chinanigans | I dreamed a dream in times gone by

I dreamed a dream in times gone by

[The holidays came slowly and went by too fast. It seemed that everyone was excited to go home for Christmas time to spend it with their families, especially since the mandatory dorm system meant that they couldn't see them through the normal school year. All of the students of 1-A had enjoyed a Christmas party together as they chatted excitedly about their plans for Christmas. When Izuku had been asked, he had said that he and his mother usually kept Christmas simple...they'd make sweets together and have hotpot on Christmas Eve before opening presents in the morning. He was eager for the quiet and peace of time spent with her more than anything.

That night was the last that anyone heard from Izuku throughout the rest of wintr break. Of course his closer friends, like Iida and Ochako, had immediately been wondering why he wasn't returning calls or texts, until eventually they got a single response from him. Only one, and only to them. It stated that he'd gotten sick and probably wouldn't be responding until school started back. It was a weak cover, but they believed it. It was the best that Toshinori could think of in a pinch without coming up with a worse lie. He couldn't tell even his best friends for fear of the young boy's own safety.

The news of why he really never called or texted hit the first morning everyone returned to classes, and the entire campus was alight with mutterings about it. Izuku wasn't at school at all, of course...and the specifics of the news were left rather vague, probably to protect him further. When Kirishima had heard, he couldn't even believe it until he saw the news report on TV in the common room and realized...it was true.

Kirishima had been trying to unpack his things like everyone else on the first day back since classes wouldn't start until the next day, but he hadn't seen Bakugou come in yet. So when he finally does, Kirishima comes running up to him before any of the others can, breathless.]

Bakugou!

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[That week was. Rough. For everyone.

Class resumed, as one would expect but it was kind of obvious that no one could really focus. Everyone was having a hard time with tests, not even Yaomomo was able to get a full 100% like she usually did on any of the tests they had taken in the middle of the week to jog their brains for the rest of the semester. People got injured over stupid mistakes during combat battle. Bakugo was called on for a question in the middle of Present Mic's class and didn't even hear it the first time.

Everyone was just... worried. Not only for Deku, but for their own families, too. Of course hearing that a Villain attacked one of their classmate's family would cause panic to rise in the rest of the students as well. It's not a stretch to think that it could happen to them, too.

So the week has been.. a mess. A complete and utter mess, until it ended with Uraraka suddenly jumping up, exclaiming that she got a text from Deku. That he'd back on Monday. There was an audible sigh from everyone in the room when the news hit, and the rest of the day went.. a little bit better because of that.

Bakugo of course is the first out of the school and back to the dorms, so he could have alone time to think some more as if that's not all he'd been doing this week. He lays around in his dorm for the rest of the day, pretty much save for dinner and was honestly going to try and sleep at seven pm today. So when he gets a phonecall at the end of the day, it startles him straight up in bed-- not that he was really able to sleep anyway.

He picks it up, and looks over the caller ID before anything else.]

[When he looks, he'll notice something strange. In that...there's nothing to recognize.]

Unknown Caller

[OKAY. THAT'S NOT ALARMING WHEN MURDER HAPPENED A WEEK AGO. IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

Bakugo stares at his phone for a couple of rings before he decides-- fuck it. If something happened and he misses it because he didn't answer, he'd kick himself in the ass for it later.]

What?

[He answers the phone with a voice that's stone cold and wary, doesn't even bother asking who was calling.]

[There's silence for a tense moment on the other end until finally, a very tired sounding voice answers.]

Bakugou-shounen.

[Just hearing that voice has Bakugo sit up a little bit straighter, and his tone completely shifts. From wary and a little annoyed to quiet and more attentive. On alert, as if he's ready to head out and fight if he's asked.]

...why are you calling me this late?

["What happened?" Bakugo wants to ask, but opts to just let him explain. The question is pretty obvious without him having to ask it in the first place, anyway.]

Because...Midoriya-shounen wanted me to talk to you myself in his stead. But more than that, you are the closest to what happened.

[He doesn't even explain what, he knows Bakugou knows by now.]

You have a right to be properly informed about this.

[Oh god. Deku wanted Bakugo to be the first to learn about the grizzly details of his mom's death? He.... doesn't even think he could properly handle hearing it, honestly, and a part of him that still lingers is pissed that Deku would be thoughtful enough to let him know. But he knows why. He gets it.

So he swallows against his throat that feels impossibly dry, reaching to his bedside table for a water bottle he kept there to take a sip from it first before he gives All Might a reply.]

That fucking nerd... I heard about it on the news already. I know what happened.

I thought you might. I heard they were allowing the press to comment today...but no. It is more than just that.

[Another pause.]

