"Kacchan?"
Katsuki rolled his eyes. It wasn't like the dumbass didn't have his number. Fuck, his mom made sure about six times that Deku had his number before she left. Just incase Katsuki decided to fuck off and ignore everyone. Again.
"Who the fuck else?" He snapped.
Deku was quick to ignore the bite in his tone "Why are you calling?" He asked, tone pleasant as ever "Isn't your first class this morning?"
"Yeah, and?"
"And, aren't you going?"
Katsuki could practically hear the eye roll Deku most definitely just gave him. "Obviously I'm fucking going Deku. I'm going right now."
"I'm just surprised you're calling is all." Deku had the audacity to sound relieved.
"Well for fucks sake, next time I'll think better of it" Katsuki felt hot all over. He didn't even know why he called Deku in the first place. Maybe first day jitters, but he would never fucking admit it. It was just a lot of new things at once, and he needed something old to help him feel grounded. But damn, Deku was the wrong choice.
"No! No, Kacchan! I'm glad you called. Sorry, what class is it again?"
Quick to placate as usual. "Just Art history." To be fair Katsuki didn't want to fight either. No matter how much the nerd pissed him off they were far past their years of hurtful words and throwing punches.
"Not too specific, huh?"
"No. Fucking boring. I want to be able to pick shit I'm actually interested in already."
"That's freshman year for ya."
Of course Deku would find a nice subtle way to rub in the fact that he'd already finished his freshman year, and his fucking sophomore year too.
"Yeah, it sure fucking is."
"What would you take if you had the choice?"
"Probably Greek art? I don't know I haven't even had a chance to see what my options are."
Deku gave a far too considerate hum "Well, net semester you get more leeway right?" He probably really cared too. The loser.
"Right."
"So, Greek art next semester yeah?"
"Yeah," Katsuki looked up at the building in front of him. "Well, I'm at my class."
"You're coming over later for dinner?"
"Yeah, god knows I don't want to eat the fucking food here."
Deku snorted into the phone "Alright, I'll see you later."
"Bye."
"And Kacchan?"
"What?"
"Good luck!"
Deku hung up before Katsuki had a chance to tell him to fuck off. Things definitely weren't perfect between them. But, it's the best it's been in a long time. Katsuki was pretty sure it'd only keep getting better, even when he lost his shit a little bit Deku seemed to know he didn't mean it. Well, at least that he wouldn't mean it in like an hour once he calmed down, Katsuki definitely did mean it when it was coming out of his mouth.
Regardless, Katsuki really was trying to turn a new leaf. New city, new school, but same old Deku. Katsuki was pretty optimistic that he'd be able to find a space he actually belonged in, but Deku made him feel like he still had a piece of home. Even if he would rather die than tell him that. A part of him figured Deku already knew, but he wasn't going to acknowledge it either. What they had was still fragile and despite Katsuki's reluctance at first he was glad to have the fucker back in his life.
Katsuki walked into his classroom. It was located on the first floor and held in their auditorium. He quickly took a seat near the door in the back. He kicked his feet up on the back of the seat in front of him and plastered a scowl on his face. It wasn't that he didn't want people to approach him, he just… didn't want people to approach him. After everything that happened in high school he couldn't imagine how to make friends. When you're ostracized for years it can be a little tricky to recall how to interact with another person. He wanted to, god did he want to make friends, but the loneliness of the first day wasn't enough to push him out of his comfort zone.
The class dragged on, as one could imagine an art history class would. The professor was at least entertaining, and clearly invested in his definitely helped keep his attention, but even this man's eccentric behavior wasn't enough to make him care about a three hour lecture on a topic he's not interested in. This was definitely his biggest lecture, or maybe it was just a small school. The only one held in the auditorium it had half his graduating class.
He could enjoy the anonymity. In his other classes, especially his studios, he was looking forward to getting to know the teachers. But this lecture would be the reprieve. He could just be a face in the crowd. He knew ultimately something would go to shit this semester. He couldn't even remember the last time he made it more than three months without everything exploding in his face. He'd need the closer relationships with his professors to smooth it over, whatever it ended up being.
By the time the class ended Katsuki was exhausted. Three hours was too long to justifiably just go over the syllabus, so of course they started their material. And of course they already had an essay.
They were expected to write a four page essay on themselves, why they decided to come to an art school, what their expectations are, and specifically how this class would help further their careers. So basically a ton of bullshitting.
Katsuki aced this sort of essays. Talking about how he found his way to art school was easy. Especially when it didn't have to come out of his mouth and would only be typed into an essay and submitted through email to a professor, he'll probably never talk to in person.
