Chapter Forty

Later that day, I get my first visit from Recovery Girl and, as promised, I'm finally discharged from the hospital, well on my way to being healed. According to her, leaving there with a wrist brace, a couple of busted ribs, and a few cuts and bruises is nothing short of a miracle.

"Are you sure you can't just heal me up a little more? I promise I'll sleep it off" I say once we're back in her infirmary. The old woman frowns at me, a disapproving look in her eyes.

"Kaida Ito, if you don't get out of my office" she warns. I laugh a little, wincing at the pain in my side. Yikes. Yeah... broken ribs suck.

"Okay... just a few days, right?" I ask her, earning a sigh.

"A few days" she agrees. I nod and take my leave then, hoping the next few days pass by quickly. I hate being injured, but I have to admit... having a little down time has been kind of... nice.

On my way back to the dorms, it's late afternoon and a light cool breeze flutters through my air, making me shiver a bit. I wrap my arms around myself, surprised by the sudden skittishness I feel. I've never been the type to be scared to be alone, but... I walk a little faster, feeling like I have eyes on me from every direction. What the hell? I've walked this path a million times, alone or not, I've always felt safe here. Still, the tension in my gut is undeniable and the pain at my side isn't helping anything. I try not to walk too fast, afraid of what might happen if I over exert myself, but the panic of being by myself is an intimidating beast. Suddenly the wind sounds like Juro whispering my name and the feel of it against my skin reminds me of Hiroto's eyes, staring up at me from the floor. Every cell in my body screaming at me in that moment... kill her, kill her, KILL HER. My quirk wakes up within me, the urge to defend myself too strong to ignore... where are they?

"Kaida, whoa! Hey, are you okay?" I'm startled back into my own skin when I bump into Kirishima, eyes wild.

"I um, I don't..." my voice trails off, heart still racing even though I realize the danger was all in my head. Kirishima looks at me with concern and I finally see that he's not alone. Kaminari, Ashido, and Jiro all look at me in concern and my face heats.

"Ah... I'm sorry" I say sheepishly, forcing myself to smile.

"You looked really freaked out" Ashido says, worry written all over her face. I laugh a little, wincing again at the pain in my ribs.

"Yeah... sorry. I was kinda lost in thought" I admit, scratching the back of my neck. Damn it... I have to keep it together.

"Want us to walk back with you? It's no trouble" Kirishima offers, the kindness in his expression making my heart squeeze. I give him a thankful smile, but shake my head.

"No that's okay. I'm just a bit tired. I'll catch you guys later" I reply. The four of them seem hesitant, but they don't fight me on it and when I start for the dorms again, I push myself to stay focused. Nothing is happening, no one is here, I am safe, and when I finally make it back in one piece, I breathe a sigh of relief, the tension in my stomach releasing ever so slightly. Home.

I take my time going inside, climbing up the stairs slowly and smiling at the memories I've made here. With my friends... with Shoto and Katsuki... it's weird to me to think of them both so fondly, but I can tell the difference now between the two and it still fills me with warmth to remember where I've come from. Inside, I walk towards the stairs and pause still, absorbing every familiar thing I can. The kitchen where I stole yogurt with Shoto and finally got to see my father, the bathroom where Katsuki defended my honor, and the hall where Iida called me out. I can't help but to dwell on all of these memories after spending so much time thinking I'd never get to make any more of them. I was so sure I'd either spend an eternity getting tortured or I'd die just to keep Juro from getting what he wanted, that standing here now is surreal. The moment I saved Katsuki from his grasp... that was the moment I accepted my fate and now, I feel like I've gotten a second chance. I go upstairs, still replaying the last several months in my head, and as I finally make it to my room, ribs aching from the effort of climbing stairs, I look up to see Katsuki standing at my door, staring at me. I freeze, time slowing and heart racing. It feels like it's been a life time since I've seen him... even longer since I've kissed him, or talked to him, or seen him laugh.

"Hey" he says, breaking the silence, voice rough. I swallow, trying to control the emotions that threaten to overwhelm me. Relief, anxiousness, joy, fear...

