pacifisting | dynamight

From:

Worse than the meatball quirk.

[Okay, maybe not as bad as the meatball quirk.]

I was dozin'. [He's not bothered by Midoriya unintentionally snatching the headphones. Bakugou would rather the rough noise be drowned out than Midoriya tense and clutching at him the entire rest of the flight. He only slides them off when everything is again stable.] I'll sleep when we get there or whatever, damn.

[But he won't turn down a movie. Anything to occupy his time, though he'd prefer to be doing something more productive, of course. Even--hell, he might try to play a game or something while half watching.]

You good? Maybe you're the one that needs some fucking sleep.

From:

pacifisting

Really?

[ Midoriya's voice pitches up in incredulity, grinning up at him. There's no way, the meatball quirk is so much worse. His skin prickles just thinking about it and he's spent a lot of time thinking about it. ]

Do you want to watch a movie or something? Or I have my Switch.

[ There are some cute games and he got it as a Christmas present!!! Any of it is good as a distraction, though. He's not scared of flying, exactly. They're durable enough that he's relatively certain they'd stand a chance of surviving a crash. Other people, less likely and the situation was ultimately a nightmare to consider. (Which, he has, in almost every iteration whenever he sees the steward's quirks, but threat evaluating every situation you're in is totally normal.)

The more pressing issue is that there's a lack of control that feels uniquely weird with being a hero. The internet is spotty. They can't make phone calls. All they can do is wait until they get to the end of the trip. Traveling by train is just so much easier. ]

I shouldn't have had the coffee.

[ He shoulda gotten the champagne or a rum like Bakugou. ]

From:

dynamight

You're the last fucker who needs coffee ever.

[How many few times has he had to listen to Midoriya start up that drumming, endless muttering from the taxi ride to now? He can just feel the noise beating off his head in every direction until he finally has to tell Midoriya to can it.]

Gimme the Switch. [Both of them probably should have had a Xanax, honestly. Not even for fear of the flight, but to chill out for this many hours in a confined space.] If you got so much fucking energy, let me kick your ass at something then. [Because he already knows that any mention of trying to fuck around together in the plane bathroom will put rabbit in Midoriya's blood.

So even with Midoriya curled up half on him, he's already easily able to sit up, freeing movement of his arms.] Wait. You got the TWEWY remaster, right? [Yes. Give him something movement and action packed. Please God.

Or maybe not since Bakugou 1) has a temper, 2) explodes things with his hands, and 3) would be holding a Switch.]

From:

pacifisting

[ Midoriya gives him an eyeroll from under the mess of bangs and beanie, sticking his tongue out at him. ]

I'd just brushed my teeth so I didn't want orange juice and I thought liquor was probably a bad idea.

[ It wasn't, because maybe he'd be less jittery. Midoriya sits up in turn and goes digging through his backpack until he finds the container, tugging it out. It's unzipped and plunked into Bakugou's lap while Midoriya yawns hugely and readjusts his beanie. ]

If you break my Switch before we even arrive you're getting me a new one. [ There's no one around and the people across the aisle from them are asleep so he feels pretty confident in being able to lean up and kiss the curve of his throat as he settles back into place. Truthfully he was thinking more Pokemon or rolling things up or something but he doesn't mind watching Bakugou play TWEWY, either. Maybe he'll get to fall asleep. ]

From:

dynamight

[By the time Bakugou gets the Switch in his lap and his hands, swipes through the horizontal stack of games, he second guesses his initial choice. Just about all of them peak his interest to waste time, as usual. There's several he needs to finish actually, but the idea of going into it for something besides mindless is daunting.

For a moment, he drops his head back a bit, only for Midoriya to kiss his neck and stir a brief rise of heat through his stomach. His head comes back up, first to look across the aisle, and then to glance at Midoriya.

Damn them being on a plane, honestly.] Yeah, yeah. [He'd do it. He's a good boy. (Mostly.)

He snakes one arm back around Midoriya's shoulders and over the front, pulling the other man down on top of him again. His jaw rests against the top of the beanie, hands holding the Switch where both of them can see it. Fine.

Pocket Monsters it is.] I still have a swallow of rum left in the bottle if you wanted it.

