bakerstreet | ( nursed back to health shipping meme. )

[There's a reason why Bakugou Katsuki has never ever gotten his flu shot. Mostly, everyone at home was ~~too strong~~ somehow not ever effected. (Probably due to the very healthy and immune system boosting diet he was on. But in the dorms...well, he had more control over his own diet. Not that it was a good one.) So him being sick was...quite novel. And he wasn't handling it well.

Them trying to get him to self-quarantine almost ended in several folks being sent to Recovery Girl before someone was able to knock sense into his head. Or at least appeal to some weird nature of his that finally agreed to holing up in his room. Probably that he didn't have to deal with frustrating extras annoying the hell out of him in class...

Luckily—or unluckily—for her, the room is extra dark. Blinds pulled and lights completely out, so as of now she'll not be able to report on the state of his bedroom. And wouldn't even bother with the light switch, he preemptively took out the bulbs so he wouldn't be blinded when visitors decided to turn them on.

There's a thin sliver of light from the opening she's made, but before she can really see anything inside... There's a covered figure in front of her, a pale and scarred arm reaching out to stop the door from opening any further. She might just be able to see Bakugou's glaring eye from under part of the blanket he's covered with.

He kinda...looks like death warmed over.] I wasn't five seconds ago, you know. What is it, pink cheeks? [He's trying to grumble, honestly he is, but his voice is just horribly hoarse.]

[Ochako jolts slightly when a pale arm reaches out through the void of darkness that is Bakugou's room, one glaring eye focused on her from beneath the hood of his blankets. Suffice to say, the color drains from her face for a half minute, because he looks very much like--]

Th...The Grim Reaper...!

[AHEM. Take two.

Shaking her head, and trying to calm her racing heart, Ochako actually takes a good look at her poor classmate and all the anxious fear she had seems to wash off as a wave of concern falls over her. My god, he looks like shit...has he actually never been sick before? I-It wouldn't surprise her - Bakugou is always so fit, and healthy. He eats well, too, considering he can usually cook for himself. He's probably taking this flu especially hard, if his immunity to the particular strain hasn't been boosted.]

Are you alright? I brought your classwork, and came to check on you... You look terrible. [Ochako tries to shuffle inside, putting her foot by the door's opening, just in case Bakugou attempts to shut it suddenly. But, minding her manners, she at least asks before barging into a boy's room.] Um...can I come in? I have medicine, and some water. I-I even got you a snack!

[The smallest snort at being confused with a figure of death sends him into a coughing fit, gripping the door as he tries his best to stop it and still keep the door where it is. Mostly closed. At least the action moves some of the blanket off of his head and around his shoulders, revealing the normal sickly face: pale and drawn, chapped lips, maybe circles under the eyes from inability to get a sound sleep.

Bakugou narrows his eyes at her, an eyebrow raising at the concern clear on her face. But he knows better than to even mention it, least he want to hear concerns about his health droning on and on when all he really wants to do is go back to sleep. Or try to. Then she goes and calls him out on looking like death warmed over.] Well, thanks. [He croaks out, not at all trying to imitate Tsu, yet the sarcasm still drips from it.]

I'm fine, I just need to sleep. [Right? Sleep was universal fix-all. Your body sore? Just sleep it off. You got heavy blood loss? Sleep replenishes it! You angry at the world? Sleep until those that've pissed you off have died in your dreams and you feel better about facing them again, because you were the explosive death they had. ~~One of these things is not like the other~~~

At least he's not dragging his arm under a snotty nose and then sticking said arm out to her? The free hand not holding the door reaches out, palm up, leaving his shoulder to hold him upright against the doorframe.] Or you could hand'em over. Aren't you "afraid" of getting sick like all the rest?

[Bakugou, that's...well. I mean. It's kind of how that works. But, yeah. Be nice.]

