Second Chance

Part 2

Dread kept him from opening his eyes. What if he opened them only to find himself in a hospital, what if nothing had changed? Because he could still feel that blood—Dekus' blood cracking over his hands. How long had it been there...why had no one wiped it off him? Those stained hands started shaking as his heart pounded in his chest. Some very distant part of his mind knew that if he was in a hospital, the heart monitor would be beeping like crazy now. But his mind was trapped, he was being consumed by dread.
Bakugo forced his eyes open.
His room—he was in his room, he was home—but when? How far back did that voice take him? His hand patted around his pillow for his phone, the harsh glare of the screen light blinding him for a moment. He squinted at the date. Two months? Had he really gone back in time by two months? And why two? Why not just send him back to the day before the battle?
The phone started shaking. That battle—it was going to happen again in two months. His phone slid out of his bloodied fingers, pressed his hands against his ears and tried to block out the screaming, the cries—the warning shout—"I made it...good." That had just happened a few hours ago, but it was going to happen again. He was going to experience that again. He was going to lose him again.
'Change it, young hero.'
His hands slipped away from his ears and dropped to the mattress.
'That battle may be unavoidable, but you know what will happen. So change the outcome and save him. Save everyone who lost their lives there.'
Bakugo didn't care about everyone. They meant nothing to him. All he cared about was Deku, the others could die.
Bakugo checked his phone again, it was a Monday, so, school in a few hours. School, where Deku should be.

The breakfast he had managed to force down felt like lead in his stomach, for his whole journey to school he thought he was going to vomit or collapse. He had never felt so on edge and tense before, every loud noise, every bump was causing him to flinch. He was sweating so much that he was anxious his quirk might go off accidentally. If he didn't calm down and get control over himself everyone in class would know something was wrong, his mother had instantly picked up on that this morning, saying he looked extremely pale and shell-shocked. How on earth was he supposed to say that she was dead on? He had been in fights before, been close to death, he had been captured but he had never seen someone die right before his eyes—dying to save him. This type of fear...he had felt twice before. When he was ensnared by that sludge villain and saw Deku sprinting towards him, that quirkless idiot had almost gotten himself trapped alongside him. The second time was because of Deku as well, when he was being taken away by the League of Villains, when he once again saw Dekus broken body rushing to him, his destroyed arm reaching out. True fear had shot through Bakugo, the League wanted Deku dead and if he managed to jump into that warp villains portal...there was no way he would be able to defend himself with his body that shattered. He should have realised back then how important Deku was to him, should have known that of course Deku would jump in front of a steel rod to save him. That was just the type of person he was, a true hero who doesn't care about his own safety.
Bakugos hand trembled in front of the door, his mind thinking a thousand things at once, but also just focusing on one single thing; what if Deku wasn't there? Before he could realign his thoughts the door slid open to reveal Kaminari dashing out.
'I'll be back in a sec—woah! Sorry Bakugo, didn't see you there!' With that he continued running down the corridor, heading towards the lockers. But Bakugo didn't care about what Kimimari had said, because all he could see was the back of Dekus fluffy green hair. A hush settled over the class, Bakugos body had gone into autopilot and was slowly making its way through the desks and chairs. He's alive. He's okay...it's true. Deku is alive. People were whispering around him, their questions nothing more than white noise because Deku had finally turned around, those green eyes of his wide with shock.
'Ka-kachan? Good morning—what's—what's—'
Bakugos half functioning brain picked up how Deku had taken a small step away from him, how his head was slightly lower than before, how Uraraka and Todoroki were carefully positioning themselves around Deku—how terrified he looked.
'Sorry!' Deku blurted. 'Sorry Kachan. I'm sorry!'
Bakugo stopped dead in his tracks. He hadn't realised, but his hand was slightly outstretched towards Deku...who was cowering away, Uraraka and Todoroki watching him like hawks. All the heat and strength drained from Bakugos body. His legs stumbled a step back, whacking into a desk as he slammed a hand down to steady himself.
'Kachan? What's—what's wrong?'
Sick. He was going to get sick. Before he could throw up all over the classroom floor, he spun on trembling legs and ran out.
The stall door slamming shut echoed around the toilets, quickly followed by the sounds of retching. Terrified. Deku is...he's afraid of me, and he still—
He didn't deserve to be saved, not by someone like Deku, not by anyone.