So... this chapter is an emotional roller coaster. Katsuki goes from one emotion to another. The fight Midoriya and Bakugou have in canon will happen here despite it being early. Listen to the song "take it out on me" by Thousand Foot Krutch if you can!
Katsuki has been thinking of those two days and that night as a captive for those damned villains. That entire thing had been a scab that kept being reopened with the constant sight of the damn nerd's eyes. Those pale and almost milky looking orbs that almost resemble milky-colored marbles. He kept remembering the screams and cries of the nerd who kept being killed for his sake, keeping the villains at bay from hurting him. He hates the nightmares that plague his sleep of the nerd unable to get up, never to wake from the fatal wound. He hates the nightmares that plague his sleep of the nerd inability to be a hero because of actually being blind and having to drop out of school. He hates the nightmares that plague his sleep of the nerd telling him all of his terrible qualities, telling him that he's not supposed to be a hero. He hates it all. He can't sleep and the constant reminder of that idiot is what is hurting him.
So, as he stands there at Eye-bag's door, he steals his nerves and glares at the one for it all. The one whose sole purpose has been to terrorize him and look down at him since they were children. He glares at the one who has been quirkless his entire life until recently. He demands to see him despite the fact that he has been avoiding the guy ever since the start of the new semester. He wants to stop the nightmare, he wants to just ignore that it ever happened.
Everything that has happened, this shitty nerd acts like nothing is wrong. Like nothing ever happened and that it's a normal summer break. This pisses him off. How can someone pretend as if none of the shit they had gone through had happened? It's fucking impossible. "Are you finally going to tell me what you need?"
At the questions, Bakugou finally turns to face the other after having led the nerd behind the dormitory. Apparently, this is as far as the nerd would even follow him without any answers. That pissed him off. It doesn't matter. As he glares at him, he takes in every detail. He notices the off look of when one wears foundation and hadn't blended it all the way and frowns before rolling his eyes, meeting the questioning gaze of the younger kid in front of him. "WHAT KIND OF HERO TELLS SOMEONE TO FUCKING KILL THEMSELVES?" He takes a step back when he remembers that. "You don't deserve to be a hero." Those words, the entire conversation, all of that haunts him. Dammit! He knows. He knows what he did was wrong, he knew it but he didn't stop. He didn't stop when he was told to stop by the nerd, he didn't stop when he knew he was going overboard. It continued and continued and continued. It never once stopped until after he told him to kill himself, all so he could maintain a clean record before the entrance exams. It didn't matter if he did anything anyway—the teachers would've covered his tracks despite the fact that they shouldn't have at all.
"I know I don't deserve to be a hero! Okay? I know!"
The nerd takes a step back at the outburst. His eyes are blown wide—whether in fear or not—gawking at the blond. He isn't sure how to take the reaction and he doesn't care. He listens to the small, almost too quiet "what" that comes from his mouth.
"Don't play dumb. You told me yourself. I don't deserve to be a hero. Is that what you wanted me to say, what you wanted to hear from me?" He moves a few steps away from the other, his blond bangs acting like a curtain to shadow his face. Katsuki has been thinking of how to confront him and no matter how many times he tried, he couldn't do it. "You were right. I could be the number one in other things yet, I chose this career."
"Bakugou, no."
"Huh?"
"All of that I said. It was spur of the moment. I do not believe any of that. I was angry and hurt, tired and basically being tortured mentally with every moment of my deaths. I took it out on you without being able to tell you the truth afterward." The nerd put his face in his hands. Just the entire act is pissing the explosive teen off. The wind ruffles their hair and clothes as they stand there, glaring at each other. A current of electricity is the only thing that connected them together. Their anger and frustration, tiredness and sadness all have been running rampant for so long and all of their feelings are finally rearing their ugly heads in the worst ways possible. No peace wants to settle between these two old friends and it won't until everything has been taken care of, and that won't happen if they continue dancing around their feelings, keeping their past locked away in the dark. "Dammit. How long have you been thinking of that? Why didn't I do anything sooner? Bakugou, I'm—"
"Save it! Because I know it's true. Whether you meant it or not doesn't mean other people have thought it before! I'm weak and abrasive! I know that! But that's not what I want to know anymore. I do not need your pity and I do not need to hear any stupid apologies!"
Fucking Deku blinks at him, confusion displayed on his face. He doesn't seem to know what's going on which Katsuki knows he doesn't. He hasn't given him any context at all and despite that, it sends his blood boiling. "Then what—?"
