Lyrical

Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia.

Warnings: Blood, Violence, Injury, Death

Pairings: Midoriya x Bakugou

Plot: Bakugou breaks a promise.

Ch 09: listen before i go

You promise?

Bakugou kicked the door with all of his strength, the metal screaming as rusted hinges snapped free and sent it slamming against the side of the building, finally granting access to the empty rooftop. Bakugou lifted Midoriya higher against his chest, not sparing a glance back down the stairwell to check on the rest of their party. Nothing else mattered now, except making sure Midoriya was safe.

"Kaccha-" Midoriya hissed, tense and shivering in his arms, Bakugou murmuring soft reassurances as he stepped towards the edge of the building, looking down towards the parking lot far below and eyeing the gathering hoard.

"I've got you, okay? I've got you. We'll make it out of this-"

"Kaachan," Midoriya tried again, wriggling to get free, Bakugou carefully easing him down to sit against the rusted railing bordering the rooftop.

Bakugou frowned, his brow pinched with concern as he watched Midoriya's shaky movements, assessing the damage as tattered clothing was stripped away to reveal the bleeding wounds beneath. A shallow bite to his upper arm, another deeper bite along the outside of his forearm. If Midoriya had any chance of survival, that arm would definitely have to go.

Already Bakugou was shifting to draw his blade, the bloodied machete gleaming in the fading sunlight. Midoriya hissed again, meeting Bakugou's eyes and shaking his head, a cold sweat dampening his dirt-smudged brow.

"No, that's not-" He shivered and convulsed, pain wracking his pretty features, tears gathering in his eyes. "It won't fix it, Kaachan." He sighed shakily and dipped his head, allowing Bakugou to see the fresh bites along his neck and shoulder. One was deep enough to nearly cleave bone, hot blood pouring down the notches of Midoriya's spine and puddling beneath him.

Bakugou's grip on the machete tightened, swallowing thickly against the knot lodged in his throat. "Oh god…" Bakugou whispered, his chest clenching, twisting with the horrible realization of what that bite meant. "Deku…Izuku…"

"It's okay." Midoriya coughed wetly as he lifted his head, leaning back against the railing with a half-smile, carefully meeting Bakugou's eyes. "It's alright, Kaachan." He reached for Bakugou's hand, the one that wasn't clamped white-knuckled around a blade. "I'm here, aren't I? I'm here. There's still a little time left."

Bakugou set the blade aside, then reached up to cup Midoriya's cheek, Midoriya sighing and smiling with a soft chuckle as he nuzzled into Bakugou's hand, savoring his warmth. Bakugou's heart flip-flopped uneasily, and he shifted closer to sit beside Midoriya, who hummed appreciatively and rested his freckled cheek against Bakugou's shoulder, ignoring the way his body shuddered as the virus took hold.

"I didn't think it would end like this." Midoriya admitted softly, closing his eyes and lacing their fingers, rubbing his thumb back and forth against the thick leather of Bakugou's fingerless gloves, Bakugou squeezing his fingers tightly.

"Me neither." Bakugou whispered roughly, gravel in his tone, and something else Midoriya dimly recognized as longing.

"You're my best friend." Midoriya whispered, turning to hide his smile against Bakugou's shoulder, barely parting his eyes to stare off towards the sunset. "I'm so glad I met you, that our paths happened to cross that day."

"I was an absolute dickhead," Bakugou grumbled, keeping a tight hold on Midoriya's hand. "I'm always such an asshole-"

"Not today." Midoriya hummed sweetly, tracing his fingertips against Bakugou's. "Today you were a gallant prince carrying me to safety, climbing up all those stairs without one word of complaint." When Bakugou snorted softly, avoiding Midoriya's eyes, Midoriya lifted his head a bit more and reached out to cup Bakugou's jaw, his expression hazy and soft. "You've always been that to me, my hero."

Bakugou's face twisted and he turned to wrap his arms around Midoriya, careful of his wounds. "I should have reached you sooner, I could have, I could have-"

"You saved me from the horde." Midoriya murmured gently, hugging Bakugou while rubbing over his shoulder, offering what comfort he could. "You could have left me there, I wouldn't have blamed you-"

"Like hell I would leave you." Bakugou growled, gritting his teeth, pulling back to meet Midoriya's eyes. "Don't fucking say that-"

Midoriya arched his brow apologetically, laughing softly, and Bakugou stared down at him, marveling in horror at the electric yellow seeping into his evergreen irises, the prominent black veins forming at the corners of his lips and eyes, the cold, clammy pallor of his normally sunkissed skin. If he listened close enough, he could just make out Midoriya's breathing, the subtle wheezing that had just begun, rattling in his ribcage.

