Chapter Text
Minoru “Minnie” Mineta.
She was a thorn in the side of most of the boys in the class 3A. She was awkward and touchy and too flirty, and mostly just plain fucking weird. None of the boys in class acknowledged her, except for, well, Denki.
He felt for her, really. He understood her on some level, because he himself was down bad for a lot of the girls and some of the guys in class. Denki wasn’t a simp, but a hopeless romantic through and through. Plus, he liked the color purple. After his nasty breakup with Shinsou, he was lonely. They dated for almost two years, but now here he was, going into their third year single. Hell, even Bakugou shacked up with Midoriya over the summer! It seemed like every single one of his friends was satisfied with their love life but him.
It didn’t help his depression or his abandonment issues, always having to be the seventh wheel.
What did him in though, was unexpectedly walking into the common room to see Shinsou sucking face with Iida. They had only been broken up for two months.
Two months. What the fuck.
Denki stood in the entrance to the common room, mouth agape as he just stared in shock. Just as he was about to tear up, a voice coming from beside him shocked him out of his dissociation.
“Like, honestly? Shinsou is a total moron for leaving you. You’re like, such a hunk, Kaminari.”
He blinked a few times, then looked to his left. There stood Minnie, her curly purple hair pulled up into little space buns. She was actually dressed kinda cute, in a pastel yellow crop top and soft looking leggings. Her feet were tucked into white converse and pushing her bangs back was a pair of pink heart sunglasses. It was very Tumblr circa 2016, but it worked for her.
Clearing his throat, Denki subtly wiped his eyes to mask the fact that he was about to sob. He didn’t feel like a hunk, hadn’t ever really. Everyone always called him a pretty boy and he knew deep down that none of his classmates meant it as a compliment.
“Uh, thanks.” He choked out, turning to fully face her, almost flustered when she did the same. “So, why are you-? Why are you dressed up?” Being around Mina enough and considering his own love for fashion, he could tell what a date outfit was.
“I was supposed to go on a date, but I got stood up. No biggie.” She shrugged a single shoulder, nonchalant, but Denki could see how much it actually bothered her.
“That’s fucked. Who stood you up?” His tone was sharp. If it was any of the guys in their class, he didn’t care if he got his ass kicked. He’d fight that motherfucker.
“Oh, it was Monoma.”
Instantly, Denki felt even more rage. That fucking asshole! He gave Denki enough grief when he was constantly trying to insert himself into his relationship with Shinsou.
Fuck him! I’ll just-
“Go on a date with me instead.”
He didn't know why he said it. The words were tumbling out of his mouth before he could stop them. His heart started to race, his mouth going dry as waited for that initial rejection. Why did he say that, it wasn't like she-
"Okay, sure."
Wait, what?
"Seriously?" He asked, fidgeting with his hands. His hair started to gain static like it always did when he was nervous.
Checking her purple manicure in a way that just made her seem so cool, Minnie was calm when she spoke. "Seriously. I'd be stupid to say no to a guy like you." Her eyes snapped up to Denki as a coy smile played on her lips.
When did she get so hot?!
" grEAaT-! Meet back here in twenty?"
His fucking voice cracked! Why did his voice crack, it hadn't done that in over a year, what the fuck-
Minnie nodded. "That works."
Denki stumbled and turned sharply to head towards his room. He had to put on something other than sweats and a Pokemon shirt.
"Oh, and Kaminari?"
He stopped, looking over his shoulder. Minnie had a hand on her hip which was cocked to the side. "Don't keep me waiting." She winked and blew him a kiss before turning around and walking away.
What. The. Fuck.
Twenty minutes and three outfit changes later, Denki nervously made his way back to the mostly empty common room. Thankfully Shinsou and Iida were nowhere in sight, but that didn't help his rapidly beating heart.
Minnie hadn't changed her outfit, but was she wearing makeup now? Her doll-like, dark eyes were lined in graphic eyeliner, strawberry pink blush dusted her cheeks while holographic highlighter brought positive attention to her cute button nose.
Fuck, be cool.
"Are you ready to go?" He asked, hands in the pockets of his Coca-Cola racing jacket. He knew he looked good. He felt good, but he was so nervous. This could go really good or really bad and he didn't know which outcome he was scared of most.
Minnie put her sunglasses on, choosing to wear them properly as she adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder.
"Let's rock and roll." She headed towards the front doors, not even waiting to see if Denki was following her. He didn't even try to stop the cheesy grin on his face. She was so dorky, in such a cute way.
[x]
They decided to go to the movies, to catch the new romcom that was playing. Denki had actually been dying to see it, but none of his friends wanted to go with him. He bought the tickets and Minnie insisted on buying the snacks, so he let her. He'd pay for her dinner after the movie.
