..HeartStrings..

Chapter Eight: Red Like The Evening Sky

(Bakugou POV 3rd Person)
   
It was easy to see with the bright hospital lights trained all around the front of the building. A faint breeze swept past the ash blonde making him shiver from the bitter wind as it blew past him. "Fucking wind," he muttered as he shoved his hands in his back pockets. Crimson orbs focused on the street a few feet away, he was waiting on a cab to pull up. The sole reason he was standing out there was to meet up with the woman and allow Aki a little more time to sleep.

**Flashback twenty minutes ago**
   
Bakugou sat on the couch beside Aki. The doctor had come by and told them Kirishima was being moved to the ICU but no one was allowed to see him until he was moved to the eight floor. The way Aki had reacted wasn't what he expected. A loud shout from outside the room drew the attention of everyone who was awake. Bakugou looked to the windows that lined the front of the room, he too wanted to know who was shouting. From his angle in the far back he was able to see the doctor hands raised as if trying to show he was surrendering. Then his eyes locked on the reason why the man was standing in such a way. A distressed Aki was screaming something, whatever it was, no one could hear from inside the room. But Bakugou noticed the look in the eyes of the small woman wasn't anger it was sadness and fear. Before he knew it, he was on his feet running to the door. He threw it open ears finally hearing the words Aki was screaming.
   
"How dare you tell me I can't see my son!! Not even from outside the room! It's absolute bullshit!! Who do you think you are keeping me from my son!! TAKE ME TO HIS ROOM NOW!! RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!" Bakugou stood there a moment stunned by the words she chose, for a minute he was kind of proud of her for this reaction. It was the way he himself would react to something like this. When the doctor gave him a pleading look of help the explosive teen sighed trying to remember what Kirishima said he did when Aki acted like this, which was really rare. 'When mama gets upset I always just wrap her in a tight hug and hold her!!' that's what it was, or at least what Kirishima had told him a while back. Carefully he reached out deciding to catch her attention first, he rested his hand on her shoulder before turning the small woman to face him. Ever so carefully afraid he would hurt her he wrapped his muscular arms around her.
   
"Shhhh, I've got you," as soon as his soft voice reached his ears Aki melted into the embrace her own arms moved to hold onto the back of his shirt as she buried her face in his chest. "I've got you," he moved one of his hands up so he could stroke her long black hair. He nodded to the doctor telling him to leave, which he did. Soft sobs came from the woman tucked in his chest. "Shhhh," Bakugou kept a tight hold on her until she pulled back to look at him.
   
"Thank you Katsuki," her voice was so quiet when she finally spoke to him, strands of her hair falling into her face. Bakugou nodded tucking the stray hairs out of her face. "I think I'm going to rest more," the ash blonde agreed following her in. Not long after she dozed off on the couch his phone buzzed with a new message, from Mo.
   
'Hey kid, my flight was delayed if you couldn't guess. I am so sorry I wasn't there last night. I'm getting in a taxi now and will be there in thirty minutes. I tried to call Aki, she didn't pick up so I decided to text you. Everything alright?'
   
'Don't sweat it Mo, everything is fine. Ei is out of surgery and in the ICU. Aki just fell asleep, it's a long story. I'll meet you at the front and explain on the way in,'
   
'You got it kid, see you in thirty,'

**End Flashback**

So there he stood, in the cold, waiting on the taxi that had Mo. He had been out there for seven minutes, so Mo should be there soon. A streak of yellow suddenly came into view as the vehicle turned into the hospital stopping right in front of him. Bakugou stepped forward to greet the passenger. When the door swung open a tall woman stepped out. She was dressed in dark suit pants with a white button up shirt. With it she wore black suspenders and a red tie. Tucked neatly in her finger was a dark blazer to which she swung to rest on her back fingers still tucked in the top. But what stood out most on the slightly muscular woman was her hair. Shaved on one side the rest of the ginger hair lay in short loose waves that framed the left side of her face. The bright gingery color faded to a deep red at the ends, it made her pale green eyes stand out that much more. It was obvious that Kirishima got the idea to dye his hair red from this woman. "Yo Katsuki!" she called as she approached the teen.
   
"Evening Mo, was the ride okay?" he asked hands still shoved in his pockets. In the same had as her blazer was a duffle bag that she took with her on the work trip.
   
