My Hero Academia: Katsuki's Secret

Rated M for cursing, trauma, and adult themes.

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Just a little something to make things clear:

In the US adult age is 18 then allowed to drink at 21, which in other parts of the world its 16 then upwards.

In this work, the Hero Course students are approaching the end of their Junior Year so that means most are 16/17; Senior Year is when they are 17/18/19 depending on when their birthday is.

Chapter 12

The walk to the dorms was quiet between the pair, occasionally earning his sideways glance when she reached up to massage the length of her throat. Looked like that medicine was staring to wear off. "Anything strike your fancy? Can't promise gourmet but its better than nothing." Ruby darted down to her torso as a loud protest sounded then rose again to lock on her burning face as they came to a stop within the doorway of the building. "That wasn't just a 'hurry the fuck up, I'm empty' noise. When was the last time you ate anything?"

Her expression became thoughtful, the hand that he'd released rising to tap her chin as she thought. "When you say 'ate', do you mean as in a snack or actual food?"

"Fucking hell, you've gotta be shitting me!" A hand drug down his face as he took hold of her wrist and led her to the kitchen where he practically plopped her down on one of the barstools. "Sit, stay," he ducked into the fridge for a moment then returned with a frosted glass of orange liquid that he slid across the countertop as if they were in an actual bar, "drink." Blonde brows twitched when she regarded the offered drink with hesitation. "It ain't gonna bite ya."

"Well excuse me for not being sure what it was!" Duo colored eyes sparked as she swiped the glass, cheeks bright red, and tipped it back to empty the liquid down her throat with a grimace.

He swiped a nearby towel that had been resting along the sink's faucet as she coughed, tossing it into her face as tears seeped from the corners of her eyes that were clenched shut. "Dumbass, you're supposed to fucking drink the damn stuff not drown yourself in it!" The blood in his veins that had calmed when she'd taken his hand making the choice to allow him to lead her through UA's gates, was starting to rise again as she hurriedly wiped her face then slid the glass back towards him with a flick of her wrist that wasn't encased within a cast.

Of course she felt his gaze, how couldn't see with how it threatened to burn her skin as she fought to regain a regular breathing rhythm. It wasn't like she was trying to be this naïve or illiterate of these things! "I-"

"Don't apologize when something's not your fault."

Duo colored eyes blinked as the spikey haired teen's tone lightened after the growl his sentence had started with. The acidity of the juice had shocked her throat to the point where it was now numb but it would at least allow her to speak for a little longer since the strange drops that he'd shoved into her mouth had dissolved. They had left a horrid chemical taste on her tongue but it was nowhere near as grotesque as that which her captor occasionally forced. Her head hung slightly when he repeated his earlier question. "I think the last thing I had was the hospital jell-o after they hooked me up to the machines but I don't really remember it clearly since I was fading in and out."

Bakugo's hands clenched into fists. "You're telling me that you haven't had anything solid for more than two days?!"

She didn't flinch when faced with blazing ruby eyes; he wasn't angry at her but for her. Her hands reached across the countertop until they rested upon his fists that had risen to smack its surface, slender fingers brushing against his own. "Compared to everything that was going on, food was the least of my problems."

His lips parted then closed when seeing ghosts of past events swim within her gaze just barely visible for him to see. Damn did he want to voice all of his questions but she had just been rescued from the clutches of that villain and was probably still reeling from the attack earlier. With great effort, he forced out the breath that had stalled in his lungs and gave a brief nod that he understood her hidden meaning. "So whatcha want?" He turned away, their hands separating but the chill of her much colder ones lingering upon his skin. Was she really a human or some sort of vampire or humanoid whose body temperature was just that far below his own? Then again he tended to be a bit hotter in temperature due to "Explosion" so maybe that was causing the difference-

"Earth to Katsuki, come back down to solid ground."

He bristled as fingers flicked his forehead, attention instantly honing in on the young woman who had moved from the barstool to sit upon the counter directly in front of him with bent knees resting against his stomach, her expression one of mischief as a bright pink tongue appeared from between her lips as his eye twitched. She was so close now that it was possible for him to see more of the faint scars and scratches that covered her skin like confetti but he kept his gaze locked upon hers as the hand that had risen slowly fell to his shoulder. He knew that flash in her eyes as they found his hair, it was a sign of the temptation probably growing by the second to touch it, and purposefully leaned his head backwards. "Only good girls get to touch and you've been a brat. No pets for you."

"Wha- That's no fair!"

"Tough shit."

Lips fell into a pout. "I was just trying to get your attention since you spaced off like a space cadet!" A smirk raised his own as he took a step backwards when she reached for his hair that resulted in her shimmying closer to the counter's edge. "Katsuki, c'mon! It's been so long!"

"You really want it, don't ya?" The smirk grew into a sneer as she struggled to reach for him. "You're practically begging."