"Hi" I reply quietly. I don't know how to proceed from here, all I know is that I missed him. I missed him so much that my chest hurts just looking at him, standing here in the hall, in front of my door like he's been waiting there this whole time. I want to scream and cry and laugh. I want to run to him and hold onto him so tightly that my ribs shriek with the pressure of it. I want...

"How are you feeling?" he asks. The question is so unlike him that it's jarring and I'm not sure how to respond. I shrug, absently picking at my wrist brace with my other hand.

"I'm okay... a few broken ribs, you know" I try to laugh it off, but the look on his face only grows more intense. Confusion swims through me as I try to figure it out... he looks so lost. So angry and unsure. It's unsettling to say the least.

"Katsuki..." I start and he clenches his fists, looking away from me.

"How could you..." he begins, voice low and full of the anger I saw in his eyes. My own eyes widen in surprise, heart aching.

"How could you go with that bastard? How could you save me like that? And put your life at risk?" he demands furiously. His voice is still so quiet, but it shakes with the intensity of his question and for the first time since I've met him, I'm actually intimidated by his rage.

"Katsuki..." I say again, unsure if I understand where his anger is coming from or not. After all, wouldn't I be upset with him too? Wasn't I once before?

"You should've left me!" he shouts suddenly, making me jump. When he looks at me again, the look on his face is enough to make hurt and guilt wash through me in overwhelming waves. He's so angry and so hurt, but his eyes are full to the brim with tears, shining and desperately asking me to say something. I swallow hard.

"How dare you come at me after saving your life, asking me to stop putting myself in danger for you, only for you to turn around and do the same thing! Do you even understand how it felt?! Do you know what it was like for me? To know that you were taken... because you had to save me" he adds, voice wavering and so loud in the hall that it feels like it's bouncing off the walls.

"I'm sorry..." I whisper, unfamiliar with the way my chest feels like it's breaking apart or my stomach feels hollow and cold. All I know is that it hurts.

"Then why? Why did you do it, Kaida?" he pleads, looking up at me with a gaze that spears right through me. Why? Why did I save him? Doesn't he already know? Can't he see it when I look at him? Can't he feel it whenever we're together? I walk towards him, ignoring the brief look of panic in his eyes, and when I'm standing right in front of him, I reach up to touch his face, meeting his eyes without faltering. This close, I can see the different hues of red in his irises and smell the laundry detergent on his clothes. His skin is just as hot as always and being this close to him still takes my breath away.

"Of course, I saved you, Katsuki..." I murmur, shaking my head. In this moment, it's impossible to deny the way that I'm feeling. It's impossible to look at him and not know, with every fiber of my being that it was always him. That I love Katsuki Bakugo with all of my mind, heart, and soul.

"I saved you because... I love you, you idiot. And watching you die... it would've destroyed me. I couldn't let that happen... not to you" I say finally and his eyes widen. This look on his face... the combination of embarrassment, shock, and disbelief... it's as hope inspiring as it is terrifying.

"Say that... again..." he says gruffly, still staring at me like he might be dreaming. I don't know if I can take saying it again, not when it took me so long to say it the first time, but the words come to me again anyway, a small space in my heart finally feeling like it's opening.

"I... I love you" I repeat myself and without a second's hesitation, Katsuki pulls me into a kiss, hands on either side of my face. I make a noise of surprise and mild pain against his lips, letting my eyes slip closed as I kiss him back. I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you... the words play on repeat in my head like I can't get enough of them and the way that Katsuki kisses me only makes them louder. He pulls away suddenly, still holding onto me as he tries to catch his breath.

"I love you, too" he whispers. My heart soars, my entire body filling with such an intense happiness that it almost feels unreal. I reach up and place my hand over his, biting my lip when he opens his eyes to meet mine again.

"Stay with me?" I ask him and he nods, knowing exactly what I mean without me having to explain it. I smile softly, letting go of his hand so that I can wrap my arms around him, hugging him as gingerly as I can. I can sense the color in his cheeks and even the look on his usually grumpy face, but he hugs me back, arms gentle against me.

"I missed you..." he mumbles, so quietly I can barely hear. I laugh a little, resting my head against his chest and listening to the steady beat of his heart.

"I missed you too" I reply. The two of us stay like this for only a few more minutes, trying to soak up every second of the moment before we enter my dorm room and I try to figure out a way to lie down comfortably.

