#bakugou fluff

Bakugou had always been asleep by nine-thirty every night, like clockwork. Now he spent hours staring at the ceiling, sheets twisted around his legs as his mind replayed every conversation you’d ever had, every smile you’d given him, every chance he’d let slip through his fingers. You were still dating that bastard. That thought alone was enough to keep him awake until eleven. Sometimes midnight.

The worst part was that he couldn’t even escape you on his days off. One Saturday afternoon, he ducked into the neighborhood grocery store with nothing more exciting on his list than rice, vegetables, and coffee.

He was halfway through comparing two brands of curry roux when a laugh drifted down the aisle. Your laugh.

His hand froze around the box and against his better judgment, he looked.

There you were. Just a few aisles over, pushing a shopping cart with Lemillion strolling beside you. Bakugou told himself to keep walking.

Instead, he stood there like an idiot, half-hidden behind a display of canned tomatoes, watching as you reached into the cart to steal a grape from an open produce bag. Togota caught you immediately.

“You know we have to pay for those first.”

“I was quality testing.” Bakugou watched you grin so brightly your eyes disappeared.

The idiot beside you laughed, shook his head, and tossed another bunch of grapes into the cart anyway.

Before he could realize it, something ugly had started to twist in Bakugou’s chest. His grip tightened around the curry box hard enough to crumple the cardboard. “…Tch.”

He shoved it back onto the shelf with more force than necessary, turned on his heel, and walked the other direction before either of you had the chance to notice him. He still forgot to buy the coffee.

Of course, the next time Bakugou saw you was after he’d finally convinced himself he was over it. Which was mostly true.

Work had gotten busy. Patrols filled his schedule. He wasn’t lying awake replaying every conversation he’d ever had with you anymore, and he’d even stopped getting irrationally annoyed whenever Toyota’s face showed up on some stupid advertisement. So yeah. He was over you.

It just so happened that his patrol route took him past your school every now and then. And it just so happened that, lately, he’d been taking the longer way back. It was quieter, less traffic, better for patrols. Or at least that was what he told himself.

Rain hammered against the sidewalk as Bakugou rounded the corner, the black underlayer of his hero costume still clinging to him after patrol. Most of his gear had already been packed away, leaving him with nothing but the steady rhythm of rain against the pavement.

Then he saw you. You stood beneath the awning at the front entrance of the school, your tote bag tucked against your side as you stared out at the parking lot. For a moment, you looked completely content just watching the storm.

When you noticed him, your face brightened. “Oh, hi.”

His eyes flicked toward the rain before returning to you. “You waiting for something?”

You glanced toward the parking lot and laughed softly. “I’m kind of stranded.”

His gaze followed yours. Rain poured down in sheets, flooding the pavement and making it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead.

“Forgot an umbrella?”

“The forecast said it wouldn’t rain today, I swear!” You joked, throwing your hands up defensively.

A quiet scoff escaped him. “Yeah? Guess you trusted it too much.”

Your smile widened. “Maybe I like the rain.”

Of course you did. You were the type of person who could get caught in a storm and somehow find something nice about it.

“…You’re ridiculous,” he muttered, but he was already pulling out his phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting you a ride.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Yeah, I do.” Bakugou paused, jaw tightening slightly before he looked away. “You’re standing outside a school in the middle of a damn storm. I’m not leaving you here.”

Despite your protests, he arranged for a driver to take you home safely. When the car finally arrived, you turned back toward him before getting inside.

“Thank you, Dynamight.” You said, giggling before turning back and getting into the car.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, looking away like the rain was suddenly interesting. “Yeah. Whatever. Get home safe.”

The driver’s car pulled away into the rainstorm, leaving Bakugou standing there under the shelter, eyes fixed on the receding taillights. He watched until they disappeared into the downpour, fists clenched at his sides.

It had been weeks. Hell, longer than that, and Bakugou still remembered exactly how you looked when you smiled at him.

His pen clicked against the desk.

Once. Twice.

A third time before he realized he still hadn’t made it past the first paragraph of paperwork sitting in front of him.

A meddling voice interrupted his thoughts. “…Gonna sign that report this century?”

Bakugou didn’t bother looking up. “I’m working.”

“Bullshit.” The chair across from his desk scraped loudly against the floor before Kirishima dropped into it, completely uninvited. Bakugou had let him into his office without second though, too tired to argue.

“You’ve been staring at the same page since I walked in.”

“I’m reading.”

“You’re …upside down?” Kirishima’s grin spread from ear to ear. Bakugou finally broke his stubbornness and glanced down. The report was, in fact, upside down.

Kirishima chuckled, “Damn. You’ve got it bad.”

“I’ve got a headache.” Bakugou grumbled.

The angry hero sighed, finally looking up to shove the crumpled paperwork aside. “What d’you want?”

