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Katsuki Bakugou needs to be number one.
He needs to be the top hero, no matter what the damage is.
And it needed to be right after graduation,
Nothing could stop him.
The blonde padded into their training arena after hours, knowing technically he shouldn’t be there but being kind of a teachers pet he had the special privileges. And he abused the fuck out of that. Well if you were him, you would too. He has to train constantly and whenever he could, especially by himself to surpass everybody else.
With his wonderful boyfriend Eijirou Kirishima of course. But even then he mainly trained without him to be not distracted. Even if he put up a good challenge.
He was in his hero costume, his heavy gauntlets he had adjusted to making a clanking noise as he trudged through. He scanned the area, wondering to work on first. Well, obviously his explosions and timing them.
He stared at the buildings before him, wondering where to start with a scowl on his face.
”I’m gonna destroy this place.” He stated confidently, giving a nod of approval to himself.
He started off simple, perfecting his right hook attack with a just a few moves. Off to a great start, as always.
God he loved training. He loved the feeling of adrenaline coursing through his veins like lightening, the sweat dripping off of him from all his hard work, everything about it was just so exhilarating.
He knew he could go too far almost every time, but he was Katsuki Bakugou, Dynamite. Future number one hero. He didn’t care.
Lord Explosion Murder Dynamite. Number one hero.
God he loved the taste of copper on his tongue.
He continued to explode each building with a devious laugh, the glass exploding with bursts. He fucking loved it. He could get off on it, honestly.
Sparks enflamed from his palms, letting out malicious laughs as each building burst into flames. He loved it so much. He was probably going to get in trouble for being in the more secluded class training areas, but he could give less of a shit. It was so worth it. He always weaseled his way out of trouble, anyway, being a favorite.
“Hah? Is that all you fucking got?!” He cackled, heavily panting from bouncing all around the room. He wasn’t talking to anyone exactly, as there was no sentient beings in the arena except for him, but his own yapping just made him feel more powerful. Like he was standing on a mountain after killing a high chased villain.
Like All for One.
The thought of the mastermind evaded his brain, a low growl emitting from his throat and anger fueled his body like heat over boiling in a pot filled with water. And it was going to tip over.
It spilled. Cracked at the seems.
He blew from his feet and he flew in the air, a deep anger expression writing on his face. He was going to kill that bastard, even if he wasn’t technically there.
He was going to take it out of this building, though. That was for damn sure.
He was high in the air now, locking malicious eyes with his target being a large grey building before him. This was it. He reached for the pin on one of his gauntlets, where he had been savoring his sweat inside for a massive explosion. He already felt slight tingles in his palms from over usage, but he couldn’t care in that moment. Not in the slightest bit.
He pulled the pin and all he saw was orange and yellow, a huge detonation releasing from his palm. Little did he know, he miscalculated. He was way too fucking close to the building. How could he make this mistake? It was rookie. And damaging.
Very damaging.
He cried out when he was vaulted back, losing all his balance and not being able to catch himself with an explosion or at least on his feet. His head reeled as he hit the ground, feeling his cheek scuff the ground as immense pain coursed through his body.
”Fuck.”
He panted against the ground, not even being able to feel his limbs. And no one was there to save him.
Tch. Not like he ever needed rescuing.
Ever.
He winced as he tried to move, a shape pain shorting from the bottom of his foot all the way to his scalp. It hurt so fucking bad, as much as he didn’t want to admit it.
Worrying eyes searched the area, the surrounding flames around him now burnt out and black. Luckily he wasn’t going to die from burning to death, he supposed.
”Fuck!” He screamed, a feeling of failure now running through his body masking the pain.
How could he make this mistake? He was just simply training, and he overdid it like he usually did. Not only he wasn’t even supposed to be there, but he made one of the stupidest miscalculations with his quirk. Too close to a damn building and now he could be facing broken bones and a roughened up pretty face? For fucks sake, he could barely move.
He body shook with low sobs, muttering insults to himself about how stupid he was, and how he was never going to be a top hero if he was going to keep this up. At this rate he wouldn’t even be in the charts at all. Not even top three
Not even top five. Not even top ten.
”So fucking stupid.” He whined, his voice cracked and absolutely broken. He felt useless.
”Yeah. You are pretty stupid.”
His head whipped upwards and relief crashed through his body. He didn’t even care about the insult he gave because in the end he was kind of right.
He saw red. Red everything. Red hair, red eyes.
“Eijirou.”
The blondes voice was merely a weak cough.
He was rushed to his side, instantly checking his body for injuries. Which of course, there were many.
“Dude. I was looking for you everywhere. Every training room, the weight room, the common area, dorms. And I couldn’t find you. You wouldn’t even answer your phone. You scared me, man.”
