I'm really sorry I haven't been able to update my stories in fucking forever... I haven't forgotten about them I've just been focusing on things that, unfortunately, take priority over the only hobby I have. Thank you to everyone who keeps reading my stories despite how erratic my updates are. Ya'll are the MVPs'.

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Learn to Breathe

Chapter 13

"No. No fucking way." Bakugo nearly shrieked, his head bobbling back and forth so quickly Midoriya was certain it would snap off. "I've put up with every stupid-ass decision you've made regarding that land-walker but this is going too far, even for you!"

Midoriya puffed air into his cheeks and continued gathering the medicinal plants he and Bakugo had been searching the ocean floor for, not really seeing the problem… or at least pretending that he didn't. "What's the big deal, Kacchan? You knew that I'd bring it up eventually."

Bakugo dropped his bag, swimming over to grab Midoriya's shoulders as if he could shake some reality into his forever delusional brain. "This isn't some trinket you can hide around your friends, Deku! It's a damn mating mark—a permanent symbol on your skin that lets everyone know that you've been bound to another! Even if it doesn't take, you'll still have a very visible scar from Todoroki's poor excuses for canines tearing in your neck!"

So, Bakugo did make a good point… Midoriya wasn't denying that. But still, he couldn't fathom waiting another decade or more before giving himself fully to the love of his life! He knew the blonde could see he was still deep in denial about how badly this would likely end though, and simply shrugged.

"A literal grain of sand has more brains than you, Deku!" Bakugo shouted, the vein in his temple throbbing in frustration.

The younger Mer rolled his eyes, finding his best friend's argument hypocritical even if it was true. "It's not as if you aren't considering the same thing…" he mumbled with annoyance. "You told Kirishima you'd bring him here if that's what he wanted, didn't you? I'd say you proposing a binding isn't that far off…"

The blonde's face became scarlet with flustered embarrassment and deeper rage, not at all considering the two things to be the same. "I'm not the Crown Prince of Yuuei, you manipulative little twit, and Eijiro is an abused half-Mer unlike your courting partner, who just happens to be the latest child of the lineage that destroyed our people! You can't just bring the bastard back here with you!"

"Then maybe I'll leave Yuuei!" Midoriya shouted in return, anger finally breaking through his patience.

The blonde was taken aback by his friends' outburst and aggressive posture, recoiling in shock and disbelief when the words sunk in. Neither teen made any further movement or sound for some time, staring at one another as though they expected the other to violently lash out.

"You… You wouldn't do that…" Bakugo finally voiced, though it was so hushed Midoriya almost couldn't hear it.

Midoriya did indeed falter momentarily, the declaration souring his tongue as its implications weighed on his mind. He refused to completely relent, however, and held the blonde's gaze. If push came to shove, he wasn't entirely convinced that he'd do the noble thing and give Shoto up, but… the very thought of deserting his people made him sick.

"You're the chosen successor to All Might and the future leader of an entire species—one that's in danger of going extinct." Bakugo continued more boldly, challenging the notion that Midoriya could possibly do something so selfish. "And more than that, I know you. You'd never, ever, let all the innocent Mers in Yuuei suffer just so that you could have the mate you want."

Bakugo put his hand up to stop Midoriya from responding, determined to make his point even if it meant offering up a more personal argument. "And Eijiro said he wouldn't come with me until Prince Todoroki was safe and didn't need his company anymore… So no, Deku, it's not the same at all."

All the boldness Midoriya had been experiencing deflated from the stinging hurt in the blondes' eyes; the way Bakugo's jaw fell slack with sadness was more impactful than the truth in his words. He'd heard from Todoroki about the offer, but his boyfriend hadn't mentioned that Kirishima had turned Bakugo down—even if it was just temporarily.

"Kacchan…" he whispered gently, empathy etched into the previously harsh lines of his face. "You have to know that Kirishima didn't reject your offer because he doesn't want—"

"Just shut up, Deku," Bakugo growled in warning, though he couldn't keep the whites of his eyes from becoming red with frustration. He'd been happy when Kirishima had said he'd come eventually, but after some time to think, their conversation had started gnawing at him. "I know he likes me, but…"

His voice trailed off with melancholy and insecurity. In truth, he and Kirishima hadn't known each other for very long and had been romantically involved for even less time; Bakugo really wasn't sure that his boyfriend felt as strongly about their relationship as he did… Being told to wait even if it was done out of pure intent amplified his uncertainty.

"No, Kacchan," Midoriya argued, understanding his best friend's nonverbal explanation. "Kirishima loves you, he does!"

"Tsk, half n' half tell you that?" the blonde snorted as he tried to play off the self-doubt he was experiencing.

The smaller Mer nodded without hesitation, however. "Yes, he did! He said that Kirishima only ever wants to talk about you and that everything he says proves that he wants to spend the rest of his life with you!"

Bakugo flinched but kept his gaze down, refusing to internalize what Midoriya was trying to tell him. It wasn't that he doubted that Kirishima had said such things… but how could any of it be true when Kirishima had turned him down?

"Just listen to me, Kacchan!" Midoriya huffed, switching their prior positions to grab his broad shoulders and shake some sense into him this time. "Kirishima probably feels the same way about being there for Shoto as you feel about being there for me! Come on, I know you wouldn't just up and leave me if I needed you."

