Disaster Walking

by geraldineamoeba

In UA, everyone has a roommate, even Bakugo. As Katsuki's hate cools, he finds himself puzzled, growing fond subconsciously, even as his roommate's horrid past unveils. Kasaya is broken, ashamed, with little control over his quirk. Shattered by things he did while being controlled and mistreated, can love and justice free him, or is he forever just a Disaster Walking? Bakugo x OC

56. Chapter 56

55

Midoriya lounging on the couch reading some manga rubbed his eyes, a yawn. He wasn't tired, just kind of bored.

This sofa was becoming his regular hang-out when he needed some alone time, so was reading casually here in this exact spot.

He was one of those people that was outgoing when he wanted, but too many activities made him seek out quiet places.

Today had worn him out on being social, at least for a couple of hours.

He'd attended a seminar, had worked out with Kirishima (who was a non-stop talker), presented a project in homeroom, turned in a research paper for History, and had done some training at the dome, earning some skeptical glances from Iida and Todoroki.

A lone soul, Bakugo Katsuki, had come over to give Deku an earful.

Most of Hero Class dismissed it and atributed it to Apollo (a name everyone was trying to get adjusted to), as just being shitty, as usual, but Ingenium and Shoto both raised their eyebrows, because it wasn't about the loud words exiting the biker cut's mouth, who dawned a different haircut now, short on the sides, longer and razored on top, it was more so about the manly punch in the upper arm that Bakugo gave him afterwards.

Midoriya hadn't said anything to anyone yet in Hero Class about them getting along, and as far as he knew, Kacchan hadn't either.

But nevertheless, it was too much intermingling for one day, so he'd wandered off to have a little personal space at the Pro Hero Bunker.

For a few hours, he'd been kicking back. If he would of trailed back to his shared room in the dorms he just knew Red Riot would begin chatting his ear off.

Reading this manga wasn't something he really wanted to do though, but something he'd volunteered himself for.

Usually he wasn't invested in fictional stories, hero magazines were more his thing. This one though was recommended by Himiko Toga; she owned the first volumes. Excitably, she was more than willing to loan them out.

It seemed to him the girl really just wanted to have someone else around who'd read it, so she could have someone to talk with about it, such a kiddish thing to desire!

Him and her hadn't really 'hit it off' as good friends yet anyway, so he figured, why not?

After all, Toga was thirteen (going on fourteen soon-ish, he figured), and boy, was she overly zealous.

They all had one thing in common at least: contributing to the secret Pro Hero investigation.

He bet she was trying to figure out other ways to get closer with them all, because from what Deku gathered, it seemed like she had acquired zero friends when she attended her old school and when she was a villain.

The League of Villains (acronym LOV for short, or LOA, League of Assassins), seemed to not really invest too much into her, nor really pay her much heed at all, neither did any of her old classmates at Sakura High, was it?

That was a good one, a top tier high school, but UA of course, in Midoriya's mind, was a much better spot for her seeing how much talent she possessed; a completely bright-flight student through and through.

It seemed all of them agreed on that one, unanimous decision.

Deku trailed off, contemplating while looking at an extremely colorful art panel at the start of a new chapter.

Her ex-adoptive mom wasn't there for her either, addicted to drugs so bad that the amenities were due to get shut off at her old home she'd blubbed on. That meant Himiko was left to pretty much fend for herself starting at such a young age, too young, Deku thought.

He wouldn't be anywhere without his mom, because his dad had taken off way before he could remember, but having no parent period?

Growing up without a stable home life, plus being ignored by all groups of people you try to involve yourself with, in a way, was kind of like bullying.

A method through ignorance and exclusion.

He knew that too well, Kacchan had treated him like that for years when they were younger, only when he pushed it too far, to try get something out of the blonde, anything, would Kugo explode on him, or if he was walking too close, standing too close.

Which he knew now was choice Bakugo was making to keep him at arm's length, out of his fucked up life, away from the mess that he had been involved in, and was continuing to make the choice to involve himself in because he was so addicted.

For following the blonde most likely would of meant falling down a path parallel to what Kacchan had; Izuku knew that, he knew that deep in his gut, he probably would have. Bakugo was 'right as rain', but had been too harsh in his handling of that foreseen truth.

So, Midoriya easily sympathized with the pigtailed, golden-eyed pre-teen, another reason he went ahead and told her he'd read her favorite story.

For she seemed so happy to be settled in at the bunker, had a room set up that was just down the hall from Katsuki and Kasaya, but of course, being young, it was covered in taped-up posters, had a crazy-patterned bedspread upon which a stuffed elephant named 'Rory' or 'Rori' sat (he couldn't catch how she said she liked to spell it, as her mouth had been too stuffed full of bacon), and a new desk and vanity, all purchased by All Might and Eraserhead, but picked out by her from a magazine.

Deku admitted, Toshinori really was doing a great job as her current supervisor!

He wouldn't of expected less from All Might!

Eraserhead too, he was there for any questions she might have with homework, except math.

Himiko was so good at mathematics that instead of taking help, she was challenging Aiwaza with problems in this same living room just last night, and he was stumped, pushing up on tortoise shell glasses. The Hero Professor was not good at solving problems, quite terrible at it actually, but he got a kick out of Toga being the excitable little chit that she was, and so he just let her go on pop quizzing him, showing her so much patience, intrigued by her intellectual abilities.

Clearly, she was starting to be even more expressive because she finally felt safe; she'd found a place she could be, where she could exist, be accepted for who she was, and because of this, she was finally living her true calling in life. She'd even declared, he'd heard from Toshinori, that she was going to follow a path into science and math, much like her friend Everett, since she also is so interested in DNA.

For now, she was just doing her best in 4-C, making pals, getting a five star education, having a cool bedroom, eating three square meals a day, living life as a person her age should be.

She really had been a bit malnourished. Her cheeks were looking fuller, healthier, and she hadn't been turned in to the juvenile hall either for being an ex-villian.

Eraser and All Might were dead set on a tit-for-tat; if she helped with Operation Clear Cut, which she really was as much as she could, especially about being a lower member of the Vanguard Action Squad and what that was all about, obtaining samples of student's blood, then they would pardon her by not saying anything to the state, so she could maintain a clean record.

She'd handed the viles over; a little run-off blood that she'd secretly kept for herself if the Vanguard's succeeded, to look at under a microscope at her old school out of pure interest.

It was currently being processed to figure out whose it was.

The notebook of notes for that map of UA she'd been working on for the LOV was in All Might and Eraser's hands too.

She'd even handed over the knives that she'd owned and used while in the Vanguard, but she did go on to say that she'd first obtained them because her now ex-mother would bring over crummy, drunk, high people into their house, and it scared her half to death.

Midoriya didn't argue that, didn't complain about not reporting her.

Hell, he couldn't complain about Toga fearing for her safety either!

What whack-job parent lets other drug abusers into her home knowing that she had a young, pretty daughter?

One who didn't give two shits apparently.

By all these actions though, and by how hard she was working, Midoriya knew that Toga meant business, and that business was to turn her life around completely.

So utterly adult she was in some ways, in other ways not so much. He shot air out of his nose in a silly smirk, she was a quite an odd combination of personality traits, but that was just what made Himiko unique.

Speaking of grown-up things, Izuku noticed she kept her space quite clean and homework pretty tidy, in little piles ready to come back to, similar to Kacchan in that way, except for when the Satoko/Bakugo room had a makeshift fort set-up in it, then it was total destruction inside that thing.

It didn't pain Midoriya anymore knowing they were constructing such monstrosities in their shared bedroom, a childhood activity he used to do with his childhood group, as he was always invited now whenever he wanted, just as Toga.

Izuku smiled big.

Boy though, did Himiko run to Bakugo first to beg and beg for him to read her manga!

'Brother bear', a tagline she directed only at Hero Apollo to annoy and poke fun at him, denied her hard when she'd tried to push Mystic Fairy Funland on him.

Midoriya noted, Bakugo was quickly becoming the first person she went to for most things, always.

She had a strange, growing attachment to him, for some reason or another.

It couldn't be because they were both blondes, and being a blonde in Japan was pretty rare, but he knew more so it was the word-battles. Himiko seemed to love 'warring it out' with Katsuki back and forth, to get under his skin, to rile him up on purpose.

She was kind of a little shit for that, Deku thought.

He wiped his face, running a hand over it, shaking his head. Man, he was losing out to so much 'toilet verbiage' these days!

Even popped up in his head, these foul words at times!

At first, he was being influenced just a bit by Kaminari, but now it was these others that he was in close proximity with that were influencing him.

The Satokos, Kacchan, even Eraserhead he'd heard spitting a few 'choice vocabulary' around.

Who was he becoming?

Deku shrugged to himself. He didn't know; an adult, more easy-going, 'growing up' and changing?

Honestly, he didn't mind.

Never would he of gathered in the past he'd be so nonchalant about it now, allowing himself to get somewhat foul-mouthed!

Himiko was definitely a tiny hellcat too, seeing as she was quite short in frame, but he'd even heard her, a thirteen year old girl, bellow out the word 'shit' the other day in reference to how heavy her backpack was!

Everett easily laughed at it. Shinso, dawning a mug akin to Eraserhead most days, gloomy and lacking sleep, (Deku figured this a common trait of mental quirk users), only dawned a half-lipped smirk, looking totally unenergetic, as if his last battery had run out of power.

They were both good guys, kind of protective of Himiko Toga as well, walking with her to class everyday, for the two were truly her first real friends. Of course, Toga had a 'thing' for Everett, but was waiting it out due to her true age, which she'd begged and begged not to have them tell him.

Again, so silly!

Also, when 'brother bear' Bakugo said 'Hell no!' to her pleas to read her fave manga, she'd abruptly become a combo of pouty and fiery, starting her usual slew of verbal jabs, and added a cuss word amongst them too!

So Bakugo being Bakugo, returned the attitude, letting out a shocking barrage of crude, spitting remarks right back.

Deku had seen all of it go down.

This bunker really was becoming a place he was at consistently!

He got to see so many interactions up-close and personal.

Toga then, just smiled away! Her sly face all mushy, blushy, devious, but in the funniest way.

Deku had laughed with Kasaya at the two going at it, as this was quite a common occurrence inside this temporary 'home', 'house', whatever one could call the Pro Hero Bunker, as a hodge-podge of random people were beginning to use it as such!

The atmosphere was usually a combination of quiet, rambunctious, or serious depending on what was going on, but as far as rambunctious goes, it was usually the two blondes spitting at each other that created that 'feel'.

For if anyone outside their group didn't know otherwise, surely they'd think the pair were mortal enemies.