“Nothing.” Kirishima leaned back in his chair, clearly entertained by how easily he’d gotten under Bakugou’s skin. “Just checking on my best friend. Wanted to see if you finally worked up the nerve to ask out that cute teacher.”

Bakugou leveled him with a flat look. “You got five seconds.”

“What?” Kirishima sat up straighter, “Mina’s wondering too.”

Bakugou let out a heavy sigh, rubbing a hand over his eyes. Kirishima, unfortunately encouraged by the lack of explosions, kept going. “So she’s seeing Togata.” He shrugged. “And?”

Bakugou’s jaw shifted. “And… nothing.”

“Exactly.” Kirishima pointed at him like he’d just solved a murder. “You’ve already lost before you even tried.”

Bakugou barked out a dry laugh before crossing his arms over his chest. “’M not competing with Togata.”

“Why not?” Kirishima blinked.

Bakugou leaned back in his chair, rolling the pen between his fingers. “Guy smiles at people and they smile back.”

“…Yeah?” Kirishima shrugged.

“He rescues kittens. He probably helps old ladies cross the damn street.”

Kirishima sighed with a defeated look on his face, “Probably.”

“And he actually likes interviews.”

Bakugou continued, “Meanwhile, every headline about me’s got the word explosive in it.”

Kirishima snorted. “To be fair…”

“’M aware.”

The room settled into an easy silence.

Kirishima watched as Bakugou spun the pen between his fingers, over and over again, just like he’d been doing for the past fifteen minutes.

Then, casually— “Okay. Mina told me not to tell you this.”

Bakugou sighed. “So naturally, you’re gonna.”

“She found Teach’s Instagram.”

No reaction.

“Mirio follows her.”

Still nothing. Kirishima frowned. “You already knew.”

Bakugou unassumingly clicked his pen once more. That was answer enough. Of course he’d noticed. Weeks ago, wish he hadn’t.

Kirishima rubbed the back of his neck. “…You know, man… if she picked somebody like Togata, maybe she’s just got a type.” His head turned to meet Bakugou’s gaze, whose eyes were already fogged over looking elsewhere, deep in the same expression he’s worn since your first date with Mirio.

Bakugou huffed. “Yeah.”

“So maybe she isn’t the one?”

Bakugou stared at the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Cars crawled below. People hurried through crosswalks. Life kept moving.

“…Maybe.”

Kirishima meant well, he always did. But Bakugou knew he was wrong. There wasn’t another woman, there wasn’t going to be. Bakugou had tried the logical route already, told himself you’d been a few months of his life, and that people met someone, moved on, met somebody else. It seemed really simple, it should have been. Instead, his brain insisted on replaying every stupid little thing about you it’d bothered to remember.

How you’d absentmindedly smooth the wrinkles out of your skirt while your students worked. The soft ‘Morning, Dynamight.’ you’d greet him with every Friday like it hadn’t become the part of his week he looked forward to most. He remembered your perfume. Hell, he remembered the hand lotion you used. He remembered the exact look on your face the first time you’d laughed at one of his dry remarks. He couldn’t remember half the mundane things that happened from one day to the next, but somehow his brain had decided that all of his memories of you were worth holding onto.

A few seconds of silence passed before Bakugou abruptly broke it.

“Jenny!”

The office door flew open almost immediately. His assistant hurried inside with an efficiency that nearly impressed Kirishima, stopping just inside the doorway with her shoulders squared and hands clasped behind her back.

“Y-Yes, sir?”

She spared Kirishima a quick, apologetic glance before returning her full attention to Bakugou, still as wary as ever around him.

Bakugou leaned back in his chair, peering up at her as if lost in thought. “…That children’s gala Hawks was talking about at our last meeting. The fundraiser.”

She quickly pulled out her phone, scrolling through his schedule before her expression shifted in recognition. “Ah, yes. The annual benefit dinner for the classroom program.” She glanced back up at him. “I took it off your calendar because you said you wanted the night to relax.”

Bakugou stared at the white light emitting from Jenny’s phone for a long moment before his gaze shifted to Kirishima.

“Think she’ll be there?”

Kirishima looked up from the chocolate bar he’d been steadily working through. “Huh?”

Bakugou sighed, turning his attention back to his assistant. “The teacher I was assigned to,” he said, sitting up a little bit in his office chair, “She gonna be there?”

“Well…” Jenny’s lips twitched, but she quickly hid the small smile threatening to form. “Hawks did specify in the email that everyone involved with the classroom program was invited. Heroes, teachers, sponsors, the entire team.” She glanced down at her phone again.

Bakugou was quiet for a moment before giving a single nod. “Good.”

Kirishima’s grin spread the second he realized what was happening, “Oh, you’re down bad.”

