( Why did they want to keep him here? Probably humiliation, if Esikko had to guess. The doctor had gone on and on about how it was a "16 hour surgery" and a great success and how he needed to stay bandaged from head to toe, and how his head may be leaking, or some nonsense— things to make him paranoid, checking with fingers at his own scalp, finding nothing. Infuriating. Exhausting. And he doesn't know if it's just the misery of being stuck in a clinic that has him doing so poorly physically, the guilt of his death in general, or something else entirely. Maybe a combination, even?
He stands up, repeating Hiyori's last words in his head as he glances to Bakugo and then the wheelchair, turning carefully to sit down. It seems he doesn't struggle with that motion too much, even if he does seem a little weak in the knees. Mm, but Hiyori is right, he thinks as he settles back into the chair— Bakugo certainly isn't the type to hold back, if that door slam entrance hadn't been enough proof. Esikko manages a successful sit, a successful lack of flashing anyone in the room (so far!), and a grab for the flowers once he's settled in enough that Hiyori can pass them over. )
I doubt there's a need. Anyone who tries to stop Bakugo while he's wearing an expression like that has what's coming to them, if you ask me.
( Like, do you see his hands sparking?? His eyes that could kill?? He'd love to see someone try to even voice a hesitant question their direction, personally. But maybe that's because he's lowkey wanting the satisfaction of watching these assholes suffer.
He's trying to be a better person, but it's hard to shed anger entirely, especially when this place has done so much to people he's grown to care about. He rests his feet on the foot paddles of the chair, holds the flowers in his lap, and glances back at the both of them.
Of course, there might be someone trying to swing by because Esikko took off his heart monitor a little bit ago?? Just watch out for them on the way out. )
[He's not the type to hold back. Anyone who's spent more than a few minutes with Bakugo will know that. If he doesn't like something, he'll say it. If he wants to do something, he'll do it. People who he spends his time around are those he's chosen to be around, even if begrudging and grumbling because they'd be annoying pains in the ass if he didn't attend their stupid crap.
He's never held it against Hiyori for telling him what Esikko did, but he's also never let what Esikko force a separation between them. Picking and choosing his own reactions and feelings. Here, he's companions with murderers, thieves, criminals, villains, people he wouldn't give more than a second glance and an explosion to the face if he were back home. So long as they keep their dark deeds out of his presence, or suck it up when he interferes if they don't, he'll swallow his morals and accept them. Not like people stay dead here.
He doesn't give a shit the noise he's making in the hospital. Hiyori's lucky this is all the noise he's making. Back home, he was dragging his IV and two classmates behind him as he stalked down the halls with all his injuries, yelling his head off in anger at being left behind! Right now, he's a growling, bristling simmer. A threat ready and waiting, but not exploding without a spark. Yet.]
Do whatever you want, Parrot. I'll push him. If anyone gets in our way, we're switching places. [Hiyori has his chance to shine (pun intended) as Bakugo makes a beeline for the exit. If the idol wants people to avoid getting hurt, he'd better put on the show of his life and keep their asses out of his way! Esikko carries himself those few feet and settles his body in the chair without much issue, only reinforcing Bakugo's idea the hospital is unfairly keeping him here for shit reasons. Once his flowers are secured in the man's hands, he gives one last sweep around the room to make sure all Esikko's personal effects (if any) are stuffed in the chair's back pocket, then grips the handles and heads for the door.] Oy Parrot, knock it open.
[Luckily his hands aren't sparking now, controlled enough not to melt the wheelchair or burn Esikko's nape. And he's not peeling out like some devil on wheels. Each step and grits his boots on the linoleum flooring, the quiet grind of rubber/leather twisting under skin sounding as he clenches his palm and fingers on the handles. Hiyori can get the door (maybe accidentally knocking an orderly over on the outswing) and Bakugo wheels Esikko into the hallway, a smooth firm turn swinging him towards the exit.]
[He continues to eye Bakugo a tad warily. Normally he'd trust him not to hurt people willy-nilly, but he seems to be in a really bad mood, and the last thing any of them need is another violent confrontation. Still, Bakugo was ashamed of the fact he set off an explosion in the Roost, a place filled with lowlifes. Which means surely he wouldn't set one off right now in a hospital, right?
In any case, Bakugo doesn't argue him. He says Hiyori can do whatever he wants and that he'll push Esikko's chair. Which works fine for him, so!]
Right, here goes!
[He holds the door open for them and steps out after.
They draw some staff members' eyes their way, as they did on the way in. But Esikko's supposition is right: given the look on Bakugo's face, no one's very eager to approach them. It seems they'll make it to the exit without any issue.
Ah, but then one person does approach: a nurse, who makes a beeline straight for them, presumably having been alerted when he took off the heart monitor. "Mr. Bloemrose, your release has not been authorized. Until you are medically cleared—"
Hiyori knows this could get ugly. Before Bakugo can throttle her or threaten to, it's his time to shine!]
Forget about him! Let's talk about me!
[Literally, it's his time to shine. He steps out in front of the wheelchair, concentrates as hard as he can, and projects his Aura! All the way on, so it's blindingly bright, just like it was on the day Weiss helped him awaken it.]
See? I have a disease that makes me sparkle! And I didn't have that before coming here, so I must have picked it up at your clinic! Care to explain how that happened?
[The nurse shields her eyes, as do some of the other onlookers. She seems somewhat dumbfounded. But apparently not completely dumb, since she does point out, quite sensibly, that he wasn't sparkling a second ago.]
True! [He nods his sparkly head.] It's an intermittent sparkling disorder! Which makes it even worse, since it turns on very suddenly and startles people! At this rate, I might just blind someone! And some of my Game 52 partners have light sensitivity, so I'd like to get this fixed pronto. Now, what do you recommend for a cure? This is all your clinic's fault, so you fix it!
[It's taking a second for the nurse's eyes to adjust to the light. Still quite dumbfounded, and apparently unsure whether or not she's being played, she mutters something about how his sex partners could wear blindfolds.]
