kochou

his shoulders were heavy from another long day of classes, training and lectures.

the common room was dark, it was clear everyone was upstairs and asleep.

everyone except for you, of course.

your body sat curled into the corner of the common couch with a soft blanket around your shoulders, staring at the television that was set at mute, without really watching it. the screen changed colours across your face as some late-night show played.

katsuki stopped when he saw you.

“why are you still awake?” he asked, his voice rough from exhaustion as he set his bag down near the stairs.

you didn’t look at him immediately. “i was waiting for you,” you replied, your fingers tightening slightly around the edge of the blanket.

he glanced toward the clock. “you should’ve gone to bed, its been a long day.”

“you said you’d be back by ten.” you said, glancing at him.

“training ran late.”

“you could’ve texted me.”

katsuki sighed. it wasnt that he didnt care, he was just really tired, you shouldve understood him, you really shouldve, you are a up and coming hero yourself.

“my phone died,” he said, walking toward the kitchen, grabbing a glass to pour himself some water.

you watched him turn on the sink, “again?”

“yeah.”

“that’s the third time this week.”

“okay?” he said, before drinking down the glass.

you stared at him. “okay?”

katsuki sat the glass before turning toward you. “what do you want me to say exactly?”

you slowly sat upright. “i want you to act like it matters that i was waiting.”

his expression tightened. “i didn’t ask you to wait, its been a long day, and you shouldve been asleep by now.”

the words left his mouth too quickly. you went still. katsuki immediately regretted them.

he could see it in your face. the way your eyes lowered. the way your mouth pressed into a thin line.

but instead of apologising, he looked away. stubbornness had always been one of his worst qualities.

you pulled the blanket away from your shoulders and stood. “right,” you muttered. “of course.”

“don’t start.” he said.

your head snapped toward him. “don’t start, what does that mean, im just doing what you want arent i? going to bed.”

“you know what i mean.”

“no, katsuki. i actually don’t.”

“you’re making this into a bigger deal than it is"

you laughed once. there was no humour in it. “i haven’t seen you properly in almost two weeks, matter fact, none of us have.”

“we live in the same building.”

“that’s not the same thing, just because you come home nearly at midnight and crash into your bed and repeat the same thing the next day doesn't mean we actually spend time together..”

“we see each other every day.”

“passing each other in the hallway doesn’t count.”

katsuki crossed his arms over his chest. “i’m busy.”

“so am i.”

“then you should understand.”

“i do understand.” your voice rose slightly.

“i understand that we’re third-years. i understand that you want to be number one. i understand that you’re training constantly and taking every extra opportunity you can.”

“then what’s the problem?”

“the problem is that you treat me like i’m supposed to be available whenever you finally decide you have time.”

katsuki’s jaw clenched. “that’s bullshit.”

“is it?”

“yeah.”

“when was the last time we went somewhere together?”

he didn’t answer.

“when was the last time we had dinner without you leaving halfway through?”

“that mission was important.”

“i never said it wasn’t.”

“sounds like you’re saying it.” he complained, rubbing his hand behind his neck.

“i’m saying i’m tired of always coming second, i try my best to make time for you, but it seems like you dont.”

the room became quiet. katsuki stared at you.

something sharp twisted in his chest, it wasnt because you were wrong and you were accusing him of something, but because you werent. and he hated that fact.

“you knew who i was when we started dating, matter fact we both knew who we were” he said, his voice lower now.

you looked at him in disbelief. “what is that supposed to mean?”

“you knew i wasn’t gonna sit around doing nothing.”

“i never asked you to, im simply asking you-.”

“then stop acting like i’m doing something wrong every time i train.”

“that isn’t what i’m doing.”

“could’ve fooled me.”

you took a step toward him. “i am not angry that you train, i’m angry because you keep making promises and breaking them.”

“things come up.”

“they always do, katsuki, for everyone!.”

“well, that’s hero work for you.”

“we’re not even full-time heroes yet!”

your voice echoed through the common room. katsuki’s expression darkened.

“and you think it gets easier after graduation?”

“no.”

“then what the hell do you want from me?”

you stared at him. your eyes had begun to water, but you refused to let the tears fall.

“i want you to want to be here, at least try, the same way i am trying.” you swallowed hard. “i don’t want to have to remind you to spend time with me, you say you are busy, boy, so we all are. yet i and the others always try to sneak in some time here and there for eachother.”

katsuki opened his mouth. nothing came out.

you shook your head. “exactly.” you turned away.

he watched you walk toward the stairs.

“where are you going?”

“to bed, like you wanted.”

“we’re not finished.”

you stopped at the first step. “i am.”

his temper flared again. “don’t walk away from me.”

you looked back at him. “why? you legit wanted me to go to bed” your voice was quiet now.

“that’s not fair, for you to walk away mid argument.”

“neither is waiting around for someone who keeps forgetting about me.”

“i didn’t forget about you.”

“then start acting like it.”

you turned again.

“maybe if you spent half as much effort on us as you do proving you’re better than everyone else, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

the regret appeared on your face immediately. but it was too late.

katsuki’s expression went cold. “right.”

you looked at him. “katsuki, i didn’t mean-”

“go to bed.”

“listen-” you tried to protest, get your explanation in.

“i said go.”

you stood there for a few seconds. then nodded slowly. “fine.”

you walked upstairs without looking back.

katsuki remained in the kitchen. alone.

neither of you slept properly that night.

you lay awake staring at the ceiling, replaying the argument until every word felt sharper than before. you regretted what you had said at the end.

not the meaning behind it. just the way you had said it.

you knew how much becoming a hero meant to him. hell, for everyone in your class.

you knew his need to push himself came from more than arrogance. katsuki didn’t know how to want something quietly. everything inside him burned too brightly.

his ambition. his anger. his love.

but lately it had begun to feel like there wasn’t enough room for all of it. and you were the easiest thing to set aside.

across the hall, katsuki sat on the edge of his bed with his elbows resting against his knees.

he hated arguments. not fighting. he loved fighting. arguments were different, especially with you.

you couldn’t win them by being stronger. couldn’t blast your way through them. couldn’t even force the other person to understand what you meant.

he had wanted to tell you that he did want to be there. that every extra hour of training was for the future. for graduation, and his agency.

for the life he imagined building with you, even if he had never actually said that part aloud.

instead, he had told you that you knew who he was, as if that excused making you feel unimportant.

he rubbed both hands over his face. “dammit.”

his phone sat charging beside him.

your name remained at the top of his messages. he typed something, then quickly deleted it, typed it out again, and then deleted that one too.

eventually, he threw the phone onto his pillow and lay down. the apology never came.

the next morning was awkward, many had noticed it.

it started at breakfast. you entered the dining room alone.

that wasn’t strange on its own. what was strange was that you sat between momo and jirou instead of taking the empty seat beside katsuki.

mina looked up from her cereal. then toward katsuki. then back at you.

you deliberately avoided her eyes.

katsuki didn’t say anything.

he simply stared at the untouched chair beside him before continuing to eat.

kirishima leaned closer to katsuki, “everything okay?” he asked quietly.

“fine,” katsuki replied without looking at him.

kirishima glanced across the room.

you were laughing at something jirou had said. but it didn’t reach your eyes.

“you two fight?”

katsuki’s fork scraped loudly against his plate. “mind your business.”

“so, yes.”

“shut up.”

training began an hour later.

aizawa stood in front of the class with his capture weapon hanging loosely around his shoulders, looking as exhausted as always.

“today’s exercise will focus on endurance and reaction time,” he explained. “you’ll be placed into pairs. one person will attack while the other avoids and counters. you’ll switch after ten minutes.”

you adjusted the gloves of your hero costume.

anything was better than sitting in class thinking about the argument. movement would help. fighting would help.

“bakugou and y/n.”

your hands stopped.

across the training field, katsuki looked up.

aizawa continued reading through the pairings.

mina winced. “that’s unfortunate,” she whispered to ochaco.

“should someone say something?” ochaco asked nervously.

todoroki shrugged.

you walked toward your assigned training area. katsuki followed several steps behind.

neither of you spoke until the rest of the class moved far enough away. you stretched your arms over your head.

“i’ll defend first,” you said, keeping your attention on the field ahead.

“fine.”

“ten minutes.”

“i heard him.”

you lowered your arms.

“i was just making sure.”

“you don’t need you to.”

your jaw tightened.

“can we not do this right now?”

katsuki’s eyes narrowed. “you started it,"

the two of you stared at each other. the air felt heavy.

aizawa raised one hand, and shouted, “begin.”

katsuki moved first. an explosion burst from his palm.

you jumped sideways, feeling the heat pass close enough to sting your cheek. before your feet had properly touched the ground, another blast struck the pavement behind you.

you launched yourself forward.

“seriously?” you shouted, twisting away from the smoke.

“what?” katsuki called back, already following.

“you’re supposed to give me a second.”

“villains don’t.”

he fired again.

you blocked the force with your quirk, but the impact still pushed you backward.

something was wrong. katsuki always fought hard. he didn’t believe in holding back. but he also understood control better than anyone.

usually, every explosion had a clear purpose. to force you left. maybe even tto block your escape. to create an opening.

today, they were heavier and sharper, alot more angrier too.

you landed behind a concrete barrier.

“you’re overdoing it,” you warned him, raising your voice so he could hear you through the smoke.

“can’t keep up?”

your anger sparked instantly. you stepped out from behind the barrier.

“don’t start.”

you stared at him.

but neither of you stopped. you rushed toward him.

he blocked your first strike with his forearm. you aimed for his ribs.

he twisted away.

your foot swept beneath his, but he blasted himself upward before you could knock him down.

he fired from above.

you rolled aside.

the explosion tore apart the ground where you had been standing.

small rocks struck your arms.

“bakugou!” kirishima shouted from another section of the field.

bakugou ignored him. you pushed yourself upright.

“what is wrong with you?” you demanded.

“nothing.”

“you’re fighting like an idiot.”

“and you’re distracted.”

“because you’re pissed off!”

“so are you!”

“at least i’m not trying to hurt you!” you shouted back.

the words made him hesitate.

only for a second though.

you attacked again.

anger made both of you careless.

you struck his shoulder.

he caught your wrist.

you pulled free.

his palm ignited near your side.

you barely moved in time. the blast threw you several metres across the field. you hit the ground, rolled, and forced yourself back onto your feet. your breathing had become heavy as your legs shook.

but you refused to let him see it.

“ten minutes are almost over,” you called out.

katsuki wiped sweat from his forehead.

“then stop running.”

“i’m defending. that’s the exercise.”

“you always hide behind the rules when you’re losing.”

your eyes hardened. “fine.” you straightened.

“come at me.”

katsuki’s palms crackled.

from the edge of the field, aizawa finally stepped forward.

“enough,” he called.

neither of you heard him, or neither of you listened.

katsuki launched himself into the air.

you planted your feet.

his right arm drew backward. sweat glistened across his palm.

you had seen the movement hundreds of times. you knew what was coming.

a large blast.

your instincts screamed at you to move. your pride told you to stay.

“bakugou!” aizawa shouted.

katsuki fired.

the explosion swallowed everything. heat , smoke and pressure.

the force struck you before you could properly shield yourself. your feet left the ground. for one terrifying second, the world spun around you. it made you so dizzy.

your gaze shifted quickly from the sky, to the concrete and smoke.

then your back slammed into the reinforced wall surrounding the training field.

the back of your head struck second. something cracked.

then,

nothing.

katsuki landed badly. his knee hit the ground.

smoke filled the field. he coughed, waving one hand in front of his face.

“y/n?”

no answer.

his stomach twisted. “oi.”

the smoke slowly cleared.

you lay at the base of the wall. completely still.

katsuki stopped breathing. “y/n.”

he ran over to you.

someone shouted behind him. aizawa, or maybe kirishima, or both.

he dropped to his knees beside you.

your eyes were closed.

blood ran from the back of your head, disappearing into your hair.

“hey.” his hand hovered over your face, afraid to touch you.

“get up.”

nothing.

“quit messing around.”

he pressed two fingers against your neck.

a pulse. it was weak. but there.

relief lasted less than a second.

“recovery girl!” aizawa shouted.

katsuki slid one arm beneath your shoulders.

aizawa grabbed his wrist. “don’t move her.”

“let go.”

“her neck could be injured.” aizawa spoke.

“she’s bleeding.” katsuki said.

“i know.”

“then do something!”

aizawa’s expression sharpened.

“move back.”

katsuki looked at you.

your face was pale.

too pale.

the rest of the class had gathered several metres away.

mina covered her mouth. ochaco’s eyes were already wet, asking deku if you would be okay.

kirishima stared at katsuki with an expression he couldn’t read.

katsuki slowly moved backward.

recovery girl arrived with two medical workers and a stretcher. they surrounded you.

checked your breathing. your pupils. your neck.

katsuki stood nearby with blood on his gloves.

your blood.

“what happened?” recovery girl asked.

no one answered immediately. katsuki looked down at his palms.

“i hit her.” his voice sounded distant. “with an explosion.”

recovery girl’s face tightened.

“how large?”

he couldn’t answer. but aizawa did. “too large.”

katsuki flinched.

the medical workers lifted you onto the stretcher.

your arm fell slightly to the side.

he tried to reach for it. then stopped himself.

“is she gonna be okay?” kirishima asked.

recovery girl looked toward the blood beneath your head.

“we need to get her examined.”

“that’s not an answer,” katsuki said.

“because i don’t have one.”

they carried you away.

katsuki remained standing in the centre of the ruined training field.

everything around him sounded muffled. some students whispering. aizawa ordering everyone back to their starting positions to continue the training.

but none of it felt real for bakugou.

his gaze stayed fixed on the path where the stretcher had disappeared.

“bakugou.” aizawa stood behind him.

katsuki didn’t turn.

“go change.”

no response.

“you’re going to the hospital.”

katsuki finally looked at him.

it wasn’t a question.

katsuki stared at him.

then at the crater his explosion had left behind.

last night, you had told him he cared more about proving himself than he did about your relationship.

this morning, he had turned training into a punishment.

and now, you weren’t moving.

some hours later, you woke to silence.

at first, you didn’t understand what was wrong.

your eyelids felt heavy. your head throbbed like crazy.

a bright white ceiling blurred above you.

you tried to move, but pain spread through the back of your skull and down your neck.

your hand twitched against the bedsheet, trying to make sense of your location.

someone immediately leaned over you.

momo. her eyes widened. her mouth moved.

you stared at her. nothing, very faint sounds coming out of her lips.

you blinked slowly. she turned toward the door and shouted something. at least, you assumed she shouted. her mouth opened and her face changed multiple times. but no clear sound reached you.

panic began to crawl into your chest. you tried to speak.

“momo?”

you felt the vibration in your throat. but you couldn’t properly hear your own voice.

momo turned back. tears filled her eyes.

your breathing quickened. you looked around the room.

hospital bed, medical equipment, a monitor beside you.

the screen showed your heartbeat, the line moved. you could see it clearly, but you could so barely hear the machine.

you lifted one shaking hand toward your ear. “why can’t i hear?”

momo’s mouth moved again. you couldn’t understand her.

“why can’t i hear you?” your voice felt wrong inside your body.

too distant, so quiet and empty.

the door opened and a doctor entered.

followed by aizawa, and then by katsuki.

he stopped the moment he saw your eyes open. relief crossed his face. his lips formed your name. you couldn’t hear him.

you stared at him.

his expression slowly changed.

he looked toward the doctor.

the doctor said something. katsuki’s face drained of colour.

you grabbed momo’s sleeve. “what is happening?”

she reached for the small whiteboard sitting on the table beside your bed.

her hands shook as she wrote. you watched every movement of the marker.

then she turned it toward you.

you suffered damage to both ears during the explosion.

your eyes moved over the sentence.

once. twice.

you looked at the doctor, he continued speaking.

you saw the careful movement of his lips. the sympathetic expression.

but there was still not much at all. only subtle low mumbles that you had registered.

you pointed toward the board.

momo quickly wrote again.

the doctors don’t know if it is permanent.

something inside you broke. you shook your head. “no.”

momo reached for your hand.

you pulled away. “no, it cant be..”

you pressed both palms over your ears as if covering them differently would somehow fix it. “i can’t hear anything.”

tears blurred your vision. “i can’t even hear myself properly!.”

momo was crying now.

katsuki stood near the door, stll and silent, he had a new look on his face, his shoulders were lowered and his hands hung at his sides.

his mouth moved. two words.

you understood them without hearing them.

i’m sorry.

your face crumpled. you looked away from him.

katsuki took one step toward the bed.

you immediately shook your head. “don’t.”

he stopped. you couldn’t hear your own sob when it left your throat.

you only felt it.

the sharp pull in your chest, the shaking of your shoulders. the wet warmth of tears running down your face.

the world around you had become too silent.

and the last thing you remembered hearing, was his explosion.

the next few days were the hardest, the silence wasn’t complete. you realised that sometime later.

almost like listening to the world from underwater.

the doctor’s mouth continued moving in front of you, and every few seconds a distant sound reached you.

not words. just muffled vibrations.

broken pieces of noise that your brain couldn’t put together.

you could hear the low rumble of a voice, but you couldn’t tell whether it belonged to the doctor, aizawa or someone standing outside the room.

your own breathing felt louder inside your chest than it did in your ears.

later you learend more in detail about your issue. the explosion caused severe trauma to your ears, causing significant hearing loss. hearing some sounds in possible, especially lower and louder ones, but voices may sound faint or unclear.

its too early to know whether it was possible for your hearing to improve, but the swelling may improve over time, which could return some of the hearing, however there may also be permanent damage.

when you had learned this information, was in the doctors office, immediately regretted it when pain shot through the back of your head. your eyes squeezed shut.

momo rested one hand gently against your arm. you didn’t pull away this time. the room remained filled with muffled noise.

the doctor’s voice. fabric shifting. footsteps.

the hum of machinery.

you knew every sound was there. you simply couldn’t reach most of it.

it felt like the entire world had moved farther away while you were unconscious.

you looked over and katsuki had entered the doctors office.

katsuki was standing near the door. he didnt moved.

his expression was blank in the way it only became when he was trying desperately not to show something.

his hands were clenched tightly at his sides. you could see small cuts across his knuckles.

you looked away.

you didn’t want to see him.

you didn’t want to look at the person who had done this and find the same face you loved staring back.

katsuki noticed. he always did. then he spoke, you only heard a faint rumble.

momo looked toward him. her expression tightened.

katsuki spoke again, slower this time.

you watched his lips.

i should leave.

aizawa nodded.

katsuki stayed where he was for one more second.

his eyes never left you. then he turned and walked out.

the door clicked shut behind him. you barely heard it.

katsuki didn’t go far.

he sat in the hallway outside the office, elbows resting against his knees and hands hanging between them.

he stared at the floor.

alot of people passed him. many nurses, doctors even interns.

kirishima sat down beside him after nearly twenty minutes. katsuki didn’t look up.

