leekspins | IC Contact

Oh, er...okay!

[She's a little nervous, but honestly, she really does want to see him again and make sure he's okay. She paces a little, then wills her feet to stand still. This time she needs to listen better, and hear what he's saying behind the words.]

[She freezes at the sound of the familiar nickname, then turns her head to blink back at him.]

[--AAAHH! What happened?! What happened to his eyes? Was he having a hard time sleeping?! Is he scared? Insomniac? Maybe it's allergies!]

Bakugou-san!

[She runs toward him, making it three steps before she stops herself. Hold on. He said he wants to talk, so she should let him do that, right? Right.]

Anou...how is your health?

[There's a twisting dread in his gut that he tries his best to ignore. Fortunately, he's just so fucking baffled by her question that he almost forgets about it.]

What the fuck does that have to do with anything? [Fuck, having a squad is confusing and he doesn't know how to handle it. He frowns, glowering to the side.]

That's not what I came here to talk about so just shut up and listen so I can get this over with. [He tries inhaling. It doesn't help.] You're... You're someone that-

[This is hard. He grits his teeth in frustration, raking his hands through his hair, wishing he could just literally go off as he normally would because it would be so much easier.] I don't force myself to be around people I don't want to. So stop with the self-pity because I'm not the kind of person who half-asses things. I don't know what the fuck went wrong, but you... I only hang out with people who are strong. You've already proven you are, so this whole gloomy act doesn't suit you,

[She hasn't really seen this side of Katsuki before. She watches the frustration he displays so freely, trying hard to hear what it is he's saying. Communication...really isn't his strong suit, is it? She can see it's hard for him. Maybe that's why it means a little more to her.]

No! No, you were right, I let my feelings get hurt when I should have seen that you were probably really scared and I should have kicked down the cell door and yelled "I QUIT! LET'S FIGHT CRIME!" or let you yell some more or fight me--!

[She throws her fist forward indicatively.]

I'll be sturdier for you, so I...I...oh...

[He thinks she's strong? ...Really? She points at herself.]

...You really think so?

I WASN'T SCARED!!!

[At least the perceived slight at his toughness is enough to snap him out of this awkward conversation. He adopts a fighting position, his hands clenched as if to attack...but he doesn't.]

I don't care what you do. I'm just letting you know that if you ever doubt yourself like some weak-willed larvae-tadpole, I'll kick your ass myself.

Did I fucking stutter?

Edited 2018-08-21 04:56 (UTC)

No, I'm just... I'm still trying to figure you out.

[She looks perplexed as she turns her head, rubbing the back of her head. She doesn't really flinch at the fists because she doesn't think he'd hit her.]

[So why does he look so tired? Is it because Aizawa isn't there, and he doesn't want to be caught alone if Shigaraki manages to track him down to where he lives? If a villain like that held a grudge against her, she doesn't think she would be able to sleep either despite his threat to kick her ass just now.]

How do I ask this...

[Maybe she should try it his way. ...All right, she'll go for it. Sliding her foot forward and raising her fist, Orihime furrows her brow and grits her teeth.]

I don't know what bad feelings you have inside you but I'll MURDER THEM ALL! Open the hellgates and tell me what happened in your world so I can punch it to the MOON!

[In other words, she wants to listen to his side of the story, about what happened on his world with Shigaraki.]

[He just stares at her, completely stunned. He doesn't understand. Oh wait. He's starting to.

He looks down, trying to murder the ground at his feet with his glare alone.]

He and his shitty minion group attacked when we were at training camp. People got hurt, but they didn't get much out of it. [Just him.] Then I had to spend the next couple of days listening to his obnoxious voice drone on and on about why I should join his illustrious group of shitty rejects. Stupid people always like to talk too much. If he wanted to fucking torture someone, he'd only need to talk. He sounds like those brats who get pissed when you get them in PVP. But there was another voice there, someone he was working for, who showed up after All Might tried...

[Fuck. He doesn't finish that sentence.] Bastard looked like he had a rejected meatball for a face. Anyway, All Might won, but not without losing something. [His quirk? He still had so many unanswered questions.] None of it would have ever fucking happened if I had-

[Weak. Weak weak weak. Everyone was thinking it but was too kind to say anything. The only one who had the guts to say it to his face was his mom. His hands tremor and he bites down on his tongue hard enough to draw blood.] He's dangerous, but weak without his support. I'll handle him.

[It worked. Her feelings reached him and he understood. A small part of her breathes a sigh of relief, even if she shoots a quick glance back at the shrine to make sure no one runs out to scold her for yelling angrily on sacred ground.]

[She listens quietly. It isn't until she notices the tremor of his hands that she moves. Her fingertips light on his wrist before moving to the rough palm and fingers to give it a squeeze. It's brief, and she withdraws after a moment, but a show of silent support.]

Mm. Something like that happened to me, too.

[Orihime doesn't elaborate, because he might not want to hear the details. But her experience does give her a better idea of his frustrations...the self-blame, the horror of seeing her friends suffer for her sake...she can't forget those feelings.]

I don't want to be a liability to you. If you really don't think I'll survive, I'll stay back. But I...

[Her shoulders rise and fall with a heavy breath.]

I would feel a lot better if you would train with me to be strong enough to fight back. I don't have Bulla-chan's strength, or Aizawa-sensei's experience, or Satou-san's variety of powers, but I can undo a lot of the damage he does. And I have my shield, too, so...I won't let him touch me, or you, or any of the others if I'm there.

[He stares blankly at her hand in his, unable to comprehend the knowledge of making contact unable to hurt someone. It's like a piece of him is missing and he doesn't know if he's relieved or upset when she withdraws.