A blindfold, hmm...? [In order to give Bakugo and Esikko enough time, he pretends to consider it!] That does sound fun! ♪ But what should they wear with it? I've never accessorized around a blindfold before. Got any tips or suggestions? You seem like the stylish type yourself, so...
[The nurse, who's dressed no more and no less stylishly than all the other nurses wearing the same thing as her, seems even more confused at this. But by the time her eyes have adjusted and she's started looking for Esikko again, he should be long gone! Hiyori will keep pestering her for a little longer just be sure, before telling her she's been a tremendous help and he's off to go buy blindfolds. He turns off his Aura before exiting into the hall. Now, where have those two gone off to...?]
( Everything besides Hiyori and Bakugo feels like background noise, right now. Esikko watches it all, from the comfort of his little wheelchair, hands wrapped tenderly around a vase of flowers he's not sure he deserves. But it feels like it's muffled, or faded, or somehow in slow motion, and no amount of watching it all unfold seems to help. Even as Bakugo pushes him away from the nonsense and towards the hall, even as Hiyori's words sound out louder than anyone else's from behind them, he feels... separated from it.
It's warm, despite that. The feeling of care, the consideration, the effort. But with that warmth comes shame, too, and he's not sure how to shake that. Even if he knows now that people care, even if he's seen proof of it, it's hard to shake that weighty feeling of dragging people down, of causing them trouble, of being a burden. And right now, having to be rolled out of the clinic and staying at someone else's suite because his own is in a dangerous level, he's definitely feeling that way.
...At the very least, it sounds like Hiyori is almost having fun with his little acting skit back there? So he stays quiet, lifts a hand and touches at the petals to some of the flowers. As a child, it always felt like he could talk to them when he did these delicate little brushes of finger against petal— like they were comforting him. So it's a habit.
[Stop staring at him like that. Irritation prickles under his skin, half from Hiyori's look, half from his own feeling dredged up by his gaze. Of course he wants to blast a path through the hospital walls! Screw anyone who interferes; they can get vaporized for all he cares! But those angry thoughts only make one part of his mind feel good. The rest twist his stomach in revulsion and guilt while his chest clenches in regretful understanding. A hero can't... a her shouldn't... do those things. Fuck it! He's breaking someone out of a prison, held unjustly and tricked for their sick amusement! What's wrong with blasting scum into the damn wall?!
Caught up in his own mental tug of war, he gives Hiyori free reign on their exit escort. Do it the idol's way first. If something rises against him, then Bakugo's method takes center stage. Esikko's through the door and he's behind him, pushing the chair at a steady clip. No urge or intent to blitz through the hospital halls as if death itself chases them. His footsteps are calm and steady, boots gritting on linoleum flooring, eyes narrowed and locked ahead of him. A figure radiating "fuck off" as normal.
Here comes annoyance one...
-!? Forget about him! Let's talk about me!
... what the fuck?! If this wasn't tight-gripped anger around his chest, Bakugo would've snorted a laugh as Hiyori throws himself into a pure fucking performance! A goddamn flashbulb in the hallway, bright enough he averts his eyes for a moment with a grunt. Even staring into his own explosions all his life hasn't given him pure immunity to such a shine. And this coming from a guy who's own classmate's Quirk is shooting sparkling lasers out of his navel!]
A disease that makes me sparkle... [Bakugo mutters under his breath. Esikko will no doubt hear it, a bare mix of bittersweet amusement and incredulous ire. It's so stupid, it actually works. Hiyori's instantly hamming up the stage, treating this as light, camera, action for his performance alone. Center light, spotlight hog, scene stealer. Not only suggesting a disease, but implying he got it from the hospital itself. Not bad for a middle finger, Parrot.
Intermittent sparkling disorder. Oy, don't go naming it shit like that if you're trying to lay the blame on catching it here! Bakugo presses his teeth together and wheels Esikko to the side, completely bypassing nurses and orderlies as they focus on Hiyori's sparkly fest. Listening to him accuse them, then demanding they take responsibility is fucking ridiculous, but he's nailing them where it matters, bringing in the "precious" Game 52 and the resort's intentions. Bakugo's called Hiyori "stupid" and "idiot" a lot, but he's never thought the guy was actually unintelligent. Showing off that shrewdness even in his silly escapade.
Oh fuck, NOW he's going off track into clothing. Typical Parrot. Yeah, yeah. Esikko's already out the damn doors, bypassing the receptionist who takes one look at Bakugo's face and wisely gets back to her work. Hospital flooring diverges into carpet and solid wood of the resort's floor, the wheel's faint plastic grind muffled into a breathy hum. Away from the Broken Wing, away from the medical staff, and finally coming to a stop in a hallway nearby. He could have taken Esikko to his room without stop, but Bakugo doesn't trust the hotel not to wise up and sic someone on Hiyori...
He lingers here, waiting for the idol to come running by before barking at him to get back here.]
[He is a performer, one with plenty of experience capturing people's attention. Here, where mages and monsters and immortals mix together, he doesn't stand out much. But he does have his own "powers," even if he has no magical affinities or superhero gifts to his name. His Aura, his booming voice, his personality that some might call "annoying"—all of those are his powers! And it feels good to use them for a worthy cause, such as avoiding a confrontation with the staff and helping sneak Esikko out of the hospital.
It's good to do something. Bakugo's not the only one who's felt useless recently.
He doesn't hear footsteps hot on his heel. It could be that the nurses' eyes are still recovering, that they're scared of Bakugo, or that no one simply cares all that much whether Esikko stays in bed. He's not eager to stick around and find out, though. When Bakugo barks at him to get back, he stops and says:]
We shouldn't dilly dally. Let's head up to your suite! I can turn my sun powers on again, but there's no telling if the same trick will work a second time.
