(Sin)namon Rolls

Chapter 11: I Am BIron Man

     It was the night before the press conference. I couldn't lie, I was starting to get nervous. Bakugo could tell.
    We lay in his bed, facing one another, both of our minds too occupied to rest.
    "You don't have to do it," he said.
    "I want to."
    "Do you?"
    I tried to memorize the doubt in his eyes; the vulnerability. Seeing him like that gave me a fleeting surge of reassurance.
    "Yes. I wanna do this for you."
    "What about you, though?"
    "What about me?"
    "Do you wanna do it for you? ...or just for me?"
     I gave him a look of concern. I planted a soft haphazard kiss on his lips.
    "I want to do it," I said.
    For a few moments, he just stared.
    "You worry me sometimes, you know that?" he said.
    "I do?"
    "Don't act surprised, moron. Like I wouldn't be freaked out with you keeping shit from me... and thinking all the damn time... and—"
    I slid my hand up to his jaw and kissed him again, more firmly this time. I opened one eye to peek at his face. His brows were furrowed, his eyes tightly shut.
    I closed my eyes again and inhaled deeply through my nose. I wasn't sure how much time we wasted away like that, but eventually I pulled back. I rested my forehead against Bakugo's.
    "Don't stress over me. You've got enough on your plate already, Mister Hero."
   "It's hard not to worry."
    I narrowed my eyes at him with a smirk.
   "Maybe I could make it a little easier for you," I whispered.
   "That sounds... fucking fantastic, but... I can't."
    I scooted back from him a smidge.
     "What do you mean, you can't?" I questioned, mildly offended.
     "Big day tomorrow. I need my beauty rest."
     "You'd still be hot without sleep."
     "I don't think BuzzFeed would agree."
     "Fuck BuzzFeed."
     "I'm scared, Izuku."
     I blinked at him. He was looking down rather than at me. His voice was low and unsteady.
     "Kacchan..."
     "Don't. Please. Just... don't, okay?"
     "Don't what?"
     "Don't do your Deku shit that you do."
     "I don't know what that means."
     "Don't help me. Don't try to make me feel better. Don't kiss me like I'm some fragile fucking thing that needs to be handled delicately. Don't coddle me. I'm not weak. I don't need you to protect me. I can take care of myself."
     Woah there, Zero. Don't hurt yourself.
     "...Hey. Kacchan... Look at me for a second."
     He met my eyes begrudgingly.
     "I don't think you're weak at all. And I know you don't need protecting. You're the one protecting me, remember? You aren't fragile, Kacchan. I've never thought that."
    "Then why do you make me feel... the way you do?"
     What is this, a soap opera? Christ.
     "Elaborate."
     "No."
     "How do I make you feel?"
    Bakugo turned his back to me.
     "I'm tired."
     "I make you feel tired?"
     "No, asshat."
     "Then how—"
     "You make me fucking happy and shit. God. Shut the fuck up already. Annoying ass bitch."
     I smiled as I eased into the warmth of his body.
     Sleep didn't come right away, but the reminder of the control I still had over Bakugo helped me rest a little easier.
•••
     Something I discovered from my preparatory research for the mission was that Bakugo's fashion had accumulated considerable recognition. I'd scoured the Internet for the name of his stylist - they tended to be good sources of dirt on celebrities - and found nothing. As it happened, Katsuki Bakugo's stylist was Katsuki Bakugo. He had commendable clothing items in his oversized closet, but I didn't think he knew how to wear them. Yet lo and behold, there he was, looking like he'd just stepped off the catwalk.
     He'd dressed me in a long-sleeved white button-up, black slacks, and a red tie; bland by comparison to the sexy mariachi band member thing he had going on. His hair was tame for once, smoothed back away from his face using what must have been some iron-strength hair gel. He'd also tossed a grey peacoat at me from the closet by the door on our way out.
    With his long black overcoat and greaser hairstyle, Bakugo looked much more like a villain than I did.
    The press conference was scheduled to begin at three o'clock in the afternoon. We had to arrive an hour early, because, as Bakugo so elegantly put it, "only broke bitches show up late."
   The drive over in his not-so-giant, fancy car was quiet. Neither of us said much until Bakugo pulled into a space in the hotel parking lot.
     He unbuckled his seatbelt. I did the same, eyeing him warily. He stared ahead.
     He was terrified. Really, genuinely terrified.
    It was glorious.
    "Kac-"
    "Only one person knows I'm bringing you. He's gonna come out to meet us. You'll go with him. I'm gonna go somewhere else. You'll stay with him until I call for you to come out on stage. Whatever he says, do it. You got that?"
    Bakugo turned to shoot me a look. I nodded. We sat in silence for a moment.
    "You can do this," I said.
    "I know I can."
    He opened the car door. I opened mine. We stepped out of the vehicle.
    "Try not to do anything embarrassing when you see him," Bakugo said as he locked his car.
    "Okay...?"
    "Young Bakugo!"
