( OPEN ) we are here and going to make it everyone's problem

[cranekin]

WHO: Team Everlight and YOU
WHAT: Breaking the ice with a spontaneous slumber party
WHERE: Everlight wing
WHEN: Some time after arrival
WARNINGS: Destroying friendships with UNO or something. Will edit for real as things come up.

(The fun thing about being taken and thrown into a new place is no one really knows you so when Tsurumaru Kuninaga is missing from dinner, he's sure no one really notices. Eventually someone will learn that whenever he's missing for too long, he's probably up to something if he doesn't actually have something to do.

He returns some time towards the end of dinner, when most people have probably begun to settle a bit for the evening. He stumble-dashes back to the base with an armful of plastic shopping bags and oooh he is definitely up to something…)

& SET UP

In the Everlight wing, they need to do some ☆re-arranging☆. Some desks and chairs need to be borrowed from rooms to drag outside for the food. While they're at it, they might as well grab the blankets and pillows too. They might also have to figure out what appropriate music to play. So maybe someone knocks on your door to commandeer your furniture and time. Or maybe they figure out a way to play music so everyone can hear and you end up drawn out by music.

Maybe you get sent out to buy more snacks and drinks for everyone while you're standing around with nothing to do. Let's go, Everlights. It's time to drag people into early shenanigans.

& FOOD & GAMES

There is plenty of food to be found. Check out the mixed bottles of different flavored sodas and teas, assorted chocolates, and other sweets from the convenience stores. Eventually, a couple of pizzas and a few more substantial things might show up on the table. Some of them are traditional flavors characters will be used to seeing but others may… be more out there. There sure are a lot of more experimental foods combinations in the future, huh? Have you ever tried coffee-flavored water? Yogurt-flavored potato chips? Flaming hot lava chocolate? What about calamari Oreo pizza? Well, now is your chance.

There are also stacks of playing cards and maybe some other silly toys and games from whatever is the equivalent of a dollar/pound store in the future.The 100 Kryptos store? Which version of UNO do you know how to play? Do you know how to play Werewolf or Mafia? There are plenty of bottles to spin. Give someone a call and see if they answer or else you have to eat one of those cursed pizza slices. Of course, when enough people gather around, there are plenty of other ways to make your own fun.

& CHILL

For more introverted characters that might want a quieter place to hang out, some Everlight has probably left their room open. Pillows and blankets have been piled into the room to make it a quieter, more laidback place to hang out. When was the last time you made a pillow fort?

// WILDCARD/OOC

Hello, Tsuru gets bored easily and he wants everyone to have ☆good vibes☆ because bad vibes make him sad so he is steamrolling and dragging people into slumber party shenanigans. It's in the Everlight wing but other characters can hop over if they're curious or dragged in. I asked the mods about the potential consequences of staying the night and they said it would be fine for the slumber party so go wild.

Treat this as an open mingle and feel free to come up with your own ideas and tag around. If anyone really needs me for anything, you can DM me or catch me on plurk (yosakoi ).

Comments

stealing is wrong, dumbass...

[blastedass]

[bakugou is getting the idea this guy is picking up things about him left and right. they met early enough for some kind of tether to form. hen ever saw denji at the party last night and the guy's room was silent as well. must not have come back at all in that case. not until the late morning hours. what the hell was he doing out there all night? he said he was going to the party as well. what kind of person does that make him? a party-hard flaker? who knows. denji's here now and he's cooking. looking less tired than he did the last time he saw him at the cafeteria. perhaps he rebounds quickly from everything thrown at him. a resilient type. or someone who just goes with the flow. neither are horrible to have on the team. but it still leaves open the question to skill.

until the answer drops. leaving bakugou's face twisting into a disgusted, confused, irritated expression.]

You fucking stole them?! [he doesn't even want to know about the horny firefighter side of things! this guy has no shame to confessing to a crime!] You idiot! What if that gets marked against the team?! I don't want your shit messing with my record!

[they don't know if lilith is keeping watch on their behavior or holding the ranks to some kind o standard to test their mettle both on the fields and off them. bakugou's not some damn saint, but hell if he's going to be a criminal! the fact denji looks so happy about his answer leaves a lot more to question but... first thing's first!

until it's the second thing? bakugou bristles even more at the question.]

WHAT?! [this asshole!!] I was running, not jumping in the fucking trash!

arrest him 😏

[nutkick]

It's just eggs, Officer.

[ is this a crime punishable by law? will he serve jail time for stealing something as insignificant as a chicken's unborn kids? denji doesn't think so, yet he is aware he is arguing with a guy who decided to follow the path of law enforcement. bakugou is many things, but surely he will not betray his teammate that easily— he'll have some faith in him for now. as for ruining the reputation of their team and such, denji thinks about this part with genuine interest. he never thought that his actions might reflect on others, and while he's not apologetic about his action, denji decided to be more conscious next time. ]

Ah, I'll be sure not to do anything that will get you in trouble.

[ and he means it, but he will probably give bakugou a hard time regardless. at least it's not intentional; denji is not the type to be an active menace. he turns around so he can face the other, leaning back on the counter while going in for a big bite of his breakfast sandwich. if they had any spreads in the kitchen, he'd probably smothered it with butter and jam (to bakugou's horror). ]

You know what I mean. But, I guess it's not a big deal. Maybe you hydrate more or something.

