Title: dear, it's okay to need people sometimes

Characters/Pairings: Midoriya/Bakugo, various friendships

Summary: "I never said I needed you." "Yeah, well, I don't need you either."

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

It happens on a Thursday.

They are all outside on the field, doing training exercises. Everything is going exactly how it was supposed to. They are broken up into teams, practicing reflex drills and learning how to use their Quirks defensively.

And then a sound cuts through the noise, loud enough to get the attention of those nearby.

Midoriya is clutching his chest, his face red, as raspy wheezes exit his throat—each one shallower than the last.

His knees start to shake and everyone can see the panic in his eyes.

Everyone runs towards him, surrounding the green-eyed boy as he heaves, desperately trying to breathe. People start talking over each other, demanding things, asking questions, trying to talk to Midoriya.

"Where's Aizawa?"

"Someone go and get Recovery Girl!"

"Oh my god, Midoriya!""

And then, a loud scream comes from outside of the crowd.

"Shut up, all of you. You're making it worse. Back away from the damn nerd," Bakugo says lowly, stroding towards the boy huddled on the ground.

The class stands silently, staring at him with a mixture of confusion and suspicion.

Bakugo growls, the sound deep in his throat and full of anger. "Now, morons. Do you want him to die or do you want to move so I can help him?"

Todoroki is the first to move, with Tokoyami right behind him.

"Do what he says," the boy who controls fire and ice says quietly, noticing something in Bakugo's expression.

The group disperses and Midoriya is left standing alone, knees knocking together, his entire body swaying drastically.

Bakugo strides forward confidently and, to the surprise of everyone, wraps his arms around the smaller boy's waist, sliding down to a sit on the ground and pulling the wheezing boy onto his lap.

"Look at me, Deku. Right here," Bakugo says firmly.

Midoriya's hands are fluttering wildly at his throat and Bakugo grabs for one and brings it to his chest.

"Do you hear me, Deku? Listen to my breathing, okay? Follow my breathing," he says, counting down.

Midoriya stares at his childhood friend's chest, watching it rise and fall, feeling his heartbeat between his fingers.

Slowly, his breathing evens out and the wheezing stops.

Bakugo, with a gentleness that no one knew he possessed, brushes the hair away from Midoriya's eyes and pulls him closer. He kisses the top of his head—a long, lingering kiss that sends shivers up and down his spine, even now. He knows that everyone is watching, judging, trying to figure him out. He hates the attention, but he loves Midoriya more.

"I miss you, Kacchan," the green-haired boy whispers, his eyes filling with tears.

The words send a pang through Bakugo's veins. It burns him way more than his explosive Quirk ever will. He wants to tell the boy in his arms the truth. That he should have never left him. That he was an idiot and he messed up. That he would always care about him. That he never stopped.

"Shut up, stupid Deku," he says harshly as he shoves Midoriya off his lap and stands up. "You're always such a crybaby."

He was never very good at being honest, he thinks as he storms away.