    I turned my attention to the hotel's entrance. A skinny blonde man in a suit was walking towards us and waving.
     No...
     It can't be.
    "All Might," Bakugo replied as they converged.
    He shook... All Might's hand.
    All Might's dark eyes landed on me. He smiled.
    "You must be Deku."
    "Yeah. Yeah, I- I am. Um, I'm sorry, you're... you're—"
    "He's fuckin' All Might, nerd. Chill."
    "I know that, Kacchan. I just... wow. I..." I chuckled giddily. "Wow! This is... would it be weird if I asked for a hug? That'd be weird, right? I shouldn't. Forget I said anything. I'm sorry. I'm embarrassing myself, aren't I?"
    All Might laughed.
    "That would be weird. But a friend of young Bakugo's is a friend of mine, so bring it in, kid."
    We embraced one another, laughing. Laughing like there was nothing wrong with what was happening. Laughing like I wasn't hugging the man who crushed my dreams. Laughing like these two people weren't the ones who ruined my life.
    I put my smile back on as I pulled out of his frail, easily-breakable arms.
    I ran a hand through my hair, blinking fast like I was having trouble processing the situation. I was; just not for the reasons Bakugo and All Might would have guessed. The turn of events that had transpired was objectively bizarre.
    He didn't even remember me... Of course he didn't. I was just another one of the countless civilians he swooped in and rescued from peril. It didn't matter that we had a talk... or whatever that was... afterwards. It meant nothing to him. I meant nothing to him.
     Remember your mission, Deku.
     This isn't about All Might.
     This is about Kacchan.
     ...Bakugo.
     This is about Bakugo.
    "So, h-how... how did you two, uh, meet?" I stuttered.
    "Long story. No time. I gotta go. Bye, Deku. See ya, old man," Bakugo said as he began to walk away.
    I plodded after him. "Kacchan, wait."
    I grabbed his hand. He turned around to glare at me. I sighed and threw my arms around him. He slowly and hesitantly brought his hands up to my back.
    "No matter what happens... you're still my hero."
     "Softie," he mumbled.
     I pulled back and smiled up at him.
     "You got this, babe," I said as I folded his coat collar down.
     "I told you to—"
     "Shut up, Katsuki," I said kindly, running my hands over his shoulders.
     He staggered, briefly stunned, then said, "Okay."
    Bakugo headed off to the hotel's main entrance.
   All Might approached me from behind and clapped a hand on my shoulder.
    "Ready to go, kid?"
     That kid sobriquet was really starting to rub me the wrong way.
    "Yes. Yes, sir. I am."
    "Alright then. Let's get this show on the road."
    We began to walk towards a door off to the right.
    "So, is Deku some kind of nickname, or did you just have terrible parents?"
     I faked a breathy giggle.
     "Deku's not my real name. That's just what Kacchan calls me."
     "That might be the weirdest pet name I've ever heard."
     All Might used the card attached to the lanyard around his neck to unlock the door. He held it open for me, then followed me inside. We entered a small space with grey walls. There was a single round table flanked by three chairs and a short counter on the far side of the room with a coffee machine on top of it. There was another door in the corner of the room opposite from where we'd entered from.
    All Might pulled a chair out from the table and sat down. He glanced up at me expectantly.
     "Get comfortable. We're gonna be here a while."
•••
     Indeed we fucking were.
     The time I was made to spend with All Might in that room felt like a millennia, but soon enough that knock on the door came. When it did, I hopped out of my seat and rushed to the door that led to backstage. The plan was for All Might and I to wait in the wings, which were left empty so he and I were the only people on that side of the stage, until Bakugo called for me to enter.
    A glimmer of excitement bubbled within me. I was on the edge of my seat to hear Bakugo's unplanned, disastrous coming out speech.
    He was sitting at a table on stage. A microphone was set up in front of him. A second chair and microphone were situated beside him. The ballroom was bustling with chatter.
     "Hey," was Bakugo's first attempt to reign in the commotion.
     He tried again.
     "MOTHERFUCKERS, I SAID, HEY."
     Bakugo's shouting and the sound system's feedback proved to be an effective combination.
     He waited until the room was silent and all eyes were on him to begin.
     "Listen up, vultures. I'm only gonna say this once, so make sure you got your shit recording. Poor people, get out your notepads."
     Bakugo paused to allow the reporters to do as he told them.
     "I like pussy. I like dick. Period. Write that shit down."
     "Are you saying you're bisexual?"
     "Oh, looks like we got a genius, huh? Nice work, genius. Give yourself a pat on the back. Get this motherfucker a raise!"
     "Is that a yes?"
     "Sit down, fuckface."
     "Yes, sir."
     "In case Einstein here didn't say it loud enough for you, yeah, I'm bi. I'm bi and I'm dating a guy. I made that rhyme on purpose so you morons could remember it easier. If you have questions, shut the fuck up. I don't want to hear them. Stay in your goddamn seats and listen. My boyfriend's gonna say something."
     "Is that my cue?" I whispered to All Might.
