#/ ahhhhh almost two months later thank u for ur patienceee

[dynmghts]

even in katsuki's vehement and pointed retort, shoto continues pressing himself against the issue with a steady, ongoing weight, determined. the other closes the distance and the young bakugou plants a foot behind him as a response - on the defensive. apprehension bleeds into his glare.

the thing is, in demanding that katsuki tells shoto he's wrong, he's cornered the blond into a scenario that leaves a strong distaste in his mouth / he feels as though he would be admitting it either way. on one side of the coin, he tells shoto he's wrong, but he says that after a period of silence and clear resistance to the statement that's been made ; on the other side, he admits he's right, and that requires a degree of opening up about why. and even if katsuki were to say shoto was wrong, he would persist until he found the right answer.

he doesn't like to be cornered. being cornered automatically exposes weakness, and weakness is not something that the young bakugou allows.

but to dig himself a deeper hole than he already has by trying to deny something that was, by all accounts, already true- katsuki deliberates, brows furrowing and gaze downcast with the glare persisting. his jaw tenses. hands clench into fists for a split second with palms visibly warming, but they cool again with steam emitting from calloused skin. he finally, finally clicks his tongue.

❛ you're a stubborn bastard, ❜ he gripes. katsuki finally lifts his gaze to focus on shoto again - this time, his gaze is accompanied by the drumming of fingers against now crossed arms, shoulders notably rigid. ❛ fine. let's say you're right. what then ? should i be spilling my guts on the floor to you or something ? ❜

The hostility crimson eyes held, the look on Katsuki's face, a desperate effort to cover any weakness — any implication of defeat — was the confirmation Shoto had once again said the wrong thing. Unintentionally he had triggered his defenses, when voiced his honest thoughts. His approach had been wrong, but one could not learn unless suffering a few losses, a truth he had come to accept recently, in his efforts to grow, become the person he dreamt of.

He should have remained silent, keep observing from afar, instead of following his instincts, acting by impulse alone, disregarding any sequences. What if it wasn't his desire to understand his classmate, but recognizing a part of him, that made him speak, say what was disturbing to hear? Recognized the energy building up inside the blond, an energy far too familiar, dark and heavy.

Guilt would wrap a tight leash around one's throat, little by little suffocating its victim. Shoto couldn't stand to see the other gasping for air. He wanted to get close, reach for the invisible collar, loosen its hold for him, but truth was, he didn't know how, sometimes approaching with slow hesitant steps, or racing with all his strength.

❝ You're probably right. ❞ He was pushed back at the nearest checkpoint, right when he had taken a few small steps closer, shortened the distance between. He wasn't going to give up, though. Give up on him. Not when he needed him, driven himself in a dark corner — because Shoto had been in his place, known the maddening isolation of blaming one's self. Katsuki could probably get himself free on his own, but for once, Shoto wanted to offer a helping hand.

❝ But I'm trying. ❞ I've been watching. Isn't it what you've always wanted? All the attention to yourself, unable to take my eyes off of you. ❝ Tell me I'm wrong, and I'll try again, until I get it right. Or is it, you don't know yourself? ❞ A challenge, like the challenge the blond was himself. Maybe, instead of backing down like he should have, he was making the situation worse. Maybe, it was the right call. It was the essence of a hero to step in when needed, after all. ❝ The matter is, I'm not giving up, until I get it right. ❞