I'm honestly so happy that you guys are liking it so far. I really appreciate all the follows and favorites, because this story really does mean a lot to me. I know this is a bit late, but a lot has ben going on with school lately (they just are trying to make me murder someone before I graduate), but I found some free time and managed to edit this chapter for you guys. I've practically listened to the entirety of Harry Style's album Fine Line trying to get this out to you (I recommend listening to To Be So Lonely whenever you read this by the way. That was my song of chose writing 80% of this fanfic.).
Again, there is a disclaimer for this story. There is a bit of gore in this chapter, and there is strong language (would this be an bnha fanfic if Bakugou didn't curse up a storm?). For those of you who haven't turned away yet; enjoy.
Bakugou was tasked with finding drinks in the school with Aoi, Tsubasa, Hitomi, and three other students he didn't know the name of. Midoriya stayed in the gym with the bitten officer. He remembered the look on her face when they had left as if something bad was about to happen. He turned away before he could let his curiosity get the best of him.
In all honesty, Bakugou didn't even want to leave the gym. The idea of leaving Midoriya with a bitten officer, another injured officer, and an incompetent teacher made him sick to his stomach. He only agreed because he knew that drinks were essential and that without the fountains in the hallways working there was practically no way of getting water.
He also just didn't like anyone he was with. The only person he could tolerate was Tsubasa, and that was because he practically did anything Bakugou told him to. The others were just extras who ran their mouth more than helping out. The only person who had done anything remotely helpful was Midoriya, and she for some reason was targeted by all of them as useless.
Well, he knew why they were targeting her as useless.
He shook his head. Now wasn't the time to think about it. They had to somehow find a way to get the drink out of the vending machine.
"There might be a key in the front office," the mousy head girl –what was her name? Hitomi– said. The others groaned in agreement and began to head to the front office.
"Hey Katsuki-Kun, what's with all the blood on you?" Aoi, the girl he dubbed carrot head, asked. He gave her the stank eye. She was a pain in his ass. She had always been so clingy in the past, always around him somehow despite him telling her off. She also tended to judge Midoriya, which he felt she was in no position to do because Midoriya was better than her both inside and out (not that he'd ever admitted that out loud).
"None of your fucking business."
"You never said what happened down there," Tsubasa noted. Bakugou raised his hand in the air like he was gonna hit him, cursing under his breath. Why now of all times would he decide to side with Carrot Head?
"Stop asking stupid questions, dumbass. You know what happened down there," he snarled out. He hated how the others weren't brave enough to ask further like the topic was a forbidden subject to talk about. They wouldn't make it long if that was how they kept things up.
"The front office is just that way," one of the other guys, Bakugou didn't know the name of, said. The others nodded silently and crossed the hallway. In the distance, he could hear the sound of the infected banging on the glass. He knew the others could hear it, but they ignored it.
Sooner or later they won't be able to ignore it.
Midoriya wrapped a bandage around the bitten man's arm. He looked pale, staring emotionlessly outside. She looked away, feeling as if she was taking up too much space near him. The bite was concerning. She didn't know what it could do, but it made his temperature rise exponentially within a few minutes, so she assumed nothing good could be happening.
"How do you feel?" she asked softly. The man coughed into his hand, grunting an apology as he laid down on the cot provided for him. Ms. Imada took the first aid kit and put it in the corner with all their other supplies. She seemed nervous herself, biting her nails and flickering a look at Midoriya and the bitten man every once in a while.
"You've already come down with a fever," Midoriya noted. "How long does it take?"
"What?"
"To turn," she clarified. "How long does it take to become one of them?" The officer stared at her for a long time in shock. From the opposite side of the room, Midoriya could see Ms. Imada looked shocked, and the officer's comrade. "You said it was a virus, it has to be contracted somehow."
"It's like rabies," the officer said slowly. "Transmitted like it too. It brings the dead back to life as flesh-hungry monsters." She shook her head. Something wasn't right, Nakura wasn't bitten. There were tons of bite marks on the gym teacher, but Nakura was bite-free.