Izuku however, knowing his childhood friend for too long, and how he hated being forced to do things he didn't want, led along at someone else's hand, this was a normal reaction in response to Toga's begging.

Bakugo easily blew up at this, exploding like an atom bomb, except they all knew now every single one of the snotty remarks he dealt to Toga were baseless, just like they were with Kasaya, the elder Satoko brother, and him now too.

A lot of bark, and biting only when he wanted.

Katsuki hadn't lost his fire, but he'd gained a ton of control over it, control he hadn't possessed in the past.

But man those two could easily get into it like a couple of lion cubs over a half eaten zebra leg!

For the only singular person Kacchan let lead him along was Satoko Kasaya.

The green-headed teen knew there was an exception there, as the pierced guy was, after all, his roommate turned best friend.

If Kasaya had suggested Mystic Fairy Funland, Bakugo might of actually gave it a shot.

'Nah.' Midoriya shook his head, a tiny chuckle. He probably wouldn't have, not a chance!

It was kinda... well, crap.

No way would Deku divulge that to the pigtail-bunned, peppy youngster though.

He couldn't!

He didn't think it'd break her heart or anything if he said outright it wasn't his cup of tea, but surely she'd be disappointed?

Midoriya laughed, eyes floating off the page from a fairy dressed in purple, thinking about them dishing out insults to one another.

Bakugo and Toga really were quite similar, oddly similar, even some of their habits were coyly the same.

No wonder Kacchan got along with her so easily, quickly, and so well, if you could even call it that with how much they downright smashed each other's buttons!

All in all, Himiko had practically deflated and given up after Kasaya said no too, apologizing in a pleasant and kind way. He wasn't that interested in a fantasy world with fairies, mushroom creatures, and sprites either, but did mention a book he liked to read with a dragon in it.

Deku had heard that mentioned before, Bakugo had said it by the pool, that he had taken the name of the dragon in that story.

'Because I do have a fire quirk girl.' Midoriya could recall that line spoken in a deep timbre to the young lady swishing her feet in the water.

But taking that name for that reason?

That was a pretty personal choice.

Nevertheless, seeing how Bakugo shot her down with the manga, and Kasaya too, but much more gracefully, watching her lose her normal chipper smile, Izuku, being a total softy, felt sorry for her, gave in, telling her he'd give it a shot.

Maybe it was spoiling her a bit, but maybe she deserved to be spoiled some.

So, he knew he had it coming now, she'd probably be up in his bubble tomorrow asking all about what he thought of it.

He'd have to lie some, ah well.

Instantly hearing a knock, Midoriya popped up to answer, dropping the second volume to the cushion.

8 o'clock at night was kind of late for visitors. The only person that had ever barged in after dusk was Kacchan about five days ago now.

When he cracked the old metal door ajar only a slit, eyeing whom it was, a voice, only kind of familiar spoke.

"Hey." It was simple.

A nod. Izuku let the man in, a cold, beginning of March breeze following. "Welcome." Midoriya instantly closed the door at the chill, and bent an extremely perfect bow, that was what you did right? With decorated military? He just wanted to make sure he was doing the correct formality.

Surprising to the teen, Hisashi Satoko waved it off. "Don't worry about it." He sat a packed duffel lazily down on a neighboring chair. "Is my brother here, what about Bakugo? Kasaya said they would be."

"Yea, I was just getting ready to go down there myself." He motioned his head to the hallway. The green-headed teen was going to delve into one of those B-rate, crappy horror films that Kacchan seemed to like, after he'd recharged with some 'me-time'.

Which, wasn't as 'me-time' as he'd hoped, as he was in fact reading a series on another person's desire.

He smirked, it was nice for him to be pals with his childhood friend again, but also to have a budding friendship with Hero Disaster, possibly Himiko too.

Hisashi plunked down into the same recliner he had sat down in some nights ago now. He didn't sit perfectly straight either, bad posture. Slumping back, he casually crossing a leg over the other, looking much more relaxed than his usual stuffy demeanor.

His anger was completely gone as he'd fully realized what was wrong.

Finally admitting and trying to own his real emotions, even the bad ones, going towards a place he felt he actually belonged, towards a future for himself that felt truest, towards who he really was as a person, whom he always had been before the military, that was his aim.

His own self had been the issue, he'd allowed himself to become the way he was.

No more.

No longer was it only for Kasaya. It was for himself too now.

For others too, in the world, if they'd take him.

He wanted to serve humanity and himself, like his brother, not the government.

Izuku kept standing, awkward, unsure what to say, what to do. "So..." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Want like a water or something?"

Why was he just sitting there, Satoko's older brother? It was kind of nerve-wrecking! He was so high ranked and he'd gained it just shy of four years in high school! High school!

Izuku Midoriya was quite impressed by his absolute tenacity to gain three pay levels in that short amount of time.

Private to Private First Class to Lance Corporal, an over-achiever, much like most of Hero Class at UA he figured.

There was a similarity there, the only difference was that he was Armed Forces, and there was sort of a prestige attached to that in Japanese society, and because of this, it sat Midoriya to fidgeting with his thumbs in his athletic shorts, uncomfortable.

"I want..." The man uttered. "I want to talk t'you about somethin'." It was cool, just like his current clothing, civilian's wear.

It was always formal attire or full camo for Hisashi, this was completely new.

Or should he say, a revamp back to the older version he once was?

These clothes weren't annoyingly itchy in all the wrong spots, and the high-tops he dawned weren't hot on the insides like lava.

He hadn't worn this type of stuff in almost four, possibly five years?

He was surprised they still fit, for he'd grown to be pretty big and tall quite fast as a middle-schooler.

General Hoga could grant access to wear civilian's apparel while on-leave, but Hisashi had never taken leave, couldn't with supporting Kasaya. But as always, common clothes had certain rules applied too, the military had it's thumbs in every aspect of their government property.

And as Hisashi was still government property, he had to comply for the sake of appearance.

No holes in denim or shirts. No wrinkles. Clean shoes. No logos. No bright colors. No piercings. No jewelry. No offensive cologne.

Sashi absolutely revolted, changing at a gas station bathroom far away from the base so no enlisted person would spy him.

He honestly thought he looked 'cool' too, he'd really missed his old style.

The skinny jeans he'd thrown on tonight he'd ripped the knees out of, took a razor and scuffed them all up. His black shirt had a metal band album print of a band he used to listen to. His high top sneakers were this old crappy pair he'd worn most of his middle school days. He had a plaid tied around his waist.

He used to have quite a collection of plaids, but as he had no use for them with all the uniforms he wore, he'd given Kasaya an old one of his that had a few holes in it, worn out elbows.

It had been his favorite.

On middle school weekends, all his pals knew him for that maroon checked plaid.

As he was pulling old things out of his closet at the base apartment he rented, he was starting to recall memories.

Things from the past. It put a smile on his face, remembering, finally remembering.

How he'd forgotten.

He'd been called out to so many times by his classmates on weekends, they easily could spot him walking down a sidewalk clad in that maroon shirt like his own personal armor.

'Yo Satoko! We're goin' t'get burgers! Wanna come?'

Of course, he most usually hollered back a big 'Yes!', unless he was running an errand, tapping on his phone screen to another pal, wondering if Kasaya would text him back at all, as his younger brother had gotten his first phone pretty early because he'd been so active in sports.

But Saya was never home, and he'd gotten in trouble with the law, so he barely heard from him.

During Hisashi's time in middle school, he wasn't entirely conscious of the big reason 'why' Saya was gone so much, it all eluded him.

He'd felt so lonely without his younger brother, but was filling that hole with the friends around him at the time, and he'd had some good times.

But this style, he'd began wearing before middle school, elementary actually, as he'd got super into playing guitar.

He once was quite good!

As young kids, Kasaya was the sportsman, and Hisashi was the rock n' roller.

To Deku, the Lance Corporal's sudden silence and current clothing choices weren't similar to anyone he knew, pretty grungy. He looked like a whole era of music just in the garments he sported. "Me?" It uttered out as a half-squeak. He'd never spoken to Kasaya's brother one-on-one!

What was this going to be about?

So much for 'me-time'!

But, he had been ready to bring it to a close anyway, as he was prepping to watch a movie in the Bakugo/Satoko room; he'd spare some time for the elder Satoko if he requested him though. He was military, so Deku figured he better comply.

"You're the information guru of this whole she'bang?" Hisashi motioned with his hands to go along with his words, a habit.

He must mean the operation with the Pro Heroes right? "I... I guess, sir." He mumbled out.

Hisashi waved it off again, just like he had the bow. "Don't call me that. I'm just Hisashi, or Sashi, all right?"

Deku almost hiccupped! A first name basis? Already?!

Just yesterday Toga had given him clearance to call her by her first name.

But the older Satoko now too? And that easily?!

"Okay... uh, Hi... Hisashi." He had to sit down, that took his breath right out of him! He'd never thought of being on a first name basis with any military personnel.

Man, what was his life right now?

He'd gotten Kacchan back. He had Kasaya as a fellowman to a 'passed' power, and as a friend. He was having some 'relations' with a certain 'someone', which he was keeping entirely to himself. He was reading this goofy manga. He was close pals with Iida and Ibara, and sort of close with Uraraka. He had Kirishima as a work-out buddy and roommate. This whole student-detective work he was doing!

Now he was being allowed closeness to a Lance Corporal in the local air unit?

Crazy!

He'd gained so much this year already.

His face was practically pink and blushing.

The elder Satoko chuckled out. "Don't get all shy."

"Yea, eh... sorry." He choked out a laugh oddly.

"Betcha wasn't expectin' that out of someone like me, huh?"

Midoriya scratched the back of his neck again, shaking his head 'no', trying to relax back into the couch, but not quite able to do so, a bit on-edge.

"I'm tryin' to re-learn to be more..." He thought. "Like myself... you know?"

Deku nodded. He could understand that, he felt like he was more himself now with Kacchan at his side once again. "So yea, I don't know about 'guru', but I do take a lot of notes."

Hisashi smiled genuinely at the bit of downplay, obviously the guy was hyper intelligent, but pretty humble.

This was the first time Midoriya seen him smile so brightly like that, not that he'd seen him grin a ton, as he didn't know the Lance Corporal well, but from what he'd noted of the man, his smiles (to him at least), seemed slightly forced.

"I'm gunna cut to the chase. I need some info. Saya texted some details about the last meeting of Operation Clear Cut..." He breathed deep letting it in and out slow, trying to pace himself. He wanted to have a back and forth conversation, not scare the guy sitting across from him with the whirling emotions he felt inside. "I wasn't here for it, but... he said you took the 'informations' role amongst the student detectives."

