Prologue

He wakes up to something warm and sticky pooling beneath his palms. Blood, he concludes. My blood. Groaning, he repositions himself and realizes he's sitting against a wall. His right side is splitting as if he's been gutted like a fish.

The room is pitch black and eerily quiet, almost peaceful. Almost pleasant. He's tempted to drift back into unconsciousness.

"Bakugou!"

He jolts at the sound of his name. He starts to push himself up and an unbearable pain shoots through his body. A guttural noise worms its way out of his throat.

"Don't." The voice is in front of him now. "Don't move."

"Stop...ordering me around."

A small flame appears and Todoroki's face comes into view. "Let me see."

"Back off." Bakugou pauses, slightly alarmed by how much weaker his voice sounded. He tries to recount the events that led to this moment. Why am I here? He scolds himself for not being able to answer. What happened?

"Hold still," Todoroki says firmly. "I'm going to cauterize the wound."

Before Bakugou can protest further, he gasps and lurches forward, and he's afraid he'll pass out again. The red-hot sensation and the stench of burning flesh on the side of his stomach are too much, and he can feel the bile threatening to escape his mouth. He shuts his eyes tightly, trying to remember again why he's here, a feeble distraction from the agonizing pain.

"It's done. We need to get you to a hospital."

"No," Bakugou breathes. "Kirishima."

It hits him all at once. This is a rescue mission. The chief of police buzzed him the moment the undercover job Kirishima was on became compromised. Given their relationship he thought they would stop him from leading the rescue. He was more than prepared to counter with a very loud and obnoxious rebuttal. But, they didn't argue.

"You should go," Deku said much to Bakugou's surprise. "You're the new No. 1 Hero."

"The agency thinks it'll be good exposure," the chief of police explained. "And earn some trust from the public. You, saving your partner."

"You all repulse me," Bakugou spatted.

"The No. 2 Hero should go with you," said the chief.

"NO." Bakugou glared at Deku. "I'll go on my own."

"Take me with you." Todoroki stepped forward. "Kirishima works for my agency. I'm responsible. And you'll need at least one more person. What if he's injured? You can't protect him and fight at the same time. Let me fight for you so you can save him."

And yet Todoroki is here saving his ass instead. Bakugou leans on the pro to get on his feet. He growls in frustration. His legs are unsteady and he knows this is going to be a problem.

"The villain escaped through the back," says Todoroki. "Hopefully, Deku apprehended her outside. I subdued the rest of her lackeys in here at least. We should be able to find Red Riot without any issues."

Bakugou's impatience starts to get the better of him. "So? Do you have a plan?"

"The most secure room is an office just down the hall. Riot planted a panic button there when he first infiltrated."

"You let him install something like that in the boss's quarters?!"

"It was a risk. He became her most trusted advisor. It was where he spent the most time and where he was most in danger." They walk into the hallway and the light practically blinds the explosive hero. He takes a moment for his eyes to adjust then uses Todoroki as a crutch as they head slowly toward the office.

"I'm thinking there's an escape route in there that might get us out of here quickly."

Bakugou huffs in response. The door seems to move farther and farther away the more steps they take. He shifts his weight and peels away from Todoroki's hold, finding a tiny bit of his strength returning. It will have to be enough. He saunters the rest of the way on his own.

"So, what's her quirk again?"

"We don't know." Todoroki ignores Bakugou's dirty look. "She hasn't revealed it."

"She hasn't used it once?"

Todoroki shakes his head. "I know. I'm worried."

The gap between them and the door closes. They both look at each other. Be prepared for anything, they agree silently.

The door swings open. It's quiet and larger than they expected. Bakugou scans the room: An empty seating area. A wide desk littered with paper. A couple of opened trunks, probably containing some contraband they'll need to confiscate. Someone sitting in the corner of a bloody wall. Unmoving.

No. "Kirish-"

"BAKUGOU." He's shoved across the room and he lands on his back in an attempt to avoid his injury. He begins to yell at Todoroki, but the other hero has disappeared behind a wall of ice blocking the door, nearly five inches thick. There is a succession of crashes on the other side. Bakugou expects a low-level villain must have shown up, but he'll have to leave it to Todoroki. He rolls over and starts to crawl toward the other side of the room, yelping at the throbbing twinge on his side. He ignores it, moving on his hands and knees across the floor.

