Hello there! Small delay as I was staying with family, but here we are with the next update! Time to talk to Bakugo! Hope you enjoy!


Bakugo is sitting on Kirishima's bed. The redhead smiles as he lets me in and lingers by the door for a moment. "Figured I'd let you guys talk in private."

"Thanks Kirishima, I appreciate it." I smile, and Bakugo nods to him before he closes the door behind himself, sounding like he's heading along to Kaminari's room. I turn to Bakugo, and shuffle closer. "Hey, I'm sorry if I said something that got to you back there–"

"Don't be a dumbass. I'm fine."

"Don't be a dumbass, yourself." I snap, refusing to let him fester, something had got to him downstairs when I spoke of All for One, and I wasn't letting him deal with it alone. Not only had his mother asked for my help, I want to. He's my friend. I can't lose him to this now, we've come so far.

He glares at his knees.

I perch against the desk as my back twinges. "Bakugo, you're pale and shaking. When you came to the hospital that first night, you said it made it easier to talk with me actually knowing this shit firsthand, right? So what's got you looking ready to puke?"

"I ain't gonna puk–"

"Not the point." I throw a pencil and it bounces off his arm.

"They…" he closes his eyes. "They said something similar to me." He finally spits it out, eyes opening and looking to the window like he wants to jump out of it.

I lean back. "They told you, you killed your parents?"

He sighs. "No, that you couldn't be trusted because you had killed yours."

"O-Oh." I gulp and sit on the desk properly, back throbbing as my heart races.

He went pale because he recognised the story. So All for One hadn't cooked it up on the spot from memory. Shigaraki knew the story as well. Another point towards it being true. Unless this had been a long term plan, but it seemed weird that they would go to that bother for me.

I swallow. "S-So hearing it again, you can't help but wonder if it's true."

"I'm not judging you or anything like that, if that's what you're thinking." He snaps, glaring at me. I shrug, unable to know what to think. "But they said some shit about what happened after you… Well after your parents were gone."

"Why?" I shake my head. "Why the hell did they make you listen to that shit?"

He throws the pencil back, it bouncing off my head. "That's not my point, Alex."

"I know, I just… Why couldn't they leave you alone?" I grit my teeth, imagining him being told that story whilst he was strapped to a chair. No doubt whilst Shigaraki also said that All for One would soon have my power. So he could start pulling out bones at will. I feel sick.

"So do you wanna know what they said?" He clears his throat, his nails digging into his own arm. "I didn't know if you would or not. It could all just be bullshit… A-And I didn't wanna mess with your head any further. It's why I didn't mention it before."

"I'm not angry or anything, if that's what you're worried about." I try to smile, but my lips won't work properly. He looks confused. I get up from the desk, wince at the pressure on my back and go to sit by him on the bed, shoulder to shoulder. "Bakugo… I just wish you hadn't had to hear that creepy crap whilst strapped to a chair."

"Was better than listening to them try their crappy speeches about me joining their dumbass cause." He snorts and I nod, finding the laughter between us calming. It was a harsh kindness he had, but a tender one as well. Once Bakugo cared about someone, he was fierce. There was something very admirable about that. Even if hard to see.

I take a deep breath. "Lay it on me. What else did they say?"

"Y'sure?"

"Mm. Please."

"They said once your parents were gone, All for One took you back to their hideout. That he raised you, took in Shigaraki, made him tend to you as well and help you refine your power. Apparently that's why you had such a good grasp on it early on… All thanks to them." He says the last part with a wrinkle to his nose, spitting it as though it tastes bad. I'm sure it does. "They used some kinda quirk to make you forget, but apparently it could be reversed. Unless that was more bullshit lies just to make me want to warn you."

It was easy to tangle oneself in the lies.

I nudge him and wait till those crimson eyes finally land on me. "I'm glad you told me now. Means we can ask All for One for more details if we want, and see if things match."

He frowns and turns to me properly. "Y'seem very calm about potentially having your head fucked with for multiple years, possibly since infancy."

