Kaminari woke up to a mouth full of purple hair, and one arm asleep, but he'd still call it the best morning ever. Sometime in the night he had managed to turn around, wrap both arms and legs around Shinsou in a manner not dissimilar to an affectionate sloth, and buried his head partially under the other boy's neck. He knew he was a cuddler, but this was impressive even for him.
The taller boy's bare skin was pleasantly cool and Denki let himself revel in the contact. This is the sort of thing he'd dreamt about when he started crushing on Shinsou. Well, this and dirtier things he wasn't going to dwell on while they were so close. The fluffy hair was incredibly soft and Kaminari strained his neck to nuzzle further into it, while slightly tightening his full body grip.
He had no idea what time it was, and hoped he wasn't already late to school, but it wouldn't be the first time he'd skipped class. Far from it. Though he didn't want to get Shinsou in trouble- especially because Dadzawa would know immediately that it wasn't his sons' fault. He got his ass kicked enough from Papa Mic yesterday and that wasn't even in retaliation for anything.
Maybe just five more minutes.
After all, Kaminari didn't know the next time he'd get a threatening letter so he'd better get his fill of this now. Thinking of that just reminded him about the letter in the first place. He won't lie and say it didn't freak him out but seeing the squad come together so quickly for him, and have one hell of a cuddle pile, made Denki feel like nothing in the world could touch him. Nothing except for Shinsou, that is.
A soft grunt vibrated against his chest. Kaminari wasn't sure if he wanted to greet the other boy good morning or shut up in case there was a chance he was still asleep. The latter offered a lot more hugging.
No such luck.
"Denki?"
His voice is even hotter when it's all morning gravelly. I can't even.
"Nope. Still asleep. Go back to bed."
Shinsou gave a breathy chuckle, "very convincing."
The two shuffled slightly to look each other in the eyes and smiled. The taller boy laughed, "Your bedhead is formidable."
Denki squeezed the purple-haired boy harder, a loving python snake, "Well I'd talk about yours but you always have bedhead. If anything it might actually be neater than usual."
Shinsou took a moment to appreciate what must have been a blonde rat's nest and Denki tried not to look too embarrassed.
"You can't even see the black bolt in it. You've got a cowlick too, dork."
"Good morning, Denki. It was such a pleasure to cuddle with you. How are you doing on this fine break of day? I'm faring well, Hitoshi. Thank you for asking. What a fine couple we make."
Shinsou raised an arm to push Kaminari's hair over his face. "You drool in your sleep, you know."
"Well, Bakugou doesn't call me drooly for nothing!"
A purple eyebrow arched. "You've slept with Bakugou?"
Kaminari was all smiles. Few things made him happier than talking about his friends.
"Dude, the whole squad has sleepovers on the regular! Mina sticks her feet in people's faces, Kirishima always ends up spooning Bakugou- who looks pissed even in his sleep, FYI- and Sero somehow ends up on the opposite side of the room from where he started. It rocks."
Hitoshi groaned and hugged Denki closer. Apparently the vice grip can go in both directions.
"I'll be sure to let dad know his son will be sleeping with five people 'on the regular,' was it?"
Kaminari made a pained sound, "Noooo! Oh man, I am so dead."
Shinsou gave him a soft kiss on the lips. "Don't worry. I'll protect you from our big bad homeroom teacher."
Denki released the other boy to fake a swoon, nearly pushing Hitoshi off the narrow bed in the process.
"What time is it?" Shinsou stretched and gently shoved Kaminari right back, into the wall. He turned to look at his bedside clock and let out a relieved exhale. "We still have time before class. Let me brush my teeth and get dressed. Then I'll walk you to your room so you can grab clothes."
Clearly the decision had been made for him. Though Kaminari wouldn't be surprised if some of the squad was already waiting for him there. "I'm totally going down there in my pajamas."
Hitoshi rose out of bed, bones cracking as he stood. Denki added a playful, "ewww" so he gave him the finger from over his shoulder. The tall boy walked to his set of drawers and started sorting through them.
"Want to take the window route instead? I'll let you use my binding cloth."
"Kinky." Kaminari sat up and rubbed his eyes, "Come to think of it, It's pretty easy for you to get to my room, huh? Should I be expecting any late night visits ?"
Shinsou had already retrieved his uniform and was pulling the collared shirt on.
"Not until I learn how to pick locks, but I'll try knocking hard on the glass."
Denki put his feet on the floor and then immediately pulled them back with a squeak. "Fuck, that's cold! Get a rug, man."
Shinsou carefully folded his tie into place around his neck before replying with a monotone, "Here lies Kaminari Denki, killed in a mysterious cold floor accident. His parting words were lame."
