POSSIBLE TRIGGER: Implied suicide baiting
Midoriya Izuku sits contently in his small apartment. There are smudges of different blues and greens smeared across his face and apron. He feels at peace in the calm environment. The sound of the latest small-time jpop group he discovered plays in the background as he loses himself in his newest hobby. This is the best he's felt in a long time, which isn't saying much considering he lives in a society that views him as useless because he never manifested a quirk. It could have been the most useless and dumbest quirk in the world, to be honest. At least then he would have been able to make friends, apply to the schools he wanted to go to, and get a job he would actually enjoy. But he's learned to live with it. After all, the only real alternative was taking advice from someone he hasn't seen since his middle school days. And while his life does suck, it's not enough to push him off the edge, yet.
Taking a final look at his painting Izuku decides it's good enough and leaves it to dry. He begins gathering the materials to wash when he hears a knock on his door. A sigh escapes his lips. It isn't uncommon for his mother to make surprise visits. But a look around the apartment just makes him wince. The least she could have done was let him know she was stopping by so he had time to clean up a little first. In a rush, he jams his painting materials into his sink and plasters on the biggest smile he can as he opens the door.
"Hi mom! What a sup-" Izuku cuts himself off at the sight before him. The man in his doorway was definitely not his mother. Unless she had somehow grown taller than him, dyed her hair blond, and changed into the pro hero Dynamite ( a.k.a his ex-childhood friend, a.k.a his former tormentor, a.k.a the Bakugou Katsuki) Someone he's seen maybe three times in the last estimated eight years (all of which ended with him performing ninja samurai moves to avoid being spotted by said hero). In other words, Izuku tried to not see him after they went their separate ways for high school eight years ago. The only times they did interact with each other were because their moms were still best friends and had "Family Dinners" every now and then. The two boys were never left alone during those times. Izuku made sure of it.
"You just gonna stand there catching flies or what?!" Bakugou exclaims as aggressively as Izuku remembers. His mouth moves like it's trying to form words but no sound is coming out. How is one even supposed to respond in this situation? He feels cornered and like he's in danger. This is his first time being alone with Bakugou. Stupid universe not giving him a quirk to get out of this situation. The ability to go back in time three seconds? Or to see the future? Heck, he'd even be fine with a cactus for a head. He's sure he could use that somehow.
"Um.. C-can I help you B-Bakugou?" Izuku cringes at the stuttered out sentence. Somehow after all these years the sight of Bakugou still brought fear to his stomach. fear he can hear in his own voice. Bakugou's permanent glare deepens and a low growl is heard. The truth is he doesn't like that the nerd isn't calling him Kacchan anymore. Izuku doesn't know what upset him just now but he assumes he did something wrong and is quick to apologize. "Sorry! I um D-did you need something? Oh! Wait I already asked you that but in d-different words-" He starts rambling but squeaks when he's cut off.
"Shut it shitty nerd! I don't need anything from you!" Bakugou yells but retracts into himself after seeing Midoriya flinch. Why did this have to be so difficult for him! He's been going to therapy since he started at UA and anger management classes since last year. And it's not like he wasn't sorry for everything he's done. In fact, it's quite the opposite. After going to therapy and trying to be a better person, the guilt of all he's done to Midoriya eats him up inside and keeps him up at night. Though he would never admit to all that. "Tch. Can I... come in or whatever?" He asks. He takes note of how scared Midoriya looks at the thought of letting him in. "I'm not gonna hurt you or anything stupid nerd!" He's stopped referring to him as Deku. Midoriya slowly opens the door more to let Bakugou in. Bakugou walks all the way in and makes himself comfortable on Midoriya's couch. "That's a nice painting, Nerd." Bakugou says quietly.
"Ah! N-not really! It's just a new hobby of m-mine but thank you!" Izuku's face goes red. He isn't used to getting compliments and doesn't know how to accept them. Bakugou doesn't push the topic and instead gets right to the point.
"I'm sorry." It's quiet but firm. Izuku's mouth falls open once again. This time he gained his composure quickly and with our prompting.