"Has it messed me up? Not as far as I can tell… though it might explain my leaning towards murder before." I add with a bite to my lip, recalling how much I wanted to kill All for One today. "I guess I'm still processing it. But… I can't really be scared or freaked out by something I can't even remember."

He shakes his head. "You make no sense to me, Alex. How can you not be–"

"You want a sobbing mess? Would that make more sense?" I snap, and he blinks. I unhook my hands and show how deep my nails have been digging into my palms. He swallows hard. "I'm not screaming, no. I'm confused. I'm tired. I have no idea what the hell any of this even means… but there's no point losing my rag with you, or Sho, or Dad… or… or anyone here. There's not even any point in berating All for One if the fundamental aspect of that story is true."

"What do you mean?"

"That I was the one that killed my parents."

He glares. "Don't go fuckin' blaming yoursel–"

"If that's true." I glare back. "Then I guess he saved me from being left on the streets as an infant. Fuck knows what would have happened then." I get up to start pacing, rubbing my back as my racing heart continued to make it throb. Damn injury, take a back seat for a bit.

"Alex, you should sit."

"Helps me think. Look… I'm not suggesting I'm grateful to the fucker. He took me in yeah, but then he tried to turn me into his puppet. But… at least I'm alive. At least he was stupid enough… St-Stupid enough to let me live." I sniff and stop moving when Bakugo stands and puts his hands on my shoulders.

"Guess you got as much noise in your head as I got in mine."

"Yeah… probably."

He tilts his head. "You uh… want a hug or something?"

I roll my eyes and hang my head. "You were doing so well Bakugo, so well."

He grumbles something and pulls me into a hug. "Can I ask you something else?"

"Sure." I sniff, chin resting on his shoulder. He gives surprisingly good hugs actually. Wouldn't have thought it considering his spiky demeanour.

"How was All Might?"

I lean back and note how tight Bakugo's jaw has gone again, it sounded like he was in pain, but no, he's just fighting past his own teeth. The hell is going on in his head? He keeps doing this, swinging from warm to cold. He'd have to call himself Icy Hot soon enough.

Maybe I can pry a little. He's had front seats to my shit, after all.

"He was okay. I didn't see him after talking with All for One, but I reckon he was busy planning with the police. Why?"

Bakugo shrugs. I clamp my hands on his shoulders this time and refuse his wriggling. He could easily break my hold if he wanted, part of him wants me to pry.

I repeat. "Why?"

"Just wondered."

"I'm not letting up until you give me at least half a full answer, Bakugo. I wanna help. Let me?" I plead and something cracks in his demeanour. It's a new softness I've never seen. I can't decide whether I should be honoured or scared.

"I looked up to the guy a lot…"

"Of course."

"Not in the creepy way that fuckin' nerd Deku does but… a lot. Y'know?"

I nod.

He sighs, looking very weary ."I just… I can't go and ask him myself. He's been there in training and he looks so small, and like… breakable. I… I nearly hit him with a bit of debris the other day and the only damn reason it didn't hit him was Deku. Fuckin' Deku." Bakugo shakes his head, mouth starting to run further than he intended I think.

I just stay quiet and still. The last thing I wanna do is spook him.

He continues. "Kirishima asked him how he was, but obviously the old guy has no reason to be frank with our whole class. He doesn't know them all that well. So it was a brush off at most. I… I just wanted to know how he was really doing. Not that I can do anything about it, but I wanna know, considering it was me that went and got him all… fucked… up." He closes his mouth and glares at the ground. His whole body goes tense and he takes a step back. "Forget it."

His eyes shine slightly and look anywhere but me. He hadn't meant to say that bit, had he? But I feel an echo between us. He feels the same guilt I do. I take a step towards him, and he matches it with a retreat. His walls are going back up. Dammit.

I swallow my nerves and prepare myself for some hypocrisy. But it's not full-on hypocrisy right? Bakugo only got taken because I did. "Bakugo you need to listen to me. You didn't have anything to do with it. You're not to blame."

"I got kidnapped, didn't I?"

I blink. "So you blame me for it too?"

His mouth opens and closes. "That's not the same."

