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The first sign that something is irreparably wrong hits Bakugo the moment he wakes up, his arms stretching out to meet an empty space instead of his slumbering husband. Shouto, Bakugo can wholeheartedly concur, is not an early bird. He hates waking up unless he has a really good incentive. The blond barely resists a smirk when he remembers exactly what kind of incentive his husband appreciates.
He stretches the length of his body against the mattress in a way Shouto always said resembles a cat. Him and his adorable obsession with felines, Bakugo thinks with a sigh.
He sits up slowly, stretching his arms next until he feels a satisfying pop, the duvet pooling in his lap. A quick glance at his bedside clock tells him it’s 09:20 and he swings his legs to the edge of the bed with a sigh. He would’ve preferred to wake up a little earlier, never one to exploit a day off but he supposes he needed the rest. The past few days have been grueling and even he conceded to a breather every now and then.
That’s probably why Shouto didn’t wake him earlier. What a considerate piece of shit, Bakugo thinks with a hint of warmth swarming his gut.
He’s in no hurry when he moves to the bathroom to relieve himself and brush his teeth, blinking blearily at his reflection in the mirror. He looks slightly better than he did yesterday but in his humble opinion, he still looks worse for wear. He has miniscule but dark enough bags under his eyes and his hair is still clammy from the scalding hot shower he took yesterday, it’s not pleasant. His eyes travel down to his naked torso where he sees the bruises accumulated from last night’s raid.
Work has been hectic lately, and it wasn’t just a chaos with his own agency. The crime rates in Tokyo have been on the rise since the retirement of ages-old heroes like Edgeshot, Mirko and Endeavor, whom he admits still leaves a bitter taste in his mouth no matter what Shouto says.
It wasn’t the people who underestimated their new generation, oh no, they were familiar enough with them due to all those traumatic experiences Bakugo and his entire class had to go through. The villains, on the other hand, seemed to regard them with no attention at all and that fact irked Bakugo to no end. He would die before saying it out loud but his friends are fucking strong. They endured so much and they still came out with a smile and an intense need to be heroes that make the world better, they were ready to take on the world and they wasted no time to make that fact clear. Every other day, he has to fight a smile after finding out how one of them took down an entire organization overnight.
Before Bakugo can decide whether to hunt Shouto down wherever he’s lurking in their apartment or take another shower, the shrill ring of his phone permeates towards him. He lets out a sigh, hoping it’s not Deku with some shit excuse about how the agency needs him to do something that he most certainly is not okay with doing.
It came as a surprise to everyone when Bakugo chose the same agency as his husband and his- no, Deku was not his childhood best friend, fuck you- rival. By graduation, him and Shouto already decided that they’d work together, work ethic be damned and also by then, Bakugo was wise enough to let go of the meaningless heat he harbored towards the greenette, who did nothing but be nice to him in all their UA years. If it pleased Shouto to the point where he gave him that damned soft smile, well, no one had to know that added bonus but him.
He makes his way to their bedroom lazily, absentmindedly thinking of different ways he can spend his day off, without Shouto, unfortunately, who’s supposed to be on patrol all afternoon.
“What?” He speaks into his phone gruffly, not bothering to check the caller ID.
“Kacchan, thank god! Are you okay?” Deku’s metallic voice greets him on the other end, sounding strangely choked which immediately puts the blond on edge. A crying Deku is never a good sign.
“Yes, why the hell wouldn’t I be? Please tell me I’m not getting called in, Deku, I’m fucking exhausted-” Before he goes on a rant about how much he needs a break which, he realizes, is very uncharacteristic of him. Admitting he’s tired is basically offering up a weakness to be used against him but he reminds himself that this is fucking Midoriya Izuku, the last person who’d take advantage of his weaknesses.
“You’re not getting called in!” His friend’s squeaky voice interrupts him with a nervous edge but something tells him that there’s more, “to the agency, at least.” He adds very quietly and Bakugo doesn’t know why his stomach suddenly drops.
He keeps the phone against his ear, not bothering to put on a shirt as he ventures out through the short corridor and into the spacious living room, wanting to curb an insistent need to see his husband who, since he woke up, has been silent.
“Where else would I be called in?” He asks slowly, dangerously as he surveys the place with sharp eyes, not seeing his husband anywhere. A quick look at the kitchen spikes his anxiety further, beat in place by the heavy silence on the other end of the phone.
“Izuku.” He grits out, forgoing nicknames in the face of the disaster he knows he’s about to face.
“It’s Shouto! You know he was on-call this morning and we needed extra hands so we called him in and it was supposed to be a low-profile raid but it turned into a hostage situation real quick and one of them had a mind controlling quirk and- fuck, how did I let this happen?!”
“Deku, fucking breathe! Just tell me what happened, slowly .” He orders with calmness he didn’t feel, fingers tightening almost agonizingly around the phone as he himself tries to breathe. It won’t do if they both start panicking.