Bakugou stood, grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair, and shrugged it over one shoulder. “You’re coming.”

“What? Why?” Kirishima looked up, a small smear of chocolate still left on his face from the bar he’d been eating.

“’Cause if I leave halfway through, I need somebody to tell everyone I got called into work.”

Kirishima stared. “…You’re already planning your escape route?”

Bakugou opened the office door. “I’m planning for you to shut up and be ready by six.”

Kirishima rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath as the door clicked shut behind them.

Bakugou pulled up to the curb, stopping with a sharp tap of the brakes. The passenger door opened almost immediately.

“Took you long enough.”

Kirishima slid into the seat, a garment bag thrown over one shoulder and a coffee cup balanced in his hand.

“You’ve been standing there for twelve seconds,” Bakugou replied flatly, already shifting the car back into drive.

The engine settled into a quiet hum as they merged onto the highway. Outside, the city stretched past in streaks of brake lights and glowing storefronts as evening settled in. For a while, neither of them said much. Kirishima had long since learned that silence never bothered Bakugou.

Usually, it meant he was thinking. Tonight, it was painfully obvious what about.

“You nervous?”

Bakugou kept his eyes on the road. “No.”

Kirishima snorted into his coffee cup. “Liar.”

“I’m driving.”

“That’s not an answer.”

Bakugou drummed his thumb once against the steering wheel. “Y’gonna spend the whole night interrogating me?”

Kirishima shrugged. “Probably.”

A quiet scoff escaped Bakugou’s lips, “You’re insufferable.”

Another mile disappeared beneath the tires. Kirishima watched the familiar skyline roll by before speaking again, this time more casually. “I heard Togata isn’t gonna be there tonight.”

Bakugou’s grip tightened almost imperceptibly around the steering wheel. “Says who?”

“Hawks.” Kirishima picked idly at the cardboard sleeve around his drink. “He called Mina yesterday about the seating chart or something. Mentioned Togata’s rescue mission got extended another two weeks.”

Bakugou’s gaze never left the windshield. “…Huh.” Nothing else.

But still, the tension sitting across his shoulders eased enough for Kirishima to notice. “You got a plan?” Kirishima took another sip of his drink.

Bakugou frowned. “For what?”

“If you actually run into her.”

He considered it for exactly two seconds. “…No.”

“So you’re winging it.”

“I always wing it.”

Kirishima tipped his head back, finishing the last of his coffee. “You must really be nervous.”

Bakugou’s jaw tightened. “…Shut up.” He eased the car to a stop beneath the glow of the gala’s entrance, a valet already approaching before he’d even put it in park. “Get in before we’re late dumbass.”

The gala was already in full swing by the time the duo arrived. The venue was larger than Bakugou had expected.

Not extravagant in the way some hero events liked to be, no unnecessary displays of wealth or flashy decorations meant to remind everyone who paid for them. Instead, everything had been arranged with a strange kind of warmth.

A large stage stood at the front of the room, a banner hanging behind it in bold lettering.

THANK YOU, DONORS!

The words were surrounded by photos from the Hero Classroom Program: students participating in activities, laughing with pro heroes, holding up their projects with proud smiles.

The sound of conversation filled the room around him. Heroes he recognized moved between tables, greeting old friends and swapping updates from recent missions, while near the stage members of the Heroes Public Safety Commission spoke with Hawks as he went over the evening’s schedule. He looked completely at ease, answering their questions with the same effortless confidence he displayed everywhere else.

Adjusting the cuff of his suit jacket, Bakugou moved further inside. The tables had already been arranged with assigned seating, each place marked with a small card. A name here, a name there, heroes he knew, sponsors, teachers involved with the program. He kept walking, letting his gaze drift naturally across the rows until he found the section for the classroom staff. His steps slowed as he scanned the names. Nothing. He turned, his eyes scanning through the rest of the venue in case he’d missed you. Still nothing.

Bakugou realized how obsessive he was becoming and forced himself to look away. Don’t be an idiot, he thought. Why would you already be here? You were probably off helping with something, pulled in ten directions because apparently everyone who met you decided they needed your attention. That sounded about right.

Behind the rows of tables, the atmosphere shifted into something looser. A dance floor stretched across the back half of the room, polished beneath the soft glow of hanging lights, and beyond it sat a bar already busy with heroes unwinding after long weeks of patrols and missions. The whole room felt strangely balanced; it was half celebration, half reunion, a reminder that behind the rankings and headlines were people who’d spent their lives doing the same exhausting work.

“You’re doing it again.”

Bakugou didn’t turn. Kirishima had come up beside him, hands tucked into his pockets as he looked out over the room.

“I’m not. I’m just looking around.”

