STRINGS // KATSUKI BAKUGO [2]

Chapter 40 // Lotus

I start school soon, so, due to this, my free time will be very limited from now on. Taking into considering this and work, I will not have much time to write, edit, and post. Updates will be switched from Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to Saturday and Sunday. This will take effect AFTER this update, Enjoy the chapter :)
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You spent some more time comforting Todoroki about your untimely death before saying goodbye to him for the day and moving onto your next order of business, seeing Bakugo.

You knocked out of respect but didn't wait for an answer before entering. There was nothing you could walk in on that would be of shock or something you've never seen before.

Upon entering, you found your boyfriend sat up against a mound of pillows with a tray of food in front of him. Although, he wasn't eating. He was just picking at the hospital lunch.

"Stubborn as always, even when you're bedridden," you said, causing Bakugo to avert his attention to you.

Even to this day, it always shocked you how quickly his expression could go from angered and irritated to soft and longing whenever he laid his eyes on you. It was like flicking a switch.

"Not my fault hospital food fuckin' sucks," he grunted, setting his fork down and pushing the tray away.

"You're just picky," you teased.

You walked over to his bed and sat on the edge of the mattress, wheeling your IV stand over to sit next to his

"How're you feeling?" you asked, fiddling with the fingers of his right hand, which rested in his lap.

"Like I got stabbed through the gut," he deadpanned, intertwining his fingers with yours.

You titled your head, eyes narrowing at his statement, which you did not find amusing at all. You both may have endured similar injuries, but his was a lot worse than yours.

"I'm fine, Dear," he teased. "See? All bandaged up." He lifted his shirt to reveal the several bandages wrapped around his stomach.

He dropped his shirt before raking his eyes over your body where they eventually stopped on your abdomen.

"Dear," you said, earning a harsh eye roll from your boyfriend, "I'm fine."

"Sarcasm can be your thing but the "dear" thing is my thing," he stated, causing you to laugh quietly.

Bakugo tugged your hand gently, and your eyes met his just as he cocked his head to the side, silently beckoning you closer.

You threw your legs up on the bed before lying down, your head cushioned by his bicep as he wrapped his arm around you.

You continued to fiddle with his fingers, which went limp at your touch and allowed you to fidget.

You felt his smooth lips brush your hairline as he planted a kiss on your forehead, and, under any other circumstance, you would've smiled, maybe even leaned up to return the gesture. However, you found yourself frowning instead.

To Bakugo, it was just the two of you basking in each other's warmth, recovering from prior events. To you, this was one of the last times you'd be in his arms.

"—N]. Oy!"

You were pulled out of your thoughts by Bakugo's voice, and you craned your head back to find the boy starting at you with narrowed eyes and a scrunched up nose.

"You're spacing out," he accused.

"I'm thinking," you muttered, resting your head on his chest, an arm curling around his stomach gently, 'reminiscing.'

"Don't think too damn hard," he replied, pressing a finger to your temple. "You'll hurt yourself."

Normally, you would've rewarded him with an amused scoff at the terrible joke, but you couldn't find the energy to do so.

"Kat," you began, hesitant at first, "what would you do if I died?"

It was silent for a moment. Bakugo initially remained quiet and unmoving at your question.

"Excuse me?"

Oh, this was a bad idea.

"Why the hell are you asking me that?" he spat out, nostrils flaring.

You knew he was more upset at the scenario than your question, but his tone still got you sitting up to calm him down.

"It's just a hypothetical," you assured.

"Yeah, a hypothetical someone asks when they're gonna fucking die," he hissed.

His hands shot out and grabbed the hem of your shirt, which he roughly pulled up before beginning to examine your bandaged abdomen, seemingly convinced it was your wound that he should be concerned about.

"Kat," you said, grabbing his wrists, yet he ignored you, continuing to examine your body.

"Katsuki," you tried again, his full name causing him to halt. Although, his palms stayed pressed against your patched up stomach, "I'm fine."

Bakugo grunted and leaned back, hands leaving your skin and allowing you to fix your shirt.

"Then why the hell are you asking me that shit?" he wondered, tongue swiping across his bottom lip as he brushed his bangs out of his eyes.

"I told you," you said, "hypothetical. I was just wondering. It's a stupid question. You don't have an answer it."

Bakugo huffed, crossed his arms, and leaned back, allowing his head to sink back into the mountain of pillows cluttered at the head of his bed.

"I wouldn't marry," he admitted, not an ounce of hesitance in his voice. "I wouldn't have kids. I wouldn't date someone else, and, if anyone ever asked, I'd refer to you as mine, even if you were gone. I'd never you the past tense when speaking about you, and I'd credit you if someone was to ever ask how I got to where I am. I'd print out all of our photos to have around the house, so you're home even when I'm not. I'd buy some type log cabin, the kind of house you're obsessed with. Hell, maybe I'd built it. God knows you throw yourself into manual labor even when you don't have to. I wouldn't do it for myself, but I'd build a house for you. I'd buy you a ring, even if I couldn't give it you. I'd buy you a dress, even if you couldn't wear it. I'd leave lotus' on your grave, not some basic roses. You've never been basic. You're not gonna get basic ass flowers. I'd keep your goggles. I'd never wear 'em over my eyes, just keep 'em on my head like an accessory, like a remembrance. I'd never forget you."

You dug your teeth into your bottom lip, throat burning and eyes blurring with tears at Bakugo's response.

"You're not gonna die though," he continued, pushing himself back up into a sitting position, "so we don't have to worry about that."

He reached out, wiping your tears away before they could fall, and you leaned forward to wrap your arms around his shoulders. You tucked your face into his neck, curling your legs beneath your body.

"Kat," you said.

"Yeah," he rasped out.

"Why lotus'?" you wondered, sniffing.

"'Cause," he started, hands rubbing your back, "they symbolize life."

Oh, how you had ruined this boy's life. He just didn't know it yet.

[EDITED]