Bakugou's POV

Damn nerd. He's in worse condition than I thought he would be in. He looks perfectly fine on public TV. It just goes to shows how really good he has gotten at hiding things. Though, he didn't exactly do a terrific job hiding it from his friends. Considering they came to us for help.

Then again, it might have been a good call on their part. So far Eiji and I have been able to get him up and in the shower. Next, eat a proper meal, care for those bruises, and then maybe get him out of the house, if we're lucky.

Actually, I'll just throw him over my shoulders again if I have to, no big deal.

"Where do you think he actually got those bruises? Did he have them at the funeral?" Eijiro asked me as he helped pull ingredients out of the fridge. There was barely anything left in there and some of the stuff has already gone bad. The kitchen was spotless, which means he really hasn't made himself a decent meal in awhile.

Damn idiot. Doesn't he know he can't fight villains if he doesn't take care of himself properly?

"I don't know. He could be telling the truth. I did hear on the news he was fighting a villain yesterday, but some of those do look like they are already trying to heal, which means some are probably already a week old. He could've had them at the funeral, but he was wearing long sleeves, so they weren't noticeable," I explained to my boyfriend, now preparing a simple meal, at least until we can get him to go grocery shopping.

"You don't think they could be self inflicted, do you?"

"I don't know. You can't really tell with bruises. It looked like he had a couple of nasty cuts too, but it's hard to tell exactly how he got those, they're not orderly like they would be if they were self inflicted."

"You're right. I say let's just give him the benefit of the doubt and say he's had a rough week and probably let his guard down one too many times. Let's keep an eye on it though, I doubt he really wants to be interrogated. I'll help him clean them up though when he's done so they don't get infected," Eiji said, now beginning to look through cabinets and doors. "Where do you think he keeps the first aid kit?"

"In the bathroom? Like any normal person," I remarked, rolling my eyes.

"Oh right!" He smiled cheekily before going to find one of the spare bathrooms that has to be on this level. I rolled my eyes at his stupidity and focused back on the food. I barely had enough ingredients to make one bowl. We'll really need to get out today and buy food.

Eiji came back several minutes later with a first aid kit in hand. He set it on the dining room table and began pulling out it's contents, figuring out what's there and what he needs to use.

It wasn't long before Deku came down the stairs with clean clothes on and dripping wet hair. His skin was still rather pale and colorless and now that he looked a bit more freshened up, the bags under his eyes were more prominent.

How has nobody noticed his poor condition, except for his friends? You'd think someone at the hero agency would point it out and find something to do to help him.

Deku was about to sit back down on the couch when Eijiro sprung into action. "Oh no you don't," he said, grabbing Deku's wrist lightly, pulling him into the dining room. "Sit, I'm going to clean and bandage those wounds."

Deku gave him an exasperated look. "No, they're fine," he began arguing.

"What if they were to get infected? You need to be treating these, Midoriya." Eijiro shot back with a tone that meant no arguing and I could tell Deku heard it loud and clear.

Deku huffed and sat down on a chair, clearly not having the energy to fight.

Eiji smiled, knowing he's won this battle and began using the stuff laid out on the table. "Take your shirt off."

Deku, who seemed very unhappy about this, only rolled up the long sleeves of his black shirt, rather than listening to Eiji's demands of taking his shirt completely off.

Eiji sighed, deciding this worked too. Part of me wanted him to take his shirt off. I have a sick feeling that there were bruises and other injuries in other places than his arms. However, Deku acted very non-compliant today and I don't think Eijiro wanted to push him too far.

I had finished making the food around the same time Eijiro finished wrapping Deku's wounds, my brain still wondering how he had gotten them in the first place. I mean, after all, it's not everyday he comes home with wounds from simple villain attacks.

Since our days in school, he's been much smarter than that, let alone if he did get injured, then he's usually really good at taking care of it. He's letting himself slip in a lot more areas than just one.

"Eat," I said, shoving the bowl of hot food into Deku's hands.

"I'm not-"

"Damn nerd, eat the fucking food, before I shove it down your throat. I did not make it just for you to waste it." I told him and he once again huffed and looked down at the food.

He looked back up at me abruptly and threw me a questioning look. "You made katsudon?" He asked.

"Damn hard to. Nearly didn't have enough ingredients just to make one bowl." I said irritated, crossing my arms.

He gave me a small smile in gratitude and proceeded to eat his favorite food. He moaned at the taste, loving it. "You're the only one that can make katsudon taste so delicious," Deku remarked, looking very pleased with the food in hand.

I scoffed, a slight blush reaching my cheeks. After all, it's probably the first time I've made him food in years and hearing the praise is some what foreign. "It's not that difficult," I mumbled, now proceeding to distract myself by continuing to clean the living room.

"Kacchan, I'll clean that, you don't need to worry about it."

I grunted. "No the fuck you won't. You can barely get yourself off the couch, let alone clean the house," I told him honestly.

"I'll do the dishes," Eijiro said before standing up from in front of Deku and walked to the sink.

"Wait-No. Guys! Seriously, I'll handle it. I don't want you cleaning up messes that I made in my house." Deku set his now empty bowl down and stood up.

"Don't worry about it." Eiji flashed him his usual bright smile. "It looks like you haven't slept well. You should go lie down, we've got this covered," he told him.

"No, really. I can't ask that of either of you. Please just leave it," He begged, hating the feeling of being a burden, even though we did this because we wanted to.

"Deku, go lay the fuck down before I knock you out myself. This isn't a bid deal," I argued with the small green haired male. His mouth opened, ready to start arguing. "Go!" I yelled, pointing towards the stairs, not giving him a chance to fight back.

