The next morning Bakugo found himself sitting by her computer deciding to do some research or as much research as he could do given his current situation while he let her sleep in before she had to get back to work tomorrow. He kept coming up with dead ends and nothing at all about people ever coming face to face with something like this. They all ended up the same way with patients simply passing away due to normal circumstances. "Come on!"
When he heard her shuffling around in her room, he figured that she must've woken up already, especially when she wildly exited her bedroom with wide frightened brown eyes bouncing around the apartment.
"Bakugo?!"
"Yeah yeah, try and keep it down round-face will ya." He rolled his eyes, pivoting his body just enough to look back at her. "What is it?"
"Bakugo?!"
"What? I'm right here, stop shouting!" he glared getting to his feet. What the hell was her problem now?
"Oh no…" she whispered instantly covering her mouth with her shaky hands. "Bakugo?"
"Round-face?" As he carefully approached her, he could see the beginning of tears piling up at the rim of her eyes. "What is it?"
"He's gone…" she whispered a slight sob escaping her.
"What…?" Grinning, he shook his head thinking she was just trying to mess with him, but as the seconds dragged on the more he realized that maybe this wasn't a joke after all, especially when she began to search through the apartment. "Uraraka…?" His voice slightly cracked not giving a damn at the moment as pure panic rose in his throat completely overpowering him. His stomach clenched whenever he heard her continue to call out to him. His heart thudded hard in his chest at the thought of possibly losing the little progress they had made, and it was becoming hard to breathe. "No! Uraraka! I'm here, I'm right here! Please!" he begged, trying to catch her eyes and still her frantic movements with his trembling hands but knew it was pointless when he couldn't even touch her. "Uraraka?!"
"Bakugo…?" She tried again waiting and listening for any movements, anything that would help calm her and let her know that he was still here. That she hadn't been dreaming everything. He promised he'd be here…
Snapping his eyes tightly shut to get rid of the frantic beating in his ears, he felt his panic rise. This couldn't be happening. Right after all these years of finally being able to talk with someone. To get the chance to talk to her. The one he needed the most. "Please Uraraka not you. I can't…" he adamantly shook his head. "Please look at me...I need you to look at me."
The moment he saw her eyes locked with his crimson ones it felt as if a vale was lifted, and he could vividly see the relief wash over her face. "Bakugo?"
Squinting his eyes shut he let go of a breath he wasn't aware he was holding as he stumbled back a few steps, placing his trembling hands on top of his head to try and take a few calming breaths in and out even though it still hurt to do so. But he would take that over the thought of almost losing her again.
"What happened?" she weakly asked, hating the way her voice sounded so strained as she sat down in one of the nearby chairs, not trusting her legs to keep her upright anymore after that scare.
"I don't..." It still hurt to talk as his breathing remained unsteady, but he tried to shove that feeling aside before quickly moving back to her and crouching down to be at eye level again. "But you can see me now, right? You can?"
The way his eyes pleading stared back and the quivering in his lips only allowed her to slowly nod, making sure she kept her eyes glued to his face. She let them freely roam around his features as if wanting to memorize every part of his face. "I can see you now Bakugo..." she breathed out.
"Good." He simply said refusing to move from his spot being afraid that if he did, she would lose sight of him again.
"I thought..." She blinks a few times to stop the new incoming tears and then closes her eyes until she feels like she can speak again. "I thought I almost lost you for a minute." She forced a weak smile trying to lighten the mood and remove the fear from her chest, but it wouldn't budge.
"Can't get rid of me that easily Round-face." He gave a small smirk before he cleared his throat and reluctantly moved away.
"Bakugo…" She forced herself to talk as she let her eyes follow his frantic pacing around the room. "What was that?"
"I don't know."
"But-"
"Uraraka, I don't know what happened alright!" He snapped back instantly regretting it when he saw her wrap her arms around herself. "Sorry… that shit was just…."
"Scary." She finished watching him frown but he didn't bother correcting her. "I agree. Which is why we need to do more digging. And fast."
"No shit." He huffed, leaning back against the wall and crossing his arms. "While you were sleeping, I tried to find anything I could about my damn condition, or that thing but it was fuckin pointless."
