Chapter 24 - Scouting

"Have any of your nerds seen my fucking phone?" Bakugou pounded down the stairs. You looked up from your bowl of cereal and checked your watch.

"Wow. Good job. You made it a full 22 minutes." You shot him a wicked smile, raising from your chair and walking toward the staircase.

"What are you...?" Realization dawned in his eyes. "FUCK!" You laughed as he angrily stomped back up the stairs, forgetting all about his phone.

"Today at noon! Front lawn!" you cooed sweetly. He turned around at the top of the first landing and flipped you off. You only smiled wider.

"Oh, and what's your shoe size Blasty? I'll see if we can get Yaomomo to make you a really pretty pair." Mumbled curses spewed from above. "What was that?" you teased.

"28 God dammit!" he screamed. A moment later you heard a door slam from all the way on the fourth floor.

***

Anyone who was spending the afternoon in the dorm came outside at noon. Kaminari held up his phone, greedily ready to film the whole ordeal. Izuku looked nervous. News had spread very quickly about your high heel bet.

A few minutes passed the hour you escorted a snarling Bakugou onto the porch. His feet were fastened into blood red, four-inch strappy sandal high heels with a lovely rhinestone detail. Yaoyorozu had outdone herself.

"Dearest classmates, it is with great pleasure that I present to you today the lovely, the graceful, the one and only, Bakugou Katsuki," you exaggerated every word, hearing the blond's growl grow beside you. A vein pulsed in his neck. The rest of the Baku-squad whooped and hollered at the introduction.

You guided Bakugou as he stomped down the stairs, nearly twisting his ankle in the process. You raised your eyebrows as a sign of 'whenever you're ready'. Bakugou huffed one more time before starting his extremely ungraceful trot around the dorm.

"What's going on out here?" The whole class turned as one when they heard Aizawa's voice. You stepped forward.

"Bakugou lost a bet to me so we're all out here witnessing his loss."

"What does he have to do?" Aizawa's tone sounded slightly more upbeat than usual. At that moment Bakugou turned the corner of the building, ready to begin lap number two. He froze when he saw his teacher. Aizawa quickly noticed the bright red heels on Bakugou's feet. The blond turned as red as the shoes.

"Is he done?" Aizawa looked back to you.

"No. He still has two more laps," you answered casually.

"Sensei..." You could hear the slight pleading in Bakugou's voice.

"Go on then. You still have two more laps." Bakugou's eyes went wide as Aizawa waved him off. You couldn't help but bite your lip trying to hold back a laugh. Mina and Sero were hiding their giggles behind their hands as well. "I actually came to grab you [l/n]. When you're done with...this," Bakugou rounded the corner, ready to begin his third lap, "come to the classroom."

"Yes sensei." You bowed slightly, watching Aizawa walk away shaking his head.

***

"You wanted to see me sir?" You entered classroom 2-A fifteen minutes later. It had taken longer than you'd expected to pull Bakugou off Kaminari, who refused to delete the video he'd been taking.

"Yes. Have a seat." You lowered yourself into the first seat in front of Aizawa's podium, the one that normally belonged to Shouji. Aizawa didn't sit, instead rested his back against the podium, arms folded across his chest casually. "I wanted to talk to you about the Sports Festival." A sudden wave of anxiety washed over you.

"Am I in trouble sir?"

"What? No." He ran a hand through his long black hair. "You seemed confused that you had used your fire power. Why is that?"

"I can't recall doing it. I don't really know what triggered it. I... I think it's a high stress response." Aizawa hummed thoughtfully.

"I'd like you to watch the match." He stood straight, walked behind the podium to a laptop you hadn't realized was there and pressed a button. A video began playing behind him, projected on a white screen that had been pulled down in front of the blackboard.

"This is my fight?" you said, leaning in closer.

"I collected all the footage. There were four cameras on the arena. Just watch." You watched as you walked into the arena smiling and waving. Bakugou almost looked more intimidating in the video than you remembered.

