Catching Feelings (BakuMomo)

2.

The months after Bakugo's hospital discharge passed without incident. His quirk worked normally, vitals appeared normal - according to the doctor, and physically he felt fine. However the mental battle was something that he couldn't help but struggle with. Every morning he wondered if it was the day his quirk would disappear. Every training exercise felt like a test that he may not pass and every mission he went on during his internship felt like it would be his last.

"Oh," Bakugo hasn't heard her voice in a while. Not since the hospital visit at least. "Trouble sleeping?"

He just gave her a nod and watched her as she walked towards the cupboards. He could hear her rummaging through her boxes of teas.

"This tea always helps me, would you like to drink some with me?"

"...fuck it, why not."

Bakugo couldn't help but feel awkward. He could still remember that hospital visit so vividly. The way she held his forearm so tenderly. The way he screamed at her to leave. He never really said anything when they saw each other again in the dorms.

"Here," Yaoyorozu smiled and proceeded to sit opposite from him. She had her own mug in front of her.

"Thanks." He smelled the aroma of the beverage in front of him. "And thanks for not telling anyone about what you heard." He could feel her looking at him in disbelief. "Stop fucking staring."

"Sorry," Yaoyorozu quickly averted her gaze. "I'm just not used to hearing you say thanks."

"The fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, you're always yelling obscenities towards others and you always seem angry. So seeing you express gratitude is quite...strange."

"Whatever."

"It's not necessarily a bad thing." Yaoyorozu smiled at Bakugo. He never really noticed how dark her eyes were until he stared at her. Or how small they seemed to get when she smiled. In a stranger way, it made him smile too.

- - -
Bakugo stared at the doctor's lab coat. It was such a familiar sight now. They met once every month, if anything were to happen, he were to report right away. So far there was nothing to report.

"Tell me again why fuckface couldn't just erase the guy's quirk and be done with this bullshit?" Bakugo complained.

"Mr. Bakugo, we have already tried that when you first received the diagnosis." The doctor explained. "However Eraserhead failed to 'erase' this particular quirk. It seems to be a quirk that creates some sort of appendage-like substance that hinders quirk function."

Bakugo stared at his scans, he could physically see where the quirk was affecting him. He could feel his anger rising inside his chest.

"Then why don't we just end the fucker."

"Mr. Bakugo -" but before the doctor could finish his sentence, Bakugo had already collected his things and was heading towards the doorway.

"I know, 'research' and 'precaution' and bullshit like that."
- - -
The walk back towards the dormitory felt longer than usual. Perhaps it was because of all the thoughts swirling in his head. If it were to continue like this, how long would he have before he was completely quirkless? Would they be able to find a way to remove it before then? How was he supposed to be the Number 1 hero now? The more he thought about everything, the angrier he got. Then he remembered that face from that night.

Scar, smiling madly at him - he knew. He knew how much he had screwed with Bakugo's potential. He knew how much Bakugo would have to endure. That was why even though he was caught, he smiled as if he had won - and in truth he did. Bakugo had lost, and it pissed him off.

"Your wrinkles will set in early if you keep scowling like that."

"Hah?" Bakugo turned to face a familiar brunette. "At least I looks like my age, Round Face."

"I disagree, you don't look 40 at all."

"Shut the fuck up."

Uraraka Ochako laughed her hearty laugh, smoothly joining Bakugo's walk.

"Don't you have anything better to do?" Bakugo asked.

"Aren't you walking back to the dorm?"

"Yes, but it doesn't mean you have to walk with me."

Ochako placed her index finger on her chin, "I mean, it's lonely to walk back by yourself."

"Whatever."

Admittedly, it was nice to walk with someone. It distracted him from his thoughts. Round face was good at that, she's the type of person who's able to talk about something and nothing at the same time.

"Why aren't you with that Nerd?" He asked, noticing a lack of nervous chatter.

"W-what do you mean?" Ochako's face turned a bright red. She's always had a natural blush on her cheeks however this time, her whole face was tinted.

"You guys are usually hanging out together, so I'm just wondering why he isn't walking with you."

"O-o-oh that's what you meant." She places both of her hands on her cheeks and lightly tapped them, perhaps signalling herself to come back to reality. "During days off he visits his mum."

Bakugo stared at her as she smiles fondly. Even Bakugo could tell how much the Nerd meant to her. It also didn't take a genius to see the way Midoriya looks at Round Face, however whenever they were in the same room awkwardness erupts. Was it really that difficult to tell someone how you felt?

"Well we're here. Later Round Face."