Chapter 1
Sitting in a much fancier bar than she was used to in downtown Tokyo, Misa sipped on her martini in preparation for the date that Mina had set up for her last week. The week had been especially rough as the feline hero had taken down a large Russian drug cartel that had taken home in Japan with limited help. This was not the first time Misa was expected to ride solo on major missions; her boss, Mr. Ayami, cited "budget cuts" for the lack of backup.
"Do you need someone to hold your hand? This is why I don't hire women often; always complaining about something." He told Misa after she brought up her concerns once the case was closed earlier that day.
Misa's nails dug into Ayami's desk she was leaning on to reign in her temper before speaking. "Sir, I have worked every day for weeks, every night until midnight and turned right back around in the morning to find this cartel. By myself. You do not expect the other hero's to work solo. Everyone else has a partner and back up when things get rough." The other heroes were men and the other women in the office were hired as administrators. Misa was lucky she was actually out in the field; her reputation from UA helped in that department. "I'm bringing this agency a lot of attention. Don't you think maybe now is a good time to set up a marketing contract for me? I'm making this agency look great."
"Correction: I'm making you look great. When that face of yours gets wrinkly, you'll be glad I made your prime years this exciting." Mr. Ayami told her. Misa narrowed her eyes at her boss before dismissing herself from his presence.
"I hate that man."
Back at the bar, Misa's nails flexed out as frustration coursed through her while she replayed the conversation in her mind. She was so in her head she didn't hear the man complimenting her next to her. "Oh, I'm sorry. What did you say?" She asked shyly to the short, stubby man on the bar stool.
"I like your nails...very unique." He noted the black, cat-like nails at the end of Misa's fingertips. Misa laughed nervously and sheathed them as she sipped on her martini.
"Thanks, it's my Quirk."
"Yes, you're the Fiery Feline Hero, Shira. Isn't that right?" The man asked her as he ordered a vodka tonic.
"You have a good eye for Heroes." Misa smiled.
"I would hope I'd know who you are...you're my date." Misa blanched as the man shot her a crooked smile. He was definitely missing a few teeth.
"You...work with Pinky?" Misa asked carefully, panic rising in her chest. The man nodded and offered his hand to Misa.
"Yes, I work in the accounting department. Shall we grab a booth? I'm starving." He offered and led her to a cozy corner booth after she chugged back her martini.
"I'm going to kill Mina." Misa growled to herself.
The pair sat down in the booth and waited for the waitress to approach them. "My name is Sumo by the way. What's your name? Your real name." It wasn't customary for hero's to give out their real names to civilians unless necessary so Misa had no choice but to disappoint the man.
"Sorry, only Shira for right now. It's a rule as I'm sure you know." She said with the most genuine smile she could muster.
"I know Pinky's real name." He retorted quickly.
"And that's great for her. I'm not Pinky." Misa replied, looking around for the waitress to intervene in the subject. Thankfully, she saw the young lady approach with a wide smile, greeting them to the establishment.
"Alright then." Sumo pouted and eyed the waitress as if she were a piece of candy. "You sure took your time sweetheart." He commented, eyeing his watch. Misa gaped at his rudeness and sent an apologetic look to the waitress.
"I'm so sorry about that. My name is Tohru, can I get you anything?" She asked, pulling out her notepad.
"I'll just get the chicken alfredo please. I hear it's delicious." Misa smiled and handed the menu over.
"Sounds fattening. As a hero...is that a good idea?" Sumo asked over his menu. Misa paused and gathered her thoughts before she lost her temper at the man.
"My Quirk takes a lot of energy; so I need to eat. Thanks for your concern though." She snipped, arching her eyebrow. "And a double crown and coke please." She told Tohru who nodded quickly.
"I'll do the burger and fries please. I haven't eaten all day." He told the waitress while he tossed the menu back at her. "Oh and I wonder if there is a hero discount, seeing as my date is a hero?" Misa's eye twitched with annoyance and was about to get up to leave then when the waitress interrupted.
"Of course sir. Seeing as you are with a hero tonight, her meal will be comped." She replied with the brightest, fakest smile in Sumo's direction. Misa stifled a laugh as she turned on her heel to put in the order.
"Well she is so rude."
"I think she's funny." Misa retorted quickly, seeing the flash of annoyance pass Sumo's face. "Anyway, tell me about yourself."
