aerie (bakugo katsuki x oc)

chapter 44: the things i do

"Second place? What did I say about not showing off?"

"So I got a little carried away. Who cares? I didn't get first, so it's not like anyone is gonna give a shit."

"Didn't I tell you not to teleport other people?"

"I mean, yeah. But it was life or death! I couldn't just let the guy get crushed because of me."

"Why not? Are you some sort of hero now?"

"Oh, save it. It's no big deal. It'd be way more suspicious if I didn't help the guy."

"Don't do it again."

"Why not? If I'm supposed to be playing this character then-"

"Just don't."

"But-"

"Don't-" Shiggy snaps, with an angry look on his face, lifting up his open hand in front of him in anger. "-backtalk me," he says in a softer tone, as he closes his hand into a fist and rests it over his mouth.

I scoff. "Who are you, my father?"

"This isn't a game, Aerie. You always say you want to be a part of this, so you need to be serious about it."

I fold my arms. "Well if you're gonna act like that, I don't want to be a part of this after all."

He takes a deep breath to collect himself. "Look," he says. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped like that. It's just that this is really important, and I feel like you're not taking this as seriously as you need to, kitten."

"Listen, alleycat. I got this, okay? So what if people think I'm powerful? How is that suspicious? I'm not gonna do anything that would get me caught."

He sighs. "Just please, don't make any decisions without me. We're in this together, remember?"

"I know we are. But I can't just pick up the phone and ask your opinion on my every move. You have to let me make some decisions myself."

He sighs, gingerly placing his finger under my chin and pointing it up to look at him. "Okay, kitten. I trust you," he says, then gives me a little kiss on the nose. "But don't blow this," he says softly, staring into my eyes. "Got it?"

I gulp, sensing his threatening undertone. "Got it."

~

"Morning, kitten."

I groan. "Do I really have to wake up at the crack of dawn every morning?"

"C'mon, get up. Today's the day we infiltrate UA. We're one step closer to destroying-"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm up." I throw the covers off of me and sit up, rubbing my eyes.

   Why am I doing this again? Oh, that's right, to make Shiggy happy. Jeez, why doesn't he have any normal hobbies? It's always "kill All Might" this, and "destroy the corrupt hero corporation" that. Why can't he just like... cars or something.

   I kick my feet off the bed with a stretch and a yawn.

   The things I do for love.

   I eventually conjure up the energy to amble to the sink to splash water on my face.

  Shiggy leans on the bathroom doorway. "Okay, kitten. Remember what we practiced. Try to avoid questions about yourself. It's better to avoid them than for you to lie."

   "Yes, for the millionth time, I understand. I told you, I got this."

   "Alright, alright, I'm just making sure. Let's just go over this one more time. What's your name?"

"Kaiya. Kaiya Miyasaki."

It hurts to say it.

"Alright, good. And what's your quirk?"

I gulp. "Glitch."

"And how far can you glitch?"

"14 meters."

"That's perfect, kitten. If anyone asks you those questions, that's how you answer. Just like that."

I nod.

   I hate that I can't just lie like everyone else. I don't know why, but every time I say something that I know isn't true, I break into a cold sweat. I start to sputter, I blink a lot, my mouth gets dry, and sometimes, if I say a bunch of lies, I throw up. It's just how my brain is wired. It's a curse that's been fucking my life up ever since I was a kid.

And god knows why, but Shiggy thinks I'm capable of being a spy for him. And I don't know, it's kind of sweet for him to put so much faith in me, so I'm not about to let him down.

   He hands me my uniform. "Remember, beam to your apartment before you put this on. We don't want anyone to be able to trace you back to this location."

   "I know, I know."
~

When I arrive at the school, I'm a little apprehensive. There's a lot of people here. But hey, maybe that's a good thing. It makes it easier to blend in. I shake my head to shake off my self doubt, and walk through the doors.

My name is Kaiya Miyasaki. My quirk is glitch. I can teleport 14 meters.

I keep my head down as I make my way through the hall.

Kaiya Miyasaki. Glitch. 14 meters.

When I finally make it to classroom 1A, I take a deep breath, and walk in.

I can do this. Hell, maybe no one will talk to me, and I won't even have to-

"Miyasaki!" exclaims some nerdy looking guy as he runs up to greet me. "I saw you at the entrance exam! That quirk, it's amazing! I'm Tenya Iida from Somei-"

   "I'm Kaiya Miyasaki," I blurt.

   Hey, that was pretty good! I didn't even stutter!

   I feel myself smile at the small feat of mine. I'm relieved I got that over with. I suddenly get a boost of confidence, and now, I feel like I can just be myself.

   "You know," I continue, "The one who didn't ask."

   Iida looks at me like he can't believe what I just said, and I grin.

   I love talking to people.

   He adjusts his tie, seeming flustered. "I thought you would like to know, considering I'm your classmate and we will be spending the year together."

   "Yeah, I don't really give a-"

   And that's when I see that spiky blond hair out of the corner of my eye. I immediately avert my attention over to that beautifully angry boy, and can't help but smile excitedly.

   Sludge guy's in my class?! I can't believe my luck!

   "Fancy seeing you here," I say to him, crossing my arms.

   He rolls his eyes. "Don't talk to me, glitch girl."

   Glitch girl? He gave me a nickname?! I love nicknames! Glitch girl! I love it!

   I chuckle. "Okay, explosion boy," I reply.

   Not the best I've come up with, but it's all I could think of in the moment.

   His face twists into an expression of shock mixed with horror. "Call me that again and I'll make you wish you hadn't woken up this morning!" he shouts.

There he goes again, yelling at me. I start to feel a rush of adrenaline course through me.

   So much emotion in one sentence! Amazing!

    "Oh, I thought you didn't want to talk to me," I remark, hoping I can make him yell again. I love to hear the the sound of his raspy voice portraying his testosterone fueled anger, it's exhilarating.

I toss my backpack onto the desk next to his, and slide into the seat.

   This year is gonna be awesome.