"Izuku…?"

Midoriya hummed and gently held Bakugou's face in his hands, searching his eyes. "I'm here, Kaachan." Midoriya whispered, shifting one of his hands to examine his own complexion, his eyes tracing over the black veins branching out from his wrist, darkening his palm and fingertips. "It doesn't…" He shook his head slowly, a soft, relieved little sound escaping him. "It looks scary, and it's cold, but it doesn't hurt."

Bakugou could feel his heartbeat more than hear it, a deafening war drum hammering in his skull. "It doesn't hurt?" Bakugou whispered in a hitch of breath, and Midoriya's expression was filled with fondness as he held Bakugou's eyes.

"Not anymore." He whispered, stroking his thumb along the high rise of Bakugou's cheek, gradually trailing down his jaw. "I never told you, have I? How pretty you are."

Bakugou scrunched up his face, his lips turned down into a frown, and Midoriya grinned and chuckled quietly.

"Handsome, then."

"You're the pretty one." Bakugou murmured, taking Midoriya's hand and pressing a kiss against his palm, trying not to think about the black veins throbbing beneath his clammy skin. "Always have been. Freckles like constellations, dark curls, emerald eyes…"

Midoriya blushed faintly, smiling up at Bakugou as he listened quietly, wheezing softly with each breath as he leaned closer into Bakugou's warmth.

"I wish we had more time." Midoriya whispered, and for the first time since he'd been bitten, tears gathered in his lashes and slowly began to fall. "I wish I could have learned more about you, become closer to you, unearthed all of your secrets." He tightened his hold, grasping a handful of Bakugou's shirt beneath his trembling hand. "I wanted to be with you, more than anything. For the rest of our lives."

"Me too." Bakugou whispered, tugging Midoriya closer, tightening his hold as he clamped his eyes shut and buried himself in those unruly curls. "I'm sorry I couldn't give you the lifetime you deserve. I'm so sorry…"

Footsteps on the stairs drew their attention, and Kirishima appeared with a bloodied steel baseball bat slung over his shoulder, panting hard as he shouted, "They're through the barricade, heading for us! We've gotta get off this rooftop, now!"

Dabi was right behind him, carrying several duffel bags stuffed to the brim with scavenged supplies, tossing them towards Kirishima's feet before disappearing into the stairwell again. Todoroki appeared a moment later, slipping past Kirishima to assess potential escape routes, clicking his tongue irritably as he looked to the closest building across from theirs, analyzing and calculating, formulating a plan.

Sero was limping as he and Kaminari stepped out onto the rooftop, Sero's arm braced across Kaminari's shoulders as they hobbled closer to Todoroki. Midoriya's eyes were on them, and Bakugou called out, "Denki, what's the damage?"

Kaminari sighed, straining for a moment as he helped Sero settle down against the rooftop for a brief respite. "Got pinned down on the lower levels, had to make a jump for the middle stairwell. He's got a busted ankle for sure, and maybe a few broken ribs, but he'll live." Kaminari grinned as Sero cursed under his breath, and he turned his eyes to Bakugou and Midoriya, asking worriedly, "What about you guys? Is Deku okay?"

Midoriya was quiet, resting against Bakugou and squeezing his hand, his eyes closed as he drew trembling breaths, his wheezing barely audible over the groans and heavy steps of the approaching horde.

"Guys, I mean it!" Kirishima instilled again, looking back into the unlit stairwell, his features strained. "We gotta move!"

Dabi appeared with several more bags in tow, adding them to the pile before meeting Kirishima's eyes with a little nod. They worked together to barricade the stairwell, slamming the rusted door shut and securing it as best they could. The old chains looped around the rusted handle would only hold for so long; they had minutes to make their escape, if that.

"Shouto?" Dabi asked as he crossed the roof to stand at his brother's side, narrowing his eyes at the broken ledge Todoroki pointed to.

