#fem Bakugou x Deku

[notsunnyowo]

Fem!Bakugou x Deku

Rip Izuku 🙏

[minkoq]

🍓 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔

⤷soft sex scenarios with aged up! bnha boys; fem! reader

🎐— just thinking about midoriya fucking you so softly into the mattress, while you whine out his name in pleasure. him tracing patterns on your back while giving you light kisses on your shoulder, whispering sweet praises to you.

🎐— iida giving you head! circling your clit with his tongue, softly fingering your clenching cunt, sometimes blowing gently against your clit since he knows how sensitive you can be.

🎐— todoroki brushing your hair out of your face since he always wants to keep eye contact with you, gazing into your doe eyes as his cock slides between your folds. slicking his cock up with your juices before pushing into you gently, watching your expression change.

🎐— bakugou sucking on your nipples while you sit on his lap, coating them with his own saliva. cupping your left breast while sucking on the other, kneading it gently like dough. his cock aching in his pants as he rubs his bulge against your clothed pussy.

[with-my-calamitous-love]

gentleman! katsuki, who is never not keeping his arm around your waist. who cooks for you and always insists on driving you around. who lets you sleep on his warm chest, feeling the rise and fall of his lungs and the beating of his heart. who is an asshole, but is uncharacteristically soft with you.

gentleman! shouto, who will pay for everything. who buys you flowers and presses kisses to your forehead. who calls you nicknames in different languages, and afterwards won’t tell you what they mean just so he can tease you. who gives you his jacket if you shiver slightly. who always offers you his arm whenever you walk together.

gentleman! izuku, who will run to open the doors for you. who is always practicing the sidewalk rule and always walking/driving you around. who loves to hold your hand and kiss your knuckles whenever he can. who gets so excited whenever you ask him for help, especially if it gives him the chance to be a nerd. who writes little notes about you because he loves you.

gentleman! eijirou, who works out with you. who is always so proud of you. who has the deepest morning voice, and will send you photos of him. who prefers to be shirtless at home/around you. who shows the utmost respect to your family. who is never not holding your hand. who loves you with or without makeup, dressed up or not. who is incapable of finding you unattractive.

gentleman! denki, who is really good with kids. who calls you sunshine. who refuses to go to sleep without texting you goodnight, or start his day without texting you goodmorning. who makes you little playlists, dedicating them all to you. who compliments all of your outfits and actually gives his insights and opinions. who loves wearing matching clothes with you. who makes you his profile picture.

gentleman! hitoshi, who will pull all-nighters with you even when he’s done all his things. who loves sleepovers with you, making sure you’re comfortable and asleep before he even thinks about closing his eyes. who secretly turns off your alarms so you can sleep in. who always gives you his hoodies and sweaters. who lets you sit between his legs and presses kisses to your neck. who knows and remembers so much about you, it shocks you.

will write nsfw version soon! 🫧🤍🐚

[captainshindo]

Oh me? Nothing just thinking bout BK stage actor I’m crushing on him

I found these on Pinterest and saw a lot of funny selfies from them lol

+ I didn’t know Shindou’s stage actor fine like that😳

[m0nnypie]

DATING DEKU (BUT BEING KATSUKI'S SISTER)

Warnings: just Deku being fool for reader, 'n Katsuki being a jealous brother.

synopsis: You're dating this cute green-haired boy, but you're related to that stressed-out blonde bitch 💔

- Well, it's obvious that you've known each other since you were kids. And according to both parents, you've shown that you liked each other since you were young (Katsuki says that's stupid)

- Because you were a year younger, you didn't go to U.A. with them. But that doesn't mean you didn't spend time with Deku.

- To be honest, Katsuki did everything he could to keep you away from Deku. Saying things like "he's a loser, and we're amazing" and "you're my sister, you shouldn't hang out with a nerd like him". But it's not like you listened to the blonde. Since you didn't want the blonde bothering you, you continued hanging out with him, even in public.

- But that stopped after Katsuki simply called his friends to beat up the green-haired one. You literally stopped talking to the blonde for a whole month, and that worried your parents, because besides affecting Katsuki, they could hear you crying every night, saying how stupid Katsuki was. In the end, you guys resolved it after he promised he wouldn't bother Deku anymore. Not that he kept his promise.

- After what happened, you started sneaking out with Deku. Whether it was going to his house, or going to play somewhere, when you knew Katsuki was going to train. And it's obvious that he never told you about Katsuki. That's why, the day he arrived all hurt, you almost had a fit.

"WHO HURT YOU?"

