Chapter Text
It made no sense. No sense at all.
Now, it was true that Izuku had not much of a real grasp as to what a Pro-Heroe's day looked like nowadays. It had been a good year since the last of the Embers flickered out and he was forced to retire and his studies to become a full-fledged teacher usually kept him too busy to follow up on his peers and other pros on social media. Or, rather, he consciously dialed it back in favor of fully dedicating himself to his new role. History was no joke, especially around the time when Quirks first arose, and he wanted to do the past as well as his future students justice with tons of facts and different controversial opinions.
But still…
The world couldn't have changed to the point that Kacchan could comfortably come and pick him up every day from university. At least not yet.
And still, once Izuku walked out of his last class of the day, his car would wait just beyond the fence like clockwork. The silver Lexus with the gold highlights had been a gift from his parents and, frankly, a bit too flashy for Kacchan's tastes. He once brought up he preferred sleek, dark rides, like the ones from Porsche. However, Kacchan still used the Lexus to drive him around instead of buying himself a car more to his tastes.
Which, again, odd. For as long as Izuku could remember, Kacchan had always had a particular opinion on aesthetics and oftentimes paid a close eye to the design of things. His merch was a good example; Izuku already had several scrapped pieces in his possession because Kacchan wasn't satisfied with how they turned out. Of ten items, maybe one really made it to shelves, and with how popular Kacchan was they sold out in the blink of an eye.
Money likely wasn't the problem… or… was it?
He didn't know about Kacchan, but he himself got quite the compensation for his efforts during the war. And although Izuku's first impulse was to decline the money - he saved Japan from All For One because it was the right thing to do and there were surely better things the funds could be used for - he eventually accepted it. A large chunk was donated, another part he gave to his mom to rebuild her life, and the rest he kept for himself, knowing he'd need some savings to tide him over after he retired. He could focus on his studies better if he didn't have to run from job to job just so he could afford food and roof over his head.
Yet there Kacchan was, driving around in a car he didn't entirely like instead of indulging. And, now that he though about it, Kacchan regularly complained about his parents' antics, as if he saw them on the daily. Did that mean… he actually still lived with them?
Subconsciously, Izuku slowed his steps and squinted his eyes. Why didn't things add up?
Suddenly a horn blared, so unexpectedly he flinched, and just a moment later Kacchan's angry 'Oi!' reached his ears.
"Sorry, sorry!" Izuku yelled, ducking his head in embarrassment as he ran over to the car. Some of the people had started staring at the commotion and while he didn't mind fellow students recognizing him as former Hero Deku, he also didn't want to keep Kacchan waiting even longer.
As soon as he pulled open the door, Kacchan clicked his tongue and griped, "Took you long enough. What were ya dreamin' about, Shitnerd?!"
"I'm sorry!" Izuku repeated, quickly chucking his backpack onto the backseat before hopping in and buckling into the seat. It seemed to mollify Kacchan enough to huff and start the engine, pulling out and driving onto the busy street with an ease Izuku frankly envied.
Only after a while Izuku dared break the silence between them.
"Say, Kacchan," he started, carefully eyeing him through the corner of his eyes. Only when Kacchan made an affirmative noise did he ask, "Isn't it kind of inconvenient to always come and pick me up?"
"Hah?!" Kacchan growled, a single red eye darting over and glaring at him.
Realizing he somehow managed to annoy Kacchan yet again, Izuku scrambled to explain, "W-well, you're a pro, after all! But you still block time of your day to drive me around. That can't be easy to do, especially as a rookie. I don't want you to compromise your career because you have to- OUCH!"
Cutting himself off with a pained hiss, Izuku teared up when Kacchan pinched his cheek even harder. Just a few years ago, when the scar was still fresh, he was much more gentle to the damaged skin… But it seemed Kacchan had lost any and all inhibitions he had before.
"Listen here, ya damn idiot," he growled, pulling forceful enough for Izuku to lean closer to ease the pain, "I only do stuff that I want to do! Nobody ain't forcin' me to do shit, and I'll kick their ass if they try, got it?!"
"Got it, got it!" Izuku cried out and, finally, Kacchan let him go.
Sniffling slightly Izuku rubbed his sore cheek, the beginning on a pout laying over his lips. Kacchan really didn't have to be so mean about it. He was just worried! Even if Best Jeanist had a soft spot for him, being the new no.1 had the still hero-wary public keep a close eye on him and his sidekicks… If he showed favoritism for Kacchan, it could backfire for both of them-
Kacchan heaved a sigh, catching Izuku's attention enough for him to realize he must have been muttering. Oops.
"Look," Kacchan said as they stopped at a red light. "Denim Head's fine with me taking stuff easy. My arm and heart might act up if I went all out for an entire shift anyway and I can be flexible with office work. Gettin' you to places gets me away from my desk." The light turned green and Kacchan resumed the drive easily, keeping a vigilant eye on the street as he spoke. "No skin off my back pickin' up shitty nerds from university, so don't worry about it. Alright, Izuku?"
… It didn't explain everything, but Izuku still felt considerably more at ease knowing he wasn't too much of a burden. It also helped to hear Kacchan's condition was taken into consideration as well; he couldn't help but worry whether he was pushing himself too hard ever since he retired, and all his friends confirming over and over that 'Bakugo is okay, don't worry' was actually more suspicious than reassuring.
For the time being though, Izuku doubted he'd get more answers, so he simply nodded his head with, "Okay, Kacchan. Thank you."
Kacchan merely huffed, but Izuku still noticed how the corner of his mouth was pulled slightly higher than before.