"I did. I'm in charge of recording and organizing on paper all data." Midoriya knew his ability to gather and process fast was why he was offered and given that title. "On my own... I record info about heroes on and off UA, heroes at other schools, quirks, popularity polls, academic recognitions..."

Hisashi listened patiently to the babble, watching that mouth move quick, muttering as he listed and listed. It was quite a detailed variety of subjects dealing with heroes, what the field encompassed.

Eventually, it stopped. Deku quietly meeped to himself. "Oh, I... just go on like that sometimes." His face got red. Damn it, he'd just did it again!

He always did this at the most in-opportune times!

A look of embarrassment grew across his face.

"Yeh, you're the person I need to talk to." Hisashi said plain and firm. Planting his elbows on his knees, resting his chin on laced fingers, he swallowed. A bit more whispery. "What if I told you that I wanted to be a hero."

"Huh?!" It came out shocked, and kind of loud! The light in the living room suddenly seemed to be that much brighter, even though it was dim. It was because Deku's eyes became way too large at that off-the-cuff statement. "Wh... what?"

He was just... so perplexed! But also, he was so confused! In all his calculations never would he of figured to hear this!

A complete 180 degrees from where Hisashi Satoko was at now!

"Yea..." A bit pink in the cheeks, a laugh rather sheepish in return. "So eh, what would I need to do?"

"Aren't you goin' t'fly planes?" A voice sounded from the dark hall.

"Ah. Saya." Hisashi looked over.

"I came t'hunt you down since you didn't come to knock."

Hisashi chuckled. Of course he did.

A switch flicked on, hall sconces lit. "Why would you give up so many things you've got goin' f'you, you idiot?" The younger brother moved into the space only slightly, leaning on the corner of the wall, high cheeks bones graced in new warm light. He put some longer hair strands behind his ear, swished away some long bangs, hands going into pockets, a habit developing from none other than Bakugo no doubt.

"I don't want t'do it anymore." A sigh.

"Can I... can I ask why? Is that okay?" A quick blurt, a bumble out of tight lips from Deku, still not sure if it was alright to question him as such.

A reply came out steadily though. "Because..." Hisashi looked to the tile floor, the cement wall. Admitting this! It was something he needed to do, and Midoriya probably had the answers, but he wanted Kasaya to hear it also. "I really... really want t'do some good. I'm not cut out for the military. I'm... I'm not."

"But it's so... prestigious. It'd be a shame..." Midoriya interjected.

"No it wouldn't." He cut him off. "Not at the expense of my own mental state. It's not worth it."

With that statement, Kasaya swallowed knowing too well what that was like. He pulled a hand out his sweatpants pocket gripping a pack, opening to purse a cigarette on his lip. He strode over, sitting on the arm rest of the recliner; an incredibly soft voice. "Hisashi, what's up?" He lit it, and sucked a deep intake, letting it out slow through his nose as he did sometimes, pulling an ash tray over with lithe fingers from a side table.

The majority of them smoked inside the bunker, an everyday occurrence it was that someone had one hanging off their mouth burning or unlit, or saved for later behind an ear, a pack or a lighter laying out on a surface somewhere.

Deku was getting used to it, being in this environment. It seemed most societal rules were kind of 'tossed out the window' here, but he must like it because he was starting to come here more often, not only for the investigation, but also by his own volition.

No pressure to look a certain way, be a certain way, those that made the bunker their home were all super laid back.

Deku at that extra side-thought, forced himself to relax a bit finally. That clear, very straight, honest response from Hisashi, had jolted him, but he knew the elder was right.

Nothing is worth it at the expense of your mental health.

There was always another way to get a new job, to do something else in life, to go somewhere else, to make things better.

Maybe Satoko Hisashi needed that in his life right now?

Hell, look at Kasaya, look at Bakugo, look at Toga even! Midoriya could even look at himself!

See the mountains of crap they had to overcome, look at their old mental states that had bogged them down, that they had wanted freedom from!

They all had begged for a release, and they'd all gotten it in one way or another.

That couldn't be denied to the Lance Corporal either, for he seemed very bent-up over something. Obviously, he was struggling deeply, and he was searching for an opening, a door's handle to turn for an escape.

"So, the military is no good?" Saya went on tenderly with his brother, a palm on his back for support.

Bakugo entered then, plunking down casually by Hero Deku, quiet, unlike him, as usually he made his presence known by loud, banging feet, some feral grunts, or a biting remark.

He'd wandered out of their room and down the hall when Saya hadn't come back and what he'd lumbered into wasn't something he was expecting.

Not at all.

That utterance he'd heard from Hisashi reeled him right in to shut his mouth, halt a stomp, and listen.

He hadn't seen the older brother torn up like this since the night him and Kasaya had slept on the base apartment's kitchen floor. Also, him and Hisashi had just grabbed each other up in the kitchen here days ago for their first real embrace, and so, he thought Hisashi was good now.

But, something else was up, and that made Bakugo quiet, for Suki saw him as a brother now too, just as he felt Sashi felt towards him, so he extended some personal patience out, something he used to never be really good at doing.

The elder Satoko saw him come in, uncaring, but gave a quick shallow smile to him.

Bakugo smirked back at him, devilishly of course, red eyes glaring, as he always did, picking up the manga volume on the couch to toss it aside to make more room for himself.

"Not at all, it never has been." Satoko went on.

"I know already." Kasaya flicked the ash of his cigarette into the tray. "I mean, look how your dressed..." He swallowed, wetting his lips. "I haven't seen these clothes in years."

"Upgrade if you ask me." Bakugo blurted out, a quick quip, crossing his arms across his chest, a huff.

Midoriya shook his head, a small eye roll. Come on read the room you dumbass! He knew that quiet wouldn't last for too long, Kacchan had to get a word in somewhere, so like him!

"It was probably weird for you to come back home and see me in nothing but camo." Hisashi swallowed out. By 'come back home' he meant after he'd gotten him away from that Ashley bitch.

"Yeh, it was." The short sentence was breezed out.

Hisashi genuinely addressed a feeling Kasaya had had for once, quite openly with his own emotions, and because of it, the younger Satoko was easily struck, latching right into his brother's words.

That wasn't something Hisashi did a lot, openly empathize, it felt good to hear it. He was used to being 'forced' to do things by his older brother, for his own good most of time, but still, not this, not being spoken to in an empathetic way by him.

"To... t'be honest..." Saya put fingers up to his eye to wipe at a singular, quick forming tear. "You'd become more like him... and it was weird, it bothered me."

It was the first time Kasaya brought up their father first before him. "I... I see that now." He let out a choke.

Midoriya felt maybe he shouldn't be here. Things were starting to get a bit... emotional, personal?

Bakugo spying him fidget, stretched out an arm across the back of the couch to go behind Izuku. Of course, he crossed one leg over the other as well, to be in his normal 'kingly' posture.

That small gesture kept Deku planted, knowing he was welcome to stay. He knew these three were very close, and didn't want to impede, but Bakugo's simple motion suggested otherwise.

Deku really was being accepted as part of the group, even with the older Satoko brother!

For Hisashi could of asked to have him leave, but he hadn't.

It made him swell inside with warmth.

"While I was lost, I felt you were losin' yourself too, or had already lost most of it." Hero Disaster's lip quivered, a sniff. "It was like, I didn't know who you were anymore." A tremble, a quick puff of smoke off a lip. "You looked like you, but it wasn't you. The only time recently..." He shivered, wiping at a tear again. "when I saw you... really saw 'you for you', was when you were with me on the kitchen floor." He gawked at Hisashi then, grey orbs meeting light blue ones, a storm meeting a bright sky. His eyes were extremely damp, cigarette burning down into a waste of tobacco between his fingers.

Hisashi's throat bobbed, and down fell a lone stream of salty liquid from a lid, eyelashes sticking together meeting that gaze. It was breaking him apart to see Kasaya torn up, having emotions finally, that in itself was overcoming him, but to see him aching because of choices he'd allowed to happen, that made Hisashi's heart hurt even more.

He had made his younger brother feel like this, and worse was that they'd never talked about it together.

That hit him deeply, deeply, so deeply.

His younger brother hadn't even seen him as him!

Not for a long time.

Hisashi could feel his pace quickening, guts twisting, pain arising again. He grasped the free hand of his brother up. "Please Saya, I want... want t'be me now. Only me."

Bakugo stood then in black socked feet, padded over and plucked the cigarette right out of Kasaya's fingers, took the ashtray too, and sat them down on the coffee table in front of the couch.

Kasaya smiled wryly, there Suki was being rash, but he knew too well his blonde lover had done so because things were about to get messy, and he wouldn't be able to manage the thing anymore. Bakugo inherently knew conversation would go better if he had both his hands free; they could read each other's body language and thoughts so well.

So, without a second thought, Apollo took the half-smoked tube.

Bakugo clobbed his feet up on the coffee table lounging with arm around the back of the sofa again, around his ex-childhood friend, who was a pal once again, wetted his lips, and took the cigarette up to his own mouth.

He'd taken it to aid the situation, but he wouldn't let it go to waste.

Taking a long, succulent inhale of it, letting it steam out from his mouth, just how he liked, to feel weighty smoke burn and filter out slow, lingering inside his windpipe, he caught Midoriya's jaw unhinge completely in peripheral vision.

He twiddled it a little back and forth. "What?" Kugo spurted at him with panther-like eye movement. "You were gunna find out one way er'another." Rough. He took another long, slow drag, blowing it out.

Kacchan was drinking, that he knew, but smoking now also? Deku was thrown through a hell of a new loop!

He sat there gawking, Bakugo semi-pushing his shoulder to 'stop staring'.

It was just so freaking awkward watching him do this!

So stunned, Deku said absolutely nothing, not even a squeak. Of all things he could of witnessed, he never would of guessed.

No doubt it was a Kasaya influence; they really did influence each other a ton, not just in habits, but even in miniscule things, like how Kasaya had been standing along the wall.

But nevertheless, Deku would rather take Kacchan as he was now compared to how he'd been in the past, take him as he was now by a long shot.

For if Katsuki was comfortable sharing pieces of his daily life like this with him now, that nonchalantly expressed to Midoriya too that he really had fully accepted him back into his life.

Bakugo could be comfortable around him, and in turn, that made Midoriya be easy-going around him also.

"I'm not signing an extension, a contract after this year." Hisashi said after some minutes of silence, unbreaking from his brother's face. "I've only had a meeting with Hoga, months back now, the paperwork is there, but I've not sat down t'fill it out."