They managed to get perfect seats. The previews were interesting, the movie was going good, and despite what Denki assumed he knew about Minnie, she didn't once make him feel uncomfortable during the movie. At all. She was so sweet and respectful!
What the fuck was going on?
After the credits started to roll and they tossed away their empty drinks and snacks, he watched as Minnie stopped in front of the lit up poster for the movie. She had her phone in her hand, her bottom lip between her teeth. There was a furrow between her brows and she looked so conflicted. Denki carefully walked up behind her. He saw that she had her camera app open.
" Do-? Do you want to take a selfie?"
She looked back at him, shock on her face like she never expected him to ask. As she tentatively nodded, he grabbed her phone and pulled her gently into his side. There was about a foot of a height difference between them still, even though Minnie hit a growth spurt in second year. Denki was able to angle her phone just perfectly as she rested her hand on his chest and leaned against him. She had the softest smile on her face and he couldn't help but grin. He snapped the photo.
Separating from her, he handed Minnie her phone back with a flush on his face. "Be sure to send me that pic!"
Denki watched her as she just stared at the picture in awe. He held his hand out to her. "Minnie? Ready to go?"
She glanced at his hand and put her phone away before carefully taking his hand in hers. "Let's blow this popsicle stand."
He couldn't stop the giggle that bubbled from his chest as he squeezed her hand.
Warmth filled his core for the first time since Shinsou, and Denki, was starting to accept it.
Dinner went well, they stopped for some fast food, even ended up splitting a desert. When he got whipped cream on his cheek, she just smiled and gently wiped it away. She didn't laugh at him or berate him. Minnie didn't roll her eyes once at his antics. She let Denki talk about Pokemon and info dump, and in turn he found out that she actually loved to read, not just erotic manga, but classic English literature. Apparently Pride & Prejudice was her favorite book.
Eventually, when they did make it back to the dorms, he insisted on walking her all the way to her room. Standing in front of her door, he felt himself start to buzz with nervous energy.
"I, uh, I had a really great time tonight." Denki spoke softly, his hands fidgeting in front of him.
Minnie smiled, though it seemed a little sad. "Yeah, me too. Goodnight, Kaminari."
As she moved to unlock her door, Denki felt himself panic.
"Wait!" He gently grabbed her elbow. Her eyes went wide.
"Kaminari, you don't have to-" Minnie's bottom lip trembled as her dark eyes started to turn glassy with tears.
"I want to kiss you. I want," He took a shaky breath. "I want to take you on another date and another, and I-!" He sighed. "I really enjoyed spending time with you, Minnie."
"Kiss me." Her voice was quiet, breathless like she didn't mean to say it aloud.
He didn't have to be told twice. Denki wrapped his arm around her waist and swept her off her feet as he gently kissed her.
Fuck, she tastes like grape soda Lipsmackers.
I could get used to this.
[x]
And he did get used to it.
He got used to it, fast.
Within three weeks of hanging out and after three more dates, the two of them were going steady. And Denki didn't give a single shit what any of his friends thought. Though, it was a shock to everyone when they strolled into class one morning, hand in hand while Denki carried her backpack.
They were always together and the best part? Minnie was actually an amazing girlfriend. She treated him like a goddamn king. She made him bento boxes, she did self-care days with him, she added to his squishmallow collection, and she never made him feel stupid.
All the flirting with the other guys in class? It completely stopped. She only had eyes for Denki. She was always hyping him up, making him feel great. She posted a selfie of them on Snapchat every single day.
And Denki? He treated her just as well as she treated him. He called her princess, lovebug, sugar grape. He'd brush her curls out after training when her quirk would tangle her hair. Every single Sunday he'd either get her coffee or a candy bar. Sometimes he'd leave little purple post-its with sweet notes on them for her to find around her dorm room. He got them matching necklaces and then after that, matching hoodies.
For the first time in months, Denki felt seen. Denki felt taken care of, he was happy.
So, tell him. Why the fuck was he sitting in Kirishima's dorm room, surrounded by a few of his friends like he was in some sort of intervention?
Kirishima, Sero, and Bakugou all stared at him.
"-yeah, so I'm actually supposed to meet Minnie in the common room? It's our three month anniversary and I'm taking her to dinner. I got a weekend pass for it and everything." Denki rubbed his hands on his designer jeans as he adjusted himself on Kirishima's uncomfortable desk chair that the three of them had placed in the center of the room.
