Afterlife
Part Seven - Nurse Bakugo
Summary: After you return home about ready to keel over Bakugo finds himself with a new temporary role. After taking care of you, it might be time to finally get to know the real him...
Warnings: Lots of tension/unrealized feelings, mentions of death/dying, this part does describe in detail a death so if you wish to skip this part it does not really add too much to the story you can skip at the --- and italics paragraph. until the -- again.
A/N: May contain spoilers for the manga: I would also like to note I wrote the majority this story PRIOR to the release of Chapter 362. So if you find this triggering I apologize that I had somehow predicted something similar. Here's hoping the bring him back soon!
Taglist: @browneyedgirl22 @simplybaconic @ghostsofscarley @optimisticprime3 @lukerycyja-reblogs @eyesforbkg @derangedmango @bakucumsackslut @jazzafaye5294 @lynnsqueendom @Iwannahaveaprettyaestetic @blackout-ice-biohazard
Katsuki's jaw cracked as it stretched during the largest yawn, his fist resting against it as he mindlessly fiddled with a string attached to the couch with his free hand. She had been gone for hours and he had watched several shows, some dumb movie from when he was a kid and he was over it. Now that he was able to interact with things the nostalgia had worn off after only a few days of running around and just touching… everything.
Photo frames on the walls, the texture of the paint, little décor objects she had laying around, food you name it. He was in need of person to person conversation and his stupid roommate was out "Working," who does that?
Speaking of the devil the door opened with a bang against the wall behind him and his neck popped as it turned. His roommate stumbled into the door, skin visibly a shade or two lighter than normal and sweat dripping down her exhausted looking face. She hunched over inside the door, heaving a breath or two before taking the moment to shut the door behind her.
He stood with a purpose and rushed over to her, "What the fuck Spooky? You look like you're the one with a foot in a grave!"
Giving him a sheepish smile you waved him off. "I'm fine, Just a bit of quirk usage I'm not used to." She tried to move past him only to stumble, his large arm looped around her costume covered waist and caught her easily. Her body went limp in his as he called her name with increasing panic. With no response, his hero training kicked in as if it had only been yesterday, hooking his bicep under her knees and rushed over to the couch to place her down as gently as he could. Her chest rose and fell with each labored breath, beads of sweat covered her face as she screwed her eyes shut tightly. "Okay maybe I'm not fine." Her words whispered weakly.
Katsuki began traveling around the apartment in a hurry, he had accessed she must have some kind of fever with the tone of her skin and the sheen of perspiration. She had mentioned a bad backlash with her quirk before, however he had never seen her in such a state it had put him into a panic for a moment before those hero instincts kicked in. He returned to her with a bowl of cool water, a rag, anti-nausea medication she kept in the cabinet, thermometer and a glass of fresh water. He had also found a pair of gloves from under the sink she wore when doing dishes from time to time that he hoped would keep her quirk at bay if he had to touch her. The last thing she needed right now was to feel the shitty death he experienced.
His fingers curled around the rag inside the bowl and rung out the excess water so he could lay it across her forehead to try lowering her body temperature. "Oi, sit up just a bit."
Her beautiful eyes finally cracked ever so slowly, watching as he held the rag above the bowl to catch drips until she complied. A giggle sounded from her in her delirium at the sight of this big burly man, elbow deep in Pink rubber gloves with visible concern on his face she had never seen before. Rolling his eyes he placed down the towel back into the bowl to assist her sitting up, his hands touched her gently only in places her costume covered skin. She flinched initially however in her weakened state let him guide her to a seated position. He ran the temple thermometer over her forehead and indicated she did in-fact have a fever, a high one at that. He placed the rag at the base of her neck and she immediately cooed at the cold feeling against her skin. She attempted to reach for the glass he had set on the table and with his help, drank in small gulps until the glass was completely gone.
"More?" He questioned and with her slight nod against the pillow he rushed to the sink to get her just that. Why he was going out of his way for this woman was beyond his comprehension, however he felt the urge to take care of her, be there for her when she had no one else in this time of need.
Round two was drained as quickly as the first, she took the nausea medicine just before collapsing into the couch with a blanket wrapped around her and soft snores passing through her lips. He sat with his back against the couch to listen to her snore, he had removed the gloves some time ago since he was no longer tending to her at the moment. His trained ears listening for any change in her breathing patterns as she slumbered behind him.
