Edited: July eleventh through seventeenth, two-thousand twenty-one.
I am the next Rick Riordan with these chapter titles *dabs and commits die*
This gonna be a long one folks, buckle up.
ALSO PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF FRACKING ATHENA POINT OUT ERRORS ON (I MEANT "IN" BUT WHATEVER JFC) MY WRITING IM DYSLEXIC AS SHIT AND CANT ALWAYS FIND THEM!! ALSO I KNOW I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN A BIT I WAS BUSY WITH SHIT!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!! I LOVE ANY COMMENTS YOU LEAVE ME THANK YOUUU💖💖💖
Kirishimas POV (for now)
Once Sozo sat down in the back, Aizawa Sensei announced that they had the day to study and just enjoy themselves, as long as they stayed in the classroom. With excitement all across the class, they moved their things to where they liked, chatted, and did what they pleased.
Sozo was sat in the back closest to the window next to Shinso, they didn't talk much but neither seemed bothered by the other. Kirishima got up, grabbing all his stuff and went over to the seat in front of Sozo, that was, thankfully, empty. Along with most of the surrounding desks. The class was busy getting settled in their new seating arrangements, so they hadn't gone over to say "hello."
"Yo, this seat taken?" Kirishima grinned at Sozo, who returned it.
"Depends, you want it?" They grinned, propping their checkered vans onto their desktop. He got a good look at the way they wore their uniform. They didn't have a tie, kinda like Bakugo. Sozo wore the vest version, with their pants cuffed to above their ankles. Their shirt was also cuffed to above their elbows, showing off lean and freckled arms, and some jagged scars sprouting from just below the elbow.
"Sweet, can I grab some of my friends too? If not that's totally cool-"
"Dude of course!" Sozo chuckled. "They seem great! The only person I think you have to really ask is Shin over here." They nodded their head to Shinso, who rolled his eyes.
"I don't care, really. It's not like they're here to talk to me anyways." He drawled. Shinso raised an eyebrow at Sozo. "We're here to become heroes, not make friendship bracelets. And please refrain from using that nickname, or any nickname, Sozoryoku." He pulled out his phone and started messing with it. Sozoryoku rolled their eyes, smirking.
"We came here to be heroes, yeah, but whats the harm in making friends along the way? Being a hero is great, sure, but being lonely..." they skyhook their head, still with a smile on their face. "Nah, been there, done that, left a scathing review on Yelp, definitely." They chuckled at their own joke, turning their body more towards Shinso. "And did you really have to use the bracelet line? Again? I get it, the bracelets might be a bit much, but lay off me, man!" They held up there arms, showing stacked bracelets of at least five or six or per arm, each unique. They also had stacked rings, with five per hand, also as different as their bracelets. One in particular caught Kirishimas eye. It was smaller, less gaudy than the rest, maybe, but it was definitely... peculiar. It seemed metal, but its colored tint seemed to change color quickly the longer one looked. Otherwise, it was a simple, metal ring.
Sozo turned back to Kirishima. "He's a stick in the mud, but he ain't so bad, I promise. Now go get your friends! They seem interesting," they leaned forward, grinning at him, showing off particularly sharp fangs at the front of their mouth. Kirishima returned it, showing his own array of sharp teeth, moving back to where he originally was seated.
"Guys, go over to Shinso and Sozoryoku! They seem great! Sozos really friendly and pretty funny too! And I don't really understand it but you both seemed to have... something with one of the two so... I don't know, just go over there!" He grabbed Mina and Kaminari by the wrists just as they opened mouths to retort, dragging them over to the back while Sero followed willingly behind. Kirishima dropped them off, Mina in the seat in front of Sozo, and Kaminari in front of Shinso, who further slunk down in his chair, hiding behind his phone.
