Chapter Text
The cold wet feeling along his back was the first thing Sero felt, he couldn’t remember why his bed suddenly felt like some sort of cold swamp. Maybe he was outside? But why would he sleep outside on the hard ground? Maybe he fell off his bed. It was something he did on occasion since he was too tall for his bed and he ended up rolling out of his bed too often.
He was really hoping this wasn't another one of Ashido or Kaminari’s pranks again, he’d been on the receiving end of those a lot recently since everyone else - Bakugo- yelled at them too much for it. Sero was always assumed to be a part of the mess the other two created even when he wasn't and got the brunt of the yelling and disappointed looks from their teachers and fellow classmates. Not that he's never helped them before. He just hadn’t even gotten the chance to join them when they did the one against Bakugou.
Opportunity missed.
They hadn’t even consulted him and Sero still somehow got blamed for it too, guess that's what happens when you’re a part of the idiot trio, everyone just assumes that he was also involved. He doesn't really mind too often until Aizawa-Sensei tries to punish him or the others shit.
Sero couldn’t open his eyes, they felt too heavy, almost like he pulled an all nighter for Aizawa Sensei’s test but for the whole damn week instead. This is what his homeroom teacher must have felt on a daily basis, Sero couldn’t say he envied him too much. It wasn’t a fun experience at all. Though being a hero might have been a good enough deal for the cost of sleep.
“Oi! Tape face,”
He wasn’t even sure if this was his actual bed, it felt kinda hard. Now that he thought about it. More hard than the stiff mattresses the school provided for their dorm rooms. And he’s made more than a few complaints about those to whoever would listen. Which is why he got his hammock in the first place.
Most of the others were able to afford a new one to replace it or just get an entirely new bed. But Sero was from an ordinary slightly low class family who couldn’t do that and he didn’t have a quirk like Kirishima that made the mattresses seem soft in comparison. It made him jealous sometimes that the person next to his dorm is the guy who rebuilt the floors just so it was like the ones he had at home. So he had to suck it up and mainly sleep on his hammock.
He had a headache from sleeping on whatever the Alien Queen and Pikachu decided would have been funny to drop him on. He was gonna get back at them for this. He thought he taught them a lesson when they tried to take his manga and replace it with erotic novels. Revenge was sweet and Sero had taped half of their things to the ceiling in the common room until he got his books back.
Seems like he’d have to do that again.
Sero could admit he was a heavy sleeper, it was why those two idiots he calls his best friends could get away with pranks like this. Kirishima was obviously the superior friend for always letting Sero peacefully sleep in when it wasn’t time for school and leaving him alone while he did. Besides that Jirou was too cool for this stupid shit and Shinsou couldn’t be bothered to actually get up to Sero’s floor to do anything.
But don’t get Sero started on Bakugou.
“...Hey, Flat Face …”
He couldn’t remember a single time he had ever slept peacefully in a room when Bakugou was awake. It was almost like Bakugou wanted Sero and the others to always be awake whenever he was around. The guy could claim all he wanted that he didn’t like their company but they all knew he was secretly the softest of all of them.
Except of course Kirishima. That boy was a ray of sunshine and not even the grumpiest of grumps or the shyest of shy kids could say ‘no’ to him.
Not that Sero really minded all too much, it was really fun hanging out with his friends when they were all together. Though he doubted that's what they were to Bakugou. Everyone else in class thought they were his lackeys or something, little did they know the Bakusquad was secretly his handlers.
Or so how the joke went. They had all come up with different reasons why they were friends with Bakugou and not some spineless followers. Kaminari’s answer was probably the most used excuse out of all of them, they were just trying to stop Bakugou from taking over the world, that's all.
The first time Kaminari had said it even Bakugou had laughed. Although maniacally, frightening the business students that had stopped them and asked. It was a good day, some other students in the cafeteria had tried to start something with their group and everyone was waiting for the eventual explosion from their angry classmate but instead were greeted by laughter.
Drops of what Sero hoped was water, landed on his face. Repeatedly. It was annoying but when Sero tried to lift his hand to wipe whatever it was off his face he discovered that Ashido and Kaminari must have really gone all out - going as far as to tie his hands down this time too.
