Triggers: mental breakdown, aggressive tendencies, Bakugo being meaner than usual

My Dear Copycat
Chapter 7
A Rough Day

Their day of classes was one of unease and treading on eggshells. The class of 1-A was worried about their classmates who were on a secret and dangerous mission and their present classmate Bakugo was in a worse mood than usual. He snapped at anyone when they were brave enough to speak with him. The air around him was sour and one of a burning rage that never seemed to dwindle. Even those of his inner circle, Kaminari, Sero, Mina and May preferred to steer clear. His closest friend, who probably would have made a better job at getting through to him was Kirishima, who, unfortunately for those not at work studies was away on the secret mission. As they finished Mathematics with Ectoplasm and headed to English, their last academic class of the day before quirk training. May tried to get Bakugo's attention to see what was wrong. As surely, out of everyone present, she would be the best choice to calm his flames besides Kirishima. They had a blossoming friendship over the past several weeks, training and hanging out together and this morning the romantic tension between them was broken. They had fallen on top of each other during their sparring match and Bakugo had given into temptation, which May had welcomed. May had hoped this met they were going beyond being just friends.

As Bakugo stormed off ahead, taking long strides to be ahead of everyone else, May jogged up beside him and tried her best to keep up the pace. She did not have long before she had to head off in a different direction as May did not attend English like everyone else. As English was her first language the faculty felt it best to challenge May elsewhere. So she joined the support class for engineering and computer science instead for these last two periods, causing her to also miss a session on quirk training – but with her extra training with Bakugo, the teachers did not mind as there was a clear progression in the use of her quirk and combat abilities. "Hey Bakugo, are you okay? You have been off since homeroom," there was a genuine sound of worry in her voice. Had something happened without her realising it? Or could it have been what they did this morning? She chewed on her lip, concern growing in her stomach like a virus.

How dare she! All this time you have been tricking me and you go and pretend to be so innocent, he scoffed. He snarled at her, not even looking her way as his eyes burned so ferociously it was a surprise the corridor ahead of him didn't combust. They arrived at where the hallway split, Bakugo and the rest of their class needed to take the left, while May needed to take the right. He did not have the patience to talk to anyone nor be near anyone let alone her. Even the classes had seemed like a blur and he knew he would have to catch up later. His mind had been going a hundred miles an hour all day thinking over how and when May could have done what she did and what her motives behind it were. I won't be tricked by anyone. But despite his recent revelation, he could not bring himself to confront her and potentially hurt her either physically or emotionally, some residue of the control must still be there. He thought it best to avoid her and everyone else at all costs otherwise he may not be able to control his rage that currently rattled and gnawed at a hypothetical cage like a rabid dog.

She stopped and tried to reach out to him, her voice growing quiet as her confidence dwindled. He was so hot and cold she could not keep up with his personality changes. "I guess I'll see you later then," they had their usual session in the library booked in to help him with the theory behind disaster management and treatment of civilians. She noted to herself that she would catch up with him later during their session to make sure everything was alright with him, and them. Her cheeks flushed crimson in embarrassment as he ignored her and continued on his path. He had not been this cold to her since she first started, she thought they were way past this. Kaminari stopped to check on May as the rest of the class resumed their course, Sero and Mina did try too, realising it was something to do with Bakugo, but Kaminari had pushed them ahead which they reluctantly listened to. The inner dealings of their relationship were only really known by the electricity hero, Kirishima and of course the two themselves, Bakugo and May.

Kaminari fiddled with the sleeves of his blazer, he was not sure if it was something he had said to Bakugo this morning on their commute to class. He had been perfectly fine, rather calm and cheery almost, until their conversation about Mellow's quirk, May's dad. But, with Kaminari not being as self-aware as he should be, he had not yet put two and two together. "He gets like this sometimes, all the time actually. Though this is worse than normal I guess. But…who knows with that guy," he shrugged and looked down at May with a smile that was quickly wiped off as he realised she still watched the now empty corridor, her eyes beginning to glisten and she seemed to be holding her breath. He nervously waved his hands at her, "hey May don't worry! Everything will be alright I'm sure! He just gets a little difficult sometimes that's all! I'll keep an eye on him for ya!" his breath hitched when she looked up at him with those large emerald doe eyes and he promised that it'll all work out. She nodded faintly, thanking him before heading to her class. Kaminari sighed and knew he had his work cut out for him. As the bell rang out again he nearly jumped out of his skin and he ran to class before he was late.

