Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Bakugou had to admit that after two years at UA, he had acquired a few friends.

Namely, the self-proclaimed ‘Bakusquad’. 

They understood him, even though they could sometimes get annoying. And they pushed him just enough to get him outside of his comfort zone, but never past that. Which allowed him to open up some more and make more ‘friends’ like the baldy, illusion bitch, and icyhot.

Don’t let daddy issues know that though, he’d never let Bakugou hear the end of it.

Even things between him and the nerd had gotten better. The other boy had grown a bit of a backbone after acquiring black whip, and Bakugou had manned the fuck up and apologized for all the shit he’d done.

Of course, the loser had cried.

So it shouldn’t have surprised him when Kirishima came barging into his room, before tugging him downstairs. 

“What the hell do you want, Shitty Hair?” Bakugou groans, “I was in the middle of something.”

“Please.” The redhead scoffs, “If you do any more pushups your biceps are going to burst.”

“Says you.” He responds, allowing himself to be dragged down the stairs.

“Don’t be such a debbie downer Kacchan!” Kaminari calls out from the couch, surrounded by the rest of the class. “This is serious business that’s going on!”

“Fuck off. Nothing’s more serious than my workout regimen Dunce Face.” Bakugou snaps, begrudgingly taking a seat next to Todoroki. The Icyhot bastard has the nerve to send him a small smile, that Bakugou rolls his eyes at. “What the hell is this girl scout meeting about anyway?”

“Internship offers just came in the mail!” Midoriya informs him, picking up three large boxes and placing them on the table. “So we’re going to hand them out.”

“And the person with the best offer gets first pick during movie night!” Hagakure smiles from across the room, waving her arms around. 

This knowledge makes Bakugou perk up just the slightest bit, before his eyes land on a certain someone.

“I bet I got more than you, you shit nerd.”

“I doubt it Kacchan.” Deku smiles teasingly.

“Oi-”

“Girls, girls, you two can bicker later,” Mina interjects, rubbing her hands together. “Let’s get started!”

The first box is opened, and Four Eyes demands to be the one to hand them out so everyone will be ‘organized and efficient.’

Fucking weirdo.

He calls out everyone’s names as he produces the envelopes, some bigger and thicker than others. 

“One for Tokoyami, two for Midoriya, three for Bakugou, two for Todoroki…”

Kaminari lets out a huff, sliding off the couch dramatically. “Of course those three get all the attention. Leave some for us will you?”

Todoroki tilts his head in confusion, while Midoriya has the nerve to flush. Bakugou just rolls his eyes. “If you trained more and got your grades together, your rank would be much higher. You’re just lazy.”

The room goes quiet for a moment before it breaks out in laughter. 

“What the hell are you extras laughing at?” Bakugou hisses, hands popping. “What’s funny?”

Kaminari on the other hand is tearing up just a bit. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, Kacchan!”

“Keep calling me that name, and I’ll give you something else.”

“You wound me Bakubro.” The other blonde whines, flopping over onto Sero’s lap. “I thought we had something!”

“Don’t take it personally, Kami.” Sero snickers, “He only likes it when Midoriya calls him that.”

The class begins to laugh again, and Bakugou simply clicks his tongue, gesturing for Iida to continue.

The nerd stares at him, probably noticing his lack of protest.

How annoying.

Eventually, all three boxes are emptied and set off to the side.

As expected, Bakugou, Todoroki, and Midoriya all tie for the best offer. They’ve received offers from Endeavor.

Tokoyami comes in second, with an offer from Hawks, and Kirishima is in third with another offer from Fatgum.

Bakugo shifts through his hefty stack, tossing the ones he doesn’t plan on considering off to the side. 

“Dude?” Kirishima asks bewildered, watching envelope after envelope gets discarded.

Uraraka catches one in her hand, reading the name attached. “You’re throwing out an offer from Kamui Woods?” She shrieks. “What are you, crazy?”

“No.” Katsuki sneers. “Just competent. What good would I do with a guy like that? My explosions would burn the shit out of his wood, not to mention his fighting style is timid as hell.”

“He has a point.” Midoriya offers, tossing away a few of his offers. “We’re going to be gone for a month this time, not just a week. So we should get as much as we can from the experience. Not to mention the Sports Festival is two weeks after.”

Beside Bakugou, Todoroki burns the shit out of his father’s envelope startling a few of the people in the room. Whatever funk he was in, he snaps out of, looking around sheepishly. 

