Izuku shot up in bed, heart pounding and breath ragged as the haunting images of his dream clung to him. The battlefield, Bakugo’s lifeless body, the eerie silence—it all felt so real. His hands trembled as he ran them through his sweat-dampened hair, trying to shake the image of Bakugo's pale skin and empty eyes.

The moonlight filtered into their shared dorm room, casting a soft glow over Bakugo, who lay peacefully beside him. His chest rose and fell steadily, the quiet sound of his breathing a stark contrast to the nightmare Izuku had just escaped from.

Izuku’s throat tightened as he stared at him. The relief that flooded through him was overwhelming, almost enough to make him tear up. Bakugo was alive, right there, safe and sound. Still, the fear from his dream hadn’t completely left him. It gnawed at his chest, making it hard to breathe as he reached out and gently brushed a few stray blond strands away from Bakugo’s face.