Bakugou shot him a warning glance, but Kirishima only smiled, and thankfully, didn’t push. It wasn’t long before Bakugou’s attention drafted back to the entrance, back to the crowd, catching on every unfamiliar face that walked through the doors. He told himself he was just taking in the room, getting his bearings. That was all lies, of course. If he was being honest with himself, he’d admit he’d come here hoping you’d already be somewhere in the room. So far, you weren’t.

Bakugou and Kirishima made their way toward their assigned table, stopping every few minutes for familiar faces, other heroes wanting to talk recent missions, upcoming rankings, whatever else people found worth discussing at events like this. Bakugou participated, mostly, nodding on cue, answering when someone asked him something, even managing to look like he was paying attention.

He took a slow drink from his glass and let his focus settle on Kirishima’s conversation about some new agency partnership. He was halfway through another mundane hum of a response when a familiar pink figure caught his eye. Mina.

She was leaning against the bar, laughing loudly at something the person beside her had said. She wore a sparkly green dress, her hair curled more than usual, the pink locks bouncing with every animated movement she made. Bakugou almost looked away until he realized who was making her laugh so easily. You.

For a second, the entire room seemed to blur around you. You were turned slightly away from him, focused on whatever Mina was saying, completely unaware that his attention had already found you. The warm lights above the bar caught against the fabric of your dress as you shifted, the movement subtle but enough to make his eyes linger longer than they should have.

You leaned against the counter, absentmindedly tracing the edge of your glass with one hand while the other supported your chin. You looked comfortable and completely unaware of the effect you were having on him. And, for once, you weren’t standing beside that damn Lemillion.

Bakugou knew now that he had no excuses now. No classroom. No students. No program. No Togota.

Kirishima followed his gaze and went quiet, choosing to just watch the scene unfold. Across the room, Mina caught sight of the two heroes, then followed Bakugou’s stare. The moment she realized who he was looking at, a slow smile spread across her face. She leaned closer to you, saying something that made you laugh softly, and Bakugou narrowed his eyes.

What the hell was she saying?

Bakugou watched your expression shift the moment you recognized him. A small smile tugged at your lips as your eyes met across the room. For a second he forgot to move.

Then you lifted your hand in a small wave. He blinked, caught off guard by how easily you smiled at him. Slowly, almost hesitantly, he raised his own hand in response.

The gesture was awkward. Stiff. But it only made your smile grow more.

Hawks’ voice suddenly cut through the chatter of the room, effortlessly drawing everyone’s attention back toward the stage.

Bakugou turned toward him as the retired hero stepped forward, opening the event with his usual easy confidence. He listened for a moment, catching the general idea of the speech, but his attention didn’t stay there for long. Before he could stop himself, his eyes drifted back across the room, searching for you. Except you weren’t where he’d left you.

Confused, Bakugou’s eyes frantically searched for you until he found you farther away from the bar area with an older woman standing beside you, gently taking your hand and leading you toward the stage. He watched as you laughed at something she said, completely comfortable and at ease, before she guided you toward the several important members of the Hero Public Safety Commission.

Before he could wonder why, a sharp pat landed against his back.

“Oh my gosh,” Mina whispered behind him. “You are so obvious.”

He immediately shushed her, his eyes never leaving you. There was no way he was missing whatever had pulled you away, not when he was already completely focused on you.

Mina ignored the warning. “You know you have to tell her tonight, right?” She grabbed a champagne glass from a passing tray, taking a sip before continuing. “Because if Mr. Hunky Lemillion beats you to it and makes things official, you’re done.”

Bakugou did nothing but grunt in response, he hated that she was right.

He could feel his eyes lingering on you again. As if sensing it, you glanced over and smiled. Bakugou immediately looked away, almost like he could somehow convince you that he hadn’t been staring in the first place. You couldn’t help but laugh softly.

You were used to seeing him in his hero gear, the sharp lines of his costume, the confidence he carried when he was Dynamight. You rarely got to see him like this. Tonight he wore a tailored suit that was clearly expensive, though he’d probably deny caring about that. No tie. The sharp cut of the suit emphasized the broadness of his shoulders and the same intimidating presence he carried everywhere else. It was almost annoying to you how good he looked.

Standing beside him was Mina, who had somehow become your unofficial best friend within the first few minutes of arriving. The second she spotted you, she had pulled you into conversation, gotten you a drink, and introduced you to every hero she knew. You definitely weren’t expecting it, but happy you didn’t have to stand around awkwardly by yourself.

“Ms. L/N?”

You turned back as one of the Hero Public Safety Commission members extended his hand with a warm smile. “It’s so great to finally meet you in person. We just wanted to thank you for allowing us to test out our program in your classroom this year.”

You smiled politely, shaking his hand. “Of course. I’m glad I could help.”

“We wanted to make sure we extended our gratitude to all the teachers,” he continued. “It’s one thing to design a program, another to have educators willing to open their classrooms and give it a chance.”