From:

pacifisting

[ The kiss is just that - a brief, fleeting point of contact but he doesn't try and go any further. More than that; he looks momentarily apologetic and then grins sheepishly like he knows he's testing Bakugou here.

With a quiet oomf Midoriya goes in against him in full and makes himself comfortable but with his free hands he pops the controllers off and hands Bakugou one. ]

I don't think it'd do anything, but thank you.

[ Flipping through the screens is mindless until they get to a point where they can start running around and Midoriya mostly lets Bakugou lead, though he points out if there's a Pokemon they ought to catch until they reach someone to battle and then he's squirming against his side, actively trying not to tell him what pokemon to pick but ALSO it's HARD. ]

From:

dynamight

It'd help you relax.

[Most of what Midoriya gets through the course of Pokemon is grumbling and complaining that he knows what he's doing. Just because it's Pokemon doesn't mean he'd swear off ever touching it.

Everything is sit-back-and-relax until it's time to catch, and then he's sitting up with Midoriya still lounging on top of him, trying to toss in a small space with the same fervor he typically uses for everything else in his life.

There's a lot of cussing, though not loud. (Maybe once, on accident, when he's surprised by those damn gambling fucks using instant KO moves.) Most of the hiss and bite is muffled in Midoriya's beanie. Honestly, he's not bad at the strategy of it, even if he can occasionally get frustrated.]

You're fucking hesitating, Deku. Cut that shit out. Throw it when I throw it, or we're not gonna get any "excellents."

From:

pacifisting

Probably'd want a whole bottle at this point.

[ Midoriya's tone is rueful but not upset; it's just a few hours and then they're landed and everything is fine. It's not the easiest game to play while sitting but after a few moments of fiddling he figures out that if he holds the angle of the paddle just right he can just flick his wrist. ]

Kacchan, look, just keep it flat when it starts and you can do this - [ And he demonstrates, a much more conservative flip. ] I think it's the gyros in this; if it's level when you start it you only have to flick it a little.

[ He's been watching how those shit throws went and thinks he has a system down; it's debatable if Bakguou's going to listen right away, but hey. They're both trying. ]

It's going to be warmer there, from what I saw. [ He does a quick calculation for what mid-80s-90s is, and nods; that's probably as good as it gets for Bakugou, really. ] Yow you know there's a superhero exhibit happening there? I thought about going to see it tomorrow, if we're not too busy.

From:

dynamight

I'd love to see you take a whole fucking bottle of rum, shrimp.

[But Midoriya isn't scrawny like in middle school. There's enough weight and muscle to get rid of any notion of being a lightweight. Just one more thing to rival about honestly.]

Shut up. I'm doing it. [Gently, he pushes against Midoriya with his arm, using his other to flick the wrist and sling the ball. Even if Midoriya is right, Bakugou isn't going to admit it.] I've got it, damn. [With help.]

Yeah, okay. [Hm. Probably the only reason he agreed is "hero" was included in "exhibit." While Midoriya fudges around, he takes a minute to check the weather on his phone.] Holy shit, thirty-two degrees. Is the exhibit indoors? A museum?

From:

pacifisting

[ Absolutely the wrong thing to say to him because despite being sleepy as all hell Midoriya gives him a look and is clearly debating the best way to make that happen if he wanted to. ]

Get me a bottle of rum when we land, then.

[ Some people want nice presents, Midoriya apparently wants to kill himself with some alcohol that he doesn't need just to prove a point to Bakugou. Flawless. Another few throws and Midoriya rolls his eyes when he notices it is going better. He's not going to say that he was right bbbbut. }

It's indoors/outdoors from what I saw? Mostly in, though. They have some old golden age costumes on display along with a bunch of other items.

[ He's... already seen it when the tour was in New York but he wants to take Bakugou to it. ]

From:

dynamight

Fine. I'll get you a damn bottle of rum.

[But maybe he'll hope Midoriya forgets. He craves seeing Midoriya lose at drinking, craves seeing Midoriya prove him wrong, but more than anything, more than he'll tell ever, he doesn't want to see Midoriya get hurt.