"Dude, do you even fucking hear yourself-!? You are dating Minoru Mineta! How much longer is this shit going to go on-?!" Sero asked, waving one of his hands around as he spoke. Denki hated how he spoke Minnie's name like it was a curse. Something bad. He watched as Sero continued to cuss Minnie out in Spanish before pinching the bridge of his nose while Kirishima patted his back. Bakugou looked constipated, like he'd rather be anywhere but there at that moment.
“Bro, what Sero is trying to say, what we're all really trying to say, dude- it's just- this has been going on for awhile and she's not that good for you. We're concerned, I get you’re still torn up over Shinsou but he is so, so sorry, you gotta know that, and we really think you should hear him out, he's our friend too-” It felt like wet cement was just poured down Denki's throat as he listened to Kirishima talk and complain about his relationship with Minnie, all while trying to plead Shinsou’s case.
He started to dissociate, dread and anxiety triggering that trauma he always fought so hard against. He dug his fingers into his knees as he hung his head. He was trembling. His heart was pounding, he could feel its every beat in his body, suddenly the electricity in the air started to crackle around him. Kirishima’s electronics responded to him as even the lights flickered.
“Woah! Denks-”
"Shut up"
Denki's head snapped up, a snarl on his face as he glared, interrupting Kirishima mid-sentence. His friends, besides Bakugou, looked terrified.
"Am I not allowed to be happy? God forbid that I finally enter a healthy relationship." He threw his hands up, static buzzing on his fingers as he laughed dryly. There was nothing funny about this conversation. Bakugou stood where he was, calm in the eye of the hurricane, while Sero and Kirishima backed up slowly. At least they were smart enough to do that.
Kirishima scrambled to explain himself. "She's just so, it's just- she's just not your type, dude."
Denki crossed his arms. "Oh? Oh! And when did you get to decide that? Because what, you don't think she's good enough for me?! That’s what you just fucking said! Or is it that you think she's too weird for our friend group? Be so real, Eijirou, you can’t even ask out Mina and now she’s dating Tetsu! We're all fucking weirdos." Before Kirishima could try and interrupt him or defend himself, Denki pushed past him, his face twisted in anger as tears of frustration welled in his eyes as he actually stood up to his friends for the first time. "Minnie gets me. She wants me, she doesn't want me to be something I'm not! Hito- Shinsou, made it very clear that I wasn't enough for him. Wasn't brave enough, wasn't strong enough, wasn't smart enough-! I'm enough for Minnie and-! And I'm genuinely happy! I thought you guys were my friends . I thought you were happy for me too! You guys are just fucking assholes. You two were never my friends."
The door slammed behind him, rattling the frame, and he almost swore he could hear Bakugou start to yell at Sero and Kirishima before he stormed down the hall. Denki ignored the deafened explosions he heard.
Turning the corner, he accidentally shoulder checked someone. Immediately, Denki started to apologize, until he saw who it was.
“Denki, I was just-” Shinsou was dressed nicely, wearing Denki's favorite pair of jeans on him, his longer hair was pulled into a low intricate bun, and his dress shirt wasn't wrinkled. Actually, it looked new. Denki’s gaze fell to Shinsou’s hand where he was holding a sweaty and watered down cookie and cream Starbucks frappuccino. And would you look at that ! He was holding a bouquet of Denki's favorite flowers in his other one. Red Roses and yellow and white daisies.
Contrary to popular belief, Denki wasn't stupid. Shinsou was turning the corner to go down the hall where Kirishima’s room was, dressed up, with a bouquet of Denki's favorite flowers and his ‘favorite’ Starbucks drink (He only liked Matcha lattes). Denki had just left Kirishima's room.
Denki wasn't stupid!
“It's Kaminari to you. You haven't called me Denki in almost six months, don't start back now.” His jaw was clenched as he stared Shinsou down. His voice was sharp, cutting like how the pain in his heart used to be. He didn't just fall in love with Minnie, Denki learned to fall in love with himself. He learned his worth. Denki learned that he couldn't be bought with sleepy kisses, watered down after-thought Starbucks, and pretty flowers. He sighed, crossing his arms as he tilted his head slightly; this was already exhausting. “What do you want, Shinsou?”
“I just wanted to talk, apologize, to catch up-! Sparkfly, this is dumb and you know it-”
“-bullshit. Don't come at me with any of that. You got cleaned up, grabbed a bouquet and a shitty Starbucks, and came up with some half-assed plan with my ‘friends’ to try and get back together. It’s never going to happen. I'm not that fucking dumb.” Denki said with a scoff. Being this blunt, standing up for himself, it felt good and he was just getting started.
