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Because it's his birthday. That's the reason he was standing in the middle of the largest, most crowded, and noisy All Might merchandising store in all of Tokyo. Everywhere he looked, chaos. Shitty little brats were running around, screaming at their exhausted parents, begging for this or that, or simply demanding it via ear shattering screeches.
He'd rather be back in class with all the extras at UA or fighting All for One single handedly.
But no, he was here in civvies and aviators, using every last ounce of his patience and skill to avoid being collided with by some annoying brat. He wanted to find the shitty nerd something he'd like, but he couldn’t find anything. He was either certain that the nerd already had it or... it just wasn't good enough. Scanning the row of expensive looking figures, he analyzed them from every angle, looking for flaws and trying to determine if the idiot already had this one when he set it down. No. Dekku wouldn't want this. He'd blush and fumble and exclaim that it was too much, that he couldn't accept it. With a sigh he put it back on the shelf, stuffing his hands in his pockets and scanned the store again. Nothing was good enough. Even All Might.
He left the store without buying a thing.
It was getting late and the others would have already started the party. Fuck his phone was blowing up excitedly from the stupid group chat. He tsked and scratched his fingers through his hair in frustration. Why was he getting so worked up?! It was just a fucking birthday gift.
He kept walking, a sullen look on his face. If he couldn't figure out a fucking gift, he wasn't going - Shitty Hair had insisted that he get the fucking nerd a gift. "To let him know that you care bro! But it has to be special - something the others won’t think of. You've known him the longest after all!"
Another frustrated growl - he didn't even notice (or care) how it was causing people around him to gape and avoid him. He kept scanning windows though - hoping something would be there that would be good enough. But nothing. He couldn't get him cloths - that was fucking lame. Even if the nerd did need to update his wardrobe. He definitely couldn't get him new shoes. The fucker had a stock pile of those big ugly red things.
He pulled out his phone to check the time – a quarter past eight. The stores were closing and the last of the evening’s customers were filtering out onto the streets. 'I’m not fucking going.’ He started slamming his fingers against the screen – issuing notice to Shitty Hair for the change of plans. This was stupid – why was he getting so fucking upset?! It was a god damn birthday party! They were grown ass men! Fully fledged, PRO Heroes! He shouldn’t be so angry.
Shoving his phone back into his pocket, he stalked down the street, ignoring the crowd. Kirishima was already blowing up his phone again in response, begging him to at least just show up – but he ignored it, trying to tell himself that he didn’t’ really even care in the first place and he didn’t even want to go. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn’t dodge when a woman came out of store, her hands overladen with bags. They collided before either of them could move to the side, the contents of her shopping bags spilling out all over the sidewalk.
“Watch it lady!” The blond tsked and glared at the flustered woman – his sunglasses lost in the collision.
“Oh no – I’m so sorry!”
He continued to grumble, but started to assist her with repacking the bags when something blue caught his eye, sparking a memory of burning paper and tears.
“Wh-where did you buy this?” His eyes were wide, staring at the little blue notebook in his hands.
“Oh that? It’s just a school notebook for my son - you can get better ones at the stationary store over-“
“No – I need this kind. Where did you get it?”
“O-over at the bargain and dollar-store – but I-I think they’re closed now.” the woman floundering under the intense crimson gaze. "Hey aren't you-"
“Thanks lady!” He handed her the notebook back before speeding off. He knew what he needed now.
He was running – fast, faster than was polite, but he didn’t care. He needed to get it tonight. It had to be tonight. He skidded to a halt in front of the aging store, the old woman pulling the security door down.
“Oi! Old-lady! It’s an emergency – I need to buy something from inside there!”
“Come back tomorrow – we’re closed.” She didn’t even turn around, just kept slowly lowering the door, her age keeping her from making quick work of it. Bakugo place a hand on the door to prevent it from coming down any further. He glared at her.
“Look granny– it’s an emergency-“
“What can possibly be an emergency that can’t solved at one of the other stores, eh? Or are you just too cheap to buy from somewhere more expensive?” she eyed him suspiciously, still trying to pull the door down, despite his hold.
“No – it’s my shitty friend’s birthday and he really likes the shitty notebooks you have here. Now will you knock it off and let me in and I’ll buy all the fucking stock of ‘em!” his anger and frustration was leaking through – he’d never wished more that he was actually fucking patient and charming.
“Sounds like you’re the shitty friend – leaving it until the last minute to get your friend a present-“
“I am – I am a shitty fucking friend – but I’m trying to make it up to him. Starting with this-!”
“Well boy-“she grunted, trying to put all her weight into pulling the door down. "It's not my problem-"
“I will buy it all - the whole fucking stock of shitty notebooks. Just let me get in there.”
The woman stared at him, he face set in a displeased expression while she contemplated. “The whole stock – including the ones in storage?”
“Every, single, fucking, one.”
“Fine.”
Thirty minutes (and a lot of dust) later, the blond exited the store with boxes of notebooks under his arms and a bag full of all might pencils. The old woman was cackling at the sight of him stomping down the street, away from her store.
“Fucking nerd better fucking appreciate this – this will be the best fucking present he’s ever gotten…” he was muttering to himself, stomping as he made his way towards the karaoke bar Uraraka had reserved for the party.
When he arrived, everyone’s attention was on the green haired nerd as he politely opening presents. The blond watched as Izuku’s scarred fingers gently pulled the wrapping paper off an All Might figure – the exact one he’d been looking at earlier in the store.
“Todoroki-san! Th-this is too much! I can’t-" his eyes were watering as he was trying to hold back tears. The nerd sprung up and threw himself at the heterochromiad man. “Thank you so much! I love it!”
Bakugo tsked in anger and turned on one foot – marching out of the bar before anyone could notice or greet him.
A tightness was forming in his chest and he didn’t want to acknowledge it, but the further away from the party he got, the tighter his chest felt. Why? Why did that bother him so much? He threw the bag and boxes down at the entry way at his apartment, glaring at the offending boxes as they split from the force of impact, pencils scattering.
Slumping back against the door, he slid to the ground, hands covering his face. He didn’t want to look at it anymore. Why was he so mad? So what? Half-n-half got him a fucking present that he really liked? So what that the nerd had fucking thrown himself at the man in thanks. Was he that easily bought? Was his affection that easily bought?
He slammed the back of his head against the door, his frustration letting out a single tear. No. Izuku didn’t do that. He just really loved All Might.
Sighing, he looked at the mess he’d made, he glanced at the scattered hero pencils lying on top of the notebooks. A small smile forming at the corner of his mouth. There was an idea. A stupid one, but it was an idea. Grabbing one of the notebooks, he pushed himself up and he left his apartment once more.
He ran the whole way, letting his feet take him where he needed to go. When he at last arrived, his legs where burning from the exercise. He raised a hand to knock, but stopped himself - the nerd would still be at the party. Sighing, he scratched his head, debating what to do.
Just shove it under the door.
How the fuck is he going to know it’s from me?
Oh, he’ll fucking know… If he knows what’s good for him...
He’s an idiot that hurts himself just so he can use his fucking quirk…
An idea finally came to mind. He shoved it under the door with a pencil, a small note scribbled on the first page:
“To replace the one I ruined. Happy birthday.”
::END::