"Yeah, well you look dumb in a shirt and tie with just boxers on!"
After that decidedly wicked burn, which Hitoshi didn't deem worthy of a response, Kaminari braved the cold floor. The blonde hissed at the temperature and hopped over to his boyfriend to hug him from behind. "Why can't I have Todoroki's quirk but just in my feet?"
"Because that would be horrible?"
"Fair."
Trousers fully on, despite Denki making it difficult by hanging off of him, Shinsou grabbed the backpack he always kept prepared by his desk. "Alright, Kitten, get your bag and-"
Both boys paused. Kaminari pulled back form the hug and wore a smile on his face a mile wide. "Kitten?"
Shinsou blushed hotly, with one hand rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. He shifted from one foot to another looking as uncomfortable as one can with a straight face.
"Uh, sorry, I can just say Denki-"
"Are you kidding? I love it!" Kaminari held Shinsou's face in both hands and went up on his to kiss him deeply- making absolutely sure the purple haired boy knew exactly how much he adored it. "Can you call me that again?"
"Kitten?"
Denki squealed. "I'm so happy!"
Shinsou, face still red, pushed the other boy to grab his own stuff, "If I knew you'd like it this much I would have started saying it ages ago." He smiled softly at just how pleased the simple word was making his boyfriend.
Kaminari quickly gathered his things from around the room and, still barefoot, padded his way over to the door. "Let's go, let's go! I gotta tell the guys about this!"
"Please don't."
The blonde pouted but agreed, "Ok. It's our secret then. As long as you keep using it!"
Shinsou kissed the top of his head. "Deal."
As Kaminari had expected, Bakugou and Kirishima were already waiting in front of his door. The redhead talking animatedly while the blonde put up a front of ignoring him. He waved to get their attention.
"Hey, guys!"
"Morning, bro! Still in your pajamas?"
Kaminari did a quick spin before striking a pose, finger guns blazing. "You know it."
"Quit your fucking around and get dressed. I'm leaving without you if you're not out in 5."
Denki wasted no time in opening his door and closing it behind him. Which meant he was alone in his room for the first time since he got the letter. The letter that had been pushed aside last night and pointedly avoided.
It's not that Kaminari was scared, but he felt the unease in his stomach start to sink back in. He gave a cursory look around his room, the bathroom, and even behind the curtains to his balcony before letting his guard down. Knowing he only had so long before class would start he rushed his way through brushing his teeth and then tugged on his slightly rumpled uniform. The tie was still undone but he figured he could get to that on his way to homeroom.
He grabbed his backpack and opened the door to see Shinsou and Bakugou casually discussing the merits of burning Kirishima's beloved Crocs. Kaminari wanted to defend his best bro but even he had a line.
Sorry, dude, but I will not condone that bad a fashion faux pas.
Kirishima was eager to change the subject, and did his best not to remain looking crushed as he asked, "any new letters?"
The other boys went quiet and all eyes turned to him.
"Nope. The old one is still there, but I checked the whole space. Nothing. Doesn't seem like anything was tampered with either. Maybe we scared them off?"
Bakugou huffed. "They fucking better have been." He turned and started walking towards class, leaving the other three to run after him. Kaminari grabbed Shinsou's hand, and the two walked to homeroom side by side.
Kaminari had already been through a couple of classes when he excused himself to go to the bathroom. He had his lunch period now so there was no reason to rush. He knew he wouldn't go hungry. Especially since Kirishima always gave him the greens from his meal that he refused to eat- even when Bakugou made it.
Yet something felt off.
Denki was sure somebody was following him. He'd felt eyes on him since classes started. Whenever he turned around he couldn't find anyone, but he's always believed in trusting in his gut and it was telling him someone was up to no good. He hoped it was just nerves from last night.
Everything seemed normal. With the exception of Shinsou's absence- he had felt sick and excused himself to see Recovery Girl- his last class had been the same as it usually was. Kaminari made a mental note to check on his boyfriend and bring him some food.
Upon reaching the cafeteria he saw his friends and sat down. Things were the same as always. Kirishima scarfing down a steak and talking to Bakugou with his mouth full- and then getting scolded for doing so. Jirou had joined them today and she was, unhappily, getting her hair styled by Mina while absently eating yakitori. Sero sat to the right of him and was talking about something Kaminari hadn't been paying attention to.
"Are you even listening? Earth to sparky. Come in sparky." Sero waved his hand in front of Denki's face.
"Huh? Oh, sorry dude."
"You're super spacey today. Everything okay?" Mina was concerned but it didn't stop her playing with Jirou's hair. "Something scandalous happen last night?"
