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Katsuki yawned and stretched his arms above his head, reviling in the satisfying pop of his sore shoulders after the intense day of training Aizawa had put 1A through at their camp. UA had decided that the students were safe enough to be allowed a class trip and so here they were now, camping for the third day in a row out on the personal property of some pro Katsuki didn’t care to remember the name of, training their asses off, to the point of falling asleep on the spot, under Aizawa’s watchful eye. Katsuki would be lying to himself if he didn’t admit the training was starting to get to him, exhaustion pulling at the corners of his mind. There was absolutely nothing more Katsuki wanted to do other than collapse into his sleeping bag and not wake up until he was forced into the waking world.
The blonde grumbled tiredly as he pushed his way into the tent and found his sleeping bag in the corner, noting the obvious lack of a stupid red haired bastard in the sleeping bag next to his. Too tired to do more than make a discontented grunt, the teen crawled lazily into the warm material and curled into himself, hiding his face away from onlookers and fully indulging in the warmth and quiet his fortress of fabric provided. That was until Katsuki’s pocket vibrated harshly against his leg, snapping his mind away from the oh so close sleep. Annoyed beyond reason now, he pulled the offending device from his sweatpants and turned it on, wincing as the bright light of the screen stung.
Through squinted eyes Katsuki could make out a message coming from none other than the aforementioned red haired bastard, an annoyed hum rumbling through his chest as he unlocked his phone and opened the message.
[9:34 PM] Bakubro, come meet me in the clearing that was just off from where we were training earlier.
As he read, a second message appeared beneath the first.
[9:35 PM] Please, it's really important. I wouldn’t take you from your beauty sleep for nothing ;)
Katsuki felt the last traces of his will power drain from his body as he pictured the red head’s face in his mind, a pleading expression on his face that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t say no to, even despite the playful jab at his strict sleep schedule. Letting out a long, tired sigh, the blonde typed a quick response before quietly emerging from his sleeping bag and tiptoeing across the maze of his classmate’s limbs and bodies sprawled around the floor of the tent.
[9:36 PM] Be there in six.
Katsuki didn’t know what he was doing. He was exhausted, half asleep, sore on every inch of his body and completely and hopelessly hanging off every word Kirishima said, whether the other teen knew it or not. Katsuki denied it as much as he could but even he was self aware of how obvious he was. Katsuki huffed, pushing down his bubbling emotions and reprimanding himself for thinking such things about his best friend. Kirishima would never feel the same.
---
Bakugou pushed past the last wall of flora on the forest floor, peaking out to a wide, moonlit clearing dusted silver in the pale light, however what took his breath away was the figure sitting in the middle, hands in his lap and fiddling with a twig he’d picked up from the ground. From here, Katsuki could see him drag his razor teeth over his bottom lip, lost in thought as worry lines creased into his face. Oh what Katsuki would do to make sure they went away.
The blonde teen cleared his throat as he stepped into the clearing, pulling the redhead from his trance as he looked up surprised, eyes wide with almost disappointment at seeing the blonde.
“You came.” He muttered as he stood up, Katsuki walking over with a tired expression and wiping sleep from his eyes.
“I said I would.” He grumbled, almost daring Kirishima to say he hadn’t believed him.
“Right, yeah.” Kirishima forced a smile that even Katsuki in his almost asleep state could tell was forced and fake. Something bitter rose in Katsuki’s chest at the sight. He didn’t know exactly what to make of it.
“So?” He drawled expectantly, muscular arms crossing over his chest, head tilted upwards as he definitely met Kirishima’s ruby gaze. “Are you going to tell me what’s so important that you dragged me away from my beauty sleep?” You wouldn’t tell from his tone but the call back to Kirishima’s text let the redhead teen know Katsuki wasn’t actually that upset with him.
Kirishima bashfully ducked his head, hand coming to rub the back of his neck.
“I..” Kirishima struggled to collect his words as he met Katsuki’s tired yet patient gaze again. “I just wanted to be with you for a while. I- I have to do something that’s going to be difficult very soon and I just want to be selfish before then.”
If Katsuki was confused before, his head was absolutely reeling now.
“The fuck are you talking about shitty hair?” The tone of his voice wasn’t harsh like the words, it was more concerned, a deep rooted worry beginning to build up in Katsuki’s stomach. Something felt very, very , wrong.
