Hii love, as my first write, I feel like starting off with a lil bit of angst.. rmb I love you <3 Based on your barista's real life events, but I had a happy ending :)
Love Isnt the Problem
Prohero!KatsukiBakugou x fem!reader
Summary: 2:40 a.m. Another night spent waiting for Katsuki to come home. What starts as a familiar argument quickly unravels into a conversation neither of you is prepared to have.
Tags: angst no comfort, established relationship, open ending
Wc: ~1200
The clock on the wall reads 2:40 a.m.
You stare at the glowing numbers from your spot on the couch, a blanket draped over your legs and a cold mug of coffee forgotten on the end table. The television drones on in the background, some late-night rerun you haven't paid attention to in hours. Too focused on one thing and one thing only.
You should've gone to bed.
Hours ago, probably.
But if you went to bed, then you'd miss him. So you spend your night facing the door staring at your blank phone screen.
And lately, it feels like that's all your relationship has becomeâwaiting.
Waiting for a text.
Waiting for a call.
Waiting for the sound of the front door unlocking.
Waiting for Katsuki.
The lock finally clicks. And your heart betrays you immediately.
Because despite everything, despite the frustration and disappointment and loneliness, you're still relieved.
He's safe.
The front door swings open.
Katsuki steps inside. The smell of smoke, sweat, and the city fill the air. Shoulders tense beneath his hero gear. Dirt streaks the side of his face. His gauntlets are gone, but exhaustion hangs off him like a second costume.
For a second, neither of you says anything.
His eyes find yours. Then flick toward the clock.
2:48 a.m.
Again.
"You're still awake?"
You let out a quiet laugh. It's not funny.
"Sadly."
He sighs, already sounding tired of a conversation that hasn't even started.
You hate that.
You hate that every discussion lately feels rehearsed.
Like you're both reading from a script you've memorized, played through many times before.
Katsuki kicks off his boots and moves toward the kitchen. "I'm gonna shower."
"Did you remember?"
The question stops him. His shoulders stiffen. You already know the answer.
Still, you ask. And you're met with nothing but silence. The laugh that leaves you this time is sharper. "Seriously?"
Katsuki closes his eyes. And that's all the confirmation you need.
The dinner reservation.
The one you'd made three weeks ago. The one you'd gotten dressed for. The one you sat through alone. The one you'd finally given up on after an hour of staring at the empty chair across from you. The one he'd promised he'd be there for. The one you'd spent hours looking forward to because maybeâjust maybeâyou'd get one normal evening together.
Gone.
Forgotten.
Just like everything else.
"Damn it," he mutters.
You nod slowly. "Yeah."
"I got called into an operation."
"I know."
"There was a villain attack acrossâ"
"I know, Katsuki."
The apartment falls silent.
You know. That's the problem. You always know. You know people need him. You know emergencies happen. You know he's trying to become the best hero he can be.
You know all of it.
And somehow that makes it worse.
Because if he were just being careless, you could be angry.
Instead, you're left feeling selfish. Lonely. And selfish for being lonely. "You forgot."
His jaw tightens. "I didn't do it on purpose."
You laugh again. A bitter sound. "Do you think I care whether it was on purpose anymore?"
The words come out harsher than you intended.
But once they start, you can't stop them.
"It's always something. And somehow I'm always expected to be okay with it." There's a silence there that Katsuki can't fill, can't argue against. "No call, no text. Nothing."
Katsuki looks away. Bad sign.
"There's always another patrol. Another operation. Another meeting."
You stand from the couch.
"You miss dinners. Dates. Birthdays."
"I was there for your birthday."
"You showed up two hours late."
His expression hardens.
You immediately regret saying it. Not because it's untrue. Because you know he's keeping score too.
Every sacrifice.
Every sleepless night.
Every injury.
Every person he's saved.
And yetâyou're exhausted too.
"I'm trying," he says.
The frustration in his voice is immediate. Sharp. Dangerous. "I am trying."
"Then why does it feel like I'm doing this alone?" The words hang between you. For a moment, neither of you moves.
Then Katsuki laughs.
And somehow that's worse. Because there's no humor in it. Just exhaustion. "What the hell am I supposed to do?"
You stare at him.
"Be here."
"I'm out there saving lives."
"And I'm here waiting for you!"
The shout surprises both of you. Silence crashes into the room. You swallow hard.
Katsuki drags a hand down his face. His eyes are bloodshot. His posture is slumped.
God, he looks tired.
And for a split second, guilt creeps in.
Until you remember sitting alone at a restaurant tonight. Checking your phone every five minutes. Making excuses to the waiter.
Pretending you weren't embarrassed.
Pretending you weren't hurt.
"I'm tired," you whisper. The confession leaves your lips before you can stop it. "I'm tired of eating dinner alone."
Katsuki doesn't answer.
"I'm tired of waking up alone."
Nothing.
"I'm tired of feeling like I come second to everything."
The second the words leave your mouth, you know you've hit something.
His expression changes instantly. Something raw flashes across his face. Anger, not at you. At the situation. At himself. At everything.
Then it explodes.
"Then what the hell do you want from me?"
The volume makes you flinch.
"I can't be everywhere at once!"
"I never asked you to be!"
"That's exactly what you're asking!"
His voice echoes through the apartment. Months of frustration finally spilling out.
"You think I don't know I'm never home?"
"Katsukiâ"
"You think I don't know what I miss?"
His chest rises and falls heavily.
"I know every damn thing I've missed."
The room suddenly feels too small.
Too hot.
Too full of things neither of you has said.
Then Katsuki says the one thing neither of you can take back.
"Sometimes I wish I hated you!"
The words hit like a physical blow.
Silence.
Instant.
Complete.
You watch the realization cross his face. Watch the regret follow immediately after. But it's too late.
The damage is done.
His mouth opens yet nothing comes out. Because what explanation is there?
You stare at him.
Waiting.
Hoping.
For something, anything.
Instead, he laughs bitterly and looks away.
"Maybe then I wouldn't have to feel torn every time I leave this apartment."
Your chest tightens.
"Maybe then I could focus on my damn job."
You don't realize you're crying until your vision blurs. Not because you're shocked. Not because you're angry. Because you're tired.
So unbelievably tired.
A hollow laugh escapes you. And when you speak, your voice is barely above a whisper.
"I wish I hated you too."
Katsuki freezes. Completely. Like you've knocked the air from his lungs.
You wipe angrily at your eyes. "Maybe then I wouldn't spend every night wondering if you're alive."
His expression crumbles.
"Maybe then I wouldn't stare at my phone waiting for a text."
You laugh again. Broken this time.
"Maybe then I wouldn't feel stupid for missing someone who's never here."
Katsuki doesn't say a word. Because there isn't one. Nothing that can fix this. Nothing that can undo months of hurt. Nothing that can erase the look on your face.
You shake your head. Suddenly exhausted. The argument has burned through everything you had left. "I'm going to bed."
Your voice sounds distant. Even to you. You walk past him.
Past the man you love.
Past the man who loves you.
And somehow, that's what hurts most. Because neither of you stopped loving each other.
That was never the problem.
The bedroom door closes behind you.
And for the first time in a very long timeâ
you don't wait for him to follow.
Anddd scene, I know some phrases it feels repetitive but I love that with this story because the argument is repetitive yk?... Hopefully I fed you well :) Let me know if your barista did a good job! Bye Love! <3