Sometimes he forgot that you were capable of screaming as loud as Katsuki.

"I-it was nothing!"

"NOTHING? DEKU YOU'RE ALL HURT!!"

He simply held your hand and smiled.

"It's okay! No need to worry! I already told you."

The simple contact made you blush. It was funny how children dealt with affection.

- Over time, you started to drift away. It wasn't that you hated him, but most of your time was spent training with Katsuki. So in the last year, before the two of them went to U.A, you barely saw Deku.

- You were on good terms with Katsuki. That is, until you found out that he never really left Deku alone. The moment you walked into the classroom in a rage, he thought it was strange. But as soon as the blonde felt you attack him with all your force, he was in shock.

"DON'T YOU EVER COME NEAR HIM AGAIN! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME YOU SHIT?! I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE MY BROTHER"

you pulled Deku with you, leaving behind an extremely angry blond, yelling that he didn't care about you.

That afternoon, Deku comforted you while telling you that everything was going to be okay. But you didn't believe it.

- Obviously things got weird between Katsuki and you. Especially because you would stay in the same house for months before he went to U.A. And even though your parents tried everything to make things work out for you, nothing worked. He was too proud to do anything, and you had too much anger built up to be on good terms with him.

- You continued to be close to Deku. Staying with him all day now, and threatening anyone who dared to look at him the wrong way. And even if he said he didn't need all that, you just told him to shut up. You two became really close after that.

- At the time, when he would just disappear sometimes, you were really worried. Even though you didn't have much time, as you were busy with your own training.

- Of course, when you found out he got into U.A. you wanted to celebrate. When you brought up the subject of the quirk, he got all weird, so you let it go.

- At the same time, you and Katsuki still haven't made up. Neither of you wanted to apologize, you were too proud for that. And now, it would be even harder with him at U.A.

- At first it was really strange, when you didn't see Deku as often anymore. Even though he always called you every night, and sent you messages all day long.

- He was saying how wonderful U.A was. That he had met All Might (he said he told about you tô him, and you almost had a heart attack). You were so excited for him! (and for Katsuki even though you wouldn't admit it). But of course things changed when he was kidnapped.

- As soon as you found out about the kidnapping, your first instinct was to call Deku. You were desperate, and he tried to calm you down by saying he would fix everything. That's when you had your first fight.

"IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OKAY, DEKU! HE'S BEEN KIDNAPPED!"

"You need to calm down... I told you! I'll find a way! You need to trust me!"

"A WAY, DEKU?! MY BROTHER WAS KIDNAPPED BY THE LEAGUE OF VILLAINS! IT'S NOT SIMPLE!!! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? HUM? UNTIL A MONTH AGO YOU DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A QUIRK"

the silence that fell was deafening.

"I'm going to hang up."

"(Name) Wait-"

You hung up on him, you knew what you said to him was wrong. But your concern for your brother's life was greater than any guilt. You ignored all his other calls for the rest of the day.

- As soon as Katsuki came back. You punched him in the face. Well, brotherly love, right? But you didn't let go of him for a whole week.

As soon as you met the blond again, with the weight of your fight and the worry you felt, all you could do was punch him.

Everyone was shocked, your parents, All Might who you didn't even realize was there. Even Deku wasn't expecting it. Of course, Katsuki didn't take it personally, certainly not. But before he could yell something stupid, he felt you hug him.

"You're an idiot, you know that?"

He simply gave you an ironic laugh and hugged you back. He didn't like hugs, but he knew he couldn't deny you that.

Well, now everyone was really in shock.

- Well, they gave you a week to stay with Katsuki (With All Might asking for it, it became easier for it to happen). No one had ever seen this hot-headed blonde treat someone well, so when they saw how he treated you (despite still having the insults), everyone wanted to meet the grumpy blonde's dear sister. And he hated the idea, although he wasn't the only one. A certain green-haired boy, perhaps, was quite sullen.

- Of course when you saw Deku, the first thing you did was apologize. It was funny that even though you were as proud as your brother, when it came to Deku, things were simpler and easier. He obviously accepted your apology, you spent an entire day together, with Katsuki obviously hating every second of it.

- Well, the rest of the year was tense too. With all the fights and stuff. The only times Deku could relax were when he was with you.

- It didn't take long for him to realize that he was in love with you. Because of course, with his friends making jokes about it, it was hard to hide it. He had no intention of confessing, he didn't want to ruin his friendship with you. But of course Uraraka, Mina and Denki thought otherwise.