In the blink of an eye, his back was arched backwards as she suddenly launched herself forward probably in hopes to grab him and he had her laid out across on the very same countertop that she'd been on moments ago with both her wrist lightly clasped within one of his hands above her head as he hovered over her, their noses millimeters from touching as she struggled to break his hold. Several seconds passed before she finally relented and blinked up at him when the sneer slowly vanished from his face. Heat was coming off of him in waves that caused her body to slowly relax despite the uncomfortable position until both duo colored and ruby widened when hips brushed. Something woke within their chests that homed hearts that fluttered like butterflies in a jar, blood beginning to race as their breaths intermixed, a shiver of unfamiliar emotions slipping down their spines as gravity seemed to take hold and pull them farther together so that their nose tips brushed.

What the fuck am I doing?! She needs a fucking friend, not whatever this is!

He yanked himself away with a growl, keeping a hold of her wrist as she slid off the counter from lack of his body supporting her own, and marched down the hallway that would lead to his home away from home. She didn't protest or ask him anything as he quickly opened the door then pulled her inside. "Shower's there, closet is there." His fingers gave her wrist a brief squeeze before releasing their hold.

"Don't leave me!"

His spine grew rigid as she embraced him from behind, her arms wound so tightly around his chest that it was difficult for him to take a deep breath. She was shaking like a leaf and though he couldn't see her there was no mistaking the quiver in her voice that spoke of fast approaching fear. Teeth buried themselves within his lower lip as her casted arm struggled to form a grip upon his clothing. It wouldn't be right to stay when she was taking a shower, heck just the thought of the scenario would probably send him to hell just for imagining it, and they were childhood friends! Things like that weren't supposed to pop-up in "friend's" heads like this! He attempted to remove her hand that had a descent hold but it latched itself once more the second it had wiggled free. Using the smallest bit of strength he had, he gently removed her arms and turned so that they were facing, one of his hands rising to cup her chin so that their gazes met. A part of him wanted to tease her for being so clingy but it was instantly silenced when finding her eyes to be filled with desperation. "Get your butt in the shower before I put you there myself."

Tough love was his specialty but even that remark sounded a bit too rough to his own ears as she visibly flinched. Before he could retract the comment, she had removed herself from him and shuffled away towards the adjacent room that he'd indicated as the bathroom and was in the doorway when she paused. Another rumble sounded from her torso that reminded him of the earlier predicament and sighed.

"Use whatever you want, towel is hanging on the backside of the door. I'm gonna change then get going on that food."

Her head bobbed in the slightest of nods then disappeared through the door but not before he saw her watering eyes.

Now he really felt like a fucking piece of work when after several minutes the sound of falling water filled the air. A groan slipped up his throat as he burned off the rest of his lacking clothing, they were beyond repair anyway and it was simpler this way since then it wouldn't take up as much space in his trashcan, opting for a black tee covered in mock burns and gym shorts the color of green emeralds before slipping out of his bedroom to make his way back to the kitchen.

"BAKUGO!'

"Fucking hell!" The blonde jumped nearly a foot in the air as a collective shout nearly rendered him deaf, ruby eyes wide as people he quickly recognized as his classmates quickly surrounded him. Looked like those who had snuck off after him and Hawks finally caught up but if that wasn't enough those who'd been in class were mixed among them wearing expectant expressions. "You fuckers tryin' to scare me to death or something?!" Ruby narrowed as several of those who were somewhat closer to him that most threatened to come closer as the current situation on his hands suddenly made his shoulders feel as if they bore the weight of the world. It might be sometime yet before she was done with her shower but she definitely did need all of his fellow classmates ready to pounce on her the moment she made an appearance. Should he just opt for some instant ramen or bail and rely upon the hidden snacks he kept within his bedroom? Both were dismissed with a clench of his fist. Aurora needed actual food and he already had an idea of what he was going to make. He walked past the wide eyed teens, keeping his gaze locked forward upon the kitchen that was his goal. "Fuck off, I'm busy."

Undeterred, they followed and watched with patient expressions as he moved about the kitchen gathering supplies. Someone could have recorded his motions then posted it as an ASMR video with how quiet they all were! The lid of a pot was slammed down as he finally snapped from feeling their gazes that had remained locked upon his form despite his ignoring their presences.

"Stop fucking staring like I'm some fucking animal at the fucking zoo! Scram, ya bunch of side characters!" Blonde brows twitched when finding various expressions of anticipation, excitement, suspense, and a few devious. "Spit it out already! What the hell do you fuckers want?!"

Mina, whose chin was resting upon her folded hands and wore a devious grin, spoke first. "We know she's here."

Every drop of blood in his body heated but he had confidence in his poker face as he leaned backwards against the stove while stuffing hands within his pockets. "Who says?"

"Principal Nezu."

Fuck.

A forced laugh rose up his throat. "Dumbasses, she's ain't a student at UA so why would she be here?"

Ida and Izuku shared a glance, Momo and several others also exchanging looks. It was a rule that only those enrolled were allowed to stay within the dorms. Several protocols were in place that would prevent outsiders or possible threats from entering the building in general so maybe what their blonde comrade was saying was true.

