#strong language

You'd always had a sharp tongue, but this time you even surprised yourself. Turning away from his now wide eyes, you descended the stairs to get the next box from the truck - silently kicking yourself for letting your frustration out on your new neighbor.

The sound of your boyfriend still on the phone greeted you when you stepped out of the building and into the parking lot. He claimed it was a work call, but his tone said otherwise. Rolling your eyes, you grabbed another box, and turned to look at the current pain in your ass again.

"Are you gonna help or not?" You tried to be firm, but your voice came out more miserable than you intended – not that he noticed.

"Okay okay, yes I understand. I'm on my way," he turned back to you with an apologetic smile. "Sorry babe, I gotta head to the office. It's an emergency."

"You said you took the day off to help though? Can't they handle one day without you?"

Someone cleared their throat behind you. Heat rushed to your face when you turned around to see your new neighbor standing there looking a little lost with a scowl on his face and his arms crossed.

"Oh great! Looks like you've got help hun. I gotta go!"

Before you had a chance to reply, he leaned in to give you a quick kiss on the cheek and left.

"The hell was that?" 

Letting out a sigh, you addressed your new neighbor, "My useless boyfriend. Look, I'm sorry I snapped. You don't need to help me, I've got this."

"Tch, 'm already here. Might's well help," you watched his massive shoulders shrug before he grabbed the next box without another word.

Thoughts and frustrations clouded your mind for the next hour or so as you and the neighbor worked to move your life into the apartment. It was only after you'd hauled in the last box and thanked him for his help that you realized exactly who you'd snapped at earlier. Embarrassment flashed through you when you took in the spikey blond hair and ruby eyes of one of the top Pro Heroes of Japan. 

You'd somehow convinced the Bakugo Katsuki to help you move into your apartment.

That was two years ago. The pair of you became fast friends - since you could make your own schedule, it became an unconscious habit to listen for him to return after a long day of protecting the city. It settled something restless in your chest knowing he got home safely.

Initially you'd simply bump into each other in the hall or elevator and make small talk, which then turned into inviting the other along on a grocery run or to grab a cup of coffee. Soon, the two of you were hanging out a couple nights a week just to chat or watch whatever trashy tv show captured the other's attention. Sometimes he’d show up after a rough shift, gear scuffed and broken, asking if you could get it working again.

Then there were the nights you and your boyfriend would get into it, raised voices echoing past the closed door to your apartment. You weren't trying to argue, you just wanted to know why he had to work so late, or who the woman was that sat next to him at a client lunch his company posted pictures of. But he always managed to twist it back on you - claiming you were being controlling and jealous. 

You really did try to defend yourself, but you'd been together since high school, and he knew exactly what buttons to push to make you doubt everything.

Katsuki hated listening to the two of you argue. It set his nerves on end and never failed to make him wish he could knock the fucker out the window. But he didn't, because he knew that would only hurt you more. He'd tried so. many. times. to convince you that you deserved better than some guy who was clearly fucking a coworker. Though, he never actually said that last part. You were already hurting, why would he want to make it worse?

Instead, he'd wait until the jackass left, listening for his steps to disappear into the elevator before he'd approach your door and knock firmly. Three short raps. Always the same - so you knew it was him.

It always started the same: first he'd make sure you were alright, keen eyes scanning you for any physical injury. Then he'd ask you to explain what happened (this time) and he'd listen, staying mostly quiet, while you'd throw your hands up and pace; sometimes with tears running down your face, other times with a mask of cold anger. 

By the end you were always exhausted; so, he'd lead you to your couch and shove a bottle of water in your hands, demanding you 'drink before you pass out from dehydration.' After you took your first few sips he would plop down beside you, making the couch groan under his weight. You'd press yourself into his side or lay your head in his lap while he would gently run his fingers through your hair.

Selfishly, Bakugo loved it when you guys fought because it was one of the few times, he got to hold you like this and not feel that familiar ache of guilt and jealousy. He'd fallen for you that first day. No hint of recognition on your face when you snapped at him, just a fire he knew matched his own.

Tonight was different, Katsuki could tell the moment he stepped out the elevator. There was a heaviness to the air he couldn't place. The building was quiet, most of the other tenants already in bed considering the late hour. Even your apartment was dark, no light showing under the door when he got to his own. 

He'd barely set his gauntlets down in the doorway, the heavy bag he always took to the agency still pulled on his shoulder when he heard faint voices. It wasn't like when you were arguing next door, it was quieter, but it was still distinctly you. A scowl creased his forehead when he prowled to the window in his room, glancing down to the front of the building to see you standing out front clearly arguing with your deadweight partner.