Sero pulled up a chair in between the two desks, plopping down before introducing himself. "I'm Sero, Sero Hanta! You both seem really cool, I like the piercings Sozoryoku!" He smiled, relaxing into his chair. Sozo thanked him, turning to Mina. Kirishima got distracted, not really interested in anything the group were discussing, to be honest. He looked around, eyes landing on spiky hair in the second row, next to the window. Bakugo hadn't moved. He seemed so off, not talking, not yelling even. Kirishima hadn't heard one 'motherfucker' in the past week. And he felt even worse that Kirishima was just-now taking notice to it. To say the very least, he was worried.
"Yo, Red, go talk to him."
"Wh-what? Huh?!" Kirishima jumped, turning his attention back to the group.
Sozo smirked at him, lip rings curling upward. "You're staring at him. You wanna talk to him. Don't be a pussy. Go talk to him." They gestured to Bakugo, holding encouraging eye contact with the red head. Mina looked between them, then at Bakugo, trying to put putting the pieces together.
She leaned back on Sozos desk, deciding that whatever it was, to take the side that Kirishima was not on. Typical. "Be a man! Go to talk to him, or I'll tell Mom you're a pussy-"
"Jesus Mina! Why do you always got to gossip to Mom! And nothings going on, you're both crazy!" He crossed his arms defiantly, trying his damnest to be as convincing as possible. But, what he was trying to be convincing about, he, for the life of him, had no clue about.
There was more to this than he had time to unpack.
"But you want to, don't you, Kirishima?" Sozoryoku stared him dead in the eyes.
And something in him broke. Maybe it was his resolve? Whatever it was, it shattered like glass. 'Unbreakable' my ass... "Ok, so I might be worried about him. He looks tired and hasn't been quite himself lately." Bakugo hadn't really talked to him in one-and-a-half-weeks. He didn't know why. But he wanted too. No you don't, yes I do. He didn't know.
Kirishima also really didn't know why it had taken him so long to register it.
"All the more reason to go talk to him, Ei." This time it was Mina who spoke, her tone less teasing than before. Eyeing him seriously, then glancing at Sozo, who seemed certain, albeit a bit sly even, like they knew a secret no one else did. Mina scooted a little bit closer to them in her chair, still looking at Kirishima. "Just go talk to him dammit, he looks like he could use some social interaction, maybe even a hug, he looks so tired..."
And the longer he looked, the more he thought just how right she was. His eyes were slightly unfocused, darkened underneath too, his entire being just seemed... off. And the more he looked, the more he wondered how in the hell he didn't notice it sooner. Kirishima turned to glare at Mina and Sozo, but his heart just wasn't really in it. They seemed to be waiting. Waiting for him to get over himself and go talk to the boy.
The thing is, Kirishima really wanted to talk to Bakugo. He just didn't fucking know how. How did he start? Where did he start? Why is he having so much trouble with this?!
He groaned audibly, "Fuck you both, fine." Kirishima got up, not missing Mina pump her fist in the air, and Sozo throw their arms up with silent celebration, before watching him off, Mina leaning over to hear something Sozo was saying, giggling as they talked.
Kirishima made the painstaking walk over to Bakugos desk, noticing his hearing aids discarded, a book out in front of him. He absently flipped the pages, eyes scanning the words mundanely. He watched for second, just enjoying how peaceful he looked, not screaming and trying to tear someone's throat out. But he was so tired. It showed too. And Kirishima had worry eating him from the inside out.
Carefully and slowly, he rested his hand on Bakugos arm, trying not to scare his friend. Still, Bakugo tensed and whipped his head around, hands flexed to explode, but he relaxed a little, seeing it was Kirishima. But only a little. And, for some reason, that caused a little ache somewhere in Kirishimas chest. He swallowed hard, giving Bakugo a smile, not thinking to remove his hand from his arm. Bakugo relaxed a little more, barely leaning into Kirishimas hand. His smile widened nevertheless, and he signed a quick message, Talk or Sign?
Bakugo thought for second, glancing around the room, before looking up at him. Sign. Too loud. Kirishima more or less agreed with that, it was a wonder Aizawa Sensei was still asleep.
He nodded, Are you okay?
Bakugo thought about it for a minute. Tired.
He chuckled, though he felt no humor, I can tell. All he got from that was a middle finger a scowl. Why haven't you slept?
