"Hey kid, long time no see."

I said nothing as Eijirou hopped down from his truck, coming to stand between Ashido and me. "You know him?" he asked me, not Dabi.

Dabi almost doubled over in laughter. "Found a whole new gang of misfits, huh? Oh god, that's hilarious. Holy shit." He actually had to wipe tears away from how hard he was laughing.

I still had no idea what to say. I wasn't sure if I even possessed the ability to talk anymore. Dabi was standing in front of me. A little voice in the back of my head couldn't help but ask if Toga was around as well.

"Iz?" Eijirou prodded gently.

I rapidly blinked, looking up at the redhead next to me. "Uh, I... yeah."

"Don't worry, pipsqueak. I'm staying as far from Shigaraki as possible to, you got nothing to worry about," Dabi said, taking a moment to catch his breath, a few chuckles still escaping.

"Shigaraki?" Eijirou asked, his hand suddenly grabbing my arm. The name was enough for the rest of the group to drop what they were doing and pay close attention to the interaction.

Dabi looked between all of them before settling back on me. "Do they even know?"

I nodded once, tracking his every movement with my eyes. "Dabi was Shigaraki's best friend. He's actually how I met him."

Eijirou subtly positioned himself in front of me.

"Hey now," Dabi put his hands up. "Best friends is pushing it. Business partners is a better term. Besides, I haven't talked to him since he got put away and have no interest in reaching out."

No one seemed ready to believe him, to the point that even Bakugou hopped down from the bed of the truck and walked up to the other side of me.

Dabi sighed at the display. "You just had to go and mess around with my free live music, huh?" he asked me. When I didn't reply to his attempt at a joke, he spoke again. "Toga's inside, I can go-"

I was flying past him and through the opened side door in a second, hearing his laughter ring out behind me. I realized my mistake when I had no idea where to go from there. I reluctantly walked back out, avoiding the wide and questioning gazes of my friends. "I don't know where to go."

He shook his head, an amused smile on his lips. He pulled out his phone, clicked a few times, and held it to his ear. After a few moments, he said "Izuchan's out in the alley."

There was a scream from inside that we could all hear, even over the blaring music. In about thirty seconds I was tackled, only avoiding landing on the group when Bakugou caught me. And subsequently, the girl who was wrapped around me.

"Izuchan! What're you doing here? I missed you so much!"Himiko exclaimed.

Bakugou moved to push her off me but must have noticed I was hugging her back. "Missed you too, Himi."

"I tried calling and texting! Why didn't you respond?" she hadn't let go of me yet and I had expected it.

"My mom switched my number, I was able to get it to Uraraka, but I guess she never gave it to you," I admitted, letting my cheek rest on the top of her head.

"That bitch," she snarled under her breath. I ignored it.

"What're you doing here? With Dabi?" I asked, squeezing her a little tighter. I guess my big brother instincts kicked in.

"I ran away again, Dabi offered to give me a lift when he left for here, and I didn't have anywhere to go, so I was just crashing in the upstairs apartment." Her voice was quiet since she knew I was going to be mad.

I'd gone completely still, mulling her words over. Without thinking too hard, I looked over at Bakugou. "Can your parents take in another stray?"

"Izuchan!" Himiko screeched in outrage.

"Who the fuck is she anyway?" Bakugou barked, very annoyed he wasn't in the loop.

Himiko grumbled. "I'm perfectly fine on my own."

I ignored her, instead I answered the other boy. "My sister."

Ashido and Kaminari gasped in sync.

"In the loosest sense," I amended. "We grew up next-door neighbors, always at each other's houses, we were practically raised together. So, she's my sister."

"How do you know Dabi's band?" Himiko asked, peaking up at me through her bands, still glued to me.

"We are not his fucking band," Eijirou snipped, his arms crossed.

I blinked at him in surprise as Himiko giggled to herself. I eyed him questioningly as I responded to her question. "I, uh. They're my new neighbors."

"All of them?" she asked in amazement.

I finally broke my concentration from Eijirou and looked down at her, shaking my head quickly. "No, no, just, uh, Bakugou and Kirishima."

I tried to ignore the way the redhead's eyes widened when I used his last name.

"That's the grumpy blond and redhead, right?" Her eyes bounced from the two boys and me.

"Um, yeah," I said, still awkward.

Her grip became tighter as she buried her face into my chest and wailed. "Oh, Izuchan! I'm so sorry you have to live next to them instead of me!"

I shot them an awkward and panicked smile as she cried. "Himi, it's fine. It's fine! It's not that bad, please stop crying."