Hopefully not with his own tape. That’d be embarrassing, not being able to defeat his own quirk. He’s had enough embarrassment this year to last the rest of highschool. And that's mostly because of what happened during the sports festival against Todoroki.
That had lasted weeks afterwards, the humiliation even after trying so hard. He spent so long training with his friends and he couldn’t even win. It seemed the whole Bakusquad had a terrible time even if Bakugou technically won. His internship was worse somehow and he was sure he’d forever be the guy who lost to Todoroki.
Sero had to go to Hound Dog for a while after it had gotten too much, not that he had told anyone else. Somehow that might have been more mortifying if one of his classmates did figure out that Sero had become dependent on his therapy sessions just so he could continue being in the Hero course. He wasn’t about to tell anyone that he had been thinking about quitting.
Just thinking about it made him depressed. He was usually so confident and somehow the events of the sports festival, the exam against the teachers and the training camp piled together and made him waver.
“ ...Plain…”
Sero groaned out loud in annoyance, not willing to give in and forcefully open his eyes. He tried to listen for sounds of his two idiot friends giggling at his misfortune or for Bakugou’s yelling on and on, at how they’re all morons wasting their time when they should be studying or training. Even Kirishima’s peacemaking and soothing voice wasn’t around though,Shinsou’s biting comments about Bakugou being the equivalent to a rapid dog and the others being worse than annoying babies or Jirou’s loud music and snorting noises when something dumb was happening between the six of them.
Jirou had taught them all how to focus on important sounds versus the ones that aren’t as important during training once recently, but right now Sero wasn’t getting much of anything.
Though everything kinda sounded jumbled together, Sero could at least hear the sound of someone else in the room breathing heavily. Out of breath like they had just finished a marathon or training with Bakugou.
Sero finally gave in and tried to open his eyes. He was weak willed when it came to his curiosity. Though when he was sure he opened them he was staring at nothing.
Or more accurately everything was pitch black.
What did they do?
Trying to sit up was not the best move, Sero notices that when a searing pain jolts up his arms when he tries to pull them up. He didn’t even get that far up before having to lie them back down. Panting from the overexertion and pain. Bringing them back down though didn't help them much either.
He wasn’t so sure where he was anymore. Nothing was certain now.
“Soy Sauce?”
When he finally calmed down, Sero had the thought that his friends might not have been the ones to do this to him. They would never actually hurt him like this for the sake of their pranks or for a good laugh. They would never have done something like this to anyone really, it was all a little too much for the two procrastinators of Class 1A.
Even if it was somehow accidental the others would have definitely stopped them, there was no way any of them would have let this happen.
Which meant…
Which meant that villains might have gotten him and the rest of his classmates. Again.
Which meant that Ashido was currently scared shitless flinging acid everywhere, probably at walls more than the actual villians. Kaminari had also probably bought everyone some time wheying out, making himself vulnerable to attacks.
Kirishima, Shinsou and Jirou were in danger, most likely helping the others out and actually fighting people. Which meant that Bakugou was reliving his nightmare, going head first into battle screaming and kicking along the way and Tokoyami was probably out of control with Dark Shadow already.
But… that can’t be right. Sero couldn’t hear his friends quirk screaming insults and claiming to be superior than others or the sound of Bakugou’s explosions and equally insulting claims. He was jumping to conclusions. He had to be.
But he’s pretty sure he isn’t in the dorms, so where was he?
“Sero?”
That was his name. Someone was calling out to him. Maybe they could help, his headache hadn’t lessened in intensity but he had managed to focus on other things instead. Survival, maybe this was some sort of test. Like he had done before, Aizawa Sensei had some weird teaching methods sure but they were definitely useful in the long run.
He was just trapped or tied up most likely supposed to be escaping in order to pass. He wasn’t exactly sure how long he’d been there or how much time was left but his teacher would definitely come if the timer ran out all he had to do was wait it out. Maybe that voice he heard earlier was his teacher.
He hummed back in reply, hoping whoever it was could hear him. His mouth was pretty dry and the droplets of what he’s now sure is water aren't reaching his mouth at all, instead dripping back down the sides of his face.
