79. In Weakness, Strength
Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, "Love your enemies." It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals.
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Later, Bakugo wandered down to the workshop. He'd already checked Izuku's office, but he'd been told Izuku was taking some time to rest. Which meant he was working with Mei.
He found Izuku crouched over a workbench with a pair of goggles on, his tongue sticking out of his mouth as he carefully worked on some delicate electronics. Bakugo almost turned away, not wanting to bother Izuku. But no. He needed to do this.
"Hey, got a minute?" Bakugo asked, stepping up.
"Huh? Oh! Katsuki, yeah, just a sec." Izuku set his soldering iron down, turning around in his seat and raising his goggles. "Yeah, what's up? You need us to make something for you?"
"I can make new sweat tanks!" Mei said, popping up from behind a half finished copy of that smaller robot suit.
"Dammit Mei, get back down here!" Hari called from underneath it. "Finish this now and get distracted later!"
Mei disappeared, and Izuku smiled faintly, then shook himself. "Sorry, what was it you needed?"
Bakugo ground his teeth for a minute, then forced his jaw to loosen. Like Shiozaki had said. Forgiveness. "I was...wrong, Izuku."
"Wrong? About what? Is Muscular-"
"Not about that you idiot!" Bakugo snapped. He let out a deep breath. "No, I mean...when we were growing up. In junior high. I...I told you to kill yourself. I was wrong. Can...can you forgive me?" Tears started running down Bakugo's face, but he didn't look away, didn't back down. God, he was going to-
Izuku stood slowly, setting down his tools. Bakugo braced himself as Izuku walked up. Was he gonna punch him? He would let it happen. Shit, he'd been such an ass. He deserved whatever Izuku was going to do to him.
Which was why it surprised him when Izuku started crying, and then embraced Bakugo.
"Yes. I...I forgive you, Kaachan. Sorry, I know you don't like to be called that. I just...thank you. When you told me that...it hurt, a lot. I know you said sorry before, but...but this means a lot to me. Yes. I forgive you. Can you forgive me for the lies I told about you?"
Bakugo forced himself to relax, slowly moving his hands up to gingerly pat Izuku on the back. "Um, what lies?"
"I...I sort of told Tenya and the others that you bullied me because I was quirkless, and that you beat up Mei because she was autistic. I was trying to get them to hate you. That was wrong of me."
"Shit, have you been talking to Shiozaki too?" Bakugo sniffed, trying to maintain his composure.
Izuku separated from Bakugo, confusion written on his face. "Her? No, why? I didn't think I told her any lies about you, did she hear them?"
"No, never mind. It's just...you sound like she does. What she told me. Anyway. Yeah. I forgive you. Though I think I probably deserved it."
"No, I was wrong," Izuku stated. "I tried to hurt you. Not because I wanted justice, but just because I was hurting. That wasn't right."
"Thanks," Bakugo whispered, stepping in and squeezing Izuku for real this time. "Thanks for showing me how to be a real hero, Izuku."
Izuku let Bakugo go, and he walked over to where Mei and Hari were working, crouching down.
"Hi!" Mei said, smiling up at Bakugo as she lay on her back, her goggles covering her eyes. "That was very nice of you. But I don't think you're mean anymore.
"Hmph. Well, I was. I took it too far when he fought at the Sports Festival. I was wrong. Sorry, Mei. Will you forgive me?"
"Yes. I am sorry I said mean things about you," Mei said. "Even if you were being a jerk."
That made Bakugo smile slightly, and he nodded. "Yeah, guess I was. Hari?"
"What? You never kicked my ass," Hari said, looking up from what she was doing.
"Sorry for, you know, lying to you. Breaking the rules. Mouthing off. And, um, sleeping with Ochako when you told me not to."
"You really think I give a shit about all that now?" Hari demanded, stopping and raising her goggles to squint at Bakugo. "Hey, Izuku?"
"Yes, Hari?" Izuku asked, coming over.
"You sure this is Katsuki? He didn't get swapped out for his good twin or something? I'd say Toga copied him, but she was a real bitch too," Hari commented.