Katsuki pauses before picking up his, letting out an AP shot, and watches the scorched pieces of paper fall to the carpet. Todoroki gives him a bigger, more genuine smile this time, that Bakugou answers with his own smirk. “Don’t sweat it Icyhot.”

Midoriya destroys his as well.

By dinnertime, Bakugou has shortened his list to about fifty people. The last envelope sits sadly on the table. It’s the most lackluster thing he’s ever seen, no agency logo, with handwriting bad enough to rival Deku’s.

“It has...character.” Mina smiles sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck. “Who’s it from?”

“Dunno.” He shrugs, ripping the envelope open and pulling out the little paper. Attached is a train ticket to Fukuoka.

“That’s on the other side of Japan!” His friend shrieks, her shrill voice gaining the attention of multiple others.

“Shut up you idiot! I’m trying to read.”

Whoever the hell wrote this needs a lesson on penmanship (and tidiness, there’s soy sauce smudged on the corner.) but it’s still slightly legible.

‘Hey kid,

Come be my intern.

-Miruko’

“What the actual hell?” Bakugou mutters to himself. “What kind of bullshit offer is this?”

“Who’s it from?” Mina asks, flopping over the back of the couch to try and sneak a peek. “Is it good?”

“It’s the rabbit chick,” Bakugou responds, jutting his elbow out and removing the girl from his personal space, watching in amusement as she rolls over onto the floor with a thud. “Her name’s Miruko.”

“Miruko?!” The loud shriek coming from the kitchen comes from no one other than the nerd, who drops whatever he was holding to sprint into the common area and snatch the letter from Bakugou’s hands.

“Oi-”

“Sorry Kacchan, it’s just...she’s the number five pro hero! A solo hero not to mention! She doesn’t even have an agency, but has one of the highest arrest records of all time!”

“And the thickest thighs…” Mineta smiles, “They’re so strong, they destroy villains with just a kick…” He reaches out to grope at the air, and Bakugou feels a very strong urge to kick him into a vat of acid. 

“Who gives a fuck about her thighs? What’s her fighting style like?”

“Well, she specializes in melee combat-”

“Say less.”

“What? Kacchan?”

“That’s all I needed to hear.” Bakugou waves him off. “She’s a top-five hero, does melee combat, and she doesn’t have an agency? You can bet your ass I’m interning with her.”

“But what if it’s a trap?” Todoroki asks, gesturing to the letter clenched tightly in Midoriya’s hand. “It doesn’t look official.”

“I agree!” Iida says, voice loud as ever. “I do not believe that the number five pro hero would send an internship offer such as the one before us!”

“And why would she send one to Bakugou of all people?” Kaminari adds, “Like no offense dude, but you’re kind of hard to handle.”

“Because no one’s gonna handle me, you asshole.” The blonde in question scoffs. “I’m my own damn person, and I ain’t changing shit about myself just because I don’t fit some rando’s ideal of the ‘perfect hero.’ And anyone who tries can rot in hell!”

“Maybe you just need some proper handling.” Jirou teases, “Someone to water you down a bit.”

Bakugou whirls around with a sneer. “Ask Best Jeanist how that shit worked out for him.”

Someone makes a choking sound in the background.

“I’m gonna be the best damn hero this shithole has ever seen, and I’m gonna do it my way.” He continues, stomping over and snatching his envelope from Deku’s hand. “So this Miruko bitch better watch the fuck out, because I’m coming for her!”

Without another word, he storms out of the room and upstairs to his room. The class watches him go. 

“Should we be worried?” Uraraka whispers, nudging Kirishima lightly. 

“Probably.” The redhead shrugs. “But if there’s one thing I’ve learned about Bakugou, it’s that there’s no stopping him once he’s put his mind to something.” 

“Who knows?” Midoriya offers, “Maybe this internship will be good for Kacchan.”

Tokoyami nods his agreement. “Yes, perhaps what Bakugou needs is for someone to match his inner darkness, instead of just trying to suppress it. True beasts are never to be tamed.”

“Sure dude.” Kaminari smiles, clapping his classmate on the shoulder. “Whatever you say. By the way, have you ever considered brightening your color scheme? I think orange would look really nice on you!”

“And so it begins…” 

-

“Miruko?” Aizawa asks him before class, raising an eyebrow. “You’re going to intern with her all the way across the country for a month?”

“What’s the big deal?” Bakugou scoffs, “Frenchy is interning in fucking France.”