What had caused her quirk to go so haywire today? She had been out with stupid Deku that day, had something happened while on their patrol regarding their case? She used her gift every day while talking to him…interacting with him…
The television screen caught his attention as the pictures moved in silence, he had muted the object when she had burst through the door. Now seeing a professional photo of her along with Deku flash along while the announcer's mouth moved he turned up the volume slowly.
"A rare sight into the capture of a villain was caught today, by an armature videographer citizen who just happened to be bird watching when the events occurred."
The camera changed to the video the announcer spoke of, the view showing a small bird chirping as it hopped along a branch near it's nest. Down in the corner of the camera two figures began walking into the picture and the camera zoomed out to refocus on the street. Katsuki watched as Izuku and the female asleep behind him walked down the sidewalk chatting like old friends as screeching tires could be heard through the speakers. Both heroes sprung into action to save a mother and child duo who had been on the opposite side of the street.
He watched as she wrapped herself around the child and disappeared from view as the car passed where they had just been. As soon as the car left the view, they reappeared and the child ran off back towards their mother. He watched as the whole thing was captured on film, the take down and police arriving before the view was shut off when a policeman pointed up at the cameraperson that hurriedly shut off the device.
"As seen in the video the hero, now identified as retired hero "Phantom" was able to save the life of a poor child who would've been caught up in a string of hit and runs by the villain that calls himself "An Angel of Death." Assisted by the Number two hero Deku who placed the man in handcuffs before he could flee the scene. The Villian has claimed the lives of several children and has been finally identified as Mosu Ito, a former inmate at Tarturus prison who had escaped several years ago during the raid lead by Shigaraki Tomura that had left the area in shambles…"
Katsuki cut off the reporter by rewinding the video a few moments and watching the scene again. Seeing her in action was mesmerizing, she had acted with such a quickness that you arrived before the car was anywhere near hitting the boy as you held him tightly. He chewed his lip as his eyes found that familiar green lighting as his childhood friend took down the villain at his vehicle.
So Deku was number two now huh? Seems time flies when you're dead.
A groan broke him from his trance and he clicked off the screen with a flick of his thumb. Turning towards the couch he found himself staring into those tired eyes once again.
"Oh hey, how long was I out?" She grit her teeth as she sat up, running a hand over her stomach as it turned.
"A few hours, you stumbled in here like you drank a bar out of business."
She chuckled a bit before running her fingers over her damp hair from the sweat and grime of the street. Grimacing she wiped her hand on her suit, "You didn't have to take care of me, I would've been fine."
He huffed, crossing his arms as he watched her try to stand. "If I didn't you would've busted your teeth out on the floor. You could hardly walk, so I think not."
Giving a thankful smile she nodded and stood slowly, wobbling a bit his hands shout out to steady her. "Well shit, maybe I'm still not myself. I need a shower though, this costume is gross."
His cheeks burned at the implication, "I'm not bathing you!"
She laughed for a moment that turned into a heavy hacking cough, a hand flying to her mouth and covering it. "I didn't mean that you weirdo, I just need your help to the bathroom!"
Inhaling deeply he controlled the smart ass remark he wanted to let fly and decided instead to scoop his arms under her knees, a squeal leaving her as she attempted to hold onto hip for dear life as he held her in his sturdy arms. She gripped around his shoulders while avoiding skin contact, anxiety filling her from head to toe from the physical contact and nausea still rooting in her gut.
"Put me down you damn Poltergeist! I can fucking walk!"
He shrugged and carried her up the carpeted stairs to the closest restroom, which also happened to have the large jetted tub she enjoyed during her off hours.
"This is faster, you're also walking like a newborn baby deer so just deal with it."
Huffing she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms while in deep pout. She grumbled out insults that he could just hear when he set her gingerly back onto her own two feet. He pointed a finger into her face and her eyes crossed while looking at it before raising to his own. "If you need help, that sucks you're on your own. Don't drown." With that he turned and shut the door, hearing her turn on the water and he slid down the other side of the door. He placed his face into his large palms, letting out a deep sigh as he willed the stupid bugs in his stomach to stop fighting each other at the fact he had carried the woman in his arms a few times now and the fact she was undressing just behind the door he sat against.
He felt like a teenage boy again, getting all flustered over a good looking woman in his vicinity. Why did she have to be hot? Why couldn't she be a hag?
----
During Katsuki's little crisis, you slid into the bathwater with a groan. The hot water soothing the stress and soreness in your muscles from the quirk over use. As you soaked in the water, jets bubbling against your skin softly gave you time to think. You had barely used your quirk, why were you so sick? Could it be from quirk under-use?