- After coming up with a plan to make you two finally confess, everything went wrong. Katsuki was suspicious, so he simply wouldn't let go of you the whole time. Until, of course, the guys decided to bring All Might into the plan (bros are determined). Somehow, they convinced All Might to distract Katsuki. So when you were finally alone, he got nervous, not knowing what to do. And before everyone could intervene to help him, they saw you kissing Deku.

- Obviously you started dating. Everyone was happy for you, your parents thought Deku was adorable. But of course one person didn't like it. A certain blond guy was totally against your relationship. But not that he would do anything other than threaten Deku, saying that if he touched a single hair on your head, he would end up underground (he takes threats seriously). Anyway, he would always be in the corner complaining, not that you care.

- The best thing that could have happened was when you started at U.A. Many nights, he would sneak into your dorm. You would have lunch together, walk hand in hand through the hallways. He would train with you (you loved it when training turned into a kissing session, which embarrassed him). Anyone who looked at Deku would realize how much he loved you, even Katsuki knew that.

- Most of the make-out sessions were initiated by you. Sometimes in the bedroom, during training, or during breaks. One time, you almost got caught. He almost died because he thought he would get caught, while you could only laugh.

- Every time you went home, you always took Deku with you. Katsuki hated that. You also went to his house a lot, his mother adores you! She loves showing you pictures of him, which makes him embarrassed.

- You two love to sleep cuddling. One time you were cuddling on the couch kissing, and Katsuki decided to get between you. You were sulking, and Deku didn't know where to hide his face. Poor Deku if Katsuki knew more.

- Even if Katsuki doesn't admit it, he trusts Deku. And he'd much rather you date the green-haired boy than any other guy.

SERIOUSLY I'M SO OBSESSED WITH THESE TWO!! I HOPE Y'ALL LIKE IT!!!

'N SORRY FOR MY ENGLISH!!!

[pretty-sparkle-bomb]

Could I request prince Izuku x reader?

Prince Izuku... now how do I go about portraying him as a prince... Let's see. This one's been in my asks for a while- sorry nonnie! Im tryna clear these up before I go on hiatus

Curly green hair bounces as Izuku walks through the bustling marketplace, his black hood concealing his face from the people of the city. He couldn't risk being caught sneaking out.

After visiting yet another pet store, he rounds a corner to take a break… until he spots you.

One foot propped against the wall, head leaned back and eyes closed, chest heaving from all the running you had been doing. He comes to a sudden halt, causing his boots to skid against the concrete. You look up, eyes widening.

You hurriedly pull the black makeshift bandeau mask over your nose, concealing the lower half of your face. You are about to make a run for it when he calls out.

"Wait! Please, don't run," he says, his voice gentle and sincere. "I'm not here to cause trouble."

You hesitate, heart pounding in your chest. Your gaze lingers on him, the atmosphere tense but intriguing.

Curiosity gets the better of you. Eyes flitting across his form, you try to figure out who he is. Then he lowers his hood, and you recognize him instantly. You curtsy. "Your Highness, I apologize. I didn't recognize you."

"That's… kinda the point. What are you doing here?" he asks, staring at you with wide eyes.

You struggle to come up with a response, something he catches on to easily. "Erm… I'm not from here." Well, that wasn't a lie.

"But you're the Prince. Sneaking away from the castle isn't really the brightest idea, now is it?" you chide, plopping down. He notices the sudden shift in your mood but doesn't comment, sitting right next to you.

"Things can get overbearing…" he mumbles, staring at the brick wall opposite you.

"I see. What's been bothering you?" you query, head tilted to one side as you await an answer.

"My parents are hosting a ball, one that determines which Princess gets to be the Queen of the Kingdom. I don't even know anyone there! How am I supposed to pick a bride?" he rants, sighing heavily.

You listen, humming softly after he finishes his rant. "Maybe it won't be so bad…" you try to reason.

"Puh, yeah right," he groans. The sound of the kingdom bells rings, signaling lunchtime, and you stand up, cursing softly. "I have to get going." You dust yourself off.

"Wait! When will I see you again? I don't even know your name!" he calls after you, hastily standing up and grabbing your wrist.

"Y/n," you answer, as he lets go, confusion and curiosity mixing in his eyes. He tries to memorize the name you gave him… Y/n. So pretty.

A glint catches his eye and he looks down at his feet. There lies a shiny ring. He picks it up delicately, observing the expensive gems on top, surrounded by diamonds is a musgravite gemstone, one he knows is extremely rare.

Who exactly were you?

