I dreamed a dream in times gone by

[gothard]

[The holidays came slowly and went by too fast. It seemed that everyone was excited to go home for Christmas time to spend it with their families, especially since the mandatory dorm system meant that they couldn't see them through the normal school year. All of the students of 1-A had enjoyed a Christmas party together as they chatted excitedly about their plans for Christmas. When Izuku had been asked, he had said that he and his mother usually kept Christmas simple...they'd make sweets together and have hotpot on Christmas Eve before opening presents in the morning. He was eager for the quiet and peace of time spent with her more than anything.

That night was the last that anyone heard from Izuku throughout the rest of wintr break. Of course his closer friends, like Iida and Ochako, had immediately been wondering why he wasn't returning calls or texts, until eventually they got a single response from him. Only one, and only to them. It stated that he'd gotten sick and probably wouldn't be responding until school started back. It was a weak cover, but they believed it. It was the best that Toshinori could think of in a pinch without coming up with a worse lie. He couldn't tell even his best friends for fear of the young boy's own safety.

The news of why he really never called or texted hit the first morning everyone returned to classes, and the entire campus was alight with mutterings about it. Izuku wasn't at school at all, of course...and the specifics of the news were left rather vague, probably to protect him further. When Kirishima had heard, he couldn't even believe it until he saw the news report on TV in the common room and realized...it was true.

Kirishima had been trying to unpack his things like everyone else on the first day back since classes wouldn't start until the next day, but he hadn't seen Bakugou come in yet. So when he finally does, Kirishima comes running up to him before any of the others can, breathless.]

Bakugou!

Comments

[bakucchan]

[The blonde looks down at him, his own eyes narrowed and brow furrowed in what looks to be anger-- but by the level sound of his voice, Deku can tell he's not mad at all.]

You don't wanna forget her.

[He doesn't mince words, nor does he coat it with swears or excessive insults. Because it's something he's saying genuinely, for once, and he'll only tell it to Deku once so he better listen up.]

Keep her in that big, stupid head of yours Deku. And if you gotta cry, then do it. Cry your little heart out-- but you gotta keep fighting.

[Bakugo pulls back then all the way from their hug, so he can look Deku head on, his red eyes staring into those big, wet green ones.]

Fight to make sure this shit doesn't have to happen to anyone else.

[mightdoriya]

[Forgetting Inko wasn't an option, absolutely not. But if he could wipe his memory and not have to see her laying there in her own blood every time he blinked, he would. He would do that in a heartbeat.

Hearing all of that come from Bakugou, though...it's unusual. He just wasn't the type of person to offer support, or comfort, or even a pep talk really. But here he was, helping stupid Deku every step of the way...hugging him when he needed to cry, telling him to keep his chin up instead of yelling at him to go die somewhere.

It seems to click, then, for Izuku how strange everything has been.]

...It's not going to happen to anyone else. I swear to it.

[bakucchan]

[That seemed to have lit some kind of fire in Deku and honestly, that's all Bakugo was trying to do. Just give him something to focus on. Not revenge, not the image of his mother dying being replayed in his head over and over, but the resolve to try and stop this from happening to others. That's what Heroes would do, after all.

That's something Bakugo's had to learn for himself, many times. And there's the smallest hint of a smile on Bakugo's face before he remembers that he's supposed to hate Deku, and a scowl replaces it almost immediately as he smacks the smaller boy upside the head.]

'ya damn right it ain't! Now get your ass back to class before I kick it there!

[mightdoriya]

[Izuku winces again when Bakugou smacks him a second time, but this one feels less...overly chastizing. He'd even be smiling if his heart wasn't still aching so much.

He straightens, lifting his hands to wipe at his eyes so it's a little less obvious how much he's been crying.]

T...thank you, Kacchan.

[bakucchan]

[At Deku's thanks, Bakugo just lets out a scoff of a noise and starts heading for the door now that he looks like he's calmed down. He opens it, and holds it open for him, quiet for a few seconds before uttering these words low and quiet so just Deku can hear them.]

...don't fucking thank me. I'm doing what any other Hero would do.

[He's embarrassed to admit being nice and comforting others is now something he's trying to be better at but there it kind of goes.]