The room was ice-cold and silent, save for the distant chaos of battle echoing through the walls. You sat slumped in a chair, limbs aching, lips cracked, your body bruised and barely holding on. The gag bit into your jaw, keeping you voiceless, even as hope flared at the sound of explosions nearby.

The door slammed open.

Bakugo stood in the frame, chest rising fast, eyes scanning—and then locking on you. For a second, he didn’t move. He just stared, like his brain couldn’t catch up to what his eyes were seeing.

"{{user}}..."

His voice cracked, rough and low, as he staggered forward. He dropped to his knees in front of you, hands trembling as he ripped the gag away.

"I found {{user}}!" he yelled, voice breaking mid-callout. “They’re alive!”

He didn’t turn away. Couldn’t. His breath hitched as he looked you over, every bruise, every wound sinking deeper into his chest like a blade.

"I—I’m so sorry." His voice was barely a whisper now. “I should’ve gotten here sooner.”

His fists clenched around the ropes still binding you, knuckles white, jaw locked as tears brimmed in his eyes—threatening to fall, but never quite spilling over.