To say the date felt like it went on for hours was an understatement. Between the rude behaviour towards Tohru and the serving staff and the constant reminiscing over his ex-wife, Misa was running out of patience with Sumo. The last straw was when Tohru brought over the check. Sumo eyed the bill and then darted his eyes daringly to Misa.
"So...your treat? I know that you heroes make some good money and since your meal was comped?" He smiled, unaware of the insult he had mustered. Misa's eyes widened as she reached into her purse for her wallet and tossed her credit card to him. "Oh, a little feisty huh?" Misa hissed at the man as soon as Tohru returned with the receipt. She gathered her purse and got to her feet and handed Tohru a hefty tip.
"For dealing with this ass all night." She told her with a smile.
"Thank you Shira...thank you." Tohru bowed at Misa.
"No nightcap?" Sumo asked Misa before she turned to him in shock.
"I don't think you can afford it." Misa hissed and left the bar. She dialed Mina's number quickly, fury engulfing the feline as she ventured in the direction of her apartment. "Where are you Mina?" Her tone clipped as she heard Mina's giggle over the phone.
"Hello to you too. I'm at home, I have Kiri and Bakugou over here since you went on that date. How did it go?"
"Oh. There is a story." Misa growled and hung up the phone. The colder winds attacked her bare legs as her thigh length dress failed to provide warmth for her as she quickend her pace home; thanking god for her feline speed.
Misa threw open the door to her apartment to see Kirishima and Bakugou sprawled out on her couch with beers in their hands. Alarmed looks graced their faces as Misa heard Mina mixing herself a drink in the kitchen.
"Hey Misa!" Kirishima stammered as Bakugou's eyes snapped to the angry-looking woman. "I'm assuming the date did not go well?" He mumbled, sipping on his beer. Misa's eyes glared Mina's way over the bar as she kicked the door shut and threw off her heels.
"She's mad…" Bakugou whispered as Misa stalked over to a scared looking Mina.
"In what universe...did you think that a forty-year old divorcee would make a good date for me?" Misa asked her cowering friend. "He talked all night about his ex-wife, was rude to the waitress, and commented on the food I chose accusing me of being fat. OH! And the best part of my night...was when he expected me to pay for the bill!" Kirishima and Bakugou sipped on their beers awkwardly as Misa vented to Mina. "What the hell Mina?!"
Mina had fear painted on her face as she slowly approached Misa, her eyes low as she spoke. "I owed him a favor. He made my expenses look more...professional and I said I'd get him a date…" Misa's eyes widened at the confession and took a deep breath to calm herself down. "He wasn't forty either...more like forty-five." Misa growled at her friend and ran her nails through her black mane of hair.
"I have had a shit week Mina. This was not what I needed to relax. I was looking forward to this. I even bought this insanely expensive dress!" She whined as she twirled in her maroon dress.
"I'm sorry Misa! You look amazing, doesn't she guys?" She asked the observing friends who nodded on cue. "I'll make it up to you, I'll find you another guy!"
"No! No. No more dates from you. I'll...find one myself." Misa sighed and joined the boys on the couch. "Hey guys, sorry I didn't say hello." Mina ran to the kitchen and made Misa a drink to calm her friend's anger.
"Seemed like you needed to blow off some steam." Kirishima smirked, handing his drink to Misa which she gulped down.
"Sounds more like she's sexually frustrated." Bakugou commented next to her as Misa's eyebrows arched at his opinion. "What? A girl does not buy a thigh length dress on a first date in hopes of going home alone. It's just a waste."
Mina handed another beer to Kirishima and Misa's drink to her. "Sex is not the first thing on everyone's minds Bakugou." She tried to support Misa but Misa waved her hand to stop her.
"No, he's right. I was hoping for something tonight." Misa sighed, sipping on her vodka sprite, moving herself more to lie in Bakugou's lap. Only Mina and Kirishima noticed Bakugou's small smile at the gesture. "Stop knowing me so well." She mumbled to him, looking up to her friend.
Bakugou smirked and chugged on his beer. "I know girls Misa."
"Oh is that so Romeo? Tell me...when was your last date?" Misa asked him. Kirishima and Mina giggled to themselves as they knew it had been a good amount of time since Bakugou went out with anyone longer than a one night stand.