"I can make it." Todoroki murmured, setting aside his bow and dropping his pack, Dabi already rifling through their supplies to retrieve a worn length of rope.

"You're sure?" Dabi asked, Todoroki still eyeing the ledge as Dabi secured a makeshift harness around his torso and waist.

"I'm sure we'll die if I don't."

Dabi stepped back with a sigh, giving Todoroki space, watching with an indiscernible expression as Todoroki stepped over the railing and readied himself to leap the distance between the rooftop and the broken ledge.

Kaminari watched with wide eyes, then turned his attention away from them and focused on Sero, who huffed and swatted him away with a pained frown, clutching his side. "I'm fine, Denki. Go check on 'Zuku."

Kaminari hovered for a moment longer before nodding, stepping past Kirishima and focusing on Bakugou and Midoriya, who were huddled together against the railing furthest away from them. He felt his heart sink as he drew closer, his eyes on the thick black veins twitching in Midoriya's arm, Bakugou's eyes flashing dangerously as his gaze snapped up to meet Kaminari's.

"Oh no…" Kaminari whispered, hesitantly kneeling down beside them, Midoriya's wheezing clearly audible now, a low growl rumbling in the back of his throat. "Is he…?"

"Not yet." Bakugou whispered fiercely, glancing down at the boy resting against him. "Not yet."

"Bakugou-"

With an angry snarl Bakugou picked up the blade he'd set aside before, lifting it defensively. "When it happens, I'll do it. I'll do it, you understand?"

Kaminari lifted his hands, ducking his head a bit, carefully searching Bakugou's eyes. "O-Okay, okay, I understand." His eyes drifted to the machete, then to Midoriya, his breath catching as he realized Midoriya's eyes were on him, electric yellow eating away the last remnants of vivid green. With a torn expression he offered his friend a sad little smile, his voice strained. "Hey, Deku. Hey, it's Denki…"

Midoriya shifted slightly, reaching out weakly, and Kaminari shifted forward to take his hand. His fingers were almost completely black, his skin cold, the rumble in the back of his throat growing to a full-fledged growl as he tried to speak, "Den…ki…"

"Yeah," Kaminari whispered, his words wobbly, hot tears quickly slipping down his flushed cheeks, "Hey, buddy. You doing okay? You in any pain?"

Midoriya tilted his head once, a subtle no, and Kaminari exhaled a little laugh, sniffing and nodding his head.

"That's good. That's good, 'Zuku…" He ducked his head, swiping his arm across his face, then he lifted his gaze to offer Midoriya a brighter smile. "Hey listen, we got those medical supplies we needed for camp! We're gonna make it back to everyone, we're gonna make sure of it! Okay?" He squeezed Midoriya's fingers tightly, leaning closer as he added, "You don't gotta worry about us! We're gonna make it," He met Bakugou's eyes, sharing in his pain. "Right, Bakugou? We're gonna make it."

"Didn't come all this way for nothin'." Bakugou replied gruffly, Midoriya's gaze shifting to meet Bakugou's. "We're gonna haul all that shit back to camp, we've got enough to last a long time. You did good, scouting this place. You did good, Izuku. We only made it this far thanks to you."

Midoriya's lips twitched up into a half-smile, and his throat made some strange crooning sound before his wheezing growls resumed again. Kaminari sniffed and let out a soft sob before squeezing Midoriya's hand one last time and letting go, stepping away to return to Sero's side. Bakugou watched him go for a quiet moment, then turned his eyes to Midoriya, watching as the last of the green in his irises was overtaken by eerie, inhuman yellow.

Midoriya's pupils dilated for a moment, then narrowed into pinpricks, his body convulsing as his face twisted, Bakugou lowering him down to lay against the rooftop, his head pillowed against Bakugou's lap.

"Easy," Bakugou whispered, keeping ahold of Midoriya's shoulder with one hand, the machete held aloft in the other, "Easy, Izuku. I've got you. You hear me? I'm right here, I've got you. I'm not leaving your side."

Midoriya's eyes rolled back in his head, and he choked and gasped for air, shivering uncontrollably as the black spiderwebs beneath his skin expanded all at once, blurring together to turn his skin a sickly, ashen grey. Bakugou watched in abject horror, his pulse quickening as his hold on Midoriya's shoulder tightened, his grip on the blade taut as he waited until the last moment to strike.

