The night was still and silence reigned over the property of Yuuei. Although the moon was shrouded behind a blanket of clouds the stars still shone despite the veil of obscurity. It was refreshing to Bakugou, who had snuck out for a change in ambiance. The dorms were too chaotic and loud, and he needed the time to process what had transpired since he was rescued from the league of villains. Although he had learnt from an early age to mask his anxieties, it was hard for him to fall back into routine this time around.
The villain Dabi was on his mind. Everywhere he looked he caught a glimpse of him. In the trees, in the shadows, and on every reflective surface, there he was. There was nowhere to hide, the man forever ingrained in his mind.
Ever present was a great disquiet in his heart and those feelings continued to drown him in sorrow. There was the need to reflect, and so he strayed from the paved path onto the grass and rounded a raised garden bed. There he sat along the brick structure taking in the landscape. The greenery was calming, but the wind was harsh and it rustled through his hair. Tilting his head, he looked up at the night sky inhaling all the wonders of the worlds. The night was beautiful and the breeze cleared his mind from all those insecurities. And with a deep inhale, he let his lids fall shut and the fresh air filled his lungs.
The darkness allowed his mind to fall blank and encouraged his muscle to relax. Although the bruises were no longer visible he still held the internal scars that were seared into the fiber of his being. The teen wondered what the years ahead would look like at Yuuei. As he sunk into a trance of peacefulness there was a shift in the atmosphere.
The iciness of the air alarmed him and raised the fuzz along the nape of his neck. A chill surged through his spin, causing all his muscle to become taut. It was a response to a detected presence, but before he could react a hand slithered across his neck. Those crimson eyes grew wide with panic, and just like the night of the test of courage he went stiff.
The menacing voice that plagued his dreams broke through the silence. "Shouldn't leave your throat," the chilled hand traced the grooves along the his neck "so exposed." Dabi squeezed down on his esophagus forcing Bakugou to jerk back into his chest. The man pinched his thumb and forefinger underneath his throat and maneuvered his chin so that their eyes would meet.
Bakugou stared into those artic blue eyes, and observed the fire ignite within them. The chilled touch triggered the memories he was desperate to forget. Memories of those cold hands wrapped around his neck, pinning him still. These memories made his stomach churn, the nausea threatening to bubble over.
Dabi recognized the expression softening his brows. The staples lined along his mouth tugged against his skin, as the ends of his lips pulled upward into a grin. The teen felt the familiar hot and cold sensation like the chemical menthol against his skin. There was no time to spare before Dabi would ignite his flames.
Bakugou propelled his head forward so that his forehead collided with Dabi's chin forcing him to release him and stumble back.
The feral blonde roared and curled his fingers in preparation for an explosion, "how did you get pass the barrier?" For a second Bakugou questioned if this was real? Was this his mind twisting his sense of reality?
"I would advise against that," Dabi warned. There was something in his hand amid the blue flames. It was metal and the man was twirling it around his index. When its rotation slowed it revealed itself to be a collar. "You do remember how that played out last time, don't you?"
Bakugou froze at the sight of the device, and in a moment of remembrance he reached for his neck, imagining the collar along it. Images of that night projected into his mind and he soon became anxious.
Dabi recognized the torment in the expression and tried for more. "Why the long face?"
Bakugou was agitated but he tried for a brave front. "What do you even want?"
A villain on the campus was bad news and Bakugou knew if the man was bold enough to trespass on Yuuei grounds than he must of had a foolproof plan. During his time as a captive he learnt that Dabi was a strategic man and would never run head first into a situation that he could not control.
Dabi was circling the area, mapping out the dorms in his mind. A step closer and he was ignoring personal boundaries. "Scooping out the place," he admitted casually walking around the teen, "hadn't realized just how nice this joint was. You brats are sure living in luxury." The man directed his next words at the kid with a look in his direction. "The heroes of tomorrow, pft, what a crock of shit."
In a low murmur Bakugou hissed, "Cut the shit," without ever realizing he had spoke.