Heaving a sigh you dunked your head under the water to wet your hair for a moment and leaned back against the headrest. Heat began rushing into your cheeks as the memory of your roommate's arms holding you tightly against him, careful to only hold you in places your costume covered your skin. What if he had touched you, would you actually feel his death? He was so strong for only being dead for five years, you could only imagine what his vision would feel like. After washing your hair and feeling as clean as you can be, you stood out of the water and pulled the plug for the water to drain. Realizing you were carried in here with no clean clothes, you'd have to haul ass to your room… in a towel.
Your palm slapped against your forehead as you leaned over the sink, eyes meeting in the reflection as you took in your flushed expression. You still felt like dirt but the bath did help, some more sleep would most likely be in order but you needed to try and get something in your stomach to settle it. First however, you had to get past the poltergeist without being spotted. Hopefully he had returned to his perch on the couch and you could slip unnoticed.
Grabbing the fluffiest towel from the cabinet you wrapped it tightly around yourself and opened the door to peek out. Seeing no on in sight you smirked to yourself, home free!
Swinging the door open in order to tip toe out, the door seems to open a little faster than planned and you hopped back as something hit the ground at your feet. Lowering your eyes, you found your toes on either side of a very wide eyed blonde that laid on his back. A scream ripped from your throat that he echoed, closing his eyes and hopping to his feet. You watched as he rushed around the corner and out of sight.
"I didn't see shit I swear!" You heard his voice call from down the stairs while you leaned against the frame, face scortching at the embarassment.
"Why were you sitting against the door?" You hollered back at him and he peeked around the corner for a second. "I was making sure you were okay in there sicky-mcgee!"
You huffed and stomped into your bedroom. Not even caring what you threw on at this point now that you were… well acquainted with your house guest.
Now clad in some shorts and a tank top your feet pad down the stairs to find him with his face in his hands. The tips of his ears were thoroughly pink and he shook his head furiously while grumbling. You bit your lip to hide a smile knowing he was just as embarassed as he was.
"Come on I'm not that ugly."
His head shot up and shot you a sneer, "Shut the fuck up, The problem is you're the fucking opposite."
Feeling the heat return to your face at his grumbled final words you took a spot on the cushion beside him.
"Well regardless of… that. Thank you for taking care of me tonight. I haven't been that sick in a long time…. it's actually the reason why I retired from being a hero full time. I was getting violently ill and I couldn't handle it much longer."
He listened and nodded after you finished without meeting your eyes still, "Yeah well, don't let it happen again. Take care of yourself!"
You dropped your face to hide the smile that would not stay off your face, even snapping at you he was showing he cared. Turning yourself towards him you sat with your legs crossed, brushing your wet hair from your face.
"Bakugo?"
His eyes met yours in surprise at actually using his family's name usually it was an insult or just poltergeist when you addressed him. "I think at this point we've lived together long enough and gotten to know each other enough… I'd like to, really get to know the real you. What do you think?"
He cocked a blonde brow, leaning back into the cushion on the arm rest. "You comin' on to me Spooky?"
Jaw dropped you raised your hand and let out a noise of annoyance.
"No you shit head! I was trying to be nice and offer to get to know you as a person? I've avoided this in the how long we've been able to interact but I was wondering if you'd be willing to share how you…died."
The last word he caught just barely as you whispered, eyes meeting your own that held apprehension, unsure of his reaction to wanting to see how he died.
"No."
You chewed your lip, not exactly sure how he had felt about your question. "I understand if you feel uncomfortable sharing that intimate memory with me, I just felt once it was out of the way we don't have to be so careful and I'd know more about yo-"
"You're sick, I'm not going to put you through that shit." His eyes became stern, turning to face you in the same manner. "The way I went was pretty shitty, from the way you've described what you go through, I wouldn't wish you to feel a moment of that."
Your expression softened, it wasn't that he didn't want to share that private moment with you… he just didn't want to have to experience it. Your chest tightened for a moment as you watched him closely.
"I am a strong girl Bakugo, I can handle it. Like I said before I have lived a few shitty deaths myself."
He frowned heavily, fiddling with his fingers as his gaze dropped. "I don't doubt that, but you've already over used your quirk and this was an… experience. I can't put you through that."
Raising your hands you placed them palm up, letting them hover as you watched his crimson gaze returned to yours in confusion.
"I think I can be the judge of what I can handle. I'm tired of tip toeing around the subject and I've already read about it. I may not even experience it…it doesn't always happen when I touch someone. I want to… get past my fears and I think you can help."
He inhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling while the gears turned in his head. Does he give in to you? He couldn't stand the thought of seeing you hurt any more than he already had seeing you fall ill. Finally his hands lifted from his lap and hovered over your own, his hands shaking softly as he took his lip between those sharp canines.
"Do… I feel anything? Or is it just you?" He asked with a shaky breath and you frowned. "You will see it as a third person, but I will be in your point of view. It won't be the same experience for you."
He nodded and watched as your own hands trembled slightly, pushing past your fears to being so close to his own. "Whenever you're ready." He breathed and you nodded, taking the leap you raised your hands and felt the rough pads of his fingers, the warmth of his palms spreading against your own.
"You're warm!" You whispered and he tilted his head just a bit, confusion filling his expression. A few moments passed as your fingers curled around his hands and his own followed close behind. "Nothing's happening." His gaze bore holes into your hands as you nodded. "Maybe it won't… it's not always instan-"
A bright flash filled both your visions as a gasp escaped your body.
----- (this is the description of a death, if you wish to skip, go down to the --- again.
You found yourself on a devastated street, head swerving back and forth to take in your surroundings.
'Where the fuck is that villain?' The deep male's voice sounded in your head, you raised your hands to find green and orange glove covered fingers that were definitely not yours. Large slim bracers that were similar in style to his original costume had been streamlined for his recent costume hung at your forearms.
"Over here Dynamite!"
Your head snapped at the manical laughter that followed the sing-song voice bouncing through the rubble. At top of the pile stood the object of your search, his hands splayed as violet energy swirled around his fingers.
"I think you finally met your match Mr. Future number one hero! I'm going to put you and every other hero six feet under and you'll never see the light of day again!"
The villain's lips split into a wide unnerving smile that chilled your blood to the core, "We'll just see about that dipshit!"
You found yourself yelling back at the villain before your body began moving of it's own volition, arms falling behind and a blast of heat filling your palms. The blasts of fire rocketed your body forward only to be slammed by an unseen force, body shooting back into the rubble you had been standing a moment before. Violet tendrils of every began shooting one after another into your chest, the searing pain as each ripped into skin and tore away. This continued for what felt like hours, but was only seconds before the barrage stopped.
The Villain stepped down with his clunky boots, his steps louder than the blood pumping in your ears. He clicked his teeth like a disappointed father, "Oh Dynamite, you always thought you were so much better than everyone else. But you bleed red just like the rest of us, look!"
He raised his fingers and you watched as blood that had been pouring from your chest just a few moment before began hovering in the air. Confusion filled you when the answer came from the back of your mind, Energy Manipulation. The Villain could manipulate any type of energy including the body's that would be inside the blood.
"Oh so pretty, maybe I'll take a sample for later." The sick fuck placed the blood into a vial and then turned his attention back to him. "The question now is how to send you to your grave my dear hero. Do I just cut you up like I did before? Crush you with the largest piece of rubble I can find? Oh! Maybe I can use your own quirk against you! Oh the irony to be killed by your own power…"
Your body shook in fear as those wild eyes looked you over and knelt down near your face. The man's face was familiar… where had you seen him before?
"I think that's what we're going to do." His words were a sinister whisper, your body not responding from all the severed tendons and pain in your limbs. Though you could feel the fight inside still trying to move and defend yourself as the villain stood back to his full height.
Raising his hand the violet energy started once again, slowly fading into a deep red. The searing pain returned that filled from head to toe as your veins felt as if they were on fire. It was as if small explosions were going off all over your body and the energy he began pushing through your body with force. Your voice failed you as cracking began sounding from your chest, a large snap finally made your body go cold.
You gasped in vain attempts to catch your breath, the taste of something metallic filled your mouth and you coughed in attempts to clear your throat. Hot liquid filled your mouth as you continued gasping for air.
Somebody help me! I can't die, I'm going to be number one! How am I losing to this extra?
The thoughts began to fill your head and started to fade away as the cold began seeping into your joints. Eyes staring up to the sky now as the Villian let out one more laugh, sirens and civilian's screams filling the empty space. Calling Dynamite's name to get up, keep fighting!
The villain turned on his heels, gravel and rock crunching under his boots he knew it was time to escape before the next wave of heroes arrived. Listening to the boot falls fade away you lay there, unmoving, unable to lift yourself and release the strain on your chest. Trying to access yourself and your racing thoughts were impossible as you listened to the fading last thoughts the hero had before his final moment.