“how is she?” kirishima asked quietly.

“awake.”

“that’s good.”

no response.

kirishima waited. “what did the doctor say?”

katsuki’s jaw tightened.

“hearing damage.”

kirishima’s expression fell. “how bad?”

“bad.”

“permanent?”

“they don’t know.”

the hallway became silent between them.

katsuki could still hear everything.

the shoes squeaking against the polished floor. the wheels of medical carts. the ventilation system above them.

a nurse laughing softly at something farther down the corridor.

he hated every sound.

each one felt like something he had taken from you.

“it was an accident,” kirishima said carefully.

katsuki looked at him.

the expression on his face stopped kirishima from saying anything else.

“don’t.”

“bakguou”

“don’t call it that like it fixes anything.”

“i didn’t say it fixes it.” kirishima spoke.

“i knew i was using too much.”

kirishima went quiet.

katsuki looked down at his hands. “aizawa told us to stop.”

“you were both angry.”

“so?”

“so you weren’t thinking clearly.”

“that’s supposed to make it better?”

“no.” kirishima’s voice remained calm. “but it matters.”

“not to her.”

“you don’t know that.”

“she wouldn’t even look at me.”

the last sentence came out quieter than the others.

kirishima watched him. “give her time.”

katsuki’s laugh was bitter. “time doesn’t fix hearing.”

“maybe not.” kirishima leaned back against the wall. “but it might help both of you figure out what comes next.”

katsuki didn’t answer.

he remained outside the office room until aizawa told him the hospital was closing to visitors.

you were discharged four days later after the meeting with the doctor.

the swelling in your ears had reduced slightly.

your hearing had improved enough that you could identify louder sounds, but voices still felt frustratingly distant. some people were easier to understand than others.

aizawa’s voice was low enough that you could sometimes hear pieces of it if he stood close and spoke slowly.

momo’s voice was softer, making it much harder.

mina spoke loudly by nature, which helped, though you had to remind her not to shout directly into your ear.

most conversations became a mixture of lip-reading, written words and guessing.

the ringing was worse at night.

during the day, other noises covered it.

doors closing. chairs scraping. students moving through the dorms.

all of them were muffled, but they were still something.

at night, when the building became quiet, the ringing took over.

a high, thin sound that never completely stopped.

the doctors had called it tinnitus.

they explained that your brain was trying to replace the signals it no longer received properly.

you hated it so much. you hated waking up and testing your hearing before your eyes had even opened.

you hated snapping your fingers beside your ears to compare them.

you hated turning the television volume higher and higher, only to realise the dialogue still sounded blurred.

you hated asking people to repeat themselves.

you hated pretending you understood because asking a third time felt humiliating.

most of all, you hated katsuki, so much.

not completely. that would have been easier.

part of you still loved him. that was the problem.

you loved him, but every time you saw his hands, you remembered the flash of light.

every time something loud made your damaged ears ache, you remembered him refusing to stop.

you knew he hadn’t intended to hurt you. you knew he would have taken the injury himself if he could. but knowledge didn’t erase resentment.

it didn’t give you back the sounds that had once filled your life without effort.

your fourth evening back at the dorms was for some reason overwhelming.

everyone gathered in the common room.

mina hugged you so tightly for the first time in weeks that your ribs hurt.

ochaco cried.

midoriya tried to explain the notes he had made for the classes you missed, speaking so quickly that you understood almost nothing.

you watched his mouth move for several seconds before raising your hand.

“slow down,” you said, trying to control the volume of your voice.

midoriya stopped immediately. “sorry,” he said.

you caught the word. barely.

he repeated himself more slowly, pointing toward the notebook as he spoke.

that helped.

you smiled to show him you understood.

the others were trying. they faced you when speaking. they avoided covering their mouths. they waited for you to finish reading before continuing.

it should have made you feel supported. instead, it made you feel different.

every movement was deliberate now. every conversation required thought. before, you could listen while looking away. now, you had to watch. nothing felt easy anymore, and you felt like you were becoming a burden on their already hard life.

before, you could hear someone calling your name from behind. now, you didn’t know anyone had entered the room until mina touched your shoulder.

you jumped so violently that the mug in your hands nearly fell.

“sorry!” she exclaimed.

the sound reached you as a distorted burst.

you pressed one hand against your ear.

mina’s face crumpled.

“no, it’s okay,” you reassured her quickly. “you just surprised me.”

she nodded, looking guilty. you hated that too. everyone looked guilty. even when they had done nothing wrong.

katsuki remained upstairs.

you knew because kirishima kept glancing toward the staircase. you didn’t ask. you weren’t sure whether you felt relieved or disappointed.

you found the note outside your bedroom.

a small folded piece of paper rested against the door. your name was written across the front in katsuki’s sharp handwriting.

you stared at it for nearly a minute before picking it up. the message inside was short.

i moved my things into kirishima’s room for now. you won’t have to see me unless you want to.

beneath it, another sentence had been written and crossed out so heavily that you could barely read it. you tilted the paper toward the hallway light.

i’m sorry.

your throat tightened.

you folded the note again and entered your room. he had left.

his clothes were gone from the closet. his toothbrush was no longer beside yours.

the training gloves he usually threw onto the desk had disappeared.

the room looked larger and emptier.

you sat on the edge of the bed.

for the first time since the hospital, you cried without anyone watching. you couldn’t hear the sound properly. only broken, breathless pieces. but you imagined it was ugly. it was kind of refreshing to cry your heart out all alone.

katsuki started learning sign language the following morning.

he didn’t tell anyone. he sat alone in the library before classes with a book open in front of him and a tutorial playing silently on his phone.

the first signs he learned were practical.

hello.

good morning.

are you hurt?

do you need help?

he struggled with the finger positions, his hands were built for combat.

strong and scarred. used to quick, powerful movements.

sign language required precision of a different kind.

he practised until his fingers cramped.

when kirishima found him, he watched from across the table for several seconds.

“you’re doing that one wrong,” kirishima said.

katsuki looked up sharply. “since when do you know sign language?”

“my cousin has trouble hearing.”

katsuki stared at him. “you could’ve mentioned that.”

“you didn’t ask.”

“show me.”

kirishima sat beside him. “which sign are you trying to do?”

katsuki looked down at the page. “sorry.”

kirishima’s expression softened. “okay.”

he demonstrated the motion slowly.

katsuki copied it.

“again,” he demanded.

you avoided him for the first week.

not completely though, that would have been impossible while living in the same dorm and attending the same classes.

you simply kept your distance, you ate with the girls as the ringing in your ears was slowly but surely becoming better over time.

trained with todoroki.

walked to class with izuku and iida.

when katsuki entered a room, you found a reason to leave. he never followed.

that almost hurt more.

before the accident, he would have challenged you, maybe forced the conversation, sometimes would refuse to let you walk away angry.

now, he respected every boundary before you even stated it.

you knew it was because he felt guilty. part of you appreciated it.

another part wanted him to fight for you. the contradiction made you angry with yourself.

a month after the accident, you returned to light training.

aizawa had forbidden combat exercises until the doctors cleared you completely.

instead, you practised balance and situational awareness.

he placed you in the centre of the field and asked your classmates to approach from different directions.

you had to identify them using sight and vibration. it was harder than you expected.

your hearing had always warned you when someone came from behind.

now, footsteps were nothing more than faint impacts against the ground.

you missed kirishima twice. sero once.

katsuki never approached.

he stood near aizawa, arms crossed and expression unreadable.

after twenty minutes, frustration took over. “again,” you demanded.

aizawa shook his head. “you need a break.”

“i’m fine.”

“your balance is worsening.”

“because i’m tired.”

“exactly.”

“i said i’m fine.” your own voice sounded too loud inside your head.

some classmates looked away. you hated that reaction.

the careful silence. the pity.

“stop looking at me like that,” you snapped.

mina’s eyes widened. “like what?”

you couldn’t hear the full question, but you understood her lips. “like i’m going to break.”

“we’re not,” ochaco said gently.

you missed half of it.

“what?”

she repeated herself. slower. “we’re not looking at you like that.”

“yes, you are.” you pulled off the protective gloves aizawa had given you.

“everyone is.” you whispered and stood up gently, quickly making your way to the changing rooms.

aizawa called your name. you didn’t hear him.

katsuki moved before anyone else. then stopped himself. his fists clenched.

aizawa looked at him. “go.”

katsuki hesitated. “she doesn’t want me.”

“she doesn’t know what she wants.”

“and you do?” he asked curiously.

“no.” aizawa’s expression remained tired but firm.

“but i know leaving her alone every time she becomes upset isn’t helping either of you.”

katsuki looked toward the changing rooms.

then followed.

you sat on a bench outside the empty locker room.

your elbows rested against your knees. your face was buried in your hands. you didn’t hear katsuki approaching.

you only noticed him when his shadow entered your vision. you immediately straightened. “go away.”

he crouched in front of you. not close enough to touch. just close enough that you could see his face clearly.

“i know,” he said slowly. his voice reached you as a low mumble.

you understood mostly through his lips. “then go.”

he shook his head.

you stood. “i don’t want to talk to you.”

he lifted both hands.

the movement stopped you. his fingers formed a sign.

sorry.

you stared at his hands.

katsuki repeated it. slower.

sorry.

your chest tightened. “what are you doing?”

“learning,” he said.

you heard the low shape of the word.

“why?”

his hands moved again. he had to think before each sign.

because you shouldn’t have to struggle to understand me.

your eyes burned. “don’t.”

he lowered his hands.

“don’t do this because you feel guilty,” you said.

katsuki watched your lips carefully now.

“i do feel guilty.” his voice remained slow. “im going to feel guilty for the rest of my life.”

you looked away. “that doesn’t fix it.”

“i know.”

“it doesn’t make me hear normally again.”

“i know.” his face tightened.

you looked back at him. tears blurred your vision.

“then why are you doing this?”

katsuki was silent for a long time. then his hands moved.

because i love you.

you stopped breathing.

he continued signing. slowly and awkwardly.

and because i hurt you.

his fingers shook.

you can hate me.

he paused.

you can leave me.

another pause.

but i will still help you.

the tears fell. you wiped them away angrily. “i don’t hate you.”

katsuki’s eyes closed briefly. relief crossed his face.

“i wish i did,” you admitted. “it would be easier.”

he nodded and understood. “you should be.”

“sometimes i look at you and all i can think about is that you didn’t stop.”

his eyes dropped. “i know.”

“aizawa told us to, even kirishima did."

his jaw trembled.

“even i told you that you were going too hard, but your ego was too great for the situation”

his jaw trembled.

you pressed one hand against your mouth.

katsuki didn’t defend himself. didn’t say that you had been fighting back. didn’t remind you that both of you had been angry. didn’t call it an accident.

he simply nodded. “yeah, i did"

you began crying harder.

katsuki remained where he was.

after several seconds, you lowered your hand.

“i don’t know how to forgive you.”

his eyes met yours. “you don’t have to yet.”

“what if i never do?”

the question hurt him. you saw it.

but he answered anyway. “then i’ll live with it, as long as i still learn and can be helpful in your life in any way.”

you stared at him. his hands moved again.

i’m here.

your face crumpled as you slowly sat back down.

katsuki remained crouched in front of you. as you both lived the shared moment of silence.

the month after went by pretty quick, not bad nor good, just quick and normal.

your hearing had significantly improved, the swelling was almost non-existent, but the doctors warned you not to expect a sudden return to normal.

newer sounds became clearer to you.

doors opening and closing, footsteps and the low hum and coughs of katsukis voice when he was near.

other sounds continued distant.

music still felt incomplete. conversations in crowded rooms blended together until every voice became one long blur. high-pitched noises disappeared almost entirely.

katsuki never asked whether you had forgiven him.

instead, he made himself useful to you.

he installed a light outside your bedroom that beamed whenever someone knocked.

he started entering rooms within your line of sight instead of approaching from behind.

if you were watching television, he turned the subtitles on before sitting down.

he never made a big deal out of any of it. he simply did it.

his sign language improved quickly. annoyingly quickly.

within a month, he could carry simple conversations without stopping to think through every word.

one evening, you found him sitting at the kitchen table with three books open around him. kirishima sat across from him, trying and failing not to laugh.

katsuki’s hands moved.

why are you laughing?

kirishima attempted to answer in sign.

his fingers moved in the wrong order.

katsuki slapped his hands away.

“that doesn’t mean what you think it means,” he said harshly.

you leaned against the doorway.

“what did he say?” you asked.

katsuki looked up immediately.

kirishima’s face turned red.

“nothing.”

“he called me a handsome refrigerator,” katsuki said.

you stared. then laughed.

kirishima covered his face. “i was trying to say hardworking friend.”

“not even close,” katsuki muttered.

you walked toward the table.

“i think it fits.”

katsuki glared at you. then his hands moved.

you’re annoying.

you smiled.

you love me.

his eyes softened.

unfortunately.

you began training together again three months after the accident.

not sparring. not yet.

katsuki helped you adjust to fighting with limited hearing.

he created visual signals for attacks coming from outside your field of view. one raised fist meant danger behind you.

two fingers pointed down meant movement beneath your feet. an open palm meant stop.

he practised until the signals became instinctive.

the first time he set off an explosion near you, your body froze.

it wasn’t even large. barely enough to propel him across the training field.

but the faint boom reached your damaged ears as a distorted crack. your breath disappeared. for a moment, you were back against the wall.

katsuki landed several metres away. the second he saw your face, he stopped.

he didn’t approach. he lowered his hands and waited.

you hated how frightened he looked. not of you. of himself.

you took a slow breath. then another. “again,” you said.

his eyebrows pulled together. “you sure?”

you understood the question from his lips. “smaller.”

he nodded.

the next explosion was quieter. controlled.

you flinched, but stayed standing. “again.”

he repeated it.

again and again.

until the sound stopped feeling like that sound. until it was simply katsuki’s quirk again.

when the session ended, you sat beside him on the edge of the field. “i’m still angry,” you admitted.

he nodded.

“sometimes i still resent you.”

his jaw tightened, he continued nodding.

you looked down at your hands. “but i don’t want this to be the only thing we become.”

katsuki turned toward you.

you continued before fear could stop you. “i don’t want every memory of us to end at that explosion.”

his fingers moved carefully.

what do you want?

you watched his hands. then looked at his face.

“i want us back.”

his expression broke for half a second.

“not how we were before,” you clarified. “we can’t pretend it never happened.”

he nodded slowly. “i don’t want to.”

“good.”

you reached for his hand. “i want something better.”

katsuki stared at your joined fingers.

then signed with his free hand.

i can do better.

you squeezed his hand. “i know.”

six months later, you stood together outside the dorms after evening training. rain fell lightly across the campus. it was a dreamy sight.

you could hear it. but only a soft, distant static.

katsuki stood beside you beneath the entrance roof, watching the water collect along the pavement.

“can you hear it?” he asked slowly.

you tilted your head. “a little.”

he held out his hand.

you looked at him. “what?”

“come on.”

“it’s raining.”

“noticed.”

you let him pull you beyond the cover.

cold droplets landed across your hair and shoulders.

katsuki placed your hand against his chest. beneath your palm, his heartbeat was steady.

his other hand moved between you.

you don’t have to hear everything to know it’s there.

your eyes burned.

“that was disgustingly sweet.”

his ears turned red. “shut up.”

you laughed, stepping closer. “say it again.”

“no.”

“sign it again.”

“absolutely not.”

you wrapped your arms around his waist.

after a second, his arms closed around you. careful at first, then a bit tighter.

the rain continued falling around you. you couldn’t hear every drop. couldn’t hear the wind clearly. couldn’t hear katsuki’s breathing the way you once had.

but you could feel his chest moving against yours. feel his fingers tracing a familiar message against your back.

three simple words he had practised until they became effortless.

i love you.

you pulled back just far enough to sign your answer.

i love you too.

katsuki leaned down and rested his forehead against yours. the relationship wasn’t what it had been before. it never would again. and there are scars and memories now.

resentment that will take time to soften. trust that had needed to be rebuilt carefully, piece by piece.

but katsuki had stayed through every quiet morning. every difficult appointment. every improvement, every moment when loving him felt complicated.

and you had stayed too. again and again.

.

but you made it your mission to still be social and make time for your friends, as having a social life is very important for your mental health.

you always believed that no matter how busy life became, making time for your friends was just as important as studying or training. after all, the burnout was very real, and if there was one thing you refused to become, it was one of those people who lived solely for work. like the angry man walking behind you.

you have grown closer to him and the others in those 3 years.

mina would drag you shopping whenever she had the chance.

ochaco and momo always insisted you studied together before exams, despite the fact that the two of you spent more time chatting than revising.

kirishima somehow convinced you to join him and tetsutetsu for morning workouts every friday.

deku begging you to make them one of your favourite recipes every wednesday after school.

and there was bakugou. of course, how could you forget about him?

you arent sure exactly when and how the two of you became friends, there wasn't some dramatic moment near death. no heartfelt conversation. no promise to always have each other's backs.

one day you were simply classmates, and the next you had clicked suprisently well. at least from your perspective.

at first he would give you a polite nod when passing in the hallways.

then maybe you would laugh at his snarly comments about kaminari whenever the group would agree to go out.

then later you began training and sparring with him.

after that, it became normal for bakugou to save you a seat during lectures.

regular for you to steal some food from his lunch.

normal for the two of you to walk back to the dorms together after training without either of you acknowledging that you had waited for the other.

then it grew regular for the two of you to go on study dates at the library alone, or maybe watch a movie late at night and discussing the events on the way back.

at first, during all those moments, everything felt normal and fine. fun even.

if anyone asked, you'd both deny being particularly close.

"we're just classmates."

"it's not a big deal."

except, it was starting to become kind of suspicious. because somewhere along those three years, you and bakugou became each others default person.

if aizawa announced pair training, you subconsciously looked at him first.

if something funny happened during class, he was the first person you wanted to tell.

if you were late to breakfast, there would somehow already be a tray sitting across from his, waiting. neither of you ever questioned it.

everyone else did. from your perspective you are bubbly and extroverted and bakugou just needed someone to balance him out.

which was exactly why class 3-a wasn't surprised in the slightest when another poor soul unknowingly made the same mistake.

it happened on a tuesday. everyone had just finished combat training and was making their way back toward the main building.

most of the class had split into smaller groups, chatting about the exercise while walking across campus.

you were halfway through complaining to jirou about aizawa's impossible grading system when someone called your name.

"hey!"

you turned around.

a second-year student jogged over, looking a little out of breath.

he smiled nervously.

"h-hi."

"hi!" you said, smiling at him.

he rubbed the back of his neck. "i've... um..." his eyes darted toward the small paper bag clutched in his hand. "i actually wanted to ask if maybe you'd like to..maybe get to um.."