The match began and you scrutinized the way you dodged and bounced around the stage. Bakugou's explosions were large and powerful. It had been a miracle you avoided any of them. You finally reached the moment when he had you pinned to the ground. You shoved all your smoke into his face.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! You watched as he shot three violent blasts toward your chest. All the smoke cleared, and you saw your own body laying still on the ground. You didn't even realize you'd gasped.

Bakugou moved off you and everything was still. Then you saw it. Your eyes flew open, bright red. "Pause it!" you demanded a bit too forcefully. Aizawa did. "What happened to my eyes?"

"I was hoping you'd know," he responded. "In all our training sessions you never exhibited red eyes before." You stared at your face in the video, terrified. "Let's keep going." Aizawa resumed before you could argue.

Your eyes grew wide as you appeared to teleport behind Bakugou then burst into flames before tossing him from the ring with fire covered tendrils. You watched as your form sank to the ground. Bakugou shook himself from his stupor and ran to you. Even covered in his own burns he picked you up in his arms and carried you out through the east tunnel toward the hospital wing.

"He carried me?" you said finally.

"That's what you're taking away from this?" Aizawa raised an eyebrow at you.

"No. Of course not. I just... I don't know how to explain any of it."

"Has anything like this ever happened before?" You looked up into your teacher's dark eyes as panic filled your chest.

He wants to help me become a hero. I can tell him. He probably already knows. Nezu's probably told all the teachers, right?

A crease formed between his brow as he waited.

"Last year."

"What happened last year?"

"I almost died." It seemed better than recounting the whole story.

"Do you think those explosions brought you back to that state?" He watched you carefully. You looked back to the screen.

"Can you play it again?" you asked instead of answering. He nodded and pressed play.

Dodge. Tendril. Stun grenade. Punch. Pin. Smoke. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. You could almost feel the impact in your chest. You watched the eerie red-eyed version of you, begging her to reveal her secrets.

"Do you think you could do it again?" Aizawa said as it finished playing.

"Which part? The fire? The teleporting? The freaky red eyes?" You were getting overwhelmed. You didn't want to go back to that mindset. After your night with Bakugou you felt lighter getting it off your chest, but seeing it play out brought all the dread flooding back.

"[l/n] you are clearly very strong. Just because we don't know how to harness all your quirk yet doesn't mean that one day it won't be used willingly for good. Don't fear yourself. Don't fear your power." Aizawa's words were reassuring. He wasn't condemning you. He wanted to help.

"After your internship I want to resume lessons with you. You far exceeded my expectations with your rope skills and your levitation at the Festival, but it's clear we can do more."

"Yes sensei." You nodded before staring down at your hands. One week. You had one week before you'd have to confront your hidden abilities.

Aizawa closed the laptop and raised the screen, indicating that the session was over. You stood from the desk and started to make your way to the door. "[l/n]." You stopped.

"Yes sensei?"

"What bet did Bakugou lose?" You exhaled, thankful for the change in subject.

"I bet him he couldn't go 24 hours without cursing." You saw a faint smile crimp Aizawa's lips.

"How long did he make it?"

"Twenty-two minutes sir." Aizawa shook his head, the quirk of his lips growing.

"Get out of here. I'll see you after your internship." He waved you off before you could see him truly smile.

***

Before you knew it, you were on a train headed to Kyoto. You, Shouji, Kirishima, and Bakugou had packed small bags and your hero costumes. You met up with Fat Gum at his satellite office near Sanjo station before walking to Gion, the nightlife district of the city.

A river ran along a stretch of restaurants, their porches extended toward the water for the warmer months. Kirishima carried you piggyback-style along the river. You pointed out geishas entertaining rich clients in the expensive riverside restaurants, tourists on tours, and children racing bicycles all from Kirishima's back.

"Get off his back and use your own damn legs Ashtray," Bakugou hissed.

"It's no problem bro." Kirishima twisted his neck to see your smiling face behind him. You wrapped your arms even tighter around Kirishima and stuck your tongue out at Bakugou.

"See, Kiri doesn't mind," you said before turning your attention back toward the river. Feeling the envy rise in his throat at your easy connection with his best friend, Bakugou fought the urge to rip you off Kirishima's back and hold you against him instead.

