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Just why did he agree to this?
From the moment they stepped outside of the dorms he just knew this had been a stupid idea and he was stupid for finally agreeing just because he thought Bakugou might be happy about it and really proud of him.
It’s almost been a year now since it all started. A year since Bakugou became Kirishimas caregiver and Kirishima tried slipping for the first time.
Almost a year since Bakugou bought him supplies online and mentioned that they could also shop outside. You know, in the real world!
Actually Kirishima had already forgotten about it and he thought Bakugou did too but that was a huge mistake on his part. Because Bakugou Katsuki doesn’t forget… lucky him.
Okay, to be clear, no one is forcing Kirishima to do this. Bakugou also didn’t pressure him. He just mentioned it at the redhead’s birthday again and then didn’t even repeat it once afterward.
And yet here they were. Walking to the mall after just getting off of a bus while holding hands. At least he got Bakugou to hold hands in public.
And why were they in this situation? Because Kirishima couldn’t shut up and wanted to make Bakugou happy again after he got his hearing aids the other day.
They weren’t the ‘end version', if you could call them that, but the blonds hearing has been declining drastically in the last few months. Unsurprisingly he wasn’t happy about that and Kirishima was really trying to cheer him back up.
And of course, that was the first thing he thought about and his stupid mouth just let it slip out. So yes, they were on their way to buy little supplies for Kirishima in the mall.
With every step they took the redhead could feel more and more knots twist and turn in his stomach.
But it‘ll be okay, he tried to reason with himself, they won’t be buying anything suspicious. He has enough already and they won’t be buying any pacifiers since they don’t have adult ones in the stores and normal ones won’t be good for him. Bakugou already told him that a million times.
So the only thing they could and would buy were probably plushies, hoodies and so on. That stuff really isn’t suspicious in any way. And even if it was, people would just assume they were buying them for a niece or nephew or little sibling. It’s not a big deal.
Kirishima knows it’s not a big deal.
He’s also comfortable now being little in front of his friends and there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of!
But he still felt dread pull at his lungs and stomach.
“Everything okay?“, Bakugou stopped in his tracks and turned to Kirishima. “Mh? Oh yeah.“, Bakugou raised an eyebrow in that way the redhead was so used to.
And he felt himself grumbling.
Nononono! It’s not like he only does that when Kirishima is regressed! He always does it! Always! This is in no way a trigger for Kirishima! No!
“You sure? You know we don’t have to do this, right? We can just-"
“No! We- I can- I want this!“
“… okay. But you know we can turn around any time Kiri.“, and he’s pulling out the nickname. Is he doing this on purpose?!
But before Eiji could crumble any more they already stepped foot into the mall. The noise instantly punched them hard in the face and Kirishima saw Bakugou making a grimace before doing something on the hearing aids.
See, not a good idea. Now they could just walk backwards and-
But Bakugou resumed walking and so did Kirishima.
The lights were bright and the people way too many and too loud. The redhead tightened his grip on his carers hand.
Why are here so many people? It’s not like there was anything any tim-
He forgot about Halloween.
God damn it.
Who forgets Halloween?! Most importantly, how did he forget after Denki has been pestering them all about it for literal weeks?!
When he felt a pull at his hand he looked up from the ground and towards his carer who was pointing towards a nearby shop that seemed pretty empty.
The noises lessened as they entered and got replaced by pop music that’s been played way to many times before.
A depot shop.
Little ceramic statues of anything and everything in perfect rows, candles and some Halloween-themed stuff to hang on walls and windows, and oh.
Eijis gaze got hung up on a huge pile of fluffy pillows. Like really fluffy pillows. They looked so soft. Almost like clouds.
He heard a short chuckle from his carer and when he looked toward him Katsu was signing something with his hands.
Kirishima blinked. Ah, he shut off the hearing aids earlier. The redhead tried to decipher but his brain wasn’t cooperating. He really should have studied more.
But while Kirishima was struggling Bakugou just smiled before switching his hearing aids back on. I took a bit but finally “Should have warned you huh?“
“No… I saw you but my-", he stopped himself. If he tells Katsu that he is slipping then that was it. They‘d be going back to the dorms and he accomplished nothing and Bakugou won’t be happy.
“I guess I‘m just not used to it yet.“, he smiled. “Nah, me neither. I asked if you want to look at the pillows.“
“Ah! Erm… maybe.“, ahh the eyebrow is back up. Eiji sighed. “Yes.“
“Woah. They are so soft! Ka- mh here feel!“, that was close. No more slip-ups! He pressed a red pillow towards his carer. “You are right.“, he smiled and Eiji suddenly was very excited.
“You want it?“
“Yes!“, wait, he should think about this first before saying yes. Something is off. But Katsu can’t possibly know that Eijis slipping. No no. Because Eiji is very mature right now!
“Mhh but what do we do?“
“Wha?“
“Well, I don’t know. Isn’t there something you should tell me before we buy this?“
“No.“
“You sure?“
“Eiji.“
“Nooo.“, the redhead whined. Of course. Of course. His carer always knew! So unfair! He huffed a little in frustration. He failed. He was a failure. All this time and he can’t even-
“Hey, it’s okay. Why are you pouting? You can tell me.“, he should have noticed from the start. Katsu probably knew way before Eiji. Wayyyy before. He should have noticed when Katsu took his hand without complaining. Even just slightly. Even if it would just have been for show.