During English class, Bakugo was completely distracted. Again. He had a face that even made their teacher Present Mic not want to call on him to answer questions. So when their quirk training session came around, Bakugo was the first one in there. He wanted to blow stuff up and calm this ticking bomb inside of him that threatened to explode any minute. How could I let such a weakling get a hold of me like that! The manipulative bitch! I'll show her! He swung an explosive fist through solid rock, causing it to shatter like glass. He was an unstoppable force for the entirety of the session and so everyone continued to keep their distance.

The bell rang out to notify them of the end of their session and his classmates began to leave, muttering about him as he hid at the back away from everyone else. He stared at a rock that reached his chest in height, his fist going out but instead of destroying the boulder, he slumped against it. His thoughts returning to why May would control his emotions the way she had. Why would she make him like her this way? He pulled out his phone as he leaned back against the boulder. He had received a text from her, reminding him of their session in the library later on. He couldn't stop himself from clicking on the photograph that was attached to her profile on his phone. It was of the two of them - she was in the main foreground, with that big cheesy grin, laughing at him as he chased her in the background. She had taken his phone and was spamming the camera as a harmless little prank. "Is it payback for how I treated you?" his fingers tightened around the phone as his back slid against the rock, his legs losing the strength the hold him up. He lowered his head in defeat, "how could you be so cruel…" his chest hurt and his eyes began to blur. He felt like his heart was caving in on itself and he was mad at himself for allowing it to get this far. "How could I be so stupid…" he gritted his teeth as he tried to stop the tears from falling, "how could I have let you get so close…idiot," his grasp went even tighter on his phone as he tapped it against his head and he heard a crack. He had damaged the screen but he could not be bothered to check. He felt broken like he too was cracking under the strain. He just wanted it to stop. He wanted to go back to the way things were before she joined their class, to before she had taken advantage of him.

He was abruptly snapped out of his momentary defeat when he heard the rowdy bellows of Class 1-B enter through the main doors. Thankfully, Bakugo was on the far side, hidden by the mass of rocks that penetrated the training room. He jumped to his feet and shoved his phone back into his pocket. He looked around, desperate to not be seen in this state he made his way out of the back entrance which served as a fire escape. Not caring if it was going to set off an alarm or not. Thankfully, it didn't, or not that he noticed.

The fresh warm air hit his face and dried his cheeks in mere moments. Taking a deep breath he formulated his next steps as he tried to control these weeping emotions. He decided he would change out of his hero costume get into his UA training uniform and hit the gym. He could not front his classmates just yet, even in the seconds it would take for him to get from the front door of Alliance to his room. They would see, and they would know he had been crying, especially May. He vowed to never show such weakness to them, particularly her. He couldn't show her that this callous trick she had been playing on him this whole time had worked in breaking him.

Kaminari hung out in the commune area of the Alliance building after their classes, May had left some time ago to meet with Bakugo in the library. But, Bakugo had disappeared after training and had not yet returned to the dorms as he usually did. So he could first shower and change clothes maybe grab a quick bite before heading back out again – always with her. When he had asked, May had told him that Bakugo had ignored her texts but she would be heading there anyway just in case. He wasted time by playing on his phone and after it reached an hour since May had left the dorms and still no sign of the temperamental guy, Kaminari left to check the library to see if Bakugo had gone straight there. Kirishima was still not back yet to reassure him if he was right or wrong in what was happening between his two friends. He was all on his own to discover the truth.

It had taken him another ten minutes to reach the library, he stalked his way in as he did not want the couple to spot him. He used the high bookshelves and other students to his advantage as he manoeuvred the large room. Thankfully for him, the two used the same spot every time, which was secluded and private, tucked away at the far end of the library and hidden from the main area. Prime spot for canoodling teenagers. Truth was, Kaminari did not know what to expect or what he wanted to see. He peered through a gap between the bookshelf anyway, preparing himself for whatever the two could be getting up to. He did not want to invade the privacy of his friends if they truly were "canoodling" but he had to know they were alright – everyone had been rooting for them for weeks. So when he saw May all on her own at the large table, it made his heart sink. She had pulled out her laptop and was using a book on programming to complete some other work while she waited. She frequently checked her phone, seemingly growing more upset each time but trying her best to hide it. Bakugo should be here by now.

Kaminari sighed and left the library. Vowing to hunt down his stupid friend. After an hour of looking around the campus in various buildings and around the grounds, Kaminari finally found Bakugo at one of the many gyms on campus.

