pacifisting | dynamight

From:

I'm not gonna fucking beg you to stay, jackass.

[He really won't. If it's something Midoriya wants, he'll let it happen. In the end, he knows it's something Midoriya needs. It's something they all can use, traveling. Learning. Growing stronger. He wants...

He wants Midoriya to be stronger. This is the whole point. Midoriya has One For All, and Bakugou knows Midoriya needs to be as strong as possible to use it efficiently, to protect it. To protect others.

Never would he take the opportunity away from Midoriya; he's got to keep the other in check since the one person who always did...

The free hand not holding the spoon fists. He eats only a little more before he ends up just shifting the curry around the plate, mixing it.] If you're going, go. Stop asking me what I want. It's not fucking about what I want. [He doesn't shove the foot between his own away.]

But you better not waste it.

From:

pacifisting

I know.

[ Midoriya shrugs one shoulder and gives him a lopsided little smile. ]

But I wanted you to know that I would, if you asked me to.

[ So he's...going, then. Maybe not in the next month or two, but he's pretty sure he can find a job overseas pretty easily, pretty sure he can figure out an apartment, pretty sure that the time is going to go so fast it'll feel like no time at all and then he'll be alone in a new country. They still have to test out All Might's power, still have to figure out how it interacts with Bakugou's, still have to do so much and he knows he's got time but abruptly it feels like he has so little. ]

Okay. Then I'm going and when I come back... you better be ready for me. Alright?

From:

dynamight

[This gets Bakugou to finally glance up. The challenge is more to him than simply a challenge. It's a promise. It's a "I'll come back," spoke in a language he understands. He can do this sort of talk.

Firmly, he nods, once. Midoriya's reassurance is accepted.] I'll crush you when you get back. Whatever you learn won't be enough. [It's his own promise. When Midoriya is ready to return, he'll be here, waiting.

Regardless of how long it takes.] Your curry tastes like shit. [Says the guy deciding to eat the rest of it.

Now that he isn't having a tantrum.]

From:

pacifisting

[ Better. This is so much better. This is what he knows how to deal with, this is something easier than trying to navigate the complicated mess of their feelings when Bakugou is upset and Midoriya is defensive. ]

You helped, so.

[ This is your shitty curry too. Midoriya finishes off the rest of his and then shamelessly reaches over and rests his fingertips on top of Bakugou's own, tracing the delicate line of his wrist. He still loves Bakugou's hands a ridiculous amount, but he likes this, too. Likes tracing his eyes up the line of his fingers, over his wrists, up to the swell of his arms and shoulders. ]

When you're done eating you should go pick something good to watch and I'll clean up.

From:

dynamight

Fuck that.

[He doesn’t mind the brush over his hands. The light, quiet attentions are the best ones. Midoriya’s calloused fingers etching out his cut, wide hands and long fingers, so use to sweating and blowing things up despite how much he wants to help. To be a hero. His thick, veined arms, and his toned shoulders. Trying to carry his ambitions even when he thinks he’s one of the weakest few of the group of their peers.

The one always getting taken, stopped. The one who caused All Might’s end, and, worse, no matter how many times Midoriya tries to correct him... the one sho kept All Might from living as long as All Might should.]

Get out of my face. [He doesn’t give Midoriya a chance. He takes up both plates as he slides out of the seat.] Prove you can pick something that isn’t shitty, damn nerd. [A glance over his shoulder, challenging.

If Midoriya made the food, he can clean up. What kind of man is he if he can’t do that? Stupid hair would definitely tell him something like that.]

From:

pacifisting

[ He likes Bakugou's hands, sure, but it's his arms and shoulders that are distracting as all hell but at least here in private he is able to stare with minimal issue. Midoriya lingers a few moments more and then Bakugou's pulling away, taking the plates. He wants to object; he's supposed to be making Bakugou take bedrest but they're both utter garbage at it and to a point enforcing it would just mean that he's making things worse when they inevitably fight over it.