Midoriya opened his eyes slowly, his gaze drifting across the sunset, and slowly he tilted his head to the side to look up at Bakugou, and Bakugou swore there was recognition there. A flicker of the boy he knew, still human, still himself despite the drastic change in his appearance. The telltale signs that he'd succumbed to the virus, become one of the unliving horde.

Bakugou's resolve faltered for a moment, only a moment, his grip on Midoriya's shoulder weakening, the arm held aloft wavering as tears flooded his eyes.

"Izuku…?"

Midoriya stared at him, his breathing little more than a quiet rasp, and he reached up to cup Bakugou's elbow, grasping his arm with a subtle press of blunt nails.

I love you.

Bakugou clenched his teeth, his vision swimming with tears, overflowing and spilling down his cheeks.

I love you, Katsuki.

Bakugou steadied his hands, lifting the blade higher. He knew better than to hope, he knew better than to dream. He'd seen it before, how others would hesitate in those final moments, how they'd been bitten when they'd least expected it, heartbroken and drowning in the wake of sudden loss.

They'd witnessed it together once, years ago. Only a few months after they'd first met, when they'd been traveling with a larger party. A girl had been bitten by her boyfriend, too distraught to bring herself to do what needed to be done.

"I'll never let that happen to you." Bakugou had vowed through clenched teeth, holding tightly onto Midoriya's hand. "You wouldn't want that, for either of us. I swear if it comes down to it; if something happens, I won't hesitate."

Midoriya had looked up at him wide-eyed, his heart fluttering as he'd squeezed Bakugou's hand just as tight. "You promise?"

Bakugou wailed brokenly, ignoring the urgency in Kirishima's voice and Dabi's angry shouts, the sounds of the horde clawing at the rusted door strangely distant, his entire world muffled by all-encompassing, overwhelming grief.

"I can't! I can't-"

"Kat…su…ki…"

Bakugou gasped and choked on a sob, leaning closer to listen to Midoriya's soft wheezing, knowing he couldn't have truly heard his own name from those blackened lips. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry-"

Kirishima grabbed Bakugou's arm, hauling him to his feet, and Dabi took his place standing over Midoriya, looking down at him with pity. Bakugou fought against Kirishima's strong arms, struggling with all of his might to escape and return to Midoriya's side, his eyes wide as he watched Dabi draw a serrated blade, kneeling beside Midoriya to grant sweet release.

"Don't look." Kirishima turned Bakugou's face away, hugging him tightly before quickly threading a length of rope around Bakugou's waist. Todoroki, Sero, and Denki were already on the other side, calling out for them, urging them to safety. Bakugou couldn't wrap his mind around the reality of their current situation, his eyes flicking back towards Dabi, his brain tingly and numb. How could he do this? How could they expect him to just leave Midoriya behind?

Kirishima turned Bakugou to face the adjacent building, helping him over the railing before waving to the other half of their party, the rope growing taut as they began hoisting Bakugou across.

Bakugou couldn't breathe past the tightness in his chest, sobbing silently as he clung to the rope crossed over his chest and stared at the horizon. The sun was barely a sliver of gold against the distant sea, pinks and oranges blending together against the deep indigo of the coming night. Stars littered the darker patches of sky where clouds had yet to gather, hinting at a brewing storm. He could smell rain in the air, tilting his face up as tears dripped from his jaw and dappled his shirt.

Midoriya loved the rain.

Now he'd never feel the soft kiss of rainfall ever again.

The door to the rooftop burst open with a metallic snap as rusted hinges gave way to the horde, Kirishima cursing loudly as Dabi ran quickly to his side, both holding their weapons at the ready, the first pair of undead easily dispatched. Both Kirishima and Dabi boasted years of combat experience, enabling them to keep the first wave at bay long enough for Bakugou to reach the ledge, Denki and Sero freeing him quickly before sending the rope back across. Todoroki provided support from the ledge, firing arrows across the rooftop with honed precision, expertly avoiding the two humans amongst the swarm.

Bakugou watched with wide eyes as Kirishima and Dabi were gradually backed against the railing, the two shouting back and forth for a moment before Kirishima took the makeshift harness and secured it around himself, his eyes burning as he met Bakugou's eyes.