***

You grabbed an early dinner of steamed buns from a convenience store and ate them along the river. "I think we're going to go check into the hotel. You guys want to come?" Kirishima and Shouji stood from the riverbank.

"I think I'll check in later," you answered, taking Kirishima's hand as he helped you off the ground. As the only girl, you wouldn't have to share a room, and all you'd brought was a backpack and your hero costume which you'd left at Fat Gum's satellite office.

"I'll stay too," Bakugou added blandly. You waved goodbye to the other boys as they headed up the steps toward the subway station. Bakugou stood and led you farther down the river walk, his hands shoved in his pockets.

"You didn't have to stay," you said finally. "I've just never been to Kyoto is all. I wanted to explore a bit more."

"Like I'm going to let you walk around alone." You couldn't help but feel grateful.

"Do you know any places around here?"

"In Kyoto?" Bakugou replied. "Well, my parents took me here a few summers ago. We saw a bunch of places. Shrines, markets, museums."

"Can you take me to your favorite shrine?" You bounced on your toes.

"Do you mind a hike?" He smirked.

"Not at all."

***

Twenty minutes later you found yourself in front of the entrance to the beautiful Fushimi Inari shrine. The base of the mountain was bustling with locals and tourists.

Bakugou pulled you toward a long basin filled with water. Long handled dippers lay across the surface of the calm water. He lifted a ladle and poured water over his left hand, then his right, taking a sip from his left hand, spitting the water to the side of the fount and finally dribbling the water down the length of the handle. You watched, unsure of how to proceed.

"C'mon. You too," he said and guided you to stand in front of the basin, one hand pressing ever so gently against your hip. "You're supposed to purify yourself before you go into a shrine."

"That little action took the demon out of you?" you teased. Bakugou scowled but urged you to lift the dipper. You took it in your right hand and tried to mimic Bakugou's movement. He stood behind you and tapped your elbow when you started to drink from the wrong hand. You switched awkwardly, took your sip and spat onto the stones to your left.

"Does everyone just walk around with wet hands then?" You placed the dipper back onto the basin before holding your hands in front of you like a surgeon.

"Some people carry towels. I tend to wipe it on my shirt." He shook out his hands in the air and then rubbed them along his sides, turning toward the main shrine entrance. You smirked wickedly, wrapped your arms around his back and wiped your hands on the front of his grey t-shirt.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Bakugou snapped, turning around faster than you could have imagined. You dropped your hands instinctively at the speed, but his tall frame was still practically pressed against you.

"Drying my hands," you answered innocently, wiggling your now dry fingers in the air in front of his face. He took a step back flustered, running his hands down the damp trail at the front of his shirt.

"Dry them on your own damn shirt!"

"Fine, fine. I'm sorry. I'll fix it." Before he could argue you lit your fingertips and waved your hands whimsically across his torso, the fabric quickly losing its translucency.

The sudden hug? grab? using-him-as-a-human-towel maneuver? had caught him off guard and made his pulse race. But now Bakugou's face grew redder as he watched you hover, so close but without touching. It was practically torture.

***

Bakugou purchased two water bottles from a vending machine and shoved one into your hand. You followed the mass of people up through the seemingly endless trail of bright orange torii, moving in step until you felt Bakugou grab your wrist.

"This way." Off the main trail there was a small sign indicating '40 minutes to top.' You looked at Bakugou quizzically but followed.

Within a minute the noise of the crowd died away and you were walking along a peaceful mountain trail. Trees towered to either side. Every few hundred meters you'd see small shrines along your path. It was such a shame some people never saw them.

You followed behind Bakugou as you continued to climb. Sweat stained the back of his shirt. He took long gulps of water.

"How did you find this?" you asked after passing your third hidden shrine which was built alongside a small waterfall.

"When I came with my parents, they wanted to follow that hoard up the steps, but I saw that sign and told them I'd race them to the top." You took a few more steps before stumbling over an exposed tree root. "Careful." Bakugou's reflexes were as sharp as ever and he caught you before you could fall.