[reiyaus]

 to be young and in love ( MHA )

warning cursing death mentions death mention lowercase not proofread spoilers genre gn!reader romance fluff pre and est. relationship

crush and confession scenarios with the 1A duo! ( MIDORIYA, BAKUGO )

MIDORIYA IZUKU

you met on the first day of school, he sat behind you so all you could really hear during class were his murmurs and (extremely) loud pencils clacking onto the paper.

the two of you only started talking properly as friends during the start of the quirk apprehension test. your blunt compliments about how far he threw the ball put him in a flustered state― where you had to shake him in order to bring him back into the real world.

a moment that you thought was quite cute just made him want to dig a hole and cry inside.

as your friendships with uraraka and iida started to bloom, you and midoriya got even closer. if not, closer than the others.

your classmates started noticing how midoriya wasn't as shy around you anymore, and how you both leaned on each other for support during training sessions.

your shoulders would be squished together, his hands hovering above your back just in case you somehow fell, your fingers tapping on his arm while he writes down on his notebook― practically everything screamed 'I LIKE YOU!'.

did izuku actually like you? yes. very much. infact, he's liked you since the day you complimented him (but that's mostly from the fact you were one of the first girls to talk to him), and he's grown to like you even more throughout the year.

he'd stalk research about your quirk and give you pointers on how you could improve. silently dying inside after you call him a 'great friend'

the confession would probably be sudden.

it was the two of you alone in the field, practicing with your quirks with one another when you perfected the move you'd been working on for months. you were both ecstatic (probably him more than you), and it just slipped out.

"you're so amazing, y/n! your quirk, your brain, everything about you is so perfect-!" he pauses. his head snaps in your direction to see your reaction. you, bearing an amused smile with lightly blushed cheeks, were slightly shocked by his extreme train of compliments.

midoriya, in return, froze in place― internally beating himself up while he reddens up by the second. his thoughts are scrambled and he desperately prayed this was all just a nightmare.

"thanks?" your voice snaps him out of his stupor. "you don't have to over compliment me, midoriya."

"w-wha-? no! i wasn't overcomplimenting you, i swear!" midoriya shakes his head in retaliation. "you're strong, everyone likes you, and even heroes think you're cool! you're also always complimenting and helping me so i guess that's why i really like you and why you're still so cool but-" he rambles on, letting the embarrassment take control once again.

he's so caught up in his trance that all sorts of words come spiraling out his mouth. words that you can't bring yourself to believe.

you blink. "wait― stop for a minute. you like me?" midoriya goes silent, turning his head away from you. your feet make their way to his figure, head turning to try and meet his gaze. you let out a breathy laugh.

"midoriya. come one, look at me. you can't just say that and expect me to ignore it," you shake his shoulders lightly, yet he still refuses to look at you. "you know, people usually don't give silent treatment after confessing."

an incoherent sound comes out his mouth, groaning at your teasing. sure, he was planning on confessing one day, but not like this. his confident vision of him bringing you flowers and expressing words of affection crumbled in front of his own eyes. instead, you're teasing him for his not-ideal way of confessing.

you, on the other hand, knew of his fondness for you way long ago. but hearing it come from his mouth was different. it felt intimate in a way. it felt genuine. who doesn't like that?

your hands squeeze his shoulders from behind, giggling at his flustered state. "if it makes you feel better, i also like you. and i think you're cool too."

"y/n!"

BAKUGO KATSUKI

he was in class 1-A, you were a student from a different department, class 1-H.

during a fight with the LOV, his grenadier bracers were damaged from the recklessness of his actions– so, as a student of the support department, it was your job to help the future heroes of the nation be 100% with their gears.

even if that means enduring the brash attitude of katsuki bakugo.

refusing the urge to bark back while you continue on adjusting his bracers, his voice complaining in the background about how 'he can fix them himself'.

no matter how he hard he tried to talk-down your revisions, he knew how much better you made his gear. how you made it just like he wanted. of course, he didn't say that out loud.

now, skipping to the aftermath of a practice with pro-heroes disguised as typical villains- his bracers broke. again. another reason to be pissed off.

however this time, instead of directing him to class 1-H, Aizawa sent him to the main support department where the actual tech support engineers worked. people he didn't know at all.

so what did he do? he went to your class instead.

simply because he doesn't trust the others enough to ensure they wont fuck up his gear (totally).

and he continued this routine whenever his costume or bracers got messed up.

pretending like he's walking to the engineer lab when he's really on his way to yours.

instead of a highly-professional labratory of engineers with 20 years of experience, he preferred your little cubicle with coffee-spilled papers and a little light bulb to shine over it all.

for multiple weeks to months, bakugo didn't even realize how frequent his visits were starting to be. almost everyday after class, he'd find himself consulting with you for something as small as a scratch on his gear- just to see your face, how it lit up while u explain to him your new gadget, lips curved up and body relaxed.