Bakugou grabbed the rope alongside his friends, and together they hauled Kirishima across the gap as quickly as they could, leaving Dabi alone on the rooftop to fend for himself. Todoroki was anxious, all of them could feel it, his hands trembling as he nocked another arrow and sent it flying, Dabi narrowly dodging at the last moment and taking down another corpse in the fray.

"Touya!" Todoroki shouted just as Kirishima's feet met the ledge, "Touya, cut the rope! We'll pull you up!"

Kirishima untied himself with Bakugou's help, throwing the harness back towards the rooftop, panting unevenly as he watched Dabi's movements with wide eyes. "C'mon, c'mon!"

"Touya!" Todoroki screamed, reaching for another arrow, gasping and turning in a half-circle when finding his quiver was empty, searching for something else he could use. "Damn it-"

Kaminari and Sero were busy fortifying the interior of the room, several growls echoing from beyond the closed door leading further into the building. "Uh, guys?" Kaminari called in a strained tone, "We've got company!"

Kirishima and Bakugou watched Dabi's failed attempts at reaching the rope strung between the ledge and the railing; several of the horde had crept up behind him and were slowly pushing him away from his only escape route, Todoroki's cries hinging on desperate as he took a step closer to the edge.

"I'm going back-"

"Like hell you are!" Kirishima grabbed Todoroki's waist and pulled him into the room, Todoroki flailing against his hold, Bakugou keeping close track of Dabi's movements as he gradually reached the edge of the rooftop facing the parking lot, parallel to where they'd left Midoriya behind.

Bakugou forced himself to look for that small body laying against the concrete, but to his surprise he only saw a puddle of bright crimson left behind, his stomach churning as his mind raced through several possibilities. He'd turned, so the horde wouldn't eat him. Had Dabi moved him? No, he couldn't have. There wasn't enough time-

Movement against the horde drew Bakugou's attention, a flash of blade cleaving into grey flesh, a splattering of black blood across the rooftop. A body fell, then another, then another. Something was cutting through the horde, though oddly enough it wasn't drawing any of the horde's attention. They seemed to completely disregard whatever was slicing through them as a threat, and it only took a few moments for Bakugou to piece together what was happening, laughter and disbelief welling up inside of him as he caught sight of those messy dark curls.

He knew it wasn't possible, knew it must be some freak miracle that Midoriya was still standing, but he couldn't be bothered to puzzle over such mysteries now. He turned his gaze to Dabi, cupping his hands around his mouth and shouting, "Now's your chance! Make a run for it!"

Dabi had noticed it too, the sudden path weaving through the horde, a spotlight in impenetrable darkness. He bolted for the rope, grabbed hold of it tightly and cut the length behind him, swinging towards the building as Bakugou braced himself and called for Kirishima, and together they began hauling Dabi up to the ledge.

Todoroki embraced him with a sob as Dabi stepped into the room, Kirishima quickly shifting their attention to the threat outside the door, and as the rest of the party dealt with the wandering undead littering the hallway Bakugou tried his hardest to catch sight of Midoriya again, his heart fluttering in his throat.

Just one more time, please? Just once more…

His breath hitched as he spotted Midoriya amongst the remaining horde, his yellow eyes unmistakably fixed on Bakugou, black blood dripping languidly from his ears and the corners of his mouth, his freckles barely visible against his ashen skin.

Bakugou didn't look away as Kirishima called for him, didn't move an inch even as his friend reached out for him and tugged his wrist, forcibly leading him away. He held onto Midoriya's gaze for as long as he could, swallowing thickly, guilt welling up in him, a deep chasm of despair and regret.

He couldn't ask Todoroki to strike Midoriya down now even if he wanted to, not without some sort of ammo, and the guns they'd scavenged were empty, not a spare bullet between them. He grit his teeth and turned towards Dabi, grabbing his shoulder and glaring up at him as he spat out, "Why didn't you end it? You just left him there to rot?!"

Dabi frowned down at him, Todoroki taking a protective step closer, Bakugou glaring at them both with a dangerous expression, Kirishima tugging Bakugou's arm gently.

"Not now. We need to get out of here."

"If we leave him there, I'll never forgive myself!" Bakugou snapped, his face twisting as he rounded on Kirishima, shoving his hands away. "I already broke our promise! I can't abandon him, not when he's like that!"

