Album continued going to classes for the rest of the day, but he could not focus. He knew what was going to happen and Midoriya repeatedly tried to talk him out of it, but Album would not budge.

The fucker needed to be taught a lesson and by god was Album happy he could be the one to beat it into him. "I'll only get in trouble if I get caught." Album said, slamming his locker shut, glaring at Midoriya. "And the only way I'll get caught is if you tell."

"But you can't fight him!"

"Why, because I don't have a very powerful quirk?" it occurred to Album that if Monoma had a strength-based quirk, he was pretty much screwed.

"It doesn't really matter if you have a powerful quirk. Monoma's power, is 'copy' he can copy people's quirk, but since your quirk won't be very useful in this fight, neither will his."

"So then why can't I fight him?"

Midoriya fell quiet. "Is it because I'm basically punching a girl?"

"No, it's not that. It's just not very hero-like. And it's against the rules."

"Bitch, do I look like I care?"

Midoriya was startled and shook his head shakily. "You shouldn't say things like that."

"Why, does it hurt your feelings?" Midoriya's teary-eyes answered that question. "Come on, don't be like that."

"But I'm not a… a you know."

"Bitch?" Midoriya nodded. "Yes you are, you act like you know everything there is to know about being a hero."

"No I don't!"

"I bet you secretly think I'm stupid."

"No I don't!"

"Come on, no one is that nice, not without an agenda."

"I just want to be your friend."

Album didn't believe him, but didn't say anything else. "Okay, but you can't stop me. I'm not going to chicken out and let him win!"

"But why can't you just talk about you problems."

"I think me fists will say plenty."

Midoriya just sighed and finally gave up, leaving him alone for the last couple classes but he didn't pay attention. Too busy thinking about what was going to happen after school. He wasn't worried that he would lose though, not after what Midoriya had revealed about Monoma's quirk.

The end of day couldn't come fast enough. Album hated to admit it, but this was the most interesting thing that was going to happen all day, and he knew it.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Midoriya asked.

"Of course I am." Album rolled his eyes.

"Well, if you're sure."

Album was, he hadn't been so sure about something for quite a while. "I am." Album said, walking outside the school and making his way towards the back.

Monoma and his class 1-B group was already waiting there, along with some of class 1-A, though Album wasn't sure why anyone besides Katsuki would show up. Everyone else was too nice for that, or at least, that had been his impression, before now.

"So, you decided to show up. Pretty brave for someone like you." A villain, brave for a villain.

"Shut up."

"Make me, but to do so, I swear I'll kill the last cell inside that rock you call a brain."

"Call me as many names as you want. You only do it to make up for your own incompetence."

"Wow, such a big word." Monoma mocked. "Where did you hear it, from your mother? Oh wait…" he smirked evilly and Album didn't know how the other knew enough to know he didn't have a mother, but it stung.

"I bet you got your stunning personality from your mother, but wait, your personality is shit, so I guess you just got that from her."

Album expected him to get angry and start defending his mother like all the macho men on TV that threw around 'your mama' jokes and didn't expect to get burned back.

But he didn't, only smirked, and tugged at his sleeves. A nervous habit, maybe. "Before we begin, perhaps we should know each other's quirks."

"I don't think so. We do this now." Album took a step forward, his hands itching to punch the bastard, make him cry and beg him to stop.

"Fine then, just please not the face, I sort of need that."

"I'll do whatever I damn well please, cocky son of a—" but Monoma rushed forward and Album was so surprised he nearly didn't dodge.

It was much faster than Album had been anticipating from someone like him. Album didn't even know what he had expected. Someone who couldn't stand up for himself? Someone who had no training in combat?

How stupid could he be? Of course Monoma had trained, he was in the hero course! Album just had to hope his skills were better. He'd always been able to fight well, but now he was dealing with people who could fight too, and he wasn't running away like usual.

Monoma fended off most of his attacks, but Album managed to throw some that slipped through his cracks. Staggering backwards, Monoma recovered and came at him again.

Album had to admit, Monoma was pretty fast, and it wasn't fun trying to get a hit, but he seriously had to work on his strength. The few hits Monoma did get, hardly felt like anything. They stung for a moment, but not even the punch to his gut stole his breath for more than a few seconds.

Album ran at him as Monoma picked himself off the ground and shouldered him, throwing his entire body into him. They both went down, Album felt Monoma's iron grip on his arm, nails digging in, scratching down. Album felt him draw blood.

He drew his fist back and punched the blonde hard, bruising his own knuckles. Monoma cursed, spitting out blood and struggled. Album punched him again and Monoma thrashed around more violently and threw his arms up to defend himself.