“He convinced Shouto they had someone coming after you! It made him fumble for one fucking second and they shot him.” Bakugo’s ears start ringing violently, his vision whitening with rage. The hold he had on the phone is bordering on painful now and distantly, he hears Deku telling him more details he’s sure has nothing to do with what he wants to hear.
His husband, his aloof, beautiful, dumb fucking husband was shot.
“Is he alive? Where is he?!” He can’t even try to hide the panic currently lacing his voice like fucking poison.
“He’s alive! I should’ve started with that, I’m sorry! They took him to Tokyo General Hospital and they told me he was going to be fine but that could be just because I was crying too-”
“Deku!” He interrupts with a shout before shame rolls through him in waves when he hears Deku’s typical hitch of breath, usually foreshadowing a full breakdown. “Where are you now?” He asks with as much softness as he’s able to muster as he frantically goes back to the bedroom to put on some decent clothes that didn’t scream ‘I’m a fucking hobo!’. Shouto was the nerd’s best friend after all and taking it out on him when he was the one who saw him get shot doesn’t sit right with him.
“I’m still at the scene, Denki came last minute so I sent him with Shouto while they wrapped here, they still needed a statement.” Deku tells him with a sniffle.
“I’ll meet you at the hospital then, is that okay?” He asks after putting on a random t-shirt he’s sure is Shouto’s and his pair of ripped jeans using one arm. Deku sniffles again and it sounds like he’s nodding. Bakugo is so close to letting out a snort as he stops by the door to put on combat boots. The press are going to have a field day with his look, he knows but he doesn’t care.
“Bye, shitty Deku.” He bids farewell with a playful tone that sounds fake even to his own ears. He just hopes the greenette doesn’t notice, he can’t have him combust from anxiety.
“Hang in there, Icyhot, or I’ll bring you back to life just to finish you off myself.” He whispers to himself, clenching his hands in fists when he feels the slight tremor in them.
The last thing Bakugo thinks as he picks up his car keys and pulls the front door open is ‘there goes my day off’.
It takes him fifteen minutes to reach the hospital, instead of forty five.
He vows to never tell anyone this piece of information. Between a couple of close calls, several scratches on his beloved Bentley and the violation of at least a dozen traffic rules, he’s just relieved he didn’t get arrested. It won’t do if his husband wakes up to find him in prison.
When he reaches the reception, ready to raise hell, he sees a face he’s not too keen on interacting with, regardless of what Shouto keeps telling him.
“Endeavor.” Bakugo acknowledges lowly, unable to keep the hint of residing hostility out of his tone as he pins the former hellfire hero with a steel look. Just because Shouto forgave him doesn’t mean he has to.
Old age seems to have taken a giant toll on the once-invincible man. His fire is completely snuffed out, in its place a stiff well-kept mustache, the scar on the left side of his face prominent and red. His shoulders, once broad and stiff are now slumped and pulled in on each other. The sight of him so tired and worn-out is disconcerting, if Bakugo is being honest, so he makes a mental note to take it easy on the man.
“Ground Zero.” The older Todoroki calls back, his voice taking on a weary lilt as he nods at the current number two hero. “I came as soon as I heard the news, Fuyumi and Natsou are on their way too.”
Bakugo nods, then clears his throat.
“Did you get any updates?” He asks gently now, noticing the worried frown marring the redhead’s face. The man shakes his head, lips curving into a wistful self-deprecating smile.
“They won’t tell me anything because I’m not under his emergency contacts list so I was waiting for you or Fuyumi to get here.” He informs him with a defeated sigh but Bakugo can see he’s making an effort. The past Endeavor would've thrown a tantrum at not being Shouto’s first-to-call person but now he’s taking it in stride.
Bakugo remembers Fuyumi proudly praising her father's attempts at redemption and he has to say he agrees with her, if only slightly.
“Let’s go see then.” He tells him, catching a glimpse of Endeavor’s surprised expression just as he turns his back on him, stomping his way to the reception.
The receptionist is eyeing him with a look of trepidation that Bakugo has difficulty suppressing his smirk at, at least his notoriority will get him to his husband faster.
“We’re here for Hero Shouto. He was brought in earlier accompanied by Chargebolt.” He tells the man gruffly, his nervousness- previously forgotten on seeing his father-in-law- coming back full force, knocking the proverbial breath out of him.
“I already told Endeavor-san, emergency contacts only.” The man lets out with a breath, already looking back and forth between the two men with barely-concealed fear. Bakugo has to clench his fists before clocking the man in his teeth, his need to see Shouto threatening to override his newfound civility.
“He’s my husband. Now tell me where he is before I do something that won’t look too good on my record.” He grits out through his teeth, watching as the man pales significantly. Bakugo doesn’t know the kind of cave he’s been living in if he doesn’t recognize him, if not for his infamous rage then at least for being one part of the Wonder Duo, as the media liked to call him and Shouto once they discovered their marriage.
