bakerstreet | Grasping futilely for the tissues

[ Bakugou doesn't let Deku take the washcloth. Instead he moves in close and places it on his forehead, letting his fingers brush inconspicuously against the other boys skin. Deku is warm- burning up, even. Not that Bakugou cares. But maybe he does, just a little. ]

Damn right I fucking do. And how the fuck do you think I got this way. Lots of hard work and learning how to be fucking self aware. Not some stupid book.

[He frowns, eyebrows furrowing]

The fuck you talking about? Who'll be worried?

My friends. Like Sen.

[Izuku closes his eyes fully and coughs again. He holds his hand over his mouth. This one lasts longer than the others. He clears his throat once it finally passes.]

Ow. Just need to sleep, I think. I'm cold. Can I get another blanket? There should be one in the hall closet.

Sen.... so call him the fuck up and tell him you'll be elsewhere! Fuck, it's not that hard!

[The cough is bad and even Bakugou can tell that Deku shouldn't be alone with this. Bakugou grabs the soup and puts it aside, then just stands there for a moment, thinking.]

You're burning up, you're cold because you're getting all gross and feverish. My mom will have some medicine or some shit. You can't stay here. You have a fucking draft coming in your window and you cant sleep properly on this futon.

[Izuku's breathing becomes more labored. He doesn't open his eyes as he feels around the bed then reaches out for the floor around him.]

Where is my phone? [He stops looking to cough again, just as bad as before. He shakes and nods finally. He is getting worse. Kaachan is right.] O-Okay. ...You win.

[ Bakugou would almost think that Deku was faking the way he's rapidly deteriorating right in front of him, but he knows Deku isn't like that.

He glances around until he spots the phone and holds it out to Deku, then starts looking around for a bag and starts shoving some of Deku's clothes into it.]

Of course I win. I always win. I know what's fucking good for you.

[Izuku takes the phone and goes quiet. He fires off a text and locks his phone again. He nods and painfully swallows.]

Kaachan always wins. [He smiles a little as he says it.] Thank you. For coming to take care of me, Kaachan.

Yeah, yeah.

[He mutters, hauling the bag over his shoulder when he's done packing it, then comes over to the bed.]

Don't make it fucking weird. Is there anything else you need from here before we go?

I'll try not to.

[Another cough and he closes his eyes. He pants for a moment, trying desperately to catch his breath.] No...nothing else. How...are we going to go? I can't walk like this, Kaachan. Are you going to carry me the whole way?

[There's a very prevalent frown on Bakugou's face, more than usual, but there's no hesitation with his reply]

Yeah. I'm gonna fucking carry you. What else am I supposed to do? Just don't cough on me. Do you have one of those extra masks? Give it to me.

There's one in my bedside...table. [He points at it beside his bed. He has an entire box in there.]

Can I have my cough drops too? That way I won't cough on you.

[ Bakugou goes searching the bedside table for cough drops, shoving a bunch in his pocket and tossing some to Deku, then grabs a mask and puts it on, then heads back over to the bed]

Ready?

[Izuku unwraps and pops a cough drop into his mouth. He sucks on the nasty thing. He made sure to get a gross flavor. Something he won't enjoy to make sure he doesn't eat them too quickly. He nods and holds up his arms.]

Ready, Kaachan.

[ He waits till Deku does his thing, then more carefully than he usually does anything, he slides his arms under Deku and lifts him up. He's not even making a face under the mask, he's just concentrating on not jostling him around too much. ]

Just relax, okay? I'm not gonna drop you.

[Izuku wraps his arms around Bakugo's neck and presses his face into the blond's shoulder. He nods and manages to stay fairly relaxed in those arms.]

I know. I trust you, Kaachan. [He closes his eyes and sighs. He feels safe. His body is heavy and he hopes he isn't too heavy for Bakugo to lift. He knows in this state, his friend wouldn't drop him. Maybe if he was well but not like this. The tension in his shoulders disappears as he just enjoys the feeling of being held like this.]

[ Deku isn't heavy at all, and that worries Bakugou as well. Or maybe he's just that strong. Whatever. He doesn't want to think about it any deeper than that.

He leaves the house with Deku, making sure to lock up, then takes the shortest way back toward his place. It'll be better this way. His mom can keep an eye on Deku and won't make him come to check on him every ten minutes. It'll be good all around.

When they get to his house, his mother starts fawning over Deku as soon as they walk through the door and Bakugou rolls his eyes, holding Deku close so she doesn't steal him away just yet. She gets the message and starts preparing the couch for Deku's stay, making sure there are plenty of blankets and pillows and tons of tissues. When she runs off for medicine, Bakugou finally places Deku down on the couch, then starts pulling up the blankets around him. ]

There. Now you'll be fine. She's gonna baby you so much you'll be sick of it.