"I smell bullshit." Mina sang, finger rising to point in his direction. "You're clothes are different than they were earlier but doesn't look like you showered. Was someone occupying yours so you couldn't, hm?"

"What are you, my fucking mother?! Who gives a damn what I do?!" Bakugo spat, quickly removing the pot lid and stirring the contents with a wooden spoon before it could boil over but not breaking eye contact with the pink hued girl. Heat from the pot wafted his face but deep within his skin rose an even hotter wave when the thoughts of earlier threatened to rise within his head.

Damnit, no no no! Think of something else…anything, you idiot!

The image of Denki after short circuiting flooded his mind, relieving him of the growing tension within his temples. Whatever works, he mentally shrugged. "Why are you so concerned about her anyway? Not like you know each other."

She winked. "Don't have to if she can make our growling Pomeranian's cheeks burn like yours are currently."

"The fuck you calling a damn dog, pinky?!" A tilt of his head helped him catch sight of his reflection within the cold metal stovetop as he tasted the boiling food. Shit, his face was redder than the fucking mapu tofu soup he was making! "Shut the hell up!" He seethed, quickly turning off the heat and serving some within a bowl, his motions halting as he made to reach for a second one. If he grabbed another one, they would be on him like rabid dogs who were tossed a ham bone!

Think of something, moron, before they catch on!

"Enough." All eyes instantly honed upon the owner of a new gruff voice, finding Aizawa watching them with a bored expression. "You all have homework to catch up on so I suggest you do so instead of hounding on your fellow classmate when he's had a long day that he brought onto himself."

The retort that rose up his throat stalled as the moment the students had scattered, a manilla envelope coming to a stop in front of the bowl he'd prepared. "What's that?"

"She's been enrolled."

Ruby eyes widened. "No shit? Which course?"

"That's up to her but Principal Nezu suspects she'll fit in with the Sidekicks or Support." The sleepy man shrugged, turning away. "Up to her though. Inside is the key to her room so don't let me find her in yours when I come back." He didn't wait for Bakugo's answer and disappeared down the hallway which led to his own residential quarters.

One of his hands slowly extended, picking up the envelope then peered inside; a student handbook along with several different forms that were partially completed, girl's uniform, a familiar keycard with actual metal key on a ring at the very bottom. It was a stand issued new student enrollment packet! His eyes fell upon the bowl in front of him while placing the important package to the side. How the hell was he supposed to get this back to his room without raising suspicion? It was getting cold by the second and already the vapors that had been rising from its contents was fading away. "Damnit." With a huff, he was about to pour it back into the pot to reheat it when a sound caused his attention to snap back to the bar. "Didn't you hear him?!"

"Chill, Bakubro, its just me." Kirishima held up his hands, now dressed in a plain long sleeve tee and shorts just like the blonde, but his smile made him suspicious.

"What's your problem, shitty hair?"

"Oh, nothing, just ran into someone in the hallway who looked a little lost."

"I-I finished with the shower and found some clothes that fit…" Her words faded to silence as Bakugo appeared around the corner of the bar in an instant when he spotted her from beside the red head, the hold she had upon his cuff releasing as she was pulled behind him. She followed his now narrowed gaze to find it locked upon the one moving to sit on one of the stools and grabbed his wrist as it rose. "Katsuki, no, he helped me! I was almost discovered but he distracted all those people when they stopped in front of your bedroom! He called out through the door when they were gone and snuck me back here without anyone else seeing!" The hand still at her side slowly rose, as if hesitating, then it rested upon Kirishima's forearm that was on the countertop and earned both of their red hued gazes to widen. "Thank you, really, I-I appreciate your kindness before and just now."

Kirishima blinked for a moment as she retracted her hand then broke out into a grin. "No problem! Any friend of Bakubro's is a friend of mine!" He leaned against the bar, resting his chin upon folded arms while lightly kicking the neighboring barstool to his right in offering. "Don't let these sharp teeth fool ya, I don't bite, kay?"

Ruby that had been watching her closely widened further when seeing how she moved to sit despite the unease radiating off her body and blinked when she mimicked the red head's posture after about a minute. His own body slowly relaxed the more her being released its tension as the two began conversing. That shower had done wonders on her hair, making it shine brightly now that it was dirt free, but it had also washed away the debris that had clung to her body. Bruises ranging in sizes from tight fist to pin pricks were now clearly visible along with several scars that he'd missed before. The mahogany tank top that she wore must have been buried within his closet, being as he didn't remember having it in the first place, but it was almost too big to fit her as its neckline dipped dangerously down her front that almost revealed two shapely mounds. Even the compression shorts that she'd opted for looked to be on the verge of falling when she'd moved.

Out of the possible people she could have run into, Kirishima was the best he could have hoped for. Nothing against the others honestly. Just the thought of her running into Mina or Mineta would definitely be too much for her right now. If she was a new student though she definitely would need some essential things that he himself couldn't even imagine that were vital for a girl. That meant he would have to rely upon one of the females of their class…but who?

