Vulnerability and Second Chances (Barbarian King!Bakugou x Omega!Reader)

Chapter 20: Relieved Satisfaction Blanketed in Safety

Back at the Common Ground, masses had gathered. Aside from the elders, children and injured, there were now the refugees and the dozens of warriors trickling back as the fighting finally came to a close.

Tokoyami and someone called Hawks had started setting up tents so the stubborn meerkat, who insisted that she was fine, tended to those that looked the worst first.

The eagle was busy flitting around everywhere along with his hawk comrade and you resisted the urge to tuck your knees into your chest to hide under all the sympathetic glances you were getting.

You didn't know why everyone was looking at you as though you had just committed a serious crime but you couldn't find it in yourself to care at the moment.

Your world had come crashing down around you for the second time in your life when Kirishima had gotten captured, these last 24 hours had been a little crazy, you were allowed to huddle in the corner and stay by yourself like a loner if you wanted to.

Averting your eyes so you didn't seem rude when you caught them staring, you subtly breathed in the woodsy and musty scent clinging to the fur of the cape swaddled around your shoulders.

You had refused to see any of the healers, wanting to wait until Bakugou or Kirishima got back before you got your injuries treated. You had to know if they were okay and didn't want to miss it when they got back.

Sighing, knowing full well that it wasn't going to be for a while longer since Asui, who took an arrow to the leg, had informed you that they had gone after Shigaraki and you absentmindedly stroked your fingers through the mop of hair resting on your thigh.

Sung-ho had rolled over and hugged your tail a few minutes after he fell asleep and you couldn't help but coo at how cute he was. The picture of the skittish boy so relaxed helped the time pass by a lot quicker.

Now that you could see him in the light, thanks to the torches that provided a warm glow scattered across the area on the extensive grounds, you could see how truly thin he was.

Much like you were when you first arrived.

You tucked your bottom lip in between your teeth and worried away. Since he was human, he wouldn't heal as fast as hybrids did, which meant that the road to recovery would be a long and bumpy one but you were sure he could pull through it.

The two bird hybrids were passing out food and water to the ones who were rescued and you nodded to Tokoyami in thanks as he handed you a bowl of hot stew that Ojiro and Sato had whipped up as well as a cup full of fresh spring water.

"Thank you." You said softly as you brought it down carefully and nudged the sleeping boy on your lap carefully to rouse him from his slumber.

According to Shinsou, Sung-ho's legs had given out halfway to the rendezvous point and while the hedgehog was figuring out how to carry him, since he couldn't manage it on his prickly back, Hawks had swooped in and saved the day.

And not a moment too soon because you were told that there had been trouble. Apparently, they had a brief run in with Kurogiri but they prioritized human life and all the spare warriors steered everyone towards the fortified Common Ground as Hawks and Ojiro clashed with Shigaraki's second-in-command.

Sung-ho blinked sleepily, sitting up awkwardly but his eyes lit up when they landed on the food.

"Is that... can I...?"

You smiled reassuringly and held it out to him. "Of course you can, but be careful, it's hot, okay?"

He nodded so fast that you weren't sure it was because he actually heard you or if he was just that eager to tear into the first edible food he had seen in his entire life.