"huh? maybe what? sorry..." you said, trying to decipher what he was saying.

"oi" bakugou. his voice came from a distant as he made his way to the scene.

he hadn't even been walking with your group a second ago. now he was somehow standing beside you.

"what?" you asked.

he didn't answer you. instead, he looked at the second-year.

"you done?"

"huh what are you talking about, katsuki?" you asked, he still ignored you.

the poor guy immediately straightened.

"uh, sorr-"

"yeah, good" bakugou said, crossing his arms over his chest. without another word, bakugou started walking again.

then stopped and looked back at you.

"you coming?" he asked.

"oh."

you glanced apologetically at the younger student. "im very sorry about his rudeness, if you excuse me."

he laughed awkwardly. "n-no worries."

you hurried after bakugou. completely missing the disappointed look on the second-year's face.

"...what did he want?" you asked once you'd caught up.

"the hell if i know!" bakugou said harshly, "extras are weird."

the two of you continued your walk normally, laughing about something stupid.

behind you, the second year student was throwing the letter in the nearest bin before picking up his bag and walking away.

"again?" mina deadpanned.

kaminari watched the poor guy walk away. "that's the third one this month."

sero whistled. "he didn't even get to finish the sentence."

kirishima rubbed the back of his neck. "should... should we tell them? before he leaves completely"

mina looked over at where you and bakugou were already laughing about something completely unrelated. "nah."

"why not?"

"it's way funnier like this." mina smirked.

deku sighed. "i kinda feel bad."

"don't." mina snorted. "give it another week."

"why?"

"someone else is definitely gonna try."

a few weeks pass by like the usual, classes, lectures, training, internship and so on.

the occasional explosion whenever bakugou decided someone was being particularly irritating. normal.

valentine's day had rolled around.

the girls gathered in the common room that morning, excitedly speaking and showing off chocolates and little gifts they'd received from classmates.

at this day mina had announced that she received three boxes, one of them from kirishima, she said he wanted to make their relationship official this way.

the girls in the common room squealed in happiness for her.

"oh my god, i know you have been plotting on this man for so long!!!" you said excitedly, giving her a big hug.

then ochaco had a bouquet of flowers sitting on the table beside her. attached to the bouquet was a little note, asking if she would want to join izuku on a date to the cinema later this evening.

momo had politely declined two confessions before breakfast.

tsu already had a boyfriend, so she received a letter and a gift from tokoyami.

jirou had received a small teddy bear from someone in support studies. and a gift made of off her favourite albums and band posters from unknown.

you smiled, happy for them. "damn."

mina looked over. "what, are you okay?"

"yeah its nothing."

"girl, whats wrong?" jirou asked, placing a soft hand on your shoulder.

"...i didn't get anything."

ochaco blinked. "really?"

you laughed.

mina frowned. "that's weird." as she looked towards tsu, her nodding with the previous statement.

"is it?" you asked, confused.

"yes." ochaco said calmly,

"maybe i'm just not that kind of person."

before anyone could answer, the common room door opened. bakugou walked in carrying his usual breakfast.

he glanced around. "the hell's with all the pink?"

"it's valentine's day," mina answered.

"and?"

"its a romantic holiday?" ochaco said, looking around.

"stupid holiday." he continued toward the kitchen. completely uninterested. you sighed dramatically.

later that afternoon, class had finally ended.

you walked across campus alone, earbuds in, enjoying the rare moment of peace.

"...y/n!" you turned around.

one of the third-years from another class jogged toward you. he looked familiar. you'd spoken maybe once or twice during joint training.

"hey, you okay?."

"hi." he smiled nervously. "i was actually hoping i could ask you something."

"sure." you said calmly, removing one of your earbuds.

he took a breath. "..would you maybe like to go out sometime this week?"

before you could answer,

"...ay."

you didn't even have to turn around. "...seriously?" you sighed.

bakugou. again.

"...what?" you said, he stopped beside you. eyes immediately landing on the other boy.

"practice starts in ten."

"no it doesn't." you huffed, annoyed at him.

"it does now."

"bakugou." you snapped, looking at him now.

"what."

"i'm talking here, cant you see."

"looks finished."

the third-year awkwardly cleared his throat. "i'll... maybe ask another time."

"...yeah."

he quickly walked away. you stared after him.

then slowly looked at bakugou. "did you just interrupt him on purpose?"

"maybe."

"why?"

"practice, like i said."

"there isn't practice."

"there is now."

you folded your arms. "you've done this befor, havent you?"

bakugou suddenly found the pavement incredibly interesting.

"katsuki!." you huffed once again, "how many people have you scared away?"

"didn't count."

silence.

then it clicks.

"oh my god."

"YOU'RE the reason why nobody has ever asked me out, or at least they get so far."

Bakugou's ears immediately turned red. "wasn't intentional."

"WASN'T INTENTIONAL?!"

"mostly."

"mostly not intentional"

"what do you even by that??"

you continued the questioning until you reached outside of your dorm building.

"what about the guy from a couple weeks ago?" you asked, confused.

"didnt like him,"

"you didnt like any of them!"

"yeah, what was he doing trying to talk to you, he has never met you before," he said normally, crossing his arms,

"you dont need to!" you huffed out in anger.

you were about to turn around and storm inside before a warm hand wrapped around your wrist.

"let go!"

"no,"

you looked down at his hand before slowly looking back up at him. "katsuki!"

"listen..." his grip loosened a bit on your wrist as he began speaking.

a moment of silence, "shit", he muttered.

"katsuki, you are making this really weird,"

"i know," he muttered before looking at you once again,

"im sorry. i admit i shouldnt have involved myself in your business, and it was a jerk move. but i have my own reasoning"

you were taken back by his quick apology, "like what?" you asked.

"i didnt like the way they talked to you..or looked at you, i hated it, and it made me feel weird.." he said, looking away.

"made me feel jealous.." your heart skipped a beat.

now suddenly everything was interesting to katsuki, the dorm entrance, the pavement, anything except your face.

"i shouldn't have kept doing that."

you blinked. "doing what?"

"getting in the way."

his voice was quieter now. "it wasn't my place." he let out a frustrated sigh.

"the idea that one of 'em would've actually gotten somewhere." he laughed once.

"once again, the truth is that i didnt want anyone else getting a chance with you,"

your breath caught. "katsuki,"

he finally looked at you. red eyes met yours. "i've been trying to convince myself for months that i was just looking out for you."

another step closer. "turns out i was just jealous."

your heart was beating so loudly you were convinced he could hear it. you smiled despite yourself. "that's a pretty stupid way of realizing you like someone."

"yeah, guess so"

you laughed. a real one. soft enough to make the tension disappear.

"you know, you really did ruin my dating life."

"im sorry." he said, while also letting ago of your wrist.

"are you?"

"not really." he smiled.

you rolled your eyes. "of course not."

he rubbed the back of his neck again. "so."

"so?"

"if i'm gonna stop scaring everybody away..." he swallowed. "guess i should have a reason to."

your smile slowly widened. "are you asking me out?"

"maybe."

"huhh, maybe??"

"quit making fun of me." he said blushing all over his face.

"...i'm not." you said laughing.

"you are!"

"i'm enjoying this."

"idiot..."

you stepped forward until there was barely any space left between you.

"for the record."

"...hm?"

"i think i'd rather go on a date with the idiot who's sabotaged my love life for three years..." you reached for his hand, interlocking your fingers with his.

"than with any of the people he scared away."

for a second, bakugou just stared at your intertwined fingers. then a grin, small, genuine, and completely unguarded, found its way onto his face.

"good."

"that's all you've got?"

"yeah."

"i was kinda expecting something more romantic."

he scoffed. "extras do romantic, we arent extras."

he squeezed your hand once as you both made your way inside the dorm building. "i'm just taking you to dinner."

"smooth." you smirked at that.

"shut up."

"make me."

"don't tempt me."

the two of you disappeared into the dorms together, completely missing the curtain on the second floor moving ever so slightly.

"i owe mina five thousand yen," kaminari sighed.

"only five thousand?" kirishima laughed.

"i thought it'd take another month."

mina grinned victoriously.

"i told you they'd figure it out before graduation."

"did they figure it out," jirou said, peeking through the window, "or did she finally catch up to what everyone else knew?"

"fair point."

.

the metal restraints overheated and melted away. bakugou threw an arm over his eyes.

"a little warning would've been nice!"

you immediately reached for him. your hand closed around the front of his costume, then the reactor exploded, you shot upwards, through one, two and three floors.

bakugou clung to you as the facility collapsed beneath you.

you wrapped one arm around his waist and fired energy downward, propelling both of you through the central shaft. todoroki’s ice held the walls apart.

kirishima carried shinsou beneath one arm and an unconscious guard beneath the other.

the building collapsed seconds after everyone had cleared the entrance as dust spread across the grounds. police vehicles rocked beneath the shockwave.

you landed hard in the grass. kirishima rolled away with shinsou. todoroki remained standing somehow. bakugou landed on top of you.

for a moment, neither of you moved. then he lifted his head.

“you alive?” you stared at the night sky.

stars flickered above the smoke.

“yeah.”

“good.”

he punched your shoulder.

not hard.

“ouch, katsuki.”

“that’s for dropping us through three floors.”

“i saved you.” you laughed.

“you dropped me first.”

across the field, officers dragged laz from the ruins. half his armour had been destroyed, and quirk suppressant cuffs covered both wrists.

he turned his head toward you.

“thirteen.”

bakugou stood. you didn’t.

laz smiled through the blood on his teeth. “you will always belong to this place.”

bakugou began walking toward him.

kirishima grabbed his arm. “maybe don’t murder him in front of the police.” he whispered to katsuki.

“let go.”

“think of the paperwork.”

“i’ll burn it.”

you pushed yourself upright. “bakugou.”

he stopped.

you stared at laz. then a green light surrounded your body, "my name is starfire."

laz smile faded as the police vehicle door closed between you.

the media arrived before sunrise. they always did. no matter what. no one even knew who called them.

perhaps the police. perhaps the commission. perhaps someone had seen the green explosion from the city and decided to investigate.

reporters gathered beyond the emergency barriers, shouting questions in your faces.

was it true that meridian research had conducted illegal quirk experiments?

had dr. laz been working with the government?

why had three pro heroes entered without police support?

was starfire injured?

was dynamight injured?

was the facility connected to other disappearances?

bakugou ignored all of them as todoroki tried his best to co-operate.

katsuki sat in the back of an ambulance while a paramedic stitched the cut above his eyebrow.

“hold still.” the nurse said,

“i am holding still.” he barked at her

“you moved.”

“because you stabbed me.”

“it’s a needle.” she said, clearly irritated.

“same thing.”

she then sighed.

across the field, kirishima spoke with detectives. todoroki had already left to escort the injured guards to hospital. shinsou remained near the command vehicle, helping police separate the brainwashed personnel from those who had acted willingly.

you stood near the edge of the ruins.

alone.

a thermal blanket hung around your shoulders. the rising sun touched your face. green light slowly returned beneath your skin.

you hadn’t spoken to bakugou since landing. every time he moved toward you, another officer stopped him. maybe a statement. sometimes a medical check, or someone might ask him for a report.

a commission call that he rejected, violently.

then after some time, you heard him walk across the field. you heard him approaching.

“go away.” you whispered.

bakugou stopped beside you. “no.”

“i’m serious.”

“so am i.”

you looked toward the ruins.

“they’re going to ask questions.” you sighed.

“let them.”

“about me.”

“yeah.”

“the commission will bury it.”

“not after i’m done.”

you gave a humourless laugh. “you can’t threaten the entire government.”

“watch me.”

“bakugou.”

“what?”

“stop.”

he looked at you. the morning light made you glow faintly.

anyone watching would have thought you looked powerful. bakugou saw the way your hands trembled beneath the blanket.

“you should go get checked.” he suggested.

“already did.”

“properly.”

“they poked me enough down there.”

“y/n.”

“don’t.” your voice hardened.

“don’t start acting different.” he said softly.

“i’m not.”

“you are.”

“how?”

“you keep looking at me.”

“i always look at you.”

“not like that.”

“like what?”

“like you’re trying to figure out what parts are real.”

bakugou stared at you.

you pulled the blanket tighter, and sighed. “the childhood stories were fake.”

“figured.” he laughed.

“the foster family existed, but i only lived with them for eight months.”

“okay.”

“my school records were made by the commission.”

he nodded.

“i didn’t go outside until i was eleven.”

his jaw tightened.

you saw it. “there.” you pointed it out.

“what?” he barked.

“that.”

“what the hell are you talking about?”

“your face.”

“this is my face.”

“you look angry.”

“i am angry.” he crossed his arms over his chest, clearly bothered.

“at me.”

“not at you, never at you.”

“you don’t have to lie.”

bakugou’s temper flared.

“i’m not fucking lying.”

you turned toward him.

“then what are you angry about?”

“them!”

the word tore from him.

several officers glanced over.

bakugou didn’t care.

“i’m angry they locked you in there. i’m angry that bastard put his hands on you. i’m angry the commission knew. i’m angry you had to stand in that hallway and act like you’d never seen it before.”

your eyes burned.

“i didn’t ask you to be angry for me.”

“too bad.”

“i don’t need you to defend me.”

“never said you did.”

“then stop.”

“no.”

“why?”

“because you’re my partner.”

“that doesn’t mean-”

“yeah, it does.”

you stepped backward.

bakugou followed.

“you don’t get to disappear now.”

“i’m standing right here.”

“not what i mean.”

you looked away. “laz touched you.” you said quietly.

bakugou went still.

“he saw things.”

“probably.”

“about me.”

“yeah.” bakugou agreed.

your throat moved.

“what?”

“none of your business.”

“bakugou.”

“you said he could see memories, not steal them. you wanna know what’s in my head, ask me. you don’t get it through him.”

you looked at him properly for the first time. “do you pity me?”

“no.”

“do you think i’m dangerous?”

“you threw me through a building on our third patrol.”

“answer the question.”

“yeah.”

your face fell. bakugou continued before you could turn away.

“you’re dangerous. so am i. so is icy-hot. so is shitty hair if he runs at something fast enough.”

“that isn’t what i meant you idiot.”

“i know.” his voice lowered, a soft smile appearing on his face again. “no. i don’t think you’re dangerous like they did, not in the same way."

your eyes dropped.

“you should.”

“why?”

“because sometimes i still feel it.”

“feel what?”

“the energy.”

you looked at your hands.

green light gathered in your palms.

“when there’s too much, it feels like my skin isn’t big enough. like i could burn through everything around me without meaning to.”

“but you don’t.”

“i could.”

“but you don’t.”

“you don’t understand.”

“then explain it.”

“i can’t.”

“try.”

your hands closed.

the light vanished.

“they used to leave me in the dark when i couldn’t control it.”

bakugou said nothing.

“sometimes for hours. sometimes days. no windows. no heat. barely any food because they said digestion created too much thermal energy.”

the words came slowly. as if each one had to be pulled from somewhere deep.

“when they needed me charged, they’d put me under lamps until i passed out. then they’d drain it. again and again.”

bakugou’s fists clenched.

“they told me sunlight was something i had to earn.” you laughed quietly at the memory.

“the first time i saw the sky, i thought it was fake.”

his chest ached at those words.

“say something,” you whispered.

bakugou looked at the sunrise. then back at you.

“i thought you were born stubborn.”

you blinked. “what?”

“turns out you had to be.”

your mouth opened. then closed. no words.

bakugou shoved his hands into his pockets.

“doesn’t change anything.”

“it changes everything.” you said back.

“not to me.”

“how can it not?”

“because i already know who you are.”

“you know who i wanted you to see.”

“same thing.” then he stepped closer. “everyone chooses what people see. you think i walk around telling extras every ugly thing that’s ever happened to me?”

“you barely tell anyone anything.”

“exactly.”

despite yourself, a small laugh escaped you.

bakugou’s expression softened.

“you should have told me.”

“i know.” you said quietly.

“i’m pissed you didn’t, but i also get why, this is not something you talk about over dinner exactly."

your eyes filled again. you looked furious about it. “i thought you’d look at me and see that room.”

“i look at you and see an idiot who steals my lunch from the lunch room at the agency.”

“you never label it though.”

“it’s in my fridge.” he exclaimed.

"its a shared fridge katsuki!" you laughed, crossing your arms over your chest.

“my agency, sweetheart, remember?.”

“our agency at this point”

“whos name’s on the building again?.”

“because ‘starfire and dynamight’ sounded better in that order and you got threatened by it.”

“i did not.” he laughed.

“you threw the design mock-up out the window.”

“it was ugly."

you laughed again.

this time, the sound broke halfway through. you covered your face.

bakugou stood there awkwardly for three seconds. then pulled you into his chest. you froze against him.

“don’t make it weird,” he muttered.

your fingers tightened in the front of his costume. “you’re the one hugging me.” you blushed.

“shut up.”

“you hate hugs.”

“i hate your hugs.”

“this is my hug.”

your forehead pressed against his shoulder.

the thermal blanket slipped around both of you. for a while, neither of you spoke. the sun rose higher and warmth spread across your skin. your energy returned slowly, gathering beneath your ribs and along your fingertips.

“what happens now?” you asked.

bakugou looked toward the command vehicle. three commission officials had just arrived.

dark suits with tight expressions. one of them spotted him.

bakugou’s mouth twisted into something sharp. “now?” he released you and began walking toward them. “gonna have a talk with the commission.”

you watched him roll his shoulders, tiny explosions cracking between his fingers despite the bandages around his hands.

“bakugou.”

he glanced back.

“don’t get arrested.” you threatened.

“no promises.”

“i mean it.”

you stared at him for one second. then the corners of your mouth lifted.

green energy surrounded your body. you rose from the ground and flew after him, morning light blazing behind you.

the first comm vechile hadnt even stopped before the doors opened.

three officials stepped out, dark suits and nice shoes. the oldest adjusted his tie and approached the facility.

"dynamight."

bakugou didnt answer,

"we are relieved everyone survived."

the official continued as he glanced towards the ruins.

"we will be taking over the investigation from here."

bakugou laughed.

"something funny, dyanmight?"

"the investigation, you really think you are taking over?"

"well..yes-"

"no."

the word cut him off. calm.

"excuse me..?"

bakugou walked closer. "you don't get to show up after more than fifteen years and pretend this is another cleanup." he said pointing at him.

the official's expression barely changed. "i don't know what you're implying."

"the hell you don't." bakugou barked in his face.

behind bakugou, you looked up from where the paramedics were checking your injuries that had stopped you. your stomach tightened.

he was definitely furious.

the official folded his hands behind his back. "the events inside that facility are still being verified."

"oh?, then tell me why your people sealed every record connected to that old bastard."

no answer.

