Chapter Eleven

After Endeavor finished up his mini interrogation, he came out of the building even surlier than usual and divided us up in teams of two. To Todoroki's dismay, he took him along, placed Midoriya with Burnin', and lumped me and Bakugo together before sending us off to gather as much information we could on the new crime syndicate. Now, as Bakugo and I make our way through the back of a fish market, I find myself dismayed too.

"What are we doing here?" I demand, wrinkling my nose at the smell. I love seafood, but the fish market has never smelled good to me.

"We're gathering information" he replies shortly and I roll my eyes. On the bright side, it's so easy to be irritated at Bakugo that it's almost impossible to think about anything else.

"At a fish market? Do you have a quirk I don't know about?" I ask, earning a sharp look.

"Don't make jokes" he growls and I notice that he's a little angrier than usual, even for him.

"What's up with you, anyway?" I ask and he scoffs.

"Nothing, just leave it alone" he retorts but I can see how rigid he is, his shoulders stiff and clearly holding something in. His fists are clenched and despite his request accompanied by my better judgment, I can't just let him wallow in it. Not after he's done so much for me in the same regard.

"Bakugo, stop" I say, grabbing his arm. He freezes, body tensing against my touch.

"We can't work effectively as a team against an enemy if we can't trust each other. Right now, you're in a dangerous mood for confrontation and I'm not gonna go charging in anywhere until you talk to me about it" I tell him. It's true that I'm a hothead and I've almost never got a plan, but if I'm recognizing someone else's behavior as dangerous? What does that say? Bakugo yanks his arm away from me suddenly, spinning around with rage filled red eyes.

"Who are you to tell me I'm dangerous?! Who's the one who's actually dealt with these scum bags before? I don't need you to do my job!" he snaps. Anger flares within me and I grit my teeth, glaring at him.

"Well you need someone! Sulking around here like some kind of little kid. It's okay to have more to learn, Bakugo! You don't need to know it all already to be a good hero. When are you gonna realize that I'm trying to help you?!" I bark back, knocking him on top of his head with the side of my fist.

"Ow! What was that for?!" he shouts.

"That was for you acting like an idiot!" I retort and he throws up his hands. I can see it in his face that he's about as close to killing me as I am to killing him for being such a dunce when an older woman passes by, a grocery bag in hand.

"Ah, to be young and in love again" she laughs to herself just loud enough for both of us to hear. Our faces both instantly flare a bright red and we look away from each other.

"Th-that's not it!" he stammers while I try to hide my embarrassment. Is that how people really see us? How? We practically hate each other.

"People have a weird idea of what love is here" I laugh nervously. Bakugo looks at me, torn between frustration, embarrassment, and annoyance.

"I don't love you" he emphasizes, making me smirk.

"I don't love you either, idiot. Let's go" I reply and he grimaces at me.

"You're the idiot, dumbass" he mutters, making me laugh.

"Feel better?" I ask once we finally continue our walk and his grimace deepens. I can tell he's not really the talk about your feelings type, but I can also tell that he knows he probably should be. At least sometimes.

"You weren't here when the League of Villains ran rampant so you don't understand" he begins bitterly, voice dark and eyes even darker.

"If those guys are back... we have to crush them this time. We can't let that happen again" he finishes, clenching his fists again. Suddenly, I realize why he's acting so cagey. Bakugo was one of the ones who gave it his all to save people... even if he's a stubborn jerk half the time, there's a kid in there who wants to be the number one hero just like I do. A kid who wants to fight for people.

"We won't" I tell him and when he looks at me, I don't falter in my expression. I hold his gaze firmly, determination in my eyes. I know what it is to want to save and protect people. To stop the monsters in their tracks and give people the peace that we may never get to see. I know it because I have that drive too. The drive to be the best.

____________

After a long day of finding out absolutely nothing, Bakugo and I return to the agency frustrated and tired. It's not like we didn't try, Bakugo even knew of someone who used to work closely with the League of Villains, but there wasn't a shred of information to be found there. Just some washed up villain selling butter fish for half off.

