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Pressure.
It builds, it coils, it surrounds until finally swirls around and blankets your every being. Choking off your airways, constricting your movements and causing one's heart to feel like it's about to implode.
Or in Katsuki's case, explode.
He was on edge. Teeth grinding together, pain building at the point between the eyes while a certain part of his back started to ache with all the stress accumulated there. It was too much for him to handle.
He wanted to escape, wanted to run, wished to hide away in his room. Out of sight from all these annoying extras that were pestering him and getting under his skin.
But he remained seated, anchored to his chair with a question on his mind.
Why? Why did he feel the need to flee? Why did he seek shelter alone? Why the hell wasn't he gone already, and why did he want to know what was rubbing him the wrong way?
Katsuki could feel every muscle tense, his arms were sore from gripping the sides so hard that you could see the veins within them. He was gripping it so hard that at any moment they'd break and fall apart at the seams.
Like he was on the verge of doing. But his stubbornness won out his frayed and fragile mind. Fragile wasn't the word... more like fed up.
But WHY?
"Hey Bakugo! Looking a little tense there." He heard Krishima say as the red head came up to stand next to the chair.
"I'll say." Kaminari chimed in as he joined Kirishima to gaze down at the state Katsuki was in. "Come on Kacchan ease up on the chair."
Realization hits, and it suddenly dawns on him Why he's so damn angry and pissed off. He grabs Kaminari by the collar and yanks him close. "Cut the crap Sparky! And keep that filthy nickname out of your damn mouth! I don't want to hear it! From anyone." He says as his eyes glaze over the room of people staring at him open mouthed. "I fucking mean it." Kaminari gasps at the anger in those ruby eyes. "Don't ever call me that again."
"Dude, chill..." Kirishima tries to sooth.
"You hear me?" Katsuki spat. "Don't call me Kacchan."
"Fine, okay? Will you let me go now?" Kaminari tries to unwrinkle the shirt where Katsuki grabbed him. "Trust Bakugo here to take all the fun out of everything."
Katsuki retires to his room feeling worn out just from that one incident. It zaps him of all his strength, but he gets the best night of sleep ever.
Over the next few days, however, despite Kaminari now giving him the respect he wanted he feels like he's lost something. Yet he can't put his finger on it. He sits there deep in thought with his fingers over his lips, wondering what it is.
That's when he realizes Izuku hasn't said much. Hasn't been excitedly up in his face, ranting about what his quirk could possibly do to become better, hasn't given advice, hasn't asked any annoying questions. Ever since.
But what he has noticed is the looks of sadness that's been sent his way when Izuku thinks he isn't looking, or the almost conversations he wants to say but doesn't speak before a look of defeat crosses his face and he resumes whatever it is he was doing.
The sadness doesn't last when he's seated with his friends, he smiles wide and laughs at anything and everything. But when green eyes get drawn to his their shine dims.
Ever since that day with Kaminari...Izuku won't speak to him because of what he said. Katsuki stews on his stupidity while thinking up a plan to try and wrestle this new problem.
While everyone else sleeps he slaves away in the kitchen making the Nerd a meal he'd never forget. And now he stands on the other side of the door. "K-Hey." Izuku muttered as soon as he saw who was on the other side of it.
Katsuki didn't miss the way he had almost slipped up. "Hey Nerd, hungry? I made Katsudon..."
"Actually I'm-" Izuku's stomach grumbled, causing him to blush. "-I'm famished actually, thanks." He tries to take the tray away, only for Katsuki to yank it back.
"I made this for both of us. Quit blocking my way and move already."
"Oh, right..." He sees that look on his face again before he turns away to place it on the desk. He hears the door close behind him.
"Come here and eat." Katsuki watches as Izuku tries to battle himself but luckily his hunger wins out and he sits down across from Katsuki on the floor. "You've been avoiding me."
Izuku nearly chokes on his food. "Oh, um have I?"
"Don't be stupid Izuku, and don't play dumb, you can't lie to save your ass." Which makes Izuku turn sheepish.
"I've been avoiding you, yeah...but I'm just going through some things. It'll be okay."
"What kind of things?"
"Private things..."
"Bullshit..." Katsuki says. "You can't even say my name."
"Kats-"
"That's not the name I'm talking about. And you know it. Don't you?"
"You just...seemed so adamant-" Katsuki saw the Nerd was on the verge of tears, he couldn't let this go on any longer. So with a sigh he scoots over until they sit side-by-side.
"He doesn't deserve to use it Izuku. You do. He isn't the one who came up with the name. You are! That bastard isn't my friend. Not like you." He nudges Izuku's shoulder. "Those words I said, they were never meant for you. Just the idiots that surround us all." Katsuki wiped away all the tears. "Now quit your damn crying and enjoy your food."
"Okay Kacchan."
"Don't ever stop saying it, ever again." Katsuki says as his chest swells with glee at hearing that name on those lips.
Izuku giggles before they break off in comfortable silence, and if Izuku leans his head on his shoulder afterwards, Katsuki doesn't say anything as he places his head on green curls and wraps an arm around him.
Content. At last.