So, he sighs and heads to the couch, resigned. It takes a few moments to get the TV on and the different things up to surf through but by the time Bakugou's done (with Midoriya watching his back, listening intently for any signs or sounds of pain) he's found something on Bakugou's watchlist that seems alright.

The blanket from earlier is stretched out over his legs but when Bakugou comes out, Midoriya flops onto his back, stretched out, giving Bakugou the option to move his legs to sit like a normal person, or to stretch out next to him. Two fully grown men on the couch is a bit of a struggle but it's worth it. ]

If you hate this, you gotta know this was on your queue.

From:

dynamight

[In the kitchen, he rinses the plates and spoons and then puts them in the dishwasher. They demolished the curry, leaving him nothing to do but rinse out the pan too and add it in. The rice cooker is a bit different. He has to quickly, gently wash it himself and clean the rim of the starch and condensation.

Thankfully, it isn’t extensive work and doesn’t take long. He’s shuffling out to the couch in no time, choosing neither option. Midoriya may scold him, but he doesn’t care. Obviously. Yanking the cover up, he kneels up between Midoriya’s knees and settles stomach-down, carefully, gently, on top of Midoriya’s frontside. The wound doesn’t quite hurt so much as the stitches itch from time to time.

He lets Midoriya fix the blanket over them at least, gives an upright glance at the television.] Ain’t anything wrong with Kamen Rider. I was trying to catch up. [Finally, he drops his head down on the swell of Midoriya’s chest, half tucked under the chin and against the neck. Enough to faintly pay attention though getting ready maybe to nap later once he gives up on trying to stay awake. Midoriya is too warm and comfortable.

His Achilles’ heel. One of them.]

From:

pacifisting

[ Midoriya throws the blanket back and lifts an arm, knees spreading to accommodate the other man as he settles in on top of him. As soo as he's settled, the blanket comes back over both of them and Midoriya sneaks a cool hand up to Bakugou's back under his shirt, rucking it up so he can start tracing the line of his spine back and forth not unlike petting a cat. ]

Mmm, good.

[ He's absolutely going to fall asleep like this, but that was the whole point of the two of them going home together; they're supposed to get rest and not exert themselves. The position leaves his other hand free, though, which means he's winding it into Bakugou's hair, scratching blunt nails through it in long, slow passes, pressing kisses to his hair every so often while the show plays in the background.

Some part of him can't believe he's willingly giving this up for any amount of time but the rest of him knows that now that it's alright (for a given meaning of the word) he can't, won't change his mind. Bakugou's a heavy weight over him but it's comforable and all too soon he loses track of the show and lets himself doze, his fingers slowing and then stilling, breathing going soft and even. ]

From:

dynamight

[Beneath the cool hand, the muscles of Bakugou’s back jump faintly, roll when he tightens at the tingle the sensation draws straight up through him from groin to throat. He murmurs under his breath, his lashes tickling when he lids his eyes. If anything can knock him out, it’s Midoriya being soft with his affections. Not pressing them onto him. Gentle, slow.

It took so very long to reach this point. Now both are comfortable—now Bakugou is comfortable, and it happens often when he’s willing to allow it. Missing it will be tough. Being alone in the hours of dark morning without a familiar, solid body beside him, behind him, on top of him.

One arm scoops under Midoriya’s shoulder blade. The other is free to be on top. He listens to Midoriya’s breaths grow long and deep, bends his wrist so he can twist just the ends of the curly green hair behind the ear around one of his fingers, looping it over and over idly. After a while, he rolls his head carefully back and up some, peers over the rise of Midoriya’s freckled cheek at the face.

It’s easier to stare when Midoriya is asleep, unable to watch him watching. He tries not to jab when he settles his chin on Midoroya’s chest. Waits a while. Very lightly raises his hand to brush the pads of his fingers along the other man’s cheek, connecting freckles with an invisible line. Down to the corner of the lips, and he finds he wants to kiss them but can’t without rousing Midoriya. Then his game would be up.]