Kirishima looked down into the concerned eyes before him, deep ruby meeting burning crimson as a whirlwind of emotions passed over his face. Katsuki stepped closer to the other boy, arching his neck to keep eye contact. When had Kirishima grown taller than him?
A shaky hand slowly raised from Kirishima’s side, feather light touches connecting on Katsuki’s neck as the hand trailed up hesitantly to cup the side of his face and lead the boy beneath his large hands closer, Katsuki’s breath growing quicker the closer he was pulled towards the boy he was so desperately in love with. Their noses gently brushed, eyes hooded and mixing breaths twirling around their faces, a pleasant heat blooming over Katsuki’s cheeks as his previously crossed arms fell limply to his side.
Katsuki’s breath shuddered as Kirishima brushed his lips ever so faintly against the corner of his mouth, heart doing somersaults inside his chest as everything else seemed to disappear, the only thing he was aware of being his best friend in front of him, breathing him in, holding his face as if it were the most precious thing in the world, and meeting his ruby gaze through delicate lashes. A healthy pink dusted gently over his cheeks as the redhead seemed to stop and consider something for a short moment, brows pulling together and those worry creases returning to the otherwise perfect face.
Katsuki was nervous.
So very out of character for the confident teen that commanded a room the moment he entered. But there was something about Kirishima, that even through Katsuki’s blissed out mind, seemed to stick out like a wilted flower among a rose bush. He wanted to tell Kirishima how he felt, that he didn’t believe any of this was happening, but something in the redhead’s eyes stopped him and kept his mouth shut. Some hidden secret brooding behind ruby eyes and striking white smiles. He wanted to save Kirishima from whatever caused the dark lilt behind his usually pure eyes. He hated the contamination, wanted to destroy it and make sure it never returned. But something in that same look scared him, felt dangerous. His chest faltered as Kirishima released a low sigh and quicker than Katsuki could register, pulled the blonde tight to his chest, arm hardening and locking in place like prison bars as the other hand left his face and dipped away from sight.
Katsuki was scared.
The other hand reappeared holding an object, which Katsuki registered as a syringe a moment too late. Kirishima pressed the syringe into the back of his neck, the needle so much larger than anything Katsuki had seen before as stinging pain shot down his spine and he tried to squirm, tried to yell, to cry, to push Kirishima away, to escape. Kirishima held firm, his hardened arm an unbreakable force that kept Katsuki crushed into his chest as he tried his best to push against his best friend, to get out of the hands that were so surely and effortlessly betraying him. Katsuki felt tears prick at his wide eyes as something was injected under his skin, the feeling so foreign and intruding as it stung and lodged itself at the base of his neck.
Katsuki was past being rational, hands popping with sparks as he pressed them against Kirishima’s abdomen, mindlessly panicking and trying to get away. It hurt. He didn't know what Kirishima was doing and it scared him. Betrayal burned ferociously in his chest as he screamed into the form of his best friend, of the man he loved so wholly and completely. Katsuki barely registered the needle being removed and discarded, being replaced with a gentle hand weaving into his hair that burnt like hellfire. Katsuki screamed and kicked and clawed at Kirishima but the man remained still, cradling Katsuki close to his body, a noticeable shaking in his arms and hands.
“I’m sorry I’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry”
The redhead whispered into Katsuki’s ear like a mantra as the blonde shut down, blind panic and hurt fuelling his actions as he tried so desperately to get away.
“I’m so sorry. I know it hurts, I'm sorry, I'm here. I've got you Katsuki .”
The constant murmur of words in his ear stung and pierced through the raw flesh in his chest, anger and betrayal burning so strong inside his body Katsuki feared it would destroy him. Harmless explosions released from his shaking hands, far beyond the point of any sort of control, as he sobbed against Kirishima, legs growing weak as he used everything he had in him to try and push away, to get away.
“It's a tracking monitor for the League, they designed it specifically for you.” Kirishima rushed words as Katsuki clung tightly to him, sobs racking his body as he hit his hands against Kirishima’s chest in his last ditch efforts to make him let go.
Katsuki felt himself break.
He had a tracker in him. For the League .
And Kirishima was the one who put it in .