Refilling the bowl, he slid it towards her and tossed a spoon. "Make sure she eats it all, shitty hair, I'll be right back."

Panic returned within her gaze as she reached for him. "Katsuki-"

His hand met the top of her head, the corner of his mouth twitching while moving the envelope to come to a stop beside her steaming bowl. "Chill. He'll look out for ya the two seconds that I'm gone cause if he doesn't he knows he's gonna get an ass whoopin' from me next training block. Besides, can't have you wearing my clothes when you start classes Monday."

"Wait, what?!"

He took the opportunity to swipe the spoon, a generous amount of spicy broth with a chunk of tofu upon it, then shoved it between her lips that earned a muffled squeal as her eyes instantly watered. "Yum, yum, I know." Bakugo snickered as she desperately fought against his hand that pressed against her mouth, voice dipping lowly. "Now be a good girl and swallow it all."

Kirishima's jaw dropped and eyes widened. Did he just imagine the hidden innuendo in the blonde's words just now?! His jaw clamped shut as his expression became one of sympathy when the moment she was released after the motion of her throat signaled a series of swallows she dunked her head beneath the sink's faucet. "Damn, bro, would it have killed ya to make it humanly edible?" He blinked when finding the blonde nowhere in sight and turned his full attention to the now puffy eyed girl who regarded the bowl with disdain. "You don't hafta eat it. I'm sure there's something a bit less nuclear somewhere-" His jaw hit the floor as she snatched the bowl and began eating, eyes bugging almost to the point where they just might pop out of his skull. "You seriously are going to eat that?!"

"You bet your ass I am," she growled once swallowing the spoonful that caused more tears to appear in the corners of her eyes, "then I'm gonna make him apologize."

He blinked then waved a hand. "That's not really his style. Besides, he doesn't have to. That wasn't the first time he's made to come at me like that so don't force yourself to eat that stuff just for me."

"Without the right ultimatum he wont but his guilty conscience is brutal." A wicked grin raised her swollen lips, the sight making him raise a brow and bite back a chuckle. "If we eat all the food, we can say its karma and that he doesn't deserve any since he's being such a jerk."

"Ooooooh, I like," he grinned, offering her his fist. "Let's go for it."

Duo colored eyes blinked before her lips raised into a small smile to the best of their ability, the ridges of her own knuckles meeting his own with a light impact. The high-fives back at the hospital were a bit more natural for her being as though she and Katsuki had greeted one another way back in their childhood days but this method was kind of interesting to her. A big swallow forced down the ball of hesitation in her throat and straightened so that she was sitting up, expression becoming serious. "Sorry, I haven't introduced myself."

The red head paused in mid motion of filling up a bowl with the spicy mapu tofu, blinking at her sudden change. She was so stoic now that it was hard for him to get a good read of what was going to happen next yet her duo colored eyes never wavered from his own as he placed the half filled bowl on the counter then turned to show that she had his full attention. "I don't think any of us really did so I'll go first. Name's Eijiro Kirishima."

"Eijiro…Kirishima…"

His grin returned when she broke it down by syllables, slowly drawing out the enunciation as if she were unsure of the correct ones. "Bit of a mouthful, huh?"

"Your quirk allows you to 'Harden' right? Like a rock?" Her head tilted to the side, interest sparking within her gaze.

"Self explanatory, yeah, but nothing too special-"

"That's amazing!" Slender brows furrowed, earning a blink from the red headed teen as her momentary spark of excitement dwindled down to a low ember. "It must be nice not feeling physical pain. You can make yourself hard as stone so that nothing can hurt you."

He leaned against the bar, crossing his arms and tilting his head. "But it's the other kind that hurts the most, doesn't it?" A knowing smile tilted the corners of his mouth when she gasped. "Yeah, I'm all too familiar with that one. Just because I can harden my outer skin and body it doesn't mean I'm an impenetrable fortress. Still have feelings just like everybody else."

The tip of her chin fell to rest upon her folded arms, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Maybe pain itself isn't a bad thing. What if it's a reminder for us that we aren't invincible? Pain, just like love or hate, connects each person to their neighbor…" She bolted upright, cheeks tinting pink when noticing how closely he was studying her. "S-s-sorry! I didn't mean to get so deep or dark or depressing-"

"You're not wrong," he winked, "though now I think you'd get along great with several of our other classmates. Just let me know when you're ready and I'd be happy to introduce you."

"Oh, shit, I still haven't told you my name!" Her forehead lightly impacted the countertop and caused him alarm when she raised her head again to show a bright red bruise beginning to form. "My name is Aurora Yamashita, it's nice to meet you, Kiri!" Hands slapped themselves over her mouth. "I'm so sorry! It's custom to call someone by their last name and only nicknames can be used between those really close, right?!"

He made to move around the counter out of concern when the bruise quickly bloomed with each passing second. "You can call me whatever you like if it's easier for you, really, it's no big deal. Just please don't do that again."

