Tumbling Into Fascination

Chapter 4

Bakugo had never been a patient child, screaming if he had to wait more than ten seconds in a line, whining when he had to sit still for too long during classes, crying when he had to wait for his mother or father after a long day at preschool. Over the years he had grown out of it, yearning to sit in a classroom to learn and being filled with dread when he had to go home to see his parents. It seems now that he's still that same impatient boy, pacing anxiously and constantly checking his phone for a call, or a text. Anything at all. He can't seem to sit still no matter how hard he presses down on his leg when his foot begins to tap a frantic rhythm on the floor. Can't seem to lay down long enough to get a good night's sleep.

He did it to himself, let his temper get the best of him, let himself run away from the conflict.

And then he's finally had enough, and he's grabbing a jacket and the scarf Mina bought him for Christmas, and he has to force himself to walk instead of running to the café. To Kaminari.

It felt like each step he took added another pound to his chest and another hour to the walk. He was suddenly acutely aware of the pavement beneath his feet, how hard and uncomfortable it was to stand on. He passed a couple sharing a quick kiss and whipped his head in the other direction, scowling. When had he become so bitter?

Then, he was in front of the coffee shop and reality hit him hard. He suddenly forgot every single scenario he had played out in his head, every way he was going to apologize, and now he had to face Kaminari. Bakugo took a deep, grounding breath.

Then he walked away from Lavender's.

He walked around the block once, then twice, then three more times, never quite ready enough. And then it was closing time and Bakugo still hadn't apologized, still hadn't relieved himself of this guilt. As he stared at his reflection in the large window on the front of a fabric shop he considered his options. He could be miserable for another day or he could apologize and finally get rid of the boulder that was pressing down on his chest, suffocating him.

He didn't know how long he was standing there but it was long enough to get himself situated and sure of what he was going to do. He turned around and made his way to Kaminari. A minute till closing, perfect. Bakugo let out a breath he had been holding and stepped over two cats cuddling on the welcome mat, a silvery gray tom and a short haired tabby. The bells on the door jingled as it opened and then he was standing in front of Kaminari, who was busy sweeping.

"I'm sorry but we're-" he looked up, "closed..."

"Hi," Bakugo's voice echoed through the shop, void of any other humans besides the two of them. "I want, need, to talk to you," he shifted from one foot to the other.

"Alright," there was a pause. "Sit down and wait while I close,"

And so, Bakugo settled in a comfy green armchair placed in the corner and watched Kaminari clean the store, idly petting Mocha. He was having déjà vu. This familiar moment, however, was much more solemn than before. This time there was no humming and the dark circles under Kaminari's eyes were much more noticeable.

Finally, Bakugo heard a huff and then the other was in front of him. "So, what's up?" Ah, Kaminari was nervous, and maybe a little anxious, too.

Bakugo forgot how to speak, at a loss for how to even start this conversation. His mouth repeatedly opened and closed until he finally settled with, "you were right". Kaminari drew in a sharp breath and continued to stare at the counter instead of the boy in front of him. "I am a hypocrite and I'm constantly stressed and you were right," he repeated.

"Katsuki, did you know I applied for UA?" Kaminari had never called him by his first name.

"You wanted to be a hero?" Bakugo asked, bewildered. This had never come up in conversation before, his friend could've been his classmate.

"Yes, I did. I still do," he finally looked Bakugo in the eye. "I failed my written test by half a point, I even applied for other hero schools and I was denied by all of them," again, he was at a loss for words. "I got so upset the other day because I lost my chance of becoming a hero, I can't sit here and watch you lose yours too,"

Oh. Oh.

"Denki, I'm sorry," Bakugo said, the words feeling foreign on his tongue. "I didn't... I never even thought," he stood up and did something he never thought he would be doing so soon.

He brought his face close to Kaminari's and placed a chaste kiss on his lips.

"I promise I'll take better care of myself," he said, locking his eyes with Kaminari's wet and shocked ones. "But you have to promise me the same thing,"

"Okay" a small trail of tears ran down his blushed face. "I can do that," Kaminari exclaimed as he hugged his only friend like the world was ending. They stood like that for a while, Bakugo slowly relaxing into the hug and Kaminari lightly crying for a few minutes.

"From now on, come to me when you're having trouble with school, money, your grandma, or anything else," Bakugo stepped back and declared. "Is that understood?"

"Yes sir," the other giggled as he saluted poorly. "And when you're hurt or stressed I want you to come to me as well, alright?"

"Deal,"

As the two talked over a few more things, feelings were confessed and pacts were made. And the next day, with Shota Aizawa informed of the situation, Bakugo brought a bag of belongings over to Kaminari's apartment and set up camp.