Cleo remembered when she first decided to try out for cross country.
It was the summer before 8th grade when she vowed to make herself into a person she could like. Her sister had given her a ride to the school, she'd retied her sneakers about fifteen times on the way, and she'd practically had a death grip on that poor plastic water bottle.
She'd been so nervous that she refused to get out of the car. She remembered knowing absolutely nobody on the team, feeling so socially inept because she hadn't talked to anybody all summer. It wasn't until her sister reassured her that she finally found herself unlocking the door.
That's what she thought internships were gonna be like.
But rather than the hellish experience her middle school self endured, it was quite different.
She chose to intern with Thirteen to learn how to use her quirk in rescue scenarios. Thirteen, who she'd recently learned went by them/they pronouns, was a pretty nice person, who took her wall of awkwardness and formality into consideration.
Cleo was finally letting the wall drip down a bit, allowing Thirteen to see her real personality. And the acceptance was nice.
That's why she didn't really mind it when Thirteen said they needed to drop by Best Jeanist's agency. Something to do with the author and plot lines.
So she followed Thirteen through the building, politely smiling at the passersby she happened to make eye contact with. They stopped at a door in the building, pushing it open, and just like that feeling of finding someone you know in Swedesboro, Cleo felt like she'd been smacked with frying pan.
Bakugo and Cleo made eye contact from both sides of the room, a silence as his hair sprung back to its normal state.
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Oof.
In any other case Cleo probably would've laughed, but despite her rather common mental breakdowns, she valued her life.
Best Jeanist sighed as though this weren't the first time this occurred, flicking his comb into his pocket. "Thirteen." He said in greeting. "What brings you here?"
"I just need to do some touch ups on the paperwork collaboration takedown we did last week. Turns out the villains quirk wasn't energy mutation." They replied, while Cleo suddenly begun to wish she had Hagakure's quirk instead.
"Is that your intern?"
Uh oh.
"Yep," Thirteen said, pushing Cleo forward much to her dismay. "She's got quite the quirk."
Best Jeanist hummed in response, having been there in the stadium. He remembered sending her an invite to intern with him after the festival, but he supposed she was searching for something specific.
"You two are in the same class right?" Best Jeanist asked. Cleo stiffened as he acknowledged Bakugo's presence. Without waiting for a response, he carried on, "You two stay here. Thirteen, the reports in my office."
