Ch. 12- Kaminari Age 8
Kaminari has been aimlessly walking around town for hours now. He knows he needs to be back before dark but that's still hours away. Since school started, he's been doing this. Except a few weeks ago he found a cheap arcade. It's fairly rundown and has old-fashioned arcade machines and computer games from back when video games were invented that are still in good condition. Just five bucks get you in for the day with endless coins. Their food isn't half bad either.
The door alarm is an annoying machine sound instead of a flowy music-like chime. He always feels like the few regulars' stare at him when he comes in, the door letting them know the troubled quirk kid has arrived. He still hasn't quite gotten a hold of his quirk and given his history he doesn't blame them for being skeptical when they're dealing not just with irreplaceable objects but also machines that could kill them if he dares get too emotional. Like that one time…
Usually, older people come here to play though occasionally there are kids around. Like today it seems. Some kids are playing various games; Two older boys are on the computers while two girls are playing Skee Ball.
He heads to his favorite game Dance Dance Revolution. He freezes when he sees a greenette and a blonde around his age playing on it.
He stands there for a moment not knowing what to do. He could try out the other games, but he doesn't know them that well and he doesn't feel like teaching himself another one. Besides, this is the only one aside from the bikes that get his energy out from having to sit all day at a desk. His ADHD can be a little unbearable at times.
"Want to play it?" Someone asks next to him. He turns with a jolt, taking a step away to see the boy beside him better. He doesn't know where the boy came from. Maybe it's because of his quirk? Either way, he's very quiet even his voice is low as if they're telling each other their deepest secrets. Yet what stands out the most is his dual sides. Robin red and snow-white hair that is parted perfectly down the center with royal blue and charcoal grey eyes. Interesting people all around today.
"I- Ugh, yeah." The other boy nods seriously and takes hold of his hand guiding them to the two boys playing.
"We want to play now." The boy says when the boys' round is over. The two look back with shining smiles that vanish when they see Denki and get deeper when they notice their entwined hands. The blonde looks up and pins his bright Fiery red eyes onto his electric yellow with a disdainful look.
"Who the fuck are you?" The blonde barks.
"Denki Kaminari." He smiles at the boy causing said boy to growl back. Actually, growl like a dog. He really wants that to be a part of his quirk, or that's just disturbing.
"Well get your fucking hand out of my soulmate's hand before I explode your ass sunshine."
Realizing his mistake, he jumps away and folds his arms into himself, twisting them around and clasping his hands together, setting his chin on his knuckles with a pout. He usually does this to remember not to touch anyone and accidentally shake them, but he is feeling out of his comfort zone right now. He gives a half apologetic smile, "I'm sorry. Didn't mean to. Though I didn't know you could find a soulmate so young! I thought you would find them when you're grown. But that's so cool! Congrats you two!"
"Three." The blond snaps.
"Three?" He looks from the Yorkie to the Canadian flag to the Broccoli.
The broccoli boy gives his own bright and friendly albeit apologetic smile over the blonds smiles, "Sorry about Kacchan, he's alright once you force your way in. He's all bark really. I'm Izuku Midoriya by the way and this is Shouto and yes, we're all soulmates. We've known each other since we were five actually. Some… things happened causing it to appear earlier and differently."
"What do you mean?" Kaminari tilts his head as his eyes dart down to their wrists… which are blank. "Oh."
"Yeah, 'Oh', dunce face has eyes! Congrats."
"Kat." Shouto reprimands the blonde, "We're all different than normal. Like Uncle says, people are going to not understand and be weary or not even believe us. We don't need to prove them wrong or act out, just try to explain and if they don't get it then they don't. Simple as that."
"Shut up. I know that."
"Do you?"
"Guys!" Midoriya grabs the boys' shoulders and gently squeezes, there seems to be a silent conversation going on between the three. Bakugou glares, which seems to be his resting bitch face as Shouto's shoulders slump and Midoriya's smile brightens.
He feels like he's intruding and just wants to either play the game or go find somewhere else to waste time at. He looks around and catches one of the girls' eyes. She shoulder-checks the other girl who turns to see him staring too. He quickly looks away. He has a hard time talking to girls. They have nothing in common and once they find out his quirk they usually stay away. He looks up at the three boys who are still quiet, yet talking somehow.
The girls reach them and ask the boys who their new friend is. He wants to scoff; he made a friend two years ago and he doesn't need more. He starts backing away, but those bright green eyes fall on him and he has to stop, almost compelled to. It looks as if it'll break the greenette if he leaves now. He takes a deep breath and asks if they want to play Dance Dance Revolution.