You were too far away for him to hear what was being said, but when your boyfriend took a step in your direction, he didn't wait.

Still in his hero costume, dirt and ash smudged on his face and arms, Bakugo leapt down the stairwell of the building. He didn't bother with his Quirk, just using the practiced control he had over himself to elegantly fall from landing to landing - making it to the main level in record time.

The automatic doors of the building slid open in front of him as he marched forward. The weight of his steps seemed to echo off the buildings around him - mingling with the argument now slicing through the evening air.

"How could you do that?! You made me look like a fool!" The hurt in your voice only strengthened the fury boiling in his chest.

"Oh, please! Like you actually care?! So what! Yeah, I fucked her! It was great, she doesn't bitch at me constantly like you do!"

He was almost to you, fists clenched tight at his sides, when he heard a choked sob leave you. He'd heard you cry before. Held you while you sobbed over shit the prick said. This was different. It was full of so much heartbreak, that his mind almost blanked out.

Until he heard the fucker's next words.

"What?" He let out a sadistic laugh, "It's not like you haven't cheated either, whore. I see the way Dynamight looks at you! How many times have you let him in your pathetic, used up cu-"

You hadn't even heard him coming. One second you were trying to hold the broken pieces of your shattered heart together while the person you loved insulted not just your relationship, but your character. The next, he was flying to the side, nearly airborne from the force of the punch Katsuki landed square against his jaw.

Shock kept you frozen in place as you watched your best friend prowl forward and grip the front of your boyfriend's... ex-boyfriend's shirt, hauling him into the air. You'd never noticed how much larger Katsuki was than your ex, his impressive stature and anger had never been directed at you.

Now he stood, holding your ex off the ground with one hand, the other clenched so tight at his side you could see a slight tremble.

Blood pounded in your ears, muffling the sounds of the city around you. You could see the tension in Bakugo's jaw while he spoke, not quite catching the words, only registering the low growl of his voice. He only lowered your ex to the ground when the wide-eyed, terrified man quickly nodded after something Katsuki said. 

Sound was slowly filtering back in as his feet hit the cement, letting you catch the tail-end of the blonds fearsome snarl, "-better not see your fuckin' face ever again. Got it?!"

"O-of course," you'd never seen your ex look like this - almost like the confrontation with Bakugo let the real him shine through. Everything still hurt: your pride, your head, your heart. But seeing your best friend step in to defend you? You felt like maybe a couple pieces of your broken heart were stitched back together.

Once Bakugo released his shirt, your ex scrambled back a few steps. He shot one more poisonous glare at you - provoking Katsuki to take a single step forward - before he took off. Hurried footsteps faded into the night air.

Tears were starting to dry on your cheeks, the cold wind sending a shiver down your spine, when you finally broke the silence.

"Thank you. You didn't have to do that."

"The hell I didn't," the blond looked at you with a raised brow, the anger already fading to something softer. "C'mon, yer gonna get sick if ya keep standin' out here."

He led you upstairs, keeping one arm around your shoulders or at the small of your back the whole time. When you tried to turn into your own apartment, he shook his head, pulling you through the open door into his.

"Not gonna let ya be alone t'night."

A plush towel was shoved into your hands when he directed you to the shower. You drifted, still in a daze at the sudden and brutal end of your relationship. The sound of water rushing finally pulled you from your head and into the present.

"’Tsuki, I can go home. I don't need to take up more of your time."

"Tch, dumbass. Just take a shower, I'll be back with some clothes."

There was no fight left to push him, so you nodded and let him close the door. You're not sure how long you stood under the hot water, letting it soothe the ache in your chest. By the time you finished, the bathroom was foggy and warm. When Katsuki said he'd get you clothes, you assumed that meant he'd use the key you gave him to get your own. Instead, neatly folded and sitting on the counter near the door, was a pair of his shorts and a sweatshirt.

A little smile tugged at your lips when you touched the soft fabric.

Eventually you dressed, the sweatshirt so large it nearly covered the shorts completely, and left the bathroom to find Katsuki lounging on his couch, hair still damp from a shower of his own. His eyes met yours the moment you stepped into the room, ruby irises dancing in the light. Beckoning you over, he patted the couch beside him. Once you sat down, he threw an arm over your shoulder and pulled you into him.

Bakugo wasn't much of a cuddler... but he knew you were.

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