Hello there! Another start of the month, so another update! It's a teeny bit shorter this month, but I wasn't happy with the fnal section I had in place so I'd rather wait and get that right. Heads up though! I am going to be on holiday for most of this month, so I'm not sure how much writing/editing time I'm going to have. SO, the next upload of this fic might be the second week of December rather than the first. OR I'll do a mini update or something, with more information at the time. But yeah, just a heads up, next upload is a bit up in the air as I dunno how much time i'll have or want to have for writing during my trip! Cheers!

TOUYA (Previously DABI) POV

"Make it jump." Touya demanded again, standing over the console, staring at the strange readings and buttons. None of it made sense. He had no idea how most of it worked. All he did know was that all his plans for Alex were on the verge of falling apart. That couldn't happen. Not after everything they had been through. Everything he had done.

They had lost control of Alex. Either due to a malfunction, or she had somehow broken free during the bridge mission. Regardless, she was with the Heroes again, beyond his reach. He warned his fellow Villains. He told them not to trust the hold put in place by that Melody bitch and the Vision idiot. It wouldn't last forever. Something would break through. And of course it had. On that damned bridge, as soon as she was presented with her 'father' in Eraserhead, the flood waters broke through. She couldn't hurt him. Not him. Anyone but him.

The support gear's maker sighed, looking back over their hunched shoulders to Touya with that petulant impatience that made him want to burn their rat-like face off. "Jump?"

"Timeskip." Touya growled, nodding to the readings. "It'll throw her back off balance, it might give us an opening for when we find her."

"Or it'll completely scramble her brain. This whole set up is meant to be small nudges. Your comrades did the set up by latching onto her mind, her memories, her emotions. She's been fuelling a lot of the visions herself, that's why it's had such a strong hold on her. It's her own imagination, fears, wants, worries, all that. Any questions she's ever had, any worries or fears, insecurities and hopes, that's been feeding into this vision world of hers. We go shoving things too hard and it'll go one of two ways."

Touya gritted his teeth. "Such as?"

"One, her mind twigs that it's being manipulated. Defence mechanisms go up, and in a mind like hers, we get booted out. She wakes up and we likely never get another chance to play puppet. Do you want that? She'll be fully aware of what we did, of what you did, Touya."

"The other option?"

They sighed. "Her mind just gives up, scrambled egg time, bye bye."

"So she'd die."

"No, worse than that, she'd be a husk, trapped in a soup of her own nightmares." The support guy turned in his seat. "I don't really give a crap, I don't know her any better than a hole in the wall. But are you really willing to risk that? Or rather, do you have the authority to risk that with this subject?"

Touya gripped their collar and held them up, feet dangling. "I'm freeing her. Shigaraki doesn't give a shit, as long as she's out of the way, or serving our purpose. As long as she's not an active problem, he doesn't care. The Endurance shit was a bust, try as they might, with all their shitty needles and endless experiments, it didn't work. Her quirk remained just that, hers. So yes, I have authority. I am the only authority when it comes to Alex's situation."

They were trembling. "A-All right. So… So knowing everything I just said, you still want to do the timeskip?"

"Yes. Disorientate her. Once we can get to her again, I can explain everything, let her know why it had to be done. Why I had to save her. All this, these games and shit, it will free her."

"Sure." They squeaked before being dumped back into their seat. Their shaking hands hovered over the console. "It'll be the last thing I can send before the connection fully fades. So how long a skip?"

"A year, I dunno. Something that will really make all the shit she's been imagining really sink in and stick. Then once she wakes up, she'll just be relieved to be back in reality."

"Maybe…" The support guy huffed before beginning the code.

Touya started at the readings and gripped the back of the chair. "You mentioned our control is less now? Something about them fucking with the chips or something."

"Yeah. We only have trace influence at this point, so this could be one of the last commands we send."

Touya nodded and spoke directly into their shivering ear. "Then also add in some extra details if you can. I want her shaken so that we can help her rebuild later… Got it?"

"Y-Yes, sir."

"Good… This is good."

ALEX POV

Ow. My head.

