𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙙 (𝗄𝗂𝗋𝗂𝖻𝖺𝗄𝗎)

One | Blood the Color of Roses

"Hey, I'm fine," Bakugou growled, pulling his arm out of the nurse's grasp. Suddenly, he stopped walking to cough into his arm, his own actions contradicting his words as he coughed out bits of dark red blood. He elected to ignore the new drop now staining the sleeve of his hoodie.

The nurse standing next to him grabbed onto his arm again—a bit tighter this time—keeping him upright as she tried to lead him down the hallway. She looked nervous at both the boy's condition and attitude, though she hid it well except for her trembling hands and eyes that darted everywhere except him.

"I said, I'm fine!" Bakugou pushed her off with a weak hand. "I'm not a baby. I can walk on my own."

"Mr Bakugou—"

"I'm fine," he repeated, malice dripping with every word just like the blood that was now dripping onto his chin. He wiped it quickly with the back of his hand and glared at the nurse. "What part of that don't you understand?"

"Katsuki, they're only here to help you," Mitsuki Bakugou—his mom—said. Her voice was calm, but it teetered right on the edge of sounding like that or sounding straight-up pissed.

"Does it look like I give a damn? I'm fine."

"Be nice!" Mitsuki hissed, popping him on the back of the head. She turned to the nurse, who was now walking a few feet behind them instead of next to them out of fear. "I'm very sorry about him," she said with a deep bow. "He's . . . sensitive when it comes to this."

"Shut up, you hag!"

"Katsuki, you are almost an adult. Act like one."

"Then stop treating me like a damn child!"

Mitsuki looked like she was about to bite back with another retort, but the nurse stopped walking and pointed to an open door with a shaky hand, making her stay quiet. "Mr Bakugou, this is the room you'll be staying in."

He grumbled and walked in begrudgingly, scowling as his mother followed him in behind the nurse. The room was small, with only three twin-sized beds. Two were organized, the white sheets neatly tucked and the blue curtains around it drawn so that only one side—the side facing the door—was open. One of those beds was on one wall, while the other was on the opposite wall next to the third bed. That one was also empty, but the sheets were ruffled and there was a half-eaten tray of food resting on the nightstand. Someone was obviously occupying that bed, even though they weren't there at that exact moment. A single window was on the opposite end on the room, facing the door where Bakugou stood. It was open and letting in way too much light.

"This will be your bed," the nurse said, pointing to the one nearest the door, which was on the same wall as the messy one. She pushed the curtains back so that Bakugou could see more. "You'll be sharing this room with a boy named Eijirou Kirishima."

Bakugou sighed angrily and sat down on his new bed. It was comfortable—at least, as comfortable as a hospital bed could get. The sheets were smooth, but not soft; just intolerable enough to make Bakugou detest the idea of staying in bed all day.

"He's about your age, possibly a bit younger, I think. Maybe you two can get along," she added, a hopeful glint in her tone as she stood to the side of the bed in between it and the door.

She was trying to prompt Bakugou into a conversation, and he was not having it. He just sat on his bed and glared at the wall, his arms crossed over his chest in irritation.

After another awkward moment of silence, the nurse continued, her voice getting steadier with every second. "I think Mr Kirishima is at the garden right now, so he should be back soon. He's a sweet young man, I'm sure you'll take a liking to him." She tried to make eye contact with Bakugou by walking to where he was looking, but he turned his attention up to the ceiling. "Ah, anyway, Mr Bakugou, that's all for now. I'll be back later to check on you and Mr Kirishima. Please take some time to get used to your room. If you need any help, press that button on the nightstand, okay?"

"Whatever."

The nurse left, leaving Mitsuki and her son alone in the room. Its white and blue walls were practically blinding to Bakugou, who was used to the dark red paint in his room at home. Even though he absolutely despised the brightness coating everything around him, he continued to glare at the ceiling above him, beyond irked about his new living situation.

"Just—please, just do the treatments. Let the doctors help you, okay, Katsuki? You don't have to stay here forever," Mitsuki said softly, her harsh tone completely forgotten, "just until you're healthy enough to come home again."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Bakugou grumbled. "Can you go now?"

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"

"This isn't my first time here. I'm fine on my own." He pulled out his phone and opened it to a game, bored of the conversation already.

Mitsuki just shrugged. "I'll see you in a few days," she said. "Oh, and Katsuki? Be nice to this Kirishima guy."

"Don't tell me what to do."

"Don't speak to me like that."

"Bye!"

Mitsuki let out an irritated huff and left the room, closing the door behind her as she did. Bakugou was suddenly alone with nothing more than his phone, a few hoodies he had brought from home, and his thoughts. He grabbed his earbuds from his pocket and put them in, turning his music on and playing it loudly.

Because of his music, he didn't hear the door open, and his eyes were glued to his phone screen, so he was completely unaware when a person walked into the room. Said person had to go up to Bakugou and pull out one of his earbuds for him to even notice their presence. Unsurprisingly, lots of yelling ensued. (Bakugou did not like it when people touched his stuff.)

"I just wanted to say hi!" the person, a boy with tall, spiky red hair and a bright smile, said happily once Bakugou had stopped shouting. "You must be Katsuki Bakugou! Nurse Sakura told me about you."

He nodded like it was obvious, frowning with irritation. "That's right, Shitty Hair."

"My hair isn't that bad!" he whined, instinctively moving a hand up to touch it. "Anyway, I'm—"

"Eijirou Kirishima."

"—Eijirou Kirishima. Wait, how'd you know? Can you read minds or something?" His eyes grew wide with wonder. They were bright and red, so vivid and inquisitive they were unforgettable.

"No, dumbass. The nurse told me."

"Oh. That makes sense."

"No shit."

Kirishima was still standing by Bakugou's bed, staring down at him while he sat there, music blasting in one ear. Without warning—but still much to Bakugou's delight—he moved, climbing into his own bed just a few feet away.

"The sun went down," Kirishima stated, pointing to the window. When he moved his arm, he seemed to move it with difficulty, keeping it rigid as if it hurt. Bakugou elected to ignore it. He was bony—too bony to be anywhere near healthy. His arms barely had any muscle on them, and it made Bakugou sick to think about.

"I can see that." Truth be told, he couldn't see the actual sunset from his place in bed, but the last remnants of orange light were coming in through the windows, basking the white walls in fleeting color before disappearing quickly. The brightness in the room had already gone down to a point Bakugou could tolerate.

"Since we're going to be roommates from now on, do you think we should get to know each other, or something?" Kirishima prompted, laying flat on his back with his arms at his sides.

"Don't make it sound like we're sharing a dorm for school," Bakugou snapped. "I'm going to be leaving soon, anyway. I'm fine."

"Oh, okay." Kirishima's voice was just as cheerful as always. "Is that a no?"

Bakugou didn't even bother answering.