[Oh my gosh, Bakugou really does look like he's about to collapse. How high is his fever? If it's really bad, he should see Recovery Girl, and Ochako could carry him with her quirk - even if he'd bitch and moan and probably throw blast after blast at her face. It's fine, not like she hasn't endured those already...though it'd be nice not to make him wear himself out any more than he looks already.

Ignoring his reaching hand, Ochako shakes her head and moves one of her hands out, to tenderly push back his bangs and put her palm on his forehead, pinky extended.]

No, I've gotten my vaccine already. [Said so casually, like talking about her favorite Hero.] And even if I didn't...seeing you look so miserable makes me feel worse than any illness could, Bakugou-kun. I think you have a fever - you're really hot. C'mon, let me in...I want to take your temperature.

...Please?

[He'll say that he definitely doesn't want to be carted around like some luggage. But honestly, without using his quirk, he's not able to put up much of a fight right now. It wouldn't be an honest victory, but she'd be able to claim she got one up on him. And it's more than likely it's because he's never been sick before that it's striking him so low, no antibodies prepared to fight it all off.

Bakugou knows for a fact his balance is shot, what with having to lean against the doorframe and all, but he does jerk his head back barely. The continually empty hand coming up to weakly bat hers away but she still makes contact.]

Miserable? Me? [A soft snort.] I'm ecstatic to be alone for once, can't you see? Free to sleep as long as I want, every school kid's dream, right? [Frowning at her concern over him, eyes narrowing.]

Of course I run hot, that's normal. [...Possibly. But at least he didn't turn it into a weird flirty joke.] If it'll get you out of my hair faster, then fine.

[Ochako absolutely would not count that as a victory - nor would she ever disgrace Bakugou by taking him out when he's so vulnerable (unless he makes her mad enough, and Ochako has the patience of a saint). If he can show her the decency of giving his best, and respecting her strength and resolve, then she can give him the same courtesy. It's why Ochako admires him - he's weirdly considerate, in his own way.

Though right now, he's being extremely stubborn, though she expected this. Sighing, Ochako withdraws her hand, but doesn't back down, though her face shifts from looking concerned to a stern, quiet ferocity - a promise that she's not going to leave, nor will she make this easy if he continues to be so bullheaded about getting the proper care. Though, for a fraction of a second, her intense look falters, mostly when he says he runs hotter than most. It makes sense, but, still.]

...Oh. That's kind of cute. [Open mouth, insert foot. Clearing her throat, feeling a bit warm herself suddenly, around the face, Ochako huffs, trying to look fierce again, but it just comes off as her looking like an agitated Jigglypuff.] You really can't just say "thank you", can you? Anyway, I'm coming in now.

[And she will bulldoze her way through, if he doesn't stand aside.]

[(He could probably try the patience of a Saint, if given the task. And he'd do it with a grin on his face.) But speaking of admiration that's the one thing he secretly admires about her, her determination despite the odds. Though, outwardly, he'll scoff at such a thing until he's blue in the face.

It...takes a moment. A good moment. For his sick-addled brain to digest what was just said about...him. The delay is enough for him to at least get some color in his face, the beginnings of a blush or perhaps anger. The world will never know, because just as he's about to bluster about it she's pushing herself past him and into the darkened room.]

O-oi!

[The light from the hallway spills into his room, illuminating a very different looking picture than one might imagine of one (1) Bakugou Katsuki. There's not much customizing going on, all in all it's very...stock one might say. Like he took the room as it was and didn't add any personal touches to it like the others have. Sure, there's a stand with his uniform and gear on it. A toolbox at the foot of that, his desk is a mess of schoolwork. But everything else is white and pine, with only an All Might flag above the bed. The green blanket he's draped with is usually on his horribly messy bed. ~~And there may or may not be an All Might shrine in the closet ala Helga Pataki.~~]

And where's this mystical thermometer, pink cheeks?

[That's the odd thing about these two, really - they respect and admire one another quietly, and can get along better than most because of it. Or, well...tolerate the other's presence, in Bakugou's case. Ochako enjoys his company, and has been trying to get to know him better, but it's not easy. He truly is a recluse... At the least he doesn't scream at her as much as everyone else. Progress, perhaps? She would like to think so.