“Language, Katsuki.” His teacher says, footsteps not faltering. “And Aoyama is an exchange student, technically he’s just going back home.”

“Calm down you old geezer.” Bakugou assures him. “I’ll come back alive. You should be worried about Icyhot and that damned nerd. They attract more trouble than I do.”

“Somehow I doubt that.” Aizawa lets out a scoff of his own this time. “Why not intern with Best Jeanist again? A lot of your classmates are returning to their own internships from last year.”

“Well I ain’t like those damn extras, they can do whatever the hell they like. But there’s no way I’m sticking around with that guy for a month, I could barely handle a week.”

Beside him, his teacher stares down at him silently. He can probably tell that there’s more behind that statement than what Katsuki was letting on, but he lets it go. If the kid wanted to tell him, he would know.

Probably.

“Alright then, well…” The Erasure hero stops walking, forcing his student to stop as well. “You’d better make it back in one piece problem child, I’m sure you’re aware that certain groups of people seem to have it out for you.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. No shit villain is a match for me, I’ll blast them Kingdom come. So can I go now?” Bakugou asks, ready to be finished with this conversation.

“Katsuki.” Aizawa stresses, and Bakugou calms himself. Apparently whatever this is, is important to his teacher. Usually that wouldn’t mean jack shit to him, but because it’s Aizawa, he’ll stay put.

“I want you to keep your guard up. Fukuoka is full of crime, I don’t want you getting into anything you shouldn’t. You may be hotheaded, but you don’t go looking for trouble, I’m aware of that. Just try to keep your temper under control, and practice the stealth exercises you learned in training.”

“Jeez old man, what are you worried about me or something?” Bakugou smirks, but gives in. “I will, don’t worry.”

“Thank you.” Aizawa nods, “You’re a good kid.” He reaches down and ruffles the blonde’s hair, receiving little protest. “Now get to class.”

“Yeah, yeah you sap. I’m leaving.” Bakugou lets his teacher ruffle his hair for a few more seconds before walking off, waving over his shoulder. “And go make your coffee, I can see you about to keel over from here.”

-

Two weeks later, the forms have been signed and their teachers are seeing them off at the train station.

“Make sure you take the right train, don’t get into any trouble Midoriya.” All Might is fretting over his star pupil a few feet away, and the sound is enough to make Bakugou want to barf.

The station is crowded, and Bakugou is closer to the platform than he’d like. Every time a train passes by it grates on his hearing, and Bakugou reaches up slightly to cup his throbbing ears. 

“You okay little listener?” Present Mic asks, placing a large palm on the top of Bakugou’s head. “The trains hurting your ears?”

“My ears are fine.” The younger blonde mutters, knowing better than to snap at Present Mic by now. The guy gets awfully pouty about it, like a kid that’s just been scolded.

“They hurt my ears too you know.” Mic assures him, “It just comes with the territory. Find Aizawa, he can help.”

“What’s he gonna do?” Bakugou asks.

“Just go find him, he’ll know what’s up.”

Perplexed, Katsuki just sends his teacher a weird look before stalking off to go find his teacher. It’s not particularly hard, the guy stands out starkly against the crisp suits and of businessmen and trendy clothes of teenagers.

“Oi, Sensei.”

“Katsuki.” Aizawa greets him. “What’s wrong now, problem child?”

“Mic said you could help.”

“With what?” The ravenette raises an eyebrow, watching Bakugou squirm with sudden embarrassment. “Use your words Katsuki.”

“I know damn it, I’m not a kid.” Bakugou hisses, but Aizawa doesn’t even bat an eyelash. “Fuck, alright. I just need something to help with the trains.”

“The trains?” Bakugou’s not sure if his teacher is just genuinely confused or trying to get him to open up and be more specific, but it’s pissing him off either way,

“Shit, you old man. The trains are hurting my ears okay? I just needed something to help with it and Mic said you'd have me covered.”

“Oh.” Is all Aizawa says, before reaching in his pocket and pulling out a small box. “They’re earplugs.” He explains, placing the box in his student’s outstretched hand. “Mic sometimes has trouble with the trains when his hearing feels particularly sensitive.”

Bakugou doesn’t respond, choosing instead to open the box and place the small objects in his ear. “Thanks, I guess.”

