Untethered: Bakugou x OC x Todoroki

Chapter 15: Deep Water

The next several days were very quiet; the heroes that saved Kaida all stayed with her for most of the time she took to recover since she'd suffered a few injuries. Only a couple of the heroes at a time would leave for work, to go home and sleep in their own beds, or for showers when the water ran cold at Kaida's place. The heroes that worked for Todoroki were able to treat this situation as work itself now that they'd finally been able to convince the Hero Public Safety Commission that there was indeed a persistent threat. Given Kaida's state after the rescue, they all had their fair shares of sleeping in shifts on the couch, especially Todoroki and Bakugou since neither would leave her apartment for more than an hour at any given point

She had a concussion, a fractured wrist, a cracked rib, and a smattering of bruises decorating her body—not to mention the deep contusion that covered her throat. Her voice had begun to return yet remained somewhat raspy whenever she tried to speak, even though it wasn't often, she was starting to become less groggy in the short moments that she was awake as she'd spent the previous days in and out of sleep, and they had finally gotten enough nutrients in her that her skin was returning to its natural color and shine rather than looking grey and sunken in. It was late in the afternoon and it had been about four days since the rescue, Kaida had been asleep for what felt like almost a full day, only waking for someone to walk her to the bathroom or when she was told that she needed to eat. Her diet was mostly consisting of liquids to ensure that it would be easier on her healing throat and it was nearing the time for her to eat again.

Todoroki sat beside Kaida's bed with his head laid against the mattress near her thigh and he'd cupped his hand over hers resting on top of the comforter. He mindlessly trailed his thumb lightly against the backs of her fingers while he stared at the wall past the foot of the bed, trying his best not to take a nap himself as the sun filtered through her half-open blinds, warming his back and making it more difficult to keep his eyes open.

Mina, Kirishima, Bakugou, and Yaoyurozu all occupied the kitchen and living area while Jirou was at work; Bakugou was making food, Mina and Yaoyurozu were sitting on the floor on either side of the coffee table playing cards, and Kirishima was washing the dishes that filled the sink. The television played in the background, filling the room with at least a little bit of noise, as the heroes hadn't been talking all that much due to their shared worry for the grey-eyed girl and hoping that a calm environment would help her heal faster. As Kirishima dried the last of the dishes he offered to help Bakugou finish making food, to which he declined as he was almost done anyway. The savory scent of the vegetables sizzling in the frying pan filled the room and the group paid their compliments to the ash-blonde as they waited for the go-ahead to fill their plates.

Bakugou announced when it was time to eat and he headed toward Kaida's room to let the icy-hot bastard know that food was ready while the other heroes dished up. The blonde pushed open her cracked open door to find the dual-haired male laying his head against the bed and his gaze moved to the motion of Todoroki's hand caressing Kaida's. He rolled his crimson eyes as he leaned against the door frame with his arms folded across his chest.

"Oi, half n half," Bakugou announced from the doorway, "Food."

The ash-blonde had been short with the dual-haired hero during the days that they'd been back but Todoroki was completely oblivious to the fact. The heterochromatic-eyed hero stood from his place beside Kaida's bed to head toward the door as his hunger fiercely directed his half-asleep actions. Bakugou turned around before Todoroki could hit the doorway and plated his own food first.

Todoroki took his bowl to the living section to join the remaining heroes to eat while Bakugou continued bustling about in the kitchen, hurrying to eat his own food as he prepared Kaida's meal simultaneously. Everyone remained silent while they enjoyed their early dinner, whatever show playing on the television being the main source of noise, and they all made sure to thank Bakugou politely for feeding them. Todoroki finished first and rinsed his dish in the sink before addressing the others in the room.