Tuesday
If Album had been expecting Monoma to treat him differently, he had been wrong. Wrong on all fronts, except that Monoma was even nastier to him than usual.
Album supposed he was just bitter about being outsmarted for once in his life.
Sitting in class, Aizawa was handing back their tests and to Album's annoyance, he hadn't done well. He'd gotten a better score than lightning guy and pink alien girl though, and as long as he wasn't the worst, he didn't really care what grade he got.
Maybe if he was lucky they'd kick him out eventually.
He'd never been lucky though. Every good thing that had ever came to him had been worked hard for, with his own sweat and blood.
Coming to live in Daniel's place did NOT count as lucky, because if anything, it was very unlucky. After all, if he'd never been caught he would've never met Monoma or had to deal with Midoriya.
"Most of you did well, some of you… not quite as well. Maybe next time you'll study more." Aizawa said, taking a seat at his desk again.
Not likely.
Later, Album experienced the extent of Monoma's cruelty.
Apparently, even if he was actually angry at Album, others became the target of his rage.
At least, Album assumed it was rage. It was a bit hard to tell with that plastic smile always on his face. Album didn't think he'd ever seen Monoma genuinely smile, which would've been sad, except it didn't make sense for Album to see him smile.
Considering they could barely keep civil within a 30ft radius of each other.
"So, Midoriya," Monoma said, after strolling over and somehow placing himself between Midoriya and Iida. A pretty wise choice, considering Uraraka may have just pushed him off but both Iida and Midoriya were too polite.
"Um… yes?" Midoriya asked, trying to look anywhere other than Monoma's gaze.
Understandable, since his gaze was so intense. "Oh, I was just wondering, you're always talking about your mom."
Maybe not ALWAYS but she did seem to be a big part of Midoriya's life, and he didn't even know how Monoma would know that. "But what about your dad? Where's he?"
Midoriya blinked, like he was in a daze and Album nearly choked. He had to give credit to Midoriya for not simply telling him to go away. "Oh, well, I haven't seen my dad since I was really little."
"So, he left?" Album could see Monoma searching Midoriya's eyes, for weakness, vulnerability, and of course he saw it.
"I suppose so."
"Well, I'm kind of curious, how does it feel know one of your parents doesn't love you enough to stick around."
"Um…"
"Does he even visit you?"
"Well," Midoriya's eyes were darting around and he looked, very nervous.
"Leave him alone, Monoma!" Uraraka said with a glare. "And leave before I float you to the ceiling and don't let you down."
"It was only a question." Monoma said, trying to appear innocent. "Isn't that right, Midoriya?"
Midoriya fell silent and finally responded, "No, he doesn't visit me. And if feels terrible. Is that what you wanted to hear?"
Monoma searched Midoriya's eyes for something, perhaps a lie, but apparently he found what he was looking for, because he nodded.
"Well what about your parents, Monoma." Album said. "Where are they."
Monoma missed a beat, but smirked anyway, "There on a business trip to Paris. They're always traveling all around the world! It's pretty amazing."
"But then aren't you by yourself a lot?" Midoriya asked, not out of malice, but genuine curiosity, and maybe concern.
Monoma was silent again, this time for two beats before answering, "I like being alone." and it was odd for him to fall silent before responding. He usually always had a remark immediately.
Maybe he was just tired.
When Album came out at the end of the day, Daniel was waiting outside the gates, which had never happened before, so it couldn't be good. Maybe Daniel really had found out what he was, or what he was doing.
There could only be one reason he was here, and off work two hours early, and that was because he was looking for Album.
He would've pretended he hadn't seen Daniel, but their eyes met and suddenly Daniel was walking towards him, and he actually looked kind of nervous, which of course, scared Album.
And suddenly Album couldn't run anymore because that would look suspicious, like he was purposefully avoiding the conversation. "Hey…" Album greeted.
"Hi…" there was an awkward silence before Daniel continued, "I need your help tonight."
"With what?"
"With Adrien."
Album raised an eyebrow. Adrien was really difficult, to put it politely, but Daniel knew how to handle him. So Album didn't really understand the problem. "Why?"
"Well, there's this girl coming over." Of course. Album was actually surprised when Adrien told him Daniel didn't have a girlfriend.
"Is she a hero you work with?"
"Well, no, she's not. We've met a couple times. She was one of the victims of a villain attack a couple months ago. We just connected, and she's coming over for dinner tonight. And I don't want Adrien to scare her off."
"Fine, I'll help rain in that basta- I mean, kid." Album switched choice of words at the last moment.
"What are we talking about over here." In just seven words, the speaker had managed to make Album want to kill himself. And that was because he recognized the voice from the first word.
"Who's this?" Daniel asked.
Album felt Monoma latch onto his arm and an unpleasant shiver crawled up his spine. He didn't know why, but Monoma was always touching him whenever he got the chance, like it was an impulse he simply couldn't control. "I'm one of Album's friend. He was inviting me over for dinner tonight too!"
"I what?"
"Really?" Daniel said, seeming incredulous. "How long have you two known each other?"
"Practically from the first day, we hit it off!"
