Chapter 14: Visitation

"What do you mean?"

"Don't do this shit Ochako. What am I to you?"

Uraraka sat in her hospital bed, her bandaged body struggling to keep her upright long enough to even answer Bakugo's question. This is not how she expected seeing him to go, and she was unsure of what to say.

He had good reason to ask, of course, but she felt like this was the wrong time to put labels on things. If she had to put a label other than dating on whatever this was, it meant that she would be rushing something she hadn't prepared to get into so early. There was nothing wrong with a relationship per say, it was what she wanted, but not under this circumstance. She didn't want to have to accept Bakugo as her boyfriend after nearly croaking on the battlefield, it felt forced. She looked up at him, the blonde staring intensely at her, and sighed.

"Sit down." She said calmly.

Bakugo didn't budge. "Answer my question."

"Just sit down so we can talk." She didn't feel like arguing anymore, it was making her head hurt.

"Answer my fucking question, Ochako."

"Please, sit down Katsuki. I'm tired, and I don't want to argue." She laid back down, more like flopped back into bed, her body feeling sore and tight. I guess the doctor's quirk was temporary, she thought to herself.

For a second, Bakugo wanted to ask if he should get a doctor or a nurse, she looked so weak so suddenly and as mad as he was with her for everything, he couldn't be mad properly if she wasn't feeling well.

He wasn't even mad, he just wanted her to say what they were, and if she couldn't it meant that he had yet another body to beat into the ground. He didn't appreciate aspects of uncertainty in his life, and now that she was a part of it, he couldn't have her bringing in excess shit like Deku.

"Fine, I'll fuckin' sit," He grumbled, plopping onto the hospital bed. "But you have to answer me this, Cheeks."

"What is it?" She asked sleepily.

"What does he have that I don't? Why is there something about him that's keeping you from-" Bakugo stopped, he was getting too vulnerable too fast.

"From what..." Uraraka made a motion to sit up again, but sucked in a sharp breath in pain. Bakugo snapped his head around to look at her, crimson eyes full of worry.

"Nothing. Still haven't answered my first question."

Uraraka sat there for a moment. "I don't know how to answer it." She replied honestly. She felt Bakugo grip the bedsheets. He was upset, and for obvious reason. There shouldn't have even been a choice for Uraraka, if she meant Deku was a friend like she said so many times before. He wanted to believe her every time she said it, but his mind would never let him be content with that idea, it ate at him day and night, and only worsened when he actually saw the green-haired piece of shit.

"That's what I fucking mean. It doesn't take a damn genius to admit if you like me...or if you want that shitty nerd." He said lowly, trying not to let himself get angry with her.

"I like you, Katsuki, I really do, it's just-"

"Just what?!" He had enough of her excuses, he couldn't talk to someone who would beat around the bush. He needed an answer, and he needed one now. His pride was hurt, his ego was suffering, and his heart was aching. He was mad with himself as well, mad he let himself grow these feelings for her, mad he allowed himself to be seen in a light that wasn't him. But it was him, that was Katsuki, he was just more acceptable and characteristic as Bakugo. "What is it? You keep saying this bullshit and dodging everything I fucking say, you like the damn nerd don't you?!" His voice rose.

"No, I don't I just don't-"

"Want me? Then what the hell was the past month and a half, huh?!" Bakugo knew he should've let her speak, he knew she didn't want to argue, but his mouth was working faster than his mind and he couldn't keep his insecurities bottled up any longer. "Does he make you feel better, is it because he's been up your ass for the past three years?! I mean for fuck's sake I was the one who saved your dumb ass, I ended all those fuckers for you after you fucked yourself up, I was the one who didn't let the hell go until we got to the fucking hospital Ochako, I was losing my goddamn mind over a damn idiot like you."

"Like me?!" Uraraka screeched. "I didn't ask you to do any of that, I didn't ask for you to like me or be my personal savior. We just kept getting into these weird situations and things just, just, just, I don't know! They went a lot faster than I expected, and I didn't think I would like you-"

"I didn't think I would like you!" Bakugo's voice cracked slightly. "You're so bright and cheery and fake-positive, all you do is put on a fucking front for a bunch of extras that don't really know you!"

"And all you do is sit around and judge everyone that comes your way. No one is ever good enough, no one could ever compare. You're so mean and bossy, Deku would never treat me like that." Uraraka crossed her arms in frustration. If he insisted on arguing, she figured she wouldn't hold back. Her life had gotten so stressful, and she couldn't hold it in any longer.

"You're right, " Bakugo said. "He wouldn't treat you like that, he wouldn't even let you fucking breathe long enough on your own to actually get anywhere."

