#ANYWAYYYYYY sorry this is so long HAHAHA | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

nyctolovian · 7 years ago

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FINALLY DONE WITH THE BANG WHOOP WHOOP!!!! Now I can rest in peace! Hahaha! (No i won’t. I know myself too well. I’ll just pile more stuff onto myself somehow or another)

Anywayyyyyy! It’s been really long since I last posted a fic so yeah! Here’s something! Please read this. I birthed this fantasy AU child of a fic so my heart and soul went into this fic. Also, I got lazy and just put all of them in one post yey me

There’s art by binuboi (not posted yet) I’ll insert the link later and post about it!

Also, you guys should check out all the other fics @my-hero-academia-big-bang. They’re all pretty cool stuff!!

Chapter 1

Ochako chewed her lip as she rummaged through her bag. She could hear the blood rushing to her head as her mind raced through all the worst possible outcomes in a dizzying frenzy.

Against her better judgement, she refused to believe neither her eyes nor her senses. If she had been more level-headed, she would have realised how ridiculous she was being. What succubus wouldn’t trust her instincts? Especially when their life depended so heavily on their sixth sense?

However, at that moment, her rationality had flown right out of the window.

She turned her messenger bag inside out, emptying all the contents onto her table.

Several things rolled out. Her water bottle… Her notebook… Two vials of fairy dust… Her wallet… Nothing else.

She opened the hidden compartment in her bag again, only to still see the large hole gaping back at her, empty. It couldn’t be… Maybe she placed it somewhere else? Hands shaking, she felt around the bag and peered into it desperately.

Nothing!

Still in denial, she combed through her room. Maybe she took it out, she thought, although she knew it was impossible. Ochako had opened her bag to find it as soon as she reached home.

Maybe I dropped it in the living room? I can’t let anyone see it! It’d be obvious what it’s for! Frantically, she ran out of her room and hunted for it in the living room.

While crouching down and rummaging through the kitchen cabinet, Ochako was too panicked to hear the sound of clopping on the parquet floor. A set of deer hooves came into her sight.

“Deku?!” she squeaked in shock. Hurriedly, she slammed the door close and stood up. Tenya was here too. Her face heated up with embarrassment as she realised that her friends were staring at her. “Oh, um. Welcome back, Deku and Tenya.”

“Welcome back to you too,” Deku said, chuckling. Ochako felt her belly somersault. After her long journey, she had forgotten how much a single smile from Deku could make her feel.

“You look like you are searching for something. Do you need help?” Tenya asked.

“U-um… I’m looking for something I might have dropped,” she admitted. How should she phrase it? “Have you seen… um… something around the house?”

“Something?” Deku asked, his deer ears flopping softly as he tilted his head. “Can you tell us what you mean?”

Ochako bit the insides of her cheeks as they heated up. Deku was the last person she wanted to inform about this. He is absolutely not allowed to know about it.

At least, until it was found again.

“Never mind!” she said. “I-it’s fine! I can handle this by myself.”

“Do not worry, Ochako!” Tenya said. “We will try to help you to the best of our abilities! As friends, we should always help each other out.”

Laughing sheepishly, Ochako rubbed the back of her neck. “Thanks. But I really don’t want to trouble you. It’ll be too difficult for you two, right?”

Tenya sighed in defeat. Despite how much he wanted to help his visibly frantic friend, Ochako was right.

Centaurs and cervitaurs usually had a hard time searching for things due to their trouble bending low. Centaurs like Tenya tended to get back or neck issues when bent over for too long. Unfortunately, Tenya was already taller than most others his age, so it was even more of a hassle. Deku, on the other hand, being a cervitaur, could bend lower, but his antlers often got in the way. He often had to fight with furniture as his horns would get tangled up easily. So, out of the housemates, the one they usually turned to for help searching low places was Ochako.

“We could help look in the high places!” Deku suggested. His adorable smile and enthusiasm almost made Ochako give in and let him help. Almost.

Giggling nervously, she shook her head and rubbed the back of her head. “It’s alright. I don’t think it’ll be at anywhere I can’t reach anyway.”

It took a little bit more convincing to get Deku to finally relent and let Ochako search by herself. Reluctantly, her friends left her alone while she continued to ransack the house. It was only when her neck was aching from bending over and looking under furniture that she slumped to the wooden floor in defeat.

It was official. She had dropped it outside.

Her panic had simmered down by now. From the start, she should have believed her intuition, which was innately accurate about its location. Instead, she had been blinded by her denial. Ochako would have to go out and retrace her steps, hoping no one had already taken it. She trudged to her room to pack her bag again. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she went back into the kitchen and refilled her bottle. “Deku! Tenya! I’m going out!”

“But you just came back!” Deku said as he galloped out of his room.

Tenya yelled, waving his arms in a chopping motion, “Izuku! Do not run in the house! The floor will break!”

This made Ochako giggle as she remembered that time when they decided to watch a horror movie together. A jumpscare made Tenya rear back so violently that the wooden floor collapsed beneath him and he was scarred for life. From then on, he had set another house rule that he made Deku strictly comply. It clearly wasn’t working.

Ready, Ochako stepped out of the house and onto the streets with Tenya and Deku following behind and still discussing about the house rules. It was already late in the night so the usually busy street was mostly empty. That meant she didn’t have to walk all the way to the central plaza. She could spread her wings and start flying right on the spot without getting in anyone’s way.

After he was done chastising Deku, Tenya turned to Ochako, “But he is right. You just came back from a three-day outing. You should rest.”

Ochako shook her head. “I can’t. I dropped something really important. I need to get it back. It’d be bad if someone else took it.”

“Wouldn’t it be faster if the two of us came along?” Deku said.

Kind, kind Deku. But Ochako had to decline the offer.

Her two friends exchanged worried expressions. “Do you know when you’ll be back?” Tenya asked.

“When I find it, I guess.” She left out the part about how she could very much die if she couldn’t get it back. She closed her eyes and her back sprouted bat-like wings. While she adjusted her bag so it wouldn’t press on her wings, she suddenly felt a strong gust of wind from above. Looking up, she saw a silhouette of a dragon flying above them.

Deku’s face lit up. “Shouto!” he cried.

The dragon flew lower and when the streetlights revealed the sleek red and white scales of his body, Ochako recognised who it was as well. Todoroki circled above for a while before landing beside Deku. Then, he shrunk to his human form and stood up from his crouching position.

“I-I didn’t know you were coming!” Deku stammered, his lips curled into a shy smile.

Todoroki shrugged, the corners of his lips quirking upwards. “I happened to pass by,” he said, looking down at his shoes. “And I thought I might as well visit you. You three, I mean. But it looks like you’re about to leave.” He glanced at Ochako’s bag.

“It’s just me,” Ochako replied. “I’m sorry but I can’t stick around too long. You two have fun with Todoroki, okay? Bye!”

Tenya was the only one to reply her and wave her goodbye when she left. The other two seemed to be starting a conversation of their own already. Following her instincts now, she flew in an unknown direction.

+++

When the sun had finally risen, Katsuki slung his backpack over one shoulder and slithered out from the shadows, scratching his head roughly. He shot glares at everything around him, as if they had offended him just by existing. He groaned and stretched his arms before he closed his eyes and flopped down drowsily onto the grass, soaking in the warmth from the morning sunlight.

The naga always had trouble staying awake unless he’d had his daily 10-minute sunbath. It probably had something to do with the fact that he was essentially half-snake and, therefore, cold-blooded. Katsuki hadn’t been able to stay around other nagas long enough to figure out if that trait applied to all of his species or not.

As soon as he was beginning to feel warm again, he opened his eyes. Bakugou took in his surroundings, properly this time, now that he was more awake. He noticed something shining in the distance. Scrunching his nose, he closed in on the object and picked it up.

It was a translucent pinkish-purple orb filled with thin white swirls.

He frowned and inspected it. As he squeezed the thing, he winced in disgust. He could’ve sworn that it had a pulse, like some living thing. It looked and felt like a polished gemstone though. He shook the orb and rotated it roughly in his hand.

What the hell is this thing?

Then, Katsuki saw something on the surface of the orb. Squinting, he tried to make out the engraving on its glass-like surface. His eyes widened.

The Seal of the Succubi!

His lips spread and twisted into a smirk. It must be his lucky day.

The heart of a succubus! He’d heard of succubi hiding them in their closets or in a cave before. Too bad for this one, Katsuki couldn’t care less about some random demon.

Katsuki stared at it as he contemplated. A succubus heart, huh? Frowning, he squinted at the orb. Succubi tended to hide their hearts so well that it’s easier to find gold than a succubus heart. And Witches adore those hearts as, apparently, they are essential for reliable love potions. He could sell it to a witch for loads of cash!

He happened to know a friendly witch, or at least the only one who wouldn't hex or murder Katsuki on sight. That strange, frog-like witch was never quite bothered by Katsuki’s temper, so going to her was the best choice. However, that also meant he was highly likely going to run into a certain red-head…

Katsuki’s tail tensed and coiled slightly. His brow furrowed.

Once in a while, old memories would resurface and, like every other old injury, it would hurt. After everything that had happened to him, he would be a moron if he still hadn’t learned his lesson yet.

Love is weakness.

It’s a goddamn venom that creeps up in your blood, in your veins, in your heart, till it’s too late and you’re dying a slow disgusting torturous death. Katsuki had fallen victim one time too many.

Katsuki gripped his hair, groaning as his thoughts spiraled. How dare he let himself ever do anything so stupid! That mongrel had been a fucking waste of time! That stupid asshole with that shitty hair! It’s about damn time he stopped avoiding the stupid village just because of one dumbass that lived there. He was done with feeling pathetic whenever he remembered Kirishima! Katsuki would smash his dumb face in if he saw him again.