The nightmares were definitely getting worse. Drowning seemed to be a major theme at the moment, though I couldn't fathom why. I'd never been afraid of water. Yet over and over that bitter water rushed into my mouth, flooded my lungs. I kept sinking. Falling. Impacting water, then submerging beneath. And shouting. It was all around, all the time. Someone saved me, sometimes. Other times it was like I was being dragged further down. I'd see them, my friends – Tsu would reach for me, rescue me, my dependable friend and ally. And Sho. That hurt the worst. I'd see him running towards me, yelling my name, begging me to wake up. But it was all lies. All dreams. All nonsense.

And Dad. I kept seeing him in my grasp, like that vision from so long ago. A possible future. I kept seeing it behind my eyelids. His panicked face, the pain of my quirk gripping his body, bones giving way and his limp body hitting the road. But then I'd swerve to another image, more water, more shouting. It's madness. But I'm struggling to think back to a time when I wasn't dreaming about this. It's like I'd been thrown into a brand new headspace overnight, but I can't pinpoint which night.

The whole concept of time has gone wonky.

Seems like it's been so long since I saw Sho, since he tried to kill me with the ice flow. Was it months? Or weeks? My head continued to fizz and my ears filled with ringing every time I tried to pinpoint it.

So instead, I just focused on the here and now, as best I can.

Just work, train, focus, learn, get better. Dad was here, he was fine. Bakugo was here, he was fine. Mina, Ura, Tsu, Deku, our whole class. We're here. We're still moving forward.

Already it was the start of a new school year.

Shit, it really had been a long time.

I finalised the tour for the newcomers and waved them off to their own dorms. Their teacher would be there soon enough, they would get them settled into their actual rooms and routine. I had no need to linger. No need to babysit. I shrugged on my jacket and headed along the path towards my own dorm; the chill in the air getting worse with the breeze. I hugged myself tighter.

I checked my phone. Damn it. We really were heading to a year since Sho disappeared with Dabi. Since Sho tried to kill me. Since that night there had been total silence. Nothing on the news, no word, nothing.

How had it been that long?

The ringing started in my ears again and I slowed my pace, waiting for the nausea to subside.

It was as if there was something in my body that didn't want to remember specifics.

We still searched. Still patrolled. But still no sign. Eventually I should stop looking, but I didn't know how to do that. Was Sho dead? Lost? Still being tormented by the League? I stopped walking. Staggered would be more accurate. Nausea peaked. My hands shook, my heart tried to crawl out my throat and my eyes stung. Any second now the air would thin. Shit. I couldn't go inside like that. I was meant to be doing better, being recovered, being 'okay' again.

I headed off the path and sat by the river. My breathing was thin for a few minutes, but the cold air and quiet helped settle my mind. Water lapped at the bank and the reeds rustled in the breeze. Why did my mind fear the water so much? It was peaceful. I hugged my knees to my chest and bit my lip. When would it stop hurting? Would it ever? I'd gotten better at hiding it at least. Well, as far as I knew. Unless it's just that everyone else has gotten better at pretending I had.

"Hey dumbass, don't sit so close to the… Oh… Thought you were a newbie." Bakugo slowed his jog, pausing beside me to lean on his knees for a second. "Finished being a tour guide?"

"Yeah, I see you're doing well to improve your attitude around the new students." I leaned back on my elbows and he nodded, glancing to the first year building. I looked back along the path, the outside lights catching on the damp grass. "Feels like a lifetime ago, right?"

"Reckoned you'd get nostalgic. Was gonna come by your room later, guess this'll do."

"Grass is wet, don't worry yourself." I looked back to the water and smirked as I got a light kick to my shoulder. As usual, he saw right through my shit. As he sat beside me. I leaned against him. He was warm. "How's the training going?"

"Fine. Stamina's come a long way this summer. You?"

"Lifting trucks like they're paperweights." I chuckled as he nudged me, waggling his brows. I rolled my eyes. "Go ahead, you can gloat."

"I fuckin' told you you'd get there. What did you say? Not in a million years? Not ever gonna happen? You're an idiot Bakguo, fuck off Bakugo. Stop blowin' smoke up my ass, Bakugo." He paused and nudged me again, glaring. "Stop pitying me, Bakugo. Wasn't that what you said?"

I blushed. "I had my reasons."

"Dumbass reasons, sure." He scoffed, lying back on the grass. There was a gentle quiet between us for a while before he drew a long breath and broke it. "Feeling human again yet?"

"Huh?"

"You always said it was gonna take a long time for you to feel human again."

Oh. He was talking about my reaction to losing Sho. Right.