He tilted his head back and groaned with an eye roll and proceeded to go upstairs.

When I heard the bedroom door shut, I sighed, continuing my cleaning.

"Well, that worked," Eijiro commented.

"That's because he needs someone who's willing to be strict with him. His friends are too nice to give him that," I told my boyfriend honestly.

Eiji shrugged. "I guess you're right. He's always responded to you better than anyone else. Maybe because you're harder on him."

"The damn nerd is stubborn as hell, he'll fight you on almost everything. The only way to get him to listen to you is to be tough, it's not about me going harder on him. It's just leveling out the playing field," I said, now finished picking up all the trash in the living area.

"Makes sense. It explains why his friends haven't really managed anything, it's because he needs someone that's going to fight back, not just pity him and practically baby talk him. That's not what he needs right now," Eijiro began explaining his theory, which I agreed with.

"Exactly. Don't get me wrong, he still needs that softer touch, he is too innocent and sensitive to not need that. You're better at that than I am. You won't pity him, but you won't go down on him either. You'll make sure he listens in a gentler way. He's not a baby, he doesn't need to be coddled, he just needs a push in the right direction."

He smiled brightly at my compliment, which obviously doesn't happen much. He dried off his hands with a towel and walked over to me, wrapping his arms around my neck and kissing me gently. "Thanks babe," he said, pulling away slightly, but still close enough that I could feel his breath on my lips. "We make a pretty great team. In every situation, it would seem."

I shook my head, a small smile playing on my lips. "Don't get too excited, we got him to shower and eat. It's not something to be enthusiastic about quite yet."

"I know, but it's still something. He didn't deserve this and I think he just needs someone to remind him of that and remind him that this doesn't have to mean the end."

I went to reply when I heard yelling coming from upstairs. "Can I come out yet?! I can't sleep!" 

Eijiro bust out laughing at my deadpanned expression at this damn nerd's question.

"Fuck, this is what I'm talking about. He's practically useless at this point," I told my boyfriend when he calmed down.

"He just needs someone there. Someone to hold his hand and help him see the light again," he said, still wrapped in my arms.

"The light certainly has been snuffed out in him."

Eijiro's face darkened. "I know. Our cheery, bright light is pretty dim right now. I just hope we can help him brighten it again."

I nodded my head in agreement.

"Did you guys not hear me? Listen, if you're gonna hang around and not leave my home, can we at least do something, like watch a movie?" Deku popped in the kitchen and rested his elbows on the counter. "Oh, was I interrupting something?" He cocked his head to the side in confusion. His eyes taking in our current position.

See? Innocent.

I pulled away from Eijiro slightly and looked more at Deku. "No. You're fine and no, we can not watch a movie. You're getting out of this house and going shopping. You need some damn food in this kitchen."

"I have plenty of food, I don't need to worry about that," he said with a wave of his hand.

"Energy drinks don't count," I said.

He frowned. "I don't feel like going out today. I promise I'll do it soon though."

"I don't fucking believe you, now go grab a jacket and meet us at the front door."

"Kacchan, seriou-"

"Do it now before I drag you by the hair."

"Kacchan I-"

"Please Midoriya?" Kirishima interjected gently, trying to prevent an argument.

Deku sighed. "Fine, but not for long. I really didn't feel like going out today."

"You feel like that everyday!" I hollard as he went upstairs.

"That's not true! I'd much rather be at work!" He shouted back at me.

Fucking hell, I'm about to explode his face off.

"Calm down Kat. Remember, he's been through hell recently, give him a minute."

I sighed, wondering what I got myself into. The damn brat's being a whole lot more snippier. Maybe he's just gotten that way over time, but a lot of it tells me it's because he truly wants to be left alone, so he can let the dark thoughts consume him, which obviously, we're not going to let him do.

With the dishes and trash done and cleaned, we made our way to the door, slipping our shoes on and waiting for Deku to come back down. A few silent moments passed and we heard him coming down the stairs and towards us. He threw on one of his oversized green hoodies.

As he put his shoes on, something caught my attention and I pulled him up by his arm abruptly. "Why the fuck are you wearing make-up?" I asked. It wasn't much. Actually, it wasn't even noticeable. All he really did was put foundation on, clearly wanting to cover up the nasty and dark bags under his eyes.

"Uh, we're going out?" He said in a 'duh' tone.

"I know that, dipshit. Why do you need it?"

"Katsuki, what's so wrong with it? You wear eyeliner," Eijiro pointed out.

"I never said there was anything wrong with it! I just know he doesn't normally wear makeup! Let alone just to go grocery shopping!" I snapped back at my boyfriend's comment.

"I'm the number one hero. I have to keep up pretenses, even off duty and I don't exactly want the world knowing that I haven't slept all that well. It'll just worry them."

"Midoriya, your health comes first, and besides, you've been through hell. I don't think anyone would mind showing how you're truly feeling."

Deku shook his head and looked down. "I'm doing fine, just lost a couple nights of sleep. They don't need to know, besides, if I look tired, a villain might try to use that as an opportunity and I can't have that," he explained.

Now that I think about it, he's not wrong. I bet villains everywhere are waiting for him to crack, so they can bring him down, keeping up pretenses for the public probably isn't a bad idea.

That just means we really need to make sure he's doing fine on his own, until he no longer has a reason to keep up the pretenses.

"Tch, whatever, lets just go." I said, dropping the conversation and opening the door.

"Ready?" I heard Eiji ask from behind me.

Deku sighed. "Let's get this over with."