"it even has a cord here so i can connect my laptop into it! soon enough, all the resources i downloaded yesterday can be programmed into this little card- right here,"

you turn to urge him forward, but pause when you make eye contact with him. nearly 3 feet apart yet the sudden intimacy made you feel like your bodies were pressed together, cramped up in a small closet. when you werent.

"...bakugo?" he looked up at the repeating calls of his name, finding you staring up in concern. “you good? you’ve been spaced out for so long i almost thought you died standing. hah.” katsuki playfully nudges you after your attempt to joke.

“nothing can kill me,” he shifts in position. “better be the same for you…”

you tilt your head at the last sentence. the turn of his head made his voice come out as muffled, blocking your eyes from fully hearing what he said. “can you repeat that?”

katsuki rolls his eyes. “i didn’t say anything. just focus on fixing my gear, you damn nerd.”

“okay- okay! just give me a minute,” you laugh. it takes a while to clear up your desk for his grenade, but way faster with his help.

‘help’ that he claimed was just because you were too slow.

but you knew better. you’re sure you were moving way faster than he was. and definetely more efficient. you also knew that nothing can kill him, while he’ll never let anything kill you.

ps. the red blush on his face gave it away.

                                         films           guide

[smwhererealistic]

Egotistic - Bakugou x Reader

---

masterlist <- big fat kiss -> unexpected apology

---

As the school day ended, I packed my bag slower than usual, since we had a tiring hero training earlier.

To avoid the crowd, Momo, Izuku, Iida and Tsuyu left to wait outside the school. "Come on, Y/N!" Uraraka beamed as Shoto nodded in agreement.

I walked ahead, not noticing Bakugou sliding infront. Hence, I was an unsuspecting victim of being hit by the door after he walked out.

"Ouch!-" My shriek and the loud slam of the door echoed through the room as everyone stood silent. I immediately reach to place a hand on my forehead, feeling the stinging pain.

"Y/N!" Uraraka rushes up to me as she tried to take a look but I didn't want to remove my hand, feeling the pain and hoping there wouldn't be just a spot of red on it.

I blinked through tears so it wouldn't even more embarrasing. I see Bakugou standing at the front, the door swinging back and forth slowly, rubbing it in his face of the surprising situation.

I didn't focus on anything else though, as Uraraka and Shoto walked me to Recovery Girl's office.

"Are you alright?" He asked softly as I nodded, feeling too stunned to reply. It was an accident, it's okay! I tried to comfort myself by recalling Bakugou's dumbfounded face.

I feel my phone buzzing in my pocket as I squinted slightly, my vision focusing on the bright phone screen.

-

-

After the quick visit, I walked out with the two friends, sharing the gummies I got from Recovery Girl as Momo embraced me tightly.

"Oh dear, are you okay?" She frowned softly in worry as I nodded with a smile.

"I'll definitely deal with Bakugou and his awareness!" Iida reassured as we began walking. Only for me to realise we're walking in my direction.

"Aww, you're sending me back.." I smiled as Izuku nodded. "We need to make sure that you're safe when you get home. What if the energy loss hits you hard and you fall asleep on the road?"

Yeah..that might happen. I grinned sheepishly, almost skipping in my steps as we walked to the neighbourhood.

"Did he apologize, Kero?" Tsuyu asked as I shook my head. "He probably was stunned too, no one saw that coming!" I laughed awkwardly.

Soon, we reached my house as they made sure I entered before leaving.

-

-

[phant0mth1ef]

the spark in your eyes, the look on your face.

-

you’d sat at the sorry excuse of a headstone that your brother had been given, the patchy green grass below you was beginning to fade as you tried to wipe dust off his name.

you’d gotten to choose the name that your brother had on his headstone.

shimura tenko. you’d also chosen how long he’d really lived for. the five years of his life that he’d lived with his family before all for one had taken him.

to everyone else, he was a person who’d committed mass genocide, mass murder, and so many more destructive crimes. to you, that was all true. but he was so much more to you. he was just a scared little kid, like you.

a voice behind you made you yelp. nobody else was supposed to be here, the guards were only letting you out here on the condition that you wore quirk cancelling handcuffs and stayed in their sight at all times.

bakugou and midoriya stood behind you. they’d grown, their features were sharper and scars littered their bodies.

