Worthy of Love (KiriBaku)

Chapter 1: Nightmare

"If you hadn't been so weak, you wouldn't have gotten captured in the first place!"

His mother's words rang through his head as he drifted off to sleep in this new environment. The walls of his dorm room seemed to be closing in around him, squeezing the breath out of his chest.  If he hadn't been so weak, he would be sleeping in his own bed, in his own house, as would the rest of UA. If he hadn't been so weak, All Might would still be the Symbol of Peace. If he hadn't been so weak, the world would still feel normal. If he hadn't been so weak... so God Damn weak...

A hand on the back of his neck, leaving bruises. He was being pulled backwards through the warp portal as he stared at his classmates reaching out for him, trying desperately to rescue him, to save him.

Restraints tight on his hands. They're cramping painfully as he struggles against them pointlessly. If he keeps doing so he feels that his joints will pop. 

Being looked down upon by villians. They think he's no better than them. Maybe better off to join them... 

A muzzle on his mouth silencing his screams of rage. The taste of metal in his mouth. Is it from the gag, or is it the taste of his own blood? Did he bite himself fighting against it? Everyone in the stadium watching, whispering in disapproval. Could he ever truly be a hero?

Then, his mouth filled with sludge - noxious and vile. He tries to call out for help, for anyone to just help. To the bystanders watching in fear, to the heroes waiting for backup, useless on their own, as he slowly suffocates being overtaken by the monster.

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In the neighboring room, the red-headed Kirishima worked tirelessly on his classwork, although it was hardly making any sense to him. His eyes were growing tired as he tried to read the fuzzy letters. He checked the clock on his wall. 11:02. He groaned, throwing his pencil down on his unfinished assignment. He rubbed his hands on his face in an attempt to calm down.

'This is impossible!' He thought to himself.

The boy leaned back in his chair. He had better get to bed soon or he would surely regret it in the morning. Then he heard it. A yell? A cry? No, it was a scream. A gutural, terrified scream. Loud, urgent, and pleading. It was coming from Bakugo's room next door. Without a second thought, Kirishima sprang up and out of his room. Urgently, he knocked on his friend's door, to no intelligent response - the screams only continued, growing in volume and urgency. Muffled through the sound of the door, Kirishima thought he heard, "Help me!"

'Screw it'

Kirishima whipped open the door, slightly surprised that it hadn't been locked. He closed it quickly behind him. Bakugo was laying in his bed with a pained expression on his face. He was gritting his teeth so hard a vein in his neck was pulsing angrily. His face was wet, from sweat or tears, Kirishima was unsure. He ran over to his friend's side just as the blonde called out once more, "Help!"

"Bakugo!" Kirishima exclaimed, gently placing a hand on the sleeping boy's form. "Bakugo, wake up!"

The sleeping boy merely thrashed against Kirishima, a wail building deep within his throat. Kirishima grasped Bakugo by his shoulders to try to hold him still.

"Please wake up!" he pleaded as Bakugo continued to struggle underneath his grasp. "Bakugo!"

"No! Please! Please don't!" Bakugo cried out, tears now streaming down his face through scrunched up eyes. "Don't put it on me!"

What was Kirishima hearing? The absolute terror in Bakugo's voice was something he had never heard from him before. It was heart wrenching to witness. He felt his own eyes starting to well with tears. He needed to make this stop. He needed to relieve his friend's pain.

"KATSUKI!" Kirishima bellowed, getting within inches of the other boy's face. The blonde's face softened, his tense form relaxing. His eyes opened slowly.

"Dude, are you okay?"

It took Bakugo a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dark of his room. Soon, Kirishima's face came into his field of vision. There was worry written on his face and a wetness in his eyes. Heat was radiating off of him. He was so close to him that he could feel his breath on his cheeks.

"Shitty hair?" Bakugo questioned. His voice was strained, hoarse from his screams. Bakugo looked down at the other male's hand on his body; they were strong as they held him tightly to the bed.

"I, uh, heard you screaming," Kirishima explained, blushing as he followed Bakugo's gaze at his hands still on his shoulders. He gently released him from his grip. He turned away briefly, wiping at his eyes before the tears fell. 

Bakugo cleared his throat and sat up on his bed. "I'm fine."

His voice wavered as spoke. Kirishima sat down next to him on his bed for a moment, studying his face carefully. He wasn't reassured to say the least. He shook his head knowing it was futile to further the uncomfortable conversation, so he stood up. "Okay, man."

He turned to leave, not really wanting to leave him in this state.

"Shitty hair?"

Kirishima stopped, looking back at the other boy. The blonde looked vulnerable sitting by himself in the dark. He had pulled his knees up against his chest, holding them. His tear-stained face reflected off the bit of moonlight that was streaming in through his curtains.

"Yeah?"

"Can you stay with me?"