Opening Comment: This fic will contain a number of original characters in the My Hero Academia universe, but ultimately it is about Bakugou. Hopefully, I can pull your heartstrings and make you fall in love with another crew of students at U.A. Please enjoy, and leave comments!

Content Warnings: I've rated this fanfiction "T" so that it reaches the greatest possible audience (FF sometimes auto-filters out M stories), but please be aware that this fic contains graphic violence in training and real fights, the death of a major character, and Bakugou's prolific potty mouth. Please take care of yourself as you need to!

"When your time comes to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home."
—Tecumseh

"H-hey, Kacchan..."

God, Katsuki hasn't heard that childhood nickname come from his lips in years, maybe as much as a decade. An indescribable, bitter fury swells in him at the sound.

"Shut up, Deku. You're not in any shape to talk."

Deku smiles, a quivering, weak thing pulled into being by sheer power of will. He gives a single, abbreviated chuckle.

"It always did bother you... when I wouldn't do as you said," he says dryly. His arm wriggles where it's pinned between his torso and Katsuki's hand, trying to pull free. Katsuki clamps down on him tighter with a low growl.

"Don't move," he grits out through bared teeth, though his voice is devoid of the vitriol that would characterize such talk.

"Kacchan." There it is, that stupid damn nickname again. "You're not... a fool. You know... as well as I do that I'm... I might not make it."

He can tell it's getting harder for Deku to speak, and he wishes the twerp would just shut the hell up. He prepares to snap at him again, his hackles raised like a dog's, but the angry growl dies in his throat at the look in his eyes. It's dead serious, more grave and solemn than he's ever seen him. Even when All Might– Even in the aftermath of that, he had never looked so focused.

"One For All..."

Katsuki feels his eyes widen by an increment as he realizes where his head is, and what's really at stake. If Midoriya bites it here, it isn't just the hero Deku who dies. That power, the seven generations of cultivation, would die too. Shit.

"Which is why you should stop. fucking. talking, dumbass."

He draws back, releasing his arm. Now freed, Deku reaches a trembling hand up toward his head and fists it in his nappy green hair. His fingers are clumsy between the shaking and his ripped-up gloves, but he successfully grabs a small clump of hair and jerks it from his scalp.

"What the hell are you doing?"

He slowly extends the lock to him, pinched between three fingers.

"All Might... passed One For All on to me... by having me eat... a piece of his hair." He sucks in a deep breath. Katsuki can hear how it rattles. "Kacchan, you have to–"

"I'm not eating your damn hair, Deku. That's fucking disgusting."

"One For All can't die with me!"

"Then I'll find a different successor!" he shouts right back. Deku's breath catches but he doesn't say anything. Katsuki lowers his voice to a normal volume. "But I'm not taking One For All."

Neither of them moves or speaks for a moment. Then Deku takes Katsuki's wrist in his free hand and brings it between them. He presses the bundle of green hair into his palm. Katsuki's fingers curl around the strands, clutching them in a protective fist. It's a weird-ass way to transfer power, but he knows they're precious cargo. He wraps his hands around Katsuki's.

"Promise… you'll find someone."

"I just said I would, wouldn't I?"

"I mean it, Kacchan." His hands tighten around Katsuki's fist. He nods, solemn.

"Yeah, I'll find someone."

"Teach them to be… a hero… okay? … Like All Might…"

"Or like you, stupid twerp."

Deku gives a weak laugh, and it's genuine despite him being on the edge of nothing. Like he's better than dying, like he isn't scared of it now that he knows One For All is secure. Katsuki isn't sure whether he wants to punch him or laugh with him. He cracks a bitter grin at the thought that maybe Death feels as intimidated by that joy as he did, back in the day.

He doesn't notice that Deku's eyes have closed until his hands slip off his fist and flop to the ground, limp.

"Oi, Deku. Shitty Deku! Snap out of it!" His voice rises from stern to a roar, but the body hunched in front of him doesn't respond. One fist collides with the slab of concrete Deku's propped against. Katsuki punches it again and stays there, knuckles pressed against the stone. He stares at the hair cupped in his other hand and feels the weight of their symbolism. One For All. In the literal palm of his hand. He wraps them back up in a fist and clenches it tight. Finally, finally, he hears the distant wailing of a siren.

"Goddamn it, Midoriya."