Katsuki Bakugo had never run so fast in his life. His heart pounded against his ribs, his breathing ragged, but none of it mattered. Not the burning muscles, not even the shouts of the other heroes trying to call after him.

All that mattered was getting to the hospital.

The call still echoed in his ears. Critical condition. Emergency surgery. Medically induced coma. The words crashed over him, threatening to drown him in panic.

His mind played out the scene like a horror film on repeat. The villain attack. The crumbling building. His boyfriend, rushing in. No hesitation, just instinct. He had always been like that, risking himself for others. And this time… this time it had nearly cost him everything.

The second Bakugo burst through the hospital doors, a nurse tried to stop him, but he shoved past her, eyes wild. “Where is he?” His voice was raw, on the verge of breaking.

It took one look at his face for them to give him an answer.

ICU.

He didn’t remember how he got there. One moment he was at the entrance, the next he was in the hall outside the operating room, staring through the glass. He could barely make out his boyfriend through the machines and medical staff working frantically to keep him alive. Blood stained the sheets, tubes ran into his body.

Bakugo’s knees nearly gave out. His chest felt too tight, his vision blurred. Not him. Please, not him.

He wasn’t sure how long he stood there before someone touched his shoulder. Kirishima. The redhead didn’t say anything, just stood beside him.

Bakugo’s jaw clenched. He should’ve been there. Should’ve stopped him. Should’ve taken the hit instead. His boyfriend was the one who always smiled, who always told him to trust that things would work out.

But what if this time, they didn’t?

“Come on, man,” Kirishima said quietly. “Let’s sit down.”

Bakugo didn’t move. He couldn’t. Not when he was on the other side of that glass, fighting for his life.

And for the first time in years, Bakugo felt utterly powerless.