Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Part 8: Black and White

-Bakugo's POV

I stirred in my sleep as I heard shuffling around me, somewhere distant yet close. I was only half-awake and couldn't think too sharply, so I assumed I was hearing things. However, when I heard the elevator ding, I knew someone was up. 

I sat up in bed and looked to my left. The clock read 5:20 am when I checked it. Who the hell is awake this early?! I got out of bed and put on some pants, then went to the elevator so I could go to the kitchen.

When the elevator reached the base floor, I was washed with a melancholy feeling. There was a faint sound coming from the dining area, so I passed the common room and the kitchen to get there. As I neared the all too familiar green-haired boy, I realized he was crying silently. The sad scene honestly broke my heart. 

I walked to the end of the table, wishing Midoriya didn't have to sit at the end, especially considering that the table was long. I reached the end after walking silently and slowly, but I saw Midoriya had cried himself to sleep.

I gently picked him up and walked to the common room, where I set him on the couch. I found a blanket near me and placed it on him gently. I wonder what made him cry. His tear-stained face was now slightly dry as he rested on the sofa, but he didn't look asleep. His body lay there uncomforted, and he seemed emptied of energy. He looked lifeless.

I sat on the couch and brushed his hair away from his face, then placed a hand on his cheek. His eyes were slightly puffy from crying, and I could still feel a small amount of moisture left. My hand eventually went down to his arm. Would he relax more if I rubbed him? I guess I could try. I started to stroke his arm lightly and he began to look more peaceful, his body becoming less tense in the process. 

After he started to look slightly more peaceful, I figured I could try to take him to his room. Another trip through the elevator and I was in front of his door. I toggled around with the doorknob, which refused to open. It's locked. Instead, I walked across the hall and entered my room, where I carefully lay him on the bed. I needed to go back to sleep too, even if I shook off the hazy feeling already.

A few minutes of trying to sleep on the floor, and I gave up. It didn't matter if the ground was carpet-it was very uncomfortable. I glanced over at the bed, where Midoriya lay on one side. He was covered in a blanket as I had tucked him in, but I started to wonder if he would mind me sleeping next to him. I decided to do so since it couldn't be too uncomfortable for him.

(Time skip brought to you by: Some random dude.)

Midoriya's POV

I hadn't realized that I had fallen asleep while crying, but I definitely wasn't at the dining area anymore. I hadn't opened my eyes yet, but I shuffled around on something soft and comfy. A bed? The blanket didn't seem to feel right though, but that didn't mean it was bad. I found myself cuddling against the soft fabric before opening my eyes. Where am I?

Hmm. I thought. These sheets are gray, but there is a black line... I looked across the blanket to find that the pattern intersected with another line. It was unmistakable. The pattern was like Kacchan's hero suit, except with different colors. The room was very tidy, and the walls were painted dark gray. Kacchan's room. Wait, I was in Kacchan's room!  What was I doing here?

Before I could get out of bed, the desk chair turned around and Kacchan got up from it. I hadn't noticed him there, but as he came into sight, I felt my heart race with a mix of confusion, fear, embarrassment... and love.

Give it up already.

I sighed. There we go again. That same voice that had no real source, but I somehow knew it was a part of my mind. Why am I the source of all my burdens? But my train of thought was cut off when Kacchan spoke.

"You're awake. Did you sleep ok?"

"Y-yeah, but, why am I in your room?"

"You seemed to have been crying and you fell asleep in the process, so I carried you here instead. Why were you sad though?" From the looks of it, he seemed to have arrived after I had ranted to myself, which I had thanked God for. 

"I-I was crying because... because there isn't anything healthy to eat."

"Bullshit. C'mon, tell me, I promise I won't make fun of you or anything."

"..."

"Midoriya..."  His tone went from soft to slightly agitated, and my pathetic self whimpered at the tone. I gasped and smacked a hand over my mouth. The little sound sounded so embarrassing and disgusting at the same time, it even made me feel like gagging. Someone, please just tear me apart already.

"Sorry, I scared you, didn't I?"

"N-no, Kacchan, it's not like that! I-" He chuckled.

"It's fine. I've done a lot to you, so it's only an instinct for you to be scared when I speak like that. You don't have to tell me, but if you ever want to speak, please, come to me. We can talk if you want." His tone was calm, but that one word was stressed and desperate. I wondered why he cared so much suddenly, but as soon as my breath hitched, I stumbled out of bed.

"I'm sorry, Kacchan." After saying that, I dashed quickly to my dorm just in time to puke into the trash can. Hanahaki strikes again, I guess. Why was this happening so suddenly? I only counted two petals this time, but it didn't lessen any of my worries. I panicked even more once I heard Kacchan knocking on the door. He didn't open it though, which was good since I hadn't been able to lock it. 

"MIdoriya, are you ok? May I come in?" Shit. Shit! I cursed in my mind, which only left me slightly surprised, but panic consumed the feeling entirely. I grabbed a water bottle and quickly downed the liquid, still fearing that Kacchan would come in at any moment. Even though I was trying to cover everything up quickly, I soon couldn't focus anymore. I slowly fell to the ground and started to hyperventilate.

My breathing went from slow to fast and I kept gasping for air without reason, only to find that it felt like I was suffocating, even though I wasn't. I completely curled up as I pulled my knees to my chest. It may have not been real, but it felt as if I were dying. 

Kacchan was right outside, and I was torn between two feelings. I wanted him to help me out of this, but at the same time, I knew I could never let him see my true colors. He had already once hated me, but I wished he would never see this side of me. The side with no hues at all, where everything was black and white.