Whoop, Whoop! This is the third update I've posted today (Also posted for 'A Day In Your Life' and 'Show Me Where Your Love Lies')! Maybe I'll go for a 4th or even a 5th? Who knows? It's my 2nd day off in a row since I had to work eight 12+hour shifts in a row before this!
#Still have to go to work even though the entire country is shutting down though lol.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Learn To Breathe
Chapter 9
~Time-Skip: Getting Closer to 18 Y.O.~
Midoriya sat through his class lectures impatiently, his mind more focused on getting to see Todoroki again than what they were learning. He glanced over to Bakugo, noting that the teen looked equally as disinterested in 'Deep Ocean Fossil Theory'. True to his word, the blonde hadn't given Kirishima any courting gift yet, but Midoriya could tell that he really wanted to.
When their classes broke for a lunch break, everyone seemed to sigh in unison, making their teachers eye twitch in annoyance
"You'll be sorry if you don't know this stuff later in life…" Hizashi grumbled, his wild yellow tail almost vibrating.
"Of course, Mr. Yamada" Momo assured, eyeing everyone else to agree. "Recognizing fossils is a great skill that helps us identify what creatures live in which areas so that we know if it is safe to be there."
"Except we'd have to take the time to dig them up before actually seeing them…" Mina whispered to Sero and Kaminari, the three giggling to each other.
"Ungrateful brats… Don't listen to them, Hizashi." Aizawa drawled as he swam over, hugging his mate tightly and kissing his cheek.
"Aww hey, babe! You didn't have to get up just to bring me lunch. You should be sleeping when you get the chance." The loud Mer replied, chucking as the man's scruff tickled him.
The students pretended they weren't watching the display as they packed up, but totally were. It was simply adorable to see their overly peppy teacher bringing out the softer side of the overworked and consistently serious Chief of Security.
"How in the world did those two become mates do you think?" Ochaco whispered as she, Iida, and Midoriya headed to the courtyard area to eat.
"Whatever do you mean?" Tenya questioned. "If you're asking about mating rituals I find the subject highly inappropriate for us students to speak about."
"Oh… don't be such an ocean current monitor," Uraraka pouted, "I'm talking about how two Mers who are completely different in personality fell in love with each other. Besides Tenya… We'll all be eighteen in a few months and will officially be old enough to take mates and whatever else goes with that."
"Opposites attract?" Midoriya answered, more thinking about himself and Shoto than his teacher's love life.
The largest Mer in their group stiffly chopped his arm, doing his best to cut the conversation short. "Even still! It feels wrong to be talking about taking mates when none of us are courting another yet."
Izuku repressed the urge to cough, his nose twitching as it usually did when he was hiding something. "Probably right…" he said instead, earning a glare of betrayal from Uraraka.
"Oi, Deku!" Bakugo grunted, giving the teen a reprieve from a conversation that he had way too much to hide in.
"Hey guys, I'll see you in class okay?" Izuku chimed in relief.
"You've been spending a lot more time with Bakugo, is everything alright between you two?" Ochaco asked hesitantly, looking over at the blonde as he scowled at them impatiently.
"Yeah! Everything is great… He and I are just getting over our differences… a common goal and all you know… *cough* Okay, bye!" Izuku called over his shoulder as he swam towards his friend/partner in crime.
"Tsk… You could just not say anything if you're going to be that fucking obvious," Bakugo sneered, taking a large chomp of his food.
Izuku sighed with exasperation, feeling like he was getting slammed from all sides that day. "What is it, Kacchan…"
The blonde's confident and smug expression immediately changed into one of nervousness and what might have been self-doubt if it was anyone else. "Let me see that necklace you've been working on for half and half."
"Whaaa?" Izuku questioned, his face turning the color of the blondes tail in an instant. "Kacchan! That's really personal!"
"Tsk… don't be a little bitch, Deku. That shit is meant to be shown off, right? So just let me see it."
Midoriya puffed up his cheeks but took a pouch from his belt and handed it to Katsuki. "Don't make fun of it, Kacchan…" he begged.