There was a tug on his heart strings knowing he frightened his boyfriend, a sharp pain going through his chest as if there already wasn’t one.
”Okay- wait. Hey- hey, are you crying?”
He sniffled, going to wipe his face but then was wincing at the pain with trying to move his arms.
“No.” He lied gruffly.
The other just sighed and kneeled next to him, looking pretty frantic and disheveled himself. He rubbed the blondes back, swallowing worry down his throat.
“You need to stop doing this to yourself, Kats. You’re gonna really wreck yourself. You look really bad.” He could see the worry in him, especially with the way he was trembling himself.
It pained him.
Well, this was the consequences of his own actions he supposed.
”Whatever. I’m fine.”
”Are you sure about that?” It was more of a statement rather a question. “Because I found you here with everything being blown up, you on the ground not being able to move, bleeding, and crying.”
”Shut the hell up-“
”Katsuki. Stop. Who knows what would’ve happened if no one found you here?” His voice cracked at the last word, trying to be frustrated but the anxiety dripping from his tone just overpowering the anger.
He had every right to be angry at the blonde. He didn’t really blame him.
Like that one time he found the redhead pounding into his punching bag with no remorse to where his knuckles cracked and bled.
But this scenario was much worse.
He still was pained to hear his boyfriend’s words shrivel with paranoia.
”Well you did. I’m fine.” He argued. He was not fine.
”You’re not. You can’t move. Now stop fighting me and let me help you.”
He admitted defeat and allowed the other to try and lift him to his feet, practically crying out with every movement. He didn’t think he broke any bones, with knowing what that felt like, but he was sure his hell that his body was sore and he could barely shift.
He mustered a few steps before his body completely broke down once again, a hefty sigh coming from Kirishima.
“Okay. Screw this. I’m carrying you.” That wasn’t a question either.
Bakugou only weakly nodded and permitted himself to be swept off his feet, resting his pounding head onto his boyfriend’s shoulder.
The negative thoughts didn’t disappear, but he tried to not listen to the echoes of his haunted mind.
“Everything fuckin’ hurts.” The blonde complained.
”I know, I know.” Kirishima uttered. “I got you.”
The reassurance seemed to tame his head for a heartbeat, only grumbling and letting his eyes close. But Kirishima, the worry wart, was pestering him about it.
”Babe.”
He continued to let his eyes stay fallen. It was so peaceful.
“Kats.”
He was gonna let up just yet. If he could just slip..
”Katsuki.” A warning edge to the muffled voice. “You gotta- you gotta stay awake for me okay? You’re scaring me.” A gulp came from him.
His eyes fluttered, and he could physically feel the tension release from the redhead.
”Like that Kat. Stay awake for me okay. Can’t lose you right now even though you’re tired.” He kept rambling, like he was terrified himself. He hated the way it sounded on his cheery lover. “Cmon.”
His eyes closed again. He couldn’t help it.
This time he was sitting upright, his hero costume being carefully removed from his body. He couldn’t even feel it. Everything was painful.
His eyes kept closing and he just wanted to sleep.
He didn’t think he was dying, no, but Kirishima as hell did.
“Katsuki. Cmon, stay wake for me please. You’re so strong. Please.” A shook to his shoulder, He didn’t open his eyes. “Katsu. God please don’t fall asleep right now. Just a little longer okay?”
He was scrambling now, and a certain phrase caught him to open his eyelids.
”I need you with me.”
His voice was broken with tears falling from his red gaze. Idiot.
”’M not going anywhere, Red.”
A shaky sigh of relief came from the other, his head bowing.
“Just focus on me okay? Don’t close your eyes. I need you to be awake right now. I know it hurts and I know you’re exhausted. But please Kats. Just stay awake for just a little longer. You’re really freaking me out.”
Bakugou nodded and obliged, only closing them for long blinks.
Kirishima stripped him which wasn’t awkward for either of them, now in an established relationship they’ve seemed eachother without clothes a number of times now. This time was different, though.
“I’m gonna go grab a pair of sweats and a shirt from the locker. It’s just a few steps away.” Kirishima confirmed. “For fucks sake, don’t close your eyes.”
Bakugou nodded lazily.
But of course when he returned, he was slumped and nodding off again.
A shook to his shoulders came and caught him awake.
”Stop doing that to me. You’re gonna be the fricking death of me, man.” He joked with a half hearted smile.
Neither of them truly laughed.
Nothing was really funny right now anyway.
He let himself be changed into his boyfriend’s clothes, which were always big on him. Damn muscular giant.
Hands traveled from his bruised shoulders down to his hands, where the redhead scanned anxiously.
”Kats.. Your hands.” He whispered.
”Hmm?” The other hummed.
He looked down.
Oh.
His hands were blistered, bruised and bloody. It was kind of a horrific scene. And of course his lovers face was filled with paranoia about it.