Almost like he was…
“Hanta?” The voice whispered out. Sero jerked his head towards where he thought the voice was coming from, out of his thoughts and back into reality. “Can you hear me, now?”
Sero tried to nod in response, but paused briefly. Now? Was the voice trying to get his attention the whole time? He had been awake the whole time had he not? He could have swore he would have heard something before now if he had.
He was too confused.
Flickering light finally helped, no more darkness at least. He’s not sure where it came from but he’s grateful either way. He was in what looked to be a cave, turning his head left and right was all the same dull rock. Though he didn’t see an entrance or exit or anything else really.
Sero looked down at his body, reluctantly at first but better to see his arms now than later he supposed. Trying to figure out why he felt so much hurt from just trying to lift them up earlier.
His arms looked broken, both still attached - thank god- they were laying next to his sides, both had seen better days. Like yesterday. Yesterday was definitely a better day than today in comparison, at least his arms weren’t broken, and he had his friends with him. His elbows were alright which was the biggest relief, he wasn’t sure what he’d do if he didn’t have his quirk. If he couldn’t be a hero, his resolve was stronger than ever thanks to talking it out, he didn’t want to go back on it.
He didn’t want to waver.
Looking further down he froze at the sight, the cave wall was at his torso. And he was sure that he didn’t have a quirk that could do that like the third year guy, the class had met. Miro? Miroro? It was Lemillion for sure.The number one student in their school. Looked a little like Vault Guy from Fallout. Or maybe it was a lot he couldn’t remember. Sero tried to wiggle his legs and toes. But he couldn’t think straight; he was in the wall.
How?
How was this even happening to him?
Did the wall fall on him? Just his luck.
He knew his place in everyone else's lives, he was the background character to Kirishima’s tragic backstory. He was the forgotten one to Kaminari’s way to fame.The one that got left behind for Ashido’s glory. Jirou’s old friend she used to know before she came into her person. The extra that motivated Bakugou to be even better.
But how does all that equate to the universe thinking it was okay to completely destroy him just for that.
He wanted to be a hero too, damnit. He wanted to be one with them. Together.
He didn’t want to be a nobody. Even if he couldn’t help it. Being a hero was his dream before he met his friends. It still was his dream.
It was getting hard to breathe, he felt like he was suffocating. He knew he would end up panicking if he didn’t get himself together but he just couldn’t get himself to breathe properly. He felt light headed, his heart pounding loudly in his ears. What is happening to him, why can’t he remember?
He couldn't focus, slurring out words to whoever was in the room with him.
This was it, wasn't it? This was the end for him. He didn’t even get to graduate.
His chin was roughly grabbed pulling him away from the sight of half his body underneath and probably crushed by rock. The hand that grabbed him squished his cheeks together enough to drag his thoughts to the person staring right at him.
“Hey! Look at me, we can’t afford you to have a fucking melt down right now leave it for after we get out of here. You hear me Hanta? Stay the fuck awake no matter what! Or I’ll kill you myself.”
“Bakugou?’’ The word a jumbled mess since said person still hadn’t let go of his face. Tears welled up in his eyes, he was so confused and having his sort of friend there was such a relief he couldn’t help a few of them drip down. “What’s going on? What’s happening to me?”
The look on Bakugou’s face was one Sero wouldn’t forget for the rest of his life. Which is looking a little short at the moment. Bakugou looked concerned and worried, eyebrows furrowed in a way Sero had never seen the boy direct at him before. He looked like this was out of their league.
Which meant he was totally and completely out of his depth and they were more screwed than Ashido and Kaminari had been during their practical exam last semester against their principle.
Because if there was one thing everyone knew about Bakugou was that he was confident in his abilities - which he should be being one of the top students in their class. But right now he was anything but. And that scared Sero more than he thought it would.
Because if the self proclaimed next number one thought there was no hope it was probably because there actually wasn't any.
“We got caught in a cave in during one of All Might's natural disaster practical fights, do you not remember?” He was worryingly biting his lips eyes darting around Sero’s face looking for a head injury.
“All Might wanted us to fight during a cave in?” It was surprisingly believable considering the former number one hero was pretty bad at teaching them still. Well other than Midoriya.
