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To show concern for other people was never something Bakugou was able to do with great results; it's not like he doesn't care – or at least that's what he tells himself – but he's also absolutely convinced that people have to provide for their own good, no matter the circumstances. It's just one of the many reasons why he never asks for help, and he accepts it only if somebody offers it to him; and it's also one of the reasons he's often scolded by any Pro. Part of him knows he'll never be a real hero until he manages to help others, and part of him just doesn't care: if he can win, if he can save, he doesn't need to be gentle – and has no need to worry.
But when his fire power falls over and they start to crash down towards one building's roof, when the impact with the concrete is strong enough to take the breath out of him and the fall makes him tumble far from the small group of people who came to his rescue, concern is all he has in his mind – it's far more stronger and intense than anything else. It manages to make him get up even before he stops rolling away from the point of impact, the soles of his shoes sliding against the gravel making him lose his balance a couple of times before letting him run; the rage for not being able to taking part in the fight against All For One and the adrenaline of the escape all vanish the moment his body collides with the one of the boy who was running to him, and as they fall back again – as gravel scratches their arms and knees – Bakugou can feel the pressure of the relief destroy him, consume every thought that doesn't revolve around Kirishima.
He stares back, barely breathing, straight hair falling on his face: their short scuffle had him winning, standing on top of Bakugou's body, but instead of rubbing it in his face he moves towards him, on his face all the anxiety and fear Bakugou can't bring himself to express – and that Eijirou, on the contrary, doesn't even try to hide. - Are you hurt? - He asks; Bakugou shakes his head, trying as he can to ignore the warmth of Kirishima's hand on his cheek. He catches enough breath to ask Kirishima about his state, but the chance to do so is taken from him by a simple change of expression: the relief he felt before just by seeing Kirishima is now on his classmate's face, in the form of a smile so wide and sincere that Bakugou is almost frightened by its honesty. - Good... I'm so happy... - Eijirou murmurs, raising his free hand to hide half of his face behind it.
For a brief moment, Bakugou thinks about the strength of his grip, the intensity he put into yelling his name, and it's like the last piece of an imaginary puzzle found its place, allowing him to finally look at the whole picture: he opens his mouth to murmur something that he's not sure makes really sense, but suddendly a stranger's voice from far away calls their names. They both turn to Midoriya and Iida, getting up from the concrete in that moment – and in no more than a second, with a sharp movement, Bakugou pushes Kirishima away to stand on his feet. The idea of Deku and the class president being there with them upsets him more than Deku's presence usually does: the fear of showing a softer side of himself, even a scared one, blocks him completely. He doesn't look at Kirishima's face, extremely consciuos of how weird he's acting – at least until they're in the crowd, after going down the fire-escape of the building they fell onto and having joined the chaos of people watching the big screens of the train station broadcasting All Might's fight.
Only then, after minutes of endless silence, Bakugou lets his eyes wander towards Kirishima; it's almost annoying to find him so calm, devoid of discomfort. He doesn't get him: he'd be pretty annoyed to be pushed away in a similar fashion, but Eijirou is a complete incognita to him. He swallows hard, lowering his gaze again.
- You, - He grumbles, low enough for Kirishima to be the only one hearing. - You...are you fine? -
He has no idea of what kind of reaction Kirishima has, but he can feel it; it's hard not to when even his aura is a mass of explosive happiness. He's probably staring at him with a dumb face, getting ready to smile like an idiot.
- Not even a scratch. - He answers; Bakugou can feel that smile in his voice.
- Good. - He nods. Only after a few seconds he turns to look at him, only to confirm that the vision he had of his dumb smile matches reality. It doesn't: the smile Kirishima is grazing him with is far wider and dumber than he could ever imagine.
