[pt.2 https://www.tumblr.com/cecechikwhatt/792249154676146177/crumbs-of-love-pt2]
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Your bakery always smelled like homeâwarm bread, sugar, and cinnamon weaving together into something comforting. It was a small shop on the corner, a place where locals knew your name, and regulars often stopped by just to chat. But lately, one particular regular stood out.
Every afternoon after schoolâor sometimes right before you closedâBakugoâs son, Ren, came in.
âDo you have any bread crumbs today?â heâd ask, voice shy but steady.
The first time, he had tried to hand you a few coins. You had shaken your head and smiled. âKeep it. Theyâre just crumbs anyway.â
His eyes had lit up in a way that made your chest ache. From then on, it became routineâRen appearing almost every day, taking the bag of crumbs, and hurrying off with a quick âThanks.â
You never pried, but you noticed. On good days, heâd hum as he left. On bad ones, his shoulders would sag, his face pale with exhaustion. He never said anything, and you never askedâbut you always made sure to set a little bag aside for him, just in case.
One evening, just as you were sweeping the floors and preparing to close, the bell over the door jingled. You looked up, expecting Ren. Instead, a tall, broad-shouldered man walked in, his sharp crimson eyes scanning the shop with an intensity that made your stomach flip.
âSorry, weâre just about to cloââ you started, but stopped when you saw his expression. He looked⊠worried.
âOi,â he said, voice gruff, low. âYou seen a kid? Black hair, red eyes. About this tall.â He held his hand a few inches above the counter.
The manâs eyes snapped to yours, and you could see the tension ease just slightly in his shoulders. âTch. So he has been coming here,â he muttered.
âYou must be his dad,â you said softly, setting the broom aside.
He scowled, almost defensively. âYeah. Bakugo Katsuki. He didnât cause trouble here, did he?â
âNo,â you said quickly. âNever. He just⊠asks for bread crumbs. I save them for him.â
Bakugoâs brows furrowed. ââŠBread crumbs?â
You hesitated, then smiled gently. âHe feeds the birds with them. He seems to like it. I think it makes him feel better.â
Bakugoâs eyes softened in a way you hadnât expected, though he immediately masked it with a scowl. âDumb kid. Shouldâve told me.â
You tilted your head. âMaybe itâs easier for him to just⊠have a quiet place like that.â
For the first time, Bakugo really looked at youânot just the baker behind the counter, but you. His gaze lingered a second too long, and his lips pressed together like he wanted to say something but didnât know how.
ââŠThanks,â he muttered finally. âFor⊠yâknow. Giving him that.â
âItâs nothing,â you said softly. âHeâs a good kid.â
Bakugoâs ears turned red. He looked away, grumbling under his breath, but you caught the faintest smile tugging at his lips.
After that night, Bakugo started stopping by with Ren now and then. At first, heâd stand stiffly in the corner while Ren picked up his usual crumbs, but gradually⊠he softened. Sometimes heâd buy an actual loaf. Sometimes a pastry. And sometimes, heâd linger at the counter just a little longer than necessary, watching the way you laughed with his son.
It was slow, like dough rising in warm sunlightâbut piece by piece, crumb by crumb, something sweet began to form.
Bakugo found himself looking forward to the evenings when he could walk into the bakery and hear your voice. Renâs eyes seemed brighter, too, especially when you asked him how the birds were doing.
And one day, when Bakugo brushed his hand against yours as you passed him a bag of bread, neither of you pulled away right away.
Maybe love didnât always arrive in grand explosions. Sometimes, it came in the quiet warmth of a bakery, in a boyâs smile, and in the crumbs that slowly pieced together a family.
Ren wasnât clueless. He noticed the way his dadâs sharp voice got quieter around you. How his scowl wasnât quite as fierce when you handed him a bag of bread. How he sometimes lingered just a little too long by the counter, pretending to read the chalkboard menu.
Ren thought it was funny. ActuallyâRen thought it was perfect.
So one chilly afternoon, instead of stopping by the bakery himself after school, he went straight home, plopped onto the couch, and announced casually:
âHey, Dad, I forgot to get the bread crumbs today. You should go pick them up.â
Bakugo, halfway through peeling off his hero gear, froze. âWhat? The hell do you mean you âforgotâ? You always go.â
Ren shrugged, feigning innocence. âYeah, well, I was tired. They probably saved them for me. You should just go grab âem.â
Bakugo narrowed his eyes. âWhy donât youââ
But Ren just stretched out dramatically. âSooo tiiiired. Canât move.â
Bakugo muttered a string of colorful curses under his breath but grabbed his wallet anyway. âFine. Damn brat.â
The bell jingled as Bakugo pushed into your bakery. You looked up from wiping down the counter, surprised.
