They're sat in Recovery Girl's office.
Deku is upright on the bed they have him in for the time being, and Bakugo is perched on a chair next to him, having volunteered for watch duty to make sure the boy didn't try to escape again.
They're quiet, everything is quiet.
It's evening, and everyone settled in the dorms because exhaustion quickly set in after their mission to bring Deku home, but Bakugo didn't have time to relax.
Not when there was so many things buzzing endlessly in his brain. Not when unspoken words weighed so heavily on the tip of his tongue he thought they'd spill over and onto his lap without his permission.
But it stayed quiet, neither boy speaking for what felt like lifetimes.
"I always wanted it to be me, ya know."
The tone is unfamiliar to both of them.
His eyes on his lap, Bakugo speaks softly, almost uncharacteristically so, and it throws Deku off. He looks up and sees hurt he's never seen before in those crimson eyes, even though they aren't looking at him.
He continues, and it's evident he's struggling by the way his hands ball into fists where they're resting on his legs.
"I was an idiot, I was weak and I thought I could just...do everything. I took that out on you, I used you as a way to make myself feel like something, and I didn't realize everything I threw away because of it."
Crimson clashes with emerald, Bakugo's stare still so hurt, and yet now there's something else there. Like he's pleading for something, but that remains unspoken.
"Iida being the one to pull your dumbass back here, that should've been me. But I couldn't reach. You've chased me for so damn long and now you're so far ahead of me I can barely see you anymore. Where are you trying to go, Deku?"
His voice is steady, and he isn't looking away anymore.
He's seeing. Intently looking at Deku like he can see into his soul.
"And why are you trying to go there alone? Do you think I'll just sit by and let you get further and further away from me?"
Silence falls between them again, and it's Deku who looks away now.
"I can't compete with you to be number 1 anymore, Kacchan. There's too much at stake."
Now there's heat. Anger, rising, flooding through Bakugo's veins as he pops off a short explosion in his palm, sharp red narrowed as he glares at a surprised Deku.
"You think I'd throw myself in the direct line of danger to save you because I want to /compete for number 1/!?" His tone is incredulous, and Deku can't seem to wrap his head around what this is all about.
"Then I don't understand, Kacchan. Why?"
"Because you mean something, dumbass! To me! You're important and you're special! So who the fuck do you think you are, going off on your own to die like some idiot!?"
Bakugo doesn't give the boy time to speak before hes continuing, voice falling to the unfamiliar softness again, anger settling. He's grown, learned to better handle the rage that would normally engulf him.
"I told you to stop trying to win this on your own. All Might was /wrong/! All of them were! The predecessors are idiots for thinking they could handle that power by themselves, and I know you're stupid, but if I have any say in it, you're not going to go off and die like they did!"
Suddenly the room is underwater for Deku, who soon realizes he's crying. Bakugo doesn't berate him on it though, because he isn't done saying everything he needs to, and there's just so much.
He starts, the mention of it obviously heavy on his mind.
"I was wrong, what I did and said to you. I let all of my insecurities and weaknesses get the better of me and I put it on you, and that just made me shitty. I'm not that person anymore, Deku. I know where I went wrong, and I'm going to keep making it up to you."
Deku stops him then, a slightly trembling hand held up as he wipes at his face with the other. Sniffling and whining, he shakes his head.
"Kacchan..I never blamed you for any of that. I was never angry."
For the first time since they were probably toddlers, Bakugo laughs. It's short, and it surprises Deku so much he actually stops crying just to stare in awe.
"You think I don't know that, dumbass? That doesn't matter, because I'm still going to keep showing you that I've changed, but that starts with you not being an idiot and letting us help you. We're ALL heroes, Deku. There's no reason this responsibility has to be just yours to handle. Plus, I have my own debts to settle with that dried up grape looking bastard."
Now Deku laughs, despite himself. He covers his mouth to stifle it, but Bakugo already heard it and he's grinning.
They're quiet again, and slowly Bakugo reaches for Deku's hand, where it's resting at his side. He holds it gently, so unlike him, and yet exactly as he should.
"We're gonna do this together, Deku."
They exchange a look, hold each other in their gaze, and it's set.
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