King by Lauren Aquilina
The next morning came too soon. The rays of sunshine falling over Wren's eyes and far too soon after that the beeping of her alarm. She lay there in the silence. There was this fullness in her chest she couldn't explain or begin to describe. Beside her Bakugo snuggled into her. His head slipping from her shoulder to chest. His arm encircling her stomach as he half laid over her.
"Katsuki. Wake upppp." Wren poked his cheek laughing at the faces he made.
A quick knock at the door made her freeze. "W-who is it?" When Ochaco's cheery voice called back she relaxed until the door open. "Sensei needs you to…" She paused in the door way. Her face immediately turning a bright red hue. "What are you staring at round face?" Bakugo slurred rubbing his eyes. Wren sat up smiling guiltily at Ochaco. "Uh what does my brother want."
"Uhh… hospital visit." Ochaco bowed furiously apologizing then dashed out the room. Wren looked at Bakugo. "I guess I'm heading to the hospital?"
Aizawa was tapping his foot downstairs. His arms crossed. Wren observed his odd behavior before approaching him. Bakugo was close behind. "Why're we taking a trip to the doctor?" Aizawa frowned. "Yesterday Wren. We can't just leave that unchecked. In a battle that could have been detrimental."
Wren couldn't really argue with that. Pursing her lips, she nodded. Turning to Bakugo she smiled and waved following close behind Aizawa.
After a few minutes of walking Aizawa cleared his throat. "Can I ask something as a brother, not as a teacher?" Wren scrunched her nose. "Uh yeah sure?" Aizawa seemed to stall as he walked quietly beside her. She'd almost forgotten he said anything when he finally spoke again. "You're not sleeping with Bakugo or anything are you?"
Stopping dead in her tracks Wren gaped at her older brother. He stopped a few feet ahead when he noticed she was no longer at his side. "Fucking no? Oh my god. I'm like fifteen." She hated her face for turning red. The heat radiating off her nose through to her ears. Aizawa seemed amused but also pleased with her reaction.
"Good."
Hospitals had this unique smell. The smell of antiseptic, iodine, more chemicals, maybe bleach… and blood? Salt too.
The emergency room was packed with people from a neighboring town. The news kept broadcasting footage of more attacks by Nomu or petty thieves. People were unhappy and scared and angry. Wren frowned at the screen as she waited for her name to be called. There was a little boy crying. He was covered in blood but no serious injuries. It made Wren's heart ache to think that this child might be an orphan now.
So much pain could be found in hospitals.
"Tumors." Wren stared back blankly as the doctor rattled off the CT scan results. More tests. More blood drawn. More antiseptic smell. "Why is this happening?" Aizawa seemed to speak her thoughts. The doctor simply shook his head leaning back in his chair. "It's unnatural to have more than one quirk. The burden on the body is something we are only just now understanding through these Nomu." The doctors gestured out the window bringing his hand back to wiped down his face. "And on top of that the exposure to asbestos she suffered while kidnapped..." The dark circles under his eyes were all the explanation she needed.
Everyone was struggling, weren't they?
The walk home was much quieter, heavier even. Her brother held her sleeve the whole time. Mostly because she couldn't bring herself to let him comfort her, or for her to have to comfort him. She wanted to forget that her expiration date had been presented to her as a vague possibility. Wasn't that how death was for everyone?
One day you drop dead or get killed, so why did she have to keep her eyes on the hour glass.
"I don't want to get weekly checkups." They had arrived back at the UA dorms. She turned to her brother. He wrapped his arms around her. Some how he smelled of cigarettes. He never smoked… or so she thought. She knew that this approach might seem defeatist. It's not like she wanted to die, but did she even want to live in the first place?
This was fine.
Everyone dies at some point.
"Every two weeks. Please Wren." She pulled back from his embrace. With a tight grin she nodded. "I don't want to die in a hospital. Please don't tell a soul." Aizawa nodded and for the first time Wren felt close to her brother. Everyone died at some point, bonded by the secret of death looming, but moments like these made it all too real. "Get back to afternoon classes. Is it okay if I take the rest of the day for myself?" Aizawa hugged her one more time. Taking a large step back he composed himself. "I'll see you in home room tomorrow. Don't be late."