Kasaya's orbs were into Sashi's face, he felt an aura of 'absolute' from him, a piece of the quirk that he was now, picked up on it. He remembered his brother texting about that awhile back, but to hear this, then to feel inside him that those words were honest truth, a small stream of liquid gently slid down his cheek over a small beauty mark near his lip, one he'd always had, a drip landing on Hisashi's palm holding his hand.

"I've got t'tell you somethin'." The older Satoko blinked out of wetness too, reaching up to softly sweep away the travelling, long tear that kept rolling out, from his brother's right eye.

He rested his face into his brother's gentle caress. "Okay."

"I only joined the academy..." A sniff, tipping the other's chin up. "because father wa... wanted me too."

"Yeh." It was obvious distaste, but instead of pure frustration, the word was mixed with profound swirls of sadness. His long hair fell over Hisashi's forearm, as his head drooped. So, he had given into father's wishes. He felt like he knew all along.

"I jus' did it, but as time has passed, I'm not..." 'Keep it together. Keep it together.' He was not keeping it together. His lip began shaking again. "I'm not doin' too good." The bigger man began to break down, his hand dropped, head fell, and he slumped down over his knees, a similar posture Kasaya used to make when he felt trapped and uneasy, about to lose it, go off the deep end.

Recognizing this, Saya leaned his body into him. It was wrecking him to see his brother like this. To finally, and actually see his real brother like this! Not the one in uniform.

Satoko Hisashi as just Satoko Hisashi.

He'd wanted to see his brother for so long!

How he'd missed him.

"I feel... I feel like how you must of felt. Not knowin' what you're doin' at UA, completely jaded and out-of-it. I feel like that now! I don't know what I'm doin' anymore Saya!"

"Hi... Hisashi." A whisper.

"On the outside... I'm this, this perfect person." He began rubbing his hands over his face, his whole form quivering like a leaf, revealing his truth, his real truth. "But I'm... I'm so lost! I've... I've lost myself in the air squad, to our father. I JUST!" It got loud, that last little gasping statement. "I WANT TO BE ME!"

Kasaya grabbed onto him after that, latching him down as it seemed he was going to topple to the floor.

Hisashi covered his face mourning so desperately, that Deku shifted in his seat not knowing what to do.

He wanted to help, he'd asked for information right? He could do that!

But for now, he could do nothing.

Wait it out until things were settled.

Bakugo sat up on the sofa, leaning towards the conversation, taking that last quick puff before butting out in the ashtray.

Midoriya saw a look of concern jolt across those vivid, cinnamon eyes, he saw 'care' there.

"It's because... I had t'be. I had t'be perfect! But, that's not who I am, and father, y'know, he jus'..." Hisashi shaken up in his brother's firm hold, in front of Bakugo and the other, he just broke completely down. "HE WOULDN'T GET IT!" Sashi grasped onto Kasaya for dear life. "You guys are all I have! I am... I am all I have!"

Sashi fell suddenly into his brother's chest, as he began unleashing rapid coughs and cries into him. Kasaya laid his chin on top of that short, low fade haircut tears falling down his own cheeks, heating them, face puffing.

Midoriya was floored! He'd never seen a military man pour out like this before!

Hisashi was an absolute mess!

That cracking, totally broken voice!

This guy was a human after all, and it moved Hero Deku, absolutely moved him, because to him all Armed Forces seemed like robots while on-the-job!

"So, fuck him." Bakugo growled out, abandoning the butt he was poking at with his finger.

He stood and came over to Hisashi's other side, sitting on the other arm rest, to place a hand on Hisashi's back, eyes a swirl of ultimate magma. Livid he was, but containing it, he knew now from seeing Hisashi's current state, that the Satokos both were being whipped at by their father's reins.

Hisashi felt that other firm, strong hand being laid down and placed, the one of his blonde brother. "An' an' I've gotten so attached! I'm so, so co-dependent on you Saya, all my... my everything was f'you, even my own emotions I couldn't, couldn't hardly feel anymore! But... but I could have happiness f'you! I could smile at your smiles! But I..." He bawled up fists into his younger brother's shirt. "I... I COULDN'T SMILE FOR MY OWN SELF!"

That caused Bakugo to wrap his arms around the elder Satoko's waist, half falling into the chair with them too, his cheek on Sashi's back.

How he knew what that felt like, how he knew what it felt like to be too dependent!

Too dependent on drugs too feel good in the past. Too dependent on Kasaya for his own means to 'stand up' and be who he needed to be as a hero, a true, real hero. Kasaya had done right by saying they needed to have their own independence, as he wouldn't let himself become a crutch for another, only to come together at the end of the day, if they both made it, if they could.

How Kasaya had told him he needed to hold his own damn self up!

How Bakugo adored and respected that quality in Kasaya.

It was similar to how when he'd held his hand out and up from the ground that one time after they'd gotten done running, and Kasaya said he was 'strong enough', strong enough on his own to stand up.

And the long, navy-haired man had been right.

He had been strong enough.

"I know. You took me in when I... when I needed you." Saya spurted between a sob. "But when you did, somehow, I... I seen you become even less yourself."

"Because I had t'walk the walk, an'... an'talk the talk even more! All for you! All of it, and I became less..."

Bakugo squeezed his comrade feeling the rapidly breathing chest, inhaling, exhaling, quaking, trying not to choke up himself at the absolute encompassing feeling of admiration inside him.

Hisashi Satoko had literally sacrificed everything, his whole entire self, his entire being, his own emotions, at his own expense.

All for Kasaya.

Their father and the military had been just the right catalysts to start him on his current pathway, then when Saya had become his ward, things went downhill for him personally even more. He had to push to meet more standards, to be even better, to get more money to support his younger brother, all those things.

Those absolutely stress-inducing trials he had put himself through!

Bakugo felt as if he was going to scream. Not in anger, but because he knew, he knew.

He knew what it felt like to love someone like that.

How akin to him he felt even more. "Toshinori." Hero Apollo, trying to stay calm whispered. "You need t'see... see someone." A choke from him. Toshi was there for the UA Students, employed by the school, but surely, All Might would lend a hand anyway, he wouldn't turn someone down if they needed guidance.

For All Might had helped Bakugo, even when the guy knew he had hated him, but he still helped him.

That was how utterly forgiving Toshinori Yagi was.

"I do need help. Please..." He begged.

The three were together so tight on that singular recliner meant for only one person.

"Please... please help me."

"We've got you." Bakugo stated, no longer was he as pissy when others used the word 'help' around him, for he'd spurted those words out to Deku so completely helpless the other night, fell to the tile floor in absolute sobbing pain.

Apollo now understood that 'help' sometimes doesn't mean hold the door, lift these boxes, grab this stuff for me, sometimes 'help' is a plead, a begging ache for someone, anyone to be merciful enough to extend out a hand when there is no hand for that person to grab.

'I NEEDED HELPPPP!' He'd screamed so loud into his green-headed ex-childhood friend's lap, who he was now close to again.

How true that sharp and long shriek was!

How real Satoko Hisashi's cries were right now, just the same.

Kasaya spoke stroking his brother's hair, torn up. "Who cares what... what our father thinks." He got closer to his brother's ear to whisper. "I can tell you've, you've cried about this enough, jus' let us help you. For the first time, please Hisashi..." He squeezed him. "Please let me help you." A whimper, a tight hug. "Let us lead you for now, until things get better, and then... then you jus' be you."

Bakugo squeezed a little harder.

Kasaya would be the that help, extend that hand for his brother, but ultimately would not be the crutch that allows Hisashi Satoko to stand in the end.

How he understood, how he valued that, how he agreed.

Hisashi nodded as he felt Bakugo wiggle an affirmative also into his back. "I jus' want myself back. I don't want t'feel like a fuckin'..." He fell silent, unable to find the words.

"Doormat?" Kasaya sniffed, he didn't want his brother to be that! "Like father could..." He swallowed. "jus', jus'walk all over us at any time? It's not like you t'go against him, but you are now, and if you are... I'm here." Kasaya pulled his older brother's face up out of his shirt to look at him. "I've always been waitin' right here f'you... the real you t'come back." He closed his eyes, tears fell with gravity again down over Hisashi's cheek. His forehead on the older's brow. "I'd always wait... I'd wait forever if I had to, t'get the real Hisashi back."

The older knew.

He had been right!

Eyes open wide.

Kasaya took him with arms out-stretched!

Just as he had been waiting and watching patiently for the real Kasaya to come back, Kasaya had been waiting on him just the same.

Truly, at very bottom of the trash can where the bad cookies were, that was where all the real love resided. In this dark place, it was where every ounce of acceptance congregated.

Here, right here, in his brother's caressing embrace, inside the blonde's hold wrapped tight around his waist, here was everything that he'd ever wanted.

Here existed a pathway back to being who he really was.

Here existed the ability to once again make choices for himself.

Here existed a free and safe space for him to feel his own emotions.

He'd follow that cobblestone road right to hell.

Right at their heels he'd be running too.

With that acknowledgement, Hisashi's well overflowed, emotion like a bucket filled too full of water came gushing right back up; moans, sputtering, aching whimpers, yells.

"I'm, I'M SO MAD!" An eruption. "He jus'... SAYA! HE SMACKED YOU! How?! How could he do that?!" Tears. "HOW COULD HE?! How could he smack my... MY LITTLE BROTHER!"

"It's... I'm..." Kasaya never thought in a million years his brother would utter these words, scream them out. "You really know now..." He held onto Hisashi for dear life. "how I feel, how I've always felt...". The empathy coming from his brother was unbearable, causing the beats in his chest to quicken, his head aching, heart stricken, eyes burning. "Sashi, all I've ever wanted of you... was f'you t'see it from my point of view! It hurt me! You know? IT HURT! Jus' like all the shit she did to me! Father doin' that was jus', jus' the fuckin' icing on the cake!"

"I know Saya! I'm so... I'm so sorry! It's fucked up! I know! He's jus' a total..." He swallowed, eyes watery. "He's a FUCKIN' ASSHOLE Saya! An asshole!" He shrieked. "Y'know everything, literally everything is about appearances with him!" He shook Kasaya half to death by the sleeves of his shirt.

"I know! I know! It's all it's ever been! That was why he couldn't take Ashley's fuckin' bullshit as truth! You know that right?! He's a shallow, angry fuck!" Kasaya was getting loud now. "I never got how or why y'just let someone whose like that walk all over you! Let someone who did that t'me just walk all over you! It was like by letting him run your show... you were silently sticking the middle finger up t'me! You know?! You were ALWAYS STRONGER THAN ME HISASHI! So why, why'd you let it go on?!"

Hisashi bawled.

