(Y/N) P.O.V
After looking through the files for the mission a little more it still seemed as though a motive was missing. It was almost like one day this guy just woke up and snapped. Nothing about the situation seemed clear, but maybe there was more information than what was shared in this file they may be waiting to share it in a briefing because it's not solid info yet. My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on my door and the sound of it opening. I looked up to see Kiri enter through the door.
"Hey Red. Did you need something?" I asked, it was unlike Kirishima to really be around the office as he preferred being in the field, and even less likely for him to come up to someone's office instead of just texting them.
"Yah actually, we are having a briefing in 10 about the new mission. We're working with Power House Agency on this one just so you know." He gave me a smile knowing we both normally love partnering with them. However, due to recent events I was a little more than nervous about having Best Jeanist's old agency, now run by Bakugo, Kaminari, and some older heroes collabing on this one.
"Um do you know if Bakugo is on this one?" I questioned quietly.
"Uh yah he is... Is that a problem?" Kiri questioned confused.
"No necessarily the Commission is just going to be on my doorstep again after this" I chuckled at the whole situation.
"You know what that sounds like a hot mess I don't even want to make you explain if the news is anything to go by." He laughed, "I came up here just to see how you were doing with everything?"
I sighed at his concern. Kirishima has always been one of the sweetest people I've known and him coming out of his way to check on me just reminded me of how good of a person he truly is. "Oh you know just some homicidal maniac still chasing me and the Commission trying to sway a supposed love triangle in their direction right after I get home from almost dying what could be wrong." I finished with a smile.
"Oh yah what could be wrong with that sounds like a vacation to me." Kirishima laughed out keeping the situation light. Something no one else has been doing lately and it really helped me relax.
"Thanks Kiri. I really appreciate you coming to check on me." I told him before we got back to goofing off.
"Yah no problem (L/N)... Hey wanna walk down to the meeting with me?"
"Yah let's go might as well get settled before everyone rushes in at the last minute like normal."
"You got that right!"
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Once we reached the meeting room I was surprised to see some people already seated in there specifically from the other agency. Of course the two that caught my eye was Bakugo's annoyed face as Kaminari talked his ear off. Before I could try and sit down to avoid interacting Kirishima called out from beside me,
"Yo Bakubro! Kami! Good to see y'all here it's been awhile since we've been on a joint mission hasn't it?"
"Yah yah shut it Shitty hair I don't get why they need this many people for one guy but whatever" Bakugo grumbled.
Kaminari instantly shot up at that, "Bro did you even read the file? Come on man you're one of the only ones allowed in the field for this one. No close distance fighters are allowed. Hell, even Deku is on reserve because he prefers close range."
"Well it seems like he's chickening out to me." Bakugo scoffed at the comment.
"Katsuki, please do not pick a fight with him this time I don't have the patience." I sat down across from them knowing I was now going to have to work with them if what Kaminari said was right.
"Whatever (Y/N)"
Before anything else could even be said the door opened and more people began to enter the room to get ready for the meeting, but one person I did not expect to walk through the door entered right after Deku. Looking up from his phone, Shoto made direct eye contact with me and made his way over to sit in the empty chair next to me across Katsuki. Just from the look on his face I knew he was about to say something stupid but before I could stop him he was already talking.
"What the hell are you doing here IcyHot? You going to follow (Y/N) here now to make sure everything looks perfect for the media even when she's at work?" Katsuki fumed trying to pick a fight. It seemed to have gotten the attention of some of the other heroes in the room as the focus shifted more towards us.
"Not at all Bakugo. I was invited to join the mission just like your agency; however, I was the only one requested from mine by Deku. So don't start picking fights now we have a job." Shoto said indifferently to Katsuki's rising anger.
"Doesn't change the fact you could sit anywhere and had to choose to sit next to her." Katsuki grumbled out.
"So I can't sit next to an old classmate and future partner? I don't see the problem in wanting to sit next to someone who will most likely be in my grouping for this mission." Shoto took a jab at Katsuki only going further to rile him up.
"Why you little-"
Before Katsuki could continue his argument Deku got up and began speaking about the mission. I couldn't focus fully on the briefing while trying to analyze why Katsuki would bother fighting with Shoto over where he sat. I finally focused back in on the job at hand when I felt a hand on my knee and Shoto's breath near my ear,
"You might wanna pay attention we are getting to the important stuff now" he whispered.
