Midoriya, Kirishima, and Bakugou are in the U.S. for a few weeks to learn from some American pro’s. It’s the end of their third year, and they’re already pretty well known in the hero world, but it was still a surprise when a well known American hero reached out to them and offered a little bit of extra training before their graduation.
For a whole week of their stay they would be doing a training exercise, the point of which was to adjust to new climates and be able to survive with limited resources as a group. They had gone through something similar at U.A. but that was in the campus backwoods. Woods that they already knew very well and had a familiar climate. Plus they were alone. There wasn’t anyone else to care for. Sometimes you could end up in situations like this with another hero, or a civilian.
The three of them were sent to spend a week on the Appalachian Trail before they were allowed to leave the country. However, there was a catch. If they were not at the extraction point by the end of the seven days they were allotted, they would not be picked up. They would have to make it to the extraction point with their especially limited resources, given that they were only allowed just enough to last 168 hours exactly. The rest they would have to find for themselves, if they didn’t arrive in time.
So, on day one, with their rucksacks and whatever they could carry on them, (not including cell phones or other electronic devices) they set off from Piscataquis, Maine. They were to hike 100 miles to Katahdin. And climb it.
It started off quite easily, despite the cold. Luckily, they were allowed to wear clothes of their own choosing and weren’t forced to wear their hero costumes. The three boys were quite confident to start off with, because they have become accomplished at things like these in their years of hardships and hard-core hero training. However, they knew better than to not be cautious, things like these always had a catch and they were ready for it.
When it comes to hiking, Bakugou can be a bit boisterous. He likes to brag about his skills, and rightfully so when it comes to this. Hiking is something he’s genuinely enjoyed since he was a kid, and something he got to do with his dad as a way to get away from Mitsuki. He hasn’t let training ruin it for him yet, and he doesn’t plan to
Midoriya spent the first few hours fairly quiet, listening and watching Bakugou and Kirishima. They got along so effortlessly. It was hard to see if you didn’t know them, but bakugou’s threats and so called violence, are less pointed? It was hard for him to lay a finger on the correct word. They were more half hearted and teasing than anything. When it was just the two of them talking, bakugou softened quite a bit. Midoriya almost felt like he was intruding, seeing this side of his childhood friend that he’d never been exposed to before. Emphasis on almost. After a while it stopped being cute as much as it was annoying.
It was almost like they’d forgotten he was there, and now Midoriya knew way more about the other two than he needed too. He knew that their first date was a hike over a school break in their first year. He knew that Bakugou likes his head scratched like a cat. And that Kirishima tended to run hot, so he didn’t really need as much warm gear as the other two, and actually ended up giving one of his layers to Bakugou (who hates the cold, cause it keeps him from sweating. I guess this is why Kirishima’s hero costume is shirtless, not just to show off.
It was annoying, but it was good for analysis, he supposed. However, he couldn't focus only on that. There was something about the fact that they were lost in their own world that didn’t sit right with him. I mean all was fine he wasn’t worried or anything. He just didn’t like it. For so long they just ignored him, was he not worth their time, or even attention? He expected something like this from Bakugou, even after how their relationship had grown over the years, but from Kirishima?
He’d always thought of Kirishima as kind and social. Kirishima would usually go out of his way to include others. When you think about it, that’s how the whole relationship between him and bakugou started. Kirishima would just aggressively include him in things. And he would do the same for others. He included Ururaka in his gym days with Tetsutetsu and [who else would work out with them?] He does things like that all of the time, because he is simply that kind. Was Midoriya the problem?
Did Midoriya not deserve to be included? Or was he just not wanted? It wouldn’t be the first time this has happened to him. His entire childhood he was either ignored, or he was bullied. This was something he thought he escaped when he joined U.A. And he had, he had made it almost to the end of third year? Why would Kirishima start this now?
Unless that isn’t what this is. Maybe he is genuinely so infatuated with Bakugou that he won’t even think about Midoriya. It makes sense. Bakugou is so much better than he is, in so many ways. He’s so strong, and loyal, exactly what anyone would want in a hero. (or a boyfriend) He may be gruff, but he’s extremely caring even if he doesn’t show his care in the way you would expect from most, or in the most obvious ways. He’s so much better than me. It makes sense that Kirishima would want him more. Well, shit. There it is.
He didn’t know that he had started crying until Kirishima turned to him with a concerned look pulled over his features.
“Midoriya? Are you okay?” He spoke, his eyebrows knitting together.
Midoriya quickly rubbed at his face with his sleeve, hoping to dry his tears, and to bide his time to think of an excuse. The last thing he wanted was to have to explain was the realization he just came to.
“Hah?! What are you cryin’ about deku?!” Bakugou growled. They’d grown closer than they had been before U.A., but Bakugou was never gonna change his demeanor. It was part of him. They’d all come to accept it.
“It’s nothing, don’t worry about me” Midoriya said, hoping that would be the end of it.
But nothing ever goes his way, does it.
“You sure man? Sure you used to cry a lot, but over the years it's really calmed down. What’s on your mind?” Fuck. How the hell does anyone resist those eyes.
***
Midoriya had been unusually quiet today. It was odd, he’d gotten so used to his constant mumbling that he barely noticed it anymore. Until it was gone, that is. He’s been completely silent since they set off on the trail. If there’s one thing Kirishima has learned over the three years he’s known Midoriya is that he’s always thinking about something, and that’s why he was always mumbling. If he wasn’t mumbling, he was writing. At the moment, he was doing neither. Something was wrong.
At first he thought Midoriya was focusing on the mission, that is something that happens every once in a while, when he has to narrow his mind to one point of focus. So he gave him some space, turning his attention to Bakugou instead.
But the more time that passed, the more and more worried he became. Midoriya had been silently following them for hours. No mumbling, no contribution to the conversation, no frantic motions from his right hand as though he were writing. Nothing. He looked over his shoulder to notice tears streaming down the smaller boy's face.
Oh.
“Midoriya? Are you okay?” he hoped he wasn’t prying too much, he didn’t want to break any boundaries. But goddammit, if someone was crying he was going to at least try to make them feel better.
He felt Bakugou spin around next to him, “Hah?! What are you cryin’ about Deku?!” he growled. Now, Kirishima knew that this was as close to concern Midoriya was going to get from his emotionally stunted boyfriend, so he opted to ignore the blonde.
“It’s nothing, don’t worry about me,” Midoriya’s voice shook as he wiped away his tears, and it tugged on Kirishima’s heart.
“You sure man? Sure you used to cry a lot, but over the years it's really calmed down. What’s on your mind?” Kirishima asked, but regretted it when he saw the way Midoriya’s eyes widened.
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