𝐖𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇 || ᵇ.ᵏᵃᵗˢᵘᵏⁱ

LXIV

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Aeri was awake. She was awake and she was panicking. She vaguely remembered opening her eyes for the first time in a few days, remembered turning to see Bakugou talking with Eri and remembered opening her mouth to tell them she was awake, but no sound came out.

Bakugou rushed over to her bedside and she squinted to see him through bleary eyes. She moved her hand to her throat and he understood immediately, beginning to explain.

"You had surgery on your larynx, you won't be able to talk until it heals," He said softly. He brushed the hair away from her face and reached up to press the call button on the wall above the bed. "Don't panic, you're fine, everything's fine."

Aeri's eyes widened and she gripped his shoulder with a shaky hand. Bakugou searched her eyes before speaking. "Do you want to write?" She nodded slowly and Bakugou fumbled around, looking for paper and a pen.

"Here," Midoriya handed him a pen he found in his bag and Bakugou found a mini notebook in one of the cabinets just as a doctor and a nurse rushed in.

"Hello, Miss Moon," the doctor smiled, his eyes creasing. He walked over to her bedside and the nurse began to usher everyone out since they weren't family. Bakugou refused and stood in the corner whilst the doctor started his examinations. Jinyoung came hobbling in a minute later, walking straight up to her bedside and slipping his uninjured hand into Aeri's.

"I'm sure you've been filled in, but we had to perform emergency surgery on your larynx after your throat was cut on your mission. Luckily the cut wasn't too deep so you will regain your voice, but you'll have to be on vocal rest for a month or so until your larynx is fully healed otherwise, there could be some complications since it's a very delicate organ. As for the rest of your injuries, they weren't too serious and we fixed you right up. Your leg may feel tender for a few weeks since the wound was so deep but you should be discharged either tomorrow or the next day after we observe you for a while." The doctor told her, he finished up checking her pupils with his torch and her heart rate monitor slowly calmed down.

"I'll leave you to it." The doctor gave her and Jinyoung a friendly smile and strolled out of the room. The nurse stayed behind and used the remote to lift the bed so she was sitting up, helping her fluff up the pillows and handing her a glass of water.

As if by habit, Aeri tried to tell her 'thank you' but was soon reminded that she couldn't talk when no sound came out and she quickly rushed to scribble out the two words on the notepad, flashing it at the nurse who smiled at her and rushed out of the room, letting the people outside know that they could go back in.

Aeri smiled excitedly as Mirio carried Eri into the room and waved them over, silently asking him to place Eri on the bed by violently patting the mattress. Mirio complied and Eri sat happily in between Aeri's legs, gently holding her hand.

"Thank you," Eri said quietly, her ruby eyes shining with emotion. Aeri flashed a toothy grin and hugged Eri close, being careful not to disturb the injury on her right shoulder.

'Have you met Katsuki?' She wrote before turning the notebook to face the little girl. Eri squinted at the page, taking a while to spell out the letters to form the sentence. Aeri remained patient until Eri had finished and the little girl's eyes flicked to Bakugou before she nodded.

"Your boyfriend," Eri said and Aeri froze, looking at Jinyoung out of the corner of her eye.

Bakugou leaned towards her and whispered, "He knows." Aeri snapped her head to him, wincing as the stitches in her neck twinged.

"I'm not mad," Jinyoung said when she looked at him like a deer caught in headlights and Aeri gave him a funny look. "I guess you're just at that age now, as much as it annoys me. Bakugou is nice enough, but I don't trust him yet," Jinyoung paused as he stood up, walking to the door. "Thanks for making sure I didn't bleed out. I'll come and check on you later." He bid Eri a quiet goodbye and walked back to his room to rest.

'How are you two?' Aeri wrote, showing the small notebook to the boys sitting awkwardly on the couch.

"Good! Recovery Girl fixed us right up." Mirio answered for the both of them and Midoriya nodded along.

"We brought you a fruit basket," Midoriya pointed to where it sat on the coffee table and Aeri flipped back to the first page of the notebook where she'd written 'thank you'.

Mirio cleared his throat and stood up. "We should be going though, you've only just woken up and I'm sure you're tired. We'll bring Eri back to see you soon!"

Aeri nodded and gave Eri one last hug before Mirio scooped her up into his arms. She waved as the three of them left the room and then turned to fully face Bakugou, holding her arms out to him. He let a small smile slip through his usual frown and carefully pulled her into his arms, making sure not to put any pressure on her injuries.

They pulled back a minute later and Aeri began to scribble something out on her notepad. 'Can you help me walk to the bathroom? I want to shower.'

"Are you allowed to shower?" He raised an eyebrow, debating whether he should press the call button again. "One of the nurses gave you a sponge bath earlier so you're clean."

'I don't feel clean. I want to wash my hair.' She wrote.

Bakugou sighed and stood up. "I'll go find a nurse and see if you're allowed." He walked to the door. Aeri blew him a kiss to which he rolled his eyes.

He returned five minutes later with a nurse in tow, who confirmed that she could shower as long as she placed waterproof bandages over her stitches and she then promptly shooed Bakugou out of the room so she could remove Aeri's catheter and IV needle. He refused at first but relented when both Aeri and the nurse ganged up on him and waited outside for the quick minute it took to take the catheter out.

The nurse left and Bakugou walked back in, rushing over to help Aeri over to the bathroom. He even went as far as to sit on the closed toilet lid whilst she showered, just in case she fell or needed any help. He handed her a towel when she stuck her hand through the curtain, not wanting to accidentally flash him. He complied and then helped her out of the shower once she'd safely wrapped the towel around herself.

Aeri raised an eyebrow when Bakugou unabashedly handed her a new hospital gown, as well as a sports bra and a white lace thong.

Bakugou just shrugged. "It was either me or your damn dad." Aeri rolled her eyes and made him turn around so she could dress, brush her teeth and then allowed him to escort her back to the bed.

"I brought your skincare shit and your makeup." He told her, fishing the two smaller bags out of his duffel and placing them on the bed in front of where she sat cross-legged, towel-drying her hair. She gave him a bright smile and a kiss and began applying the products to her skin so she could feel normal.

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