"Okay, okay…" Kirishima soothed gently, reaching out to rub Bakugou's arm, his eyes on Todoroki. "Do you think you can make the shot?"

"If we can find bolts or arrows." Todoroki shrugged with a nod, his brow pinching a bit. "I don't like the idea of leaving Deku there either. He was…" He looked to Bakugou, holding his crimson eyes, "He was a good friend, to all of us."

Dabi hadn't spoken a word since Bakugou's accusation, stepping back towards the ledge and searching the rooftop, his shoulders tensing as he spotted Midoriya amongst the horde. "It can't be…the blade went completely through." He pulled the knife from his side, examining the serrated edge, turning to face Bakugou. "I didn't leave him there. He shouldn't be moving." He shook his head slowly, glancing towards Midoriya again. "It doesn't make any sense."

"A variant?" Kirishima murmured, looking to Kaminari and then Sero, who nodded his head before shrugging lightly.

"It's possible." Sero pinched his brow, frowning. "We've all heard tales of undead with inexplicable capabilities, self-healing amongst them."

"Yeah, Yagi told us about this variant once," Kaminari whispered with wide eyes, looking between their friends, "It just wouldn't die, no matter how many times they killed it. It kept coming back again. It was smart too, not like the usual dumb ones. It followed them around for days."

"Do you think he'll follow us?" Bakugou asked, breathless with the possibility. "If we head back to camp?"

"We'll see." Kirishima frowned, patting Bakugou's shoulder gently. "C'mon, it's getting late. We need to get out of the city before dark."

They made their way to the ground level, dispatching whatever wandering corpses they came across, Bakugou keeping an eye out for Midoriya as they left the inner city and headed towards the outskirts. Here the undead were scattered apart and easily avoidable, and as darkness descended upon them they reached the edge of the city limits, and Dabi clicked his tongue against his teeth rhythmically, calling attention to the unlit streets directly behind them.

There, in the distance, a shadow was moving. Its movements were strange, almost thoughtful, as if executed with purpose, and Bakugou held his breath as he took a step closer, his eyes wide as he watched Midoriya's approach.

"Shouto." Dabi said softly, and Todoroki stepped past Bakugou and took aim with his bow, nocking a makeshift bolt he'd been sharpening as they ran.

"Wait!" Bakugou reached out quickly, meeting Todoroki's eyes. "Just…wait."

"Bakugou…" Dabi warned with a quiet sigh, "That corpse isn't-"

"Shut up." Bakugou growled, glaring up at Dabi with a snarl. "He saved your life back there on that rooftop. Don't pretend for a second he didn't! That means something!"

Kirishima was quiet, hugging Sero against his side, Kaminari stepping closer to look up at Bakugou with a concerned little frown. He reached out to touch his friend's hand, then asked gently, "What do you want to do?"

"I…" Bakugou shook his head slowly, watching as Midoriya stalked closer and closer still. "I don't know what I'm doing. I just…I have to try."

"Don't let him bite you." Dabi murmured, crossing his arms over his chest, and Bakugou tsk'd irritably before stepping away from the group and towards Midoriya, keeping his machete at the ready just in case.

He thought about what Sero and Kaminari had said, about Yagi's encounter with a variant. As far as he knew, given the limited information on variants passed between traveling parties, the only way to dispatch a variant was complete decapitation. He didn't know what he would do if it actually came down to that, the thought of inflicting such an injury on anyone, corpse or not, making his stomach churn.

He stopped in the middle of the street, Midoriya's eyes on him as he stumbled forward, Bakugou noticing for the first time the bites on his arm seemed to have healed. He wondered if the other wounds he had carried had miraculously healed as well, but from his current angle it was impossible to tell.

He took a breath and found his voice, calling out across the distance, "Izuku? Are you with me?"

Midoriya stopped in his tracks, wobbling a bit as he stared at Bakugou, then he started forward again, quicker than before, a snarl ripping from his throat as he opened his mouth and bared his teeth, black ooze pouring down his chin and throat.

"Katsu!" Kirishima called out in warning, taking a few steps closer, Todoroki nocking his bolt and keeping his eyes fixed on Midoriya.