"Probably been a year since me and Camie broke it off. My last date? A couple months probably." He answered honestly. The high school Bakugou would have lost his temper and snarled his answer back and tell Misa to fuck off; but ten years had passed and he had grown more patient.
"Same. My relationship with Shinso ended about a year ago." She remembered sadly. Her relationship with Shinso had been great while it lasted, but when he moved to America with Aizawa for a humanities mission, he broke it off with Misa in a letter. Bakugou remembered how heartbroken Misa had been after the split and it took her weeks to smile again; he had hated it.
"But I still have sex. You on the other hand…" He teased her, earning a backwards smack on the chest by Misa.
"A girl sleeps with guys just because she wants to and she's labeled a whore. Men do it and no one bats an eye." Misa groaned. "It's so unfair."
"What if you just had a sex buddy? That's what me and Kiri did!" Mina suggested happily while Bakugou and Misa both glared at her. "Ok the fact that we got together eventually means nothing."
"It means everything." Bakugou and Misa said, sharing a questioning look.
"I don't want just sex. I want a relationship. Someone who wants to see me and be around me. Not just use me for my body." Misa explained sadly, sipping on her drink. Bakugou shot a gaze at his friend in his lap and itched to play with the onyx hair invading her forehead; but realized two pairs of eyes watching him from the recliner.
Stifling a giggle from the death glare Bakugou was giving her, Mina cleared her throat. "I wouldn't know what to do in the dating world again...sounds terrifying." Mina admitted and placed a hand on Kirishima's shoulder. "Guess you're stuck with me."
In turn, Kirishima shrugged and pecked a kiss on her forehead. "I'm not complaining. You're right though. The dating pool is...scary."
"Thanks guys." Misa murmured and drank her drink back. Bakugou winced at the girls' tone and knew he needed to do something to help her.
"Hey? Why don't we hang out tomorrow? I'm off and these two will be in Osaka for the day." Bakugou offered, nudging Misa gently. Her saddened eyes looked up to him as if looking for a hint of mischief. "No strings, just a hang out. It's been awhile anyway. Like months." Kirishima and Mina shared a questioning glance at the gentleness their friend was showing when Misa cracked a smile.
"I would love that. Yeah, I've been so busy at work, I've not seen anyone really." Bakugou nodded, chugging back the remainder of his beer. "Thank you Katsuki." A blush crept onto his cheeks as he cleared his throat and checked his watch.
"It's getting late, so I'll text you when I get home and we can plan something." He stated and tossed his beer into the recycle bin. "See you guys later." And with that, the three friends remained in the living room, puzzled by the explosion hero's exit.
"That was weird right?" Misa asked finally as Kirishima cackled at the awkward tension Bakugou left behind.
"Dude, yes. Katz barely sees anyone much less makes plans with them. I'm pretty sure he only makes an effort with me because we live together." Mina smacked her boyfriends' arm gently at his comment and slid onto his lap.
"You guys have been pretty close since high school, Misa." Mina pointed out as Misa sipped on her drink. "It wasn't until you both got into relationships that the distance happened."
"There wasn't a distance." Misa argued before Kirishima and Mina shared a look. "What? There wasn't!"
"You and Shinso started dating around the same time Bakugou and Camie did. Before then, you and Bakugou were inseparable. You're the one that even convinced him to go to therapy…" Kirishima tried to explain carefully to Misa. "I live with the guy and I'm telling you...you make a difference."
"But you stopped hanging out as much when you had someone, you really only did it when we were all in a group. It happens, but I'm surprised it's taken almost half a year for you two to get back to normal." Mina told Misa who was scowling at her friends.
"Camie didn't care for me, she made that clear.." Misa mumbled.
"Maybe you guys can pick up where you left off in high school?" Mina asked carefully as Misa remembered the distance memory etched in her brain.
"We didn't date, we only kissed that one time. Too much was going on for anyone to date. Well...besides you two. And Momo and Todoroki...and Deku and Ochako...Jirou and Denki. Ok nevermind." Misa mumbled as the names of all the UA couples tumbled out of her mouth. "Was I the only one not dating in high school?" She asked herself, but her friends took it upon themselves to answer.