He sighed. "I'm doin' my best to be patient, but… well we're heading towards two years Alex."

Two. Shit had it been two?

The ringing got louder and my body went cold for a moment. Numb.

What the hell was going on with me?

He frowned up at me when I peered over my shoulder. But it isn't anger in his face, it's concern. He repeated. "You feeling human again, yet?"

"A… A bit more." I looked away, not sure what he wanted from me. Ever since we had lost Sho, Bakugo had lingered close. Not creepily, but he was the first one I'd see if I was struggling to keep going, or if I'd pushed too hard in training. Like as soon as I thought of him, of needing his help, he appeared. The idiot probably felt responsible or something. No doubt I was just guilting him in some way. "You don't need to worry about me, Bakugo."

"I don't need to do shit. I just do."

"Why?" I laughed, hanging my head. "You've got better things to be thinking about."

"Don't tell me what I should or shouldn't be thinkin' about, dammit. You ask me how I'm doing enough."

"You train too hard."

"Heh, tell that to your stained training shirts."

"Nosebleeds stain worse than sweat." I scoffed, but then he tugged me down to lie next to him. The wet grass tickled the back of my neck. I didn't fight him. "All right, sorry. Double standard."

"Too fuckin' right." He clenched his jaw. "I'm asking because I want to know, Alex. And it's not pity."

"I'm getting there. It's… It's all I can say, Bakugo. Why?"

"Still not wanting to call me by my given name, huh?"

I shrunk away from him, but he held tight.

He sighed. "Using someone's name doesn't curse them, Alex. You're being a mor–"

The echoes of Sho's anger at my nickname for him ran along my spine, the seething anger. It was still the name I used in my head, I couldn't help myself. Like it kept the Sho I had known alive or something. It was selfish. Utterly. But I couldn't deny it either. And it was his name, his given name, our name, and… And he hated it. All that it represented. And once that sunk in, I started thinking about the others I had used the name of, and how they had been hurt or even killed. It wasn't exactly hard to feel cursed after all that.

I sat up and his barking ceased. "I don't wanna lose anyone else."

He sat up and slung an arm round my shoulder, pulling into a hug like always. I clung to his shirt and was glad of the warmth as the breeze picked up again. It didn't hurt that his sweat essentially smelled like caramel thanks to his quirk.

"I ain't going anywhere."

His hand moved against my hair and his chin rested on my head. I nodded but didn't trust myself to speak, words weren't necessary between us anymore. A quiet sat between us. A pleasant one. Even so, I could practically hear the cogs in his brain churning.

I nuzzled his shoulder. "You gonna spit it out?"

"I kinda need you to promise me something first."

"Okay…" I tried to sit back, to see his expression, but he held me close.

"Promise to trust that I'm not forcing you into shit, okay? I'm just… I'm sick of worrying about not saying anything."

I had no clue what he was talking about.

He tugged on my hair lightly. "Promise me, Alex."

"I trust you. Promise. Now spit out, I'm real confused here."

"Course you are, dumbass. You've got no idea…" He sighed and his lips lingered against my hair. I wish he'd realise what that did to me, and how confusing it was. "I like you, Alex. I like you a lot, like… Probably too much."

I jolted. "Oh…"

Confusing butterflies fluttered through me. He felt… the same?

Bakugo was still holding me, but I could easily break away if I wanted. But I didn't know what I wanted. Or what I was meant to want. We'd been close for a long time, we spent most days together and I was obviously attracted to him. So why did I hesitate? I didn't even need to ask. Mismatched eyes flashed in my mind, white and red hair. My heart ached.

Bakugo took a deep breath. "I just had to say it. If you want me to leave you alone or anything like that then just say… But fuck it, I'm not sorry I said it."

"Me neither." I sniffed and he grew still as I leaned back, tears in my eyes despite the small smile. "I'm glad you told me."

"Yeah?"

He looked so uncertain, so lost. So un-Bakugo. But it was true, I was glad he had told me, because it made me feel that bit less shit about feeling so strongly for him. Like him doing it back made it less bad. But did it? Sho was still out there. I think. As far as we knew. Could I let him go? Sure… We had our promise, but he wasn't dead. Or… O-Or was that the truth I had to come to terms with? He tried to kill me. He hated me with such ferocity that night on patrol. Perhaps the Sho I had known was dead. Or was that me trying to justify? Damn it. I'm so confused.

