"Mind telling us where you disappeared off to last night?" Aizawa Sensei asked, tapping his foot as if he was disappointed in us. Just how badly do we mess up to get this kind of reaction from coming to school on time? What do we actually do on a regular basis?
"We went to bed, woke up and got ready for school. Any more dumbass questions?" Kacchan answered, letting out a groan when he stretched a little but otherwise nothing. All Might and Aizawa Sensei were both eyeing us, mostly me and it was making me uncomfortable so I couldn't help hiding behind Kacchan a little bit. He didn't say anything when I grabbed a handful of his jacket and even stepped in front of me when they still didn't look away from me.
"Oi? Yes or no?" Kacchan snapped at them when they stayed silent.
"What was it that Blackwhip did to you after… He, passed out?" Aizawa Sensei asked, motioning towards me. It feels odd, like he doesn't know what to call me and if I'm in his class wouldn't he know my name?
"Blackwhip was hungry so he ate. Outside of that isn't any of your damn business," Kacchan huffed but I couldn't help looking at him curious.
"It has a mouth? Well a stomach anyway? If it eats then does it need to use the bathroom too? Kacchan, you act so friendly with it, is it actually more like a puppy than you said it was?" I bubbled several questions but he just sighed before telling me he would tell me later before looking at the adults again. Oh, is it something sensitive? I guess even All Might said in an interview once that no one should know absolutely everything about your quirk.
"Sorry Kacchan, I'm no help am I?" I stepped further behind him, letting him take all the attention, it's better this way. Kacchan is amazing after all and I'm just a Deku. A stupid, stupid Deku. Even with a quirk Kacchan still calls me Deku after all.
Kacchan reached behind himself and grabbed my hand making me jump at the contact.
"I promise that we will talk about it later. For now just breathe, everything is alright. They are heroes after all not villains," he gave me a sly smirk before turning back to the adults again but he didn't let go of my hand. I leaned my face against the back of his shoulders but he just let me and gave my hand a slight squeeze.
"Bakugo, we need to know what happened yesterday in case it becomes dangerous or attacks anyone else," Aizawa Sensei spoke slowly as if trying to wait out for Kacchan to understand.
"Attack!?!" I squeaked but Kacchan just squeezed my hand again.
"Blackwhip is just a ball of emotions and impulses, there is never any logic or reasoning to it. The only time it's harmful is if Deku wills it to be. Something he never has and probably never will do," Kacchan answered but it feels forced.
"Then what happened when he passed out yesterday? Are you going to say that it didn't attack you?" Aizawa Sensei sighed, how often do we end up cornered like this?
"I already told Blackwhip I would give it what it needed. Once Deku fell asleep it just didn't have any restraint anymore. It's like when you pass out from exercising, when you're out cold you still breathe don't you?" Kacchan scoffed and that kind of made sense but it was also confusing.
"Then what did it eat from you? You have to tell us something!" Aizawa Sensei snapped irritably and I couldn't help flinching and hiding behind Kacchan, an action that both of the heroes seemed to notice.
"I fed him, that's all you need to know," Kacchan shook his head, not giving in.
"All I do is make things difficult for Kacchan," I sniffed, which had him spin around and gently hush me.
"Hey, hey now. Everything's okay. You didn't do anything wrong. Hey look at me, have I ever lied to you before?" He asked tilting my face up so I wasn't hunching my shoulders anymore.
"No, but-," I tried only for him to cut me off.
"Exactly, even at my worst I've never lied to you. Not once," he gave me a gentle smile before using a thumb to wipe away my tears. Oh my All Might, this is so embarrassing! But Kacchan is being so kind, can this just be real? Pretty please? Wait, I'm crying in front of All Might! No, he doesn't look disgusted though. More like he wants to reach out and help but he isn't sure how. That's a nice thought.
"You're my Deku because without you there isn't anything left. I won't let anything happen so take a deep breath, good now another," he patiently talked me through what had been about to become a panic attack but now I feel better, not fine by any means but better.
"Alright now let's test your memories a little, okay?" He suggested with a smile and I looked up at him curious but he grinned like he was about to make a point, a very bad one.
"What year did All Might debut AND what is the difference between aquamarine and baby blue?" I saw All Might go a little pale but I answered anyway. All Might trivia is something I can handle! Bonus, it's helping me to calm down too. Several questions later All Might looked like he was going to evaporate right on the spot. Is he impressed that I knew all the answers?! Did I make a good impression?