"Ok, well what about-"
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Curiously tilting her head, she stood to answer the door while he rolled his eyes.
"Wonder who the fuck that could be?" he scowled following her with his eyes as she turned back to look at him.
"Well, it's not for me." The bitter tone wasn't lost on her as she pursed her lips and went to answer the door.
"Haru?" Blinking up at Haru she tried to keep her confusion to a minimum. "Hey, w-what are you doing here?"
"Sorry to just come here out of nowhere, but I was wondering if you wanted to grab a bite to eat or something if you weren't busy?"
"We are busy."
Clearing her throat, she discreetly shot Bakugo a quick glare before smiling back at her friend. "Um actually right now's not a good time. I'm sorry you came all the way over here."
"It's fine." Haru smiled rubbing the back of his head. "Maybe I can convince you to have coffee or something with me tomorrow again after work? It'll be fun."
"Come on seriously?" Bakugo scoffed crossing his arms and puffing out his chest. "Round-face we have shit to do!"
"Tomorrow sounds good." She discreetly waved her hand behind the door for Bakugo to be quiet.
"Uraraka! I'm talking to you!"
Haru looked as if he wanted to say something else as a deep frown plastered his forehead. "Uraraka, are you alright? You look a little shaken up."
Placing both her hands on her cheeks she still felt a wet trail of tears from before. "Oh, um y-yes, I'm fine. I just watched a sad movie is all."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." She smiled, which seemed to do the trick.
"Great, I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Tomorrow it is." Once she was completely sure Haru had left she quickly closed the door to turn and almost jumped out of her skin when she met the furious burning eyes of Bakugo. "What?"
"How considered of him." He sarcastically mocked, squinting his eyes in disgust as she briskly walked by him. "Coffee again, really?"
"So?" Confusingly frowning, she wasn't sure what the big deal was or what suddenly set him off until she heard another loud knock on her door. "That's weird…"
"Oh what Mr. Fancy pants back for some more?"
"You hush!" Uraraka spoke over her shoulder as she opened the door again. "It's for you Mr. Cranky pants."
"What?"
"Mr. Cranky pants huh?" Kaminari grinned as he walked in after Uraraka gestured them inside.
"Don't tell me Bakubros giving you a hard time Uraraka?"
"I'm not!"
"Well, you could say that he's in one of his moods again." she sheepishly rubbed the back of her head.
"Again huh?" Raising a brow Kirishima sat himself on the couch next to Kaminari.
"Yeah."
"Watch it. Like you said I'm not in the fuckin mood right now." He narrowed his eyes into slits as they followed her into the kitchen where she set about grabbing something to drink for the two new arrivals.
"Yeah, and I don't know why that is." Grabbing a couple of glasses from the cupboard she turned her eyes to him. "So why don't you tell me Bakugo."
"Tch, I don't gotta tell you shit."
"Alright then." She hummed to herself as she walked past him with the now filled glasses.
"Erm…did we come at a bad time?" Kirishima awkwardly grinned between her and where her eyes had landed only a minute ago.
"No, you're fine." She smiled as she squinted her eyes and ignoring whatever side remarks Bakugo was making.. She would have asked what they were doing here but it seemed fairly obvious to her as to why. They missed their friend.
"You guys are always welcomed here you know."
"God damn it round-face, now they're gonna think they can come over here anytime they want!" he groaned dramatically pinching the bridge of his nose.
"So?" she quirked a questioning eyebrow over her shoulder where he still remained scowling at her. "I don't mind."
Chuckling Kirishima could already imagine what his buddy had said about that. "Don't worry Bakubro, it'll be like we're not even here."
"Yeah Kacchan, unless you have something to hide." Kaminari teasingly grinned at Uraraka who just blankly blinked back at them.
"Um like what?" she asked.
"Nothing!" Both Kirishima and Bakugo spoke in unison which made her giggle. Kirishima looked as if he was now rethinking his decision to come here while Bakugo for some reason moved his face away with a faint blush to his cheeks which she found cute.
