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Kirishima was roused from his sleep by a group of people all entering his room, yelling about something. He sits up slowly, eyes so heavy with sleep that he couldn’t tell who was who.
“Wha?”
“Dude, you need to come right now. Bakugou is like-”
“Out of control!”
Kirishima rolls off his bed, grabbing a shirt as he continues to listen.
“We were all just sitting there talking and then Todoroki said something to him that made him mad-”
“And all of a sudden his hands like blew up!”
“You guys woke me up from my nap for that?” Kirishima slips on some slippers before turning around to follow the group out the door.
“No, dude, it’s different this time. He’s like, nuts or something.”
“He doesn’t even seem like he’s doing it on purpose.”
They make their way downstairs, and Kirishima starts to understand what they’re talking about.
In the middle of the common room stood Bakugou, hands fully engulfed in flames. He was holding them over his head and screaming. But looking at his eyes, Kirishima knew that he wasn’t angry.
They were full of fear. He looked moments away from crying.
“WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU FUCKING IDIOTS DO TO ME?”
“Whoa whoa Bakugou, what’s going on man?” Kirishima makes his way over to Bakugou, standing a few feet away before hardening himself.
“I DON’T FUCKING KNOW WE WERE FUCKING SITTING HERE AND THEN MY HANDS TURNED ON AND THEY WON’T FUCKING TURN OFF WHAT THE HELL WHY WON’T THEY TURN OFF!” Bakugou was obviously panicked, and the more panicked he got, the more the fire spread.
“Okay okay bro, I know you aren’t doing it on purpose. Just, let’s take a few deep breaths, okay?” Kirishima steps closer to Bakugou, getting a better look at Bakugou’s hands as he got closer. They seemed to be peeling under the heat.
“I CAN’T FUCKING TAKE DEEP BREATHS KIR! THIS SHIT WON’T TURN OFF AND IT FUCKING HURTS! IT’S FUCKING BURNING, HOW THE FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO BREATHE?” The fire sparks even higher, almost reaching the ceiling as Bakugou’s fear reaches a peak. The rest of the class is hiding in the stairway and behind the table, leaving Kirishima alone to try to deal with Bakugou. They knew that he was the only one able to deal with Bakugou’s moods.
“Okay okay! You know what, why don’t we go take a walk? Nice open space, it’s such a nice day, and it’ll help you cool off.”
“WHAT IF IT DOESN’T? WHAT IF I’M FUCKING STUCK LIKE THIS FOREVER AND MY WHOLE BODY BURNS UP, KIR? WHAT IF THIS SHIT KILLS ME? WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?” Bakugou was screaming, but it wasn’t like his normal yells. It was obviously full of terror, showing on his face as well. His eyes were watering, pain mixing into the horrified expression he was already wearing.
“Okay, but what if it does, Kat?” Kirishima kept his tone low, as to not send Bakugou even deeper into a spiral. But he was scared too. Kirishima didn’t know what was causing his body to self-destruct, but he knew he had to try to fix it. Watching his best friend turn into a walking match wasn’t in his plans for the day.
His words seemed to have at least a slight effect on the blonde, as the flames stop flicking the ceiling.
“I’m scared. What if it doesn’t work?” The words were such a contrast to the screaming that Kirishima barely caught them.
“I know, Kat. Let’s just go for a walk, okay? If it doesn’t work, then we’ll deal with that then. Okay?” Kirishima walks up to Bakugou, grabbing one of his hands and wrapping it in his own.
“What the hell around you doing? It’s going to fucking burn you!” The flames get more intense as Kirishima pulls Bakugou out the door.
“My hand is hardened, dude. I’m fine! Just focus on calming down, alright? You’re kinda freaking me out, man.” Kirishima mentally hits himself after finishing his sentence, because he knows it’s going to cause Bakugou to spiral again.
“I can’t control it!” On cue, Bakugou’s flames explode, Kirishima wincing as the flames hit his non-hardened side.
“I know, I know! Just, c’mon let’s walk. I’ll tell you about...something.”
And so they walked around campus, Kirishima talking about anything he thought would calm Bakugou down. The adjustments he made to his costume, the new Crocs that just came out, how he was stuck on this video game level, and the cute dog he saw last week while on patrol with Tamaki and Fat Gum. It worked, as Bakugou’s hands finally turned off for the first time in an hour.
“Oh dude, look!” Kirishima holds up their interlocked hands, gasping when he sees Bakugou’s fingers. The skin was badly burned, and Kirishima unconsciously unhardened his hand.
“Fucking finally.” Bakugou shivered as Kirishima picked up both on his hands gently.
“We have to get you to Recovery Girl, Kat! This is like serious!” Bakugou didn’t even have time to process what Kirishima said before the redhead was picking him up and tossing him over his shoulder, rushing to the nurse’s office while Bakugou screamed at him.
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“It seems as if your Quirk malfunctioned. It happens sometimes when you have particularly intense emotions, although I’d say all of your emotions are intense, Bakugou. You have to learn to destress, or this could happen again. You won’t be able to use your Quirk for a while, so make sure to get some rest.” Recovery Girl leaves Bakugou and Kirishima to themselves, going to tend to some second years.
“Bro-”
“Don’t fucking start with me, Kirishima.” Bakugou couldn’t bring himself to meet Kirishima’s eyes, knowing they’d be filled to the brim with concern.
“But-”
“I can’t handle it right now, Kir. What if I start up again?”
“Then I’ll calm you down again! But you can’t just keep everything bottled up! That’s what caused this in the first place!” Kirishima stands up, throwing himself on top of Bakugou.
“What the hell, idiot?”
“Tell me what’s wrongggg Bakugou! Please please please!” Kirishima wails into Bakugou’s ear, a pointy grin adorning his face as he pleaded with Bakugou.
“I don’t fucking know. I feel like everything is all jumbled up inside of me and I don’t know how to make it stop.”
“Did you ever go to that therapist?”
“Why the hell do I need someone else to tell me how I feel?”
“Well, Bakugou, it doesn’t seem like you know very well. Everyone needs help sometimes, man.” Kirishima rested his head on Bakugou’s shoulder, letting the blonde wrap his arms around his waist.
“It’s fucking stupid.”
“Are you joking? Getting therapy is so manly! I would know, I’m like the manliness expert!” Bakugou can’t help but snort, making Kirishima pout and whine about how Bakugou was bullying him. This only sets Bakugou off more, laughter rolling off his tongue and into the quiet ward of the nurse’s office as they lay there.
“You think we should go back to let everyone know we didn’t die?”
“Eh, they can find out later. Rather stay here with you.”