Bakugo couldn't deny that either, but still, his pride was thoroughly cracked. "Whatever, Deku… it doesn't change my position about this… this mating shit. Don't think this is the end of our conversation."

Midoriya frowned but accepted the truce…. for now.

Kirishima watched uneasily as his lover stared off into space, ignoring his training for the first time since they'd met. Bakugo had been eerily quiet from the moment he and Midoriya had arrived an hour prior, settling himself down on the beach for his tail to dry only to stay put afterward.

"Katsuki…" he called hesitantly, nudging his shoulder into the blondes to gain his attention. "Is everything okay?"

Those near constantly hardened red eyes trailed their way over to him, for once softened with what Kirishima couldn't believe was anxiety. He swallowed thickly but didn't say anything else, blanking on what even could be said in such an unprecedented situation.

"Has the Prince mentioned what he and Deku want to do?" Bakugo eventually asked.

The redhead frowned, still not sure what was going on. Todoroki often told him things he and Midoriya spoke about and the two had been basically building a life in words… what they 'wanted to do' could be a lot of things in his opinion—none of which seemed so life ending that it would cause Bakugo this much unease.

"I… er… I'm not sure I know what you're referring to…" he finally responded, rubbing the back of his head.

Bakugo returned his gaze forward, jaw tensing ominously even as the rest of his body seemed to curl in on itself with uncertainty. There were so many unusual and negative emotions emoting from him that Kirishima couldn't quite place what exactly he must be experiencing, much less how to help.

"Katsu?" he called again, this time reaching out to wrap his fingers around one of the blonde's tightly clenched hands.

"Mating marks—binding." Bakugo grit out while unfisting his fingers so they could be entwined with his boyfriend's.

Kirishima's frown deepened as he nodded. "He said Midoriya and him were planning on trying it eventually but… I don't understand what's wrong. I thought you were finally starting to get on board with the idea of them getting together... With humans and Mer's reintegrating... "

The blonde went quiet once more, still staring ahead with varying degrees of discomfort washing over his features. More than anything though, Bakugo looked exhausted, the weight of whatever he was concerned about clearly bearing down on him with debilitating anxiety.

"When you asked me to come to Yuuei with you I thought..." Kirishima started, his partner's silence to his words making his throat clamp up. "I g-guess that's not something you want with m-me? For u-us?"

He intended to continue, to tell Bakugo that if it was true and he really didn't want to be forever bound to a dead-weight half-breed like him, he'd understand and that they could continue their romance as they were doing now but didn't get the chance.

The instant Bakugo comprehended what was said, all evidence of suppressed apprehension vanished only to be replaced with a wild confusion. His red eyes flickered wide and then narrow, head whipping around with disbelief.

"What the hell would give you that idea?" he questioned hotly while increasing his grip on the redhead's hand. "I wouldn't have started this damn relationship with you if I didn't intend on taking you as my mate; you're the one that wants to babysit that stupid Prince instead of coming to Yuuei with me! I thought it wasn't something you wanted!"

Now Kirishima was even more confused, mouth somewhat gaping as Bakugo possessively pulled their joined hands closer to him. His voice choked behind a ball of bewilderment, and he simply stared, though his heart pounded in his chest from the statement anyway.

The Mer he'd fallen for actually wanted him as a lifelong partner; Bakugo wanted to be intimate with him and claim him as his own! It had always been a hesitant hope in the back of Kirishima's mind, but with the considerable difference in their ability to survive underwater and on land respectively, he'd staunchly kept it locked away.

"Y-you mean—really? With me?" he stumbled breathlessly, cheeks quickly flushing to the color of his hair while a relief and happiness-filled smile covered his lips. Kirishima was quick to avert his eyes then, however, suddenly bashful under the ever-unwavering gaze Bakugo showered him with. He almost squeaked when fingers hooked his chin and tugged his face back around, still too overwhelmed by the declaration.

"Eijiro, tell me why you thought I wouldn't want that with you," Bakugo ordered, his voice low and rumbling as he stared the redhead down with seriousness.

The flare of nervous excitement Kirishima had been hit with drained out of him, swallowed by his own self-doubt. All he could do was turn his eyes down once more, insecurity filling him to the brim. He was a half-breed… a mutt—he couldn't survive without someone protecting him in the ocean and without Todoroki, he would have already been murdered on land. What would someone as elite as Bakugo want with him?

The pressure on his chin deepened and he dared to look up once more just in time to see Bakugo shaking his head in disagreement to things he didn't even voice out loud. His lips were captured in a kiss just a moment later and Kirishima could swear he could feel Bakugo's emotions through the touch; if this was any hint as to what a mating bond would feel like, he didn't want to wait any longer than he absolutely had to.

"I love you, you fucking idiot. Don't you ever think otherwise."

Kirishima smiled as Bakugo pulled back just enough to mumble against his lips, somehow knowing that his words were truthful even if a part of himself couldn't believe them just yet.

"I love you too, Katsu."

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So, this is actually one of my favorite stories that I'm working on even though not a lot of people seem to want to read it XD. For the few of you that actually took a chance on this story, I'm again, very sorry and will try to do better!