It's been two weeks and he's been back seven times since and each time the kids are in there. He's honestly irritated. He had this place to himself almost, what with the space everyone gives him thanks to the outage he caused the first week there. He blames the storm that day.
He just can't get a break; either people hate him, avoid him or is plain annoyed by him. But these kids all seven latched onto him. The two older boys found out he plays games and asked for friend requests for all his accounts. They often play no matter the time of day. Natsuo, or his avatar name Olaf, found out he skates and forced him to teach him. He's fine with that since he has nothing to do, but then once Bakugou heard this then they all showed up wanting to learn or watch them fail. It became a competition for the two and by nightfall they were proficient in their abilities.
Midoriya and Shouto tried to learn but Midoriya conceded that it just wasn't for him and Shouto was able to pull it off after just a few tries and decided it wasn't as fun as it seemed. Fuyumi didn't even try along with Tenko, or Pixie Dust as his username says. Hana, however, knew how to skate which led to races from the four.
Alright he must admit he's become friends with these seven over the months. But he still has his best friend that he talks to every day. Nothing can separate them. He'll make sure of it. No matter where he's taken or given to, he'll run to him in a second.
But for now, he can have fun with these kids.
The door slams loudly behind him as he sprints away from that house. He runs until his head stops being fuzzy, head pounding and limbs giving out. Until he's able to think and look around, not knowing where he is yet again. He starts walking, slow and sluggish, leaning against walls for support but walking, nonetheless. Building after building. The night air is harsh for a summer night. Dry and stifling all at once. It doesn't make a good combination.
He starts to feel sick and retches in the overgrown grass. His ears ring and his head pounds loudly enough to hear. Eyes fuzzy, he tries to stand but his vision tilts then blackness overtakes him.
He wakes up with a light shining in his eyes. "Oops sorry about that, let me turn that down for you."
As the room got darker his senses slowly restart. He looks around to see worried faces surrounding him. Seven recognizable faces plus some unknown adult ones that he's guessing belong to the kids, "What happened?"
"Found you passed out near my office. Izu was the one to notice you and ran over. He said you were a friend but didn't know where you lived or any contact info. I brought you to my house so you could get your senses back. What happened?"
"Ah, thank you that was kind of you, you didn't have to do that for me. I'm in the way, I'll leave." He gets up but immediately feels faint and collapses.
Many arms shoot out to hold him up and reposition him onto the couch to Kami's dismay. He isn't going to get out of here easily. Curse him for making friends. If they weren't he'd just be left, there to recover and make it back home on his own. Now he has to explain to adults what's wrong with him. What a pain. What is he even going to say? Not the truth, that's for sure.
The man gives him beady eyes as if knowing what he's trying to do. The green haired woman comes bursting into the room with icepacks and a cup of water. "Oh good, you're awake. Here for you." She leans him back onto the elevated pillows and gives him the water as she puts the icepacks onto his forehead where a knot is forming, and blood is matted into his hair.
"Now how did you become like this?" She seems kind but every adult does until they learn. Until he tries to explain. Until they give up on him.
"Skating. Bad crash. Didn't notice until I was passing out."
"Really now? And that skateboard, where did you leave it?" The man prods, giving a frightening smile.
"I-um. I don't know, I can't remember. It was a while before I realized anything was wrong." He looks around at his surroundings that are posher than he expected from his new friends. Lucky shits don't know nothing about anything real he bets.
He glares at them all, "Are you kidnapping me, or can I go?" He's snarky for his own protection but he is starting to get creeped out and have a bad feeling about this place and these people. He needs to get out.
"Let's call your parents dear, don't want you walking around at night like that now, don't we?" the women says as she takes the still full cup from his hands. The kids who have been relatively quiet up until now started firing questions at him and at the adults. A door shutting is heard, and all eyes fly to the foyer where two more adults walk in, faces taunt, and drained from what seems to be a hard day at work. Seeing him on the couch, however, perks them up a bit.
"Oh, what's this kid doing here?" The blonde women ask getting closer with what he presumes is her husband.
"He's the children's friend. Though I found him passed out from a headwound around my second job."
"Oh. I see." The women go quiet examining him but then a fierce smile spreads over her face. Kami doesn't know if he should be running for the doors now. He wants to so bad, but he has a feeling he won't get far.