However, despite his fervent denial, there were still days and nights when Katsuki would miss the way it felt to be near somebody. He missed the way he could intertwine his fingers with someone else and smile fondly at them without restraint, or what it felt like to — fuck, he didn’t want to admit it — but what it felt like to love someone who loved you back.

All that was over. No matter how hard he tried, it would never return — whatever they had. Not that Katsuki would want it back anyway. He didn’t want that shitty idiot and those stupid fucking feelings!

“Shitty werewolf,” Katsuki growled as his grip around the orb tightened and he repeatedly smacked the ground with his lower body. Roughly, he yanked his backpack open and stuffed the orb into it. Zipping it shut, he made his way to the closest village, where the witch should be.

Maybe, if he had found the succubus heart in the past, Katsuki might have given it to the witch and demanded for a love potion, albeit while gritting his teeth, and yelling threats of murder. However, right now, Katsuki was going to sell this thing and if he didn’t want any unnecessary trouble, he would have to quickly get to the village. He knew that succubi could locate their hearts through instincts and he’d hate to be hindered by some annoying demon.

Well, it wasn't like he could be hindered much anyway. While most would never even stand a chance against a succubus, Katsuki would be immune against all her advances. After all, Katsuki was asexual. For as long as he had lived, he had never been sexually attracted to anyone and never even had any interest in sex for that matter. Not even for shitty Kirishima. (Maybe that was one of the multitudes of reasons why their relationship didn't work out in the end.)

But the main point was this: No succubus voodoo enchantment could manipulate something that didn’t even exist in the first place. And if the succubus dared to try anything else, Katsuki would have no hesitation in punching her face. He had never lost in a fight and he sure as hell wasn't going to lose to some weak sex demon.

He couldn’t help the smug grin as he chuckled to himself.

Katsuki will be the winner in every fucking round.

Chapter 2

Katsuki found his mind wandering as he travelled. A succubus heart. What else could it do? Could it make him–

He shook his head violently, as if it could get rid of the thought. He growled loudly and whipped his tail against a boulder he was passing by, cracking it. Roughly, he yanked his backpack closer to himself and balled his fists.

After travelling with some fucking puppy-like werewolf always grinning stupidly by his side for so long, Katsuki couldn’t get used to being alone again. He’d find the most disgusting thoughts surfacing. There were too many days Katsuki was alone with only the voices in his head.

Some days, fear would creep up on him. After searching for so long, he still had found no trace of his people. Most days, it was frustration with himself. Sometimes, it was for becoming soft, or for becoming reliant on Kirishima, or for not being able to find what he’d been searching for after more than half of his life. Other times, it was for being incapable of properly returning Kirishima’s feelings for him, and for letting the one relationship that had been going well crumble.

Finding the heart of a succubus had flooded him with more fury than before. Several times, he had rammed his body into a tree or smacked a stump with his tail or thrashed a shrub or smashed a rock to the ground. He could feel boiling-hot anger coursing through his veins. However, it felt more like it was trying to drown something else out, and Katsuki didn’t want to know what was beneath his frustration.

As it grew dark, Katsuki became weary. The gradual cold was slowing him and anger was a draining thing to carry for an entire day.

As soon as he found a large sturdy-looking tree, he climbed onto it. Carefully, he distributed his weight over the tree and settled down. He removed one strap of his backpack and swung the bag to his side to take out a blanket. After slipping the bag under himself, he tightened around it, securing both the bag and himself to the tree, before loosely wrapping the cloth around himself and pinning it down with his arm. Stretching his back, he yawned, rest his cheek against his arm and closed his eyes. He began to feel himself drifting off.

Then, he felt a strong presence of something and shot up to see a silhouette sitting on the further end of the branch. He could practically smell sex in the air.

“Oh, were you awake?” she said in surprise. Then, she lowered voice and spoke in a sultry whisper, “Good boys should be asleep by now. And you’re a naughty, naughty one, aren’t you?” Slowly, she slunk towards Katsuki.

Straightening up, Katsuki glared at the figure as he tightened its grip on the bag. “And what do we have here? Some heartless bitch?” he spat, smirking. “I know what you want, and you aren't getting it back.”

As she moved closer, moonlight shed the darkness off her fair skin. The succubus’s hair brushed against her bare shoulders as she tilted her head downwards and her pink lips curled, her eyes lidded suggestively. “I’m sure a little persuasion,” she said as her fingers traced Katsuki’s jawline, “could change that.”

Katsuki could’ve sworn he felt his heart squeezed at the contact. Ignoring that strange reaction, he smacked her hand away. “No, it can’t, Round Face.” He grinned maliciously.

Her eyes widened but she hid her surprise quickly. She looked at him through her eyelashes again, this time with a less suggestive look. “I see,” she said, the energy she had been exuding at first was replaced with something else.

She swung her legs to one side of the branch and rest her hands on the branch beside her hip. Tilting her body to face Katsuki, she pressed her cheek against her shoulder, swaying. Now that her face was level with his and no longer distorted by the night light, Katsuki couldn't help but notice how she looked a lot younger now. Her chubby cheek was squished as she said with a slight pout, “But could you please give my heart back to me? I really, really need it. Help a girl out?”

Katsuki snapped backwards. That skip of a beat of his heart was undeniable now. He let out a growling hiss. What the hell was that?

“Aww,” the succubus said, a cute smile stretching her pink-dusted cheeks. “You’re all blushy.” He could feel a flutter in his chest and it was ripping him apart. She reached over to touch his face but he slapped the hand away again.

“What the fuck are you doing to me?” he said, his fists clenched.

Her eyes were wide and Katsuki could feel his face grow hotter by the second. She tilted her head and tapped her chin. “What do you-”

“You know what I mean, you bitch-ass fucker!” Katsuki roared. “I’m ace! Nothing should be happening!”

A hand covering her mouth, the succubus giggled, and it made Katsuki’s insides grow mushy without his goddamn permission. “Yes,” she said as she drew closer. “But you can still fall in love, can’t you? You desire it, maybe even more than others too. You yearn for it but you don't know if it’s alright. Or if anyone would love you.” Before Katsuki knew it, her hands were gently holding his face and he had stopped hissing. “You don’t know if you can give them what they want. But tonight,” she whispered, as she pressed her forehead against his, “I’ll take care of you, sweetheart.” Her breath ghosted against his lips and Katsuki felt his insides grow warm as he melted into the gentle touches. “You don't have to be scared anymore.”

Violently, Katsuki reared back, ripping himself out of her embrace. “Scared of what?” he yelled too loudly. The alarms in his head were blaring and his insides were still soft like pudding from her enchantments. Slowly so she wouldn't notice, he began to uncoil himself from the branch. “I’m not scared of anything. Don't act like you know me, Round Face.”

“I don’t. But I can tell,” she said. He couldn't stand the look the succubus gave him and the way it made him want to just pull her into an embrace.

“Can tell what? Huh?” he said, hoping to drag it out a little longer to prepare himself.

“You’re hurting.”

Katsuki’s eyebrows twitched.

“It’s alright to feel hurt. It’s normal,” she continued. “Being ace can be tough, can’t it?”

Goosebumps rippled through his skin. He yanked himself away from her. His eyes were wide like saucers and his shoulders were so tense they ached. He pressed his lips together in a thin line as he tried to move as discreetly and quickly as possible.

“It’s going to be alright,” she said, making Katsuki’s heart flutter again. “Just be yourself. I won’t judge.” She held her arms out, inviting.

The air was getting colder and colder, and he could feel the warmth radiating from her. Katsuki almost gave in.

“Trust me.”

Katsuki bit the inside of his cheek till he tasted metal. Fuck no. His fists clenched and unclenched as his tail curled around the bag gingerly.

Just a bit more and… Now!

He rushed forward, fangs bared, and grabbed her arm. The succubus screamed. Skilfully, she twisted out of his grip, and pushed off the branch. Her bat wings spread and flapped as she panted.

Katsuki scoffed at her. So, she was faster than most succubi. He darted down the trunk. As he wound down, his tail let go of the bag. He caught it in his hand as it fell towards the ground. Swinging the bag onto his shoulders, he slithered away.

As predicted, she dived after him. He let her catch up before stopping abruptly. She flew high, watching him. Her eyes were fixed on the green bag. “It’s in there, isn’t it?”

Katsuki made no move, only setting his jaw and shooting daggers at her from below. Tauntingly, the succubus flew up and down at random, sometimes getting so close Katsuki was tempted to attack her there and then. Instead, he feinted attacks, pretending he couldn’t reach.

He watched as a smug grin spread across her face as he missed time and time again. After a while, the succubus flew down before darting back, thinking she was shifting in and out of his range of attack. She rose slightly and stayed there for a while, guard down.

Big fucking mistake.

Katsuki pushed off the ground and shot up. The succubus squeaked, flapping her wings frantically. But he seized one of them. Digging his nails into her wing, he sneered at her.

Just before he could fling her, she threw a punch at his jaw. It connected. His grip loosened.

She nearly escaped. But Katsuki grabbed her leg. His cheek was throbbing. He could taste metal in his mouth. With two hands gripping her ankle, he dropped himself and brought her down with him, slamming her to the ground.

The succubus groaned in pain. Katsuki yanked her close, spitting out the blood in his mouth. With a grunt, she stomped on his chest, kicking him away. Katsuki coughed, his ribs aching.

Shit. She was a tough one. It’d be troublesome if things dragged out for too long. No way he could beat a succubus in a stamina marathon.

