"Are you sure you're okay, Son?"Inko asked,stroking Izuku's hair lovingly. The teen turned away to cough. He had just been diagnosed with Pneumonia that morning, causing Inko more concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine."He replied. Inko gave the teen a skeptical look, fixing the blanket over Izuku.

"Are you warm enough or too warm, do you need-" Izuku took her hand.

"Mom, it's okay, really." He assured her gently. Inko frowned.

"I'm sorry." She sniffled. "You scared me half to death, Izuku. I really thought I'd lost you and I can't even tell you how it felt to hear-" the Ill teen hugged her as she began to sob. "You scared me half to death, Izuku."

"I know it must've been terrible and I didn't mean to. I'm going to be okay." He soothed, hoping to avoid a scene. He found it difficult to handle his mother's fussing, though Inko meant well, Izuku couldn't truly rest when he knew she was upset.

"Of course you will, Son. I know. I just-I love you so much. I don't know what I'd do if you hadn't come back to me, Baby."

"I'm not going anywhere, mom. I'm here, please don't cry."Bakugo shook his head. Inko had been fussing and sobbing most of the time Izuku had been in the hospital. It seemed the boy couldn't take a breath without his mother worrying.

"I just want you to-"Izuku coughed, interrupting Inko.

"That sounds painful , do you want me to-"

"Mom,please don't worry, it's not-"

"What happened with that stupid show last night?" Bakugo interjected in an attempt to defuse the situation. "That weird mustache guy make the top three?" Inko turned to the blond in surprise.

"I didn't think you were interested in the baking competition,Katsuki." She said. Bakugo shook his head

"Just wondering. There wasn't anything else on, hospital cable freaking sucks." Izuku knew he would owe his rival for what was about to take place, but the few moments of peace would be well worth it.

"He was second." She replied. " the woman who made the coconut cake won."

"What'd she get, brain's still a little fuzzy." Inko turned back to Izuku who now seemed to be resting more comfortably than he had been a moment ago.

"Izuku-"she began, the ill boy offered his best attempt at an encouraging smile.

"It's okay, go talk to Kacchan. I'm just going to sleep a little before I have to take another breathing treatment." Inko kissed his head.

"I'm just going to be over there if you need anything."The dark haired woman pulled a chair over to the blond and began to fill in the details that he had requested. Deku made a mental note to thank Bakugo for offering her a distraction. By lunchtime,Bakugo knew more about baking than he cared to. He had also managed to convince her to join his mother in going out to eat , promising to look after the Izuku until they returned. He was glad for the break from both women.

Bakugo again found himself drawn to Izuku's side. He sighed, Izuku no longer seemed as frail, yet some part of him needed to be there for his rival, that part that held tight to the promise he made the day they were brought in, even if he had done so silently.

"Kacchan?"Izuku said sleepily, opening his eyes.

"Hey Deku, you doing okay?"

"Y-yeah I guess. What are you doing over here, I thought you'd be mad at me after having to listen to all that stuff about-"Bakugo scoffed.

"When am I not pissed at you?" He replied with a glare. "Don't worry, we'll deal with everything later. I told you as soon as you're out of here-"

"Yeah, I know...still, thanks for taking the attention off me for a while. I love my mom, but sometimes it's hard to handle her overprotective reactions while I'm sick. I know it's my fault, but-"

"You put her through hell, what did you think was gonna happen, Moron?"

"You're right, I did. I'm just-I feel guilty for even being frustrated with the fussing but I really just don't feel like I can handle it all right now."

"She's your mom, Deku, you can't expect her to go through all that shit and be fine with it, she was overprotective before, wait til you get out of here."

"Yeah, it's going to be a lot worse." Izuku groaned feebly. A moment of silence passed between the teens before Izuku spoke again.

"Kacchan?"

"What?"

"She told me...about everything you did for her. I just want you to know that it means a lot to me. Thank you for taking care of my mom. If you ever need anything-"

"Yeah, just drop it." Bakugo growled.

"If that's what you want, Kacchan. I just-I guess I feel bad that you had to deal with all that and your parents. I know your mom isn't as fussy as mine, but I'm sure she was still scared."

"Do you ever shut up?" Another pause.

"Would it make you feel better if I told you that when you got knocked out, you hit me really hard in my face?" Deku asked. For only a second, Izuku swore he saw a faint smirk on Bakugo's face.

"Depends."

"On what?"

"Was I aware of what I was doing?"

"I don't think so. you kind of got thrown into me and your arm flew up and hit me."

"Then it doesn't count."Bakugo insisted. "Probably deserved it though, Nerd."

"I guess by your standards, I did. Actually, I'll give you that one, I did deserve it."

"What are you talking about?"

"N-nothing. We'll talk about that when your head's better. I'll explain what I can then."Deku promised." For now, c-could you move my cup closer?" Deku motioned to the object on the over bed table. Bakugo obliged.