"How the hell not?" I half laugh, half bark. Bakugo was even more stubborn than my stupid self. This had already stewed too long. "We both got taken. If you're blaming you, you're blaming me. Which is fine, but that at least puts us on equal guilt measurements."

"If I hadn't been there, you could have escaped. You only didn't because of me."

"Fuck off." I snarl. "You seriously think I could have got out of that bar?"

"Of course you could have. That Dabi shithead threatened me and got you all spooked. If I hadn't been there you could–"

"Bullshit." I yell, he bares his teeth, but I keep going. "I was weak. I'd been bled extensively and could barely stay awake. You kept me going you arse-hat. I'm not gonna let you downplay that because of a damn pity-party."

He squares up to me–but at least he doesn't look defeated, I guess. "The hell you sayin'? This isn't a pity party. I'm just being strong enough to take responsibility. This is on me."

"Why you and not me?"

"Because–"

"I was right there when they were fighting, All might and All for One. I didn't manage to help at all, I couldn't even get out of the way properly. So how is this on you and not me?"

"Because you're the stronger one. I was the… the…"

"Victim?" I suggest and his eyes darken.

I think I pushed too far. I swallow hard and square up to him too. There's no point in backing down now. Bakugo doesn't respond to weakness, he responds to violence. Fine. I can do that. If it helps, I can do that plenty.

I take a deep breath. "Yeah. You're a victim in this situation. That's what you're trying not to say, but it's true. And that's why you're not to blame. We were victims. But we–"

"Like fuck!" He shoves me away, and I ignore the pain in my spine as I steady myself. "Sure, my weak ass was a victim, I get that. But you fought back. You were amazing. You took it all, barely letting them lay a finger on you. I was fuckin' putty in their hands. I let everyone down. All Might included."

"No you didn't." I hiss, going over and shoving him in return. His hands glow a little, but soon stop. He's really rattled. I take a deep breath. "You're the only reason I kept going Bakugo, don't you get that? I'd have given in if you weren't there at the bar. You saved me after I went and got myself captured by that freaky girl and Dabi, after I… I got separated and stuck. You. You saved me."

He clenches his teeth, refusing the frustrated tears. He has no idea how to process this. I'm not sure I do either, but at least he's talking. Right? After Kamino and then our exams, it's no wonder he's struggling a bit. Sho is handling the failed exam fairly well, but I think a large part of that is the relief of being away from his Father. Bakugo doesn't have that. He's likely been stewing in his failure. I should have come to see him sooner. Shit. All that on top of this ongoing guilt over All Might? I'm amazed he hasn't exploded yet.

I try to approach, but he just backs up.

He shakes his head. "None of this makes any sense anymore. I thought I… I thought I could actually do shit. Now I'm just… I'm nothing. Even Deku's better…" He groans and tugs on his hair, totally lost in his own mind and own self-loathing.

I know the circle. I'd been going nearer that drain myself, because deep down I know things might have gone differently if I hadn't gotten caught by Dabi. If that girl hadn't weakened me. If I had just listened and stayed with the group like Shoji said. But my own guilt isn't the issue here. It's Bakugo's. The idiot that had to hand himself over to the villains to help me. The scarring from Dabi's burn itches, and I want to tear it open, make myself feel the pain instead of Bakugo. But I can't. I got Telekinesis, not mind control, so I have to do this the old fashioned way.

I reach out. "Bakugo that's not what I–"

"I shouldn't have fucking said anything. It's fine. My own shit." He pushes past me, making for the door.

"Bakugo, wait!"

"You've your own messed up shit to deal with Alex, leave me alone."

"I want to help."

"It doesn't concern you." He pushes me aside. "You and that Deku bastard are just the same. Sticking your nose in where it's not wanted. Just leave it! You and that Half-n-half bastard too. Knew I shouldn't get involved. Such shit. I can't do shit." He shakes his head and goes for the door.

I can't let him leave. Not like this. My friend's in pain. Sure he's lashing out, but it's aimed at himself. I'm just the stand in. That's fine. If it's what he needs, I'll take that. I need to. Even if I have to reprimand his dumbass later when he can think straight.