[ some people are god's favorite— if it was denji, he'd need to hit the showers immediately if he didn't want to offend anyone. he nods towards the loot since he already got his 'do not steal' lecture and they can move on from it. as if it's that easy, but a guy can dream. ]

Want some?

buries him in the ground

[blastedass]

You've got money! [as if that should end the argument and make everything clear. that's the damn thing! they don't know what's punishable by law in this place! they're not in their own worlds, this place has different laws, they likely have different punishments too. despite the appearance, the world isn't entirely consumed like some lawless apocalyptic wasteland. seeing as there's operating restaurants and fucking convenience stores. and no, bakugou's not going to report denji because again, they don't know what could or would or is supposed to happen, so he's gritting his teeth in his head and letting it slide.

this time. especially since denji is professing to shape up in the future with that comment.]

Tch. You're the one who'll get in trouble. [not that bakugou cares or anything. shut up. as long as he's not trying to get them in trouble, he'll be fine. in all honesty, there's probably going to be a time they'll need a thief. with that topic shoved behind them, bakugou heads into the kitchen proper, wrenching open the fridge for a bottle of water. a quick grab and twist pops the top off and he tilts his head back, chugging the clear liquid. thankfully he doesn't have to watch denji spread jam on an egg sandwich. gross.]

I smell like sweat. Got a problem with that, then stay inside and don't fucking move. [bakugou intends to hit the showers; he just intended to stick his head into the kitchen (or at least pass it by) and find out what was going on. the nod towards the eggs and then the invitation earn a wary look from the blonde. despite denji picking at his food in the cafeteria, he's obviously got some skill in kitchen work...] Three eggs, omelette, lightly salted, put some spices in there if you have any, don't burn it. I'll be back in a minute.

[you got one shot to impress him, denji. he's going to grab a shower and will be back for his order.]

💦

[nutkick]

[ his money is the sad income of a theater attendant, sir. but, ah, he will not bite back because he did not want any further scolding coming his way. he mutters a 'yes, yes' under his breath, keeping his head down and hoping his compliance will get him through it. while he does not feel threatened by bakugou per se, despite the guy's habit of snapping and being verbally assertive, but old habits die hard. denji didn't enjoy a confrontation, and he'd usually be the side that de-escalates the situation by taking a step back. he'd watch as the hero retreats to his room, lips slightly apart and looking dumbfounded.

....... it seems his attempt to allow bakugou to enjoy the eggs (for free!!!) has somewhat resulted in him taking the culinarian duties. what the hell? the audacity of that guy.

denji was annoyed for a hot second, but then he discovered that being bitter was draining a lot of his energy, and once again— he gave in. he took one bite before he placed his sandwich aside; he then dragged out a clean bowl, cracked three eggs in, a touch of salt/black pepper and started beating the eggs with a fork. next is tossing some butter over the pan, let that slide all over as it hits the right temperature, and in goes the eggs. there's a sigh, a bit discouraged the kitchen is lacking a lot of key ingredients to make this a proper treat, but surely bakugou will understand.

by the time the hero returns, he will find denji settled on the dining table, resting his head on his hand as shoves the final piece of his sandwich inside his mouth. in front of him, there's a freshly prepared omelet on a plate— not burned, and hopefully seasoned to flatter the other's tastebuds. he glanced upward, still not willing to lift his head up as he, gently, pushed the dish towards bakugou's side of the table. ]

... Make sure to compliment the chef.

🍆

[blastedass]

[they got a first-month stipend! what the fuck did you blow it on, denji?! bakugou notices the way the other guy backs off and doesn't shoot anything back. he wants to think that's acceptance, but the way he mutters and his head lowers tells a completely different story. he's seen that plenty of times in his own life, when he bullied midoriya and the guy backed off. not wanting confrontation because of a negative response that accompanies it. at least he can tell it's less cowardice and more wanting to avoid the escalation. makes him wonder a bit more about denji's home life. bakugou can dwell on that later. when he's not thinking about other things.

look, if someone is going to threaten their team with a potential criminal offense, then he can make up for it by disposing of the evidence, or at least making use of it for the team he's endangering! it's called taking responsibility! plus bakugou wanted to get a shower, and see what denji could do in the kitchen.

and yeah, he does understand the kitchen is poorly stacked with ingredients and such. he found that out the first day here, much to his disappointment. meaning if denji makes something good with even that limitation, that's a better telling of his skills. bakugou returns later, dressed in a simple t-shirt and slacks with slips on his bare feet, decidedly cleaned and fresh for the day. it doesn't surprise him to find denji already done. and his omelet resting on the table. not burned. promising.

he takes his seat and accepts the plate, then forks a piece off the end to taste. huh, that's actually pretty good. simple, thanks to their limited fare, but it was seasoned with salt and pepper, light enough not to feel like a rubber coaster, with a light crisp around the rims from the cooking.] It's good. Thanks.

[simple, sincere, and that's quite the praise coming from bakugou.]

[nutkick]

[ he wouldn't call himself an expert, but he did learn a few things when he was living with aki by shadowing him in the kitchen. a skill he further developed when he was forced to take care of a child. one might say it's a thankless job, and it might be denji's karma for eating all aki's meals without giving him a single praise— so, he's not expecting much from bakugou as he watched him go in for the first bite. what followed is ... unexpected, and denji found himself sitting up slowly, leaning back on his chair, no longer brooding like a miserable child. well, he's unsure how to feel about this. it's subtle to the point it's easy to dismiss; his uncertainty.