Bakugo crossed his arms, glaring at his desk.
Don't wanna talk about it?
Bakugo shook his head no. Setting his jaw, he looked up a little at Kirishima, who returned it with a concerned frown down at him, moving some hair out of his face. Bakugos shoulders slumped visibly. Sit.
Kirishima didn't have to be told twice, pulling up a chair and totally forgetting about his friends in the back, who were slowly growing in numbers as more and more people stopped by, though most of the students eventually left after saying their hellos.
What's going on? He stopped, faltering a bit, before signing, Please. Kirishima almost didn't expect a response, anything more than a 'Fuck off,' or at least 'Go away,' as it was all he'd ever really received when he tried to talk to Bakugo about some emotional stuff that breached surface level. Though, he had to admit, it didn't happen often. And a pang of guilt like a church bell rang through his chest at the thought.
He remembered one time, when things were different, what felt like so long ago...
Kirishima shook his head in an attempt to swipe away his thoughts, he didn't have time to ponder the past. He promised himself that a long time ago.
But what he did know is that what happened that night, he hoped to whatever was up there, that it wasn't a one-time ordeal.
So he sat. And he waited. He waited for what felt like forever, but was actually two minutes maximum. And Bakugo didn't even look at him.
Kirishima moved his seat forward until he was directly next to the blond, resting the back of his hand against his knee, just waiting. Hoping. Praying. (And also begging the universe that his habit of conveying emotion through touch didn't get him killed, or severely maimed.)
Bakugos POV
He hadn't planned on talking. He thought he could fucking let this problem soak and shove it to the back of his damn mind until it dried itself out. But it didn't. He fucking knew it wouldn't, deep down. But he tried, tried really fucking hard.
Even worse, it got bigger, big enough to the point where he lost sleep over it, and fucking Bird Boy noticed, and his damn parents, and even fucking Croissant, god damn love-whispering French bastard he was (Oui Oui Bitch You Obvious). And he got nervous. And pissed, and a load of other things he couldn't even begin to fucking comprehend. It was just so overwhelming and frustrating, and Bakugo had abso-fucking-lutely no idea what the hell he was to fucking do about it. So it grew.
It grew because he fed it, unwillingly. It grew because he didn't know how to kill it, and everytime he tried, it would grow even more. Like a bastardoues plant that thrived off everything. A fucking weed.
He still tried avoiding it, stubborn little shit he was, and that meant avoiding certain people too. He didn't like it, no of course not, but that's all he could think to do. And, sitting in front of the main reason for Bakugos problem, his weed, who was asking him to talk it out, he never felt so uncomfortable in his life. He felt weak, and he hated, hated, feeling weak.
So he sat there for a while, pondering his excuses, his lies, as to why he's so tired, as to why he couldn't sleep, as to why in the fuck he was acting this way, while the eyes of his first real friend bore into him, confused, questioning, even a little hurt. And worried. So damn worried.
"I..." he tried, but nothing really came out. Just the start of a sentence, one he couldn't even pinpoint where he wanted it to go, if he wanted it to go at all. He groaned, shoving one hearing aid in, so as to hear himself fumble over his speech.
"Can we do this later? Where theres privacy? And fucking quiet?" He snarled, turning to glare at the rest of 1A, who carried on with their activities without a hitch.
"O-Oh, yeah! Sure! After class, I can go to your dorm, or mine... whatever works!" Bakugos eyes rested on Kirishima, an awkward, toothy smile, rushed words, a nervous and maybe even sad tone, scratching the back of his neck, as he sat up in his chair. He knew he was just stalling, trying to come up with a better excuse than what his head was giving him at the moment. And it hurt to see Kirishima act like that around him, so uptight, not really calm or at peace with anything in the world, at least, Bakugos world. He'd never been like that. Until now.
And Bakugo knew if was his fault.
A second or two of awkward silence, Kirishima looking everywhere but him, and Bakugo sneaking glances at the aforementioned, and then returning his eyes to his desk.
