Bakugo arrived home at his usual time, expecting silence after a grueling day. The house was dark, empty—Aizawa had taken the students out to dinner. He slipped off his boots, switched on the light, and froze.
There, lying on the floor, was Rose, blood pooling around her. For a heartbeat, he couldn't breathe.
He dashed to her side, phone in hand, fingers shaking as he dialed Recovery Girl.
"Bakugo?" Her voice was calm, but he could hear the edge of urgency. "I've been expecting your call."
"You knew?" His voice cracked, raw with rage and fear. "About Rose?"
"Stay with her. I'm on my way," she replied, steady and certain.
He hung up, grabbing a cloth and water, his heart racing. Rose's eyes fluttered open, and she managed a faint smile, even through the pain.
"Should've just…stayed asleep…" she muttered, her voice barely a whisper.
"Can you lift your arms, dumbass?" he asked, his voice rough but filled with worry.
She struggled, but she did it, and he carefully removed her damaged hero gear, exposing the wound slashed across her abdomen. He wrapped her as best he could, but blood continued to seep through the cloth.
"You're gonna need stitches," he said, his voice unsteady. "Stay awake for me. Don't you dare close your eyes."
Rose's gaze softened, and she reached up, her fingers brushing his cheek. "Bakugo…who is Shigaraki, really? Why…why did he do this?"
He looked away, guilt etching his face. "This…it's because of me."
"No!" Rose's hand tightened around his, and she tried to sit up, but a fresh wave of blood seeped through the cloth, and she gasped.
"Don't move!" He held her steady, his voice laced with panic. "Just…just stay still."
Her eyes softened as she looked at him, a faint, defiant smile forming. "Shigaraki…he wants you to blame yourself, you know that, right? Don't give him that. Don't let him win."
Bakugo clenched his jaw, swallowing the knot in his throat. "I can't just ignore it. This twisted nightmare—it's all tied to me."
She exhaled softly, her fingers gently entwining with his. "Then let me carry it with you…don't carry it alone."
His eyes widened, her words sinking in, and for a moment, the world shrank to just the two of them. He held her gaze, his thumb brushing against her knuckles.
"Rose…" His voice softened, his heart pounding. "Don't leave me. I…need you. I've always needed you."
A soft smile played on her lips, and she whispered, "I'm not going anywhere, Bakugo."
Relief flooded his chest, and he leaned closer, his forehead resting against hers. They stayed that way, holding each other in the dim light, as her breathing evened out, her fingers still tightly wound around his.
"I'm here," he murmured, voice tender and unguarded. "I'm here…and I'm not letting you go."
And as Recovery Girl's footsteps approached, Bakugo finally let himself believe that, somehow, they'd get through this—together.
Bakugo's heart pounded as he held Rose in his arms, waiting for Recovery Girl's arrival. The silence in the room was heavy, filled only with the quiet breaths Rose managed to take, each one a fragile promise.
Finally, the door opened, and Recovery Girl stepped inside, her face immediately softening as she took in the scene. Without a word, she moved beside them, examining Rose's wounds with quiet precision. Bakugo didn't let go, his hand still tightly holding Rose's, grounding her—and himself.
"It'll be alright," Recovery Girl murmured after a moment. "She's going to be fine. Just needs some stitches and rest."
Bakugo's shoulders slumped, a mixture of exhaustion and relief washing over him. As Recovery Girl tended to her, he stayed by Rose's side, watching her eyes slowly regain their focus.
Once her wound was bandaged and Recovery Girl packed up her things, she gave Bakugo a knowing look. "She's strong, you know," she said softly. "You both are. Take care of each other."
He nodded, a rare, genuine gratitude in his eyes. When Recovery Girl left, he turned his attention fully to Rose, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.
"You scared the hell out of me," he muttered, his voice low and gruff, but there was a softness there too, a vulnerability he rarely showed.
Rose managed a small smile, her hand reaching up to touch his cheek. "Had to keep you on your toes."
"Don't joke about that," he murmured, his voice breaking slightly. "I don't…I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here."
She looked up at him, her gaze steady, holding the weight of unspoken promises. "You won't have to find out, Bakugo. I'm not going anywhere."
He tightened his hold on her hand, as if to seal that promise between them. For a moment, the world outside didn't exist—there was only them, in this quiet, unspoken bond they'd built.
Leaning down, he pressed his forehead against hers, his voice barely a whisper. "I love you, Rose. I should've said it sooner…but you better remember it now."
Her eyes softened, and a warmth spread across her face as she whispered back, "I love you too, Katsuki. Always have."
He pulled her close, wrapping her in an embrace that was fierce and tender, filled with all the words he couldn't say aloud. And in that moment, they found a kind of peace, a promise to face whatever came next—together.
As the night settled around them, Bakugo held her, the weight of past battles and burdens fading into the background. All that mattered was here, now, with her in his arms. He wasn't alone—and neither was she.
And they knew, without a doubt, that they would face whatever came next side by side, their bond stronger than any threat, any darkness.
It was more than an ending; it was the start of something new.