Chapter Text
Ever since hero course students had gotten their permanent hero licenses during their second year, UA had started to let the students go on patrols and occasional missions outside classroom hours.
So..
Currently, Hero course students Deku and Dynamight were on patrol after having volunteered for this week's shift. “The weather's pretty nice today, hm kacchan?”
“Yeah sure whatever, nerd” Katsuki grumbled, annoyed he was put on patrol with this muttering mess.. Even if deep down he really didn’t mind it. Perhaps he even looked forward to it after class, but he would never admit to it. Suddenly, the blonde noticed a group of brats staring.
“You got a staring problem?!” He shouted at the group of kids before receiving a harsh slap on the arm. “Kacchan!! Be nice, they're just kids!” He hissed towards the taller before kneeling down to the group of kids.
“Don’t mind him, do you guys need something?” He asked one of the kids, who he had assumed was leading the small group.
“You’re the Hero Deku?..” One of the smaller kids asked shyly, but you could tell he had a big admiration towards him by the shine in eyes.
“Yup!” He chuckled while smiling brightly. The group of kids immediately lit up and swarmed him with questions and words of admiration. Beside him, Bakugo was practically fuming. Why was this nerd getting all the attention?! He was about to step in and break the moment to boast about himself when a little girl tugged on his pant leg which slightly startled him, but he kept his tough demeanor up.
“Mr. Dynamight sir, c-can I ask you something?” The little girl asked barely above a mumble. Katsuki crouched down not being able to hear her before grunting out, “Speak up I can barely hear you muttering.”
“Can I ask you a question?..” He then replied with a small ‘tch’ and beckoned her to continue.
“Do you think I could be a hero like you? A-and maybe even like Mr. Deku?” She questioned with a big smile on her face, even though her brows were furrowed with worry as she clutched her All might plush. She reminded him a lot of Izuku.. He gave her a small smirk before ruffling her hair and whispering to her, “If you believe you can surpass me or that nerd, I would like to see you try.”
She immediately brightened up and before he could say another word, she wrapped her arms around his neck in a big embrace before suddenly he felt sort of.. Drowsy? It was only 4 pm? He had finally understood when the little girl stepped back and seemed horrified as her palms illuminated a dim green color.
Deku was shouting his name before it all faded to black..
When he awoke the first thing he felt was the pounding of his head. He was in the infirmary laying on a bed as Recovery girl worked at a desk filling out forms and such. He tried to sit up and was immediately ushered back down by a yellow gloved hand. “Hey hey.. Take it easy young man.” Recovery girl croaked out before standing up to assess Bakugo.
“You and that problem child were accidentally hit by a quirk one of those kindergarten students had just developed. Poor thing, she was so worried when one of the pro’s found you two passed out next to her and the group..” That brat did this? What was her quirk, why did he pass out.. Where was Izuku?
“D-deku.. Where is he?”
“Calm yourself, he’s right over there” she muttered pointing beside him where the smaller green haired boy lay. He looked so.. peaceful just laying there it made Katsuki’s stomach feel warm and fuzzy, which wasn’t new towards Deku. He just assumed it was because they had been friends since childhood.
After being assessed by Recovery girl he had been cleared to leave the infirmary and return to the dorms.
As Bakugo stood outside the entrance to the dormitory, he couldn’t help but notice a sinking feeling pooling in his stomach.. he rarely ever felt like this and never this bad before. He decided to push it to the back of his mind as he pushed the door into the building.
“Bakubro!” He heard from the common room already knowing it was Kirishima calling out to him.
“Hey look who's back, Mr. lord explosion murder the man ko’ed by a toddler!” Kaminari teased just to get on his nerves.
“Shut it dunce face, your bullshit is giving me a headache.” He spat before beelining to the elevator, heading to his dorm but was stopped by the yelling of another extra.
“Hey you can’t just get hit by a quirk and not explain what happened? And where is Deku?” Mina questioned half accusingly and half worried for both of the boys.
“The nerds fine, his with recovery gi-“ He was cut off by the creaking of the entrance to the heights alliance and the unmistakable bright green eyes peering into the common room. “Or not.” Bakugo finished before storming off towards the elevator.
Once he made it to his room he went to his bathroom cabinet, grabbing a bottle of pain killers and taking two, hoping it would get rid of the throbbing headache which was worsening quickly. News flash, it didn’t.
All he thought of when he sat awake staring at the ceiling trying to fall asleep were those same emerald green eyes. God he hated it so much yet for some reason he felt so drawn to him, especially now.. god he really needed to get some sleep. Or else these thoughts plus the headache might be the death of him.