"He lets me live my life, unlike you. All you've done for the past month is make my decisions for me." Uraraka snorted.

"He smothers you, dumbass. All he wants from you is a damn sidekick, Uraraka, open your damn eyes for once." Bakugo pinched the bridge of his nose. This argument was getting him nowhere, it didn't even remotely answer his question. If anything, it proved she was still holding on to her past feelings. Speaking of...

"Be honest. You still like him." Bakugo said plainly.

"What?! I just said-"

"I don't give a shit."

"I don't like him."

"So let him go."

"It's not that easy, Bakugo."

"Why?"

Once again, the argument had hit a rock in Uraraka's road to clarity. She sat there, unable to form a response in a timely enough manner for Bakugo. Her mind and heart raced, memories flashing back. The times she spent by Midoriya's side came rushing in, the days they would kick butt and laugh about it in their rooms, the nights they stayed up watching All Might conspiracy theories on YouTube, the afternoons they would visit some food place Midoriya had been (courtesy of All Might). The more she thought, the more it dawned on her that most of those memories weren't really spent doing what she liked. They didn't stare at the stars as much as she wanted to, they didn't talk about the messed-up side of the hero society they lived in, she wasn't even sure she even had a pro-hero she looked up to like he did, or if he even knew who it would've been. All he did was save her, and encourage her to be by his side no matter what. It hadn't been a problem, but now Uraraka thought of how those times stopped when Deku began dating, and how easily her place was filled by someone else, someone who provide a bigger benefit than she was. Now she felt upset, and slightly used. He was her best friend, but it was becoming clear how unfair it was he came clinging back to her after his break up, and how attentive he finally was of her now that she had involved herself with Bakugo. It reminded her of their first year, the way Midoriya had a plan written out for her in the Sports Festival, but Bakugo blindly attacked her, confident that if she couldn't handle it, she would've given up earlier. Tears threatened to fall, the excitement of the argument and her clouded mind creating a swell of emotions she didn't think she could handle. If these were normal teenage problems, she was sure she'd rather be a hero 24/7.

"I..." She began, considering her next words wisely. Her initial response was to tell Bakugo that Midoriya was a friend, she couldn't just cut him off entirely, but she figured it wouldn't work, he's heard it too many times before. So she chose a different route. "I can't say Midoriya doesn't mean a lot to me, he was my first friend at UA, and the only person who believed in me for a while. I can't just drop that." She answered honestly, looking down at her sheets. Small, warm drops bloomed on the white sheets, and they began to blur her vision.

"I believed in you." Uraraka picked her up, she expected another petty comeback from Bakugo. He sighed and ran a hand through his spiky hair. "I'm...not too good with this emotional shit, but I always knew you were going to be a kick-ass hero. You never gave up, and when everyone hated me, you at least treated me like a person."

Uraraka was speechless. This was the first time she had heard Bakugo open up like this. This side of vulnerability from him made him more...endearing, more comfortable.

"I saw how much potential you had when none of those other shitheads did. No one else could see you like I did, or do. He didn't see it."

"Midoriya did support me and had faith in me," Uraraka said quietly. As much as she knew bringing him up over and over would only hurt Bakugo, she couldn't let him continue to talk bad about her friend.

"He didn't which is why I don't get why the fuck you keep defending him. Think about it, Cheeks. How many times did he trust your decision? How many times has he went by your lead?" Bakugo asked quietly. Uraraka paused, then opened her mouth, but Bakugo continued. "How many times did you have to say nevermind to yourself, when were your wants ever put first, does he even know you're into astronomy?" Bakugo questioned through his teeth.

"He gave me a necklace with a star on it last Christmas..." Uraraka pouted. From his place on the bed beside her, he leaned into her face, clearly disappointed.

"If he cared enough, which he fucking didn't, it would've been your favorite planet." Bakugo squinted his eyes at her.

Uraraka huffed. "You don't even know my-"

"Venus."

"What?"

"It's Venus. It doesn't take a complete dipshit to listen whenever you go on one of your planetary rants in class." Bakugo leaned back, a plain expression on his face. "My fucking point is, he doesn't care like I do."

Something about that last statement sent a tingle down Uraraka's spine. She considered that maybe Bakugo was shit-talking Midoriya to push the argument in his favor, but something about his tone and demeanor was different. He looked..sincere.

"How do I know you care?" She asked, her mind mulling over the idea of Bakugo much more than Midoriya now.

"Every day. I sat right out there every damn day waiting for you to wake up. I sat next to an old-ass bitch for three days and listened to her god-awful stories about her shitty grandson for you." Bakugo said. Uraraka laughed a little, the image of him doing so in her head was unreal.

"He came twice."