"tell me why her along side many others childhoods were erased, and why he knew down there exactly what she had become after leaving."

one of the younger officials shifted uncomfortably.

the oldest finally spoke. "those records are classified."

bakugou took another step. "so that's a yes."

"we are not discussing confidential govern-"

"you locked a kids in a cage." the words echoed across the street. bakugou didn't lower his voice, he was angry.

"you chained kids to machines, experimented on them and drained them." he continued.

"dynamight. i advise you to calm down."

bakugou smiled. "you think I'm angry, this is me being polite."

"we cannot comment on classified his-"

"you don't get to hide behind 'classified.'"

"this conversation is over."

"it's just starting."

the official's eyes hardened. "are you threatening the hero public safety commission?"

bakugou took one last step until they were nearly chest to chest.

"i'm promising you something, if one doc disapears, or if one witness suddenly "retires", or even thinks about burying what happened to those kids, ill spend the rest of my career tearing every one of your officers apart until i find whos responsible""

the official swallowed.

"...is that understood?"

"dynamight." your voice called out for him, soft and tired.

he looked over his shoulder. you gently rested a hand on his arm. "that's enough."

he tched. "it'll never be enough."

you stepped beside him. looking directly at the officials. "they're going to investigate." you whispered.

Bakugou scoffed. "they're going to try."

You nodded once. "then we'll make sure they can't hide it."

The oldest official straightened his jacket.

"we appreciate your cooperation."

Bakugou looked like he was about to say something that would definitely get him arrested. instead, you squeezed his arm, once.

"...get out of my sight." he muttered coldly.

the officials didn't argue. they turned and walked back toward their vehicles much faster than they'd arrived.

only after the doors shut did Kirishima let out the breath he'd been holding.

"...i honestly thought you were gonna punch a government official."

bakugou didn't even look at him."i was."

a small smile tugged at kirishima's mouth.

bakugou glanced down at you. you were already watching the commission car disappear down the road.

for the first time since entering Meridian research, you weren't looking over your shoulder.

in that moment, bakugou realized that was a bigger victory than defeating laz ever was.

and by midday the last ambulance pulled away, as well as most of the police had left. and only a couple heros remained, including you and bakugou.

you sat on the hood of one of the agency cars with a paper cup of coffee warming your hands.

bakugou walked over a minute later. he didnt wanna say anything or start a conversation, he just sat behind you.

it was peaceful.

you took a small sip of your coffee before holding it out toward him.

"wanna steal some?" you asked.

he looked at you. "...you serious?" he muttered.

"you always complain when i steal yours."

"cecause you drink half of it." he snickered before taking the cup.

he drank exactly one sip, then handed it back.

"tastes like shit."

you smiled. "you've been drinking that exact order for three years whenever I forget to buy beans."

"...doesn't mean it's good."

you laughed quietly.

bakugou leaned back against the windshield.

"...hey."

"hm?"

"you still planning on coming to work tomorrow?"

you looked at him like he'd grown a second head. "i was literally kidnapped." you exclaimed.

"yeah." bakugou said, crossing his arms.

"i almost got turned into a human battery."

"yeah i know." he also said, this time rubbing the back of his neck.

"i haven't slept in..." you looked down at your watch. "...thirty-eight hours."

"true."

"and your first question is whether I'm coming to work?"

bakugou shrugged. "the paperwork won't do itself, sweetheart."

you stared at him. then another burst out laughter. so hard you had to cover your face. bakugou watched you for a moment. the corners of his mouth lifted.

barely.

"you done?"

"no," you wheezed. "you're actually unbelievable."

"take today and tomorrow off."

you blinked. "...really?"

"yeah, maybe the one after that day as well, then come back when you feel ready"

you smiled. "i can live with that."

he stood, stretching his sore shoulders. "c'mon." giving you a hand.

"where?"

"i'm buying dinner."

you raised an eyebrow. "you?"

"don't make me change my mind."

"i thought you hated spending money on me."

"i do."

"you absolutely don't." you laughed.

"tch."

he started walking toward the parking lot. after a few steps, he realised you weren't beside him. he looked back. you were still sitting on the hood of the car, watching the sunset.

"you coming or what?" bakugou asked.

you smiled softly. "yeah." you hopped down and caught up beside him. for a second, your hand brushed against his. he didn't move away. neither did you.

together, the two of you walked toward the city.

leaving Meridian research exactly where it belonged, in the past, where it didnt matter anymore.

.

EREN JAEGER

you fell first, eren fell harder

you would probably fall first for eren mainly because it is impossible to ignore his loud head. but also because of his determination, the passion that he carries for his own freedom and his loved ones, including you, and his fierce personality. you also notice the way he cares about people even when he acts angry or reckless, when others struggle to realise that.

eren would fall harder because once he allows himself to love someone, it becomes something deeply rooted. he isnt just gonna mess around and have fun with you. he’s not someone who forms casual attachments. you would become one of the few people who makes him feel understood and gives him something outside of his endless fight. He’d probably try to push those feelings away because he thinks his path will only hurt them, but that would make the attachment even stronger.

ARMIN ARLERT

armin fell first, you fell harder.

armin would probably fall first because he pays attention to people more closely than most. he would notice all the small things about you, such as the way your expression changes when you are uncomfortable, the topics that make you excited, and the habits you do without even realising. his feelings would develop quietly through long conversations, shared interests, and the comfort he feels whenever you are around.

you would fall harder because armin would make you feel genuinely understood more than anybody else. he would listen to you without judging or interrupting, remember the smallest details you tell him, and always try to see things from your perspective. he may not be the loudest or most confident person in the room, but the emotional safety that he carries and gives you would slowly become something you could not imagine living without. before you even realise it, he would become the first person you want to tell everything to.

MIKASA ACKERMAN

you fell first, mikasa fell harder

you would probably fall first because mikasa can initially be difficult to approach. she isnt the ordinary girl. she is quiet, serious, and rarely shows much emotion around people she does not trust. however, you would notice the softness hidden beneath that distant exterior. you would see how deeply she cares for the people around her, how protective she is of her loved ones, and how her actions always say much more than her words. she NEVER makes empty promises.

mikasa would fall harder because she does not form meaningful attachments easily, but when she does, she holds onto them with everything she has. once she considers you one of her loved people, her love would become incredibly loyal and deeply rooted. she would always notice when something was wrong, remain close during dangerous situations, and make sure you never felt alone even during your toughest times. she might struggle to express her feelings verbally for you, but her devotion to you would be obvious in almost everything she does. she is the "less talk, more work".

LEVI ACKERMAN

you fell first, levi fell harder

kind of similar to mikasa in many ways. you would probably fall first because levi’s softer qualities are hidden beneath his cold, impatient and distant personality. at first, you might simply admire his strength, discipline, and confidence, but eventually you would begin noticing the quiet ways he takes care of people. he would check whether you had eaten, remember exactly how you liked your tea, and silently move closer whenever danger was nearby, ensuring your safety in his own hands.

levi would fall harder because loving someone would be terrifying for him. once again, very similar to mikasa. he has lost almost everyone he has ever cared about, so he would resist becoming emotionally attached to you for as long as possible. he might convince himself that he is only looking out for you because you are part of his squad, but the moment you are seriously injured or placed in danger, he would realise how deeply you matter to him.

once hee accepts his feelings, they would become permanent. he would not be overly affectionate or constantly express his love with words, but you would become part of every decision he makes. he would protect you without treating you as weak, quietly care for you when you are exhausted, and remember details about you that you had forgotten mentioning. losing you would become one of his greatest fears, even if he never admits it aloud.

HANGE ZOË

hange fell first, you fell harder

hange would probably fall first because she is just naturally curious about many topics, and alot of people. she is also fascinated by anything or anyone that she demands interesting. she would initially become drawn to your personality all the most. that includes your funny reactions, and the way your mind works, and your unique interests. hange would constantly look for excuses to speak to you, involve you in any experiments, or drag you into long conversations that somehow continue for hours.

you would fall harder because beneath hange’s chaotic and energetic personality is someone deeply intelligent, compassionate, and emotionally aware. hange would make you feel like your thoughts were important and would never expect you to hide the unusual or complicated parts of yourself. she would bring excitement into your life that you felt was missing, but she would also become unexpectedly comforting during serious moments. her ability to make you laugh even during the darkest situations would eventually make their presence feel essential to you.

SASHA BRAUS

sasha fell first, you fell harder

sasha would probably fall first because she is naturally warm and becomes comfortable around people easily than most. she would begin by wanting to sit beside you during meals, MAYBE sharing food with you despite how protective she usually is of it, and looking for you whenever everyone gathered together. she might not immediately understand that her attachment is romantic, but everyone around her probably would.

you would fall harder because sasha would bring a kind of warmth into your life that is difficult to replace. she would make ordinary moments feel enjoyable with her soft bubbly personality, she would make you laugh when you were struggling, and never make you feel judged for being yourself. behind her humorous personality, she is also incredibly brave, loyal, and caring. you would slowly realise that being around her makes life feel lighter, and the thought of losing that happiness would become unbearable.

JEAN KIRESTCHEIN

jean fell first, jean fell harder

jean would probably fall first because he is much more observant and emotionally sensitive than he likes to appear. he would notice you quickly and become interested in your appearance, personality, or even the way you carry yourself. he would try to impress you while pretending that he does not care what you think, but his jealousy, nervousness, and constant need to be near you would make his feelings painfully obvious.

jean would also fall harder because beneath his sarcastic and argumentative personality, he is genuinely a hopeless romantic. once he becomes serious about you, he would start imagining an actual future together rather than treating the relationship as something temporary or for fun. he would want to become someone dependable enough for you to trust and would constantly push himself to be better.

his love would be protective without being controlling. he would argue with you, tease you, and occasionally become dramatic, but he would also be the person who stays awake when you are upset and refuses to leave until he knows you are okay. jean would love you in a very human and realistic way, including all your flaws rather than some idealised version of you.

CONNIE SPRINGER

connie fell first, you fell harder

connie would probably fall first because your relationship would likely begin through a friendship first. he would enjoy making you laugh, spending time with you, and constantly looking for your reaction whenever he made a joke. at first, he might not understand why your opinion matters to him so much, but eventually he would realise that he wants your attention differently from everyone else’s.

you would fall harder because connie’s affection would feel effortless and sincere. he would make you feel comfortable enough to be completely yourself around him without the need to perform, even during embarrassing or vulnerable moments. he might not always know the perfect thing to say, but he would never allow you to face something difficult alone.

as your feelings might deepen, you would realise that connie is not only funny but also incredibly loyal and emotionally genuine. he would become your best friend as well as your partner, and that closeness would make your attachment to him much stronger than either of you originally expected.

ANNIE LEONHART

you fell first, annie fell harder

you would probably fall first because annie is mysterious and difficult to understand. and something about that really catches your attention. while most people interpret her silence as coldness, you would notice the rare moments when her softer side appears. you would see the kindness she tries to hide, the guilt she carries, and the way she quietly pays attention even when she acts uninterested.

annie would fall harder because allowing herself to love you would require her to lower every wall she has built around herself. she is used to isolation and has convinced herself that becoming attached only creates weakness and pain. because of this, she would deny her feelings for a long time, possibly becoming more distant whenever she realises how much she cares. but once she trusts you, her love and attachment for you would run deep that you would become one of the few whom she would feel completely safe with.

REINER BRAUN

you fell first, reiner fell harder

you would probably fall first because reiner initially appears dependable, protective, and naturally caring. he seems like the perfect manly man. he would help you during training, check on you after difficult missions, and always make sure no one was left behind. his confident older-brother personality would make him feel safe to be around, and you would become attracted to the gentleness beneath his physical strength.

reiner would fall harder because you would eventually become one of the only people who sees him as more than a soldier, warrior, or protector. he carries an overwhelming amount of guilt and confusion, so being loved by someone who understands that he is struggling would affect him deeply. i can also see him becoming kind of dependent/attached or even reliant on the comfort that you give him. you give him the idea that despite everything, he could still make up and be a better human.

BERTHOLDT HOOVER

bertholdt fell first, bertholdt fell harder

bertholdt would probably fall first because he is in many ways similar to armin (ironic), quiet and observant. while other people are speaking, he is usually watching and noticing details, so he would become familiar with your habits before the two of you were even particularly close. his feelings would develop through small conversations, maybe shared silences, and the comfort he feels when you treat him kindly without demanding that he become more outgoing.

bertholdt would fall harder because he feels much more intensely than he allows others to see. he would spend a long time admiring you from a distance, convinced that his feelings are either inappropriate or impossible. he would struggle to confess because he fears rejection and believes his circumstances will eventually hurt you. if you return those feelings, you’d be the most precious thing to him. his love for you would not be overwhelming but rather constant.

MARCO BODT

marco fell first, you fell harder

marco would probably fall first because he naturally looks for the good in people. he would notice your strengths, including the ones you struggle to see in yourself, and would quickly become drawn to your personality. his feelings would likely begin through friendship, with him constantly encouraging you and making sure you felt included.

you would fall harder because marco would make you feel valued without expecting anything in return. he would listen carefully, recognise when you were pretending to be okay, and always speak to you with patience and respect. his kindness would never feel forced or performative; it would simply be part of who he is.

ERWIN SMITH

you fell first, erwin fell harder

you would probably fall first because erwin has a powerful presence that is difficult to ignore. his intelligence, confidence, leadership, and ability to remain composed during terrifying situations would naturally draw you toward him. however, you would also become interested in the more human side he keeps hidden beneath his role as commander.

erwin would fall harder because he would resist loving you more than almost anyone else. his life is dominated by his mission, responsibilities, and willingness to sacrifice everything for his goals. becoming emotionally attached to you would create something he could not easily treat as another calculated risk.

then every lock in the lab had opened at once, sirens changed pitch. red emergency lights flooded every room. "security breach" the automated system voice announced. "all access points damaged"

laz turned towards the control panel, bakugou laughed to himself from the floor, "eijirou.."

the soilders had raised their weapons, as more ice exploded through the eastern wall of the lab, jamming into the underground floor, instantly freezing the three men.

todoroki stepped through the opening, kirishima following, charging directly to the nearest guard.

“took you long enough, you idiot," bakugou said, as he was helped up by kirishima.

“you’re welcome!”

shinsou entered behind them, capturing another guard’s response before ordering him to lower his weapon.

the laboratory erupted into chaos. todoroki froze the floor beneath more soldiers, killing five more of them.

kirishima turned toward the chamber. you were barely conscious. the black panels continued draining every trace of energy your body attempted to create.

todoroki reached the controls. “it’s locked.”

“break it,” bakugou ordered.

“the chamber is connected to her restraints. if i damage the wrong section-”

“move.” bakugou shoved past him. his palms still refused to ignite properly.

he pressed both hands against the glass. one spark appeard, then another...

"come onnn" bakugou his teeth clenched.

“bakugou..,” kirishima warned.

“shut up.” he barked at the red head man.

a small explosion snapped against the chamber, the glass began cracking.

“again" shinsou whispered, your eyes forcing themselves to look up at the men trying to rescue you from the cage.

bakugou looked at you. your head rested against the restraint around your throat.

he pressed his palm against the crack. another explosion, then the crack spread on the screen.

laz shouted something behind them. todoroki blocked an energy weapon with a wall of ice. bakugou fired again as the pain tore through his arm.

the glass shattered. kirishima caught the falling pieces against his hardened back.

bakugou stepped inside the chamber.

the restraints thankfully opened manually now that the control system had failed.

the moment the band around your throat released, your knees gave out. bakugou caught you. your body felt almost weightless.

“hey.”

you tried to lift your head.

"you okay?" he asked gently.

you hummed quietly, you are barely okay.

bakugou looked toward todoroki.

“half-and-half!”

todoroki understood immediately. flames ignited across his left side, making his way to you.

warmth spread through the room. you inhaled sharply.

faint green light appeared beneath your skin. but not enough.

bakugou pulled off one glove. “take mine.”

your eyes widened. “but.. you’re controlled.”

“not completely, you need it."

he pressed his palm against yours. a weak explosion sparked between your hands. you absorbed it instantly, as the heat travelled through your arm.

your eyes began to glow.

“again..please,” you said. bakugou fired another small blast.

your skin warmed. green energy gathered around your fingers.

laz watched from across the room, a thin wall of ice blocking him, awe began crossing his face. “charging energy into power.”

bakugou turned. “still talking?”

laz broke the ice and stepped backward toward the central console.

“do you understand what she could become with proper development?” he shouted.

you stood slowly. bakugou kept one hand beneath your arm. “i know what i became.”

“limited by hero ethics. emotional attachments. arbitrary restraint.”

“you mean a person.” you questioned weakly, as bakugou continued to carry your weight.

“you were never designed for ordinary life.”

the glow in your eyes intensified. “you didn’t design me, you tried to shape me into your standards and you hurt me"

"you dont understand thirteen, pain is information about you, and everyone else."

"no, pain is pain, no matter what kind and on who" energy gathered around your body. your feet lifted from the floor.

laz hit the control panel. the floor opened and a frame rose from beneath the laboratory, covered in black panels and designed to drain solar energy.

kirishima stared at it, "that looks bad"

"very observant" bakugou muttered.

lazarus stepped into the centre of the suit. metal restraints locked around his body, and several needles connected to his arms and spine.

purple liquid began flowing into his bloodstream.

“a quirk enhancer,” todoroki said.

“an experimental one,” lazarus corrected. his voice became deeper and more distorted as the machine activated.

“it was created using subject thirteen’s cells.”

your expression suddenly went empty. “you used my blood.”

“star,” bakugou warned.

you didn’t look at him. laz raised one hand.

the suit fired a powerful beam of purple energy toward bakugou and the others. you immediately flew in front of it and blocked the attack with your crossed arms.

the blast pushed you backwards, sending you crashing through a steel table. “starfire!” bakugou shouted.

a moment later, you rose from the wreckage. instead of looking weaker, your entire body was glowing brighter.

you stared at your hands as you realised what had happened. “the energy from his attacks is making me stronger.” you laughed.

laz confident expression disappeared.

you looked at him and smiled coldly. “you built a weapon that feeds me.” you shot forward through the air.

the force of your speed cracked the air behind you. your fist slammed into the centre of his armour, crushing the metal inward.

laz was thrown across the laboratory and crashed through two glass walls.

bakugou grinned. “there she is.”

but the damaged armour immediately began repairing itself. laz stood again.

large energy cannons unfolded from the suit’s shoulders. he fired several beams at you. you moved quickly with precision through the air, avoiding the first two.

the third beam struck your side. your body absorbed most of its energy, but the force of the attack still sent you spinning through the air.

todoroki created an ice ramp beneath you before you could hit the floor.

you landed on it, pushed yourself forward and flew back toward laz.

kirishima attacked him from the opposite side. laz aimed one of the cannons at him and fired. bakugou forced an explosion from his injured hand, knocking the beam away before it could hit kirishima.

sharp pain shot through bakugou’s wrist.

