Katsuki knew it was a dream, but that didn't stop the gut wrenching hole that widened in his chest. Kirishima's pale face was too vivid, framed by the wood grain of a polished coffin and looking too perfect, like he was sleeping.

It was the shadows of friends and family, blurred at the edges as if he couldn't bring them into focus, that gave it away as a dream.

Or he should he call it a nightmare?

Like a passenger in his own body, Katsuki moved to Mina who wept over Kirishima her face sunken as she held a small bouquet of white roses in her hand.

"I'm so sorry, Mina."

Her head turned unnaturally towards him, her eyes wide voids as she glared back at him.

"We told you to stop. Everyone told you to stop, but you didn't listen."

"I didn't know…"

Rose petals covered hiss view as she swung at him. There was a numbing ache of where he imagined the thorns scratched at his cheeks, but the sensation was off.

"Kiri's dead because of you!"

Her face turned grotesque, shadows staining her skin as the void of her eyes grew larger and Katsuki backed away from her. Others appeared surrounding him. Friends and colleagues, voids for eyes as they tried to engulf him. Their accusations, deafened in his ears, weighing him down as he turned to move away.

"It should have been you!"

Katsuki turned again, straight into Izuku who wrapped his arms around him in a comforting grasp and Katsuki leans farther into him. His voice was rough to his own ears as he buried his face into the crux of Izuku's shoulder.

"This wasn't supposed to happen."

Izuku pulled him in closer still, until his warmth became suffocating, arms locking tighter around him. His voice was soft against his ear, enduring almost.

"I warned you, but stubborn Kacchan never listens."

Katsuki pushed hard against his chest to pull away and Izuku latched onto his hands, their fingers interlocked as he drew him in closer, until his void eyes drew him in closer.

Blood poured between their clenched fingers until all Katsuki could see was the sick red that seeped into his skin.

"Now the same blood is on your hands, too."

Katsuki jerked forward, fighting with the restricted blanket that had somehow tangled around him while he was sleeping.

"Katsuki."

Izuku loomed over him, viridian eyes staring at him, worried. Katsuki didn't bother to let him voice it as he stood up to put distance between them. The nightmare was still too raw at the edges of his conscious.

"I'm fine."

"I need to head in to work. Will you be okay?" Izuku asked.

Checking the time, Katsuki realized it was already morning. His body was already feeling the pains of having sat for hours in the small plastic chairs of the ER's waiting room.

Izuku didn't look any better. His tee looked wrinkled, and a small shadow of stubble was forming across his jaw. Dark bruising was always under his eyes, but they looked sunken more than usual.

Even like this, Katsuki found him attractive. Which only made him feel like an asshole for even noticing when he should focus on his partner. He'd been so preoccupied with Mina and the doctors that Katsuki hadn't even had time to put any attention to the development between himself and his would be lover.

Or could he even consider them lovers yet?

"I'll check on you later, then."

There was an awkward pause, as if Izuku was waiting for something, but Katsuki didn't know what to do or say. With a small nod, Izuku stepped away and left Katsuki behind, watching him leave down the stale-white corridor of the hospital.

"Baku."

He hadn't realized that Denki was even there, leaning against the fall wall, a witness to his cringy interactions with Izuku. Where the yellow-haired man would have been teasing him on any other day, he watched Katsuki, his head titled to the side, and Katsuki groaned, already aware of what he was asking.

"I'm fine."

Brushing the wrinkles from his shirt to preoccupy himself, Katsuki looked over to where Mina stood, the closest to the OR room where Kiri laid. They still had no recent news about his progress. Their only goal was to stabilize him for now. But that meant they were stuck out here on standby amongst the rows of plastic blue chairs and buzzing vending machines for any updates.

It was surprising to see Sero instead of the girls next to Mina. Jiro and Toru had practically fused themselves to either side of her since their arrival last night, but even they needed a break. Mina was the only one who had yet to move from her spot.

It must have been Sero's turn to watch over her, so as Katsuki moved closer, he nodded towards him in greeting. Sero's arm was outstretched over the back of Mina's chair with a styrofoam cup held on by the tips of his fingers.

"You get any sleep?" Sero asked.

"A whole twenty minutes if my watch is right." Katsuki said.

Mina rubbed at her face with her free hand before taking a small sip of her coffee.

"Where are the girls?" Katsuki asked.

"They went to get her something to eat." Denki said.

Katsuki sat to Mina's right, and she moved back to lean her head on his shoulder without protest. Her movements were sluggish and lacking of their usual spastic energy, but she still attempted a smile to Katsuki as she curled into him.

"So that was the Izuku you were talking about?"

"Don't start."

Her chuckle was hoarse to his ears and as Sero moved away, taking her cup to refill it, Katsuki replaced the empty spot with his arm to give her more space.

