💥 ᴋᴀᴛsᴜᴋɪ's ᴘᴏᴠ 💥

I stared at Deku laying unconscious on the ground. Panic flared through me as my gaze stayed glued on him.

"Forward march, members of the Bakugou Hero Agency!" Katsuki smiled, walking across the makeshift Log bridge. Suddenly, he slipped on the moss and fell into the shallow river below.
"Kacchan!"
"Hey! Are you okay?" One of the boys called down to him.
"He's fine, Kacchan's real strong!" Another answered as Katsuki picked himself up and smiled up at the group.
"See?"

I was fine back then...

"Hurry up and get back up here!"
"'Kay, no problem!" Katsuki replied.

Nothing was wrong!

A splashing sound followed as Izuku came running down to meet Katsuki.
"Are you alright? Can you stand?" Izuku worried, holding his hand out to Katsuki. Katsuki's smile slowly faded, instead his expression grew angry.
"It would've been bad if you hit your head." Izuku finished with genuine concern.

He was mocking me, underestimating me! Wasn't he..?

I closed my eyes for a second, half-hoping that when I opened them again, Deku would be fine, beaming at me with that dorky smile of his...

"Hero team...wins!" All Might announced. A sinking feeling flooded through me. I balled my hands into fists and internally growled.

"You looked like you were asking for help..."

I winced at the memory of that night. The night I was helpless and vulnerable, and fucking Deku ran blindly into danger to 'save' me...he looked so...scared, but he did it anyway...Why would he go to such lengths to mock me?

"Young Bakugou," All Might called, "Get back here, now"

Sighing, I glanced at the unconscious boy at my feet.

Why, Deku?

Deku was collected and taken to the Nurse's Office, while I made my way back to join the class. I took my place at the back as All Might set up the next two teams for the practical. Occasionally, I got a few weary glances from some assholes, but I paid no attention. The blaring whispers in my head drowned out their entire existence.

"I wasn't...going to use it..." He stuttered, barely forming the words. "Because I can't use it....because my body can't handle the impact...Aizawa said so, too..."

The pain in his voice, the tears brimming in his once-beautiful green eyes...

What the fuck am I even thinking?! That bastard was underestimating me! He deserved it!
...Didn't he?
I forced him to use his shitty Quirk, and it hurt him...I hurt him...My emotions are all over the place, I hate feeling so goddamn weak...

Deku actually beat me though...he won...

I growled, catching the attention of some. I lowered my gaze and stayed back, trying to keep a low profile. The other tests finished, and the only test I actually took note of was with that half and half bastard. He secured the weapon effortlessly and in no time at all, by freezing the building and walking past the 'villains' with ease, knowing that they couldn't put up a fight.
I hardly acknowledged All Might as he dismissed the class, probably in a hurry to check on Deku. Part of me wanted to go find that green-haired little shit myself, to kill him obviously, but my better judgement stopped me. I walked back to the classroom with everyone else, the fuckwads aimlessly chatting about the 'intense' training session. I couldn't concentrate, my mind was too busy focused on that stupid nerd and his pathetic heroic tendencies. I rolled my eyes as an extra addressed me, simply grabbing my bag as if I hadn't heard.
"I'm out," I announced to no one in particular, heading for the door.
"What? You can't just go," Mina called after me.
"Watch me," I spat, making my way down the stairs and to the gate

❃❃❃

🥦 ɪᴢᴜᴋᴜ's ᴘᴏᴠ 🥦

I woke up to a warmly lit room, illuminated by an amber glow that oozed out from the slats in the dull white blinds. A white blanket was draped over my torso, although it was thin, most likely because the summer months had brought a heatwave over Japan. The point of it didn't register with me, it didn't really provide one with comfort, no, it just reminded me of the white sheet laid over a corpse. Not the best thought to have. A dusty clock hung on the wall infront of the bed that I was laying in, it's rhythmic ticking slowly bringing me back to my senses. A white curtain to my right was pulled out slightly, but the shadow of Recovery Girl could clearly be made out. Typing away on her computer, seemingly engrossed in her work. I'm in her office? When did I-

"I wasn't...going to use it...Because I can't use it....because my body can't handle the impact....Aizawa said so, too..."

Oh.

Right.

"It's late afternoon," I noted drearily, sitting up with some effort.
"Gah!" Recovery Girl gasped, swiping the curtain back, "Jesus Midoriya, you scared the hell out of me!"

I smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of my neck, "Sorry..."

She frowned at me for a moment, before sighing. She hopped off her chair, grabbing some bandages off her desk before using the small step beside the bed to reach my level.

