Solo

The Appologie and Truth.

Bakugo held me in silence for a long while, his strong presence grounding me in a way I hadn't experienced before.

My breathing slowed, the sobs giving way to the occasional shudder. His warmth seeped into me, easing the cold that had gripped my heart.

I stayed in the circle of his arms, allowing myself to feel the comfort of his silent support.

Finally, I pulled back slightly, wiping the remnants of tears from my face. "Thanks, Kacchan," I whispered, my voice hoarse.

He nodded, his expression unreadable, but I could see a flicker of something in his eyes—something deeper, more vulnerable than I was used to seeing from him. "Deku, there's something I need to say," he began, his voice unusually soft.

I looked at him, curiosity and a touch of apprehension mixing in my chest. "What is it?"

Bakugo took a deep breath, his grip on my shoulders tightening momentarily before he released me and settled back, leaning against the wall. His gaze drifted away, as if gathering his thoughts from the air around us.

"You know, we've been through a lot," he started, his tone thoughtful.

"Since we were kids, it's been this... complicated mess between us. I always acted like an asshole, pushing you around, trying to make you feel like you were nothing. And for a long time, I justified it in my head. I thought, if I was hard on you, if I made you feel weak, it would push you to become stronger."

His words hung in the air, each one a reminder of the countless memories that flashed through my mind.

The taunts, the shoves, the sneers—every moment of my childhood that had been colored by Bakugo's relentless need to dominate and belittle me.

But now, hearing him speak with such raw honesty, it was like seeing those memories through a different lens.

"I realize now," Bakugo continued, his voice cracking slightly, "that it was never about making you stronger. It was about me. My insecurities, my fears. I saw how determined you were, how you never gave up, and it scared the hell out of me. I didn't want to admit that someone I looked down on could be better than me in any way. So I took it out on you."

He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

"I was wrong, Deku. I was so fucking wrong. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all the times I hurt you, all the times I made you feel like you were worthless. You deserved better, and I... I didn't know how to deal with my own shit, so I took it out on you."

Tears welled up in my eyes again, but these weren't tears of pain or sorrow.

They were tears of understanding, of empathy.

I had spent so long trying to understand why Bakugo treated me the way he did, and now, hearing him lay bare his soul, it was like a puzzle finally coming together.

"Kacchan..." I whispered, my voice trembling. "You don't have to apologize."

He looked at me, confusion and a hint of desperation in his eyes. "But I do, Deku. I've been carrying this guilt for so long, and it's been eating me alive. I need you to know how sorry I am. I need you to know that I—"

I reached out, placing a hand on his arm, stopping his torrent of words. "Kacchan, I already forgave you."

His eyes widened, disbelief etched into his features. "What? When?"

"Maybe I didn't realize it at the time," I said, my voice steady despite the emotions swirling within me.

"But I forgave you a long time ago. You were my friend before all of this, and deep down, I always believed that you could be that friend again. I saw the good in you, even when you didn't. And when you started to change, when you started to show that you cared, it was enough for me. I didn't need an apology because I could see how much you regretted it."