This time, she stood further away, fists raised defensively. At least she knew it was futile to try flying again. Like a missile, Katsuki surged forward. She deflected the punch and delivered a hook.

Unfortunately for her, his scales were tough, and she hissed in pain as her knuckles hit him. In that faltering moment, Katsuki slammed his fist into her stomach. She lurched forward, hugging her abdomen, as he swiftly wound himself around her.

She was trapped.

A whimper escaped her lips as she stubbornly struggled against him, but her chest gave way to weak coughs. Her thrashing and squirming was useless in his hold.

“You’re pretty good,” Katsuki said.

“Not so bad yourself,” she managed. The blow to her stomach had knocked most of the wind out of her but it seemed like she still had enough energy to give a cheeky retort.

“Of course.” He crossed his arms, smirking maliciously. “Nagas aren’t called the Kings for nothing, Round Face.”

“Is it because of your egos?”

“Tch.” Slowly, he leaned forward. “It’s ‘cause we’re fucking king cobras, smartass.”

Realisation hit the succubus like a sledgehammer. Katsuki could feel her shake in fear as colour drained from her cheeks. He felt her tense in his vice-like grip, bracing for her death. Finally, she understood. His venom would give her a slow painful paralysing death.

Katsuki slid to her side, baring his fangs. Her breath hitched. She squeezed her eyes close, bracing for her death.

But it didn’t come. Katsuki couldn’t bring himself to deliver it. He found himself staring at her neck and fearful face, hesitating. The longer he watched, the less he felt like doing it.

It’s difficult to kill someone your brain believes you love. Fucking succubus magic messing with his head! Katsuki gnashed his teeth and growled.

Fuck it!

Chapter 3

Never once in his life did Katsuki find anyone “hot”. He didn't think too much of it. It wasn't like it'd affect anything. What’s the use of knowing who’s hot or not? And the need was less when he found himself with Kirishima.

However, one day, his lack of interest in supposedly “sexy” people or having sex with anyone was called into question.

Katsuki’s body was lightly coiled around Kirishima as they sat in a park, sharing a tub of mango-flavoured ice-cream. Eating ice-cream with a body warmer is one of the only ways a naga could carefreely eat ice-cream without sitting under the sun where it will melt. And from Katsuki’s experience, werewolves were good body warmers, especially if you’re dating them.

As Katsuki took another bite, Kirishima nudged him and jerked his head towards an incubus, who had walked past them. “Oh damn, Katsuki,” Kirishima said into his ear. “He's pretty hot, isn't he?”

The incubus’ face was handsome, his jawline sharp, and he moved with the confidence of a model on a catwalk. Shrugging, Katsuki went back to eating his tub of ice-cream. “He’s okay,” he said as he rested his chin on Kirishima’s shoulder. His face was beginning to feel cold.

“How is he just okay?” Kirishima whispered. “Dude, there's no way you can't find an incubus hot! Are you sure you’re bi?”

Grunting, Katsuki glared at Kirishima. “Oh, maybe I don't like guys because I don’t want to bone every single so-called hot guy,” he hissed as he scooped a spoonful of ice cream and shoved it in Kirishima’s mouth to shut him up.

Clearly, the conversation wasn't meant to end. After swallowing the mouthful of cold dessert, Kirishima leaned in closer and said, “Aw, don't be like that.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes and shoveled ice-cream into his own mouth.

“It’s just,” Kirishima muttered, his voice somber, “you don’t ever seem to be interested in anyone… not even me.”

Katsuki shot him a look, which was a mix of confusion, disgust and incredulity. “Harh?”

“I-It feels like you're only treating me as a friend and we’re not really dating at all.”

Katsuki spat, “I wouldn't date you for no reason, right? Stop worrying about something like that, Kirishima.”

With his ears pressed against his scalp, Kirishima pursed his lips. “You're doing that again,” he said. “You're distancing yourself from me.”

Narrowing his eyes, Katsuki gestured to the both of them. “Well, fuck, how much closer do you want to get? I’m literally wrapped around you. What the hell do you want?”

Kirishima ignored the quip and continued, “You only call me Kirishima or shitty hair. Literally nothing else. And it’s never changed since the day we met. And you're never interested in sex and you don't even seem to like guys. I want to love you without getting worried. I really do. But I don't get you at all.”

“I don't either, okay?!” Katsuki snapped, hurling his ice-cream to the floor. “You think I know why I never find anyone hot? Or—” He swallowed, his throat feeling thick. “Or why I’m not interested in sex?” He threw his hands into the air. “But what I do know is that I’m dating you because I fucking like you!”

The air was thick between the two of them.

Anger bubble beneath Katsuki’s skin. He wanted to yell. Or break something.

His arms twitched with the desire to destroy something — anything — as Kirishima’s eyes locked with his. Kirishima trembled in his hold, but he didn't know what emotion was shaking him.

All he knew was that he was pissed, pissed, pissed, and there was nowhere his fury could go, except by squeezing Kirishima in his iron grip.

Then, Kirishima plastered on a stiff grin and said, “Do you want another tub of ice-cream?”

Instantly, the atmosphere lightened.

That was when he realised how badly he was quivering. His muscles were tense. He was breathing as though he had run a marathon. His mouth was dry.

Slowly, Katsuki took in a deep breath. He didn't want to ruin this relationship. It was the closest one he had ever had. Probably, the only good one he had left. He wanted to keep it. “Mint choc this time,” he mumbled, as he unwound from Kirishima.

That might have been the beginning of the erosion of their relationship. However, it was definitely the first time Katsuki began to be acutely aware of how different he was from others.

Later, not long after Katsuki and Kirishima had broken up, Katsuki found a new word that seemed to fit him. Asexual. Someone who lacked sexual attraction. Soon after, he found another word that fit him. Biromantic. Someone who feels romantic attraction for both sexes.

While Katsuki found comfort in calling himself biromantic because it really was the right word for him and he could wear this word proudly like a badge, the word “asexual” made his skin crawl. He lacked something that everyone else had.

And it just felt like he was losing.

+++

It had changed to midnight when Ochako opened her eyes. She lifted her head, feeling it ache. She rubbed the back of her head, and sucked a breath in sharply. There was a bruise.

Was she knocked out? She couldn’t remember what happened after she came to the realisation that the naga was a king cobra. Probably because of a concussion. When she tried to get up, she swayed and gripped the closest thing. Apparently, it was a tree branch. She was on a tree, where she had found the naga.

She couldn’t help but recall the thoughts that went through her head back then. When she had first sensed her heart amongst the trees below her and went to check it out, a chill ran down her spine.

A naga.

She only knew them from whispers passed around like gossips or ancestors who loved exaggerating past experiences. But everyone knew that there were two creatures in this world you should never cross: dragons, and nagas.

Ochako decided to bet her life on this one attempt. Maybe her martial arts training would boost her chances of not dying. However, if she thought the tales about nagas she had heard growing up were horrifying enough, actually meeting one in person was worse. At first, when she realised how irritable and bad-tempered he was, she thought he was going to be one of those hot-headed idiots. She taunted him to make him blind with rage. When he never rose beyond two metres, she’d assumed that that was his maximum height. She thought she had control over the situation.

He proved her gravely wrong. While her guard was down, he shot up to three, taking her down. Then, she was forced to stay on the ground. If she tried to fly, he’d take her down before she could even get out of range. And staying on the ground really wasn’t much better either.

His every movement were sharp, deadly, unpredictable, tactical. In her brief encounter, she could already feel the raw power rippling beneath his skin as he ripped through the air with terrifying speed. Honestly, she was grateful that she could even wake up after the encounter.

Ochako stretched her body, getting rid of the crinks in it. She had sustained a few injuries and most of them had already begun to heal, thanks to her healing factor. She tested her wings to make sure they were working fine. Thankfully, the one that the naga had gripped was only a little sore.

Her stomach growled and her cheeks heated up although no one was around to hear it. In her rush to find her heart, she had completely forgotten to eat.

Pressed for time, Ochako took out some dried food from her bag and got ready to take flight again, planning to eat on the go. She needed to get back her heart. If it was destroyed or used as an ingredient for some witchy potion, she’d die. But, just as importantly, if she never got it back, she’d never be able to confess her feelings for Deku.

The idea made her face pink and her fingertips tingle. Few would expect succubi to be the hopeless-romantic type but they could be, really. Was there anything more romantic than swearing upon your heart and promising that your heart will be theirs in the most literal sense? It was a dangerous tradition but succubi weren’t exactly known for being safe, were they?

Ochako felt herself swoon as she imagined Deku blush hard upon receiving her heart. He’d probably start stuttering cutely again and do that adorable thing where his ears would twitch and flop. Then, he might begin muttering nervously in the most Deku-like way and...

Stop! She slapped her cheeks. Focus! I need to get my heart back first. She nodded to herself

Puffing her cheeks in determination, she flapped her wings several times. Then, she lifted off, eyes set in the direction of her heart, her mouth chewing away already. It didn’t feel too far. It mustn’t have been more than a day if the naga was still this near.

After flying for about an hour, she dropped below the foliage and saw him, burrowed in a cave, eyes closed and huddled in a blanket. (And she had to admit, it was rather cute.) As she flew closer, making as little disturbances as possible, she sensed her heart underneath the blanket, most likely wrapped around by his tail. This naga was a careful one.

He began twitching in his sleep and she held her breath, afraid he’d really wake up this time. As silently as she was when she was out hunting, she landed close to him. He stirred in his sleep. Ochako bit her lip until he relaxed again. Her shoulders fell and she let out a breath. Snakes and their sensitivity, she cursed in her head.

There was no doubt about it. She needed to get her heart back as soon as possible. Despite knowing that, she found herself genuinely curious about him, not just because he was part of the disappearing fabled race of all-powerful nagas.