"I still find it so weird how you're the only one of us that can see him."
"You and me both." She smiled, turning her gaze towards the boy in question who still was doing a good job in averting his eyes. 'He must still be annoyed. For what I have no idea.'
"And what's this about All Might and Mr. Aizawa knowing about you?" Kirishima furrowed his brows uncomfortable with the knowledge that none of the teachers felt the need to disclose something as important as this, especially when it came to one of their friends.
"Well, I'm not sure about everything they know. At least from what I can tell while I was there." Bakugo said sitting himself down on one of the chairs while Uraraka repeated what he had just said to the other two.
"So how was it?" Kirishima quietly asked, turning to where Uraraka was staring, fairly certain that that's where his buddy was sitting. "Seeing yourself laying there I mean."
Clenching his jaw, Bakugo leaned forward on his elbows with his chin against his fisted hands. "Pretty fucked up I guess…"
Dropping her gaze, she suddenly focused her attention on the dots on the carpet to try and keep her mind and emotions occupied. The last thing she wanted was to break down. Finding it selfish on her part since after all these years Bakugo was the one who was suffering the most. She couldn't even begin to imagine being in his situation without the people she loved. Without being able to make contact with anyone.
"H-He said it was messed up.' she quietly said.
"But I haven't been back to the hospital after this happened." He gestured between them.
Nodding she looked back at Kirishima and Kaminari. "He says he hasn't been back there after I was able to see him." Knitting her brows together she now looked back at him. "Why haven't you?"
"Hah?"
"Why haven't you gone back? Maybe there's something more you could have find out now after all this?" Her frown deepened when she realized he hadn't even thought of that which surprised her since that would be the first thing Bakugo would normally do.
Opening then closing his mouth he thought about it before he cringed as she jolted from her seat.
"Bakugo!"
"What?!"
"This is important! How could you not?"
"Well in case you haven't noticed we've been kind of busy lately!" He tried to defend himself but knew that was a bullshit of an excuse. "Besides All Might wasn't going to be there and won't be there until tomorrow remember?"
Unable to argue that she quickly repeated back what he had said to both Kirishima and Kaminari who patiently listened on. But she just as quickly turned back to him again. "We really need to find out what's going on. I almost lost him again today."
"What?!" Both boys jumped to their feet with concerned expressions. "What do you mean?! Is he ok?!"
'I almost lost him again…?' As if just realizing how that must've came out, she quickly rummaged through her brain and backpaddled as Bakugo silently continued to stare at her and she could only hope he didn't catch that since Kirishima and Kaminari obviously didn't. "I-I mean I almost lost the ability to see him today." She nervously began pressing her fingertips together as she let her eyes roam anywhere but them.
"Whew…Uraraka don't scare me like that." Kaminari desperately clutched his chest.
"Sorry."
"You won't." He muttered only low enough for only himself to hear as Kaminari continued talking, but still kept a careful eye on her failed attempt in averting her gaze and felt a blush of his own make an appearance. 'What the hell did she even mean by that? I'm probably trying to grasp at fuckin straws that's all.' Stubbornly turning his head, he realized that that was a mistake when he caught sight of Kirishimas toothy grin as he rubbed his cheek. 'Of course you would...'
"Don't know if you can hear me man, but I know you heard that too." Kirishima quietly whispered, not even sure if his best friend could hear him. But that didn't stop the whole thing from being entertainment. If only he could see the look on Bakugo's face now, he was sure that he'd have the same flustered expression on his face the same way he did back in school whenever sweet Uraraka was involved.
"So, what should be our next move?" Kaminari scratched his head.
"Well going to the hospital for one, since our research is coming up a empty handed." Bakugo scoffed.
"Bakugo's right. The next thing would be the hospital." She quietly said, not even sure herself whether she wanted to come along for that or not. Sure, it was something that they needed to do to help him. But to do that and see him just…laying there was something she didn't want.
"Great! So, let's go tomorrow!" Kirishima happily rubbed his hands together.
"Erm actually…"
"She can't." Bakugo huffed crossing his legs on top of the other as he continued to lean against the wall and his arms folded over his chest. "Idiot over here has plans."