He'll claim there's too much as stake for that. One for All, a legacy. But it's more than that, obviously. Their little conversation in the bedroom proved as much.] As long as it's not fucking crowded, I don't care. [The enjoyment other than seeing hero shit will be... going with Midoriya. Seeing Midoriya's dumbass, delighted face when the man sees them on display despite having seen them a thousand times.]

What else are you doing? You know that woman told us not to be doing a bunch of shit. We're supposed to, like, fry on the beach or whatever.

From:

pacifisting

[ It's probably going to be a bottle of rum for both of them because if Midoriya's drinking then it's not like Bakugou's going to just hang out and stay sober for no reason, but that's not a problem. Shameless, Midoriya plops his cheek onto Bakugou's chest again after adjusting his position, his arm threatening to cramp from how he was holding it. ]

That woman has a name you know.

[ Bakugou's right, but Midoriya also knows them. They'll be in a hotel for a day or two, maybe, before it gets to be absolutely mind-numbingly boring and they'll have to go out. There's only so many times they can go to a beach, right? They'll have to do something fun that isn't...well, fucking endlessly in a hotel.

He's not opposed to that, though he absolutely cannot let himself think about it while they're on a flight or Bakugou's going to suggest the bathroom and Midoriya will perish from embarrassment. His wrist flicks in time with Bakugou's and another pokemon is caught. ]

Hey, Kacchan. Let me take you to dinner.

[ A Date. A date that's not cheesesteaks. ]

From:

dynamight

Potts.

[God. Stop correcting his shitty behavior. (Don’t.) He gives Midoriya a look, but continues on with what he’s doing without any comment. At least to Pep’s face, Bakugou has some level of respect.

But it’s the declaration that makes him stumble with the next toss. The ball goes wide and plinks on the ground and vanishes. Bakugou is already staring like Midoriya has three heads. Two too many.] What...? [It sounds sweetly stupefied, not as if he’s angry. More... he can’t wrap his head around why Midoriya would spoil him when he acts the way he does sometimes.

The offer is... endearing. And a bit daunting. A Midoriya meal. A date.] What are you gonna even cook? Why?

From:

pacifisting

[ He resists the urge to be smug at getting Bakugou to correct his behavior but he can't quite swallow back the idiotic grin. He can be trained.

The offer is a little bit calculated; they're moving forward in what's the relationship equivalent of baby steps. The last thing he wants is to overwhelm Bakugou because where he can be brave in some circumstances and push forward, it's not a matter of his bravery he needs to focus on. Pushing too far might scare him away rather than the alternative but maybe they're past that point.

...Then again, they've said I love you, so maybe he's worrying and overthinking for no reason. Bakugou sends the ball wide and starts staring and Midoriya meets his eyes, daring to squeeze his thigh. ]

I don't know, what do you want to eat? [ The why gets another little shrug as he mulls over the answer to go with. Quieter, private, just for Bakugou: ] Because I love you?

From:

dynamight

Don’t... be fucking stupid...

[It’s all he can think to say to an announcement of what is clear between them: this is love. He clears his throat with a grunt and looks back at the Switch because his face is starting to heat up along the edges.] I dunno. I want... [He isn’t sure what he wants. He misses food from home, a lot of the more traditional meals, the things America doesn’t specialize in the same way unless it’s at an authentically owned place.]

Fucking surprise me. You’re a nerd. I know you can come up with something.

[Red eyes cut a look at Midoriya from the side. He tosses again, this time hitting it on the nose with the flick of the wrist Midoriya showed him earlier. He may despise getting critique from a rival, but he trusts Midoriya’s brains, and so he takes it. Runs with it. Doesn’t acknowledge it.]

How about you make something you’re gonna eat with me. So it’s gonna be something I fucking like and something you fucking like.

From:

pacifisting

You don't be stupid.

[ There's no heat to his words, but there's plenty to be had in Bakugou's cheeks, apparently. Midoriya settles his cheek back on Bakugou's shoulder with a little hum and they're back to playing Pokemon while Midoriya tries to think about what to make. There are a ton of options but if he's going to do something then it has to be good. Not just good but great, because they're both probably a little homesick at this point. ]

Alright. I'll find something good.

