A/N: This is a side story for My Mind. It takes place the night before Mari has to take her big test and she has an anxiety attack. This fic; as well as the majority of the stories in the Bound 2 Be series are based on Yuzuya's FABULOUS ASMR videos. So credit to him! Highly recommend you check them out.
Mari sat on her bed; legs pulled up to her chin. Tears fell from her eyes; she wiped them away. She could feel the anxiety attack coming on; most likely spurred by the impending test tomorrow.
"What if I don't pass? What if all that studying with Kiri and Bakugo doesn't help?" Her breathing started to get more erratic.
"Hey! You in there?"
Mari's head shot up. That was Bakugo's voice. She had hoped she had slipped away from the common room unseen. Guess not…
There was a knock. "I know you're in there; I saw you go upstairs. Don't make me blast your door down, idiot."
Mari pulled herself to her feet. She knew she probably looked like a mess in her PJ bottoms and the baggy sweatshirt she was wearing. She opened the door.
Bakugo paused when he saw her. "You okay? You look awful."
Mari plastered a smile on her face; hoping it was believable. "Yeah, I'm good. It was just a little loud down there." It was partly true; everyone had been talking animatedly about how they were going to celebrate after she passed. It had all been too much and she had felt overwhelmed; so she retreated to her room.
"Don't lie to me; Short Stack. You've been crying, your eyes are all red."
She realized there was no lying to Bakugo. He could read her like a book. "You're right. I have been. I'm just so nervous about the test." She could feel the panic starting to well up again.
Bakugo's eyes softened slightly; a look that very few outside of Kiri and herself got to see. "You're having an anxiety attack. Let's go sit down."
He slowly led her over to her bed and sat down. Then he pulled her into the space between his legs and wrapped his arms around her; tightly.
"Lay your head back and close your eyes. Just listen to my heart. It's all going to be fine; we've been studying like crazy."
Mari lifted her head and stared at him. "But what if it's not enough? You and Kirishima helped me so much these past few months, and I just don't want it to be a waste of your time." Her breath started coming out in little hiccups.
"None of that. You've got this in the bag; now put your head back and copy my breathing."
Mari closed her eyes and listened to him inhale.
"That's good. In."
Four seconds…
"Good. And out. I'm going to rub your shoulders; you're very tense."
Mari could feel his large; calloused hands on her shoulders, pinpointing every tense spot.
"Keep breathing." Mari inhaled. "You don't have to be anxious; you're going to nail that test tomorrow."
She exhaled. Even if the circumstances weren't ideal, she loved these little moments. This was a side of Bakugo that he didn't share with others, outside of her and Kiri. No one would ever believe that Katsuki Bakugo, Mr. Explosion God himself could be this gentle and caring, let alone calm. This was the side of him she wished he shared more often; the one that made her feel safe.
Mari sighed, feeling the anxiety seep from her body. "Thanks Bakugo. I feel so much better." She yawned. "I should probably sleep."
He untangled himself from behind her. "You don't have to thank me; idiot. I've been helping Shitty Hair with the same thing for ages."
Mari chewed her lip. She and Kiri had already talked about their struggles with anxiety before. They became accountability buddies and they would text each other to help the other calm down, or if they were both in the dorms, they'd make their way to the other's room and help them to deescalate the voices in their head.
"I figured. Honestly I thought it would be him that followed me; he's good like that." She stretched; popping the last muscles in her neck.
Bakugo turned to leave. "You should sleep. Tomorrow's a big day."
Mari chewed her lip again. "Um… Would it be too much trouble for you to stay with me? Just until I fall asleep?"
Bakugo turned back to her; a faint blush on his cheeks. It wasn't uncommon for the Bakusquad to fall asleep in one big dog-pile. Mari lost count of the times she had woken up drooling into Kiri or Mina's shoulders.
"Fine. Scoot over."
Bakugo made his way back to the bed, and sat next to her; his hands running through her hair soothingly.
Mari hummed happily; then wrapped her arms around him.
"Hey! What're you doing? Let go."
She slowly moved her hands away. "Sorry; guess I was just being cuddly. Kiri and I usually do that when we help each other with this stuff; so I guess I was just acting on instinct."
He huffed. "Didn't say I didn't like it. But I get to be the big spoon." He laid down beside Mari, wrapping his arms around her.
She could feel herself drifting off; but before she did she turned to look at him. "Seriously, thanks again."
He gave her a little squeeze. "I already said you don't have to mention it. It's okay to not be okay sometimes. Just know that there are people who want to help; to catch you when you need it."
Mari closed her eyes; feeling herself drift off.
The last thing she heard before going to sleep was Bakugo's voice telling her "As long as I'm here; nothing will happen to you. I promise to keep you safe and catch you whenever you fall."
When Mari woke the next morning; her room was empty. She hadn't heard Bakugo slip out during the night, but she knew he would.
She sat up and stretched. She looked down at her phone; checking the time and noticed a text message from Bakugo. The time stamp was just after midnight.
Blasty: "You are safe. You are secure. You are loved."
Mari smiled a little. I am safe. I am secure. I am loved."
With those affirmations in mind; she got up to greet the day and to ace her test.
A/N: I wrote this while I myself was having an anxiety attack. The mantra Bakugo texts Mari at the end is actually the one my husband uses with me when I start to spiral. Anyway; hope you enjoyed it and I'll see you in the next one.
