Conflagration

Chapter 5

"Deku?!"

A shout broke through the blaring alarms after what felt like hours to Izuku, calling him an unfamiliar name in a very familiar voice. The sound of glass being stepped on grew louder, coming closer to the door as Izuku wiped his runny nose on his sleeve, sniffling wetly and shifting in his place. He stayed quiet, waiting for some kind of confirmation that it was who he thought it was.

"Izuku, it's me. There's no one with me, I promise. You can unlock the door now."

It was Bakugo. He was alone.

Izuku quickly stood up, unlocking the door and throwing it open. He was met with open arms, Bakugo looking at him with an expectant gaze. The crying man didn't keep him waiting, falling into his chest and soaking his shirt with tears as the blonde man shushed and cooed his friend.

"It's alright, 'Zuku. They're gone, you're safe now." Bakugo muttered, loosening his grip when Izuku began leaning backward. He smiled softly, and Izuku wished he was less upset so that he could appreciate the sight.

"I thought they were going to kill me." The barista said, wiping his eyes again and gazing up at Bakugo in a new light. He looks like an angel now.

The normally grumpy man scoffed, opening his mouth to speak but pausing and leaning towards the counter. "Do you hear that?" He asked, his tone changing from calming to anxious in a few quick seconds.

Izuku paused, chewing on his lower lip and listening closely. Just barely over the sound of the cafe's alarm, he could hear the sound of police sirens. He immediately smiled, wiggling out of Bakugo's grip and rushing towards the door. "Oh, they're coming! This is great, we can report the guys and-"

"No."

"What do you mean? They'll find them! We can-"

Bakugo grabbed Izuku's arm, suddenly behind him as he pulled him backward and glared down at him. "I said no. Don't say what they look like... tell them you hid before you could get a good look."

The green-haired man furrowed his eyebrows, confusion clear on his face. "Why? Isn't that enough for them to charge me? What if they find the camera?"

"They won't. Just do what I tell you, and I'll explain later, ok?"

This is getting too suspicious. I can't do this-

Izuku didn't get time to answer, as police cars pulled up to the cafe. Bakugo let go of his arm and trudged through the broken glass, gesturing for Izuku to follow and stuffing his hands into his pockets. Dumbly, the nervous man followed closely with a straight face.

The cops tensed when they emerged, reaching for their guns and narrowing their eyes. "Freeze!" One of them shouted, presumably the chief or lieutenant, holding a hand up as a signal to keep his men from firing.

"Relax, I just went in there to get him out," Bakugo grunted, holding his hands up and glancing back at Izuku. Izuku held his hands up as well, nodded, and whimpered at the sight of so many people with unclear intent.

One of the officers must've recognized him because they stood straight up and dropped their hands to their sides. "He's not lying, Lieutenant. This young man works the night shift almost every night, I see him leaving on my way home all the time." She explained, causing the man to nod.

Once the lieutenant gave the command, a couple of the officers came up to the 20 something's and began asking them questions about the incident. Most were directed towards Izuku, though, Bakugo cut in when it seemed like the questions began straying too close to the appearance or identities of the shooters.