“Oh,” the man concedes quietly, “he’s still in the OR but you can wait for him in the waiting room on the fifth floor, I guess Hero Chargebolt is already up there.”
With one last glare at the asshole, Bakugo turns around with a ‘tch’ then strides to the elevator, sensing Endeavor on his heels.
Once he steps inside, he punches the button for the fifth floor, then looks straight ahead with his arms crossed. He thinks he's doing a good job masking the absolute frenzy going on in his mind but the elevator ride feels like it's taking forever so he starts bouncing his legs up and down, refusing to look at Endeavor even when he feels the man's piercing gaze on his back.
He looks up at the panel and sees they're already on the third floor so he tries to take a deep breath.
It takes everything in Bakugo's willpower not to jump when a heavy hand lands on his shoulder with softness he never associated with Shouto's father. He risks a glance back, his crimson orbs meeting Endeavor's steady turquoise before he looks ahead again, afraid to let the man see him anything but held together.
It's a promise he made himself long ago, he knows just how bad Enji Todoroki fucked up with his children, especially Shouto. This fact made him strive to be the most perfect he can for his husband, because he doesn't have any standards to hold Bakugo up to and Bakugo will be damned if he half-asses his relationship with the only man he ever loved. Part of that resolution means showing Endeavor how much of an asshole he was by being everything the man couldn't be. That, unfortunately, included not looking scared shirtless when his husband is being operated on.
A gentle squeeze on his shoulder brings him out of his thoughts and he refuses to look back again.
"He's going to be okay, Bakugo."
Katsuki, for the life of him, has no fucking idea how the man manages to have such a soothing tone that almost puts him at ease. The voice he says it in is filled with worry too, but it's also filled with utter confidence, a result of years of experience with this kind of emergencies and it's filled with affection, so pure and strong it feels like it knocks Katsuki back on his ass.
Thankfully, he doesn't have to respond because the elevator pings and the panel reads 5 and Katsuki doesn't stop to think about anything else as he practically storms out of the elevator, speedwalking towards anything that resembles a waiting room.
He doesn't have to look for long because Kaminari Denki is an actual attention magnet. He's leaning against the wall next to a row of plastic chairs that look awfully uncomfortable and he has his eyes closed. He doesn't look like his usual bombous self and this little fact makes any Endeavor-resulted calmness vanish into thin air.
"Oi, Pikachu!" He calls out as he approaches the blond but his voice is faint. Luckily, Kaminari hears him anyway because he suddenly perks up, his eyes suspiciously red as he recognizes the two men standing in front of him and then all of a sudden, he has an armful of the electricity user.
"Kacchan," Kaminari breathes against his shoulder, arms wrapped tightly around Katsuki’s waist and he squeezes his shoulders in return. If Endeavor is weirded out by their closeness, he doesn't say anything.
Katsuki learned to wave his personal space goodbye ages ago because of the so-called Bakusquad.
"Talk to me, how's he?" Katsuki asked quietly, gently, as he pulled away to look at his friend for the answer he's been longing for ever since he received Deku's call.
"He kept asking for you, Kacchan, I've never seen him so worried before! He wouldn't even settle in the stretcher until Izuku promised to call you. I don't know what these assholes showed him but it can't be good because he kept crying for you, fuck, even I thought something happened to you." Kaminari rambles, looking genuinely ruffled and scared. Katsuki slips into the familiar role of the leader before allowing himself to dwell on the state of his husband as he holds Kaminari by the shoulders, gentle but stern.
"It's okay, I'm fine and Shouto’s going to be fine too, yeah?" A hesitant nod, "you know what a stubborn bastard he is, you know he'd never kick the bucket so lamely. He knows you'll make fun him for it for-fucking-ever and he'd hate to give you that satisfaction."
He doesn't know exactly who he's trying to convince with his words, Kaminari or himself but his friend seems to deflate at the reassurance, offering a snotty smile of his own.
"You're right, gunshots are fucking lame." He says seriously and Katsuki snorts, remembering all those nights ago when their entire class sat down in the common room to rank causes of death.
A throat clearing alerts them to the former hero who's still waiting patiently behind Katsuki.
"Oh, Endeavor-san, I'm sorry you had to see me in such an undignified position!" Kaminari greets the man easily, his trademark smile taking over his face.
"It's quite alright, uhhh- Kaminari, is it?" Endeavor reassures him kindly and Katsuki has to fight a snort. The man is trying so hard.
He can't wait till he can narrate everything for Shouto just to hear his melodious laughter at his father's clueless but nevertheless appreciated attempts at civility.
"Yes! What an honor that you know the name of a lowlife such as myself! Please sir, come on and take a seat, this will likely take a while." Kaminari glides into his persona quite smoothly after his impromptu breakdown and Katsuki finds himself thankful for the familiarity. A look at his father-in-law tells him the man is at a loss, confused whether or not to assuage the dumbass's self-deprecating manner and it takes a little bit off Katsuki's plate. They shuffle around, moving towards the seats. The moment he sits down, Bakugo knows that he wants, without any incentive, to set the fucking seats on fire.