Bakugo was in the middle of some intense strength training, his face red and sleek with sweat and rage. The other occupants of the gym steering clear of him. Kaminari watched Bakugo for a few minutes as he sparred with a punching bag that dangled from the ceiling. He seemed to be muttering to himself and suddenly he threw a punch so hard he caused the bag to break off from its chain and hit the wall. Making the white powder from the inside cloud the room. The other occupants of the gym had stopped what they were doing and watched him in a mix of awe and fear. Another student went to speak with Bakugo but Kaminari put his arm out to stop him knowing it would be a huge mistake, but he could not stop a second student from heading over to the ticking time bomb. As soon as the student's foot touched the mat, Bakugo swung around, his eyes on fire and his hands sparking. "YOU WANT TO GO HUH? I'LL FUCKING DESTROY YOU TOO!" the other student backed up, hands raised to show no harm. "GET THE FUCK OUT! ALL OF YOU…OUT! FUCK OFF! Before I kill every last one of you!"

The other students, fearful of the crazy kid from the hero course fled the gym. Leaving Kaminari alone in there with a very angry and bitter Bakugo. "I suggest you go to Sparky," I have little control, I don't want to hurt you, He thought as he hung the damaged punching bag back up on its hook.

"What is going on man? You have been worse than usual…"

"It's none of your business…" he growled, and he cut off Kaminari when he tried to speak again, "I said fuck off!" it is yours and Shitty Hair's fault I even got close to her in the first place.

Kaminari raised his hands in defeat, "sure whatever man," he backed up slowly and turned to leave as Bakugo began his attacks again. The yellow-haired boy paused in the doorway, and looked back to his firey friend, "just so you know, May…" Bakugo stopped his punches to listen but didn't peer away from the bag, "…looked really upset in the library earlier. She's still there waiting for you. Just so you know…" after some silent moments Bakugo returned to fighting the bag as if he were alone. With a sigh, Kaminari left. It was getting dark now and the street lamps were beginning to come on, so he headed back to the dorms, mumbling to himself about the rollercoaster of a ride Bakugo and May's relationship was.

Bakugo gripped the bag and rested his head against the faded black leather. She had waited for him this whole time and he was here, letting off steam. Good, this is what she gets for playing her games with me. His fingers dug into the leather causing it is crease and crack. He pictured her in the library, at their table where they met many times. Where he had often fantasied about using the privacy of the spot to his advantage and kiss her like he had done that morning – just like what many other students use that spot for. But it was all a lie. Those thoughts were not real, they were not his. His brain chemistry had been altered to make him feel this way about her. Bakugo took a step back, grinding his teeth, he let out a cry as he landed a heavy explosive punch on the bag. The bag exploded in a mass of white powder, sand and burning plastic and leather. The wall behind the bag was blackened with soot. He stared at the mess he created and instead of cleaning it up straight away he moved on, telling himself he will clean it up once he was finished. He went on to the weights where he benched the heaviest he could, then the treadmill where he ran as fast as could on the highest slope setting. All to fight this blazing fury that had a tight grip on him. He needed to vent this out before he hurt somebody.

Back in the library, May had finished two tasks on programming that were needed for her class. She was some weeks behind everyone else so she was playing catch up. Her phone vibrated against the table and she quickly snatched it. Hoping it was a message from Bakugo who should have joined her here over three hours ago. The text was from Toru, their classmates had succeeded in their important mission but were injured and now in the hospital, some more serious than others. Toru said she didn't know much about what had happened but it was severe and they didn't know when their classmates would be back to school.

As May was about to text back, worried out of her mind for her friends, came an unfamiliar voice whispering beside her "would you mind?" May looked up and saw a couple of students she didn't recognise, a boy and a girl who both looked rather eager and flustered. The girl clung to the boy's sleeve and leaned into him with a suggestive look.

It took May a few seconds to compute what he had meant, "oh…Oh! Yeah of course…hold on," her cheeks turned crimson as she packed up her things. Hiding her face knowing full well what the two would be getting up to there. She scurried on, heading back to the dorms. She wanted to see her friends now, especially after the news about Midoriya, Kirishima, Uraraka and Asui. Plus, she wanted to speak with Toru and Mina about Bakugo. He had been avoiding her all day, at first, she told herself that he was avoiding everyone but the fact that he had stood her up for their session and completely ignoring her messages this evening made her rethink. Was he upset about what happened this morning? He seemed to enjoy it, besides he was the one to instigate it in the first place!

She adjusted the straps of her backpack as she checked her phone again, still no message from him. She was thankful for the street lamps to guide her way back to the dorm. She looked up at the clear sky. The stars were difficult to see due to the light pollution but there was still enough for her to gaze up at and find shapes by connecting them. She noticed then that Bakugo had joined on her path from an adjacent one. He had spotted her as well but turned his back with his hands in his pockets. Pretending she wasn't even there.