[Though while he's stopped, he does spare a glance at Esikko, who looks... thoughtful? A bit sad, maybe. That's hardly anything new, with or without him having been murdered recently. Hiyori gives him a gentle smile; that, too, is one of his powers.]
Are you doing okay? I didn't hurt your eyes too, did I?
I felt like a voyeur seeing that before... (don't be sorry it was fine!!)
( It's a little cute, honestly, hearing Bakugo react to Hiyori like that. Exasperated, clearly fond, it makes sense that the two of them are friendly. Esikko feels like he doesn't fit in quite so well, another layer to this strange feeling of isolation that's been plaguing him since he woke up. Really, it's just an expanded emphasis on everything he's always dealt with...
Hiyori's face pops into his view, and he blinks out of whatever silly thoughts had been occupying him, seemingly a little startled before he wipes that away with a smile. It's soft, a little tired, and he reaffirms his grip on the flower vase as he replies. )
I don't think you could hurt anyone's eyes, you know. ( Sparkling as he might be, he's just good looking. But jokes aside: ) I'm fine. Getting out of there will be a relief as soon as I can think straight.
( That's the hope, anyway, as his gaze darts to the side to focus on some plants decorating the halls. There's so much more on his mind, but is talking about it going to do any more than bring the mood down? Probably not... )
[Distraction, glamour, showman, silver tongue, Hiyori can do all that shit, yet Bakugo waits for him to reappear rather than blindly trust the man's getting out of the hospital safely. Of course he knows the idol can get out. He did nothing "illegal" for the resort to piss at him for. But a part of him eagerly waits for guards or some interference to show up and give him adequate cause to send their feathery assholes crashing smoked and seared into the nearest wall. Revenge. Validation. Fury. Venting.
None of those get to happen as Hiyori comes skidding around the corner without guards in tow or frantic medics looking to "help" their poor unfortunate escaped convic- patient back into his hospital bed. Figures they wouldn't put much effort into this crap once they reached a certain distance. Bastards.]
Don't tell me what to do! I know! [He's already moving, turning Esikko's wheelchair and heading for the elevator closest. They won't need an encore of Hiyori's powers. If anyone else shows up to interfere, they'll deal with him. And all the powers of a warhead ready to blow.] Here.
[He hands Esikko's wheelchair to Hiyori for pushing, so the two can talk a little together while he walks beside as escort. Besides, they're going to the elevators and Bakugo doesn't ride in those things.]
Hmph, you're feeling better if you're flirting. [Esikko can call it being witty or joking if he wants. He shoves his hands into his pockets and leans forward, shoulders hunched in his usual delinquent pace. Anyone with half a brain would know the prince has a lot mulling in his mind right now. Encouraging him to spill it is stupid.] Yeah, yeah. If you're in that fucking place next time, don't wait so long to bust out. You're smarter than that.
[And back to bitching and growling. He crushes the elevator button with his elbow.]
[He doesn't take it as flirting. But he smiles cheerfully, happy to accept a compliment about his looks any day. And then, still smiling, he says more softly:]
You're welcome. That's what friends are for, right?
[It's not the "Yes, I'd like to be friends" that he didn't give Esikko in the hospital room. But it's a good enough substitute, right?
Bakugo gives up control of the wheelchair and Hiyori switches places with him, pushing it up to the elevator. While they're waiting for that to arrive, Bakugo gives his mini-lecture, to which Hiyori doesn't have much to add. He does, however, sure hope there isn't a "next time." But he doesn't say that, for fear of turning things too serious.]
I think Baku-kun's saying he'd rather nurse you himself.
[... alright, so maybe he does have one (stupid) thing to add. He smiles innocently, and then when the elevator dings, wheels Esikko through the open doors. He knows Bakugo well enough to know he won't be joining them, so he just says:]
( To Bakugo, first of all. He guesses he could have sooner, but there was a number of reasons he'd convinced himself to wait. His new suite being in the basement, requiring him to have to stay with others if he wanted to feel safer, making him a burden once more, made him want to procrastinate. Some small part of himself felt like it was due punishment to sit there alone for so long, too... But most of all, more than anything else: )
I suppose I was still just... waiting, in case someone else might show up.
( But he didn't, and Esikko still feels sad about it, feels worried that he's caused him so much trouble he doesn't want to even look at him for fear of seeing him like he had in that garage. But he runs his fingers in taps against the flower vase he's holding and tries not to think about it.
—and that is right when Hiyori makes that comment about Bakugo wanting to nurse him himself, and Esikko nearly chokes, a hand lifting to cover his mouth in response to the half-laugh half-cough sound he just made. Help. The elevator door is sure to cut off whatever snap of a response Bakugo may have to that one. )
Urusei. [Someone's having too much fun with this. From distractions in the hospital to teasing Esikko in the halls. Bakugo shoves his hands into his pockets, eyes narrowed in focus as the elevator takes its stupid time crawling down the wall towards them with each lazy "ding" of light above. For all his annoying traits, Hiyori's brilliance is a breath of fresh air and relief Bakugo's never going to put to lips.
Same. He's pissed at the idea of a "next time," but given Esikko's track record of recklessness and bad interactions... Tch, he said he'd be more careful about throwing himself into shit situations. Gonna have to trust him on this. If there is a "next time", he'll bust him out of the hospital when he's ready.]
Hmph. [Esikko says he knows and he accepts the mixture of "apology" and promise over the incident. Trusting anything the shitty resort tells them at face value's asking to get trampled on by their psychotic "host" patron. He says nothing to the quiet comment, having already had his words about it during his first talk with Esikko. Nothing's going to change there. He should've focused on getting out faster so he could take the "see" to him.
Any other comment gets T-boned by Hiyori.]
DON'T PUT IT LIKE THAT, YOU SHITTY PARROT! [Hiyori's lucky Bakugo doesn't blast him in the back! Esikko's getting nuked by a vicious glare blazing at his face for daring to half-laugh at such a stupid comment! A bristling vanguard, he lingers long enough to watch the pair enter the elevator, then heads for the stairs.]