Wren smiled memorizing her brother's back as he receded down the path that led to the dorms. Tomorrow she'd get her prescription filled for pain and hopefully shrinking the tumors.
She turned to the door behind her, running her fingers over the handle. Inside smelled of breakfast and cleaning products. Midoriya and Bakugo were both tasked with cleaning. Three days for Midoriya for fighting and four days for Bakugo for instigating.
Idiots.
Bakugo was cleaning the kitchen and making food. The only perk to being under house arrest was getting to wake later. Wren was almost jealous of their new-found time at home. Midoriya was nowhere to be found. "Hey." Wren smiled watching Bakugo jump a fraction, startled by her voice. He looked grumpy, but his eyes seemed to glow when he looked at her. "How's the cleaning going?"
He rolled his eyes and continued to cook and clean. She wondered if he was told not to talk to her, but decided he was probably just in a mood. He was wearing gym shorts and a grey zip hoodie. "What did the doctor say?" Wren watched the way Bakugo was fidgeting. Swapping between shoving his hands into his pockets and messing with his unkempt hair. Finally, when he turned to stare Wren realized she needed to say something.
"Just, you know. Alright. They want me to come in for check ups every other week." She fought the urge to look away from him. The obvious indication of her lying. Her heart aching as she took in the way he stood, the way the light filtered in and seemed to halo his silhouette. If she let herself, she could imagine waking up in the mornings to this someday. Waking up to something perfect and complete. Quickly breaking eye contact she moved to make tea, "Is Aizawa letting you skip the rest of the day?" She hummed in response staring at the counter top. Warm arms encircling her were startling but also comforting. "You know you can talk to me…" Bakugo's voice was quiet. Did he somehow already know?
She should tell him… shouldn't she?
"Katsuki I-…"
"Ka-chan the toast is burning!" Midoriya skidded into the kitchen. Wren and Bakugo quickly jumped apart. She could feel the heat spread across her cheeks. Midoriya told Bakugo he was making more work for them to do while Bakugo brushed off his every word. Wren smiled watching to two fight. They were impossible.
Wren reached into her pocket and fiddled with the slip of receipt paper. She had to be careful throwing this away. Someone could find it and then….
Then what?
The rest of her classmates filed in later in the evening. They talked amongst themselves. Ochaco and Tsuyu told her they would fill her in later. As a class they decided not to fill Midoriya or Bakugo in at all. Making them feel the full weight of their actions. She had a feeling it was also Aizawa's order but conceded. The boys would survive, although Midoriya looked fit to cry. Wren almost felt sorry for him.
She and Bakugo hadn't gotten a moment to speak since Midoriya interrupted them. From time to time she swore she felt his lingering gaze on her. Warming her up instantly. Wren hoped to pull him aside after dinner and ease his worries from earlier but Ochaco and Tsuyu were quick to steal her away.
Fighting a groan, she didn't struggle as they stomped into her room and slammed the door. "Are you and Bakugo dating?" Ochaco burst out. Wren's eyes grew wide. She had completely forgotten Ochaco had burst in on them that morning.
Her mouth opening to respond but the words dying in her throat. "I knew it." She smiled victoriously. "No. What. Wait." She finally stammered out waving her hands frantically. "It's not like that. Like it's.. like he hasn't asked me out. We just... I." Wren sunk to the floor her face burning into her hands. Why this? Why now?
There was too much going on for her to simply gossip about a boy… especially Bakugo. Sighing in defeat she thought long and hard. "Come on Wren. You seem to be really stressed out. Maybe talking about it will put you at ease." Tsuyu stated her words thoughtful as ever. Wren almost felt like crying. Such good friends surrounded her now and all she wanted was to quietly die in a ditch somewhere.
Hell, she probably was going to die.
Everything fell on top of her and without warning she broke into wracking sobs that shook her violently. Ochaco and Tsuyu stood motionless in shock. Wren never cried. Never even looked sad. Even when she first arrived, she hardly seemed sullen. Just alert and waiting.
"I-I don't want to die yet."