Her sobs stopped in an instant and she was once again smiling up at me. She finally released me enough to look at my outfit, her hands now connected to mine. "Look at you! Oh my gosh, you're wearing your septum! You haven't done that since eighth grade when Monoma called you gay!"

I squeezed her hands tightly and spoke through clenched teeth, "Himiko." She snapped to attention. "Shut up," I demanded with a sweet smile.

She threw herself at me once again, her arms going around my neck this time. "I'm sorry, Izuchan! I'm just so excited to see you again."

I patted her back, knowing she hadn't embarrassed me on purpose. She pulled away again so we could talk.

"Who dressed you?" she asked in earnest.

I nodded my head towards the pink-haired girl next to me. "Threaten to hog-tie me if I didn't wear the shirt."

Himiko released one of my hands when she turned to her. "You're my new favorite person."

Ashido giggled at her declaration. "Can you believe he wanted to wear something else?"

The blonde shook her head. "I tried my best to raise him right, but his poor fashion taste snuck past me."

"It's alright, I don't think the damage is irreparable," Ashido said, patting me on the head condescendingly.

"Alright, it's stop bullying Izuku time," I said, taking a step back to try and get out of their reach, but I bumped right into Bakugou. I nearly jumped out of my skin, but Himiko caught me and pulled me back to her. The two entered a glaring battle.

"Knock it off, you two," I scolded, flicking Himiko's nose.

"Ouch," she whined.

"Sorry to break up the heartwarming reunion, but you're already late," Dabi deadpanned, looking over all of us.

Instantly the group was back in motion, Bakugou barking orders at everyone. Himiko tugged my hand and told me to hang out with her inside while they set up and performed. I called out to Ashido, who was the closest to me, and let her know where I'd be. She gave me a thumbs up and then rushed to help Kaminari before he dropped one of the drums for Bakugou's set. She probably just saved that boy's life.

Himiko tried to drag me on the dance floor right away, but I was stronger and went straight for the bar. I took a seat and she pouted while dropping onto the stool beside me. "I don't dance sober," I reminded her.

A light bulb must have gone off in her head because she smiled triumphantly, hanging off the side of the bar and calling out "Dabi! Jag bombs!"

Dabi must be the bartender for the night, as he walked away from someone after handing them a drink. He shuffled around behind the bar and then set four shots in front of us. "You're twenty tonight," Dabi said in a hushed voice before walking away to help another customer.

"Jesus, Himi. I haven't drank in months. I'm gonna be on my ass," I complained as she forced a shot into my hand.

"Oh shush," she chided. "It's two shots, you'll be fine."

Just then, the music faded out and my new gang of misfits were on the small stage on the other side of the club, facing the bar. I took one look at my neighbors, Eijirou wearing a heartbreaking smile and running a hand through his hair, Bakugou biting his lip ring while finding me in the crowd, and turned back to the bar. Without thinking I downed the first shot.

"Whoo!" Himiko cheered, taking her own shot. "On three?" she asked, already grabbing her next drink.

I didn't wait for the countdown, grabbing my shot and downing it in one fluid movement.

"Mean," she whined, but I was already turning back to the stage. Himiko checked her nonexistent watch. "Those'll be hitting in about five minutes."

In what couldn't have been more than ten minutes, I was in the middle of the dance floor, dancing wildly with Himiko to the beat of the music. I was probably just a step above tipsy, but it was enough for me to agree when she asked to dance again.

Eijirou's voice was flawless as always, ringing out clearly from the speakers, and I could feel Bakugou's drumming in my chest. I was letting myself get lost in the buzz of the club, the music, the booze, the dancing. I forgot how much fun shit like this was, seeing I hadn't even been to a party in months.

I was almost entirely focusing on the blonde girl in front of me, but I couldn't help it when my eyes were drifting to the singer and drummer on stage. It was hard not to when I kept feeling their eyes on me.

Everything that happened from that point on to the next morning, I blame on the alcohol.

Something I seemed to forget about myself, is how flirty I'd get while buzzed. I'd hit on every one of my friends back home, even when I wasn't actually into them. So, you can imagine how bad I was when it was two smoking-hot guys who couldn't stop staring at me. I put on my own little show, down on the dance floor.

Oh boy, I put on a show.

But I couldn't help it! Not when they would both smile, all teasing like, every time they'd look over at me. They were fueling it. I cannot be blamed here.

By the time they'd finished their set, they were sending me rather sultry looks. I was giggling on top of Himiko as she struggled to haul us both to the bar, but she was laughing just as much as I was. We barely managed to not fall over while trying to sit on the stools. As soon as I was sure I wasn't going to topple off, I let my head rest on the bar. Everything was still spinning, even though I was now stationary.

"I remember why I stopped drinking so much," I said, more laughter escaping me.