Stepping into his room, Ochako immediately twists her head back and forth to case the joint when the light floods in, like a detective, or a spy, and the sheer disappointment is carved plain as day on her face. Hell, she even has to pause as her face pulls downward in shock.]

Eeeh...this is it?! It's so boring!

[She's not sure what she expected, really, but not...this. Bakugou's parents were designers, weren't they? She expected a bit more....flair. Especially coming from someone as, pfft...extra as Bakugou Katsuki. Ochako grimaces at him a half second, like he just crushed all her hopes and dreams in one fell swoop (because there were certainly bets placed by the gossipy girls about the contents of his room), then goes to close the door and turn on the lights because, well...she's a sensible human being. Of course, nothing comes of that since he TOOK OUT THE BULBS, and as she stands in the darkness, the feeling of a very flat look on him is coupled with a long, exasperated sigh.]

...Bakugou-kun. [:|] Please lay back in bed.

[While Ochako figures out how to get some light in here, while also being considerate to her sick friend. Her phone is...old. Extremely old. And outdated, because she could never afford a smartphone like everyone else has. But it still has a flashlight, even if it's not as strong. Reaching for it, she flips it open and turns if on, a tiny dot of light illuminating at least a potion of the room. It's...something. And to answer his question--]

Mm...I'll let you know when I find it. I'm not a cat.

[He'd be loathed to admit it but she's normally one of the least annoying ones in their class. With a few others being above her, simply for the fact that he doesn't interact with those classmates much so they get sorted to the top by default. Maybe his forced detachment is part of some undiscovered trauma from his childhood, something predating Deku. Or even something right around the point where he started treating Deku the way that he does. Something he's kept under wraps because he doesn't like being vulnerable or being called weak. But most of the "not screaming at her as much" comes from the respect from their fight, that's as much of it as he'll show anyway.

He raises an eyebrow from where he stands at the doorway, rolling his eyes after the outburst.] And you all wonder why I didn't want to show off my room in the first place.

[After all the different styles and ever changing patterns at his own home, his room was supposed to be a haven. A place that always looked the same, that didn't strain his eyes, and reflected his own personal style. Why else was his hero uniform pretty darn plain in comparison to others? At least he thinks it's plain compared to a lot of them.

But he kind of starts laughing again when she looks for lights and finds there is none, coughing again as he wordlessly complies with the request. H o w e v e r, he will be an ass and shut the door behind her because like hell he wants anyone else wandering over and seeing into his room. "No shut doors with other genders inside your room," his ass. He'll take the detention, not like he was allowed to leave right now anyway.]

What's a cat got to do with finding a thermometer that I don't have in my room to begin with? [Cocking his head to the side as he sits, watching the small beam of light.] Didn't bring one with you?

Edited 2020-09-23 01:23 (UTC)

[Normally, yes. Though Ochako is nice on most days, and treats Bakugou as she does any other of her male friends, there are times where her bluntness comes out, and she accidentally makes fun of or teases him. He, sadly, makes it very easy...but it's never really harmful. She's come to actually care a lot about him, and it may be because of how he treated her during their fight. It really shed a whole new light on how she saw Bakugou as a person, and made her more intent on actually getting to know him, instead of actively avoiding and being terrified of him. It nice, though, Bakugou is actually really nice to be around when he's got some semblance of calm.

Sort of like now, where she can chat with him, bust his chops a little bit, and not get her head (literally) blown off. The divide between their friendship was getting smaller and smaller, and that made Ochako really happy.]

Pfft, because you went to bed at eight o'clock like an old man.

[Though, all things considered, at that time there was a lot being left unsaid, words and feelings unspoken, and the Dorm/Room Contest was just a means to bring back some normalcy to the shaky and uncomfortable atmosphere built between the class. Even Ochako has her regrets, and her own hidden feelings surrounding...all that. Her inaction, her decision, and her resolve now.