The final crack spiderwebbed through Katsuki’s defenses and he shattered . He clung desperately to Kirishima, broken screams ripping from his throat muffled by the material of Kirishima’s shirt. Tears burned his cheeks and soaked through the fabric against his face as he shook. So entirely vulnerable in the arms of the person he loved .
Kirishima..
“Why!?” Katsuki screeched, raw pain cutting his throat and sending daggers piercing through Kirishima’s heart as he held the crying boy closer, fingers tangling into soft blonde hair as his friend weeped.
“I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry.” Kirishima cried. “Katsuki i love you so much, i’m so sorry i’m sorry” Kirishima began rocking them, soothing the broken boy in his arms the only mission in his mind.
Katsuki felt numb. Gradually his voice stopped, the sobs silently destroying his body as he shook, rocking back and forth gently in Kirishima’s arms.
“I love you so much, I’m so sorry. This is the only way I can protect you” Kirishima hushed against his soft hair, showering gentle kisses across his shoulders and neck, avoiding the noticeable lump where the tracker had embedded itself under Katsuki’s perfect skin.
Kirishima’s arms softened, returning to soft skin as he scooped the silently crying teen into his lap as he gently lowered them to the ground. Katsuki was a heavy weight leaning against him, any and all resistance completely gone from his body, a numb acceptance blanketing him.
“I can’t go back, can I?”
Kirishima almost didn’t hear the barely whispered question leaving Katsuki’s lips, a tremor wracking his body as he asked. Kirishima assumed he already knew the answer. He shook his head and felt Katsuki curl further into himself, body shaking as pain seared in his heart.
If he went back he would put them all in danger.
“Come back with me to the League.” Kirishima murmured gently against the exposed skin of Katsuki’s neck. “The heroes muzzled and chained you to a pole in front of thousands of people and have let you be hurt and kidnapped and tortured over and over again. Let me protect you . Please” Kirishima became frantic as he rambled, arms pulling the blonde snug against him as he pleaded.
“I love you. Let me save you”.
Katsuki felt himself breaking in two. He hated it so much. Hated himself so much. He hated that he still loved the teen who held him. Loved him so much it hurt. He hated how helpless he was, giving up and unable to fight. He hated that he knew Kirishima wasn’t lying when he said he couldn’t go back.
Katsuki slowly, shakily uncurled his fist snugged tight against his chest and pressed it against Kirishima, fingers clenching onto the fabric of his shirt and squeezing, holding on as if he would be taken away if he let go. Katsuki felt the hot tears trail down his cheeks as he took in a weak breath.
“Ok..”
It was barely a whisper as it left his parted lips, the sound shaky and fragile even to his own ears.
Kirishima hugged him tighter before removing one arm from its place around Katsuki. He could hear Kirishima typing something on his phone but couldn’t make himself care enough to move to see what it was. The sound of a message sending whirred in the quiet night as Kirishima positioned an arm under Katsuki’s thighs and steadily stood up, cradling the blonde gently to his chest as Katsuki wrapped his legs around his waist, hands clenching tightly in the fabric of his shirt.
Kirishima began to walk, the gentle swaying of his strides lulling Katsuki into a defeated, exhausted numbness, face buried into the crook of Kirishima’s neck as he was carried through the woods to who knows where, inhaling the sweet scent that was truly and wholly Kirishima.
Katsuki was broken.
He was hurting so much, he just wanted to scream and cry more and know that Kirishima would hold him and let him do it, but he was so tired.
---
Kirishima came to a stop, thumb moving gently in circles on Katsuki’s thigh as the blonde was jostled from his silent trance. He shifted and curled tighter into Kirishima, shoulders shaking. Kirishima felt his heart pang, destroyed at the fact that he was the thing that had caused this. But.. It was the only way he could protect Katsuki, keep him safe.
“We’re about to go through one of Kurogiri’s portals. You might feel a little sick afterwards, just breathe, ok? I’m right here, I’ve got you.” Kirishima rubbed soothing patterns into his thighs and waited for Katsuki to nod before he began to step forward.
The first thing Katsuki felt was cold. The temperature dropped immensely and he shivered, clinging to Kirishima harder and receiving a comforting squeeze in return. Katsuki’s stomach twisted knots round itself and he felt his chest lurch, breathing sporadic as panic started to settle in. He felt sick and freezing, head pounding with an immeasurable pressure and vision going white before everything abruptly stopped. The temperature increased, becoming warm and cozy and Katsuki’s stomach was left to untangle itself. He felt tears escape from his eyes and buried his face in Kirishima’s neck, shaking uncontrollably. Kirishima rubbed circles on his thighs, whispering soothing nothings into his hair.