“You are mean.“
“Hey.“, the blond laughed a little. “Why am I mean?“
“You knew but didn’t say.“
“I wasn’t sure.“
“But now we have to go home… an I wanted to make you happy.“, the older blinked in confusion.
“Eiji… we aren’t here for me. If you don’t like to be here we’ll go and if you want to stay we‘ll stay.“
“But-"
“No but.“, the blond sighed and let his hand travel through his blond hair.
“So? We’ll do whatever you want little one.”, he put emphasis on the ‘you’ and Eijis pout deepened. This was for Katsu! Not Eiji! “Eiji this isn’t for me.”, … can he read minds?! Of course he can. He can do anything. Eiji sighed again.
“Bu… “
“This won’t do… okay, let’s do it that way. Eiji, this is your first time in this environment. So you need to tell me as soon as you get uncomfortable or overwhelmed, you hear me?”, the redhead nodded. “Good.”, Eijis hair got ruffled. “So, you want to make me happy?”
“Yes!”
“How old?”
“Erm… six.”
“Such a big boy already mh? Then… can you find me a…”, Katsu looked around “Can you find me a green Halloween candle in this shop? I’ll be really happy if bring me one.”, this is Eijis chance! Okay! He has a mission! He can do that! He nodded furiously before almost running off but Katsu stopped him. “Only this shop! Don’t step out into the mall, okay?”
“Yes!”
“Then good luck.”
“Yes!”
And Eiji set off deeper into the shop. He saw candles when he entered so where… ah! There they are! Okay, okay. Green and Halloween… green… green… Halloween. There’s a red one. And black! Yuck, there’s a spider on top. Eiji stuck out his tongue. It wasn’t a real one, he wasn’t stupid, but he still didn’t like it.
Wait… what color was the candle supposed to be? Erm… black? No, no. That wasn’t right… The red one looks really cool. It has lots of candies on top and stuff. And a pumpkin. It’s so pretty. He did say Halloween-themed. He probably did say red right? Mhhhh. Yes, red will do! And it’s really pretty and amazing and smells nice so it’ll be right! His carer will be so proud! And really happy!
“KA-“, Eiji stopped himself, remembering that even though this shop was nearly empty, it wasn’t completely and the shop owner stood behind the counter. So he slowed down and whispered “Katsuu.”, as soon as he was close enough.
He showed the blond the candle. “Look! I got it!”
“Wow, good job honey.”, he smiled and took the candle “A really pretty one! Thank you.”
“You are welcomeee.”
“I’ll just pay for it okay? Can you wait a bit here?”, Eiji nodded. He did an amazing job!
While waiting he dared to look outside for a short second. So many people… and a candy shop… and a toy store… a really nice-looking toy store… he really wants to take a look. Just a short one. Just a little. It’s not that far away. He looked around. Katsu was still paying and putting the stuff into a bag. He just needs to look up for a short second and Eiji will point at the shop and he’ll know where Eiji went.
He waited until his carer did look in his direction for a bit before he stepped outside. Katsu will understand. He knows everything after all.
Soon enough he stood in front of the shop window in complete awe. There were action figures and plushies and books and games. He looked around, trying his best to look like a bored adult but everything was so so cool!
Suddenly his shoulder got grabbed with so much force he had to be careful to not lose balance. “Eijiro!”, ah. Katsu. Eiji turned around with big eyes. He only calls him Eijiro when he did something really really bad.
His carer was out of breath, eyes just as big as the regressors if not bigger. He messed up. “I told you to not-“, he stopped himself, looking around. “Don’t run off like that.”
“Sorry… but look! It’s so-“
“Promise me to never do that again!”, Eiji swallowed. His carer was really mad. “Promise!”
“Sorry… I won’t do it again…”, the blond let out a sigh.
“Sorry to scare you like this but you really scared me as well.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay. I found you rather quickly. You wanna go inside?”, he pointed at the store. “Yes!”
When going inside Katsu grabbed Eijis hand and they started walking along the aisles. Not even the toy store had been spared from the Halloween treatment and there were a few corners that picked that theme up to an extreme. It wasn’t bad, after all, it still was a store mainly for kids however at one specific corner Eiji halted in shock.
“What’s the matter? Did you see something you are interested in?”, the blond turned his head towards where Eiji was looking and he as well stopped dead in his tracks. “Ah, I see.”
The corner was specifically in the villain theme. With real villains. As in, the villains they have to fight most of the time and villains that were known by the public. Villains involved in stuff they went through. The hand around Eijis tightened but when the regressed boy looked up, his carer was still smiling at him.
“I think I saw a crimson riot figure over there. You wanna look at it?”
They did. Pointedly ignoring what they just saw and it soon completely slipped Eijis mind as he tried to convince Katsu that yes, he needed the crimson riot figure and the stuffie! In the end he got both and happily skipped out of the shop. Somehow Katsu didn’t even put up that much of a fight.
“Are you excited to show the other what you got?”, Eiji nodded. Really excited. Denks will be so jealous!