Another Bakugo x reader piece, this one is taking place over the years with the main focus being after the manga ends. In other words, they're both grown up, might contain some spoilers for those not caught up to the manga ending. Nor that extra chapter.
Contains cursing, mentions of drinking.
I should be asleep, but I was bored and ended up with this... Might do some more adult BnHA writing if enough interests.
Loving Bakugo Katsuki was like a double-edged sword.
It started off during their time in the U.A, an unexpected discovery about herself that shook her a bit. Nothing ever really happened for ages, not during the first year - nor the War against the Liberation Army. Not after their graduation, at least nothing that could be talked about - nothing that could be gushed over drinks with friends. Over time, Bakugo grew from an angry Pomeranian guy with attitude issues to someone people looked up to, and could rely on.
Even if he kept some of his attitude-issues.
Watching him grow lit something up in her chest, seeing the way he slowly started to see Deku as more than a pebble (according to him). Kirishima and Kaminari became the one of the few, who could get away with a lot of stuff most others couldn’t, even Todoroki had earned his begrudging respect. She didn’t know when exactly he started to make sure she was always within his sight, but by the time they graduated it had become a habit of sorts.
They weren’t in the same Hero agency, their Quirks being too different, but they were in the same area - close enough that they could hang out after work, stay in touch and have occasional drinks together, sometimes either Kirishima or Midoriya would join them. Sometimes they’d both join, watching the two with knowing looks but not saying much about the elephant in the room. Not since she’d spilled to them about being already rejected by Bakugo once.
Not since Bakugo had told them about wanting to do this on his own terms.
Their friendship was always a topic of gossip amongst the girls, at least until she turned it around and questioned Uraraka about her and Midoriya. This earned her a blushing gravity-girl, and denial. At the very least, she never denied her feelings towards Bakugo, she thought. Even if they were one-sided.
Even if nothing would come out of it.
She’d long accepted it, choosing to focus on Hero work instead.
Still, it didn’t hurt her heart whenever she saw a rumour about Bakugo being seen with another girl. It made her doubt everything he’s ever said and done, leading her to the current.
Sitting in the bar she liked to frequent, sitting in a semi-hidden corner with Sake in her hand. Too often, she’d think about the War against the Villains during her U.A times. Too often, she’d think about what-ifs. Too often, she thought of the pain and guilt Aoyama carried when it was revealed he was the traitor within their ranks. A shock they hadn’t quite known how to handle.
Too often, she’d imagine seeing Bakugo Katsuki lying on the ground, heart not beating.
Something moved in front of her, making her blink and look up from her Sake, only to instantly regret it. There he sat, staring at her with eyes narrowed in a barely contained familiar anger. Bakugo Katsuki. Her phone rested on the table next to her hand, riddled with countless missed calls and unread texts from Bakugo, and others. It’d rang, but she chose to ignore it. At some point, she’d muted it, upon a drunken complaint from someone who got annoyed at the constant ringing.
“Why the fuck weren’t you responding?” Bakugo growled, counting the amount of empty sake bottles, taking in the redness on her cheeks.
She held the half-filled cup, lazily, “As you can see, been busy,” her words slurred, she didn’t even bother to hide her state. Nor her hurt.
He knew she’d seen the article, he could see the article staring back at them from her phone before screen went black, he’d hunted down the writer and given him Bakugo-style warning and told him to fucking correct it or deal with consequences (Kirishima and Midoriya had to prevent from doing anything more). It was another thing to actually see her like this.
Bakugo flinched, it was rare for her to get mad. For her to actually ignore him, to not answer his calls. He couldn’t recall the last time she’d done it, not to this extent. Not to where she ignored everyone. It was only his luck that she’d chosen to go to a bar she was familiar with, and one he knew. He eyed their surroundings, noticing a few patrons watching them with curiosity. Some recognising them, some giving him looks he was too familiar with.
Some were watching her with a look he didn’t like at all.
She might be a Hero in the Top 50, but she was still a woman. A drunk one, he thought.