You thanked him again, a little embarrassed by the attention. The members of the Hero Public Safety Commission seemed genuinely interested in hearing about your experience with the program, asking questions about your students and how the classroom visits had gone.

A few feet away, Bakugou leaned against the edge of the table, half-listening as Mina talked beside him.

“—and I’m telling you, if they schedule another late-night patrol briefing after a twelve-hour shift, I’m going to lose it.”

Bakugou glanced at her. “You say that every time.”

“Because every time it happens.”

“You’re a pro hero. What did you expect?”

“I expected to have a life outside of work,” Mina said, taking a sip of her drink. “You know, like a normal person.”

Bakugou grunted, shuffling his glass in between his callous finger, “Think you signed off being a normal person when you decided to be a hero, Pinky.”

Bakugou looked over across the room, where Kirishima was caught in conversation with a few other heroes, easily blending in as he laughed along with whatever story they were sharing.

His attention drifted back toward you. You were still talking with the Commission members, smiling politely as you listened. You looked completely comfortable, even surrounded by people who operated in a world so different from yours.

Mina’s voice pulled Bakugou out of his thoughts. “So… do you have a plan?”

He turned toward her, immediately noticing the slight slur in her words. Without hesitation, he took the champagne glass from her hand and replaced it with a cup of water from the table beside them.

“Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

Mina shrugged, taking a long drink of the water that was placed in her hand.

Bakugou frowned. Before he could argue, she finished the cup and immediately reached for another champagne glass from a passing tray.

He stared at her in disbelief. “Seriously?”

“What?” she asked innocently.

Bakugou sighed, already regretting the possibility of Mina becoming involved in whatever conversation he was supposed to have with you tonight. The last thing he needed was her getting too excited and making things worse.

Before he could let his thoughts spiral any further, Mina suddenly went quiet. Her eyes widened, and a small, excited gasp escaped her.

“What?” Bakugou asked, immediately suspicious.

She ignored him, nudging his side with her elbow. “Stand up straight.”

He shot her an irritated look, but still found himself fixing his posture before following her gaze.

You had finished your conversation with the Commission members and were making your way back toward them. The moment your eyes met his, your expression softened into a small smile.

Some of the tension he’d been carrying all night finally eased. Finally, a chance to talk to you.

“Sorry,” you said as you reached them. “I didn’t mean to disappear for so long.”

“You’re fine,” Bakugou answered a little too quickly.

Mina, still slightly tipsy, immediately jumped into the conversation. “They kidnapped her,” she said dramatically. “I was about five minutes away from filing a missing persons report.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “It wasn’t that bad. They were just thanking me for letting them use my class for the program.” You shot a short glance over at Bakugou, whose eyes has not let off of you for a second since you walked up.

“Well,” Mina said, excitedly looping an arm through yours, “you’re free now.”

Bakugou opened his mouth, finally ready to say something more than a few clipped words, when the earpiece tucked in his ear crackled to life. The warmth left his expression instantly.

“Dynamight. Red Riot. Possible villain attack reported two blocks east of your location. Local heroes are engaged. Backup requested.”

Across the room, Kirishima had already gone still, his attention fixed on Bakugou. He’d heard it too.

The first hints of commotion drifted in through the open balcony doors. Distant shouts, the screech of tires, followed by the unmistakable crack of an explosion somewhere beyond the next block.

Conversation throughout the ballroom began to falter. A handful of heroes exchanged quick glances before instinct took over. Chairs scraped against the floor as they excused themselves from conversations, activating pieces of their costumes or making for the exits with practiced urgency.

Kirishima didn’t move, instead waiting for Bakugou’s cue. His friend’s eyes met his for only a second. Go.

It wasn’t spoken. A subtle tilt of his head toward the doors was enough. Kirishima gave a single nod before disappearing into the growing crowd of heroes rushing outside. Bakugou remained where he was, his attention flicking briefly around the room.

No signs of immediate danger. No breach. Just anxious guests beginning to notice that something was happening beyond the walls. Then the sound reached them.

A rapid succession of deafening blasts echoed from somewhere just outside the venue, followed by the shriek of twisting metal. The windows lining the ballroom rattled violently, sending a ripple of uneasy silence through the crowd. Bakugou’s head snapped toward the entrance. People near the windows recoiled when they caught sight of the figures acrosss the street as they came into view.

There were five of them. They were masked and fast moving, forcing panicked civilians ahead of them as they sprinted toward the building. One swung an enormous slab of concrete overhead before hurling it through the air. It crashed into the fountain outside, sending water and shattered stone exploding across the front steps.

The ballroom erupted. Screams replaced conversation and guests stumbled over one another as they rushed away from the windows. Bakugou turned instinctively toward Kirishima, but the spot he’d been standing in was already empty. Good.