"I-I…"

Did I dare say it back?

My heart hammered and my breathing quickened. I knew there was no pressure from Bakugo to return the sentiment. It wasn't why he said it. But it felt like I should. Like maybe it would be a step towards some real healing, some real progress.

I licked my lips. "I… I like you too Bakugo. I just… We've never found out what actually happened to Sho. I… I don't know if I can do that to you."

He nodded and took one of my hands in his, tracing some pattern I didn't recognise.

He smiled softly, looking more like a smirk on him. "The concern's appreciated, but… You're still being a dumbass."

I laughed with him, wiping my eyes with my sleeve.

He paused his tracing and slowly raised my hand to his lips. "He told you to be happy, and for two years you've wallowed."

I nearly tugged my hand back.

He held tighter. "You know it's true Alex, and I know you both promised to try and move on when or if you lost each other. I'm sorry it's harsh. But it's come to this. Me trying to wake you the fuck up." He kissed the back of my hand, subduing my want to punch him. He was just trying to help. He already said he didn't intend to force things onto me. But still, the ache in my heart persisted.

"We made a promise for if we died…" I sniffed. "I can't know that he has–"

"You seriously think he would want you to be punishing yourself for two years?" Bakugo glared. "Because that's what you're doing, right? You still blame yourself. You don't say it, you likely won't admit it, but you fucking do."

I tugged my hand free and got up, making for the dorms. "I'm not gonna apologise for my guilt, I can't help it."

"Like fuck you can't." He charged after me, but I kept going.

He was right. I hated when he was right. Worst still when he knew it.

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me back. "I ain't forcing you to like me back but I'm fucking done letting you sink further. I thought you were getting better, turns out you're just getting better at lying."

"I'm not sinking!" I wriggled but his grip was like a vice, I wasn't going anywhere.

"Fine, wrong god damn word, but you're sure as shit not getting better. Stop!" He yelled, wrapping me in his arms and stopping my flailing.

I kept trying to run away, but then I felt how badly he was shaking. I faltered. Bakugo was trembling, shaking his head against my shoulder, breathing uneven. I could barely believe he'd have gotten himself into this kind of state over me.

He muttered. "You really have no idea."

I gritted my teeth. "You keep saying that, what the hell does it mean?"

"You blaming yourself, punishing yourself… It hurts to see, to sit back and fucking watch." His voice cracked and cold trickled down my spine. "Not just me. Your Dad, fuckin' Deku, even Pink Cheeks. We hate it. And you can't see it. You think you're hiding the over training, the shitty eating habits, the fact you're unable to sleep. We see it all, you moron!"

I didn't think he'd held me that tightly since he kept me back from getting killed that day. The day we really lost Sho, when I watched him sink into the floor with a knife through his chest. The day I could have easily thrown my life away when it was already clearly too late to save him. Maybe that was what this was? A turning point. I needed to change, to accept what had happened. I wasn't just hurting myself. I was hurting my family. Shit. How selfish could I be? Endlessly, apparently.

I leaned into Bakugo's hold and he sniffed, breathing easier when I turned and kissed his head. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise." He half laughed, half sobbed. "I don't want a shitty apology, I want my friend back."

"Right, actions speak louder than words." I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and hugged as tight as I could. "Consider me told, Katsuki."

He jolted and laughed, resting against my shoulder till we're leaning against the dorm's wall. He was so heavy.

He let go, holding himself up against the wall, hands planted either side of my head. His eyes shone with tears, but burned with that typical determination. "Say it again?"

I wiped a tear off his nose. "Katsuki."

He grinned. "Fuck… That sounds great."

"Yeah… It does."

SHO POV

Having Alex back in our care was a big win; frustrating due to the fact she was still trapped in her own mind. But at least they weren't hurting her body anymore. She was healing. We were getting the proper nutrients into her and properly tending her wounds. She would be okay. She had to be okay.

But we also still had work to do.

With her back in our care, I was able to focus on other things again at last. My head wasn't so full of paranoid noise. Sure, she wasn't 'saved', but I had a couple of answers. And beyond anything else, Alex would want me to keep fighting. It wasn't the exact wording of our promise, but the sentiment was there. Keep going. Keep fighting. Keep being a Hero. So I did, I agreed to help with patrols again as the madness of the outside world continued to rage. Breakouts, villains everywhere, society hanging by a thread. But still, we fought.