Where was Deku? He was supposed to be here… I'm cold…. Hurts…
You found yourself now looking down from your own self, knowing Bakugo was gone now from his body. Your chest squeezed at his dull, unseeing crimson eyes stared blankly at the sky.
Leaning down you felt at his chest and found exactly what you knew, the explosions the Villain had forced had snapped his ribs and punctured his heart. There would've been no saving him.
"Deku? What are you doing here?"
The familiar voice snapped your attention to the familiar blonde standing with his ripped up hero costume. His memory showing his first moments as a spirit when the number two hero came into your view to pick up the body that lay at your feet.
"Kaachan…" The man whispered as he shook him in attempts to wake him, his voice following into a blood chilling scream at his realization he was gone.
With a gasp you found yourself back in your own body, hot tears fell down your cheeks when Bakugo's hands were snatched from your own.
-----------
"What the fuck?" He snarled, holding his hands against his chest.
"I knew it was bad but i didn't know it was that bad…" You whispered, eyes meeting his to find streaks of tears falling down his own flushed cheeks.
"Yeah well… Dying sucks. Also it takes a lot to kill someone like me so why wouldn't it be bad?" He snapped as you wiped your face from the falling water.
"Do you understand now how you died?"
His eyes met yours once more and he nodded slowly. "Punctured my heart with my ribs, Used my fucking quirk against me."
Chewing your lip you affirmed and patted your hand against your own chest. "That really sucked." You chuckled the last words out and he followed with a chuckle of his own.
"Yeah… It really did." Your gazes met for a few moments, no words shared as the silence fell between you. It really did feel like a big barrier had gotten out of the way. You know knew what he experienced in his last moments of life, his skin was warm even in death most likely due to his quirk and his hands were surprisingly soft, yet rough in all the right places.
Standing suddenly to break the tension, you crossed to the kitchen and opened the fridge. "Well now that's out of the way, are you hungry?"
"I'm never hungry… but I could eat."
Shaking your head you mumbled about knowing he could always eat but decided on a meal anyway. He joined in the prep in silence and once again shoved you out of the way as he did most times. The meal was ate in continued silence and you washed the dishes after out of fairness.
"Well after today I really need some sleep. What do you think?"
He stretched his body like a cat against the back of the couch, falling over to lay down with his head against the arm rest.
"Fuck yeah I need a ten year nap after that." Smiling you leaned over and poked his cheek, he turned in shock and caught that wide smile.
"It's over for you now ghost boy. I can touch you now."
"That's kinky." He winked and you let your palm come down on his cheek in retaliation.
"I was going to offer to let you sleep in my bed but not now!"
HIs eyes went wide and he pouted. "Don't be stingy, the couch is uncomfortable!"
"Should've thought about that before you were a pervert!"
Slamming the bedroom door, you closed your eyes and slid down the door to a seat. Crossing your arms over your knees you inhaled deeply.
His death had really been one of the worst you had ever experienced… and you had been shot, stabbed, and even buried alive once…
Climbing into bed you heard a soft knock on the door.
"What dammit?" You growled and he poked his head through the door without opening it. Seeing you were still decent he slipped through and stood like a kid about to tell his mom he "frew up."
"Can I sleep in here… please?" He grumbled and you hid your smile under the blanket you had pulled up around your lower half.
"I guess." You rolled your eyes as if it was a huge inconvenience for you.
Hopping over you he took his spot on the other side and curled into the blankets, you found yourself hissing at the cold when the blanket left your body.
"Hell no! Share!"
He smirked and shook his head, you whined at his stupidly handsome face and attempted to snatch the blanket back. Gripping the cloth he yanked back and forth until he finally gave it one final tug and with a squeal you found yourself over top the blonde.
You both froze as your hands held yourself above him, eyes meeting as his face flushed ten shades of tomato red. His large palms sat on either side of your hips fingers tightening just a bit into your skin, heat filling the where his met yours. The world stopped around you as butterflies found their way into your gut. His gorgeous eyes fell to your lips while chewing the inside of his own for a moment, you were only so far away… What would you taste like?
Before he could lift himself you gave him a swift apology and returned to your side of the bed. Curling the blanket over yourself you buried your flaming face into the material at the possibility of what could of been. He threw his arm over his eyes, hiding his pink ears and rosy cheeks.
Did he really just think about kissing you? Who the hell was he? How the hell did you of all people make him feel this way?
The both of you found sleep a little hard to come by that night.
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We'll get to see more of the heroes from Bakugo's past in the next part! :)