“Do you wanna know what is fucking dumb, Shinsou? The fact that if you had done this a month after we broke up, I would have taken you back. I was absolutely fucking crazy about you. I was so, so in love with you. I tried every single day to be what you wanted me to be, and then, even after all that of that bullshit, I still got my heart broken by you-” His voice was wobbly, he wanted to cry his eyes out and ruin his mascara, but Denki wasn't about to let another tear fall over Hitoshi Shinsou of all assholes.
“-Then I started dating Minnie and I realized that I'm already enough. That I don't have to put on a show for people to care, that I can be myself. That I'm a good person, I'm a good friend, I'm going to be a damn good hero. l-” He paused himself and as a revelation overcame him in a crashing wave. “I already am.”
“I am a hero. I’m a fucking amazing hero.”
Giving him one last teary eyed smile, Denki took the bouquet of flowers out of Shinsou's hand while he stood there in shocked denial, leaving him with that stupid, bullshit 2014 Starbucks.
“I hope you find what you're looking for, Shinsou, because you won't find it with me.” Denki called over his shoulder as he walked past him. When he was at the end of the hall, and he noticed that Shinsou was still standing there, he said one last thing.
“Thanks for the flowers, by the way. My girlfriend is going to love them.”
[x]
Graduation came and went. It was like Denki blinked, and suddenly here he was, breaking the top 25 in his debut year. Shortly after they graduated, he and Minnie moved in together. They got a nice two bedroom apartment, and even took a trip to the shelter where they adopted two cats, a bonded sibling pair.
Fanta and Cola, a little orange tabby and a fluffy little tortie and life it was-, well.
Sometimes it seemed too good to be true.
“Chargebolt, we need you off the scene.”
The stone-faced police officer stood between Denki and the wreckage. Sirens echoed, was it rain or sweat on Denki’s face? He couldn't tell. Was it copper from his quirk he tasted in his mouth, or was it blood? Who gave a single shit at this point. This officer was about to fucking find out exactly just how strong his quirk really was and just how far he'd go.
“ THAT'S MY PARTNER-”
The officer wasn't moving, instead his hands came in contact with Denki's chest to try and push him back.
Thunder rolled.
The rest of the city block was starting to lose power.
So much noise, there was so much noise and Denki needed it to be quiet, so that when he went into the wreckage, he could try and listen for her heartbeat.
“You can take a step over there,” Denki threw the officer to the ground as he motioned his head towards the busted up sidewalk. The officer stopped struggling when he saw what Denki's eyes glanced at. The empty black body bags. “Or I can put you in one of those. There's plenty that are free.”
That one second of the officer's fear bought Denki the shot he needed.
Denki ran.
If you die on me, I'll bathe this entire country in electrical storms, if you die, Minnie I swear, I'll go to-
Another officer tried to grab him by the tattered remains of his hero suit. Denki just kept moving, not caring when the officer dropped like a zapped fly behind him.
No one else matters.
Minnie was the only other person in the building. Denki got everyone. Even got the bomber out. EVEN GOT THE FUCKING BOMBER OUT-
The building creaked around him, it started storming harder. Water poured like sheets onto him. His teeth started to chatter, but ask him if he gave a shit. He had to get her out. He had to, he didn't know how he could live in a world without her in it. He started picking up rubble like he had One For All.
“MINORU, PLEASE!” Denki screamed over the sirens and the storm his quirk was most likely causing, it was too loud, too much, what if she was already dead-
A loud groan from the building, a piece of the ceiling fell behind him. He didn't have much time. He could hear the news helicopters.
FUCK! he couldn't hear anything else-!
Lighting crashed across the night sky, bathing the city block in light, yet no thunder followed. Bright yellow and blue static ran across his skin.
I fucking need light, maybe if I do brew a storm-!
“Denki, we're here!” Someone familiar called out to him. Looking behind him, Denki started sobbing in relief. It was Katsuki and Izuku, they weren't even in their suits, just their support gear. Knowing them, they probably rolled out of bed as soon as they heard.
God, what would I do without them?
Please just-
Minnie, I swear, I'll actually-
This time, I'll really ask you to-
“Help me. Please-! I can't hear her, I can't do anything-!” Denki was trembling, shaking like Fanta did after his first bath. God, they had two cats at home. They got cats to practice before having kids! They wanted kids! How did this happen?! Katsuki was instantly at his side, taking the metal beam out of his arms all while trying to not get electrocuted. Izuku scanned the area, looking for Minnie or any traces or her hero suit. A few minutes felt like a few years while he sapped the electricity out of fallen wires and Katsuki used AP Shots to make the rubble easier to move.