A hand came down on the crown of her head, preventing it from repeating the motion, drawing their attentions to the blonde who had reappeared behind her with a scowl. "Oi." Bakugo turned the stool around so that he could peer into her face, ruby eyes instantly honing on the new bruise. "Damnit, quit hurtin' yourself already and finish your food."

"I already did, you dick, but you wouldn't know that because you don't like to use your eyes!"

Kirishima whistled softly at the level of sass she had just dished, unable to turn his gaze away from the pair as his hands swiped the bowl and began eating. It wasn't the hottest food he's tasted of the blonde's making, it was actually quite mild. Both of his brows rose, jaw stopping mid-chew, when his classmate didn't respond with a snap or snide comment as per his usual responses.

Instead, Bakugo's hand rose to rub the growing bruise that was on her forehead with the pad of his thumb. "Seriously, I left for only two minutes and you still somehow manage to hurt yourself."

Her lips quivered as he came closer, the warmth of his breath wafting her face as she swallowed nervously. "K-K-Katsuki, your friend is right there-"

It was as if her words had caused him to snap out of whatever revere he had fallen into and he instantly backed off with ruby eyes setting their sights upon the red head who gaped like a fish. The open pot lid exposed that over half of the dish he'd prepared was gone, her bowl was practically licked clean despite the slight swelling of her lips and residue lingering in the corners of her mouth, and the raised spoon within Kirishima's hand that was over halfway to his mouth. "What the hell are you doing, shitty hair?! That ain't for you!" Bakugo was instantly across the room reaching to grab him by the shirt collar when he stopped a few steps away from reaching the red head.

"We're fine, bro, chill. Recovery Girl saw each of us and we're all okay. Todoroki and Midoriya are a bit more worse for wear but they'll bounce back soon enough. Uraraka's nausea only lasted for half an hour since she helped those who were stuck on the upper levels." He grinned toothily. "Were you actually worried about us, Bakubro?"

"Hell no!"

She held back a giggle as the display before her. The two were bickering as if they were brothers or cousins, a bond that she was honestly a bit envious of. From her understanding she was the sole child of their family. Duo colored eyes studied the red headed teen closely as the exchange alternated between heated and calm.

Unlike Katsuki, his smile was at the ready and showed itself without hinderance. The sharp teeth revealed by the pulling back of his lips probably earned him strange looks or weariness but they seemed to fit with how the rest of his body was built. Muscles commonly were smooth beneath the skin but this young man's almost appeared to be chiseled as if he himself were made of stone. Which would make sense with his "Harden" quirk. One a balance of power and speed while the other was solely physically built for sheer unadulterated strength.

Aurora stiffened as something brushed against her forearm, interrupting her mental evaluation of the two in front of her, eyes widening when finding the source to be something not fully tangible yet solid enough to feel when it gaze as its head rose. Whatever it was it hadn't intended to startle her or pose a threat. Her hand shifted from the countertop until its open palm was offered to it, a small smile raising her lips when it instantly nestled what she thought was a beak into it. "Hello to you too," she whispered softly so as not to gain the attention of the two bickering in the background.

"You smell strange."

Red and blonde heads snapped in the direction of a shriek in time to witness her duo colored eyes roll, Bakugo the fastest to slide across the bar so that he could catch her before she fell to the hard floor. "Oi!" His gaze locked on the shadow beast as it quickly withdrew, brows twitching when she startled at his touch then pointed to where it had just been.

"I-It talked!" Quivering lips lifted slightly in the corners. "I'm going crazy, right? There's no way a shadow can actually speak!"

"For fuck's sake…Tokoyami!" The blonde roared. "Keep that fucking shadow beast to yourself!"

Not a moment after the shout did the shadow beast holder appear from the nearby hallway with wide eyes. "I do not understand, how had he manifested on his own without my knowing?" He blinked as she peeked around Bakugo at his voice and bowed his head. "You must have been frightened. I apologize, you must have struck his interest."

She withered. "It said I smelled strange. Do I need to take another shower?"

"I would not worry yourself. He often says things he shouldn't and I assure you that there is nothing wrong with your scent."

Ruby and vermillion eyes narrowed, one brow belonging to each rising. "Scent?" They chorused.

His head bobbed in a nod while straightening but kept his attention upon the duo eyed girl as she slowly emerged from behind Bakugo, ignoring the underlying tones of warning within his classmates' voices. "I am Fumikage Tokoyami. It is a pleasure meeting the daughter of such an esteemed figure as Asuka Yamashita."

An expression became one of mild hurt. "Thanks, I guess."

The explosive blonde's lip curled slightly. This conversation was weird in itself, what with another classmate familiar with his childhood friend's family when he hadn't been, but now they were talking about how she smelled of all things? He made to voice something, anything, to make things less awkward, when he spotted the tense muscles within her jaw. "Speak. What's eatin' you?" A scoff rose up his throat. "Don't tell me your feelings are hurt."