"Humor me, Kats. Let me not have to think about it for a while."

Where Kiri was his best friend, Mina was the bratty sister that he couldn't help but give in and dote on when she wanted something. Even if he'd never admit it out loud.

"Yeah, that was him."

"He's hot."

Katsuki groaned as he let his head fall back against the wall. He would have preferred this conversation at his place with good food and a heavy drink.

"Yeah, he is."

"Did you sleep with him?" Mina asked.

Sero, who had returned with a cup for Mina, offered the other one to Katsuki. He must have heard her question because his eyes were now curious and Katsuki could see Denki inconspicuously listening from where he stood nearby. His friends were the nosiest little shits.

"Yeah, just about."

"Congrats on finally getting yourself a boyfriend." Denki said.

A scoff came out as Katsuki drank from his coffee. The bitterness of stale coffee beans bit at his tongue, but he didn't bother to complain, since he needed the caffeine.

"Not quite."

Mina lifted her head to press her chin against his shoulder. Sero looked from over her pink curls and even Denki moved closer.

"Do we need to beat him up?" Sero asked.

This time, Katsuki actually laughed at the absurd idea that they even thought they could take on Izuku in a fight. The sound reverberated in his chest, shaking Mina. It felt surreal that he could even laugh now. When his friend was only a few feet away, fighting for his life.

"It's complicated and not worth trying to explain right now." Katsuki said.

"You really like him, huh?" Mina asked.

Twirling the cup in his hand, Katsuki thought it over. Even though he had resolutely declared his wants to date Izuku, he wasn't sure if he had given himself time to sit with his feelings for the other man. Katsuki was a man of instinct who didn't dwell on his feelings for longer than a moment before jumping head first into wherever it led.

This new version was so different from the Deku of his childhood, but their "not date" still showed small glimpses of the boy he once knew.

He was both the old Deku of his pasts and a completely new Izuku that intrigued him and drew him in just as much. The corners of his mouth tugged a bit as he looked over to Mina, who was smiling up at him.

"Yeah, I do."

When the girls returned, they dragged Mina over to the small table they had stolen from who knows where and attempted to get some food into their friend. They left the men behind to eat their measly sandwiches so they could keep an ear out for any news while they occupied Mina's time.

"Did you hear from Aizawa yet?" Katsuki asked.

"Yeah, he said he'd be by later this afternoon, but Mina's been keeping him updated while he looks over the evidence." Denki said.

By midday, Kiri's surname was called out and Mina looked up from her place, her eyes wide, but she didn't move from her spot. Katsuki could guess the conflicted feelings warring inside her at this point.

He reached for her hand and Mina looked up at him for a moment, contemplative before taking a breath and taking the offered help. As their friends flanked them on either side for support, Mina schooled her features as she looked forward towards the doctor, waiting for her. Her hands shook in Katsuki's grasp, but she didn't let it show anywhere else.

Katsuki still remembered the night his best friend had stumbled into their dorm two sheets to the wind and sporting a black eye as he declared his promise to marry Mina if it was the last thing he ever did. Katsuki had only found out later that Mina had knocked his ass down in a sparring match, which apparently was all it took for his friend to become utterly smitten with the pink-haired girl.

"Mrs. Kirishima?"

"Yes." Mina said.

The doctor glanced over at the others surrounding her, but Mina didn't waver as she approved for the doctor to continue.

"His injuries were excessive, with multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma to the head. Mr. Kirishima went through cardiac arrest more than once because of the blood loss. He also showed signs of hypothermia from the elements. All things considered, he held on and we had him stabilized him for the time being.. We'll be moving him to a room in the ICU, but we ask that you keep it to immediate family only."

There was a collected sigh of relief from the group, but Mina's hands only clenched tighter around Katsuki's fingers and he returned the sentiment, the air suffocating his lungs as he waited for the doctor to continue.

The doctor waited patiently as everyone settled down before continuing.

"Although he's stable, the amount of blood loss and trauma to his brain has made him comatose for now. We'll need to monitor him and wait to see if he will regain consciousness."

"If?" Mina asked.

The doctor paused, and Katsuki noticed the sweat that clung to temples of his receiving hair line.

"He's in a coma?" Denki asked.

"It's not unheard of after the amount of trauma placed on his body and in most cases a patient will wake up, but yes, he has been unresponsive to his environment, so this will be a critical moment in his recovery."

Katsuki's mouth become bone-dry as he tried to swallow back the news. The lingering effects of his earlier nightmare resurfaced, teasing the edges of his thoughts.

Mina leaned into him, her face pale and Katsuki bared her full weight to keep her steady. The doctor looked unsure as he stepped back with an awkward apology.

"Someone will call for you when he's ready."