Bakugou frowned, probably in concern since Sero could barely remember this happening.”No dumbass, he wanted us to fight during an earthquake simulation and rescue those dummies while fending off some fucking villians,”
Sero nodding along slurring out an ‘oh’. It was happening less and less the more he focused on Bakugou’s voice. “That makes more sense. But how’d we end up here?”
Bakugou gently laid Sero back down on the ground, looking slightly guilty when he made a pained noise which was probably even more rare than a worried look, not that Sero cared anymore.
This was looking more and more like his final resting place. Bakugou's hand which had his quirk as their only light source went closer to Sero’s face. He was looking closely into Sero’s eyes trying hard not to burn him.
“Fucking half n’half and shitty nerd thats how,” Bakugou continued to check Sero trying to determine whether he had a concussion or not. Knowing his luck though, it wouldn’t really matter in the end anyway. “You feel like vomiting?”
Sero blinked surprised that Bakugou was gonna ask him the concussion symptoms instead of making his own conclusions. But he wasn't gonna say anything, not when his head was killing him. Sero shook his head in response and his stomach felt painfully empty when he thought about it.
“Ears ringing?”
Another slow shake of his head, lightly to make sure his headache didn’t get worse.
“The light hurting your eyes?’’
“Nah, if anything the pitch black made things worse. All doom and gloom, you know?”
Bakugo grunted in response, “Any headaches?’’
“Yeah, but that might have just been because of hitting my head and all. How long have we been here by the way?” Sero stared at the cave ceiling above him, hoping somehow it would open up for them.
Bakugou moved to sit next to where his body was crushed under the gigantic rock, he rolled his eyes, not taking them off Sero’s face. “More than an hour is my best guess,’’
As if his best guess wasn't close to being accurate
That’s not bad, it’s not good either but it’s not too bad. Sero looked back to his friend noticing how he looked like an absolute mess. Dirt and debris all over his hair and clothes. “Are you hurt Bakugou? I could probably give you some tape if you need some, my quirk should still be able to work.”
Bakugou looked ready to blow up and start screaming, but instead he sighed deeply, swallowing back whatever it was he wanted to say. “I’m fine, idiot. Not a scratch. I’m not the one trapped under a fucking -fucking…”
He trailed off not even bothering anymore. If Sero didn’t know any better he’d think Bakugo was crying or something.
But Bakugou wouldn’t cry because of him. No way.
Right?
“Aw man!” Sero cried out, the silence felt like two weeks had gone by but who's to really say how much time passed. No one was allowed to bring their phones in during the exercises just in case they break. Time was irrelevant to him now. Bakugou hadn’t said a word the whole time diligently keeping an eye out making sure Sero stayed awake. “I never finished my manga.”
At the raised eyebrow he got in amusement Sero felt the need to defend himself. “I only had two more volumes left. It was just getting to the good part. It was a complete story too-”
“So? You can go back and complete it later.”
“- not to mention I never got to beat Kaminari on that new game Bakubro, we just got it last week-”
“Beat him when we get back Soy Sauce,”
‘’-and what about that assignment Mic- Sensei gave us a few days ago on historical pieces of poetry, I haven’t even started it-”
“I’ll help you when we get out of here.”
“-there's so much I didn’t do.” He finally choked out. Hearing Bakugo tell him he’d make it back to their class - to their friends for some reason made him want to cry. “I -I want to keep doing things with you guys. With Kami and Kiri with Mina, Jirou and Shin and you, Bakugou,”
“We never got to go back to the beach together, or-or have that cook-off we all wanted to do. There are a bunch of things I promised Mina I’d try with her, painting each other's nails and having a spa day. We still haven’t done Kami and Shin’s birthday party or-or go on that road trip we all agreed to go on when one of us got our license.”
Tears were welling up once again, “We still haven't become heroes together or gotten the matching tattoos we designed together, we were gonna get those as soon as we finally got a good design. Now you’ll all be stuck with the tacky one Kirishima picked out and I won’t even get one. We haven’t even graduated, Bakugou…”
“I've never gotten to fly between actual buildings like I wanted to or date someone or try weed. Bakugou I’ve never been high before! I don't even know what it looks like, is it green or maybe fucking orange! I don’t know. Dammit I don't know...”
