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mirllop · 22 days ago

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Emotional Spring 2025 Day 12 - I don't want you to leave my side

Hitoshi isn't sure if he's even supposed to be here. Sure, Iida invited him to this brunch, and Hitoshi knows better than to blow his class off, but brunch is not his thing, it's not his time either and he'd really rather be asleep right now.

Patrol last night went long—more into early morning than late night—and Hitoshi has to fight to keep his eyes open. It doesn't help that he feels almost uncomfortable in his polo shirt and the jeans he chose because it's so not his style, but he knows that Iida wouldn't have liked it if he showed up in all of his tattooed and pierced glory and for all that Hitoshi likes to pretend that he doesn't care anymore what people think he still very much does.

Especially when it's his friends.

Hitoshi sighs as he notes Bakugo's eyes on him and he wonders how he upset the guy now.

Bakugo and he have a very—strained relationship, for lack of a better word. Hitoshi thinks they could get along brilliantly but there's always a silent judgement in Bakugo's eyes when they fall on Hitoshi and he never really learned how to deal with that.

Because it's not enough that he still gets stupidly nervous around Bakugo and that Hitoshi never quite managed to outgrow his misguided crush on the other hero, no, he also feels the distinct need to impress the current number one hero and no matter what Hitoshi does, he can never seem to manage that.

Hitoshi can practically feel Bakugo's eyes roaming over him and he wonders just what he sees, where Hitoshi's flaws lie that justify such clear judgement and for a moment he allows himself to wonder if he would change anything if he knew.

The thought hasn't even really passed through his mind when he can practically feel Aizawa scuffing him upside the head, calling him stupid and Hitoshi straightens up.

He doesn't need to change; he's a very successful underground hero, with a skillset that is highly sought after and a clearance so high not even Bakugo can know what he's doing and it's something to be proud of.

Hitoshi managed to achieve everything in life he always wanted to and even Aizawa said he's proud of him, so what right does Bakugo have to judge him?

"Eyebags," Bakugo greets him at just that moment and Hitoshi's eyes slide over to him.

He's missing his lip piercing something fierce right about now, because it always gives him something to fidget with and the tongue piercing just doesn't scratch that itch in the same way.

"Bakugo," he greets back, because he knows Bakugo is still calling everyone ridiculous nicknames, so neither is Hitoshi special in that way, nor is it an insult.

"You look like shit."

"Thanks, you look great, too," Hitoshi easily gives back and leans back against the wall. "Congrats on staying number one."

"Tsk. It was to be expected."

"And good on you for being humble, too," Hitoshi says with a nod and sees Bakugo's lips twitch up in a small smile.

"Didn't see you on that billboard," Bakugo says after a moment and Hitoshi narrows his eyes at him.

"I work underground. I better not be on that billboard," he gives back, because if he were it would ruin his entire career but apparently Bakugo doesn't understand that.

"Aizawa's on there these days," he remarks and Hitoshi shrugs.

Since the war Aizawa mostly stopped working as a hero and has embraced teaching, so apart from the occasional patrol he's not out there very much anymore, at least not in active roles. He's still often asked to consult on cases, just for his vast expertise, and it's clearly enough to keep him in the minds of the people because he did make the billboards this year and relatively up high, too.

"I'm not Aizawa."

Bakugo turns towards him fully at that, dragging his eyes from the top of Hitoshi's head to the tips of his feet and then back up and Hitoshi curses himself for going hot under the collar.

"Could have fooled me," Bakugo then says and Hitoshi snorts out a laugh.

Yeah, with his hair like that the resemblance is even more uncanny than it was before but the current case he's working decided a Mohawk was the way to go and Hitoshi learned not to fight his handlers on inconsequential things.

He could have tied his hair back but then his cut and tattooed sides would surely cause a stir and he already feels out of place enough. No need to add to that.

"You still doing patrols?" Bakugo wants to know and Hitoshi wonders where this sudden interest is coming from.

"Here and there," he vaguely gives back because with all his deep undercover missions he barely has time for patrols these days but that's not something he can say.

No one in this room has a high enough clearance for him to even admit that bit.

Bakugo narrows his eyes at him and Hitoshi is confused to see them blaze with anger.

"And you think that's enough?" he hisses out clearly upset by something but Hitoshi is long past allowing others to rile him up.

"If not I'll pick up another job somewhere, what's the big deal?" he shrugs, knowing damn well that it's only going to enrage Bakugo further and just like predicted Bakugo's face clouds over with anger.

"Underground has made you weak," he almost coldly says and now that, Hitoshi can't let stand.