He doesn't ask her to elaborate because he knows the past is best left as that. He hadn't wanted this shit dredged up but now he just wants to get it fucking over with. He's quiet for a while.]

It's not just you. None of them should fight, except for Aizawa-sensei. You wouldn't die, but you want to keep fighting, don't you? I refuse to let the parasite take that from anyone ever again.

Edited 2018-08-21 17:47 (UTC)

Yeah. I do.

[She turns a little to the side, trying to think of how to best express herself. She has a hard time letting her true feelings show, in a different way -- with smiles, and jokes, and generally looking as if she doesn't have a care in the world.]

I want to protect people, and keep them from being hurt. It's not enough just to heal them, I want to make sure they don't need to be healed in the first place. And I know it seems like keeping someone out of the fight entirely is the best way to do that, but... It's not guaranteed. They came after me when everyone else was fighting. And besides, it's a little lonely.

[She smiles sheepishly.]

So please make use of me and my abilities.

[He makes a big show of rolling his eyes and sneering when she goes on about her motivations. So fucking noble.]

If you just stick to what you're good at, you'll never grow. [He's had to recognize that for himself and he hates it.]

I'll train with you, Fire Hair. But I'm going to be the strongest.

Yes! That's exactly it!

[Someone who really understands why she can't just be a healer, she's so glad! And wow does her expression brighten at his words. Surprise turns to hope, and outright explodes into joy.]

It's a deal, Murder-sama! I'll be the second strongest!

[She holds her hand up, elbow bent, so they can make this pact.]

We can take turns being the bad guy, and learn to dodge touch attacks, and falling debris... It's going to be amazing.

[She's so fucking cheerful. And he's terrible with words so if he said anything it would probably sound like an insult just like last time. So he hooks his arm in hers and holds her hand to commit to the pact.]

Dodging falling debris isn't hard. [Well, actually. It might be. He scowls and looks away.]

[Not just cheerful, excited. She loves training, and she's so relieved to know where she stands with him now. With their hands clasped tightly in a single purpose, she can shake off the memories of the hand she couldn't reach, the one that turned to dust in front of her eyes. That won't happen with him.]

We should go get some sleep, and train first thing in the morning. I want to come up with some good strategies to keep you on your toes.

[She hasn't forgotten the weariness in his eyes.]

You damn well better.

[He's not eager to try and sleep, but he knows he should try, especially since he intends to kick Orihime's ass tomorrow.]

Don't be late.

I won't be, I'm too pumped!

[She grips his hand before letting go. It seems like they're both feeling a lot better, and she's glad.]

[Orihime turns to dash off, but makes it two steps before she abruptly stops. Oh right...he can't sleep well because Aizawa isn't there, right? Well...]

Do you want to borrow the apartment next to mine in the bakery?

[She turns to look at him, pointing in the direction she's going.]

It has a secret bed in the closet, and it's clean. Then we can eat breakfast together and go train first thing!

[It'd be too bold to invite him to stay at her place when it isn't an emergency. But next door as a neighbor? That's not bad. She'll know his reiatsu is close by too, so if something does happen, she can respond right away.]

Your body will be screaming in pain when I'm finished kicking your ass!

[He stomps his feet, hands held out, but he pauses when she makes the offer.

Why the fuck is there a secret bed?

His first instinct is to outright reject it. But...]

I'll stay so you don't text me a thousand times worrying about shit you shouldn't.

Ha ha ha! Murder my muscles so they resurrect a thousand times tougher!

[She beams when he accepts her offer. She would worry, he's not wrong about that.]

It's true! Your communicator's energy supply would run out in just twenty minutes, so I'm glad. Do you need to get anything from home, or should we just race to the bakery right now?

Do you have a spare toothbrush?

[Look hygiene is important. He's not as openly excited as her, but at least he's started to relax.]

A couple!

[She made sure her break room was overstocked, she wants to be a really good boss for her employees.]

I can cook dinner too, but I've been told my cooking is a little strange and it might not be your taste. So we'll order something to pick up on the way!

How the hell do you manage to cook strange? [He gets teased for all the spices he uses.]

Takeout's faster anyway.

I like trying different combinations of ingredients. Then I get to eat new dishes every day!

[Her cooking isn't BAD, she's got the right techniques. But...yeah, definitely not the sort of thing most normal people would like.]

Yosh! Then we're off!

[And she darts away at full speed. It'll be a good pre-training training for tomorrow!]

You're so stupid.

[There's no malice in it, it's just Bakugou being Bakugou.]

Stay the fuck behind me--!!!

[He holds out his hands as if to fly off like Iron Man but. Nothing fucking happens. He's so fucking used to it that he forgot.

Orihime's ahead of him though, so at least he hopes she didn't see it. He starts sprinting at her. It's not like he's slow or anything.]

You're the strongest, so I have to be the fastest!

[She grins back over her shoulder. Did she see it? She doesn't seem to be reacting weirdly. If she did, she might just decide he's being sportsmanlike. Whatever it is, she just looks happy.]

[And she's not going to slow down to let him catch up, so he'd better pick up the pace!]

Whoever gets to the traffic light first gets to choose where we race for takeout!

FUCK THAT! THE ONLY THING YOU'LL BE EATING IS DEFEAT!!!

[Fuck sportsmanship! Once they're off the grounds, he vaults over a nearby car to try and get further than her.]

Ha ha ha!

[She's glad to hear him be so spirited again. He may be short, but he's still taller than Orihime and his stride is longer than hers. She's not giving up easily, though. In fact, the further they get, the more serious and focused her face becomes.]

[--Did he just jump over a car?! So cool...]

I'm going to choose the Bland Food Cafe, bwah ha ha ha...!

IC Contact

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]