"Oh come on!" she exclaimed, raising her hands in exasperation. "Are you seriously still mad about that?"
"Tch, I'm not mad."
"What? What's he mad about now?" Kaminari asked watching her glare at the wall which to them just confirmed that that's probably where he was.
"I'm not mad!"
Exhaling loudly, she turned back to them. "He's mad because I have plans tomorrow, but-"
"I'm not!" he snapped pushing off the wall. "I couldn't care two shits what you do!"
"Fine." She strained a smile trying not to let the sting of that sentence hurt her more than it already did. "Like I was saying-"
Clenching his fists, it took everything in him not to snap at her again when he saw her turn away from him and continue on with the conversation like none of it mattered. Like she didn't flat out accept to go out with that jerk again. Right in front of him! Like he wasn't even there. Like-oh the hell with this. "How can you just get coffee with him again?!"
"What?"
"You heard me! You just went out with that extra not long ago Round-face."
Pressing her lips together she gave both Kirishima and Kaminari a subtle smile. "One of my friends I work with-Haru, invited me out for coffee tomorrow."
"Ohhhh…" Both boys nodded in understanding. But with the ever-growing smiles on their faces Uraraka had the distinct feeling that they knew more than they let on.
"Now it all makes sense now doesn't it Kacchan." Kaminari snickered.
"Clam it!"
"We get it now." Kirishima chuckled as he shared a look with Kaminari.
"You see!" Bakugo pointed out.
"What-no Bakugo I get coffee with friends and co-workers all the time. What does this matter now?"
"Who? Who do you get coffee with?" he dangerously narrowed his eyes. He knew it wasn't in his right to even ask. If it were him and someone was trying to get into his business, he'd tell them to fuck off. So, he knew that she didn't owe him any explanations about what she did and with who. It wasn't like they were together or even could be. 'Shit what am I doing…?'
"Well, I'm surprised you don't know since you tend to not miss any of my meetings with Haru either." Turning to the two onlookers who seemed too overly intrigued by their little spat right now she quickly shrugged that off as she continued to explain. "I had breakfast with Haru before and Bakugo had decided to tag along."
"He did?!" Kaminaris grin somehow grew bigger.
On the other hand, Kirishima face palmed himself before dragging his hands down his face. "Dude tell me you didn't."
"Yeah, I did." He proudly nodded. "Wanted to make sure that douche bag kept his hands to himself."
"By what? Constantly making rude and snide remarks?" She fired back, which only seemed to make him more irritated.
"Dude, I really wish I could see Bakubros face right now." Kaminari whispered as they continued to turn their heads between Uraraka and the wall like a pinball game regardless of the fact they couldn't see him. But that only ignited a spark of questions Kaminari had been wanting to ask, and as Jirou would constantly point out over the years. Denki Kaminari didn't have a filter just like Mina. "Sorry to interrupt, but I was just wondering…how long were you staying here bro?"
"What does it matter?!" Bakugo barked back now shooting his glare in his direction as Uraraka relayed the message.
She was just as curious since he hadn't actually flat out told her as much. "Yeah, how long?"
"I'm going to kill him…" Bakugo grumbled making a side note to annihilate him on the other side if possible before answering. "On and off ok! I was here when you moved in- only to make sure everyone was alright." He quickly added. "AND I also stayed with my parents and sometimes Shitty hair too."
"And not me?!" Kaminari pouted a bit hurt but a part of him was glad since he didn't need anything else constantly thrown at him anymore than he already had.
Thoughtfully rubbing his chin, Kirishima recalled all the times he had woken up late for work. "I thought I felt some cold hostility at times now that you mention it…"
Snapping his mouth open to retort Bakugo quickly closed it when he saw Kirishima's expression turn serious.
"Alright so did you get to see anything good at the dorms? How about the girl's locker room?"
Whipping their heads around to stare at a grinning Kaminari who just shrugged, Bakugo was seriously debating on whether or not to kill him here and now instead of waiting until he crossed over, but then thought better of it since he really didn't want to have to live next to him for the remainder of whatever life this was. So, to him right now there was no winning.