Yeah, in a bad way. "What the hell are you talking about. I fucking hate you."
Monoma drew back, an impossibly real to be fake, hurt expression on his face. "What?" Album didn't know how he managed to sound so confused, but he did.
Daniel was looking between the two of them, but mostly at Album, silently asking what was going on. "Um… what's going on with the two of you?"
"I don't know! Album, was it something I did?" Monoma asked.
Album didn't know what game Monoma was playing, because it was definitely a game, but he figured two could play it. "Oh nothing, I was just messing with you buddy." And dug his elbow playfully in Monoma's ribs. At least he made sure that's how it would look to Daniel, his jabs were a little too hard to be playful though.
For Monoma's part he smiled and laughed at Album's so-called "joke", "You're always so funny, just crack me up!"
"Yeah, I do crack you up don't I?' Album cracked one of his knuckles as if to emphasize, smile too tight to be anywhere near happy. He knew what Monoma was trying to do. Squeeze himself into Album's life as his best friend and probably try some sick and twisted "friends to lovers" gig. But he wasn't going to allow that.
Monoma was going to be permanently friend-zoned SO fast, he'd get whiplash. Not that they were friends anyway.
Daniel could tell they weren't friends. It was painfully obvious only an idiot wouldn't be able to pick up on the killer vibes coming from the both of them. So the question was why they were pretending.
Daniel wasn't even sure he WANTED to understand. "So, he's coming to dinner too, yes?"
Monoma stared intensely at Album, and Album knew if he said 'no' the blonde would never let him hear the end of what a coward he was. So, he did the only thing he could and nodded.
Daniel slowly nodded, "Well, I need to go to the store for some ingredients, you boys can come and help me out."
Album nodded and Monoma smiled all happy-like. Completely fake and Album wanted to kill him. "So, are you in Album's class."
"No, actually, I'm in the rival class, class 1-B. But we managed to overcome that barrier and are great friends." Monoma chirped, playing all polite.
"Oh, and your quirk?"
"My… quirk, yeah. Well, it's pretty great, I can copy people's quirks!"
"Yeah, but it's kind of useless when the person your fighting one, doesn't have a good quirk. Two, doesn't have a quirk at all, or three, has a long-ranged quirk and you can't get close."
Monoma gritted his teeth together but still smiled, managing to look happy, "Your absolutely right Aldumb-I mean Album. Sorry, sometimes I get your name mixed up."
"Aw, it's okay, I know you stumble over your words sometimes."
"No, I don't. It's just something about your name that REALLY throws me off."
"So," Daniel interrupted their passive-aggressive insults. "that sounds like a pretty great quirk. Like you have to get really creative sometimes."
"Yep, it would take a certain type of person. You have to be smart. Unfortunately, some people just aren't cut out for it." He glanced not-so-subtly at Album.
"Ah, I see. And what's your name again?"
"Oh, sorry, I'm Monoma. And your Deadlock, the famous hero! I'm such a huge fan of you!"
What a suck-up. As far as Album had been able to tell, Monoma didn't have a favorite hero, he didn't even seem to put All Might on a pedestal like a LOT of his other classmates.
"Thank you, but I'm not that famous. But I'm always happy to have a fan. And it's always great to know Album's made good friends."
"Oh yeah, I just love him, he's so funny and easy to talk to."
Daniel had a hard time hiding his surprise. "I've never had a friend quite like him." Monoma admitted. "From the moment I saw him, I knew that we would have a connection."
"Uh huh…" Daniel slowed down a little, letting Monoma walk a few steps ahead and whispered very quietly, "Is your friend gay?"
Album was silent.
"It's just he seems to like you a little more than as a friend."
"He's just a friend. And I don't know what he is." He's a bitch is what he is.
"I see…"
"Why do you care?"
"I don't. Just wondering." Daniel said and sped up a little into his normal walking pace. To Album's annoyance he and Monoma kept chatting it up while he trailed behind. How dare that stupid wretch come into his life and invite himself to dinner unannounced.
Album didn't know if he'd be able to go an entire week like this without killing him, didn't know if he could take Monoma constantly impeding on his life and trying fruitlessly to get a voluntary kiss out of him.
Like hell.
They walked around the store for a while, Daniel putting several items into the cart to the point, Album wasn't sure what he was even making. "If you wanted, Chonice-san, I could help you cook. I'm actually pretty good." Monoma said as they were checking out.
Somehow the image of Monoma standing at the stove and making something didn't sit well with Album. Not when he knew Monoma could drug it and kill him.
But he couldn't do that, he wanted the money, he couldn't kill him because he couldn't get the money then.
That didn't mean Monoma couldn't give him a healthy dose of food poisoning though…
"Oh, that would be great." Daniel smiled, "If you don't mind."
"I don't, I'd be happy to help."
Album rolled his eyes. Album couldn't even believe that Daniel couldn't see through the very obvious act Monoma was displaying.
Finally, they reached the apartment, Adrien so absorbed in the Tv show he was watching, he didn't even notice them come in. Album wondered if he ever took a break from staring at the screen all day.
Monoma and Daniel went in the kitchen and Album sat next to Adrien. "He's here."