From:

pacifisting

[ For a while, he drifts. He's distantly aware of the sound of the TV in the background, of Bakugou's heavy weight on him more comforting than any blanket. He's not sure how long it is, but eventually, he drags himself out of the fog and can hear the TV still going on in the background. Bakugou's still there, they're still on the couch which makes sense. There's something tickling his face, though, which prompts a wrinkled nose and his eyes cracking open, catching Bakugou staring at him. ]

Mmmnhey.

[ He doesn't rush to get up, nor does he call him out right away, because like with all things related to Bakugou there's a line and he's learned how to toe it perfectly so he doesn't accidentally make things worse or exacerbate the issue. Stretching a little, he snuggles further into the couch when he means to try and start the getting up process, and his hand settles itself back in Bakugou's hair, cupping the back of his head and then slides down, tracing the curve of an ear with his fingertips, sliding along the line of his jaw, his eyes still closed. ]

You wanna come to bed?

[ It's not his bed, really, so he can't ask that. It's only the drowsy contentment that keeps him from flustering, fumbling and turns a stammered series of excuses into his nose wrinkling and his head tilting in to steal a kiss from that finger. ]

Is it alright if I stay with you tonight?

From:

dynamight

[Despite lucking out with Midoriya’s drowsiness, Bakugou flushes red from his neck into his cheeks. A warm, endeared color which he’s glad Midoriya probably won’t acknowledge out loud when it’s easier to be sleepy.

Again, he takes a brief moment to pass his fingers over Midoriya’s kissing lips, and then he eases up to lean foreard and kiss the lips with his own. Once, almost chaste. He kisses Midoriya’s jaw, neck, and then carefully hefts himself up to his knees, stealing all the pleasant weight and warmth as he does.] Come on, dumbass. [He gives Midoriya a lazy, rallying few slaps on the thigh. Get up.

The covers are shoved off. He climbs to his feet and pulls at Midoriya’s good arm, lightly but annoyingly, releasing only so Midoriya can stand. He’ll have to go back for Kamen Rider when he’s alone, too caught up in a certain someone else to have paid much attention. For now, he turns the television off and beckons Midoriya with a jerk of his head.]

Hit me in your sleep, and I’ll make you take the floor.

From:

pacifisting

[ Laughing won't win him any favors but his lips twitch up all the same because he can feel that heat, knowing Bakugou's flustered. He gets flustered so easily it's nice to be able to do the same to Bakugou when he can.

Then, there's Bakugou leaning up over him, stealing a kiss that is too short and pressing more along his skin, prompting a pathetic little noise and a grabby hand in turn but it's too late. Bakugou's up and Midoriya's left cool on the couch, thigh warm where Bakugou's smacked it. ]

Listen - [ It's hard to be threatening when he's leveling a finger at Bakugou through a huge yawn, but he tries it all the same and lets himself get manhandled up, sleepily stumbling into him so he can drape over Bakugou's shoulders, nosing into the curve of his throat with a little hum. ] You're so mean, Kacchan.

[ He's said the words dozens, if not hundreds of times since they were small children who didn't really understand the word mean and all it could encompass. Now, it's lazy and affectionate as Midoriya staggers off to bed with him, making it a thousand times harder fitting himself against Bakugou's back to lazily kiss along his shoulders, sleep-warm and groggy. He makes it to the bed and promptly collapses onto it after yanking the covers back. He should...probably get up and wash his face and brush his teeth but he'll let Bakugou do the nightly routine first. ]

I'll pre-heat the bed.

[ Out of the goodness of his heart. ]

From:

dynamight

[Ugh. Sleepy Midoriya is criminally cuter than regular Midoriya, and Bakugou waddles--with Midoriya attached--the entire way to the bedroom with a red face and neck. Hates it. Loathes it.

The threat sort of riles him up momentarily, but he lets it go (for once) in favor of them going to bed.]

Great, you're finally useful for something.

