STRINGS // KATSUKI BAKUGO [2]

Chapter 6 // Withered Worry

When you and Bakugo finally made it down to the streets, you found the villain shoved in the back of one of the numerous cop cars on standby, and your mentor stood talking to the crowd of officers swarming the scene.

"There they are!" an officer shouted at the sight of the two of you.

As you helped Bakugo limp to one of the ambulances, Star and Stripes met the two of you halfway.

"What happened?" the number one hero questioned.

"Villain," you stated shortly.

You guided Bakugo to sit on the metal steps of the ambulance where two paramedics immediately began tending to him.

"Some fanboy of Overhaul," you continued, "said he wanted to finish what Overhaul couldn't."

"Are you okay?" your mentor asked.

"I'm fine thanks to my dumbass boyfriend locking me in the elevator," you sighed. "That villain referred to one of his comrades as Tomu. I thought maybe Tomura Shigaraki. It's possible."

"If he's a crazy fanboy," Star and Stripes began, "it's most likely that he pulled names from TV and referred to other villains as if he knew them personally. Villains often indulge themselves in fantasies like that. I wouldn't think too deep into it."

That would be the easy thing to do, not to think too deep into it, but you were an over-thinker. You couldn't help but wonder.

"You two are something else, always attracting trouble," Star and Stripes sighed. "As soon as Bakugo is taken care of, I'll be escorting the two of you back to the agency. I want the both of you off the radar for a bit. Take a day or two to relax."

"I'm fucking fine! Stop touchin' me!"

"That's your call to handle that one," your mentor stated, glancing over at where Bakugo was fighting with the paramedics. "I'm going to get more information on that villain before we leave. Don't stray too far."

As Star and Stripes walked away to go speak with the officers watching over the villain, you headed over to where your boyfriend was being stubborn with the medics.

"Is he always like this?" one of the paramedics asked, taking a step back from Bakugo as the blond swiped at him.

"Yes," you answered before turning to Bakugo. "Why must you always be argumentative even when you're getting help?"

"I'm fine," he assured, this time less aggressive and more stern.

"Not fine," the other paramedic disagreed before turning to you, "but not as bad as we thought. No breaks or fractures. No major stitches. All he'll take with him are a lot of bruises, some temporary scars, and some sore muscles. A few days of rest, and he'll be back to normal."

"See," Bakugo said, ripping the blanket off his back that he had been wrapped in, "I'm fine."

"He doesn't need to be hospitalized," the paramedic continued, "but he shouldn't be fighting again right away. Keep the training and patrols on the low for a bit."

"Thanks. I'll take him off your hands," you told the medics as you placed a hand on Bakugo's shoulder, causing him to look up at you.

"Do not lecture me," he huffed, but you ignored his order.