The rustling of a bag in the dark flits through the room, and while the rules are indeed set that no male and female students are to be alone together in a room, especially after curfew, this feels like a special case. Bakugou is sick, and she's looking after him!! It's a bit of an excuse, yes, but she feels it's solid enough...maybe.]

My quirk isn't night vision, Bakugou-kun!! I didn't expect there to be so dark in here! It must've fallen to the bottom of the bag... [Setting her phone down, Ochako digs through the bag some more and comes up again with a digital thermometer, looking proud.] Found it!! Now put it under your arm and don't sweat all over i--

[There's a hard smack of something, probably her toe, hitting another very hard something, accompanied by the tiniest whimper of pain. Motherfucker, there's a deep seated urge to just smother him with his pillow and be done with it once and for all, but...she exhales slowly and approaches the bed again. This time more carefully.]

Okay, where are you? I can't see... [Waving her hand blindly, Ochako's four fingers (pinky up!) lands on the side of Bakugou's face, half in his hair.] Ah...there you are.

Edited (ME OF A THOUSAND EDITS) 2020-09-23 16:10 (UTC)

[Where as he only seems to show affection for his classmates by just making sure they're alive by the end of the day. Which normally means if they're in trouble, he'll be a grumbling hand in the pile sent to rescue them. Most of the time. He's reliable like that.

Grumble, grumble.] Damn good thing you all didn't wake me up, either. Though you might as well have. Being so damn noisy looking at the other rooms. [All of this she can take as mutterings to himself.] Yelling and laughter all down the halls. [They should make him be the old man with the cane yelling "get off my lawn" for Halloween...

Please smother him. It'd be a kindness to put him out of his misery with this flu, he'll get his shot next year like a good boy. Even be right in line behind her. A snort.] That'd be a sad excuse for a hero-quirk. [In his estimations, anyway.] Besides, what happens when damn flash grenade goes off in the middle of using that quirk. Best bet, you're blinded. Probably permane—

[He gets cut off by the sudden hand attacking his face, if he didn't know 100% that it was just the two of them in his room and no one else was seeing this... He'd probably whack her with the pillow for that. And yell.

As it is he just growls.] Get a better flashlight why don't you!! [Not going to apologize for the lights being absent. Nope.]

[He is reliable, which is a signed of Bakugou's growth. He's a natural born leader, certainly - smart, strong, adaptable, observant - but before he was never a team player... Now, the whole of the class knows they can count on him, and likewise. They have each other's backs through thick and thin; they're less a class now and more a tight-knit group of friends, all supporting and pushing one another forward.

There's actually quiet even well after Bakugou growls at her, because Ochako is awestruck. Her hand doesn't move - erm, well...not away, anyway. It slips deeper into his hair, fingers moving through his blond locks and petting through it as she blinks in the darkness.]

Wow...I-I was right all along, it really is soft! And fluffy! L-Like a baby chick... [Not hard and prickly, like ~~his personality~~ Kirishima's hair is, with all that gel he uses to spike it up the way he does. Bakugou's hair is soft, almost feathery, and Ochako can't help but play with it a little bit, before she clears her throat, feeling her face heat up and she retracts her fingers.]

A-Ah...right!! L-Light! Um, actually...c-can you make those little p-poppies with your quirk, B-Bakugou-kun? You know, those little explosions in your palm like popopopo. [It may be dark as night in his room, but Ochako is absolutely making a stance like he does, palms up, fingers wiggling to imitate the popping.] Those make a little bit of light - enough to see, since my phone is...not that great...

[It's old, outdated, but she can't afford to get a new one - Ochako doesn't have that kind of money to spend.]

If it's too much trouble, o-or you don't feel well enough, d-don't worry about it, though, I'll make do!! [Hi, no, this isn't a thinly veiled attempt to sidestep her playing with his hair a second ago, nope.]

O-o-oi!!! [Bakugou is all about ready to bat her hand out of his hair when she removes it herself, their hands pretty much brushing one another in the briefest of contacts.

