Bakugo ignores her the next day.

And the next. And the next. And the next. Oh, and the day after that, too. Basically just a whole bunch of days that Uraraka spent worrying about a boy she's never really had to worry about before.

And maybe she also spent it wondering if maybe she'd come off too intense or strong or if he actually found her ugly and gross and wants to stay far away from her for the rest of his days, just maybe. (Does she really care if he thinks she's ugly, though? He looks like an angry pomeranian when he gets all riled up, anyway. And not in a cute way.)

But that's just the crippling anxiety talking! Haha! Ahahaha!

In other words, Ochako's been steadily losing it. As her body healed horribly slow, her mind slipped away from her twice as fast. Why wouldn't it? Too much has happened. This past year, this past summer, these past two weeks.

So she drowns her sorrows in this nice, warm, bubbly bath. Because there is absolutely nothing else to do in a situation like this.

She sinks down into the water, blissfully alone in the girls' bathroom. She hasn't had a good amount of alone time in awhile. If she was by herself, then she was sleeping or studying. Or thinking about the night she was attacked. Or thinking about Bakugo and how he hasn't even breathed in her direction for nearly a week.

Yeah. Most definitely losing her mind.

Her side aches under the heat of the water, but it eventually fades into nothing, and Uraraka enjoys the silence. Yeah, this is exactly what I need.

Keeping her injuries a secret was more stressful than she thought. She hates lying, especially to her closest friends. It made her feel dirty, scummy. But it was for the best. Wasn't it?

How could she let anyone worry about her? Her parents had looked absolutely destroyed when they saw her in the hospital after the incident. It completely broke her heart. There was too much happening all the time, and she was lucky enough to have such wonderful friends who would feel awful about what happened to her, she'd feel the same — how could she do that to them? Pass on her burden?

It was a little easier to tell him. She knew he'd keep her secret, and that he wouldn't pity her. But Uraraka must be sleep deprived, or the brain concussion gave her some sort of lasting damage, because she could've sworn that she saw concern in his eyes the day she did tell him. If that's true, then that means he feels at least an ounce of care for her. And that must be why he acted so… strange the last time they spoke.

She doesn't know how she feels about that.

It could just be that their experiences were connected somehow.

Goosebumps shoot up her arms, and she wraps them around herself. That's the last thing she needs to think about right now.

She doesn't want to remember how her heart sank, looking at him. How he got closer to her and made it race, too.

Maybe it's better that he hasn't spoken to her since. A girl needs to take a breather every once in a while. But she can't deny that it stings a bit every time she looks his way and he doesn't even give her the time of day.

But maybe, just maybe, those were his eyes she felt on her back throughout class, whenever she slumped over her desk or she was talking to someone or when she was leaving the room.

Maybe he felt what she did. Maybe he wants to talk to her. Maybe he just doesn't know how.

But, as things usually go with her and Bakugo, she keeps a respectful distance and doesn't push or pry. He's never been the talking type, anyways.

Whatever it was, whenever it decides to come back around — if it ever does — they'll handle it. She'll handle it. I need to focus on healing right now.

Uraraka closes her eyes, sighing deeply. Yeah, she deserves this.

It's peaceful until it's not.

At the sound of her ancient phone going off, Uraraka jumps and gasps, and before she knows it, she's floating up in the air. She'd slapped her hands to her chest on instinct and set off her quirk! In a panic, she shrieks a "release!" before landing back in the bathtub, landing straight on her butt and splashing the water onto the floor.

First of all: ouch. Second of all: why.

Ochako groans in pain. Just when she'd finally relaxed, and her side had gotten used to the temperature of the bath, this had to happen. She can't help but sob, the ache returning and spreading through her side. Even her brain feels rattled.

Guess her alone time's over.

She ignores the call, since she can't really get up right now. Ochako takes her time lifting herself out of the tub, grabbing the fluffy towel she left on the side and drying herself off. She gently pats her ribs, cringing at the feeling. She needs her pain killers before it gets worse.

She gets dressed as quickly as possible and grabs her phone, not even bothering to check whoever had the great idea to call her. Everybody texts most of the time, anyways!