He took the short walk to the building next door and up to the 12th floor. The schools library. The library was already his favorite spot. The first floor was specifically for studying, school work, typical library shit. But, the second, or more like 13th, floor was for drawing. They had easels lined against the walls, that were really more windows than walls, and looked down over the city.
But, Katsuki only needed to work on his essay so he made his way over to one of the computers they had. He would have preferred to work on his own laptop, but had accidentally broke it in half right before the semester started. It really was an accident. After a particularly long day of shopping and packing with his mom he may have sat on it while it was open on his bed. It was fucking stupid, but not really his fault. At Least that's what he told his parents while begging them to get him a new one. They caved, but not until they were already moving Katsuki into his dorm last week. You'd think they would have rushed the shipping, but no, it wouldn't be here until that Thursday. Two more days and he wouldn't have to use a stupid USB.
Katsuki didn't need to be at Deku's until around Four. With three and a half hours to go he focused on his essay, he could kill three pages if he worked hard enough.
…
It only took Katsuki ten minutes to walk to Deku's place. It'd probably be a bitch once the temperature really started to drop, but at the moment it was perfect. It was pretty chilly for so early in september. He really hoped Deku's roommates weren't around. He didn't want to be forced to socialize with any of his fucking friends.
Standing on the stoop he took a deep breath before ringing the bell for apartment 3 labeled "Iida, Midoriya, Uraraka". It only took a few seconds before he was buzzed in and he made his was up to the third floor.
"Kacchan!" Deku exclaimed from the doorway. He already had it open waiting for Katsuki. "How was your first day?"
"Jesus, let me get in the fucking door first."
"Right, sorry come on in. Do you want anything?"
"Water."
"Gotcha." Deku made room for Karsuki to come inside before closing the door behind him and making his way to the kitchen.
Katsuki went to sit on the couch. Deku's apartment was pretty nice considering they were college kids in a city. Three bedrooms with the living room and kitchen as actual separate rooms.
"Our water temperature is super weird so I can't guarantee this is going to be cold, or even room temperature if I'm honest. Do you want ice?" Deku yelled from the other room.
"Yeah I'll take some fuckin ice. Can't you complain to like the landlord or something?"
"We did" Deku made his way over to the couch with two glasses of water, generously filled with ice "And we didn't hear back. It's fine though, oddly enough, it's just the kitchen sink that's weird."
"So at least the shower works." Katsuki took his water and took an awkward sip. It was pretty warm.
"Exactly. So come on, how was your first day?"
"It was fuckin fine. Pretty standard, pretty boring. We got assigned an essay, I didn't talk to anyone, I worked on my essay, and now I'm here."
"Hmm, what's the essay about?"
Katsuki snorted "Ourselves. Typical introduction shit. He wants us to talk about our journey to art school basically and how we think it'll help our careers."
"Oh so you'll do great."
"Yeah totally."
Deku smiled at Katsuki in that 'I want to say something but you might punch me in the stomach if I say it' kind of way.
He let out an exasperated sigh "Fuckin what Deku?"
"Have you found a new therapist here?"
"No." Katsuki rolled his eyes.
"Do you… Are you looking for one?"
"Yeah, I've just been busy and, uh, haven't found one that seems suitable or whatever." Katsuki sat up a little straighter giving Deku a hard look.
Deku gave him a hard look right back "In the whole city? You haven't found on yet? Your mom said you started looking back in-"
"I started looking when I got accepted but I just haven't- why did the old hag tell you that?" Katsuki snapped.
"Oh come on, Kacchan. You know she expects me to keep tabs on you."
"Well that's just fucking-"
"Even if we both know that's ridiculous. I'm going to be here for you, but you know how she is."
"Oh I know how she fucking is. I'm sorry you have to know how she is." Katsuki gave him an apologetic smile, one that Deku returned.
"Hah, it's fine I've known her almost as long as you have."
"I really am looking."
"I thought you actually liked therapy?"
"That's the problem I like therapy back home. I'm used to doctor McCormick and it's not easy when you first start. I went through five therapists before I settled on McCormick, and even then I wasn't happy about it. It took so much time to get comfortable and actually make progress. I don't want to start over and talk about everything again."
"What if you didn't?"
"What? Just not get a therapist?"
"No, you should definitely get a therapist. Your mom will kill both of us if you don't. And it's good for you. I'm just saying what if you don't tell them everything? There's no like rule you have to right? You're going to see your old therapist when you're home, what if you just use the one you have here to help you with, well, your life here."
"I, uh, guess that could be fine."
"And then if you end up getting comfortable it's not like you can't just talk to them about everything."