However...

The feeling of having her hand in his hair is simultaneously comforting in a way he'd never known before—because, let's be honest...what is comforting in the Bakugou household?—and infuriating because how dare someone encroach on his personal bubble that he's furiously guarded all his life? Not that...she wasn't already encroaching on that space. But he hadn't murdered her for it yet, either. Mostly due to the fact he felt like just falling over in general. The thought of using his quirk to do anything right now just kinda made him nauseous?

So he makes a frustrated sort of groan and grabs his phone off the nightstand, turning on the flashlight. The horribly cracked screen still has a bright LED flashlight. And he's pointedly pointing it away from himself as he struggles to keep from blushing.]

Just gimme the damn thing already!

[He's not going to let her shove the thermometer under his arm. That would mean letting her move his shirt around and it's... Honestly? It's kinda gross right now. He knows she wouldn't say anything about it but she's got a really bad poker face when it comes to gross things.

Holding his hand out for it.] It had better be already on!

[Ochako winces, bracing for an explosion, because that's just The Bakugou Way, but again she's surprised and actually a little worried when he doesn't. Not even a hard smack, which is what his alternative would have been. Even his shouting has been dumbed down to a hoarse croak, and that's genuinely concerning...he's really taken this flu pretty bad, if it's sapped his strength to this degree. Mm, that makes Ochako's brows knit together, and it steels her focus. No more playing around - she's here to take care of him, not make fun of him, or play around when he's so vulnerable.

Once the light illuminates their immediate space - much brighter than her dinky, little flip phone - Ochako is pretty close to Bakugou, holding out the thermometer to him carefully. There is a clear look of unease in her big, brown eyes as well. She doesn't enjoy seeing people suffer, even the hot head himself, and it's written plain as day on her face.]

You really are sick... S-Sorry, um. Here, keep it steady for a minute, until it beeps. I'm going to get you some tea I made, Bakugou-kun... Ah, i-it's ginger, since I know you like things a little spicy, but I put some honey in it to help soothe your throat, and it'll help with your stomach, too, if you're feeling nauseous... [Without the threat of tripping or smacking her foot against anything, Ochako goes back to where she placed all the things she brought, and grabs three items - a cold compress for his forehead if he does have a high fever, the medicine tablets, and aforementioned thermos. She takes a seat next to him and unscrews the lid/cup, pouring the steaming contents into it and carefully handing it to him.]

It's still hot, so be careful. A-And let me know how it is, I...um, t-tried to make it suit your tastes, but it may still be on the sweeter side... [It is, yes, because of the honey she put in, but it has a nice flavor balance of mild spiciness and a pleasant sweetness to round it out. Besides, it's hot and soothing indeed for his raw throat. Furthermore, it smells heavenly. It must be loose leaf, probably one of Yaomomo's expensive blends.] You should swallow some medicine with that, too.

[Doing the small explosives take too much concentration at the moment, he'd rather take the "dull/normal" way out. If he were on her side, he'd probably be yelling that she's trying to milk it. But honestly, he likely won't make fun of anyone being sick ever again, not having had his first real dose of the flu.

And look at him, clearly avoiding those puppy dog eyes by looking up and away from her. As he grabs at the thermometer, he side-eyes over at her as she gets the thermos all set up, but he puts the thermometer under his arm like a good lad at least.]

...Thanks. [He's surprised, honestly, that she remembers his preference for spicy things. Even though...let's be real here, he's kinda loud about everything. It's the fact that it's something she remembered, something small. It's hard to explain the feeling of being touched (at the heart) in the voice of Bakugou Katsuki. He's not sure how he feels about it? Nauseated isn't the word, but he'll latch onto it for now. (He wants the words: butterflies in his stomach.)

But to keep the awkward tone from continuing he'll grouch out:] I took medicine already this morning. I should be on the mend.

[Right? ...Bakugou, that's not how medicine works.]