Once she reaches the common room, she remembers.

1-A was gathered around the TV, chatting away. Movie night. She totally forgot.

"Uraraka!" Mina shouts, waving her over. "You forgot didn't you?"

Everybody's looking at her now.

Ochako chuckles nervously.

She wrings her hands together in the pocket of her oversized black hoodie. "Well…"

"Uraraka," a friendly voice calls, and she looks over at Deku. She can't help but smile. "Come sit!" he says, patting the seat on the floor next to him.

The truth is, she'd be more than happy to accept his offer is she didn't feel like her legs were going to give out any second now.

"Actually, I —"

"Don't tell me you're gonna skip out on movie night," Kirishima says, eyes bright and fiery. Was this… holy or sacred or something?

Well, Uraraka really does appreciate and treasure the time she spends with her classmates. Being in multiple life or death situations all together does that to you. But would they really not let her… go to her room? How does she get out of this without looking very suspicious?

"Well, I, uh —"

"C'moooon Uraraka. We've been waiting for you! How come you didn't answer my call?!" Mina says.

Oh. If only she knew.

"I was taking a bath!" she says, doing her best to keep face without overdoing it. The pain was going away, but slowly, and she's scared it might act up again.

"We're gonna watch a horror movie! Do you really wanna miss out?" Toru says from the corner of the couch.

"Hmmm… it's been… a tough week, y'know, and I'm very t-tired!" she stutters. God, she's just the worst sometimes.

"Got somewhere to be?" Kaminari says, raising his brows with a smirk. Jirou smacks his arm. "Ignore him," she says, but that doesn't keep Uraraka's face from heating up. What was that supposed to mean?!

"E-excuse me?"

"Don't speak to a girl like that," Momo scolds, crossing her arms over her chest. "It's very impolite."

"So is skipping out on move night! We need the whole class here!" Kirishima barks, standing. "Speaking of which… we're still missing one person."

She thinks she knows who.

Most definitely knows who.

There's no way out of this. She may as well get comfortable. As much as she admires and loves her classmates, they were… how could she put it nicely? Insufferable? Nah, just… extra.

She looks back over at Deku, who's smiling apologetically at her. He was just the sweetest, wasn't he? If there was anyone she admired the most, it was him.

She sighs, surrendering. At least Midoriya wouldn't harass her. He scoots over so she could sit between the arm of the couch and him. Tsu sat on his left, looking unbothered as usual.

"Sorry about that," he mumbles close to her ear.

"Don't apologize. I get it — we're a team, y'know?"

"Yeah. Of course." He bites his lip gently and then turns away from her, rubbing the back of his neck.

He was as innocent as ever, but still, he'd grown a lot in the past year. He was more mature, physically and emotionally, and not as much of a blushing mess (though that wasn't saying much).

Still, it's not like she'd want that to change about him.

Uraraka shivers. During summer, they always keep the air conditioner cranked up high, and her little pink shorts and knee socks weren't enough to keep her legs warm. Deku, being the angel he is, notices this. "You want a blanket?" he says in her ear again, and it almost makes her warm.

"Yes please," she smiles.

"Here, ribbit, have mine," Tsu says, handing over a deep green blanket. She says her thanks and lays it over her crossed legs.

Ochako doesn't really think about it before she asks. "You wanna get under too, Deku?"

"Uhh, d-d-do I?" he instantly blushes and stutters. Why does she need her pain killers? She's got a free one right here!

"Mhm," she nods before pulling it over his lap. "Wouldn't want you getting cold now, would I?"

"T-thanks…"

"Don't mention it!"

"Get your fucking hands off of me. I'm here already."

Uraraka's back goes stiff.

"Sorry, bro. I just missed you too much."

She doesn't need to turn around.

"Definitely."

That voice has been in her head for days.

For a second, she thinks she feels eyes on the back of her head, but then it's gone.

"Fuck is this?"

"Some horror movie. You into ghost shit, Bakugo?"

There's a beat before he grumbles.

"Let's start this shit already!"

"Okay, okay, damn!"