They struggled like that, Album didn't know for how long though.

Then though, Album felt his breath leave him and Monoma successfully pushed him off. "You bitch!" Album seethed. Monoma panted and backed away from him.

Smart, if Album could get his hands on him, he'd beat him senseless. "What happened?" Midoriya whispered.

"He kneed him in the balls, Deku." Bakugou said, looking like he enjoyed this entire ordeal much more than he should've.

"Oh."

Monoma spit out more blood on the ground and said, "That's what you get, I told you not the face." And kicked him in the ribs, before turning and stomping away, unreasonably angry about the face thing.

What did he expect anyway? To come out without any bruises? And people said he was the moron. "When I get my hands on you, how your face looks will be the least of your problems!"

"Kendo, what am I going to do!" Monoma cried and punched the wall of the school. And cradling his hand afterward.

"Calm down, it's just a bruise." Kendo said.

"No! It's not just a bruise!" Monoma paused and took a deep breath, "You don't understand."

"Then help me." Kendo had never seen Monoma so worked up over anything. Granted, she hadn't known him very long, but still.

"I can't. You can't understand. You'd hate me."

"No, I wouldn't." she placed a hand on his shoulder.

Monoma remained silent for another minute or so before replying, "It's not like I want to."

"Of course you don't." Kendo wasn't exactly sure what she was assuring him of, but she tried anyway.

"Hey, um… you know how people get abused and they have bruises. You know how in some cases it gets out of control and the bruises end up on your face."

Kendo was trying to connect, but the only conclusion she could come up with, was that Monoma was being abused. "Oh Monoma, I'm so sorry, you should tell somebody, a teacher, I'm sure they'd do something about it. I can help you."

"No, no, Kendo, you don't understand! How would they cover the bruise, how would someone cover that up."

"Uh, concealer, I guess."

"That's perfect, I'll just get that! It should cover this up, I have to minimize the damage immediately."

"Wait, so you're not being physically abused?"

"Why would you think that?"

Kendo rolled her eyes, "No reason."

"Concealers not expensive is it?" Monoma asked.

"Not really. It'll last for a while too." Kendo said.

"Great, I have to get home. Ice it so the swelling goes down. It'll be okay." Monoma sighed, and ran off the other direction.

"Your welcome." Kendo grumbled after him.

Album groaned as he went back home. It was cold, the sun was going down. He hadn't realized he was out that long. It was getting dark. Album was looking around, a habit of checking for danger, and his eyes landed on a blonde head of hair.

Why the hell did he keep running into the devil. There was, however, something more he noticed. Someone following Monoma. To Album, he looked shady and suspicious, almost definitely a serial killer.

Album was about to walk away when he remembered Adrien's words to try and befriend Monoma. He'd surely messed that up today, but saving him from a killer would DEFINITELY endear himself. But if Monoma died, then there wouldn't be anyone to post his video.

Or he had a back up plan for that scenario. The safest option was to save him. Well, it was safer for his secrets, not necessarily his body.

So, he pivoted on his heel and started walking in that direction. He trailed closely, but not so close as to draw attention to himself. Being seen was the worst-case scenario in this predicament he'd found himself in.

As he tailed the killer he saw the moment he made a move on the oblivious Monoma, Album went to help, but instead of stabbing Monoma from behind he slipped in front. "What happened to you?" Album could see the man smirk.

Monoma giggled, fucking giggled! "Just some big guy took a slug at my face. Don't worry, babe, nothing a little concealer won't fix."

"Oh, you know I don't care about that, I just want you." He leaned down and kissed him. Monoma wrapped his arms around his neck and kissed back, moaning.

Album left when they started taking off their clothes. But not before hearing, "How much today?"

"Double your usual." A whimper and a gasp.

"I can deal with that."


A/N Bit of a shorter chapter, sorry, but I've been busy. Next chapter will probably take a little while because I have another fanfic 'The Notebook' and another WIP I just started,

Happily-ever-after, right? That was how life was supposed to be, right? At the end of the day, with parents to hold you, or a prince to rescue you? Like in the Fairy Tales they had always read.

I don't exactly remember at what point I had stopped believing that, but it must've been a few years ago. And now that this was happening, my thoughts were confirmed. I wasn't satisfied with that though, for once I wish I had been wrong, I wish things were really always okay in the last few moments of every day, even if they were only the seconds before you fell asleep.

So it might take a couple weeks for another chapter, but I hope you still liked this anyway! I'll see you soon, bye!