Rushing Water

6

Despondent
(adjective)

1. In low spirits due to loss of hope or courage.

—

Skittish.
Jumpy and unusually quiet.

He sat still on bench of the gym, ruby eyes unfocused as his peers bounced around him in happy conversation and training.

A blurred shape flashed in front of his eyes and a distant voice echoed in his mind.

"...shima..."

Again it moved in and out of sight.

"Kiri..."

A third time and he snapped to his senses.
The sounds of the world rushed back, slamming into him with the force of a train.

The squeak of shoes, yells of other students, bodies moving around one another. A distinct voice.
"Kirishima!"

"Hm?" Turning a confused glance to the blond, he straightened his spine a bit to sit taller.

"C'mon. I need to talk to you."

Warmth on his wrist and he was pulled to his feet.

"O-okay..."

Drifting eyes landed on the departing boys and whispers spread through the crowd as they vanished behind a corner and into the locker rooms.

Arms around his waist, fingers in his hair, crimson eyes in front of his own.

Bakugou sighed, closing his eyes as his head fell onto Kirishima's shoulder.
"Look, I'm sorry."

Kirishima pulled the teen closer and curled his arms around his back.
"'S okay, I'm sorry if I was going too fast or anything. I don't really know what we are right now."

"Me either to be fucking honest."

Both chuckled quietly, breath mingling together.

"So, we're good?"

"Yeah dumbass."

"Good."

They embraced, one with a wide smile while the other rolled his eyes in mock annoyance.

Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.

"We're ditching."

"What?" He snapped back, scarlet eyes wide with surprise.

"Just follow me moron, you need some time away from the world."

Roads.
Trees.
No cars.

"Okay, if you were to kill me this would be the ideal place."

"I swear to fucking god-"

"What? I'm just saying!"

"I'm not gonna kill you, ya idiot. You clearly need to get away for a while so I'm helping you."

"O-kay. Just please tell my parents and friends I love them."

"Fuck you."

The slam of doors and they opened the trunk, selecting a blanket to toss out on the path beside the road.

"You took me here to be all calm but this is fucking creepy bro. Like there could be some psycho in the woods wielding an axe and bloodthirsty. Are we even allowed to be out here?"

"Shut up."

"It's true!"

"Okay goodbye." Katsuki stood up, striding toward the car just to be stopped by and hand in his own.
"And to answer your question, no, the hag is gonna fucking lecture me for taking her car when we get back."

"Don't leave me! That's mean dude." Huffed the redhead.

"Alright you baby. Now what's going on?"

He thought for while before taking the easy way out.
"Just stress I guess."

"That–" Bakugou gestured to him as he sat down again, "–is more than stress."

"I swear, I'm just stressed."

"Yeah and I'm not an asshole."

"You aren't."

"You're blind or stupid. Or both."

"Okay, I'll take that."

Katsuki shook his head and dropped his face in his hands.
"Fine."

"Fine what?"

"You don't have to tell me, just know I'm here."

"I know."

He didn't.

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Word count: 550