"Much better than those damn planes. Ya know they should give me better service if they want to fly me somewhere! Damn sons'a bitches don't give two shits about how they fly me for work," the tall woman wrapped her free arm around Bakugou which he was used to. "So what's been goin' on kid?" the blonde couldn't help but smile a little at the womans bright attitude.
   
"Aki lost her shit on the doctor. Don't think I've ever heard that woman cuss until tonight," he watched Mo's expression go from confused, to wonder, then amusement.
   
"Please go on," she prompted the blonde.
   
"Well I'm not exactly sure what the doctor told her but I know that we aren't allowed to see Ei. Or at least that's what I gather from what Aki yelled. Somewhere along the lines of," for a moment he stepped ahead of Mo to imitate Aki for a second screaming what she said. Mo stopped to watch the teen reenact what happened earlier, the sight sending her into a laughing frenzy nearly falling to the floor she was laughing so hard.
   
"Oh man Katsuki, that was some good shit," Bakugou rubbed the back of his head cheeks dusted in pink from embarrassment. Then her face turned serious eyes clouded in what he assumed was worry. "Don't ever keep Aki from her boy, that's a fact. I'll have to have a word with this doctor myself. No one keeps us from our son and angers Aki, without good reason anyway. Now take me to my wonderful wife," the blonde nodded taking her to the elevator then down the hall to the waiting room. He held the door for her letting her step into the room first, as the door shut behind him he stepped ahead of her to the back. Aki was still asleep on the couch wrapped in the crimson riot hoodie.
   
"She fell asleep after yelling," Bakugou told her, he watched as she set her bag and blazer off to the side then knelt in front of Aki gently poking her nose. Aki's face scrunched slightly before her hands came up and rubbed her eyes hoodie sleeves fully covering those small hands.
   
"Wake up baby," Mo whispered to her as the black haired woman sat up. As soon as she saw Mo, her arms reached out tiredly the small limbs fully inside the sleeves. Bakugou sat down beside Aki chuckling, she reminded him of a small child just taking up from a nap their parents forced them to have. Mo laughed too as she took the woman in her arms scooping her small curved figure up before sitting on the couch Aki in her lap. Much like Kirishima did to him when the two boys cuddled Aki nuzzled Mo's neck face hidden from the world as she dozed off again. "Damn she must have really worn herself out from yelling. Do you know if she has slept at all?" Bakugou nodded a little.
   
"At least since she's been here. She told me she hasn't slept much since you flew out for work. So I made sure she got a little bit while she's been here. It was probably only a few hours or so," Mo nodded her hands softly running up and down the woman in her lap.
   
"I expected as much. I am so grateful she had you to make sure she got a few hours while being here. Thank you so much Katsuki," Bakugou nodded he knew Kirishima would have done the same if it were his family. Seeing Aki tucked safely in Mo's arms made him think of Kirishima. How he often held his redhead like that the two of them always tangled in each others arms. What he wouldn't give to have his arms wrapped around his lover, to be able to kiss him, touch him. "Thinking of Ei?" Mo asked, he realized he must have been making a face if she noticed.
   
"Mhm, I just really want to be at his side. I wonder why we can't go see him. Everyone got to see stupid Deku before he was moved to his room. So why can't we see Ei?"
   
"There could be multiple reasons, but I'll be giving that doctor a piece of my mind when I see him. It better be a damn good reason keeping us from Ei," Bakugou nodded in agreement as he slumped down in the couch legs straight out in front of him. "So how are you?" the young blonde seemed startled by the question. He had been asked that, but it had been awhile since he gave a proper answer.
   
"I miss him Mo. I miss Ei so much, seeing that video, hearing him scream like that. It was so unreal, and horrifying. I know that he is safe, but I can't stop hearing the way he screamed as his body was beaten. I need to see him, with my own eyes, to know that he is okay," the words he spoke were soft so only Mo could hear, not that it mattered everyone was asleep anyway. "I want to hold him in my arms again, feel his warmth against me. Those damned screams, I have never heard him scream like that, pure terror," by now his hands were shaking as the video played on repeat in his mind. Soon he covered his ears with his shaking hands hoping that it would stop the screams that played on loop in his head. A soft hand rested under his chin and gently pulled his face up, he was surprised to see Aki was the one who pulled his face up. Her small hands resting on both his cheeks her thumb running over the tears that fell down his cheeks.
   