Bakugo sits on the edge, Kaminari to his right. Endeavor sits next on Kaminari's other side silently and only then does Katsuki notice Kaminari's diplomatic choice of seating. He's always known of Katsuki's disdain for Endeavor but he never asks why, yet here he is, posing as the mediator.
He feels a surge of affection towards his friend at that.
"How long has he been in there?" Endeavor asks, his voice small, as though he's not sure if he has the right to ask.
"A little over an hour now, they stopped the bleeding, extracted the bullets and they're now working on repairing the dama-"
"I'm sorry, bullets?!" Bakugo asks, wondering why the temperature dropped all of a sudden. Kaminari looks at him with sympathy before placing his hand on his knee, squeezing comfortingly.
"There were two gunshots before Izuku knocked the fucker out. One on his left thigh, which thankfully missed any arteries, and one to his shoulder which is what they're worried about. It's nowhere near his heart but it's still in the danger zone so they're working extra slowly to be careful. I'd say give them a few more hours, Endeavor-san." Kaminari directs the last sentence at Endeavor with a gentle lull in his voice. When Katsuki looks, the man has a look of utter horror on his face that could rival his own.
He doesn't know what to say, so he doesn't say anything.
Fuck, today was really shaping up to be the worst day of his life.
"Kacchan!"
His body jolts up involuntarily on hearing the voice and for a second he has trouble pinpointing where it came from before he turns to the left to find Deku running up to him with speed that's definitely not normal.
It's an hour after he finds out the extent of Shouto's injuries and takes a vow of silence because he can't think of anything to say that's not a curse and no matter how much he convinces himself that he hates Endeavor, he won't scandalize him like that.
He stands up just as Deku physically skids to a stop in front of him then he just stands there, looking at him.
Katsuki doesn't know what to say, he's tired and angry and sad and just so fucking confused on how to feel and he doesn't like how shitty Deku of all people is standing right in front of him scrutinizing him with his goddamn knowing look and compassionate eyes.
He looks like absolute shit and Katsuki doesn't doubt that he didn't even stop at the agency to take a shower. His hero costume is ripped at random places and there are drop-sized splashes of blood here and there aside from a huge spot that doesn’t look like it belongs to him but other than that, he looks unharmed. Katsuki’s stomach churns awfully and he feels like he wants to vomit despite having eaten absolutely nothing.
He stares at him a second longer, noticing the surprising lack of waterworks.
"Let's go get some coffee." Deku says- more like orders, really- instead of doing something embarrassing like hugging him in the middle of the waiting area. Then the greenette turns to look at Endeavor with that same stupid look, "Enji-san, would you like anything to drink? Or eat? I could get you a snack."
‘Enji-san?’
The redhead looks startled at being addressed at all before his expression morphs into one of gratitude, "a cup of black coffee would be splendid, Midoriya, thank you." He answers politely.
Deku offers him a smile before looking at Kaminari, "Denki, would you like anything?"
The blond perks up, "I'm starving! Could you get me a pretzel or something? Actually wait, make them two. Hitoshi is on his way."
Before Bakugo can say anything, Kaminari looks at him apologetically before saying: "I know I should've asked you first but he insisted he came when I said I wouldn't be home until later. Is that okay?"
"Of course, dumbass, why wouldn't it be?" He assures him resolutely, feeling a little better when Kaminari flashes him a million watt smile.
"Come on, nerd, let's go." He turns to the new Symbol of Peace, forcing himself to look anywhere but at the stupid bloodstain staring back at him like it’s taunting him.
If Deku notices his inner turmoil, he doesn’t acknowledge it as they walk towards the elevator silently.
“Eijiro and Ochaco are on their way too, do you want me to tell them to hang back?” The younger man asks softly and it surprises Bakugo how little the tone patronizes him, Deku really looks ready to call their friends and tell them to fuck off because he’s not comfortable with being a spectacle right now.
“God knows Shitty Hair and Round Face won’t take no for an answer, might as well allow them to do as they please.” He mutters stiffly, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his jeans while Deku presses the button for the ground floor.
“That means, in Bakugo Katsuki speech, ‘of course, they’re Shouto’s friends too’.” He says with an awful impression of the blond’s voice but Katsuki can’t even find it in himself to protest so he just huffs in response.
“Are you okay?”
It’s a simple question, void of any ulterior motives and Katsuki feels Deku’s burning gaze on him without having to look.
He’s been expecting that question the moment he set foot in the hospital. It’s weird, because Katsuki isn’t the one who was attacked this morning, isn’t the one being operated on right now with no one knowing if he’ll survive yet it feels like he is. He envies Shouto for the state of unconsciousness he’s in. Oh what Katsuki would do to be in his place right now, blissfully unaware of the storm raging in Katsuki’s mind.
