Suffocating Silence | Kiribaku

Aftermath / Kirishima

The ambulance arrived shortly after Present Mic came outside. Aizawa followed behind him a minute after, except he was keeping the other students away from us. He told me I was allowed to stay with Bakugou, that it would be good for him mentally.

Although, I'm not quite sure how I'm supposed to help when I can't keep a smile on my face. The blond on the stretcher in front of me, it's hard to believe it's him. Not because of his appearance, but because of how utterly broken and terrified he looks.

I'd imagined this day so many times before, so why did it feel so wrong. Then it hit me, I felt.. guilty. If I wouldn't have pinned him. If I would've be one second later. If I wouldn't have taken advantage of him being distracted. We could be joking about my loss like always. If only I-

"Kirishima," a voice speaks to me from the other side of the ambulance. Present Mic had been issued to come along with us, and it was odd to see him so solemn.

"Yes, Sir?" I try to keep my usual cheery tone when I speak, but to no avail.

"He's going to need you," the voice hero continues to speak to me while glancing at Bakugou. When I look to the blond my instincts scream at me to be beside him, hug him, hold him- anything.

Katsuki was strapped onto the stretcher, yet his hands were reaching to cover his ears. His eyes squinted shut, eyebrows furrowed in pain, frustration. His hands were.. shaking?

I struggle with my thoughts for a moment. Do it, be a man.. be what he needs you to be. I lean over and softly take the hand closest to me, letting him know I'm right here.

To my surprise, he doesn't resist. Our hand's cup each other's with a certain firmness.

What surprises me even more is when he adjusts our hands and intertwines our fingers. I smile for the first time since we started sparring.

I look up just in time to catch his eyes flutter open. They're still squinted, but he's definitely looking at me. A small, inaudible gasp escapes me when a tear rolls down his cheek. Bakugou takes his free hand and lifts it to his chin. Thank you.

-

I had had to let go of Katsuki's hand before the ambulance stopped, and my hand felt so empty without his. I shouldn't overthink things though because he just needed someone to comfort him. Bakugou would never return my feelings, I had accepted that long ago. But he held my hand properly, that's not just a 'friendly' thing to do. Is it?

We entered the hospital, and I instantly saw Mitsuki with her husband in the waiting room.

A few small whispers flooded my ears, and I was almost glad he couldn't hear them.

"Is that Red Riot and Ground Zero?"

"Those heroes in training right?"

"Ground Zero looks like he's crying, never would've expected him to in public after the sports festival."

"Why's only Red Riot here with him?"

At that second Present Mic hurriedly ran up beside the moving stretcher. "They're sending his gauntlets back to the school."

"Oh ok," I nod understandingly, not moving my hand off the side of the stretcher. The side of my hand was touching Katsuki's, and he didn't bother to move his so I assumed it was ok. I want nothing more than to hug him right now, which is odd considering we've never done anything like that.

-

After he was taken back I was forced to the waiting room with his parents. Mitsuki hugged me and sighed, "Our boy has really done himself in for good this time, hasn't he?"

"I believe that might be the case," I respond with a tone of sympathy.

"You told me you upped your JSL classes as well, correct?" She pulls back from the hug as we both sit.

"Yes Ma'am, I did," I manage a small smile, "I've gotten pretty fluent as well."

"That's great," Katsuki's Mom seems to relax a little at my words, "he has too since they gave him those hearing aids."

A thought rattles through my brain and I can't just leave it alone, "I have a question if you don't mind."

"Yeah, I'm all ears."

I look off to the side, almost embarrassed that I care about something so simple, "Did you tell Katsuki that I upped my classes?"

When I say his first name her eyes widen slightly, but then fill with some type of emotion I can't identify. "Why, has he been avoiding you?"

"No, it's just.. we haven't been able to hang out as often because he's been 'busy', although it's not been an issue because I'm busy most of the time too."

"Well," Mitsuki gives me this odd look, I can't tell what she means by it, "if it makes you feel any better, I think I forgot to tell him."

A/N
Wow another upload already?! I'm proud of myself.