"Way to rat me out!" She pouted, puffing her cheeks while crossing her arms. "Jeesh, you make me sound like a freaking child."

"Then stop acting like a brat!" he threw back with a sneer.

"News flash: I don't have the greatest self-esteem so its earlier comment really didn't help!"

"Very well and once again you have my sincerest apologies." He gave a silent request to come closer, to which she gave consent with a nod, and walked forward until he was standing before her. Tokoyami wasn't the tallest of Class 1A but he was still at least an inch or so taller than her as he came to a stop. Closing his eyes for a moment, he took a deep inhale. "Bakugo's shower wash hold hints of spice laced sandalwood, but it seems that your body's natural chemistry has overtaken it to create something else entirely." His eyes opened after taking one more breath, gaze meeting her curious one. "I see. It was difficult to identify but now I find it suiting of you. A vanilla bean covered in morning dew with hints of exotic fruit." He nodded his head. "I can tell you have been through much, but rest assured that you are among people who would never plot against you."

Cheeks tinted pink. Of all the reactions she'd expected this definitely wasn't one of them! She bristled when a few puffs of air blew past her hair, turning ever so slightly to find not only Kirishima curiously sniffing her but also Bakugo whose expression was one of doubt. "H-hey, you two are too close!" The blush became dark red when they instead came closer.

"Hey, you're right, she does!"

"As if you know what a vanilla bean smells like, shitty hair."

Both grunted when her palms met the underside of their chins, forcing their heads to snap upwards and their bodies to instinctively take steps backwards at accommodate the strange angle. "When a girl tells you to back off, you back the fuck off!" She seethed, shoving them in unison then crossing her arms protectively around herself then turned her attention back to Tokoyami. "So it didn't mean anything bad?"

"Your scent is new, something neither of us have encountered previously. It must have surprised him is all." He blinked as she took the step that would bring her within his invisible personal space bubble, her eyes closing as she took a deep inhale through her nose, but he didn't interrupt or question her as she hummed softly for a moment before retreating.

"Cool summer night wind with hints of coming rain to relieve the burn of the daytime?" She shook her head, fingers rising to stroke her chin. "No, more like the scent of an obsidian stone when its being polished to a high shine?"

Bakugo and Kirishima thought the end of the world was upon them as their poetic shadow beast user's beak flushed red. Was Tokoyami actually blushing?! They shared a glance then returned their gaze to their cape wearing comrade. There was no mistaking it! He really was! "Holy shit," they chorused softly, both pairs of lips rising to form smirks as they each pulled out a cellphone to snap a quiet picture.

"At least that's what I see when you're near, I'm not sure if its your 'scent' or 'presence' though." Her eyes opened. "It is very calming though and I like how you speak. Makes me think of all the old story knights who aided in the people's troubles or rescuing damsels in distress that dad used to-" Sadness entered her tone and gaze, earning theirs as she bit her lip to stop the rest of the sentence.

"Enough excitement for one day, I believe, but there will much more time to speak come morning." His head bowed slightly. "Your father I would predict is relieved to hear that you are no longer confined within that place any longer. Perhaps proceeding from today we may converse more on much lighter subjects."

A smile worthy of a mediaeval painting lifted her lips but there was a shine within her gaze that spoke of deep hidden interest. "I'd really like that."

The smallest of smiles raised Tokoyami's mouth, earning another silent flutter of the cellphone devices still held up. "I look forward to it, Yamashita." Within his being rumbled a chuckle that belonged to both user and shadow beast when she blinked up at him with wide eyes after he inquired if she preferred first or last name basis.

"I-I'm not sure, to be honest." She nibbled her lip absentmindedly. "The common practice here is by last name but it's so strange-"

"Then I bid you goodnight, Aurora." With one last bow of his head, he departed and left the kitchen without another word or glance.

"He's a bit odd but our entire class kind of is a bunch of misfits." Kirishima quickly slid the device into his pocket when she glanced in their direction, resuming his consumption of the almost forgotten bowl of food. "We're not horrible though. We can pick up on hints when someone wants to be left alone."

"Then why don't you pick up on this one and fucking scram?!" Bakugo seethed, snatching the now finished bowl from the red haired teen. "That wasn't for you in the fucking first place!"

"Yup, there's my cue." His clenched fist rose as he paused beside her, earning a soft smile and light bump of her own against his. "Catch you later, Yamashita."

Silence hung in the air between the remaining two, the only sounds of clinking dishes or swift disappearance of the dish's remains. Neither felt the need to break it as he settled within the seat to her right once the kitchen had been cleaned of dirty dishes and discarded supplies. It wasn't for several minutes that he became aware of how deep her breathing had become and blinked when the weight of her being settled against his own. Ruby eyes found that hers were closed as he adjusted so that she was resting against his side comfortably. No doubt she was exhausted, what with all the recent events and lingering injuries she still sported, but this was the first time he'd seen her so relaxed since their reunion.