Uraraka's face fell.

"He only showed his ass twice, and fucking ran when he saw me. That was a week ago."

Uraraka was now feeling the sting of threatening tears again, how could Midoriya only show up twice in two weeks? Her best friend, her support system, the very person she had been defending for the past 20 minutes was nowhere to be seen and when he was, he ran? Uraraka couldn't hide her disappointment or doubt anymore, and she let out a small sob. It hurt, the same way it hurt those years ago the first time she had come to the conclusion that she would never be more than second or third in his life. She used to blame herself for feeling this way, telling herself it was childish and that he was always going to have obligations that weren't her. And while it was true, he did have priorities, she didn't care. She had always managed her priorities and feelings for him, and she did so with no question or hesitation. For him to waltz in and out of her life like this was too much, and the tiny sobs she had let slip grew louder and louder. Everything was too much, she didn't want to choose anymore, she was still in pain, she still felt less than a hero, she just wanted to go home and sleep all her problems away.

The weight on the bed shifted, and a pair of warm arms surrounded her, and she released herself into the comfort of Bakugo's embrace. He rested his chin on top of her head and sighed once more, closing his eyes. He hadn't meant to hurt her feelings or make her cry, but Bakugo could no longer watch Uraraka unconditionally defend and love a person that wasn't doing the same for her. It wasn't even about who she chose at this point, even if by some miracle she did choose that idiot, all he could do was respect her choice and live his life. Besides, it seemed as if her problems were more than boy trouble, and he knew if they were meant to be, they would find their way back to each other. Bakugo was prepared to end up lonely, still prepared to watch the girl he decided he loved live her life on her own. If it meant she gained security and happiness within herself, he was content with that, no matter how much his heart screamed at him to close the emotional gap between them. He hugged her tighter, one hand reaching to stroke her soft brown hair in comfort.

But it was all bullshit.

Bakugo knew he wasn't going to be actually content unless she was not only by his side, but his partner. He had enough of his life and future career figured out to fit her in and make she knew she was going to be valued, and he was going to make that happen by any means. Bakugo let her cry for a few more minutes, promising to kick Deku's ass three times for every minute she cried, and pulled away once her sobs had rescinded. He grabbed her hot face, smiling softly at her naked face, her usual light makeup and mascara long gone. He liked the barely visible freckles that dotted her cheeks, and loved the rosy glow her cheeks kept without blush. His eyes dashed across her round lips and to her brown eyes that shone with the innocence of a puppy. He wanted nothing more than to let her know if no one else was going to value who she was, he would.

Uraraka looked at the man before her, his red eyes soft with admiration, blonde hair glowing in the golden afternoon light. She scrunched her face up as he wiped away the last of tears with his thumb, and leaned into one of the hands holding her face, lightly grabbing his wrist. She was done with being distraught, and done with beating herself up when there was a person in front of her who saw the person she wanted to be. Uraraka gave him a slight smile, and Bakugo's heart could take no more anticipation. He pulled her face to his in a dramatic kiss, feeling Uraraka wrap her arms around his neck. He kissed her harder, and she sighed into his lips into content. It was different somehow, it felt as if they finally stopped dancing around each other and realized what they wanted. He kissed her more and more, gently pushing her back into the bed. Uraraka was nearly unable to keep up with the rhythm of his lips colliding with hers, and felt herself laying back, her stomach swelling with desire.

The air was electric, and growing hot as the two teens made out in Uraraka's hospital bed. Bakugo grew comfortable, swinging a leg over hers, confining her to the bed. Not once did their lips break contact, their faces molding to one another. Hands began roaming, and to Bakugo's surprise, Uraraka responded to his light groping by reaching up, gently tugging his hair. Her body tingled at his touch, and she shivered when he growled into her mouth. Bakugo crawled fully on top of Uraraka, using one knee to gently push her legs open. She accepted, and parted her legs enough for him to comfortably rest his weight on her.

Uraraka was surprised and slightly confused at how quickly her emotions flipped today, but as the blonde on top of her became more aggressive, more hungry, she matched his energy, allowing him to continue his advances. It was hot to her, it was right to her, she wanted nothing more than him at this very moment. She felt his hand slip underneath her hospital gown and gasped at the touch of his cold fingers. They explored her top, providing with a new feeling she had never felt from any other boy she had been physically intimate with. She was still reeling in her mind, keeping her focus on kissing him, when she felt his hand go lower. His hand drifted down her stomach, his rough fingertips tickling her abdomen. It continued down, down, and Uraraka found it harder and harder to focus.

Wait, she thought to herself. I've been in the hospital for two weeks, I haven't even shav-

"...In the HOSPITAL Kacchan?!"