#one explosion boy

Ichijiku (Tigress)

Katsuki says life is like a live grenade. It’s ready at any moment to explode and see whether or not you’re worth your weight in nitroglycerine. Thus far his words ring true. Our lives have thrown us plenty of live grenades and tested the very sweat of our palms.

Like when a popular tabloid claimed I was cheating on him, or when I had a cancer scare a few weeks before our anniversary. For a time, it seemed as though we were living in a minefield, each of us skirting around problems and trying to minimize collateral damage as hardships stalked our every move.

Now? Now we’ve finally managed to find some semblance of balance. Katsuki works hard to be the best at his job as a pro hero, and I’m content being a homemaker and underground hero. 

So when another grenade gets tossed at me in the form of two lines on a pregnancy test in our master bathroom, a thousand different worries trickle through my mind. We’re having a baby! What are we going to need? What if I mess something up? Will I be a good mother? What if the baby hates me? Excitement shoves some of these worries to the side and even brings a smile to my face as I spin around, thinking about how cute Katsuki will look holding our child.

And then I stop.

Kids have always been a possibility, but not a possibility Katsuki has proposed in conversation, yet. Though I’ve always hoped and planned to have children in my future with him, anxiety chokes me up when I pull out my phone and just stare at the screen.

My fingers hover over the keypad as my thoughts try to coax me into it. C’mon. No need to be scared. We may not have talked about it, so he’ll be a little surprised. But he can’t be angry when he’s not protecting his package from procreating. I exhale, and then decide against it as ugly voices from my past convince me he won’t be happy.

Not to mention, being a pro hero is a lot of work. How can I add something onto his already-full plate right now? Nausea turns in my stomach and distracts me until I’ve hurled my lunch in the toilet.

Despite my irrational fear that he’ll jump ship and leave me, I remind myself that we’ve been married for four years. While my frantic heartbeat dulls to a steady buzz, I brainstorm other, cuter ways to tell him. Perhaps a bottle of Prego? Too silly. Maybe a Father’s Day card? Not thoughtful enough.

Ideas swirl around in my head, but I’m no closer to an answer when I fall asleep on the couch. 

. . . . .

Katsuki knows I’m hiding something as the weeks pass. I’m a little more shaky around him, a little more skittish. I can’t seem to find the right time to tell him the news. 

But there’s no escaping him after a challenging day of hero work. He’s always more needy after a hard day. When he goes feral there’s no keeping my distance. We barely make it into my apartment when he’s got me flattened in his arms, sprinkling kisses anywhere his lips come into contact. 

“Tonight, Tiger? You’re gonna beg for it, baby.” He grounds out in my ear, already pressing me against him with sparkling eyes. 

“K-Katsuki, I need to tell you something first.” I breathe, knowing that I have to tell him now before he pulls off my clothes and figures out himself. I’m hardly showing at all, but the smallest of bumps is noticeable under my clothes.

And I know Katsuki. He’ll notice.

“It can wait. Damn, I’ve been waiting all day!” He shuffles us over to the couch where he starts kissing from my legs and working his way up my thighs. I use my knees to shuffle him up so I can grip his chin and make him look at me. “Hey!” He growls as he catches my expression and his eyes relax again. “What’s gotten into you today?”

 The nerves return full swing as I think about how to say it. I feel like it needs to be special, like I have to remind him I’m worthy of him and his child. And there’s still that small chance in the back of my mind that he’ll leave. I don’t want you to leave me, Katsuki. I don’t know what I’ll do if you do… Have a little faith, Little One, he’s been loyal thus far.

“Did something happen?” He immediately starts making assumptions as his hands rub circles under my shirt. “Whoever it was I’ll…” Abruptly he stops, and I freeze.

I expect the shock on his face and it terrifies me. He raises up my shirt and I let him, being so quiet I can hear the throbbing beat of my heart. His thumb rubs over my stomach. Looking at it, there doesn’t seem to be much change, but feeling it…he looks up at me with recognition in his eyes.

And then the grenade explodes.

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me sooner?!” 

“Don’t you yell at me, Katsuki Bakugo!” I growl, pulling my legs up to my chest and scooting away from him. Such a small emotion seems to flood me with an intense outburst. Tears wash my hands and the comforter. Katsuki seems so far away even though he’s right beside me. “I didn’t tell you because I knew that you’d get angry like this! I knew that you’d yell at me! I was trying to think of the perfect way to tell you…but I was scared you’d react like this!” My breathing elevates, my body starts shaking, and my voice raises a few octaves.

I don’t notice any of it. I don’t give Katsuki any time to respond. When he opens his mouth, my emotions skyrocket again.

“What did you want me to do, Katsuki?! I couldn’t tell you because I was scared that you’d tell me to get rid of it because it wasn’t planned. And I won’t!” I rake my hands through my hair, bearing my teeth at him.

The room is silent for a few moments. My veins boil with unnecessary rage that bleeds into cold panic when I worry my anger will cause him to turn his nose up at me.

“Are you crazy?!” He grits his teeth at me. “I’ve told you once, I’ll never take an action that ends someone’s life! You think I'd get rid of my own kid?!” 

He’s so fast. Always has been. In the next moment, he’s got my arms pinned at my sides and my lips trapped in a hard kiss. When he pulls back, his eyes are softer but he still snarls.

