Infected (Katsuki Bakugo x Reader)

3) Adjustments

Light flooded my vision as I slowly open my eyes. I was in a bed in a white room. The brightness of the room causing my head to pound. A wave of nausea hits and I sit up abruptly to vomit over the side of the railing. My insides squeezing painfully, I hang onto the railing of the bed tightly as I empty the contents of my stomach.

"I'm glad to see your finally awake." Aizawa's calm voice spoke from the other side of the room. I cough, wiping my mouth on the sleeve of the gown, not ready to meet his eyes. My arms were covered in bandages I hadn't noticed earlier.

"I'm so sorry." The response was nothing more than a whisper but I feel like it echoes in the room.

"There's nothing to apologize for, no one is injured and we have been pressuring you to use your quirk. I just didn't realize an emotional response would cause you to overuse your power." I can hear him stand and walk towards the bed. I push my hair from my face as I slowly lean back into the bed, every muscle screaming in protest. I cover my face with my arm as I feel the tears coming. A hand slowly pushes the hair on my head back, not protesting as I let a sob slip out.

"Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?" He wasn't angry, he sounded almost concerned.

"This was supposed to be my burden to keep. No one else's. No one needed to know that I've already been branded like some animal." I say between sobs, letting the pain I've been feeling spill. He sighs softly, as I feel him sit on the edge of the bed.

"I can understand that." He says as he lets me cry.

"I have no one. And I finally have people who want to be around me that don't think I'm some sick creature and I hurt them. I heard their screams." I finally pull my arm back and he isn't facing me. His black hair pulled back into a bun. After a moment, he turns to face me, his eyes red as he stops my quirk from emerging, allowing me to cry. He takes my bandaged hand in his.

"Their cries weren't from pain. It was from concern for their friend. Some of our battles will show, whether they leave physical marks or not. Whoever did this to you, doesn't see what we do. I'm going to be here for you on this journey. And I know your friends will be too. They stayed hoping to see you wake up but I sent them to their dorms when it started getting dark. You're not alone, Y/N. Not anymore." His comments making me cry harder. Even after all that, they wanted to see me? I sit up in the bed to cry into my hands. The years of holding back finally letting go.

"All I ever wanted was to be accepted. I didn't choose this quirk." I say softly, tears falling onto my open hands in my lap. Aizawa takes my hand and squeezes it. This side of him was something I never expected. His gaze soft as he releases his quirk, his eyes returning to their normal dark color.

"It's okay to feel these things, Y/N. Just know, it's also to talk to someone if you need to." He gently pulled me into a soft embrace, allowing me to cry onto his shoulder.

~*~

I was released to my dorm later that day, Recovery Girl wanting me to come back in a few days to make sure my burns were healing correctly. I waited till everyone had gone to bed before finally going to my dorm. I wasn't ready to face anyone just yet. Walking into the bare room ached, but more than anything, I just wanted to sleep in a bed. My bed. Pulling the sheets over me, a calm came over me. This was my home now. My talk with Aizawa invading my thoughts. He was just a teacher, but he brought me an unexplainable comfort. I'm so thankful for him during this. His support is something I'll forever be thankful for.

I thought of Bakugo. Of all the people I had to lose control on, it had to be him. I sigh and crawl deeper into my bed. I didn't even bother changing into pajamas. Laying with my face buried in my pillow, I try and relax. My exhausted body screaming in protest at any movement I made. Waves of nausea hit me occasionally. I fumble to kick my shoes off and out from under the covers as I roll onto my back. The silence of the night giving way to the sounds of my own breathing. I really need to see if I can at least get a radio. It was never this quiet in the shelter. Someone was always talking or there was coughing and snoring. Background noise at least. This silence was deafening. I close my eyes, trying to will sleep, but I kept replaying my fight with Bakugo in my head.