“you still okay?” kirishima shouted.

“never better,” bakugou answered.

“you’re bleeding everywhere!” kirishima yelled back in concern, he made his way to the explosive man as fast as he could.

from the control station, shinsou finally discovered how the armour worked.

“the suit is connected to the building’s reactor,” he shouted. “it is using the reactor’s power to repair itself. as long as the reactor is running, we can’t destroy the armour.”

“then we shut the reactor down,” todoroki said.

“the controls aren’t here,” shinsou replied. “someone has to go down to the reactor core and turn it off manually.

“how far?”

“three floors.” shinsou shouted.

bakugou looked at you.

you hovered above laz, firing green bolts into the armour faster than it could redirect.

“starfire!”

you glanced toward him.

“reactor below us!” understanding crossed your face.

you dropped.

laz swung one arm toward you. you caught it.

metal groaned beneath your fingers.

“you will return to containment,” he hissed.

your eyes burned emerald. “i would rather die.”

you ripped the arm from the armour. sparks filled the room. then you drove both feet into his chest and launched yourself downward. you struck the bottom floor with enough force to break through it.

concrete collapsed beneath you. one level. then two and three.

you fell into the reactor chamber surrounded by debris.

the core glowed at the centre of the room. solar collection cells lined the walls, storing years of accumulated energy.

for a moment, you only stared. then the system recognised you.

SUBJECT THIRTEEN DETECTED.

the doors sealed. metal restraints erupted from the walls. you flew upward.

one of them wrapped around your ankle. and the other caught your waist. the room filled with the same mechanical hum you remembered from childhood. white walls, cold floors, and hands behind glass.

the machine activated, and suddenly a loud alram echoed through the reactor room.

immediately, metal restraints tightend around both your wrists, ankels and waist.

"no..." you whispered, tears threatening to spill.

you tried to pull free, but they wouldnt budge.

the reactor began draining your energy once again.

the green light in your skin was ripped away from you and pulled into the machine. you screamed in pain, flashed of the old memories hit you all at once.

it felt like every cell in your body was being emptied. again, "increase the limit!"

and again.

"why are you crying, thirteen, isnt this fun?" dr. laz's voice echoed through your head.

the memories disappeared as another wave of pain tore through you. your vision blurred. the reactor kept pulling. before you could do anything-

BOOM!

the sealed door exploded off its hinges. bakugou burst into the room through the smoke.

"star!"

"no!" you shouted immediately. "get out of here!"

he ignored you completely. he then ran straight toward the restraints holding you.

"it'll drain your energy too!" you yelled.

"don't care." he blasted one restraint apart.

it snapped open, another shot out from the machine like bacteria doubling and wrapped around his waist, trying to drain him too.

bakugou blewe it apart before it could tighten fully.

"bakugou!" you yelled.

"quit yelling and destroy the damn reactor!"

you looked at the glowing core.

"if i overload it..."

"do it."

"the whole facility could collapse."

"then we'll get out before it does."

"there are still people upstairs." you fought back.

"todoroki's getting them out!"

the machine pulled even harder. more of your energy disappeared. your knees almost gave out on you.

"i can't..." bakugou grabbed your face with both hands. his palms were rough. warm.

"yes you can!"

"you don't know that." you cried.

"i know you."

your chest tightened.

"no, katsuki you don't."

"ive known you for ten years." he smiled gently.

"you didn't know any of this."

"cause you never told me, once we got out of here, im more than happy to hear you out"

the words stung.

he saw it on your face immediately.

his grip became gentler.

"i know you, we all do."

the reactor roared around you.

"i know you'll pretend you're okay even when you're exhausted. i know you hate asking people for help. i know you steal my coffee every morning even though yours is sitting right next to it."

despite everything, a weak laugh escaped you.

"and I know you'd destroy this entire place to save us."

he rested his forehead against yours. "so do it, star"

his voice was quiet. "this time, do it for yourself."

green light slowly spread across your body. bakugou stepped back.

you turned toward the reactor. you raised both hands. every bit of energy you still had gathered between your palms.

the restraints tried to pull you back toward the machine.

bakugou grabbed them and held them in place, his boots scraping across the floor as they dragged him forward.

"NOW!" and you fired.

a massive green starbolt slammed into the reactor.

for a split second, the entire room disappeared in blinding emerald light. then the reactor cracked.

the energy trapped inside exploded outward. heat and radiation escaping it.

.

f! reader vibe (?)

whole mission vibe

__________________

read subject 13 here.

main m.list

(all pictures collected from pinterest) - (feel free to also use your imagination)

.

“shut up.” katsuki barked back, earning a laugh from the red haired man.

you rested your head against the cold window and watched the city dissolve into streaks of grey.

the industrial district you were heading to, sat far from the brighter parts and the colourful shopping districts of musutafu. where the buildings were tall and clean, plastered with digital billboards that advertised hero agencies and energy drinks with enough caffeine to stop someone’s heart.

out here, there wasnt much. just alot of old warehouses, broken down storage yards, and factories with rusted roofs, rusted pipes and shattered windows. you are so sure you could catch a disease from just standing outside.

“your sidekick still pissed at you?” bakugou asked you.

you turned your head and pouted. "she isnt pissed at me, ive told you she wasnt mad at me!"

bakugou snickered, "then why isnt she here with us today?"

“she threw a clipboard.” you said in a low voice. "at a wall."

“next to your head” katsuki said, with his usual tug smirk. "the distinction matters" he continued.

kirishima laughed from the back seat. “what happened?”

“nothing happened eiji!.” you shot back at kirishima.

bakugou scoffed. “her sidekick got ordered by y/n to escort witnesses from that dock raid from last night with me, y/n and kaminari. said she was fine with it, then started slamming cabinets.”

“mika has a strong sense of justice.” you defended, crossing your arms.

“mika has anger issues.” bakugou said back.

"thats funny of you to say!" you shot back his way, "you legit employed eiji as your sidekick!"

“hey,” kirishima said.

bakugou’s mouth twitched. “yeah. and?, he does his job, he is efficient and listens to me, unlike your sidekick who doesnt listen to her boss"

“mika can follow orders just fine.”

“didnt she argue with a police captain for twenty minutes?” kirishima asked from the backseat, clearly not helping your case.

“because he was wrong.” you defended her again.

“she called him an expired parking ticket because he was being condescending, and condescending people are the worst kind of people!" you told kirishima, with one finger up, before shooting your glare right back at bakugou of the irony.

kirishima leaned back in his seat. “i like her.”

"course you do, you are both shitty sidekicks" bakugou said, turning left.

"you were literally sucking him off a second ago" you commented then folded your arms, "you know for someone who personally and so desperately needed and requested my help with this mission, you are being especially unpleasant to work with!"

"i didnt request you"

"your name is legit the first on the form right before eiji's!"

"you know the agency did that, hello?" he said, turning to look at you now.

"your dramatic signature is under it."

"that ones forged, sweetheart."

"its written with your ugly orange pen"

silence.

kirishima covered his mouth to contain his laugher, you smiled

"yknow, y/n, no matter what bakugou says, he is always impressed and inspired by your performances, he is the first to check news outlets after your missions to ensure your safety and to review your stats, he always has an impressed look on his face, he surely looks up to you!"

bakugou tightened his grip on the steering wheel, "keep talking"

kirishima fell quiet, and eventually through the rain, the building finally appeared.

it was at the very end of a lane, fenced off with the surrounding beaten down garages and storage units. the old sign above the entrance had once read "ashiro pharmasceutical research", but half the letters were faded with tree veins growing and covering parts of it.

kirishima stared at it through the windshield. “how welcoming.”

bakugou pulled the van to a stop. “gear up.”

the amusement in his voice disappeared so quickly it was almost impressive. the three of you moved at once.

kirishima secured his communicator and tightened the straps over his forearms. bakugou checked the seals around his gauntlets before glancing towards you, where your fingers adjusted the emerald restraint resting against your collarbone, a thin grreen light pulsed for a seocnd before settling into a steady glow.

"charge?"

"sixty-three percent"

"keep it there,"

you smiled, "wasnt planning on blowing up the city today"

"good"

kirishima raised an eyebrow, "today?"

the first thing bakugou notices when the three of you enter the building from an abandoned back door is that the building is way too clean.

not the polished clean kind obviously, i mean the dust clung to the floors in thin sheets, fluorescent lights flickered in uneven intervals above them, there were holes and cracks everywhere in the walls and floors.

but, there was no graffiti, no shattered bottles, no animal nests. bakugou remembers that this building had been abandonded from more than 10 years, and he felt that it shouldnt look this clean.

“this place gives me the creeps.” kirishimas voice echoed behind him.

“then quit whispering like you’re in a haunted house.” bakugou said without looking back.

“i wasn’t whispering.”

“you sure were.”

“i was talking quietly.”

“same shit.” katsuki barked as he continued to look around.

you walked between them, one hand held loosely beside your hip, green light faintly simmering between your fingers. it wasn’t bright enough to illuminate the entire hallway, but it cast a soft glow over the walls whenever the lights above failed.

katsuki looks at your focused face for a second, he looks back at you, and for some reasons remembers what kirishima had said in the car. none of it was a lie. he had seen you save countless civilians, punch groundshaking punches into concrete buildings with your barehands, survive being thrown into buildings and fly across the sky, carrying three injured civilians.

he examined you for a second, the way you were moving right now was erring him. you looked around too careful, you werent speaking too much, and you were almost looking out for something.

on your previous mission with bakugou, you would have for sure commented on the lights, or made a joke about splitting up, or even messed around with kirishima.

instead your gaze kept drifting towards the numbers painted beside each doorway.

c-1

c-2

c-3

each time you passed one, your expression tightened for less than a second. small enough that kirishima hadn’t noticed. but bakugou had.

he noticed everything about the people he worked with, and especially you.

“star”

you didn’t react.

bakugou’s jaw clenched.

“oi, starfire"

your head snapped toward him.

“what?”

“pay attention.”

“i am.” you said, dimming your light just a bit.

“didn’t look like it.”

“well, good thing you’re not responsible for what things look like.”

bakugou stared at you for another second before turning forward again. kirishima glanced between you both.

“everything good?” he asked, genuine concern laced his voice.

“fine,” you answered quickly.

the mission had sounded simple when the commission handed it to katsuki and his sidekick kirishima.

an abandoned research centre on the outskirts of musutafu, had begun sending encrypted information to an unknown server. satellite scans showed intermittent heat signatures inside.

the facility had once been operated by a private contractor called Meridian research, though most of its records had been sealed following its sudden closure.

the official explanation was contamination. an experimental reactor failure. unsafe conditions. emergency evacuation.

the unofficial explanation, according to the commission, was that a former researcher named dr. izunami laz had returned to the site without contacting officials.

according to bakugous agency, laz had spent years working under false identities, selling information about hero quirks to criminal organisations. he specialised in analysing weaknesses, identifying genetic patterns and developing chemical agents capable of destabilising quirk functions.

his own quirk, archive, allowed him to retain the physical and psychological information of anyone he touched. impressive. katuski thought when he first read his description.

habits. memories. fears. medical conditions. practically everything.

the objective was to capture him and recover any stolen data before it left the country. very simple. at least it should have been.

“stairs ahead,” kirishima said.

the corridor opened into a large central intersection. a security desk sat awkwardly and crooked in the middle of the room, its monitors smashed and cables torn from their sockets. two staircases led downward on opposite sides, both disappearing into the darkness of the facility.

bakugou stopped beside the desk. checking to see if there is any valuable papers.

“blueprints say the primary server room’s in the east wing basement.”

kirishima checked the small screen attached to his gauntlet.

“east staircase is blocked about two floors down. there’s another access point through the surgical wing.”

your green light flickered. bakugou looked at you. you were staring at the wall behind the desk. there were three faded signs fixed to it.

administration. medical research. containment.

the last arrow pointed down. you stopped breathing, just for a split second.

katsuki noticed the pause in your breathing.

“y/n.”

your eyes stayed on the sign. “what?”

“you know something we dont."

“no.” you looked back at him.

“bullshit.”

kirishima stepped closer. “have you been here before?”

your head turned sharply towards eijirou. “why would i have been here?” the defensiveness in your voice came too fast.

you moved toward the eastern staircase, before you could examine it properly, bakugou grabbed your wrist.

bakugou felt the tension run through your entire arm.

“let go of me katsuki.”

"tell me what is going on first,"

“nothing is going on.” you screamed back.

“you’ve been acting weird since we got here.” you shot back, retracting your arm from him. “maybe i’m just sick of listening to you complain.”

“you always listen to me complain.”

“unfortunately.” you tried to ease the tension.

kirishima slowly raised both hands. “okay. maybe we deal with this later.”

“we need to move,” you said. you walked toward the stairs without waiting for either of them.

the lower levels were colder. the temperature change happened gradually as the ground descended. by the fourth floor, bakugou could see his breath.

kirishima walked ahead now, hardened fingertips scraping lightly across the wall as he moved. bakugou stayed behind you. the corridor numbers changed as well.

e-1

e-2

e-3

“server signal’s stronger,” kirishima murmured, looking down at his screen. a low mechanical hum vibrated beneath the floor.

bakugou flexed his palms. “someone’s definitely running power down here, or it could be automated."

“could be a trap.” you whispered back.

you stopped at the end of the corridor. kirishima nearly walked into you. “what?” he said.

you stared at the door in front of you.

unlike the others, it was made of reinforced steel. three locks had been installed along the side, though all of them were rusted open. a narrow observation window sat at eye level, the glass clouded with grime.

a white number had been painted across the centre. 13.

your energy vanished in the span of one second. one moment, green light filled your hands. the next, there was nothing.

bakugou’s stomach tightened. “move,” he ordered.

you didn’t. he stepped around you and reached for the door. your hand closed around his forearm. hard. far harder than necessary.

“don’t.” you whispered, "please."

the word came out barely audible. kirishima’s expression changed.

“y/n?”

bakugou looked down at your fingers around his arm. you were strong enough to crush his bones without effort. you had never once grabbed him like that.

“what’s inside?” katsuki asked, looking at you very seriously.

“nothing.”

“then let go.” he ordered.

you didn’t.

“star.” kirishima tried, “we should take the other corridor, there is signal behind this door, you know it!"

your fingers tightened around bakugous forearm, still not responding.

bakugou’s temper sparked. “that’s not how this works, y/n.”

“just listen to me.” your head dropped.

“not until you tell me what the hell’s going on.” katsuki said, voice sharp.

“i can’t.”

“can’t or won’t?”

your eyes flashed green. the air around you heated.

kirishima stepped between you before the energy could build any further. “both of you, stop.” his voice was firm now.

“we’re in enemy territory. whatever this is, we deal with it together, but later, okay?” you stared at him. then at bakugou. your grip loosened around him and he pulled his arm free.

for a few seconds, no one spoke. then something clicked behind the steel door. all three of you turned. the locks moved by themselves.

once. twice. three times.

the door slowly opened inward. darkness waited on the other side.

a speaker crackled somewhere above them. “welcome home, subject thirteen.” your entire body went still.

bakugou didn’t have time to process the words. metal shutters slammed down behind you. vents opened along the walls.

a colourless gas flooded the corridor. “masks!” kirishima shouted.

bakugou pulled the filtration guard over his mouth, but the first wave had already hit him. his palms burned, then went numb.

the sweat beneath his gloves stopped reacting. “quirk suppressant,” he growled.

kirishima hardened, but the effect flickered across his skin, patches turning normal before hardening again. you lifted both hands, the green energy surged between your fingers.

for half a second, the corridor glowed bright enough to blind the three of you.

suddenly your knees hit the floor.

“starfire!” bakugou caught you before your head struck the concrete.

your skin was freezing, something was definitely wrong, your body always ran hot no matter what. your eyes struggled to focus.

“they’re draining it,” you whispered. bakugou looked toward the vents.

the gas wasn’t only suppressing your quirk. something in it was forcing your body to burn through its reserves.

“don’t breathe.”

you laughed weakly. "thank you, great advice"

bakugou fired an explosion. nothing happened. a spark snapped against his palm and died.

“fuck.”

kirishima charged forward, shoulder lowered.

a sharp pulse rang through the corridor. his hardened skin shattered back to normal. he collapsed outside the door.

figures emerged from the darkness wearing white protective suits and black masks.

bakugou counted six. then eight people, then twelve.

rifles raised were raised at pointed at him.

he pushed you behind him. “try it,” he snarled.

one of the masked figures fired. bakugou moved before the dart left the barrel.

they had shot 3 times before one struck his shoulder. he ripped it out.

they shot 5 more times before another hit his arm.

he reached the first soldier and drove his fist into the mask hard enough to crack the visor. two more grabbed him from behind.

he threw one into the wall. a fourth dart sank into his back. his vision blurred.

someone approached your half unconscious body.

bakugou lunged. his legs failing halfway.

he hit the floor on one knee. “don’t fucking touch her.”

a boot slammed into his ribs. he barely felt it. the drugs were already spreading through his body. through the haze, he saw you trying to stand.

your arms shook beneath your weight as one of the soilders reached for you. your eyes opened fast before you launched a green explosion through the room.

two of the soilders flew backwards, crashing hard enough into the steel wall for it to bend, they flopped lifelessly on the floor, clearly bleeding out.

many sounds rushed through bakugous head. he heard some shouting, grunting, slams, your screams then a mechanical voice, "energy detected. block all energy and heat immediately"

something struck the back of his head. the last thing he heard was you screaming his name. fuck, he wish he was at home right now.

the next time kirishima woke up, he was alone. his head throbbed like crazy. his mouth tasted like blood and every muscle in his body felt as though he had been beaten for hours.

the emergency lights pulsed red along the corridor. bakugou and you were gone.

"shit," he muttered to himself before sitting upright. his quirk returned in uneven waves, he checked his commission and it was dead. the screen on his gauntlet had cracked, through the emergency transmitter still blinked beneath it.

he pressed it once, then twice.

still nothing.

a faint signal appeared. restricted. but not entirely gone.

kirishima dragged himself toward the security desk built into the wall. one monitor remained active. lines of text moved across the screen.

SUBJECT THIRTEEN ACQUIRED.

SECONDARY HERO, DYNAMIGHT, ACQUIRED.

RED RIOT - STATUS UNKNOWN.

kirishima’s blood turned cold.

he opened the mission files stored in his gauntlet and searched for the facility records again. the old Meridian research. the public information was almost empty. founded twenty-one years ago.

he searched everything from government contracts to biomedical testing and even quirk rehabilitation programmes.

he tried another search. subject thirteen.

access denied.

he entered his hero clearance. denied.

he entered the temporary commission code assigned to the mission. the screen went black. for a moment, kirishima thought he had broken it.

then a single file appeared.