“Welcome back, Kirishima.”
A deep voice startled Katsuki and he squeezed his legs around Kirishima, a silent plea to protect him.
“Hello Kurogiri, nice to see you again.” Katsuki could hear the smile in Kirishima’s voice and it made him sick. It wasn’t pretend.
“Tell Shigaraki I'll speak with him tomorrow. I want to be alone tonight.” The squeeze on Katsuki’s thigh told him he was an exception to that request.
“Of course, rest well. I hope you have ease settling in, Bakugou.”
Katsuki shuddered against the redhead who held him gently, silently praying and begging for him to take him away from the man he had met once before, at the USJ in his first week of school.
“Thank you” Kirishima chirped before turning and walking a few steps before he began up a staircase. Katsuki bounced with each step, almost finding it in himself to be embarrassed yet ultimately remaining in his numb sort of trance.
Kirishima carried him down a hallway once they reached the top of the staircase, floorboards creaking with every step. They reached what Katsuki assumed was the end of the hallway as the redhead holding him reached out an arm and opened a door before stepping inside the room and walking forwards. Katsuki felt himself being lowered down and couldt help himself when panic shot through his limbs and he whined.
“Hey, I'm just putting you down on the bed, alright?” Kirishima hushed, trying for a second time to lower Katsuki onto the mattress below him, this time with success. The blonde sat back on the mattress, pulling his knees under his chin and hiding his face behind his arms. He heard Kirishima shutting the door, not missing the click of a lock turning before the mattress dipped with weight next to him as Kirishima sat down.
“So this is my room! It’s not really much since I'm rarely ever here but it's still cozy, ya know? I think I've still got some clothes and stuff in here if you wanna get changed.” Kirishima began chatting in his usual happy voice. Katsuki hated how he could hear the smile as he spoke.
“Kats?” Kirishima tapped his knee, trying to get his attention. If it was attention he wanted, fine, Katsuki would deliver attention.
Katsuki whirled on the redhead, shoving him away roughly accompanied with the small crackles of explosions.
“WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU!!??” he shouted, fresh tears spilling from his eyes as he screamed at the person he loved, the person who had so easily betrayed him, and he hurt. He was hurt and he hoped that Kirishima could feel every ounce of pain through his voice. The red headed bastard had the audacity to look wounded by Katsuki’s outburst, a hurt expression on his face as he reached out a hand towards the crying blonde.
“Kats-”
“GET THE FUCK AWAY!!”
He screeched, setting off more crackling explosions as he shoved himself away from Kirishima’s reach as quickly as he could. In his blind panic, he scooted back too far, unable to catch himself as he tumbled off the end of the bed and landed hard on his back, wheezing as the air left his lungs with force. Kirishima immediately rushed towards him in a panic as Katsuki coughed violently through pain. As soon as he was close enough to touch Katsuki, the blonde screamed and released larger explosions, pushing the redhead back towards the door.
“GET OUT!” He roared, tears dripping down his cheeks and staining wet puddles into his shirt. “GET THE FUCK OUT!”
Kirishima stared at him in disbelief, hurt all over his face as he stood stunned, mouth hanging open like a gaping fish.
“GET OUT, KIRISHIMA!”
The use of his name seemed to shock him out of his stunned silence, mouth snapping shut and tears welling in the corner of his eyes as he staggered backwards before turning and stepping out of the room, door shutting behind him.
Katsuki watched him go, entire body shaking as sobs racked through his body, curling in on himself and tucking his head between his knees as his violently shaking hands hesitantly reached around to the back of his neck. He felt around and when his fingers brushed over the unnatural lump at the base of his neck, he choked. Fingers desperately scraped at the back of his neck, fingernails digging crescents into the delicate skin as he screamed. He clawed at his neck, furious tears spilling from his face as he choked on staggered breaths, digging so desperately into the soft skin of his neck, his fingertips staining a faint reddish brown. He looked around the room through blurry eyes, there had to be something sharp he could use in here.