"I was losin' you! LOSING YOU TO HIM!" Kasaya screamed out.

Midoriya thanked the gods that All Might and Eraser weren't here right now with all this upset going on, they were at Toshinori's apartment tonight, and Toga was holed up in her room with loud headphones, banging out some homework with metal music that Bakugo had shared; she had six or seven albums of it now and listened to them frequently.

"I KNOW! I SEE NOW!" He choked. "I understand Kasaya, I see what I've allowed t'happen! I jus' went along with it, because... because I didn't know any better at the time! I didn't know what the military was really like! I was jus'a kid! I respected our father then, and like a, like a good kid, I jus' did what I was told!"

"Ya ain't gotta deal with that bullshit if you don't wanna!" Bakugo cracked out, whacking the elder Satoko on the knees. "Jus' don't do it!"

Sashi looked at the blonde. "I'm not goin' to! Not anymore!"

Bakugo grabbed at the older Satoko's shirt, they were all shaking and jerking each other around. "You jus' want t'make your own fuckin' decisions, be your own person, yeh? Then do it! Do it damn it! It's what we're all doin' here!" He shook him. "Y'hear me!"

"Please... please come with us Hisashi!" Saya started trying to desperately calm down, hoping it'd calm the other two in the huddled group too. "We're all right fuckin' here!"

Hisashi wrapped his arms around Kasaya. "I knew... I knew you'd get it. I knew you'd understand!"

"Father wouldn't understand! He'd want you to stay in." Kasaya breathed out, pushing wetness away with his thumb.

"Y'damn right he probably would!" Bakugo piped. "Fuck him! I'm not havin' any bastards rippin' my people apart!"

Air caught in Hisashi's throat.

'My people'.

Bakugo had said 'my people'.

Hisashi wiped his face using his own shirt. "I had a little time t'think... I want t'try for somethin', somethin' like... like being a hero instead." It was Bakugo's yelling and utterance that brought Sashi back to reality. He looked around now, hazy. "That's what I wanted t'talk to him about." Hisashi motioned with his chin to Midoriya.

Izuku on-cue, cleared his throat, finally poked his head up a little, he'd been the wallflower of this situation. "Uh, yea, that's what we were talkin' about." He responded back similarly, not sure what to say.

"What does it take t'be a hero?" Sashi trying not to cry more, was able to mumble.

Deku felt put in the spot, gulped, heated himself from the intense aura floating around in the room currently, a bit nervous.

Bakugo went ahead due to the timid silence. "School, an internship, placement in a Hero League..." He loosening his grip on Hisashi as things were settling. His hand remained on the back of the older Satoko. "Being the best." He grinned a quick, wicked, half-smirk over to Deku, a poking jest at their old rivalry, wiping an eye of his own, he'd almost lost it himself minutes ago, and started crying. The blonde was glad things had stopped where they stopped, or he wouldn't of been able to last.

Midoriya huffed at that, an eye roll, he pulled a metal folding chair from the near wall and came over by them to get closer. "Not exactly." He stretched it out and plopped onto it.

"Hah?" Kasaya said, running his hands through his own hair, calmer. He thought for sure Bakugo was right, except for the 'being the best' part which he knew was a stab at Deku.

Bakugo snuck a look at Kasaya running those lithe digits through the his satin locks.

He liked watching him do it, but he looked away fast to disguise it as a passing glance.

Izuku put a knuckle to lip. "That's just for those going into high school who know and want t'become heroes."

"What do'you mean?" Hisashi clearly had zero know-how.

Was there no hope for him then?

"There's university too." He began to mumble off a bit. "For people who decide to strive for a hero title later in life, who want to go into the trade, there's hero universities. There's one connected to UA that's considered a sister school."

"What does... what does it require?"

They all gawked, heavily interested.

"Well, recommendations, great grades, the same stuff any normal university requires, of course coming from an esteemed high school always helps. You can't be the only person coming from a military academy and going into a hero university. You've gained three levels of pay in less than four years, right? I'd say that'd look good on any resume."

"I have no training with my quirk though."

"I don't think you've gotta worry about that." Midoriya mumbled off. "In a hero university they train you just the same as a hero high school would. Of course, they'll test your quirk on the field, just the same as a hero highschool would too for entry, so you'll need some experience, but... I mean, you've also got us."

Bakugo grinned. "Yeh, you fucker." He looked up a Hisashi. "Wanna go? I'll blow you t'fuckin' kingdom come!"

Sashi smiled up at the guy. He really would have made a good soldier, but he was really glad now that Bakugo wasn't interested in such a thing.

"Yeh, just train with us." Kasaya said. "You've got a good mental quirk like... what's that guy's name?" Usually For One's All would just spill the information out of him, as a piece of it was like a sponge that absorbed everything, but he was trying so hard to concentrate on becoming calmer so he wasn't tuned in enough to listen for it.

"Fuckin' Bed Bug?" Bakugo snapped.

Midoriya rolled his eyes again. Rolling his eyes was starting to become a habit of his in dealing with Kacchan.

Kacchan seemed to think it was funny though. He snorted at Izuku's silent retort.

"Shinso." Deku corrected. "What about a hero name. Have you thought of one?"

"I was thinkin'..." He looked at his younger brother. "Helios."

"The phoenix?" Kasaya's bottom lip dropped. From the book?

Bakugo also knew where that name had came from! Stealing some of his fire was he? He'd have to beat on him a bit later! He let out a cackle.

"Uh... that might be an issue." Deku said plain.

God, here Bakugo was, thinking sadistic things in his head to himself, Deku knew it too well, he looked back to Hisashi.

"How?" The blonde pushed out, he wanted a reason to ruffle the elder up, all for sport though.

"Well, there was a UA grad a few years ago, his Hero Name is Helios. He's active in a southern Hero League currently. It was uh... oh!" Midoriya kind of shot up in his seat remembering. "Surya Ixion, has a quirk called Sun Beam."

"Damn." Bakugo spit out.

Hisashi looked a tad deflated.

Bakugo grabbed his shoulder and shook him. "Welcome t'how much a pain in the ass it is figurin' out a fuckin' name."

Kasaya smirked at that. It was good to see Bakugo being this way with his brother, he really liked it. It made him feel like they were all stitched together, but yet their own interesting and unique parts, like a blanket of different, singular woven artworks, all wonderful stand-alone pieces, but when knitted together, became something so much more.

The younger Satoko couldn't wait to see what colors would be inside his brother's individual piece.

"Only for you Kacchan." Deku gritted. "What was it that got denied so many times? Murder Death Explosion? Death Fire Machine?"

Hisashi then spurted out a laugh. "Those suck."

"Shut up you fuck!" Bakugo pushed off Hisashi to try to grab at Midoriya.

Deku fought back, slapping away hands and arms as Bakugo was trying to jump him.

Bakugo successfully yanked him from his seat, Izuku flailing to the floor. Katsuki stole his chair, swirled it, so he could sit on the backwards chair facing Hisashi, use the back rest to cross his arms atop, which is exactly what he did. A victorious grunt to the one on the ground, a taunt.

"You fuck!" Deku piped out. Yep, here the potty language arose. "I'm gunna get a bruised hip from that!"

"Whatever, jus'deal." Bakugo growled, a smirk.

"Takin' whatever you want. God, such an ass." Deku murmured sitting cross-legged now, wiping invisible dust off his shorts, but the bunker was kept quite clean, the floors swept and vacuumed every other day or so.

"Don't forget it." Bakugo chuckled back. "What else you got?" It was to Hisashi.

"That was it."

"Well..." The green-headed teen was so insanely interested now, a new hero he could learn about! Finally! His hero analysis notebooks had gotten kind of stale lately. "What's your quirk?"

"It's called Illusion Wall."

Kasaya stepped in. "It's helped us out." He meant when Hisashi had to use it against Ashley as a way to hide them from her multiple times. "That bitch hates it."

Hisashi laughed. "I bet she hates me. Let her."

Bakugo smirked, he was so filled with pride to hear that! Boy, he wanted her to hate all of them! If he ever had a run-in with her, he'd make sure that she hated him too!

Midoriya had heard this 'woman' brought up in their last Clear Cut meeting, today now also. This person must be someone pretty important dealing with Kasaya's past. Deku easily gathered that Toga, Bakugo, and the older Satoko all knew of her, possibly Eraser too, but he didn't quite know the details yet.

Saya went on. "It's a mental quirk that can cast an illusion or a projection of any scenery, like a copy. He can do moving pictures and solid pictures."

Both Apollo and Deku looked perplexed.

Kasaya went on. "So, if he was standin' in a park, spied someone he wanted to hide from, he could. He'd make a copy of scenery next to him, and project it. He could make it a moving picture, with birds flying around, grass swishing, sun shining, or he could do a flat copy, like a photograph and project that. The edges are seamless, so you can't tell if what you're seeing is real or not. It looks real." Kasaya smirked, putting a hand on his brother's shoulder. "He used to sneak up on me when we were little kids, using it. He'd stake out in my closet, put up an illusion, and would wait to pop out at the worst times to scare me."

"Woah!" Midoriya was invested! "That's awesome for stealth! You'd do good as a spy like Himiko!"

"You're right, he would." Bakugo confirmed.

"I did?" Hisashi smiled at Kasaya, that made him feel good. He thought his brother was right, he was kind of remembering that now. He'd forgotten! It brought a genuine warmth to his messy-looking face.

"You did. One time, you waited until I was completely naked from a shower and screamed really loud."

Bakugo suddenly burst at the seams, barking out one of his wholesomely stupid kiddish laughs.

No longer was Kasaya the only one to hear them, but he was at least the first one to hear them.

He would take that trophy.

Gladly.

Polish it everyday.

A smile at Katsuki, but then he looked away not allowing himself to look too long, he'd caught Bakugo's red eyes softly batting back at him. "I thought a banshee was in my room! It wasn't funny since you'd told ghost stories the night before. I hated you for a week after that." Kasaya was starting to get chipper, perking up from his previous state.

"I used to tell ghost stories too, remember?" Bakugo looked down at Deku, quite devillishly.

"Ugh, don't remind me." He waved him off.

Kacchan's childhood supernatural fictions were the worst. It always ended in some sort of bloodshed, gore, or heads popping off, such a violent child.

"Yours were always some sort of thriller. It was always about shit jumpin' out at you, or someone getting their life sucked out, getting lost at sea, or in the woods." Kasaya spoke about Hisashi.

