Bakugo, despite the stress he was supposed to be feeling, felt way lighter after having the talk with Kirishima. Although, much to Kirishima's surprise, even after they had calmed down, Bakugo had forced Kirishima to call him "the Katsuki fucking Bakugo", which almost forced the red-hair into another fit of laughter.
Although, despite the weight lifting off his shoulders after the talk with Kirishima, a new weight that felt even even heavier and more gnawing had settled onto him - Izuku Midoriya.
Kirishima had told him Midoriya was feeling extremely guilty about the incident, and he wanted to get to tell him that it wasn't his fault, and that Bakugo wasn't mad at him. He knew Midoriya was stubborn, and he wouldn't forgive himself until he either repaid it or apologized so much that he would start stuttering over his words. Most of the time, it was both.
Bakugo scanned the cafeteria, searching for the General's table and walking towards it, glancing around so that his classmates wouldn't notice him and question what he was doing. Finally making sure 1A was distracted, he sped up and slowed down casually as soon as he was close enough for the General students to notice him, which they immediately did, Shinso in particular.
"Bakugo? What are you doing here?" Shinso asked, Bakugo immediately hearing the loathing in his face.
"Where is he?" Bakugo asked simply, crossing his arms on his chest as he frowned.
"He clearly stated he wanted to be left alone." Shinso simply replied, turning away and casually starting to eat his food. Bakugo scoffed and quickly scanned the table to make sure he wasn't hiding in between the students, before glaring at Shinso one more time, who simply ignored him and continued to eat, before turning away and hurrying out of the cafeteria.
He knew Midoriya's way of thinking, and if much hasn't changed, then ...
Without knocking, Bakugo opened the door of class 1C and closed it behind him, immediately hearing surprised choking from the closest to the window.
"K-Kacchan! What are you doing here?" Midoriya asked, his voice trailing off as he glanced at Bakugo's hands, immediately noticing the bandages and reminding himself to be formal and polite. He owed it to Bakugo, and he wasn't about to act casual with him after what he'd put him through ...
"I'm here to reassure you or shit."
"What ...?" Before Midoriya could understand what the blond had said, Bakugo walked up to him, and pulling Midoriya by his collar, forced him to stand up. And then, Bakugo wrapped his arms around the greenette in a strange, but firm, hug.
Midoriya stood still, dumbfounded, and slowly tried to relax his arm which he had lifted since Bakugo had wrapped his own arms around Midoriya's chest. Midoriya stood hesitantly, not hugging back, and to be honest, not really enjoying it either. As rare as these hugs may happen, and as much as he should treasure them, Midoriya didn't understand what was going on and what he had meant by reassuring Midoriya, especially since–
"Um, Kacchan, what are you doing?" Midoriya asked hesitantly, his voice just barely above a whisper.
"Hugging you." Bakugo stated bluntly, and if not for the anxiety Midoriya felt, Midoriya would've rolled his eyes at the wrong yet right answer.
"I mean, why? Why are you hugging me?" Midoriya bit his lip as he felt Bakugo let him go and almost tripped as he tried to step back, the chair behind him not letting him get any more distance than the small step Bakugo had taken away from Midoriya, leaving Midoriya, unknowingly to Bakugo, vulnerable to Bakugo's menacing posture (it was Bakugo's casual, even his glare he had subconsciously put on, but Midoriya still didn't find it any less threatening).
"Because Kirishima told me everything just so you wouldn't have to, and that's enough to have me thinking about why you're feeling like you don't deserve to talk to me." Before Midoriya could reply though, Bakugo let out an annoyed sigh and shook his head. "Alright, who am I kidding. I know exactly why you're acting like this. You're feeling responsible for what happened, aren't you?" Midoriya felt himself dig his nails into his palm as he tried to calm down, trying to gather his thoughts. It's now or never, if it isn't too late yet ... He thought to himself as he took a deep breath.
"Kacchan, I'm really, really sorry. I didn't mean to call you back then, I really shouldn't have–"
"Oh shut up." Midoriya paled as he felt a twinge in his chest, preparing himself for the anger that was about to come his way, already flinching at just the thought of Bakugo telling him to beg for his forgiveness. "I'm not gonna fucking yell, or whatever you're preparing yourself for, idiot." Bakugo said with a sigh, shaking his head. Midoriya didn't really believe him, but tried to put on a relaxed posture, just for the sake of Bakugo's enjoyment when he started to yell and cause the boy to flinch even more because of his relaxed state.
"Listen, I can't force you to stop blaming yourself, but here's the thing. If you're blaming yourself because you think I'm blaming you, then stop, because I'm not."
"Why not ?!" Midoriya nearly snapped as he looked at him with confusion and almost horror. "Why not ?!"
"Because you didn't tell me to come and get you or shit, I decided to that myself, you idiot!" Bakugo snapped and shook his head in disbelief, snorting afterwards as he raised a disbelieving eyebrow at the greenette. "Don't you fucking know I never let people tell me what to do? You out of all people should know that." Midoriya frowned at the thought. He was right - Bakugo would never listen to anyone's orders unless he had been planning to do whatever he was told before he was commanded to do so.
"I can literally see the gears spinning nerd. It's not that difficult." Bakugo flicked Midoriya's forehead, causing Midoriya to flinch, more out of reflex than actual fear. He blinked at Bakugo for a few seconds, and tried to hold back his smile, but he couldn't, and before Bakugo had time to react, Midoriya lunged onto the blond and started sobbing, although there was a small, awkward smile on his face.