"At least you're awake," She smiled.

"Yeah..."

"Well...you have healed as much as you can today, but make sure to come back to me tomorrow, okay?" She explained as she changed the bandages wrapped around my arm. I nodded. Drawing the white curtain closed, she left me to get changed back into my uniform, which was a struggle, but I managed. I smiled sadly at my torn hero costume, running my hand over the burn marks and various tears.

"You've been like this ever since we were kids...have you been underestimating me like that since then, you bastard?!"

For such an intelligent guy, you really can be stupid sometimes, Kacchan. Since when did devotion become depreciation?

"Midoriya? Are you okay?"

I flinched at the sudden broken silence, but managed to squeak a quick "Y-Yeah!" through the curtain. I gathered my costume, pulling back the curtain with the best smile I could manage. But with your idol's harsh assumptions bouncing around in your head, it's not an easy thing to do. If she guessed something was wrong, she certainly didn't make it known. She simply warned me to take it easy. After a few million thank you's, I left the Nurse's Office and wandered back to the Classroom to grab my things...and hopefully talk to Kacchan. I don't want things to be even worse between us...I just got caught in the moment. I wanted him to understand that every expectation he thought I'd drawn of him wasn't true. I wanted to show him that I didn't underestimate him, and that he'd always been the one I looked to when I needed guidance. But...all that would be rather embarrassing to say, now wouldn't it?

When I entered the classroom, I was surprised to find everyone standing there. Well...all except for one. I was greeted warmly by my friends, and I felt bad for not paying much attention, I just wanted to find Kacchan.

"Where's Kacchan?" I asked.
"He left, I tried to stop him but.." Mina shrugged.
"When?"
"Uh, like two minutes ago...just before you came in-"

I didn't let Mina finish as I ran out of the classroom and down the stairs, just in time to see him walking to the gate. I didn't even know what I expected to say, but I knew I couldn't let this settle through the night. One thing I know about Kacchan is that he isn't always impulsive. You cross him and give him time to think about it, and he will keep mulling over it until he decides to explode.

"Kacchan!" I yelled, running to catch up with him as fast as I could in my weakened state. He stopped. He didn't turn around. I caught up with him, hugging myself as I tried to get my breathing back to normal.

"What do you want, Deku?" He asked quietly. I was surprised by his soft tone...he never spoke to me like that before.
"I-" I began, but the sentence died in my throat. He turned to face me, his piercing crimson orbs now softer...in fact, his whole aura had become much calmer.
"Are you okay?" he asked, slipping his hands into his pockets.
"Do you really care?" I questioned without thinking. I instantly regretted it, covering my mouth as I backed up slightly, "I-I'm sorry! I-"
"Shut the fuck up, Deku," he growled softly, no conviction behind his words, "...I wouldn't have asked if I didn't care dumbass..."

"...I'm fine..." I mumbled after a moment.

He looked back up at me, searching my eyes for what I assumed to be any trace of dishonesty.
"Good," He began, "...I was...worried.."
"You were worried? A-About me?"
"Why is that so hard to believe?"
I simply raised my eyebrow at the blonde. The question was ludicrous, especially since he never gave me a moment to consider he would do anything other than hope I got hit by a bus or something. Kacchan sighed, hoisting his bag up on his shoulder.

"Nevermind."

He turned to walk away, but without much thought I grabbed his sleeve.

"W-Wait..."

He looked over his shoulder at me, confusion and underlying rage burning in his eyes. My brain screeched at my hand to just let go, but my rebellious limb decided to ignore every command it was given, and just gripped the fabric tighter. I closed my eyes, my awkwardness showing tenfold, as words tumbled from my lips.

"L-Look, I don't underestimate you! I n-never have! Everything you said back there, it hurt that you'd think I'd ever think of you in any other light that a hero! You're brave, strong, amazing, and honestly I'd be completely lost without you! Even after middle school, everything you and your friends did...you'll always be a hero to me! So don't think I underestimate you, because it's so far from the truth. If anything, I idolise you-"

I forced myself to shut up with a shaky sob, tears running down my freckled cheeks. Why do I always cry my heart out in front of him? His silence was starting to freak me out, so I slowly pried my eyes open.

The image that came into view will forever be burned into my memory. His eyes were blown wide, with glistening tears staining his features. He looked so vulnerable, so shocked, so...so...out of it. Like he's just been told something that shook him to his core. My grip on his sleeve loosed too late, and I quickly withdrew to avoid a backlash. He looked hurt at that, the vulnerability soon being replaced by anger.