"How else can you get it?" she asked. "If it could only be spread by a bite it wouldn't have spread this quickly. How else is it transmitted?" The officer seemed at a loss at words.
She wasn't dumb. She noticed things. As she was wrapping up the officer's wounds she thought back to the thing she saw walking on the train tracks from Hiso. The city had shut down, but it seemed that one of those monsters managed to get out before that happened. Midoriya was scared out of her mind when she realized that if she had stayed any longer she would probably be dead.
"Let's not talk about that now," Ms. Imada said. "The other's should be here soon with some drinks. Let's all just cool down and relax."
Midoriya didn't really like her.
The others came back soon enough with drinks in hand. Midoriya hadn't imagined they'd practically bring back the whole vending machine. They had a lot of soda and some water on hand, adding them to the supplies at the front.
She went to the back of the gym as the others conversed. She was thinking about how quick Bakugou had acted when Nakura attacked him. Her intention wasn't to give the flashlight to him, it wasn't even for the officer to throw the flashlight at him. In fact, she wanted the officer to shoot Nakura for them, but that obviously didn't happen. Still, Bakugou thought quickly, defended himself, and didn't look like he regretted it in the end either. Or maybe he did and he just wasn't showing it. Either way, it made her worry. She didn't want to have to kill those things. What if they were still people, the consciousness trapped within the back of their minds as they watched their own bodies betray them as they ate another human being. It made her shudder.
A jacket fell around her shoulders. She looked up. Jade eyes met ruby.
"Here," he said, handing her a pile of clothes. She unfolded. It was their winter gym uniform. A white sweatshirt with blue sweats that would definitely keep her warm, and it looked like it was her size too.
"T-Thanks, Kacchan…" her eyes landed on his bloodied hands. It was crusted by then, red slowly turning to brown. "You could wash your hands. We have a bottle of water to spare." He looked down at his hands, seeming to just process how bloody they were.
"You know I had to do it, right?" he asked her. He looked defenseless, and she knew he wasn't really thinking at that moment or he wouldn't let himself look so vulnerable. She reached for his hand, pulling him towards the supply table and taking a bottle of water off the table.
"I know," she said. "You had to." She led him to the gym door, cracking it open so the water would drip outside. They didn't say anything as she cleaned his hands, and she ignored the way the others looked at them. They hadn't been this comfortable around each other since there were at least seven, and Midoriya really missed it. She missed when he would be more open towards her and would almost act like a friend. She bathed in it while it lasted, sooner or later things would go back to normal and he wouldn't be able to stand her.
Just when she finished wiping his hand off there was a grunt from the bitten officer. Hitomi's friend took a noticeably big step away from the officer. Midoriya sighed out, he looked even worse than before. She'd never seen such a fast-acting virus before. In science class, they said it took anywhere between twenty-four hours and a week before symptoms of a virus appeared, but this virus seemed to be instantaneous.
"He's turning into one of those things isn't he?" Bakugou asked. Midoriya nodded her head, looking away from the man.
"What do we do when he dies?" she asked. "We can't just bash his head in, in front of everyone else."
"We won't have to," he said. "I think his colleague is gonna do it for us, save us the trauma. I don't want to do that shit again."
"What do we do for now then?" she asked him. He shrugged his shoulders. There wasn't much they could do but wait. She looked out just beyond the gate at the infected and at the food truck. She wondered what was in there and if it was worth getting it. Help hadn't arrived yet and they'd run out of food soon if they weren't careful. They might have no choice but to go out there, to learn how to survive.
How big of a mess would that be?
Bakugou woke to the sound of shuffling. He opened his eyes, half expecting it to be Midoriya, but was surprised to see her looking just as confused as in the cot next to his. They both looked over her shoulder, watching quietly as the adult conversed with one another. Ms. Imada was pacing back and forth, and the officer who wasn't bitten had his gun drawn. Bakugou sat up, looking over at the bitten officer.