"Oh! Do you... do you wanna go over there and talk a bit to Shinso and Sozoryoku? They seem nice... but I get it if you don't wanna go, I just thought-"
"Kirishima Eijiro if you don't calm the hell down and just wait for me to answer, I will blast you into orbit." Bakugo deadpanned. He stood up, facing Kirishima, who was yet to say another word. "Yes you little fucker, I'll go and 'mingle.'" He said sarcastically, miming quotation marks. Though his voice cracked. And he wondered if it was his emotional weed, or the sleep deprivation. (There's no way of not making that sentence not sounding like Bakugo hitting a joint, I tried, but it doesn't work any other way.)
Kirishima sat there for a second, a bit shocked. "Well? Lead the way, Shit Head," Bakugo gestured for Kirishima to walk towards the back, where Raccoon Eyes was watching carefully, and Eye Bags further hid away, Dunce Face and Soy Sauce trying to include him in their conversation.
"Oh, alright!" He finally smiled, albeit awkwardly, Bakugo rolling his eyes at his back, while Kirishima got up and led him to the back of the room.
~***~
"He lives!" Pinky exclaims dramatically, falling back onto that Mixed-Matched kids desk, hand over her eyes in a theatrical way.
Sozo chuckled, "Yeah dude, 'thought he," they cut their finger across their neck, making a face like 'well shit,' "or something."
"-And we wouldn't have known any different because we totally weren't spying on you from across the room!" Mina grinned widely, giving the two of them finger guns while Sozo covered their face to hide their laughter.
"She's only half-kidding, that's the worst part." They gave the two a crooked smile. "Sozoryoku. Nice to finally meet the famous Bakugo Katsuekey." They grinned, giving their hand out in a fist bump. Bakugo glared, it not being the first time some extra were to fuck up his name. This wasn't one of the worse pronunciations, he'll give him that.
"It's Katsuki. Aizawa was right about one thing, you can't talk for shit." Bakugo mused snarkily, not wanting to even be there honestly, but a slight jab to the ribs by Kirishimas elbow had him at least slightly regretting it. Rolling his eyes, Bakugo ignored Mis-Match's sheepish apology, returning the fist bump before they could retract it, just to keep Kirishimas ass happy. The red head might've been nervous about inviting him, but he was perfectly happy to keep his attitude in check. Typical.
"Whatever, you Smurf-version of Half 'n Half." He scoffed, shoving his hands into pockets. To his annoyance, Sozo laughed it off, running a hand through their two-toned hair, while looking over to where Todoroki stood, talking to a flushed Midoriya.
"Huh, guess you're kinda right, our hair is similar, we even got a facial scar and heterochromia! Seriously though, sorry about that, man." They leaned back into their chair, gesturing for the other two to sit. Pinky got up so Bakugo could sit, and moved to sit on Sozos desk, at which the aforementioned turned a bit pink in the face.
"So, we got time to kill, whatcha wanna do?" Sozo asked, crossing their arms behind their head. Mina suggested multiple games, such as Truth or Dare, or Fuck, Marry, Kill, but they were all shot down rather quickly, much to her dismay.
"Awwwww c'mon! I thought you guys loved me! What happened?!" Sprawled out over Mixed-Matched desk, like she was in some fucking shitty romance music video, arm draped over her face, which only served to fluster Smurf-Half 'n Half, and provide further evidence as to how dramatic Pinky is.
"Would You Rather anyone?" Dunce Face casually threw his idea into the mix, for it to be almost immediately agreed to by unanimous vote.
"Yeah, sure." Sero nodded his head with a shrug.
"Fine~, 'still want Truth or Dare, but it'll have to do!" Mina crossed her arms and pouted in Sozos directions, only for it to be met with a chuckle and a wink, which Bakugo rolled his eyes too. Sappy bastards.
Sozo turned from a blushing Pinky to nod a yes with a thumbs up.
"Yeah man, why not," Bakugo heard Kirishima say to his right, then he felt him turn to him, asking for an answer without saying a word.
Bakugo rolled his eyes, "Tch, who cares... just no bullshit outta any of you, or I'm blasting you to hell!"