He stood up and staggered towards the small desk and drawers on the opposite side of the room and yanked them open, sifting through the junk cluttered inside. He gave up after a while, just simply pulling the entire drawer out of the desk and dumping its contents across the floor. Sheets of paper, files, pens and paper clips crashed to the ground. His eyes skittishly scanned the contents before grabbing the second drawer and repeating the process. In that moment, the slender metal scalpel clattered to the ground, rolling on impact and slowing to a stop at Katsuki’s foot.
He lunged on the item and fell to his knees, shaky hands returning to his neck and crying out as hot pain shot through his limbs as he dug the somewhat blunt scalpel into his skin. There was no rhyme or reason to the incisions, Katsuki simply just dug around and stabbed in any attempt to get the chip out. Blood steadily dripped down his neck, droplets falling to the floor in a scattered mess and others staining his shirt a deep crimson. Midway frantically cutting his neck, Katsuki hit something solid with the scalpel, pain becoming a forgotten sensation as he dug the blade underneath the intruding item and attempted to pick it out. Katsuki was seeing stars, his grip on the scalpel growing slippery as blood dripped down his fingers, his shaking intensifying with the adrenaline coursing through him. A choked sob escaped his mouth when he heard a small thud on the ground. Shakily he turned slowly, finding a small oval thing in a pool of crimson on the floor next to his leg.
Katsuki laughed hysterically, body going limp as he crashed to the ground, dry heaving until nothing but stomach bile spilled messily out of his mouth and onto the floor. Saliva and throw up trailed down his chin as he coughed, tears and blood mixing into the other fluid and creating a cacophony of mess on his face and the floor.
It was then that Katsuki let himself grieve. He wanted Kirishima. His Kirishima, not this backstabbing villainous traitor that looked and talked like him. Katsuki was selfish. He just wanted his Kirishima, no one else's. Strangled cries left his lips as he let the pain of everything consume him, drowning in his own self hatred and disgust. Here he was, in the League of Villains headquarters, throwing a tantrum as he layed in his own blood, vomit and tears.
Shaky hands reached up and hooked onto the ledge of the desk, hauling himself up on wobbly legs that almost crumbled as soon as he stood. Still clutching the scalpel in one of his hands, Katsuki tore into his shirt, ripping it in half until he had a satisfactory sized length of fabric. Weak hands then reached up to his burning neck, tying the fabric firmly over the bleeding mess he had created, applying pressure that made him sing out in pain. Panic flew through every inch of his body, his lungs weak and failing to hold in air that he so desperately needed. He just wanted his Kirishima. His Shitty Hair. His Eijirou .
Katsuki stumbled forwards on shaking legs, tripping over his own foot and crashing hard onto the ground as he coughed and threw up again. He felt pathetic and desperate. He crawled to the door of the room, shifting himself until he sat slumped with his back resting against it, trying to catch his breath.
“KIRISHIMA” He cried out weakly, tears dripping from his face as his head grew dizzy.
“EIJIROU!”
The cries were pathetic and desperate, probably not loud enough to even make it out of the room let alone to his Kirishima.
“Eiji!” He sobbed, arms hugging himself desperately as he shook.
The door handle clicked open.
“Katsuki?”
The gentle voice entered the room as Katsuki shoved himself away from the opening door.
“Eiji” He weakly sobbed as the beautiful redhead came into view, panic consuming his face as he rushed to Katsuki’s side.
“Kats! Wha- what did you do” Kirishima yelped as he scooped Katsuki close to him, cradling his shaking form so gently that Katsuki thought he would break simply from that.
“Oh, Kats..” Kirishima’s gaze burnt as it swept over him and he let out a small whimper.
“Eiji” his voice cracked as he spoke, as pathetic sounding as Katsuki felt.
“Hey, shh, it's ok, yeah? I’ve got you, you’re ok, I promise.” Kirishima soothed, carding his fingers through tangled and dirty blonde hair.
“Oh, Kats.. Why’d you dig it out” Kirishima gently scolded as his fingertips left featherlight brushes along his neck.
Katsuki snarled and pulled away from Kirishima, eyes glassy and a hurt expression on his face.
“Fuck you!”
“Kats, what?” Kirishima tried to placate him like he was a cornered animal, in this case, Katsuki didn’t necessarily disagree.