Bakugo looked at Izuku, who was frowning at him. Bakugo wracked his brain for a moment. "Um, sorry about that time you tried to help me when I fell in the creek and I told you to piss off. You were just trying to help me. I thought you were looking down on me, but that's just because I couldn't understand that even strong people need help sometimes."
Izuku laughed and shook his head. "It's him, Hari. No one else was there then. We were what, five?"
"You were. I was six. It was my birthday the week before, you remember? You got me that All Might lunchbox," Bakugo pointed out.
"Oh yeah!" Izuku agreed. "And you wanted to use your new net to catch cicadas in the woods. Wow. That was a long time ago, huh?"
Hari pulled out her phone and tapped away at it. "Alright, fine, I forgive you or whatever, Katsuki."
"Ok. Thanks. I just… I needed to do that. Gotta repent of all my sins and shit. Shit. Probably shouldn't swear, either. Shiozaki never swears, right? Dammit. I don't know anything about this God sh-crap. Stuff. Whatever."
"I'm texting Ochako," Hari loudly informed Bakugo. "I'm letting her know her boyfriend is sick or something."
"Don't, she's not feeling good, overused her quirk last night," Bakugo told her. "I talked to her earlier, asked her to forgive me and stuff. She was still throwing up."
"I'm still telling her something's up so she knows what to expect," Hari said, tucking the phone away. She smiled at Bakugo suddenly. "But hey, good to see you're becoming a real hero. Watch out, Katsuki. Next thing you know, you'll turn into All Might for real."
That made Bakugo's stomach flip, and he headed back to his room. He found Uraraka eating, sitting at their low table on the floor. The room was still pretty barebones. Apparently Uraraka was a bit of a minimalist when it came to possessions, so all they had was a couple of cardboard boxes with some clothes, the bed, and their gear.
"Hari says you were acting weird earlier," Uraraka commented, slurping up some noodles and wiping her chin. "You OK? You seemed pretty torn up last night too."
"Yeah, I'm better, actually," Bakugo said, squatting down next to her. He studied Uraraka, frowning. "You feeling OK?"
"Yeah, you know how it is. A girl tosses a few trucks around and the next thing she knows dinner's paying her a visit again. Ugh, I think it's all the fights we've been in the past few weeks, I keep feeling nauseous for days after."
"Well, I can get Izuku to sit you for a few days if you want," Bakugo offered, still focusing on her. She was just so beautiful. He couldn't screw this up.
"What, and leave you alone out there? Not a chance. If I don't watch your back, you're going to get yourself killed," Uraraka declared, scraping her bowl with her chopsticks as she tilted it up, draining the last of the liquid from it before setting it down and sighing contentedly. She glanced at Bakugo, then frowned. "What?"
"I dunno. You know I love you, right? Like, more than anything. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. And, I love you. You need to know that."
That made her smile, which made Bakugo's heart do a flip as her cheeks dimpled. "Aww, that's sweet. But I do know you love me. Wouldn't hurt for you to say it more often, but I knew what I was getting into I guess. I love you too, just so you know."
Bakugo nodded slowly. "You want to get married?"
That made Uraraka let out a squeak of shock. She clapped her hands to her cheeks, which made her start to float off the ground. "Bakugo! If you're just trying to butter me up, don't think I'm going to let you just get into my pants because-"
"No, I mean, we should get married. It's like, wrong to sleep with someone you're not married to. Or something," Bakugo said, scratching at his head. "I dunno. I'll have to ask Shiozaki."
Urarak folded her arms across her chest as she slowly rotated in the air. "And since when has that bothered you?"
"Well, never. I mean...shit. I don't know. I'm just...I'm trying to be a better person, OK? And you're supposed to get married if you love someone," Bakugo said lamely.
"Weddings cost too much," Uraraka sniffed. "We're not having one. Besides, we're too young to get married, and-ohgod."
Bakugo just managed to dodge out of the way as she vomited up her meal. Afterwards, he helped her clean up. Thankfully bare metal plating wasn't that hard to clean.
