[he may not be able to rescue him from himself, but dammit if bakugou isn't determined to keep trying. he'll reach for him and grasp his hand with an iron grip even if he can't do anything more than hold onto denji and stop him from sliding further. the half-devil may be the one who has to climb himself out of the hole his life has dumped him in, yet the hero's not going to stop his efforts to reach and support him along the way. should he mention his doubts to the man resting against his chest now? nah. doubting denji isn't a fault or burden on denji; those are challenges bakugou has to deal with and conquer on his own. he has to decide he'll trust his boyfriend to trust him, even if the evidence flies in his face.
he'd been concerned about this since realizing what was happening. learning ereshkigal had vanished was one thing, but with another, then two, then three more outsiders vanishing, any of them could be next. there's no cold line of fear down his nape or some weighty anticipation curling in his gut. but he's already been duped by a shitty vegas worm, and denji was stolen away from him without a single moment's reaction or knowledge by the romania wolf. is it a stretch to acknowledge both of them are at risk here? as far as anyone knows, they're all valid targets. he may not be able to tell the rest of the outsiders to buck up and get ready, but he can reach for the person who means the most to him and prepare denji to brace for possibility. he's not demanding the half-devil put on a brave face. bakugou's encouraging him to look at the reality and chance, and determine this big shitty "if" isn't going to crush him. this is how he handles his own fears and uncertainties: crushing them to pieces! acknowledging their existence, and instantly raging over their gall at daring to step into his life in effort to strangle his success! heroes don't run from trials; they confront them head on and prepare. there's a difference between obliviously pretending nothing's the matter, and resolving yourself to be ready should the horror approach.
as denji shifts between his legs, bakugou leaves his ankles hooked over top his boyfriend's for continued entanglement, not willing to let him go just yet either. maybe it's mean, dragging his boyfriend by the arm to stand up in the face of his fear and move forward, but he can't leave denji wallowing in dread. they both have to be strong, for each other. he can't miss the tremor in his boyfriend's eyes, the way he shivers beneath his resolve. it's okay to be scared. (hell, he was scared as fuck when the league kidnapped him, and he'll go to his grave before he ever brings admission to his lips!) but he can't let fear cripple him.]
Thanks. [blind heroics without some realism is foolishness. no, none of their predictions or theories can be proven. but while pessimists are never disappointed, they're also eroding their own strength along the way. bakugou brings a shrimp to his mouth and blows on it, not about to demand denji eat something right now. he will. half so he can munch angry on the food and buck himself back up like the badass he is. and yet... he rests his head against his boyfriend's eyes lingering on the fire and waves beyond. what he feels, what he says, they promised to be more truthful and open to each other, right?]
I already depend on you a lot, Denji. You've been one of the most reliable friends I have. You're my partner. That's never changed. [not one day since the start almost a year and a half ago.] It's not easy... I fucking hate what's happening. And I don't want it hurt you more than it already is...
no subject
he'd been concerned about this since realizing what was happening. learning ereshkigal had vanished was one thing, but with another, then two, then three more outsiders vanishing, any of them could be next. there's no cold line of fear down his nape or some weighty anticipation curling in his gut. but he's already been duped by a shitty vegas worm, and denji was stolen away from him without a single moment's reaction or knowledge by the romania wolf. is it a stretch to acknowledge both of them are at risk here? as far as anyone knows, they're all valid targets. he may not be able to tell the rest of the outsiders to buck up and get ready, but he can reach for the person who means the most to him and prepare denji to brace for possibility. he's not demanding the half-devil put on a brave face. bakugou's encouraging him to look at the reality and chance, and determine this big shitty "if" isn't going to crush him. this is how he handles his own fears and uncertainties: crushing them to pieces! acknowledging their existence, and instantly raging over their gall at daring to step into his life in effort to strangle his success! heroes don't run from trials; they confront them head on and prepare. there's a difference between obliviously pretending nothing's the matter, and resolving yourself to be ready should the horror approach.
as denji shifts between his legs, bakugou leaves his ankles hooked over top his boyfriend's for continued entanglement, not willing to let him go just yet either. maybe it's mean, dragging his boyfriend by the arm to stand up in the face of his fear and move forward, but he can't leave denji wallowing in dread. they both have to be strong, for each other. he can't miss the tremor in his boyfriend's eyes, the way he shivers beneath his resolve. it's okay to be scared. (hell, he was scared as fuck when the league kidnapped him, and he'll go to his grave before he ever brings admission to his lips!) but he can't let fear cripple him.]
Thanks. [blind heroics without some realism is foolishness. no, none of their predictions or theories can be proven. but while pessimists are never disappointed, they're also eroding their own strength along the way. bakugou brings a shrimp to his mouth and blows on it, not about to demand denji eat something right now. he will. half so he can munch angry on the food and buck himself back up like the badass he is. and yet... he rests his head against his boyfriend's eyes lingering on the fire and waves beyond. what he feels, what he says, they promised to be more truthful and open to each other, right?]
I already depend on you a lot, Denji. You've been one of the most reliable friends I have. You're my partner. That's never changed. [not one day since the start almost a year and a half ago.] It's not easy... I fucking hate what's happening. And I don't want it hurt you more than it already is...