I lunge and grab for his arm. Wrong move.

He flails, a spark emitting in his palm. It catches along my forearm, the spark igniting his quirk and landing on my skin in a flaming balm.

"Fuck!"

I recoil, clasping the burning flesh. It sizzles. I end up on one knee, breathing through clenched teeth as I do my best not to scream, or try and wipe it off. I'd only smear it further. Shit. What do I do? That shit really stings when it makes contact. The door's slightly open. He stares down at me. He's panting with wide-eyes. It will have been the last thing he wanted. I know that. Even now as pain lances along my arm and blazes in my nerves, I know this wasn't his intention. Dammit. I try my best, but the fluid based flame is clinging to my skin, and a whimper escapes as it continues to burn.

Bakugo looks paler than ever. He steps towards me, the door slowly creaking closed. "I… I-I didn't mean to. Shit, Alex I–"

"The hell is going on in here? Kirishima and Bakugo I told you to stop rough-housing in the… dorms… what the hell?" Dad pushes past Bakugo. I wanna hide the mark, but I'm barely able to move. I'm in shock. Bakugo never lost his cool like that, not with his quirk. The skin continues to peel. The smell makes me queasy. "The hell happened here? Nevermind. Alex, can you lift the substance with your quirk?"

"R-Right… should've th-thought of that." I suck in a breath and do just that, lifting some skin with it and making my stomach do a flip. It's only a couple of inches, but still it hurts. Damn that's gonna leave a mark. I make the flaming substance float into Kirishima's bathroom where it hisses out of existence in the sink. Silence.

Dad stares at my arm, and I can practically hear him counting to ten in his head. He has to react as a teacher, not a freaked father. I know he knows that. I also know he's just counted to ten all over again.

But still, I wanna help.

Bakugo stares at my arm, brows pinched, mouth slightly agape. He has no idea what to do. Of course he doesn't.

I sniff. "It was an accident. I caught Bakugo off-guard and–"

"And he felt the need to burn you?" Dad interrupts and looks over his shoulder. I can only imagine the look he must be giving Bakugo. "Explain yourself."

A second later, I wouldn't have believed Bakugo had ever looked even slightly concerned.

He throws his hands up. "Just punish me already." He scoffs, pride at the forefront despite the way his face is bright red and a sweat has beaded his brow. "I fucked up. We were arguing and I got too riled. No excuses."

"This is serious Bakugo. I hope you realise that."

"Yeah." He shoves his hands in his pockets.

Dad helps me stand. "Go to your room, Bakugo. I'll come and deal with you later. Let's get you down to the kitchen Alex, there's a medical kit down there."

Bakugo left without another word. Guilt throbbed in my head with every step towards the kitchen. Kirishima slowly made his way back to his room, looking at me in confusion and then in shock at my arm. I give him a pleading look. He scurried towards his room, and as me and Dad started to head down the stairs he glanced back along at us. I hesitate long enough to nod at him, and thankfully he goes to Bakugo's room. I hope Kirishima can fix what I fucked up. I'm so sorry Bakugo. I'm an idiot for pushing so hard.

Dad sits me down at the kitchen table and gets some ointment and dressing. It stings like hell, but I'll take a few days of healing over another lecture from Recovery Girl. That woman is definitely sick of me by now.

I wince as he ties off the bandage, the pain dulling. "Dad please, Bakugo didn't mean to–"

"Doesn't really matter, Alex. He did. This isn't a small thing, if he did that to something flammable, we could have all been in real danger. And the fact he hurt a fellow student due to a simple argument, that can't be ignored either."

"It wasn't simple. This isn't normal circumstances."

"I can't make exceptions for you Al–"

"Not for me, for him." I sigh as the ointment starts to numb my arm. "He's still messed up thanks to All for One."

Dad raises a brow, putting the bandages over the wound. "Go on."

"I pushed him too hard, I thought I was getting somewhere and clearly wasn't… Please. That isn't his fault. That isn't anyone's fault but All for Ones… Well and partially mine. Please. I know he's been to counsellors, but this is beyond that. He's a stubborn guy."