     "Sure is. Good luck out there, young Midoriya."
     All Might shoved me forward. I stumbled on stage. Mumbles from the crowd arose in response to my entrance. I sat down next to Bakugo. He gave me an encouraging nod when I looked over at him in fear. I cleared my throat, turned to face front, and tilted the microphone down to my mouth.
     "My name is Izuku Midoriya."
     The journalists' murmurs grew louder.
     "Aye. Simmer. Simmer," Bakugo warned the audience.
     They obliged his command.
     I glanced at one of the cameras at the back of the room.
     "Four years ago, a stranger followed me home from school. Before I could arrive home that day, however, I was backed into an alleyway, beaten, and kidnapped. The individual who assaulted and abducted me did so with an ulterior motive. I was taken by..." I took a deep breath - or tried to, at least. "I was taken by an organization known as the League of Villains. I've been in their custody for the last few years. I wasn't able to escape until last week. I fled to Kac—Ground Zero's residence after I got out and have been staying with him ever since."
     I took a piece of paper out of my pants pocket and unfolded it in front of me. My hands were shaking. Bakugo placed his hand over my thigh. I hadn't realized I'd been bouncing my leg nervously until then.
     "Danjuro Tobita. Minoru Mineta. Jin Bubaigawara. Manami Aiba. Kendo Rappa," I read.
     I looked back up at the audience.
     "The names I just listed belong to the criminals responsible for my abduction. These are the true identities of the League of Villains' members."
     The room erupted into chaos. Questions were hurled at me like physical attacks.
     "Quit fuckin' shouting! You can yell at me, but don't you dare yell at him! Do you understand me?!" Bakugo rumbled.
    His remark was met with a delayed collective "aw".
     "Shut up," he said dismissively.
     Fortunately for me, the reporters were more interested in Bakugo and I's relationship than the exposure of a heinous criminal organization. I only had to answer one or two questions about the League.
     I'd successfully gone through with my part of Uraraka's plan.
    I could only hope the others had too.
•••
    The conference ended around five. Bakugo received a phone call when we got into his car later that night.
     "What do you want?" he greeted the person on the other end.
     "No!" he exclaimed. "No! No— I don't care! I'm not—! I won't—! Ugh! Fine! God! I hate you! Leave me alone!"
     He paused for a moment. "Yeah, I'll see you soon."
     He threw his phone into the backseat.
     "Who was that?" I asked nonchalantly.
     "My fuckin' mom. ...Fuckin' hag. Gah!Bitch!"
     "It's not nice to call your mother a bitch."
     "Don't test me right now, Deku."
     "Yes, sir."
     "Don't call me sir."
     "Why not?"
     "You wanna walk tomorrow, smartass?"
     "Not if the reason I wouldn't be able to is because of what I think you're implying."
     "Oh, so you're okay with me breaking your kneecaps?"
     "No, I thought you meant you were gonna—"
     "I meant that I was going to blow out your fucking knees. Shut the hell up."
     "Okay."
•••
     "KATSUKI!"
     "WHAT?!"
     My poor eardrums...
     "Where is that boy?! Katsuki, where is that boy?!"
     "What boy?! What the fuck are you talking about?!"
     "Watch your fucking mouth! Don't use language like that, asshole!"
     I stepped out from behind Bakugo. Mitsuki stopped screeching at her son and gaped at my face. She seemed to become an entirely different person upon noticing that I was there.
     "Izuku... please, come in. Right now."
     I followed her into her house, clutching Bakugo's hand.
     When we stepped inside, a woman I discerned to be my own mother stared back at me. She gasped.
     "I-Izuku..."
     "Mom..."
     "Izuku!"
     "Mom!"
     She ran forward and pulled me into her arms, sobbing profusely. I pinched the skin of my forearm until it hurt enough to bring tears to my eyes.
     "Oh, Izuku! My- my baby...! You have no idea how worried I was. You had me scared out of my mind!"
     "I know... I'm sorry, Mom."
     "It's okay... it's okay, now." She pulled back and cupped the side of my face in one hand. She smiled sadly at me.
     "Don't ever do that to me again. You hear me?"
     "I won't. I promise."
     More tears fell down her cheeks. She hugged me again.
     This went on for a while.
     After my little family reunion, Bakugo told me he needed to speak to me outside. He brought me out to the sidewalk. I reached out for his hands and clasped both of them in mine when he stopped walking. I looked up at him worriedly.
     "What?" I asked.
     "I, uh... I just got a call."
     "Okay?"
     "It was from the police."
     "Okay..."
     "The people you listed...? The villains...?"
     "Uh huh?"
     "The cops just found their bodies."
     I stared at him in shock.
     "They committed suicide. All of them. The League of Villains... it's gone, Izuku. They're dead. They can't hurt you anymore."
     I started to cry - fake tears, of course - and buried my face in his chest. He stroked my hair, holding me to him like a precious object. We stayed like that for quite some time.
     Eventually, it began to snow.
     ...like celebratory ivory confetti.