Chapter Text
Screams.
Katsuki barely understood what was happening. A loud bang tore him from sleep, and in the next instant he was slammed painfully against the wall. His mind was still half-asleep, struggling to catch up as panic flooded his senses. His eyes darted wildly around the room.
Black mist pinned him to the wall with merciless force. His heart pounded so hard that the screams sounded distant, muffled by the roaring in his ears.
The black whip.
One For All.
His gaze snapped to the bed.
Nausea. Panic. Horror.
Izuku was still lying there—but his small body was writhing in unbearable pain. His limbs twitched violently, glowing veins spreading across his skin as if something radioactive was flowing through him. Tears streamed endlessly down his cheeks.
Katsuki began to shake. His teeth ground together as he tried to push against the black matter.
“Izuku!” he shouted, but his voice was swallowed by the chaos. Izuku’s eyes were squeezed shut despite the pain. Was he dreaming?
He heard panicked voices and pounding on the door. Help was coming—and that only made him angrier.
He clenched his fists. Sparks crackled dangerously in his palms.
He’s scared. And I promised I’d protect him.
And yet—once again, I can’t fucking do anything.
His rage swelled, unstoppable. His whole body tensed, his mind threatening to snap as Izuku’s screams filled the room.
“IZUKU, I’M HERE!”
He twisted his hands and blasted explosions into the wall behind him. With a violent jolt, he tore free of the black matter—and the next second he was at the bed.
The black whip lashed wildly, pure pain, pure destruction. Katsuki dodged, dropped to the bed, and pulled Izuku into his arms. The boy ended up half in Katsuki’s lap, half against his chest.
The screams grew louder. Katsuki stared down at the shaking, convulsing body in his arms.
What’s happening to him? What am I supposed to do?
His shaking worsened. His eyes burned with tears.
“Izuku, I’m here. Everything’s going to be okay. I promise.”
His voice trembled, completely overwhelmed.
Why couldn’t he save him?
Why was he always so helpless?
Why couldn’t he protect the person who mattered most to him?
Tears spilled from his eyes without him noticing. He could only look at Izuku—until suddenly, two eyes opened.
They weren’t the same as usual.
No sparkle.
Only fear, pain and panic.
Katsuki’s heart clenched.
“K-Kacchan…”
The hoarse voice stole the air from his lungs.
“I’m here.”
Katsuki pulled him closer. “It’s okay… everything’s okay…”
I’m so fucking pathetic.
“P-please… s-stay… w-with me…”
His entire body froze. His fingers tightened around Izuku. He felt the heat of him, the sweat, the trembling.
Izuku met his gaze.
And despite everything—despite the pain, despite the terror—he forced a small smile.
“…my hero…”
A bang.
The door was blown open. One For All vanished the instant Aizawa entered the room and activated his Quirk.
Katsuki didn’t even look up.
He just stared at Izuku’s unconscious form in his arms.
The sudden silence was deafening.
“Bakugou.”
Aizawa stepped closer. Eijiro and Denki followed him inside, scanning the room for danger.
Katsuki didn’t respond.
“Bakugou.”
Aizawa crouched beside him and carefully reached for Izuku—
Katsuki growled and pulled Izuku closer, like a wounded animal.
“Don’t touch him.”
Eijiro stepped closer, hesitant.
“Buddy…”
“I won’t hurt him,” Aizawa said calmly. “I’m taking him to the hospital, okay?”
Katsuki looked up, eyes blazing.
“He stays with me. I’m not leaving him alone again.”
Never again.
His tears soaked into Izuku’s hair. Aizawa sighed.
These problem children…
“Alright. Watch over him. I’ll call an ambulance.”
Katsuki closed his eyes, focusing only on Izuku’s heartbeat. He didn’t loosen his grip for even a second.
---
Later, Aizawa sat in the hospital hallway when his students came running.
“You’re skipping class,” he said in a dangerously calm voice.
Denki waved his hands. “W-We have special permission!”
Eijiro stepped forward. “How are they?”
Aizawa sighed.
“As well as can be expected. Midoriya has a high fever and is unconscious. We’re hoping he returns to his older self… and doesn’t become even younger.”
Another sigh.
“And Bakugou… physically fine. Mentally, he’s acting like a guard dog. Won’t leave Midoriya’s side.”
---
Katsuki sat beside Izuku’s hospital bed.
He’d yelled at the doctors when they tried to make him leave. Aizawa had to step in.
He carefully rested his hand on the mattress—not quite touching Izuku’s, just millimeters away. When he felt the faint tingling, he pulled it back and clenched his fist.
How could someone like me… even hold his hand…?
He looked at Izuku’s small, exhausted face.
“I’ll do everything I can to protect you…”
He leaned forward and rested his head on the bed.
And fell asleep.
---
Katsuki woke up.
Someone was gently stroking his hair. Soft. Tender.
Was Inko here?
He grunted and opened his eyes slowly. It was dark. Night. Visiting hours were over.
He shot upright.
No one in the room.
Did I imagine it…?
Then he noticed something.
On his hand… was another hand.
A familiar hand. Warm. Scarred.
His heart began to race. His gaze slowly traveled up the arm.
The bed was raised.
And then he saw them.
Those green eyes.
The older Izuku.
Awake. Alive.
Smiling.
“Good morning, Kacchan. Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”
Katsuki just stared at him, overwhelmed. No words came out.
Izuku squeezed his hand gently.
“Thank you for staying with me…”
He blushed.
Tears instantly filled Katsuki’s eyes and spilled over.
“K-Kacchan!? Are you okay!? Are you hurt!?”
Izuku tried to pull his hand away—but Katsuki grabbed it.
“Huh—?”
Suddenly Katsuki pulled him forward.
Izuku fell straight into his arms.
Katsuki trembled, holding him tight. Tighter.
I’m never letting him go again.
Izuku wrapped his arms around Katsuki’s back and hugged him back.
“I’m back, Kacchan.”
“You sure took your damn time, nerd…”
His voice broke.
Izuku cried softly too.
“I promised I’d come back.”
Katsuki froze.
He pulled back just enough to look into Izuku’s eyes.
“You remember… everything?”
Izuku nodded, smiling warmly.
“Thank you for always being there for me, Kacchan…”
Katsuki rested his forehead against Izuku’s shoulder.
He was back.
His Izuku was back.
Silence.
Soft.
Warm.
Perfect.
Then, hesitantly—
“U-Um… Kacchan? Could you maybe… I mean - I might've… Um… Is it possible that you li—”
Katsuki couldn’t take it.
He grabbed Izuku by the back of the neck and pulled him in.
Their lips met.
A short, careful—but intense kiss.
When they pulled apart, Katsuki was shaking.
“Finally stopped stuttering…”
Izuku’s eyes filled with tears.
“K-Kacchan! I thought I was just imagining everything!”
Katsuki gently wiped his cheek.
A real, soft smile spread across his face.
“I’m staying with you. Just like I promised. Forever.”
End.