I turned quickly to face him while I could feel my face heating up at the fact that I was caught while being super distracted. I guess the surprise showed on my face because Shoto let out an almost inaudible chuckle at my expression before turning back to focus. I decided all my thoughts could be put on the back burner until after the mission briefing was over. Luckily I tuned in on what seemed to be the real conversation about this mission. I listened as Deku explained,
"So this self proclaimed 'Snatcher' was going around doing petty theft for a short time and due to his quirk no one could really trace back to who it was. However, recent intel shows he may have received a quirk enhancing drug that improved his abilities as there has been recent evidence that he was involved in bigger drug and weapons heist and distributions. But the main thing that has us after him is the death he is leaving behind. Turns out his quirk doesn't work so well on living beings and anyone he touches and activates his quirk with seems to loose the part he's touched. Luckily, it seems to only have happened a few times so he may not realize the full power which is why we need to put a stop to this immediately. We aren't 100% sure what group he is working with yet but we do know he has allies based on the type of work he's doing. This is why we are only sending in long range attackers if we can help it. Ideally the offensive group would be Shoto, DynaMight, Chargebolt, and Vivace to go in first. Then myself, Cellophane, Creati and Hawks would be on reserve for any group evaders. Lastly I would like Uravity, Earphone Jack, SunEater, and Lemillion working with police on getting a perimeter set up and keeping things contained with any possible destruction. Are there any questions?"
Everyone say contemplating there groups and it seemed as though everyone generally agreed, but then again when is anything ever that easy. Both Shoto and Katsuki spoke at the same time,
"Vivace should be on reserve team"
Everyone turned to look at them as I processed what they said, "What the hell? I can handle myself that would offset the teams. Deku keep the groups."
Both of them looked at me like they wanted to argue but I gave them both a glare that shut the idea down. With no other complaints Deku explained that files with specific details about each groups instructions would be delivered to us all later and that they would have team lead designations in them. After closing the meeting everyone got up to leave but I grabbed Katsuki and Shoto before they could make it out the door and dragged them back into the emptying conference room. I had them sit down until everyone left.
"Listen you two, I don't know what you're thinking but you are not messing with my job. I don't care if you are trying to protect me or something, but I can handle myself and last time I checked I actually rank above you Shoto," I said with a glare. "And Bakugo I'm right behind you but beating you in popularity right now so don't think you both can push me around."
"I wasn't trying to push you around (Y/N) I was just worried that jumping straight back into it may not be the best for your quirk as you aren't 100% fully recovered yet." Shoto said with concern.
"I know Shoto, I understand the concern but the mission is in a week and I am 97% recovered I will be fine by the time of the mission. I appreciate you caring but please trust me enough to know my own limits." I said gently realizing he didn't mean it in an insulting way about me moving groups.
"I understand and I apologize for my rash comment I did not mean to offend you. I am very pleased we will be working together on this mission I just did not want you to feel the need to push yourself." Shoto explained quickly.
"Thank you. Anything you'd like to say Bakugo?"
"No. Fuck off." Bakugo shot back at me. I had a feeling something was up and I needed to get down to this.
"Hey Shoto do you mind giving us the room.. I need to talk to Katsuki." I asked quietly trying to make it apparent with my facial expressions that something seemed up.
"Of course, text me when you're finished we can get lunch on our break today" he said before leaving.
"Sounds good!" I exclaimed before he walked out the door and shut it. "Now Kat what the hell is up with you?"
"You know I hate that nickname"
"Then stop dodging every damn question and conversation I try and have with you lately. I don't understand why you are getting so riled up lately, I know things are tense right now but this seems extreme even for you." I stated wondering if he would actually tell me what's wrong.
"Fine! You want to know what the hell is wrong I'll tell you!" He growled out making his way to stand in front of me. "I have to watch every damn day all my dumbass old classmates deal with the stupid ass Commission. Then my best friend goes and almost DIES! Then I have to sit and listen to those bastards in the media treat us like some god damn dating show! Finally I get dragged to a damn meeting about it where I have to listen to people treat us like damn objects or toys they can just pair up with. I'm so sick of all this shit! We are meant to save people that our job not have to deal with all this other stuff! Now I have to sit here everyday and watch the one person I might like forced into a fucking relationship with one of the guys who always gets everything he wants! No one even stopped to think about the heroes feelings I mean-"
"Wait Katsuki.. what did you just say?"