Finally, finally, he reaches Kirishima. The former redhead had dyed his hair a mousy brown and shaved the sides. His head is drooping, his chin resting on his chest. He's still as stone. Bakugou brings himself to kneel. He raises his trembling hands to Kirishima's face.

"Eijiro." Bakugou lifts his head, waiting for movement, a breath, a pulse. "I would have jumped you if you came home with this shitty haircut. You handsome son of a bitch."

A short, frail laugh escapes Kirishima's lips. "After six months... that's what you say to me?"

Bakugou snickers. A wave of relief washes over him. "Dammit," Bakugou grumbles. His vision blurs, which can only mean there are tears in his eyes. "I'm gonna search for injuries." Very gingerly he runs his gloved hands along his boyfriend's body, scowling at the minor lacerations he finds on his arms and legs. "Why are you so bad at your job?"

"I've missed you, too." Kirishima attempts another laugh, but stops when Bakugou's fingers reach his back. He suddenly grabs the other's arm and offers Bakugou a somewhat unexpected smile. "I heard you made No. 1 Hero. I'm sorry I wasn't there to celebrate with you."

"Kirishima." Bakugou twists his arm and is seconds from telling him to let go when he's softened by the pleading look in his boyfriend's eyes.

"Katsuki, you...don't want to," his voice croaks. "Trust me. It's bad."

Bakugo's heart sinks. He breaks free from the grasp and is about to inspect his back when Kirishima leans forward and crashes their lips together. Bakugou almost buckles under the kiss. His partner's lips are soft and cool. He kisses back thinking it's been way too long since they've seen each other and he can't wait to get him back into their own bed. Maybe tonight. And he'll tell him no more undercover jobs. No more leaving his side.

Hungrily, he deepens the kiss causing Kirishima to whimper, and Bakugou seizes the opportunity to snake his hand around his boyfriend's back.

Bakugo sucks in a sharp breath, immediately pulling them apart. Carefully, he wraps his fingers around a smooth, wooden hilt. Terror rushes in and his sweat turns cold. Don't pull it out, don't pull it out, Bakugou orders himself.

"How long have you been hurt?" Bakugo demands.

Kirishima shakes his head over and over. "I couldn't activate my quirk in time. She's too fast."

"Hey -"

"It's too late." He continues to shake his head. Color drains from his face. "I messed up. It's too late."

"SHUT UP! It's NOT too late!" But, time is running out. Kirishima can't afford to expend any more energy and Bakugou is losing control as well. "Where's her escape route?"

Kirishima looks over Bakugou's shoulder. "There's a trap door underneath her desk."

Bakugou's mind races. It seems Kirishima can walk, maybe. It's a short distance to the trap door. He wonders if they need to pull the knife out. He will need to stop the bleeding. There's already so much blood. Todoroki can cauterize it, like he did with him. He needs to signal to him somehow. Then, they can make a break for it, the best they can. Kirishima just needs to survive long enough.

The sound of something shattering fills the room and the icy wall smashes into pieces. Todoroki glides to them on a sheet of ice. There's an ugly gash on his temple. "We need to go, NOW."

"Move the desk," Kirishima says. "There's a trap door leading outside."

"You couldn't take care of that shitty villain?!" Bakugou rises to his feet.

"It's her. I managed to freeze her arm against a wall, but I doubt it'll hold." Todoroki goes to push the desk aside, but Bakugou pulls him away, aims his blaster, and shoots.

Bakugou turns to Kirishima. "I'm going to pull you up."

"No, Bakugou. Don't be stupid, I'm dead weight."

"SHUT UP!"

"How bad?" Todoroki asks, kneeling beside him.

"Shoto, please," Kirishima begs. He grabs his hand and squeezes. "Please. Convince him."

"Icy Hot, lift -"

"DON'T MOVE ME!" Kirishima's bellows. Bakugou goes rigid. "You can't move me. It's dangerous. I won't make it far and I'll only slow you down."