"Hey! Bakugo! Wait a sec!" she picked up the pace to catch up to him, she grabbed his sleeve to stop him, knowing she would not be able to keep up the same pace as him for long. "You forgot about our session. Don't worry though, I got some other stuff done and we can catch up another time…" she gave him an innocent smile, she didn't want to assume he had just stood her up as he seemed to have a lot on his mind that day or at least, that is what she told herself to feel better. Her smile was quickly wiped away.

He turned on her, baring teeth as he snatched his arm away.

"Bakugo…what is going on with you? Why are you being like this?" her brow furrowed as she tried not to back down, refusing to be intimidated by him. If this happened months ago, she would have cowered and run away. But she knew him better now, and she cared about him too much to allow him to ruin what they have.

"Oh fuck off, will you? I know your game! Have you had fun toying with me? Manipulating me?"

She was taken aback, "wha-what are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb! You know exactly what I am talking about!" he roared, "you have been manipulating my emotions this whole time. To what? To get revenge on me for being an ass?"

"No…no, it's not like that-" he wouldn't listen to her.

"For a bit of fun then? Well…I hope you enjoyed this morning because I have wised up on your shitty little game now. It all makes sense now, you toyed with my mind to make me think that I actually liked you like that. Why else would I be interested in a pathetic, boring nerd like you? Huh? I said it before…your not worth it. I'm done wasting my time on a stupid weakling." He glared at her, everything about him burned with seething anger – his training had helped little to settle his temper, instead, it only made his mind overthink more. But, he will not be played anymore. He continued on his path to the dorms, glad to finally be done with the frail creature.

She reached out to him again, "Bakugo wait! Listen to me…please!" tears flooded her cheeks and her voice cracked.

He whirled back, his snarling face inches from hers, the rabid dog inside of him reeling in her distress. Baring teeth, "I am done with you," he sneered. Leaving her again as he plunged his fists deep inside his pockets again. This time she did not try to stop him. He left her there crying uncontrollably. His curiosity had got the better of him and he glanced over his shoulder. She had her face in her hands and she retracted into her shoulders. Her knees wobbled and betrayed her as she got close to the floor hugging her knees. Her long hair falling forward covering her flushed babyface. He had caused this. Something tried to pull him back to his senses, to go and comfort her – because if he was correct and she was playing a cruel game with him this whole time this would not have been her reaction. She's only upset because she got caught…growled the husky inner voice of the rabid dog, she can't laugh at you anymore with her friends. She failed to make you pay.

As soon as Bakugo reached the dorm, he made a beeline for his room. Ignoring his classmates with their news on the others. He didn't care. He just wanted to sleep. Today had been long and taxing. The rise and fall of his temper had been worse than usual, that mixed with the unfamiliar raw emotions and the intense training to vent his frustrations had drained him. He wanted nothing more than to be done with today, more than he wanted to be done with her.

As he opened his door his ears twitched, he could hear the others pining over May as she entered the building. He scoffed and disappeared into his room, slamming the door shut behind him.

The day prior…

In a secluded warehouse that had become the meeting place for the head of the League of Villains, Tomura Shigaraki and his remaining Vanguard Action Squad and where they would regularly conduct business. The Squad included Dabi, a lanky dark-haired lad with sections of burned flesh that often went between not speaking enough to talking too much, then there was Himiko Toga, a crazy high-school girl with a thirst for blood and obsession with knives, also Mr Compress, an intelligent man with the love of theatrics; Twice, a well-built man hiding behind his suit to ward off his constant mental battle and Spinner, a lizard-looking man that followed Stains ideals and even his fashion sense. The group were planning what was going to happen the next day at the HQ of the Shie Hassaikai. An arrangement had been made with their acting leader Kai Chisaki, otherwise known as Overhaul. As much as Shigaraki hated the man and dreamed of turning him to dust, his worth to the cause was not yet over. Shigaraki had to be patient, a virtue he was still learning to grasp.

The door opened, allowing sunrays and the breeze to interrupt their bickering. They were not expecting anyone. All but Shigaraki had got themselves in a stance ready to attack and protect their leader.

A woman, average in height walked in with her hands raised showing she had no weapon, but her confidence and mannerisms told the villains that she was just humouring them. "Now now…I come in peace…" she smirked, her accent was strange, and it was apparent that she was not from Japan. She shut the door behind her in an overly proper way, to ensure there was no noise. She had deep red hair that was up in a perfect tight bun, not one strand out of place. She wore big dark sunglasses and deep burgundy lipstick that contrasted against her pale porcelain skin. She had on a red long coat, done up to hide her slender body and reaching above her knees. She showed off her lean legs with transparent black tights and shiny high-heeled boots that elongated her already long limbs and clicked against the concrete as she took each step. She shamelessly headed towards a spare chair that she grabbed and dragged across the floor. She placed it in front of Shigaraki and sat down crossing her ankles and removing her sunglasses to reveal her wide green eyes. She placed her black handbag on her lap.