“You’re welcome, kid.” Aizawa chuckles, ruffling Bakugou”s hair again. What was with adults and petting him like he was a damn dog? Who cared if it felt nice, was there some kind of sign above his head that says ‘Hey here’s a kid, come pat his head for shits and giggles’

“You look frustrated.” His teacher comments, and Bakugou glares at him. “Was just thinking about how you weirdos always seem to wanna ruffle my hair.”

Aizawa simply smirks and offers zero consolation, which does nothing but bother Bakugou more.

They stand in comfortable silence for a few minutes, but of course someone had to ruin it. 

“Listen kid, I meant to say this earlier but I suppose I should just say it now. If at any time your hearing-”

“Fuck that.”

“Katsuki.”

“No.” He growls, backing away from the man beside him. “My hearing is fucking fine. I don’t need hearing aids, I don’t need any sign language classes, I don’t need any of that shit!”

Aizawa sighs, he figured Bakugou might react like this. “You can still be a hero regardless. Look at Mic.”

Bakugou curses softly, looking off to the side. 

The silence is back.

They stay like that until it’s almost time for the train to come, and Aizawa drops his hand onto the top of Bakugou’s head one more time. “Just think about it, Problem Child. I know it’s not what you want to hear, but the best heroes sometimes have to go through stuff like this. It doesn’t make you weak Katsuki, you’re the toughest kid I know.”

Bakugou can feel his throat closing up, but he ignores it, clearing his throat and choking out, “Damn straight.”

“And I better not see you on the news either, Golden Boy. That goes for the rest of you too.” Aizawa raises his voice to address the class. “These internships are going to be long and grueling. Thirty days of training with real pros, you’d better be on your best behavior. 

But given the fact that recent events have messed up Internships before, if at any time you feel unwell, unsafe or overwhelmed, you are to call me. Nedzu will allow you to come home and stay in the dorms. You’re not being graded on completion, more so on what the heroes have to say about your performance. Part of being a hero is learning when to quit, some of you would do good to remember that.”

Come home? Stay in the dorms while everybody else is out having the time of their lives with pro heroes? Absolutely not.

“That goes double for Problem Children.” Aizawa insists, glaring at the boys in question. “If I hear from any of these heroes that you’re overworking yourselves or being uncooperative or breaking any rules for any reason, you’ll be sent home. Don’t screw this up.“

Their teacher watches his students shift around on their feet for a moment. “With that being said, everyone enjoy your internships, and I’ll see you in a month.”

What a drama queen.

Bakugou waves his goodbyes to Aizawa and Present Mic before allowing Kaminari to drag him onto the train and into a seat. 

“You guys ready?” The blonde asks, practically vibrating in his seat. “Because I am.”

“Heck yeah! Last time our internships got...interrupted.” Kirishima says with a tight smile. “So I’m super pumped for this one.”

“But you heard what Sensei said.” Sero reminds them. “Why would the principal of all people give us the option to come home during our internships? They didn’t do that during our first year.”

“We didn’t have our licences last year.” Bakugou states flatly. “We’re gonna be doing a lot more stuff. Nothing’s gonna be censored either. My guess is that we’ll finally get a taste of the raw hero work going on out there, and some of us won’t be able to handle it.”

The train car is suddenly quiet.

“What a buzzkill.” Mina whines. “Come on Blasty, lighten up! You should be pumped! You’re interning with Miruko.”

“Why should I be excited about that shit? She was the one who sent that letter. If anything, that rabbit bitch should be happy to work with me .”

At that, the group laughs. 

One by one the group split up, getting off at their respective stops until Bakugou is the last one left. It takes much longer to get to Fukuoka than he initially figured, and by the time he gets off his last train, it’s dark outside.

Bakugou stares at the address on the paper he’s been given, cursing the terrible handwriting. “The hell am I supposed to do with this?” He mutters to himself, before huffing and going in the direction he assumes is correct. 

After twenty minutes of walking he finally, finally makes it. The apartment is small compared to what Katsuki had originally assumed, but then again, not every hero is materialistic. 

He knocks on the door, trying not to scoff as there’s a slam on the other side and a startled yelp. Loud footsteps run closer before the door is swung open, and Bakugou comes face to face with….

Nothing.

So he looks down, lower and lower until he lays eyes on a pair of fluffy bunny ears. 

“Holy shit, you’re short.”

Bakugou didn’t mean to say it out loud but, if the shoe fits?

“Oi! You ungrateful ass brat! Is this how U. A taught you to respect your elders?”