Himiko was just as bad as me, not being able to stop herself from falling into a fit of laughter right alongside me. She lost her balance and started to fall back. I tried to catch her, but I lost my own balance, starting to topple sideways. Himiko managed to catch herself, but I wasn't so lucky.

I would have face-planted on the ground if strong arms hadn't caught me. I was suspended there for a moment, staring at the hard floor my face was only a few inches from. "Whoa."

I was slowly placed back on the stool, the hands on me were easily recognizable as Eijirous, from the vine tattoo I found. Turning to face him, I latched onto either side of his flannel for balance. "Eijirou!" I exclaimed excitedly. He laughed, taking in my state. I caught a glimpse of ashy blond behind him, and in an effort to see around him, pulled him to me until my chin rested on his shoulder. "Kacchan, you're here to!"

He was wearing the smirk I was all too familiar with. "How much did you have to drink, Deku?"

"Three? Four? Himi, how many?" I called behind me, not moving. I wanted to see Bakugou, so obviously I wouldn't move. Eijirou's hands had ended up on the bar behind me, trapping me. I hadn't even noticed.

"I don't know," was the giggled out answer I received.

"About 'I don't know' many," I answered the blond with a dopey grin.

I felt the redhead I was resting on shift, his mouth next to my ear now. "So I'm back to Eijirou now?"

I shivered somewhat dramatically, earning me a laugh from the boy. "Himi would have flipped her shit," I whined to him. I had gone fully limp against him, letting him support my dead weight.

Once he realized that I was pretty much a goner, I was being shaken awake. "Hm?" I groaned out.

"C'mon, let's get you home." Eijirou's voice reached me, even with the loud club music playing.

I was lifted onto my own feet and managed to stand. It wasn't two steps in and I was falling over again, only being saved by the Eijirou's arms that hadn't left my waist.

"God damn it," I heard Bakugou grumble before I was suddenly in the air, giggling at the feeling. I was now being carried bridal style to the door. "What? Don't look at me like that, I wasn't waiting for his drunk ass to stumble to the truck."

"Whatever you say, Kats."

I poked one of Bakugou's ears when they turned a light shade of pink.

"Stop fucking with my ears, you fucking gremlin," he said, scolding me. Drunk me did not care.

I laughed and poked his face this time.

"Try it again and I'll fucking bite you," he warned. I thought that was hilarious, but I was also convinced he'd take my finger clean off. Instead of annoying him more, I tipped my head back and an upside-down Eijirou appeared, stifling his laughter.

"He said he was gonna bite me," I whispered to him incredibly loudly, just as we exited the club and the truck came into view.

"Whoa, he is hammered," someone said. I think it was Sero, but I wasn't sure. I thought they were really funny though, laughing so hard it almost caused Bakugou to drop me.

"Knock it off, Deku," Bakugou growled at me, trying to save me from falling right out of his arms.

"Kacchan, you need to calm down like a million levels," I told him, poking his cheek again and letting out a squeak when he snapped his teeth at me. I dissolved into giggles for what seemed like the hundredth time that night. I could have sworn he was smiling, like a genuine smile, but I was also really drunk. Who the hell knows?

At some point, I was placed into the car, Ashido next to me and diligently listening to all my drunk rambling. Before I could blink, the thirty-minute car ride was over and I was somehow the last one in the back seat. I can't remember if I fell asleep on the drive, or if I was just black-out drunk at that point.

My memory starts again when Bakugou was carrying me into his house, Eijirou right behind him.

"You two brats are later than I thought you'd be," a woman spoke up once we were all inside.

"Took a minute to get him into the car," Eijirou explained in a sheepish tone, my laughter sounding from next to him.

"Oh boy, is that the Midoriya I've heard about?"

I gasped, barely conscious. "She knows my name," I mumbled. "How does she know my name?"

The lady cackled at me. "You better get him to bed, and make sure he's got some water and Advil for the morning."

"Whatever," Bakugou said, already heading for the stairs.

We were in Bakugou's room, I knew that because I'd been sat on the bed and instantly hung my head off the side. All I could see from my swirling vision was the drum set he had in there.

"We can't get him back to his room like this," Eijirou pointed out.

A hand appeared in my vision, snapping its fingers. I followed the arm up until I saw Bakugou looking down at me, awfully amused. "Hey nerd, you coherent?"

"Anytime for you, Kacchan," I actually had the audacity to wink.

The boys nearly fell over from their laughter, which in turn started mine once again. In between breaths, Bakugou announced. "Look at him, we can't fucking move him."

And that was how I ended up sleeping in Bakugou's bed. That's also how I ended up waking up on his chest.