His Hero

Trust

The soft patter of rain against the window and distant conversations from elsewhere in the hospital were the only sounds that could be heard above the thundering of two hearts as Shoto held on to Bakugo tightly. Clenching his teeth together to stop them from chattering, a shiver slithered down his spine. Damp pajamas clung to his skin and the cold seeped into his bones. Not even Bakugo's warmth was enough to drive it away.

But he wasn't ready to let go, not yet. He was scared. Scared that if he let go or even loosened his hold on the blond he would vanish again.

Strong arms pulled him impossibly closer, like Bakugo was trying to make up for the last five years, and Shoto genuinely smiled for the first time since waking up. Maybe for the first time since the explosive hero had left. Sinking further into the embrace, a sense of safety he hadn't felt in so long washed over his tired body and one word echoed through his mind – home.

The climb was beginning to take its toll on Shoto's body though. Spots dotted his vision and if not for Bakugo's tight hold he would have met the floor that spun below him long ago. Worry that his wound had reopened crossed his mind with each stabbing pain in his stomach, but he forced himself to focus instead on his arms around the man he had missed and the relief rushing through his veins.

His attempts to mask his pain didn't go unnoticed by Bakugo though.

With a gentle touch Bakugo slipped a hand around his waist, sending a wave of goosebumps racing across his skin that had nothing to do with the cold, and led him to sit on the bed. Without a word Bakugo stripped the thickest blanket, wrapping it tightly around Shoto's shoulders and sat next to him. The small amount of space between them left Shoto feeling like they were worlds apart.

But a bit of clarity had finally returned to his exhausted mind. The reason he had come. Gripping the blanket around him tighter, urging his hands not to reach out to the hero next to him, questions flooded back into his thoughts. He had come here with so many already, and the brief conversation he'd overheard through the window brought so many more. Each one vying for more space in his mind than the last.

The stillness surrounding the two was broken by a deep velvety voice he already knew he couldn't get enough of. Pulling him from a jumbled mess of thoughts.

"Are – are you okay?

Shoto still knew Bakugo well enough to hear what he wasn't asking. The question wasn't just about physical injuries. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, very aware of the eyes that followed his every move. For years his friends had asked him this same thing, but now he was faced with the one person he could never lie to.

"No." The truth that he'd locked away for so long came out so much colder than he'd intended.

Dropping his head to his hands, Bakugo mumbled a reply Shoto could barely hear. "Right, stupid question. Of course you aren't okay." Shoto could almost feel the guilt that surrounded Bakugo, driving a wedge into that space between them that his heart continued begging him to close.

Quick footsteps closing in on their door pulled his attention from Bakugo and sent his heart racing. This couldn't be all the time they would have together, there was so much left to say. Sitting up straight, he winced at the sharp pain in his stomach, but pushed it aside. Ready to do something - anything - for more time. There were still so many questions he needed answers to.

"Take it easy" Bakugo softly instructed, placing a warm hand on Shoto's shoulder and urging him to relax before heading to the door.

A breath he hadn't realized he was holding rushed out when he heard the lock click into place. With the threat of being interrupted at any minute looming over them, he took a deep breath, scrunching his nose against the sterile smell of the room, and finally settled on his first question. "Bakugo – ".