Says the person who always puts things crudely himself...
[He shakes his head as the elevator doors close, before reaching over Esikko for the button that'll take them to Bakugo's high floor.
The ride won't last long, but of course he sees fit to fill that short time with chatter. It's what he does, and if he didn't feel inclined to do that, it'd be a sign that something is wrong.]
You know, I first ran into Leo-kun in one of these elevators. I was new and hadn't found anyone I recognized yet, so I was overjoyed to see his face. Then the elevator suddenly stopped, and these talking portrait ladies asked us to flirt with each other. They wouldn't move it again until we did, so Leo-kun acted like my knight, and I was his princess!
[He speaks cheerfully from behind Esikko's wheelchair, the smile obvious in his words.]
I told Baku-kun that sort of thing happens sometimes, and he must have taken it to heart. I don't think it happens that often, but I guess he doesn't want to chance it. That's just the sort of person he is: always stubborn, always vigilant, and always doing things his own way.
( Esikko averts his eyes from Bakugo's accusatory and bristling stare, waiting for the elevator doors to close before he breathes out another laugh. It's far more genuine than anything he's given so far, since the two have arrived to pick him up, and he certainly looks like he's getting some of that life back into him. What can he say? It's nice to see people playing around together, teasing and play fighting and everything in between. )
It's funny that you say that. I warned him about the same thing, during our first meeting. That the elevators could do that... since the first time I arrived in this place, I experienced the same.
( But, was it really so bad? He had met Dabi in that same elevator. Still, Hiyori's words hold truth in their assessment, and Esikko can only smile fondly, pointed down at the flowers in his lap. He toys with the petals a little, his touch only ever seeming to encourage their lift. )
He wouldn't want to be inconvenienced if he can avoid it. Somehow, that hot head of his is a little cute, isn't it?
( Definitely just a little cute, and not something he's been rotating in his mind for a while now, totally— but it's fine, the elevator doesn't take long, and the doors open before too long with a quiet little ding. Still, he can spare a few more words: )
I guess it does work to cheer me up, now and then.
[The elevator door shuts on his scowling glare. He doesn't "ALWAYS" put things crudely! Not using nice flowery language isn't an instant "crude" label! Dumbass. Twisting on his heel, he stalks to the stairs and kicks open the door. Yeah, he could blast his way up to the proper floor, but instead- KABOOM! -rockets to the floor above and catches the railing for a quick looping onboard. Another door's knocked open and he pokes his head out, dagger eyes locked on the elevator. *boop* it goes past the floor, safe and sound.
Back into the stairwell. Smoke and light detonate once more, and the entire process repeats from one floor to the next, making sure the elevator is on time and track with each level. Hiyori's probably talking Esikko's head off right now. So long as the shitty elevator car isn't giving them trouble, he's not going to interfere with the ride.
Hiyori was one of three people on his first day here who told him about elevator shenanigans. Esikko was another. Enough to convince him of the real risk. He's never set foot in an elevator the entire time he's been in the resort, a year and a half later, thanks to the advice. Besides, he has more fun exercising by taking the stairs with his legs or flexing his Quirk with his jumps.
When the elevator doors slide open, Bakugo's waiting in the hall, arms folded across his chest and looking all impatient with the scent of smoke and burnt sugar clinging in the air around him.]
[He nods cheerfully, head bobbing in his reflection on the shiny gold doors.]
Yep, it's definitely cute! He'll get mad if you say so, but it won't change facts!
[What's said in the elevator stays in the elevator. Bakugo can't hear them calling him cute, so he can't complain!
The ride isn't long enough for Esikko to confide just how often he thinks about Bakugo's cute head or for Hiyori to develop suspicions on the matter. But he doesn't miss those last words, nor does he miss the quiet fondness with they're said. That gives him hope that they'll be fine—Esikko and Bakugo will be. The awful thing that just happened won't drive a wedge between them. Whoever Esikko was hoping would visit him in the clinic, and whatever is going on with that person, at least he has Bakugo. And he has Hiyori, too, so...
The elevator dings and he rolls Esikko out. He's hardly surprised to see Bakugo there after experiencing for himself how far that Quirk can fling a person, but still he comments:]
Fast! Who knew you'd learned to teleport...♪
[He turns Esikko's chair in whatever the right direction is, and off they go. Privately he wonders what sort of state Bakugo's suite is in, given the scorch marks and scratched floors he saw last time. But for Esikko it still beats being cooped up in the clinic, right?]
You and Loki-kun should race each other sometime. I'd be curious to know who's faster: the trickster god, or the "explosion god"!
[The stupid chattering continues while he waits for Bakugo to open the door and let them in.]
( There's a soft and fond little laugh from Esikko's wheelchair as he watches ahead. He's really beginning to get an idea of how Bakugo and Hiyori's conversations must always go. A cheery Hiyori commenting silly things like this, and a prickly Bakugo responding in kind... Cute. They seem like real friends. )
What sort of competition measures actual teleportation against flight speed?
( Lightly, as he shifts to tap at his own Watch, checking for notifications that aren't there. It's a small fidget, let go of easily when they make more progress towards Bakugo's room. He has no idea about what happened inside of there, but he is curious to see if there are any signs about how he's been doing, so he wants to pay attention. )
[One floor after the next, each one seeing him stop by the elevator door and watch it pass. Back into the stairwell and another explosion trails smoke after his passing. Hands catch golden bars, momentum swings him over the edge, and he's on his feet again, waiting for the next 'ding' of the elevator moving into position, then carrying on. Of course it's a damn chore! But he isn't about to let the two in the rising cube get pestered by some stupid resort shenanigan. When you give a shit about someone, you do stupid things.
Bakugo leaves the stairs behind, his current stance a bored-looking impatience with hands in his pockets and shoulders rounded. Waiting for the elevator doors to finally open and spit out its untouched occupants. Good. It behaved. The resort won't have to repair a smoldering wreckage plummeting to the base of an elevator shaft.]