The blonde rolled his eyes but dumped out the bag's contents, examining the beautifully woven deep sea shells that Izuku had found and strung together. "Heh… this isn't half bad, Deku."
Midoriya flushed, his chest swelling with pride from the closest thing to a compliment that he'd ever received from Bakugo. He gingerly took it back and carefully ran his fingers over it, praying that Shoto would like it too.
When he looked back up, he saw that Katsuki was looking even more uncomfortable than earlier, his eyes focused on the ground. "What's the matter?"
The blonde scoffed weakly, still desperate to hold onto his pride but quickly failing to keep it. He lifted up his bag and shoved it into Midoriya's hands, his mouth opening to say something only to snap shut with a loud clack of teeth right after.
Izuku reached in carefully and immediately felt something solid, pulling it out slowly. It was a bone dagger, small but exceedingly well made. The handle was etched with an intricate design, one that had probably taken a long time to create.
"This is what you made him?" he mumbled, still awestruck. "This… This is amazing Kacchan!"
"Tsk… I fucking know it is, dipshit. But you and that land walking prick are always giving each other shells or trinket stuff and so does everyone else."
Midoriya's face contorted into a large 'Oh' and then into a wide grin. "Kacchan… I think Kirishima would like this much more than shells he could find himself. Besides, Mer's in Yuuei get their weapons from a craftsman so there isn't any need for their mates to make them. This is really special!"
Bakugo didn't look completely convinced, but some of his usual bravadoes did return. He took the blade back and stuffed it into his bag, swimming off without another word. Midoriya turned as well to return to his friends for the remainder of their lunch, becoming excited all over again to head back to shore.
Todoroki sat at his work desk, reading over the many scrolls and documents that his father's court had sent over to him as well as ones he'd requested himself. He had to keep up with all the new laws and decrees that were going out so that he was aware of what was happening in what would one day be his kingdom.
"Kirishima…" he drawled, startling the teen from his napping. "You're supposed to be studying too…"
"Uh… right bro—I mean Prince! Sorry…" he responded quickly, zeroing in on the same document he'd been reading for the past hour.
"As long as we are alone you can refer to me however you want to," Shoto stated, sighing as he stretched.
"So… how many have you found?"
Todoroki almost groaned with distress, rubbing his tired eyes with frustration. "There are more laws against Merfolk than I care to count."
Kirishima hummed in sad acknowledgment, knowing exactly how long of a battle it would be repealing all the rules—both written and just spoken—once they had the power to do so. "We get to go to the shore tomorrow, so that's something to look forward to at least!"
"Excited to see that bloodlust filled Mer?" Shoto jabbed playfully, smirking some when Kirishima's face reddened.
"Well, I… uh… yeah…" the redhead admitted, running his hand through his hair. "He's just super manly, ya know?"
"So you tell me almost every single day… Izuku thinks he's starting to like you; will you allow him to court you if he does?"
Kirishima sputtered with embarrassment, wishing he hadn't dozed off and gotten the Prince's attention. "I um… I don't know."
Todoroki cocked an eyebrow with surprise; that was not what he was expecting to hear at all. From how often the redhead talked about Bakugo, and the dreamy, blushing face that usually accompanied his thoughts, Shoto was sure that there was strong pinning going on. "Why not?"
Eijiro sighed and rubbed his arm nervously, he almost had resignation in his expression. "Well, I mean, I really like him and all that but, it wouldn't exactly work between us. He's a Mer and I'm only half so—"
"Why would that matter? You've encouraged me to pursue my feelings for Izuku and yet there is no cross over in our bloodlines. Wouldn't it be more difficult for me to be with him than for you to be with Bakugo?"
Kirishima shrugged and smiled sadly. "I guess it would be easy to think that, but, if things work out with you becoming King and reverting the laws on Merfolk stuff, Midoriya could come and spend time with you on land. Bakugo isn't like that though, man. He's got no interest in leaving the water and even if I have gills, I couldn't keep up with him or fend for myself in his world. I'd be dead weight."