"Do you think anyone else got any info?" I ask as we head inside. Bakugo sighs, an irritated look on his face.

"We'd better hope they did. Anything will help at this point" he replies and part of me marvels at how easy conversation has gotten between the two of us recently. Bakugo is pretty much always in a bad mood, but so am I. Seems like we found common ground on that.

We get in the elevator together and start the ride up, but when it opens, an exhausted looking Todoroki is standing there. I flush instantly, and look away in embarrassment. What the hell am I blushing for? He literally hasn't even said anything.

"Ugh, please" Bakugo complains, shoving past Todoroki to get into the office. I hesitate with Todoroki's eyes on me, unsure what to say. Hey, Todoroki, thanks for the coat? Idiot.

"Wanna go home?" he asks suddenly and my eyes widen. I look past him into the office, wondering if I should at least report back to Endeavor, but Todoroki looks so tired... I nod, deciding that if there's anyone who can get me out of hot water with Endeavor, it's probably Todoroki anyway. He smiles, getting into the elevator and pressing the button for the lobby.

"How did it go with Bakugo today?" he wonders calmly and I can feel my heart beating just a bit faster.

"We didn't find out anything... what about you and... Endeavor?" I ask, hesitating before I say your father instead. Somehow, I don't think he'd respond well to that.

"He thinks we found a lead, but I'm sure it's all speculation at this point. He'll follow a trail all the way to a dead end before he'll take anyone else's advice" he tsks. He seems so bothered by the day that it makes me feel sorry for him.

"Are you scared?" I wonder softly, regretting the question almost as soon as I ask it.

"Part of me is" he admits thoughtfully. The elevator door opens then and we walk out of the agency to head for home.

"And the other part?" I ask, feeling a bit better about asking him. He doesn't seem to be nearly as abrasive about it as Bakugo.

"Determined, I suppose. This isn't the first time we've faced powerful foes. We're not going to let them win" he replies, sounding both sure of himself and anxious at the same time. For a few minutes, neither of us says anything, both of us seemingly absorbed in our own thoughts as we walk when I suddenly remember him tucking his jacket around me last night. I swallow.

"Um, thanks by the way" I say, earning a curious glance.

"For your jacket..." I clarify. Todoroki smiles warmly, an expression that softens his usually tense features so much that it makes my chest ache.

"It's only fair. You let me keep your blanket" he replies and I want to scream. How he managed to get me so worked up is beyond me. Even after that stupid dream, I should be able to handle my composure better, but every time Todoroki's around, I feel like a muttering idiot.

"It smells nice" I blurt, face flushing. What the fuck? It smells nice? At first Todoroki is completely taken aback, staring at me in either confusion or surprise, then he just laughs.

"Thanks, I think" he chuckles and I can feel the humiliation all over my face.

"Please ignore me, I'm obviously exhausted and unable to speak intelligibly" I tell him, feeling like even more of an idiot. Todoroki's smile widens and he gives me a questioning look.

"Why would I want to ignore you? I think it's charming" he says and a small smile plays on my lips.

"You do, huh?" I ask, still feeling embarrassed but feeling less bad about it now.

"I do" he confirms, grabbing my hand. I bite my lip, trying to tell myself it doesn't mean anything. Nothing means anything without the words to back it, but my heart won't quit racing and my face is redder than ever. Walking back to the train station with Todoroki like this, I can almost pretend that things are back to normal. I'm just an aspiring hero, walking home hand in hand with a boy that I may or may not like romantically. Just a girl, trying to figure out her feelings, finish her homework, and be the best hero she can be... almost.

On the way home, when Todoroki and I aren't talking, I'm trying not to think about Shiori. Despite Bakugo's encouragement, I can't shake off all the feelings that came with our argument. The desperate need to protect her, the fear of her leaving me behind like mom did, the resentment I hold when she looks down on me, and the nausea that comes when remembering that, to her... I was nothing more than a chore. The mixed emotions make it hard to decide whether I'm sad or angry, but I keep cycling through over and over again.

"Kaida..." Todoroki says as we finally arrive home, having already walked back from the station. I blink up at him, pulled out of my own thoughts and feeling guilty that I've been drowning in them this whole time.