'you're welcome' — was on the tip of his tongue, but those are such foreign words denji almost felt awkward to say out loud. god, when was the last time he heard a 'thank you'? one that felt genuine? he squints, thinking. he did experience affection from a few sources, aki, power, and pochita all loved him in their own way, but a 'thank you' seemed so out of place he couldn't even pinpoint a memory of it.

a part of him wanted to nod and move on from it, but— ] ... You're welcome.

[ jeez, that felt so off but also good at the same time. who knew stealing eggs is so fucking rewarding, huh? he drops a hand on the table, drumming his fingers as he relaxed a bit; he's content to watch the hero finish the entire dish now. he exhaled an 'oh', recalling the events of last night. ]

How was it? The party? Did I miss out on a lot?

[blastedass]

[bakugou's a brat, but there are times when he's mature enough to give credit where it's due without being a reluctant or condescending grump about it. denji's reaction to the simple gratitude only further makes the blonde wonder about his life. he did what bakugou asked without fucking up. and the result's worth the words given. small price to pay for not getting the cops called on him for stealing an ungodly amount of eggs. though while bakugou's not going to report it, he's questioning in a general sense what the law enforcement around here is. the place isn't completely post-apocalyptic yet. those thoughts wander in his mind as he quietly forks the pieces of omelet into his mouth, eyes lingering on the plate in a rare moment of peace.

he's shaken from him musing when motion flickers out the peripheral of his vision, red gaze flicking up to see denji squinting at him like he's confused or has something in his eye. bakugou bristles at the guy's look immediately, brows furrowing once more and that quiet expression replacing with the normal natural scowl. at least until denji offers his own simple response and that more or less defuses the situation. bakugou purses his lips slightly, then rests his elbow on the table and resumes eating, cheek in hand.]

Fucking sucked. [don't ask this guy his opinion on that stuff, denji!] Bunch of junk food. Who the hell puts cookies on a damn pizza? People brought some card and dice games, stuff you'd get from a gas station store. You didn't miss much unless you like hanging out with people. [he's not going to mention spin the bottle or pillow forts. those were a whole different breed of stupid bakugou didn't go near with a 10 foot pole.]

[nutkick]

Was it really that bad?

[ he taunts with a sly smirk, totally not surprised with that answer. despite bakugou's dislike of being involved in a gathering he's not typically fond of, especially to something as silly as a slumber party, the fact he did show up says a lot. now, denji can't remember the name of the person who set the whole thing up, but mission accomplished. from what he heard, their team did end up having fun. who wouldn't be in a party that had cookies on a fucking pizza? that's all you need to make it a blast.

denji likes to believe he got caught up in a movie marathon, holding onto it as a justification for missing out, but even he couldn't buy that lie. it would be nice if he knew why— instead of just feeling off about himself despite all efforts of distraction. truth is, he's still processing being here. the fact people refer to him as chainsaw man again is more terrifying than pleasing, even when he thought he would love embracing that identity again.

he's been told to fight. to be chainsaw man. freely. zero consequences! just fucking let go and kill all those monsters. 'hurting people makes you feel alive, doesn't it?' — yet, denji didn't understand why he couldn't stop thinking about what nayuta told him only seconds away from waking up in this city. it almost felt like a trap being here.

..... he's still scared.

he holds his index finger up as if he's about to strike bakugou's argument with a finishing line. ]

I heard there was some kissing! People got kisses so it can't be that bad. That's the only thing that will make the stay here less shitty. Free smooches and all.

[blastedass]

It was shit. [bakugou flicks denji off across the table. that's for the smirk, you egg-stealing bastard. not saying why he showed up. (those idiots were too loud for him to go to sleep early.) did he have fun at the party? well he won a few games of uno and dice, so that's a plus. they had a few normal pizzas, he forced someone to go get a damn vegetable platter so there'd be at least one decent food option available. no one got drunk, unlike at the christmas party. but all that said, he'd still rather have gotten some extra sleep and not bothered with that mess.

back to his food. whatever denji's kicking around over there in his brain is up to him to decipher through. bakugou's debating on how he wants to go about his day. likely going to look around and see what kind of landmarks are nearby so he can start orienting himself in this place. already did his exercise and run. a training session should be easy to schedule. gonna have to aim for another high score... do they have to stay in this damn team apartment complex? who knows.

that flick of a finger catches his eye and he glances up with a slightly put-out expression. now what?] Huh? You wanna stick around for some fucking kissing? [what the hell, is this guy also a pervert on top of being a thief?] You don't even know these extras.

bakugou was extra sexy in the new leaks

[nutkick]

[ another of that reaction, huh? another person pretending to be grossed out from the truth is insane. denji looks visibly disappointed; the exuberance seeps out of his soul with every passing second until it ends with a dull stare. fucking hell, why is it so hard to be honest with yourself? everyone acting like a saint, the unsinful souls who dare not to think of anything beyond integrity. what's so bad about kissing a stranger so long as you find them appealing? with mutual consent, this sounds like a good time for everyone. is he going to argue with him over it? no. he stays quiet, reflecting a bit, and then denji pushed his chair back with a mild screech. ]

There's no shame in something that feels good. So long as I'm not hurting anyone while doing it ...