Kaminari turns to the lean dark-haired man pasting on his grin, "My parents have night shifts, I don't want to bother them. I feel fine already and good to walk home. Thank you for your hospitality but I think I'll just go now."
The other kids has a ruckus over that. He just continues to ignore them. He's already decided once he leaves, he'll never run into them again. Which means no more arcades, but he'll find something else to do.
He starts to get up, but Olaf pushes him down, "Follow my finger." He does as instructed more on instinct than thought. "You probably have a concussion. It isn't good to be out there like that. How about you stay until your parents get off?"
He looks around realizing with dread that he isn't going to get out of this. Maybe he can sneak out sometime later. It is almost midnight anyways, on a school night at that. These four adults look hard to trick. He gives up and nods. Everyone cheers and rushes to grab sleeping gear and wash up before having a sleepover on the floor.
When all the kids are gone and the blonde- and brown-haired couple go to bed the last two adults look toward him for answers. "I can tell you don't want to talk about it, but I want you to know this is a safe space and you can trust us. We know that some of what you said is not accurate, but we don't want to push. But we also can't keep you here without letting anyone know. How about this, you tell me an adult's phone number, it doesn't have to be your parents, and I will let them know you're staying here tonight and are safe. They can pick you up in the morning. Or I can take you home. Sound good?"
He nods but he wants to refuse. This isn't fair. Tears build up but he refuses to let them fall. He's too chocked up to say anything and a little mad at the injustice of the world. The two adults see this and give him a second to compose himself but from stomping around upstairs they don't have too long.
"Alight, I'll give you a number." He does and the women goes off to make the call as the man pats his head which causes the tears to pour out. Its silence, which is good since the first footfalls is heard from the grand staircase. He flips around to face the cushions and tugs the blanket at his feet up to pretend to sleep so no one will see him cry.
The man helps the kids get the place ready for bed before leaving. The women come back into the room and puts a pill and water on the lampstand next to the couch then wishes everyone goodnight before disappearing too. Letting out the breath he doesn't remember holding, he tries to even his breathing to stop himself from crying. His head hurts so much thanks to the wound and his crying fit. He wishes he was with his best friend right now. He'd know just what to say. He trusts him with his life.
When it's quiet he turns and reaches for the water and pill, glancing at the others as he puts the water back. Sadly, not everyone is asleep. Midoriya mumbles stuff as he flings his hands around, happily talking to himself. Pixie is sitting in the corner playing a game. He turns back and decides to ignore them and wait to sneak out.
He didn't get to sneak out. That pill must've been something to put him to sleep. Which he honestly needs to get the name of because with his quirk it's hard to slow down enough to fall to sleep. Which must've been the problem with the two boys because they were still awake when he went to sleep and were already well awake when he woke at six.
The doorbell goes off as he's eating. The blonde women answer and calls him over. A man in a suit stood at the door. Kami doesn't know the man, must've been a new hire, the man gestures with his head to follow and with a nod to the blonde he does. They make it back to the Adoption Agency within minutes and he's quickly shuffled inside to the chairman's office.
A few moments go by, and the plump chairman rocks his way into the room. He sits down in his big, cushioned chair with a sigh, bones popping as the pressure is released. His quirk, Midas, puts strain on his body due to his dense bones since ninety percent of his body is made of gold. But unlike the tale his touch doesn't turn things to gold, just more of himself. The older he gets the more gold he's made of until he turns into a gold statue. Until that day he promised himself that he'll 'be a savior to kids who can't save themselves.'
What a bunch of rubbish.
"Well, another dud within two months. That's fine, we'll find someone else in no time. Don't worry kid, a home is out there for you."
Kami wants to gag; this man says the same thing each time with every kid that enters this room. He doesn't care where they end up as long as he gets the glory from it and as quickly as he can. Time is of the essence for him.
"Let's get you back to the Loft now, shall we?"
He gestures for him to leave, not mentioning his injuries or asking why he's back. He's fine with that. Always fine.
The walk to the Loft is quiet. Theres bridges connecting three building before you get to the Loft from the main office where the chairman is, so he has time to relax before he returns to that hell hole.
Everyone must be at breakfast since the room is empty. Everything is like it was two months ago. The door opens onto a living space with metal stairs on each side going to their balcony rooms. In each cell of a room there's a bunk bed, a desk, and a dresser. One annoyingly bright light on the ceiling illuminates the room. That's it.
He goes into his room and crashes onto the top bunk. From the looks of the bottom bunk his best friend hasn't come back yet. It scares him when he hasn't heard from him for long. They each have the other numbers but not seeing each other face to face worries him and makes him think of the worst-case scenarios.