Beneath the hissing and yelling, she could sense a strangely soft heart. Firstly, she wasn’t dead, only knocked out. Next, she woke up on a tree, away from the forest floor with its prowling creatures.

The naga’s face, which had been relaxed, twitched. Was he having a dream?

Ochako leaned closer. She could enter his dream. Usually, she’d do that to find out what hidden sexual desires her prey had but… maybe she could use this to find out what she could do to get her heart back…?

For some reason, she had a sour feeling in her mouth. Something about this felt too invasive.

She shook her head. What was she thinking? She needed to get her heart back and this jerk wasn’t returning it! She had every right to do everything she could to take it back.

Taking in a deep breath, she closed her eyes. With the practised effortlessness of someone who had done this their whole life, she slipped into the naga’s dream.

+++

The moment Ochako entered the naga’s dream, she heard someone say, “Are you awake?”

The naga opened his eyes. Through his eyes, Ochako saw a boy with spiked red hair leaning over. Immediately, she sensed the naga soften and relax. He grunted at the other person in acknowledgement.

The other person sat down and the naga turned his head, eyes following him fondly. His fluffy canine ears (A werewolf?) pressed against his skull as he fidgeted. After this continued for a long time, Ochako felt a prick of irritation in the naga’s chest.

“Bakugou…” the werewolf mumbled.

The naga (Bakugou, was it?) tensed at the mention of his name. Unease brewed in his chest. However, he pushed the feeling aside and replaced it with irritation instead. “What is it, Kirishima? Just spit it out.”

“Let’s… Let’s stop.” He couldn't meet Bakugou’s confused glare. “This relationship.”

Bakugou shot up. Ochako could feel it — the exact moment his chest ached and his head brimmed with murky water. She couldn't hear the questions in his head through the messy noise but she could sense them, filling his head and stuffing his brain and numbing him.

He blinked rapidly a few times. When he spoke, his level voice frightened Ochako. “What do you mean?”

“It’s just…” Kirishima said. “You’re no good.” The plains and villages in the distance twisted and swirled.

Flinching, Bakugou looked around. “What the–”

“Bakugou, you're no good.” Kirishima stood up and closed in.

Jerking back, Bakugou hissed, “You’re not Kirishima.”

Those words passed by his ears like wind, unheard, ignored. “You’re missing something.”

Everything distorted. As he glanced around, eyes wide, Ochako could feel fear pulse through him like red-hot lava. She watched as the world around Bakugou turned into a black swirling void.

Sneering and baring his razor-sharp teeth, Kirishima grabbed him by the shoulders. “You’re not normal.” Suddenly, Kirishima’s colours dulled and his face melted like wax. “You’re not normal,” he repeated through the distorted hole on his face. “Not normal. Not normal. Not normal.”

For a moment, panic surfaced but Bakugou shoved it back down with anger like covering up a hole with a thick layer of cement. It was too well-practised and Ochako couldn’t help but wonder how often he did this. “Of course I’m not!” he spat, pushing him away. Kirishima stumbled backwards into the darkness and disappeared. “I’m the best. And I’m not any old ordinary creature. I’m a fucking naga! I can't be the best if I’m like the rest of them extras.”

A familiar cackle filled the darkness and surrounded Bakugou. A hand darted out from the darkness and pulled him in. Suddenly, Ochako and Bakugou were gazing into red crazed eyes. With a gasp, Bakugou shrunk away from his doppelgänger. “Is that really what you think? Hah! Quit playing dumb.” The other Bakugou pressed his face against Bakugou’s, breathing down his neck. “You know perfectly what I mean,” he hissed.

Ochako had the ability to change his dream. However, she chose not to interfere. She couldn’t shake off the feeling that she had to watch, that this was could let her see something vital.

Bakugou shoved the Other away and turned around, panting. He tried to run. But his tail was connected with the Other’s at the end.

Panic bubbled up his throat as he tried to yank apart their tails. But he couldn’t. Like a zipper, their flesh merged. He tore at the skin that connected them but the skin healed too quickly and only sped up their fusion.

The Other seized Bakugou by the shoulders and shook him. “Listen to me, Katsuki! Listen!”

Yelling, he threw punches at the Other but both of his hands were caught. Bakugou shoved, yanked, twisted, turned. It was a death-grip. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t escape.

The Other dropped to a whisper, voice trembling, eyes glassy and pleading, “But there’s a way.” Slowly, he released his vice-like grasp. He cradled a familiar orb and lifted it up for Bakugou to see. “Maybe, you could get better with this,” he said.

Ochako’s stomach lurched. It was her heart.

Bakugou’s eyes widened. Biting his lip, he twisted and turned but he couldn’t get away for some reason.

There was a strange loud gurgle below him.

When he looked down, Ochako felt her blood drain from her face at the sight. The two Bakugous were merged from the tail to their hips. Their red scaly skin was melting, fusing, deforming, morphing. She felt woozy.

The Other grabbed Bakugou’s hands and shoved the orb towards him. “You’ll actually get better with this!”

Bakugou looked back up at the Other’s face. “N-no. I am selling that–”

The Other pressed the orb against his chest. The orb felt soothingly cold now. “It’s not the money you wanted when you picked this up, wasn't it? With this, you’ll be better,” he muttered, eyes pleading.

Involuntarily, Bakugou took the orb. His head was stuffed with cotton. His throat grew tight. Everything throbbed. He looked up at the Other.

“You won't be all fucked up anymore.” The Other gripped Bakugou’s arm, digging his nails into his flesh, piercing through his soft vulnerable skin, making him bleed.

The desperation and want in those wide pleading eyes messed with Bakugou’s guts. His wounds seared and he whimpered in pain. Ochako felt his pain as if it were her own flesh.

There was the urge to shove Bakugou out of the nightmare and into a dreamless sleep instead. But she steeled herself, holding back.

Meanwhile, the Other whispered with an open-mouthed grin, “This can save you.”

Bakugou writhed violently, eyes squeezed shut.

Ochako felt it all.

How his heart pounded. How his head screamed. How his hands shook. How the orb was cool against the skin of his palms. How he felt the need to throw it. How, at the same time, he was compelled to hold it even closer and tighter.

“Bakugou Katsuki, take it.”

Bakugou’s grip on the orb tightened, and he whimpered.

All at once, Ochako understood what hadn’t clicked the first time round.

It wasn’t that he wanted to know what others felt, or that he wanted to be able to offer what others could, or that he wanted to fall in love without restraint. It was never all that at all.

“You want to be fixed, don’t you?”

+++

When Katsuki woke up, fear was coursing through his veins. He pressed a palm to his eye and forced himself to breathe slowly. Honestly, he couldn't tell if his shaking was because of the adrenaline or the awful cold. All he had was a bitter aftertaste on his tongue and the image of a pink orb in his palms. There was nothing else he could remember about the nightmare. His hands pat for his bag through the blanket. When he felt a solid sphere under his palm, a little bit of the tension left his shoulders.

Then, he saw movement. He threw aside his blanket and snapped back to see the succubus from before, shaky. She stared at him with her wide eyes, trying to read him.

His breath hitched. The succubus. She had seen something.

He lunged forward. However, he was sluggish as she darted out of the cave. Quickly, he followed after her and was tackled by the cool night wind and ice-cold rain pelting against his skin.

Watching the succubus warily, he slung his backpack over his shoulder to keep it close. She flew away swiftly and he rushed after her, hot on her heels.

As Katsuki chased, his teeth chattered from the cold and his body was heavy with sleep. This situation was detrimental to him but like hell he was going to let the succubus know that.

Katsuki clenched his teeth. “Did you see something?” he roared. “What did you see?!”

Finally, the succubus stopped before turning around to face him. “I-I know saying this may sound like I'm saying it for the sake of getting my heart back but,” the succubus yelled as she hovered above the ground, too high for Katsuki to reach this time, “you don't need a succubus heart. You don't need to get fixed.”

His skin crawled at the way she looked at him from above. “What are you talking about, Round Face?” he growled.

“Your nightmare?” she said. “Did you forget–”

He stiffened. “My nightmare?!” Shit. He couldn’t remember much. Red eyes… my own eyes? And a pink glow… The succubus’ heart…? What else? What else?!

Katsuki’s tail smacked the ground repeatedly, a constant thumping, mimicking his heart. “What the hell did you see?”

“You were scared–”

“The fuck will I be scared of? Huh?” With a loud scoff, he folded his arms. The wind was getting stronger by the minute. Through clenched teeth, he hissed, “Don’t think–”

“Bakugou Katsuki.”

He paled.

The succubus voice was soft but her words sliced him like a hot knife through butter.

A name was a powerful thing. And Katsuki’s insides had gone steely cold. She knew his name but he didn’t know hers.

The quiet was harsh. The wind was cutting. The rain was icy.

Her voice was soft in the billowing. “Tell me. Why do you want my heart?”

“To sell it,” Katsuki said with a scoff. “What else?”

“Has any other option crossed your mind?”

Too quickly, he replied, “Of course not.”

The succubus was quiet for several agonising seconds. “We both know you’re lying. You think it will ‘cure’ your asexuality or something, don’t you?”

With a furious growl, Katsuki threw his tail against the ground, splashing a puddle of muddy water. How much does she fucking know from one stupid dream? He felt the urge to spit a quip at her but he willed his lips to stay sealed. Throwing a sleep-induced tantrum wouldn’t help.

Her eyes were soft and pained. “But you shouldn’t hate yourself so much.”

Chapter 4

“Harh?” Bakugou roared. The succubus probably didn’t detect the tremble in his voice, especially with the drizzle turning heavier with each second.