Dad ties off the bandage. "And that excuses him burning you?"

"I said nothing about excuses. I just don't see an advantage to dragging him through the mud for it." I watch the blood seep into the bandage and wrinkle my nose. I really was gonna end up looking more like a patchwork doll than a human at this rate. "He panicked. He was almost rambling when this happened, needing to escape and my dumb ass grabbed his arm. He… He didn't intend for this to happen. Probably like I won't have intended to kill my parents…"

It's a low blow, but it has to be said. Dad says he can't make exceptions for me, but he already is. So quick to deny my culpability as a child who couldn't control her power, but so quick to condemn Bakugo for having had a momentary lapse in judgement. Or I'm just clasping straws to avoid Bakugo getting a telling off.

Dad sighs, puts the kit away and gets himself a beer from the teachers fridge. "I wouldn't call that the same, Alex. If you did as All for One claims, you were likely no more than a toddler at the time. No concept of control. Bakugo is nearing sixteen. He has perfect control of his quirk–"

"But not on his emotions." I butt in, biting my lip. "For a long time, he was the strongest, he had the best quirk, then he came here and suddenly he's amongst kids who have quirks as good as his, and some he considers better. He's never dealt with that. Then he gets kidnapped, then he is saved by others and then he fails an exam. The pressure inside his head is fucking mad."

Dad sips his beer. "And you became his therapist… when?"

I roll my eyes. "I'm just saying Dad, that if my potential crime is able to be written off as a panicked child's mistake, then maybe put some of that logic onto Bakugo for this. I know he didn't mean to hurt me. He looked horrified."

Dad takes another sip and counts to ten. The words run through his head, they play over and over, the logic landing solidly. I may have scrambled that argument together in a matter of moments, but I don't think I did a bad job. Then again, I did learn to argue from the best.

He grumbles. "All right, I'll be lenient."

I breathe out. "Thank you."

"But this isn't going away without at least some kind of punishment. I'll give him a little longer to cool off."

"You might find Kirishima in there."

Dad pauses, beer nearly at his lips. "I can't separate them for ten fucking minutes can I?"

"Actually you can. Then I stick my foot in it." I point at the bandage and he rolls his eyes before coming over, kissing and my head. "Thanks for the bandage."

"No problem. Keep it clean." Then he heads for the stairs, pausing at the bottom to look back. "You gonna be able to get back to your room all right?"

"Sure thing Dad, Sho'll be back in soon from doing his routine anyway."

He nods and heads upstairs, grumbling to himself as he goes. I lean back and let my head hang over the back of the chair. It had been one hell of a long day. I could do with a long soak in the tub and sleeping for a week. Instead? I had to continue preparing my ultimate move, and contemplate the return of classwork. What the hell was the next part of the year going to bring? Hopefully a break. Please, a break?

"Didn't expect to find you down here." Sho rumbles as he comes back inside from his workout. I smile as he kisses me lightly. His nose grazes mine and then I fail to cover the bandage. "What happened to your arm?" His touch hovers close but he doesn't make contact. He can see the blood.

"I was stupid."

"Not what I asked."

I bite my lip. "Promise to hear me out?"

"Of course." He took a seat, which I hope he stays in. "Do you need it cooled or anything?"

I smile. "No, it's got some ointment on it. Dad dressed it, so don't worry, I haven't fumbled it myself."

"Good to know."

"So… I went up to talk to Bakugo and… Well it turns out he heard something similar to my story whilst we were in captivity. Plus a couple extra details."

Sho tilts his head. "What's this got to do with your arm… Wait, did Bakugo do that?"

"Oi, I said hear me out." I point a finger at him and he deflates a bit. "He told me some more information on what supposedly followed on from All for One's claims about my… my incident with my parents. Following on from that, he asked about All Might. How he was doing."

"Bakugo did?"

"Exactly, so I pressed him for an explanation. Turns out I'm not the only idiot blaming themself for shit they have no control over. Long story short, I pushed too hard in trying to convince Bakugo otherwise and… well his quirk flared. It was an accident, that's all. And I guess I was so shocked, I didn't think of the obvious remedy."