[It really wasn't hard to discover his preference in foods, really. On top of being...indeed very loud about it, Ochako had the horrible misfortune to accidentally take out some of his leftovers from the fridge for breakfast before an early morning jog. Needless to say, after one bite, she face light up worse than Todoroki's left side and probably drowned her head in a carton of milk and crawled back to her room to die. Ochako can tolerate spice, a little bit, but the radioactive levels Bakugou enjoys...merciful heavens.

But, despite that, Ochako blinks, then beams at the thanks. Not something she'd expect to hear come out of Bakugou's mouth, but it makes her feel warm, in a good way. He really isn't such a bad guy - not like what he appears to be, anyway. She's about to say something, before she pauses, blinks, then stares.]

Wha--I'm...EEH?! Bakugou, you have to keep taking medicine!! Sometimes twice, even three times a day! For a week, or longer sometimes!! You can't really...h-have you never been sick before?! Are you a god?!

[What the FUCK, Katsuki.]

[Oof. He'd apologize but let's be real here. He'd be more offended that she took his leftovers. He probably does it so he doesn't have to share his food to be honest, nothing's worse than a person who goes "oh, what's that? can I try?" and without waiting for an answer, snipes some of your food. Folks do it once and then they're horrified every time he eats in front of them. It's a win-win.

Frowning at her in an annoyed way. Because why are you trying to make him take more of it.] Usually everyone in my house isn't carrying who knows what!! [So no, never been sick.]

BEE-BEE-BEE-BEEP!! BEE-BEE-BEE-BEEP!!

[He pulls out the thermometer and shoves it at her.] And if they wanted you to keep taking it they shouldn't make the liquid stuff taste like damn car oil.

[In Ochako's defense, their bento boxes were next to each other in the fridge, and at 5am, colors tend to blend together. It was a mistake she won't soon repeat, if she can truly help it. You keep your edible magma, Bakugou Katsuki, she wants no part of it ever again.

Ochako gawks at him for a full minute, mouth hanging open in disbelief. He really hasn't ever been sick before...that's insanity. No wonder he's taking this flu so bad, there is literally no immunity to fight it off. He...might ben in this for the long haul, then. Flus are never fun, even when you're used to them. Ochako purses her lips together, looking her poor friend over before taking the thermometer from him, squinting and holding it closer to the light to read it proper, making a face almost instantly.]

...You do have a fever. It's not too high, but it's higher than it should be. [Sighing, she wipes the thermometer clean with a disinfectant wipe, wraps it, and sets it aside on his nightstand, then reaching for that cold compress to stick to his forehead.] Here, hold still now...this'll help cool you off, but you have to take your medicine, Bakugou-kun, and it's a pill, not syrup. The syrup is for kids.

[She leans forward, blinking slowly and feeling her face warm up a little bit as she meets his eyes, glancing away hurriedly. Wow, this is, uhh...super awkward. And uncomfortable.] P-Push back your b-b-bangs for a s-sec, I n-need to put this on y-your forehead...

( nursed back to health shipping meme. )

happy super belated and apologies again for my super late tag back

1/2 - aww, thank you!! and again no worries at all. ♥

2/2

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welp. now to come up with his room style. /was trying to delay it

OOPS...sorry, though I love the description, and your Bakugou is top notch. ♥

thanks! i figured he'd have the most generic sort of room. ;a; & thank ♥ i love your ochako

it makes sense for him, lol and vcjfjdaaah thank youuu, you're too nice ;w; ♥♥

me editing a million times before you bc the title kept eating the o in ochako.

rude dw... i just suck at words LMF. btw lmk if you want shippy or gen since i can go both ways

i'm fine with either tbh! it goes the way the wind blows~

excellent, just didn't wanna make u uncomfy since i know some people don't like the ship |Db

sorry for the late, decided to muck my arm up. :|a

D: oh noo, please feel better, friend. ♥♥

i had a brace on most of the day! that helped. ♥♥

ah, yes, wrist/arm jail... i have been there myself, but i'm glad it helped!