"Are you really that scared of me? That after that, you expect me to explode? Don't even try to deny it, you're so fucking easy to read, Izuku."

My name sounded foreign on his lips, and honestly I'd never liked my name until he spoke it. I looked down quickly, ashamed that he was right. It was impulse with Kacchan. He'd always blown up before when I spoke to him...so why didn't he this time?

"You used to look at me like I was the centre of the universe. Like I held every answer you would ever need. But now? ...Now you flinch when I so much as breathe in your direction..." he sounded so sorrowful as his sentence trailed off, all hints of anger being replaced by depression.

"N-No, that's not it!" I protested, "You just don't like being touched and I don't want to annoy you and-"

"I don't know what I like anymore," He whispered, "So how can you?"

I paused, the question throwing me off completely.

"But there's one thing I do know," he continued, "and that's you. The only consistent thing in this fucking world. Always there, always smiling, what are you even smiling about all the damn time? It both pisses me off and makes my day." The last part was spoken inaudibly, but I caught it.

"I'm sorry-"

"Quit apologising already! I'm the one who should be doing that, not you!" He snapped. I blinked a few times, stunned.

"I put you through so much shit, and what did you do?? You fucking beamed at me! You even thanked me a couple of times! Do you not see how fucking insane this is?"

I watched as he ran his hand through his ash blonde locks, his face twisted in confusion. I reached out, pulling his hand down and holding it firmly in my own. His face tinted red, but he didn't pull away.

"Everyone makes decisions. They do what they think is best, I smiled because I saw how you were developing as a person. For every time you threw me down, you picked someone else up. And sure, it hurt that the person you kept at your side wasn't me, but hey...things happen," I smiled up at him. His expression was unreadable, his eyes filled with uncertainty as he stared at me...like World War Three just broke out within his mind.

"Fucking hell, Deku..." He whispered, "Your eyes are gonna be the death of me one day...I...Just....you...why...Oh, Fuck it," he bit his lip before grabbing my collar, and his lips met mine. It took my brain a few seconds to register what was actually happening.

Katsuki Bakugou. Is kissing me.

I don't know why, but I slowly brought my hand up and cupped his cheek, kissing him back. My heart was racing in my chest as our lips moved in sync, the kiss full of desire. He pulled back, leaving me breathless. Our gazes met, his eyes widening in surprise. I could feel the heat rush to my cheeks. I pulled my hand back to my side, embarrassment replacing all other emotions. Something flickered in his scarlet orbs; an emotion I didn't recognise. Without hesitation, I bowed my head and began muttering to myself.
"Deku, cut it out you fucking knob," Kacchan growled, silencing me. Without another word, he turned and fled to the school gate as fast as he could. I stayed where I was, afraid to move.

What the hell just happened?

And why did I like it?

I already knew the answers, but I was terrified that if I said it aloud then it would actually be true. I can't like Kacchan...like..that...it's wrong...isn't it? It's only ever been admiration, hasn't it? I never questioned myself more than I did in that moment.

I turned back towards the school, keeping my gaze low as I slowly made my way across the yard and to the stairs.

"Young Midoriya,"
I flinched.
"Mm?"
"I just wanted to tell you that I want you in school early tomorrow, we need to go over a few things," All Might said, his large frame coming into view as his hand placed on my shoulder. I shrugged him off quickly. He looked puzzled, to which I just turned my head and continued up the stairs.

"See you tomorrow," I mumbled on the way.

I made my way back to the classroom fairly quickly to grab my bag. I just needed to get home. I stopped at the door, my hand hovering over the handle in hesitation. I took a shallow breath and opened it. All eyes fixed on me.

Great.

I walked past everyone and grabbed my bag, slipping my notebook into it. They were still staring at me. Why was I the centre of attention all of a sudden?

"Deku."

I turned my head towards the source of the sound. Uraraka stood there, her eyes wide with what I assumed to be shock and confusion.
"What?"

She slowly pointed to the classroom window. I threw my bag over my shoulder before glancing outside. My heart stopped instantly.

You could see the front gate from the classroom window.

You could see where me and Kacchan were from the classroom window.

Oh my god.

I stared out the window in silence, scared to meet anyone's gaze.

"I gotta go," I said quickly, planning my speed dash before I actually moved.

"Deku, wait!

"Midoriya!"

I ignored all the calls of my name, and bolted out the room as fast as my tired legs would allow. I jumped down the stairs, across the yard and slipped through the school gate without stopping. I refused to believe this was happening.

This can't be happening.

▪*:･°✧°･: *▪

ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 2720

ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ: 29/07/2018