"So did you?" Kirishima asked after a minute of silence when Bakugo didn't answer, being too lost in thought.
"Wait-What?!" Gawking back at both Kirishima and now an unamused Uraraka he frustratingly shook his head. "For fucks sake you gotta be kidding me!"
"Well?" Uraraka asked again, crossing her arms over her chest. Aware that Kirishima was eyeing her too but didn't care. What she cared about right now was that Bakugo was so surprisingly upset about her spending time with a friend but yet was unwilling to divulge any information about things such as this. He already made it clear that he didn't peep in on her, but what was to say he didn't do that years ago when they were all in school with other girls. Perhaps with girls that were pretty or maybe up to his standards.
"No! No no! A thousand times no! Why the hell would I want to see that?!" he grimaced just even thinking about it was making him want to gag. But just as quickly as that thought came another overpowered it, and he couldn't help but think about the few times he saw Uraraka in only a towel in this very apartment. But apparently unlike the rest of the morons he had the good decency not to look. "I already told you I'm not like that Uraraka. Hell, I never even spied on you like that doesn't that say something?!"
Turning away, she tried to hide the hurt in her eyes and was thankful when Kirishima cleared his throat after sensing that.
"Alright now since that's out of the way-"
"Oh, how about pranks? Did you scare anyone at school?" Kaminari eagerly raised his hand like they were in class.
"No I di-" cutting himself off he reluctantly rubbed the back of his neck and couldn't help the sly smirk that appeared as he playfully eyed her next. "Ok maybe I did a little…"
"The pencil…" she gasped, and her eyes momentarily turned the size of saucers. "That was you?!"
"Sort of…"
"So, I'm guessing that's a yes." Kaminari snorted before his mouth was covered by Kirishima.
"Ugh I can't believe you!" she screeched walking over to the kitchen to keep herself busy. Anything since she couldn't exactly strangle this guy right now. All this time she had thought she was losing her mind only to find out he was the cause of that and did that on purpose nonetheless.
"Alright look, I was trying to get your attention ok." He made quick work to follow her only stopping when he was standing by the counter.
"Oh really? By driving me crazy?"
"I didn't mean to do that." He rubbed the side of his lip once he felt it twitch when he saw her trying to muster up the meanest glare she could with those puffy pink cheeks of hers. "Although that shit was funny as hell."
"You're unbelievable." she growled briskly walking past him and back to the living room.
"Alright alright look…" he chuckled stepping in front of her. "I honestly didn't mean to scare you all those times ok. I just…." Pressing his lips together, he averted his gaze to something over her shoulder before meeting her eyes once more. "I was just trying to get your attention Uraraka ok."
She wanted to stay mad, it was easier to keep herself in control that way as well as her feelings, not to mention she was still reluctant to go and see him at the hospital. But one thing she could not do was stay mad when she could see the honesty in his eyes as he continued to stare at her. But what he said next caught her completely off guard.
"And yes, I do need you there at the hospital Round-face." It didn't take a genius to know what she was thinking as soon as their friends mentioned going, which was one of the reasons he lashed out at her without thinking -other than the obvious one which he wouldn't flat out say out loud since jealousy wasn't something he ever felt the need to admit.
"How did you…"
"We can even go after your coffee break." He gave a faint smirk in hopes that she would finally agree to go, even if it was after her damn date. This was more important, so he had to learn to control his temper and once again push his feelings aside. If she wanted to go out, then who was he to stop her.
"Yeah, and in the meantime, I know just what we can do!" Kaminari happily raised the bag he had brought with him due to Mina's demand. "Mina and Sero said they'd be here for it too!"
"Oh no…" Kirishima cringed when he recognized the bag from their apartment.
"Alright." Urarakas voice came out small and found herself unable to look away from Bakugo until Kaminari awkwardly cleared his throat, and that seemed to blink her back to reality while Bakugo glared at his friend.
"I have another question, so are you telling me that you guys have been roommates this whole time?"
"NO MORE FUCKIN QUESTIONS!" Bakugo roared trying to find anything to lunge at him now.