"Okay, yeah that's actually a good point. I fucking hate to admit it but I think that made me feel a little better."
Deku's face was way too smug for Katsuki's liking. He shoved him and stood.
"Shut up."
"I didn't even say anything Kacchan."
"Your face said enough Deku. Let's fucking cook."
…
They made quick work of the Gyudon. Katsuki took over most of it, he couldn't help it- it was Katsuki's way or no way and he could be a bit controlling at times. Deku was used to it. He took the orders in stride and let Katsuki take over when ever he claimed that Deku was 'doing it wrong and needed to get the fuck out of the way'.
Katsuki was suspicious of the amount of food they were making, but it wasn't like he could tell Deku not to make some for his roommates in his own apartment. He really hoped he wouldn't have to eat with them but those hopes were shattered when he heard the front door open and slam shut.
"Oh my God, it smells so good in here!"
Katsuki watched a short brunette bounce into the room. She had a pretty round face. Probably the kind of girl Inko would be happy to have Deku bring home. Katsuki made a mental note to ask about their relationship later.
"We made some for everyone! Ochako this is Kacchan.
"It's Katsuki, Deku's just an idiot."
"Oh, the infamous Kacchan!" She smirked at him and he shot back a scowl.
"Shut the fuck up round face."
Ochako promptly ignored him "Deku, Tenya isn't going to be home until way later he's in the library. I hardly got his attention enough to tell him I was heading back."
"That's okay we'll just save him a bowl. He'll appreciate it when he comes back starving."
Katsuki fumed silently in the corner while he was ignored. It was likely Deku warned her that Katsuki would be an ass and how to handle it. Which was somehow way more annoying.
Deku served them all and they went to eat on the couch. It wasn't as awkward as Katsuki thought it would be and Ochako was actually funny. He tried hard not to laugh but a few slipped through and she looked way to pleased with herself. Maybe Deku's friends wouldn't be terrible, but he wasn't planning on sticking around long enough to meet the other one.
Once they finished eating he gathered the dishes and went to clean up the kitchen. Deku joined him shortly after but only leaned against the door frame and watched.
"You just gonna stand their like a fucking idiot, or are you gonna help?"
"You seem like you have it under control." Deku smirked but did push himself away from the wall to grab a towel and started drying the dishes as Katsuki washed. "Do you have classes tomorrow?"
"No, I set it up for every other day."
"That's good." Deku said with a nod "You should really just send me a screenshot of your schedule so I don't have to ask."
"Alright."
"And you should come over soon. We can cook together again."
"I'm only saying yes because I don't have a real kitchen."
"Yeah, whatever you say."
Once the kitchen was cleaned, sans one bowl left over for Tenya, Katsuki said goodbye to Deku and Ochako and made his way back to his dorm. He was happy to relax, the day was full of too many people and he craved the solitude. He settled into his bed and grabbed a book. He'd try the whole making friends thing in his next class.
…
Eijiro let his head fall back against the wall. The thunk sounded far too loud in the empty elevator. He really didn't want to be in a bad mood, but who the hell assigns an essay on the first day? He was sure that all his friends at different schools just went over their syllabi the first day. So what if their class was three hours long? The professor could have totally just let them leave early. The last thing he wanted to do was write an essay about himself in the library. Arguably his least favorite place in the school. Sure it was pretty, and spacious, and totally the ideal environment to work. But he just really didn't want to sit up here working when he could be heading back to his dorm and hanging out with his new (self proclaimed) 'homies for life.'
He had gone to the dorm after class and had hung around with his new friends. Who, of course, had plans to go out already to a party that night. A party he would definitely want to be at. But he needed to get this done first. Just finish this in a few hours, hopefully be back at the dorm by 9, and then go with them. That gave him about three hours and 12 minutes.
His roommates were a bit eccentric. They met at Accepted Students Day and agreed that if they all decided to go they should dorm together. He was pretty excited they seemed really cool but he'd never really get to know if he had to spend all his time in the library.
And he did have to be here. He could totally work on his laptop in his room. But he knew he wouldn't. He could hardly focus by himself, he definitely wouldn't focus with his roommates laughing in their common space.
So here he was, walking into the library to work on a dumb essay.
He made his way over toward the computers, he decided to not bring his laptop because he was gonna be around computers anyway. He brought a flash drive with him. But when he went to stick it in the monitor he was faced with one already jammed in the hole.
He ejected it, pulled it out, and rolled it around in his fingers. He had no idea who this belonged to. He looked around didn't see anyone else by the computers and he didn't remember anyone being there when he walked in. Putting it back in he decided to just check it for work. There was probably some paper, which would likely have a header, and therefore a name. And with a name he'd have a much better chance of getting it back to its rightful owner.