Haa? I can't teleport, Parrot! [Pure speed! Is Hiyori trying to start something? Annoying dork. Bakugo turns on his heel and leads them into the fleet of Ace and Jack suites. His isn't exceedingly close to the stairwell, so it's a small walk to reach it, given the size of each suite filling the floor.]
Loki? He's the guy Web Face mentioned. A god, right? [Their footsteps stop in front of his room's double doors and he unlocks the right one before heading in. Given the length of time that's passed, most of his suite's great room is repaired and refurbished, though some open spaces suggest there are a few pieces left to get back. The remains of repair work, such as a ladder, paint, and cleaning supplies, are stacked to the foyer's side.] Che! Prince Prick's right. That's a bullshit challenge.
[Who's Web Face? Who knows! But when given the chance to explain who Loki is, Hiyori seizes it at once, nodding his head at the god question.]
Yep! But not just any god. He's the one and only trickster god from Norse mythology! Which means he can shapeshift, make copies, make things disappear, conjure stuff out of nowhere, teleport, and do all kinds of things. He showed off his magic at the Magic Showcase I held, and at one point he froze the stage and turned it into an ice rink. Then he made two sets of ice skates, and then we danced! On ice! ♪
[He smiles brightly, the memory a fond one.]
I'm sure he'd be happy to show you his magic, too. Just be careful not to get tricked, since it is his specialty.
[Is this lighting a competitive fire in Bakugo yet? Yes? No?
Either way they're about to enter his suite. Hiyori waits a moment instead of pushing Esikko inside right away, trying to assess the state it's in. The answer seems to be "better shape than last time," and that's a relief. One's room isn't a perfect proxy for one's mental state, but it's still a good sign, isn't it? A sign that things are healing. Even if scars remain, and even if they're still trapped in a horrible place where people like those brothers can roam free...
Well. Bakugo's the resilient type. He'll pull through, Hiyori thinks. And Esikko could probably be doing worse himself if he had the leftover bandwidth to worry about Bakugo. Hiyori pushes him through the doorway, still chatting away.]
Then perhaps we could find a different challenge. One that tests your explosions against his explosions! Or you and him could both launch someone, the way you launch me up the stairs, and we'll measure how fast the person flies! That sounds fun, doesn't it? Esikko-kun likes that idea too, right? I don't like most contests, but being in the judges' seat is a completely different story.
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He stands up, repeating Hiyori's last words in his head as he glances to Bakugo and then the wheelchair, turning carefully to sit down. It seems he doesn't struggle with that motion too much, even if he does seem a little weak in the knees. Mm, but Hiyori is right, he thinks as he settles back into the chair— Bakugo certainly isn't the type to hold back, if that door slam entrance hadn't been enough proof. Esikko manages a successful sit, a successful lack of flashing anyone in the room (so far!), and a grab for the flowers once he's settled in enough that Hiyori can pass them over. )
I doubt there's a need. Anyone who tries to stop Bakugo while he's wearing an expression like that has what's coming to them, if you ask me.
( Like, do you see his hands sparking?? His eyes that could kill?? He'd love to see someone try to even voice a hesitant question their direction, personally. But maybe that's because he's lowkey wanting the satisfaction of watching these assholes suffer.
He's trying to be a better person, but it's hard to shed anger entirely, especially when this place has done so much to people he's grown to care about. He rests his feet on the foot paddles of the chair, holds the flowers in his lap, and glances back at the both of them.
Of course, there might be someone trying to swing by because Esikko took off his heart monitor a little bit ago?? Just watch out for them on the way out. )
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He's never held it against Hiyori for telling him what Esikko did, but he's also never let what Esikko force a separation between them. Picking and choosing his own reactions and feelings. Here, he's companions with murderers, thieves, criminals, villains, people he wouldn't give more than a second glance and an explosion to the face if he were back home. So long as they keep their dark deeds out of his presence, or suck it up when he interferes if they don't, he'll swallow his morals and accept them. Not like people stay dead here.
He doesn't give a shit the noise he's making in the hospital. Hiyori's lucky this is all the noise he's making. Back home, he was dragging his IV and two classmates behind him as he stalked down the halls with all his injuries, yelling his head off in anger at being left behind! Right now, he's a growling, bristling simmer. A threat ready and waiting, but not exploding without a spark. Yet.]
Do whatever you want, Parrot. I'll push him. If anyone gets in our way, we're switching places. [Hiyori has his chance to shine (pun intended) as Bakugo makes a beeline for the exit. If the idol wants people to avoid getting hurt, he'd better put on the show of his life and keep their asses out of his way! Esikko carries himself those few feet and settles his body in the chair without much issue, only reinforcing Bakugo's idea the hospital is unfairly keeping him here for shit reasons. Once his flowers are secured in the man's hands, he gives one last sweep around the room to make sure all Esikko's personal effects (if any) are stuffed in the chair's back pocket, then grips the handles and heads for the door.] Oy Parrot, knock it open.
[Luckily his hands aren't sparking now, controlled enough not to melt the wheelchair or burn Esikko's nape. And he's not peeling out like some devil on wheels. Each step and grits his boots on the linoleum flooring, the quiet grind of rubber/leather twisting under skin sounding as he clenches his palm and fingers on the handles. Hiyori can get the door (maybe accidentally knocking an orderly over on the outswing) and Bakugo wheels Esikko into the hallway, a smooth firm turn swinging him towards the exit.]
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[He continues to eye Bakugo a tad warily. Normally he'd trust him not to hurt people willy-nilly, but he seems to be in a really bad mood, and the last thing any of them need is another violent confrontation. Still, Bakugo was ashamed of the fact he set off an explosion in the Roost, a place filled with lowlifes. Which means surely he wouldn't set one off right now in a hospital, right?