THIRTEEN:

CLASSIFICATION: ORGANISM MADE FROM COSMIC ENERGY.

STATUS: TRANSFERRED.

below it was a photograph. the image was old and grainy. a child stood against a white wall wearing a grey medical gown.

bare feet, they had thin arms and dark circles beneath their eyes, their wrists cuffed with metal cuffs.

even through the low quality, kirishima recognised the expression.

he had seen it moments earlier. on your face, outside room thirteen.

“oh,” he whispered. the file closed itself.

the screen displayed a warning.

UNAUTHORISED ACCESS RECORDED.

kirishima moved immediately.

he checked his commission to see if it still had any signal.

the signal flickered. one bar. thats enough.

he called the first person who answered.

“todoroki.” he cleared his voice.

static cracked through the line.

“kirishima?” todoroki whispered from the other line.

“listen carefully. mission’s at risk. dynamight and starfire were taken.”

“location?” todoroki now spoke more firm.

“underground facility. coordinates incoming.” kirishima began typing the coordinates as quickly as he could.

“commission backup?”

“don’t call them.”

silence. then todoroki’s voice sharpened. “why?”

kirishima stared at the child’s photograph frozen in his mind. “because i think they already know what this place is.”

later, bakugou had regained consciousness with metal cuffs around his wrists.

he tested the restraints before revealing that he had woken up.

his palms were pressed against cooling plates that absorbed moisture faster than his body could produce it.

he hated smart enemies.

when he opened his eyes, he saw white walls, glass partitions, medical equipments.

and most importantly, you.

you sat on the opposite side of the room inside a cylindrical chamber.

your wrists were restrained above your head, forcing you to remain standing. metal bands circled your ankles, waist and throat. dark panels surrounded the chamber, cutting you off from every light source.

you looked grey.

“star.”

your head lifted.

“you’re awake.” bakugou pulled against the restraints. “you hurt?”

“no.” you whispered,

“lie better.”

“i’m fine.” you smiled weakly at him.

there were bruises along your throat. needle marks covered the inside of your arms. your breathing was too shallow.

bakugou looked around. "do you know where red went?"

“probably got taken?” your voice cracked.

bakugou stopped.

then a glass door opened behind him. slow footsteps entered the room.

“your recovery time remains impressive.” the man’s voice was calm.

dr. laz looked nothing like the photograph in the mission file.

his hair had gone completely white, tied neatly behind his head. deep scars covered one side of his face, disappearing beneath the collar of his black medical coat. thin gloves covered his hands.

he walked past bakugou without acknowledging him.

his attention remained fixed on you. “even after deprivation.”

you stared straight ahead. “go to hell.”

laz smiled.

"hey! you old bastard!" bakugou shouted

“even your vocabulary has expanded.” laz stated, once again completely ignoring bakugou.

bakugou twisted against the restraints.

“look at me when i’m talking to you.” bakugou barked at him, trying to fight his cuffs.

laz continued toward the chamber, hands tucked neatly behind his back.

“ground zero or more commonly know as dynamight, age 25, graduated from U.A hero highschool, quirk, explosion. dependent upon nitroglycerin-like perspiration. exceptional combat intelligence. pathological aggression. predictable attachment response.”

bakugou bared his teeth. “open this thing and i’ll show you predictable.”

“you have always been loud when frightened.” the dr, hummed, pleasantly.

“i’m not frightened.”

“not for yourself.”

laz stopped in front of the glass. you refused to look at him.

he raised one gloved hand and placed it against the chamber. “subject thirteen.”

your jaw tightened. “my name is starfire.”

“that is what you call yourself now.”

“it’s who i am, i am a hero.”

bakugou’s eyes moved between you both. “the fuck is he talking about?”

you closed your eyes. “don’t.”

laz looked over his shoulder. “you do not know?” he asked.

“shut up,” you yelled.

“how unfortunate.”

“i said shut up.”

"nine to ten years of partnership, according to your hero records, went and graduated from the same hero school and working tightly together ever since.”

“laz.” you screamed with all of your strength.

“over two thousand joint patrol hours.”

green light flashed faintly behind your eyes. the chamber absorbed it instantly. “stop.” your voice was weak now.

“and he never asked where you came from, how interesting."

bakugou pulled so hard against the restraints that the metal frame groaned.

“i know where she came from.” bakugou yelled.

“do you?” izunami asked, truly intrigued.

“don’t listen to him,” you said quickly.

“raised in saitama. public schooling. foster placement at ten. graduated from u.a. hero course. agency placement under edgeshot. independent hero licence and agency at twenty,”

laz recited the details as though reading them from a report. “a remarkably ordinary life.”

bakugou stared at you. you stared at the floor.

laz smile widened. “constructed carefully enough that even her closest partner accepted it.”

“dyanmight,” you whispered. warning him, or maybe begging, he couldnt tell.

“what is he talking about?”

you shook your head. “nothing.”

“star.” bakugous voice was weak now.

“he’s trying to get in your head.” you shot back, your hair damp and glued to your face.

“then tell me he’s lying.”

silence.

the machine surrounding your chamber hummed louder. the black panels brightened with faint purple lines. your knees nearly buckled at the pain. bakugou couldnt stand you wincing in pain.

bakugou slammed his wrists against the restraints. “turn that shit off.”

laz glanced at the readings. “her body absorbs energy from her surroundings and turns it into energy for herself. sunlight works best, but heat, electricity, and movement also give her energy, just not as much..”

“i know how her quirk works.”

“no. you know how she uses it.” he shot back at him. laz tapped the glass.

“you know that she uses flight, enhanced strength, extreme durability and speed, concentrated energy projection, accelerated healing when sufficiently charged.”

“the public calls it a quirk.” he laughed.

bakugou’s stomach twisted. “what else would it be?”

“an abnormal.”

“she’s a person.”

“eventually.”

the word left laz mouth so casually that the entire room seemed to stop.

bakugou went still. you did too.

laz studied the monitor.

“subject thirteen arrived here at approximately eighteen months old. no identifiable family. no registration. no genetic match in any national database.”

“i told you to stop!,” you said.

“her skin emitted enough radiation to disable three hospital rooms, they transferred her to the previous Merdian research that used to be this place for observation, that one you know of, dont you hero?"

bakugous eyes seemd focused on you.

“initial testing indicated that her cells did not merely tolerate radiation. rather they consumed it.”

you pulled against the restraints. the metal cut into your wrists. “i said shut up, do you not hear me!”

green energy erupted from your body. the chamber lit bright emerald. for one glorious second, the entire laboratory shook. then the black panels activated. the light was ripped away from you. your scream tore through the room.

bakugou lost every remaining trace of control. he threw his weight sideways. the chair crashed onto the floor.

“i’ll kill you!”

laz watched you collapse against the bands holding you upright. “emotional instability remains.”

“get away from her!” bakugou screamed.

“it was worse as a child.”

bakugou slammed his palm against the cooling plate. again and again. skin split across his knuckles.

“she would release energy whenever frightened. frightened whenever touched. frightened whenever left alone. frightened whenever the lights went out.”

your breathing grew ragged.

“please.” the word was so quiet bakugou almost didn’t hear it.

laz did. “she learned eventually.”

your face crumpled. almost defeated.

bakugou had known you for almost ten years

he knew the scar beneath your left shoulder blade came from a villain attack during your second year at u.a. he knew you hated mushrooms but ate them when deku cooked because you didn’t want to hurt his feelings. he knew you slept with the curtains open even during summer, when sunrise came too early. he knew you carried emergency glucose gel in every costume pocket because using too much energy made your hands shake. he knew you became unusually quiet around commission officials. he knew you refused to allow anyone to stand behind you during medical examinations.

he knew every strange habit. every stupid preference. every weakness you had trusted him enough to show.

he had just never put them together. not until now.

“star,” he said. you wouldn’t look at him.

laz reached for the control panel. “shall we show him?”

your head snapped up. “no."

“behavioural conditioning, energy extraction, regenerative testing,”

“don’t.”

“pain tolerance assessments, ”

you threw yourself against the restraints. the chamber shook.

bakugou heard something tear. blood ran down your wrist.

“don’t show him.” you yelled.

laz watched you with fascination. “why?”

you were crying now. as though even your tears were something you resented being taken from you.

“because it isn’t his business.”

“you have fought beside him for over a decade.”

“that doesn’t mean he gets to know everything.”

“perhaps you fear his reaction.”

“i don’t.”

“you do. you believe he will see you differently.”

“shut up.”

“dangerous, perhaps unstable.”

"no i wont!"

“inhuman.”

“stop it!”

bakugou’s broken restraint snapped.

the metal plate tore free from the chair.

laz turned.

bakugou launched himself from the floor.

his shoulder slammed into laz chest.

they crashed into the control console. alarms blared.

laz gloved hand caught bakugou’s throat. for a second, nothing happened. then his quirk activated. bakugou felt it through him.

then his head replayed moments in his life, school with deku, when he got kidnapped, first day at U.A, his moms tears, first mission with 1a, when he yelled at you for almost dying, the time he caught you falling from the sky during a mission together, unconscious and burning bright enough to turn night into day.

you laughing after he screamed at you for nearly dying. you asleep at his agency with your head against his shoulder. standing outside room thirteen, begging him not to open the door, fuck, he feels stupid, he shouldve been the one to understand you better.

laz saw everything in that split second. his eyes widened. "remarkable, ground zero."

bakugou punched him in the face.

laz stumbled backward. before bakugou launched himself at him and stomped on his body twice.

security doors opened, then armed soldiers flooded the room.

bakugou raised his palm. a weak spark cracked across it. not what he had hoped for.

“stay back,” he growled.

one rifle fired.

they had shot twice at him before one dark hit his neck. his weak body seized, he dropped to one knee.

“DYNAMIGHT!” you strained against the chamber. energy flickered around you.

laz wiped blood from his mouth. “do you know what he fears most, thirteen?”

“don’t touch him.” you yelled at him.

“failure.” he stated calmly.

“leave him alone.”

“not death, not injury, but failure."

bakugou silently ripped the dart from his neck.

his fingers barely worked.

“he believes every person beside him is another opportunity to fail.” laz continued. "and you, thirteen, you are the worst of them."

your face changed. laz smiled.

bakugou looked at you. you looked back.

“don’t listen,” he forced out. your lips parted, but no words came out.

“you heard him,” izunami said. “he does not deny it.”

“i said don’t fucking listen!” bakugou tried to stand.

another soldier struck him across the back. he hit the floor.

“dynamight!” your energy surged. the chamber screamed beneath the pressure.

“don’t!”

he pushed himself onto his elbows. he fought so hard, blood was dripping from his mouth.

“they’re hurting you.” you told him, fighting against what was restraining you.

“i’ve had worse.” he smirked.

your expression broke. bakugou held your gaze.

“none of this bullshit that he has been spewing changes shit.”

laz tilted his head. “you have not seen the records.”

“don’t need to.” bakugou coughed out blood.

“you do not understand what she is.”

bakugou turned his head slowly. “she’s my partner.”

laz smile disappeared.

“that’s all i need to understand.”

the explosion above the underground shook dust from the ceiling.

todoroki lowered his hand. half the western entrance was buried beneath ice, sealing the ventilation system.

shinsou adjusted the respirator over his face. “you’re sure they’re beneath this section?” he asked,

kirishima checked the damaged map on his gauntlet. “signal came from four levels down. central containment wing.”

police teams surrounded the facility, but kirishima had insisted they remain outside until the gas systems were disabled, as it was dangerous for regular civilians to inhale that gas.

he also didn’t know which officers he could trust. he didn’t know how far the commission’s involvement went. he only knew that you and bakugou were still somewhere below.

“we need a direct route,” todoroki said. kirishima hardened his arms. “i can make one.”

“that may collapse the lower levels.” todoroki suggested,

“then freeze the structure.”

todoroki looked at him. kirishima’s expression left no room for argument.

“they took them because we followed the blueprint. i’m not following anything they planned for us this time.”

shinsou pulled a voice modulator from his belt.

“security frequency is active. i can imitate one of their guards if we capture a transmission.” the police technician beside him raised a hand.

“there’s a channel opening now.” static filled the receiver. then a voice.

“containment failure in laboratory thirteen. secondary subject, pro hero dynamight resisting.” kirishima’s fists clenched.

shinsou listened once. then repeated the voice perfectly. “containment failure in laboratory thirteen. secondary subject, pro hero dynamight resisting.”

a response crackled through. “status of primary?”

shinsou activated his quirk. “answer.”

“restrained,” the voice replied blankly. “override central security and open all access doors.”

“authorisation required.” the voice spoke back.

shinsou glanced at kirishima.

“authorisation is laz.”

“confirmed.”

deep beneath the building, mechanisms began unlocking.

kirishima smiled without humour. “let’s go get them.”

.

he rolled his sore shoulders as he stepped inside, boots thudding against the hardwood floor before he kicked them off by the entrance of your shared penthouse. every muscle in his body ached. another twelve-hour shift. another villain that refused to stay down. another stack of paperwork and meetings waiting for him tomorrow morning.

"...i'm home." he said, grunting and making his way inside.

usually, he'd be greeted by the smell of dinner, your voice from the living room or even the sound of your singing.

however, today..nothing. this silence was heavy.

too heavy, for him, after his shift.

katsuki frowned, as he spoke out your name.

"...y/n?"

you emerged from the living room a second later. arms folded tightly across your chest. still wearing your work top.

your expression alone told him everything. that you had been waiting for him.

"...you're late." you muttered, making your way to the kitchen.

he glanced at the clock hung on the wall.

11:37 p.m.

"...yeah." he muttered, stepping fully into the kitchen-living room area.

"you said you'd be home by eight." you told him, as calm as possible.

"something came up." he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"katsuki, there is always something coming up with you, doesnt it?"

he sighed. "please, i'm tired."

"so am i."

you didn't raise your voice. but his tone somehow made it worse.

"...i'm exhausted too, katsuki."

he dropped his duffel bag onto the floor.

"it's hero work, you know that fully well, its a part of my job that stuff can just randomly come up without my control."

"i know it's hero work." you said, rolling your eyes, and dropping your arms by your side.

"then what's the problem?"

your laugh was quiet. disbelieving.

"...you really don't see it?"

he stayed silent.

you shook your head.

"of course you don't." you walked past him toward the kitchen. the dinner you'd made hours ago still sat untouched. cold. you hadn't eaten either.

"...i kept waiting, katsuki. i always do," you began, looking towards the dinner table, his eyes followed that trail, then back at you. "i didnt want to eat without you, and i didnt want to leave you hungry."

you spoke without meeting his gaze. "then eight became nine, then ten, and then i realized for the first time in days that i dont even know why i bothered, bothered waiting."

your fingers tightened around the edge of the counter.

katsuki rubbed at the bridge of his nose. "i texted you."

"once."

"i was busy."

"you've been 'busy' for three weeks, straight, are there no other heros around or something?"

he felt irritation beginning to crawl beneath his skin.

"what excatly do you want me to do?"

your eyes snapped to his.

"i dont know, maybe be here, for me, for yourself and us, you know? maybe not get consumed by your job, i havent seen you properly for the last week."

silence from his end.

your voice cracked. "just-, just be here."

"i am here."

"yeah, now. after nearly midnight, after another cancelled dinner, date, promise. another promise you couldnt keep. i know your job, i understand that you have responsibilities,"

he clicked his tongue.

"but you cannot make time for your personal life when i have asked you multiple times?" you ended your statement.

"i can't just leave in the middle of a mission."

"i'm not asking you to."

"then what are you asking?"

"i'm asking you to stop acting like this job is the only thing in your life!"

the words echoed through the apartment.

katsuki stared at you.

"careful."

"no." you took a shaky breath. "i'm tired of being careful, or that i am okay with this, and everyday i wonder if you are going to come home."

he lowered his gaze for a bit, clearly thinking about what you said.

"every time my phone rings late at night, my heart drops, i gotta check every news report, every channel, every log, every emergency alert. do you know what that feels like."

your eyes had started to water.

"and then you finally come home, when i can finally be selfish and have you to myself, you are here already thinking about tomorrow,"

he looked away. "it's my job, you knew that before we got together."

"i know." you whispered to him.

"people need me."

"i know." you repeated.

"i can't just stop."

"i know!" your voice finally broke.

"i know all of that, katsuki."

"...but what about us?" silence. long and painful.

he didn't have an answer. because there wasn't one.

"i- i am trying, okay?" he finally muttered.

"are you?"you asked quietly.

"or are you just surviving until the next mission?" something inside him snapped.

"the hell do you want from me?!"

you flinched.

he noticed immediately. and hated himself for it.

but the words were already out.

"i break my damn back every day, i'm out there risking my life, and i come home just to get yelled at?" he snapped.

your shoulders slowly slumped. "that's not what i'm doing."

"isn't it?" you looked at him for what felt like forever.

then, you nodded once. it was almost to yourself. "i think we both need to cool off."

you grabbed your jacket from the chair. katsuki frowned.

"where are you going?" he asked, his shoulders relaxing.

"out." you stated plainly.

"it's almost midnight."

"i know."

"y/n."

"i'm not breaking up with you."

you slipped your shoes on. "i just don't want us to say something we'll regret." your hand rested on the doorknob. "i'll come back later."

the door opened. cool night air drifted inside. "i love you." those three words came quietly. almost hopefully.

katsuki being his usual stubborn self, he looked away, still too angry. "yeah."

you laughed to yourself at that, it wasn't the answer you wanted. it wasn't the answer he wanted either.

but the door had clicked shut. and the apartment became painfully, unbearably quiet.

for the next 30 minutes, the apartment remained silent. it felt like forever.

katsuki sat exactly where you had left him.

"tch" he dragged a hand down his face before letting out a slow breath. "that woman" he muttered under his breath.

he wanted to call you. he really did. but the argument still lingered in his chest. the irritation. the frustration. the confusion. his love for you. the feeling that no matter what he said, it would've been the wrong thing.

instead, he made himself dinner. he was starving.

or rather, he reheated the dinner you'd made hours ago. the microwave hummed quietly.

he looked down at the dinner table to notice the two plates, from when you had set the table. forks, glasses, even his favorite soda and hot sauce bottle were placed where he always reached for it.

you'd really expected him home. he swallowed the lump in his throat.

after eating, he decided to take a shower, to feel anew, after his shift and his talk. showering worked like magic for him, rinsing the grim and guilt off of him.

he showered. hot water beat against sore muscles. he washed his hair, rinsed, then foamed his hair again, then rinsed, then he scrubbed his arms, chest and back. his mind refused to shut up.

"just be here.", "what about us?" , "i love you."

"...fuck." he braced both hands against the shower wall. why hadn't he just answered?

it would've taken two damn seconds.