“Yes.” He confirms, no louder than a whisper, knowing full-well Deku can call his bullshit from miles away but hoping that he won’t confront him about it. The last thing Katsuki wants to do is have a full blown mental breakdown in the hospital’s elevator where anyone could see.
“He’s gonna be okay, Kacchan.” Deku goes for reassurance next and Katsuki feels his hackles rising up.
“How the fuck would you know? How the fuck would anyone know?!” He doesn’t mean for it to come out as biting and mean as it does but there’s no taking it back now, he’s falling and no one can catch him. “Fucking Endeavor came out here, all confident and knowing, spewing shit about how he’d pull through! How would he fucking know that? Fuck, even I told Dunce Face Shouto would be fucking okay, what if I fucking lied?! He can’t die, Deku, he can’t.”
There’s no stopping the flood of tears once they start coming and no matter how hard he scrubs his eyes with his hands, they don’t halt. It’s as humiliating as any other time he had to soldier on through a breakdown that only seems to hit when Deku’s around to watch. He vaguely registers the One For All user hitting a button on the panel with vigour before the elevator comes to standstill in between the second and first floor.
It’s not probably not what Deku intended for him to do but he can’t help but fall apart at the seams.
“Izuku, I love him. I love him so much and there’s no way I can survive losing him. Fuck, why wasn’t I called in too?!” He’s not being rational, he knows as his hands hold his best friend’s shoulders in a steel grip. “He’s strong, he’s fucking good, they held me against him, fucking dangled me around like a fucking worm on a fishing hook. It’s my fault .”
That seems to snap Deku out of the mystified stupor he’s in.
“Kacchan, no.” In another situation, his stern expression would make Katsuki laugh. He says it like the blond is a bad cat ready to bounce on a vase but for some unfathomable reason, it works. His mind stops working. “None of this, nothing, is your fault! Shouto is a hero and he’s a damn good one. Accidents happen on the job, you know that. Don’t you dare use this as a tool to support your baseless self-loathing monologue. You weren’t called in because you’d just finished a 12-hour shift the day before, in which you put an entire gang behind bars. Hell, Shouto would’ve thrown a fucking fit if we even picked up the phone! He’s going to be okay. He’s going to come back to you, to us. He’s just as stubborn as you are, do you really think he’d give up?”
All Katsuki can manage is a weak shake of his head.
“Exactly, you didn’t lie to Denki, Endeavor and I didn’t lie to you. He’s going to pull through.”
There’s really no way for him to counter the sheer determination and conviction in Deku’s manner so he sags, letting his arms fall to his sides. The tears subside and he uses his sleeves to dry his face before wordlessly accepting the napkin Deku conjures out of nowhere for him. Once he feels presentable enough, he looks up to see his friend’s warm smile.
“Okay now?” He asks and Katsuki nods in return, surprised at the fact that he’s not lying. The weight that once felt like it was crushing his chest is now just a prickling sensation that he knows won’t go away until he sees his husband awake but for now, he can breathe.
“Is this a fucking teaparty now? Oi, Earphones, don’t fucking make a fuss or I’ll kick you out of here.”
What Katsuki doesn’t anticipate is the group visit their entire fucking class decides to pay the hospital waiting room, along with Fuyumi and Natsuo who, infuriatingly enough, are clicking with everyone. He can even swear he saw Shoji and Natsuo flirting!
He’s absolutely furious.
The only one who isn’t engaged with the ruckus is Endeavor, who's standing at the far end, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He looks lost in thought and Katsuki sighs, hoping Shouto will compensate him substantially for what he’s about to do.
He doesn’t stomp towards the man because that kind of deed would draw attention and Katsuki would rather die than get caught talking to his father-in-law. The redhead startles slightly when he slides up next to him, mirroring his pose.
He doesn’t say anything at first and from the corner of his eye, he sees Endeavor looking at a loss on what to do. They watch over the crowd in front of them for a few more seconds before he can’t take it anymore.
“You alright there, old man?” He asks gruffly, still refusing to look at him.
He feels rather than sees the surprised stare the redhead gives him. He watches his friends instead, resisting a laugh when Kirishima pulls Kaminari in a headlock when the blond tries to smack him for stealing his pizza slice. Yes, they brought pizza.
“I am good, Bakugo, thank you.” Endeavor answers quietly and there’s a hint of real gratefulness in his tone.
“They’re taking too long in there, don’t you think?” He says conversationally, involuntarily projecting his own anxiety to the man as his eyes travel to the door at the end of the hall marked with an ‘OR’ plate.
“Gunshots are rather difficult to deal with, they need to be really precise to limit the damage so think of it that way, the longer they take, the better of a job they’re doing.” Endeavor remarks evenly and Katsuki is soothed by the experience oozing from the older man’s voice. “That being said, it has been a while. They ought to come out with him any minute now.”