The elder Satoko had spied that quick, deep smile, eyes so soft, that Kasaya had given to Katsuki, but said nothing about it. That simple exchange was a 'more than friends' one. Instead, his little brother recollecting with him caused him to shoot up and squeeze him into a hug, practically lifting him straight up from his seat on the arm rest. "Yea, I remember now!" He laughed. "You threw a box at me an' it hit me in the head that one time!" He swung him around, feet dangling, Kasaya protesting. "I want t'talk about the good times of our childhood more, before you turned 11, before everything went to shit! I want to try t'remember as much of it as I can. Tell me as many stories as you can!"

"Fuckin'..." A choke. "I will if you, you, you le'go!" He banged his fists on that wide back, kicks.

Hisashi let him down haphazardly. He motioned for Bakugo to come.

"No, ya bastard!" He flipped him off, getting out of his seat, backing away, half tripping over Midoriya's feet on the floor.

Deku pushed him off of him.

Kugo growled, playing, as Hisashi jolted at him, in a 'wanna go' type of motion. Bakugo pounded one fist into his chest like an ape right back, a challenge. Sashi lunged, and missed. Kugo pushed him back, but it had been what Bakugo wanted, to rough-house.

A tackle onto a rug.

Cussing. Pushing. Lashing. A choke hold. One leg wrapped around to take control. An arm lock. A head pushed into the ground. A fist swing. More cussing. A crackly laugh from the blue-headed one.

An arm launched out at Midoriya, who was closest to the brawl, and it was kicked away with a red-sneakered foot; Bakugo had tried to drag him in, but failed.

Soon, Kasaya entered the fray, locking one of Hisashi's arms down so Kugo could take the top, allowing him freedom from Hisashi's ground assaults, wiggling out.

The eldest Satoko sat up panting on the floor, receiving one more quick shove from the blonde, scooting away if any more mock-fight attempts were to be made.

"Ow, fine! I lose." Hisashi threw in the towel, retracting his leg back.

Everything was good now, they'd got things sorted out in the best way they knew how, by just 'being there' for each other, listening, expressing, loving, and kind of roughing each other up as the eldest always tended to instigate.

"Fun killer!" Hisashi hooted out to his younger brother, similarly to the day Bakugo handed Kasaya scissors to snip at magenta wrapping paper for his birthday.

Saya waved him off in a 'whatever', sitting back down.

"You're jus'pissed y'can't get more in!" Bakugo gruffed out.

Deku shook his head and smirked, insultory on all levels. The emerald eyed teen leaned back and put his hands behind him on the ground.

Bakugo stood only to plunk back down onto the couch, moving that manga volume again, tossing it to the side.

"Hey! Don't screw up her book!" Deku cracked.

A snort, that was it.

Saya, relaxed down into the recliner's seat, "Was my idiot brother, or should I say bother..." He jabbed Hisashi in the side with his knuckles from his spot. "givin' you any trouble before I came in here?"

The elder let out a small wince, man Kasaya was strong when he actually put some 'oompf' into it! Just a small poke could hurt!

"Nah." Deku waved.

Sashi smiled. "Can you give me a minute with them Baby Face?"

"Huh?" Hero Deku gawked at the elder Satoko. Baby Face? What? It was clearly addressed at him.

"I'm jus'kiddin'." Hisashi reached out and scruffed the mop top's hair.

Izuku Midoriya was shocked! This was so out-of-character, but perhaps, maybe not. He'd just been swinging the long-haired teen around like a ragdoll, squeezing him as if trying to pop off the head, and doing some jiu jitsu with the other. "Yea, Kasaya just text me when you guys are done." He stood, wiping himself off again.

Bakugo hollered. "What!? What about me you shit head! Am I chopped liver?" Fiery, the usual.

"Okay fine! God! Kacchan text me when you guys are finished!" Midoriya spit out, throwing up a 'shove-it' kind of response, walking out of the room and down the hall.

"Oh fuck you! You're gettin' it now!" Bakugo yelled, leaning his head over the sofa so his voice would holler down the corridor.

Hisashi started to laugh pretty loud at the remarks. Yea, this was his band of people. Right here!

"Whatever! Fuck off!" Midoriya quipped back before he disappeared around the far corner.

Kugo took on victorious smirk, turning back round, arms crossed.

Sashi waited until Hero Deku was out of ear-shot before he began talking again. He saw Kasaya eyeing his bag. "I want t'get an official room in here, so I figured I'd bring the rest of my shit..." He poked at his knees through his holey jeans, not used to seeing the skin there being exposed. "So... is there space in here for another person?" He motioned to hall.

"Well, yeh." Saya responded easily. "There's plenty of open rooms."

"Okay." He smiled, really happy to hear that he'd get an actual bed rather than just a cot. "You guys cool with goin' down to your room for a little while t'hang out?" He asked of the two, standing to pick up his heavy camo duffel with a large SATOKO patch.

"Duh." Bakugo barked.

With a nod from the older brother, they all left in unison and strolled down the hall, not too far, as the Bakugo/Satoko room wasn't very far down.

Katsuki opened the door, shutting it behind them once the small group was inside.

"God damn, you shits really fucked this place up." Hisashi stated, looking inside the makeshift tent.

Books everywhere. DVDs. Scratch paper. Homework. Messy blankets. Cups. A board game, dice nestled into a pillow. An open laptop.

"It's Saturday. What the fuck else is there to do?" Kasaya commented smirking at the other Satoko.

Kugo grunted in agreeance.

They'd just put two beds in the room the other day, one against one wall, one on the otherside, rather than sleeping on that singular cot, so the room now had even less room, but with the tent in the middle, it was even more cramped.

Just because both beds were in there, didn't mean that they slept seperately.

Not a single soul would they tell.

Two beds were in there only to elude others.

Suki and Saya watched the older hunch down and look inside of the tent more.

He did something surprising.

Getting down on all-fours, he started to practically army crawl into it because he was so big. "I brought some alcohol with me in my bag if you want to mix some up." Hisashi commented, sitting lazily. "God damn it's so tight in here, claustrophobic!"

Kasaya started laughing at how stupid he looked trying to get inside that thing.

Bakugo launched the front flap back. "What, you'wanna party it up? Huh?" Bakugo smacked the older guy on the foot, crawling right in after him.

Hisashi ripped his arm around Katsuki's neck and began roughing him up, dragging him the rest of the way inside the tent.

"FUCK! FUCK! Let go!"

"Yeh, what's the deal with you gettin' in here?" Kasaya crawled in too, to sit aside Bakugo, scooting a pile of junk with a forearm to make space. "Mid-life crisis this early?" Sarcasm.

"You're next!" He pointed at his sibling, letting go of the blonde to reach out and grab at his kin. "I've only been in one of these once, from what I remember!"

"Once when we were younger!" Kasaya leeched back. "No! NO! Hisashi you fuck!" He narrowly escaped him and the older collapsed into the middle of the tent trying to grip onto him, trying to grasp onto an limb and wrestle him down. "Ugh! Le'go! Le'go!" He hollered. "I'm gunna kick you out! Where've you been anyways?!" He fought him off of him.

Sashi let go, popping the cap to a 3 oz that had rolled over his hand, one laying around that his little brother probably had a small storage of still. Looking side to side amidst hordes of random stuff, he spied a random cup, grabbed it and poured. "Got anything t'go with it?"

"Orange juice." Kasaya handed.

"Yea, I'll take it." He snapped the tab, mixing it about half and half, pretty strong. He took a swig. "Is this what you guys like, 'er what? Screwdrivers?" He wiped his mouth on the collar of his black band shirt.

"Well yeh, it's the easiest, isn't it?" Kasaya prodded back.

The elder took another gulp, letting out a satisfied 'ah'. "I've been on-base."

"Why'd you want us t'come t'the room, couldn't we talk out there?" Saya cut right to it.

Bakugo looked at Sashi then, wine orbs flecked with a bit of orange questioned, he wanted to know too.

"Cuz, I gotta say somethin', and I don't want anyone else t'hear." He took in a big breath, letting it out slow. "Look." The elder kept his words calm to try to facilitate a sense of trust. He wanted that, he needed that. He didn't want either of them to have a fight or flight response either. "I know what's goin' on..." Hisashi came out with it, without knowing another way to word it, swallowing at bit more of his quick cocktail, eyes dancing back and forth at the two younger ones over the rim. "between you two."

"Wh... what are you talkin' about?" Saya stuttered only slightly, his stomach flipped right up into his chest at that. Surely not? Of course his mind immediately went 'there'. Right 'there'. His face felt instantly white hot, lips numb.

"As if that response doesn't say it." The elder cautiously continued. "I don't know what you guys are t'each other, but it's fine."

Bakugo froze, like a deer caught in headlights. His heart beat suddenly shot up, he felt a flush coming to his face, an uncontrolled gulp.

Not this, not now!

Was this... actually happening!?

Eyes hazed over, losing their life, his stare fell to the blankets before him; Katsuki could feel a sweat suddenly forming on his brow.

"Kasaya." The navy-headed, short-haired man looked right at him. "I know you've been hidin' it, and that's okay. I understand why. It's because you're worried about me tellin' father, right?"

"I... I, uh." He gawked at Bakugo, an extremely wild expression. "I don't know what you... you mean." He fummed, not able to meet his brother's blue eyes.

Suki gave a panther-like eye movement to him, then it went right back to the floor, another nervous swallow.

Kasaya suddenly reached outside the tent, unzipped, grabbing the large bottle of liquor out of Hisashi's pack, contents sloshing inside it. As if in desperation, orbs fixed only on the clear contents, popped the cap, and took a quick chug; a cough, a wipe.

"If you want t'keep hidin' it, that's also okay. I'll jus'pretend I don't know, if you guys aren't comfortable." He calmly took a sip, biting the rim of the cup. "I'm not tryin' t'force either of you t'tell me, all I want you guys t'know, is that I know, I'm okay with it, and I haven't said shit t'anyone. I want t'give you guys that reassurance."

Suki gave another quick glance at Kasaya, then back down, eyes bulging.

He felt completely plastered to the floor, unable to move.

His mind raced.

What else was Hisashi going to say? What should they say? Should he say something? Was Kasaya going to? How did Hisashi know? He couldn't possibly know!

There's no way. They'd done good keeping it quiet!

This is just overthinking, they can convince Hisashi that he's overthinking it!

They'll just lie, and not admit it, right?

Right?

He couldn't get a read on Kasaya at all.

"I watched you almost put y'hand down on his thigh about five days ago." The eldest one stated, taking another long gulp. He'd worked through his own emotions on this to figure out that it wasn't anything to be angry about, rather, seeing it, had helped him so much instead, so it was just him stating facts now. "At breakfast, remember?"

Silence.

But Kasaya's facial reaction spoke it all.

