"honesty and grace" (Mezo Shoji X Reader)

Chapter 36

For a moment, you thought the hot-headed blonde was trying to be humorous. Though, the way his eyes looked into your's was so genuine and honest. "You really want to know how I'm doing?" You ask, gripping the cold glass a little tighter. Silently, he nods, but that just leads you to have more questions. "Why?"

His head tilts up as his brows furrow. "Why not? Look, if you don't want my help, I can go wake up Squid-boy."

"It's not that I don't want your help," You start hurriedly, placing the cylindrical glass on the small coffee table, "it's just that I didn't think you'd want to help me."

This seemed to take Bakugou by surprise. "I'm aiming to be the number one hero, it's my job to help people. Even extras like you." The boy seemed to clench his teeth and fists, his body language changing to more of an angry expression. "And besides, I know why the villains wanted you specifically. It's because of your quirk, right?"

You swallowed hard, seeming to put a lot of effort into that one action. With a small sigh, you brought your legs to your chest. "Yeah, and because of my dad." You admit.

"Oh, right, your dad was that American villain, right? Compact?" Bakugou seemed to start connecting the dots in his head. All you could really do was nod as tears came to your eyes. They made you blink at the sensation, wanting it to go away. The teenager beside you took note of this, and decided to try something to help you. "(Y/n)," He starts, the usage of your name taking you by surprise, "I'm about to be really honest with you, and if you tell anyone I told you this, I'll kill you. Got that?" He snarls.

Your hand reaches for the glass on the table. Your palm gets wet from the condensation, causing you to nearly drop the cup. "I understand."

He nods his head and looks up at the ceiling. For the first time, he looked genuinely peaceful at that moment. "I wouldn't want to tell anyone else this because they wouldn't understand what it's like. All my life people would tell me my attitude was more fit for that of a villain, so my goals were unreasonable. When I was kidnapped, I'm sure you know about that, I know that it worried a lot of people. I have a very powerful quirk, yeah, but my explosive attitude is what caught their attention as well." Bakugou pauses while bringing a hand to rest on his forehead. "I've occasionally been told that being a villain would just suit me better than being a hero. Did they try and tell you that?" The concern had mostly left his expression as he tilts his head just slightly to look at you. The room was dark, the only light coming from the large windows at the sides of the room.

You bite the inside of your cheek cautiously before taking another sip of lemon water. "They asked if it would be easier for me to be a villain." You admit, clutching the glass just a bit harder.

"Easier than being a hero?" Bakugou sits up, head still cocked towards you.

The water in the glass shakes slightly as you nod. "I know it's dumb, and I have little to no control over my quirk, but it was always my dream to be a hero." A smile crept it's way on to your face, the corners of your mouth rising slightly. "I'm sure you know, but I took that quirk apprehension test you guys did at the beginning of the year. Out of twenty-one, I scored nineteenth." A short glance over at Bakugou was enough to wipe the smile off your face. He looked unreasonably angry.

"You're an idiot, you know that?" He growls, small flickers lighting up in his palms.

Your eyes widen in surprise as you swallow the cold water. "What?"

He crosses his arms over his chest with a huff. "You haven't used your quirk in so long. If you want to be a hero so bad, then act like it. Saying you want to be one and actually trying to become one are two very different things." The boy's angry nature seems to return within an instant. His eyes glare over at you, looking at your state.