As if on cue, the double door to the OR opens and two nurses come out, moving a gurney between them. Katsuki’s breath hitches and his heart skips a beat when he catches a glimpse of the red and white hair he loves so much.
He crosses the hall in two long strides and in less than a second, he’s standing beside the gurney, hands hanging limply by his sides.
There’s no way to describe the relief he feels right now on seeing his husband’s sleeping face. It’s like the world suddenly clicks back into place after being tilted off its axis all day. Shouto’s face is pale which makes his scar stand out more against his skin. His eyes are closed and if Katsuki tries hard enough, he can pretend he’s just sleeping. His long mismatched eyelashes sit high on his cheeks, casting small shadows accentuated by the illumination above them. He’s wearing a baby blue hospital gown opened at the chest, showing his bandaged shoulder, Katsuki’s sure there’s an identical bandage on his thigh, obscured by the small duvet they covered Shouto with to give him a modicum of modesty.
The nurse next to him clears her throat quietly so as not to spook him and he looks up sharply. She has a kind understanding smile on her face, “he gave us quite a scare but he’s okay now. The doctor will be out soon to give you more details but I thought I’d give you a heads up, you look like you need it.”
Only then does Katsuki realize that he’s standing alone by the gurney, his friends hanging back to give him space. He gives the nurse a grateful nod before stepping back to let her keep moving.
The nurses push the gurney past him and into the hallway and his friends stand at the side, different looks of relief and comfort adorning their faces. Endeavor is the last in line next to Fuyumi and Natsuo to see Shouto and it might be the light playing tricks on him, but he swears he sees the redhead’s eyes filled with unshed tears before the gurney is pushed past them too and into the elevator.
“Ground Zero.” A steady voice calls out behind him and he whirls around to find a gray-haired man in a white coat looking at him expectantly.
“Yes.” He answers weakly, feeling his friends walk up to them, probably deciding that they gave him enough space. Deku is at his side in a second, looking at the doctor expectantly.
“My name is Horie Takeo, I was the doctor operating on Todoroki-san. As we’ve already informed Chargebolt earlier, we managed to stop the bleeding early on and extracted the bullets and any lingering fragments. He’s not entirely out of danger yet but we’re very hopeful he’ll make a full recovery. We’ll monitor him for the next few hours and if all goes well, he can be discharged as early as the day after tomorrow.”
“When can we see him?” Deku beats him to the question, the doctor takes a breath.
“I’m afraid I can only allow two visitors at a time for now, and only for a limited period of time. If things go as expected, you can all come and see him tomorrow, he’ll probably be awake too.” He informs the crowd kindly before focusing back on Katsuki. “He’s being moved to room 612, I’ll be there in an hour or so for a quick checkup.”
Katsuki nods dutifully, letting the doctor excuse himself and walk away from the silent group.
“Okay fellas, we made sure our favorite candy cane is still alive and kicking! Let’s clear out for now and tomorrow we can come back with ridiculous balloons and love ballads for when he wakes up, how does that sound?” Kirishima speaks to them with his trademark enthusiasm and Katsuki can’t help but smile at him. The redhead catches his eyes and gives him a knowing wink as their class choruses loud affirmations, shuffling back to their seats to grab their stuff.
“Kacchan, I’m gonna go now and I’ll be back tomorrow morning, okay? I’m sure Enji-san would like to go in with you so I’ll drive Fuyumi and Natsuo back, call me if you need anything!” Deku tells him, startling him with a strong hug. He pulls back before Katsuki starts thrashing around, threatening to explode him into space.
“Wait,” he turns to find the three Todoroki family members standing next to them then Endeavor continues, looking at Fuyumi: “Would you like to stay back? I’m sure Shouto will feel better if he wakes up to find you. I can just come back tomorrow with the rest of them.”
Watching the flame hero interact with Fuyumi is always a marvel to Katsuki, his eyes are warm and kind and his voice is mellow, like he wants to lay the world at her feet. In a way, he understands, because Fuyumi never gave up on her father and he’s trying to repay her trust every moment he can. She always manages to paint him in such a different light.
Her eyes soften when she hears his offer and she nods fervently then dives in for a hug. “Thank you.” Katsuki hears her whisper.
Endeavor smiles as he wraps his arms around his daughter while Natsuo looks away, still hesitant to offer affection.
“Midoriya, would you mind driving me home? I was in a rush this morning so I came here by taxi.” The older Todoroki asks Deku almost timidly.
“Of course, Enji-san! I’d love to!” The greenette tells him with a bright smile, never losing that spark of excitement he gets when he feels needed.
“Bakubro, we’ll see you tomorrow, eh?” Katsuki looks further ahead to find his entire class staring at him, waiting for his answer.
“I can’t wait.” He grumbles out sarcastically but when he waves at them, he knows he’s fooling no one.
Him and Fuyumi say goodbye to the rest, watching them leave side by side.
