Chapter Two: Katsuki's POV
'Bakugou-san,' started the male voice on the other hand end of Katsuki's phone call with seemingly all the patience in the world annoying the living hell out of the ash-blond hero ever since he hired the man almost two years ago, 'I'm afraid there is only so much I can do to help you if you don't cooperate at least a little bit.'
If it was anyone else, Katsuki would have told them to go die a long time ago. Unfortunately for the Number Two Hero at least, the forty-something man who dealt with Bakugou Katsuki's agency public relations and other image issues reminded the ash-blond all too much of his own soft-spoken father for him to unleash his anger at him. Not to mention, he was just too damn good at his job.
Damn it!
The ash-blond took a deep breath and tried to end the call before he would say something too hostile for someone like his publicist. He already suspected the weak man cried in his car from time to time when he was too harsh on him which was a whole new level of irritating because Katsuki genuinely tried not to be as brutal toward the man as he was to some other people.
Fuck me for becoming this soft, he thought as he grunted, 'Fine. I'll make the time. I got to go.'
It was always the same old problem that has been pestering Katsuki for several years now.
Getting to the Top Ten was easy. Almost laughably so. Katsuki didn't need to be and wasn't modest; he was a God-damn good hero, and he and the country knew it. However, once he managed to land on number eight just two years after graduation that was when the problems started.
It didn't matter how good he was because everyone who made it there was good. Not better than him, but still strong, good and most of all liked. Ever since U.A., hell, ever since the unfamous Sludge Villain incident back when he was a brat in middle school, Katsuki turned his bullshit existence around and worked his ass off to become the best.
He earned it.
He earned everything he achieved with hard work, sacrifice, and dedication, but at the absolute top it didn't matter how good he was, and how much he sacrificed, he still couldn't reach his goal of becoming the Number One Hero. When he was younger, he believed if he worked harder, he would beat Deku just as he always planned to suppress All-Might. But a little over a year ago, the ash-blond came to the unavoidable conclusion that Deku wasn't at the top because of his One for All quirk. He was at the top because he was the most liked hero in the country. Deku was strong and good, but he was also sunny and bright, and people loved a hero like that. Everything, every weakness people used to dismiss when he was younger in favor of Katsuki's brutal strength and confidence was now his greatest asset leaving the ash-blond with nothing but second place. Every. Damn. Time.
It was as simple as that.
And Katsuki?
He would always be the second best, still just as strong, still just as good, but still, just a foulmouthed bad boy who couldn't fake a smile for the camera to save his life and would rather beat up villains than answer another question about his love life for the millionth and something time.
'Oh, I didn't realize you were on call tonight. Stay safe,' wished him the older man, and even if he couldn't see him Katsuki could easily picture his fatherly smile that made the younger man want to roll his eyes at him.
I should probably call my old man this week.
The ash-blond didn't bother with a reply and simply ended the call before glancing at the nice suburb house in front of him. The truth was Katsuki wasn't on call tonight. He was traitorously asked in a weak moment of getting out of a rather hard mission with a busted shoulder and stupidly confessed that he had a day off tonight. Something which Deku immediately jumped on and told him to come over to talk.
If it's going to be one of his bullshit lectures about keeping the hero image clean, kid or not, I'll fucking beat Deku's ass in front of it, though the ash-blond already feeling his own patience was slipping from between his fingers.
Katsuki didn't do days off. Mostly because as much as he needed the media coverage and good press, he hated to actually have the time to go to interviews and other fake media bullshit. However, when once in a blue moon, he did catch a break and managed to hide it from his publicist so he wouldn't have to appear anywhere. He liked to be fucking alone and do his own shit. Go on a hike, watch a movie, or cook. What he didn't like wasvisiting his rival and his new lovey-dovey family in their cozy home.
I saw the fucking kid when he was born, why the fuck do I need to see it again?
In the end, Katsuki simply let out a long sigh and walked closer to the house since there was no point in turning back now.
The house was obviously new, not overly modern or futuristic, but rather cozy and homey just like most of the houses nearby. The ash-blond hero wasn't all that surprised really.
Well, the Nerd did always say he liked my house, thought Katsuki since he remembered Deku as a kid admiring his parents' backyard and roof window back when he used to come over to play. Even after anger management and mandatory hero therapy, those memories were almost surreal like they happened in another lifetime and to someone else. Someone, Katsuki didn't even recognize.
He rang the doorbell on the gate and causally checked his surroundings. Even if he wasn't on duty tonight, it was hard to shake the habits that were drilled into him since he entered the U.A.
Just as the buzzer opened the gate, he caught the dark green color of some car on the other side of the street.
Froggy has the same model and color, he thought recalling walking her up to her car all those months ago finding it a bit amusing that even at the age of thirty, she still made a habit of owning green stuff. Back in U.A., he recalled how she often had to wear at least one piece of clothing or accessories in her favorite green color. It was weird, how many pointless things he occasionally remembered about his classmates, when back then he thought he was good at being totally ignorant of them.
Walking up to the main door where Midoriya Ochako was already waiting for him, Katsuki couldn't help but let his mind drift to the sea-green-haired heroine he met by accident a couple of months ago.
He narrowed his eyes despite himself and clenched the fists inside his pockets at the memory of the interview and that piece of a shit host. Katsuki was so pissed that night, he couldn't properly even answer the fucker next questions after how he treated Tsuyu because he knew if he did, he would probably tell him something even worse than he already did.
The moment, Froggy drove out of his sight that evening, Katsuki snatched his phone and had a long talk with his publicist warning him that he never wanted to work with that host or his show ever again and that if anyone from his agency fucking so much as mentioned the host's name, they'll be fired on the spot.
Katsuki was rude and loud and although he tried to fight the impulse, he was a hothead by nature. He had his old hag to thank for that, but he still had to admit, it was a while since he got so frustrated, especially about someone else's problem. Afterward, he wondered if it was because, for the first time in ages, he was genuinely having a good time during an interview with Tsuyu by his side. It was weird but nice, and he was really enjoying himself and the light teasing atmosphere, and then that fucker ruined it and his whole night.
Almost…
'Whoa, who pissed you off?' asked the browned-haired woman as he finally came to the main door, and she allowed him to enter the house.
He put off his shoes noticing a pair of female sandals in the hallways.
Those can't be Cheeks', Katsuki thought as he set his shoes beside the pair and put on the guest shoes that were prepared for him.
'I'm fine,' he did his best not to sound pissed, but it still came out as a grunt.
Ochako raised her eyebrows at him and forced him to elaborate at least a little bit.
'Work's shit,' he half-lied just to get this over with. Like hell, he was confiding in Deku's wife that even months later he was pissy at that good-for-nothing host and was having problems with his image and career.
Luckily, she didn't push it and seemed to accept that as she motioned for him to follow her through the hallway. Even the inside of the house was nice, and new, but very cozy and family-like.
Katsuki recalled the moment Deku finally managed to get into the hospital when his son was born and got to see him and Ochako for the first time since the crisis started. It was hours after the birth when hero cleaning started, and even if a lot of heroes didn't have to, they still stayed to help out, Katsuki included.
At one point, he managed to look over and find Ochako on the bed holding the baby while Deku kneeled under the bed looking at them as close as he could without touching them since he was still pretty dirty and everything.
A real family, that was the first thought that crossed Katsuki's mind, and seeing the house he couldn't help but think the same thing.
They are a real family living inside a nice family house.
'Yagi-san is calling. He and Midoriya-san went to Africa for a vacation. Do you mind waiting a few minutes?'
He shot the back of her head a glare, but before he could scold her and her husband for inviting him in the first place when they were busy, Ochako led him into a living room and every spare thought left Katsuki's mind except for fuck me.
Katsuki hoped to Kami, she couldn't read minds, but almost as if she heard him, Asui Tsuyu glanced up from the baby she was holding against her chest while showing it some rattle, 'Baku-chan, hello.'
His red eyes blinked barely catching whatever Cheeks said before she left the living room presumably to go talk with Deku's mom and All-might while he was busy trying to process meeting Froggy like this again, today of all the days.
As the shock settled in, the hero offered her a nod feeling a bit out of place while she was on the carpet with the baby, 'Is this some sort of setup?'
Tsuyu's dark expressionless eyes blinked two times, and he wondered if she was now realizing this too before she chuckled and asked a little bit taken back based on her voice, 'A what?'
Katsuki hoped his face didn't betray him and got red as he felt like an idiot for suggesting that. He didn't even know why he asked in the first place, it wasn't like he would ever think Deku or his wife would ever do something like that and with someone like Froggy out of all the people.
No one was dumb enough to try and set me up like this, right?
Sure, Kirishima tried to tease him a bit in the car after he finally showed up to pick him up the night of the infamous interview, but Katsuki quickly shut that down, and no one brought it up again. He and Tsuyu were former classmates and colleagues. They didn't see each other enough to be viewed as friends let alone anything more than that, and he liked it that way.
'Nothing,' he said and pulled one of his palms to rub his chin trying to find his composure.