"There you are, you piece of shit." At the door the villain stands with a sinister expression, breathing heavily from her one-on-one spar with Todoroki. She ties her long, white hair tightly atop her head, a string of blood dripping on the side of her neck. Her gray eyes dart to the Bakugou. "Oh, what's this? You brought a friend? And the No. 1 Hero, no less. Wait a minute." She glances at Kirishima. "You're still alive, Isami?"

Bakugou grins, mad with hatred. "Finally. I needed something to punch." Propelled by pure adrenaline, he sprints forward.

"Wait, Bakugou!" Todoroki is too late. The AP shot travels to its target with precision, but she dodges in the last second. Bakugou's eyes widen. She didn't dodge it. She controlled it. His reaction time is a hair too slow as his own blast circles back and comes directly for him. He manages to leap from the hit, but the explosion launches him against the wall with a resounding crack.

It takes him a few minutes to get his bearings. He can tell his wound has reopened. Todoroki is fighting now and, miraculously, Kirishima is on all fours besides the trap door. Bakugo scrambles to meet him.

"Eijiro!"

Kirisima looks up. "Todoroki barely had enough time to treat the wound so I'm still unstable." He looks back at the pair. "He's trying to lure her out of the room, but she's not falling for it."

Bakugou tears open the trap door. "Forget it, let's go!"

"Katsuki, no," Kirishima says defiantly. "It's a ten foot drop. I'm not going to make it."

"I'll carry you," Bakugou insists. He winces when Kirishima gently touches his side, which is starting to bleed again.

"Don't think I didn't notice." Kirishima flashes him one of his infamous smiles. "You're tougher than you look."

"Shut your face," mutters Bakugou. He furrows his brows. "Then, I'll stay with you."

Kirishima's smile vanishes. "No. Look, I'll hold her off long enough for you two to escape. Your projectiles are no good against her, and both you and Todoroki are too hurt to do any close combat. I'm not worth the risk."

Bakugou snatches Kirishima's collar and yanks him close. Hot tears pour down his face. "You are."

There's a sad glint in Kirishima's eyes before he whips his head toward the action and screams out Torodoki's name. The fire-and-ice hero swoops down on them. Kirishima's arms harden. "Shoto, I'm counting on you to keep your promise!" he says fervently.

"Leave it to me." Todoroki grabs a hold of Bakugou and drags him through the trapped door, leaving Kirishima to guard.

"NO, GET OFF!" Bakugo howls, but there's no point. He feels dizzy. Todoroki lets him go and seals off the doorway by propping up a gigantic pillar of ice. "What the FUCK, you bastard?! What is wrong with you?!"

He clutches his side, which feels like they're being ripped apart. He's seething with anger and when Todoroki tries to check his wound, he pushes him away. "Don't. This was a RESCUE mission. We totally FAILED at doing the one thing we were sent to do. We failed at saving Kirishima! Why would you leave him?!"

He's hysterical now. Todoroki doesn't reply, which annoys Bakugou. It's dark and he can barely make out the person standing in front of him. "SAY something, you Half-and-Half Bastard! Don't you get it? This was all for nothing!"

"No." Todoroki reveals a flashdrive. "It wasn't for nothing. He gave us another chance to make things right." He takes a deep breath then exhales. "This was never a rescue, Bakugou. It was a recon mission."

"What?" Bakugou's mouth hangs open. His body starts to shake; luckily, he finds a wall to lean on, his knees feeling weak.

Todoroki produces a tiny ball of light, mindful of the oxygen levels. He's expressionless, as usual, but his eyes are glazed with hurt. "Kirishima was instructed to only trip the panic button on two conditions: either if his identity was discovered or if he was in critical condition."

"She doesn't know he's Red Riot." Bakugou is dumbfounded. He keels over and Todoroki catches him, letting the hero bury his face in his shoulder. "He knew he wasn't going to make it," Bakugou whispers. "He planned this. You all planned this and didn't tell me."

"I told him it was a bad idea to take you," says Todoroki. "But, it was his dying wish."

\\\

Bakugou sits up, bathed in sweat. He disables his alarm clock and rubs his face. He hasn't had that nightmare in a while. He checks his phone for the time. It's early. He checks it again for the date.

Ah. That's why.