All the muscles within her face were slack now, slender brows smooth and slim lips slightly parted as the long lashes that fluttered every so often brushed the topside of her shadowed sockets. Those heavy shadows and wrinkles would probably be around for a long while yet but even with their presences he was still capable of seeing the same feature structure from when they were children. The lacking cushion of her being that was in direct result to minimal opportunity to eat and confinement left her on the slim side, almost too much so for his liking, yet she was fitting against his being so well that it was as if a missing piece to him had somehow found its way back. Decades had passed since that day, both growing in ways that the other could scarcely imagine.

What the hell is wrong with me? What's all this sappy sugary feelings crap?

"Oi. Don't fall asleep here." He waved the envelope in front of her face, earning a groan from the navy haired girl when it tapped against her nose. Rest is what she desperately needed but the night wasn't over yet. There was still much that needed to be talked about. "Ya got your own bed now so use it."

She was instantly awake, snatching it before the envelope could impact her again, and opened it with slow fingers. "Forms?" Alarm filled her gaze. "A student handbook…uniform…key and keycard too?" Duo colored eyes rose to meet his ruby own.

"Everyone enrolled gets those." He wasn't going to convince her or argue of what she should do but he rested backwards against the stool when she visibly struggled. "Remember what I said about not all heroes being like what you thought?" Duo eyes blinked, her head bobbing in the smallest of nods. "This is your chance to change that idea you have. Everyone has their reason for becoming a hero at some point." Ruby bore into sapphire and chocolate as he leaned closer, their foreheads meeting and ignoring how the heart in his chest quickened as his nose was wafted with the exotically sweet scent coming off of her. "Yours could be that you want to become strong enough to save your mom."

Her head shook after a moment. "There's no way I could-"

"That's why we train. We fight so that we can grow." Arms that had been draped over his legs rose, hands taking a gentle but firm hold of her shoulders. His eyes shone with assurance and a hint of something she couldn't identify when his calloused fingers rubbed against her skin. "What happened to you was bullshit, Aurora, but I know you're just as strong as the rest of us if not better. You can't just wallow in self pity like a helpless little victim, that's not the girl I know that you are!"

"You have no fucking clue what he did to us!" She shrugged her shoulders when his grip grew too tight for her liking. "Playground bullies that we can prank on after a standoff are one thing. Black Trident is a villain, Katsuki, he had my family and I under his fucking thumb for decades-"

"All the more fucking reason for you to be the one to make sure he doesn't do the same to anyone else!"

"You're insane if you think I stand a damn chance against him!" Tears appeared in the corners of her eyes. "You saw him, he's too strong for me to fight off! He'll take control of me just as he did before then I'll be right back where I started!" Sapphire and chocolate shone brightly with misery, causing the blonde's anger to dampen. "Do you think that I liked being under his fucking control like a puppet?! Every day he made me do things that I can never atone for no matter what I do! I've hurt so many people and now you're trying to feed me false hope by dangling the possibility that my mother is still alive?! Katsuki, those experiments that he performed were as insane as they were inhumane! Dad told me he was once a friend of their but then he turned rogue the second mom turned him down on a deal! What friend does that?!"

"What if it were me, huh?" He shook her slightly, voice dropping so low that she almost hadn't heard him if they weren't as close as they were, causing her to freeze when his gaze become cold while moving to tower over her with a twist of the stool so that they were facing. His shadow fell over her as he invaded her personal space, their knees meeting as he slipped between them to prevent all escape. "Just cause we were friends once doesn't mean that we are now. Sure I might've saved ya from him but what if it was for personal reasons? What if I wanted to use you too?"

Her breath caught as he came closer still, the tears threatening to fall growing as her pupils shrank.

"Would you just roll over and let me do what I want with you if I became a villain?"

Fury filled her features. "That better be some sort of stupid sick joke." Slender fingers clung to his clothing as infernos appeared within her gaze, tears vanishing in the wake of the flames. "Don't ever let me fucking hear those word come out of your mouth! Katsuki Bakugo, if I know one thing about you well it's the fact that you would never ever stoop so low!"

So surprised was he by the sheer anger within her gaze that for a moment he was speechless but he quickly found words again when seeing the flames within her eyes. There was some fight left in her after all and he wanted to see more of it. "If it was though-"

"Then I would stop you, you dick! I wouldn't believe it until I saw it for myself then I would beat the ever living shit out of you until you snap out of it!" The twin flames that were sapphire and chocolate flared brilliantly. "No one is ever going to use me like that again! I won't let them even if it's someone like you who I-"

"Good girl." One of his hands rested atop of her head, lips rising into a side smirk when she seethed. He'd unintentionally cut her off but what she had just said was exactly what he wanted to hear. Infernos vanished as her eyes widened, realization filling them when he tousled her hair. "You just proved that you're strong, spicy baby, so let's build on that so you can kick some ass. Can't have her waiting forever, right?"

