Katsuki Bakugou
Guilt gouged through Bakugou's chest as Todoroki expelled a long, shaky breath after sitting up. He rolled his lower lip between his teeth and mentally steeled himself for his next course of action. Although he abhorred the notion that he'd conjured up his plan at all, he swallowed down his discomfiture and embraced Todoroki.
I fucking hate myself for doing this, Bakugou scolded himself while his digits delicately ran across the scars and scabs lining Todoroki's back. It hurts me to be feeling the physical scars of the pain he's endured. Just the sensation beneath my fingertips… It's like feeling a memory of his pain. I hate it. But… He could feel Todoroki quivering in his arms. I don't know how the fuck it's possible to get so attached to someone in a matter of days. He makes me want to take care of him since he treats himself like shit. It feels like it's my responsibility to help him since I know some of his secrets. But it ain't a burden like I thought I'd think of it.
"You don't…need to be this kind," Todoroki finally uttered in a fragile voice that drifted just below a whisper. "Why are you always thinking about me? I just…make things more difficult for you. All I've done is burden you with extra tasks that you likely feel obligated to do because I was foolish enough to… Now I've just wasted your time. Please let me go." He shifted in Bakugou's arms, but Bakugou held his embrace fast. "Stop… Bakugou… You're wasting your kindness. Let go. Please let go. I…" He held his tongue and released a sigh instead.
"Finish what you were saying," Bakugou growled innocuously with an undertone of solace strung around his words. "Whatever you have to say still matters to me. But you haven't wasted my time. It's my choice to be with you, dumbass." His heart throbbed, melting into a syrupy stream before lunging at his chest and melting back down.
Todoroki allowed some of his weight to falter into Bakugou's effervescent hold. "I'm sorry…" His voice was like silky velvet before he cleared his throat. "I'm fine now, th—"
"Liar." Bakugou's unvarnished remark was like a bonfire being silently ignited into a fulminating spectacle of flame. "You're just saying what I want to hear. I'm not letting you go until you tell me the truth. Hell, you know I'd never deign to do this shit, but the more you resist, the nicer I'm gonna be to you." He offered Todoroki a rapturous smirk.
I know you don't wanna talk about personal stuff, but I need to get a better grasp at what's going on, Bakugou thought to himself as he began to cautiously massage around Todoroki's neck. Pains me to know that this kindness is torture to you. I know you hate it. How can something loved by all be the thing that kills him like this? Dammit. I really want him to see a therapist or something, but I want him to be the one to recognize that he needs to change.
"You said you don't care about what I do to you, yeah?" inquired the ash-blonde whose heart was beginning to sear his skin with each heartbeat.
Todoroki nodded.
What the hell is this feeling? I feel all hot. I'm hyper-focused on him. Heart's going crazy. It's a pleasant feeling, but somehow, it almost aggravates me that it's pleasant. I wanna do this. Fuck his opinion on my feelings and their implications. He needs to know there's someone that'll care about him, regardless of what he does or how he feels. Let me help you, Todoroki, because, clearly, you're not going to ask for help, and I can't stand knowing that my rival is doing all this to himself.
"Then…you don't care if I do this, do you?" He lifted his head from Todoroki's shoulder and gently cupped Todoroki's cheek with his hand.
Unadulterated stupefaction deprived Todoroki of any words as his pupils shriveled up. It was as though he was staring into an abyss of fire as his torpefied gaze flickered only by the motions of his eyelids.
Won't deny that he's got nice lips, Bakugou thought while gradually bringing his lips towards Todoroki's. He's just attractive. That's all. I might be gay, but this asshole ain't my type. He felt like a wave of scalding water was crashing over his forehead once his lips were mere centimeters away from Todoroki's lips. Shit, it's gonna happen? What kinda kiss is this shi—
Precipitously, Todoroki reeled back and jerked his head to the side. "I'm sorry," he murmured with a thick film of despondence mantling his words. "I… I just… Whether it's friendship or a relationship, I don't want either. I'm not worth your time. I don't deserve friendship from someone like you, and I'd turn a relationship into twisted love. Just like the love you've been giving me, I'd twist it into something awful." A sheepish chuckle leaked from his lips as he smiled nonchalantly. "But I guess that's just life for me." He shrugged as though he'd simply reset his feelings. "Anyway, I have a question for you: why are you trying to break someone that finally reached the end of what seemed like an interminable tunnel of agony?"