[ he stands up, patting the tiny bread crumbs off his chest and thighs before stretching his arms up. he didn't need to be at work until a few hours, so that gave him— well, enough time to watch a whole movie for free before the other employees show up. to think he should've learned something after being scolded over stealing some eggs, but no. he's back to his mischievous ways.

not all hope is lost with him, though. denji walks towards the kitchen counter with the intent of cleaning up his mess, he starts by returning the salt and pepper to the cabinet— he then attends to the dirty pan. ]

You owe me breakfast. Remember that.

ohoho, i shall see when the chap drops~ denji finally making choices...

[blastedass]

[denji's reaction to his own reaction only furthers bakugou's wry expression. shit, it's like watching a balloon with a fucking leak, deflating in that pathetic shrinking way until the guy's left looking like a dull shell of what was once more exuberant. just how easily can this guy be influenced? bakugou feels like he's dealing with a softcore version of the villains, expecting people to just throw constraints and morals to the wind, society be damned, and indulge in whatever the fuck they want as freely as possible. not everyone's a hedonist about everything! some people think kissing means something! not that bakugou's going to weigh in on this argument about sappy (or sexual) shit. for a moment, he does think denji's going to at least tired-protest at him... but the guy keeps is tongue and stands up.]

Who the fuck said anything about shame? You wanna play spin the bottle with these losers, go for it.

[just don't look at bakugou like he's in the wrong for walking the fuck out and calling them stupid. he watches denji brush himself off, then head for the sink to clean up. tch, this guy... he still hasn't forgotten the gentle light and hope in his eye when he mentioned them being partners at the locker rooms those days ago. while they're on the same team, "partners" is another level that bakugou requires more than a communal dormitory to reach. that said, denji's at least cleaning up his mess... positive for him.

bakugou pushes up from the table and brings his plate to the sink to wash it off beside the other boy.]

Mine'll kick the shit outta yours. [and it won't be stolen.]

oh thank god i didn't spoil shsfkj; i'll be careful! the choice to lose his mind yes 🥹

[nutkick]

[ bakugou is wrong for walking away and calling them stupid. they are your teammates, you! luckily for him, or both of them, denji isn't the type to shine the light on morality— i mean, look at him. he's many things but he's no hypocrite. the thief will keep his mouth shut and not pass any remarks, especially after getting caught in the act, so did he really have any justification to confront bakugou for being oh-so mean?

in fact, for some odd reason, his new partner had a soft bite with each insult. it didn't come off as malicious even when he was barking at your face and you could see those veins throbbing on his forehead. it helps that bakugou is just unpretentious, and with that, it was a lot easier for him to see his black-and-white emotions. what he sees is what he gets. denji can understand him better. no means no. it's left or right. if he asks him a question he will get the brutal truth even a 'fuck you' is a lot easier for him to recognize over a bunch of confusing riddles.

he's a lot easier to deal with than yoshida. the contrast between them is insane and refreshing.

he's scrubbing that pan now, rinsing it under the water before giving it another round. aki would give him the most tedious lecture when he comes back to find some residue; he can tell bakugou will be equally repulsed. ]

I'm sure it will. I know your type already. You're one of those perfectionist freaks.

[ it's a compliment in a way. he flushes the pan again before he places it aside to dry. he then grabs a paper towel and proceeds to wipe the surface clean. his lips curl up as he turns his head, searching bakugou's eyes. ]

I can also have breakfast for dinner. Just saying ...

you're all good! google will spoil more... and yeah, denji just needs to 'f u' to everyone.

[blastedass]

[they're extras. until they prove themselves, they're just dead weight that'll slow him down since he'll have to tend to them. prove yourself to him and his opinion will change. (though throwing a noisy party = stupid.) he doesn't expect to get into an argument about this kind of thing with denji. the guy stole a bunch of eggs from people. even if bakugou has to wonder what the hell he meant about naked firefighters. that's kind of disturbing... anyways, denji's not confrontational and that works with him.

bakugou's complex and simple at the same time. he has his exacting standards he applies to himself and then others, a variable and explosive level of tolerance for things, and finds the idea of riddles and lying a waste of his time and effort to do. denji, despite the given appearance of tired and meek, carries that strange sense of burden, a weight upon him that bakugou can tell has made him stronger, but broken at the same time. beyond that, however, there's little else. he steals, he's proud of it, almost innocently so, and backed off when yelled at, but still accepted bakugou's orders to cook for him without fighting. and he did it without deliberately sabotaging it out of petty revenge, with skill too... this guy's confusing. but intriguing.

bakugou finds his quiet, blunt nature similar to todoroki, but is that on the surface only, hiding a raring spark like midoriya? as he stands beside denji and scrubs at his plate, expertly making sure there's nothing left behind, as denji predicts, he finds himself wondering a little more about this guy. why would someone with those eyes also do such detailed work on cleaning? a worn-out robot or a weighed-down man. habit, skill, learned, ordered, preference... which of those things makes this happen?]