"i love you too." he'd thought it.

he just hadn't said it.

five minutes later, he stopped out wearing nothing more than sweatpants and a black t-shirt.

his hair was still damp. he grabbed his phone from the kitchen counter.

no new messages from you.

he frowned. fair enough. he'd deserved that. he unlocked his phone.

typed your name in the message app.

me: come home.

he stared. deleted it. typed again.

me: let's talk when you get back.

deleted that too.

"dammit."

why was talking with you harder than fighting villains?

the television switched on mostly to drown out the silence.

some late-night variety show played in the background while he absent-mindedly dried his hair with a towel. he barely paid attention.

until the screen suddenly changed.

bright red banners flashed across the bottom.

BREAKING NEWS

the television presenter spoke quickly.

"we're interrupting our scheduled programming due to reports of a large-scale villain attack in central musutafu."

katsuki looked up immediately.

camera footage filled the screen. smoke. sirens. people running.

flames climbing the sides of buildings. the firefighters trying to shut down the fire.

the reporter continued.

"the villain attack appears to have begun inside the city's largest shopping district. multiple buildings have suffered severe structural damage, including the central shopping mall. now currently reporting 2 dead and 9 injured."

katsuki's stomach dropped.

footage of the mall. that was only fifteen minutes from your office.

his phone vibrated. once. twice. three times.

he grabbed it.

new notifications:

red riot

icy hot

pinky

another vibration. another. another.

one from his sidekick, one from midoriya, and one from his assistant.

he barely glanced at them. his eyes caught something else.

your name.

his breathing stopped. he opened it immediately.

y/n ❤️: katsuki.

please answer.

i'm inside the mall.

i can't get out.

his heart slammed against his ribs. he started to panic. then another message came in.

part of the ceiling collapsed.

there are so many people that are trapped.

there's smoke everywhere.

i can't find the exit anymore. its too dark, i cant see anything.

another message.

please.

please come find me.

"...no." he muttered to himself, in disbelief.

another emergency alert echoed through the apartment. his agency.

all available heroes immediately respond. he was already moving.

boots. gauntlets. hero costume. the whole pack.

everything happened on instinct.

his hands shook so violently he almost dropped one of his grenade bracers.

"...please..."

he didn't even realize he'd said it aloud.

"...please be okay."

the apartment door slammed behind him hard enough to rattle the walls.

he'd never moved so fast in his life.

the closer he got, the worse it became.

entire streets had been evacuated. ambulances lined every corner. taking in injured, so far 20 injured and 4 dead, he had overheard. firefighters taking out as many fires as they can can.

police barricades, blocking the street from every way, evacuating who can be evacuated.

smoke blackened the night sky. the heat from the burning mall could be felt from across the street. chunks of concrete still crashed from the upper floors every few seconds.

people screamed names. looking for family. friends. children.

heroes sprinted in every direction.

katsuki's eyes searched frantically.

not for villains, not for casualties, for you.

"bakugou!"

kirishima grabbed his shoulder the second he arrived.

"dude! where the hell have you been?"

"kirishima, she's in there." he whispered, pointing at the building.

kirishima froze.

"who is?" he questioned loudly.

"y/n."

everything on kirishima's face changed.

"shit, man go, GO! me and todoroki will deal with this bullshit."

"kirishima, im counting on you"

katsuki didn't wait. he shoved past the barricade. a police officer shouted after him.

another hero reached for his arm.

he blasted the pavement beneath his feet.

the explosion launched him over the line of emergency crews. straight toward the collapsing mall. he didn't care who yelled after him.

he didn't care about protocol. he didn't care about the orders. the only thing repeating inside his head was your last message.

"please come find me."

he blasted himself in the air, didnt even bother landing, he then blasted through a shattered second-floor window instead, glass scattering around him as smoke immediately filled his lungs. he lowered his eyemask.

he looked outside, and spotted Mina ashido.

he yelled her name from the second floor, she quickly looked up, that was her sign to follow him up. she hopped on some of the nearby broken down cars and made her way to him.

katsuki looked around. the mall barely resembled the place he'd walked through hundreds of times before. storefronts had been reduced to twisted metal. mannequins lay broken across the floor. sprinklers rained endlessly from the damaged ceiling, mixing with ash until the ground became slick beneath his boots.

every few seconds, another section of the building groaned.the sound made his stomach twist. it wasn't going to stay standing much longer.

"mina.." he muttered. she looked up at him.

"shes here, we need to act fast."

she nodded, melting the first barrier of rocks.

they quickly escaped, his voice echoed through the empty corridors, yelling your name. mina quickly running behind him.

nothing.

only the crackling of flames answered him.

he forced himself forward. he handed the hero behind him a mask.

another explosion somewhere deeper inside shook the entire structure. dust rained from above. a support beam crashed down behind him, blocking the hallway he'd just come through.

"dammit."

mina found people first, an elderly couple trapped beneath a display shelf, a teenager with a broken arm, a little girl crying for her mother.

every instinct he'd trained for years screamed at him to stop, to help save them, to prioritize whoever he could reach first. that is his job as a hero.

and he did.

he pulled debris away, as mina helped the elderly couple out of the rubble.

"mina.. take the kid and the mom" she nodded, caring the kid on her back, and the mom in her arms as she quickly ran back where she came from and hopped down effortlessly, like a hero should and delivered them to an empty ambulance.

katsuki quickly following behind, landing safely on the ground with the elderly woman in his arm and the teenager on his back. then the pink hero hopped in one again to save the man left.

quickly, after they had guided survivors, they went back in.

every second felt stolen. every second felt like it belonged to you instead. they continued their run. both screaming your name.

"hero!" someone grabbed his arm, "please save me" a kid said, from under the rubble.

he pulled free. "mina, handle him, ill find her myself."

she nodded, carrying the kid in her arms and running towards the broken window.

his phone buzzed. barely any signal. one new message.

his hands shook as he opened it.

y/n ❤️: i can hear people outside.

i don't know where i am.

it's getting harder to breathe.

timestamp:

six minutes ago.

his voice cracked. "just hold on." he launched himself over another collapsed escalator. the lower floor had taken the worst of it. concrete pillars leaned at impossible angles. the emergency lights flickered weakly before dying altogether. darkness swallowed everything.

you were right, it was hard as fuck to see.

"y/n!" he shouted again. louder this time. his heart pounded. "answer me!"

nothing.

"please" his voice sounded unfamiliar. small and desperate.

"answer me."

then a very faint sound was heard from a far.

very faintly

"katsuki?"

he froze. his head snapped toward the sound.

"y/n?!"

"i'm here" it came again. weaker. but definitely yours.

relief hit him so hard his knees almost gave out. "keep talking!"

"babe, i can't see anything, its really scary."

his chest tightened painfully. "don't move." he followed your voice until the hallway ended.

a collapsed support wall blocked the entire passage. massive slabs of concrete had folded in on themselves, sealing off whatever was on the other side.

"dammit!" he pressed both hands against the rubble.

"y/n! can you hear me?"

"yeah" you answered weakly.

"are you hurt?" there was a pause. "i don't think so"

another tremor ran through the building. pieces of concrete shifted overhead. you whimpered. "katsuki"

"hey."

he forced his voice to stay steady. "look at me, babe"

"i can't" you answered, but it was no time for jokes.

"then listen to me."

he rested one hand against the cracked wall between you. "i'm getting you out." "okay?"

"okay"

he examined the debris. too unstable to climb. too thick to move by hand. there was only one option.

and he hated it.

"y/n."

"yeah?"

"i need you to back up as far as you can."

"why?"

"i'm blasting through."

"will it work?"

"yeah."

he lied without hesitation.

"i promise, i promise im getting you out."

you trusted him.

he heard you slowly shuffle backwards over broken concrete.

"is this enough?" you yelled with all of your remaining abilities.

"a little more, my love."

another few steps.

"now?"

"yeah." he raised one gauntlet. his breathing slowed.

just enough force to break the barrier. not enough to bring the whole ceiling down. he'd done calculations like this a thousand times before. he has done this before. he could do this. he had to.

"cover your head, do not panic"

"okay."

"...ready?"

"ready?" he swallowed.

"i'm coming." the explosion tore through the corridor. the wall fractured. chunks of concrete burst apart. dust exploded into the air.

for one brief, shining moment, some light steamed through the opening from the broken windows.

he could see you. covered in dust. alive. your eyes found his immediately.

"katsuki"

relief flooded your face.

his own expression softened. "i got you."

he took one step forward.

then the building groaned once more, not from his blast, from somewhere deep beneath the foundation of the building.

his smile disappeared. "NO!" he yelled.

the floor lurched beneath him. everything shifted at once. the ceiling began to collapse on the both of you.

"y/n!" he yelled on the top of his lungs, he threw himself toward you without thinking. he reached, ALMOST, he was so close.

so close enough that his fingertips brushed yours.

then, everything vanished beneath a deafening roar.

"y/n!" he screamed your name until his throat burned. again. and again.

he quickly got up digging frantically through the rubble with bleeding hands. calling for you.

he was searching for anything. any answer, breath, any sign that you were alive, under all this rubble. fuck, if he came a little bit earlier. if he didnt waste time to rescue the other people.

all he was met with was silence.

he began heaving, his breathing came in short, ragged even. his heart hammered so hard. "Y/N! please! just anything, im sorry." he began crying, tears spilling fast from his eyes.

even though he was still digging, creating small explosions. till he found some pieces covered in blood, "no- no, no..no no no..NO! y/n im sorry, im sorry"

his hands were bloody, his skin was pulled, ripped and bleeding, he kept on clawing and clawing.

his hands clawed at the mattress before he realized where he was.

the bedroom. your bedroom. your apartment. your shared penthouse.

dark. quiet. safe.

a light flicked on outside. the bathroom door creaked open.

you stepped into the hallway in one of his oversized t-shirts, still rubbing sleep from your eyes after getting a drink of water.

"katsuki?" your voice was hoarse with sleep.

"you okay?, i heard some-"

before you could finish, he was already out of bed. crossing the room in three hurried strides. his arms wrapped around you so tightly that the breath left your lungs.

"ah! fuc- k-katsuki?"

he buried his face against your shoulder. you could feel him shaking.

not slightly but violently. almost terrified.

"babe? im here" you whispered, one hand slowly finding the back of his neck.

"what happened?" he couldn't answer. he was just sobbing into your shoulder.

because he still wasn't entirely convinced he had actually woken up.

he just held you tighter. as if letting go might make the nightmare start all over again.

you instinctively wrapped your arms around his waist.

"katsuki?" your voice was barely above a whisper now.

the panic in his breathing, the way his hands trembled against your back, you started to piece things together, he was most likely having a bad dream.

your fingers slowly threaded through the damp strands of his hair.

"look at me."

he couldn't, he was too scared, the last time he looked at you, was when you were eaten by the concrete roof that fell on you, crushing your body.

"i thought, i- i couldnt..get you in time..and i-" he swallowed hard.

you frowned softly.

"what?"

"babe i-i had this, shit fucked up dream, that you had left after we got- got into some fuckass argument.."

he let out a shaky breath. "then there was an attack and you were trapped.." his grip tightened again.

"and i was too late, too late to get you"

your heart ached.

"im so glad it isnt real.." he barely whispered.

you cupped his face between your hands. forcing him to look at you. his crimson eyes were glassy. red and around the edges. there were tears sitting there.

"katsuki." you smiled at him, "im right here"

his eyes searched yours. making sure.

your skin was warm beneath his fingertips, comforting, your heartbeat steady against him, you were alive and breathing.

"yeah, you are.."

you guided him back toward the bed. neither of you said much. there wasnt much to say.

you climbed back beneath the blankets first before gently patting the empty space beside you.

"come here."

for once, he didn't argue. immediately reaching for your hand beneath the duvet. his thumb brushing across your knuckles. just to feel you there.

"i'm sorry, im such a dumbass." the words surprised even him.

you looked over. "what for, baby?"

"i've been gone too much, i dont prioritise you, ive been an idiot."

you smiled weakly. "well, thats not exactly breaking news."

the smallest laugh escaped him.

"dont get cocky one me, now" he laughed.

"dont lie, you loved it"

"yeah." this time, there wasn't a second of hesitation.

"i love you," his voice was quiet. steady.

"and i don't think i say it enough, im sorry."

your eyes softened. "come here."

you scooted closer until your head rested on his shoulder, hand in hand.

"i love you too."

"you are so great to me, i know im a pro-hero, but- from now you are my priority, im sorry if i made you feel abandoned."

the bedroom fell quiet again. only the rain tapping softly against the windows filled the silence. after a few minutes, you noticed he still wasn't asleep.

"you're still thinking about it."

"maybe."

you squeezed his hand.

"you know" he started, "if we ever get into an argument,"

you looked at him.

"none of us is leaving or sleeping angry."

he looked at you.

"even if one of us needs space, we will be saying 'i love you' first" he said, eyes threatening to spill again, "deal?"

you nodded, as you smiled at him. "deal."

he stared at your intertwined hands for a long moment. then nodded once.

"good."

another few minutes passed. your breathing slowly evened out. you layed down as sleep began pulling at your eyelids.

just before you drifted off, you felt something warm press gently against your forehead. a kiss, on your cheek.

a careful one.

like he was grateful you were still there to kiss at all. then one to your lips.

"goodnight." he whispered as he layed down as well.

he could finally half relax, you were here, the nightmare wasnt real, the apartment is still standing, nobody is injured.

because you were here.

because the nightmare wasn't.

because the apartment was still standing.

he slipped his fingers between yours one last time before closing his eyes.

then sleep came peacefully.

.

bakugou had lived through explosions, villain attacks, collapsing buildings.

nothing had prepared him for a four year old.

you had your son with your previous pro hero boyfriend, that ended up breaking your heart slowly but surely over time. that man was an asshole, according to katsuki.

he didnt cheat, he didnt get violent with you, he made sure he didnt do anything major, just enough for it not to be call-out-worthy, but he always did something to disappoint you. whether it would be to check out other women, hide his phone from you, cancel plans, not talk to you, and the list continues.

unfortunately for you both, katsuki had been there for you throughout that whole relationship. he lent you a shoulder to cry on, but he wasn't hesitant with telling you the hard truth about that man. you've known bakugou since highschool, you have both practically fought against death together, you should have trusted his judgement, but you were naive enough to think he could've changed him.

the cherry on top was when you got pregnant and had to deal with the "me or the baby" dilemma.

you were only 20 at that time, you had and still have your whole life and career ahead of you. we were not going to let a man dictate your life. so you chose what felt right.

your highschool friends including bakugou and your family all were there and offered support.

and after you had given birth, you and bakugou moved in together in an apartment near the city. it was convenient for you both in many ways. you both worked in the same industry, under the same agency, worked similar shifts, and neither of you could justify paying for seperate apartments when rookie pro hero salaries would disappear into rent, and your child's expenses in your case.

it was practical, thats all. at least, thats what katsuki insisted it was.

the first week had been hell. not because of you or katsuki.

but because of him.

bakugou had opened the bathroom door one morning only to nearly step on a tiny plastic dinosaur.

"...the hell?"

he looked down.

a green T-Rex stared back at him.

he sighed.

stepped over it. like the psychopath he is.

took exactly two more steps before something painfully sharp dug into the arch of his foot.

he looked down once again.

"...WHO THE HELL LEAVES LEGO ON THE FLOOR?!"

a tiny gasp came from the hallway.

your son peeked around the corner, clutching another dinosaur to his chest.

"...i did."

bakugou looked at him.

The little boy looked back. of course, who else could it have been?

"...well don't."

"...okay."

"...okay what?"

"...okay... mr. bakugou."

then your son ran off from the crime scene searching for you.

katsuki tch'ed.

katsuki wasnt going to be mean to a kid, especially not yours. but he definitely wasnt warm.

he would ruffle his hair, call him a brat, ask about his day at school, and pack his lunches, thats about it.

he wasnt going to step up for his shitty dad, he was simply doing it to make your life a bit easier, when you were exhausted, showering or sleeping.

your four year old on the other hand, adored katsuki.

he followed bakugou everywhere, from the kitchen to the his bedroom, from then to the laundry room, from that to the living room. it was clear that the kid admired him so much. he thought he was the coolest man on earth.

shiny and sparkly quirk, makes tasty food, and really strong, which kid wouldnt admire him?

not to mention that your son loved to ask katsuki dumb questions.

if it was katsuki's turn to make dinner, he would be met with tiny footsteps approaching him.

katsuki would look down to see a pair of big, curious eyes looking back.

"what are you making?"

"food"

"oh"

"can i watch?"

"sure"

"what are you doing now?"

"washing the dishes"

"cool"

that dynamic mostly changed, when one day you and katsuki went to pick up your son from daycare only for him to come meet you crying.

you dropped to his level quickly and gave him a hug, your heart aching for him.

"what happened? why are you crying?"

the kid refused to say anything, he just continued to cry silently, you picked him up in your arms towards the car.

once the three of you arrived home, you placed him on the couch to watch his favorite cartoons, it was the only time during the weekdays that he could watch the tv, while you and katsuki need at least a good thrity minute to change from your hero gear, take a shower and get comfortable.

once that was done, you sat next to your son on the couch while katsuki was in the kitchen.

"tell me, why are you sad, baby? did something happen?" you asked gently, rubbing his cheek.

"my mate was making fun of my drawing today" hiccup, "during art today," your son gave up on the tough act and leaned in to hug you.

"what did he say, my love?"

"he said that it looked bad, then he took the drawing and threw it in the trash.."

"oh no..thats not good," you looked down at him, continuing to rub his little back, attempting to comfort him.

katsuki walked in the living room, giving the little boy his after-daycare, snack plate, of a cheese sandwich and a juice box.

"did you tell the teacher about this?" you asked as he sat down between you and katsuki and began eating.

he nodded, "they didnt do anything, she just said that he needs to be nice to me."

you sighed, unsure what to do, should you comfort your son till he forgets about this incident, hoping it doesnt repeat. should you yell at the employees to do a better job at preventing bullying amongst the kids, or should you request a meeting with the parent of that child.

then a voice broke you out from your thoughts.

"ill handle this, dont worry, we are going to fix this." katsuki said, looking down at your four year old, "ill make sure that he doesnt mess with you again."

your son looked up at bakugou and nodded before he continued indulging in his plate.

the next day, katsuki was dropping off your son at daycare, while you went to work before him.

later that day, katsuki also insisted on picking him up. and that day was completely different from the one before. your son was running up to you both hugging your legs smiling from ear to ear.

"mama!"

he exclaimed, happy to see you.

you picked him in your arms, "hey, my love, did you have a good day?"

he nodded happily, "yes! we went to the park with the teachers today and i made new friends"

katsuki ruffled his hair, "thats amazing, are you ready to go home now?"

your son nodded as he hugged you.

the way home felt lighter.

not because the grocery bags were any less heavy.

because the little hand swinging between yours was.

your son practically bounced along the sidewalk, excited, he pointed at everything that caught his attention.

