Chapter Text
Ever since a young age, though not that young, because Katsuki was only 7 and his mother had said that any age below the number 20 were still brats, Deku had always been sort of - not exactly in a bad way - obsessed with money.
In Katsuki’s opinion, nothing came close to surpassing the sheer excitement that rolled in his veins at the mere thought of becoming or surpassing someone as great as the number one Hero in the world, All Might. Thus bluntly put, Kastuki fundamentally couldn’t empathise with the kid he’s known all his life when he got all… weirdly number-eyed.
Whereupon they’d just learnt to count till ten, Deku had already mastered counting till ten thousand because it was the biggest note Japan had. Whereupon people struggled with the rules of borrowing in subtraction, Deku was completing workbooks printed in fractions, eating every question up like a free for all buffet.
His mother had let him participate in her charity sales the very next week.
It was a premonition for a time to come, he’d later swear crassly in odd understanding, but the present gave nothing away and the blond remained comprehensive on his bed after yet another day at primary school.
Even more so than their shared ambition of becoming a Hero in the future, Izuku loved counting money, saving money, treating the increasing amount of money in his All Might piggy bank like it was Kami-sama in the flesh. He practically worshiped the numbers, creeping the hell out of Katsuki once upon a time before he quickly got over it.
Yet Deku was still Deku, whether he gave Katsuki goosebumps or not. The scrawny kid who’d beaten him in only one subject since forever (mathematics) as he reluctantly allowed it - not without a fight first, duh - because for someone as uselessly Quirkless as Deku, Katsuki supposed being better at maths was the best he’d ever amount to.
Besides, Katsuki wanted to be the number one Hero, right? And mercy may be somewhat important somewhere up in the list, he supposed.
And then Deku’s Quirk showed up - which pissed Katsuki off for an hour before rays of enlightenment befell upon him, educating him upon the universe’s reasoning behind Deku’s creepy obsession with anything remotely numbered and anything paper thin, possessing the face of the Finance Minister that single-handedly brought Japan’s economy back to life back in the year 2099.
In the latest animation of The Almighty Adventures of All Might that aired every weekend, one episode in particular stood out from the rest. The plot line had been action packed and stereotypical, differing very little from the countless other previous episodes, but a simple scene caused ripples among every other grade schooler out there.
In summary, having recently celebrated his father’s birthday, Katsuki and Deku had been lounging about watching the latest episode of their mutually favourite animation of All Might.
Their relationship had certainly staled ever since the chasm between them grew larger and larger, but Katsuki knew he didn’t hate Deku per se. Merely experienced intense annoyance whenever he saw the other. Plus, he thought down of Deku because he’d been Quirkless.
Note: past tense.
Throughout those lukewarm hours of tea and dinner, Katsuki had been quite civil due to Aunty Inko’s presence; Deku, ever the obedient child, even more so. A glint of admiration would filter through his doe forest eyes ever so often. Katsuki almost flinched. And the blond felt his chest tighten incomprehensibly whenever he imagined Deku walking off after this small celebration ended.
That was the first sign.
Unbeknownst to their parents, he and his former best friend were coming close to cutting each other’s names off their respective lists. Deku had his numbers that didn’t require a Quirk he lacked to support him, whereas Katsuki found it beneath himself to persistently provoke the Quirkless kid who showed no reaction whatsoever.
The television played, splashes of bright colours colouring All Might and the city he loyalty protected. The Villain was clad in an uncharacteristically pale blue, but his setting remained almost identical to the canon fodder before him. The Villain of the day had a penchant for kidnapping young children who didn’t talk much - unnoticed and quiet by their peers, only remembered by parents who were too busy for anything.
Katsuki didn’t pity them. Why won’t they fight back? He’s wondered since forever. Why are they so pathetically weak ? Even if they did not expect to win, wasn’t it only logical to at least die trying? Scream, scratch, struggle. Do something instead of just lying there and crying while the Villain carried you off!
Pathetic , he thought, before turning his head to catch Deku’s reaction. Unsurprisingly, the boy’s heart bled for the bunch of fictional losers.
His concern was clearly the second sign.
The third hadn’t even bothered being quiet about coming in through the entrance of Katsuki’s unceasing attention of Deku. No, not when that ridiculously excellent episode - for he was no liar to himself - had put in a phrase that although old, sounded damn cool to their immature vocabulary when All Might himself had said it. In both English and Japanese! - the third sign was traffic neon orange, followed by the wailing calls of those stupid pre-installed alarms inside a red and white handheld speakers.
Some would find the phrase funny, or educated, or maybe it was just because some top dog at school that wasn’t Katsuki brought attention to the phrase by mere coincidence and the rest followed. No one would ever know. Only, All Might’s line of “Have no fear, for I am here! A penny for your thoughts, my dear?” blew up.
(The lines rhymed. God, he should’ve fucking known.)
Katsuki didn’t know many things. He didn’t know trends; he’d never wanted to study the subject. He didn’t know what tickled someone’s humour, what built it so they’d say it again and again because it made them happy enough to sacrifice their precious hours and money. Nothing came to mind if someone asked what made a particular part of a movie iconic to the crowd. Learning had never crossed his mind.
The moment he impulsively snatched Deku’s hero-themed wallet to take out a 5000 yen to ask mockingly, “A penny for your thoughts, Deku?” Katsuki might’ve considered trying.
He didn’t know why he hated the money Deku loved so much. Give him a little over a decade, and he’d find out. Cheeks flushed in dark scarlet, the line connected to his fuse would then have thickened and lengthened with time, wrapped prettily around Deku’s crooked fingers for the world to witness.
The boy with eyes like shimmering forests took his money back, uncharacteristically robotic that the motion looked more like he was accepting payment instead. Katsuki expected the crybaby to burst into tears. He did not. On the contrary, Deku said softly, “The price isn’t right, Kacchan.”
Katsuki’s temper reared its noble head, sunshine scales upturned, fanged mouth brimming with smoke and outlined by the fire underneath its tongue. That wasn’t how their relationship worked, if they even had one remaining after the shit Katsuk pulled during then. Deku detested people that messed with his money.
“What did you say?” Katsuki growled in favour of expressing confusion (and guilt) he felt deep inside the many crevices of his dark as charcoal heart.
“I- I said that the price isn’t r- right. You’ve paid me.” Deku fidgeted, voice gritty and somewhat agitated. Like he absolutely needed to say this. “Who’s thoughts do you wanna know, Kacchan? Who’s?”
Katsuki leans away taken aback and nevertheless did his best to not show it on his face. Revealing any weakness in front of the enemy wasn’t wise because currently, Deku’s expectant look was equally sharp as it was dull. Like he was searching or maybe seeing something that wasn’t there. The blond child curled his fists and puffed up his chest.
The future number one Hero ain’t gonna be afraid of some Deku.
“Tsk. Mom’s then.”
“Aunty Mitsuki?”
“You’re deaf now, Deku?”
In response, the freckled boy nodded absentmindedly and the 5000 yen note in his hand crumbled into dust. “Payment accepted,” he stated tonelessly and shoulders relaxed. “Bakugou Mitsuki, formerly Amano Mitsuki. Explicatives have been censored. Her thoughts expresses bliss in seeing Midoriya Izuku and Bakugou Katsuki get along. She wishes that this may continue in the future, if only for her best friend’s, Midoriya Inko’s, sake. Transaction completed.”
“What the fuck.” Katsuki said.
His mother threw a cushion at him.