Che! I don't have time to redo something. [he could've argued the "know your type" but denji's already seen him do things like that twice, and how the hell does he know denji does or doesn't know his type? bakugou finishes his plate and silverware, reaches across the sink to set them beside denji's pan, then returns to deal with a few more items.] That your way of saying you want an omelet?

will kacchan support his villain awakening ? 😮‍💨

[nutkick]

[ keeping his own space clean is more of a habit he forced on himself, one that he hoped he passed on to nayuta. aside from the fart chart, he does try his best to keep his apartment habitable, and keeping track of a devil child and a herd of pets is not easy— with that comes discipline. lots of it. denji didn't even notice he was still following an old routine, often catching himself waking up way too early so he could walk the dogs or thinking about cleaning the litter or stressing over if he had enough money to feed everyone.

perhaps one day ... he will forget about them. isn't that what's best for him? ]

It doesn't need to be an omelet. I'm just saying we don't have to wait until tomorrow. Tonight is just as good.

[ look at him trying to have someone prepare him dinner when he comes back home after a long day of fooling around, watching movies, and stealing popcorn. but, hey, if bakugou wants to keep it even, breakfast for breakfast, denji won't complain. he's just giving the hero another option. he takes a moment to glance over the carton of eggs, deciding to leave it where it is so anyone from their team can help themselves. cleaning is over from his side, denji sighs and dries up his hand, watching the other boy finish off as well. he assumes bakugou will be off to work now, catching criminals, writing tickets, bossing stupid civilians around— it never crossed his mind to ask why he chose that career path. it's pretty obvious, and almost fitting for someone like him. a bit terrifying, too. denji knew he had to be careful now.

parties and foolery aside, it's a bit odd they don't know anything about their teammates. who are they? what were they before coming in here? what kind of skills enticed lilith into capturing them? — can they trust the other person? who knows. ]

I'll be back around 7.

[ in case bakugou wanted to go with the breakfast for dinner vote ... ]

hell no! kick the shit outta the people using you, but don't kill, dammit!

[blastedass]

[bakugo likewise keeps his own habits from home. he wakes early, exercises and runs for cardio, returns to shower and get on with his day, and tends to go to bed at a decent (early) time to make sure he gets a good rest. his costume and gear he tends to with detail, his training he keeps atop of, and he focuses on the job he's gathered while waiting for the missions to gear up and ready. the waiting is annoying, but there's not much else to do asides from make a life here until they can find a way back home. he still wants more information on that side of things...]

Tch, that eager, huh?

[bakugo eyes denji with a mixture of wary suspicion and wry irritation. he doubts the guy's rubbing it in or anything, but is he really looking forward to someone else cooking for him? shit, he shouldn't even be agreeing with this! it should be breakfast in repayment for not chucking his ass back to the store to pay for the eggs! ... or back to the naked firefighters, which in this event, is probably worth not going back to. whatever. he won't write him a ticket or anything, drag him off in handcuffs. but he does put the eggs away so they're not sitting out on the counter for hours if people don't find them. or come down early. bakugo plans to take a look around some of the stores and see what else he can get compared to what they have here already, then make something impressive for denji for dinner. might as well, because if he's going to repay meal for meal, his is going to kick the shit out of the other guy's!

why the hell would they know about their teammates? unless this place is putting their information in a retrievable location via the devices they embedded in their heads and arms. maybe they should look into that... bakugo would like to know that kind of information too. beats having to talk to them about it.]

Naa? [irritated.] Scram! Show up starving! I'll stuff you full.

😔 but meowy ...

[nutkick]

[ such a threatening method of promising someone of a decent meal, and if denji hadn't lived with that kind of energy in the past few days, he would've misunderstood it as hostile— but, that's how bakugou is, right? sometimes it was better to accept something over trying to dissect it or make sense of it. so long as their verbal bickering doesn't escalate into something more, denji will not take those words to heart. behind that threat, it seems they had an agreement. free fucking dinner.

they part ways, each off to their 'normal' duties as citizens in their new life. the job he picked was purely out of interest in screening a couple of free movies, and while the pay is absolute garbage, denji quite enjoyed himself. at this early hour, the theater is always empty, with nothing more than the cleaner preparing the place for the customers. a nice old dude because he didn't snitch so far, which the half-devil appreciates inwardly. he spent the first two hours catching up on an old classic horror, then it was time to actually get to work. it's always been slow during the weekdays so he spends most of his time occupying the backseat row of the cinema, munching on a large-sized popcorn, soda, and a delicious hotdog. at some point, this joy ride will come crashing down, even someone like denji is aware of it, which only motivates him to milk this opportunity for as much as he can.

it's 6 pm and his shift ends here. the coworker taking over came in right on time and it's his cue to leave. the walk back to their district is a long one, and while public transport is accessible— denji would rather avoid it after a few unfavorable experiences. it seems to attract a certain crowd and he's not in the mood for it tonight. half an hour later, he makes it to everlight's zone; in contrast to being grouped with total strangers on his first day, his other teammates are now familiar faces. they advance from dismissing one another to small greetings now, adapting to their reality. it's fucking weird— but, he's done fighting it.

the plan is to head straight to his bedroom to clean up, not expecting much of his promised meal. maybe a sandwich awaits him by the door or something. that would be fucking sweet, though. ]

cats have nine lives ~ merry christmas, denji

[blastedass]

[at least denji is understanding. bakugou's figured that out already. whether it's from a lack of spine or a more lazy personality is the unknown part. he's not inclined to do that yet. rather, he'll deal with fixing denji a personal dinner tonight as promised. didn't exactly expect a demand the guy cook him an omelet would turn into a damn trade, but whatever. there's worse things to barter over. and his wouldn't come from anything stolen. it means he has to go to the store... tch.