Shigaraki watched her curiously between the fingers against his face. She was a European, and judging by her accent, Shigaraki guessed that she was British, specifically English. He gestured for his comrades to stand down, not that the stranger seemed bothered by their presence. Her arrogance was already ticking him off. "Who are you…?"

She flashed him a perfect white grin, "I am here at the request of my employer, you see, your involvement with the Shie Hassaikai and Overhaul can benefit all of us I'm sure. We would pay very handsomely if you accepted to work with us…Shigaraki." She reached into her coat pocket which caused Dabi to step forward, blue flames engulfing his hands and Toga going forward with a knife against the strange woman's throat. Even then she still did not flinch, or even show any thought that they were there.

Unexpectedly, Dabi's flames disappeared through no fault of his own. He tried to bring them back again and again but he couldn't. This surprised them enough that when the woman was able to grab the blade of Toga's knife using a familiar shimmering blue flame to warp and melt the metal, causing the team to jump back into action again. "What did you do!?" Dabi called out, "my flames…give them back!"

"I suggest you all calm down and listen to what I have to say…" her other hand came out of her pocket then, in it was a business card. She leaned forward and handed it to the villain leader who snapped it out of her fingers.

He stared at the card, there was next to no information on it other than a logo that was reminiscent of a flaming bird. On the back was a mobile phone number and that was all. "This tells me nothing, and you have not answered my question. Who…are you?"

She leaned back in the chair, eyeing up Dabi like he was a slab of meat, and she was a hungry predator. She licked her lips in pleasure and she stroked her neck with her fingers. "It is all sooo delicious, I knew I going to love coming here!" she giggled as she looked around the room before settling her unhinged sated gaze on Shigaraki. "They call me Succubus, your quirks are all so tasty! I could devour them all day…"

"What the hell lady! – You're welcome!" chimed Twice.

The others began to protest but were silenced. Shigaraki had to stop his team from doing anything rash again, she had used Dabi's quirk after he could no longer use it and he still couldn't. What other power of theirs did she now possess. Is she…like All for One? But, she hadn't touched anyone.

"And your employer?"

"The Phoenix Order-"

"Never heard of them…" even with all the dealings on the black market, this was a group he had never heard of before, and he did not like not knowing.

"No…we don't like to make a habit of making ourselves known. We are an international organisation, however, due to…agreements with All for One, we stayed out of Japan. But, we made dealings with him every once in a while. Now, with him being currently unavailable, I am assuming I am speaking with the right man?" She was still looking Dabi up and down, chewing on her lips like she hadn't eaten in weeks.

"You are…"

"Good…" snapping back to Shigaraki, she smirked again. She reached her hand out for him to take. She had long slender fingers, with perfectly manicured nails, "go ahead, see I mean business…" there was something else behind her stare like she was daring him to use his quirk against her. He accepted her hand and tried to use his Decay quirk, but nothing happened. His quirk…was gone! He began to panic, just like the others had done. How could she…?! She only laughed at them, "don't worry…as tasty as all of your quirks have been, I cannot take them in their entirety. You will have your quirks back in a few hours – as if they were never gone. Now…as much as I love discussing food, we really should get back to business. I am here to hire you and your league. You see, Overhaul's dealing with this quirk stealing drug has piqued our curiosity. Now, I understand that you have an arrangement with him, and while I believe you may have your intrinsic motivations in betraying Overhaul, we can give you another one…"

"How would you know my motivations?"

"The Order keeps tabs on anything of interest. We may not operate in Japan, but we see all. You understand?"

"I don't much care for your arrogance…"

"No…but maybe you would care about what we can give you in exchange for what we want. As I said before, The Order is prepared to pay very handsomely for any information you can gather and samples of the drugs that Overhaul has been working on. The quirk enhancers, and the quirk stealing drug in particular." Succubus placed her handbag on the low table between the two of them, "a gesture of good faith. This is only a fraction of what we will give you," she stood then and smoothed out her coat, brushing off some dust that got onto it while Shigaraki looked in the bag, only to find that it was filled with money. "It can get quite expensive to do what you are trying to accomplish. Think it over…you have my number," she put her sunglasses back on and made her way towards the door, "thank you for the meal! Toodles!"