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The building was supposed to be empty.
That was the plan. A quick mission to gather intel, neutralize a minor threat, and be back before lunch. But of course, nothing went according to plan.
Bakugo had felt it the moment they stepped inside the abandoned ruins—something was off. But he'd pushed the feeling aside, focusing on the mission, until a blast echoed through the air, knocking them both to the ground. The walls trembled, the floor cracked, and in the chaos of shifting debris, the ceiling caved in.
"Dammit!" Bakugo shouted, scrambling to push himself upright, his ears ringing. His first instinct was to blast his way out, but the confined space around them made that impossible. They were trapped, buried beneath rubble in a place they couldn’t even see.
Midoriya, groaning beside him, slowly pushed himself to sit up, wincing from the cut along his arm. “Well... that was unexpected.”
“ Unexpected ?” Bakugo barked, gritting his teeth. His temper was already flaring. “It’s more like the damn building decided to collapse just for us!”
“I’m pretty sure it wasn’t personal,” Midoriya replied dryly, though there was a faint smile on his face.
Bakugo shot him a glare, his voice rough with frustration. “I don’t need your weird optimism right now, damn it.”
Midoriya just shrugged, his eyes scanning the surroundings. “We’ve been in worse situations. We’ll figure something out.”
It was easy for Midoriya to say. His optimism, his belief that everything would be okay, had always been his greatest strength and his greatest flaw. But as Bakugo looked at him, that same strength was what made him hesitate for a moment.
They had been through plenty together. Missions, training, battles. But this felt different. They weren’t just facing a threat; they were alone in a crumbling building, cut off from their team. And the only way out was to rely on each other.
“Tch. You don’t know what you’re talking about, Deku,” Bakugo muttered, his arms crossing over his chest as he slouched against a pile of debris. “You always think you can fix everything with that dumb ‘I’ll handle it’ attitude. You’re not the only one with a plan.”
Midoriya’s face softened, his expression turning serious. “It’s not about handling it. It’s about making sure we both make it out alive.”
The words hung between them, and Bakugo felt something tighten in his chest. He hated it. He hated how Midoriya could say something so simple, yet it felt like the entire weight of the world was on his shoulders.
Bakugo opened his mouth to argue, but the words didn’t come. Instead, his gaze flickered away, his eyes darkening.
“Look, I don’t need your pity or your help , okay?” Bakugo snapped, his voice more defensive than he intended.
Midoriya’s gaze remained calm, unwavering. “You don’t have to do this alone, Kacchan. It’s okay to let someone else help.”
That was the moment everything shifted. Bakugo’s heart skipped a beat, his guard cracking just enough for Midoriya’s words to slip through.
“Stop acting like I’m some damn hero, Deku,” Bakugo muttered, his voice a little quieter than before. He scowled, trying to cover up the vulnerability he felt. “I’m not some weakling who needs to be rescued.”
“I know you’re not,” Midoriya said, his voice soft but steady. “But sometimes... you don’t have to protect everyone all the time.”
Bakugo felt something stir in his chest, something unfamiliar. He didn’t like it. He didn’t know what to do with it. So instead, he grumbled, “Tch. Whatever. You’re so full of it.”
But there was something else in his eyes, something Midoriya didn’t miss. It was a crack in the armor, a glimpse of the person behind the explosions and the anger.
The silence stretched out between them. The only sound was the occasional settling of rubble as the building groaned under its own weight. Midoriya glanced around, his eyes narrowing.
“We’re not going to get out of here by waiting,” Midoriya said after a few moments, trying to break the tension. “Let’s find another way. There’s always a way out.”
Bakugo huffed, crossing his arms again, but he couldn’t suppress the small, reluctant smile tugging at his lips. “Always so damn hopeful.”
“You could learn a thing or two from me, you know,” Midoriya teased, nudging his shoulder lightly.
Bakugo scoffed. “I don’t need lessons from you.”
But as the tension between them started to ease, Bakugo found himself relaxing—just a little. It wasn’t the explosion of emotion he was used to; it was something quieter, more insistent. Something like trust.
After a few minutes of silence, Bakugo broke it again. “You know, if I die in here, I’m going to haunt the hell out of you.”
Midoriya looked at him, eyebrows raised. “What?”
“Yeah, I’m serious. If I don’t get out of here, I’m coming back just to mess with you,” Bakugo said, his voice light but with a glint of his usual defiance. “I’ll do it too. I’ll find a way.”
Midoriya chuckled softly. “I’ll make sure you’re buried next to the tree in the mountains, where you wanted to be, alright?”
Bakugo blinked, surprised. “Wait, you’re serious?”
“Well, yeah,” Midoriya said, shrugging nonchalantly. “I’ll do it. You’re my partner, after all.”
Bakugo was quiet for a moment. The words felt... strange. But not unwelcome. The thought of Midoriya keeping that promise—something so small, yet so meaningful—settled deep in his chest.
“Good,” Bakugo grunted, looking away. “Just make sure no one takes a picture of my dead body.”
“Why would they—?”
“I’m serious, Deku! I swear, if anyone tries to make some lame meme out of me after I’m gone—”
Midoriya laughed, cutting him off. “Alright, alright! No memes of you, I promise.”
Bakugo huffed, but the sound of Midoriya’s laughter filled the small space, easing the tension between them in a way that nothing else could.
“You know, if I had to get stuck in here with anyone, I’m glad it’s you, Kacchan,” Midoriya said, his tone light and sincere, a smile curving his lips.
Bakugo’s heart skipped a beat, and he grunted, a scowl returning to his face. “Tch, whatever. Don’t get all sentimental on me, idiot.”
But his voice softened just enough, his words hanging between them like an unspoken promise.
They sat in silence for a while, the weight of their situation no longer hanging quite so heavy. Bakugo knew they still had a long way to go before they could escape, but for the first time in a long while, it didn’t feel quite as hopeless.
Hours later, when the rubble finally shifted, and Midoriya managed to break through enough of the debris for them to get out, Bakugo was already there beside him, ready to fight his way through—together.
Midoriya held out his hand, a grin on his face. “Lead the way, Kacchan.”
Bakugo smirked, his usual fire returning. “ I’m the one leading? Don’t make me laugh, Deku. Get your ass up.”
And together, they walked out of the ruins, side by side, the bond between them stronger than ever.