[ Curry, maybe. They can get decent sushi on the water so that's out. Maybe noodles? Almost anything can be made ridiculously spicy for better or for worse (if they get into some kind of nightmare contest) so it's just a matter of figuring out what's available.

The rest of the flight is uneventful; Midoriya grabs at Bakugou's knee when their plane shudders as it hits the ground, but otherwise they get off and pick up their bags without issue. The hotel they're staying in is absurdly nice; Midoriya wonders if this is an American-Tony Stark thing or if it's it's normal so he texts Todoroki and Yaoyorozu the hotel and waits for a response while they wait to get their keys.

The moment they're in, though, he settles both bags and flops face-first onto the bed with a groan, legs hanging off the end of the bed. Lifting his head, he ignores his beanie starting to slide into his face. Through a yawn: ]

Kacchan, how big is the bathroom? Is there a bath?

From:

dynamight

[Being so accustomed to New York, Bakugou gets a soft slap when they get off the plane to warmth. He didn’t realize how much he craved the heat until they landed in a place with it, how much he had conditioned himself to love it since he needed to sweat to work his explosive magic. It’s glorious. Midoriya catches him stopped outside waiting for the uber, hand on the rolling bag, the duffle slack in his other hand.

His eyes are closed and his head tipped slightly; a cat sunning. There has only been this much serenity on his face maybe twice in his life. It’s so very jarring to see this kind of peace on him, however brief it lasts. Who kidnapped Katsuki Bakugou, and what alien is this here?

Midoriya gets a kind of “say something, I dare you” look after he comes to, but Bakugou doesn’t comment and continues on as if he hadn’t been standing handsomely in the sun in a fitted black tanktop. Honestly, there’s no reason he should look this good as shitty as he is most of the time.

On the ride, maybe his leg stretched ridiculously far enough over to brush Midoriya’s occasionally. His head keeps looking out the window.

The hotel is so lavish. He snorts when it comes into view, scoffs when they go inside, and clucks his tongue when they’re in the room.] You’ve gotta be fucking with me... [How did this fuck have so much money? Right. Weapons.]

Ugh. [His voice echoes in the expanse of the bathroom.] Fuck off with this shit. Don’t Americans know anything about being conservative? There’s so much extra wasted fucking real estate in here! And why do they put the damn toilets in the same goddamn room! I hate it. [He comes back out scratching the back of his head irritably.] Good thing there’s fucking two.

Who has a guest bathroom in a damn hotel!!

From:

pacifisting

[ He can't stop thinking about how good Bakugou looked outside, like he was soaking up all of the sun now that they were free of the drizzly, dreary weather of the East coast. Midoriya knows he loves Bakugou. He hasn't questioned that since he's said it the first time but it still hits him sometimes during moments like that where he wants to clutch his chest but it's too obvious. Love is, objectively, the worst. ]

Maybe later.

[ It's slurred into the pillow he's got his face mashed into, a half-joke as he waits for Bakugou to do the same exact thing Barkugou does when she's in a new area. A few laps, some examinations, and then maybe she'll come over and curl up on his lap and chastise him for bringing her somewhere new. He stifles a giggle into the pillow and then begins the arduous process of trying to get his boots off without moving more than his legs. ]

Wait - wait what? We have two bathrooms? Are you sure it's not just an extra sink?

[ WHO NEEDS TWO BATHROOMS ]

From:

dynamight

There's a goddamn toilet in the second one. [Just so his point stands. 1.5 baths is still too much bath for Bakugou who is use to a toilet room and then a washroom. Please send assistance.

And Midoriya isn't wrong. He's exactly like Barkugou, like a cat or a dog in new territory. He has to casually prowl around the perimeter of the place, checking things out, seeing what's all there. Protective nesting maybe?

Finally, he comes sauntering around. Of course Midoriya would be tossed on the bed face-first. He huffs through his teeth, low, an almost click of the tongue again.] Don't put your nasty feet up there where we gotta sleep. [For added effect, he momentarily grabs one of Midoriya's ankles with a hand, squeezing it.] What are you doing?

If you're napping, I'm finding something to do.

[But not before he plants his knee on the edge of the bed and hefts himself up--and flops right down on top of Midoriya's back without any sort of warning.]