A breath halt. Nervous. Lips rubbing across each other. Fingertips twitching.

"I saw you almost do it, but I didn't say anything, that's how I know." Hisashi went on. "I was angry at first, but I don't care now. I came t'realize you really do make your own choices no matter what. Seeing that actually..." He held the near empty cup in his teeth. "It helped me. It's what helped me realize all the stuff we were jus' talkin' about out there. So, I should be thanking you, really."

Still complete silence.

Bakugo shakily reached up, not looking at him, taking the cup so gently out from Hisashi's mouth, and made him another drink, handing it back to him with two hands, one on the side, one palm firmly underneath, head down, like he was giving a gift in their culture, almost like a servant. But his grip was quivering so much that Hisashi took it easily from him with a smile and thanks, receiving it with two hands back, the sign of a formal acceptance of a gift, but he also didn't want the blonde to accidentally spill it.

He, he just, he just felt he had to fill his cup for him!

Katsuki had to have his approval.

A deep begging, pleading feeling began to arise in him, and a small sniffle came out of his nose in reponse.

Viewing this, Kasaya took another chug straight from the bottle after it was given back by Suki, he also couldn't force his head up to meet his brother's face.

He couldn't!

Couldn't say it!

Bakugo, his mouth half open, unable to close, began to trickle out some tears. He'd felt like they'd been 'caught red handed' as if they were doing something terrible, when all these things felt so good.

It was because this was Satoko Hisashi, someone he valued, someone he desperately desired good graces from.

"I gotta make my own choices too, for myself." Hisashi smirked, a small chuckle, putting his spare hand out to touch Bakugo's hair, a little ruffle. "Fuck father anyway, I'm not tellin' anyone without you guys' say so." He felt he needed to say it again. "I always choose you Saya." He looked at the other. "But I'm also choosing you Bakugo... and all the Pro Heroes, aside from myself."

Kasaya was struck, that caused him to looked up, his eyes shiny, glossy, ready to spill out some tears, an untamed expression.

So did Katsuki, up his orbs came, but unlike the other, they were almost lost of all color, face even paler than normal, completely pallid.

"I'm on y'side, I always will be." He looked at them both, starting on his new pint-sized drink. "Now f'sure, with father out of the question."

"You... you won't..." It came out as a mumble from the longer-haired one. "won't say any... any..." It fell short.

"Nope. I'm one of those people that holds your secrets, yours now too if y'want." He poked at Bakugo slightly.

Kugo just let it happen, arms flat to his sides, wrists bent, he looked as if he was about to die.

"You guys don't have anything t'worry about." Hisashi. "So..."

"I... I love him." Bakugo in the softest whisper, like silk with eyes closed; a shiver up his spine, an array of tears stroked down his cheeks, a feeble whimper.

Kasaya's eyes bulged out of their sockets at that admittance.

Right to his older brother, who sat not a few feet from them!

The younger brother couldn't hang on.

Kasaya's grey lakes poured out over his dams, cascading down like beautiful waterfalls.

Hisashi smiled, these two. It was completely written in ancient text all over them.

How they acted, how they were being emotional, the wobbly words, the quick look they'd shared with each other in the living room minutes earlier, a lot of depth was there.

More than enough to fill a sea.

He took a chug, holding the cup up, then it came back down. He silently thanked whomever was up there, this was good, really good. The drink was good yes, but this pairing was good too.

"Well, yeh, me too." Hisashi said to Kugo. He reached for Kasaya's hand, and took it again, like he had on the recliner. "I love him too."

"You... do you... get it though?" Suki went on, choking up more, throat tight, but quiet as a dove. "I... I'm in love with... with your brother."

"Yeh, I know." Hisashi looked at him, a large smile. Man, did he know. He could read it so intently.

"Hi... Hi... Hisashi..." Saya swallowed. "Is... is that..." He closed his mouth, taking in a huge intake of air, bottom lip a shaky, quivering mess. "Is that... okay?"

Bakugo turned on his knees and knelt down, putting his hands above his head, forehead to the floor in front of the older Satoko, a formal bow. "I... I... jus'..." He started to shake; a crisp, but deep sob was heard. "Please... Please."

Hisashi sat his drink down in the small amount of clear open floor space, so it wouldn't topple. With both free hands now, he put his spare left on Kugo's back. He could feel the trembling of them both.

"Please... please..." A whimper. "Accept me."

"I have for quite awhile now." Hisashi said firmly. He had to admit, they'd make a good couple, if that's what they were going for. No longer did he think Kasaya couldn't handle a relationship, because it didn't matter what he thought. His brother made his own choices. "And..." He looked at Kasaya. "It's not up t'me, so don't ask me if it's okay. If y'guys make each other happy, that's what matters."

"But!" Bakugo's head still down. "But... not only as a... a friend... or, or a brother!" Cries. "Please! As a... a proper person for... for him."

Kasaya then nodded, more tears running down his face, knowing what Bakugo was doing. "I... I mean..." A choke. "we are... we're really... we're really happy."

"I accept you as that too. It's okay." Hisashi grabbed Bakugo right up, hoisting up his limp form. "I appreciate the sentiment, it shows me that you respect me, but hey..." To his ear. "You've done so much already for him, how could I refuse? But also, it's not a choice that I have t'make, or somethin' that I have t'approve of. No more askin', because there's no reason t'even ask." He breathed slowly into the hair of the blonde. "What is, is. If it's something this deep, there's no halting it, and I'm not in any position t'do so, nobody is, nobody can. It's wonderful and unstoppable all in the same." He patted.

Kasaya, sobbing, fell over onto Bakugo's back, that wide, wide back, wrapping arms so tight around the waist of his man, a leg on both sides, feet by Hisashi's hips.

His brother, he was okay with it! More than okay!?

This was... such a mix up a some outstanding feelings that he couldn't even grasp!

Happiness, tears of relief, shock, almost disbelief, but he was pushing that one away, because it wasn't true!

Hisashi was so good with it, that he didn't even need to be asked. He didn't even want to be asked! He'd even said that they could keep lying to him if they wanted, if they were not ready, if they were uncomfortable, and he'd turn a blind eye, pretend not to know!

Bakugo then grabbed onto the older Satoko's shirt, shook him a little, not purposely, just off-balance, and clasped his arms around his neck, his head resting on the older teen's shoulder. "Thank... thank you."

Hisashi wrapped Katsuki right up hugging him back, putting his chin on his shoulder the same, as he felt the man crying into his shirt. "Are you guys worried about what other people would have t'say too?"

"Might impact... the future... if we become heroes... if, if I... y'know." Kasaya swallowed. "If I don't die. If we don't die."

That statement set a hard line on the older's face, sadness, a long, slow gulp. He still absolutely loathed hearing that, wanted more than anything for them all to live, especially his brother, the one he loved so much, without question. "It might be true. It might not. If someone's that opposed to it, jus' dump 'em, you guys don't need people like that as friends."

"Wha... What 'bout hero agencies?" Kasaya shivered out.

"Don't tell 'em if y'don't want." Hisashi went on. "I guess." He moved the conversation another direction. "Who else knows?"

"Toshinori and Aiwaza." Saya whisped. "For, f'sure."

"And they're okay with... with y'guys roomin' together, knowin' that?" That was a surprise!

"Yeh."

"Damn, the rules really are out-of-the-bucket here aren't they?" A laugh.

Kugo was still latched onto him like a newborn. "We... we... once." He sniffed. Whispers. "We were once... gonna... I mean..."

"Hm?" He rubbed Bakugo's back, those words so close to his ear, he put one of his hands on Saya now too, a comforting rub.

"We had plans to... get, get married..." The younger Satoko finished.

"Oh?" The older was curious about the word 'had', a past tense.

"We, we can't because... we don't know if we'll... come out of this alive, y'know?" The blonde spoke, choked.

"Is that so?" Hisashi breathed in and out, trying to remain calm. There is was again, if they lived. If they lived.

Kasaya nodded a 'yes' through tears. "I had t'tell him... that we can't be... be like that. We have t'be in... independent of each other."

"That's what I'm goin' for too, not being so emotionally dependent on you Saya." Hisashi cleared his throat. "So, so, I understand. But... there is no harm in it, y'know?"

Bakugo whimpered.

"Two people comin' together when they can, if they can. Two people independent of one another sounds good f'now. Sounds like an okay tenant for a marriage t'be built on." Hisashi let Bakugo go, and the two younger ones then grabbed onto each other in front of him. Hisashi put a knuckle to a lip, like Deku had earlier. "But y'know... sometimes things in marriage change, posts get moved, due to all sorts of stuff. But that doesn't mean a marriage has t'dissolve."

They looked up at him, both crying.

Hisashi laughed. These guys! They were so young! Hell, he was too, but he'd seen all sorts of stuff happen in marriages with his older on-base personnel, and as he was a go-to-guy, had become a father-like figure to some of them, he'd heard it all, gained a lot of insight on the trials and tribulations of 'the married life'. "Jus' because the future might hold some shitty stuff, like y'know..." He didn't want to say the word 'death' like they had, didn't even want to think it. "Doesn't mean that a marriage shouldn't happen. Sure, be independent from each other f'now, continue t'be, but if we all get into a better spot in the future, then jus' talk with each other, and if y'want things t'be different inside the marriage, then there y'go. It's all up t'you two, nobody else can say shit about it, an' if they try, screw 'em." He took up his cup, a swig.

They looked at each other then, Bakugo and Kasaya, eyes running all over each other's faces.

The older's words had sunk in quickly, hit them both right down to their cores.

Flowing tears were beginning to slow to trickles, what graced their features were looks of astonishment, flashes of realization, understanding, hints of knowed-ness, an outpouring of tenderness.

Kasaya whisked up Katsuki's hands, rubbing a thumb across the top on one.

Bakugo softly upturned his lips.

"I... I want y'to go on livin' if somethin'... somethin' happens t'me... prison for life, or, or worse."

The blonde nodded. "You too, if... if I, y'know..." He looked at Hisashi, who just smiled at him. He didn't want to say 'die' because he caught-on that it bugged the older. He looked back at his lover, a head tilt to the side, intent on listening to every word. His ears were right here, tuned in, not willing to miss a single moment.

"I jus' wanted us t'be so... so independent that if somethin' like that, like that happened, we'd both be okay. I didn't want our marriage t'be, t'be a crutch f'you, f'your growth as a real hero, y'know?" Kasaya swallowed.

"I won't forget... I can't..." He raised Kasaya's knuckles to his lips, a soft kiss. He eyed the older, who had this silly smile all over his face, taking a casual sip of his drink, orbs dancing across them, alight with such brightness. No ill will was on that sharp face whatsoever, no 'irk' in response to him expressing a little romance right in front of him.