It wasn’t the first time either has seen his hands like this, but this was arguably one of the worst times. Where the hell did his gloves even go? They must’ve been blown off during the impact, he guessed.
Just another inconvenient replacement.
He sighed as Kirishima ran his rough hands gently over the wounds, seeing he was holding back a few stray tears. He hated how his face was twisted with sadness. It didn’t suit him at all.
And nearly every time, the blonde was cause. Now that was a real shot to his soul that was already broken.
He looked away. Fuck, no, he couldn’t cry right now. He should’ve been confronting the one kneeling before him.
Fuck.
He couldn’t keep relying on him like this. He was never going to be pro if he always had him nearby. Being a hero was a risky job. He wouldn’t be able to handle it if he always had Kirishima to fall back on. Someone to save him. Rescue him. Like the Kamino Incident, a hold he couldn’t dig himself out of. Be his hero. When he should be out there being one himself. It was pathetic.
He loved having a partner in the hero business. But was it even a partner if his was doing all the work and saving? God it aimed him.
He didn’t even realize he was crying until he saw a few wet spots drip and fade onto his boyfriend’s black sweatpants. A gentle yet strong hand came to his damp cheek.
”Oh, Katsuki.” Kirishima’s voice leaked with sympathy and pity. “You’re okay. I’m not upset with you.”
Thats not what he was exactly worried about. The negative thoughts just always found a way to work into his brain.
“No, Eijirou.” His voice was gruff as only more tears fell.
“You can’t- you can’t keep saving me. It’s so fucking pathetic.” He shook. “I can’t even be a hero without someone coming to rescue me. I couldn’t escape the sludge villain. I couldn’t escape Kamino. I can’t do anything without anyone else. It’s so- It’s so humiliating!”
His voice was getting higher in the empty space the two had shared together many times.
Kirishima stayed calm and collected though like he always did, letting his boyfriend vent.
”I can’t be a hero like this.” He choked. “I can’t save myself from any situation. Fuck Eijirou— I can’t even save myself from me!”
With the last word he cracked out a burst of sparks flew from his palm, crying out from the sizzling pain of over usage. Weak.
Kirishima was quick to comfort, rubbing his wrist and stands slightly taller to rest his forehead against his.
”Hey. Look at me.” He ordered, but in such a soft way he couldn’t do anything but match his gaze. Calm flooded his body as his frame racked in small sobs.
“You. Katsuki Bakugou. Are the strongest person I know. Okay? You’re not always going to need saving. But that’s just what partners do. You’ve saved my ass many times too, you know? And others too. It’s just part of what we do. It’s what we go through. We can’t do it alone. And I sure as hell wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else other than you. You’re not only my amazing boyfriend, but my best friend, alright? I’m always going to be your rock. Someone to save you, help you, rescue you. Even if your stubborn ass says you don’t need it. And I know you’ll always do the same for me. So just accept it. Accept me, Katsuki.”
Bakugou couldn’t speak. He wasn’t crying anymore, only love surfing through him now.
Fuck he was so in love with him. He just knew exactly what to say at all times. It pained him but also helped tremendously. Fuck he adored him. He wanted to marry him.
He only gave a tiny nod of confirmation, and Kirishima beamed. Fucker could blind the sun with his smile. But he wouldn’t want to wake up to anyone else’s any other day of his life. Only his.
He was wrapped up in bandages and cleaned up, the exhaustion overtaking him.
”Hey. Remember what I said Kats. No falling asleep on me until we’re back to the dorms. Recovery Girl isn’t available right now because it’s after school hours. So just stay awake for me alright?”
He felt soft kisses frail down his forearm, until they reached carefully to his bandaged palms. He slightly flinched.
”You can trust me, Kat.”
The blonde nodded.
He felt small kisses pepper his sore skin, not one inch going untouched as the other gently rubbed both the front and back of his injured hands. It was comforting and weirdly they felt less pained after.
He owed him so much. What did he do to deserve this treatment? He was sorta an asshole to everyone.
Except Kirishima. He didn’t know what made himself so soft about him. That idiot just found his dumb way into his built up emotionally constipated heart.
He didn’t mind it though. He was the only one able to do that, anyway in this entire universe.
Kirishima was the entire universe.
His entire universe. Fuck, his whole damn galaxy.
When he was swooped up in his arms once again to return to the dorms, Bakugou didn’t really care which one they entered. Unless they were together which they had been even before they were dating when Bakugou was dealing with night terrors.
They just kinda switched it up. Mainly Kirishima’s room because it had a television in there.
But this time they chose the blondes, the bland walls with some All Might posters displayed along with the quietness both soothed their bones.
This time he passed out in Kirishima’s arms on the way to the dorm.
He didn’t wake him up though. He knew they were going to be just fine.