Bakugou looked back, Mina was gone too. She’d vanished into the sea of panicked guests without him even noticing, undoubtedly helping direct people toward the nearest exits. Bakugou’s eyes hurried around the venue for another split second before he remembered you. You hadn’t moved. Your face had gone completely pale, eyes fixed on the destruction unfolding just beyond the glass. The color had drained from your cheeks, your breathing shallow enough that it looked like you’d forgotten how to take the next one.

Without thinking, you crossed the few steps between you and reached for him, your fingers wrapping tightly around the sleeve of his suit. Bakugou looked down at your trembling hand before his eyes lifted back to your face. Real fear. Without a word he grabbed your hand and pulled you closer so that your ear sat firmly against his chest.

“Stay close.” The command was quiet, but there was no room to argue. You were nothing short of terrified. You had encountered villains before, but they had always been small-time criminals, the kind who only targeted the elderly and ran the moment a hero showed up. Nothing that prepared you for this.

You thought about the beginning of the attack, and how before you could even fully process what was happening, Mina was already gone, weaving through the chaos and helping guests evacuate. You hated the helpless feeling that settled in your chest. You weren’t a hero and you couldn’t fight. You couldn’t stop the destruction unfolding around you.

Luckily, Bakugou was beside you already moving, already taking control of the situation with the same confidence he carried into every classroom visit and every battle you’d seen on the news. For what it was worth, you felt a little less afraid knowing he was there.

Bakugou’s expression changed the moment the first explosion shook the building. The noise outside was closer than it should have been, this was definitely no longer something happening blocks away. The entire entrance to the venue erupted into chaos as another blast tore through the front of the building.

His eyes scanned the room, quickly assessing the situation before it escalated beyond his control.

Civilians everywhere. Too many exits blocked by panic. Too many people frozen in place. And the villains were already closing in.

Bakugou shifted his attention back toward the entrance as the first villain forced their way inside. The room erupted again as heroes moved to engage, but the villains were pushing forward recklessly, using the crowd as cover.

“Move!” Bakugou shouted, the authority in his voice cutting through the panic. He raised his hand, an explosion erupting from his palm, not aimed at the villain, but at the collapsed debris blocking the nearest exit. The force shattered the rubble apart, clearing a path for guests to escape.

“Get them out!” Other heroes immediately followed his lead, guiding civilians through the opening. Another villain charged toward the crowd, causing Bakugou to turn instantly.

The blast from his palm sent them flying backward before they could get close, the force controlled enough to stop the attack without endangering anyone nearby.

You watched in awe as Bakugou moved around you with practiced precision, warning civilians out of harm’s way while taking down villains with one hand, the other still wrapped securely around your waist. You kept your eyes squeezed shut amidst the chaos, afraid that opening them would mean seeing something you’d never be able to forget.

Even in the middle of the fight, Bakugou spared a brief moment to glance down at you, making sure you were okay.

The villains weren’t anything he couldn’t handle. Sure they were were reckless, loud, but nowhere near the level of threats he’d faced before. Normally, this kind of fight wouldn’t even make him hesitate. He’d dealt with worse, taken bigger hits and walked away without giving it a second thought. But you were with him this time.

The way you held onto him, the way your eyes squeezed shut and your arms trembled every time an explosion went off, Bakugou easily knew you were terrified. He hated the thought of you seeing this side of the job and all of the destruction and fear that came along with it. More than that, he hated the thought of a world where he couldn’t get to you in time. So he tightened his grip around your waist, just slightly, before turning his attention back to the fight.

By then, the villains had forced their way further into the venue, leaving the once elegant setup almost unrecognizable. The chandeliers that had decorated the ceiling were shattered, chunks of concrete and debris were scattered across the polished wooden stage, and bottles from the bar rolled across the floor, spilling their contents over the floor.

Thankfully, it wasn’t long before most of the villains had been contained by the other heroes, and Kirishima had returned to your and Bakugou’s side. When you finally found the courage to open your eyes, the scene was much calmer than before. Some villains had been restrained in a corner with ropes binding them, while inured civilians were being tended to by heroes. It was still a disaster, but nowhere near as catastrophic as you had imagined.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Bakugou’s deep voice pulled you from your thoughts. You looked up at him, realizing you were still clutching tightly onto the side of his suit.

Your face immediately heated with embarrassment and you quickly let go, smoothing down the skirt of your dress as if that would somehow erase what just happened. “Yeah. Good. No— not hurt,” you said quickly, though your voice still carried the lingering fear you hadn’t quite shaken off.

Bakugou’s crimson eyes moved over your face, studying every little detail. The slight tremble in your hands and your uneven breath. You tried hard to hide it, but you were definitely still shaken up. Finally realizing you weren’t injured, the tension in his shoulders eased. “Damn it…” he muttered, dragging a hand over his face. “Sorry.”