'You know you can come closer, kero,' said Tsuyu and nodded at the spot in front of her on the carpet where there wasn't a toy or some other baby object half of which Katsuki had no idea what was for.
'I'm good,' he assured her, 'why are you here?'
When he glanced back at the young woman, she was still smiling, which made him think, she was teasing him a tiny bit before she finally answered, 'I came to see Nagi-chan. I was busy these past few weeks,' she explained and returned to the baby dropping her voice to that annoying high tone everyone seemed to use around babies, 'Isn't that, right? You haven't seen Aunt Tsu in a while now, hm?'
Katsuki chuckled before he could stop himself, and Froggy rose her gaze back at him. She was smiling, so she wasn't insulted, but based on that tone she used, he knew right away she was daring him to tease her, 'What?'
And who am I to disappoint her?
'He's what? Eight months?' asked Katsuki after a quick calculation, 'He doesn't even know where his nose is let alone who're you,' said the ash-blond and found himself stepping closer while Froggy adjusted the baby against her side again, 'True, but I still think it counts if he hears my voice and sees me. I've very distinguishable, right Nagi-chan?' she asked the baby for support, and when he turned his big greenish eyes at her and offered her a wobbly smile, the sea-green-haired heroine rewarded him with a kiss against his forehead.
Katsuki's smirk slightly fell when he saw it. The gesture surprised him almost as much as Froggy's presence today. There wasn't anything wrong with the small forehead kiss, and it wasn't like he didn't know people did that since he spend the better part of his kindergarten years trying to get his relatives to stop trying to get their saliva on his face, but for some reason watching Tsuyu and the baby felt just a bit too intimate for the ash-blond hero at that moment.
Pure.
It just felt too pure for someone like him who couldn't go a minute without cursing at something or getting pissed to watch.
He cleared his throat and glanced away wondering why he was so thrown off by her today, 'Whatever.'
'Hey,' said Tsuyu suddenly bringing his gaze back to her and the baby who now took the toy from her other hand and started to shake it creating a piece of tuneless music, 'I've never heard back from you, kero,' she said and there was a hint of disappointment even if might have been just his imagination, 'Your agency wasn't too harsh on you, was it?'
Just like that Katsuki forgot all about his discomfort and felt himself relax again.
After the interview, he expected some backlash. He knew it was unprofessional to act toward a host in such a way, but he was too fucking pissed to care and only regret he didn't fucking go full U.A era Bakugou on that fucker's ass right then and there.
However, much to his surprise and the surprise of his publicist just as Tsuyu predicted the interview brought Katsuki some good press. People, mainly women, left a lot of positive praise about his behavior and how he stood up for his female colleague quickly shutting the host down. He even gained some praise for not going full nuts on the man as everyone expected him to even if he did technically threaten him. It lasted for a few weeks, but it really brought up his mood. Especially when some other heroes with Froppy on top of them kept the news going by posting images and short videos from the interview.
'No, I don't think I ever saw him that happy. The guy even cried a bit even if he tried to hide it since I told him, I hate when people do that around me. Between him, my dad, and Deku I can't catch a fucking break with these crybaby men around me,' he said only partly annoyed since it got Tsuyu to throw her head back and openly laugh.
When she did the baby turned its attention to her and started to grimace too making Katsuki think it would be a nice picture of the two.
The corner of his mouth pulled into a smirk feeling oddly glad he got such a reaction from her before he leaned down close to the baby who was now looking at his aunt smiling at her, 'Listen, kid,' Nagi turned to Katsuki as best as he could and shook his toy as if he was showing it to him, 'I hope you'll be a tough boy like your mom, and not a crybaby like your fuck-,' before he could finish, Tsuyu's hand shot up and went to cover his mouth, but he caught her wrist before it reached his face. It was a reflex.
Katsuki hated when other people touched him. Recently the only contact he could manage was the one he got during fights or when he was the one who touched others, but lately he was losing interest in the second one.
The night of the interview, Tsuyu was oddly gentle and careful with him. Not in a way, that made him feel like she was belittling him, but rather like she was giving in to his needs, so her touch was welcoming and even helpful.
Her face never revealed any emotions, but her mouth was still pulled into a big, amused smile always making sure everyone knew what she was thinking, 'Baku-chan, you can't say those words in a house with a child. Ocha-chan will unlive you if her son's first word is…that.'
Katsuki was relieved his reaction didn't cause any awkwardness as he carefully unwrapped his fingers from her skin. It was almost adorable how her palms and feet could be so large due to her wide fingers, but the rest of her body was so small in comparison to his own. Her body was that of a swimmer, and she was her strongest in the water, so she didn't need the mass he and the other heroes possessed, but it still made him feel strangely endearing when she stood next to him barely reaching his shoulder with the top of her head.
'I can take her,' he said returning to Tsuyu's previous comment.
Even if she couldn't give him a look, she still raised her eyebrows at him and said, 'No one can take a mother when you piss-upset her.'
'Jeez, it's like kindergarten all over again,' he commented and sat down opposite from her wondering how did that happen since he was certain he told her he didn't want to come and sit down, 'I had to watch my mouth there too.'
Froggy beamed at him before she looked at Nagi again combing the little boy's green curly hair with her fingers, 'You should always watch your mouth, Baku-chan.'
'Nah, my mouth is what I'm most famous for,' the moment he said it, he once again feared he stepped over some imaginary line and feared the worse that his supporter of women persona would get shattered, but Tsuyu simply chuckled and shook her head, 'You're mostly famous because you're the Number Two Hero. Don't belittle your accomplishments. I won't have it, kero.'
The ash-blond hero felt the corner of his lips demanding to be pulled into a smile at her sincere voice and kind words. He didn't really ask for a fucking cheerleader, but it sure felt good when Asui Tsuyu took on the job. He didn't really think about it all that much, but somewhere deep inside he must have really thought highly of this woman if her words helped with his self-esteem like this. He got a lot of shit tossed his way, and he gave back just as much, but there were times when even Katsuki felt tired of it all. He was loud, easily upset, and cursed regardless of who could hear, but that wasn't all he was. It felt good to have someone else recognize it. It felt good when Tsuyu did it.
'Want to hold him for a bit?' she asked, and just like that caused the corner of his lips to fall, 'No.'
'Why not?' she questioned nuzzling the satisfied baby who was watching him curiously now as if it could understand what he said, 'I'll drop him and have Deku and Cheeks on my ass.'
'Baku-chan-'
'Ass is not a bad word, Froggy, chill,' he said and glanced at the baby again, 'I don't want to get murdered by One for All.'
Tsuyu sighed and pulled the baby closer to her face, 'You're missing out. The baby smell is the best.'
'Hard pass,' he said, but found his red eyes following the movements of her nose as she breathed in Nagi's head, 'It's probably a myth.'
'You'll never know if you don't try it, kero,' she told him making it sound like she was making a point before something changed and she flinched a bit and sat up to her knees, 'Hey! Do you have your phone with you?' she asked suddenly excitedly.
The ash-blond pulled his phone from his pocket realizing too late he should have probably been more suspicious of what she wanted while the sea-green-haired heroine explained, 'My needs an upgrade. The photos have this lack of color in the right corner. Can you maybe take a picture of us and send it to me, please? My last picture is when you couldn't even sit on your own, Nagi-chan. I want a new one before you start to walk.'
Katsuki smirked at that, 'Sure. Look into this corner,' he pointed and took three photos while Tsuyu smiled brightly tickling the baby's barefoot until it started to beam and toss around a bit.
Damn, that's not half bad, he thought as he caught both Nagi and Tsuyu looking at him with smiles on their faces at one point. They looked really happy and comfortable. They were cute together like a real mother and her child, and strangely the idea caused something to shift inside Katsuki's chest. Something he couldn't explain or name.
'Want to take one with us?' asked Tsuyu cutting his train of thought and causing him to immediately shake his head, 'Nope.'
'Why? It'll be nice, kero.'
'No way,' said Katsuki again. He sounded harsh, but the truth was he wasn't all that annoyed. Asui Tsuyu was good company. Her presence never really bothered him, and strangely just as it had a couple of months ago during their accidental meeting for that interview, and now, they seemed to have good chemistry and dynamic which didn't happen much to the loudmouthed hero nowadays despite him working hard to improve himself. People could be annoying. Either they expected him to be a jerk and feared him even if they did their best to try and hide it or they full-on hated him now and didn't bother hiding it one bit.
It was just that people tended to expect him to behave a certain way or cause certain problems. With Tsuyu it felt like he had a clean slate to act however he wanted to. If he was pissed, he could be pissed, but he would still be allowed the benefit of the doubt for the next time.
'Come on now, kero,' she started and smiled in a way he could only describe as mischief, 'Don't you want to one day sit down with Izu-chan's son and tell him, Do you know I saw you even before your own father did?' she asked referring to how he, her and a few other heroes were task to secure the hospital during a crisis while Deku had to fight off the big shots half the city away. When they defeated the villains and got the power back on, they went to check on the mother-to-be and got to see the screaming squishy baby through the window.
