Too Close
Bakugo tells himself it's just training.
So why does it bother him so much when someone else touches you?
The afternoon sun sets gently over the training field, it’s warm against your skin, while a light sheen of sweat gathers at the back of your neck. The air still carries a slight trace of smoke and concrete, a reminder of the last round.
You notice the irritated look on Bakugo’s face.
He’s always irritated during joint training.
Especially with class B.
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“Don't go easy on me”, you say to your sparring partner Monoma while cracking your neck.
“I wouldn't dream of it, princess”, he smirks
Bakugo overhears
But he doesn't react
Not yet, at least.
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The whistle blows, he moves fast, way faster than you expected.
Before you can think about what to throw next
You feel a strong hand grip your wrist.
“Got you”, he murmurs with that signature smirk he has
Then you feel it.
The sharp, uncomfortable pull of your quirk being thrown right back at you.
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Across the field, Bakugo watches with his arms crossed over his chest
He glances at the smirk on Monoma's face
“Tch, the bastard is enjoying this,” he thinks
He doesn't like the way Monoma is still holding your wrist.
Monoma doesn’t let go immediately.
Instead, he twists your arm to throw you off balance.
“You ought to be more careful, sweetheart. How embarrassing to lose to your own quirk.”
You grit your teeth and shove him, managing to slip through his grasp.
But he’s already on the move again, not giving you any room to recover.
He’s close.
Too close.
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Bakugo's jaw tightens.
It’s just training; he knows you can handle yourself.
But Monoma keeps crowding your space like he’s determined to prove something.
As if he enjoys the way you react to him.
As if he’s enjoying every excuse to lay a hand on you.
You dodge the next strike barely.
Your own power, mirrored back at you, smashes you into the ground where you stood seconds before, splitting the concrete below you.
The backlash tears through your arms and sends you flying way harder than you expected.
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Monoma reaches for you again.
Faster this time.
Bakugo uncrosses his arm.
Small explosions are forming from his hands.
Tch.
He could step in.
He should.
But it's just training.
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You slam into the ground faster than you can even brace
The impact knocks the breath out of you.
The concrete tears your skin as you slide across it.
For a second, everything just rings.
The moment you push yourself up, a sharp sting bites at your cheek
Then you feel the warm liquid trickling down your cheek.
You touch your cheek and notice a smear of red on your fingertips.
“Ah”, Monoma comes closer, “Careful,” he says softly.
He crouches in front of you, close enough that his knee is touching yours.
“Hold Still”
Before you can get a word out, his hand is coming up again.
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His thumb presses gently beneath your eye, tilting your chin up slightly.
Not rough this time.
But gentle.
“It’s not that deep,” he whispers while his eyes are scanning your face.
“Would be a shame if it scarred, though.”
His fingers graze down your cheek as if he is checking the cut.
He hasn't moved out of your space.
His touch is still on you.
And you haven’t pulled back.
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Bakugo sees the way your chin is tilted up.
Sees the way Monoma’s thumb is still resting on your cheek.
Sees how close their faces are.
Something sharp and unwelcome twists low in his chest.
His jaw locks.
Tch.
Why the hell is he touching you like that?
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"Move."
The word lands quietly.
Disturbingly quiet.
Monoma looks up with a smirk, “relax, I’m just—”
“I said Move, dumbass.”
Monnma clicks his tongue, but shifts anyway.
Bakugo moves toward you with urgency.
He doesn’t even acknowledge Monoma anymore.
His hands brush under your chin.
And his touch isn’t gentle.
But not rough either.
Firm.
Steady.
He wipes beneath the cut with his thumb, gaze tightening at the trace of red.
“You’re sloppy,” he says under his breath.
His hand doesn't drop immediately.
He shouldn’t care this much.
It’s just a fucking scratch.
So why does he feel like someone touched something that’s his?
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“You know”, Monoma says with a grin you can hear, “for someone who swore it was just training, you’re looking very concerned right now.”
Bakugo’s eyes snap towards him.
Monoma settles on his heels, that same infuriating smile plastered across his face.
“Am I interrupting something, or are you always this protective?” he continues.
The air around Bakugo snaps tight in an instant.
A quick, sharp pop sparks from his hand.
“Will you shut the fuck up?” he growls.
Monoma laughs quietly.
“Aww, did I strike a nerve, blasty”
Bakugo steps forward before you can get a word out, cutting in front of you, blocking your view of Monoma.
He doesn’t even bother checking on you because he knows you're behind you.
“Training’s over”, he snaps.
Monoma arches his brow.
“The whistle didn’t —”
“I said it’s done.”
A tight crack of heat snaps between Bakugo’s palm.
For the first time, Monoma’s smirk falls a little.
He lifts his arms in surrender.
“Okay, okay”, he says with a dramatic sigh. “No reason to blow up over it”.
His eyes shift past Bakugo to look at you.
“Take care of that cut, princess,” he says softly, “Last thing I need is Class A’s temper tantrum aimed at me”.
He stands brushing the rubble from his uniform.
“Besides,” he continues, “I think I’ve had more than enough entertainment for today”.
୨୧ ───────── ୨୧
Bakugo doesn’t move.
Doesn't blink.
His gaze stays on Monoma as he walks back to the rest of Class B.
The tension in the air finally goes away.
Bakugo faces you slowly.
His eyes graze over the cut on your cheek.
“Tch”
His thumb glides under the cut, wiping the thin line of blood away.
“You were supposed to dodge that extra”, he mutters.
For a moment, neither of you moves.
His hand is still on your cheek
Still guiding your face towards him.
Your eyes lock, and something in his expression softens.
Quiter, almost uncertain.
Then all at once, he seems to register what he’s doing.
He freezes.
Realizing he’s still holding your face.
His hand drops instantly like he’s been burned. “Don't get the wrong idea”, he says quickly, eyes shooting away from you. “I’m just making sure that extra didn’t knock your brain out”.
Before you can respond—
୨୧ ───────── ୨୧
“OOHHHH”
A loud voice travels across the field.
Both of you turn
On the side, you see the one and only Denki Kaminari is practically bursting with excitement.
“Bro… was that jealousy?”
Kirishima, standing next to him, breaks into a sharp-toothed smile.
“Man, Bakugo got over there in record time”.
Bakugo goes stiff.
“SHUT THE HELL UP”
Small explosions pop in his hand, resulting in the two laughing.
Bakugo looks back at you, with a slight red tint to his skin.
“Nosy ass idiots”.
“Next time,” he whispers, “I’m your sparring partner.”
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a/n: i absolutely LOVE jealous Bakugo, he has my heart.