He was twitching.
His eyes met Ms. Imada, and she looked back at the officer. They whispered back and forth before he finally grunted and took his friend outside. Bakugou watched as the bitten man was dragged by his shoulders, his face tilted towards the ground. He managed to get one good look at his face and it made him nauseous. Blood trailed down his chin and onto the floor, creating a thin line as he was moved.
"What are they- AHH!" Midoriya covered her ears as a muted gunshot rang through the gym. The others were awake now, confused and scared as they looked around. Midoriya was shaking, looking at the gym door where Bakugou assumed the officer was killed. From her perspective, she could see everything.
"Deku," he whispered out. She didn't hear him as she continued to stare outside. Without much of a second thought, Bakugou got out of his cot and laid in hers. There was just enough space for the two of them, so he forced her to lay down so she'd stop looking at the dead man outside. Her head lay in his chest, and she silently started to cry. He tried to comfort her, but he had forgotten how long they had been distanced. He stroked her hair, slow and steady, and ignored the way the others looked at them. He didn't really care at that moment, because he and Midoriya had seen things neither of them had yet. They hadn't damn near met death or had to take one of those things out. All they had done was complain and sit around and do nothing while he and Midoriya suffered, so until they got off their asses and did something useful instead of watching him and Midoriya like they were a freak show, he couldn't care less about what they thought of him.
A quiet grumble echoed through the gym. Midoriya rubbed her stomach. She was so hungry. It'd been three days since they had run out of food, four since the officer was killed, and six days since the dead started to rise. They remained hauled up in the gym, waiting for anything on the radio, but the static was constant and the radio's battery was about to run out.
She lifted her head, surveying the gym. Everyone looked miserable. Ms. Imada and the officer were slouched in the corner, looking outside at the infected that passed behind the gate. Tsubasa and some other teenage boy Midoriya didn't know the names of sat in the corner of the gym where theoretically the heater would run, but there had been no power for the last four days, so there was no heat in the school. The girls laid in their cots. They looked like they were sleeping but they were probably staring at the ceiling or floor in boredom. Bakugou sat next to her, his head resting against the wall with his eyes closed. She heard his stomach grumble too, and heard him groan in displeasure before he opened his eyes.
"I can't fucking do this," he grumbled, coming to his feet. "I need food."
"There's nothing left," she reminded him. "We need to wait for help." He growled, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he walked towards the gym doors.
"Help isn't coming," he stated, pointing outside. "Our best bet is going to that food truck and getting whatever hasn't spoiled in there." Midoriya stood and walked up to him, looking at the food truck, then the infected around it. It was too dangerous.
"We won't make it back," she said. "We can look around the school one more time, see if we missed anything." She could feel him glaring at her without needing to look. It wasn't like she didn't want to go out to that food truck, it was just that they couldn't. Half of the people in the gym have never properly faced an infected person, even she hadn't struck one down yet. She wasn't sure if she could.
"We can't just sit here like fucking ducks, Deku," he said. He looked at the others. "You all have to be hungry?"
"It's suicide," Aoi said. "We go out there, we die."
"If we stay here we starve," Hitomi's friend said. "I say we go." The others look unsettled.
"Let's not have this discussion," Ms. Imada said. "Let's just wait." Midoriya looked at the distress on each student's face. Sooner or later, they would go out to that food truck.
"We could," The officer said. "The back of the school isn't like the front. There's infected, but we can take them out easily with my gun." Midoriya wasn't sure if that was smart. When they had shot down all those people before locking them in the school there was no infected, but the next morning the infected pounded at the door as if Midoriya and the others were breakfast. They seemed to be attracted to noise. They need something quieter. The thought of Bakugou killing Nakura crossed her mind...
"How about the softball bats?" Midoriya asked. "Aoi-san, you're on the team right?"
"Mmm," Aoi said, looking off-put that she was using her first name. Midoriya pointed to the school shed.
"You know where the keys are then?" Midoriya asked her. Aoi nodded her head again, rising to her feet. She scowled at Midoriya.