Ochako had a feeling she wouldn't like this movie much.

There was the thick scent of death, his bated breath, and the sickening thought that maybe he was afraid after all.

He's fuckin' seen death before. Hell, he's come close to it more times than he cares to remember. It's not a new concept to him. He's not an ignorant dumbass. It's not like he's scared of it, either.

But what's he supposed to do when it looked so unnatural? When what he's seen was beyond any of the freaky shit he's had the misfortune of witnessing so far?

His mind still hangs onto every little detail, clawing through his skull and settling in the wound. Nothing's ever stuck with him like this, like a motherfucking leech, draining him of all his mental energy. Making him… weak.

God, thinking back to it makes his skin fuckin' crawl.

The son of a bitch, the thing, it must've known something about him. Must've wanted him to see it.

And it came after her too.

He was in too much pain to do anything. Pain that belonged to her.

Who ever fucked with 'em, whoever decided to nearly kill her and die right the fuck in front of him, Bakugo didn't really think it was human.

He doesn't tell her. He doesn't wanna tell her.

He only comes out of his head when she says his name so softly, it almost sounds like a dream.

"How can that be? That you felt what I did?"

He deepens his frown. Clenches his fist. "Fuck if I know."

If he knew, did she really think he'd be in her goddamn room right now? The way she looks at him pisses him off most of the time, but now, it makes him uneasy.

The unanswered questions. The unknowing. The fucking undeniable fear that he'd rather die a long, slow, painful death than succumb to.

One day, he'll choke.

"Do you think you felt it at the same time that it… happened?"

He wants to make her stop tapping her fucking fingers together. She's a sensory overload, one he wants to tear away at 'till she goes away, 'till she stops telling the truth without even fuckin' talking.

She's everything he's not, he thinks.

He shoves his hands in his pockets before he really goes and grabs hers. "Yeah."

She bites her lip, shifts around on her bed. He breathes through the lump in his throat.

So what if they had some weird ass fuckin' psychic connection? So what if it made him feel connected to her? So what if he can't stop thinking about her?

Why was he here again? To see her? Did he really wanna see her, talk to her? Have his guts twist and turn at the memories because of her? Watch her suffer too, pretend he's indifferent to it?

Holy shit, when did he turn into such a pussy?

"Bakugo…" she says again, and it wraps around him. Slams him back down to the ground.

He almost has to catch himself from lurching forward, like she released him from zero gravity or some shit. Like she's fuckin' pullin' him down.

Compose your fucking self.

"Listen, Angelface, it was probably just some petty ass new villain with some weird ass quirk nobody's heard of."

"Some quirk…" she huffs, slouching. He didn't like that look she shot him beforehand. Like he had ten fuckin' heads. It makes the anxiety in the pit of his stomach fester, bubble, and pop.

"I'll find that fucker," he growls, rage building by the millisecond, "and I'll kill them."

He will. He'll kill 'em. He'll beat 'em to a bloody fucking pulp, blow 'em up, turn them into fucking ashes —

"Bakugo…"

He doesn't know how, but she knocks him back down again, and he stares dumbly at the tears in her eyes. It's not like him to be so quiet in a moment like this, he knows this, but something is brewing under the surface. It's something that's got him frozen now, watching her lift herself up nice and slow and over to him.

He doesn't want to tell her. There's this sick feeling running down his body. Taking him the fuck over. He doesn't want her to know.

Whatever got to them, it got them good. She looks so tiny under him. She's practically breaking her damn neck to look up at him. He could almost see the string of rot between them, connecting them indefinitely.

They were in the right place and time, weren't they? Weren't they?

"Why're you fuckin' cryin', Angel?" he says, low and rough, no venom in his voice.

"You felt my pain, Bakugo…"

A tear rolls down her cheek. He hates it. He hates that his breath almost catches at the sight of her. He hates that he's stock still while his sanity slips. Hates that they're even fucking here right now. Despises the fact that maybe, maybe, maybe, after saying it out loud, maybe that twist in his gut is fear.

"You felt my pain. I-I'm sorr—"

"Sorry for what?" he seethes. He has to cut it out, he has to jumpstart, get himself moving and angry.