Bakugou grabbed Midoriya's arms as soon as he was in range, twisting Midoriya to face away from him and pinning him in place, his arms locked behind his back as Bakugou spoke against his ear, "C'mon Deku, I know you're in there! You spoke to me, you saved Dabi!" Midoriya struggled and hissed, trying his best to twist around and sink his teeth into whatever he could grab onto, his nails scratching at Bakugou's worn gloves. "Izuku!"

Midoriya's movements gradually stilled, and he blinked slowly, looking up at Bakugou with pinprick pupils and chartreuse irises, glowing brightly in the dark. Bakugou tried again, softer this time, gentle as he squeezed Midoriya's wrists together.

"Izuku? Hey…I'm here. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

Midoriya's voice was raspy and broken, a growl rumbling beneath his words. "Y-You pr-promis-sed."

Bakugou felt those words cut through his heart like jagged glass, his eyes filling with tears. "I know that, I know. I'm sorry."

Midoriya snarled and snapped, twisting against Bakugou's hold, wheezing as he growled out, "Prom-mised-d!"

"Bakugou!"

He released Midoriya and swung around with a sharp yell, slicing through the grasping hand that reached for him, quickly assessing the situation as more undead appeared from the treeline. He glanced towards his party with clenched teeth, Dabi and Todoroki fending off the closer threats while Kirishima led Kaminari and Sero to relative safety further along the abandoned highway.

Kirishima's eyes were on him, and he called out with fire in his tone, "Move your ass, Bakugou Katsuki! Don't make me come get you!"

Bakugou slashed through another corpse, splattering cold, black blood across uneven asphalt, and he felt a familiar hand on his shoulder, lifting his blade defensively to fend Midoriya off.

Midoriya's eyes weren't on him, that viper gaze fixed on the approaching unliving reaching for Bakugou, an inhuman growl ripping from his throat as he lunged towards the shambling corpse. He sunk his teeth into the undead's throat, ripping through tendons and muscle alike, claiming several greedy mouthfuls before shoving the corpse backwards to crumple at his feet, chewing loudly as putrid black blood spilled down his heaving chest.

Bakugou marveled at Midoriya's turned back, watching his jaw flex as he chewed through and slurped down what he'd torn free before turning towards the next corpse, latching onto it and ripping into its throat as well, clinging to rotting shoulders and eating his fill before shoving the leftovers backwards, purposefully away from Bakugou.

Izuku…

Bakugou's breath hitched, and he swung his machete towards the next corpse, turning his back towards his most cherished friend, knowing now beyond any shadow of doubt Midoriya wasn't there to harm him. He was there to protect them, ensure they made it out of the city and back to camp safely. There was no other explanation for his behavior.

Bakugou had never heard of a corpse turning on fellow corpses, not in any of the stories passed down over the years since the virus first took hold, but if he knew anything he knew this - Midoriya Izuku was unlike anyone he'd ever met before, and some part of it made sense that he would be a brand new kind of variant, fighting against the virus even in death.

He broke through the remaining corpses blocking his path to reunite with his party, Dabi and Todoroki watching his back as they ran together down the highway, putting some distance between themselves and the wandering undead. When the sounds of shuffling feet and hissing groans faded into silence, gradually replaced with the soft twittering of night birds and the occasional hoot of an owl, they stopped running to catch their breaths, tossing duffels and packs down into a messy pile and collapsing in a half-circle against the surrounding gutted cars.

"We made it!" Kaminari gasped as he rested back on his palms, his entire frame trembling with adrenaline and fatigue. "I can't believe…we actually did it! We've been trying to scavenge that hospital for years!"

"We did." Kirishima chuckled, Sero grinning as he leaned back against the hood of a car, hissing as he favored his side, his injured ankle elevated off the ground slightly.

"Thanks guys, for not leaving me behind…"

"We would never!" Kaminari started, looking up at Sero with bright, wide eyes. "There's no way we wouldn't do everything we could to save you!"

"Yeah." Kirishima nodded, his tone soft and thoughtful. He stepped closer to Bakugou, who was staring back down the highway towards the city they'd fled from, searching for any sign of Midoriya somewhere in the fog. "Katsu? How you holdin' up?"

"You saw him, right?" Bakugou whispered, his fists drawn tight. "You saw him fight for me, protect me."