"So, you're worried that he wouldn't compromise for you, and if you did for him you wouldn't be able to make him happy without the ability to fully transform into a Mer?" Todoroki clarified. He felt a little bad when the redhead nodded in agreement, having not thought about their potential relationship in that way.
"It's whatever though! Just kind of a fact of life I guess!"
The Prince tilted his head back and forth, somewhat agreeing and yet not at the same time. "Are you sure that Bakugo wouldn't even try to spend time with you out of the water? If he does choose to court you, surely that means that he's aware of what that would mean."
"Maybe… I mean he's actually really smart when you get past his ego. He's got to ask to court me first though, and I think that might be a little hopeless with someone as prideful as him!" Kirishima chuckled, gazing fondly out the window to the sea.
Todoroki hummed and went back to reading his documents, hoping that his friend would find the answer to his dilemma.
"So, what exactly is your job title then?" Kirishima questioned with awe, trying to pry a little more information out of Bakugo. "When we first met, you told me you were 'on duty' and had to protect Midoriya, but now that I know he's a Prince it really changes things."
"I don't have a title; Deku never officially declared me his guard since he's supposed to have more than one and no one else would put up with this cringey love shit he's got going." The blonde responded, though he did feel a little proud.
Kirishima always looked at Bakugo like he was the coolest thing on Earth, but ever since Midoriya and Todoroki had confessed their princely statues to each other, his expression had become even more full of wonderment. It stroked Katsuki's ego hard.
"Oh man, so you're not only a super-strong warrior but loyal too? That's amazing bro!"
Bakugo was becoming less able to stop his cheeks from flaming in Eijiro's presence and he hastily looked away. "Uh, what do you do with the Prince? Are you his guard or some shit?"
Kirishima pouted as he shook his head, letting himself simply float in the sun-warmed water. "Nah, nothing like that; I'm just his servant. Endeavor law forbids teaching Mers how to fight and since I'm half, Shoto can't train me. He has been teaching me how to read and write though so that's been cool."
"Erm," Katsuki grunted, clearing his throat to try and force the nervous lump out of the way so that he could speak. "I could, uh… I could teach you how to fight."
The redhead snorted at the offer, once again feeling too inadequate to take it seriously. "Come on, bro… don't tease me like that. You know I'd never be able to do what you can in the water."
Bakugo's chest was tighter than a clam, face burning; It was now or never. He dug around in his bag and retrieved the courting gift he'd meticulously created, holding it out for Kirishima to take or refuse. "Then you can show me how to walk on land and I'll train you up there."
Eijiro was absolutely dumbstruck when he saw the blade Katsuki had made for him, only to be further shocked by his willingness to leave the ocean even if it was infrequent. His insecurities made his hands tremble, but the adorable flush on Katsuki's face was irresistible.
He gingerly reached out and took the dagger, his own rosy hue deepening when their fingers grazed each other. "Y-you'd really do that?"
"Tsk. Of course… I have to learn how to fight on land to protect Deku when he inevitably decides that he wants to pretend to be human." Bakugo stated, though he averted his eyes.
It was a decent and logical reason, but even Kirishima could see that Bakugo was just trying to draw attention away from the fact that there probably wasn't anything he wouldn't at least try if it meant making his potential mate happy.
The redhead took a moment to look over the delicately etched handle before grinning more widely than he had in his entire life. Without warning, he reached out with his free hand and caught his fingers in Bakugo's hair, pulling until he could slam their lips together.
The blonde almost squeaked he was so surprised, but recovered quickly, smirking happily while wrapping his arms around Eijiro and kissing back. Maybe this wasn't going to work out at all, but if he got to feel this way every time he touched his courting partner, he'd do everything in his power to make sure they had a chance.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Okay, so, my other two updates (and likely the 4th and 5th if I get to them) are angsty as hell and that's a lot of angst even for me! I figured we should have a break from that and have some 'cringey love shit' as Bakugo would say XD
Leave me a review/comment! Your thoughts are my sustenance!