In any case, Bakugo doesn't argue him. He says Hiyori can do whatever he wants and that he'll push Esikko's chair. Which works fine for him, so!]
Right, here goes!
[He holds the door open for them and steps out after.
They draw some staff members' eyes their way, as they did on the way in. But Esikko's supposition is right: given the look on Bakugo's face, no one's very eager to approach them. It seems they'll make it to the exit without any issue.
Ah, but then one person does approach: a nurse, who makes a beeline straight for them, presumably having been alerted when he took off the heart monitor. "Mr. Bloemrose, your release has not been authorized. Until you are medically cleared—"
Hiyori knows this could get ugly. Before Bakugo can throttle her or threaten to, it's his time to shine!]
Forget about him! Let's talk about me!
[Literally, it's his time to shine. He steps out in front of the wheelchair, concentrates as hard as he can, and projects his Aura! All the way on, so it's blindingly bright, just like it was on the day Weiss helped him awaken it.]
See? I have a disease that makes me sparkle! And I didn't have that before coming here, so I must have picked it up at your clinic! Care to explain how that happened?
[The nurse shields her eyes, as do some of the other onlookers. She seems somewhat dumbfounded. But apparently not completely dumb, since she does point out, quite sensibly, that he wasn't sparkling a second ago.]
True! [He nods his sparkly head.] It's an intermittent sparkling disorder! Which makes it even worse, since it turns on very suddenly and startles people! At this rate, I might just blind someone! And some of my Game 52 partners have light sensitivity, so I'd like to get this fixed pronto. Now, what do you recommend for a cure? This is all your clinic's fault, so you fix it!
[It's taking a second for the nurse's eyes to adjust to the light. Still quite dumbfounded, and apparently unsure whether or not she's being played, she mutters something about how his sex partners could wear blindfolds.]
A blindfold, hmm...? [In order to give Bakugo and Esikko enough time, he pretends to consider it!] That does sound fun! ♪ But what should they wear with it? I've never accessorized around a blindfold before. Got any tips or suggestions? You seem like the stylish type yourself, so...
[The nurse, who's dressed no more and no less stylishly than all the other nurses wearing the same thing as her, seems even more confused at this. But by the time her eyes have adjusted and she's started looking for Esikko again, he should be long gone! Hiyori will keep pestering her for a little longer just be sure, before telling her she's been a tremendous help and he's off to go buy blindfolds. He turns off his Aura before exiting into the hall. Now, where have those two gone off to...?]
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It's warm, despite that. The feeling of care, the consideration, the effort. But with that warmth comes shame, too, and he's not sure how to shake that. Even if he knows now that people care, even if he's seen proof of it, it's hard to shake that weighty feeling of dragging people down, of causing them trouble, of being a burden. And right now, having to be rolled out of the clinic and staying at someone else's suite because his own is in a dangerous level, he's definitely feeling that way.
...At the very least, it sounds like Hiyori is almost having fun with his little acting skit back there? So he stays quiet, lifts a hand and touches at the petals to some of the flowers. As a child, it always felt like he could talk to them when he did these delicate little brushes of finger against petal— like they were comforting him. So it's a habit.
He's uncharacteristically quiet, otherwise. )
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Caught up in his own mental tug of war, he gives Hiyori free reign on their exit escort. Do it the idol's way first. If something rises against him, then Bakugo's method takes center stage. Esikko's through the door and he's behind him, pushing the chair at a steady clip. No urge or intent to blitz through the hospital halls as if death itself chases them. His footsteps are calm and steady, boots gritting on linoleum flooring, eyes narrowed and locked ahead of him. A figure radiating "fuck off" as normal.
Here comes annoyance one...
-!? Forget about him! Let's talk about me!
... what the fuck?! If this wasn't tight-gripped anger around his chest, Bakugo would've snorted a laugh as Hiyori throws himself into a pure fucking performance! A goddamn flashbulb in the hallway, bright enough he averts his eyes for a moment with a grunt. Even staring into his own explosions all his life hasn't given him pure immunity to such a shine. And this coming from a guy who's own classmate's Quirk is shooting sparkling lasers out of his navel!]
A disease that makes me sparkle... [Bakugo mutters under his breath. Esikko will no doubt hear it, a bare mix of bittersweet amusement and incredulous ire. It's so stupid, it actually works. Hiyori's instantly hamming up the stage, treating this as light, camera, action for his performance alone. Center light, spotlight hog, scene stealer. Not only suggesting a disease, but implying he got it from the hospital itself. Not bad for a middle finger, Parrot.
Intermittent sparkling disorder. Oy, don't go naming it shit like that if you're trying to lay the blame on catching it here! Bakugo presses his teeth together and wheels Esikko to the side, completely bypassing nurses and orderlies as they focus on Hiyori's sparkly fest. Listening to him accuse them, then demanding they take responsibility is fucking ridiculous, but he's nailing them where it matters, bringing in the "precious" Game 52 and the resort's intentions. Bakugo's called Hiyori "stupid" and "idiot" a lot, but he's never thought the guy was actually unintelligent. Showing off that shrewdness even in his silly escapade.
Oh fuck, NOW he's going off track into clothing. Typical Parrot. Yeah, yeah. Esikko's already out the damn doors, bypassing the receptionist who takes one look at Bakugo's face and wisely gets back to her work. Hospital flooring diverges into carpet and solid wood of the resort's floor, the wheel's faint plastic grind muffled into a breathy hum. Away from the Broken Wing, away from the medical staff, and finally coming to a stop in a hallway nearby. He could have taken Esikko to his room without stop, but Bakugo doesn't trust the hotel not to wise up and sic someone on Hiyori...
He lingers here, waiting for the idol to come running by before barking at him to get back here.]
now with the correct tag (sorry)
It's good to do something. Bakugo's not the only one who's felt useless recently.