[There may have been a flash of a smile, but he turns his back and disappears into the bathroom. He's not yelling like he had been after being butt-blistered about the sports festival, but he brushes his teeth fairly roughly, and Midoriya can probably hear him busting his chops. His toothbrush looks the part--a month old and frayed to hell and back.

Coming back out, he's more sleepy than when he went in, knowing bed is close.] My turn, fuckface. [He slides with surprising gracefulness beneath the covers, trying to be careful about his hip and stomach.] Hurry up.

[Maybe because Bakugou wants him back against him.]

From:

pacifisting

Sometimes.

[ The faux-insult gets a yawned, dismissive response, Midoriya not rising to the bait. He tosses an arm over his eyes to block out the light and pretends like the sound of Bakugou brushing isn't absolutely the worst thing he's ever heard in his life. ]

I'll still want to kiss you even if you have fake teeth because you brushed yours away but m'gonna say I told you so.

[ Midoriya's own, stashed off to the side for the nights he spends there, is in a much better state. Gingerly, he rolls out of bed and goes about his nightly routine, coming back with his bangs damp and curling with cool water, marginally more awake as he slides back into his side of the bed and pulls the covers back to scoot in and under, onto his back. He lets Bakugou choose how he wants to organize themselves, fitting himself into him when he does it, going back to the idle petting. ]

The stitches okay?

From:

dynamight

Tch. Shut the fuck up.

[HE'LL HAVE TEETH JUST FINE, DAMMIT.] At least they're fucking clean and not nasty. [He's a good boy? Sometimes.

Just a bit aggressive. Minus being a childhood piece of shit.

Reaching over his shoulder, he grabs a fistfull of shirt and pulls it off over his head. His pants go next, left on the floor when he steps out of them and onto the bed on his knees in fitted boxer-briefs. Black? Yeah.] They're fine. [It's muttered, muffled, as he situates them. Spooning Midoriya is preferable, but he doesn't know if he'll crush the stitches or scratch them accidentally on Midoriya's back.

So he has to opt with being the little spoon, wedging the broad side of his flush shoulders and midsection flush against Midoriya's chest.] Mn. [He can't shove his face into Midoriya's warm neck like he wants. He'll have to just deal. Maybe later, he can turn over or something. In the end, he'll probably just be on top of Midoriya like they had been on the couch, his face shoved into the other's collar.]

From:

pacifisting

Mmm, true.

[ All the better to kiss him with.

Bakugou starts stripping and Midoriya watches, the same kind of intent look he gets whenever he's memorizing something, but this time it's with an edge of concern, watching the way he moves appreciative but also hyper-aware those stitches could pop if they're not careful. Blessedly, no blood and no stitches popped, so Midoriya wiggles out of his pants and after a moment of consideration flings his shirt across the room too mostly because bare skin on bare skin is wildly preferable.

The position is good, mostly because he has Bakugou safe and in one piece and knows he also has the doorway covered. It's never been an issue and likely never will be but that doesn't stop him from considering it and being pleased. It also puts a wealth of skin in front of him to press kisses against which is exactly what he sleepily starts doing, nosing into his throat.

Time passes faster than he expects it to, though. Bakugou heals and one night, Midoriya spends twenty minutes lavishing attention over the scars, trailing over his belly and making Bakugou work for him to go any lower. He applies overseas expecting not to hear much back right away, but somehow, Torino overhears and makes some calls. Uraraka tells Melissa who tells her dad which sparks another series of invitations. He sits on them for two days before telling Bakugou and then spends the rest of their next day off day refusing to let him out of the house until he's finished with him.

A year isn't forever. There are teleportation quirks.