"We all saw." Dabi murmured quietly, his eyes on the fog as well, Todoroki sitting quietly at his brother's feet while sharpening thin tree branches into new bolts, not looking up from his task.

Bakugou felt electric, adrenaline humming in his veins. He clenched his jaw and started forward into the fog, Kirishima reaching out and grabbing hold of his wrist, halting his steps.

"You don't belong there." He murmured gently, watching Bakugou's expressions closely. "You belong with us, with the living."

Bakugou was quiet, his shoulders trembling subtly, his voice hinting at a sob as he ducked his head.

"How am I supposed to live without him? I can't just…" He sniffed and lifted his arm, wiping away tears stubbornly. "I can't leave him, knowing he's out there alone-"

A shadow stepped closer through the fog, Dabi taking a defensive stance and Todoroki lifting his bow, taking aim while kneeling. Kirishima watched the approaching corpse quietly, exhaling a soft sigh as he carefully released his hold.

"It's your life, Katsuki. Be careful."

Bakugou barely heard him, already crossing the distance to reach Midoriya, stopping before him with shocked-wide eyes as Midoriya finally emerged from the fog.

He looked different. The grey that had consumed his freckles before had faded to a softer, paler shade. The black blood that had dripped from his ears and mouth had dried and crusted, flaking away here and there, revealing a hint of freckles across Midoriya's jaw and cheeks. The eerie yellow-green of his viper eyes had darkened to a cooler shade, a hint of evergreen sprouting around his pupils, which were rounded, dark and soft. Human.

"Kaachan…?" Midoriya whispered, and Bakugou made a choked sound as he reached out and wrapped his arms around Midoriya, tugging him into a tight embrace. Midoriya stood unmoving for a moment, then hesitantly reached up and clung to the back of Bakugou's shirt, ducking his face to hide against Bakugou's shoulder, a choked sob escaping him in turn.

"Oh god! Oh god!" Bakugou wailed, clinging to Midoriya, sobbing hard enough to shake them both, Midoriya letting out a soft, raspy little laugh.

"Kaachan, you're squishing me."

Bakugou drew back suddenly, holding Midoriya's arms and searching his eyes, needing to see that vibrant splash of green again to reassure himself that this was real. "You're…?"

Alive?

No, they both knew that he wasn't. He couldn't be.

Midoriya had died on that rooftop. What was happening now was the result of some strange variant of the virus, reanimating his fresh corpse. Bakugou might never have all the answers to truly explain this unprecedented phenomenon. For now, all that mattered was Midoriya was with him; he was here and he was speaking, and he seemed to hold no interest in having Bakugou or their friends for a late night snack.

Bakugou cupped Midoriya's face, searching his eyes, his heart aching with longing and regret. "I'm sorry I couldn't do it. I promised you, I know I promised-"

"Kaachan." Midoriya gentled, crooning softly as he leaned closer, pressing his cool, clammy forehead to Bakugou's, the contrast between them nearly burning. "I watched you, I know how hard you tried." He nuzzled his nose to Bakugou's jaw, his lips icy as he whispered against Bakugou's damp cheek, "I forgive you. You have to forgive yourself."

Bakugou ducked his head and nodded, hot tears spilling down his face, and he lifted his head just enough to meet Midoriya's eyes, searching for a long moment before he whispered hesitantly, "What now? What happens next?"

Midoriya hummed softly, a strange, inhuman growl rumbling beneath his words. "Now? You live, and you keep on living." He glanced past Bakugou's shoulder, his gaze drifting from Kirishima to Dabi and Todoroki, then to Sero and Denki, before meeting Bakugou's eyes again. "Keep them safe, Kaachan." His expression softened, and he squeezed Bakugou's hand. "That's a promise you can keep."

Bakugou arched his brow, exhaling a breath of laughter before squeezing Midoriya's fingers in turn, giving a little nod.

"I promise."

Take me to the rooftop
I wanna see the world when I stop breathing
Turning blue…

Tell me, love is endless
Don't be so pretentious
Leave me, like you do…

If you need me
Wanna see me
Better hurry,
Cuz I'm leaving soon…

Sorry, can't save me now
Sorry, I don't know how
Sorry, there's no way out
But down, mmm down…

Lyrics: listen before i go by Billie Eilish

Thanks for reading! More to come!