He leans in close, allows his every-day mask to slide off his face and lets his voice take on its natural deep tone, smoothed out to perfection to make people want to listen to him and he gives Bakugo a tiny, dangerous smile.

"Underground has made me a good actor," he whispers back and watches with satisfaction how Bakugo's eyes go wide and then Hitoshi leaves him standing right there.

Bakugo really should know better than to piss off an underground hero.

~*~*~

Hitoshi has just made his first round through the black market, allowing word of his presence to spread when the comm in his ear crackles.

"Nighthide, we have a problem," his handler says and Hitoshi hums to let them know he's listening. "Dynamight was just spotted in your vicinity, posing as a civilian but we have no information of him being dispatched here."

"Fuck me," Hitoshi breathes out because talk about crashing someone's party.

"Find out why he's here and then get him out. That is your top priority right now," his handler goes on and Hitoshi allows himself one moment of anger for a mission completely derailed before he packs it all away.

Having Dynamight here is dangerous, because it jeopardises everything Hitoshi has already subtly set up here and he understands that getting him away from the black market needs to be his priority but goddammit.

Hitoshi was ready to be done with this mission so he could finally cut his goddamn hair again but it seems luck is not in his favour these days.

He doesn't verbally answer but his handler clearly knows that he understands because they rattle of the last known location of Bakugo and Hitoshi takes great care to change his route as nonchalantly as he can.

When he reaches the place where Bakugo was last seen he is nowhere in sight though and Hitoshi is already mentally cursing him for making everything even more difficult for him when he notices a shadowy figure in one of the dark alleys.

This could get Hitoshi gutted if he's off about this but Hitoshi is nothing if not confident in his abilities so he strolls into the alleyway as if he belongs there.

"Look at what the cat dragged in," he drawls out the shadow is revealed to be Bakugo and Bakugo's head snaps up, hands raised in front of him.

Hitoshi notices that not only isn't he dressed in his hero outfit but he's in sweatpants and a muscle shirt with no shoes to speak of.

"What the fuck happened to you?" Hitoshi can't help but blurt out because what the hell and Bakugo blinks at him.

"Troll doll? The fuck are you doing here?"

"My job. What are you doing here?" Hitoshi shoots back and Bakugo finally relaxes, slumping back against the wall.

"No fucking clue," he admits and drags a hand over his face. "I was at home, on my couch and then suddenly I was here. Possible long distance teleportation quirk but it doesn't seem very targeted because no one was waiting for me."

"Great," Hitoshi mutters and presses his comm to relay the information.

"We'll look into it," his handler promises. "Get him out of there before someone notices him."

"Understood," Hitoshi shortly says and starts to strip out of his hoodie.

"The hell are you doing?" Bakugo demands to know and stumbles a step back when Hitoshi throws the hoodie at him.

"I need you to put this on," he says and forces himself to not turn around to check the entry of the alley.

They will only seem more suspicious like that and Hitoshi doesn't need any more unwanted scrutiny on them.

He's dragged out of his thoughts by the feeling of being stared at and when he turns his attention back on Bakugo he sees that his eyes are roaming over his bare arms and the part of his chest that isn't quite covered by the muscle shirt he was wearing underneath the hoodie.

Hitoshi takes pride in his tattoos but he knows that it's a lot and he's faced judgement for them more than once already but Bakugo can go fuck himself if he thinks he can make Hitoshi feel bad about them.

And besides; Hitoshi no longer takes anyone's shit.

"Like what you see?" he asks, raising his eyebrow in a way that emphasises the piercing there and as if Bakugo only noticed it now his eyes roam over Hitoshi's face and his ears, taking stock of every piece of metal that adorns him.

"I have some non-visible ones too, in case you're wondering," Hitoshi says after a moment, keeping his voice silky and smooth and he knows what kind of effect he can have but he's still not prepared for the blush that creeps over Bakugo's face.

"I'm not," Bakugo snaps out and slips the hoodie over his head.

Hitoshi allows him this escape of the current topic and once Bakugo is all set up Hitoshi steps close to drag the hood over his head.

"Okay, listen here," he starts and he knows he exudes a certain amount of authority when he acts like this but he still didn't expect Bakugo to snap to attention like that. "I don't know if you've had contact with the black market before but this isn't your usual playground, so I need you to listen to me. This spreads out much further than you believe so until I give you the unmistakable clear, you're just going to assume we're not out, understood?" He gives Bakugo enough time to nod before he goes on.

"I don't want you to leave my side, once we're out there. Keep the hood on, keep your head low and for gods sake, play along to what I'm saying. We'll just pretend you're coming off a bad trip; your clothes and lack of shoes support this, but I need you to keep your temper in check. I'll do the talking and you'll follow my lead, do you understand?"

