Fates Entwined (A TodoBaku ff) ✔

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"I've been looking everywhere!" Mina exclaimed as she came running up to them. "Why did you run off?!"

"Hah? You're the one who can't stay still for one fucking second!" Bakugou retorted, Shoto looking back and forth between them as they continued to bicker on. He felt bad, having made Mina worry on a day she should be relaxing and having fun. 

"I got lost." he spoke, interrupting the pair who were beginning to gain a small audience. Mina huffed at Bakugou before turning to give him a smile.

"It's okay. Just glad you're alright." Her smile became a grin as she looked at Bakugou over her shoulder. "Glad Bakugou here was the one to find you."

"Fuck off."

"I suppose."

Bakugou gave them both the middle finger before stalking off somewhere, a newly full tankard sloshing beer onto the ground as he walked. Shoto watched him go, wondering why the man got so wound up so easily. His temper could be set off even with the smallest of flames. His fists around his goblet, knuckles turning white.

"Come on, I want to really show you around!" Mina linked their arms before leading them off to the left, beginning to circle around all of the festivities. 

First Mina took him to a dessert stand where he ate the most beautiful rolled cake with fresh cream and strawberries. There were little red flowers that scattered the top of the cake, and he followed Mina's guidance when she announced they were edible. They weren't too flavourful but enhanced the sweet tones of the strawberries. He finished it off in only a couple of mouthfuls, the food melting as soon as he took a bite. 

The next stall had rows and racks of jewellery from rings to bracelets to necklaces. There were earrings too. Shoto had noticed that lots of people here adorned themselves in piercings; not just on their ears but their brows and noses, lips and hands and chests. From studs to bars to hoops, it was a whole new form of expression that he was slowly getting used to. Shoto had no piercings of his own, neither had the rest of his family. Rings and necklaces adorned the nobles at balls and festivities, but otherwise they were kept locked away or displayed as a sign of wealth rather than actively worn. The jewels were always expensive, colourful and sparkly and detailed, yet here simple bronze, silver and gold seemed to be most common. 

Mina had one earring on each ear, and Denki two on his left eyebrow. When talking about how he got them, Denki mentioned they bled for hours and almost got infected because he hadn't taken proper care of them. The description was vivid and put Shoto off getting any piercings of his own. Kirishima had ones on his ears and on his chest, and one evening at dinner he had seen him and Mina wear matching jewellery. Bakugou had several piercings on his ears, the most prominent being the claw-shaped ones on his lobes. They were a deep red just like his cloak and often made his expression look even more serious when mad. 

Noticing him looking at the range of jewellery available, Mina asked if he ever wanted to have a piercing. Shoto declined, but his eye caught onto a small silver stud that looked like a snowflake. Next to it was its asymmetrical other-half, a short dangling earring with small jewels that looked like stars hanging from the silver chain. They were small yet looked beautiful in the light. 

He turned his attention to the bracelets in front of him, asking about the different methods of braiding the ropes and leather. Mina told him about the different types of braids that came from the different tribes, showing the intricate belt around her waist made of a thick brown leather that was braided all around. Apparently it was easier than it looked, and most children were taught how to do simple patterns in school. Mina said she had too many bracelets that no more could fit in her vanity, but Shoto ended up with a simple brown leather bracelet with three red beads at the centre. It was tied with two strings that tightened the bracelet when pulled apart.