Before the room starts spinning.

"It's my fault anything happened that night. I should've been more careful."

Her body so close to him is enough to make his skin prickle. He wants the heat, wants to step closer, wants to forget. It takes everything to tear away from her and back up.

"Your whining isn't gonna help anything. I'm not fuckin' blaming you."

She nods her head, but the guilt on her face remains. He has to leave. Before he does something he'll regret.

What the fuck is this feeling? He can't help how shallow his breath starts to get.

It slips out of his mouth before he could really register it. "I'll kill that bastard. Kill 'em dead. It ain't your fault, Angel."

Was he…

"Oh," she sighs, and not out of relief.

Yeah, what the fuck was he saying anyway? He's losing himself. Bakugo knows this for sure when he finally looks her in the eyes, those goddamn brown eyes, and instead of turning his back and leaving her alone, he holds her down the same way she does to him.

It's strange to see someone and know exactly what they feel. Empathy was never a concern for Bakugo, let alone something he practiced. It was very rare when he held it, but when it came, it always threatened to drown him.

Except, right now, with Ochako knowing his burden, and carrying it too, it's like she released him.

Something beyond the realm of everything they've ever known lingers in their minds. His dreams and her injury. The constant feeling of being watched that settled on his spine. His breath and how it left him.

Ever since that night, he hasn't been himself. He could've gone on denying it for a bit longer, but she's got those fuckin' eyes.

Bakugo knows he's afraid 'cause he's looking at Ochako, and for once, his chest doesn't feel so tight.

He fucking hates this movie.

He wants to kill whoever made it.

He wants to kill Kirishima, too.

Except, very unfortunately, he's stuck sitting next to that motherfucker, shoved into the corner of the couch, stock still as the shitty ass movie offends his whole entire existence.

Just who the fuck chose it? It was… weird as hell. It was giving him chills from how weird it was. Like, he couldn't even move. What the hell?

It's not like it reminds him of that night. It's not like he's a pussy, either. Could he sue someone for making a movie so shittily?

On top of that, she's here. Sitting next to him. Well, on the floor. Under a blanket. With that fucking nerd.

She's clearly in pain, but since their class was a black hole, he's sure she got sucked into yet another lame ass "Movie Night." They act like they're going to church or some shit. A church for annoying assholes.

An ugly scream rips from the speakers. His whole entire body involuntary tenses as he watches the bitch on the screen get slammed into concrete. From the corner of his eye, he sees her flinch. And her hand gripping his wrist.

He sneers.

He doesn't know what to name the feeling that overcomes him, but it was enough to break him out of this prison and stand. He brushes his foot against her lower back as he does, and hopes she's smart enough to get it.

"Gotta piss," he grumbles.

"Yeah, yeah," Kirishima says, totally eating the shit on the screen up.

He rolls his eyes and starts walking. Slower than usual. So that maybe a certain someone could take the hint and get their ass up.

But so what if she doesn't? Not his problem. He actually does need to piss. It's not like he was making an excuse to get out of this horrid, lame-ass get-together, or whatever the fuck it is, so he could talk to her after not talking to her for, like, a week or something, because he wants to talk to her. No, not at all.

"I'll be right back," he hears faintly.

Bakugo smirks.

He heads down the hallway, knowing now that she was following behind him.

Except she walks right past him.

Is she fuckin' with him?

He'd be madder if the view wasn't so nice, though.

What the fuck?

He growls, shaking the thought from his head. Her? Hell fuckin' no.

He follows her into the kitchen, out of sight from everyone else. They were alone now. For the first time in — what was it? A week.

She's rummaging through the cupboards, who knows what the fuck she's trying to find, but he doesn't want to play whatever game she's getting at.

Just as he opens his mouth to speak, she turns to face him and jumps.

Guess she didn't take the hint after all.

"Bakugo!"

She lays her hand on her bad side, sucking in air through her teeth. Honestly, he didn't mean to scare her. He thought she wasn't dumb.

"Ah, it hurts," she whimpers, leaning her arm on the counter and hunching over.