"No! You, Bakugou...Mineta…" Mina began but ended her statement abruptly. "Shit, I guess that's it." Misa growled into the pillow next to her that Bakugou had on his lap and she couldn't help but inhale his cologne. "Misa...you're going to be fine. It's just a hang out."
"I'm not worried about that! I'm worried about the fact I'm twenty-six years old and the only serious relationship I had...moved thousands of miles away." Her voice was muffled due to the pillow but Mina and Kirishima could hear the sadness.
"Do you miss Shinso?" Kirishma asked carefully, seeing Misa nod into the pillow. "He'd want you to be happy, Misa." The girl got back up and faced her friends, cracking a small smile.
"I miss his company. Our relationship was great and I will always treasure the love we had. Things happen for a reason. There is more to life than love though; although it is hard not to be jealous with you two love birds floating around." She groaned jokingly as Kirishima pecked Mina on the cheek ,causing the girl to giggle.
"We worked hard on ourselves; nothing is easy. But it's so worth it." Mina told her and nuzzled into Kirishima's shoulder. "Oh, I forgot to say this before. Great job on the Russian cartel! News hit my agency and everyone is talking about how badass you are."
"Everyone is also talking about how your talent is wasted at Ayami's agency." Kirishima added, scrunching up his nose in disgust. "I still can't believe that's the one you chose. Todoroki would have taken you in a heartbeat!"
Misa fondly remembered the offer from the Icy Hot hero a few years after high school when her training with Hawks was over; but she wanted to work from the ground up to get into an agency; not just use her friend's name.
"I could really use your strength Misa. Your Quirk is so unique." Todoroki told her over the phone. Misa felt great pride in his offer and was eager to take it; but a small sense of doubt clouded her judgement. Can I really ride the coattails of one of the greatest heroes out there?
Allowing her prideful nature to take control, Misa rejected the offer. "Thanks Todoroki; truly. But I need to create my own following. I need...to be able to do this on my own." She told him, hearing the disappointment in his response.
"I understand Misa. If you change your mind...please call me."
How Misa greatly regretted that prideful decision three years ago. "Yeah. I fucked up. One more year...then I am out of there."
"Where will you go?" Mina asked, situating herself more comfortably on Kirishima's lap. Misa could see the hardening hero bite his lip slightly at the movement as Misa stifled a giggle.
"Not sure. I need to do some research; maybe I'll beg Todoroki to hire me. My Quirk is strange; cat and fire? It isn't suited for everywhere. But he did say it was unique." Misa sighed, getting to her feet. "As subtle as you think you are Mina, I see where your hand is and Kiri doesn't have the best poker face. I'll leave you to your devices; just remember...cat's have amazing hearing." She winked at a blushing Kirishima and a giggling Mina before departing to her bedroom, grateful for her sound cancelling headphones she kept in her bedside table.
As soon as Misa had slipped under her silk sheets and gotten comfortable after washing the day off of her, her phone dinged. Bakugou's name popped up letting Misa know he was home.
K: I made it home safe and sound. What would you like to do tomorrow?
M- You offered, I figured you would have had an idea?
K-I'm being considerate of what you would like to do.
M- I trust you Katz, whatever you have in mind, I'm pretty easy. I just want to have a good day after this crappy week.
K-Yeah, I heard it was pretty rough. I have a few ideas...I'll come pick you up around 11? Start off with an early lunch?
M- Sounds good, but remember that I like to TASTE my food; so nothing too spicy.
K*tch* you'll be fine, you have fire that comes out of your hands...what's a little heat to you?
Misa busted out laughing at Bakugou's comment and couldn't argue with his logic. Before she could respond, her phone dinged again.
K-Get some rest Flower, I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight.
Misa replied a quick goodnight back as her heart soared from her old nickname. "Flower?" She smiled and nuzzled her face into her pillow. It had been little less than a decade since he had called her that. He would never call her that in the group in fear of mocking.
Since Bakugou and Misa's respective break ups, the pair had found each others' friendship healing. Mina had been correct in saying the pair hadn't spent a lot of time together during their relationships; but that wasn't entirely their fault. Camie never warmed up to Misa and Shinso preferred the low-key kind of relationship so they rarely went out. However, after the break ups, Bakugou and Misa had used each other as support over their heart breaks. Misa would be lying if she said she hadn't missed the explosion hero and his antics, making the following day's adventure even more exciting for her.