"Ugh, I really do need a couple of days off," Uraraka groaned as she lay on the bed once they'd manage to scrub things down, her arm over her eyes. "My stomach needs a few days to rest, at least."
"Yeah, sorry. Want to go see Recovery Girl or something?" Bakugo offered.
"No, she's busy enough with the people who are actually hurt. I just have an upset stomach. Besides, she'd just tell me to rest," Uraraka sighed, raising her arm and frowning up at Bakugo.
"Well, you should. I can get you something else to eat, if you want," Bakugo offered.
"Not right now. I'd just puke it up again, probably," Uraraka groaned. She suddenly eyed Bakugo, a mischievous twinkle entering her eyes.
"What?" he demanded.
"You know, you asked me to marry you, but you've never even taken me on a date," Uraraka declared dramatically. "How could I know you love me if you won't even take me anywhere romantic?!"
"Hey, I take you lots of places!" Bakugo snapped, feeling defensive.
"Like a battlefield?" Uraraka asked, sitting up and batting her eyes at him. "Ooo, so romantic! I can practically hear you screaming 'DIE' and exploding something."
"We went to get food and stuff," Bakugo mumbled.
"Right. We've been to the UA cafeteria, and the bunker cafeteria! So romantic. I'll ask Lunch Rush if he has any candles next time."
"We...could go for a walk in the woods?" Bakugo suggested. "And...pick flowers and shit?"
"That sounds lovely," Uraraka agreed, hopping up. "Let's get dressed. Hmm. Should I wear my combat boots, or my steel toe boots? I just don't know…"
"Don't look at me, I'm not a cobbler!" Bakugo barked. "Do you want to go on a date or not?!"
"Oh relax, I never had much use for a bunch of clothes anyway. At least this keeps things simple. But do make sure to wear something nice for me," Uraraka teased as she changed into her more casual work wear.
Bakugo's wardrobe choices were similarly limited, but in the end he supposed that was alright. He had a decent pair of jeans and a tank top, and they walked outside, nodding to the guards and heading out into the woods.
"Going on patrol sir?" one of the guards asked.
"We're going on a date," Uraraka giggled. "He's never taken me on one, you know."
"Well you never asked before, woman!" Bakugo complained. The guards sniggered, which made Bakugo first glare at them, then chuckle as he admitted it was actually kind of funny. "Yeah, guess I'm not much of a boyfriend."
"You're a great boyfriend. We're just...not a normal couple," Uraraka told him, linking her arm with his.
"Lot of that going around," Bakugo snorted. "But I feel like an ass that Izuku has taken Mei on more dates than I have you."
"Oh please, they've basically been dating since junior high. We've not even been together for half a year now," Uraraka laughed.
Bakugo did some quick mental math. "Shit. Feel Good was back in November, wasn't it? It's only halfway through April."
"Yeah. And don't beat yourself up about Chikazoku again," Uraraka said, poking Bakugo in the chest. "I would have killed him anyway."
"Seems pretty damn pointless to worry about that. We've killed a lot of people since then," Bakugo said, looking down at his hands. "Ochako...do you really think I can be forgiven?"
"I told you earlier, I forgive you," Uraraka said, rolling her eyes. "I'd hardly be sleeping with you if I hated you."
"But I've done so much. Not just before I started trying to be better. Even now. I send people to die. I kill. I-"
"Ok, that's enough," Uraraka said, stopping and planting her hands on her hips. "Apologizing for being a bully? That's good. It shows your growing. Asking forgiveness for being rude? I appreciate that. But don't you dare start apologizing for killing those people. Do you think I was wrong to kill any of them?"
"Well, no," Bakugo said, feeling rather lost and confused.
"Then you need to stop beating yourself up over it. What is with you, lately? I do like this new, more sensitive side of you, but you need to get your head back in the game, OK? Now, focus on taking your cute girlfriend on a date."
"What do we do on a date, exactly?" Bakugo asked, looking around. "I mean, it's nature and shit."
"Um, I don't know," Uraraka admitted. "What are your hobbies?"