without the vocation of "hero" and his life as a hero-in-training student, bakugou's had to opt for something else. something obviously as close to that life back home as possible. despite his young age, being a police officer was the next closest thing to a hero. working with the police back in his world helped with the familiarity to his new job. the monster-ravaged world is prime pickings for thieves and criminals and bakugou has his share of run-ins with assholes who think they're free to do anything thanks to the world being shit right now. which is even more thrilling because most people on the police force are definitely not outsiders from other worlds. meaning bakugou's almost immediately one of the "golden boys" of his district, solving cases and taking down criminals. but he's experienced too much in his year at u.a. that cocky arrogant kid who walked into u.a. a year ago would've drank in the praise and crowed at the top. this time, scarred, humiliated, matured, and determined, bakugou focuses far more on his success and results than padding his ego over lip service. not that he doesn't like the acknowledgement and is certainly not lost on his own ego. but he wants to earn that acknowledge and validate his ego rather than just have it thrown to him. but the pays is good, the action is enough to keep him stimulated, and he gets to learn a lot about the world he's in now by working with the police. bakugou doesn't look bad in the uniform either, since he tends to save his hero costume for missions rather than wearing it on his cover job. the side hustle as a demolitions engineer... get to that later.

bakugou returns to everlight's zone after his shift's done, a few bags hanging from his hand as he enters the building. time to work on that meal promised with the food he bought. what to make for a guy who's as simple-yet-complex as denji? katsudon. a deep-fried breaded pork cutlet with egg, vegetables, and condiments over a bowl of lightly seasoned salted rice. depending on when denji comes into the kitchen, he'll get to watch bakugou working on different aspects of the dish. whether he's coating the pork in flour, then dipping it in egg, followed by a coating of panko breadcrumbs, before deep frying it in oil, or cutting up different vegetables with expert speed and precision on the chopping board before sweeping them off to a plate on the side, or beating the eggs, or adding the ingredients to a broth of radish, soy sauce, onions, or getting rice out of the pot to add to the bowl. or perhaps not even arriving until the meal's almost completely done.

of course, the other option is not coming into the kitchen entirely and then having bakugou almost kick denji's damn door down to yell at him about skipping out on dinner like a fucking loser... choice is yours, chainsaw face.]

merry christmas, kacchan. his gift from lilith was porn. what about bakugou?

[nutkick]

[ it's a shame he missed out on the masterful skills in the kitchen, as he would've loved every second of the show, but when denji didn't see any leftovers waiting by his door— he assumed bakugou didn't make it home yet or perhaps he chose to dismiss their trade altogether. it would be a lie to tell himself he's not a bit disappointed, only because that guy came off as genuine enough to keep a promise. another blink, followed by a shrug, then denji dismissed that thought entirely. if not dinner, then surely breakfast. the cop will keep his word.

a shower and a change of clothes are needed after a long day. this is one of the few perks he appreciates about this place, while it's not a five-star hotel, coming home to running warm water is always a blessing in denji's book. there's singing, as always, and tonight it involved fighting the system, saying "no" to the government. of course he was into it, loud and proud, banging on the tub with every messy rhythm. to whoever is sharing a wall with denji— i'm so sorry.

by the time he stepped out, dressed in a cozy pair of a white shirt and gray sweats, that's when his door swung wide open with a loud thud that would fucking scare anyone. denji was already grabbing into something in the center of his chest, gripping the fabric hard, eyes staring at the imminent shadow of a figure walking in his room. whoever it was started yelling now; identifying the voice, denji's arms dropped to his sides. god, the fuck is wrong with that dude? ]

If you broke my door, you're paying for it.

[ ah, wait— bakugou is holding something? something that smells oh-so-good. denji stops on his feet, his expression easing into a soft puzzled stare, one that's shifting from the plate bakugou is holding then up to his face. ]

... You made that for me?

don't 'kacchan' him! gift of porn. best to share. he got an awesome dynamite-stick alarm clock.

[blastedass]

[denji can watch next time, if he's so impressed with bakugou's skill at making food. considering the amount of ingredients he bought, however, there's really only enough for a second round. which he made, of course, in case denji eats like a pack animal and needs two whole bowls of katsudon. it's downstairs in the kitchen, keeping warm over the oven, wrapped in foil with denji's name on it. the rest of the kitchen's in the process of being cleaned up and put away, but first off, this dumbass, who should've stopped by the fucking kitchen first to check on his meal AS AGREED, needs to get his freshly-showered butt out of his room and downstairs into the kitchen proper to eat it!

denji's lucky he doesn't get the whole bowl blatting into his face with a cussing demand. and no, bakugou didn't break his damn door down. though the fact it opened without banging on the lock is a poor showing for the guy. keep your fucking door locked when you're taking a shower! you want anyone to just walk in here while you're occupied?!

and don't think bakugou doesn't notice the way denji's hand fists his shirt over his chest like he's having a fucking heart attack. though considering the jump and surprise, it might be just that... weakass heart. which raises the question why lilith brought a guy in here with health problems without treating them. maybe only non-chronic health problems? nah, didn't sound like that when he growled at the medics. denji's strong. he has to be. that reaction looks instinctive. hm...]