'I'll be your witness. Izu-chan already had Ocha-chan promise to never talk about it again, but I stayed quiet, so he doesn't know I was there too,' she said grinning causing Katsuki's good mood to improve. Even if he wanted to fight it, he wouldn't be able to, 'And I won't say a thing about how pale you got when you saw him, kero.'
'The little bast-baby,' he said as he caught himself, 'was covered in blood and placenta and whatnot. I thought you would be cleaned by then,' said Katsuki looking at the oblivious baby as Tsuyu started to giggle.
He was in awe.
Watching the young woman with the baby did something to Katsuki. It was subtle at first, so he didn't really notice or pay attention to it, but now when she giggled and beamed at the baby who looked just as satisfied and happy, he couldn't ignore the strange warmth that entered his chest at the sight.
Lately, he had been dealing with a lot of stress and disappointment due to his stagnating career and lack of any improvement or at least some plan on what to do that could help him move above his second place. Seeing Tsuyu like this was almost therapeutic, and he didn't mind one bit that it involved being in the home of his biggest rival.
Damn her and her tempting ways, he thought as he smirked despite himself and let out all too resignedly, 'Fine.'
'Yay!' Tsuyu overjoyed at his decision and leaned toward Nagi's ear to whisper loud enough that Katsuki could hear it too, 'Did you hear that little one? One of the flashiest heroes, Dynamight, will take a picture with us, kero,' she grinned looking directly into his eyes, 'We could sell it for good money, you know?'
He narrowed his eyes at her, but still couldn't push the smirk down, 'You sure like playing people to get what you want, don't you?'
'I have no idea what you're talking about, Baku-chan. Now, please, come to this side so Nagi-chan is between us, okay?' she asked so sweetly he could almost believe her.
He rolled his eyes, but he gave her credit for getting him to do it like a pro before he came to sit next to her with the baby between them but still in Tsuyu's arms.
He flipped his camera to the front one noticing there was a large gap between them.
The sea-green-haired woman noticed too as she looked over at him and raised her brows at him, 'Baku-chan-'
'Fuc-oh whatever, Froggy!' he exclaimed and moved closer to her before he pressed his shoulder to her smaller one. Even with him sitting and her kneeling he was taller than her which forced him to continue smirking, 'So short.'
Tsuyu giggled before she proudly stated, 'I didn't need to grow taller; I was already perfect at this height.'
'Lucky,' he told drily her just as he caught the smell of something flowery.
It must be her shampoo or body lotion; he thought enjoying the soothing aroma that caused a wave of calmness to wash over his senses. Everything about this woman was just that calming and soothing like she was designed to support and comfort others.
Nagi reached out and took hold of his jacket while stuffing his toy into his mouth getting it all wet, 'Don't leave any body fluids on me, little guy, or I'll have your aunt here, wash it.'
'I'll risk it,' assured him Tsuyu still smiling at him so brightly, he felt almost like returning it, 'And if you put on some other expression than a scowl, I'll even iron it for you.'
Katsuki chuckled trying to recall when was the last time he was in such a good mood and took two pictures before he turned to her, 'You'll leave me a piece of chocolate there too?'
'No, you hate sweets,' she said sounding proud that she knew this about him, and turned to look at him just as he took another shot by accident.
Nagi took his distraction as an opportunity to pat his chest and start to wiggle.
'I think he wants to try Uncle Katsuki's arms too,' said Asui beaming at him clearly happy with the development while Katsuki curbed his enthusiasm and furrowed his brows, 'Doubt that. I never held one in my life. I'm probably,' he paused so he wouldn't use the word shit, 'less than skilled.'
'It's not rocket science, and he's not that little and fragile anymore,' she assured him and leaned a bit closer to him. The wave of whatever flowery product she was using completely took over Katsuki's senses in the best way.
She let her voice drop to that childlike low one, 'Please, Uncle Katsu, I'm only ever held by my daddy, and I think you're even a little bit taller-'
'I AM TALLER!' he couldn't help but exclaim, but not as violently as he could have before he sighed a defeated but still annoyed fine and rose his arms wondering how did she manage to rope him into getting on the carpet, avoid cursing, taking photos and now holding the baby when he specifically said no to each of those tasks and repeatedly.
Once she situated the Midoriya baby into his arms, he didn't hold back at her, 'You're evil. You got some weird mind tricks going on or something, and you're using them for evil.'
She grinned and took his picture. How did that woman even manage to snatch his phone without him realizing it, he didn't know, but it must have been when he was mentally freaking out about dropping Deku's kid on the head.
It was so small and light, he told himself not to forget he was even holding him as he was trying not to crush him too much with his hold.
The baby immediately latched onto him looking at him in the purest wonder that did something funny to the hero's insides and caused him to smile before he could stop himself.
This isn't so bad.
Katsuki stood up with the child and then carefully lifted him above his head making him pretend to fly for a moment which earned him several happy noises from Nagi, 'See kid. I'm by far taller than your old man.'
He returned Nagi to his arms and glanced back down at Asui who was on the carpet smiling at them.
It once again struck him how cozy this all was. He was more relaxed and content than he felt in a while. His hero work and his problems seemed so damn far away like they were in another city altogether. He couldn't recall the last time, he smirked so much and was genuinely amused, and the more he thought about it, the more he had to admit it was probably the night of the interview because before that host and his inappropriate behavior, Tsuyu and he were reminiscing and talking about imaginary vacations, and it felt so good. And today, felt even better.
Everyone else, including Kirishima, tended to return to work topics which brought him back to the feelings that he had been struggling with lately. Yet here he was on his day off talking with Tsuyu like they were old friends and entertaining Deku's kid like they were his personal babysitters.
This is nice, he thought and sat back down returning the baby into Tsuyu's arms marveling a bit at how easy it was and not just because the baby weighed next to nothing.
The dark eyes found him while she smiled, 'Happy you conquered your rival once again?'
'Dam-yeah!'
They both chuckled.
'So do you plan to beat him at this too?' she asked and lifted Nagi a bit as he started to let out short sounds like he was talking in his baby way.
His grabby hands started to reach for other toys, and Tsuyu started to pick each of them up and offer them to Nagi until he chose one.
Katsuki's eyes watched him for a moment taking in how much he looked like his mother and only had the hair color, freckles, and maybe eye color from his father, 'I guess. If he only plans one brat, I have to have at least two.'
Tsuyu pressed the index finger of her free hand against her lower lip in a way she sometimes did when she was thinking, 'What if they have two?'
'Then I'll have fu-four, and he can…,' Katsuki paused to make sure he wouldn't say something inappropriate before he settled for, 'choke on his milk, for all, I care.'
The ash-blond felt pride when it got her to laugh again so brightly. The sound was becoming melodic.
She switched the baby to her other arm and wiped Nagi's face again, 'I guess if your…uh, lady won't mind, kero.'
'What the hell was that uh?' asked Katsuki mockingly, and Asui didn't grimace at the proper definition of that word, but she did close her eyes and slightly twisted her lips, 'I didn't want to ask that annoying question every hero gets asked all the time, and it came out funny anyway.'
'Fine, and no, there's no uh lady right now, but I'll make sure to find one who gets my rivalry with Deku, Froggy,' he said and rolled his eyes taking pity on her poor interview skills. He doubted there would be any need for that since his love life wasn't really all that glamorous media liked to paint it to be. He liked to work and didn't like spending time with new people. Not to mention given his behavior he only seemed to attract a certain type of woman, and as much as he enjoyed such things, it got old after a while. There were one-time hookups at times since more than one time usually graduated into clinginess and feelings he didn't reciprocate, but apart from the immediate release they left him feeling empty, so he cut back on those as well.
Tsuyu chuckled and brushed some of her hair behind her ear causing his attention to return to the presence. It got him to realize she was dressed rather well tonight. Not overly fancy, but enough for some bar date or night out.
'What about you?'
It seemed only right to ask when she started the topic. Most heroes weren't open about their relationships. Some were, but Katsuki wasn't one of them, and as far as he knew neither was Tsuyu. He caught someone, mostly likely Kirishima or Ashido talking about the sea-green-haired woman dating someone here and there in the past, but as far as he knew she wasn't secretly married or with anyone permanent like some of their other colleagues.
She shrugged her shoulder, 'So far, I wasn't all that lucky. Most of the guys weren't all that serious, and I wasn't really into them either. I wanted to work. It felt like I would have plenty of time later, and…,' she did that twitchy thing with her lower lip again, and Katsuki frowned, 'and?'
Tsuyu looked at him, and he knew she would tell him, he could sense it, but that was the moment when freaking perfect timing Deku showed up, 'Sorry for the waiting. Mom has never left Japan before, and she's so excited about everything. Hi, Kacchan,' said the Nerd, and the ash-blond frowned at him for once not just because he called him by his nickname again, but because up until now he completely forgot about him and Cheeks who followed right after and went to take Nagi out of Tsuyu's arms to ask him if he was hungry.
Right, he thought to himself watching the scene and feeling weird about it. It was bizarre, and he would never admit it out loud, but it almost felt like when Ochako took the baby out of Tsuyu's arms and Deku came to talk to him like the two stepped into his and Tsuyu's place and took over forcing them out. It was weird because really it wasn't his and Tsuyu's place one bit. None of it, but more than that was how it felt when they took it from them.