Sero sighed regrets and mistakes running through his mind.
The warmth of his friends hands could be felt even through all the pain he was currently feeling, through numbed pain and broken bones. And the heartache and memories yet to be made.
Maybe because it’s his grumpy friend who never liked to lie and comfort others was doing so for him. Because Sero is sure the pain is getting to be too much and he is either hallucinating from hitting his head too damn hard or he’s still knocked out and has actually been dreaming this whole thing up.
“Bakubro?” He turned back to staring at the ceiling purposely avoiding the others gaze when he tried to make eye contact. Embarrassment catching up to him finally.The silence was deafening. So many different things ran through his mind to ask his friend, whether or not he truly thought they'd make it out, if there was any way he’d survive this on the tip on his tongue.
Or he could have spent some time getting Bakugou to give some messages to their friends or a million others things. A million other questions he could have asked and like the idiot he was he went with:
“We’re friends right?” At the incredulous look he was receiving Bakugou had either expected something like the other questions Sero meant to ask or he thought that that particular question was completely stupid.
Sero was gonna guess that it was the latter. It’s not like he’s insecure about their friendship - except that he is, Sero knew Bakugou hung out with them mostly because his best friend was Kirishima and Kaminari. Otherwise he wouldn’t have actually bothered with the rest of the so-called Bakusquad.
At the cultural festival Bakugou got closer to Jirou, Tokoyami and Yaoyorozu. Playing together everyday for weeks was enough for him to respect and even like the other band members he played with.
Somehow even Ashido got away with teasing Bakugou like good friends do. Nobody was entirely sure how she got away with that, Midoriya couldn’t do that and he’d known Bakugou his whole life. He wasn’t sure though if he was also on that list. He never went out of his way to know before and he wasn’t sure why now.
A dead man's wish maybe? He wasn’t going to risk an early grave asking Bakugou for clarification.
“At the risk of Ears hearing this, of fucking course we are Soy Sauce what the fuck kind of question is that? Are you going to ask next if were in a fucking cave or something? Must have hit your fucking head pretty hard then.”
“Just wait, I’ll win that stupid cook off no question, and my old mans a designer bet he could come up with something perfect we can all get done. You’ll do stupid shit with the others as soon as they can get their grubby hands on you,”
“And … and just wait I’ll get my damn drivers license as soon as I'm eighteen before the rest of these fuckers okay? Calm your shit.”
Sero smiled, he wasn't sure why he suddenly cared about silly things like this but it was definitely nice to hear out loud once and awhile. Especially if Bakugou was trying to imply that they obviously were. “Good.”
“You’re an idiot.” Bakugou snorted the light he was making flickering along with his snorts. Sero was beaming in satisfaction if this was where it all ended for him he was glad his friend was at least with him.
“You're probably right, your quirk isn’t giving you trouble is it?” Sero could have swore he had overexerted himself before the cave mishap happened but he wasn’t entirely sure of himself.
“It’s fine dumbass,” he mumbled, still keeping an eye on Sero. His hand sticking out in the opposite direction of where Sero was currently laying down. “Worry about yourself moron, who knows how long we’ll be stuck in this shit stain,”
He acted tough but his hand was shaking more than Sero had ever seen before. It didn’t help that they were in gym clothes instead of their costumes for whatever reason the exercise must have had more disadvantages for the heroes instead of the pretend villains.
“You think anyones coming?” Sero couldn’t help but wonder how exactly are they gonna get out of here safely.
Bakugou scoffed, “Of course they are, Sensei’s probably having a fit right this second.” His hand that wasn't providing them a light source was slowly rubbing small circles on his skin in comfort.
“All Might? He doesn't seem like the type though does he?” Sero craned his neck as much as he could without it being painful to look at Bakugou while the two were talking.