And so we had risks of our own.

More often than not I was sent out on a team with Bakugo. We worked well together, so I figured it was mainly down to that, but I also had the sneaking suspicion Mr Aizawa and Bakugo were keeping tabs on me. I couldn't blame them. Looking after myself had taken a serious backseat during all this. But I was doing better. I was training, eating, sleeping. Functioning. It might not be 'living' per-say, but one step at a time.

The main problem being that the field meant a whole new set of uncertainties. And potential losses.

Bakugo took the hit.

We were chasing a villain from a crime scene, rounding back towards the other pros when suddenly the villain stopped and their quirk flared. Bakugo stepped into the path, taking the quirk and falling to the side to allow me to take the capturing shot. I was furious with him, but nothing to do now but finish the mission. The villain was encased in ice. Back up swarmed in. They contained him and cleaned up the rest of the mess while I caught my breath and went to Bakugo's side. He was so still. But he was awake.

He breathed hard, clasping at his chest. "Shit…"

I put my hand on his shoulder, there were no obvious wounds. "We'll find out what the quirk is soon, don't worry we–"

"I fuckin' know." He groaned, sitting up and shuddering. "Just felt fuckin' weird."

He refused to elaborate beyond 'weird', even when we were in the ambulance, even when I'd sat outside the medical room for a couple of hours. Weird. Not painful, not draining. Weird.

His stubbornness was going to drive me mad.

Alex would have kicked him.

But we returned to the dorms, with him being under strict instruction to take the next day off, waiting for the quirk to properly manifest.

It started with a gentle cough every now and then as he made his coffee in the morning. He brushed it off as some kind of allergy, but I stayed nearby. No way he was enduring this alone. Especially considering he took the hit for me. I'd already scolded him for that though, and he had promptly refused it. But then the tickle in his throat got worse. Regular and harsher. His breathing became wheezy. I told him to go wait in his room so I could get someone to fetch Recovery Girl, and by the time I returned to his room Bakguo sounded like he was choking. There was barely enough time between coughing fits to breathe.

He was on the floor of his bathroom, braced on his hands and knees. The toilet had just flushed. Had he been sick? What the hell was this quirk even doing to him?

I went to his side. "Bakugo, what's happening? C'mon we need details to–"

"Just fuckin' go…" He gasped, shuddering and spluttering some more. "Leave."

"No." I steadied him, feeling the feverish nature of his skin through his hoodie as he wavered. "Let me help."

"S'not…" Cough. Wheeze. Hack. Choke. "It'll pass."

"Sure, so it doesn't need to be with you being alone."

I wasn't about to lose someone else.

As selfish as it was, I couldn't deny that burned in my chest as I helped him prop himself up by the toilet, his lurching movements weren't getting him far at all. A few moments later he heaved into the bowl, and flushed quickly. As if he was trying to hide his vomit. Foolish. He had always been that bit too proud, but the strength behind it was something I'd always admired. That need to be the best in order to be able to save people. It was maddening, but it did at least come from a good place. Alex had always seen something good in Bakugo, it took me longer to see it, but gradually I had. The three of us had really grown up together a lot that first year. We still could, and still would of course. But especially these past few months with him, I'd found myself more and more drawn to that determination in his eyes. He was unbeatable, in terms of never not getting back up. I needed that. I craved it in many ways, whatever that meant.

He heaved again and slipped to the side, missing the handle. I went to do it for him, seeing no shame in him needing help. And then I saw that it wasn't vomit. It was flowers.

I blinked.

Flowers?

"Bakugo, has it been these flowers the entire time?"

"Y-Yeah." He gasped, head against the tiles, face pale. "Fuckin' w-weird right?"

"We'll have to tell Recovery girl all this, might be vital to figuring out the quirk."

I took note that the flowers were of two colour variations. One set were black and white petalled, the other, white and red. They were quite beautiful, though that was hard to consider for long when taking into account the bloodied spittle.

He groaned. "This is bullshit."

I helped him sit up, and got him a glass of water. He watched me closely, like he expected me to disappear. But I wasn't going anywhere. Bakugo endured a lot alone; following Kamino he had been so self-sufficient I think most people forgot he even had trauma to process. But this was an active quirk. And he was in pain. As his friend I couldn't stand to see it, but I also couldn't consider abandoning him.