"Good, good, at least I know your long term memory is good. Then what about newer information? You said Eraserhead debuted recently? What can you tell me about him?" Kacchan pointed at Aizawa Sensei and I couldn't help smiling. Hero trivia! I'm not as confident as I am with All Might but I still feel pretty good about it. Instead of getting pale he looked a bit red by the time I was finished. Did I say something wrong? But I swear cats must be his favorite animal because it's the only time he doesn't just keep walking. He will always stop and pet a cat while with dogs or other pets he avoided most of the time!
"Umm, is something wrong? Did I get an answer wrong?" I asked hesitating again but Kacchan was just laughing.
"No Deku, he just didn't realize how much of his information was online," Kacchan laughed but both men seemed to bristle at the thought.
"Kacchan, are you using me to bully pro heroes?" I asked him accusingly and he barked another laugh.
"No, come on. Let's go back to the dorm, you need to calm down and relax. If you would like, I can tell you about your step dad?" He offered and I grabbed his arm excitedly.
"Step dad? I have a dad? Is he nice? Wait, does he like me? Is he good to Mom? What about-," I couldn't stop the questions, that was a lot to take in all at once but then I froze. "Does he know about… Him?" I looked at Kacchan wide eyed but he just nodded.
"Deep breaths, he knows about your bio dad. Calm down, it's okay," he whispered but panic was already gripping me.
"Does he know I'm worthless?"
"Deku you have a quirk and you were never worthless," Kacchan tried to correct me but it wasn't helping. Not really.
"I have a quirk?" I looked at him confused and he seemed to take a deep breath and was counting under his breath.
"Deku, you do realize that Blackwhip is a part of your quirk, don't you?" He asked, a hand on each shoulder while he tried to look me in the eyes but it only made me uncomfortable and thankfully he noticed because he let me go right away.
"I, I, I," I stuttered but nothing else would come out. "I don't know anything, Kacchan I'm just a Deku, I'm not-!" But he hugged me.
"You're my everything, stop talking bad about my world," he whispered in my ear and I couldn't take it anymore and just cried. It feels so nice to just give everything up, no more hiding or trying to just survive and instead just be.
And then I felt something grab me from behind and panic shot through me again.
"It's okay, Deku it's okay. I'm here, I'm here," Kacchan's voice drifted to my ears but it wasn't helping until I heard him say, "it's just All Might. He wanted to try and help, look he let go already." Sure enough by that point it was only Kacchan's arms around me and I was gasping through my tears just trying to breathe, I could feel myself shaking but Kacchan's arms were tight and comforting. "It's okay, I'm here now. Everything's going to be alright."
"It hurts so much," I tried to explain but my chest just wouldn't let more than a few grunts out at a time. Kacchan seemed to understand everything though because he started gently rocking me and his fingers combed through my hair. I have no idea when we ended up on a couch or where we even were to be on a couch but Kacchan just kept whispering in my ear and when he asked if I wanted to see his quirk, I just nodded.
Soon enough little sparks were popping in front of me and when I looked down at them they grew even smaller. I reached out and found them getting small enough to just make a pop and I could feel it on my skin. Like those snapping fireworks that when you crushed between your fingers, just a small pop but no pain.
It was pretty though, so very pretty. For the first time I noticed how rough my hands were, anyone could tell that I've worked hard just from that alone but they seem smoother than I would have thought. I wonder why that is?
"I'm sorry Kacchan, I've ruined something haven't I?" I asked without looking up, already knowing that the long, slim and smooth fingers were his, his quirk would have given him away but no, no one was as perfect as Kacchan, not even his hands.
"Never, want to see some colors?" He asked without missing a beat and I nodded letting myself curl into him just so I could watch him take out little brown coins and suddenly his mini explosions were green. He did a few others but…
"I think I like your regular explosions the best, they are the most beautiful," I whispered before yawning. I saw him dust off his hands and after a few discolored pops his explosions were back to normal again.
"I'm sorry," I whispered again, not willing to let my eyes close if I could help it, the feel of Kacchan's arms around me soothing me.
"There's nothing to be sorry for," he whispered and I felt him kiss my forehead again.
"Can you-," I started but froze. What am I doing? I don't deserve any of this? Certainly not Kacchan's time or affection but here I am, trying to ask for more.
"Of course, anytime and every time," he answered and I felt him kiss me again. I closed my eyes and he kept leaving small kisses for me.