Wrong.
Katsuki gave Tsuyu a look and noticed she wasn't smiling anymore either until she caught his gaze and must have realized this too because she quickly offered him a small one. It wasn't as bright as those she gave him so easily a moment ago, and even if it shouldn't it bothered him a tiny bit.
Still, the ash-blond came here for a reason, so he offered her a nod and got up from the carpet, and stepped out of the little cozy and warm bubble he, Tsuyu, and Nagi were in.
He shook hands with Deku annoyed that the other man felt they needed to and followed him into another room. Most likely an office.
Only once he was by the door did he realize he didn't look back at Tsuyu, and wondered if he should have before he forgot all about her as Deku dropped his bomb on him.
'You're stepping down?' asked Katsuki, and later he would be fucking impressed he managed to do so in a room-friendly volume. It must have been the fucking shock though. Because there was no way in the holy hell that Katsuki would manage not to shout those words like a maniac otherwise.
Deku took him into the office inside his house and sat him down, offered him something to drink, and then fucking turned his life upside down with one sentence. Katsuki was in absolute shock. Never, not even when he found out Deku had a quirk or how he got it was Katsuki as thrown off as he was now, and it must have shown because even the Nerd watched him carefully with a serious and concerned look on his face and Katsuki didn't even have it in him to tell him not to give him such a look.
The green-haired man, whom he knew since he was a fucking brat nodded, 'Ochako's pregnant again, and-'
'Again?! What are you trying to do? Repopulate the earth?!'
The other man shot him a patronizing look, 'Mind your voice, please, and don't tell anyone yet. It's too soon, anyway.'
Katsuki started to brush his palms into the fabric of his pants feeling they were becoming moist even if he tried to fight it and find something to say to fucking function again, 'Congrats, I guess. Eight months,' he finally deemed one of his palms dry enough and forced his hand not to shake when he took hold of his glass in order to take another sip.
Once he felt the bitter taste of some foreign alcohol Deku dug from somewhere, Katsuki shot him a look, 'Deku, you're a fucking animal.'
'Thank you, Kacchan,' beamed Deku, like a fucking sunshine, oblivious to Katsuki's tone or comment reminding the other hero he could never even fake such a thing let alone actually act this way even if he wanted to which brought him back to the main point, 'So what now? You're not retiring, right? Looking for a new chosen one or whatever?'
Deku shook his head his blissful mood slipping away, but not all that much, 'No, not yet. I'm just going to announce I'm leaving the Number One position in your hands since I want to focus more on my family. I'll still be present and go on important and difficult missions, but I won't be on call like I used to, and not on things other heroes can handle just as well. I already spoke with All-Might and-'
Katsuki tuned the rest out although he supposed he caught the main thought behind the speech. It was surreal. Even more than surreal.
-I'm leaving the Number One position in your hands-
-leaving the Number One position in your hands-
-leaving it in your hands-
'You fucker!' snapped Katsuki right before his clenched fist collided with the desk hard enough to break it.
Deku stopped talking and took on a more serious face while Katsuki tried to sort his thoughts the way the therapist taught him to, but at the moment, it seemed freaking impossible as everything was happening all at once, 'I don't fucking want your hand-me-downs! What the fuck is wrong with you?!'
The other man narrowed his brows a little, but more like he was confused rather than angry which pissed the ash-blond off creating a tornado of shock and anger inside his mind that caused his body to shake.
'How is becoming the Number One Hero, your life-long dream, a hand-me-down, Kacchan?' asked Deku, but he used the fucking wrong tone because it made him sound like he was talking to a fucking brat and not an equal which made Katsuki really go off.
'YOU FUCKING KNOW IT IS! I was going to earn it! Beat you fair and fucking square not…be given it by you,' he more or less spat those words out, 'Are you fucking kidding me with that shit?!'
It was too much. Over a decade later and once again he felt like that bratty teen at the sports festival all over again. Everything he hated about how he won back then came back to him and hit him like a ton of bricks. He couldn't stand it. He couldn't stand this unfair and undeserved victory. It made him angry. It made him so angry; he couldn't even remember how to think properly. How to breathe properly. His palms inched to blow shit up. They inched to collide with something. Preferably Deku's stupid grown-up and serious face that was looking at him like he was a kid with a tantrum when he knew all too well how the ash-blond felt about such stuff.
He didn't earn it. He didn't beat Deku and the others, he simply got handpicked or whatever. Not even that. He was a fucking substitute to warm the spot before Deku would come back from his paternity leave or whatever.
He stood up, 'I need to go. I fucking can't do this right now.'
Deku looked disappointed for a second before he put on a more subtle look, 'Of course. My agency plans to make an announcement in a week. You have time to think and go over with your people and contact us,' he said so professionally Katsuki's eye twitched in a hot rage.
However, then Deku's tone changed into a more concerned and unsure one, 'I'm…sorry you feel this way and that I caused this, Kacchan. I understand why this is a tough situation for you, right now, but I have to think about my family now too.'
Even in hot rage that much Katsuki knew, but at that moment hated all the same.
Deku tried again, 'I…can I do anything to help-?'
'No,' said Katsuki cutting him off and going for the door before he would properly lose it in this cozy suburb house.
He didn't even bother to say goodbye to Cheeks and with everything he just learned he completely forgot Tsuyu was even in the house. He just knew he had to get out. Out of this house, out from between these walls. He needed air, fresh outside air that didn't come from Deku's picture-perfect family home.
He might as well have broken the door, but he didn't stop until he was safely on the other side of the gate trying to catch his breath and brush his sweaty palms against his pants like his life depended on it.
He felt like someone used some quirk on him and took him into a world where he could get everything he wanted but found a way to make him hate it. Like some fairytale with the moral of the story being careful what you wish for it might come back to bite you into your fucking ass!
He couldn't remember the last time he was sweating so uncontrollably. Maybe in middle school when one of the teachers scared him, he would inform authorities he used his quirk. He was terrified they might use it to ban him from U.A. entrance exams.
His thoughts spiraled.
Number One Hero
Just a substitute until Deku would come back.
I don't deserve it.
I didn't win!
His traitorous mind suddenly supplied countless articles, interviews, and other media bullshit that more or less always stated he wouldn't make a good Number One Hero. Not like human sunshine, always smiling, family man, and comforting Deku.
Too rash.
Too violent.
Too rude.
Too uncontrollable.
Too grumpy.
Too much villain-like.
Not enough…
'FUCKING DAMN IT!' he snapped unable to help himself not caring he was being loud just outside of Deku's home where the bastard could hear him and come to help him.
His goddamn palms wouldn't stop sweating which was making causing him to feel more and more upset which resulted in his body overheating and his heartbeat becoming so damn fast and loud Katsuki would almost think it was trying to break free from his chest and run away from him.
Not to mention his mind was clouding with all the insecure bullshit that Deku's news triggered inside him. He was so lost in his own struggles that he didn't even realize someone had approached him until he felt the light touch of someone's palm against his arm causing him to flinch. Rarely, if ever was the Number Two Hero caught off-guard like that.
Tsuyu's dark eyes found him, but apart from the violent jump, neither of them moved away from one other, 'Baku-chan, are you alright?'
He didn't answer as he felt his throat was too dry and his breathing too uneven almost like-
Fuck! I'm having a-
'Panic attack,' he said, but his voice sounded nothing like him. If someone played him a recording, he would have assumed it was someone else. Someone much weaker and hopeless than him although at this moment, he knew better.
He brushed his palms against his pants again and looked away from the sea-green-haired woman next to him.
'Come on, sit down for a bit, kero,' said Tsuyu, and before he could even think to tell her to go to hell and leave him alone, she used his momentary weakness and pulled his ass into the ground.
'Close your eyes,' she advised him, and at that moment, he didn't even care he was following her orders like a good dog. He would gladly give her the right to his decision-making at that moment just to fucking not have to feel so damn overwhelmed because of everything.
Fuck!
'Try to think about something else,' she said, and he could tell she was kneeling or sitting beside him too based on how close her body was to his.
Not that fucking easy, Froggy, he thought since it was hard to talk when he was hyperventilating.
'Focus on my voice, please?' she asked, but it was more like she begged, and the ash-blond couldn't help but find some clarity in it wondering why he felt so damn willing to comply with her appeals today.
Like a fucking dog wanting to be called a good boy afterward.
Her palm moved from his arm to his back, and he could feel the comfort radiating from the circles she drew into his body, 'Whatever is bothering you isn't an immediate danger to you. Right here and now you're safe. Right here and now, you're not alone,' she said in her soothing and wise Tsuyu-voice that almost got him to roll his eyes if he wasn't so damn out of it.
The touch and voice carried on for a bit while he tried to focus on them. Her voice was comforting. She had a good tone that wasn't overly annoying or distracting in any way. Her palm was unfamiliar, but the gesture was still soothing. The repetition and rhythm of it would almost make him fall asleep if he wasn't so stressed and in fear of a heart attack given how rapidly was his heart beating at the moment.