“Denki, Kacchan! Over here, I found her!” Izuku screamed, throwing rubble, turning some of it to dust from the grip in his hands. She had been crushed. Denki didn't know if he wanted to laugh or scream. He felt like he was doing both.
His eyes zoned in on the crumbled purple and yellow and blood covered form in Izuku’s arms. Why wasn't her chest moving? WHY WASN'T IT MOVING?
“She’s not breathing-” Izuku started.
“-Can’t make out a heartbeat!” Katsuki finished.
Denki lost the conversation in-between.
He was losing everything.
Her body was enough, it would be enough.
I just need her body. I just need her body so I can-
Denki would give her a heartbeat. He'd pull stings and get her a new heart if he fucking had to, go black market even. Use that top 25 money along with the favoritism that came from being apart Class 1A, and being hero commissioner Shouta Aizawa’s favorite Almost-Son-In-Law. She wasn't dying because of a bomber; all because she decided to encase the bomb in her quirk to try and shrink the blast radius.
Two seconds.
He was two seconds too late and now it would be the catalyst, they would be the two seconds that cost Denki everything.
His entire world, destroyed in just two seconds.
He didn't even blink.
The building groaned again.
“Deku, get us the fuck out of here.” Katsuki growled, grabbing Denki and then grabbing his husband around the waist. Izuku went Full Cowl and Denki clung to his best friends like he did for nearly the entirety of the last decade.
Denki couldn't look down between the three of them. As soon as he did, as soon as he looked down to Minnie's lifeless form, to see her steadily cold growing body; he'd lose it completely.
In less than three seconds their feet were on the sidewalk, ambulances were on standby and Katsuki was already flagging one down.
“Izuku, hand her to me.” Denki couldn't even recognize his own voice, didn't even know how he was still standing. How long had he been on his feet? How long was that fight with the bomber? If he had only seen the piece of shit’s thumb on the detonator, Minnie wouldn't be cold in his arms.
She wouldn't be cold.
So cold.
Minnie, please I just want to say-
She was on the gurney in another ten seconds, the paramedic tried to intervene but Denki roared and sparks fell from the street lamp above them. Katsuki and Izuku held the crowd of first responders, news reporters, and onlookers back.
IT WAS TOO LOUD.
Denki shocked her heart, turning himself into a defibrillator.
Flashes of cameras, flashes of sirens, flashes of power going out.
Flashes of Denki's life with Minnie thus far.
“Minoru, angel please. I love you, please I love you. Don't do this! BABYGIRL, don't do this!” Denki was sobbing; had he even stopped? His tears hit his hands over her bruised chest as he did compressions. He could feel the electric currents of her heart trying to pump back. He went through paramedic training for this very reason. To turn his entire body into a defibrillator for rescue missions. He just never thought he'd have to use it on Minnie.
“I was gonna ask this question later, one of our anniversaries was coming up! You remember that one, the one you got marked on the calendar? Three years of getting Fanta and Cola to the day! If your heart starts beating-” Izuku glanced behind himself and the two of them locked eyes during another bright lighting crash. Denki's mouth was filling with blood as thunder crashed above him for what felt like the hundredth time in that last hour. “-I’ll ask it baby! I know you're not stupid, I know you found the ring!”
Denki coughed, his blood splattering as it started to drip from his nose. He could feel her heart starting to pump, but it was too weak. It'd start and stop. The electricity was catching but it wasn't enough. He spat the blood to the side, not caring that it was dripping down his bare chest. Minnie’s lips were too blue. Denki started giving her rescue breaths between her chest compressions.
He waited another few seconds. Her chest was moving, starting to move slowly, but no current heartbeat. He had lost her again. He went back to chest compressions. The first responders stopped fighting Katsuki after he threw a right hook at a cocky News reporter. That reporter ended up in cuffs for what they had said. You don't fuck with The Wonder Duo for a fucking reason.
“PLEASE! PLEASE JUST-” Sorrow tore through Denki. “I can't do this, I don't want to do this, I will never love again. I will NEVER love again, do you HEAR me, Minoru Mineta? I'M trying to change YOUR last name! I'M trying to ask YOU to marry ME! So if YOU die what's the point of ALL of this!? What's the point of it-! WHAT'S THE POINT OF THIS LIFE IF YOU'RE DEAD-”
Bump-
Bump Bump-
Bump Bump Bump-
He got a rhythm.
A stable rhythm. He felt his feet fall out from underneath him and the last thing he heard before his head busted on the concrete was Minnie coughing and her staggered and weezy breathing.
At least she's alive.
He just hoped he could say the same for himself after tonight.
I love you, babygirl.
Sorry I didn't ask you sooner.
Don't be too mad.