"I'll show you where the keys are, but I'm not going out there and getting myself killed," she stated. Midoriya nodded, looking over at Bakugou. He was looking outside at first, but then he met her gaze. Silent determination was buried within those ruby eyes, and she couldn't help but feel motivated herself.
"Tsubasa, go with Aoi to get the softballs. Bakugo, Midoriya, come with me to clear the way. The rest of you will be quick on your feet to get that food ASAP!" the officer said. Everyone nodded their heads.
Tsubasa left with Aoi and quiet mummers rang throughout the gym. Midoriya squatted next to Bakugou, her eyes landing on the dead officer just inches from the gym doors. Unconsciously, she gripped her gym sweats before Bakugou said something.
"The officer shot him in the head," he explained. "He did the same with the gym teacher, and I bashed Nakura's head in." Midoriya could hear the disdain at his actions in his undertone.
"The guy that attacked you in front of the school was shot in the head too," she said. "Do you think that's how we kill them?"
"Nothing else works," he said, Midoriya glanced at the officer again, thinking about his words. Nothing else seemed to work. All the infected in front of the school were still kicking despite being shot many times.
Bakugou pinched her arms. She hissed, rubbing the sore spot with a pout on her face.
"Oi, shitty Deku, stop looking at the cop," he grumbled. Just then Tsubasa and Aoi walked through the doors with softball bats and gear. Bakugou started to walk over to them, completely forgetting about Midoriya. She tried not to feel hurt. That was probably the longest he'd ever talked to her without displaying any anger. She'd cherish that moment dearly.
"There's enough for all of us," Tsubasa stated. He looked green, his eyes wandering outside. "Are you sure this is a smart idea Bakugo? I mean those things are no joke if we're still locked up in here."
"You're hungry right?" Bakugou asked him. Tsubasa nodded his head. "Then go out there and get the food, dumbass. If we stay in here we'll starve." He grabbed one of the bats and made his way to the gymnasium doors, determination shining in his eyes. She felt a swell of confidence and didn't hesitate to grab a bat.
"Watch yourself," Aoi said. It sounded more like a threat than concern. Midoriya tried to grab the bat again, but Aoi seemed set on making her struggle. "You're getting along quite well with Katsuki-Kun. Once this plan fails and none of us have food in us, he'll be quick to drop you like nothing ever happened between you two." She let go of the bat, letting it fall to the ground in a loud crash. Midoriya looked at Tsubasa, who had a glare set in her direction, and Hitomi and her friend, who seemed to be trying to act like they weren't a part of it. She felt singled out again like she was a burden.
"Deku," Bakugou yelled from across the room. "Stop dropping shit and get your ass over here. There's an opening." She picked up the bat, avoiding everyone's eyes as she made her way to Bakugou. She looked outside, noticing the thinning of the infected around the food truck.
"Who's all going out," the officer said, appearing behind the two to look at the situation. Midoriya slowly raised her hand, her head fixed on the ground. She felt Bakugou's eyes on her, but she couldn't bring herself to meet them. "Six of us is just enough to get there and back without much of a struggle. We'll go in groups of two. Bakugou and I will go in the front and clear the way for the rest of you. The girls will go in the center and get as much food as they can, and the rest of you boys will protect them from any infected we didn't manage to take out."
"You mean attack them?" one of the boys, Midoriya thought his name was Ryu, asked.
"Attack them," the officer clarified. "Swing as hard as you can and aim for the head. That's the only way to take them down." Midoriya, being reminded of the horrors inside, unintentionally let her shoulders slump. She heard a grunt from Bakugou.
"Let's just get on with it, I'm starving," he said. He opened the door, barely giving anyone time to prepare. Midoriya held the handle of the bat tighter, bringing it to rest on her shoulder. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she was sure she was shaking like crazy, but she knew there was no way she'd be backing down. They had to get food if they wanted to survive, and survival had no time for cowards.
She wasn't a coward.