When he suddenly felt her other palm snatch his and press it against something soft and warm his eyes snapped open.
'Did you just put my hand on your tit?' he asked bamboozled as with that single touch of his hand against her covered chest he forgot about everything else that was happening to his body.
The moment his question registered; Tsuyu's face went scarlet. He saw her embarrassed before. The last time was the night of that stupid interview, but he never saw her expressionless face as red as it was now. For some reason, the ash-blond found the motion so alluring that he didn't even gaze down to look at the spot his palm was covering.
She's really cute…all blushy like this, he thought to himself absently. He knew Tsuyu was attractive. Her face and body might not have been typical, but that only made her more unique. Especially, when it was soaked and barely covered by the swimsuit that earned her so much media coverage a few years ago. Katsuki stopped his train of thoughts from drifting further into dangerous territories when his hand was still on her breast and her face looked so pretty while she was blushing because of him.
'D-don't say stuff like that…out loud,' the poor woman stuttered, but surprisingly, she didn't attempt to let his palm go and kept it pressed against her chest. To be fair, she didn't really put his palm against her breast, but given how big his hand was it wouldn't be too hard to get a handful if only he squeezed a bit, 'I just wanted you to…focus on my heartbeat. During a panic attack, such a thing could help, kero.'
Katsuki had the strangest urge to flex his fingers, but he managed to suppress it as he felt the back of his neck warming up, but not because he was panicking over stupid Deku anymore, 'Yeah, well, having my hand on your breast helped that too.'
Tsuyu lowered her head and looked away allowing Katsuki to notice that her blush traveled below her collar too which his still puzzled by everything her mind found interesting.
The tip of her tongue that was out of her mouth licked through her mouth before she asked hesitantly, 'Do you feel better?'
His red eyes flickered toward his palm on her chest feeling her heartbeat wasn't as even it should be, and Katsuki felt the heat from behind his neck travel lower.
This is weird, he thought to himself right before his red eyes widened with the horrible realization that his pants felt tighter too, 'Fuck.'
His mind raced to think of something else and stop the situation from becoming even more dire. It occurred to him what would someone think if they caught them outside the house of the Number One Hero like this? No doubt they would assume something scandalous that would backfire in both of their faces.
Finding reason and dread inside those thoughts, Katsuki quickly broke his hand free from her hold and stood up looking away.
He couldn't meet her eyes as he nervously brushed the back of his neck with one hand while he forced the other into his pocket feeling more awkward than he did in a very long time, 'Thanks.'
Tsuyu got up too, and from the corner of his eyes since he refused to look at her just yet, he saw her palm fan her face before she nonchalantly as possible said, 'No problem, I'm glad you're good.'
He nodded unsure what to say apart from that and tried to give them both a moment to cool off and calm down. It was a weird night altogether, and honestly, Katsuki half wished it was already over so he could find his footing and step back on solid ground.
It's like the whole damn world is upside down.
'Uh, did something happen?' asked Tsuyu after a moment, and even before he properly looked at her, he knew she was looking at him in that blank way of her, but with all the concern in her short body eager to help him any way she could.
Katsuki gave her a hard look hating how hard it was to read her in that moment more than he ever had, 'Did you know?' he asked slowly knowing it wouldn't be too hard for him to become angry once again.
Tsuyu was quiet for a moment too long before she asked, 'Know what?'
He gestured with his chin toward the house, 'That they're expecting another kid-'
That caused her to blink and some of her embarrassment and confusion washed away, 'Ah, yes, Ochako told me a week ago, but it's still early. I'm surprised they told you-'
'So, you know he was going to do that?' asked Katsuki and looked away closing his eyes as another wave of traitorous thoughts entered his mind.
He had no right to be upset with her. She was Cheeks' friend. She was Deku's friend. She didn't owe him shit. So why did he feel so fucking disappointed by it all the same?
He clenched his jaw and his palms started to shake though.
She's nothing to you. It's not her problem you feel this way. She didn't owe you shit!
'Do what? Have a second child?' she asked, and it was impossible to miss the confusion coming from her voice. Her face was the most mysterious thing he doubted anyone could decode, but her mouth was an open door letting anyone in to see what was going on with her.
Katsuki finally found the strength to open his eyes and look at the short sea-green-haired woman beside him, 'Did you know Deku was stepping down?'
'Stepping down?' Tsuyu blinked and for a beat or two she didn't say anything else before her lips parted enough to cause her tongue to fall a bit out, 'Holy shit, are you seriously?!'
Her dark eyes doubled their average size, and despite it being an absurd thing to do, Katsuki couldn't help but laugh. He couldn't help it, and he refuse to look into it more, but he couldn't deny the enormous wave of relief that washed over him when he realized she didn't know about Deku and didn't intentionally keep it from him.
The day was just too bizarre for his weak nerves. He would definitely benefit from another day of pure silence and solitude to rest from the shit he went through today. He should probably schedule some more sessions with his hero therapist.
It took him a while to finally finish and find Tsuyu with her finger on her lower lip lost in her thoughts, that made him lightly nudge her side, 'Asui Tsuyu, did you just curse out loud? In front of the Number One Hero's house where his sweet child can hear you?'
She shoved him back with barely any strength, 'Can you blame me? I-I still can't believe you said that. That's…wait,' she shook her head as she must have realized something and quickly started to talk, 'You asked me…oh kami, no, kero! Katsuki, I didn't know, and I swear-'
'I believe you,' he grinned down at her surprised he could manage to do that when just a moment ago he felt like he might die from a pathetic panic attack, 'You never swear like that-'
'But, really, I didn't know,' she assured him, but he already believed her and nodded.
The two of them remained silent for a moment before Katsuki chuckled, 'Still can't believe you cursed.'
'Well, after news like that? Can you blame me, Baku-chan?'
'Yeah, no shit. I thought the fucker was inviting me to a family dinner or blind date setup or whatever.'
They looked at each other, and they must have seen something in each other's faces because all of a sudden, they both chuckled and laughed a bit. It was a very short moment, but even that was enough to make Katsuki feel somewhat better. Even if for a second imagining a dinner where Deku, Cheeks, and their little kid would be trying to set him and Froggy up.
-Leaving the Number One position to you- echoed the pesky thought and stole that light instance right out of Katsuki's reach.
The ash-blond hero brushed his face and let out a long and exhausted sigh. He didn't feel like blowing shit up anymore, but he did feel beyond words tired at that moment, 'Fuck, this is so overwhelming, I can't even think.'
'I believe you,' said Tsuyu, and Katsuki was beyond words grateful, she didn't use the phrase I understand or I get it or some shit because he was sure it would fucking trigger him again, and he would rather have her stand with him with her palm methodically brushing his arm again a bit longer than snap at her for no good reason and have her leave his sorry ass to his traitorous and torturous thoughts alone.
'Do you plan to go back inside?' she asked, and he supposed that was a fair question, but he couldn't really get into it, 'Not today or tomorrow.'
That much he fucking knew.
He took a deep breath and brushed the back of his neck once more frowning as his anger was spiking again, 'I just need to fucking leave.'
She nodded, but neither of them moved for a couple of moments just standing there in front of Deku's house as if they didn't know what to do next.
Katsuki's red eyes looked at the sun that was slowly coming down for a while before he felt Tsuyu let go of his arm and spoke, 'Let's go out for a drink.'
'Alcohol?' he asked and raised his brows at her once again puzzled by her train of thought.
With age came social gatherings that involved alcohol. Even if Bakugou Katsuki was a firm believer that nothing should enter his body that wasn't healthy, he did occasionally go out with Kirishima for something heavy. During other gatherings with his colleagues, and employees, or during hero events, he preferred to stay sharp so he wouldn't cause any scenes or anything. He was well aware of how easy it was to thick him off. When he thought of such events, he couldn't really recall if he ever saw the sea-green-haired heroine in front of him drinking either.
'You seem too unfocused for sparing and sex is-'
His red eyes snapped back at her as if she cursed again only to find her looking away with her cheeks slightly red, but not as badly as they were with the whole tit incident.
When she didn't finish probably too embarrassed, she even mentioned it, he took pity on her, and with a smirk, he was surprised he could pull after everything asked, 'A drink, huh?'
Tsuyu shrugged her shoulders but remained with her eyes away from his for a moment which he found both annoying and amusing.
After a while she finally cleared her throat and spoke, 'I think…This is really big for you. Life-changing even. And I think you need some alcohol to dull you down a bit. Besides,' her dark eyes found him, and he was glad until she said, 'It's still a promotion and those should be celebrated.'
The ash-blond had half the mind to argue, to point out that he didn't like to be given the Number One spot like this, that he hated it, but with Tsuyu's eyes gazing into his like that and the prospect of having her calm presence around for a few more hours without being the one to ask for it, he decided against it, 'Fine. Let's go for a drink.'
'How come I haven't heard a lot about your project?' he asked once they got seated. They found an overnight parking lot and a bar close by with a free back table to offer them at least some privacy from being recognized.