"HOW?" Katsuki shouts at the green-haired boy, cutting him off. He needs answers. He needs answers and he won't get them if this douchebag doesn't stop fucking around! "How can you act like none of that ever happened huh? How can you go throughout your day without being that crybaby you had been so long ago, saying all those stupid things when we'd take your sunglasses?" He moves forward, jabbing a finger to his chest as his other hand detonated small explosions. "All Might lost his powers, All Might is in a coma with no chance of survival, you were killed constantly, we were kidnapped, and I—I left you there! I left you behind because of that stupid plan you had! I left you without a choice! How are you so okay with—?" The questioning fades away at the abrupt choked sob from the younger teen, catching Katsuki by surprise at the sudden crying. It's been a while—since his scolding—since he's seen the boy cry.
"I am not okay! Okay? I'm not fine with everything that happened! Are you happy? I'm that same weak and pathetic Deku you've been bullying since you were four! I'm that same stupid and useless child who can't protect anyone or himself! Dying over and over and over and over again—it hurt so much! Do not think for a second that I'm fine with what happened to me, to you, or to All Might! I had to watch him die! Do not think I'm fine with people dying because I'm not!" He's shaking, his tremulous voice strong yet full of pain and fear. Midoriya slides down the wall, curling into himself. "I've been ignoring it for as long as I can. I can't deal with it. Not the nightmares that plague me, not the constant reminder of the murders that I help with. With all the people who die."
"Deku." He gapes for a good second. How long has it been since he last seen this? How long ago was the last time he ever saw the nerd like this—vulnerable and weak? The time in Kamino Ward—that was different. Something else about this is different from then. Fucking Midoriya Izuku has always been a crybaby, yet something changed and his emotions weren't worn on his sleeve like usual. Not the negative emotions at least. It must've been around when they were twelve years old, maybe. He doesn't remember well. He doesn't know how to comfort him, not sure what to even say. How do you comfort someone when you've never had to comfort anyone before? "Deku! Jeez, let's go to the fucking training grounds."
"Why?"
"Because why the fuck not? Now, get your shitty ass up and let's go." The explosive teen grabs the loser's arm and drags him to his feet, dragging him away to the ruined city. This will be for the two so that they don't end up crying or anything. This way they can just get everything out of their system without having to get too touchy-feely with each other. Feelings are not Katsuki's forte no matter how many times someone attempts to get close—heck, he blows them up.
The trek to the ruined city is full of silence with the sound of their feet crunching the loose gravel with each step they take. The sun is already moving west, the shadows moving east. Katsuki constantly tosses numerous glances towards the other who doesn't speak at all the entire time. Curiosity piques his interest, wondering what is going on in the other's head before banishing the thought.
Once at the training grounds, the explosive takes advantage of the other's distraction and throws a punch at the teenager's face. "Come on, shitty Deku! Let's spar!"
"What the hell?" he growls, getting in a defensive position. Anger glitters in his green irises, a dancing flame that flickers with a level of uncertainty of going through with it. The nerd—Midoriya stares for a moment waiting for the other to throw another attack, his clenched fists at his sides slightly raised in case he needs to block another hit. "I'm not dealing with this shit, Bakugou. I'm really not in any mood to fight. I have important matters to deal with."
"Fucking nerd! Like what? Huh? What shit is more important than a spar?"
"How about a murder investigation? Or the fact that shit will start happening soon and I have to fucking prepare for it? Or the whole—everything else is more important?"
Bakugou doesn't let him. He attacks him with ferocity, having him be on the defensive. "Hah? Who gives a damn about that? You shitface! You're nothing but a selfish child who is starting to grate my nerves!" With every punch that's blocked and every kick that's evaded, the training grounds becomes more and more destroyed at the blond yells in anger, ranting and scolding the younger. Explosions from his quirk light up the grounds, debris falls all around them. Rage boils in his blood as he attempts at hurting the other. "YOU TELL ME SHIT AND YOU ATTEMPT TO FUCKING BOTHER ME, YET WHEN I GIVE YOU THE DAMN FUCKING TIME OF DAY, YOU ACT ALL IDIOTIC AND AVOID ME! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK, DEKU? YOU HAVE BETTER SHIT TO DO? WELL, TOUGH, ASSHOLE!" He sends a kick to his side. Midoriya is too late to block it, sending him staggering. He holds his side with a sharp intake of breath—attempting to recover from the hit. "I'VE BEEN THOUGHT TO BE A VILLAIN FOR AS LONG AS I CAN THINK OF!"