"Lift it from the skin?"

I roll my eyes. "Yes, yes Mr Prodigy."

He smirks and shuffles his chair closer, holding my arm and gently pressing a kiss close to the bandage, to my unmarked skin. Then his kiss travelled up to my elbow where the scarring from Dabi remained. From there, he went to my shoulder where Shigaraki had staked his own claim. I'd have to piss off a girl sooner rather than later. All I had was the crazy blood girl's cut to my lip.

Finally Sho kisses my lips. "Does it hurt?"

"You kissing me?"

He blows a raspberry against my cheek. "Clearly not if you're sassing me."

"I'm fine. But thank you for the tender care, I feel very spoiled."

"Good." He hums, pulling me into his lap, putting my arms safely round his neck. I lay my head against his chest. His hand runs up and down my back, whilst the other gently rests on my thigh. Damn, I can't wait to go further with him, but he was right to stop me the other day. My head is a mess right now. When we go further, it should be for the right reasons. I always knew he was good, but little did I know I had started to date a prince.

There's movement behind us. I peer past Sho's shoulder and see Bakugo heading outside on a jog, earphones on and leaving a faint echo of his loud music in his wake. I'm tempted to go with him, to let him know he isn't alone. But no. No point in getting involved, I'd already butted in enough.

I squeeze Sho. "We better head upstairs."

"My room or yours?"

"Mine. Dad will want to check where everyone is once he realises Bakugo has gone out on a run. My room's first."

He nods but before I can clamber off his lap, he's stood up and kept me in place, legs wrapped around him. He's such a cheeky bugger at times–though I can't deny, it's comfy. I pout for a second, but that smirk has me melting into a blush instead. He's gonna ruin me with that smirk eventually.

"You're too charming for your own good, Sho."

"Seems to be working out for me so far." He heads up the stairs, not missing a beat nor being out of breath when we get there. I unlock the door and push the handle, he kicks it closed and kisses my head. "Felt like continuing the spoiling. You've had a horrible day."

"I don't deserve you."

"Disagree. Now then, a bath? Or a movie?"

"Mm, both?" I grin and he mirrors it, setting me on the bed and going to run me a bath.

I lie back and listen to the pouring water, I take a deep breath and appreciate the scent of some bubble bath and one of my scented candles. The door clicks and hands skim up my legs and sides, soon pressed against the mattress on either side of my head to let Sho lower himself to kissing me again. I sigh and welcome it, threading fingers into his silken hair and pulling him closer till he's lying on top of me. Bliss.

One hand holds him up from putting too much weight on me, the other runs along my side. His fingers graze under my t-shirt. Even without his quirk I feel like every touch leaves a brand on my skin–but the kind I want. I deepen the kiss and his hand grips my hip. Please hold tighter. I roll my hips slightly and feel a small pinch as his nails dig into my skin.

I gasp and bite my lip, his kisses moving along my jaw. "Sho?"

"Mm?"

"You still wanting to wait for–"

"I'm spoiling you, not fucking you." He murmurs, though I note how we both shiver at the important word. I swallow hard as he kisses the end of my nose. "Your head is going to be all over the place."

"Can't argue with that. How about a compromise?"

His hand squeezes my side. "Such as?"

"Keep me company? At least beside the bath if not in it?"

He smirks, eyes narrowing and slowly moving down my body. Come on Mr Perfect, give in to a little temptation. I want to be closer to him, to be intimate, regardless of what the outside world is doing. Or thinking. I bite my lip and tilt my head, running a finger along the collar of my t-shirt, pulling just enough to show my bra strap. His eyes tighten again.

I lean up to kiss his throat. "Please? I'd love the company."

A shiver runs through him, my ego being a little flattered.

He swallows hard. "A-All right."