Adrien didn't respond so Album punched his arm as hard as he could. Adrien hissed and scrambled away from him turning. "What the fuck!" he screamed.
"Don't curse!" Daniel called from the kitchen. Adrien opened his mouth to tattle, but Album's words stopped him.
"He's here."
"Who?"
"M-O-N-O-M-A."
"No…" Adrien said his eyes going wide and Album nodded. "He practically invited himself over and then he basically started implying he liked me romantically and now Daniel thinks he's gay."
"Does he think YOUR gay?"
"No!" Album paused, "I don't think so."
"Any other surprises I should know about?"
"Well…" Album wasn't sure if he should say but he'd already acted like there was something else so now Adrien would never take "no" for an answer. "Daniel does have this girl coming over tonight too. That's how the discussion of dinner first came up actually.
"What!" Adrien screamed.
"Inside voice!" Daniel reprimanded from the kitchen again.
"Are they always loud?" Monoma asked, looking over at him with a carefully crafted smile. Sympathetic. Daniel knew what he was doing.
"Most of the time, yes." Daniel said and laughed. "Do you know how to make mashed potatoes."
Monoma grimaced but nodded. "I hate peeling, always my least favorite part."
"Worth it in the end though. Your not vegan or vegetarian, are you?"
"Nope, and I don't have any allergies to my knowledge."
"Great."
"Yeah, wouldn't want you to accidentally DIE!" Album shouted from his place in the living room.
"That would be terrible." Daniel said, a bit jokingly. "I would rather avoid a lawsuit."
"A lawsuit?" Monoma asked.
"Well, since I'm a hero it would look even more bad than if I were just a regular citizen. Your parents might even be able to sue me."
It was on the edge of his tongue but he didn't say it, don't give him any ideas. Adrien said it for him.
"What do you mean?" Daniel asked with a small laugh.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing…" Adrien grumbled.
Daniel got started preparing the chicken he'd set out the night before, knowing it was one of her favorites. And Monoma seemed already halfway through peeling the potatoes. By the time he got the chicken in the oven, the potates were peeled and sliced and the water was almost boiling.
"Have you ever had chicken before, Monoma."
"Yes, but it's been a long time. A long time since mashed potatoes too."
"I suppose that makes sense, since the dishes are very American. You eat more food originally from Japan, right?"
"Yeah," the truth was, Monoma hardly ate at all. There wasn't usually enough money for it. And it benefited him because it gave him a closer image to the ideal male figure. It would help if he was a little taller, around Album's height, but he found most guys didn't mind it as much as girls did and he hoped he would grow a couple more inches at least before graduating. That was a reasonable thing to hope for.
Daniel interrupted his thoughts by saying, "Oh yes, and I guess I should mention, Clarice is originally from America too."
"Clarice?" Adrien asked, sounding unimpressed.
"Yes, Clarice, is there something wrong with that, dear cousin?" Daniel asked, a small glare on his face.
"No." Adrien grumbled and crossed his arms.
And everyone fell silent until, of course, Monoma opened his mouth to say something that grated on his nerves, "So, Chonice-san, do your parents live back in America, or did they move here too."
"We all moved here when I was young, my dad, mom, and my dad's sister, Adrien's mother and my aunt. We all moved down here where my aunt met her husband, a pro hero. He was very well-respected." Again, deep admiration entered his tone when speaking of Adrien's father, just as it had when Album had first arrived.
Adrien gritted his teeth.
"Sadly, my parents aren't around anymore." Daniel said sadly.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Monoma didn't sound very sorry.
But what Album didn't realize was that Monoma wished he could feel sorry. But he hated his own parents so much, it was almost unfathomable how anyone could have a good relationship with their parents. Maybe that was why Midoriya bothered him so much. If only Monoma had parents that cared like that, maybe he could focus more on making friends and having fun like ordinary teenagers.
But he'd been on his own for so long, he no longer felt like a child. He had been deprived of that, and he hated them for it. Yet still, somewhere really deep down Monoma wished they would come back to him and apologize for what they had done. But he knew they wouldn't. He was just like them, so how could they. Friday was the first day in three years he was going to lay eyes on his parents.
And he was terrified. No surprise there. What did surprise him was that, even though Monoma hated him, he couldn't imagine anyone other than Album being there that night. He knew somewhat though, why. Anyone else would pity him, but he didn't want that. He'd never wanted that. "May I ask what happened?"
Daniel's eyes hardened at the question and he looked away. A knock on the door saved him from answering though, and Daniel went to open the door, hoping that any questions they had wondered about his past had been forgotten. Because he didn't want to answer them. He knew they would ask him again at some point, that the question would be raised again, but still he hoped that it wouldn't be for a long time yet.
Opening the door, Daniel saw her and those thoughts instantly disappeared and he smiled. "Hello, Clarice, I'm glad you could make it. Why don't you come in?"
And when she smiled, Daniel felt his heart melt.
A/N Here's the next chappy, hope you liked it! Reviews are love!
Yeahleash: Cp ain't gonna get that real... no details or anything, gross. But we have a long way to go, lol.