“Fuck you!” The blonde cried. “Fuck you! Fuck you! FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU! WHY?! WHY DID YOU BETRAY ME?!” Katsuki let all of his grief pour out through his voice.
‘Do you feel any fucking regret??! What about our class? Our friends?” Katsuki rambled, tears freely falling from his eyes as he berated Kirishima with everything he felt.
“What about Mr Aizawa? What about Amajiki and Fatgum?! Do you have any fucking regret for what you did?! Did you ever really care about any of us?!” Katsuki took pride in the way his words made Kirishima flinch.
“Of course I did, Katsuki.. None of that was fake. I love and miss all of them. I was never meant to become friends with everyone.” Kirishima finally broke, his own tears falling just as hard as Katsuki’s. “I hate that I’m doing this to all of them.” He paused, looking at his own hands that were now beginning to shake.
“If I lost any of them, it would hurt. It would be a massive chunk of me gone, but I would be able to move on eventually.” Kirishima lifted his head, pleading ruby eyes matching guarded crimson ones. “Katsuki, if I lost you I would never recover.” Kirishima let a wobbly smile lift onto his face.
“Katsuki you are my everything. You're my sun. If I lost you, I could never move on. I would be lost along with you. Katsuki, I love you more than I think I'll ever be able to tell you.” Kirishima smiled brightly with his sharp teeth as his tears continued and Katsuki felt himself starting to shatter again.
“Let me save you, Katsuki. Please, I'm begging you. Let me be selfish and save you. Not for anyone else's benefit, but for me. Purely for me.” Kirishima beamed at the blonde and held out his shaking hand, covered in Katsuki’s own blood.
It was there again that Katsuki felt himself being split in two, the final crack spider webbing through his whole body until he released his breath and shattered completely.
A fragile hand reached across the distance, shaking terribly as fingertips brushed and morphed into fingers linking together.
“Ok…”
Katsuki said in the same small voice he had said it before, only this time he knew who he was agreeing with.
“Ok.”
Kirishima repeated in a matching gentle voice, sad eyes creasing as he smiled at the blonde.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Katsuki was pulled gently into Kirishima’s embrace, strong arms scooping him up bridal style until he was secure against the warm chest of the redhead.
---
It was early into the hours of the morning when Katsuki and Kirishima actually made it to bed. Said bed being a shitty old single mattress that hadn’t been used in almost a year. Every inch of Katsuki’s body ached, an exhaustion so deep rooted into his mind that he was struggling to listen to what Kirishima was saying underneath him.
He gently ran his hands along the redhead's bare chest, tracing delicate patterns into the soft skin as the teen’s heartbeat thudded reassuringly under his ear, a soothing metronome that lulled Katsuki’s mind into a place of peace.
His quiet nothingness was broken with a gentle tap on his shoulder, head groggily lifting up to meet the redhead’s sorrowful gaze.
“Katsuki.. I-” Kirishima paused, swallowing down the lump in his throat. “I really am sorry. And-” His face reddened, “Everything I said about you was true.. Do.. Do you feel the same?”
Katsuki glared at the person beneath him, tucking his head back down with a huff and shifting ever so slightly closer to the redhead.
“I’m still here, idiot..” he grumbled, warm breath blowing gently against Kirishima’s bare skin, sending a shiver through the teen’s body.
“Yeah, I guess you are.” Kirishima’s chest rumbled as he spoke. A tentative hand began combing through Katsuki’s hair, tugging on knots and nails scraping softly over his scalp. Katsuki sighed into the contact.
It was there in the quiet dark of the room, warm arms wrapped tightly around him, that Katsuki finally gave in to the urges of his exhaustion, a heavy feeling in his gut, not quite acceptance but not quite discontent. He knew that till his dying day, he would strive to be the number one hero, there was never a question about that. Katsuki also knew that the Kirishima he loved, the kind and heroic one who always put his friends and others before himself, the one who always smiled and laughed, deep down truly wanted t0 save people. Maybe in the beginning he hadn’t wanted to, but Katsuki saw as the teen became more passionate each and every day, even having his hero debut while working under Fatgum. This Kirishima longed to save, to protect.
I’ll get you out of here.
Katsuki thought as his heavy eyelids fluttered shut, breathing evening out and tense muscles relaxing into the warmth around him.
I’ll save you.