He doesn't hear footsteps hot on his heel. It could be that the nurses' eyes are still recovering, that they're scared of Bakugo, or that no one simply cares all that much whether Esikko stays in bed. He's not eager to stick around and find out, though. When Bakugo barks at him to get back, he stops and says:]
We shouldn't dilly dally. Let's head up to your suite! I can turn my sun powers on again, but there's no telling if the same trick will work a second time.
[Though while he's stopped, he does spare a glance at Esikko, who looks... thoughtful? A bit sad, maybe. That's hardly anything new, with or without him having been murdered recently. Hiyori gives him a gentle smile; that, too, is one of his powers.]
Are you doing okay? I didn't hurt your eyes too, did I?
I felt like a voyeur seeing that before... (don't be sorry it was fine!!)
Hiyori's face pops into his view, and he blinks out of whatever silly thoughts had been occupying him, seemingly a little startled before he wipes that away with a smile. It's soft, a little tired, and he reaffirms his grip on the flower vase as he replies. )
I don't think you could hurt anyone's eyes, you know. ( Sparkling as he might be, he's just good looking. But jokes aside: ) I'm fine. Getting out of there will be a relief as soon as I can think straight.
( That's the hope, anyway, as his gaze darts to the side to focus on some plants decorating the halls. There's so much more on his mind, but is talking about it going to do any more than bring the mood down? Probably not... )
...Thank you both.
You peeping...
None of those get to happen as Hiyori comes skidding around the corner without guards in tow or frantic medics looking to "help" their poor unfortunate escaped convic- patient back into his hospital bed. Figures they wouldn't put much effort into this crap once they reached a certain distance. Bastards.]
Don't tell me what to do! I know! [He's already moving, turning Esikko's wheelchair and heading for the elevator closest. They won't need an encore of Hiyori's powers. If anyone else shows up to interfere, they'll deal with him. And all the powers of a warhead ready to blow.] Here.
[He hands Esikko's wheelchair to Hiyori for pushing, so the two can talk a little together while he walks beside as escort. Besides, they're going to the elevators and Bakugo doesn't ride in those things.]
Hmph, you're feeling better if you're flirting. [Esikko can call it being witty or joking if he wants. He shoves his hands into his pockets and leans forward, shoulders hunched in his usual delinquent pace. Anyone with half a brain would know the prince has a lot mulling in his mind right now. Encouraging him to spill it is stupid.] Yeah, yeah. If you're in that fucking place next time, don't wait so long to bust out. You're smarter than that.
[And back to bitching and growling. He crushes the elevator button with his elbow.]
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[He doesn't take it as flirting. But he smiles cheerfully, happy to accept a compliment about his looks any day. And then, still smiling, he says more softly:]
You're welcome. That's what friends are for, right?
[It's not the "Yes, I'd like to be friends" that he didn't give Esikko in the hospital room. But it's a good enough substitute, right?
Bakugo gives up control of the wheelchair and Hiyori switches places with him, pushing it up to the elevator. While they're waiting for that to arrive, Bakugo gives his mini-lecture, to which Hiyori doesn't have much to add. He does, however, sure hope there isn't a "next time." But he doesn't say that, for fear of turning things too serious.]
I think Baku-kun's saying he'd rather nurse you himself.
[... alright, so maybe he does have one (stupid) thing to add. He smiles innocently, and then when the elevator dings, wheels Esikko through the open doors. He knows Bakugo well enough to know he won't be joining them, so he just says:]
See you at your suite!
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( To Bakugo, first of all. He guesses he could have sooner, but there was a number of reasons he'd convinced himself to wait. His new suite being in the basement, requiring him to have to stay with others if he wanted to feel safer, making him a burden once more, made him want to procrastinate. Some small part of himself felt like it was due punishment to sit there alone for so long, too... But most of all, more than anything else: )
I suppose I was still just... waiting, in case someone else might show up.
( But he didn't, and Esikko still feels sad about it, feels worried that he's caused him so much trouble he doesn't want to even look at him for fear of seeing him like he had in that garage. But he runs his fingers in taps against the flower vase he's holding and tries not to think about it.
—and that is right when Hiyori makes that comment about Bakugo wanting to nurse him himself, and Esikko nearly chokes, a hand lifting to cover his mouth in response to the half-laugh half-cough sound he just made. Help. The elevator door is sure to cut off whatever snap of a response Bakugo may have to that one. )
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Same. He's pissed at the idea of a "next time," but given Esikko's track record of recklessness and bad interactions... Tch, he said he'd be more careful about throwing himself into shit situations. Gonna have to trust him on this. If there is a "next time", he'll bust him out of the hospital when he's ready.]
Hmph. [Esikko says he knows and he accepts the mixture of "apology" and promise over the incident. Trusting anything the shitty resort tells them at face value's asking to get trampled on by their psychotic "host" patron. He says nothing to the quiet comment, having already had his words about it during his first talk with Esikko. Nothing's going to change there. He should've focused on getting out faster so he could take the "see" to him.
Any other comment gets T-boned by Hiyori.]
DON'T PUT IT LIKE THAT, YOU SHITTY PARROT! [Hiyori's lucky Bakugo doesn't blast him in the back! Esikko's getting nuked by a vicious glare blazing at his face for daring to half-laugh at such a stupid comment! A bristling vanguard, he lingers long enough to watch the pair enter the elevator, then heads for the stairs.]
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[He shakes his head as the elevator doors close, before reaching over Esikko for the button that'll take them to Bakugo's high floor.
The ride won't last long, but of course he sees fit to fill that short time with chatter. It's what he does, and if he didn't feel inclined to do that, it'd be a sign that something is wrong.]
You know, I first ran into Leo-kun in one of these elevators. I was new and hadn't found anyone I recognized yet, so I was overjoyed to see his face. Then the elevator suddenly stopped, and these talking portrait ladies asked us to flirt with each other. They wouldn't move it again until we did, so Leo-kun acted like my knight, and I was his princess!
[He speaks cheerfully from behind Esikko's wheelchair, the smile obvious in his words.]