[Izuku presses against Bakugo. The fawning is nice. It makes him feel happy and wanted. He watches with Bakugo as Mitsuki gets everything ready. Then he's wrapped in warm blankets and smiles. He unwraps another cough drop but doesn't pop it into his mouth right away. Instead, he nods and gives a little chuckle.]

It'll be like I have a mom again. [He pops the medicine into his mouth and rolls over. He snuggles into the warm and softness, eyes closed. He's tired suddenly. The travel, even if he did nothing, sapped what little strength he has. Soon he's breathing becomes more shallow as he slips into unconsciousness.]

Yeah...

[Bakugou says quietly. It's another reason why he brought Deku here. Everyone should have a mom when they're sick and he figured Deku would appreciate that more than most. He just stands there as Deku rolls over and goes to sleep, quieting his mom down when she comes back with the medicine. He takes it from her and tells her he'll deal with it when Deku wakes up, but just let him sleep for now. She goes to the kitchen to make more food and Bakugou just sits on the couch across from Deku and studies while the other boy sleeps, wanting to keep him in his line of sight.]

Edited 2018-05-29 02:09 (UTC)

[Izuku sleeps peacefully for a few hours. Then he starts to turns and mumble. His fever has broken at least but he's sweating for a new reason. He lets out a strangled noise as he tosses hard. His breathing grows erratic as he moves, rolling over again and again. He opens his mouth to cry out.]

MOM! [He can't escape. Can't wake up. It replays over and over again. He chokes on a sob in his sleep, fingers gripping the blankets around him.]

[ Bakugou ends up falling asleep as well, half draped over the couch, drooling into one of the pillows. He starts getting restless when Deku does, but he doesn't fully wake until Deku cries out and he jumps, dropping all his books onto the floor.

He looks over at Deku, but Mitsuki is already there and tugging Deku around so she can hold him, trying to wake him up quietly. Bakugou stands up and sort of hovers behind her, not really sure what else he can do right now. ]

[His eyes snap open when he feels fingers running through his hair. For the smallest of moments, he's sure it was all a nightmare. None of it was real and he's home. His Mom is running her fingers through his hair and Kaachan is...wait.

No.

It is real. Mitsuki is holding him and Bakugo is behind her. He's at their home. His mom is gone.

He goes still. He tries to rein in the emotions, despite the tears in his eyes. He forces it all down. He won't cry. He can't cry. Not anymore.]

I'm sorry. [He says softly.] I didn't mean to...[He trails off. What is he even sorry for?]

[ Bakugou watches as his mother tries to comfort Deku, telling him it's alright and he has nothing to be sorry for. That he's safe and she's the one who's sorry. Sorry that she's not Deku's mother, Bakugou imagines.

Bakugou averts his eyes, then he walks away, because maybe it's better if he isn't in the room. Maybe Deku feels like he has to be stronger when he's around, and that's not really fair when his mother is trying to comfort him and let him feel whatever he needs to feel.

He goes to sit in the kitchen, picking at some cookies his mom made, frowning at his stupid feelings. He feels bad. ]

[Despite everything, Izuku doesn't cry. He breathes and calms down. He pulls away from Mitsuki and thanks her. He tells her he's glad she's like his aunt. And thankful for allowing him to stay. He stands and walks into the kitchen. He moves over to Bakugo and smiles at him. He's still sick but at least he can stand.]

Thank you too, Kaachan. I'm already feeling better thanks to you. [His eyes stare still sad and his smile is weak. He's holding it in. Refusing to let it out. He isn't the boy who lets himself cry like before. Something inside has clearly changed.]

[ Bakugou looks up when Deku comes into the kitchen, straightening his hunched shoulders and tries to clear the contemplative look off of his face. ]

That's good. You were sleeping for a while.

... You okay?

[He scratches his head and nods.]

I'm alright. ...Or I will be. [He sits down across from Bakugo at the table. He doesn't grab a cookie though.]

Just need more rest. Can I have a glass of water?

[ Bakugou nods, getting up to grab Deku a glass of water, handing it over before sitting back down again.]

Did my mom give you all the medicine she dug up? She made a ton of food for when you're feeling better, too. And more soup for now, or whatever the fuck else you can even eat.

[he stays quiet again, nibbling at a cookie, then he puts it back on the plate.]

...You wanna sleep in my room tonight?

Grasping futilely for the tissues

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