𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐌𝐄 | 𝐛𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐤𝐮 | ✓

𝔰𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔫

word count: 703

Bakugo POV 

"What're you going to do?" I purr.

Deku places his hand on my chest gently, and, damn it, my heartbeat quickens its speed. "Kacchan..." he whispers, his face bright red.

I whisper, "Deku," and lower my head so that our noses bump lightly. I'm suddenly aware of how much I fucking want this, but at the same time, I don't want this, I don't want him, because I hate him. I fucking hate Deku, I remind myself.

I flick a splash of chlorine-saturated water at him.

"Huh?" he coughs.

I push myself away, leaving about a foot of water between us. "Don't be an idiot, Deku. What did you think was happening?" I snap, hoping to fucking god that my voice stays even, not quivering, not portraying how damn shaken I am.

"I- I-" he looks like a hopeless lost lamb.

"You're ridiculous," I say sharply, even though I'm the ridiculous one for feeling like this. "I'm getting outta here."

I hoist myself out of the pool easily, and charge over to the bay's changing room to dry off. The changing room is empty, except for me, because everyone's still training. I grab a fluffy towel out of my locker and rub my hair dry, causing it to return to it's usual staticky blond style.

I pull my school uniform on quickly and throw my bag over my shoulder, slamming my locker shut. I still have lunch and afternoon classes, but I'm not in the mood for that shit. I shove my feet into my shoes and stomp through the hallway.

"Young Bakugo! Where are you going? School isn't out yet, my boy!" All Might appears, standing in my way, his muscled figure blocking my path.

"Get outta my damn way," I scowl, shoulders hunched.

"Now, that's not any way to respect your elders!" He reprimands cheerfully, still posing with his hands on his hips.

"Hell if I care," I mutter.

All Might remains unfazed.

I shove past him with my shoulder and thunder down the rest of the hallway.

"I'll tell Aizawa you weren't feeling well, young Bakugo!" he calls out the offer and lets me leave the building.

I start the walk home, trudging heavily.

I remember how damn much I used to look up to All Might. Deku and I would spend hours when we where little, watching videos of him saving citizens from villains. We both had All Might posters and merchandise scattered all around our childhood bedrooms. I outgrew the fanboy phase, Deku didn't.

I guess I though Deku was so obsessed over All Might, still, because he needed someone to look up to, being quirkless. But he has a fucking quirk. And, even though it kills me to admit this to myself, it's a damn good one.

I can't believe he'd held out on everyone for so long. I can't believe it.

A memory resurfaces, one that I thought I buried in the back of my mind a long time ago.

"K-kacchan?" Five-year-old Deku turned to me, big eyes filled with shimmering tears.

I looked away from the All Might video playing on his computer. "What?"

"D-do you think I'll ever get a quirk? I-I just want to be a hero like All Might... a h-hero like y-you..."

He thinks I'm a hero? I thought. "Maybe yours is just late," I said, instead of making a mean 'quirkless' remark like I usually would've.

He looked up at me with wide virescent eyes. "Y-you r-r-really think? Late?"

"Yeah!" I tried to make him feel better, because I didn't want him to cry. "Like a period!"

His brows furrowed. "Ew! Kacchan, that's gross!" But he was laughing. I joined in, and we giggled ourselves silly. Whenever we calmed down, one of us would look at the other and we'd start up again.

Despite myself, I smile at the memory. Then I clench my fists, nails digging into my palms. Was he really lying to my all that damn time, keeping his power hidden just to surpass me? Does he want to beat me as revenge for my bullying for so many years?

Does he hate me?