You blinked. “Sorry?”

“Yeah, sorry,” he repeated, looking away for a second before looking back at you. “Should’ve realized you weren’t used to this kind of crap. Didn’t exactly plan on your first villain attack being here.” His voice was rough, but there was something quieter underneath it. “You okay? Like, actually okay?”

You immediately shook your head, cutting him off before he could keep going. “What? I’m okay. Really.” You gave him a small smile, trying to reassure him. “You did great. Honestly… it was kind of nice having you there to protect me.”

Your words weren’t even particularly dramatic, but something about the way you said them made Bakugou’s mind go completely blank.

After a few moments of you and Bakugou’s intimate staring competition, his mouth opened slightly, a thought forming before he could stop it.“Listen, I—”

A sudden burst of camera flashes caused both of you to turn, your eyes stinging as the bright lights momentarily blurred your vision.

“Breaking news! We have reports that a group of five villains known as the Havoc Five have launched an attack on the Golden Stag Hall just moments ago…” The arrival of the reporters was almost as overwhelming as the attack itself. News crews flooded into the venue alongside the responding heroes, microphones already raised and cameras pointed toward the destruction left behind.

Bakugou immediately tensed, his expression hardening as he glanced toward the growing crowd of reporters. Without even seeming to realize it, his hand found yours, pulling you closer to him.

You startled at the sudden movement, looking down at your intertwined hands before looking back up at him in surprise. Before you could ask what he was doing, the reporters had already noticed him.

“Oh! And there he is—Dynamight!” one of the reporters exclaimed, quickly making her way toward the two of you with a microphone in hand. “The number two hero himself. Surely you’ll be able to give us a firsthand account of what happened here tonight!”

Bakugou’s jaw tightened. Absolutely not, not with you standing right there. Not while you were still shaken, while cameras were flashing in your face and a dozen strangers were about to start asking you questions. He stepped forward, instinctively placing himself between you and the reporters, his hand still firmly holding yours.

And then, without warning, he moved. You barely had time to process what was happening before Bakugou was guiding you through the venue, pushing open doors and leading you away from the noise. You stumbled after him, trying to keep up as he maneuvered you through several hallways and exits.

It didn’t take long before the bright, iridescent lights of the venue’s hallways faded behind you, replaced by the deep blue expanse of the night sky. The cool evening breeze brushed against every inch of your exposed skin, a stark contrast to the chaos you had just left behind.

You looked over at Bakugou, who stood a few feet away, hands tucked into his pockets as he stared down at you. The alley beside the venue was quiet, almost eerily so after everything that had just happened. No flashing cameras or reporters shouting questions. Just the two of you.

“Sorry.” The word came out quieter than you expected. Bakugou’s eyes were distant, his expression unreadable as he looked away for a moment.

You shook your head, suddenly aware of the shift in the atmosphere between you. The chaos from inside felt like it belonged to another world entirely. “It was probably for the best,” you admitted.

He only nodded. The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was different. Bakugou’s eyes moved over you, taking in every detail. It should have made you nervous, the intensity of his stare, the way he seemed to be studying you like he was trying to memorize something.

“You look good in that dress,” he finally said.

The compliment was so unexpected that your heart skipped. You let out a small laugh, looking away as warmth crept into your cheeks. “Oh. Thank you.”

Bakugou cleared his throat, almost like he regretted saying it out loud before stepping closer. One hand remained in his pocket while the other extended toward you. “I know a place we can get to.”

Your gaze dropped to his hand. The scars. The calluses. The faint marks left behind from years of fighting to protect people. A reminder that the person standing in front of you was someone who had fought for every mark on his skin. Without really thinking, you placed your hand in his. His palm was rough against yours, warm and familiar.

“Where are we going?” you asked, glancing back toward the venue. “Are you sure you’ll even be able to get your car out with everyone still there?”

A small smirk tugged at his lips as he lifted his free hand, gesturing toward the open sky above you. “Don’t need a car.”

Your eyes widened slightly as realization dawned on you. “Wait…”

Bakugou gave your hand a small tug, pulling you closer to him. He crouched slightly, one arm slipping carefully beneath you as he lifted you into his grasp. The sudden movement caught you off guard, a small gasp escaping before you could stop it. He had steadied quickly back onto his feet like carrying you was the easiest thing he had done. Your hand instinctively found its place against his chest, fingers curling slightly into the fabric of his suit as you adjusted to the sudden closeness. Beneath your palm, you could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Strong, but faster than you expected.

He shifted his hold slightly, making sure you were comfortable. “Hold on tight.”