“Stop talking nonsense. I’m not leaving you and we’re not getting rid of the baby.” He puts a hand at my neck, sending my pulse thrumming underneath him as I start piecing his response together. “Don’t you dare think I’d be too weak to take on the challenge of my own child. Do I look that pitiful to you?”

Relief rushes through me as I finally let out a choked sob and cup his face in my hands. Then I pull him close and bury my face in his neck, giving myself a moment to regulate, before I answer.

“No, Katsuki. You don’t.”

Want More Bakugo? Try: Fire in the Hole - Sasses, Spice, and Everything Nice

Ichijiku (Tigress)

"SON OF A SIDEWAYS SALAMANDER!" I yell at my Nintendo Switch. "Kastukiiiiiii, I almost had it..." I whine, flopping against his side as a giant skeleton creature kills my Hollow Knight.

"Are you playing Hollow Knight again?" He chuckles, wrapping an arm around my waist and squeezing me closer to him. His fingers stroke my belly absently. "You told me you've never played it before. It makes sense it would take you a few tries to get it right."

"You say that, but what about you?" I poke out my lip at him and lick his cheek on principle. "You know good and well if youuu were playing..."

"I know, I know." He rolls his eyes and shakes his head, turning the page of his book. "Smartass."

"Better than being a dumbass." I giggle, which makes him grip my cheeks and shut me up with a hard kiss. "Trying to shut me up with brute force won't stop me!"

"That's not what you said last night." He teases, and I smack his arm.

"Behave!"

"Never." He twirls my hair through his fingers and turns back to his book. "Go ahead and give it another try."

. . . . .

Fifteen minutes later and I shriek at the top of my lungs.

"Kakun, I did it!" I wriggle my legs all happy. "I beat the big boy!"

"Is that his official villain name?" He taunts, before kissing my cheek.

"Maayybbee," I purr. "How's your book?"

"It's the book you recommended to me." He grunts. "I thought since it was fantasy it wouldn't be that great, but..." He trails off.

"Hahah! You like it!"

"I guess." He pouts and then shifts me so I'm curled up in his lap. "Main character's irritating though."

"Thank you!" I agree, setting my Switch to the side and wrapping my arms around his neck. "She's so annoying. I want to jump in the book and slit her throat."

"I don't know that she'd deserve the energy."

"Harsh, Katsu. Harsh." I wiggle my nose. "What do you want for dinner, handsome?"

"You think you can make some of that spicy tempura you made last time?" He asks. "That shit was tasty."

"Sure, I can manage that. But only if you cuddle me for a few more minutes." I tangle my fingers up in his hair. It's always so spiky, but that makes it that much more fun to play with as I massage his scalp.

"That's an easy request."

My request for cuddles results in me falling asleep for a few minutes against Katsuki's broad chest. When my eyes flutter open, the soft music of Zelda and the clicking sound of him pressing buttons serenades my ears.

"Katsuki?" I mewl, yawning and lifting my head up to meet his eyes. I smell something spicy and turn to look around. Spicy tempura sits on the table. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"You've got a whole human growing inside you, Tiger, you're allowed to take a nap." He ruffles my hair. "Besides, if you're that tired today I don't want to make you get up just to cook. You're fine." He promises.

"How far have you gotten?" I ask after a silent moment.

"Trying to beat this damn thunder blight." He huffs, backflipping for a flurry rush and slamming the beast with his weapon as quickly as possible. "I got all the other divine beasts but this bastard is resisting like he has any choice in the matter."

I laugh. "You're so cute."

"Cute? Me? We need to get you some new glasses, Tiger."

"But you arrreeee! You try not to be but you just can't help yourself." I squish his cheeks and kiss him.

"Whatever." He licks his lips, eying me salaciously before turning back to the Switch screen. "FUCK!" His exclamation jolts me, but he shifts and rubs my back to keep me soothed. "Sorry. I lost. I'll try again later."

He picks me up in his arms and carries me to the charging dock to put the Switch away. When he returns to the couch, he sets me down and lifts my shirt a bit.

"Hey, Small Fry, don't repeat that word, you hear? Your mom might murder me in my sleep."

"There is no might to it. I will murder him in his sleep." I chirp fondly to my belly.

"Oh, so I'm not allowed to curse, but you're allowed to condone the murder of parental figures?" Katsuki suddenly tackles me and nuzzles his face in my neck. "I see your double standards."

"It's not condoning murder. It's teaching him to be a man of his word."

"Then I'm just teaching her a bigger vocabulary."

I narrow my eyes at him but end up snorting anyway. "Okay, I get your point." I direct my commentary to the bean in my belly again. "No one shall be murdering your father, little one, fret not."

"And I won't be using any curse words in front of you...intentionally."

"Good. Now, I'm starving, Kakun."

"Mmph, there's not a chance I can stay here a few more minutes, is there?" He sneaks a hand over my belly as his breathing gets deeper. Even though he whispers, I can hear every word. "I'll protect you and your mommy forever, okay? I promise."

My fingers rake through Katsuki's hair again, tears glittering in my eyes. I love you so much. You're going to be such a good daddy.

"We'll both protect you." I purr.

"And teach you how to fight." Kastuki adds quickly. He delivers one final kiss to the tender, taut skin and then pulls back. "Alright, time to eat. Hope you like spicy food, kid."

"If he has your attitude? There's no doubt." I smirk.

"And if she has yours, we're all in trouble."

Want More Bakugo? Try: Fire in the Hole - Boom! Goes the Dynamight