The fiery student rolled his eyes, “Not him. Aizawa.” And Sero had to agree their homeroom teacher was probably doing absolutely everything in his power to save them, he’s proven that to all of them multiple times already. “He’s gonna blow when he finds us, get ready to be smothered with reluctant affection,”
“He’s pretty cool, huh.” Sero voiced, with the other boy nodding, something everyone he’s sure would come to admit after meeting the hobo-like man. He was sure each and every classmate of his will always have some sort of sense of pride being the underground hero’s student even after they finish their time at UA.
He was a teacher they all admired that was for sure.
“Oi Soy Sauce, what's the last thing you even remember?” It wasn't something Sero had put too much thought into; he just knew he didn’t remember ever going into a cave. “If it wasn't the fucking class then where did you think you were waking up?’’
Sero hummed thinking back to what he thought he’d be waking up to, “Last thing I remember was…. We had movie night at Kiri’s and I fell asleep listening to Kami and Mina arguing over which movie we should watch as the last one for the night. You were being held back by the others to stay even though you really wanted to go to bed and the others wanted to talk all night about stupid stuff.”
Sero smiled reminiscing, they never did pick a movie, it was getting late and closer and closer to it being past two. Kaminari somehow changed the subject into memes he’d recently seen causing the group to start recording and recreating a bunch of them.
Sero was honestly surprised they never got in trouble for any of that he figured the class representative would have at least shown up to scold them and send them back to their respective rooms but nothing of the sort happened.
“Oh that shit show, that was last night so at least you remember that much.” Sero couldn’t really remember anything after failing to stay awake and somehow ended up being the second one to fall asleep, Sero knew most of the others were actually night owls but he didn't expect to be one of the first few to fall asleep. “Just stay awake Soy Sauce,”
At that Sero looked at his friends' calm and almost unfairingly pretty face. Sero knew if Bakugou ever found out he’d be blown to kingdom come even with half his body crushed. He’d been trying not to think about it but when he tries to move his leg he can't be sure anything is happening and that scares him that getting his friend angry.
“Can you just talk to me, the silence is killing me. I just might overthink too much and explode.” And with that Bakugou nodded, opening his mouth to attempt to comfort Sero with whatever topic the hothead could come up with. “I’m actually 5’9 not six feet like I told the others,”
Bakugou widened his eyes slightly, determined to act like that didn’t surprise him at all. “I’m 5’7,”
He replied, definitely confused why he was sharing this information in the first place. His eyebrows were scrunched together probably not understanding what it was Sero was trying to accomplish.
To be fair he wasn't entirely sure either.
“My favourite food is oranges actually,” Sero powers through hoping that Bakugou will continue sharing random information that everyone obviously already knew about the Lord of Explosion.
“Anything spicy,”
“I use to climb up large buildings for fun without my parents knowing, scaled a hero agency once before my parents found out and made me stop,”
“I go mountain climbing for days by myself, have been doing it for years now,”
“I can cook a bit.”
“I’m fucking great at it,”
Smiling Sero had expected something like that, Bakugou’s brutal honesty was perfect when one was on their deathbed. “I think Spiderman is the greatest american superhero they got,”
Bakugou snorted, “You’re fucking wrong,’’ Which led the two into an argument on the pros and cons of the web shooter. “You only like him because you basically got the same quirk, he’s just a bug version of Kamui Woods,”
Laughing the two continued their back and forth on comparing the American heroes with the ones they got in Japan. Most of the time Sero could tell Bakugou had no idea who was being referenced but he made sure to include details without the angry boy finding out he was being helped.
Turns out Bakugou was a pretty big nerd himself, though.
“I'm tired, when can I go to sleep, Bakugou! This waiting would go by much faster if we just went to sleep, you know!” Sero was usually laid back in most situations he’d like to think and he’s sure he’s doing much better than any of the others would have been in his position.
He just couldn’t help it.
‘'No! Dumbass, were trying to make sure that you don’t end up with any lasting brain damage. Stop complaining idiot! Who knows how long we’ll be stuck like this you gotta fucking hold on. Plus ultra or some shit right?”
Sero sighed quietly agreeing with him, “Right.”
“Just...Just be patient. I can’t get you out without bringing the whole cave down on us and I’d rather us not risk dealing with crush syndrome or something worse on our own,”
The echoing of their breaths was the only sound either of them could hear at that point.