"Three more days" I grumble to myself as I lay back on my pillows, grimacing as Katsuki helps me adjust.

"Don't be such a baby" he commands, sitting up next to me and absently combing his fingers against my scalp. I close my eyes at his touch, finally feeling some semblance of peace.

"I hate being broken" I mutter, frowning when his hand stops.

"Broken?" he echoes and I sigh, nodding.

"Broken ribs, shot wrist, broken quirk... I can't even think about using it until my next visit with Recovery Girl" I reply, pouting. Katsuki gives me a stern look.

"Good. You don't need to be going around trying to save anybody else right now" he tells me. I gape.

"Excuse you. I'm good at saving people!" I protest, he scoffs, looking away from me.

"More like good at getting yourself hurt" he retorts. My gaping only worsens and I swat his chest.

"I saved your ass, didn't I?" I demand and he glowers.

"Literally almost at the cost of your life" he growls and I shrug.

"Still saved it. Key word was almost" I say, smirking when he makes that irritated face again.

"You must really love pissing me off" he complains, turning away, but I grab his waist, trying to pull him towards me. My side throbs and I wince instantly.

"Ouch" I say, prompting him to turn back to me immediately, eyes glancing over me with more concern than I've ever seen in his face before.

"You okay? You need to be more careful, Kaida, you're still hurt" he admonishes. My face flushes, the worry in his tone so different from his usual behavior that it stuns me.

"Um, yeah... I'm fine..." I reply, completely distracted from the pain when he gently caresses my face with his thumb. I bite my lip.

"I wish... I didn't have to be so careful with you" he murmurs to me, a hungry look lighting up his gaze. At this exact moment, I realize just how long it's been since we were last together that way and it opens up a need within me that's damn hard to ignore. I cover my face, cursing my aching body and broken bones.

"Katsuki" I whine, frustrated and annoyed immediately.

"What is it? Did I do something wrong?" he asks me in a low voice, making the situation worse. I glare at him through my fingers.

"You're literally the worst person" I tell him. He smirks, hand still at my cheek.

"I like the way you look at me when you're frustrated like this..." he notes, showing no signs of stopping. I try to roll over, gritting my teeth against the pain in my side.

"That's it. I'm leaving now. You can sleep here alone" I say through a clenched jaw, trying to catch my breath through the pain.

"Hey, stop that!" Katsuki exclaims, pulling me gently back into place. I huff, pain making me feel breathless.

"I do what I want" I pant, earning a glare.

"What you want is stupid" he tells me and it's my turn to glare.

"Wanting you is stupid now?" I demand and his face reddens, bringing me some satisfaction.

"That's not what I said" he says immediately, making me roll my eyes.

"Make up your mind, Katsuki... you're driving me crazy" I complain and the look on his face makes my stomach flutter.

"I really hate injuries..." he mumbles, eyes travelling from my gaze down to my mouth and then some. My whole body flushes, stomach flipping.

"Katsuki..." I murmur. He looks back up at me, same hungry gaze as before.

"Yeah..." he breathes and I can't help it. I pull him close to me, craning my neck up to pull him into another kiss. He complies easily, careful to support his weight over me to avoid causing me even more injury. I groan against his lips, frustrated that I can't pull him closer, or more so that he won't let me.

"Hold on..." he gasps, pulling away from me suddenly and covering the lower half of his face. His cheeks are flushed and his eyelids are heavy which only makes it that much harder for me to resist.

"I can't keep kissing you like that" he says breathlessly, voice rough and low. My fingers knot themselves in his shirt, my body refusing to accept that as an answer.

"Of course you can" I mumble, earning a withering stare.

"Damn it, Kaida. You're making this so much harder than it has to be" he growls and I smirk, casually finding my way beneath his shirt with my good hand, gliding my fingertips against his stomach. He looks over at me, gaze filled to the brim with need.

"That's the idea" I tell him, once again gaining the satisfaction from watching his face flush red and his eyes widen. He glares at me, throwing himself back on the bed and covering his face with both his hands this time to avoid looking at me. 

"Fuck" he complains and I laugh, cuddling up to him as much as I can without hurting myself and enjoying the closeness of him. Yeah... this is one of the things I missed most.