She rest her cheek against her hand in thought. “You shouldn’t hate your asexuality.”

In a flash of anger, Katsuki whipped the closest tree. The succubus squeaked as a loud crack ripped through the night but he didn’t spare a glance at it.

Still, something inside his chest continued to scratch and screech.

Katsuki needed it out of his system.

But he couldn’t find any way to retort, his brain too fogged with cold. He wrapped his arms around his chest as if threateningly, but really the cold rain pouring onto his skin was getting to him. “Shut up,” he hissed through clenched teeth.

His tail felt weird, as if an army of ants was biting it. His hands were growing numb so he clenched and unclenched them subtly.

“Then tell me if I’m correct when I say this,” the succubus said. “You think you’re abnormal for being ace.”

He flinched.

She continued, “And you hate yourself for that.”

Her words hit the nail on its head, driving its sharp end through Katsuki’s chest. Yet, he couldn't find anymore energy to retaliate anymore. He was too sleepy and cold and tired to be starting anything with anyone. His teeth chattered and his body shook like a leaf.

“But...” Her eyes were wide as she looked into his, earnest and knowing. “That’s not…”

Bakugou’s eyes fluttered close for a second before he jolted upright again. He saw her mouth something. There were sounds. He couldn’t decipher any of them.

She shouted over the sound of rain, her wings flapping as hard as they could to keep her in the air through the downpour.

It's hard to think with your brain all hazy with lethargy. He couldn't bring himself to say another word. His tongue felt too heavy. Katsuki didn’t know how long this went on for but, for a while, the succubus’ words were fuzzy and he couldn't register anything except the cold and his exhaustion. He probably should be alarmed but he couldn't bring himself to care anymore.

“... listening?”

Katsuki’s vision blurred. He felt himself lurch forward, his eyelids heavy. His hand flew to his head to steady himself. Ah, shit. The world swayed like a pendulum, knocking him down.

“Bakugou?”

Katsuki closed his eyes.

+++

Ochako bit her lip. Bakugou had slumped to the ground. His face had lost its colour and his body was shaking. Concerned, she placed a hand on his shoulder. Gosh. He was freezing. When she shook him, he groaned softly but, otherwise, didn't move. He’s got hypothermia.

“It’s just some rain and wind for heaven’s sake!” Ochako cursed aloud in her panic. “Who the hell gets hypothermia this easily?!”

Nagas, apparently.

The cave would shield him away from the biting cold. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled. Although she could lift his upper body and shift it, the long lower half of his body anchored him to the ground beneath.

She groaned and placed him down as gently as possible before hopping over to push his tail to follow his upper body. When she finally managed to shove him forward about a metre by alternating between pulling his upper body and pushing his lower one, she noticed blood smeared on the ground.

It was difficult to see in the dark but the darker patch on the soil was visible. That was when she noticed that some of his scales had been ripped off and were lying scattered on the floor. His skin had hardened, its colour an alarming white. His fingers looked like ice. He definitely has frostbite too.

What now?

Bakugou stirred again. Ochako darted over to where his upper body was and smacked his face repeatedly. Finally, his eyes opened. The usual ire in his eyes were missing. “Hngh?”

“Stay awake!” she said. “I need you to get into the cave.”

“Scram,” he slurred, closing his eyes again.

Ochako held his face up by his cheeks and shook it, hoping this would keep him awake somehow. “Get into the cave! You’re too heavy. I can't carry you.”

“Let me sleep, you arse,” he muttered, his eyes fluttering close again. There was no heat behind his words now, as if the cold had stolen all of it.

Why the hell was she trying to keep this stupid man alive? She eyed the bag he carried. But her eyes drifted to his chest, and she couldn't help but notice how it barely moved.

Dammit! Ochako slapped him, hard.

Bakugou jolted. “Wha-?”

“I'm not letting you sleep till you’re in there!” she yelled in his face.

“Selfish bitch,” he grumbled as he slithered. At least the exhaustion was making him a slight bit more pliant. Ochako tried to guide him by holding his quivering hands. His hands were white, frigid and stiff, and she was careful not to rub them.

She looked behind him and saw that there was still some blood on the earth but at least it didn’t seem like it was as much damage to his skin as if she had forcefully shoved him.

He doesn’t seem to feel any pain though. The frostbite has numbed him that much. This was bad.

Finally, Bakugou made it in and he collapsed to the ground. Ochako grabbed his hands and shoved them beneath his armpits.

“The fuck you doin’?” he murmured.

“You have frostbite. This will warm you up.”

He had the nerve to sneer and roll his eyes. “Provided I produce heat.”

Ochako frowned at him in confusion. “What?”

“Snake, remember?”

Ochako’s head fell back as she let out a groan. Nagas! There was no other way around it was there?

She took his hands and wrapped hers around his to warm them up, careful not to rub them too much. Pursing her lips, she looked at the rest of his body. The end of his tail was frostbitten and he was shivering like a newborn faun.

Firstly, she needed to dry him up. She put her backpack and took out a small towel. She frowned at it. That will have to do. As thoroughly and gently as she could, she wiped up the water on Bakugou’s skin.

Finally, he was more or less dry. Her eyes fell on the blanket shoved into a dark corner. That will help. She hopped over Bakugou’s body. Quickly, she grabbed the blanket and was about to drape it over him when she saw it and remembered — his bag. And with it, surely, her heart. Trembling with anxiety, she took it off his shoulders gingerly and ransacked it. Then, she found the pink sphere. Letting out a loud sigh of relief, she held it close to herself.

Warmth filled her chest and the low thrum of the orb calmed her.

Safe. Safe. Safe.

She pressed the cool surface of the orb against her cheek and smiled.

She’d got back what she wanted. There’s no reason to stay. She better leave before he woke up and decided to kill her or something. Ochako wouldn't put it past him after everything she’s managed to dig up to be honest.

Just as she was about to stand up from her crouching position, she remembered the words he said not long ago. “Dang it,” she muttered to herself. “A blanket won’t warm him up either. He needs something that actually generates heat.”

Despite how Bakugou scared the living daylights out of Ochako, it felt really bad to just leaving him with the hypothermia and frostbites. He didn’t leave her to die after all.

However, she couldn’t let him steal her heart again. She should make sure he couldn’t get the heart back. Hiding it amongst the trees in the vicinity should be sufficient.

It still didn’t feel good leaving him alone here. Even if only for a while. Ochako bit her lip as she looked at the heart in her hand, at the trembling Bakugou on the floor, at the trees outside the cave, then at the heart again.

She shook her head. “I’ll hide it first. That’s most important and it’ll be quick. Then, I’ll come back and figure things out then.”

Just as she stood up, she felt a hand seize her wrist. She squeaked in surprise. Bakugou glared at her with heavily-lidded eyes. Ochako stared back. “Y-yes?” she asked, feeling dread deep in her gut. He must have seen her take back her heart and now he’s pissed. She tried to come up with some excuse but he yanked her down. Ochako fell into his arms.

“Cold, cold, cold,” he whispered through his chattering teeth as he pulled her into a tight hug.

Ochako stiffened, both due to fear and the unnatural cold of the skin that was pressed to her. She struggled and tried to push him aside but his grip only tightened. Slowly, his tail coiled around her as well.

Within seconds, she was enveloped in snake and she couldn’t move. Nervously, Ochako gulped. She looked around, hoping there’d be some way out.

Bakugou sighed as he relaxed into her warmth. He grabbed the blanket and wrapped it closer around them. His eyes fluttered shut again as his breathing evened out. Ochako pushed against Bakugou’s grip again but he barely budged. She pursed her lips. At least, this solved her problem of how to help him with his hypothermia.

With a sigh, she resigned and lightly closed her eyes. She might as well get some sleep too, best before he woke up and she had to deal with his wrath again.

It was strange. For all the tales about how nagas were ruthless heartless evil killing machines, Bakugou had somehow proven most of them wrong, even if he’d probably be annoyed if he was aware of that.

For one, things could be a lot worse than becoming snake burrito, Ochako supposed as she relaxed against the wall of tail surrounding her.

+++

Katsuki lay awake, eyes still closed. He was reluctant to get up. It felt so comfortable. How long has it been since he last woke up feeling this awake and good? The last time that happened, he was still sleeping with Kirishima, sharing his warmth...

This feeling. It was all too familiar.

Katsuki’s eyes flew open and he stared down to find the same damn succubus snuggled in his hold. Face red, he wrenched himself from her, yelling, “What the fu– Ow ow ow!” His tail stung like shit.

He stopped writhing. Wincing in pain, he looked down. His skin was raw and scabs had formed. There were red scales scattered on the floor.

He felt movement and glowered at the succubus, still wrapped in his tail.

Her wide eyes stared back at him. She chuckled sheepishly. “Good morning?” she said with a shrug.

There were too many questions. He didn’t even know where to begin. So Katsuki just snarled at her as he unwound himself from her as quickly and carefully as he could.

Then, he noticed the soft pink glow of the orb in the succubus’ hands. He tightened his grip on her again. His scales felt as though they were being peeled off and he bit back a hiss. “So you got back your heart,” he stated, narrowing his eyes at her.

The succubus gasped and clutched the orb tightly to herself. “I’m not giving it back.”

As Katsuki looked at her, he remembered what happened, foggy as the memory was. He remembered how he collapsed from hypothermia, and how he was coaxed back into the cave, and how he drifted to sleep and involuntarily latched himself onto the closest source of warmth.

That source currently gazed back at him.

“I am not letting you have it,” she reiterated. “I need it. And you don’t.”

Katsuki watched her, silent and still. He sighed and loosened his hold on her. “I don’t want that shit anymore.” Katsuki noticed the bag not far away and slithered over to grab it.