"Don't bend over like that. It'll make it worse," he says, automatically stepping towards her. With a firm grip on both her shoulders, he lifts her gently until she's standing straight again.

What was he doing?

… Why?

She stares at him, dumbfounded. She must he thinking the same fuckin' thing. He's careful not to betray his surprise, though, and shoves his hands into the pockets of his pajama pants.

"Fuck you looking at me like that for?"

"You, you… nevermind," she sighs, tugging on her hair.

"You're in pain."

She nods her head and bites her lip. He can't look away.

"Yeah. I was fine before, but then something happened and I hurt myself and then I was fine but then I hurt myself again…" she says, voice gradually lowering to a whisper. "I don't want them to hear," she adds, as if he didn't know this already.

"They're too stupid to notice."

"And you're not?"

"I'm the only one in this class who fucking knows."

"That's because I told you. Would you have noticed if I didn't?"

He hates that he thinks about it for a second.

"Of course I would. Who the fuck do you think I am?"

"The boy who drops a bomb on me and then doesn't speak to me at all for 5 days."

Huh. He thought it was a week.

"Fuck am I supposed to say?"

"A hi would be nice! Even a nod of acknowledgement. Heck, even one of your caveman grunts!"

"Caveman grunts?!"

"Yes!"

"I don't owe you shit. I don't owe any of you jackshit."

"But would it kill you to be a little… civil? You kinda just… told me something very scary and then acted like nothing ever happened," she says, tapping her fingertips together again. So annoying. "Something very… serious for the both of us. We can't just leave it at that." Her voice breaks, and she grips the counter. Closes her eyes.

When she opens them again, they're glassy. "I really don't like that movie."

He smirks. "Worst movie I've seen in my fuckin' life."

Uraraka smiles back, but it's pained. There are tears in the corners of her eyes. It makes his stomach turn.

Again. Not again.

"I tried to get out of it before it started, 'cause I needed to take my pain killers. But they just pulled me into it."

"Figures. They're fuckin' annoying."

So is this just a… casual conversation now?

"I need to get them. But I might take awhile. And I don't want anybody getting suspicious… so can you, like, cover for me? Somehow?"

"Why don't I just get them for you," he deadpans.

Wow. He really just offered to do that, huh?

And she looks just as surprised.

"Are you sure? I mean, I —"

"Where are your fuckin' pills?"

"In my room, in my bathroom, behind the mirror… they're the only bottle of pills in there."

"Glad to hear." She rolls her eyes.

"Thank you Bakugo. It… means a lot."

Now he rolls his eyes.

"Whatever." He turns his back to her, halfway out the kitchen already. "Anything to get out of watching that shitty ass movie."

Again with the strangeness.

He seemed to be… expecting her. So that little touch on her back… that was on purpose, wasn't it?

No wonder why he looked at her like she was dumb. But it's not like she's in the greatest headspace at the moment! The pain returned when she had flinched at a rather graphic and familiar scene in the movie. Honestly, who picked it? Was it some cruel joke on her?

And she still does not know what was up with Kaminari's comment! Why did tonight have to be so stressful?! Even Deku wasn't enough to keep the pain at bay. God.

And now Bakugo… he was… being nice to her? In his own strange way, of course. He'd never really touched her before, at least outside of training. It was… nice of him. And now he's being even nicer by getting her pain killers for her.

How very… what else can she say? Nice.

Uraraka tries to occupy herself by looking through the cupboards for any snacks. She doesn't really have an appetite, but she noticed that the snacks on the common room table were practically gone, and she figures it would decrease suspicion if she got some more for everybody.

When she spots a pack of cookies, she very carefully stretches to grab it. It is very much in her reach, short as she is, but any sudden movement was enough to irritate her ribs.

And just as she touches it —

"You alright, Uraraka?"

"Ah!" she shrieks. With the way she turns, her back hits the edge of the counter and the pain ignites yet again.

Could she please get a break?

Ochako can't help but yelp. She swallows it quickly, but he definitely heard it.

"Are you okay?" Deku strides to her, laying a gentle hand on her arm.

