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The Hero Association's executives had the bright idea to host a dance. Yes, a dance — those huge fancy ballroom type of things that only movies have. According to Narinki, the exec Badd had to guard a year ago, it was a thank you for keeping the world a safer place for nearly five years.
Badd would have been fine with going. He would've if it weren't for the fact that he had to wear a stiff-ass suit and be escorted to the ballroom in a limousine with every other Class-S hero in the car.
He tugged at the collar of his shirt. He felt hot, sticky, and extremely uncomfortable. It didn't help that Tornado was arguing with Tank Top Master about some random bullshit that Badd had no interest in. His headache grew with every hero that joined in on the topic.
His leg began to bounce. His hands became clammy. The walls of the car seemed to be closing in on him. His chest felt tight. Badd shut his eyes tightly in hopes that it would help his raging anxiety, but it didn't. If anything, it made him feel much, much worse. He felt like throwing up. Maybe even punching someone in the face, but that would just feed into the image all the heroes had of him.
Just some kid with a shit temper playing hero. Even though he had proven himself on multiple occasions, Badd could tell that their image of him hadn't changed.
It irritated him more.
"We have arrived at the Narinki Estate." Badd opened his eyes at the driver's voice. That's when he felt something flow down his cheeks. He wiped it aggresively. For the first time that night, he was grateful for something: the fact that he was at the back of the limousine. The driver spoke again as the car came to halt. "Please compose yourself before exiting the vehicle."
There were multiple sounds of offense throughout the car as the heroes gathered their belongings. Badd kept quiet in the corner when the driver exited his seat, walked around the car, and opened the door for everyone. There were quick thank yous from Child Emperor, Zombieman, and Tank Top Master, but others just walked out without saying anything. Once everyone else had gotten out, Badd stood up shakily, grabbed his bat, and made his way to the door. He thanked the driver as he exited and trailed behind the other heroes.
The cool breeze and the sheer amount of lawn filled with greenry made Badd feel so much better. The air here was clean unlike some of the cities. All the pollution made him want to gag sometimes.
The thought of throwing up came to him again, and he felt queasy all over again and his legs felt weak. There was no time for feeling like shit, though. He had an event to attend whether he liked it or not.
"Metal Bat," a voice called. A wave of ease washed over him when Badd heard that voice. He turned around and saw Sekingar approaching him with that resting smile of his. "You look different."
Badd snorted. "Do I? All that changed are my clothes."
"That's exactly why," Sekingar said, chuckling. "Everything is fitting you well, unlike your hero pants."
"Yeah, yeah, always takin' the chance to trash on bontan pants. Yer just a hater!"
The two of them went back and forth until they reached the entrance of the mansion.
"Who needs a house this big for three people?" Badd muttered.
"Beats me," Sekingar answered, dropping his usual formal way of talking. He picked it back up. "Let's head inside."
Badd nodded, and the two of them walked inside.
Badd thought that because Sekingar was here, the night would be easier to get through.
He was dead wrong.
What was once the largest room Badd had ever been inside became insufferable. For some reason, the entire Hero Association staff was here. Class-A, Class-B, Class-C, and the operators. Makes sense, the HA would've fallen apart without them, but damn. Around six hundred people in one room? Torture. Badd would rather be getting his ass beat by some monster right now.
He stood by a table of snacks, sipping on some sparkling water with a lemon wedge. He planned on staying by Sekingar most of the night, but he ended up becoming a wallflower. That's what happens when the only person you're close with in this organization is a big shot.
He watched as people danced to the booming music, as they drank beer and rosé, as they had fun. Sure, there were some who had retreated to the walls like he did, but they were all people he didn't know nor people he felt like talking to. He didn't feel like talking to anyone. He just wanted to leave, go home, get cozy on the couch in his loose pajamas, and watch R-rated movies till he rotted since Zenko was staying at a friend's house for a two-day sleepover.
But no, he couldn't do that. All because he was a Class-S hero who saved the world from a cyborg apocalypse. There was more to that day, but those who were mainly involved — Metal Knight, Child Emperor, Demon Cyborg, and Caped Baldy — weren't allowed to talk about it. Not that the last two seemed to want to; Demon Cyborg had been heavily affected by whatever went down, but he seemed better now. After all, he was smiling as Caped Baldy and King went back and forth about something.
Badd's stomach churned again.
He wished he had friend group like that. A real friend group with friends that wouldn't use him for popularity. That's what happened after he became a hero. All his school friends twisted into something cruel once Badd began fighting monsters, and it only got worse after he was ranked up to Class-S.
He cut everyone off after that.
Now, years later, he's got himself an amazing man for a friend, two subordanites: Mohican and Pineapple, and a stray cat at home.
Speaking of Mohican and Pineapple, were they here? Badd pushed himself off the wall and scanned the dance floor. Ah, yep, they are, and they're busy with other heroes. Badd sighed and took another sip from his glass. Wallflower it is.
Four hours later, the party came to an end. Well, that's when Sekingar texted Badd.