“what’re you doing here?” you mumbled, turning back to attempt to clean up tenko’s headstone. god the way you had to fight them before they’d agreed to give him a headstone.

“came to visit shigaraki.” bakugou mumbled, he’d felt partially responsible for your loss of your brother.

“shimura. shimura tenko. not shigaraki.” your words were soft, genuine.

“shimura?” midoriya spoke up.

“shimura. he didn’t like shigaraki. i don’t like shigaraki.” you sighed, picking yourself up off the ground as you walked to the officer who was in charge of you, letting him know that you were ready to go.

your face was droopy, as if you’d been refusing to expose yourself to the outside world. and the truth was, you had.

they’d watched you leaving. just the same as they watched when you were released from prison ten years later. still the same scared child you were all those years ago when you’d been forced into war.

@aintseennothinyet @cupidsblonde here’s your part 2 💖

[camiluvscats]

Why is all x black!reader smut and like really dark?? Like i want fluff and every time I look for that I see some fic where reader gets kidnapped or sum bs. A BITCH IS TIRED‼️

[platrom]

One Last Chance.

Midoriya x F! Reader, Bakugou x F! Reader (partially/eventually)

WORD COUNT: 20.7k words

NOTE: Here is the ending to OLT. What do you all think? Please leave me some comments!!

If you guys would like to see side stories to this or have some questions, please send some asks! My inbox is always open. And if you have any other story ideas, please request as well.

TW: DEAD DOVE: DO NOT EAT, flashback scenes, hospital setting, mentions of prior and current injuries, death, talk about perceptions of death, mentions of suicide attempt/suicide, fluff, therapy, Bakugou has undergone therapy, childhood best friends, toxic friendships, unrequited love, happy ending, the voice leaves, a new voice appears (is personified), reader has a panic attack in a fancy restaurant, reader and Shoto are friends, Bakugou has genuine friends, the reader is loved, kind of ambiguous parts in the ending (must read first part to understand it), reader confronts Midoriya, reader kisses Bakugou

THIS STORY MUST BE READ WITH THE FIRST PART— IT IS NOT A STAND ALONE.

PART 1 / PART 2 (HERE)/IMPORTANT ASK

BAKUGOU OBSERVED your shaken figure as it faded into the distance, head hung low and fists clenched in agony. When you first pulled away from him and continued onward, your feet tapped lightly against every slab of concrete you trekked on, until after a few yards your brisk walk bursted into a hurried sprint. Nobody nor anything was spared a second glance as you fled from his presence.

Candidly, he couldn’t blame you. Bakugou had overstepped your boundaries and attempted to plow through the brick walls you had built around yourself for the sake of your welfare. He understood how you felt and how overwhelming such an invasion of privacy was, notably with his straightforward approach. Bakugou was notorious for diving headfirst into situations, but that didn’t mean it was invariably appropriate.

For instance, now.

Howbeit, he didn’t know what else to do. Bakugou may have gone through years of therapy and anger management courses (thanks to that spiky-haired idiot), but that didn’t mean he knew how to confront everyone about their personal endeavors.

Tackling his own issues differed from helping others address theirs. He had friends, family, and a therapist to talk him through his problems and conjure solutions with. Even his fellow colleagues wouldn’t mind lending a comforting shoulder for Bakugou to lean on; the people around him had read countless books on how to support loved ones who were struggling.

Bakugou had a support system that took years to discover, expand, and wholeheartedly trust. With thousands of hours of therapy under his belt, he was blessed with tools to aid him in the gloomiest and sunniest of days, with or without his therapist by his side.

In comparison, you were not armed with the same lessons and techniques as he was.

Not yet, at least.

Bakugou wanted to change that.

For all of his years of friendship with you, he analyzed your growth and development as a person: how you went from an adorable and frivolous child who was insouciant to the prying eyes of others into a beauteous, percipient young lady who shied away from any unforgiving glares. He remembered how decades ago you, him, and Deku would tussle around in your childhood playground’s decrepit sandbox playing Heroes.

Bakugou had invented the game when you and Deku had been laying against one of the thick blue poles that held up a patent yellow slide incised by impetuous teenagers that lurked around the park at the perturbing time of midnight. To his dismay, despite being in front of you both, none of you batted an eyelash at him. He wasn’t even aware of what you two were discussing, but all he cognized was that the ongoing chatter between you and the freckled nerd was irritating him and he wanted your attention instanter.

