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It was a routine training exercise at U.A., and Katsuki Bakugo was as intense as ever. He leaped into the air, his explosions propelling him higher and higher, aiming to take down a villain robot with a powerful strike. However, something went wrong, and the robot's attack destabilized his trajectory. He was falling, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
Just in time, a green blur appeared, and Izuku lunged forward, using his quirk to grab Bakugo. "I've got you, Kacchan!" he shouted, determination etched on his face.
Their eyes met for a brief moment, and something changed in Bakugo. He felt a mix of emotions: gratitude for being saved, anger at himself for needing to be rescued, and a strange sense of nervousness he couldn't explain. But he couldn't dwell on that at the moment. Izuku quickly maneuvered them to safety, and Bakugo regained his balance, pulling away from Izuku's grasp as if it were on fire.
"Damn it, Deku! I didn't need your help!" Bakugo barked, trying to mask his embarrassment behind a mask of anger.
Izuku, accustomed to Bakugo's brash behavior, simply smiled and said, "No big deal, Kacchan. We're a team, right?"
"Team or not, I don't need to be saved like a helpless idiot!" Bakugo retorted, his voice rough with frustration.
Izuku's smile softened, and he cautiously approached Bakugo. "Kacchan, everyone needs help sometimes. There's nothing to be ashamed of."
Bakugo's gaze faltered, and he looked away, feeling a mix of irritation and appreciation for Izuku's understanding. "Tch, whatever. Let's just finish this stupid exercise," he grumbled.
The training exercise continued, along with Bakugo's distraction, as he was constantly rescued by Izuku.
During another training session, debris threatened his life. Izuku smashed it with a powerful attack and used his other arm to hold onto Bakugo. "I've got you, Kacchan," he repeated.
On a mission, Bakugo was knocked down by a villain, but his body never reached the ground thanks to Izuku's quick reflexes, who repeated, "I've got you, Kacchan."
On a cloudy afternoon, rain fell in heavy drops, creating dangerous puddles that made the already irritated Bakugo slip. Once again, his savior's hands stopped his fall, and his body became accustomed to being held by Izuku, anticipating the familiar words: "I've got you, Kacchan."
There wasn't a day, a class, or a mission where he didn't end up in Izuku's arms followed by an annoyed, "I've got you, Kacchan."
But something had changed between them. Izuku couldn't ignore the way Bakugo's expression softened a bit every time their eyes met. And Bakugo found himself more aware than ever of Izuku's presence, feeling a strange warmth in his chest every time he saw his friend in action.
Over the following days, Izuku noticed that Bakugo was struggling with his emotions. He seemed more distant and temperamental than usual, which worried Izuku. He decided to confront Bakugo about it.
"Hey, Kacchan, can we talk for a moment?" Izuku asked, catching Bakugo alone after class.
Bakugo crossed his arms and huffed. "What's there to talk about, Deku?"
"I've noticed you've been acting differently since the training exercise. Are you okay?" Izuku asked, concern evident in his voice.
Bakugo's usual bravado wavered, and he looked away, unable to meet Izuku's gaze. "I just... hate feeling weak, okay? And you keep... You keep being there. Always having me. Having me again. I've had ... enough! Do you think you're so cool making me feel vulnerable? Well, I don't like it!"
"Kacchan! I'm not trying to make fun of you!" Izuku approached and placed a hand on Bakugo's shoulder. "Kacchan, it's okay to feel vulnerable sometimes. It doesn't make you weak. We all have our limits, and that's why we trust each other as a team."
Bakugo's eyes returned to Izuku's, and for a moment, he seemed lost in thought. He pulled away abruptly, clicking his tongue. "You're so damn annoying, you know that?" he muttered.
Izuku chuckled softly. "Yes, I've been told that before. But I'll always support you, Kacchan, no matter what."
A mix of emotions swirled in Bakugo's eyes, and before he could overthink it, he blurted out, "Yeah, well, you're not immortal either, okay? So don't do anything stupid, Deku. Or I'll be the one holding you!"
Izuku's eyes widened, touched by Bakugo's words. "I won't, Kacchan. We'll protect each other."
"Shut up."
From that day on, their relationship strengthened, based on trust and understanding. Bakugo's nervous feelings gradually diminished, replaced by a new appreciation for the bond they shared. And although he would never openly admit it, he was grateful to have Izuku by his side, always ready to say those reassuring words:
"I've got you."