From:

pacifisting

[ Well, that's...something. He's not sure what it's good for but the hotel is massive and Midoriya's half-listening to him prowl about. They're high enough up that they probably have a decent view of the water which everyone else will be excited about. He'll have to take lots of pictures and send them before everyone else gets on his case and Bakugou gets annoyed. ]

Nothing? [ The tone lilts at the end as Midoriya finally gives up on shoving off the red high tops and just kind of lets his legs hang over until Bakugou's hand curls around an ankle and holds. ] I'm not napping, I'm just -

[ It doesn't matter what he was doing because a moment later the bed shifts under him and Bakugou flops down onto him. All the air gets shoved out of him and he groans in protest, slapping back against Bakugou's thigh. ]

Kacchaaaaan. [ He lifts his head enough to give the other man a baleful look, then flops back. ] Do you want to get food? Or go exploring around the hotel? There are a bunch of places nearby.

From:

dynamight

[For some time, Bakugou simply lies there on Midoriya's back, unmoving and not speaking. He burrows his face against the back of Midoriya's warm neck just against the start of the shorn hairline, and he doesn't sniff so much as inhale Midoriya's scent while breathing. Clean and masculine, a little fruity.]

Mn. Dunno.

[Bringing his head back up some, he props his chin at the curve of Midoriya's shoulder. He's awake, but he lids his eyes for the time being and shows no signs of getting off the other man.]

Why do I always gotta fucking pick? [Clearly because he's picky, but whatever, Bakugou.] You pick for once.

From:

pacifisting

[ It's exactly because Bakugou's picky. Midoriya doesn't sigh though he really, really wants to and instead tries to figure out what the best option would be based on their location. They can drop everything off in the hotel and go wandering and it's warm enough they don't need jackets. Maybe snacks first, then, something along the way and they go to the beach. That lets them explore at their own pace without having to worry about huge crowds and the potential for irritation that comes from them. He's not muttering, exactly, but it's clear that he's thinking furiously about six thousand different options.

Of course, that also means Bakugou has to get up but he's laid out over Midoriya's back , breathing soft and even at the nape of his neck. His skin prickles in response and Midoriya's left squirming a little, reaching a hand back to pat at whatever is closest. ]

Let's go explore. We can stop and get something quick on the way and check out the beach and on the way back we can stop by a store and get supplies for dinner?

From:

dynamight

[His head, his neck and some of his shoulder. He butts the reaching, petting hand when it begins its adventure, tilting his head so the palm and fingers trickle over the side of his face before he buries it again in Midoriya's neck.]

Fine. [It's lowkey and he's not subjected to a crowd of people that'd make him annoyed after being on a long flight.] Get up then.

[Bakugou shifts, but doesn't... get off Midoriya yet. His lips brush two kisses on the back of Midoriya's neck, one high and one low at the edge of the shirt collar. And then he finally slides off to his feet and stands up. His lower back cracks as he stretches.]

From:

pacifisting

[ Not the most helpful but Midoriya's fond all the same. He can't move with the heavy weight of the other man on him, but it doesn't matter because moments later there are two terribly sweet kisses against the sensitive skin of his neck and Midoriya buries his face into the bed with a groan. ]

That's not fair, Kacchaan.

[ When he rises up, his cheeks are pink and he pokes one finger into Bakugou's chest before stretching as he walks to go find out where he'd dropped his shoes. ]

Is there anything here that you want to see? [ Neither of them necessarily want to be here but Midoriya doesn't want to monopolize this either. ]

From:

dynamight

It's fair.

[How much unfair shit has Midoriya done to him since they've met in New York? And before New York? Yeah, thanks. Pink cheeks are FAIR.] It's just some islands, so. [Like a dog, Bakugou follows Midoriya out for the shoes. It feels strange not having to also thing about everything else they needed in New York: a jacket (or two), gloves, long-sleeves.]

I already get to see what I came to see. [This he doesn't even turn around to look at Midoriya when he says it. He continues to sit and pull his shoes on, tying them casually.] So I don't really give a shit what else you drag my ass to look at, Deku.

[The words are prickly, but not delivered rudely in tone. They're sincere. What he came to America for... he already sees every moment of every day just about.]