Because you should know the competition, instead of just thinking you know everything there is to know already.
Don't worry, I'll survive somehow.
[He talks a good game, especially when he's sick, but he's definitely flushed and looks more than a little exhausted, dark circles under his eyes more visible on the right than the left.]
[He honestly doesn't know why he's doing this. Maybe cause he's awake and annoyed so he figures he might as well annoy that icyhot bastard right back. Or maybe he really doesn't want him to die in the tub. Laying on the floor unable to move wasn't a good sign- and he means it about Todoroki needing to get stronger so they can fight.
He busts into the bathroom, then stops short because he didn't think this part through. Todoroki's naked. He looks like absolute shit, but he's still naked.]
[The message doesn't get a response, and he doesn't even flinch as the door slams open, his head back against the edge of the tub resting on a towel. His hair is still damp from his showering, slicked back away from his face, which turns briefly towards Katsuki as he cracks an eyelid.]
Thanks, that makes me feel much better. I don't know how I made it without you.
[Being naked doesn't bother him. After all, the baths are communal, and it's not like Bakugou is one of the ones prone to checking everyone out and comparing physical traits--not that that bothers him, either. He's in good enough shape to hold his own in a fight, and that's all that matters.
What does bother him is the way his voice sounds so tired, faintly hoarse, and not nearly as sarcastic as he'd intended.]
[Bakugou can handle the deadpan sarcasm more than he can really handle anything else. It doesn't annoy him as much as Deku and Kirishima's eternal optimism does. Not that he wants any of them in his face- especially Todoroki.
Being naked generally doesn't bother Bakugou either, but... this is different. It really is just the two of them, and Todoroki had already made some stupid comments about Kirishima, and being his type. He's trying not to care. Really.]
Here. I brought you some meds and some vitamins.
[He holds his hand out with the pills inside and in his other he has a bottle of water.]
[Maybe it is a little different. It's just the two of them, none of the usual noise that accompanies the rest of their class, or at least certain members. It's quiet, and it's late, and despite all his deliberate baiting and prickliness, here's Bakugou, anyway. And...]
You--?
[He's brought vitamins. And medicine. And water. For Todoroki? It's enough to get both eyes open, a genuinely surprised look on his face making him actually look sixteen for a moment and less like the ice prince he so often is. Slowly, he sits up, water splashing slightly as he turns, reaching out to take the offered items.
His fingers briefly brush Bakugou's as he takes the water bottle, and he looks at his classmates for another moment before popping the pills in his mouth and opening the bottle, tilting his head back and taking a long drink. When he's done, he recaps the bottle, brushing a hand over his mouth.]
...You didn't have to do that.
[And yet somehow the words manage to sound like a 'thank you.']
[But he did it anyway. He can make some excuse about how they were just laying around anyway, but he knows how dumb that sounds. Plus, he prides himself on hardly ever getting sick, so it's not like he should just have a stash of cold medicine laying around.
Anyway, the wide eyed teenager look on Todoroki looks stupid, Bakugou tells himself. But he's not sure he looks any different now, feeling utterly awkward for the first time in a long time. When Todoroki's fingers brush against his, it's even worse. He pulls his hand back and crosses his arms, frowning deeply as he goes to sit against the door, giving them plenty of space.]
[But he did it anyway. And that's kind of the point Shouto's stuck on. It's not like they're friends or anything. He respects Bakugou--some of him, anyway, his drive, his intensely single-minded focus on his goal, his willingness to work as hard as he can to be the best he can be--but no one would call that friendship. And yet, here he is.
Bakugou pulls away and moves himself all the way across the room, but Shouto doesn't move back to his previous position. Instead, he crosses his arms on the edge of the tub, resting his chin on his hands as he watches the other boy.]
...You don't have to stay, if you're that uncomfortable. Thanks for the medicine.
[They aren't words he usually says. But then Bakugou's kind of the same, isn't he?]
...But Bakugou respects Todoroki as well, as much as he would hate to admit. He's still working up to admitting those kinds of thing, and not letting his pride get in the way. It's slow going, but he's trying. Maybe that's why he's here tonight.
Bakugou pulls his legs up against his chest, then tries to loosen up a bit and not look so tense, so he uncrosses his arms, lets his legs spread a little, and rests his arms against his knees. ]
The hell would I be uncomfortable about?