Mina nodded, but her eyes were staring past the doctor. As soon as he left, everyone crowded around them, but Mina only tightened her hold around Katsuki.

As Mina clutched onto him like a vise, Katsuki fixed his gaze on the linoleum of the hospital's floor. His arms wrapped around her, but it was an automatic response as his mind tried to process everything. Her nails were digging into the back of his neck, but Katsuki felt nothing, only drawing her closer to him in response.

Jiro maneuvered the others to give them breathing room, but Katsuki's vision stung as everything crouched in around him.

"I'm sorry."

Mina moved back, but Katsuki was now the one clinging to her when he realized he was the one that had said it. His words sounded muffled and rough to his ears as conscious ate at him, but his eyes couldn't meet her gaze.

The image of void eyes staring back at him made him irrational.

"It's my fault. I couldn't let it go, even when everyone was telling me to stop. I dragged Kiri to keep investigating in my place when they benched me."

Mina pulled back and away from him, but Katsuki stayed in place as he tried to explain himself. He could only imagine the anger that must have been boiling beneath the surface now that she knew. Now that everyone knew the danger, he had put his partner in.

Izuku's voice lingered in the distance of his thoughts.

'I warned you.'

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have pushed him to look. If Kiri doesn't wake up, it'll be my…."

His face snapped to the side, stunned, his cheek burning by Mina's palm.

"Shut up!"

Sero and Denki looked ready to intervene, but Jiro and Toru blocked them as they waited at the edges of Katsuki's view, their faces equally shocked.

"Don't you dare say that to me, Katsuki Bakugo."

He finally looked at her and even with tear tracks down her face, her eyes were resolute as she stared him down. She kept her palm raised.

"Get off your high horse. Eijiro cared about this investigation just as much as you did. His not a child and you didn't make him do anything. He did exactly what he wanted to do, which was his job!"

Katsuki flinched back, feeling much smaller than the girl who only reached his shoulders. Her voice was sharp as it sliced into him.

"Mina…"

Fresh tears trailed down her face, but she didn't budge an inch and Katsuki allowed the ache to his face to keep him grounded.

"No, you listen here. He's going to wake up and be fine, because my Eijiro is strong. He's going to laugh and apologize for making me worry, but until then, you're going to get your shit together and find the bastard that did this. Do you understand me, Katsuki?"

If Kiri were standing next to him, he would have been grinning ear to ear, staring at his wife with a starry-eyed gaze.

'Isn't she amazing?'

A smile cracked across his face in response as he looked back at his friend with the same resolution.

"Yeah, I hear you."

Mina nodded and attempted to straighten herself out as she turned to Jiro and Toru her waiting for her as they pulled her.

"Now, get out of here before I get really mad at you."

"Take care of our boy while I'm gone, yeah?"

She smirked, but her eyes were watery again as her arms crossed in front of her

"He's so going to tease you for crying over him when he wakes up."

Katsuki nodded. He'd accept all the teasing in the world. Denki and Sero patted him on his way out, promising to keep an eye on her while he was gone.

"Mina's right, Kiri's a tough guy. He'll pull through while you're gone, but we'll let you know soon as he wakes up." Denki said.

"Thanks, I'm going to call Aizawa to see what he's found out so far."

He left Mina with the others after a promise to keep in touch and he left the hospital to wait outside for his ride to the precinct. He pulled his phone out, ready to message Izuku that he was leaving the hospital, so he didn't need to come back when his notifications reminded him of the missing call that Kirishima had left him.

One unread voice message glared back at him and even with Mina's lashing, a new sense of guilt tried to creep up his throat. After some hesitation, Katsuki played the audio, the phone pressed tight against his ear.

Rushing air muffled the sounds at first, as if Kirishima had been moving around when he heard the heavy breathing of his partner and Katsuki's teeth clench.

"Damn, bro…. you… pi… best… not to…. up…."

The line was faint, making it hard to pick up what he was saying. Katsuki couldn't tell when he would have made this call, but it must have been after his attack from the slight groans that came through the other line.

"Just…..just in case… T..ga… …..To… miko..okay?"

The sound of rushing air took over, masking Kirishima's voice to where Katsuki was struggling to recognize anything else. He thought he heard his partner let out a pained chuckle.

"Cra.. zy… bitch."

There was a last roar of wind against Katsuki's ear before the audio stopped. Found clenched tight in his hands, Katsuki messaged Aizawa that he was on his way. Even muddled, Katsuki was at least able to make out one clear name at least.

And as he waited, something new burned in his chest, surrounding and overpowering the guilt inside.

Nose flared and teeth clenched tight, Katsuki didn't bother to fight back the feeling as it churned and burned away at him from the inside.

The feeling was familiar, almost comforting compared to his earlier grief, giving him the motivation to focus on what he needed to do.

It was pure and utter rage.