“...If you’d answered, you’d know that article is nothing more than a bullshit lie,” he spat, reaching over to pull her drink away only to be swatted by her hand.
She gave him a look as she devoured the rest of her drink, licking her lips.
“Haven’t you had enough?”
“What does it have to do with you?”
“Whether I am or not has nothing to do with you, Bakugo.”
“It has EVERYTHING to do with me,” she snorted, shoving her finger at the screen, forcing the phone to light up and showing it to him. The image of a woman and Bakugo hugging, her lips on his, haunted her.
Logically, she knew she had no right to be pissed. To feel hurt, to get drunk and try to ignore him like this. They weren’t together, he didn’t owe her anything even if he had been staying over at her place more than normal. Even if he was the first person she talked to in the mornings. Even if he made sure she was eating properly, that she didn’t forget to take care of herself while busy with Hero work.
Even if this wasn’t the first claim that Bakugo was dating someone else, not the first scandal by someone who wanted to make a few quick bucks. Not the first time he had to clear things up with her. But this time…
Had she been sober, she’d see steam from his palms. “For fuck’s sake, it was staged by that shit-head!” He slammed the desk with a force that caused the bottle to rattle. A few eyes glanced at them, he ignored them. “I told the writer to rescind this fucking article, I told him to correct his fucking mistake and say that I was already seeing someone else - gave him your fucking picture!”
He hadn’t planned on telling her any of that, Bakugo realised his slip a bit too late but the hurt in her face was too much for him. Honestly, he was surprised how easily she believed those lies. In his mind, they’d been a thing for a while now.
Why else would he be staying over, sleeping next to her? Sharing the bed, even if nothing happened besides holding hands. Why’d he bring her around to his family dinners, letting his mother gush over her without allowing her to be scared off? She’d been doing the same with him.
It’d seem that everyone but them knew they were a thing. Or were already claimed, Bakugo just had to make that clear to avoid any future scandals. He’d been planning on asking her to move in with him properly, before that article came out and she left him waiting cold. He’d been staring at the key in his pocket, ready to blow a fuse.
She blinked, his words barely registering…until they did. Her jaw dropped.
“...Huh?” Did she hear…him right? “Dating … whom?”
“You, dumbass,” Bakugo pulled the sake cup out of her hands, and called for the bill. “You’ve had enough of drinks, now let’s fucking go home.” He gestured for the bill to be brought over, wanting to get out of here.
“No! Wait, what?” She was confused. “...Who did you just say you’re dating?”
Bakugo groaned, before he smashed their lips together.
Her breath smelled like alcohol, fruity and rice wine.
She blinked as he pulled away, cheeks slightly red.
He gave her a look, before paying the bill despite her protest. “Since we started hanging out at each other's family events,” he answered, helping her stand and ensuring all her things were grabbed along. “Izuku did tell me, I should’ve been more clear with you.”
“You never said a thing!”
Bakugo huffed, “Neither did you.”
He’d gotten used to navigating around this bar, thankful that the patrons here were more trustworthy than in other places. That they could talk and chill without paparazzi stalking them.
“Have you seen me doing something I don’t want to? Be this close to someone I don’t like?”
She shook her head, eyes widened. “Did you actually tell them to write an article about you and I?”
Bakugo nodded, looking annoyed at the mere fact she was doubting him. That it took her this long to realise they were already together. That she was his person, and he was hers. Bakugo Katsuki was never big on labels, his actions spoke louder than words.
“Wait, which picture did you give them?!” She suddenly asked, hoping it wasn’t anything too scandalous or where she looked too homey.
“You’ll see it tomorrow, now let’s go home. I’m tired as fuck and you need to sober up,” Bakugo smirked, stopping a taxi and pushing her in. He followed, gave the address to a startled driver, who gaped at the two known Heroes.
The last thing she remembered was Bakugo wrapping his arms around her, telling her to sleep and leave the rest with him. That he’d remind her what he said tomorrow if she wanted.