What the fuck? Did you forget already?! Get your ass downstairs and eat it before I cram it, bowl and all, down your throat!

[sorry, denji. that's the way he is. and yes, this big bowl of steaming katsudon is all for you. with a second helping waiting in the kitchen once bakugou drags him down for it.]

his gift is better than yours 💅 share??!! bakugou might murder him at this stage

[nutkick]

[ listen, there are hot girls in their group so they are more than welcome to walk in anytime. he had seen enough romantic comedies that tend to the 'oh no' moment that brings the love birds together. if he's stuck fighting for some stupid cause, he better enjoy himself along the way. so, the open-door policy will remain.

perverted intents aside, denji is still a bit taken back by the sheer effort behind bakugou's part of the exchange. all the hero received is a shitty omelet from stolen eggs but what he is seeing before his eyes is a proper chef's delight. he scowls a bit, leaning forward to reach for the bowl but, ah, bakugou is yelling at him again. ]

... okay.

[ he could argue that he didn't need to eat in the kitchen; his bed is equally suited for dinner but that was an invitation for another outburst. besides, he is— oddly subdued, and denji proceeds to follow that guy toward the kitchen, unaware he still had the wet towel curved around his shoulders, leaving a damp on each sleeve. he settled on the table, once again staring down at the bowl that was made for him. he reached out to curl his fingers over its warmth, pulling it closer. eventually, he speaks up his mind, tentative as he glances at bakugou. ]

This is expensive. Like, a proper fancy meal ...

[ they just made it here and even when his fellow teammate picked a respected career, they were all surviving on a few week's worth of income. they all had their own commitments, and the idea of purchasing expensive supplies for a fucking stranger would never cross his mind. unless bakugou had a side gig that earned him extra cash, there is no other reason that would justify this luxury. it felt weird, not bad but weird. denji twisted his lips, keeping them sealed because he couldn't understand the emotions gurgling in his chest; whatever it may be, it surely shut him up good. the mild conflict is gentle behind his tired gaze, and he reaches for the chopsticks ... ]

It's all mine, right? I can eat it all?

[ —still selfish even when he's emotional, huh. ]

shut up. his gift won't get jizz on it. (and he totally would. make 'em shower first.)

[blastedass]

[ugh, don't let him catch you talking like a fucking pervert about the girls in their group. he'll call denji out on it and kick him in the fucking ass if he keeps being a damn better-mineta-ripoff. then again, if he's crossing perverted thoughts with romantic comedies, who the fuck knows what's going through denji's mind. at least bakugou's not going to rip him for finding something worth fighting for in this place. he's still going to knock. doesn't want to walk in on denji jerking it.

tch. this isn't "sheer effort" when it comes to making something. it's just chopping shit up and then deep-frying a coated piece of meat before plopping the boiled lot over a bowl of rice. nothing hard at all. if denji wants it, he can come to the kitchen because that's where bakugou's going upon getting that agreement.

at least he's not going to withhold it further once they get to said kitchen. the second bowl is there on the range, keeping warm, and bakugou sets the bowl down on the table, leaving denji to tackle it however he wants. there's a place set for him already. chopsticks and a spoon with an empty glass for whatever he wants to drink. while denji deals with that, bakugou's going to start cleaning up the kitchen, not one to leave a mess behind for others to clean up when he made it. (outside of an arranged agreement event, that is.) there's some soy sauce on the table with a small plate of ginger slices.]

Haa? It's not expensive if you know where to look. [even in a place like this, there are markets that aren't asking the same price as stores. just have to ask around (or demand, in bakugou's case) to learn where to get things cheaper while retaining quality. he's not going to feed denji trash, nor is he going to waste his own pay. bakugou's an efficient guy in almost all things. he's been saving the initial pension he got from lilith for emergencies and relies on his police salary for expenses.]

Who the fuck else made those eggs?! [god how dense is this guy?! the trade was one for one! no one else is getting it!] Are you gonna eat it or not?

[the "cram it down your throat" threat is still very much alive...]

nothing is safe in the heat of the moment! (one day they should ...)

[nutkick]

Yeah! Of course. It's mine.

[ no one will take it away from him now. it was made for him, and the truth is- he will never get used to bearing the privilege of having someone prepare a warm meal for him. if bakugou returned the favor by making an equally average dish, or a store-bought sandwich— denji would still appreciate it. however, this is different. the aroma of a freshly prepared meal triggered the nostalgia for a time when he had a home. a real home, family, and safety. he picked up a crispy piece, dipping it gently into the sauce; the flavor inside his mouth was immaculate, nothing like the gross theater snacks he'd been feasting on the past few weeks. it was actual nutrition seeping through his body for a change and denji couldn't remember the last time he ate pork. not the cheap frozen kind. the real deal.

yeah, he's just gonna eat and keep eating; mixing in the flavors all together. he was hunched over his side of the table, stuffing his mouth while savoring every bite. why did it feel like he was starved this entire time? maybe he was in one way or another. this new city kept him up at night, made him lose all his senses, and question himself on if it's really okay to dismiss all the shit he's been through back home. he'd drown himself in watching one movie after another, unaware he was seeking something other than guilt. but, this— this is a trace of a warm memory that was both soothing and painful. it's a change from the infuriating dull in his heart that was driving him crazy. ]

This reminds me of a friend. You're a good cook like him ...