For the undetermined future, he will be staying with me under my care and responsibility. His father is currently unable to be relieved from his duties overseas.

The attack on his mother was pointedly targeted.

[There's the distinct sound of something falling on Bakugo's end of the call, and a pause before a soft "shit" can be heard from him as he bends over to pick his water bottle off the floor. Of course he had expected it to be a purposeful attack-- even if he didn't know about One for All he wouldn't have been surprised to learn that it was. And yet for some reason, All Might confirming that just has him unable to breathe.

Maybe because in the back of his mind, he'd been worried about his family being next. Not just because he lives nearby, but because he's already been targeted by the villains himself. Maybe they'd get kidnapped. Used for a bargaining chip. Those kinds of things have been plaguing him all week and this just prods at those thoughts even more, causing him to feel a little dizzy from the stress.]

...heh. He must be feeling pretty great right now. The hero he's admired since he was a brat gets to take care of him from now on.

[It's said completely dryly, without the teasing tone that usually would come with words like that in the first place.]

[While Toshinori knows Bakugou is just...reacting the only way he knows how, he only wishes this were something Izuku were excited about. He sighs a bit on his end.]

While it is true he will be returning to classes Monday, he has...not been doing well, Bakugou. I feel that it might be in his best interests to see someone he trusts before meeting with his peers at large. I understand he is close to young Iida and Uraraka, but they would likely only increase his upset, unintentionally.

What I am saying is that he asked for you, first. I think you should come see him tomorrow.

....the hell?

[That. What? That doesn't actually register to Bakugo very easily. He.. asked for Bakugo to visit him before his two best friends? What? Why? They we're getting along a bit better, sure, and he knew his secret about OFA but that was just because Deku took pity on him and wanted him to know he wasn't tricked. That wasn't out of friendship. So.. why?]

If those two would just upset him more, why the fuck does he want me?

[He's aware that his attitude upsets people easily. He's aware it's a problem he needs to work on-- and he's been trying. Slowly but surely, he's been trying. But he's not someone known for being good at comforting other people. In fact, he'd be the last person literally anyone should ask for comfort.]

[The answer Toshinori gives, ultimately, is simple. Quiet.]

You knew her.

[...fuck.

Fuck.]

....text me your address.

[Bakugo's answer is quiet as well, and hesitant as if he wasn't sure how to even reply to begin with. Of course, that makes sense. Yeah, it does. But it also... it's heavy. This whole situation is heavy. But in a way, this was also something heroes had to deal with wasn't it? Comforting the victims or whatever. He'd have to face something like this eventually and he knew his ways of just yelling at everyone-- telling them to deal with their problems on their own were what were causing his failure right now.

And... as much as he hates to admit it.

He and Deku are friends. He can't just deny a request like that. He couldn't.]

One moment.

[There's a pause before Bakugou's phone dings as the address comes up. He doesn't tell Bakugou to keep it secret; he knows well enough that he will.]

I am sorry to have to burden you with this, young man.

Whatever. If the dumbass nerd wants to see me tomorrow, he'll get his fucking wish.

[He hangs up after saying that, feeling as though there's nothing else to really say. After that, he lays awake until four in the morning, thinking too hard about what was to come the following day. About how much he didn't want to go just to have Deku crying on his shoulder. Just to have to deal with the gravity of death for the whole day.

He leaves the dorms at eight am, ignoring anyone who tries to ask where he's going. For Deku and All Might's sake. Though he stops into town on The way there, so he shows up around nine. He knocks on the door with one hand, his other holding a bag of an assortment of donuts. Mostly... because he feels awkward visiting All Might's home for the first time without some kind of housewarming gift.

....also for Deku. Not that he'd admit it.]

[When Bakugou knocks on the door, there's a pause for only a brief moment as Toshinori checks through the peephole to make sure it's him before he pulls the door inward and steps aside for Bakugou to come in. He's the same, gaunt form as he's been since his fight with All For One, though somehow he looks even worse than he has in some time. Possibly for sympathy's sake. For Izuku's sake.

Of course Izuku wouldn't be staying here for the rest of the term. He'd actually be safer at the UA dorms than a house that anyone could break into, despite how discreet. It seems though that he'd been staying here for some time just to have somewhere to be, having been completely displaced since the incident. There are suitcases lining the wall near the door, presumably all Izuku's belongings and other things recovered from the Midoriya home as well as his familiar yellow backpack. After the door is shut and locked behind them, Toshinori nods his head towards the back of the small apartment towards a room that's had its sliding door shuttered off.]

He is back there. I will be out here if I am needed. I have some phonecalls to make.

[God.. poor All Might. He somehow looks far worse than he ever had, and Bakugo wonders if he's even slept since the incident occurred. He nods his head a little at All Might's directions before taking off his shoes and walking to the back room. For some reason he feels.. nervous. Nervous, and Off.