So in turn, Katsuki's face squeezed out a huge toothy smirk, a sigh of relief, and gave the top of Kasaya's hand another peck.

"You're... you're right Hisashi." Kasaya spoke compassionately.

"Eh, when I am, I am, I guess." The older Satoko jested back.

The longer haired one shot up right out of his seat, rather wobbly, and crawled out the tent.

Bakugo was startled at the suddenness, staring up at him as he'd abruptly let go.

So was Hisashi, a eyebrow raise, his head jerked back a bit.

Ruffling. Zips.

Soon, not thirty seconds later, he squeezed back in, posing himself directly in front of Bakugo, on knees, so they faced each other.

Bakugo's breath halted.

Kasaya had his father's black cross necklace on, clasped around his strong neck, and slowly, smoothly, breaths, he turned over his right, clutched hand to open.

Grey, wet eyes trailed up, to meet the other's.

Rings.

Wine eyes shuttered, a sniffle, then a small sob, eyelashes batting.

Saya, a single tear falling down his cheeks, picked up the one he's bought for Katsuki with three fingers of his left hand, and folded his other hand back around the other.

The way his fingers perched the black circle indicated what was about to happen.

Watching this silently, Bakugo broke down. A loud wail came out of his mouth, his right hand went up to cover it. Streams of liquid fell over, flowing downward over his digits as if in rapids, scarlet eyes swimming.

Kasaya slowly took his left hand, the ebony ring touching only the fingertip, that one very specific fingertip.

"Do you... I mean..." A nervousness, shy. He looked at Hisashi. He looked at the ground. He looked at the hand again, then up to meet Bakugo's supremely stricken gaze. "Will you... would you... still?" A swallow. "Will you marry me?"

Satoko Hisashi formed the biggest, widest, most real grin on his face that he'd ever had!

His cheeks hurt!

His stomach was doing some flips!

He didn't know he was going to see this today!

This is!

This is something!

Something he's always hoped he'd get to see!

A muffled whisper. "Yes."

"Are you... Are you... sure? With... with everything that could... that might..." He swallowed. "If I... I go to prison f'life... I don't want you to... t'hang onto me. Y'promise?"

Bakugo let his hand down, so Kasaya could see his mouth, through pink lips a sound. "Y... Yes."

Kasaya choked up, equal parts satisfaction and ache, his chest quivering, skin shivering, throat bobbing.

Softly, the metal ring slid up the finger.

Katsuki recorded every second of what it felt like.

That cold, thick band, slivering upward, gracefully, delicate, his finger sensitive to Kasaya's touch.

The long-haired one moved his hold away after complete, turning over his right hand, opening.

Hesitant. "Are..." A sniff. "Are you... sure?" Suki asked, looking down on the other piece of jewelry, silver.

A nod.

Suki picked the ring up just as the other had, looking into the grey stormy orbs affront him, and slid until it stopped.

He held onto the hand, couldn't let go, twiddling the ring on that finger a little with his fingertips.

They forgot another was in that constructed tent with them.

It was only them.

Just them.

As it always came to be.

Sighs from both, as if a cloud of darkness was sweeping away.

Bakugo tilted a chin with a knuckle, making sure the other was looking at him. He scooted closer, his lips into the other's ear, whispers only Kasaya could hear. "I'll be here... always... until somethin' happens, if somethin' happens. Until you die, or I die, or if... if you get imprisoned f'life, yeh?" He felt a nod, felt the hair move. "If we, we both make it though, an' everythings good, then let's... let's..." A sniffle. "Let's remain together."

"An'... an' after that?" Kasaya whisped, so intimately into the other's ear the same.

"After we're both gone, then let's..." Bakugo smiled into those sleek locks, his nose into the side of the head, smelling the scent. "Let's jus' be... be the air together, that's what y'wanted, right? It's what I want too."

"I promise, I'll find you, if... if that's what... what it is... after this physical life."

"Will y'still stay in y'shell in the meantime f'me, an' if you have t'leave it... come back t'me, if you can?"

A nod. "Yes, f'you."

"If y'have a hard time makin' it... makin' it back t'the physical... will you let me help y'come back? I want you t'use my body t'feel my heart beat, t'feel my blood rushin', t'feel my breath, jus' as that time before." He put a palm on Saya's lower back for a close hold on him.

"Yes..." A whimper. "I... I will Suki."

Bakugo smiled.

Ah, his nickname.

Soothing.

With those agreements, Katsuki gently swooped his hair behind his ear for him.

He tipped his fiancé's chin.

In and upward in approach.

Lips with lips.

Both closing eyes.

Wetness.

Softness.

Delicate.

A heat.

An unbearable thirst for each other being quenched by something so simple.

Something so easy as one, long, passionate kiss.

They didn't part after, nose on nose, breathing each other's air.

A small laugh from Kasaya, a smirk back, one that the younger Satoko could feel on his damp lips.

"Well." Hisashi then interjected, witnessing the whole thing. "Congrats!" He raised his cup again, a somewhat victorious, bellowing hoot.

This actually was quite the victory!

Not that this was what he'd been pushing them towards, he hadn't wanted to do any pushing at all, but man!

They seriously won the lottery.

These two were too good for each other.

He could see that, more than ever now!

Sashi grabbed two more cups laying around, made some quick drinks, while they held each other, and handed one to each of them. "I've gotta say my bit now!"

The engaged two gawked at him, nothing but happiness all over them; they looked worn out.

Everyone in the tent was exhausted from feeling too many emotions for one night.

"A toast." The elder man held up his drink.

Bakugo smiled one of those dumb, toothy grins, and Kasaya shy, wiped some bangs in front of his eyes, cheeks reddening, as he realized that they'd...

They'd kissed!

In front of his brother!

Oh my god!

He'd forgotten Hisashi was even there!

Oh my god!

How Suki easily made him lose time!

How easily Suki could turn any environment into something that only they shared, forgetting other people!

How Suki could so easily grab his focus, all of his attention!

They brought the cups up to the height of the eldest's.

Kasaya's face completely crimson.

"I have t'say, I thought I'd be gettin' married first. But it doesn't look like it!" A jolly giggle. "So, congratulations. I'll keep it short." He cleared his throat. "All I have t'say is that... that I love you. I love both of you." Hisashi's eyes looked a little wet, a quick wipe. "The previous shit I said, it's true. I'll keep it quiet until y'guys are ready t'say it t'others, but also, I won't say shit t'anyone without y'guys say-so first."

They both smiled.

Kasaya cleared his throat also, trying to swallow down his embarrassment.

"I'll also defend you guys." Sashi got serious, a quick look of meanness did a dance across his eyes. "If anyone speaks ill on this, I'll punch 'em in the fuckin' face, but only if y'want me to."

"I'll fuckin' knock 'em out myself." Bakugo grumbled out.

That caused Saya to find his voice again. "I will too. I'm not... not goin'... t'let someone speak badly of us."

Bakugo wrapped his free arm around Kasaya's waist, squeezing. A content hum of approval, satisfaction.

"Bonzai, or kanpai, or whatever!" Hisashi remarked.

They all tapped their cups together, took them down and chugged until they were empty.

"Another!" Bakugo yelled, slamming his cup down, a wipe on his sleeve. An statement like a true medieval king, but that statement was meant more in a celebratory way rather than as an order.

"Damn y'beat me." Satoko Hisashi banged his down too.

"So, are we'gunna, y'know?" Saya after he finished, pacing his. "Start... tellin' people?"

"We don't hav'to. But, they'll..." He grabbed the new cocktail up Hisashi whipped together for him. "They'll see our rings, and know somethin's up."

"Yeh, I... I don't want t'take mine off... ever again. It felt like shit doin' so last time." Kasaya expressed, so clear.

Bakugo kissed his cheek. It felt good knowing that. "Then how 'bout this... we jus' don't say anything, an' if someone notices the rings we'll keep it short."

"Uh, about that..." Kasaya took a drink mixed by his brother as well. "All Might and Eraser know... but, remember when Toga said she'd used her quirk t'disguise herself, t'get onto UA?"

"Mmhmm." Bakugo swallowed some, half grumbling at Professor Aiwaza being brought up, still not on good terms with him.

"I talked t'her that day. She'd run into me. I was... I was wearin' my ring then."

Bakugo gawked.

"Sure, she was usin' her quirk t'appear as another student, but she was with Everett, and they both asked me questions 'bout being engaged so young."

"So, they know?" Katsuki squeezed out.

"I think Toga's figured out who, I mean, that it was you... but she doesn't seem t'care."

"God." Bakugo growled. "She's too smart f'her own fuckin' good. What 'bout Orange Idiot?" He'd have to rough her up later.

"I don't think so, he jus' probably thinks I'm with someone out there in the world, some girl, or somethin'."

"Eh." Bakugo grimaced, a growl. The thought of his Kasaya being with a girl instead of him fizzled him, pissed him off to no end.

'His' Kasaya.

He smirked, staring at the side profile of that lovely face.

Yeh, he could say that to himself once again.

'His'.

He could call him 'his'.

"Well, y'know, Baby Face is gunna figure it out pretty fast." Hisashi commented, taking a swig.

Bakugo choked on a sip of Screwdriver, on that 'name drop' the older pegged for Deku.

It was funny as fuck!

It was also so, so true.

So true.

He let out a loud laugh.

Midoriya still had the face of a middle-schooler!

He was gaining some muscle, but it wasn't enough to make him grown-up looking yet.

The three in the tent were by far the ones amongst the male detectives that had matured the fastest physically.

"Weren't you guys supposed t'be doin' somethin' together t'night? It's not cool t'blow someone off jus'to keep it under-wraps." The military student, soon to be ex-military student added.

"Fuck, we were gunna watch a movie." Katsuki remarked, fishing for his phone, he'd forgotten about the green-headed guy completely. He found it, and wobbled it back and forth a little playfully at his fiancé. "What d'you think?"

A sigh. "Yeh. You're right." Hero Disaster was a bit pensive, but knew it had to be done. He took the older Mogron from the blonde, found the contact, and began typing. Sent.

Bakugo took some air into his nose, then let it out slow. "First I tell him 'bout my past shit days ago, now this..." A sigh. "He's in for a fuckin' awkward realization and a half." He ran a hand through his blonde hair, smiling at the ring on his finger.

Hisashi started laughing his head off just then.

A smirk from Kasaya, a swallow of citrusy alcohol, necklace flapping against his upper chest as he sat to be more comfortable.

Man, Izuku really was 'in for it'.

None of them had any idea how he'd actually react.