"I'm glad... to have made friends with you" Todoroki says and I frown internally at the word friend. Well. At least I know where I stand. I smile, suddenly not feeling as embarrassed or unsure of myself. After all, what's an awkward comment or two between buddies?

"Same here, pal" I reply, but the word has a sour taste. All of that worrying and near-obsessing for nothing. We're just friends. Todoroki gives me an odd look.

"Are you okay? You look like you might be sick..." he notes and I frown. Of course I do.

"You know, it's just been a long day. I think I'll take a bath" I tell him. At first, I think he might say something, but he doesn't stop me when I walk away and as I get to the door of my dorm room, I sigh heavily.

"What am I even doing?" I whisper to myself, opening the door and dragging my feet inside. I don't have time for guys or girls or anything outside of my hero training. Why am I even trying? Todoroki has the right idea, we're friends, and we shouldn't be trying to force anything else. Or rather, I shouldn't. I'm the one having the inappropriate dreams.

My mind races over all of the signals I must've misread and I shut down each and every one, reminding myself what I'm here for. I'm a hero. Not some school girl in love. I'm a warrior. I keep telling myself that as I get undressed and wrap myself in a towel and robe. I grab my bathroom bag and start back down the stairs, hoping I have the bathroom to myself. While no one here seems to pay much attention to communal bathrooms, I was raised in America where bathing with anyone, same sex or otherwise, is viewed as highly intimate. When I get there, I find that I'm in luck and I sigh with heavy relief as I walk in and turn on one of the shower heads, hanging up my bag just under it.

I don't know what's gotten into me today but I do know that the best thing for me right now is a long shower. I tie up my hair, wrapping the wild curls into a knot on my head and untie my robe. I hear the bathroom door open and sigh, disappointed that I won't be able to enjoy some time alone to bathe. I lower the robe, draping it over one arm before I start to untuck my towel.

"Holy crap! What are you doing in here? Is this all a dream?!" Mineta's voice startles me and I snatch the towel back into place immediately, covering myself with the robe.

"Hey! GET OUT OF HERE YOU MORON!" Bakugo snaps, bursting through the door as I turn around, embarrassed and furious.

"What the hell?! WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING IN HERE?!" I scream as he shoves the tiny pervert out of the bathroom and slams the door. For a moment, he just clenches his fist, leaning his arm and forehead against the bathroom wall in frustration. My face flushes and embarrassment burns through me so hotly that I feel like passing out.

"You're in the boys' bathroom" Bakugo growls through gritted teeth, refusing to look at me. My eyes widen, stomach dropping. Oh my god. Oh my GOD.

"Get out. Now" he commands, a new level of fury in his voice. I quickly throw on my robe, thankful for his weight against the door, and grab my things before going for the exit. When I grab the handle, too ashamed at my mistake to say anything, Bakugo stops me.

"Hey" he says hoarsely and when I look at him, it makes my skin feel hot and cold all at once.

"Be more careful, dumbass" he orders seriously. All I can do is nod and open the door, stumbling back into the hallway where Mineta is practically drooling and mumbling to a few of the other guys. I flush a bright red.

"Kaida! My love! My sweet..." Mineta chimes, snapping out of his daze. I whack him hard on the top of the head, glowering at him with as much menace as I can manage.

"DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT, PERVERT!" I roar and watch as the rest of the boys' faces blanch. Iida turns away immediately, Kirishima looks up at the ceiling, scratching his head and whistling, Mineta wails pathetically, and in the background I see Shoji and Sato talking nervously amongst themselves.

"Ah... she's so scary..." Kaminari laughs nervously, giving Kirishima a look.

"Hey, man! Don't say that out loud!" he panics, making all of this worse. I grit my teeth. This is what I get, living with a bunch of guys.

"Just mind your business!" I shout, storming into the girls' bathroom and nearly collapsing against the back of the door. How did I not notice I walked into the wrong bathroom? Was I really that distracted? Mortification washes over me and makes me intensely nauseous. Ugh... Bakugo's right. I really do need to be more careful.