Wren's chest ached as she choked out each word. Snot and tears caking her face. She rubbed and rubbed her face raw. Her vision blurred beyond help from all the tears. "I don't know how to tell him. I don't know what to do. I don't. I don't." Wren continued to sob. Her breaths becoming shallow and quick. The room seemed to spin.
Ochaco held her tightly in her arms but Wren only continued to hyperventilate and shake uncontrollably. Wren had slumped into her lap as Ochaco rubbed large soothing circles into her back. Tsuyu seemed to snap out of her shock. "I'll get Bakugo."
She turned to go but the door behind her was already swung open. Bakugo stood in the frame. Iida had his armed wrapped around Bakugo's middle to stop him. Peaking his head around the corner he dropped his arms. "Do I need to call a doctor?" Iida spoke loud and dutifully.
"Nah. Get sensei." Bakugo said. He walked into the room and scooped Wren up. Sitting down carefully he cradled her in his arms. His face was impassible. Unreadable. Ochaco refused to leave and kept herself planted in Wren's room.
Shortly after Iida left, he returned with Aizawa in tow. The mix of emotion on Aizawa's face looked unnatural. The two males looked one another in the eye. Aizawa sighed sitting crossed legged in front of Bakugo. "Has she said anything?"
Bakugo shook his head looking down at Wren who'd now passed out. Tears and snot covered her face. "Ochaco can you please get me a wash cloth and cup of hot tea." Ochaco's mouth dropped at Bakugo's tender words. She scrambled out the door with Tsuyu in tow.
Now it was just Aizawa and Bakugo.
"What happened at the hospital." Bakugo growled. Baring his teeth. He knew he should have gotten an answer out of her. Instead he let her stew in this turmoil until she broke into bits. He gritted his teeth seeing red. If only he hadn't been under house arrest, he would have maybe even gone with her.
Bakugo listened as Aizawa recounted their morning. Explained the prescription and issues. "And you're still going to let her stay enrolled in the hero course?" Bakugo bellowed. Aizawa seemed surprised. "Bakugo all she knows is this. Who am I to take away the only thing she know. Would you lie down and let this happened to you?"
They both knew the answer. Everyone knew that answer. Each and every one of them would go down fighting. Bakugo knew this but some deeper part of him screamed for her to just get better. To never have to fight again.
Wren stirred when Ochaco finally returned with a warm rag and hot tea. Bakugo took the rag into his hand gently wiping the side of Wren's face. "Hey sleeping beauty. You alright?" Bakugo hated how his voice cracked. Who was he right now?
He pushed that all aside looking into her dark eyes popping against her pale face and red rimmed eyes. He saw the tears pool again as Wren no doubt remembered what happened. "Hey, hey. You're okay. Talk to me." Wren sniffled and nodded. Before the cloth could cool more, he gently wiped her eyes then nose folding the cloth over to wipe her cheeks. "I don't wanna die." Her voice broke his heart. He stroked her hair his eyes flicking to Aizawa. "What happened at the hospital today?"
Wren recounted her thoughts, everything.
Bakugo smiled kissing her cheek. Wren sat up taking the tea from Ochaco. "We'll get through this Wren."
Aizawa kissed the top of Wren's head, satisfied she was in good hands. He and Bakugo locked eyes for a long minute before Aizawa took his leave. Only Ochaco, Tsuyu, and Bakugo were left in Wren's presence.
"I'm so sorry. Ochaco, Tsuyu. I just. I…"
"It's alright Wren. You feel better now that you let it all out, right?" Wren teared up again at Tsuyu's word and nodded. "We'll leave you two be. If you want us to walk with you tomorrow, we will." Ochaco gave her a thumbs up as both girls left.
Now it was just Bakugo and Wren.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." Wren whispered staring into her tea cup.
Now that she was more relaxed, she was taking in her surroundings. She realized she was sitting in Bakugo's lap. His arms were loosely wrapped around her waist. Wren shivered. The day was weighing heavy on her.
"Please. Go every week for checkups. Please." Wren looked at Bakugo. Locking eyes with him. He seemed calm. He held her firmly awaiting her response.
Too tired to fight she nodded.