"That no one gives a shit about our feelings?"
"No the only person I might like part."
"Shit. Fuck. Did I say that? Just ignore that I didn't mean anything by it just that you're one of the only people I can tolerate"
"Katsuki I need you to be honest with me right this second... Do you like me like in the romantic sense"
"So what if I do it's not like it matters" he answered quietly.
I was shocked for a moment. Even though it wasn't a yes or no answer it was still an answer. And that answer was yes there is somewhat of an interest there. I couldn't comprehend when that could have even started, "How uh long have you felt that way?"
"I don't know I probably started liking you about a month before the whole commission deal, but only realized it after the hospital incident." He trailed off finishing.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't want to make your life harder than it was. You're already dealing with so much I didn't want to add more stress, plus it's not like I can do anything about it now"
"Katsuki, I'm sorry I didn't pick up on your feelings sooner. I wish I would have had a chance to see if this would have worked because I had liked you for a while in our third year. But now with all this happening I don't feel that way anymore. I truly admire you and couldn't ask for a better best friend but I don't think we can be like that." I finished admitting more than I should have.
"I know (Y/N) believe me I didn't expect anything to happen even if I told you. It's a small crush it'll fade, let's just keep being best friends and I'll work on reigning in those protective feelings if you stop being an anxious mess, got it nerd?"
"Sir, yes sir!" I jokingly saluted Katsuki trying to lift the mood. The little chuckle that escaped his lips managed to make me happy that I could distract him a little. "Are you going to head back to your agency now?"
"Yah I gotta make sure Kaminari actually reads his folder for this" he grumbled.
"Well earlier we saw that it was actually you who didn't read the folder Mr. I'm on top of everything all the time" I taunted him.
"Whatever nightlight. I'll see you later"
"Damn I thought that nickname finally went away."
"It'll go away when you stop glowing in your sleep, which I doubt will ever happen." He smirked leaving the room.
I shook my head making my way out the door and back to my office. I made my way back upstairs and when I opened the door I found something extremely unexpected. Shoto was sitting in a chair in my office holding the slightly burnt note I found this morning.
"Hey Shoto I thought-"
"What. The. Hell. Is. This?" He questioned through gritted teeth.
"Um I thought you were going to text me about lunch?" I questioned trying to distract him.
"I was but I thought waiting would be a nice surprise. Now stop trying to dodge the question and tell me what this is and who it's from."
"You know exactly who it's from," I looked directly into his eyes. "I found it when I came into the office this morning."
"And you didn't think to inform anyone?" He questioned with a blank face however I could see the anger in his eyes.
"I didn't want anyone to stress or freak out I've gotten a few before. How did you even find it I could've sworn I hid it somewhere."
"Something smelt burnt so I found it because I wanted to make sure nothing in your office was on fire. When you have a fire quirk it's easy to notice those type of smells."
"Oh yah didn't even think about that. We'll just ignore it he's just trying to stress me out like he always does with those type of notes"
"(Y/N) stop. Seriously this is not okay. We are going to tell Midoriya and Kirishima, I mean if he can get in your office in a HERO agency where else is he getting into? I'm concerned for you and how this effects your mental state. It's okay to get help and have partners that's what we have agencies for. To get help even if we don't think we need it."
I hated to admit it but Shoto was right. Every time I get one of those letters I seem to spiral and I get stressed beyond belief and extra jumpy on missions. Which I can't afford to do on this mission coming up. I finally answered, "Okay fine I'll tell everyone else here, but can we get lunch first at least I'm hungry."
"Sure. But we are coming directly back after. Also you should inform Aizawa and Bakugo about this development."
"Uhh yah I'll uh do that soon" I answered. Well it seemed everything just got a lot more interesting. As I passed my desk to grab my wallet for lunch I noticed my packet said team lead on it. Things were about to get a lot more interesting indeed.
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(A/N): Thank you for reading as always! Woohoo new mission is up and an unexpected? confession. I feel like it was predictable lol. But anyway here's an extra chapter because I forgot to update on time the other week and was late with the other chapter!