***
Dad: The party ended.
Dad: Where are you?
Dad: Badd.
Badd: yo
Badd: sry, left early
Badd: couldnt stay
Dad: Where are you.
***
Badd sighed and slid his phone back in his pocket with his tie. He had left the party an hour ago after throwing up in the fanciest bidet he'd ever seen. Something about seeing everyone having a good time mixed with how insanely uncomfortable and claustriphobic he felt made it finally come out. It didn't help that he had a shit ton of funky-looking snacks and guzzled three cups of fruit punch afterward.
The bodyguards that were stationed at the gates of the estate hadn't questioned him when he walked past them and down the pavement. Thank goodness, Badd would've smacked one of them if they so much as took a step toward him.
Now, he was ambling down the quiet streets of City-T, enjoying the weather and how the breeze flowed through his untucked shirt; he had taken off his blazer and undone his tie and a few buttons by his neck while he was in the restroom.
It was nice.
That's when he heard a car. Badd wasn't one to be paranoid about a car passing by — he could handle himself just fine — but it was speeding toward him. He spun around, bat in hand and in a defensive stance as the car braked hard beside him.
The window rolled down, and Badd let out a sigh of relief when he saw his favorite person (aside from Zenko, of course), standing up straight again. "It's jus' you."
"Why didn't you tell me you left?" Sekingar asked, trying hard to keep his voice level. He reached over to the passenger side and opened the door. "Get in."
Badd groaned, but got in anyway. He shut the door and tossed his blazer and bat in the back on the car, clicked his seatbelt in, and Sekingar started driving again. "I didn't wanna stay."
"Overwhelmed?"
"…Yeah."
"I could tell," Sekingar said with a sigh. "I'm sorry I couldn't be with you at all. I was kept rather… occupied."
Badd shrugged and crossed his arms loosely. "It ain't yer fault."
It went silent after that.
It wasn't anything tense or uncomfortable, it never was with Sekingar. It was mellow. It was Badd needed.
Badd was jolted awake by the bump of Sekingar pulling into the Kinzoku's driveway half an hour later.
"You're home," Sekingar said while putting the car in park.
Badd yawned while undoing the seatbelt and reaching for his things in the back. Once he grabbed them, he opened the door and stepped out, closing the door softly behind him. "Thank you. Y'know, for drivin' me home."
"Any time, Badd," he said with that smile that always put Badd at ease. "Sleep well."
Badd watched as Sekingar reversed off the driveway, waved him goodbye, and drove off into the distance. He let out another sigh before walking down the driveway a bit and turned onto the stone path on the perfectly trimmed grass.
…
It was overgrown this morning.
Badd's grip on his bat returned as he skipped the three steps to the front door. The lights inside were on too. He dug through his blazer pockets, yanked his key out, and unlocked the door. He slowly crept inside and closed the door behind him, and peeked aorund the room separator, and that's when he relaxed.
It was just Garou.
Garou with his legs kicked up on the unsually empty coffee table with some movie playing on the TV.
Garou wrapped up in a blanket, all cozy like Badd had wanted to be earlier.
And now he could be.
"I'm home," Badd called out, hanging his blazer and keys on the rack beside the door and kicking off his shoes.
"Sup," Garou called back, pausing the movie as Badd made his way over to him. His faced scrunched up as he took a good look at Badd. "You look like absolute shit even with that fancy ass outfit."
Badd rolled his eyes. "Gee, thanks a lot." He ruffled Garou's hair and ignored the way he sputtered angrily. Badd looked all around his home. It was clean. Really clean. "Ya cleaned up?"
Garou huffed. "Yeah, it was a mess. Lawn was way overgrown too. I get that you're busy heroing, but damn, you're a Class-S! Thought you'd be rich enough to get someone to mow your lawn for ya."
"You know I don't spend cash on stuff I can do myself." Despite his retort, there wasn't an ounce of annoyance in his voice nor gaze.
"Yeah, yeah, I know, so I did it. It ain't for free through!" He sat up and looked up at Badd, catching the way he looked at him. It caught him offguard. "Uh-" Stupid Badd and his stupidly handsome face. "Your grass was annoying as hell by that little pebble path, so I need my reward."
"Okay, okay, you'll get yer reward."
"Goo—"
Badd pressed his lips against Garou's head. He kept them there for a while, and when he stopped, he didn't move away. He stayed there, breathing in Garou's scent. He smelled like Badd's soap mixed with his old hoodie, but he still had his own smell, and Badd loved it dearly.
"Thank you, Garou."
His boyfriend stammered. "Ah- Uh-… Y-you're welcome… I guess. Now, go shower. You stink."
Badd softly laughed in Garou's short yet still fluffy hair. "Alright, alright, I will."
"I'm gonna play the movie without you if you don't hurry up."
"I heard ya the first time. Ya don't need to threaten me."
That night, Badd fell asleep in the arms of his stray cat of a boyfriend, all cozied up in his pajamas, watching an R-rated movie, just like he wanted.