âOh! Evening. Whereâs Ren?â
âTch. The little punk âforgotâ his crumbs. Sent me instead,â Bakugo grumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets.
You smiled knowingly. âHmm. How convenient.â
Bakugoâs ears burned. âWhatâs that supposed to mean?â
âNothing,â you said innocently, turning to bag the set-aside crumbs. âHere.â
But instead of handing it over right away, you hesitated. âYou know⊠Ren always looks happier after coming here. I think feeding the birds helps him. And maybe⊠it helps you too, knowing he has something like that.â
Bakugo blinked, caught off guard. For a moment, the ever-explosive hero was quiet, his gaze softening as he stared at the bag of crumbs.
ââŠYeah,â he muttered finally. âGuess it does.â
You placed the bag in his hand, your fingers brushing his. He didnât pull away this time. In fact, he cleared his throat, looking flustered but determined.
âOi. You ever⊠uh. I dunno. Close this place early? Maybe grab dinner?â
Your heart fluttered. âAre you asking me out, Bakugo Katsuki?â
He growled under his breath, his face red. âDonât make it sound stupid! Justâanswer the damn question!â
You laughed, the sound warm and light. âIâd love to.â
And outside, around the corner, Ren grinned to himself as he peeked through the window. His plan had worked perfectly.
You didnât expect your first âdateâ with Bakugo to be at his house, but thatâs where he invited you. He had grumbled something about hating âfancy crapâ and that it was âeasier this way.â
When you arrived, Ren greeted you at the door with the brightest smile youâd ever seen.
âHi! Dadâs been freaking out all day about this,â he whispered conspiratorially before Bakugo appeared behind him, scowling.
âREN!â Bakugo barked. âShut it!â
You giggled, stepping inside. The place smelled faintly of spices and smoke, and on the kitchen table sat a steaming pan of katsudon, two sets of chopsticks, and a plate of still-warm bread rolls.
âYou cooked?â you asked, raising a brow.
Bakugo turned red instantly. âTch. Donât make a big deal out of it. Just sit down.â
Ren plopped into a chair, grinning ear to ear. âHe made the rolls because youâre a baker. Said itâd impress you.â
âREN!â Bakugo slammed a hand on the counter, his face scarlet.
You covered your mouth to hide your laugh, heart warming. âIt is impressive. Thank you, Katsuki.â
For a moment, his eyes softened at the way you said his name. He sat down across from you, muttering, âYouâre welcome, idiot.â
Dinner was surprisingly perfect. Ren chatted happily about school, about the birds he fed every day, and about which one had started perching on his shoulder. You noticed how Bakugo kept glancing at him with pride hidden under his usual scowl.
When Ren excused himself to âfinish homeworkâ (though the sly grin on his face said otherwise), it left you and Bakugo alone at the table.
The silence stretched for a moment until you smiled. âYouâre a good dad, you know.â
Bakugo stiffened, his face flushing again. âTch. Donât say crap like that. Iâm just⊠doing what Iâm supposed to.â
You shook your head gently. âNo. Youâre doing more. Ren clearly adores you. And⊠so do I.â
His eyes widened, the usual fire in them flickering with something softer. Slowly, he reached across the table, his calloused hand brushing yours.
ââŠGuess Iâm starting to⊠like you too,â he admitted, his voice low, rough, but honest.
You squeezed his hand, smiling. âStarting?â
He groaned, burying his face in his free hand. âYouâre gonna be the death of me.â
You laughed, leaning across the table to press a soft kiss to his cheek. He froze, then exhaled shakily, muttering, ââŠYeah. But maybe thatâs not so bad.â
And down the hallway, Ren peeked from his room with the biggest grin. His birds werenât the only ones heâd been feeding with crumbsâheâd fed his dad a little happiness, too.
It had been five months since that first dinner at Bakugoâs place. Since then, you had become a fixture in both his and Renâs lives. Some nights, the two of them would swing by your bakery just to see you. Other times, youâd spend an evening at their home, sharing dinner, laughter, and warmth that felt like family.
Tonight was one of those evenings. Ren was in his room, bent over his homework, leaving you and Bakugo in the living room with steaming mugs of tea between you. The house was quiet, the kind of peaceful silence that made conversations feel easier.
Bakugo leaned back, his eyes softer than usual. âYouâre here so often itâs like you live here already,â he muttered, though there was a faint smile on his lips.
You chuckled. âWould that be so bad?â
He didnât answer right away. Instead, his gaze lingered on the window, his jaw tightening like he was wrestling with something. Finally, he said, âThereâs something you should know. About Renâs mom.â
You straightened, your heart careful. âOkay.â
He exhaled sharply, his hand tightening on his mug. âShe left. Right after he was born. What we had⊠it was nothing. Just a fling. She didnât want him. Didnât want me. Just⊠left.â
There was no anger in his tone, only an ache heâd carried for years.
