and windows." Bakugo pulled out his phone and texted something. Shortly after Nen heard her phone buzz on the counter. "I live a couple blocks away. If he gives you any trouble call me, I'll scare him off." Nen just stared at him, startled at the kindness. Bakugo screwed up his face. "What the hell are you staring at?"
"Oh," Nen blushed, embarrassed for being so rude. "Nothing. I just- thank you." She stammered. Bakugo picked up the bag of trash and grabbed the door again.
"Whatever, let's go." He said and walked out the door. Kirishima followed and smiled at Nen, giving her a quick wink, confusing her further. The door shut and she locked it and leaned against it. What just happened?
"Dude, what was that?" Kirishima asked his friend as Bakugo tossed the bag of trash into the dumpster
"What was what?" Bakugo asked as he walked away, keeping Hideo in his peripherals.
"You were like, being super protective of Nen!" Kirishima pointed out. "What's up with that? You're usually all mean to everyone."
"Think about it, dumbass." Bakugo told him quietly with his firm tone. "He's already tried to grab her. Right now she's defenseless."
"Oh yea." He said absent mindedly.
Nen tried to sleep, she really did, but the thought of Hideo right outside her door kept her up. She tossed and turned for hours before she gave up and moved to the living room. She turned on the tv and settled on watching the news. It was the same news as earlier in the day and it was the right kind of boring. Slowly but surely, Nen was able to fall asleep on the couch. Only to be startled awake after what felt like a few minutes by forceful knocking on the door. Nen was startled and stumbled off the couch as tmhe knocking continued.
"Nen, answer the damn door!" An angry voice shouted and Nen groggily stumbled to the door and yanked it open, recognizing the voice. Bakugo stared at her, scowl on his face as Nen's eyes struggled to adjust to the light. "What the hell are you doing? You're not even ready yet?" He shouted at her.
"What?" She mumbled. Bakugo shoved her inside and closed the door.
"Go get dressed, damnit!" He shouted at her, pushing her more inside. Nen stumbled down the hall to her bedroom, Bakugo staying in the living area. "If we're late I'm gonna kick that creepy stalker's ass, then I'm gonna kick yours!"
"I'd like to see you try, you angry fire cracker." Nen shouted back. "Stop yelling! I'm too tired."
"I'd squash you like a bug and you know it!" He shouted at her from the other end of the apartment. Nen heard swearing and things being banged around in the kitchen as she pulled on her uniform as best as she could with one hand. She didn't have time to brush her teeth or comb her hair but she managed to swipe on some deodorant and grab a headband. She shoved it on her head and walked down the hall, one of her socks already falling down her leg. She stopped and pulled it back up as best as she could and when she stood up she looked at the kitchen area and saw Bakugo shoving something into his blazer pocket. "What the hell are you staring for?"
"What are you doing in my kitchen?" Nen asked and he shooed her towards to door, his face screwed up angrily.
"Quit talkin' and grab your shit!" He shouted at her and she slipped on her shoes and threw her bag over her good shoulder. They stumbled out into the new day and Nen was still struggling with the sudden time adjustment. Just moments ago it was barely three in the morning.
Once she got outside and locked her door, Bakugo grabbed her good wrist firmly but carefully and took off running, dragging her along, pulling her down the steps and down the street. She'd been awake for maybe ten minutes and she was starting to really wake up and realize what was happening. They had to catch the train. Energized by a sense of urgency, Nen picked up her speed and ran next to Bakugo. As she did so, he released her and the two booked it to the station, running down the sidewalk, dogging other pedestrians. As they arrived at the station, they ran past the people and up the escalator onto the platform, leaping onto the crowded train as the doors started to close.
The two students jostled against some passengers, earning dirty looks but the crowd adjusted and the two grabbed onto a handle as the train jerked, making Nen bump into Bakugo ever so slightly. For the briefest of moments, her back was flush against his chest and she could not only feel his warmth, but she could feel the muscles under his skin flexing to adjust his grip to keep them both standing. It took a few seconds of adjusting to the train's sudden speed before she could move away from him, but even then, the crowd kept her extremely close to him. Nen thanked the stars she was facing away from him. Now he couldn't see her blush.
What is with today? She asked herself. First Bakugo comes to get her for school which was incredulous enough as it was. Since when did he care? Why did he stop by? Then he grabs her wrist and runs with her to the train. Now she was practically pressed against one of the cutest but most unavailable boys in her class. Luckily for Bakugo, Nen wasn't able to see the slightest hint of discomfort on his own face as he got a wiff of her shampoo. He could smell the vanilla and he'd be lying if he didn't like feeling her so close. She was annoying and happy but she was also one of the more level headed and grounded of the class. Nen wasn't as much of a pain to be around and he hated to admit it, but she was damn good to work with in a fight, not that he needed help.
