Tics and Scratches

Chapter 12

***** detailed tic attack *****

Bakugo thought it was fair enough that he was beginning to feel an inkling of panic creep into his system. Screw that, it wasn't just an inkling. The panic was all consuming, devouring his every thought. Suddenly that tic attack he had had a few months ago felt like a leisurely stroll in the park, being nothing compared to this. He didn't know how long it had been since he had stumbled into the room but it felt like a lifetime as his body practically writhed in its position.  His legs kept unrelentingly flying outwards as his hands flew against his chest with a rhythmic thud. It felt like his body was so overrun with energy that electricity was pulsing through him. He found himself wondering whether this is what Denki felt like when he lost control of his quirk.

The ticcing hadn't even begun to wane when he vaguely registered the sound of quick footsteps striding into the room. There was nothing he could do to stop himself from moving and shouting despite his want...no, need to keep this a secret. The louder the footsteps became the more he tried to pull himself together. But it was just getting worse as he begun to feel himself splutter for breath between the meaningless phrases that were erupting from his mouth.

"Bakugo? Bakugo! Kiddo!"

Was that Mr Aizawa? Bakugo felt a glimmer of hope light in his chest. Aizawa would definitely know what to do, he always did after all. He could help him and then Bakugo could just carry on with training. This would definitely be an easy fix.

Bakugo attempted to reach out and grasp his teacher, desperate for something to ground himself, but every time he felt like he was remotely close his hand would be snatched away by the strings that were manipulating him. Against his will, tears begun to fall from his eyes as his frustration grew to a peak. How the fuck was he supposed stop this when he couldn't even articulate what he needed?

"I'm going to put my hand on your shoulder, Bakugo. Is that alright?" Aizawa's voice pushed through the panicked haze quickly settling across his senses startling him to nod violently. Aizawa always knew what he needed.

He felt one steady hand fall gently on his shoulder before he heard the familiar gruff voice speak up again.

"You're having a tic attack, Katsuki. You will be alright. It will pass. I just need you to calm down for me."

Bakugo attempted to take a deep breath in but each time he tried his body would force it out again in the form of short weak puffs and unrelated words. Somehow, in a brief break between the sharp movements of his neck he managed to turn and look Aizawa in the eyes. Desperate to communicate that he didn't know how to help himself this time. That he was willing to accept the help that he had so readily rejected last time. 

"I ca- red riot unbreakable! can't sto-op - fuck off and die. Die! Yoshi!" He desperately huffed out quickly breaking eye contact as his head whirled to the side causing a sharp pain to shoot up into his head. 

He felt something catch his hand as it begun to swing violently back towards his chest. It twitched as it was pulled to firmly sit on his teacher's chest, directly over his heart. He noticed that Aizawa's heart rate was elevated causing a twang of guilt to ripple through him. How could he be so selfish and worry everybody? These were people that genuinely cared about him. Not his parents.  

His eyes felt like they were glued shut as a bout of blinking tics came over him like a wave. Yet he could still feel Aizawa's chest rising and falling steadily as his heart pumped underneath. 

"Another deep breath for me please, bud."

Bakugo shuddered as he managed to draw in a few clear breaths uninterrupted by any vocal tics, grateful for once that he had been found even when he hadn't wanted to be. Although he was already aching and the tics were still far more frequent than normal he felt as if he was slowly gaining back control.