"Sure thing, Gremlin, now who wants to go first?"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?! ILL KICK YOUR ASS-"
Smurf-Half 'n Half wheezed, turning to look back at Bakugo, obviously amused. "What? Don't like that one?" Smirking, quirking up an eyebrow, their tone was sarcastically-sympathetic. They managed not to look at Pinky, who was practically squealing with laughter beside them.
"WHY YOU-" The teens hands flexed and sparks were popping off by the dozens. Then he felt a warm weight on his wrist.
"Bakugo, calm down please. They just replaced the fire extinguisher from Friday, and I don't think Aizawa-Sensei would be too happy about having to get a new one again... or being woken up from his nap." Kiri rubbed the back of his neck as he talked only making eye contact after he was finished. His hand on Bakugos wrist didnt leave either.
A moment of pure silence came over the group, but Bakugo had completely forgotten they were there. It was just him and Kirishima, staring at each other.
Until it got weird. The blond snatched his hand back when he heard a snort. Trance broken, he turned for the source, seeing a two-toned blue head of hair face down on the desktop, failing to contain their laughter. Failing miserably.
"What are you laughing at, you fucking piece of shit?!"
Sozo lifted their head, seeming to have gotten it under control, only to lose it when they looked Bakugo in the eyes. "D-dude... pfffft... sexual tension is just," Another fit of giggles, "HILARIOUS to me, okay?" They finally managed to speak a full sentence. Then they busted out wheezing again at the look on Kirishimas and Bakugos faces. They must of looked real good for that reaction.
Then you could hear Sero finally losing it too, laughing his ass off from Bakugos left. They all turned to him, only to hear an excited "Someone finally gets it!" He sat up from facing down on his desk to looking at Sozoryoku, who was starting to calm down just enough to speak. "You asexual or somethin'?"
Sozo only nodded their head. "You?" They asked, half breathless. Sero nodded his head, another wheezing fit taking over. "Finally! Someone who understands why sexual tension is so fucking funny!"
They somehow managed to wake Aizawa-Sensei, who sent them out of the room until they could pull themselves together. They left, still cackling and using the walls and each other for support.
"What the fuck??" Kaminari wheezed out, looking exasperated to say the least. "Sero always at least chuckles when people get... ya' know, and he thinks sex jokes are peak-humor, but I've never seen him laugh that hard!"
"He's found someone who gets him!" Mina grinned, though it didn't reach her eyes, and Bakugo was certain he didn't want anything to do with what was going through her head.
"Sorry 'bout your game, Denki." Kirishima consoled, warily glancing at the doorway, as if he half-expected Sozo and Plain Face to bust back in and laugh at them again.
Kaminari shrugged it off. "Fine with me, I'm just confused as fuck!" Bakugo agreeed with Kaminari. He didn't know what to make of the situation at hand whatsoever, he didn't really understand what was going on.
"Fuck this shit, I'm leaving." Checking his watch, he grabbed his things and headed toward the door with two minutes till the bell. Not like Aizawa would care, Bakugo was one of the 'problem children' he always complained about.
"Hey! Bakugo!" The blond stopped in his tracks, turning his head towards the voice. "You coming for dumplings after school?" Kirishima called, hope clear in his eyes. Bakugo squinted at him, he could feel himself scowling, and he knew when Kirishima saw it, his grin faltering just a bit. But enough to where Bakugo noticed.
"Who's going?" Bakugo heard the words fly from his mouth, without him thinking at all. Kirishimas expression lifted some, hope glinting back into his crimson irises.
"Just the squad! And Sozoryoku! And Shinso if he wants to!" He flashed a big sharp toothed smile at Bakugo, and the other boy felt his heart clench for reasons he was becoming more and more sure of by the second.
"Maybe." And with that, Bakugo sauntered off, hands in his pockets clutched in fists so they wouldn't cause and explosion he was certain would destroy half of UA.
Am I projecting onto Sero? Yes. Is it very obvious? Yes. Do I care? Not at all.