The first thing on the flashdrive appeared to be an essay. Titled "Keep Moving Forward", kind of cheesy but what the fuck did Kirishima care. He opened it and right at the top was a name. Katsuki Bakugou.
Eijiro immediately recognized it. This kid lived on the same floor as him in the dorm. He saw his name on the door of a room just a little down the hall from him. He had to pass it every time he got off the elevator.
Easy, he'd be able to get this back to him no problem. And since it's the first day he'd probably be upset if he thinks he lost his flash drive.
Eijiro couldn't stop his eyes from travelling downward to see the essay was for the same class he just had that morning, the same essay he was about to write. He tapped his fingers nervously against the table top. It wouldn't hurt to take a peak at what he wrote, right? Just to get an idea of where he should start. Introductions were always so annoying. Just a little peak and then he'll close it.
I was nearly expelled from my high school. There are a lot of reasons why I ended up in that situation, and a lot of people I could try to blame. That won't change anything, and it won't help me. I could be angry about what happened, or I could choose to be grateful for what it has taught me. What it taught me was that I love to make art. Spending months in art therapy showed me how I could turn things around and do something I love with my life. I want to be-
Okay, so maybe he shouldn't have read that. He felt a slimy. What an invasion of privacy, why the hell did he think that was okay? Jeez, now he's going to have to hand this flashdrive to this random kid and the entire time he's going to be thinking about how his slimy ass read part of his essay and now he knows this random kid goes to therapy and almost got expelled from school. How fucking Unmanly.
He also couldn't help but think about how boring his paper would be in comparison. Which was super unfair, but true. Their professor probably gets hundreds of essays about how his students juts love art, how it's their passion. How many really hand something in worth reading?
Eijiro figured he could dig a little deeper. Why was he at art school? What did he really want to get out of this?
To be the first one in his family to go to college? To work towards a future he actually wants to live? To prove the naysayers wrong? He wasn't even sure himself. Was this the easy option or the hard option? He figured those were good starting questions. They'd probably make a good introduction paragraph.
…
Eijiro stared at the name on the door in front of him. Katsuki Bakugo. Only one name, he must have a single, which is pretty lucky. Or maybe he was dangerous to live with being almost expelled and in therapy and… Okay, no, that's terrible. There's also no one they would let him on campus if he was a threat to anyone.
Eijiro knocked twice against the door. He could hear rustling on the other side. It opened to reveal a ruffled head of blonde hair. Eijiro was quick to notice that this Katsuki was a few inches shorter than him, and that his hair might be the cutest thing he ever saw. Puffs of blonde spikes jutting out in all directions and he wanted to pet it so badly. Just see if it was soft. But obviously that'd be super weird, and he already was super weird for reading this kids essay.
Eijiro cringed at the memory and finally looked at his face and was met with an impatient scowl.
"Can I fucking help you?" Katsuki snapped after a minute of Eijiro just staring at him dumbly.
"Oh! Yeah, sorry, I found this in the library!" He said holding up the small flash drive in two fingers.
Katsuki snatched it out of his hand. "How the fuck did you know it was mine?"
Wow, okay, so this kid curses a lot. "I just opened up an essay to read the name. Don't worry! I didn't read anything!" Eijiro was quick to placate and was immediately struck with guilt.
Katsuki didn't so much reply as grunt before trying to close his door. He was stopped by a quick foot .
"Hey!" Eijiro exclaimed
""Fiucking what?" Katsuki gave the door a gentle shove, probably to judge if Eijiro's foot would move. It didn't budge. Eijiro thought it was cute.
"Do you want to come to a party with me and my friends tonight? We live just down the hall." Eijiro asked gesturing vaguely in the direction of his suite.
"No, I don't fucking know you. Bye" Katsuki tried to shove the door again, a little harder this time.
Eijiro stopped it with a hand flat against the wood. "Ah man, but it's the first night of classes! Don't you wanna get that college experience?" Eijiro wasn't really sure why he was pushing so hard. Maybe it was because Katsuki looked so miserable when he opened the door. Looked like he had a long day.
"Not really."
"I swear it'll be fun!" Or maybe Eijiro just wanted to hear about why he almost got expelled.
"If I say yes will you leave me the fuck alone?" Katsuki said through a clenched jaw.
"Yes! Totally!"
"Then I will fucking go with you." Katsuki tried shoving the door shut again but Eijiro still didn't budge.
"Awesome! I'll come get you when we're leaving! See you in a little bit!" Eijiro flashed a big smile before finally stepping away from the door and letting Katsuki slam it in his face.