Even so, he knocks on the wall beside the sliding door before sliding it open enough to lean against the doorway.]

You rang?

[When Bakugou enters, he'll find an unsettling image. There's a futon spread out in the middle of the room, but the blankets on it are tousled and no one is actually in it, showing that whoever was using it probably tried to sleep but couldn't. There's a trash can near the pillows and a bottle of water that's barely been touched. As for Izuku...he's sitting up against the wall with his knees pulled halfway to his chest, staring at some point on the floor between his legs with his arms folded atop them. His cell phone is on the floor near him, though it's hard to tell whether it's off or on with the screen darkened.

When Bakugou enters, Izuku slowly rolls his eyes to look up at him, staring at him like he'd seen a ghost. His face is very pale and the color beneath his eyes is more green than anything, his fingertips trembling once he realizes that Bakugou actually showed up.]

K...Kacchan.

[That expression pretty much says everything. He didn't think he'd come.]

[Holy shit. He expected Deku to be in a poor state but... but he looks like a walking corpse. That alone has Bakugo's eyes widen a little in shock, his brows furrowing in slight concern as he sees the boy he inwardly declared his rival wasting away out of pure despair. It's a fucking good thing he showed up, he thinks. Would Deku even last until Monday?]

You look like shit.

[He walks into the room, shutting the door behind him as he does and he takes a few steps towards Deku but ultimately ends up hovering near the door.]

[Izuku stares at Bakugou for a long moment as he hovers there by the door, and for a moment it looks like he's going to speak...until he doesn't, instead just letting his gaze slide away back ahead of him. He seems to be in some pretty deep shock, still, which might explain why he didn't immediately throw himself at Bakugou's feet sobbing. That, or he's cried so much the last week or so that his body can't remember how to.

Either way, he's quiet for now.]

[Well. This was going to go about as poorly as Bakugo expected, since he's going to have to try and lead the conversation for once. He still doesn't even know how to talk to Deku in any manner of normal... not that he even really talks to anyone normally anyway. But he'll try, he guesses.

Quietly, he walks over until he's beside Deku, and leans against the wall while still standing for now.]

...your little friends are worried about you, y'know. They kept asking me over and over if I heard anything from you as if you're my best fucking friend or something.

[He knows. He definitely knows. It's why he'd texted Ochako when he did, but also couldn't really say much else to her. He feels guiltier than anything for blowing everyone off, but what he's been going through isn't something he can really quantify into words.

He's not sure why he wanted Bakugou to come. It was probably the worst decision he could have made, given the fact that they aren't friends and Bakugou doesn't even like him. He wouldn't be a help nor would he be at all comforting. But when he was talking to Toshinori about it a few nights ago...that's just what he decided. Maybe it was because they'd known each other since they were really little. Bakugou had more...of a personal connection to all of this.

That also made this decision crueler on both of them, somehow.]

Y-yeah. I...um.

[He falters, starting to speak, then stopping. He tries a second time, but it's the same deal, like he's not sure what to say, or how to say what he wants to say. Where do you even start with something like this?]

You...didn't have to come. If you didn't want to.

All Might asked me to. Like I could say no to him.

[Bakugo looks off towards the wall, silent for a few seconds before he slides down the wall to sit next to Deku.]

...and I knew her too. Don't fucking tell anyone about this, but I feel like I at least owe her this much. She wasn't a dick to me even when I beat the shit outta you... I'm not so much of an asshole to just pretend like I don't care about any of this.

[It's just the fact that they're both completely alone that he can admit any of that. Normally he'd probably say something a lot harsher, blaming Deku for making him take time out of his day for this but he just. Can't bring himself to tear the poor guy down.]

...

[Izuku falls silent- as if he wasn't silent already to begin with- worrying the edge of his hoodie with the fingertips of one hand. It looks like he's either not changed his clothes for a while, or he just keeps throwing the same old hoodie back on and not worrying too much about it.]

I w...wanted to tell you, th..that...it happened before b...break.

[Which means...she was already gone before they'd all left for home. The day before, in fact.

It seems that Izuku had been thinking, too, and knew Bakugou would blame himself for not knowing what happened when...in reality, he wouldn't have been home to do anything anyway.]

[Well now it's Bakugo's turn to go silent. Of course he'd been blaming himself... if he had just been in the neighborhood when it happened, he could have saved her. He was only a few blocks away. It's just like Deku to realize he's been feeling guilt over this though he doesn't really know if learning it happened before he was even home makes him feel better or not.

In the end he decides to change the subject, somewhat.]

...you've been eating, right? Better not be fucking starving yourself, you damn nerd.

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