You reached across the small table, resting your hand gently over his. âKatsukiâŠâ
He shook his head, looking down. âIt doesnât bother me anymore. I justâRen deserved better. He deserves more than just me trying to figure this crap out as we go.â
Your chest tightened. Slowly, you whispered, âI know how it feels. To⊠to be left behind.â
His eyes flicked to yours, sharp with curiosity but softened by concern.
You took a shaky breath. âA few years ago, I found out I couldnât have kids. It broke me, but I thought my partner and I could get through it together. We were together three years, and the moment I told him⊠he left.â
The words hung heavy between you. For a second, you feared youâd said too muchâbut Bakugoâs hand shifted under yours, his rough fingers curling around to hold it firmly.
His voice was low, steady. âHe was an idiot.â
Your eyes widened a little.
âAnyone whoâd leave you over that⊠is a damn fool,â he said, his tone fierce, protective. âYou donât need to give birth to be a mom. Youâre already there for Ren more than she ever was.â
Tears stung your eyes, but they werenât sad tears. They were warm, full of relief at being seen, understood.
You laughed softly through the lump in your throat. âAnd anyone who thinks youâre not enough for Ren⊠is just as foolish. Heâs lucky. Youâre a good father, Katsuki.â
Bakugo looked away, his cheeks tinged pink, but he didnât let go of your hand. Instead, he squeezed it, grounding both of you in the quiet, raw honesty of the moment.
Renâs soft humming drifted from his room as he studied, the sound oddly comforting. The three of you, under one roof, with confessions spilling into the nightâit felt like the pieces of something whole were finally falling into place.
Bakugo finally spoke again, his voice almost a whisper. ââŠMaybe⊠we can stop carrying this crap alone.â
You leaned against his shoulder, smiling through your tears. âYeah. Maybe we can.â
The city lights glowed warm and soft, filtered through autumn leaves that crunched gently underfoot. Bakugo had invited you to meet his old classmates tonightâpeople he never talked about much, but clearly carried close in his heart.
When you arrived at the restaurant, laughter and chatter already filled the air. Familiar faces, though older now, sat around a large table. Kirishimaâs grin split wide when he saw you.
âOi, Bakugo actually brought someone!â he cheered, clapping Bakugoâs back so hard the blond nearly exploded on the spot.
âShut the hell up, Shitty Hair!â Bakugo barked, but his ears were red.
Mina leaned across the table, eyes sparkling. âWaitâthis is the first time heâs introduced anyone! You must be really special.â
You flushed, smiling shyly while Bakugo groaned, muttering curses under his breath.
The night rolled on with warmth. The girls quickly pulled you away to their end of the table, whispering and giggling, asking how you met Bakugo, how long youâd known each other, and if heâd confessed yet. You laughed, answering what you could, heart fluttering when you realized how curiousâand supportiveâthey all were.
Meanwhile, on the other side, the boys leaned in toward Bakugo.
âSo,â Kaminari started slyly, âsheâs pretty amazing. Whatâs the deal?â
Bakugo just glared, lips twitching beforeâfor the briefest secondâhe let out a small, soft smile. He didnât say anything else. That tiny smile said everything.
The table erupted in knowing laughs, and Bakugo shoved at them, growling, âMind your own damn business!â
Hours later, you and Bakugo stepped into the crisp night air. The city was quieter now, the golden glow of streetlamps stretching across the fallen leaves, painting everything in that warm amber hue.
You pulled out your phone, calling for a taxi. One pulled up not long after, but something about the driverâs leer made your stomach twist uneasily. Bakugo noticed immediately. His body stiffened, and that sharp protective aura surrounded him like a shield.
âTch. Hell no. Youâre not gettinâ in that car.â He stepped in front of you, glaring daggers at the taxi until it pulled away under his fiery presence. Then he turned to you, his tone softer but firm. âStay at my place tonight. Safer that way.â
You hesitated only a second before nodding. âOkay.â
The walk back to his house was quiet at first, just the sound of leaves crunching under your shoes. The glow of the lamps made everything feel strangely intimate, as if the night itself was wrapping the two of you together.
Finally, you spoke. âYou really didnât have to do all thisâfor me. Introducing me to your friends, making sure Iâm safeâŠâ
Bakugo stuffed his hands in his pockets, scowling at the ground. âI wanted to. Idiot.â
You smiled softly, your heart swelling. âYou know⊠Iâve never felt this kind of safety with anyone before.â
He glanced at you, his expression softening just slightly in the golden light. ââŠGood. Thatâs how it should be.â
You walked a little closer, your shoulders brushing. âYouâre really different from what people think you are, Katsuki.â
âTch. Donât start spouting sappy crap.â
But his voice wasnât harsh. It was low, warm, almost⊠grateful.