"Yes," Bakugo says and he sounds sincere enough but Hitoshi is not going to hold his breath.

It wouldn't be the first time a spot-light hero fucks him over and makes his work more difficult, so mentally, Hitoshi prepares for the worst even as he leads them out of the alleyway.

Bakugo follows him, shuffling along with his head low and not a word leaving his mouth and Hitoshi hopes he'll keep it that way until they are out.

Hitoshi isn't often seen at the black market in company so naturally this situation garners some attraction and Hitoshi talks and talks and talks until his throat is sore and his head is pounding from all the gentle, subtle suggestions he sent along with his quirk.

He can practically feel Bakugo bursting with questions at his side when he smooth-talks another criminal, making jokes at Bakugo's expense in order to get them going sooner but Hitoshi knows that he'll have to do some damage control when he comes back another day.

They are making their way through an empty alleyway and while no one is in sight, Hitoshi damn well knows they are still being watched and he prays to all the gods he knows that Bakugo heeds his warnings and sticks to the charade for now.

And for once in his life, Hitoshi gets lucky, because Bakugo stays quiet and keeps following him without complaint until Hitoshi leads them into a coffee shop two streets over.

"Okay, we're in the clear," Hitoshi says and takes out his earpiece.

"Where are we?"

"This coffee shop is run by my agency," Hitoshi tells him because it doesn't matter anymore.

Bakugo will have to sign a shitton of papers now, just for knowing Hitoshi is working a job here, so one more thing really doesn't matter.

"Thanks for not losing your temper," Hitoshi says as they wait for Hitoshi's handler to show up and Bakugo scoffs.

"I know what you think of me, but I'm capable of recognising when I'm in over my head and that was clearly more your playground," Bakugo says and then straightens up when they are approached.

"Nighthide, good work. Dynamight, I need you to come with me for a debrief."

Bakugo looks over at Hitoshi, who only shrugs and then offers: "I have my bike here, I can wait until you're done."

Bakugo rolls his eyes as he mutters "Of course you'd have a bike" but he nods nonetheless and Hitoshi gets himself a coffee and a slice of cake while he waits for Bakugo to come back.

By the time he does, Hitoshi is three coffees in and silently wondering if his handler ate the number one hero—he wouldn't put it past them—and Bakugo looks just as dazed as Hitoshi would suspect after a debrief like that.

"How deep in this shit are you?" Bakugo asks as he slides into the booth opposite of Hitoshi and he tilts his head in consideration.

"How many clearance levels did this get you?" he shoots back and Bakugo glares at him.

"Five," he breathes out and then has the audacity to steal Hitoshi's coffee right out of his hands.

"Then you're seven off to get an honest answer to that question," Hitoshi says with a shrug and Bakugo blinks at him.

"Holy hell," he then grumbles out and Hitoshi has to bite back a laugh. "You didn't use your quirk out there," he then says and now Hitoshi openly snorts.

"I'm long past needing to ask a question or having to take complete control. It's all in the little nudges you give someone. Influencing a person leaves less of a trace then taking control. It would have raised a ton of question if I used Brainwash like I used to before because several people not remembering a certain length of time is a problem. It's much easier to get people to write it off if they decide to mind their own business for a moment even though they can't quite remember how they got to that conclusion," Hitoshi explains and then squirms under Bakugo's look.

He's used to judgement, open or hidden, but the plain appreciation he sees in Bakugo's eyes is something else entirely.

"I was wrong about you," Bakugo finally says. "Underground hasn't made you soft. It made you a goddamn good hero."

Hitoshi has long since learned to control his reactions as best as possible but even he can't stop the blush that's creeping up his neck.

"Fuck off," he grumbles out and then goes even hotter under the collar when Bakugo leans back and eyes him as if he's hungry.

It doesn't help that Bakugo is still wearing Hitoshi's hoodie.

"Go out for coffee with me," Bakugo suddenly says and Hitoshi's eyes instantly fall on the coffee still clutched in Bakugo's hands, making him snort. "Somewhere your agency is not tracking our every move," he says with an eyeroll and then looks expectantly at Hitoshi.

"Fine," he agrees because he's not stupid enough to say no to a date with Bakugo.

"Good," Bakugo nods and then leans over the table. "And Shinsou?"

"Yeah?" Hitoshi almost weakly says because Bakugo's look is taking his breath away.

"Keep your nice boy persona at home, I don't care for that shit."

At that, Hitoshi outright laughs but before Bakugo can get offended he nods.

"Understood. I'll even keep the piercings in, too," he then adds with a wink and it seems Hitoshi is not the only one getting flustered here.

Well, for all that this might have ruined his mission, it certainly did work out in some ways.

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