Beyond The Blast (Bkdk)

The Embers Of Childhood

Exhaustion hung heavy in the air as Izuku and Bakugou slumped onto the worn sofa in the dorms. Days of relentless training and frustrating dead-ends in their search for the memory manipulator had taken their toll. The tension that had simmered between them ever since their conversation in the hallway had escalated, fueled by unspoken anxieties and the weight of unaddressed emotions.

As silence stretched between them, Izuku couldn't help but steal glances at Bakugou. His crimson eyes were closed, his usual bravado replaced by a rare vulnerability. A strange wave of warmth washed over Izuku, a mix of concern and a nascent affection that left him feeling both confused and exhilarated.

Suddenly, a wave of drowsiness swept over both of them, an unnatural sleepiness that tugged at their consciousness. Before they could resist, their eyelids fluttered shut, and they were plunged into the depths of a shared dream. The dream world was bathed in a soft, hazy light.

They found themselves standing in a familiar park, the swings swaying gently in the summer breeze. A younger Izuku, his face filled with hero worship, stood gazing at a slightly older Bakugou, who was practicing his explosions in a sandbox. "Kacchan, that was amazing!" exclaimed the young Izuku, his eyes wide with admiration. Bakugou scoffed, a self assured grin splitting his face. "Of course it was, Deku. I'm gonna be the greatest hero ever!"

Suddenly, the younger Bakugou's expression faltered. He looked down at his sandcastle, now marred by a stray explosion. A tear welled up in his eye, threatening to spill over. "Hey," the young Izuku said softly, shuffling closer. "Are you okay?" Bakugou wiped at his eye with a fierce scowl. "Don't be stupid, Deku . I'm fine."

The young Izuku wasn't convinced. He reached out and hesitantly offered a hand. Bakugou stared at it for a moment, his scowl warring with a flicker of uncertainty. Then, to Izuku's surprise, he reached out and took it. A warmth flooded Izuku, a feeling both familiar and new. He watched as the younger versions of themselves sat together on the edge of the sandbox, a silent understanding passing between them.

Just as quickly as it began, the dream world started to fade. Izuku felt himself pulled back into the darkness, the warmth of Bakugou's hand lingering in his memory. He gasped, jolting awake on the dorm sofa. Bakugou was awake as well, a bewildered frown etched on his face. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the weight of the shared dream hung heavy in the air. Izuku could see a flicker of something akin to surprise in Bakugou's crimson gaze.

"That..." Izuku stammered, struggling for words. "That was a..."Bakugou cut him off, his voice rough. "Don't even think about saying it, Deku. It was just a stupid dream." Despite his gruff words, Izuku could sense the undercurrent of unease in Bakugou's voice. The dream had unearthed a memory, a glimpse into a shared past that shed light on a forgotten moment of childhood connection.
A decision flickered in Izuku's eyes.

He stood up, a newfound determination settling in his voice. "Maybe," he said, meeting Bakugou's gaze head-on. "But maybe it's more than that. Maybe it's time we stopped pretending." Bakugou remained silent, but his expression softened ever so slightly. The shared dream had opened a door, a window into a past they had both tried to bury. Whether they were ready to step through that door and confront their hidden feelings, only time would tell.

The chapter ends with a cliffhanger, leaving the reader to wonder what Izuku and Bakugou will do next. Will they address the dream and their feelings for each other, or will they continue to push them down? This unresolved tension sets the stage for further development in their relationship in the upcoming chapters.