My fingers brushed his as I passed over the water. He flinched back and the glass slipped from his grip. I caught it, the water slopping onto the floor while he was thrown into a fresh fit of coughing. What the hell? Had physical contact caused that reaction? Or had it been a coincidence?

Tears prickled the corners of his eyes, his brow furrowed and teeth bared. "Get out."

"Bakugo wha–"

"Please." He begged, hugging the toilet, sobbing at the end.

I backed away.

It hurt to hear him in that much pain, as it would with any friend, but even more so to have it be because of my close proximity. Could he really not stand to be vulnerable in front of me? Was his pride still that easily bruised, even after all we had shared recently? His eyes stayed zoned on me, expression looking totally lost as I made my way to the door. He looked like he was going to say something else, but he bit it back and then began coughing again.

I made it to the door. "I'll just be out here, and I'll let Recovery Girl know what's happened. I…"

Words failed me. Had I been wrong to think of us as close friends? Perhaps. It could have simply been me mis-reading things. Perhaps he was only kind to me recently as a means of honouring Alex. It made sense. Their bond was stronger, right? Yeah. That might just be it. I'd read too much into things, I was nothing more than a duty to him. Friendship was too strong a word, clearly.

I opened the door. "Sorry, I thought I could help."

He winced again and wheezed into a fresh bout of retching.

I closed the door and perched on his bed, clasping my hands with my elbows on my knees. Either I was incapable of helping, or he truly didn't want my help. At all. But why did that hurt so much? Why did my chest feel tight and my face flushed, like it had been slapped? My hands shook as I looked at them and every time he choked or hacked into more coughing, I thought I would lose my mind from the worry. At least it meant he was still breathing.

No doubt he wished I had taken the hit. That it was me curled around a toilet, puking my lungs up every few moments. I certainly wished it was me. Then he could have been saved being involved at all, simply leaving me to my own devices. Or only lingering enough to sate whatever duty he felt towards Alex's affection for me. Unlike myself, lingering like some unwanted puppy.

Alex would have laughed at me, wouldn't she? Read the room, Sho. I smirked and hung my head, maybe that would be her tact, or maybe she would be in there berating the patient for being such a brat. Or both. Likely both.

A knock sounded at the door. Recovery Girl.

I gave as much detail as possible, including the aversion to physical contact Bakugo seemed to be having. Then I helped her through to the bathroom where the patient was slumped by the wall, breathing hard. As I held the door open for her, Bakugo eyed me. Like he might lash out if I even stepped inside. I dipped my head and closed the door again, retaking my perch. Why? Why was I hanging around? Because I cared. Yeah. Regardless of him actually wanting me here, I wanted to know if he was okay. I guess we could cross the bridge of him hating my presence at a later date. When he could at least string a sentence together without choking.

Very quickly, Recovery Girl came back out and shut the bathroom door behind her.

She tutted. "Damn stubborn fool."

"Uh… Sorry, him or me?"

"Him, boy. Do you know what it is that the little idiot is suffering from in there?"

I shook my head.

She rolled her eyes. "Hanahaki disease. It'll pass in a few hours though it would pass a lot quicker if he was just honest with himself."

"I… I don't understand. What's Hanahaki–"

"Unrequited love, my dear. Seems our boy Bakugo is suffering from a couple of doses of it and it's rather inflamed the quirk he got struck by." She took a few notes, still shaking her head all the while. She was not impressed.

"A couple doses?" I blinked. Black and white flowers. Red and white.

"Indeed, seems he not only has unrequited feelings for one person, but two. Silly boy. He's never been good at expressing himself but goodness this takes it to a new level of stubborn."

Black and white flowers. That could be for Alex; her hair being black and white for so long. Was Bakugo still harbouring feelings for her after all this time? He had admitted to them after the Toga attack, but did he still feel that way? It was possible. And then perhaps he was denying it so adamantly because of me. I thought of the other flowers and sat straighter. One half red, the other white. Oh. Was I reading into things, or was that why my touch had–

"Considering how he reacted to a physical touch from you sonny, I might suggest you stay clear. Unless of course you have some confessing to do yourself?"

Confessing? Me?

My heart stuttered before speeding up, that strange warm feeling taking to my face again.