"I can't imagine what you went through Katsuki, we were fortunate enough that the villains didn't send us the video. But you did have to see it, hear it. Watch as the one you love is hurt right there with you unable to get to him. Katsuki, you are a strong boy, and so is Ei. We will see him again, and soon this will all feel like a bad dream. You will be able to hold him again. You will see him again, I promise you that," her toothy grin put him at ease, it reminded him so much of his shark toothed boyfriend even though they weren't as prominent on Aki she still had little pointed teeth. A third hand came to rest on his blonde hair ruffling it up a bit, it was Mo.
   
"Didn't mean for ya to experience that again kid. I'm sorry, glad you opened up though. It's all gonna be okay, like you told me Ei doesn't know the concept of giving up," the blonde boy nodded taking a deep breath. He looked at Aki who seemed confused as she looked at Mo.
   
"When did you get here babe?" she asked head tipping to the side slightly much like a cat when confused. Bakugou and Mo shared a look before bursting into soft laughter.
   
"I've been here for nearly an hour baby, you were just too tired to notice when I got here," Mo stated between laughs.
   
"Oh, that makes sense," a wide smile on her face as she adjusted herself to sit between rather than on Mo's legs.
   
"So baby, did the doctor say why we can't see Ei yet? Katsuki and I are both curious,"
   
"Fucking asshat," the small woman mumbled crossing her arms as her brows knitted. "Yea, he said that Ei needed regular checkups/ins. That they weren't able to bandage part of his wounds yet. He thought it was best to keep us from seeing it, which is stupid because thats my son hes keeping me from. I don't care what it looks like I want to see him,"
   
"Did he say what part they had to leave uncovered?" Bakugou asked the words slipping past his lips before he could stop himself.
   
"Something about his neck I think," Aki pouted as she spoke. The ash blonde teen closed his eyes playing the video in his mind. Then he remembered, he remembered how Dabi wrapped his his gloved hands around Kirishima's neck, how the redhead kicked and clawed at the scarred villain as he tried to get out of the tight grip. He remembered watching as Kirishima's eyes rolled into the back of his head steam seeping between the gloved fingers encased around the smaller boy. Then the gasping breaths that Kirishima took from the floor he was dropped to, the red marks that darkened with every minute. Bakugou knew why they didn't want Aki and Mo to see that, It was hard enough watching it.
   
"You know something don't ya?" the blonde only nodded as an answer to Mo's question. "It's your choice if ya want to tell us. We won't pressure ya," Aki nodded in agreement to her wife rubbing Bakugou's shoulder gently.
   
"Dabi, the villain that tortured Ei and Deku. He burned Ei's neck while choking him. From what I could see on the video it was bad, really bad. So the doctor is right, if it isn't wrapped its best to wait. I promise you don't want to see Ei like that," both Aki and Mo pulled him into a hug, they understood, he was right, no one would want to see someone they loved like that. So they waited, the three waited as the long hours passed. They kept each other company occasionally dozing into a light slumber here and there. But they were all awake when a nurse came and told them Kirishima was being moved to his room. And before they could go see him she had to tell them his injuries.
   
"Aki if you don't want to hear you can go get us food," Mo offered her hands gently holding one of Aki's.
   
"No I need to hear this," she took Bakugou's hand in her free one as they sat just outside Kirishima's room. Bakugou gave it a reassuring squeeze as they turned their attention to the nurse.
   
"Right, Kirishima has suffered from multiple internal and external injuries. I'll start with what we operated on. We had to repair four broken ribs, a shattered shoulder, and a broken pelvis. Both of his lungs were punctured, and one of the bones from his ribs nicked his heart. As for external, he has multiple lacerations all along his body, multiple bruises, his neck was severely burned and bruised. He shouldn't try and talk for a while, that neck needs to heal. I am sorry you had to hear all of that, please go in. He should wake up soon.
   
"Katsuki, go in. Aki and I are going to get some food, we will be right back. Text me what you want," Bakugou nodded entering the room after watching the pair walk down the hall. He figured the two women needed a moment to process what they were told before going in to see their son. As quiet as possible the explosive blonde slipped into the room guiding the door to a stop so it didn't make a sound. Just as quietly he approached the bed eyes softening at the sight of his redhead lover. His red hair splayed out all over the pillow, bandages littered the majority of what Bakugou could see of him. As he looked over the redhead he noticed the look on his face wasn't peaceful. It seemed scared, pain and fear etched in his features. Bakugou was at his side in mere seconds taking hold of his hand giving a light squeeze.
   