[He raises an eyebrow as if Todoroki is just imagining things. It's a little harder to hide with the other boy staring at him like that... and thanking him. ]
[Shouto's answer to the question is the slow shrug of one bare shoulder, not quite eloquent given his current state, but close enough. The slight lift of both eyebrows helps, just enough.]
You tell me.
[It's not quite as confrontational as some of the things he's said tonight. Things designed to make Bakugou uncomfortable, to push him away just like he does to everyone else, especially when he's sick. Illness is weakness, and weakness isn't the kind of thing you advertise. Old lessons die hard. The statement is just that: a statement, an invitation to speak. If Bakugou's trying to open up a little, to relax, the least he can do is try the same thing. Even if he's got no idea what he's doing.]
I guess not to most people. They've usually got cold medicine just laying around.
[He'd never thought Bakugou was one of those people, but maybe. Maybe it wasn't a big deal at all.]
...You go to bed that early every night? When do you usually get up?
You're the one who fucking said it. What the fuck do you think I'd feel uncomfortable about??
[ This is such a tricky thing. Relating to most people really is, Bakugou has noticed more often than not. He doesn't know or think that Todoroki tries to make thing confrontational on purpose. He doesn't know that the other boy would rather see this as uncomfortable just to push him away.
If he really thought hard about it, he would realize that he does the same exact thing, especially when he's sick. Illness is weakness, and weakness isn't the kind of thing you advertise. That's exactly it.
He's trying. he's really trying, but. Relaxing is hard on all ends. At least he ignores Todoroki's statement about most people. He doesn't want to get into an argument about that, or if he went out of his way for the other boy. He'd deny it anyway, along with the fact that he didn't have it just laying around. He doesn't want it to be a big deal, even if it is. ]
Yeah, I go to bed early every night... and I wake up whenever I fucking want to.
[He sleeps in as late as he can. So he likes to sleep. No big deal! ]
This. Me. Where we are. The fact that we're talking at all. Take your pick. You just look like you don't wanna be here.
[After all, there are a solid dozen things for Bakugou to be uncomfortable about, and no reason at all for him to stay. Never mind the fact that Shouto's actually kind of glad for the company, and not just because he's feeling a little dizzy. Which in itself, should probably be wierder than it is. Maybe it's just because he doesn't have to pretend to be anything else around him. Not that he does that much, anyway.]
Mm. Always wondered where you were, early mornings. Why I didn't see you on the field with me when you went to bed so early.
[Sleep has always been an elusive thing, for Shouto. There's a reason he naps whenever he can. Most nights, he's lucky if he manages four hours consecutively.]
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You got that right. Stupid thing to worry about anyway.
Try not to drown before I get there.
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Don't worry, I'll survive somehow.
[He talks a good game, especially when he's sick, but he's definitely flushed and looks more than a little exhausted, dark circles under his eyes more visible on the right than the left.]
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[He honestly doesn't know why he's doing this. Maybe cause he's awake and annoyed so he figures he might as well annoy that icyhot bastard right back. Or maybe he really doesn't want him to die in the tub. Laying on the floor unable to move wasn't a good sign- and he means it about Todoroki needing to get stronger so they can fight.
He busts into the bathroom, then stops short because he didn't think this part through. Todoroki's naked. He looks like absolute shit, but he's still naked.]
Wow, you look like shit.
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Thanks, that makes me feel much better. I don't know how I made it without you.
[Being naked doesn't bother him. After all, the baths are communal, and it's not like Bakugou is one of the ones prone to checking everyone out and comparing physical traits--not that that bothers him, either. He's in good enough shape to hold his own in a fight, and that's all that matters.
What does bother him is the way his voice sounds so tired, faintly hoarse, and not nearly as sarcastic as he'd intended.]
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[Bakugou can handle the deadpan sarcasm more than he can really handle anything else. It doesn't annoy him as much as Deku and Kirishima's eternal optimism does. Not that he wants any of them in his face- especially Todoroki.
Being naked generally doesn't bother Bakugou either, but... this is different. It really is just the two of them, and Todoroki had already made some stupid comments about Kirishima, and being his type. He's trying not to care. Really.]
Here. I brought you some meds and some vitamins.
[He holds his hand out with the pills inside and in his other he has a bottle of water.]
