the rush he found in the ring — the impossible, blood-pounding-in-his-ears feeling — was immatchable.
the pride bakugo felt after winning, his hand held up by the referee, a grin spreading over his face, his eyes glancing at his opponent knocked out on the floor of the ring.
and then the lingering guilt when you stepped into the locker room, gaze flickering over his injuries before sighing and sitting on the bench next to him.
"wasn't even my fault this time," he muttered, words falling from his lips before he could think about them, trying to atone for everything yet nothing at all. "dodged like hell."
"apparently not enough," you spoke, pointedly staring at the cut decorating his nose, and the faint bruises peppered around his skin.
you were the only one who could really do that.
he hated it, yet stayed quiet as you pulled out a rag and some antiseptic, dabbing at the few cuts across his face, all small, but distinctly there. not enough to be serious or even catch an infection, but you took it upon yourself to decorate his face in bandages anyway.
"thanks doc," he mumbled, gaze lingering on your face as you sifted through your things, putting everything away.
"hey —" he spoke as you stood up, earning himself a glance. "i'll be careful next time," he spoke, the words surprising himself more than you.
he always said things without thinking around you.
you just nodded. "you better." your words were a small hum, and you met his eyes before looking away and stepping out.
katsuki glanced down at his hand, fingers curling into a fist before he dropped it to his side, letting out a sigh and tilting his head back.