He helps me stand and we move to the bathroom. I lock the door and turn to start teasing him, finding myself quickly kissed instead. The door presses against my back whilst he leans into my front. I sigh and open up to him, our tongues dancing as fingers move clumsily to remove my clothes. Stepping closer, his knee nudges between my thighs and I can't help but grind against him a little. He makes a soft noise, so quiet I could have missed it. I guess the next stage, whenever we're both ready for it, will be touching. What is he like when he's at that moment? Will he moan my name? Will he try and be quiet? I reckon so. I reckon his hair will be all mussed up, his eyes half-lidded and his lips gasping. Fuck he's going to look beautiful. I've imagined that much when touching myself and thinking of him. Fuck. It'll be a reality sooner rather than later.

And then I wince.

His hand drifted over my bandage and caught the fresh wound. Dammit.

He stops and carefully raises it to a gentle kiss. "Sorry. How about you finish undressing and I make some tea?"

"Mm, sure." I smile, knowing he was clinging to the gentlemanly intentions as much as he could. He worries too much.

He leaves to get the water boiling and I finish stripping so I can step into the hot water. It envelops me and I sigh into the bliss. Just what I wanted. I keep my arm above the water, draping it over the side as I let my head rest against the back of the tub. In hindsight, this would go a lot better than Dad coming to check on people's rooms and finding me in Sho's lap in the tub. I bite my lip and giggle. At least this way I could call out to Dad's knock, he could enter and see the perfectly innocent situation of Sho simply being in my room on my bed whilst I had a bath. Not that this would really be the case, but Sho sitting next to me chatting to me whilst I soak in the hot bubbles wouldn't likely go well either. At least, I assume it won't. No, Dad doesn't have to worry about a teen pregnancy, but he also is a Dad to me. I'm still his little girl in a lot of ways I'm sure.

I stare at the bandage, glad to see the blood hasn't seeped any further. It's clotted at least. I'm unsure how bad the burn was, but I guess it doesn't really matter. The fact is, Bakugo's quirk activated by accident. My words, my actions, something got under his skin that badly. We'd had our differences in the past, but I always knew Bakugo was talented with his quirk. Yet I managed to cause such a slip up. I hate it. Downstairs, the idea of him just being a panicked kid was how I defended him, but as I stare at that small red stain amongst white bandages, my mind drifts. Back to when I was just a panicked kid. Or rather, supposedly. Had I really done it? Had I killed them, by simply wanting them to stay?

I try again but the memories aren't there. Only that sickly feeling of deja vu.

Something happened. Just maybe not quite what All for One said. But that would make sense, wouldn't it? A part truth amongst other lies. That would be clever, which is his way. Bastard. I bet he's still laughing even now, strapped into his prison, cackling over another small victory.

"Your phone just lit up with a message from… Toshi?" Sho calls from my room. "I didn't mean to look, it was right there by the kettle when it flashed. Sorry."

"It's fine. Thanks for letting me know."

Toshi hadn't spoken to me after All for One's words. It almost seemed like he had hidden from me in all honesty, like he had connected the dots and couldn't stand to see my face. Or, and more likely, that was just my insecure panic and he had actually just been busy with the police. So what did he want now? It had been hours. Had they already confirmed the story? Were they going to come and arrest me? Shit.

But no. I doubt that would be the next step, and even if it was… if I did kill my parents, then maybe I do deserve the punishment. Whatever it might be. I can't just hide from it, or dodge responsibility. What kind of hero would that make me? No. If it's true, I'll take whatever punishment they offer. Right. I can do that–I just wish my heart would stop racing at the idea.

Sho comes back in with two teas, bringing me back from my morbid thoughts. I don't want to be alone tonight, do I? I smile from amongst the bubbles, knowing full well I can confide in him, but having no idea where to start. It can wait. For now, we have our cosy bubble to enjoy.

"I really didn't mean to snoop." He sets my tea beside me and then his own on the floor.

"I know, Sho. I trust you." But I also know why he's insisting on underlining the fact. His father snoops. His father studies and leers, and checks up on people with zero right to. I get it. At every turn, the last thing Sho wants is to end up like Endeavour. But I know he won't. For one thing, Sho isn't a bastard. For another, I won't let him fall into that darkness. Even if I'm not great at avoiding it myself.

