kat girl | k. bakugou | 18+

Chappy 34

The steady, rhythmic beeping of medical devices was the first sound to pierce the fog of unconsciousness. It was faint at first, like an echo from a distant place, but it gradually grew louder, pulling me closer to wakefulness. My body felt heavy, weighed down by the aftereffects of whatever sedatives or painkillers they had pumped into me. I blinked slowly, peeling open my eyes to a sterile, white ceiling. The harsh fluorescent lights above flickered slightly, casting a clinical glow over the room.

As my vision cleared, I took in my surroundings—a hospital room, quiet and still. The scent of antiseptic was strong, mingling with the sterile smell of the bedding. My head felt foggy, and every muscle ached with a deep, lingering soreness. When I shifted slightly, trying to get a better sense of where I was, I felt a weight on my arm.

I looked down and saw a shock of blonde hair, familiar and messy, resting against the side of my bed. Katsuki was slumped in a chair, his body folded in an awkward position that made it clear he had been there for a while. His hand was wrapped around mine, his grip firm even in sleep. The sight of him—here, with me—sent a rush of emotions through me that I could barely process. Relief, disbelief, and a profound sense of safety all mingled together.

"Katsuki," I whispered, my voice hoarse and weak. It felt like it had been forever since I'd spoken, since I'd used my voice for anything other than screams or pleas.

At the sound of his name, Katsuki stirred. His eyes fluttered open, red and tired, as if he hadn't slept properly in days. When he saw that I was awake, his expression shifted from groggy confusion to intense relief. He sat up straighter, his hand tightening around mine.

"(Y/N)..." he breathed out, his voice rough with exhaustion and emotion. "You're awake."

I nodded slightly, the movement making me wince as pain rippled through my neck and shoulders. "Yeah... I'm here," I replied, trying to muster a small smile, but it felt strained, almost foreign on my face.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. Katsuki just stared at me, his eyes scanning my face as if trying to assure himself that I was really there, really awake and alive. His usually hard expression was softened by something I rarely saw in him—vulnerability. His free hand came up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing lightly over my skin, careful not to hurt me.

The door creaked open, and a nurse stepped into the room, balancing a tray of food in her hands. She seemed focused on her task, likely bringing breakfast for Katsuki. But the moment she glanced up and saw me awake, her eyes widened in shock. The tray slipped from her hands, clattering to the floor as she gasped, "Oh my god!" Without another word, she turned on her heel and bolted out of the room, calling for the doctors.

I barely had time to process what had just happened before a whirlwind of activity began. Within minutes, the room was flooded with nurses, doctors, pro heroes, and investigators, all speaking in hurried tones and exchanging glances filled with a mix of relief and urgency.

One of the doctors, a tall man with glasses and a serious expression, approached my bedside, his gaze scanning the monitors beside me. "You've been asleep for a while," he explained, his voice calm but tinged with concern. "Your body needed time to recover from the trauma you endured."

I tried to absorb the information, but my mind was still foggy, struggling to catch up with everything that was happening. I was awake, safe in a hospital bed, but the memories of what I had been through still clung to me like shadows, refusing to fully release their grip.

Katsuki stood protectively by my side, his eyes never leaving me as the room filled with more people. I caught snippets of conversation—mentions of a rescue mission, details about the League of Villains, and updates on the state of the world outside the hospital walls.