"You want it now?" Deku nodded.

"I'm not sure I can handle it yet, but I'll-"The blond teen lifted the cup from the table and turned the straw toward Izuku. Deku took several sips,, emptying the glass of its contents. Bakugo set the cup back down.

"Kacchan?"Deku said weakly.

"What?"the blond straightened the covers around the ill boy.

"It's a little warm. Would you mind- I mean since mom's not here at the moment-"Bakugo shook his head, taking one of the cloths from the drawer in the nightstand, moving into the small bathroom and running it under tepid water, squeezing out the extra before folding it neatly, turning off the sink and returning to Izuku. He placed the object on the boy's forehead.

"You're such a helpless nerd." He growled. "What the hell are you gonna do when I go home?" Izuku visibly relaxed into his pillow, closing his eyes.

"I-I really don't know, Kacchan. I guess I'll just have to learn to deal with it. I'm sorry."

"Yeah you are."

"Come on, Kacchan. I mean it, You've been with me this whole time. You looked after my mom, you're taking care of me, you didn't have to. I know you hate me,everyone can see that. I'm not sure why you-whatever your reason is, thanks for putting most of it aside for now. I'm sorry you got dragged into this. I'm sorry I've been so dependent on you since I've gotten here." Bakugo glanced down at the sheets.

"What else is there to do in this damn place?"

"I guess not much, but you still didn't have to do it."

"Whatever, Deku. You got everything you need?"

"Yeah, I should be okay until the nurse comes in for the treatment. Thanks again."

"Feeling okay?"

"About the same, I guess."

I'm going back over to my side, might see what's on tv. You good with the noise?"Bakugo asked.

"Yeah. Don't let me stop you."

"Like you actually could."

"Kacchan?"

"What Nerd?"Izuku looked away.

"I-I haven't asked about you, I mean I know you said not to but...I know you were having some dizziness and with everything you've been doing lately...I mean if you wanted to, you could watch mine and take a break for a while. I could try to move-"

"Don't. It hasn't been long since they stopped the bleeding and I don't want you messing anything up, I'm fine right here." He took the remote, pressing the button, Izuku smiled faintly.

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you cared about that, but it's probably just your concussion. Either way, it does mean a lot to me. We've never been really close, but...it meant the world to me that you let me hang out with you."

"Yeah. whatever you say,Deku." He clicked through the channel guide. "Looks like we have three choices, those crappy shows our moms watch, game shows, or those old as hell shows. Daytime tv sucks." Bakugo complained. "You feel like getting your ass kicked with the game shows?"

"Like when we were both home sick from school when we were little, and your mom brought you over and we had to watch those game shows with the cards?"Deku asked.

"Yeah, something like that. You up for it?"Izuku missed those days.

"I could probably watch one or two."He replied. "It'll give us something to do, at least." Bakugo allowed his mind to wander back to those sick days. He recalled lying on the couch under Izuku's blue All Might blanket, while the dark haired boy rested on the other side, curled up under the same cover while Inko made chicken soup for them. Bakugo wouldn't say it out loud, but he sometimes worried about Izuku in those days. Even now, after everything he had done and said, Izuku sometimes found his way into Katsuki's thoughts.

Bakugo leaned back against the mattress, pulling his feet up onto the bed. Izuku shifted his head to make room for Bakugo to share the pillow.

"You tell anyone about this-" He began.

"Why would I do that?" Izuku interrupted. Bakugo didn't reply, "Do you want to share the blanket?"

"Yeah, it's kind of cold in here." Izuku allowed the blond to pull some of the thin cover over his body.

"You have enough?" Katsuki asked.

"Yeah." Izuku coughed harshly, causing an eruption of pain in his chest, back and ribs. He let out a soft moan. Bakugo sighed.

"Do you need your medicine?"

"N-No. I don't like how it makes me feel. My brain gets all funny and I get really tired, I'm tired of being so tired, Kacchan. But I feel terrible."

"I know you do. The button's right here, use it."

"But-"

"Damn it Izuku, just push the fucking thing." Bakugo growled.

"But.. I really do hate that I can't think clearly and my mom-"

"You don't have to think about anything except getting better and don't worry about your mom. She'll want you to do whatever you have to do so you can feel better. You know it'll get to her more if you don't.

"If she needs-"

"She's got people to look after her, Deku. You know she does."

"Yeah, but-" Katsuki shook his head.

"Don't worry about it. It'll be fine." Izuku hesitated before pressing the button for the pain medication. He managed to get through the first episode before he gave into his fatigue.

Katsuki remained still, listening to the mechanical beeping of the machines around him. He turned his attention back to Izuku, The teen's head shifted in his sleep, resting against Katsuki's shoulder. Bakugo rolled his eyes but didn't move.

"Just this once, Deku, I'll let it go." He said quietly. "But don't think for a second this changes anything."