Victor | Katsuki Bakugou x Male reader

Chapter 20

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The sound of rain drumming nearby slowly brought (M/N) back into consciousness. He fought to stay asleep, wrapped in a warm bundle of blankets, safe at home. He was vaguely aware of the aching in his head. His mother's hand stroked his cheek and he didn't push it away like he normally would. But then there was a voice, the wrong voice, not his mother's.

"(M/N)," it said. "(M/N) can you hear me?"

(M/N) opened his eyes and the sense of security he had just been feeling vanished. He wasn't at home with his mother. He was in a dim, chilly cave, his feet freezing despite the cover, the air tainted with the distinct smell of blood.

The pale face of a boy slid into view, and after a small panic, (M/N) felt better. "Katsuki."

"Hey," he said. "Good to see your eyes again."

"How long have I been out?" (M/N) asked.

"Not sure. I woke up yesterday evening and you were lying next to me in a very big pool of blood," Katsuki replied. "I think it's stopped now, but I wouldn't sit up or anything."

(M/N) lifted his hand to his head and found it bandaged. That simple gesture left him feeling weak and dizzy. Katsuki held a bottle to his lips and he drank thirstily.

"You're better," (M/N) said.

"Much better," Katsuki said. "By this morning almost all of the swelling in my leg was gone."

He didn't seem angry about (M/N) tricking him, drugging him, and running off to the feast. Maybe (M/N) was just too beat up, and he'd hear about it later when he was stronger.

"Did you eat?" (M/N) asked.

"I had some meat before, then I realised it might have had to last a while. So I'm back on a strict diet," Katsuki responded.

"No, it's good. You need to eat. I'll go hunting soon," (M/N) said.

"Not too soon," Katsuki said. "Just let me take care of you for a while."

(M/N) didn't really have much of a choice. Katsuki fed him bites of meat and raisins and made him drink plenty of water.

"Your boots and socks are still damp and the weather's not helping much," Katsuki said. There was a clap of thunder and (M/N) could see lightning streak across the sky through an opening in the rocks. "I wonder what brought on this storm, I mean, who's the target?" the blonde continued, talking more to himself than to (M/N).

"Mirio and Shoji," (M/N) responded without thinking. "Creati will be in her den somewhere, and Toga... she cut me and then..."

"I know Toga's dead. I saw it in the sky last night," Katsuki said. "Did you kill her?"

"No. Shoji crushed her against the horn."

"Lucky he didn't catch you as well."

The memory of the feast returned to (M/N) at full force and he felt sick. "He did. But he let me go." Then he had to tell Katsuki everything. About the things he'd kept to himself because the blonde was too sick and he wasn't ready to relive them. Like the explosion, his ear, Wendy's death, and the boy from District 4, and the bread. All of which led to what happened with Shoji and how he was paying off a debt of sorts.

"He let you go because he didn't want to owe you anything?" Katsuki asked in disbelief.

"Yes. I don't expect you to understand it. You've always had enough. But if you lived in the Seam, I wouldn't have to explain," (M/N) said.

"Well don't try. Obviously I'm too dim to get it," Katsuki said with an eye roll.

(M/N) sighed. "It's like the bread. How I never seem to get over owing you for that."