Chapter Text
In his dreams he heard Deku scream, but he never understood the words. He just knew that those were words of desperation and determination bordering on recklessness.
In his dreams he could see the silhouette of the weak moron, sitting with his legs pulled close to his chest, his dumb face pressed in his knees, sitting in darkness lit up by random flashes of light that seemed to fade at the same time they appeared. Eight shapes were gathered nearby, some hovering over the fragile looking form on the floor. Only one of them looked vaguely familiar, taking the shape of All Might and standing almost protectively over the idiot.
In that shadowy, uncertain space, Katsuki could hear only his shaky voice, as if the moron was barely holding up. His previous screams seemed like a part of another dream. As always, Baakugo wasn’t able to do more than look at the nerd, unable to yell at him.
Then, just before he woke, he saw the loser lift his face, freckles standing out against pale skin, dark circles under his eyes. He barely noticed the expression on the idiot’s face, too focused on the look in his eyes.
The emerald depths, usually so full of life and luster, appeared empty and distant. It was as if he couldn’t notice Katsuki for a long minute, then he blinked and his lips formed a small smile that never reached those damn vacant eyes.
“I’m glad it’s you, Kac-chan,” Deku’s voice, usually so full of life, at the same time meek and defiant, sounded flat and monotone, but still genuine. The sound of his name, spoken in such a way he had never heard it spoken in the waking realm, always startled Katsuki to wake up.
Bakugo woke up in a foul mood. It was the third time in a row now that he dreamed of the moron, the third night after the fateful battle with the four villains that had in their idiocy come to bother Bakugou and the others halfway through their ‘pretend agency’ exercise.
Grumbling under his nose he peeled his soaked shirt off and threw it in the general direction of the laundry basket, at the same time fishing in the closet for a clean one to wear. He dressed quickly and went to bang on the door to Deku’s room, ready to start the day by yelling at the idiot. He wasn’t going to tell him he was dreaming about him, but he was sure he could unleash some of his frustration on the airhead anyway.
He deserved that for not letting Katsuki have a good night’s rest.
The dorm the town provided for them was a far cry from the school dorms, but it was good enough for a temporary stay. Katsuki stomped down a corridor, glaring at any and all classmates that passed him by. Most of them were drowsily making their way either to the washrooms or the cafeteria before the new day of restoration started. Judging by the light coming in the corridor through a window on the end of it, it was high time for that. He grumbled at Pikachu, who grinned at him as he made his way towards the staircase.
“Deku!” he all but barked at the door leading to the room identical to his and anyone else’s in the class. He had a little flash of satisfaction when he noticed with the corner of his eye that the animal whisperer he had walked by just a moment ago sped up his steps to leave the vicinity as soon as possible. There was no response from the other side of the doors. It immediately dashed any hopes of good mood. “Oi, Deku!”
Still nothing. Was he already downstairs with the others, stuffing his freckled face with tamagoyaki? Or was he ignoring him? He grit his teeth and slammed his hand against the paper thin door, e ready to barge in on the moron. He better not be…
The door easily swung open, revealing that there was no green-eyed youth secreted within the tiny room. Bakugo blinked at the meager furniture - the stripped bed with all the sheets folded at the foot of it, the cabinet open and the various personal items and clothing gone.
“Midorya-kun left with the evening boat with AllMight-sensei,” said a familiar voice next to him.
“Shut up, four eyes!” he requested before he even turned his eyes to look at the class rep. He stood there, already dressed and with his hair neatly combed, prim and proper like a poster kid.
Then Bakugo blinked once, his words, an answer to an unspoken question, finally registering.
Gone. The idiot was gone. Why hadn’t he been made aware of this? What was going on? How dare his mentor take the moron away before it was time to leave? He might have gotten his quirk stolen, but it was no excuse to go back. There was still time and the whole class had decided to use it to help the islanders rebuild. How was he to yell at Deku when Deku was back home?
It took all his control not to punch the door. Or the class rep, still standing there like he was waiting for something.
Bakugo just stomped away.