Your arms wrapped closely around him the second his explosions sent the two of you soaring into the night sky. He could feel the way your fingers gripped onto the fabric of his suit, the way you held onto him just a little tighter every time he adjusted his trajectory or the wind picked up around you. The feeling made him smile. Cute.

The city stretched out beneath you as Bakugou carried you higher, the lights below becoming a blur of gold and white against the darkness. For a moment, the chaos of the evening felt impossibly far away. When you looked down, the venue for tonight’s event was already shrinking in the distance, but you could still see the aftermath left behind, the flashing lights of emergency vehicles, and the heroes moving around the scene. The destruction looked so much smaller from up here.

Only minutes ago, you had been standing in the middle of it, terrified and overwhelmed. Now, you were above it all, held safely against the very person who had made sure you walked away unharmed. Your eyes slowly lifted back to him.

The sharp focus in his eyes as he navigated through the sky. The way the wind pushed against his hair. The steady confidence in every movement he made. The same hands that had fought through countless battles were the ones holding you right now.

Bakugou glanced down, catching you staring “What?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

You immediately looked away, embarrassed. “Nothing.”

He huffed, but the small smirk on his face told you he didn’t believe you. A few more bursts carried you forward before Bakugou finally slowed, landing smoothly on the rooftop of a nearby building. The moment your feet touched the ground, you stepped away and turned around.

Buildings stretched toward the night sky, their windows glowing like scattered points of light. Far below, the streets buzzed with movement, but from this height, everything felt distant and calm.

You took a slow breath, letting the cool night air settle around you. This was the view he saw every night.

For a while, neither of you spoke. You just stood there together, looking out at the city as it stretched endlessly ahead, quiet, bright, and far away.

“It’s beautiful,” you whispered.

Bakugou glanced over at you. “Yeah.”

You looked back at him, surprised by how easily he agreed. “You come here often?”

“Sometimes.” Was all he said.

“When things get too loud,” he admitted after a moment. “Too many people. Too much damn noise.”

You smiled softly. “I didn’t know you had a place like this.”

Bakugou only shrugged, looking away like he didn’t know what else to do with himself. A small laugh escaped you, soft enough that he almost missed it. When he looked back, he found you watching him.

“You know…” you started, taking slow steps toward him. “I think everyone has this idea of you.”

His eyebrow lifted, curious about what you would say next.. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. They see Dynamight. The number two hero. The guy who’s always yelling and blowing things up.”

A small scoff left him. “Sounds about right.”

“But I don’t think that’s all you are.”

The words made him go quiet.

“You’re actually really kind,” you continued. “You just hide it under a lot of yelling.”

A quiet, “Tch,” was all the hero could respond with. Bakugou watched fondly as you laughed, and couldn’t help but think how damn lucky he was to have you standing there with him, away from the crowd, looking like this.

And he also didn’t know how to explain that the version of him you got wasn’t one he gave to everyone. That he wasn’t suddenly some easygoing, patient person overnight. It was just you. You were the reason he found himself thinking twice before snapping. You occupied his thoughts more than he’d ever admit. You had gotten under his skin in a way no one else ever had. And somehow, impossibly, he didn’t want you to leave.

“You’re a pain in the ass, you know that?” Bakugou said softly, despite the harsh words.

You blinked. “Wow. What a compliment.”

“No, shut up, I’m not done.” Bakugou looked away, jaw tightening as he searched for the words “Damn it…”

His hand moved to the back of his neck, fingers brushing through his hair in a rare display of nervousness. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to say this for a while.”

A look of warmth washed over your expression.

“I like you.” The words came out soft and simple.

You let out a quiet gasp, a small smile beginning to form on your face, which somehow only made him more desperate to keep going.

“I’ve liked you for a while,” he admitted. “And I kept trying to ignore it because I figured eventually it’d go away.” He scoffed quietly, shaking his head. “Didn’t.”

He took a few steps towards you, slowly closing the distance between you until there was barely any space left.

“Every time something happened, every time I saw you, I just…” He exhaled, frustrated with himself. “Damn it. You got stuck in my head.”

A smile tugged at your lips.

“Bakugou…” You stepped forward, closing the small distance that existed between the two of you before snaking your arms behind his neck, and bringing your faces even closer together. Bakugou looked between your eyes and your lips.

The city hummed around you, distant voices and passing cars filling the quiet space between you as you looked at each other.

Before he could force himself to say another word, you leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against his lips. He froze for a moment, caught completely off guard, before his hands found your waist and pulled you closer.

He could still feel the warmth of the kiss long after you pulled away. The usual confidence he carried faded into something quieter as he looked at you, taking in the way the moonlight rested against your face.

You smiled.

“I like you too,” you whispered.

Bakugou could only stare at you, the words took a second to sink in for him.

He’d spent so long convincing himself he was too late, that he’d already missed his chance.

But you were still there.