Her hands relaxed their hold until palms were resting against the planes of his chest. All anger evaporated from her face as she gazed up at him but didn't move away or make any indication that she wanted to be released from his hold. The hand not atop of her hand had shifted to rest within the crook of her waist just above where the cinched band of borrowed gym shorts she'd tied to prevent them from falling. "You really think I can?"

If he wasn't so close he definitely would not have heard her breathless whisper. It was so soft that even the breath it had come with was almost too faint for him to feel against his face if their foreheads weren't touching, tips of their noses brushing, eyes locked upon the other's. "You kidding? With my coaching, you might even become Number 3 Hero behind that damn nerd." The hand shifted to the back of her head then forward for his calloused fingers to take hold of her chin, not in a way that would prevent her from moving or speaking if she chose, as a new spark shone within her gaze. A sideways smirk raising his lips became devious when her breath caught as his fingers brushed the sensitive underside of her jawline, voice deliberately dipping to the level he only brushed within the heat of battle. "Nani? Was that excitement I just saw?" A blush entered her cheeks as he came closer, their gazes becoming hooded in unison as his calloused fingers teased the sensitive skin they found. "I sure as hell am."

"Hand check."

Heat erupted like twin volcanos within their faces as they separated, a look of embarrassment upon Aurora's face while Bakugo, whose hands had shot upwards before retreating back to his original seat, gave a growl of annoyance when he caught sight of the teen who watched in mild boredom. "Damnit, IcyHot, what the fuck are you doing?!"

He held up a glass now filled with orange juice, closing the refrigerator door with a light push of his hand. "Thirsty."

"You have a fucking bathroom in your room so drink water instead!"

"I wanted juice." Blue and amber eyes shifted until they met sapphire and chocolate as he sipped from the drink ware, ignoring how the blonde began cursing him and everyone else out who had interrupted their conversations that night. The liquid slowly vanished as his gaze remained upon her own. As if they were locked in a staring contest, the other waiting to see who would look away first. "Todoroki Shoto."

"Right, you're the fire and ice combo user." She blinked then offered a small smile. "Has anyone told you that your quirk is beautiful?" He blinked but while refilling the glass and surrendering the pitcher to the blonde who had decided to have some as well before it was gone. This was as good as any cue for her to continue. "It's like your fire and ice are dancing when you use them together," her smile softened into one of bliss as the blush receded from her cheeks, "almost like they're elemental spirits of the two elements playing a game."

"Are you high?"

Bakugo, who had been taking a gulp, choked loudly and sputtered after coughing. Ruby locked on Todorooki's duo colored gaze when nearly slamming the glass down upon the counter. "She's just giving you a fucking compliment, IcyHot, so either accept it or fucking leave already!"

A faint giggle drew their attentions as she stood to stretch. "No, it's okay, I know I'm a bit strange but that's gonna help me fit in a bit, right?" Sapphire and chocolate met Bakugo's widened ruby, revealing determination, before they met Todoroki's. "Aurora Yamashita."

The corners of his lips lifted, earning a gape from the blonde as he made to take another drink. "Your way of thinking is different. My quirk is similar to a double sided coin, just like yours. Maybe we can train on occasion."

"I'd like that." She nodded, the corners of her mouth twitching. "Save the rest of the juice for everyone else, don't think they'd appreciate drinking a fresh batch when its not chilled but then again you can help with that, right?"

"Touché." The white and red haired teen deposited the once again empty glass within the nearby dishwasher to be cleaned along with the various dirty ones already loaded inside then departed with a small nod in her direction. "How long have you known that they're there?"

She shrugged. "Probably since Tokoyami and his shadow beast."

Bakugo seethed, lip and brow twitching as telltale giggles sounded from nearby. He marched to the corner, slanted ruby eyes narrowed when finding several figures scrambling to find hiding places. "That's it! You are all fucking dead! Come out here and take your punishment!" The blonde roared loudly, moving to pursue a head of forest hued hair that made to speed past him.

"I appreciate you all taking turns so as to not overwhelm me but let's just go ahead and get all the introductions out of the way." She slid from the stool and deftly caught hold of the blonde's collar, a foot lashing out and effectively tripping him so that he met the floor instead of his initial target, earning suppressed laughter from those who watched with wide eyes as their classmate stared up at her with a death glare that she ignored. "Aurora Yamashita. Thank you for rescuing me and I hope we can get to know each other-"

The rest of her sentence was cutoff by several members of 1A who rushed forward, the air filling with questions that intermixed in a confusing way as she took a hesitant step backwards with an expression of shock. Her hands fell and took hold of his shoulders as it to raise him and use his body as a shield. "You brought this on yourself." He smirked up at her once rolling onto his side and rested his head against the palm of a hand. What she didn't know was that he remained at the ready in case things did get out of hand but his fellow heroes-in-training were more than aware of how he watched every exchange between themselves and the new girl. What several failed to notice was how his expression would occasionally flicker from the hard frowning exterior to something much softer that was so alien to them that it was unidentifiable.

Chao for now! See you next time!