Still. Time passes too quickly and Midoriya finds himself teary-eyed but desperately trying to hold it back in front of their friends who could come to the airport, but the dam breaks moments later when Kirishima tears up, and then it's over. Eventually, he manages to nudge them all back with I need to talk to Kacchan about mom stuff before I go, give us a second!. He hefts his bag over his shoulder and tugs Bakugou inside, away from their (loud, but ultimately well-meaning friends. ]

I'm gonna call my mom first, and then you, as soon as I land and when I get to the apartment. I am going to send you a million pictures. You're gonna be sick of me by the end of day one.

[ It's uttered like he's trying to convince himself of it, hands clenching and unclenching like all he wants to be doing is grabbing at Bakugou but he's trying to hold back because they're in public and he's about to leave. It's near-dead inside, so early there's only a handful of people milling about, the weird liminal space airports become at odd hours. He's already said goodbye before they got here, already pressed kisses against every inch of Bakugou's skin the nights leading up to it, already left him a series of surprises for when he's gone. His Quirk hasn't come up yet, intentionally on Midoriya's side though he's not sure what Bakugou's waiting for on his. There's no one else he trusts leaving this place in the hands of. There's no one else he trusts with the power left to him like Bakugou, and there's a ridiculous piece of him that wants to keep it like this until he's back, because the League will try again.

They've talked about this. Midoriya shovels all of that down and fists his hands into Bakugou's jacket, pulling him in so he can shamelessly hide his face into Bakugou's chest, laughing unsteadily. ]

Sorry, sorry, I know I promised I would try not to but it's just hard.

From:

dynamight

[As hard as he can, Bakugou tries to grab onto their time together and keep it clutched in his hands. Faster and faster, it just slips between his fingers. He tries to even sneak pictures of Midoriya despite not being much of a picture person. Midoriya when no one is looking, when Midoriya isn't paying attention, candid things: the other man asleep, napping; the other man walking along ahead of him; a cheeky shot of the other man dressing in the warm glow of the morning light with several bruised pockmarks on the neck and shoulders, territorial, his.

But it comes barreling at them without stopping, Midoriya's departure. The night before, Bakugou is okay, but grows increasingly more grumpy up until they sleep. The morning of, the day of, he's a right sourpuss. No kisses, no lovemaking in the world can soften the blow of their feet finding airport concrete.

He hangs in the back almost the entire time, hands shoved into his pockets. Refusing to look Midoriya in the face, furrowing his brows when the others try to get him to lighten up, be happy for Midoriya having such a wild opportunity.

There's texting, video, calling! None of which will ever satiate his hunger, he knows.]

Mn. [The list receives a low grunt. His shoulders hunch, and he tries to conceal their meeting with as much of his bulk as he can, but Midoriya pretty much matches him muscle for muscle. It's hard to hide the rising Symbol of Peace.] Would you cut it the fuck out? We're in public, dipshit...

[Slowly, he casts a few glances over his shoulder. No one is even here hardly except for them. He's searching for a reason to be angry, to hold a grudge, but he can't find one. Not when he's tried so hard to steer Midoriya down this path, a way to be stronger, to craft One For All into something great, something fresh.

Between them, his hand rises and clamps onto Midoriya's chin from below, swallowing most of it. His face drops into the fluff of Midoriya's green hair, and he quietly inhales the soft, the scent. Tries to burn it into his memory.

So much in his apartment will smell like Midoriya when they've parted, but he knows it'll fade, and it kills him.] Don't fucking forget me. [His voice is typically rough, but lower, quieter. Smaller than normal.

His thumb rubs the outline of Midoriya's jaw before his hand bumps Midoriya's head up and releases. Look at him. His red eyes are staring back--not angry, but sad.] Izuku.

From:

pacifisting

[ It's a special kind of hell not being able to drag him down for kisses, or to cuddle in close but he's able to hide his teary eyes which is a friendly enough gesture he's made most of their friends suffer through. Midoriya is a crybaby and growing older hasn't changed that. The group chat's favorite video right now is the one where he's talking post-rescue and someone asks him if he wants to hold the dog he rescued. The answer was yes, obviously, but watching it he feels less "All Might rescuing busloads of people" and more "Deku rescued some people and then cried over an animal" but it's progress.