After a minute or so passed, Midoriya pulled away, wiping his tear as he laughed nervously, before speaking sheepishly.
"I'm sorry for forcing you here ..."
"Oh shut up nerd. Stop thinking so highly of yourself."
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Despite Midoriya feeling the weight on his shoulders fade, he knew he was far from done.
He hadn't told Bakugo about the target on his back. Sure, it was selfish. Sure, it was cruel. Sure, it left him vulnerable. But Midoriya would make sure that he didn't stay weak for long. He would take care of Bakugo like Bakugo had taken care of him, and he would make sure they could get a happy ending, and that the League would leave them alone.
And so, Midoriya nodded to the guard, who began to dial in codes and press different identification cards, helping Midoriya through the well-known Tartarus prison.
And as they reached the door to the cell of the person Midoriya had requested to see, he didn't hesitate nodding at the guard, before walking into the cell and letting the door slide behind him.
"Izuku Midoriya. What a pleasure."
"Can't say the same, All for One."
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Aizawa could tell Midoriya's emotional state had taken a major toll after going to Tartarus, and he wasn't about to keep quiet about that, especially when he had someone other than the greenette to blame.
"Nezu, this is a terrible idea!" Aizawa growled, pacing in the principal's office as Nezu watched him patiently, sipping his cup of tea without any care in the world. "He's emotionally unstable, hasn't healed from trauma, recently had another trauma, and now what ?! He's going to meet his past again when he should be forgetting it!"
"Now that's where you're wrong, my friend." Nezu quickly interrupted, both knowing Aizawa would ramble for hours if that's what it took to force Nezu to reconsider. "He isn't facing his trauma again, he's facing the villains that were a part of his trauma again, head on as a matter of fact, which I find admiring."
"Admiring or not, it doesn't change that it's bad for his health!"
"It does though!" Nezu hopped onto his table, putting the cup down as he started to pace, although not stressfully, but rather to calm his raging thoughts and intrigue. "Because he's willing to face his fears head on, I have a feeling he would heal even faster than any other traumatized person! He's audacious and brave, and the more he shows those traits, especially to those who have dulled them, the more he's healing! " Aizawa, as much as he didn't like doing so and just wanted to get this whole "mission" over with, slowly began to think about what the animal had told him.
"So, you're saying that by facing villains like All for One, and going on this mission, he's healing? Despite the fact that he's still in danger because of them, even now?"
"As strange and unique as it may sound, yes. Midoriya is special in this case, and I have a feeling that this will help him more than just therapy, not that I'm against it." Nezu smiled at Aizawa and let out a content sigh, sipping his tea. "He's an interesting boy, indeed. I can't wait for him to finish his mission and take down the League, once and for all ..."
_________________
Midoriya let out a tired sigh as he moved the spoon around in his instant-made mug of coffee, feeling like slamming his head against the table and falling asleep standing.
It was currently 2 am, and as much Midoriya hated admitting it, he had gotten used to getting more sleep than he did on mission days, which happened often when he was a member of the League. Basically, he was growing soft, if it could be called that.
"Welcome to the life of a teacher and pro." Aizawa rasped before taking a sip of his own coffee, not bothering looking at the greenette as Midoriya simply answered with a lazy nod of his head. They were going to go onto a mission into one of the red-light districts of Japan, Tokyo, which also meant they had to ride a train, even if not for long, to Tokyo as well, and then back. The simple thought of it brought another wave of exhaustion onto Midoriya and he let out a strangled moan as he let his head slam onto the table, feeling like he was going to start crying.
"All for the greater cause...All for the greater cause..." Midoriya mumbled to himself, straightening and taking a deep breath before sipping on his coffee, wanting to throw up from its bitterness.
"You know you can always back out, ri–"
"I can't, EraserHead. And I won't." Midoriya quickly interrupted, the words, even if not as firm as he'd like, being honest and not as strangled as his previous muttering. He suddenly felt more awake, and although it could be a quick effect from the coffee, Midoriya not being a daily drinker like some others his age, he knew it wasn't just that.
Aizawa, even if not directly after being rejected the first time, obviously didn't want the greenette to go on a mission. And it wasn't even for legal reasons, since vigilantism wasn't legal, but Midoriya had promised to not use his quirk, and knowing him, he wouldn't, especially not with how he still deemed it cursed at times. And so, being the only thing he could do, Aizawa had asked Midoriya and checked in with Nezu (who still owed him for putting his adoptive son in danger without actually consulting with Aizawa beforehand) on whether he could come as backup onto the mission, him having a license to use his quirk and help Midoriya out in case things went downhill.
Although, Midoriya knew they wouldn't. He knew how the red-light districts worked, starting from drug allies and going to luxury underground fight-rings and brothels, and he knew how to blend in, even deal, as a matter of fact. And as relieving as it was, Aizawa couldn't help but feel even more disturbed at the thought that Aizawa might've sold something, or even someone, illegally in dark places like those.
Aizawa let out a long sigh, checking his mug and praying to find it full again, only to huff angrily as it appeared to be empty. Putting it in the sink, Midoriya followed Aizawa's suite and the two glanced at each other, not bothering truly saying anything, and Midoriya, praying no one outside of the heroes and police knew about him being a traitor to villainy, and Aizawa, praying that Midoriya would suddenly change his mind and they could go to sleep, made their way to the train station. Midoriya didn't look back even once.