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Bakugo lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling. It was a new one, both in terms of him seeing it for the first time and that it was literally new (built in a matter of hours by Cementos). Dorms. A new feature of UA life, thanks to someone getting kidnapped by villains. Him. It felt both real and not real. He kept going over it in his head, like a movie. A shitty ass movie that started to play in his head no matter what he did or thought. Anything could trigger it. Buried at the bottom of his new closet was a black shirt that he would probably never wear again.
It was the shirt he wore that night. A play button waiting to be pushed. To start the never ending show. He couldn’t help but think of it as the kidnapped shirt. Hell, he had a whole kidnapped outfit.The cops had seized everything as evidence and eventually returned it to him. As he mulled over the clothes and thought about just burning them (a glance up at the fire alarm and matching sprinkler put a stop to that) there was a knock at the door. He ignored it.
Kirshima was next door and would have just hit the adjoining wall or texted him if he wanted to talk. So it was either a teacher, the cops checking in on him, or some dogooder. The knocking continued. Probably Deku. The last person he wanted to see right now. It was complicated, it was always complicated.
“Room service!” a distinctly not Deku voice called out from behind the door. Bakugo actually laughed. Someone with a sense of humour. Fine. He opened the door.
Nervous blue eyes behind overly dramatic yellow strands stared back at him. Ah, the guy with the stomach laser. He was holding a wooden charcuterie board displaying an assortment of cheeses.
“I don’t need you pity cheese” Bakugo closed the door, but a pair of brown boots were in the way. So Bakugo slammed it even harder, he could play games too.
“It is not pity cheese. mon amie. I am bringing it to everyone in the dorm. A house warming present!”
“I am not your friend”
Laser only smiled, “Ah you speak it! “ held up the board of cheeses, winked and exclaimed “C'est délicieux!”
Bakugo tried to close the door again but Laser had already stepped inside
“It is hideous, I love it. “He exclaimed looking at the spartan interior. No posters, Bakugo had left his All Might posters behind in his bedroom back home. Hard to look at the hero you had brought an end to.
He could not think of a good returning insult so he popped a piece of cheese into his mouth. It was delicious. damn it. “Fine I’ll take it.” He grabbed the board and twitched his head for the other boy to leave. Laser hummed and took a seat on the bed. Bakugo was actually going to kill him.
“I did want to talk to you as well. We have not had the opportunité to speak much. But I wanted to take the time to change that.” Laser stopped and his face paled. He broke eye contact, suddenly finding that the bed spread was actually really quite interesting.
Bakugo waited. Blood would be hard to clean out of the carpet and he didn’t want to risk expulsion. Finally Laser lifted his head looked Bakugo in the eyes and said
“I wanted to apologize”.
Bakugo threw the cheese board at him. It just barely missed his head and landed on the bed, scattering cheese everywhere.
Bakugo shouted “Look what you did, you made me waste food you shitty bastard! I don’t need your pity or your apology. Get out!”
Laser stared at him as if transfixed. His mouth opened, then closed again. Oh lord he was going to cry wasn’t he. He hated it when they cried.
Laser stammered “I… it was my fault ...” The sound sunk in Bakugo’s stomach like a stone. Liar. They both knew whose fault it was. He felt his hands twitch and out of the corner of his eye he saw sparks fly from his hands. Shit.
"I'LL KILL YOU" He was about to lunge forward, expulsion be damned anything to get him to stop talking. Because the movie was starting to play and the thoughts wouldn't stop.
“Geesh Bakugo give the kid a break” came from outside the room. Kirishima. “This isn’t like we practiced at all. What did you actually want to say to him?”
Bakugo took a deep breath and allowed his hands to relax. He was going to be the #1 Hero, he couldn't get kicked out of UA. He needed to keep calm. “Thank you. I meant to say thank you..apparently” he shot Kirishima a dirty look who just laughed and said “You were doing so well,at first." He laughed again before looking at Laser "You too Aoyama, awesome dude!”
Aoyama (he might as well try to remember it) was still on the bed. He tilted his head to the left like a dog as said “I don’t understand what is happening. Pardone? Je ne comprends pas?”
Bakugo gritted his teeth and turned to face him. “I heard what happened at the training camp okay? You tried to help rescue me when I was all balled up by that masked asshole. You are the reason they saved the bird brain. It is not your fault that I….” Bakugo took a breath again and started again.
“It is the League of villains’ and I doubt they will ever apologize.” parroting words that the counsellor had given him. It is not your fault. A tough pill to swallow. That Bakugo was not in control. He had liked to pretend he has everything just so, his future outlined before him #1 hero. But first the slime villain and now the league. He wasn’t a hero, he was a victim. And everyone came to him with that soft look in their eyes, all kind words handling like he was fragile. He was strong damn it.
Behind him Kirishima smacked him on the shoulder "That is one off the list! Way to go bro!"
Bakugo shrugged him off. He has barely gotten started. He couldn't even look at Eraserhead, let alone All Might. Aoyama perked up a bit at this "Oh so you are thanking everyone! How inspired! Would you like to come with me on my house warming gift tour then? I only have one room left though. Midoriya's room to close it all out. He is right by me so I saved him for last." Aoyama stopped suddenly putting his manicured hand to his cheek "Mais no! You probably talked to him first my humble apologies"
Bakugo heard Kirishima groan. Was he really that predictable? Screw him. Bakugo tried to smile and through gritted teeth said "No I didn't get the chance to talk to him" There that was respectable enough. He unclenched his jaw stretching it out as he said "Deku wouldn't want to talk to me anyways. He already knows I am an asshole and hates my guts"
Aoyama blinked at him "You really don't know Midoriya at all do you?"
Okay now Bakugo was actually mad. He knew Deku for how long and this random extra is acting all high and mighty? If Deku was smart he should hate him. After all he put him through, he deserved it. Suddenly Bakugo felt a hand on his shoulder again. It was hard. He stared down at Kirishima's jagged rough hand. He let out a sigh, "Whatever. Maybe I will talk to him. If it will get you both out of my room and leave me the hell alone".
"Promise?" From both directions. Shit they were annoying. But he felt Kirishima's hand soften.
"Fine. Can't promise I won't kick his ass though" He really just wanted someone to punch him. To hate him instead of handling him with kid gloves. Give him someone to scream at besides himself. Anything to stop that movie from playing again. He had thought about getting Kirishima to train with him and deck him properly but Deku had earned it.
"Now get! Everybody out, the pity party is over!"
Again at the same time they exclaimed "Ohh a party!" But they did finally shuffle out. Bakugo bent and picked up the charcuterie board he had thrown earlier. Speaking to the air not looking at Aoyama he handed it to him saying "Thanks for the cheese it was delicious"
"Je t'en prie, mon ami"
Bakugo didn't argue as he shut the door behind them.