They're both too wide and broad to play human shield terribly well and Midoriya's never been great at hiding and subtlety. He still tries, though, and laughs his way through a shuddery breath at the hand on his chin, the face in his hair.

Now would be a good time to say I love you, if he were brave enough but he holds those words back for now. They're for when he gets home again, maybe. A year won't do anything to dull what he feels, he's certain. ]

I would never. [ There's never ever been any danger of Bakugou being forgettable but he knows what Bakugou means. ] You mean way too much for that to ever-- no way, Kacchan.

[ He shakes his head furiously, wiping at his cheeks with another huffed laugh. He should have stolen some of Bakguou's clothes like he wanted to. A sweater, or something to wear on the flight. Midoriya had debated it doing last minute packing but held off, and now - well. Now he could do that he supposes, but before he can suggest it Bakugou's tugging at his face, directing him to look up. Anger would be easier. Anger is something he's used to dealing with, especially when it came to Bakugou.

This is different and then Bakugou says his name and Midoriya's hands fist tightly into the front of his Bakugou's clothes to tug at him. ]

You can't cheat and call me Izuku, you never do that. [ He's smiling despite everything, even if his eyes are red and his cheeks are wet. He could tell him. It's not like Bakugou doesn't know, but he doesn't want him to be under a year of pressure to say it back if he's not able to right now. He can't. Instead, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. It's folded in half, and he doesn't let Bakugou open it yet. His fingers linger against Bakugou's own a few moments longer than he absolutely needs to and then he swipes at his cheeks again. He's fine, he's got this. He can keep smiling even if it's a little wobbly. ] Let everyone else take care of you a little too, okay? Or, you know, try. Kirishima is a good compromise.

From:

dynamight

[There's nothing more infuriating than Midoriya's absolutely devastating, cute crying face. Bakugou really shouldn't get off on the tears as much as he does, but at least now a days it's less true abuse and more this embarrassingly strange urge to protect.

Small blessings.

He can rest easy knowing he has one bullet in the Deku chamber, locked and ready to fire. Carefully, he raises an arm and drapes it around Midoriya's shoulders and neck, dropping his forehead against Midoriya's own. To others, especially to those who don't know them so well, it passes for a hug. To the two of them, it's as close as he can get to hide his lips when they start mopping the wet, freckled cheeks. Warm, salty Midoriya tears. Delicious.

The hand with the paper is captured is his own as it tries to flee, and he squeezes their palms together with the folded note lodged between. He pulls Midoriya's hand to push both of theirs into the pocket of his jacket, depositing the paper safely there together.] Shitty idiot Deku. [It's practically a whisper, endearing, but a make-up for the first name.

The hand around Midoriya's neck lifts to curl into the back of the other's hair, gripping, not rough but firm. He kisses Midoriya's lips in the secrecy of their arms and shoulders, hungry and mourning, knowing it'll be the last for a while. So to hell with being in public and being looked at. To hell with it for this moment.

Until he pulls away, barely satisfied and flushed, only to see about four (friendly) head-hands combos pressed flush against the semi-tinted windows of the buildings, looking in at them. The rage thermometer busts mercury out of the top almost immediately because he's embarrassed, more so when it's their peers.]

YOU BASTARDS NEED A FUCKING FREE EYE EXAM?! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU LOOKING AT?! MIND YOUR OWN FUCKING BUSINESS YOU WORTHLESS BLOODBAGS!

From:

pacifisting

[ He just cries harder when Bakugou starts doing that, but it's less huge, heaving sobs and more wet laughter as he pushes at Bakugou and then pulls him back as if he cannot decide what he wants. ]

Stupid Kacchan.

[ It's a secret whispered between them, affectionate against Bakugou's lips as he folds himself in against the other man and accepts the kiss with a quiet little intake of breath. He's honestly shocked Bakugou would let him kiss in the airport to begin with but that he's the one who starts all of this is the true shocker here. It's hidden, they're secret, but still.