"Ei, I'm right here. Love listen to the sound of my voice. You are safe, I am right here at your side. It's all ok Ei, you're safe," his free hand had begun to stroke the red locks pushing then out of his face so he could rest his forehead on Kirishima's. "Listen to me Ei, I am right here. Right beside you,"

(Kirishima POV 3rd person)
   
The sound of chains as they rattled together drew closer and closer to him. Soon the cold metal wrapped around his body trapping him, pain rippled through every fiber of his body. No matter how hard he tried, he was unable to scream for help. 'Katsuki please, I'm scared. I need you! Please..' his mind begged as the pain began to become suffocating pulling him in deeper and deeper. Then suddenly the pain in his left arm faded away, his hand encased in a warm grip.
"Ei, I'm right here. Love listen to the sound of my voice. You are safe, I am right here at your side. It's all ok Ei, you're safe," the warm sensation spread to his head as a soft pressure rested against his forehead.

'Where?!? I can hear you Katsuki, don't leave me!! It hurts..please..I need you to tell me that you're there!' 

"Listen to me Ei I am right here. Right beside you," Kirishima gave in to the warmth that encased his body, the pain dulled as he gave in the chains holding him disappeared. As they let go he fell into the warmth as it pulled him from the darkness surrounding him. His eyes fluttered to the soft light around him adjusting before they opened completely. Ruby met Crimson when his eyes finally opened. "Ei, baby," that soft voice spoke to him as Kirishima squeezed the hand that was tangled in his. He opened his mouth to speak but the mere action of opening his mouth brought him pain. "Shhhh, don't try and speak Ei. Your throat was injured badly. It needs time to heal before you can speak again,"

'Then how can I tell you I love you? I need to speak to you, again he opened his mouth trying hard to speak only soft whimpers escaped him as tears formed in his eyes.

"Ei love hush it's okay. You're okay. Whatever you have to tell me can wait, please you'll hurt yourself more," Kirishima reluctantly closed his mouth as the tears began to fall hands shaking. "Oh love," the blonde placed a tender kiss on his knuckles while he held the redheads hand.

'Touch, let me touch you,' the red haired teen twitched his fingers as he tried to touch the blonde. Bakugou seemed to get the message and removed their tangled fingers as he rested the bandaged hand against his cheek. Kirishima held his hand there the best could with the help of the blonde teen.

"See I am right here, just like I said I was," a calloused thumb ran across his knuckles as Bakugou held his hand against his cheek. Kirishima stopped crying and relaxed into the bed eyes never leaving Bakugou fearing he might leave him.

'Please don't leave me,' his eyes locked onto the nearly matching ones that belonged to the explosive blonde as he pleaded for the blonde to never leave him.

"I'm not going anywhere Ei. I promise," Kirishima realized he must have unknowingly given his lover a look of fear and worry. The kind look in the blondes eyes reassured the redhead that what he said was true. Bakugou wasn't going to leave him, not ever. Kirishima wanted so badly to express that he loved the blonde with all his heart. But he found it very hard to do while unable to speak. Now that he could move his arm better he pulled his hand off the explosive teens cheek. With careful movements he moved his hand to rest on the oxygen mask stuck to his face. "Ei?" Kirishima tried to lift the mask up but even that seemed too hard at the moment. "Let me help," Bakugou said with a soft chuckle before he pulled the mask out of the way. Once he had it out of the way Kirishima closed the distance with what strength he had, his lips pressed against the blondes.

'I love you!!' a warm hand rested on the back of his head supporting him for a second before his head fell back onto the pillow. As the blonde pulled away from the kiss Kirishima whined quietly. A soft laugh filled his ears as Bakugou lowered himself down this time to meet Kirishima's lips. The redhead parted his lips his tongue sliding out to coax Bakugou into opening up. The blonde obliged his own tongue darting out to dance with Kirishima's before the red retracted letting the blonde have control. After the blonde had finished exploring the mouth of his lover pulled back tugging the reds bottom lip slightly before he returned the oxygen mask to its proper place.

"You're gonna need that after a kiss like that. I love you too, Ei,"