"Huh? S-sorry? What for?" The look of genuine confusion makes Bakugou's gut twist. He wants to look away and hide. But he can't. Only shitty weaklings can't face the consequences of their actions. Even if he's doing it seven-ish years too late at least he's doing it.
"The fuck you mean for what?! I was a fucken dick to you for our entire lives! That's what for!" There is a scowl on his face but he's not angry. He's insecure and scared and he feels so much guilt. But how can he possibly convey all that? Especially to Izuku? With the way he treated him does he even have a right to-
"Oh! N-no you didn't do anything w-wrong!" What. What the fuck. "I mean everyone was d-doing it! And at least you were g-giving me real advice! So no need to apologize!" What. The. FUCK. Bakugou feels like he's been doused in ice water.
"Hah? What the fuck?! Just because everyone else was doing it doesn't mean it was ok! And advice? What the fuck? You coulda been the first quirkless hero for all we know had I not been such an ass! And let's not forget the "advice" I gave you after the first day of our last year of middle school! I was out of line and you never did anything to deserve any of it! So I'm sorry because it was wrong of me to take everything out on you and ruin your life!" He didn't mean to sound so angry but he was really starting to get worried. How was he supposed to apologize to someone who doesn't even realize that he was wronged?
"Bakugou... You d-didn't ruin my life and it isn't your fault. No one t-told you it wasn't ok. That's just how q-quirkless people get treated. You d-don't need to apologize to me. And you w-were right about me not being able to be a hero. I can't even get a r-real job. There's always s-someone with a quirk who is m-more qualified even though I graduated and h-have my degree." His tone was calm, sad, and accepting. He really doesn't like sharing his struggles with him but how else is he supposed to soothe Bakugou and get him out of his home? This is absolutely rage-inducing for Bakugou. The shitty nerd has a whole college education and can't do any better than whatever the fuck he's got going now because of stupid fucking society?! His stomach churns again with the acknowledgment that he contributed heavily to Midoriya's struggles.
"Shut. Up." Bakugou is clearly trying not to completely explode. Literally. His face is down with his eyes squeezed shut. He takes a few deep breaths before looking back up at the green-haired man. "None of that shit matters. I was still a fucken terror and I'm sorry. You don't have to accept it and you don't have to forgive me or anything but stop it with the fucken excuses." Apparently taking a moment to breathe works well for him. He looked beaten as he said it but at least he wasn't angry. Midoriya suddenly finds his house slippers very interesting. Something that he buried a long time ago seems to be climbing and clogging his throat. He isn't sure why but he suddenly feels like if he talks he'll burst into tears like he used to. He doesn't want to. Not in front of Bakugou. Not anymore. So he takes a moment and represses his feelings to deal with later when he's alone.
"Okay Bakugou. I forg-"
"Shut it. You can't forgive someone if you don't even acknowledge whatever the fuck it is they've done to you. See a fucken therapist THEN we can talk about this again." He uses a glare to hide the worry he actually feels. Just like before but less dangerous now. He hates this. This whole situation makes him feel so pathetic but he knows he needs to do this.
"A therapist?" It comes out so soft that Bakugou almost thinks he imagined it. But he knows he heard it when the surprised expression matches the tone he thought he heard. It's almost as if he never thought that therapy was an option for him. Or maybe he's just surprised that someone thinks he needs it. And of all people to recommend it to him, it's Bakugou!
"Yes a fucking therapist! You're clearly fucked in the head so get some stupid fucking help or whatever!" His words are aggressively spoken but hidden in them is a plea and deep within the anger in his voice was concern. When he finishes he stomps over to the door again but before actually leaving he turns his head to shout over his shoulder "AND YOU COULD PROBABLY SELL YOUR PAINTING FOR MORE MONEY IF YOU NEEDED! I SAID IT WAS GOOD AND I DON'T SAY SHIT I DON'T MEAN!" The door slams shut after that and Izuku is then left with a still quiet before the storm in his mind. Therapy huh?