The kiss leaves him warm down to his toes and Midoriya smooths his hands over Bakugou's stomach and chest, lingering without it ever being too obvious that he's touching for the sake of touch. Of course - of course moments later, he catches sight of what's probably their friends and Midoriya bursts into helpless laughter, sagging against Bakugou's chest to tuck his head under his chin, squeezing him. ]

Shhhh, Kacchan, you'll just make it worse. You know they're nosy. [ Midoriya shamelessly wipes his cheek against the chest of his hoodie, inhaling Bakugou's scent one more time before he forces himself away. It's clear he's hyping himself up for it, dragging Bakugou into another fierce hug, pressing a kiss against his throat when his face is hidden. ] Okay. Okay, I can do this.

From:

dynamight

Don't wipe your shitty tears on me, Deku. [The threat holds no air. He accept these tear stains and will wear them proudly. He can't believe he'll even miss the goddamn crying.

This parting is the worst.] You better do it. You can't fucking back out now. [Bakugou won't let him. He may not have accepted their split, but he has accepted the fact this is a growing opportunity for Midoriya.

His arm crushes the other gently into his chest, his hand fisting in the clothes at the other's shoulders.] Don't disappoint him. [A whisper in Midoriya's ear, and he knows the other understands who he's talking about.] Don't fucking waste this and come back as shitty as you fucking left. [His voice drops even lower, and he pauses for a moment as if he's not sure he wants to say it at all.] I'm counting on you.

[Almost immediately, he loosens and draws somewhat away finally, giving them the needed air and the space.] Stop fuckin crying, you stupid baby. [He thumbs over the swell of one of Midoriya's cheeks... but then wipes it on Midoriya's chest because he's trying to at least pretend to be a piece of shit here.]

Go. Before you miss your plane like a moron.

[He makes room, but then quickly realizes something and reaches out to grab Midoriya by the arm.] Wait. Idiot. Here. [He exchanges the paper in the jacket pocket to the pocket of his pants instead, then shrugs out of it by peeling it off his arms. He dumps it carelessly over Midoriya's head.] Why didn't you wear one?

You're garbage already, and you haven't even left yet.

From:

pacifisting

I really can't, plane tickets are so expensive.

[ Midoriya melts when he's manhandled, nodding furiously at the whispered instructions. He won't let All Might down. He won't fail the one person who they're trying so hard to emulate, to match the legacy of in some manner. He'll train and learn and be good at this and he'll come back to help them defeat the League of Villains. There's only one option, one course of action and it's that. ]

I'm counting on you to keep everyone in line here. [ He's kidding, mostly; he's counting on Bakugou to keep the rest of them safe, to keep the city safe, to watch over all of them and make sure that nothing happens while Midoriya is gone. Everyone else is self-sufficient, sure, but Midoriya also knows that Bakugou and Todoroki are still the strongest. The city will be fine without him for a while. Japan will be fine without him for a while.

His backpack slithers off a shoulder and he shoves his head into the hoodie, arms popping through, shamelessly wrapping himself in it as he hefts his backpack up again. It smells like Bakugou and while it's not the same as bringing him, it's still good. ]

Thank you, Kacchan. [ He looks like he wants to say something else at first, and then he dips in for one more aggressive, firm hug. Two seconds and then he pulls back, wiping his cheeks, waving at their friends in the window. He turns around and marches determinedly to the check-in station, shoulders square, and gets on his plane eventually. His mom gets a text, the group chat gets a text and then he sits there uncertain what to say in Bakugou's, deleting and typing and deleting over and over again until he finally settles on: ]

Thanks for the hoodie.

[ And then a shot of him in his seat, bundled up against the window with the hood up, backpack acting as a pillow. ]

From:

dynamight

[Fifteen minutes in when the ramp is taken away and the plane starts to get bussed to the landing strip is when Bakugou realizes. The rest of the group of their friends are beyond startled when he takes off through the airport at top speed, screaming "Deku," out running even the few confused security. They don't have to see him outside.