“Wait. Really?”

“It’s a big pain in the arse for something worthless.”

Silence.

As he picked up his bag, he spared a glance at the succubus behind him to find her holding the pink orb against her chest and wearing the stupidest open-mouthed grin. “You’re really not heartless after all,” she giggled.

His face heated up but he glared forward to hide that fact. “What? Absolutely not.”

“Oh, come on. You can’t hide it. You’re actually not all bad,” the succubus continued. “I know things started off terrible and all but you seem like an okay person.”

With a huff, Katsuki rolled his eyes and tried to slither away. He winced from the stinging pain of his tail. The grass that rustled against his skin didn’t help.

Dammit. Going to the next town was going to be long and difficult.

“Woah! Wait a second!” the succubus said, pushing him back to stop him from leaving.

“What the fuck do you want? You’ve got your goddamn heart already.”

The succubus rubbed the back of her head. “Well, you’re hurt, aren’t you? Do you have any first aid stuff with you?”

“No.”

“Oh! I do! I could help you bandage it up if you want.”

“Fuck off,” Katsuki spat as he ducked past her.

She hopped after him. “I feel kind of responsible for your injuries,” she said. “It’s my fault in a way, isn’t it? Although, in my defence, I didn’t have much of a choice.”

It technically was. But he wasn’t going to bring more trouble for himself. He ignored her and pushed into the warmth of daylight.

The succubus followed him, her gait wider as she flapped her wings. “Doesn’t it hurt? Bandaging it will help! The ground won’t scratch up your wounds then.”

When Katsuki didn’t respond, she changed the subject instead of going away. “Where are you going?”

“None of your business.”

“Is it far? If it’s far, your tail will be bleeding or ripped off by the time you reach there.”

“It isn’t far, okay?” Why is there practically no difference in the amount of pestering before and after I returned that goddamn heart?

The succubus smiled. “Oh! If that’s the case, then I could accompany you there. In case you need first aid at any point in time, I could come in and help you.”

Katsuki groaned aloud. “Goddammit, woman! What do you want?” he yelled as he stopped in his tracks.

“Are you really okay?” the succubus asked. “You’re going a lot slower than you can. It hurts, doesn’t it?”

Busted. With a sigh, Katsuki relented. “Fine. Just bandage me or whatever. You’re never going to leave me alone otherwise, right?”

“Nope!” she replied a little too cheerily. The succubus chuckled as she placed down her bag. Sitting down beside his tail, she took out a small box. Then, she got to work.

It wasn’t long before she was talking again though. “So where are you going?”

Katsuki hesitated. “UA.”

“Oh!” she said, looking up and beaming. “That’s where I’m from.”

He scrunched his nose. “Just my luck,” he muttered to himself.

As she applied antiseptic on the places where the scales had peeled off, she said, “We could head back together!”

“Or we could just go our separate ways after this. With all ties cut.”

The succubus pursed her lip in thought. “Wouldn’t it be nicer if there was someone else around? You seem lonely.”

Katsuki glared at her, unable to refute that without blatantly lying.

“Also, I didn’t manage to finish what I wanted to say yesterday,” she said while dabbing at the large patches of wounds. “But you don’t have to hate yourself, you know? Being ace is fine.”

“You got all that from one dream?”

“I got a lot of clues from your dream: about that Kirishima person, how you insist you’re selling my heart, how you considered using it like some medicine for asexuality…” she said and pursed her lips. “You tend to see a lot in a person’s dream. What they like, what they desire, what they…” She looked at him, as though she could see right through him. “Fear.”

Her eyes were locked to his. He quickly turned away, breaking eye contact as if something about the grass below was intriguing.

The succubus ripped open the bandage wrapping. “Correct me if I’m wrong but…” she said while she began to wound the roller bandage around the naga’s tail, “you think being asexual is… weird, right?”

When Katsuki remained silent, she took that as consent. “And you think you need fixing.”

Katsuki’s tail twitched with the urge to slam itself on the ground. He took slow deep breaths to curb the temptation.

As he glowered at the grass and mud, he forced himself to admit a truth — his asexuality scared him.

It made him feel like some inferior freak of nature.

And he wanted to be fixed. That was also a truth.

He wanted to be cured of this disease. This disease that left him with disgustingly incomplete, abnormal and imperfect.

“If it helps,” the succubus said, “I don’t think so.”

Katsuki was yanked from his head. He frowned at the succubus. “Don’t think what?”

“As in, I don’t think you need to be fixed or anything.”

A wry chuckle escaped him. “Lies.”

“No!” she said with a slight pout. “This is genuine!” She ignored the eyebrow raise Katsuki gave her. “What’s wrong with being asexual anyway? It’s perfectly okay not to be sexually attracted to anyone, isn't it?”

“It doesn't fucking feel that way,” Katsuki spat. He pursed his lips and massaged the bridge of his nose. What the hell was he doing? Telling that to someone he just met?

Fuck it all.

Katsuki leaned back, propping himself up by his arms. “Isn’t it fucking abnormal? Everyone else feels sexual attraction.”

“That’s the thing about the world, isn’t it?” the succubus said, with a sympathetic smile. “If there are some people who like cakes, there will always be people who don’t like them. Or you could say that if there are people who are sexually attracted to people. Then, there’s bound to be people who don’t feel sexually attracted to anyone. Others just like you.”

“Disliking cake and lacking sexual attraction are two very different things.”

Challengingly, the succubus raised her eyebrow at him. “How so? They’re both fundamentally the same.” She finished up the current roll of bandage and fastened it. “Like when you used to think you were gay.”

“Bi.”

She put her hands on her hips and huffed loudly, pissed. “Don’t ‘bye’ me! I’m in the middle of talking!”

“No. As in…” Scowling, Katsuki rolled his eyes and slouched forward.

Fuck. Why was he telling so much to her? He glanced at her. Opening up to her was easy. Was it because she was a stranger with no connection to him? Was it because she had already seen his dreams? Was it because her succubus glamour was still in effect?

“I used to think I was bisexual…”

“Oh. Well, then how is this different from being bisexual then?” she asked as she took out another roller bandage and continued to wrap his wounds from where she left off.

Something unpleasant bubbled within Katsuki. It made him want to puke and a bitter taste on his tongue. His chest was tight with an emotion which didn’t know its own name. He was sick with the overwhelming feeling.

He erupted.

“You don’t fucking get it!” Katsuki roared. “I can’t even feel things properly like a person. By right, there’s got to be…” He searched for the words between the blades of grass. “There’s got to be someone at least! There’s got to be some-fucking-one. Someone that can make me feel normally. Honestly, I don’t fucking care if it’s a guy or girl anymore.”

WHAM! He slammed his tail on the ground, causing the succubus to fall backwards in shock.

Pain jolted through his body. “If even a fucking succubus or incubus isn’t attractive to me, I’m all fucked up! Bloody hell!”

WHAM!

He only yelled louder through the agony, “I just want to be a goddamn fucking person! I’m fucking broken as shit! I hate it!”

WHAM!

“And it’s like I’m something to be pitied. ‘Look, it’s the poor fucking guy who can’t love like a normal person.’ If only I wasn’t fucking ace!”

Firm hands gripped Katsuki by his shoulder. Only then, did he stop shaking like a child. Ochako looked him in the eyes, her lukewarm brown orbs unwavering, holding him together. His tail hovered in the air. “Breathe.”

He hadn’t realised how tight his chest had felt. Nor how his breathing tripped over itself. Nor how wet his face was with tears.

The succubus repeated, “Breathe.”

Her voice was a lifebuoy in an endless rough sea of choppy waves. He shivered and clung at the steadiness of it.

She began, “You are a person. Whether you’re asexual or not. What you’re feeling is yours. It’s valid. No one should tell you otherwise. Not even yourself.”

Her words echoed in his head. Not even myself?

“Your feelings are valid. Don’t force yourself. And you’re not broken. Only hurt,” the succubus whispered. “And, Bakugou, you’re hurting yourself.”

Was he?

He was. Years of bottled up emotions brewed till they carried the stench of hatred. Katsuki had grown scared of opening up. And when he had a glimpse of what was inside, he retched. He denied and refused and rejected it – whatever that revolting thing was. Never acknowledging that it was a part of himself, that he had left to rot to an unrecognisable state. When it was finally out in the open, he blamed himself for something so ugly. How could something so ugly exist inside him? I must get rid of it.

He couldn’t get rid of it. Those feelings stayed. They stained his hands as he held them and it stuck to his skin. And he realised there was no way of erasing them and they’d stay with him forever and ever and ever and ever and–

He never realised this: It wasn’t those emotions who were destroying him from inside out. It was himself.

“Don’t hurt yourself like this. You don’t deserve it.”

Katsuki looked at her, silent. “Maybe,” he said, his voice thick. He could barely find the strength to look at that bottle of fermented mess inside him and admit there’s a need to change. “I fucking hate myself,” he said in the softest voice. “And I don’t know if I can change that.”

The succubus’ hands fell to clasp his hands tightly, grounding him. Her lips curled softly. “Take your time.”

+++

The two of them sat in silence for a long while as the succubus treated his injured tail. Katsuki found tension he didn’t notice he was holding slipping from his muscles as he watched the succubus. Was it a succubus thing to make people relax?

“What’s your damn name?”

The succubus cocked her head. “Huh?”

Katsuki rubbed the back of his head. “Name, idiot. Your name.”

“Oh. Uraraka Ochako.”

He looked at her hands as they hovered above his tail, mid-bandaging. “Thanks, Uraraka.”