"Working out, fighting, and drums," Bakugo said with a shrug. "Never played any sports or shit. No point. What about you?"
"Um, reading, cooking, working out, and bargain hunting," Uraraka said.
"Ok. What sort of books do you read?" Bakugo asked, desperate for something to talk about.
"Um, don't take this the wrong way, but romance novels," Uraraka confessed. "I know it's cliche and all, but...I liked the really sweet, fluffy stuff. Mostly I read what I could find at the library or free web novels. I didn't like spending money on books, but reading was cheap."
"That's cool. I guess that's what you're doing at night on your phone? How do you read on that tiny little screen? Why don't you get a better one?" Bakugo asked.
"It still works!" Uraraka protested. "I can see it just fine! I don't need to buy a new phone, that would be a waste of money!"
"Yeah, but we're loaded and shit now. I mean, you could buy a hundred of the latest phones or whatever. Shit, I bet if you offered to do a sponsorship or something, they'd GIVE you a new phone," Bakugo pointed out.
"I know, but...it still works. I feel bad if I throw something useful away," Uraraka admitted. "What about you? What do you spend your money on?"
"Well, I mean, I bought a new drum kit, but that got left at UA. Momo made me a new one for the wedding. I bought exercise equipment, some good music, clothes and shit. I'm not afraid of spending money, I just, well, I never had any reason to before," Bakugo admitted. "I guess I should have bought you like flowers and stuff."
"No! That is extremely wasteful!" Uraraka lectured. "Don't spend money on frivolous things! If you're going to get me something, it should be practical!"
"Like a new phone?" Bakugo guessed. He laughed when she glared at him. "Right, right, old one's not broken. Here."
Using the Black Whip, Bakugo reached out, plucking a bunch of wild flowers and handing them to Uraraka. "There. Didn't spend a yen on them."
Despite her earlier claims, Uraraka blushed and sniffed the flowers, then carefully placed in her hair. "Thank you. That's very nice."
They walked in silence for a bit, hiking along a ridge line and then along a stream bank. Obstacles weren't much of a problem, especially once he showed Uraraka that he could fly now.
"Wow, that is so not fair. Flying was the one thing I had over on you," Uraraka teased as he flew them to land atop a boulder in the middle of the stream.
"Not like I won't still take you for a ride," Bakugo deadpanned.
"Ha! Don't think that's gonna get you laid right now, mister. That's for after the date," Uraraka told him. She sighed, removing her shoes and dipping her toes in the water. "Brrr! That's brisk. But nice."
"Hmm." Bakugo did the same, enjoying the heat of the sunlight and the chill of the mountain stream. "This is nice. Thanks for taking me on a date."
"Oh no you don't! It's your job to take me on dates, mister! That's a boyfriend's job." Uraraka did rest her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes and smiling. "But it is nice. I wish we could have more days like this."
Bakugo nodded, wrapping his arm around her and drawing her close. "Yeah. After we win, we will. I promise."
Once they both got hungry, they slipped their shoes back on and headed back to the bunker. They grabbed some food and headed outside, flying up the mountain side to sit on a ledge and eat, dangling far above the valley below them. The wind was a bit fiercer that high up, but it was still pleasant, even as the sun began to set.
They were interrupted when Izuku flew up to the ledge in his little robot suit, popping his visor.
"We've got news," he told them. "Shinso's spy came through again. Shiguraki's abandoning the Kyoto campaign. That last attack seems to have enraged him."
Bakugo felt his stomach lurch, and his heart began to beat more quickly in anticipation. "He's coming?"
"With 10,000 of the PLF's best," Izuku confirmed. "They're going to form up, and march straight here to end us. He just made a big speech over the TV. Executed some more pros."
"So you need us," Uraraka sighed, dusting herself off. "Well, I guess at least we had today."
"I do. Katsuki. Do you think you can take him?" Izuku asked, landing and sitting beside them and popping his visor.
Bakugo held up a fist, letting One For All course through his veins, making the air crackle about him. "Well. Only one way to find out."