He sees himself outside.

Races down along the sidewalk and out into the flight instructor area where the ramps all are; how many employees yell that he can't be here is a mystery. All his hoarse voice can scream is Deku, but he wears himself out to a slow stop, lungs heaving, feeling like he can vomit, his hands clutching his knees.

This stupid fucking piece of shit. This absolute moron! Midoriya had left without him giving back goddamn One For All, and Bakugou won't ever forgive himself for it as the plane just keeps rushing down the strip like it hadn't even noticed. Hates it. Hates it.

In the end, he gets a very intense warning that falls on numb ears, and everyone else bows and apologizes profusely on his behalf (they're so confused) as he stands there with his hands in his pockets. They all want to hang out and go eat after, but he refuses with enough sourness to rival how he had been when he was a teenager in U.A. He's Tired, something deeper than the body. It's Kirishima who can read him, who takes up for him and convinces everyone else to let him have his alone time.

The only reason he can see the indecisive typing is because he has his phone open for the longest time, sitting in the taxi, waiting, expecting. What he gets is fine. It's acceptable.]

You look fucking stupid.

[It's full of so much unspoken endearment, one that only Midoriya will understand. He saves the picture just in case. Tells no one.] You forgot something fucking important, you bastard. The next time I see you, I'm going to kill you. [Tomorrow, he'll probably break the extra toothbrush being so angry about Midoriya forgetting to let him give the transferable quirk back.]

From:

pacifisting

[ This...isn't what All Might had in mind when he passed on his quirk, but it's Midoriya's now. Japan's not actively in danger but it makes him feel a thousand times better to know that Bakugou is the one protecting it with his powers and a touch of Midoriya's own. It's just a bit of them, just a small percent the same way All Might did it but in a way it's the safest thing he can do. He has no idea what'll happen when he's working overseas if something bad did happen, at least Bakugou would both know and be able to pass on One For All.

The text message back isn't a shock; Midoriya grins a little when he sees it, leaning his head against the window as he watches Japan fall away from underneath them. At first he thinks that he's gotten away clean and then there's another text. Ah. There it is. ]

:( You'll just have to give it back to me when we see each other again. Did you open the note?

[ He has no patience and wants to know if it was the right thing to do, if he'd chosen a good going away present or not. There's not so much he can do to make Bakugou happy from afar but it's only a year. ]

I'm going to be thinking about you the whole time, you know. Don't worry, I'll focus on what I need to do, too, but it hasn't even been ten minutes and I miss you.

From:

dynamight

[For at least thirty minutes, he doesn't answer because he just can't. Seeing the words immortalized on the screen of his phone make him tingle from head to toe, make him vibrate.

Resting the phone on his thigh, he digs into his pocket for the paper, twirls it uncertainly between his wide fingers for a few moments. The fuck did Midoriya give him... Carefully, he unfolds it to read, and, at first, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The words on the paper do, but why Midoriya would give him a receipt of this basically...

Until he does understand what this means. He wrinkles the edge of the paper because he balls his fist into it (doesn't tear it, thankfully), and his face pinches ugly. He won't. Not in a taxi. Not him.

But he does. Hot tears scald his eyes, a few slipping down his face, and he hides all of it in the crook of his elbow and arm, rolling his head back as if that'll keep him from crying. It isn't sobs, it isn't screams. Silent, appreciative, longing tears which last only briefly.]

Die.

[Evidence enough it's been opened.] You owe me this, damn Deku. You better fucking come back and not cop out on your shitty promise. I'm gonna enjoy breaking you into the ground. [Midoriya should have expected this surely. It's classic Katsuki Bakugou.

It's not until later during the night (for him) that he texts the good stuff. Midoriya may not even see it or respond to it for a while, being busy, flying, changing flights, getting settled. What matters is it's sent at all. That's good enough for Bakugou.]

Miss you, idiot.