"I'm okay, just… sore," she says, forcing herself to straighten out.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you! I really didn't!" he says with those puppy eyes of his.

"It's okay. Consider it payback for me hitting you in the face with a mug." She forces a chuckle, ignoring the sting that runs through her side.

He squeezes her arm. "No, this is different. You actually looked… scared during that movie, Uraraka. Like you…"

"... Like I what?" she says softly. Almost afraid of the answer.

"Like you… I don't know."

Felt it before?

"I scare easy," she lies.

"You've been gone for a little while, that's why I came to check on you…" he admits, growing red and running his hand through his hair.

"I was just looking for snacks for everybody!" she says, stifling a grimace from the sheer volume of her voice. It hurt even if she talked a bit too cheery!

"I'll help you." He smiles, and it makes her heart ache.

"You don't need to, Deku, it's okay," she says softly.

"No, I want to."

Then his strong hand is on her waist and he pulls her close to him.

"Relax, nerd, I ain't a fuckin' ghost."

He doesn't like the way he's got his hand on her.

He's got that dumbass "intimidating" look on his face, as if that worked on anybody before. It takes him a little too long to let her go.

He doesn't like how he doesn't like it.

Bakugo checks her — he grabbed her on her left side. Thankfully.

Thankfully? He's thinking of all sorts of weird shit tonight.

He doesn't stop himself from looking down at her legs, too. Pink shorts and knee high socks. It wasn't bad to look at.

Weird shit.

"Get a room."

"W-wha-what? It's not like th-that!"

"Then don't grab her like you want to."

They're both the color of blood. He just couldn't deny himself the sick pleasure, could he? Maybe it'd stop that tugging in his chest.

"I wasn't! Uraraka, you know I wouldn't do anything like that to you, right?!" he spits in one breath, somehow getting even redder.

"Yeah, I know, I'm just —"

"Just what? Thinking about it?"

"Noooo!" Uraraka covers her face with her hands.

He stalks over to them and stands in between, back facing her. "What about you, Deku?" he smirks, tucking his hands in his pockets.

"W-why are you saying these things, Kacchan? It's inappropriate!"

"Hmm," he pretends to ponder, and hides the bottle in his hand. "You think you're too good to get a bit frisky, Deku?" He slips his hand out of his pocket and bends it behind his back, searching for her hoodie.

He doesn't know how the nerd's head hasn't combusted yet.

Bakugo finds the opening and slips the bottle in. "Just buyin' time," he says with a smirk before sauntering off.

Fuck it. He's going to bed.

He doesn't come back for the rest of the movie, and she can't tell if she's grateful or not.

Bakugo caught her so off guard, and then he was back to being a jerk again. Maybe it was just his way of covering up to give her her pills, but he really couldn't think of anything else?! Besides that, it also seemed like he was… bothered by what he saw when he walked back in the kitchen.

Strange, strange, strange, strange.

Ochako can't shake this strange feeling off.

She snuck a pill when Deku wasn't looking. She's got about half an hour, give or take, before she gets really drowsy.

She's too preoccupied to be scared anymore.

Deku doesn't share the blanket with her for the rest of the movie, and she doesn't question it. God, did he really have to say those things?

When the movie ends, she says her good nights to everyone, who stayed in the common area talking away. Lord knows she's ready to sleep all her troubles away. They were off tomorrow, too.

Well, today, since it just hit midnight. And the pill was ready to hit, as well. She feels the sweet feeling of nothing coursing through her, and she has to fight her eyes from closing.

She almost falls asleep in the elevator, anyway.

And when she reaches her door, it's a lot softer than it should be. It's still hard, but also, like, soft.

(She loves modern medicine.)

Uraraka opens her eyelids slowly to see a skull. On someone's chest.

Oh.

"Oh," she drawls, "you're not my door."

"Yeah. This is mine."

"You think just 'cause I let you into my room that this is your door?"

"You're on the boys' side of the dorm. This is my room."

She looks up into his eyes, and they're a lot softer than usual.

"Oh."

She lays her head on his chest and doesn't do much else.

"Annoying," he grumbles, and that's the last thing she hears before she drifts off.