"Sorry." She told him over her shoulder, catching his attention. "I can't move, there's too many people." He didn't respond, not trusting his voice. As the train neared its next stop, it started to decelerate quickly and roughly, making Bakugo lean forward, bumbing against her. Out of reflex his hand reached out and steadied himself but Nen froze as she felt his hand on her side as he pressed against her back. As the train slowed and came to a halt, the people began to push and shove, squishing the two closer as people tried to exit. "Sorry, Bakugo." She apologized again, trying to ignore his steadying hand. For a brief moment, Nen was able to shuffle forward, giving them enough breathing room and she started to turn to look at him, wanting to see if he was visibly upset and the violation of personal space but as she turned, people flooded onto the train and she was jostled closer and closer to Bakugo until they were uncomfortably close. Nen flushed red and worried she was redder than Kirishima's hair. Bakugo closed his eyes and inhaled, trying to calm himself. Funnily enough, the vanilla that set him off, also was somewhat comforting. When he opened his eyes, he saw Nen looking and reaching up, trying to grab a new handle with her good hand. Someone had taken hers. Bakugo heard a ding, signaling the doors were closing and wrapped an arm around her torso, pressing her close, her chin falling against his shoulder. The train jolted and he kept them upright, his hand still on his own handle. He felt Nen's arms wrap around him out of reflex to steady herself as the train picked up speed. "Sorry, sorry." She kept muttering and she tried to pull away but he kept her close.
"Shut up." He told her quietly in his frustrated tone. "Just shut up and hang on, we're almost there anyway." Bakugo explained, being sure not to shout in her ear. Nen did as he told her and hung on, her good arm wrapped around his waist. The train rocked and the two swayed with the crowd and Bakugo kept them upright. Nen started to feel the exhaustion from the lack of sleep creeping in, which was only made more difficult as she noticed she could smell that burnt sugar again.
"So," Nen spoke quietly, trying to break the awkward silence. "How are classes going for you?"
"Fine." He told her bluntly. Nen frowned a bit. He isn't making this any easier.
"Not that I'm not grateful," She started, "but why did you stop by this morning."
"That stalker guy hung around even after we left." Bakugo told her nonchalantly. "Saw him again this morning. I'm not just gonna let a loser like that pick off one of Class 1-A." Nen was touched by his thoughtfulness, trying to ignore how creepy Hideo was behaving.
"Aw, my hero." Nen teased and yawned.
"Idiot!" Bakugo scolded her, ignoring how warm his face felt. "I didn't do it for you." Nen just rolled her eyes and rested her chin on his shoulder again. Even though she felt somewhat invigorated by the run, she could feel the bags under her eyes and her whole body already started to ache. She was exhausted. Nen let her eyes drift closed for a minute but once again, she was jolted awake. "Hey!" Bakugo spoke sharply. "Wake up, did you seriously fall asleep?" He scolded as he let her go and Nen stepped back, rubbing her eyes. She noticed the train had significantly less people as she looked around. She blushed, embarrassed that she had actually fallen asleep. "This is our stop. Quit screwin' around, let's go." He scolded and Nen scurried off the train, Bakugo right behind her. The doors closed and the train sped off. People moved around them, heading to their own destinations. Nen and Bakugo looked at each other, unsure of what to say for a moment before Nen cleared her throat.
"I uh…" She couldn't think of anything to say and just turned on her heel, heading to the escalator. "Let's go." She suggested. Bakugo followed her and the two went down the escalator, through the turnstiles and out of the station, walking in an awkward silence towards the school, in less of a rush now that they didn't have to wait another train. Their pace was quick, but not rushed. "Oh!" Nen remembered. "What did you shove in your pocket?" She asked, point blank. Bakugo looked at her and pulled out a granola bar and a banana and passed them over. "Wow! Who knew you could be so thoughtful!" She teased as she brought the wrapped granola bar up to her mouth, using her teeth to open it.
"Would you shut it!" He shouted at her and shoved his hands in his pants pockets. Nen just giggled as she ate her breakfast. She knew it was rude to eat and walk but she needed to get to class. It was a nice day and she enjoyed the warmth of the sun and the slight breeze tugging strands of her hair. After a while, the silence grew from uncomfortable to pleasant. Nen enjoyed having company without having to have a discussion so early in the morning. Even though the day had just started, and it started in the strangest way, she was looking forward to whatever else the day would bring.
Thank you guys for reading. I apologize this week was very hard what with everything happening in DC right now. I live very close to it all so it's a bit closer to home.
I hope you guys are still enjoying this story. I love reading your comments, so feel free to tell me what you think or toss out a few suggestions!