Looking back, Bakugou could admit that it was an impulsive suggestion and injudicious decision. In contrast to what any other sensible child or person would have done, as soon as the words ‘Let’s play heroes, Deku and (Name)!’ escaped Bakugou’s lips, the green-haired idiot accepted the request instantly, so eager to please Katsuki. On the other hand, you simply watched in silence as Bakugou beamed in pride with his hands on his hips and Deku enthusiastically pumped his arms in the air, jumping and squealing in both anticipation and delight.

Years after, Bakugou eventually understood why you sat quietly that day and made no move to even consider rejecting the idea. Exactly like Midoriya, you shadowed Bakugou’s footsteps and obliged to his every whim. Yet, unlike Deku, you didn’t quite concur with his exclamations even inside your head and heart. Cleverly, you chose to keep your mouth shut and follow in step because it caused you less trouble than if you voiced your opinion.

That didn’t exactly mean you always emulated that similar action and thought process. There were at times you spoke against Bakugou when you knew you would be reprimanded the least or experience little to no consequences.

Bakugou couldn’t deny that he didn’t enjoy those quirks of yours: your fight, your spunk— your tactical and logical thinking. They all were your qualities that Bakugou internally commended you for.

As children, whenever you three played Heroes, Bakugou forced you to take the role of the damsel in distress. Due to your bestowed position as a distressed maiden, the ash blond referred to you as “Princess” often, both during and outside the game. With every fictional mission the two boys conjured, they intended to save you from villains (which happened to be figurines of heroes with a small piece of dark cloth draped over it).

When Bakugou wanted to impress you (and spite the green-haired bastard), after he and the nerd rescued you, he would hoist you off your feet and carry you bridal style, your head tucked into the crook of his neck. Boastfully and vaingloriously, he would exclaim to the other boy with a smug grin, “This is how a real princess should be treated, Deku!”

The young boy would stare in awe, analyzing how Bakugou kept a firm grip on you and refused to let you take a step on your own, despite your occasional protests.

And the times when a small giggle would be heard near Katsuki’s chest, widened vermillion eyes would snap to your face and watch as you grinned up at him, eyes sparkling, glowing, and filled with adoration. Your ridiculously sweet and unfaltering smile never failed to make his chest puff out in pride, cheeks warm in fluster, and heart pound faster.

Katsuki craved to see that expression on your face again.

He yearned to be the one who flipped your entire world upside down and set you anew. Like a festering disease, that ardent desire plagued his heart. It urged Bakugou to be the hero in your life and pillar of strength- the one you were able to lean on for stability when your walls of welfare began to crumble and crash.

When you were merely arm’s reach away, at times in that freckled-dork’s arms, an unremitting voice rung remorselessly in his ears, imploring for him to pull you into his chest and conceal you from the world, to cradle your supple face between his callused palms and tenderly stroke your cheek in hopes his actions could describe an ounce of his perennial love for you. The vexatious voice begged Bakugou to press his lips against yours to convey all the unspoken emotions he could not fathom formulating into lucid and complete sentences.

Katsuki wanted all of the pieces of you: brain, body, and soul.

In bed, during the hours of dusk until dawn, Bakugou’s mind conjured vivid imaginations of a domestic life with you. In many of the scenarios, Katsuki would already be at home in the spacious kitchen, preparing dinner for you both before you returned after a strenuous day at work. Whatever meal he was cooking didn’t matter; you would love his cooking anyway.

He would be so absorbed with cooking that he wouldn’t hear the sound of the door lock clicking open, or the rustling of your clothes as you stripped off your coat. Your lethargic steps would fall on deaf ears as you snuck behind Katsuki, the corner of your lips curling in satisfaction and glee at the aromatic fragrance wafting throughout the house and at the sight of him cooking, no less in the apron you had gifted him for Christmas at the start of his hero career. The apron was black and had the words “THE BOMB” splayed across his chest in thick, white cursive.

Without hesitation, you would pounce onto Bakugou and smush your face into his back, wrapping your arms around his waist. He would quietly hum as you sighed and relaxed into his cozy warmth, mumbling a word of greeting.

After, small bits of chatter would be exchanged between you two until your voices died down and a comforting silence would permeate your shared home.

Eventually, when Bakugou would feel your eyelashes flutter shut as you fruitlessly essayed to stay awake and on your toes, he would lightly smack the top of your head with a wooden spoon and chide you to get your oil-stained arms off his apron and shower before he finished dinner.

The dopey grin that would spread across your adorable face would leave butterflies flittering in his stomach and blood rushing to the tips of his ears. When you noticed his bashful expression, you would raise your calves and wrap your arms around Bakugou’s neck to press a chaste kiss to the corner of his mouth, before escaping his clutches as he processed your actions.

