Chapter 68 // Goodbyes

                                    

                                          
buckle up soldiers 
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You stood beside Bakugo some feet behind the crowd of eager heroes and students, who were waiting for the moment the signal would arrive for them to appear at the scene of the fight via Kurogiri's quirk. 
  
"You ready for this?" he questioned, hands crawling up your arms to rub your biceps in a comforting manner. 
  
"As ready as I can be," you said, setting your eyes upon his crimson iris'.
It was difficult to believe this was going to be your last normal conversation with him. You knew you were going to die. You've prepared yourself for it for months. However, it was still odd knowing exactly when your heart would stop.
"My favorite color's red," you continued, forcing yourself to smile despite the quiver in your lips, "all the time."
Bakugo's lips pressed into a firm line, and you watched his eyes narrow in phantom pain. He exhaled through his nose, bowing his head until his forehead was pressed against your shoulder.
"I thought it'd hurt less knowing it was coming," he confessed quietly.
You sighed, bringing your hands up to cup the back of his neck, rubbing your thumbs against his skin.
"I heard this quote once," you began to explain. "'Only the good die young'."
He forced out a chuckle, his warm breath fanning your neck, before standing up straight.
"You've always been better than me," he claimed solemnly.
If you were to tell your younger self you'd marry the love of your life at sixteen, she'd call you impulsive.
If you were to tell your younger self you'd die at the same edge, she'd call you nothing less than insane.
You joined U.A with the hopes of becoming a hero. Now, your only goal was to protect your loved ones, to protect Bakugo, even if that meant restoring to methods of madness you wouldn't otherwise even consider.
"I love you, Katsuki Bakugo," you said with a deep exhale as if it was your first time making the confession. 
"I love you too," he quirked a smirk, "[Y/N] Bakugo."
You smiled weakly, looking down at the ring adorning the same finger it always enveloped.
"I don't mean to bring down the mood any further," you began, "but can you make sure "wife" gets put in with the whole "loving daughter" crap? Oh, and don't forget about the letter under my nightstand. If, from the afterlife, I figure out no one grabbed it, I'm gonna haunt your ass."
His lips curled up into a crooked smile, his right hand coming up to rest upon your left cheek, his smooth palm similar to a warm blanket.
"Promise me that?" he exhaled.
"I'll haunt you so hard you'll believe in ghosts for the rest of your life," you smirked, lifting your hand to caress his wrist. 
He leaned forward and pressed his lips to yours, basking in the comfort your touch never failed to bring him.
You pressed your other hand against the side of his neck, trying not to think about the fact that this wasn't just a kiss. It was a goodbye.
"I'm gonna go talk to a couple others before this thing starts," you said upon pulling away. "Don't run off without me."
"Wouldn't dream of it," he replied, thumb brushing across your cheekbone.
You reluctantly removed yourself from his grasp before heading over to where Todoroki was standing, quiet and focused.
"Hey," you spoke, stepping up to stand beside him just as he lifted his head to look at you.
"Hi," he said quietly, his eyes observing you with the upmost remorse despite your newly healed appearance.
"Don't look at me like that," you exhaled. "This is how this was supposed to go, how I wanted it to go."
"I know," he replied, reserved as ever as he averted his eyes to the floor.
You sighed at his silent sadness, crossing your arms over your chest as you observed his slouched stature.
"Ow!"
You managed a chuckle at Todoroki's shriek that resulted from you digging your fingers into his lower back. The feeling caused him to jolt, naturally straightening his posture.
"We can't have one of our top fighters slacking," you stated before he could question. "Don't slouch like that. You'll hurt yourself before the battle even begins."
The corner of Todoroki's mouth twitched as if he was tempted to smile, but he eventually simply settled with a shake of his head.
"You'd think everyone would be looking after you right now," he stated, shoulders heaving as he raised his chin.
"I'm good," you assured. "I'm great. We all knew how this was going to end, so no one needs to waste time trying to have my back."
"We want to have your back," Todoroki countered. "It's not just our job. It's our nature. It's why all of us have made it this far. You are why most of us have made it this far, why Bakugo has made it this far."
You moved to stand in front of Todoroki, placing your hands on his tense shoulders momentarily before lifting them further to cup his face.
"This battle is just as important to you as it is to me, as it is to everyone else," you began. "I don't want you to worry about me. If I fall, if I bleed, if I fail, it was meant to happen. It was how it was meant to go, how I was meant to go. You can help me, but, please, don't try and save me. It won't work. It'll only hurt you, and the whole reason I'm doing this is to protect those who I have left, so focus on yourself and your retribution, okay?"
Despite the pain evident in his eyes, Todoroki nodded, promising you and himself that he would obey your words.
"Thank you for being my friend," the boy exhaled. 
"I'll always be your friend," you replied, dropping your right hand from his cheek and further lifting your left to even out his bangs, "even when I'm gone. Maybe I can be the new little voice in your head, hm? I'll be a little less antagonizing and a lot more supportive."
Todoroki tried to force a smile at your joke, but his efforts fell short, and he ended up frowning instead.
"This may seem...dark considering the situation," he started, "but do you think there's...something after this? Do you believe there's another life or some sort of...void where everyone who's passed on goes?"
"I'd like to think so," you replied with a small hum, arms finally falling back down to your sides. "I'd like to see all of you again, if there's a way."
"Me too," he said, cheekbones flushing ever-so-slightly. "I hope there's some sort of afterlife, and, if there is, I hope I see you again."
You smiled, stepping forward to wrap your arms around the dual haired boy for one final hug, one last gesture of comfort.
You were prepared to continue your goodbyes upon stepping back, but the booming voice of Thirteen has you startled into a defensive position.
"Now!"
You whipped around, finding the familiar portals of Kurogiri decorating the far wall, which led to the battlefield.
The war had begun.
[EDITED]