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You--?
[He's brought vitamins. And medicine. And water. For Todoroki? It's enough to get both eyes open, a genuinely surprised look on his face making him actually look sixteen for a moment and less like the ice prince he so often is. Slowly, he sits up, water splashing slightly as he turns, reaching out to take the offered items.
His fingers briefly brush Bakugou's as he takes the water bottle, and he looks at his classmates for another moment before popping the pills in his mouth and opening the bottle, tilting his head back and taking a long drink. When he's done, he recaps the bottle, brushing a hand over his mouth.]
...You didn't have to do that.
[And yet somehow the words manage to sound like a 'thank you.']
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[But he did it anyway. He can make some excuse about how they were just laying around anyway, but he knows how dumb that sounds. Plus, he prides himself on hardly ever getting sick, so it's not like he should just have a stash of cold medicine laying around.
Anyway, the wide eyed teenager look on Todoroki looks stupid, Bakugou tells himself. But he's not sure he looks any different now, feeling utterly awkward for the first time in a long time. When Todoroki's fingers brush against his, it's even worse. He pulls his hand back and crosses his arms, frowning deeply as he goes to sit against the door, giving them plenty of space.]
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Bakugou pulls away and moves himself all the way across the room, but Shouto doesn't move back to his previous position. Instead, he crosses his arms on the edge of the tub, resting his chin on his hands as he watches the other boy.]
...You don't have to stay, if you're that uncomfortable. Thanks for the medicine.
[They aren't words he usually says. But then Bakugou's kind of the same, isn't he?]
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...But Bakugou respects Todoroki as well, as much as he would hate to admit. He's still working up to admitting those kinds of thing, and not letting his pride get in the way. It's slow going, but he's trying. Maybe that's why he's here tonight.
Bakugou pulls his legs up against his chest, then tries to loosen up a bit and not look so tense, so he uncrosses his arms, lets his legs spread a little, and rests his arms against his knees. ]
The hell would I be uncomfortable about?
[He raises an eyebrow as if Todoroki is just imagining things. It's a little harder to hide with the other boy staring at him like that... and thanking him. ]
It's not a big deal.
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You tell me.
[It's not quite as confrontational as some of the things he's said tonight. Things designed to make Bakugou uncomfortable, to push him away just like he does to everyone else, especially when he's sick. Illness is weakness, and weakness isn't the kind of thing you advertise. Old lessons die hard. The statement is just that: a statement, an invitation to speak. If Bakugou's trying to open up a little, to relax, the least he can do is try the same thing. Even if he's got no idea what he's doing.]
I guess not to most people. They've usually got cold medicine just laying around.
[He'd never thought Bakugou was one of those people, but maybe. Maybe it wasn't a big deal at all.]
...You go to bed that early every night? When do you usually get up?
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[ This is such a tricky thing. Relating to most people really is, Bakugou has noticed more often than not. He doesn't know or think that Todoroki tries to make thing confrontational on purpose. He doesn't know that the other boy would rather see this as uncomfortable just to push him away.
If he really thought hard about it, he would realize that he does the same exact thing, especially when he's sick. Illness is weakness, and weakness isn't the kind of thing you advertise. That's exactly it.
He's trying. he's really trying, but. Relaxing is hard on all ends. At least he ignores Todoroki's statement about most people. He doesn't want to get into an argument about that, or if he went out of his way for the other boy. He'd deny it anyway, along with the fact that he didn't have it just laying around. He doesn't want it to be a big deal, even if it is. ]
Yeah, I go to bed early every night... and I wake up whenever I fucking want to.
[He sleeps in as late as he can. So he likes to sleep. No big deal! ]
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[After all, there are a solid dozen things for Bakugou to be uncomfortable about, and no reason at all for him to stay. Never mind the fact that Shouto's actually kind of glad for the company, and not just because he's feeling a little dizzy. Which in itself, should probably be wierder than it is. Maybe it's just because he doesn't have to pretend to be anything else around him. Not that he does that much, anyway.]
Mm. Always wondered where you were, early mornings. Why I didn't see you on the field with me when you went to bed so early.
[Sleep has always been an elusive thing, for Shouto. There's a reason he naps whenever he can. Most nights, he's lucky if he manages four hours consecutively.]