He held your forearms, your chests pressed together as he set you on your feet again. You felt your face flush and not from excursion.

"Thanks," you exhaled. Bakugou released you and turned around.

"Stop being so clumsy Ashtray. And hurry up or we're gonna miss it," he huffed as he picked up his pace.

The last quarter of the trek was a steep climb. You used your hands to balance as you stepped carefully on the well-trodden nature-made stairs. You were sweating and panting by the time you reached the top, your water bottle empty.

"This is really cool, but it's your favorite? There's not even a view," you puffed out as you followed Bakugou into the highest shrine.

"This is just to prove you made it to the top. The best part is close." He grabbed your wrist for the umpteenth time and spun you around, pulling you down the stairs. You passed the huffing faces of people still climbing up through the torii. Going down was so much more pleasant.

After a two-minute descent you saw it. The trees and torii cleared and from high up in the mountains the entirety of Kyoto was laid out before you. The sun was low, and the sky was a hazy mix of golds, pinks, and purples giving the whole city a soft magical appearance.

"Wow. It's beautiful," you said, an air of wonder in your tone.

"This is the best time of day to be here." He looked over at the sunset reflected in your eyes, a content smile on your face. "We...we could stay until it goes down."

"How will we be able to see on our way down?" You turned to face him as you leaned against a railing facing the skyline.

"Says the girl with candles for fingers to the guy who makes explosions?" he teased. You shoved his shoulder playfully.

"Fine. Point taken."

The clouds shifted, creating shadows in the haze of colors. Bakugou watched you take in the sunset. You looked at peace, a hint of awe in your expression. He placed his hand on the railing beside yours. He raised it once, creeping it over a few inches, but then shifted it back, dropping it to its original position. He let out a deep sigh, annoyed at his cowardice, which caught your attention. You turned to him and smiled brightly before staring once again at the city.

You both stood against the rail and watched the sky change colors.

***

The subway back to Gion was crowded with people headed toward the plethora of restaurants and bars after work. You followed Bakugou up the stairs to the open air and latched onto his sleeve as you walked through the densely packed streets. He warmed at your touch.

"Let's grab our bags from the agency and then check in at the hotel. We can grab Shitty Hair and the Octopus for a late-night snack." You rounded a corner and saw an orange-haired man leaning against an alley wall, a small box next to his foot beside an air conditioning unit. Seeing you approach he shuffled away.

"Sir! Don't forget your box!" you called out. He didn't turn around. You knelt, grabbing the bundle and lifting it above your head. It was heavy for its size.

"Hey buddy! Don't leave your shit on the streets!" The man glanced over his shoulder and his eyes met Bakugou's for a split second. He turned back around and sped up, ducking down the next street crowded with people.

You looked up at Bakugou. "What was that?"

Bakugou snatched the box from your hands and gave it a soft shake. Several objects clunked inside. His brow furrowed. "Let's take this with us to the agency."

"Why?" He saw the perplexed look on your face.

"Just in case."

***

You entered the agency ten minutes later. As you grabbed your bag and costume you saw Bakugou hand the box over to one of the sidekicks on duty, Proboscis.

Proboscis sniffed the box carefully. With his super human smell, he could detect all kinds of dangerous materials – drugs, poisons, gunpowder, even viruses. After another healthy whiff he tore the tape holding the flaps of the box together. Nothing happened. He reached his hand in and dug out a slate grey headset. You and Bakugou stared at each other.

"Tell me exactly where you got this," Proboscis demanded in his nasal tone.

***

You and Bakugou brought Proboscis back to the alley. The sidekick sniffed around, trying to pick up a scent. He held the box back to his nose and then sniffed the air once more. He headed north. You followed. It was like tailing a drug dog or a truffle pig.

You wove through the city following the orange-haired man's scent. Five minutes later you stopped in front of a tall office building. "This is where it ends," Proboscis stated.

"You know what this is right?" Bakugou was staring up at the building. It suddenly dawned on you. All the photos you'd been looking at. All the street camera footage.

"It's our scouting location."