The fog of confusion on Uraraka’s face was lifted and the sunshine of her sweet smile streamed through the lazy morning air. “You’re welcome.”

Chapter 5

When Uraraka had treated Katsuki’s wounds, they made their way to their destination. Unable to shake off Uraraka (not that he particularly wanted to for some strange fucking reason), he just listened to her talk.

Uraraka, he realised, was an incredibly chatty person. Within the span of a few hours, he knew about her daily routine, her close friends (that Deku friend of hers sounded like a pain in the arse), and her family. Not that he had any right to say anything considering how he pretty much spilled all of his angst onto her.

Another thing he realised was how often most people usually ate.

“Again?” Katsuki grumbled. “You just ate four hours ago.”

“Exactly!” Uraraka said as she sat down with a thud. “That’s breakfast. It’s lunchtime now.”

He frowned but coiled up beside her anyway.

“Do you not eat regularly?”

Katsuki frowned. “I eat regularly for a naga. We don’t eat as frequently as most.”

“But how do you not know about the usual meal times of most people?” Uraraka asked as she took out another can of tuna and the box of bread from before.

“It’s none of my damn business what time people eat!” he said. “Besides, the only person I stayed around with long enough to find out about their eating habits is probably shitty hair. And he’s a werewolf.”

“Oh, right.” She stopped spreading her tuna. “And werewolves just eat whenever.” She resumed preparing her lunch. “What’s your eating habit like? I’ve never really heard what naga’s lifestyle is usually like.”

It had been so long since he last talked to someone who he could impress with naga facts. “Nagas just eat a lot at one go and we can just not eat for some time. Depending on how much we’ve eaten, we can last for several weeks or months-”

“MONTHS?!” she screamed.

“Dude, what the fuck?” Katsuki snapped, rubbing his ears.

Her bread forgotten, she leaned forward. “How do you last for months?”

“We eat enough to last us that long. It takes a long time to digest whatever we’ve eaten in that one seating so it’s not all absorbed at one go. We can survive without food for a long time - not that I’ve tested it much. The longest I’ve gone without eating was about…” He counted on his fingers. “6 months. I ate about 200 kilograms worth of food to last that long. Almost my body weight.”

Uraraka’s eyes were practically sparkling. “That’s incredible. Can you imagine how much money you can save? Especially at buffets.”

Katsuki’s eyes widened and he burst into laughter. “That’s one way you can look at it! That’s why I’m allowed to eat one buffet only at every restaurant I go. I get chased out all the time after that.”

She giggled and his chest tingled. Remembering the sandwich in her hand, she ate it. Chewing, she asked, “Wait. Then, is it the same for nagas? Eating till you can’t move like a snake.”

“For your information, we don’t eat till we can’t move. That is an inaccurate-”

Uraraka raised an eyebrow at him. “Do you, or do you not?”

A loud sigh escaped him. “We go dormant to digest for fuck’s sake.”

“Nagas are such gluttons,” Uraraka teased as she took another bite.

Katsuki shot her an accusing look. “You’re one to talk, Miss Can-you-imagine-how-much-money-you-can-save,” he mocked, unable to hold back his grin.

She rolled her eyes so hard, her head cocked back slightly as well. “Fine. Guilty as charged.” She nudged him. “But, hey. After you ate that 200kg, how long did you go dormant for?”

Coughing, he glanced at the ground. He found his mouth moving before he could even register it. “4 days.”

“Pfffft!” Thank god she had swallowed her food already. “Are you serious? That long?”

Katsuki crossed his arms and huffed. That didn’t stop his cheeks from turning pink however.“It’s fucking normal, okay?” At least, I hope it is...

“What do you mean you hope it is?”

Ah, fuck. He said it aloud. What was wrong with him? He had been blurting things out to her. It must be some side effect of her charm. Katsuki found himself replying, “I can’t really remember. The last time I saw a naga was when I was around five.”

Instantly, she paled. “You mean, all this time, you’ve never met another one of your kind?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah. The naga kingdom got destroyed when I was little.”

“And you’ve been on your own? All this while?”

Katsuki looked her in the eye. “I don’t want your pity.”

Uraraka opened and closed her mouth several times and lowered her head to look at her sandwich. “It’s sad though. Isn’t it? For me, I can’t even begin to imagine losing my parents.”

“Well, it’s what I’ve got to deal with. I’m searching for other nagas. There’s definitely got to be some other fucking nagas around. I can’t be the only one who survived that destruction. Maybe.”

“So that’s why you travel?”

Katsuki nodded.

“That takes a lot of guts,” she said, taking the last bite of her sandwich before grabbing another slice of bread. “I’m sure you’ll find them soon.” She offered him her smile, reassuring, warm, solid, like a smooth dark stone that has been lying under the sun for hours.

He softened. Uraraka’s words, for some reason, made him feel like believing once again. “Probably,” he mumbled.

+++

“You know,” she said, “I used to really hate myself for being a succubus.”

Katsuki blinked at her several times. It felt out of nowhere. How did a talk about whether spinach was evil or not turn into this? Still, he gave her a grunt in response. To show he was listening.

“It’s tough being a succubus because people expect you to want sex every living breathing moment of your life. Or they expect you to be super confident of your body. Or they think you’re an emotionless slut who takes advantage of every man on the street.”

“Well, it’s the stereotype,” he replied.

Uraraka crossed her arms. “And I hate it! It took me a while to put the blame on the stereotype, instead of myself or my race. But come on! I may be a sex demon but my life doesn’t revolve around it. I have feelings too! I can fall in love and want something stable like marriage too, okay?”

Something in his stomach fluttered. What was that? He ignored it.

“Oh,” she said, “you know, the reason why you could even find my heart was because I was…” She cupped her flushed face. “Succubus have this tradition of confessing to our loved ones by presenting our own heart. To show sincerity. A-and I wanted to confess to Deku.”

The fluttering stopped and dropped like a dead weight. “Really?” Katsuki said, emotions masked.

“Mhm! I’m going to do it today. I have my heart now after all,” she said. Giggling, she twisted about, her brown hair swinging. “I love him so much! He’s super sweet and cute! And he’s very serious when needed! There was this once when I was being chased by a huge wolf, and he helped chase the wolf away! Even though he’s typically the ideal meal for a wolf. And he stood up for me! Isn’t that so brave?”

She continued to ramble on. This time, she stayed on that topic for hours as they made their way to UA Town. By the time the town could be seen, Katsuki had fallen silent, his chest heavy.

As they parted ways, Katsuki to the frog witch’s place, and Uraraka to her Deku’s place, the end of his tail thumped against the gravel rhythmically without its owner noticing, too caught up in his own thoughts.

+++

Ochako was close to bursting with joy as she landed on the ground at the central plaza and sprinted down the streets towards her house, her wings flapping sporadically and lifting her feet off the ground by a bit. She nearly tripped and sprained her ankle but she was hardly in the mood to care about something so trivial.

Along the way, she ran into Tenya, who was just heading out to get some groceries. Fondly, Tenya yelled, “You’re finally back?”

“Yup!” she shouted back as she continued to run. “Is Deku home?”

“Yes!” she heard just as she ran around the bend.

She squealed aloud, not a care for the world. It didn’t feel possible but her smile widened further.

In her clutch, her heart raced. Her lungs ached with the need to spill her feelings for the world to see.

After so long – after waiting for so, so long – she can tell him at last. Ochako had been preparing for this day for so long.

Everything was finally perfect! She had her heart. Deku was at home. Tenya was out. She was prepared for this!

With a smile so wide her cheeks were stretched like a rubber band, she burst through the door, clutching her heart close to her chest and panting.

She saw just the person she wanted to see in that instant.

And a scene she never wanted to see.

“O-Ochako?” Deku squeaked. He stumbled backwards, quivering. For a long second, his hooves’ clopping was the only thing filling the silence that also held its breath.

Ochako’s eyes travelled to the other red-faced boy in the room. She didn’t know how to react. Couldn’t react. She just stared, her lower lip trembling. Her eyes fell to Todoroki’s hand, still resting lightly against Deku’s arm.

Deku’s cheeks could somehow grow redder still as he nudged Todoroki, who shuffled away awkwardly, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.

“U-um…” Deku stammered, his hands waving wildly. “ W-welcome back?”

“Sorry. We… weren’t aware that you’ll be coming home now,” Todoroki said with feigned calm as he rubbed his arm, looking at Deku.

Ochako’s facial muscles were frozen into a stiff smile. “Sorry,” she managed, her bottom lip trembling. “Sorry. I’ll leave the two of you alone.” She scrambled out of the house, heart thumping in her hands. Her legs wouldn’t stop even when she was out of the house.

She wheezed. Her head spun.

Her legs burned. Her eyes seared. Her head blazed.

But nothing could compete with the cold inferno in her chest.

She ran around the bend and heard a familiar voice.

“Open up, Witch!”

Thud! Ochako collided with someone and fell heavily.

“Fuck!”

She looked up for a second to see Bakugou, rubbing his shoulder and scowling.

“You again?!” His fury dissolved. His eyebrows were raised in concern. “Uraraka? Are you—”

The door swung open and Ochako lowered her head, hiding her face. Sandaled feet thumped forward eagerly. From the corner of her eyes, a fluffy scarlet tail wagged. “Katsuki!” a surprised voice said. His voice faded into a mumble, “W-wow… I haven’t seen you in so long.”

“Kirishima?!” (Bakugou’s ex?) “What the fuck are you doing at the Frog Witch’s place?” Bakugou demanded.

“Visiting Tsuyu?” he replied after a little hesitation. “I really thought you’d never come back… I-I’m quite surprised.”

Pain and guilt. It was undeniably present, as much as Kirishima tried to conceal it beneath his forcefully cheery tone.