Dabi was a contentious man and the outburst was the excuse he needed to become belligerent. And in abrupt motion he shoved his hand over the face of his unsuspecting victim, ramming Bakugou against a tree. The oak shook and the bark bit into the back of his skull. There was sure to be a lump the following morning.
Dabi was in his face, his visage uglied from the insolence. "I could snap you with ease." The smell of fire was on his fingertips, but he fought to compose himself before his temper took control. The man straightened back a bit, but still held the kid captive, "but then we'd have no way of bypassing this intricate barrier. Not to mention the hassle of finding another suitable replacement for our inside ticket."
The last sentence had Bakugou dipping his brows, looking beyond the fingers over his eyes, "Inside ticket?"
It was adorable how obliviousness the kid could be, and Dabi smiled as he imagined the rude awakening he'd soon get. "Oh, did you believe we failed at our kidnap and convert attempt? Of course there was purpose behind our encounter and the act we preformed." Dabi let the thought sink in a bit before he went on.
Raking his long fingers over the unblemished skin, he grabbed at the chub of cheeks. A harsh squeeze and a forceful tug, and he was maneuvering the kid, raising his head high to get a better look at him. "Wait, did you think your face alone incited our interaction?" Dabi perked a brow when he sensed the shift in demeanor. "Damn, you did, didn't you? Real conceited aren't ya?"
"You quite amusing, how about I reward you with a secret? The motivation behind the fun we had to together." Those blonde brows softened and those crimson reds swirled with intrigue. This made Dabi smile. "You were wondering how it's possible that I'm here right now?" As he said this, his grimace widened and he drew in closer as began to divulge. "Implanted in ya somewhere real secret there is a microscopic device that transmits your coordinates. And that multifunctional little gadget allows us to share the same genetic code, among other things.
Dabi let that sink in and observed how horrified Bakugou's expression became and once he was satisfied he continued on. "Don't look so disgusted. There are others species out there that share dna. Did you know the male anglerfish leave traces of themselves in their mates?
"Want to hear another secret?" he inched closer whispering almost. "Dna recognition is the required ingredient to be permitted onto these grounds. So I can breach the barrier whenever I want, because to the school I am you." The man took a moment to admire his work. Bakugou had his brows furrowed again and his mouth twisted in a vexation. "No worries though, no one will know it's there. It's already been fused with your insides." Dabi laughed and closed the remaining gap between them, his breath hot on the blonde's ear. "You're probably wondering how, but that's a secret for another time."
Bakugou was fuming, his ears hot with rage. "You bastard!" he snarled wrestling to break free. "You think I'll let you get away with this?"
The struggle made Dabi much more aggressive and he slid his hand over his throat and pinned the flailing arm with his other. Bakugou became so defensive and with just a string of words the man could rile him up to the point of madness. Watching the kid unravel like that, served as fruitful entertainment for Dabi, who had been quite board up until he had met the teen.
Again he played at his game, "but I already have. You can't hold your own against me. And to involve others, well, I think not." Dabi loomed closer, his breath searing into Bakugou's neck. "Because then you'll have to divulge all that transpired. If the school finds out they'll know you're compromised. Do you think they'll just let you continue at their prestigious school?"
Bakugou fell into despair overcome by a wave of nausea with the realization that there was truth to what the man had said. How could he face the school, his classmates, his friends with what he had done, what he had let happen?
Dabi like the devil over his shoulders breathed doubt into his ears, "but then if you don't tell them, then you ultimately become a traitor. Who will support you then? I advise you to think before you take any action. You want to become a hero, no? You can't achieve that without Yuuei."
That's right he couldn't match him, not without his quirk. And if he was useless without his quirk, then he would be nothing without U.A, and that realization incited those painful memories that chipped away at his core.
"Who's there?" A voice sounded across the pasture grounding Bakugou who had been lost in a traumatic trance.