"Nah. I just have this uneasy feeling. The back of my head keeps tingling, like I'm being watched, you know?"
This had Bakugou interested. He could see the way his eyes narrowed at hearing it. For all that he teased him, Bakugou had learned to take Kaminari seriously when he felt things were amiss. His gut had gotten them out of trouble before. With the appearance of the mysterious letter everyone was on high alert.
"Have you seen anyone?"
Kaminari shook his head. He wished he'd had. At least then there would be something to go off of.
"Maybe your quirk is acting up again? Could the tingling feeling be from static?" Kirishima offered.
"Nah. I know what that feels like. Plus, I've mastered the art of not constantly frizzing my hair up. It'd be Midoriya-level messy if I was discharging shocks again."
Bakugou gave a decisive nod. "Let's keep an eye out. We stay together," and with a general consensus, the group went back to eating and enjoying the pause in their day. Kaminari guessed he wouldn't be visiting Shinsou until after school when the gang could come with him. He hoped he was ok. If only there was something to go on...
It was during a team practice exercise that Kaminari got his wish. The lights in the gym went out with a loud bang. At first everyone expected it to be his quirk causing trouble, but he wasn't even sparring yet. Plus, he'd have definitely felt it if he managed to short-circuit the entire gymnasium. There was a cry and the sound of running and scrambling. Aizawa asked the students to keep calm and in a minute or so the generator turned back on. Everyone squinted at the sudden change in light before searching for the source of the noise.
Kirishima was lying on the floor.
Above him, Uraraka was standing and holding a heavy fire extinguisher. Her eyes were blank and dull; her face empty of expression.
Bakugou was the first to move.
"I'll fucking KILL YOU, you ugly BITCH!" His hands had already started igniting and the explosions were only growing in size as he flew towards her.
Uraraka suddenly screamed and fell backward.
"What just happened? What's going on?!"
Aizawa quickly bound the furious Bakugou with his capture tape and made his way over to check on Kirishima.
The redhead was sprawled against the floor, bleeding from a cut across the back of his head, and completely unresponsive. Aizawa bent down to examine the wound and found it was only a shallow one. "It's just a bump and a bit of blood. He'll be fine." Then he turned to address the culprit. Uraraka was clearly frightened and immediately started to babble. "I didn't do it. I swear! The last thing I remember was stretching with Tsuyu. Why can't I remember anything?"
"Calm down," Aizawa turned to the rest of the class, "I need everyone to stay in this room, got it?"
He let Bakugou free and the boy immediately ran to Kirishima's side. He brought a hand to brush red hair out of his boyfriend's face and cradled the body close to him. The look he shot Uraraka was venomous. "You better PRAY he's alright or your parents are gonna be sweeping your ashes off the floor!"
Kaminari, Sero, and Ashido rushed to the scene- checking in on Kirishima and trying to stop Bakugou from murdering Ochako all at once.
Aizawa sighed and mumbled to himself before using his phone to contact Recovery Girl.
The class waited in silence. They had all noticed something. This attack sounded exactly like Shinsou's quirk.
The squad left Recovery Girl's office together, after rushing there as a group. When they waited for her to finish healing him, Denki asked how his boyfriend was. Recovery Girl shook her head; Shinsou had already left earlier that morning.
They walked back in a group. Kirishima had a light dressing of bandages around his forehead but seemed to be perfectly fine. Whether Ochako did it or not she was lucky the boy had a hard head.
"Guys, I'm fine! What kind of hero would I be if I couldn't handle a little one-on-one with a fire extinguisher? She caught me off guard was all!"
Though the others knew that, it didn't stop them from crowding around the redhead and making eyes at anyone who walked by them in the hall.
"Shut up, shitty hair. We're going back to your room and taking shifts watching you. You aren't supposed to sleep after a head injury so don't give us any fucking trouble and keep still."
Kirishima knew it would be a waste of breath to argue, so instead, he nuzzled his -still sore- head against Bakugou's in an attempt to calm him. The squad had long known the secret to easing the blonde's fury lay in skinship and physical reassurance. Soft words also helped, sometimes, but only Kirishima had really mastered the art of what to say.
It didn't take long to reach the dorms, and soon the squad was piling into Kirishima's room where they collapsed onto his bed in their old standard: one big cuddle ball. There was no shortage of hugging, nuzzling, and overall affection between the group as Bakugou, Kirishima, Sero, Kaminari, and Ashido comforted each other in the safety of their pack.
Their bond was a sacred one even if none of them had ever outright said it. They were family in its deepest sense and loved each other without hesitation. Kaminari couldn't help but feel sadness despite the closeness of his friends.
Shinsou should be here with us...Where are you, Hitoshi?