He huffs in surprise as the door bangs open and someone throws his belongings from that house he was in onto the ground. He crawls lazily down and hosts the bag onto his bed. He gets cozy in the corner and opens his game. When he logs on Pixie Dust and Olaf immediately fire questions at him. He avoids them as best he can, making excuses. It doesn't seem like their parents said anything, he knows that the adults know of his circumstances now that he gave the agencies number to them.
They finally get the memo that he's not divulging anything and start playing. He hears people pass by and talking through the walls, laughing at jokes, and blasting the TV and their own music. He is thankful that the morning rush is over, and everyone leaves for school. He isn't going. Doesn't feel up to it. His head still hurts and if the other stragglers realize he's back he's just going to regret leaving the room. He wants his space while he can have it because bullies' suck.
The next day he has to leave. He needs to make it into UA to get out of this facility that means six more years of studying. Though it's tough since he also has dyslexia and Dyscalculia along with his ADHD. Life hates him apparently.
He heads to the second building for breakfast. Heading to the line he is spotted by what he dubs the bumbling buffoon crew. They pounce on him throwing arms over shoulders and tackling him to the ground.
"Hey!" He yelped as he's pinned down.
"We pinned you so you're our dog now." The silver skinned brunt says.
The whole crew has this rule that when one comes back and gets pinned down, they become the group's dog until the next of the group comes back from another failed placement. Which is a big reason why he stayed in his room yesterday, he's not able to beat them without using his quirk- which he will never do.
"Yeah, yeah. Now get off me." He shoves the group away and takes the extended hand of their leader, a lanky dweeb looking guy with a caterpillar quirk, to get off the dirt floor. "I could get diseases from being on that floor you know."
They laugh at his very serious comment as they make their way into the breakfast line, "What are we going to have him do first? Take over our chores?"
"I have an idea." The nerdy red head says which captures everyone's attention as they sit down at their table, "That store on 1709. The rundown one. He could… go get our stuff."
There's quiet as everyone thinks it over before they all burst out in whoops and hollers. Denki, obviously not liking this plan since he's planning to be a hero, tries to get out of his new situation. It's no use though. They play hooky, going to that store instead of school which he really needs to be in.
"Alright let's see. We'll find the smallest yet most expansive thing you can steal and once we're all out take it. Wait here for five minutes as we make our decision and then come in so as to not seem connected. Got it?"
Denki reluctantly nods, watching as the kids make their way inside. He could technically go now, but that'll cause trouble later. He should just get it over with and pray to not get caught.
"Ah. You're the kid from the other day."
He turns around not recognizing the voice, cursing his luck of getting recognized at this time of all things.
"Um, yeah. High again. I was just ugh," He gestures halfheartedly to the store.
The brown-haired man from the other day raises his brow, "Antiquing? On a school day?"
"Yup." He pops the P knowing full well the man knows he's lying. Oh well, maybe if he's honest he can help him get out of it. He analysis the man. Lanky, plain brown hair with square glasses. A dork if he ever saw one. Yeah no, he'll take his chances. Redirecting the conversation he asks, "What are you doing here?"
He copies him by fluttering his hand toward the building, "Same."
He doesn't know what to do now. His time is up but he can't go in there now with this dude on his ass. He looks the type to rat people out in a heartbeat. No way he can trust him.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Let's shop." The man steers him toward the shop. The hand on his back loosens a bit, becoming fatherlier, "Or are you here for a different reason." He nods to the windows where the crew are milling about looking at various objects and just messing around. He gulps, not sure what to say. Although his silence confirms the man's suspicions.
"How about this. I go in after you and whatever you run out with or break or whatever those lot are having you do; I'll pay for you."
He reexamines the man that looks to be a regular salary man. Not someone who'd do, let alone have the means, to pay for anything he does. This might be a crappy store, but they do have valuables in there.
"What's in it for you?"
"Work off whatever you steal."
"That's it?"
"Yes."
He thinks about it for a moment but movement in the windows let him know he can't think it over for long. Either potentially get arrested, get harassed even more or work for this man and see his friends again. No brainer there.
"Deal."
10/31/23
An: Hello! Happy Halloween! Did you have fun dressing up and eating candy? Did you do some tricks? My work did Harry Potter for their costume contest. We'll see who wins.
Anywho, love and appreciate comments, kudos, suggestions, and things you like and dislike. All feedback is helpful. -Fwgaltx