Bakugou didn’t make it any better. He was silent. Ochako stole a glance at him. His jaw was tense and his iris wobbled, tempted to look down and away from Kirishima. “What the fucking hell is that supposed to mean, shitty hair?” he spat.

“A-as in… since you’re kind of stubborn and…” Kirishima trailed when he lowered his eyes and saw a succubus on the floor. “Wait… Who’s…” He bent down and spoke to Ochako in a lowered voice, “Excuse me. Um. Are you okay?” Ochako heard Kirishima’s relief at the change of topic.

Ochako ducked her head and nodded slightly. She couldn't trust her voice not to crack. Standing up, she covered her face with her hands.

“You fucking forgot your heart, Uraraka. Right after I returned it.” The cool thumping orb was pressed into her hands. When had she dropped it? Was it when she ran into Bakugou? She pressed the heel of her palms to her face.

Everything was a head-splitting blur. And she just wanted to find somewhere to cry.

A lazy arm draped over Ochako’s shoulder, who stiffened at the contact. She relaxed into it. The touch was reassuring, anchoring.

“Oi, you better still be in here when I’m back to punch your face in. I’ll beat your ass if you aren't,” Bakugou yelled as he pulled her gently towards himself and tugged her along.

“You what?” Ochako heard Kirishima say in perplexed alarm as she was brought away.

They stumbled around. Ochako felt as though they’d been walking for hours but that could be due to the distortion of thoughts in her head. Her legs were weak and she had to lean most of her weight on Bakugou.

When he sat her down on a bench, she looked up. They were in a quiet part of the park. There were several families some distance away, but not close enough to see the mess that she was.

“Spit it out,” Bakugou said, his hand resting on her shoulder. A comforting weight.

And everything spilled. Everything.

She couldn’t stop herself. The dam broke and, along with tears, a wholehearted but, ultimately, still unrequited love of many, many years overflowed and crashed down onto Ochako’s shaking frame, drowning her. She collapsed into Katsuki’s arms, choking back the tears.

There was no mistaking what she saw.

The very sight was burned into her mind’s eye and she couldn’t wipe it away. She saw it clearly.

The way his hands rested on her Deku’s waist. The way her Deku’s hand tangled in his red and white hair. The way their lips locked in a passionate dance.

Her vision blurred from unshed tears. The image in her mind only sharpened. She didn't expect it to hurt this much. To have something robbed from her.

No, Deku was never hers to begin with, was he?

And her heart shattered at the thought.

All wishful thinking. All lies to herself because he was never hers, even when she devoted her entire heart to him.

He was someone else’s. How hadn’t she realised it after so long? After all the signs?

Those quiet conversations, only meant for their ears. Those gentle touches, only shared between their skins. Those soft looks, only exchanged between the two of them.

It was apparent. The two weren’t subtle at all. She simply just didn’t have the heart to accept it then.

But now, as clear as the orb that was her heart, Ochako could hear Deku, sweet, tender and honest. Only for you, Shouto. All for you, Shouto.

Only for you, Deku. All for you, Deku. Her own stupid heart echoed back, only to be met with cold, cold silence.

Love must truly be blind.

She sobbed.

+++

“I’m so so sorry,” Ochako said with a chuckle, fanning herself. “I have no idea what got into me.”

Bakugou stared at the gap between them that she had sheepishly placed after she had stopped crying.

She couldn’t read the look in his eyes. It was full of something she couldn’t identify and nearly overflowing, she could tell. Was she invading his personal space just now? “I didn’t mean to collapse into you like that. Sorry,” Ochako said. “I usually don’t cry this easily. Gosh! This is all so embarrassing!”

“It’s alright. They’re feelings.”

She blinked at him curiously. Her first genuine smile in a while pushed the corners of her lips upwards. “Right. And that means it’s all valid,” she said, pumping her fist into the air. “Crying does make me feel a lot better! Don’t you think?”

He did not make a sound but Ochako could see the ever-so-slight nod.

“Thank you so much though, Bakugou. I… was such a mess just now. Thanks for listening to me and letting me just cry, you know? I really needed that.”

Feeling his eyes watching her still, she stood up at stretched her arms. “Alright! I’m fine now!” Ochako looked at her watch and gasped. “Oh my goodness! It’s been two hours! I’d better go home now. Can’t keep them wai–”

“You sure?”

She whipped around to see his eyes, studying her.

He leaned back and threw an arm over the back of the park bench. “This is the first time in three years that I’m back.”

You don’t have to go back if it hurts too much. Don’t force it, she heard Bakugou’s unspoken words. Uncertain, she stared into the distance, chewing her lip.

“I’m going back to find that frog witch,” he added, his eyes fixated on the children running around the playground.

Ochako deliberated for some time and Bakugou was surprisingly patient as he wagged the tip of his tail restlessly. With a resigned smile, she said, “If you promise me not to punch your ex in the face?”

He pushed himself off the bench and made his way back to the witch’s house. “So fucking demanding,” he said with a smile. “But fine.”

+++

As they walked back, Katsuki tried to avoid the crowded places as far as possible. Meanwhile, Uraraka’s eyes were trained to the ground. She looked deep in thought and held her breath. Katsuki was beside himself with concern before he asked, “What are you thinking now?”

She jolted and looked up at last. Rubbing the back of her head, she opened her mouth to speak.

“Don’t you fucking tell me it’s nothing.”

A guilty look crossed her expression. Her hand dropped to her side. “I thought I’d have it with Deku. I-I really did. I was convinced we were just waiting for each other and that just one of us had to make the first move. But I guess I read it all wrong. We were nothing more than friends…” Her eyebrows were knitted together. “I even went to fetch my heart to confess to him with it. This is so pathetic. Was I wrong to believe that there’d ever be true love for a succubus?”

“That’s a huge-ass logical leap there,” Katsuki pointed out.

She hugged herself. “I-it’s just… because everyone thinks succubi are sex demons who are only in for the sex to sustain themselves or something, no one ever considers succubi as a possible romantic partner at all, you know? It’s no use to know for ourselves that we aren’t just about sex if no one else thinks that way.” Breath hitching, Uraraka used the heel of her hand to rub her eyes. “No one wants me just because I’m a succubus. In their eyes, I’m just some sex machine. No one ever wants to date a succubus.”

Katsuki slowed down for her. “I know you’re not,” he said, not knowing what else he could possibly say to comfort her. He knew he wanted to say more. The words “I wouldn’t mind” were barely hanging onto his tongue, nearly falling through his lips. His fucking stupid body still reacted to her charms at the wrong fucking time. Instead, he said, “And I’m not paying some fucking lip service. I mean it.”

There was a long uncomfortable silence. It was painfully obvious how Uraraka couldn’t bring herself to trust his words. And it was painfully obvious that Katsuki’s words could only be plasters for her gaping mortal wound.

Uraraka broke the silence. “I try my best not to use my powers on people for anything other than feeding. I don’t want to them to be attracted to me because of something artificial. I want it to be genuine true love. But is it impossible?”

Katsuki went on without her for several seconds before realising she had stopped in the middle of the deserted street. He slithered back to her slowly. Embarrassingly, he felt the urge to embrace her and tell her, “I do genuinely love you.” However, saying that now would only upset her more. It’d only prove her point that the only way people would love her was through something artificial like chemicals and magic. He kept his mouth shut, fearful of what might escape him.

She ran her hand through her hair. She admitted, “Actually, you’re the first person I used my succubi powers on for something that isn’t feeding. I feel kind of bad for prying and forcing your body to feel attraction. That’s why as soon as I had my heart back, I took the spell off so you won’t feel anything for me anymore.”

Katsuki‘s eyes widened. The spell is off? Then…

Not noticing his reaction, Uraraka continued, “I don’t want you or Deku or anyone to feel attracted to me because of my powers. That’s just lying to myself.”

His heart stuttered. If the spell was off… No. No way in hell.

“But in the end,” she said, leaning against the walls, “maybe using my powers is the only way for others to feel attraction for me.”

Please don’t let this be what I think it is. Pleasepleaseplease. He was tempted to hold her in his arms again as his mind shackled him.

But that’s what it fucking is, isn’t it?

The only thing preventing Katsuki’s lungs from falling apart was a tourniquet around his chest, constricting his words, not letting them flow out like fresh blood. But it was too late. The tourniquet could only prevent so much. Venom had already been injected into his goddamn heart and had been pumped through his body.

“If I don’t use my powers, no one will ever love me, fake or real. Isn’t that right?” Uraraka looked at him with painful earnestness.

Katsuki stopped breathing. He was light-headed. Wrong. I’m fucking in love with you. And it’s too fucking real. And I’m too fucking scared.

On top of his strangling fears, he was paralysed by the knowledge that admitting it to her would only crush her under even more weight.

The venom was slow. But he could feel it in his veins. It was already threatening to destroy his body. He could barely control himself at this moment as he watched Uraraka crumple, wishing he could just say it, and knowing that he couldn't, and shouldn't.

With impossible effort, he managed to force the appropriate words out of his chest, “I don’t think so. There has to be someone who loves you.”

Uraraka laughed bitterly through her tears. “I thought you don’t pay lip service. Who the hell would love me?”

Me. I fucking love you.

“I don’t know. But someone will.”

Love is weakness.

She sniffed loudly and rolled her eyes. “That would be the dream. I’d like to meet that person.”

But I’m a fucking idiot who never learns. We both are.

#bnha #fanfic #mha #bakugou katsuki #bakugou x uraraka #kacchako #uraraka ochako #succubus!Uraraka #naga!bakugou #asexual bakugou #unrequited love #hurt/comfort #angst #fantasy au

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