Tics and Scratches

Chapter 10

Bakugo wasn't sure how long him and Kirishima laid on the grass of the park embracing each other like they had found the solution to world peace. But he had stopped crying by the time Kirishima's mum had appeared in an attempt to get them out of the cold. Dazed, he had let Kirishima lead him by the hand across the street and into their little red car where he could finally take a moment to process whatever was running through his brain. He wasn't sure why he was being so dramatic. Technically his parents hadn't even told him to leave. Everything had just happened so fast and he had been scared. He just wanted his parents to understand what was happening to him. He just wanted them to care enough to ask him if he needed help. But instead he had left the house with his mother's screams echoing behind him.

The car wasn't moving but the three sat in silence clearly understanding that going in all guns blazing would not help Bakugo at the moment. All Bakugo ever needs is time to actually think through the mountain of shit that was accumulating in his life. Hell, Bakugo was just realising that this was one of Kirishima's mum's first impressions of him. Crying alone in a park and pleading for them to come get him. What had come over him?

Just to make matters worse his body decided now was the perfect time to ruin the peaceful silence that had settled over them. Throwing his arms up to cover his face he blurted the stupid "blasting off!" that had started this whole problem. At least his body associated that with a defensive stance now. Could save him from any more conveniently flying pots.

"Kats? What's going on dude?"

"Sweetie." Kirishima's mum watched as Bakugo physically recoiled as soon as the term of endearment had left her mouth. Not dwelling on it too hard she corrected herself easily. "Darling, us Kirishimas are always going to be here to help you. You don't need to open up to us right this second but just consider it alright?"

Bakugo stayed silent, staring down at his lap as his nose furiously scrunched up and down. He felt a callused hand settle on his shoulder and leant further into the touch, allowing himself to be weak enough to desire human touch for once. Just as quickly as the hand had found its way to his shoulder it had left. He was just about to protest when he felt it suddenly migrate to his face.

"You're bleeding..." Eijiro murmured swiping at his cheek. Shit. A shard must've caught him without him knowing. It wouldn't do any physical long term damage but he knew it had raised even more questions in his friends mind.

"He's what?" Another set of much more delicate hands replaced the previous. Finally looking up he saw the mother figure he had always secretly wanted staring at him like she actually cared. Despite his best wishes he felt tears spring to his eyes yet again. Not that they were that noticeable through his compulsive blinking. Even after everything that had happened today he found himself smiling as she placed a plaster on his cheek that was entirely unnecessary and began to drive them back to UA. He was perfectly content, even as butterflies swarmed his stomach when Kirishima's hand travelled to find his. That was a problem to add right to the bottom of the mountain of shit.

"Kirishima... Mrs Kirishima I-"

"Eijiro"- "Aiko". He chuckled to himself lightly. He really had found the right people and for once he didn't find himself scared to not be mean and melodramatic. Maybe it was OK to be calm.

"Ei, Aiko Thank yo- Yoshi! FUCK!" The moment of calm in his body was ruined. He had clearly spoken too soon. Who was he kidding? He would never be calm like this. Characteristically, he was now furious. He just wanted to thank the people that had done so much for him in just a day and here he was shouting out some dumb video game character. They probably thought he was mocking them. God, they're going to hate him forever now, he just knew it.