But like he said when we got together, we can help each other.

He sits alongside the bath, smiling as he allows himself a little look down along the bubbles. Only hints are visible, but judging from the blush on his cheeks, it's enough to tantalise. Then he traces the bandage on my arm and lays his head against the edge of the bath.

"Will you ever go through a day without a new bandage to show for it?"

"Where would be the fun in that? You can't get bored of me if I look different every time I get undressed." I wink and he chuckles, shaking his head. "Sorry though, I didn't intend for things to get so out of hand."

"I'm sure Bakugo didn't either. No doubt he'll angrily work through his guilt over the next few days. Maybe his jog will help though. Obviously he's putting himself under a lot of strain."

I nod. "The fact he failed the licence exams won't be helping."

Sho hums and sips his tea. They both had another test looming beyond special coursework.

Sho kisses my hand. "Shall I keep an eye on him in our extra training?"

"It's all right, thanks but I don't want him to feel studied. He's cagey enough right now."

Sho nods, and sips his tea. It's a strange bond the three of us have ended up with. I can only hope it turns into something enduring, a friendship built to last our weird world. Well, more than friendship between me and Sho obviously, but still funded on that. Then again, am I just being naive? Maybe Bakugo hasn't considered me a friend at all. Maybe it's all strung together weakly by a common ground of trauma. I don't know anymore. Then again, maybe I don't need to know, I can just find out like everyone else.

Sho hums. "I'm sure Bakugo appreciated your effort on some level. At least he should."

"Mm, not sure I agree with that. Not everyone is as fond of my pestering."

He blows at the bubbles. "Their loss."

I see his eyes keep darting back to his phone pocket, like it's gone off again, or he worries it might.

I blow bubbles back at him. "Has your Dad made any more stupid claims about you having to go home?"

"For now, he's dropped it. But he does keep calling about my extra training."

I tilt my head and bat my lashes. "Can I please accidentally answer the phone for you one time? Just once?"

Sho smirks into his tea. "Depending on how much I require a laugh that day, perhaps."

"Better than an outright no!"


Some "explosive" moments with Bakugo haha! Thanks for reading! ^-^ And thanks to everyone following, faving and leaving reviews, check out the shoutouts below for my responses! Cya soon!

Cyclone Magnus Phenix: I dunno if you'll make it this far as you reviewed on Chpt 1, but if you do, HELLO! Thanks for chiming in, I'm gonna hope, despite the toothache, you find the sweetness of the story endearing as well haha. Thanks again!

zikashigaku: I'm looking forward to the canon divergent moment as well, but I am still considering HOW to to do it tbh. For some reason, this one feels a little different to my AOT ones. So I'm dithering a little. But I'll figure it out by the time we get there. Plenty to come before that point. Endeavour's redemption arc is a big point of interest to me - mainly because I was glad to see them NOT do the typical "he did one good thing so now he's a good guy" approach. They haven't made him a saint overnight. So I'm reeeeally looking forward to seeing how it goes. I'm not sure how I'll tackle it myself, if I decide not to read ahead.

And thanks, I was pleased with the scene between Alex and AFO. I wanted her to hold her nerve, but not be immune to the fact he scares her to death. I am having a BLAST writing Dabi tbh. Really love watching him, but writing him is sooo fun. Haha yeah the blood is being used for sure, just maybe not entirely in an expected manner muhahahaha. But it occured to me that Toga would need to train like anyone else at some point. Nothing is ever off the table haha ;)

Yeah I was tempted to have her hide it, but frankly, that would have shown NO growth whatsoever. At the start, when first meeting them, she would have hidden it. But now she knows them. She trusts her friends, and the fact they support her. So I wanted to show that in her telling them the truth. Interesting, your thoughts on AFO's story. Thanks for sharing! I have been struggling to find the second movie tbh. I've seen the one on the tech island, but not the other. Still looking though. I shall take that as a good recommendation for it though! Thanks! And as ever, thank you soooo much for reviewing again, its so so awesome to see your take on things as they progress. I seriously appreciate it every single time. See you soon!