When you finally reached his house, Renâs light was still on in his room. You and Bakugo paused at the door, and for a moment, the world was quiet again.
ââŠThanks for tonight,â you whispered.
Bakugo looked at you, his lips tugging into that small, rare smile again. ââŠAnytime.â
And as you stepped inside, the night air faded behind you, but the golden warmth of it lingeredâlike the start of something that felt more and more like home.
The smell of sizzling eggs filled the kitchen. Morning sunlight streamed through the window, painting the counters in gold. You stood at the stove, flipping pancakes while Bakugo hovered beside you, insisting heâd handle the pan himself.
âRelax, Iâve got it,â you teased, nudging him lightly with your elbow.
âTch, youâll burn it if I let you do everything,â he muttered, though he didnât push you away. His hands worked quickly, precise with the bacon in the pan, as if even breakfast demanded perfection.
It was quiet for a while, just the soft crackle of food and the warmth of being side by side. You smiled faintly, voice low. âYou know, Katsuki⊠mornings like this feel like what home should be.â
The words slipped out without thought, but the effect was immediate.
Bakugo froze. His spatula hovered mid-air as he turned slowly toward you. His sharp red eyes softened, flicking from your eyes⊠down to your lips⊠and back up again.
The kitchen air shifted, thick with unspoken feelings. His gaze lingered, unwavering, for what felt like foreverâten whole seconds of quiet staring, of hearts racing, of a closeness that burned hotter than the stove.
âMorning.â Renâs voice cut through, footsteps padding into the kitchen.
You both jerked back to reality, turning quickly toward him. You plastered on a warm smile, cheeks hot. âMorning, Ren. Sit down, breakfastâs almost ready.â
Bakugo turned back to the pan, his ears burning bright red.
Later, after breakfast, Bakugo ordered you a taxi himself. He checked the plates, the driverâs ID, and stood outside until he was absolutely sure this one wasnât sketchy.
You gave him one last warm smile before leaving, and it lingered in his mind the rest of the day.
Was it the way you looked wearing his shirt that morning?
The way you moved around his kitchen like you belonged there?
That smileâgentle, radiantâmeant just for him?
He thought he was going crazy.
Hours later, your bakery was quiet. The bell chimed softly as Bakugo and Ren walked in. The sight of them made the weight of your day melt off your shoulders. Ren immediately wandered to the pastry case, eyes lighting up, while you and Bakugo slipped into an easy conversation near the counter.
It was peaceful⊠until the bell rang again.
Your chest tightened instantly. You froze, body tensing as your eyes met the last person you ever wanted to see.
Bakugo noticed immediately, his sharp instincts flaring.
Your ex stormed up to the counter, his face twisted with anger. âSo this is what youâve been doing? Ignoring me? Blocking me?â His voice rose, bitter and venomous. âYou worthlessââ
âNot nowââ you tried to whisper, but Bakugo stepped in front of you before you could finish.
His presence was a wall, broad shoulders blocking your exâs path, his voice low and dangerously calm. âYou got one chance to shut your damn mouth before I make you regret walking in here.â
Your ex sneered, trying to puff his chest, but the weight of Bakugoâs glare was suffocating. It was pure, lethal fireâcontrolled, but terrifying. The kind that promised he could end this without breaking a sweat.
âYou think you can justââ
Bakugo took a single step forward, and your exâs words died in his throat. The threat in Bakugoâs eyes was enough. After a tense pause, he spat on the ground, muttered something under his breath, and stormed out, slamming the door.
The bakery went quiet again, except for the sound of your shaky breath. Your co-workers rushed over, ushering you aside, their voices gentle. âGo home early. Weâve got this.â
Tears pricked your eyes as you nodded, still shaken.
When you stepped outside a few minutes later, there they were. Bakugo and Ren, waiting.
Your lips trembled into a soft, grateful smile as you whispered, âThank you. For standing up for me.â
Bakugoâs jaw tightened, but his voice was steady. âYou donât ever thank me for protecting you. Thatâs not optional.â
Something in your chest swelled at those words. You walked home together, the silence heavy but comforting, your heart beating in rhythm with his footsteps.
And later, lying in bed, you couldnât stop thinking of him. The way he shielded you without hesitation, the rare gentleness in his voice, the fire in his eyes when he looked at you.
And across the city, Bakugo lay awake too, replaying the image of you in his shirt, your laughter in his kitchen, that warm smile that made his chest flutter.
Maybe he wasnât going crazy. Maybe he was just falling.