The blonde feels his eyes twitch as he glares down into a pair of matching crimson eyes. “Fuck that! You’re not that old you bitch!”

“And you’re too small to be talking shit at this caliber! Didn’t you only win your sports festival because your opponent chumped out?!”

“Oi!” Bakugou shouts, “I would’ve beaten that half and half bastard with his full power!”

Miruko snorts, glaring right back up at him. “Bullshit.”

“The hell do you mean bullshit?!”

She looks him up and down, earning a small growl from Bakugou. “You don’t look all that impressive.”

“Well neither do you, you rabbit bitch.” he spits back indignantly.

“Porcupine.”

“Rodent.”

“Slut.”

“Whore.”

“You’re the last person to call someone a slut! Have you seen your hero costume?” Miruko shouts, loud enough to wake her neighbors.

His costume? Bakugou’s costume was perfectly fine and way better than his shitty classmate’s. “Have you seen yours?” 

“My thighs have to breathe!”

“Well they’re not getting much air all the way down there.” Bakugou snorts, and is a little proud of himself for that one.

His victory however, is short-lived.

Miruko lets out a shriek, launching herself at him. Bakugou barely has time to duck, but the pro hero recovers quickly, pushing off the railing behind her and trapping in a headlock from behind and squeezing.

“Fuck!” Bakugou coughs, gripping her arms tightly. “Holy shit bitch, the hell is in that rabbit feed?”

“I only eat organic foods you two rate punk!”  Miruko shouts, tightening her arms around his neck. “I’m a machine!”

“You’re a maniac! Let me go, you pussy, and fight me for real!” He chokes.

“You gotta get out of this headlock first!” The woman says, relaxing her posture in a smug show of nonchalance. “I could do this all day~”

Bakugou growls low in his throat.

“What are you, a damn dog- OUCH WHAT THE SHIT? Did you just bite me, you heathen?!”

Bakugou kicks his feet out, annoyed at the way Miruko dodges each blow. “I sure the fuck did! Keep trying me and I’ll show you what a dog looks like, cotton tail!”

“That doesn’t even make sense!” She snaps at him.

“Fuck off! It sounded better in my head!”

“Uh...is this a bad time?”

Immediately the both of them freeze, looking up from their positions on the floor. A man with blonde hair is perched on top of the crushed railing, resting his elbows on his knees and gazing down at them.

“Oh, Keigo! I was wondering where you went.” Miruko chirps, standing and bringing Katsuki with her. “Meet my intern! Uhm, what’s your name again kid?”

“Bakugou Katsuki you hag! Who the hell asks for an intern and can’t even remember their damn name?!”

“I got better shit to do than worry about snot nosed brats!”

“Oi!”

“He’s your spitting image, Rumi.” The blonde guy smiles, still staring like a damn creep. “Adorable.”

“Yeah, he’s a spitfire alright.” Miruko beams, digging her knuckles into Bakugou’s hair. 

“Who the fuck is this?” Bakugou asks, throwing an explosion at Miruko’s face that makes her squeal and let go. 

“Huh?” Blonde guys asks, “You don’t know who I am?”

Bakugou narrows his eyes, looking the man up and down. “Am I supposed to?”

Apparently that was the joke of the century, because Miruko screams, falling out onto the floor with laughter. “Holy shit, kid I like you.”

“Hell yeah you do, I’m the best.” Bakugou states, preening. 

But the blonde guy is still upset. “You don’t recognize me?”

“No?”

“I’m Hawks! You know blonde guy, giant red wings, stunning good looks?”

“Oh.” 

Hawks had visited the hospital a couple times after the fight with Shigaraki, but Bakugou had better things to do than worry about some hero parading themselves around the hospital.

Like bullying Icyhot.

And messing with Aizawa.

“Well, nice to see you again I guess.” Bakugou shrugs.

Hawks glares at him before turning to Miruko, whispering not so subtly. “Is this really the one you want?”

“You’re only saying that because he’s not falling all over himself to talk to you.” She snorts. “The kid’s got guts, not to mention he’s not some goody two shoes like the rest of his classmates.”

Hawks sniffs a bit, crossing his arms. “Well, I don’t like him.”

Bakugou feels his eyes twitch. 

“Who gives a shit what you like bird brain?"

Miruko wraps her arms around both of their necks, pulling them into some sort of impromptu hug. “We’re gonna kick so much ass!”

Bakugou smirks to himself. This was an internship he could get behind.