“Ready to go up?” Fuyumi asks him kindly once their companions disappear out of sight. He nods, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
“Let’s go.” He says.
When Katsuki wakes up, he's disoriented. There's a steady beeping sound in the vicinity next to him and he's sitting on an uncomfortable chair, leaning on a bed with his arms folded beneath his head. The sensation that woke him is still there, a hand softly brushing through his hair.
The moment everything clicks in place, he jerks up, looking around frantically. He doesn't remember falling asleep, nor does he remember Fuyumi leaving but aside from the lump on the bed, there's no one in the room. He blinks rapidly as he looks behind him at the window and feels an odd sense of loss when he finds that it's already morning.
How he slept through the entire night, he has no clue.
He turns back to the bed, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes tiredly. Fuck, his neck hurts.
"Not that it's not fun watching you acting like a lost dog, but don't I at least get a 'hello'?"
What?
He lowers his hand from his eyes slowly, moving his gaze carefully to Shouto's head. A pair of metallic grey and translucent turquoise eyes stare back at him, hazy but amused.
He can't help the gasp he lets out as he jumps up from his seat, hands moving everywhere but not touching anything lest it hurts Shouto.
His short-lived dilemma of where to touch his husband is quickly resolved when the dual-haired man holds his hand out for Katsuki to grip. And grip it is what he does, with both hands and a considerable amount of strength.
His eyes meet his husband's, more sure now that this is not some illusion conjured up by his worried mind. Shouto looks at him with a smile so soft it melts whatever bad taste the past day left in his mouth. His eyes are crinkling with mirth and if Katsuki doesn't know better, he'd say this is just an ordinary day in their apartment where Shouto wakes up relaxed and happy.
"Hi." Shouto greets him, his voice a little hoarse.
The past 24 hours have been hell on Katsuki, he knows he doesn't look the slightest bit appealing and his head is just now draining all the dark thoughts pestering him about how he'd never get to see this smile or hear that voice in that comforting tone. He can't help the way his eyes glaze over as they hungrily take in the sight of his husband, healthy, awake and looking at him with such avid attention and so much love .
"Hi." He breathes out shakily, caressing Shouto's hand with tenderness he didn't know he possesses.
"I'm so glad you're okay." The relieved statement surprises a wet chuckle out of Katsuki, since he's not the one who utters it.
"Don't steal my line, you asshole!" He admonishes quietly, one hand leaving Shouto’s to lightly touch his face. He hopes his husband sees it as a gesture of affection rather than an attempt to make sure he's real, that he's alive and breathing.
Shouto's still staring at him with affection, moving the thumb of the hand that's holding Katsuki's lovingly over his skin, providing further proof without the blond having to ask.
The door clicks and the trance between them is broken. Katsuki looks up, moving the hand he has on Shouto's face back to cradle his free hand, holding it carefully like it might break with the effort.
Fuyumi comes in, followed closely by Deku and Endeavor. Deku's face lights up when he sees the fire and ice user conscious and he bounces towards the bed in excitement. Endeavor hangs back but he has a private smile on his face and Fuyumi doesn't look very surprised that Shouto's awake.
"Shouchan! I'm so glad you're awake! Fuyumi texted me as soon as you woke up but she said formal visiting hours start at nine so I had to wait. How are you feeling?" He says everything in one breath, hovering over the bed slightly.
"I'm pumped full of meds so I can't really feel anything, but otherwise I'm fine." Shouto answers with a reassuring smile, not letting go of Katsuki's hand.
"Wait, how did we stay past visiting hours yesterday?" Katsuki asks Fuyumi, only remembering the moment he sagged by Shouto's bedside and closed his eyes to rest a little until they were kicked out.
"You looked pretty tired, I didn't have the heart to wake you up so I talked the attending nurse into letting us stay." She explains with a smile and not for the first time, Katsuki feels thankful for her.
"Shouto," Endeavor greets his son, his expression vulnerable, as if expecting to get sent away. "I'm really glad you're okay, son."
Shouto’s smile doesn't leave his face as he looks at his father, "thanks, dad. Fuyumi said you were here yesterday too, I appreciate it."
The mood lifts significantly after that, Endeavor even cracks a small smile at his son.
"Shouchan, everyone’s here and they’re waiting outside, are you up for it or do you want me to kick them out?" Deku asks nervously, gaze flicking between Katsuki and his husband.
Shouto waves him off easily, “it’s okay. I’m pretty sure you can’t kick them out but once I feel like I can’t bear it any longer, I’m sure Kat would be ecstatic to help.”
The playful teasing is refreshing instead of annoying and Katsuki finds himself grinning at his husband, who’s looking at him with a knowing smile.
“Damn right.” He says.
“Todobro, are you finally awake?” Someone calls out from the door but they can’t get a good look at who it is until Endeavor steps to the side. The self-proclaimed Bakusquad are standing at the front but he sees the rest of the class crowded behind them, towering over each other to get a look.