[ he holds the last piece up with a lazy, fond smile. it would've been a cute sentiment if denji didn't feel the need to open his mouth, stick his tongue out, and toss it in playfully. this is one way to honor his beloved aki— to be as obnoxious as always. well, there is another way of celebrating him, and as much as it felt weird to say it to someone who's technically still a stranger to him, but-

denji should express gratitude when it's warranted. ]

You won. The eggs didn't stand a chance. They didn't even last a single round in the ring. Ten out of ten.

wow what a shot. that's gonna happen at some point. (one day they will)

[blastedass]

Shut up and eat before it gets cold! [does he always talk this much before a damn meal?! bakugou dumps the dishes and cutting board he used into the sink and starts the water with soap drizzled over it. figures he'll do the entire lot before anyone comes in and interrupts or wants him to cook more. not that he would... while he could've just made a simple omelet or bought him something from the store, neither of them sit right with someone as competitive as bakugou. if he was going to repay dinner, he was going to blow the damn guy out of the water. at least he's not much aware of how the meal's triggering denji's memories. that would be awkward. maybe it'll at least suggest he shouldn't steal in the future... maybe.

pay attention to your damn nutrition! you're a soldier for fuck's sake! a captured indentured one, like the rest of them, but you know... health.

while denji eats, bakugou dives hands first into the sink, scrubbing at the plates and bowls and making sure the cutting board is thoroughly cleansed with its own private wash. can't do much for the vegetable stains, but that's the life of a cutting board. denji's thoughts on the city aren't done alone, however. bakugou has similar gripes against the city. noisy at times, drowns out in light, the oppressive weight of something coming in the future, a threat they have to care for. shit like that. he sequesters it for the time being, focusing on his job and training to keep his schedule and routine.]

Cooking's not hard. You just pay attention and follow the damn directions. [just like using a knife and going through a recipe to make your dish. bakugou heads for the stove and picks up the second bowl of katsudon, peeling the aluminum foil cover off to reveal the steaming mound inside. might be a little softer than the first bow, since it's been covered for a while, but whatever. it's just as good. he sets it on the table if denji wants another round.] Stop fucking gushing. At least you know how to make a damn omelet without ruining it.

[and keep your damn tongue in your mouth instead of sticking it out like a weird child when you eat.]

[nutkick]

[ the constant verbal misuse and aggression while being rewarded at the same time is a wild emotional conflict for denji. he's torn between whether bakugou is actually a decent guy or not. his idea of him keeps bouncing around to the point it hurts his head if he thinks about it too much, which (thankfully) he doesn't. it's kinda humourous how denji tends to be turned off by the abuse, getting offended only to be instantly showered by a rare kindness. it's hot and cold. is bakugou aware of the fuckery he's planting in this guy's head? doubt it.

of course he accepts the second bowl, inhaling it a lot faster than the first one. this is all bakugou needs to do to atone for his sins— feed him and he will forgive all the name-calling. denji is a very simple guy to please. ]

Hey, I'm not gushing over a dude. I'm gushing over the food. Let's make that clear.

[ this is where he draws the line! this personal attack against his character is unacceptable, and the only reason he stood up for himself is because he's almost done with his dinner. the hero can't retaliate by withdrawing the offer since it all made it to his stomach, so he'll bite back. well, more of a nibble than a bite. it's hard to be mad when he feels oh-so good. the flavors behind bakugou's touch are almost sedating to his senses, and he's loving every second of it.

he drops his chopsticks on the now-empty bowl before he dragged his chair back and stood up; now cleaning up after himself by picking up the dirty dishes and moving them to the sink. he sighs, muttering- ]

All good things must come to an end ...

[blastedass]

[you'll get used to it, denji. each of bakugou's classmates had to and they're not all fucked up due to it. treat it like emotional training or something, figuring out which is real anger and aggression and which is blowing smoke because a certain someone wants to make it seem like he doesn't care despite the fact he's actually a good guy under his craptacular attitude. if bakugou's ever aware of the flipflops his personality puts people through, he certainly hasn't bothered to stop it. this is the guy that yells at people to spit it out if they're obviously wanting to say something, but then rages at them to shut up if they go more than a sentence or two. how does midoriya or the others put up with it?

at least denji's shoving the second bowl into his gullet rather than drawing more of bakugou's ire. tossing the aluminum foil in the trash on the way back to the sink (side shot without even looking, and yes, he makes it), bakugou gets back to work scrubbing out the pot he used to fry the pork and vegetables in. something about denji is kind of puppy-ish. or alley dog ish...]

HAA?! Where the fuck did you get that idea?! [no one said shit about gushing over a guy! denji was praising his food compared to his omelet! goddamn pervert leaping to conclusions. ugh. be glad he doesn't bonk this pot off your stupid sharp-toothed head. no one's attacking your damn character, denji. sheesh. bakugou finishes with his dishes just a few seconds before the other boy comes over to tend to his own. yeah, he's going to let him do that by himself. the soapy water's still there for him to use at least.

pulling a cloth from the side, he spreads it on the counter and sets the rinsed-and-clean dishes atop it for them to dry. normally he'd just spend the time drying them off and putting them away, but since other people are here and using them, there's less point to putting away what someone's going to grab in twenty minutes. if they're here once they're dry, bakugou'll put them away. what's this muttering going on over there?]

You wanna eat till you pop?