Katsuki could tell she allowed him to sit with his back to the wall since she purposely slowed down even after he held the door for her. He hated when people walked behind his back in restaurants and other places, and he was certain many heroes, Tsuyu included, felt the same, but she still recognized he needed it more and let him have it without being too obvious and annoying or patronizing about it.
The bar was alright. Katsuki was never a fan of places with a lot of people. At least not places where he wasn't for a purpose like studying or working. Tonight, he would endure if only because he really enjoyed Tsuyu's presence and found her words much more comforting than anything the solitude of his apartment would provide tonight.
He learned of her project during their shared interview, and based on the notes she had and what she told the host after he got scared of Katsuki, it sounded fucking great. The project was dealing with both the ecological problems of pollution and at-risk children and the way Tsuyu delivered her speech about it and answered all the questions about it truly showed how much she cared and how much work she put into it. Katsuki rarely had time for things that didn't concern his personal career, and even he was impressed and curious by this one.
Immediately, Tsuyu's calm demeanor took a hit as her shoulders sank upon hearing his question though, 'It's not going too well. I got some momentum with the interview, but not as much as I would have hoped. I need to get it more coverage, but I haven't really gotten a lot of offers to come and talk since the last one.'
Katsuki frowned when he heard that instantly assuming the worse, 'You think that fucker is badmouthing you?'
If the ash-blond hero found out that fucker so much as mentioned Tsuyu's name, he would fucking end him on the spot.
She shook her head just as their child-waitress came and very obviously star-struck took their orders before rushing away.
Katsuki couldn't help but roll his eyes while Tsuyu chuckled at the younger woman's antics before she returned to their discussed topic, 'I don't think it's that. I'm not as popular as you guys so I don't get asked to come to such shows too often. I don't usually mind, but this project…,' she sighed looking dejected, which did something funny to Katsuki's inside and not in a good way, 'I would really want it to be successful, and I would hate if I was the reason it failed.'
He was about to argue with her when the awkward child-waitress showed up and set down their glasses. Katsuki wasn't modest or anything, and he was told more than enough times that he was handsome and hot if he managed to keep his mouth shut for more than a minute. Therefore, he could tell the girl was trying to catch his gaze acting overly sweetly and bubbly which only made the whole thing more embarrassing.
When she left, Tsuyu raised her brows at him as if she was giving him the look, 'Hm, someone's popular.'
'She's a kid,' he said although to be honest, he didn't even look at her all that much rather settling for his companion's dark eyes instead. This was a friendly drink or whatever, and he might have had a rude mouth, but he would never disrespect any woman he showed up somewhere with by flirting with another. No matter what people assumed about him. Not to mention, he was never desperate enough to go for waitresses almost ten years younger than him.
Tsuyu grinned, 'I think she's in her early twenties. Lucky.'
Katsuki grimaced, 'That makes her a kid, and you're just barely out of your twenties.'
'I'm twenty-eight actually,' she said and raised her glass.
He would have rolled his eyes since he hated clicking the glass, but the information surprised him, 'How is that possible?'
'My birthday is in February. I was a fast study,' she said and clicked their glass before taking a sip.
The alcohol was definitely not her domain if the way her lips twisted was anything to go by.
He full-on laughed at her before he teased her, 'Yeah, in everything but drinking.'
The liquid burned his throat too, but he would rather suffer through another attempt of their child-waitress trying to catch his attention than admit that, 'Send me some more info about it. If I'm really about to become the Number One hero in a week, I might as well put my new status to good use.'
His mood soured a bit, but he didn't let himself fall into the same pit as he had before, and neither did Tsuyu, 'It won't be so bad. Even if it isn't ideal how you'll achieve it? You still earned it-'
'Not-'
'Yes, you did,' she said firmly and sat her glass down with a loud enough sound as if she was making her point, 'Everyone can see it, Baku-chan. You might think people see you only as a rude loudmouth, but they still think you're a good hero. You protect people and fight villains risking your health and life for others. No one, not even Izu-chan, works as hard as you to be at the top,' she said, and dear fucking god did he want to allow himself to believe her. She said things his therapist forced him to tell himself, but he couldn't help but feel he could never achieve the same effect as Tsuyu did right now.
He clenched and unclenched his fist near his glass, but he didn't take it, 'It just doesn't feel like I earned it. I want to fucking beat his ass. Prove to everyone I deserve this. That I'm strong and worthy of it. I don't want a fucking hand-me-down, Tsu.'
She gave him a look, that he couldn't solve because it was no different than what she always looked at him and others, but her voice carried all the patience in the world, 'But you did earn it, kero.'
How real she made it sound, yet still how hard it was for him to believe it.
'Maybe you didn't steal the title from him in a fight to the death, but you worked your butt off all the way to Number Two and waited it out, right at Deku's heel. You waited just an inch behind him and now that he'll no longer be Number One there is no one else, but you to take it. You earned it. You worked for it. And now it's yours, kero.'
He snatched his glass to take another sip because he didn't want her to see she could brush away his doubts and worries so easily. It was fucking pathetic how good she was at lifting his spirit and getting him to feel better. Maybe it would be beneficial to his mental state to have her around more. Maybe he should fucking employ her as his personal cheerleader after all.
'Fine, that's…that's reasonable, Froggy,' he sat his glass down again and watch her take another sip too. She still didn't fucking look like she liked it though.
'But what about the others?'
'Who?' asked Tsuyu confused.
'The public. I'm not Deku,' he said like it wasn't obvious, 'No way I can defeat a villain with a busted arm and smile for the camera while praising some brats for taking cover or whatever.'
He wasn't even making this shit up. Deku literally did all that last month all the while thanking everyone who did support for their effort as well. At times, the ash-blond felt like somewhere between middle school and U.A. he lost all his ability to speak with other people without grunting or snapping at them.
The sea-green-haired heroine thought about it for a moment with her finger against her lower lip, 'I suppose you're right. I think I would have thought someone used some weird quirk on you or something if I saw you do that.'
'Oi!-'
'But I don't think anyone expects you to be anything, but yourself, kero,' she assured him with a calm smile, that threatened to actually make him believe her again, 'I think Deku's sunny personality gives people hope, but your passion gives them strength. Under all of this,' she motioned for him, 'you're devoted, eager, and strong. You're a good hero in your own right and in your own way.'
She just had to go and fucking lift up my mood with every damn word, didn't she? He thought fighting back a smirk that froze when he felt her hand reach for his as she continued making sure she had his attention by keeping her eyes on his. It was impossible to look away from her like this.
'Deku wouldn't be comfortable giving it up to just about anyone. The reason he can step down is because he knows he's leaving the position in the best hands imaginable. Someone he considers to be a good and worthy hero. Someone who can take all the pressure and work that comes with it and deliver. So don't worry about how you might look or what others might think of you. You blew up at that host and instead of backlash you received praise. You have a good heart, and people can see that even if your mouth is dirty, kero,' she chuckled and finally let him go in favor of grabbing her glass. It was almost fucking too much for him again to hear her talk so nicely about him like he fucking deserved it.
Heroism and its glory were something Katsuki enjoyed a lot, but he was never all that comfortable with civilians and their personal words of gratitude. This felt awfully the same, and he couldn't help himself, but busy his hand by brushing the back of his neck.
'Now,' said Tsuyu her smile and voice a bit teasing, 'can we please drink in celebration of your upcoming promotion to Japan's Number One Hero?'
He glanced at her again trying to shake away the embarrassment brought by her speech.
Fucking cheerleader, he thought of the woman rather fondly before he rolled his eyes and snatched his glass, 'Fine, let's celebrate…that.'
Tsuyu giggled and tilted her head cooing at him before she said, 'You're embarrassed by the praise, aren't you, Baku-chan? So adorable, kero.'
'Shut up,' he warned her feeling how heated his cheeks were hoping he could blame whatever blush he had on the alcohol.
He took another sip, but she carried on not letting him off the hook so easily, 'Nope, you should allow more people to witness this side of you. No one would call you a bad boy afterward.'
'Die,' he said without any heat finished his drink, and waved at the all too eager child-waitress to get them a second round deciding that even if he couldn't allow himself to believe everything Tsuyu said about him, he could get drunk in her presence and relax at least for once.
'The same for me, and something fruity for her,' he ordered and snatched Tsuyu's still very full glass.
The heroine grinned at him with delight, 'I thought you said in the car, I would embarrass you if I ordered anything girly.'
'Changed my mind. I can't watch you twist your lips every time you take a sip. You can have whatever you want,' he said.
You deserve it.
He didn't say it out loud, but he sure as hell thought so. He didn't think anyone not even his publicist or Kirishima would be able to ease his struggles the way Tsuyu managed tonight. He was fucking impressed.
She grinned at him putting her palms under her face and closing her eyes looking excited she would drink her weak fruity shit which caused him to smirk.
'Thank you, I promise to be nothing by happy about my tasty girly drink,' she assured him.
'You better.'
At that moment, Katsuki silently vowed that even if he didn't manage to achieve anything else while he was Number One Hero, he would fucking make sure he would help Tsuyu with her Kids at the Beach project.