“Sero, call me Todobro one more time and I’ll freeze your ass to death.” Fuyumi lets out a giggle at her brother’s dry retort, even his father lets out a snort.
Sero screeches in response before they file in after each other, all excited to see their friend who’s feeling well enough to crack jokes even when he has two gaping holes in his body.
There are a lot of questions and well wishes coming from all directions as they circle the bed but Katsuki only has eyes for Shouto, whose smile is only getting bigger at the cacophony of voices.
“Todoroki-kun, we were so worried!” Round Face says first once they settle down.
“I’m so glad you’re okay, Todoroki.” Glasses tells him next with exaggerated hand gestures.
“Shouto, sweetheart, how are you feeling now?” Ponytail asks pleasantly with a smile.The dual-haired man barely lets out a ‘fine’ before the rest start speaking all at once.
“Bro, I knew you were manly but surviving gunshots is a whole other level!” Kirishima shouts with excitement that definitely doesn’t match the situation but Shouto laughs lightly so Katsuki refrains from smacking him on the head.
“You should’ve seen Katsuki yesterday, he looks all polished and feral now but he had the kicked puppy look down to an artform!” Really, he should know his peace of mind won’t last very long if fucking Pinky is here. He bristles when they all chuckle at his expense but he knows they’re not patronizing him. In fact, he’s actually rather pleased that Pinky thinks he looks polished now, because he knows he looks worse than shit. He doesn’t even need a mirror to confirm that.
He’s always had supernatural awareness of his overall state, Shouto says it’s sexy.
“Shut the fuck up, Pinky.” He bites out with no heat before catching his husband’s eyes, locking him in place with a meaningful look.
Before anyone can say anything, someone knocks formally on the door. Fuyumi moves to open it.
The same nurse from last night, the one Katsuki supposes allowed them to stay, comes in, her eyes widening comically as she sees the crowd in the room.
“Doctor Horie will have my head if he sees this.” She muses to herself as she sidesteps everyone to get to Shouto’s bedside.
“Todoroki-san, you should’ve told me you were having a party in here.” She admonishes lightly as she checks his vitals, playing around with the IV drip.
“We’re very sorry, ma’am, we were just about to leave, we only wanted to check on our friend.” Iida explained diplomatically, already turning to the group to shoo them out.
“It’s okay, Todoroki-san is doing remarkably well for someone who just got shot so I guess I can excuse this.” Katsuki turned sharply at her, disliking the reminder. “How are you doing, sweetheart? Do you need me to get you anything?” She directs the question at Shouto.
“I’m good, err- I tried getting up earlier so there’s a slight tingle in my shoulder.” He blinks innocently at her, trying to make her ignore the stunning stupidity in his admission. Luckily, that shit never works on Katsuki.
“Are you fucking kidding me, Icyhot?” He hears an ‘uh-oh’ that sounds like it’s Pinky’s but doesn’t pay it any attention. “A slight tingle?! If you weren’t bedridden I would’ve cracked your stupid skull open to see if you had any brain left!”
“Kinky.” It takes all his willpower not to get up and throttle the pink-skinned woman where she stood. “Let’s leave before they start having angry sex.”
Katsuki is vibrating with rage in his seat but he’s still thankful when their friends, the two Todorokis and the nurse file out of the room as chaotically as they came in, the click of the door echoes in the silence of the room.
“I want to have angry sex but I’m afraid I can’t, I’m wounded.” Shouto says matter-of-factly, raising his eyebrows. The dumb statement evaporates the rage into thin air, surprising a choked laugh out of him.
“But you can try to sit up?” He asks incredulously.
“That was a poor decision, I’m suffering for it now. Can you ease my suffering?” His husband asks cockily, wiggling his eyebrows.
“I hate you, I can’t believe I cried for you.” He doesn’t mean a word, Shouto doesn’t believe a word either when he stops the wiggling and looks at him with a calculating look.
“You cried?” He asks in fake awe.
“Nope.”
“Kat.”
“Fuck you.”
“I love you.” Shouto says seriously, half turning towards Katsuki without jostling his shoulder.
“I love you too. Don’t you fucking dare scare me like this again.” Katsuki echoes the sentiment gravely, pinning his husband with a look. Shouto stares back lovingly, giving him a nod.
“You haven’t kissed me once since I woke up, I have to say I’m acutely feeling the loss.” He says conversationally, obviously resisting a smirk.
“I’m sure that can be mended.” Katsuki responds, leaning in over the bed rail. He waits until his face is inches away from Shouto’s before whispering: “You better get ready for a lot of angry sex once you get out of here.”
His husband lets out a breathless laugh before closing the distance between them.
The moment their lips lock together, Katsuki feels a surge of warmth going through his body from head to toe. He smiles into the kiss.
It’s not the last time this will happen to either of them but Katsuki somehow knows, they’ll always find their way back to each other.
They were the wonder duo after all.