Midoriya falls to one knee as he glares at the ground, scowling deeply with a small grunt. "That's a laugh," he says, glaring up at him. "Everyone always seemed to say something different." He lunges forward, rolling and landing a hit behind the kneecap. Using his upper body strength and feet, he launches himself forward to avoid a hit. "And I'm sorry that I called you a villain, Bakugou. I really am. It's all apart of an act and had to have them—"
"BULLSHIT!"
"WHY DON'T YOU BELIEVE ME? WHAT HAVE I DONE TO CAUSE YOU TO HATE ME SO MUCH?" This was the same conversation that they had during Kamino. He lets out a grunt at the force of the next hit, pushing him back near a building. "I'm trying to tell you! You wanted this spar! You're the one who has trouble being able to connect with people. I am not the one at fault here!"
That sets him off. Blow after blow after blow is constantly traded, yells and rants pervade the air. Harsh words and attacks, childhood friends turned enemies battle with one another. Heartache and rage all felt and bottled up for years are finally released through blood, sweat, and tears. Glass shatters from desolated builds, covering the grounds and glittering in the sun's light similarly to freshly fallen snow on a cold winter's day. They trade attacks for the longest time, their screams of rage and agony rubbing their throats raw as their voices echo throughout the abandoned city. It's a symphony of music for those who enjoy listening, a cinematic play for those who enjoy watching. Sickos in the world who use this type of madness as entertainment and egg it on. Sickos in this world who find something else—deeper and run with it—all with the naivety of it having a romantic river that courses between the two. These sickos cannot be more wrong; this is not entertainment, this has nothing to do with romance or sexual tension, or whatever these sickos want to think. This all has to do with the pain of the past and bottled up hatred. The jar, which had cracked not too long ago, has been shattered.
In a rhythm, they fight. A well-rehearsed dance.
Kick.
Punch.
Block.
Evade.
Usage of quirks.
Repeat.
Not all in that specific order the whole time. It's a constant repeat, fighting each other until it's basically nothing but a silent fight and until one cannot continue anymore. Bruises and cuts litter their bodies, painting the picture of an actual battle all while resembling an abstract painting from contemporary artists. Sweat and blood, these two fluids cling to their clothes. The stains grow with the dust and dirt, the extract from the rubble of the ruins around them. The colors of their faces help distinguish their exhaustion. Exhausted with the world around them and all the shit they've gone through. Exhausted with how everything has to turn out before someone can ever know peace.
"What are you two doing?" The shouted question is followed by Midroriya getting a jab to Bakugou's chest which sent him stumbling back a few feet away. White cloth-like bindings shoot out and wrap the two of the most problematic students he's ever had the pleasure of knowing. The sight of the two is one to behold. Bruises and cuts, blood and sweat, red-faced and panting, all as if they've fought an actual villain with minimal damage instead of each other. "Who started this?"
They glance at each other. The problem child steps forward—Shouta has to keep a groan and an eye roll at bay—opening his mouth to answer, "It was a spar. But then it got really out of hand. We're sorry."
"You're sorry?" Shouta lets them go, his capture weapon dropping and wrapping itself around his neck again. He pinches the bridge of his nose with a long exasperated sigh, wishing he had expelled these two the first day. But, alas, he didn't and now it seems he is paying the price for that mistake. He has a Champion of Death in his class—another Champion but so far seems normal and not like this one who actively seeks out or attracts trouble—and he has a kid with a temper who is ready to fight anyone and everything. Let it be known that it is tiring to deal with these two more than anyone else in the class. Oh, yes, the others have their moments, but these two have them every day that they're not really called moments anymore. "The next time you want to pull this shit, have supervision. Let's get you two to Recovery Girl and then we'll talk punishment."
The trek back is silent despite the animals and their footsteps slapping the ground. The light of the setting sun casts shadows which grow and stretch across the campus of the school. The eerie aura that hangs is promptly ignored. Midoriya is on his phone—how it didn't break is beyond him—and texting someone something that Shouta is too tired to even want to find out. There's really no point because if it's important the nerd—er, the student would just tell him despite his not wanting to know. (He'll want to know—just not admit to it—as he can't have the teenager get into any more trouble than he's worth.)
Punishment is light and not taken to the extreme. One of the reasons has to deal with the fact it's before curfew and it was not all that bad. Of course, the usage of quirks non-permitted or unsupervised by teachers still holds repercussions. Shouta has never met any student as problematic like these two. If his intuition is anything to go by, it's only going to get worse as time creeps on.
Whelp. Bakugou will find out about OFA but not of the Championship. Aizawa—I'm still debating on the whole OFA but meh. Poor Aizawa.
Comments?
Questions?