I pursed my lips. "I h-have a girlfriend."

"Mm. One who is locked away from you both for the time being, one with black and white hair I might add. One who clearly cares deeply for the both of you as well." She tapped her stick against the floor. "The heart is a complicated matter young man, but I do know one thing for certain…"

At this point any advice would be welcome, my mind was a mess. "Yes?"

"She wouldn't want either of you to suffer needlessly." And then she walked out, closing the door behind her.

I stared at the bathroom door.

Bakugo had feelings for me? Was that why he had demanded I leave, because it was aggravating the quirk? I guess that made sense. Because being near me was literally causing him pain. Could I do anything about that? Recovery Girl said confessing of my own. But did I feel that way for Bakugo? It was true it hurt to be cast aside by him, to be so wholly rejected. But was that just because I didn't want to lose anyone else? Was I that desperate? Or did this go deeper than that, and I hadn't even realised?

My head felt heavy in my hands. I closed my eyes and thought of him, out there on the field, in the normal everyday of the dorms. How do I feel about him? Sure, he was handsome. A lot of my classmates were in their own way. But sure, I could admit that Bakugo had a certain… Extra allure to him. Allure? He'd hit me so hard for using such a word. Alex would love it, snorting at my fancy vocabulary. Alex. What would she think of this?

She wouldn't want either of you to suffer needlessly.

Recovery Girl was right. The last thing Alex ever wanted was for people to suffer, but would that override the affront of me betraying her like that? I didn't even know if I could do it. I loved her. Love her. I swallowed hard and steadied myself, throat practically closing up at the fact I'd used past tense. She wasn't dead dammit. She would make it out. She had to. But then what? Bakugo would just live his life alone? Surely not.

I eyed the door.

Stubborn.

That was what he was, and I doubted his heart was any different.

More coughing sounded and a weary groan to follow the flush of the toilet. He didn't want to say it, he didn't want to admit it. But why? I recalled how adamant he was back then, when we had been recovering from Toga's attacks, when he had insisted he would never act on his feelings for Alex. That determination wasn't likely to have dimmed.

My legs shook under me, but I approached the door and laid my hand on the handle. It barely moved, but I still heard a sharp gasp from him on the other side.

"Don't." He pleaded hoarsely. "This ain't happening like this."

Like this.

I drew in a long breath and closed my eyes. If he had been thinking about it as much as I had, and that was likely an understatement – there was no telling how the quirk was affecting his mind and body – he would have come to the same questions. Same uncertainties. So he didn't want this subject approached until the air was clear. Until he wasn't a victim in the scenario. Were the roles reversed, I could fully appreciate feeling that way. Don't come in here and talk to me about the potential connection we share, at the risk of it simply being to ease my pain. Trust. It had to be based on trust, and right now he couldn't be sure I wasn't putting the Hero ahead of my own heart. Probably. Or that was me over-thinking everything again.

Either way, he didn't want me in that room.

I let go of the handle. "All right. But… But we need to talk, Bakugo."

"Yeah." He sighed. "Yeah I get that."

"Okay. I… I'll leave you alone. I'm…" I pursed my lips and swallowed hard. "I'm sorr–"

"Don't be." He coughed. "This shit ain't on you. We… Fuck, we can't choose this shit."

"Guess not. I'll come back in a few hours, okay? Then we'll talk?"

"Sure…"

I left the room and stood in the corridor, head pounding, heart thundering, mind swirling.

The hell was I meant to do?

Aaaand there we have it, things are rumbling along nicely eh? Hopefully see you as usual on the first week of December, but apologies in advance if that gets a little messed with by my travelling. Cya! Shoutouts below!

Harleyking31: Yeah the puppet bit wasn't something I wanted to have as a huge section, so it was brief! As for what kinda coma it is... I guess that'll be revealed as we go haha. Thanks for still reading and commenting!

Zikashigaku: Haha indeed, the bonding has begun! And now... Well... more than that potentially? Hehehe. I'm glad the emotions are striking well with you! It's always a worry of mine if the emotions translate or not. Yeah the end of this is a fun scene tbh, I wrote it first a very long time ago, one of the first things I knew I wanted to do in this fic actually! But yes, as you might expect, she gonna be a wee bitty pissed! Thanks for still hanging in there with me on this story and still commenting ^-^