I told Baku-kun that sort of thing happens sometimes, and he must have taken it to heart. I don't think it happens that often, but I guess he doesn't want to chance it. That's just the sort of person he is: always stubborn, always vigilant, and always doing things his own way.
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It's funny that you say that. I warned him about the same thing, during our first meeting. That the elevators could do that... since the first time I arrived in this place, I experienced the same.
( But, was it really so bad? He had met Dabi in that same elevator. Still, Hiyori's words hold truth in their assessment, and Esikko can only smile fondly, pointed down at the flowers in his lap. He toys with the petals a little, his touch only ever seeming to encourage their lift. )
He wouldn't want to be inconvenienced if he can avoid it. Somehow, that hot head of his is a little cute, isn't it?
( Definitely just a little cute, and not something he's been rotating in his mind for a while now, totally— but it's fine, the elevator doesn't take long, and the doors open before too long with a quiet little ding. Still, he can spare a few more words: )
I guess it does work to cheer me up, now and then.
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Back into the stairwell. Smoke and light detonate once more, and the entire process repeats from one floor to the next, making sure the elevator is on time and track with each level. Hiyori's probably talking Esikko's head off right now. So long as the shitty elevator car isn't giving them trouble, he's not going to interfere with the ride.
Hiyori was one of three people on his first day here who told him about elevator shenanigans. Esikko was another. Enough to convince him of the real risk. He's never set foot in an elevator the entire time he's been in the resort, a year and a half later, thanks to the advice. Besides, he has more fun exercising by taking the stairs with his legs or flexing his Quirk with his jumps.
When the elevator doors slide open, Bakugo's waiting in the hall, arms folded across his chest and looking all impatient with the scent of smoke and burnt sugar clinging in the air around him.]
Took long enough.
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Yep, it's definitely cute! He'll get mad if you say so, but it won't change facts!
[What's said in the elevator stays in the elevator. Bakugo can't hear them calling him cute, so he can't complain!
The ride isn't long enough for Esikko to confide just how often he thinks about Bakugo's cute head or for Hiyori to develop suspicions on the matter. But he doesn't miss those last words, nor does he miss the quiet fondness with they're said. That gives him hope that they'll be fine—Esikko and Bakugo will be. The awful thing that just happened won't drive a wedge between them. Whoever Esikko was hoping would visit him in the clinic, and whatever is going on with that person, at least he has Bakugo. And he has Hiyori, too, so...
The elevator dings and he rolls Esikko out. He's hardly surprised to see Bakugo there after experiencing for himself how far that Quirk can fling a person, but still he comments:]
Fast! Who knew you'd learned to teleport...♪
[He turns Esikko's chair in whatever the right direction is, and off they go. Privately he wonders what sort of state Bakugo's suite is in, given the scorch marks and scratched floors he saw last time. But for Esikko it still beats being cooped up in the clinic, right?]
You and Loki-kun should race each other sometime. I'd be curious to know who's faster: the trickster god, or the "explosion god"!
[The stupid chattering continues while he waits for Bakugo to open the door and let them in.]
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What sort of competition measures actual teleportation against flight speed?
( Lightly, as he shifts to tap at his own Watch, checking for notifications that aren't there. It's a small fidget, let go of easily when they make more progress towards Bakugo's room. He has no idea about what happened inside of there, but he is curious to see if there are any signs about how he's been doing, so he wants to pay attention. )
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Bakugo leaves the stairs behind, his current stance a bored-looking impatience with hands in his pockets and shoulders rounded. Waiting for the elevator doors to finally open and spit out its untouched occupants. Good. It behaved. The resort won't have to repair a smoldering wreckage plummeting to the base of an elevator shaft.]
Haa? I can't teleport, Parrot! [Pure speed! Is Hiyori trying to start something? Annoying dork. Bakugo turns on his heel and leads them into the fleet of Ace and Jack suites. His isn't exceedingly close to the stairwell, so it's a small walk to reach it, given the size of each suite filling the floor.]
Loki? He's the guy Web Face mentioned. A god, right? [Their footsteps stop in front of his room's double doors and he unlocks the right one before heading in. Given the length of time that's passed, most of his suite's great room is repaired and refurbished, though some open spaces suggest there are a few pieces left to get back. The remains of repair work, such as a ladder, paint, and cleaning supplies, are stacked to the foyer's side.] Che! Prince Prick's right. That's a bullshit challenge.
[As competitive as Bakugo is, he's not an idiot.]
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Yep! But not just any god. He's the one and only trickster god from Norse mythology! Which means he can shapeshift, make copies, make things disappear, conjure stuff out of nowhere, teleport, and do all kinds of things. He showed off his magic at the Magic Showcase I held, and at one point he froze the stage and turned it into an ice rink. Then he made two sets of ice skates, and then we danced! On ice! ♪
[He smiles brightly, the memory a fond one.]
I'm sure he'd be happy to show you his magic, too. Just be careful not to get tricked, since it is his specialty.
[Is this lighting a competitive fire in Bakugo yet? Yes? No?
Either way they're about to enter his suite. Hiyori waits a moment instead of pushing Esikko inside right away, trying to assess the state it's in. The answer seems to be "better shape than last time," and that's a relief. One's room isn't a perfect proxy for one's mental state, but it's still a good sign, isn't it? A sign that things are healing. Even if scars remain, and even if they're still trapped in a horrible place where people like those brothers can roam free...
Well. Bakugo's the resilient type. He'll pull through, Hiyori thinks. And Esikko could probably be doing worse himself if he had the leftover bandwidth to worry about Bakugo. Hiyori pushes him through the doorway, still chatting away.]
Then perhaps we could find a different challenge. One that tests your explosions against his explosions! Or you and him could both launch someone, the way you launch me up the stairs, and we'll measure how fast the person flies! That sounds fun, doesn't it? Esikko-kun likes that idea too, right? I don't like most contests, but being in the judges' seat is a completely different story.