"mama! mr, bakugou! look"

you looked towards what he was pointing at.

a tiny sparrow had landed on the nearby fence.

"its a bird!"

"it is, lovely, isnt it so cute?" you said, giggling back.

"i think he is looking at us."

"i think so too,"

"he probably likes mr. bakugou."

bakugou snorted from your other side. carrying most of the grocery bags.

"...the hell's that supposed to mean?"

"katsuki! language!"

"'cause mr. bakugou is cool."

"tch."

the corners of katsuki's mouth twitched upward for barely a second.

by the time you reached the apartment, your son had already forgotten all about the day before.

children were funny like that.

they could carry heartbreak that felt impossibly heavy one afternoon...

only to wake up smiling the next morning.

you envied that.

once you all had settled home and changed, it was time to cook dinner, and today it was your turn.

you were in the kitchen, apron on, looking at your recipe. you and katsuki had made a rule for cooking. whoever is in charge gets to decide what to make.

chicken pasta with veggies, you decided on, something simple and tasty.

you measured the amount of pasta and dunked in the boiling pot, beginning to chop up your chicken into pieces.

"mama, can I help make dinner?"

a voice suddenly spoke from below.

you looked over your shoulder from where you were cutting.

"you can get a chair and help me stir the pasta."

before your son could even climb onto the chair..

"nah."

bakugou reached over.

"you ain't tall enough." he said, and without another word, he lifted him beneath the arms and sat him carefully on the kitchen stool beside the counter.

"there."

your son beamed.

"thank you!"

"yeah..yeah," bakugou said with ruffling his hair.

and from there it continued to grow.

bakugou would go on grocery runs with your son to buy him his favorite snacks, he would pick him up from daycare more often, make his lunches instead of just packing them, teach him cool superhero moves, he would even read him bed time stories and promise to protect him from the monsters. katsuki became his superhero.

fast forward a couple months later, it was safe to say that after 2 years of living together, katsuki was warming up to the kid, especially after his fourth birthday rolled around.

when you had thrown him a big birthday party, inviting all his mates from daycare at a play ground. your son had the time of his life, playing and laughing with his friends, eating sweets enough for a year and receiving gifts.

the presents were opened one by one.

coloring books, building blocks, hero costumes, dinosaurs, toy cars, plushies, every gift was met with the same wide-eyed excitement only a four year old could have.

it wasn't wrapped particularly well. the corners of the paper were uneven. the tape had clearly been applied with absolutely zero patience.

you smiled to yourself.

"...katsuki." you whispered to him.

"what."

"...you wrapped this, didn't you?"

"maybe...stop laughing idiot!" he whisper yelled at you,

"...im sorry." you said trying your best not to get louder from laughter.

the other parents laughed quietly.

your son climbed into bakugou's lap without asking, holding the box between them.

"can you help me?"

"i ain't opening your presents for you, brat."

"pleeease?"

bakugou sighed dramatically.

"...fine."

with surprisingly gentle fingers, he peeled away the tape while your son enthusiastically ripped the paper apart.

inside...

was a small pair of black training gauntlets.

not real ones, obviously. safe foam replicas that had been clearly custom-made.

alongside them... a tiny hero notebook.

the cover read in messy handwriting.

future hero training log.

your son stared, his tiny mouth slowly fell open.

"no way..."

bakugou scratched the back of his neck.

"oh my god! this is so cool!"

"you definitely- this is the best gift ever!"

sour son launched himself forward.

wrapping both tiny arms around Bakugou's neck.

"i love it, than you!"

bakugou froze.

"...oi, careful."

"thank you!"

"...yeah, youre welcome, happy birthday."

your son didn't let go.

not for another full minute.

his favorite one was most definitely the gift from katsuki.

at this point, the party had ended hours ago.

the sugar crash hit your son, and he had barley made it five minutes into the drive home.

"mama..."

"hm?"

"im sleepy.."

"i know, lovely"

"mama..can i sleep?"

you laughed, "you dont need permission"

no response, and thirty seconds later you heard soft hums from the back seat, you smiled to yourself.

you looked over to katsuki and thanked him.

"what are you thanking me for, hm?"

"thanks for making time for him, i really do appreciate it, i was worried that he would be missing a father figure in his life, but clearly he has the best uncle ever." you smiled at him.

he gave you a soft smile in return which was rare for him.

"dont mention it, y/n. its your son after all, besides hes not so bad after all for a little brat, im just glad we can both do this before getting even busier with our hero careers."

you hummed in agreement, "you are right".

when you got home, bakugou quietly opened the passenger door before you even unbuckled yourself.

"i got him."

"you've carried enough today."

"its okay, i said I got him."

"...okay."

so you decided to carry in his new gifts while katsuki lifted your sleeping son in his arms.

He carefully lifted your sleeping son into his arms.

one tiny fist grabbing onto the front of Bakugou's hoodie.

bakugou looked down at him for a second and chuckled.

"...heavy little brat."

you smiled softly.

"you say that every time."

"'cause he is."

"you've been saying that since he was two."

"he is heavy than too."

you let out a soft laugh as you entered the apartment, and bakugou carried him down the hallway, pushing the bedroom door open with his foot.

he knelt beside the small bed.

carefully placing him on his bed, quickly changing his clothes to his pyjamas and eased him beneath the blankets.

removed the tiny foam gauntlets from his hands.

Set them neatly on the bedside table.

pulled the blanket up over his shoulders.

then...

almost as an afterthought, he brushed one stubborn lock of hair away from the little boy's forehead.

"...night."

you'd been standing in the doorway the entire time.

watching.

he turned around.

"...what?"

"...nothing."

"...right, of course."

You smiled.

"i was just thinking."

"thats dangerous."

"it is," you said, continuing your way to the kitchen. katsuki quickly following you.

a comfortable silence settled between the two of you. as you both relaxed on the couch, it wasn't awkward. it never really was anymore. the television was off. the living room was clean and tidy, and there were no dishes in the sink. the city lights filtered through the apartment windows.

you looked over at katsuki who was currently on his phone.

"he'd changed." you thought to yourself, not in personality. he still complained. still grumbled. still looked permanently annoyed at the world.

but,

he'd become softer.

the kind of softness that only appeared when nobody was looking. except that you'd started looking.

and once you noticed it, you couldn't stop.

"what?"

his voice pulled you from your thoughts.

"...hm?" you quickly snapped back to reality.

"you've been staring."

"...have i?" you answer, trying to look oblivious.

"yeah."

"...sorry."

he snorted.

"there you go again." he smiled, while looking down at his phone once again.

"...right." you smiled sheepishly. "i am working on it."

"slowly." he added.

"very."

another silence.

this one lingered longer.

you found yourself tracing circles against the mug in your hands.

"...can i ask you something?"

"depends."

"on?"

"whether it's stupid."

you laughed.

he turned off his phone once he was done reading whatever email he had received and placed it down.

"go on."

you hesitated.

"...why?"

"...what?"

"why did you stay?"

he frowned.

"...the hell kinda question is that?"

"i'm serious."

you looked down at your hands.

"you didn't have to, you didnt have to do any of this yknow?, like help him, make him happy, help raise the kid." you paused for a second to collect your thoughts.

"nobody forced you to wake up early for daycare, take him there when i get called in for work early, or fold his laundry."

he huffed a laugh.

your smile faded into something smaller.

"...you didn't have to become such a big part of our lives. his life"

you swallowed.

"..we simply live here."

katsuki leaned back against the couch.

his arms folded across his chest.

he didn't answer immediately.

he rarely did when the conversation mattered.

instead...he thought.

"at first..." he started quietly.

"...it was because i couldn't stand watchin' you do everythin' alone, i care for you, even though youre an idiot. you are still one of my closest friends, and i wanted to give you a hand after the shit you dealt with."

you looked up.

"you were exhausted, you'd come home barely able to stand, then you'd still cook, clean and play with him." katsuki paused, he then looked at you and continued.

"...then wake up and do it all over again."

he shook his head.

"...pissed me off."

"...why?" you asked, placing your mug on the coffee table, genuinely confused.

"'cause nobody should have to do that."

he looked toward the hallway.

"then, somehow, sometime along the way, the span of these two years, he stopped feeling like your kid."

your eyebrows knitted together.

"...what?"

he sighed.

"...not like that." he laughed.

"the brat became a part of my routine if you know what i mean."

he searched for the words, visibly irritated that they weren't coming easily.

his jaw tightened.

"i'd hear some kid laughin' outside and think it sounded like him. it wasnt something i decided, y/n, and im sorry if this is considered stepping over your boundaries."

he rubbed a hand over the back of his neck.

your chest tightened.

"katsuki, i-"

"and more importantly.."

he continued, quieter this time.

"...you."

"huh, what about me?"

he let out a slow breath.

"that happened too."

you blinked. "what?"

"...this."

he gestured vaguely between the two of you.

"trust me, i don't know when, or why, i just..fuck"

he dragged a hand over his face.

"my dumbass started lookin' forward to comin' home, noticing your laughs, helping you out when you were tired, and it just kept getting worse from there."

he gave a small, humorless laugh.

your heart was beating so loudly you were sure he could hear it.

"...worse?"

he looked directly at you.

"yeah.." he exhaled deeply, "cause, once again, somewhere along the path, you stopped being my roommate that i share an apartment with to save money, or my best friend that i wanted to help out.

his voice was steady.

honest.

"...i don't know exactly when. i can't point to one moment, it wasnt any dramatic bullshit, im not gonna sit here and pretend this is a perfect love story or anything.."

"it just..." he exhaled once again. "kept buildin'."

now he was looking directly at you, "little thing, that kept building ,till one day i realised, that i really dont know anymore."

the kitchen felt impossibly still. the living room fell quiet.

you stared at him. not finding the correct words or the appropriate thoughts.

he had taken every word you'd been carrying for months, and spoken them first.

you laughed softly.

almost in disbelief.

"you know what's funny, katsuki?"

"what."

"i was scared."

"of?"

"that if i ever felt something again, like romantic feelings specfically, id be betraying myself, falling for the same shit"

he frowned.

"after..him."

"i promised myself i'd never need anyone again, never depend on anyone and never let anyone become that important, and then i just kept seeing you, you would visit me often at my old house, show up at my office, id see you during patrols, everyday."

"you kept on showing up, everyday, for me, buying me coffees, dropping me home, and for my son, without asking for anything in return from me."

you smiled through the tears gathering in your eyes.

"it wasn't one moment for me either. it was during the stupidest shit ever, while packing lunch for him, it looked terrible."

he snickered.

"they did."

you moved closer. not all the way. just enough to close that awkwardly big gap between you guys.

"i don't think i woke up one morning in love with you, its true, youve been a great friend for a while, i just think.."

you looked into his crimson eyes.

"i just never noticed the feeling growing, until it was too big to ignore."

he draped his arm around on you, on the couch, and for a long moment, none of you moved, just staring into oblivion, katsuki then slowly reached out first, hesitant, as if he was giving you the chance to step away.

his rough hand found yours. fingers slowly threading together.

"i guess this was kinda idiotic from the both of us.." he muttered.

you laughed through the tears threatening to spill.

"hey!" you said, playfully slapping his chest.

"can i kiss you?" he whispered.

your smile widened.

"there is no way you just asked permission."

he clicked his tongue. "answer the damn question."

"yes."

he closed the small distance between you. there was nothing rushed about it. nothing desperate. just a slow, careful kiss. unspoken feelings settled between the two of you. there was no desperation. no rush. just relief.

when you pulled away, neither of you spoke.

then a moment later, katsuki whispered.

"...about damn time."

you laughed quietly, your fingers finding his.

"yeah."

another kiss. deeper this time, then another, your lips kept on chasing his, him chasing you, then suddenly it grew more aggressive, hungry.

katsuki picked you up swiftly, your legs wrapping around his waist, and somehow the distance between the livingroom and your bedroom disappeared one careful step at a time, interrupted only by quiet laughter and the occasional sarcastic remark from katsuki.

for the first time in years, you let yourself lean on someone without feeling guilty for it.

the bedroom door clicked shut behind you. and for the first time since you'd become a mother, you weren't carrying everything by yourself anymore.

katsuki placed you gently on your bed.

"try to not be so loud, yeah? we dont wanna your brat up." he said, fingers rubbing your cheek, you nodded. before tugging him by his collar and crashing your lips together again.

it was clear that you both wanted each other, you could see him growing harder in his jeans.

"fuck" he muttered, "lemme take this off you, yeah?" he said, playing with the hem of your shirt, "katsuki, please." you whispered in his ear, as he was gently sucking on the skin of your neck and jaw.

"please what, baby" he hummed, continuing to work his way from your jaw down to your collarbone. peppering your skin with small kisses and bites.

"take it off, please"

he smiled, satisfied, "arms up"

it was embarrassing how fast you obeyed, lifting your arms up for him to take your shirt off, exposing your black lacy bra.

he tossed your shirt somewhere on the floor, before muttering under his breath. "so beautiful," he said, rubbing his hands over your upper chest, waiting for your approval, before you guided his hands down to your tits, he kneaded you for a bit through your bra before he shortly after unclasped it and tossed it with the forgotten shirt.

"shit, youre unreal," he said, leaning down, taking one nipple in his mouth, gently sucking on it while rubbing the other one with his fingers. the sensation was driving you crazy.

you began grinding into his clothed cock, while pushing his head down on you, whispering his name.

he released your nipple, before rubbing down your tummy, kissing down your happy trail till he found your pants.

"katsuki take off your shirt, not fair." you said, as you tugged down your own pants.

he chucked before he threw the shirt over his head, "there there, stop whining."

fuck, this isnt the first time youve seen him shirtless, matter fact, you have countless times, during training, med checkups, etc, but not like this, not when its dark and he is about to be as possibly close to you.

he leaned down to kiss you once again, and your hands were now finding their way on his pecs and biceps.

his fingeres once again were tugging and playing with your pants before he yanked them down as well, leaving you in nothing but your panties.

katsuki groans at the sight before he also takes his jeans off, he presses one quick kiss to your lips before laying down between your legs, "katsuki.." you groaned, rolling your hips, "i need you, please".

"god i need you too," he whispers against your skin, he takes your panties off and pushes your legs apart, and buries his face between them, eating you out as you arch your back. "fuck, so beautiful, baby." he mutters against your skin.

"fuck.. katsuki-" you say, gripping his hair tightly, "yeah, right there, shit, fuck you know-" you release a high-pitched moan as his tongue flicks over your clit, legs shaking, "you taste so good.." he mumbles against you.

he can feel your orgasm building quick, he sucks hard, slowly inching in his middle and ring finger, curling them, his eyes lifting to see your face melt, "mmmph.. fuck, this feels so good.." you moan loudly, he slaps your inner thigh at that.

"shh, baby, we dont wanna wake anyone up, now, do we?" you nod, head dropping back. he begins to pump his fingers and suck on you at the same time, "p-please katsuki..."

your orgasm now is approaching, you try to squirm away from katsuki due to the overwhelming sensation, but he is quick to keep your down, "dont move too much now," he tells you, holding you in place by your hips.

"oh my god-" you cry out, nails clenching the sheets below you, "shit, katsuki..im gonna- shit, gonna cum.." you whimper, your body shaking, "cmon, all for me, let me see how good i make you feel"

your entire body locks up before you get hit with your climax, moaning his name loudly as you cum, grinding your face slowly against his face through the orgasm.

he slowly gets up from between your legs, yanks his jeans off, and leans down to kiss you. you accept his lips with no question, "nasty girl," he says, kissing you once on the cheek. "you did so good, angel."

he went down, to give your breast a rough squeeze once again, "i need you," he whispered before lining himself, you quickly wrapped your legs around his waist, "ill get a condom first, hol on."

you kept him in place with your thighs, "im on the pill, its fine."

pulling back between your legs, he lowered himself to your heat slowly, peppering slow kisses from your breasts down to your stomach. when he finally pressed his lips right over your clothed clit, you groaned softly, head sinking back into your pillow.

you whimpered, thighs instinctively tightening around his head as you sighed out his name, wanting to melt.

"katsuki…"

"you're always so pretty, y'know that?" he breathed out before kissing you again.

you drew in a shaky breath, ears burning.

you weren't exactly what you'd call pretty, right now. your were sure you looked like a mess.

hair tangled, eyes red and wet, probably bloated from the day.

"i-im not" you protested as he kept sinking inch by inch. "don't say that." his lips turned upside down back like you had just offended him personally, "stop undermining yourself, give your self some love, okay?"

when he finally bottomed out, you both let out a sigh, you felt so full. but you were also growing impatient, you needed him badly, and he needed you too.

you grind slowly, feeling him, every inch of his dick between your folds,

"youre so big, katsuki" he groans at your statement, "fuck" as he begins to push in and out of you, his hands gripping your hips. "god, baby you're so damn tight-" as he continues to thrusts up into you.

you’d never felt so filled in your life. you could practically see him in your cervix. katsuki was also absolutely losing it with each thrust, both of you completely overwhelmed with one and another.

katsuki continues to thrust into you till a beyond pornographic moan left your mouth when he found your g-spot, "katsuki! oh my god...please" you moaned loudly once again. "right there, fuck me harder!" you practically screamed, clenching and biting his shoulder.

"shit baby, can feel you clenching up on me.. fuck"

"katsuki! ch-ch choke me, baby please!" katsuki looked up, eyes wide, "huh, alright, yes angel" he watched you as your hand covered his, eyes rolling back, he was fucking you dumb as he went deeper and gripped your neck harder.

both of you were getting louder, it was clear that you were gonna cum. you thought of you using your free hand to reach down between your bodies and rub circles on your clit to help take you over the edge, that feeling was heavenly but only lasted a couple seconds, before you were gone.

as you came, your body went completely still under his, legs shaking on the mattress as your hands and legs relaxed, "fuck, you feel so good, cumming around me like this, shit" katsuki moaned, clearly approaching his orgasm.

your hands now taking his face and smashing your lips to his, his thrusts became insanely harsh and sloppy, next thing you knew, he was moaning in your mouth deeply.

you moaned into his lips as you felt his warm cum feeling you up completely.

he pulled out and you both winced at that feeling before you dropped on the bed next to you. none of you had the energy to get up so you both just cuddled up to one another in your bed, covered in your sheets.

"you okay?" he asked kissing your forehead, and removing hair strands from your face. you nodded in return, "thank you katsuki"

he laughed, "no need to thank me angel, i wanted to make you feel special, im glad i got to fullfil my wish" he kissed your lips before pulling the sheets to your shoulders.

"goodnight, baby" he said hugging you tighter to his body.

"night, katsuki"

.