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During class the next day he felt another overwhelming headache come over him once again. Whatever this was is starting to really get on his nerves. Throughout the rest of the class Bakugo could barely focus through the throbbing pain in his skull.
As if on cue the lunch bell finally rang, which gave him the opportunity to head back to the dorms. Once he made it to his room he took another dose of painkillers before letting himself flop onto his bed. Eventually without meaning to, he ended up passing out on top of his covers.
When he awoke he felt the dull ache of what once used to be a headache and as if he hadn’t had enough yet, he gained a new found backache. Great. He checked his phone and discovered he had just missed the last half of the school day and was now nearing the time when him and Deku were meant to spar.
He stood up and immediately stumbled, feeling off balance before feeling something fluffy smack against his leg. He was shocked when he looked back, dashing to his full body mirror and stared in horror. He had somehow over the last few hours grown cat ears that were slightly darker than his natural blonde spikes, and a long fluffy cat tail.
“What the fuck.” He choked out, still shocked at this new found change. Just as he went to go find clothing to cover up this embarrassment of a quirk accident, his phone buzzed.
( ‘ Zuku 🌱’ CALLING… )
Fuck. He was now late to their sparring session which never happened. Not even when he was sick. He immediately picked up the phone trying to sound casual.
“What is it Deku?”
“K-kacchan! Are you okay? You left during lunch, and you’re late for sparring?” Izuku screeched out, sounding more worried and whiny than usual.
“I’m fine ‘zu just overslept is all..” Katsuki Bakugo never overslept. Especially not in the middle of the day.
Silence filled the line before the slightest sound of a sigh was heard before the other spoke up. “Alright.. I’ll be waiting outside the gym?”
“Sounds good. Be there in 10.” Bakugo grunted out embarrassed at the use of a nickname he hadn't used since they were 4.
“Okay okay, see ya!”
( ‘ Zuku 🌱’ HUNG UP )
As soon as the call ended he felt a wave of relief rush over him before he quickly dressed himself in sweats and a hoodie. Despite never wearing this kind of clothing for sparring he didn’t think it would draw much attention towards the fact something was obviously going on with him. And boy was he wrong.
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‘Kacchan.. where are you?’ Izuku thought to himself, worried about the way Bakugo had been acting ever since the accident during patrol. He’s been quieter, seemed more distracted today and really out of it during class.
All his worries immediately melted away when he saw those extremely recognizable crimson red eyes peeking at him.
“Kacchan!” Izuku exclaimed excitedly, happy his best friend was okay before he immediately dropped the expression.
“What is this?” He questioned half sarcastically and half confused.
“My normal workout clothing is dirty” Bakugo said as if it was the most normal thing in the world. Whatever Izuku thought, as long as he’s alright.
Over the next two hours Katsuki and Izuku sparred without a care in the world, falling into the same routine they had done time and time again. Izuku defending with shoot style and Bakugo trying to master his cluster moves precision.
After they finished their spar Izuku could clearly tell that Bakugo was exhausted and clearly overheating.
“Why are you still wearing that?” Izuku questioned curiously.
“Cause I can.” Bakugo muttered.
Izuku immediately scoffed at the reply and waved his hand. “I don't understand you sometimes kacchan.. but do what you please. I’m not judging.”
“You clearly are.”
“Maybe a bit..” the greenette snickered.
They sat in silence whilst they gathered their things to head back to the dorms. The silence wasn’t necessarily uneasy but it held a thick tension between them. Bakugo clearly wasn’t telling Izuku something, which worried the boy to his core.
While they were walking back to the dorms, Izuku kept rambling about some new hero analysis he made. Bakugo was only half listening while he stared at the smaller.
He never felt this curious before – did Izuku always have such a distinct smell to him? The familiar scent of his green apple shampoo, with a hint of pine trees. As he looked at the other up and down, he noticed things he hadn’t before. The way his skin glistens with sweat after their sparring sessions, his eyes shimmer a bit brighter when talking about something he's passionate about, the way his nose wrinkles whenever he smiles so brightly.
He never really noticed but whenever he was with Izuku, he always seemed to make Katsuki’s world feel a little lighter. It was as if he wanted to keep him close and listen to him ramble for hours on end – This was very unlike the blonde. ‘Get a hold of yourself Katsuki’ He mentally punched himself.
As they arrived back at the dorms Izuku quickly excused himself to his dorm after apparently feeling a bit of a headache and sudden drowsiness. Sounds familiar to what was happening to him, maybe he was hit by the quirk as well? Well he had also been in the infirmary so..
He was drawn from his thoughts by the loud rumble of his stomach. He had missed lunch and dinner, maybe he would make himself something quick before turning in for the night, something with fish preferably. He was definitely craving it right now.