Bakugou fixed on those blue across from him, his mouth agape not sure how to react. Had they been caught? Would he be expelled, or even worse imprison for fraternizing with the enemy?
Dabi wrinkled his forehead, irritated from the interruption. The man glazed over his new plaything once more, before leaning in to the crock of that delicate neck. "Think hard pintsize," he whispered, raising the fuzz along Bakugou's nape. And with a swift bite he pierced his fangs into the shoulder.
Those reds went wide, and that redhot blood boiled underneath his skin. Bakugou wanted nothing more than to yell out, but he knew if he did there'd be more trouble. Instead he shut his eyes tight and bit down on his tongue filling his mouth with that metallic taste.
Bakugou could hear the footsteps approaching faster and he shot his eyes open, catching Todoroki as he rounded the corner. Those heterochromia eyes were darting across the space, but to Todoroki and his surprise Dabi had vanished. This made Bakugou wonder if the man had even been there at all? Did he make it all up in his mind? But before his thoughts got away from him, his sanity was validated when Todoroki called out to him.
"Bakugou?" Todoroki was confused he was certain he heard two distinct voices. "I heard voices," he waited for an explanation, but when it didn't come he redirected the conversation. "What are you doing out here so late?" he asked concerned about Bakugou's roaming at night considering his recent kidnapping.
"Taking a piss, what's it to you?" Bakugou barked back, shutting his eyes, now with a sense of relief. Raising one lid he looked over to Todoroki who was still standing there silently. "What are you doing out here?" he asked hoping to steer the conversation to a less suspicious topic.
"You didn't participate during the room presentations. I went by your room, thought you were asleep but I spotted you through the hall window."
"You stalking me now?"
Todoroki lowered his head letting his hair fall against his eyes, "I—I'm sorry," he trailed off into a low whisper.
"Sorry?" Bakugou was confused.
"Sorry for being useless back at the camp," he confessed eyes narrowed with guilt.
"Who said I needed saving from a half baked bastard?" Bakugou roared feeling a bit insulted. But though he'd never admit it or say those words out loud, he too had wished he had saved him that night. Maybe he wouldn't be crippled by those haunting memories.
Bakugou raised his head to a tilt to match Todoroki's height. Narrowing his brows he rested against the tree Dabi had him pinned against minutes ago crossing his arms over his chest. Todoroki noticed the marks on Bakugou collarbone and his face softened. Edging closer he stretched out his hand reaching for the severed flesh.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Bakugou slapped away the reaching hand flexing his muscle for offense.
"Let me. It's the least I can do." Todoroki insisted leaning in closer hovering just above Bakugou's face.
The blonde wanted to contend, but his body wouldn't comply, he was frozen, transfixed on that blazing blue iris. Todoroki exhaled his breath hot on Bakugou's ear. The temperature of his quirk shifted, as he passed over the bruised neck, his breath becoming chilled as he neared the site.
The fluctuating temperature reminded Bakugou of that menthol sensation. It made him flustered for some strange reason, the blood pulling to his cheeks. This erratic state was inescapable and all he could do was drown in his embarrassment because he did not have the strength to break away from the gravitational pull emanating from his classmate.
Todoroki pressed his hand up against Bakugou's chest, registering the accelerated heart rate. After a moment of hesitation he scrunch the shirt into a fist, maneuvering Bakugou closer. The chilled breath created a thin layer of ice along the collarbone and Todoroki stared for a moment furrowing his brows at the bruising.
How could he have been so useless when it matter the most? The teen had a sudden urge to chomp down on the spot, to erase all evidence of his failures, but of course he held back. Glaring up at those reds triggered that incessant guilt and he pressed his mouth into a hard line hoping that Bakugou knew just how relieved he was to have him back.
After straightening his back he fixed his classmates now crinkled attire sliding the shirt over the lesion. "Thanks for letting me do that at least." Todoroki murmured. "I'll be heading back now, you should head inside too."
Bakugou said nothing, still fixed to that spot, watching as his classmate disappeared through the campus doors. Why was he so riled?