In the next three hours, Katsuki successfully managed to lose track of time and most of his doubts and worries in Tsuyu's company. It was the same thing that happened during the interview and in Deku's house. The two pro-heroes fell into an easy and carefree chat about everything from daily mundane things, to work to their families and relationships. This time, Katsuki wasn't as surprised as he was before by how natural their dynamic felt, but he still couldn't help but think it was a curious thing. He couldn't remember if there ever was anyone he could speak so openly with. He wasn't a talkative person, and he wasn't overly interested in other people's company, but he couldn't help but admit to himself he liked Tsuyu's. And not just because of the alcohol. It wasn't just because she lifted his spirit and praised him as if she knew he needed it. She did that too, but it was more than that. There was something about her that just made him feel comfortable without him even noticing.
Still, he supposed all good things had to come to an end, and when Tsuyu's cheeks appeared flushed for more than a few minutes, and she seemed more giggly than usual, he suggested they finished their drinks and call it a night. Not to mention the place started to get crowded.
Two sips away from finishing his final drink while she went to the restroom, Katsuki couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed the night was ending, but he still felt grateful for the relaxed mood he was in. Hopefully, he would ride the wave, all the way until tomorrow morning before he would call his publicist to discuss his upcoming promotion to Number One Hero.
Japan's New Number One Hero Bakugou Katsuki
He almost smiled to himself. For the first time tonight, it didn't fill him with anger and disappointment.
'Honestly, so weird,' he heard some other customers say not so quietly by one of the tables close by. He couldn't be sure, but he thought it was the same guy, who took a picture or video of him and Tsuyu about an hour ago when the place got crowded.
A few people stopped by to thank them for their work and said that they were fans and as annoying and embarrassing as it was to have to talk to people, Katsuki always found it more than a bit sinister when someone was taking pictures or recording him and his colleagues in secret. It would be one thing to ask for a picture or something, but why the secrecy?
He knew Tsuyu noticed as well, and suggested they could leave earlier, but she refused stating that what used could anyone have with a footage of the two of them talking. She was right, but he still kept an eye on those extras in case they would try something shady.
'I heard nothing but good things about Floppy. She's so sweet and cute. You know like the innocent girl next door,' said the other guy who was with the creeper who recorded them, and Katsuki narrowed his eyes before he took a subtle glance their way.
There were three guys dressed for a night out, but nothing too expensive or fancy. He would guess they worked office jobs but in low-paying positions.
The next few sentences were in Tsuyu's favor as a heroine and some of her rescues or missions they read and saw in media, and Katsuki almost tuned them out in order to just peacefully finish his drink.
'Why would someone like her be with someone like him?'
In an instant, Katsuki's fingers were around his glass.
Him him him.
The pro-hero knew what they were planning to say even before they started to trash him. He heard all those things before many times, and it seemed the media loved to remind him and everyone just how bad could he be.
'Right, he looks like the ultimate fuckboy,' said another one nodding, 'I heard how his last girlfriend wrote a whole blog about how aggressive he was during sex like she was genuinely afraid of him.'
Katsuki rolled his eyes feeling more annoyed than angry now that he knew they didn't know at all what they were talking about.
The mentioned woman wasn't a girlfriend, but a very ill-advised one-night stand from about seven years ago. They spent less time together than he did talking to Tsuyu tonight and as for the violence. She was the one who wanted him to be even rougher than he was comfortable with which was why he called quits and left. About three years ago, she tried to blackmail him claiming she would go to the press and claim he was violent toward her in the bedroom. Of course, he didn't fall for it and told her to do whatever she wanted. The story didn't make too much of a fuss since there was no proof, and Deku, Kirishima, Todoroki, and even All-Might spoke on his behalf, but it still pissed him off that someone could say stuff like that, and some people would believe it because he had that violent fuckboy look or whatever.
'It fucking sucks that someone like that is a hero, and people just forgive him all the other stuff. She could do a lot better and think more about her reputation and image.'
What do those fuckers know?! He tried to reason. It wasn't like any one of them even had a shot with as someone as awesome and beautiful as Tsuyu anyway.
It's not like you do either.
His red eyes blinked and rounded losing his typical sharp edge as he was shocked such a thought even crossed his mind.
Tsuyu was an objectively good-looking woman. Her looks were unique, and her body was fit as hell due to her hero labor. She was also awesome, nice, calm, and supportive, and not once during tonight even when she mercilessly teased him did he feel like he wanted to leave. In a nutshell, the see-green-haired heroine was a catch. But despite all that, Katsuki wasn't interested in her like that. It seemed that only tonight did he realize how beneficial and nice it would be to have her in his life. This wasn't a date or anything, but a hang-out with a potential friend. So why should he have a shot with her? And why should he care if he didn't?
Still, as he found himself dwelling over it a bit another set of insecurities getting the better of him. Sure, Tsuyu had that good girl persona going on, and as those fuckers pointed out, it would look weird and bad for her if she was caught with someone as harsh and aggressive looking at Katsuki. He knew without a doubt she would face scrutiny over it like she had gone insane and was naïve or something.
He frowned, but the disappointment was greater than his anger. He would fucking hate himself if he was the cause she had an even harder getting interviews or would have to face shitty hosts like that fucker from last time.
That's what people see you as. Someone who would make a better villain than a hero who's only accepted because it doesn't matter if Number Two acts that way as long as he does his job. Number One Hero needs to be a pillar of community or some shit not a rude fucking loudmouth who can't fake a smile to help his career.
'Also makes you think about how stupid and naïve can Floppy be if she hangs out with him-'
His personal torture came to a halt as Katsuki realized what the man said.
He did not just fucking insult her like that! Crossed Katsuki's mind as he shot a glare in the direction of those men. Those fuckers could talk shit about him all they wanted, but like hell, he was letting them talk shit like that about Tsuyu.
'Exactly! Isn't she worried about what might happen to her reputation? Women have to try so much harder to be taken seriously and to think she would ruin it so carelessly, it's so disappointing. Also, she's cute and all, but doesn't Bakugou date model-level pretty women?'
He crushed the glass hard enough that he might have broken it and even heard a small crack feeling his anger mixed with a generous dosage of alcohol coming to unhinged heights. If he wasn't careful, something, which in that moment, he really didn't want to be, he could carelessly use his quirk on the glass too and maybe even on those three fuckers.
'All I know is it's so annoying when good girls fall for bad guys like that. It's clear it won't work out and they usually leave a really decent guy in the dusk just for what? A quick lay? If you ask me, it makes them look pathetic like they're in it just to get fucked.'
'Then again, maybe that's the case. Besides, Floppy is kinda hot in that weird way. She was on the cover of this magazine-'
'Oh, I know with that tight swimsuit. Damn, she was so hot back then. I can't remember the number of times I looked at the image and-'
Katsuki stood up knocking his knee against the table ready to give those fuckers a piece of his mind and show them how aggressive he could be. The alcohol and overall anger he couldn't place before, but now could possess his sense and rational thinking, and he was pretty certain he wouldn't just leave it with fists if he got to them.
He almost made it toward their table, and they must have caught onto his hostile energy that was coming their way because the two of them glanced his way and looked terrified.
However, before he could reach them, Tsuyu appeared in front of him seemingly out of nowhere like a fucking dream shielding those fuckers from his view and lining herself with his vision to the point he couldn't see anything and anyone else but her.
He had a second to realize what she was doing, and if it was someone else, he might have anticipated it, but for some reason even when the sea-green-haired woman stepped onto her toes and put her palm to the back of his neck so she could pull him down to her face, it didn't occur to Katsuki what she was doing.
At least not until he instinctively closed his eyes and felt her soft lips press against his own in one of the most gentle kisses he had ever received in his entire life.
Damn… this feels nice.
It was true. After graduation, Katsuki had no shortage of women who were interested in him. They chased him around, found excuses to meet with him or touch him as if they own him or whatever. Those women often made the first move. They were bold like that, and he didn't mind it. Except that boldness also transferred into their touches, kisses, and other affections. They were rough, passionate, and demanding and they expected Katsuki to be the same. They weren't wrong per se, but sometimes they demanded him to be far rougher than he was comfortable with. Just like everyone else, they thought they knew him just because he was rude and harsh, and just like everyone else they didn't bother to look past that.
Right now, Tsuyu kissed him like he was someone fragile, but not weak. She spoke and touched him like that too, so he shouldn't be too surprised she kissed him with the same sentiment, but he was still caught off-guard by how it felt. It was comforting and sweet, and even if he would fucking rather die than admit it, it made him feel delicate inside in a way. Oddly, he liked it, and a lot.
His hands found the back of her head and upper back, and he pulled her closer enjoying the light kissing while breathing in the mixture of that calming shampoo, he smelled on her earlier in Deku's house as well as the three fruity drinks she drank tonight.
Ridiculously sweet, that was how it felt to kiss her.
When her teeth lightly nibbled his lower lip, he felt something light up inside him. A small fire in the dark woods which could potentially spread and swallow the whole forest, but at the moment it was pretty tame, small, and safe.
Beautiful
Such words were foreign to someone like Katsuki's vocabulary. His foul mouth felt too rude for something so sweet and nice, yet it was the only thing he could think of when Tsu's pretty and soft lips moved ever so delicately against his own sparking something warm and cozy inside his chest pushing every last drop of tension inside his body out as if it was a poltergeist and Tsu's kiss the exorcism.
She didn't break the kiss. What she did was too tender and slow to be called a break, but when her lips no longer moved against his own, it still took him a second too long to open his red eyes and looked at her.
Her dark eyes never really revealed anything to anyone. It was her frog appearance to blame, but even so, Katsuki found comfort in their familiarity and lack of emotion.
His hands remained in her hair with his thumb lightly moving across their texture.
Silky, go figure, he thought absently still unsure if he was back in the moment or in some dreamlike reality because everything that happened today and kept on happening was just too far away from the hero's usual normal.
Tsuyu returned to her heels causing the difference between their heights to be more noticeable, and Katsuki watched as her free hand went in front of her mouth to block him from seeing the tip of her tongue lick her mouth.
His pants tightened again a hot rush went through him.
Fuck, that's hot, his mind supplied right before her hand slipped from his neck to his chest, 'Don't let them ruin this night for you.'
Given how thrown off he was by their kiss, it took him a while to realize what she meant, and why he was standing in the first place. Although it had no reason to, Katsuki's mood soured noticeably as he realized she had to hear those fuckers and their bullshit and recognize he was coming toward them to give them a piece of his mind. It must have been the reason why she kissed him.
Of course, why else would she kiss you out of the blue, you dumbass? He almost mentally groaned at himself feeling a bit pathetic that he didn't realize it sooner even if he didn't fucking even think about kissing her until she kissed him. Then again, why did she kiss him? She could have just reached him and told him to come with her or tell those fuckers herself to go die, in a more Tsuyu-way, but still. She didn't have to give them both a taste of what the others' mouths tasted like.
She must have been drunker than he thought if she would do something so ill-advised and extreme. Tsuyu was better than that. Also, if she was going for a show why wouldn't she fucking push it more? The kiss was sweet, but nothing scandalizing to worry over.
He was about to tell her that when he noticed the way her throat moved as she swallowed and brushed a few pieces of hair behind her ear all the while her cheeks were pained in a pink color. It once again hit him how good it looked on her.
I must be drunker than I thought too.
His hands let her go, and she took a step back creating a safe distance that caused him to see those fuckers glaring at him. They looked properly pissed and jealous and damn if that didn't cause the ash-blond to forget about his frustration and proudly smirk.
Yeah, take a good look you, fuckers, he thought smugly and moved closer to Tsuyu lowering his face enough to whisper into her ear, 'Let's go.'
His hand found a solid spot on her lower back as he guided her outside catching those men and some others watching them all the way until they were out, and it felt really good to know this was something they didn't approve of, and Tsuyu was someone they had the hots for when he was the one leaving with her. It was childish, and he shouldn't really care about such nobodies, but at that moment, Katsuki wanted them for fucking to suffer as they would live their mediocre lives knowing he left with a woman like Asui Tsuyu.
His victory was short-lived as he got annoyed again when he found out she sneakily paid their bill when she went to the restroom. He wanted to let her have it that he was fucking making more than she could dream of, but she argued she still owed him some imaginary debt for their interview.
'I told you; you don't owe me shit,' he said and let his palm return to his side. It wasn't like he fucking had a reason to guide her anymore anyway. Besides he felt weird doing it and realizing her back was nice and his palm fit there well.
It made him feel like he was being dirty toward her and during a night where she put his hand on her tit and kissed him that was just wild. He definitely needed to call it a night before things got even weirder.
'And I told you, I wanted to repay you somehow,' she argued back as they went to wait for their ride.
The air was chilly but manageable, and luckily Tsuyu had a solid jacket over her body, so he didn't have to offer his assistance.
It wouldn't be a total pain in the ass if I did have to warm her up, he thought and frowned at his own thoughts, 'Weird night.'
Tsuyu glanced at him looking far less drunk than before even if her cheeks were now red from the chilly night.
She watched his face for a while before she nodded, 'Yeah, I'm sorry-'
'Don't,' he said and looked at her knowing what she wanted to say and not really in the mood to fall into some unspoken awkwardness, 'It pissed those fuckers off. We're good.'
He offered her a smirk, and when she returned it with a smile of her own, he knew they would be fine.
'Don't forget to send me those photos, kero,' she told him as the wind caused the tips of her hair to dance a little, and Katsuki's eyes couldn't seem to look away.
'Fine, but don't post anything with me,' he warned her still mesmerized by her hair. He wouldn't have guessed it was silky because he never really thought all that much about it, but it made sense it would be. She had nice hair. He remembered a couple of years back when it was shorter barely reaching her shoulders because she caught it, and although he was curious about it too, everyone else made such a big deal of it he thought better than to join the obnoxious wagon and ask her about it.
'The last thing I want is for people to think I like spending time with Deku's brat or with Deku in Deku's house,' he said realizing how absurd it all sounded out loud.
'He likes you too,' she said, and he frowned at her, but it didn't stop her from smiling at him happily.
He rolled his eyes, but not even her teasing and mentioning of Deku's kid could bring his mood down. It was a very strange night with a lot of ups and downs, but oddly, Katsuki couldn't find it in him to complain all that much.
'I really like us becoming friends, Baku-chan,' said Tsuyu just as they watched the car that she ordered to come to pick her up coming toward them.
The ash-blond looked at her. He liked it too but was unsure how to phrase it, and all too soon the car was there and Tsuyu was wishing him a good night, 'Stay safe.'
Her eyes were on his for a moment too long. Her expression stayed the same, but she sounded so genuine, he knew she meant it.
'You too, Tsu-chan,' he said, and based on how she blinked and smiled at him, he knew she understood, he considered her a friend as well.
'And thanks,' he quickly said since he sort of avoided doing so before, 'for…everything you did tonight.'
Tsuyu gave him another nod.
Katsuki couldn't explain why, but even with a driver waiting for them to finish so he could take her home, looking at her under the night sky with street lamps and lights coming from nearby buildings, he had a strange urge to ask her to stay with him just a little bit longer. It was ridiculous since he already took up so much of her time, and he wasn't as much of a mess about stuff that happened as he was before, so really there was no point for her to stay other than…he would like it if she did.
Unsure, of what possessed him and fearing it was the mixture of the alcohol, loneliness, and the fake soft kiss they shared a moment ago, he pushed those wants aside and finally said something else, 'Text me when you get home, alright, Froggy? Don't fall asleep or I'll fucking come over and kill you,' he warned her, but it barely sounded like a threat when he felt like smiling instead.
Tsuyu giggled a bit and nodded showing him her phone, 'Text me back this time, kero.'
He nodded and allowed her to leave and as he once again watched the car with her inside disappear around the corner just as he had the night of their interview, he couldn't help but decide that even if he would have to do the whole night and all that insecure bullshit and disappointments all over again, he would because of her.
Later, Tsuyu kept her word and texted him, and he immediately texted back before he went to get ready for bed. He could tell he wouldn't be hungover, and he was still in a good place thanks to his old-new friend's supportive and calm nature that kept his mind from spiraling.
Once he got into his bed, he sent her the photos even those with him in them and once again thanked her for tonight.
Froggy: You never have to thank me for that, Katsuki. The fact that you allowed me to be with you tonight was enough.
'Fuck, you sure I can't hire you as my personal cheerleader, Froggy?' he asked out loud into the darkness of his bedroom before glancing at the city lights he could see out of his large bedroom windows. He always loved that view, and when he wasn't too exhausted from work or needed a good night's rest, he often slept without closing curtains enjoying the view.
Growing up, back when they were little, Deku always liked Katsuki's family house, but the ash-blond always liked the view from Deku's bedroom vowing to one day had a place even higher than he did.
He supposed they both managed to get the dream homes they fantasized about when they were younger.
Katsuki went over his phone and the pictures that were taken today subconsciously smiling and not really bothering to hide it.
Almost like a real family, he thought, and strangely, the idea wasn't as disturbing as he would have thought it would be when he was referring to one of his colleagues, Deku's brat, and himself who until today never even held a kid that tiny in his arms.
He still shook his head blaming it on the alcohol and the emotional chaos caused by Deku's news tonight.
Ultimately, he picked the photo with just Tsuyu and Nagi smiling into the camera and set it as his background and the caller id for her before he set up a reminded for tomorrow to discuss the Kids at the Beach project with his publicist on top of everything else, he would need to discuss with the older man.
Just then, he finally set his phone on the nightstand and went to sleep feeling more relaxed than he ever had. Despite how tiring tomorrow would be, he was at peace with it all for tonight.
A.N: Hi there Thank you for reading and for your support. I was not expecting so many people to still like this ship. I was planning to finish the chapter sooner, but it got longer than I expected it to, and I was busy with work. I hope you enjoyed the story so far, and you'll continue with it until the end.
Stay safe