Irritatingly, he would wave a wooden spoon in the air menacingly at your retreating figure, screaming, “You shitty woman, if you’re going to kiss me, do it properly!”

Katsuki Bakugou was a selfish man; he knew that just as well as anybody else. All of his life, he took everything he could and prospered with whatever resources he had. Everything he did was done in his favor, to his advantage. The cost of his actions and behavior was never significant to him. Even presently, as a hero, he didn‘t bat an eye to his brash language on television or crass attitude. He never spared a second thought about what he did or was going to do.

Until now, when your life, your fate, was placed directly into the palm of his destructive, blood-shedding hands.

If he pursued the direction of which you ran and found you, what would happen to the two of you? To him? To you?

What were the rewards and the risks? Would possibly risking your life be worth it? If push came to shove and you threatened your life, could he save you?

His quirk wasn’t built for the typical rescue training; Bakugou was trained to ward off villains and allow the official rescue heroes do their work. He could handle the battle— the blood, the deafening blasts and shards of glass and slabs of concrete that would fly at him, the blazing ache in his muscles, the adrenaline from fighting and the reality of his eventual, impeding death.

Yet, he wasn’t created to dive into the murky and freezing cold water of the ocean and pull civilians from the bottom. Bakugou Katsuki, Dynamight, wasn’t the one who was meant to lift fissured buildings off of civilians to allow them to escape.

Of course, Bakugou could blow things up. Though, was it really the smartest for him to possibly detonate an already ticking time bomb?

Perhaps, he wasn’t the man for this rescue. But there was somebody else who he knew was.

Bakugou whipped out his phone, scrolling past hundreds of unobtrusive contacts, most lacking a personalized profile picture. Swipe after swipe, blurs of gray passed his vision before his eyes caught the name of a man he would never willingly speak to, not even for work.

You were an exception.

Always and forever.

Tapping the telephone icon with hasty fingers, Katsuki lifted the device up to his ear and began to trace your footsteps.

In his wildest dreams, never did he picture himself dialing one of his biggest rivals over a girl he loved for decades— over a girl they loved for decades— since as long as he could remember.

A confused voice answered on the other end. “Kacchan?”

“Deku,” Bakugou sighed, teeth gritting and fists clenched.

Hopefully, the world would reward him for not being selfish this once.

“I need your damn help.”

For the first time.

Contrary to popular belief, there were countless disparate ideas and thoughts of what death was like. For numerous individuals, it was foreseen as a riveting and transfixing experience. On the other hand, many voiced death to be an ongoing horror that terrorized them in the back of their minds. The twisted thoughts would trickle past the cracks of the mind, seeping into the limelight of their thoughts.

Certainly, there were opinions that fell between the lines and even strayed far from the common and classic perceptions of such an inevitable fate all would face.

Though, you had a rather specific conclusion about death.

Your declaration was that it was quite dull; banal even, considering everything to your vision (more so lack of it) was pitch black, akin to as if you had your eyelids shut— just permanently.

To be fair, you were dead. What did you expect? No one wanted to see the eyes of a rotting corpse, so it made sense that they would shut them.

You prayed your body was being prepared for your funeral. If they even found it, deep down below the surface of the ocean’s beguiling, glossy droplets of liquid transparency that lured innocent strangers to explore what was another’s liquid death.

Your death would also explain why you were frozen like a corpse. Your mouth remained clamp shut, your limbs stayed in place no matter how much you fruitlessly shrieked at your brain to move the lifeless limbs, and every inch of your body felt stone cold despite that if you were alive, warm blood would be flowing through your veins to keep you functioning.

However, there was one minor issue that made you question your predicament and if you were truly dead— you could still hear. What you were able to hear in the oblivion of black that surrounded you was debatable, but it vaguely reminded you of muffled chatter, similar to if cotton stuffed your ears.

Perhaps, if you focused enough you could distinguish the words, possibly even the syllables in hopes of discovering whether or not you had truly met death face-to-face.

All you had to do was listen- stay silent. Just like a dead person. You were dead. You could do just that with ease.

So, you let your conscious fade into the abyss of surrounding black, let the hold you had on the remnants of your soul slide lower and lower, the tight grip of your finger slipping so only the tips of them could reach the sole part of you that held you inside your body— your prison. You let the comfort of your humanity rest and the blaring silence of death deafen your ears.

Unexpectedly, the small, high-pitched voice of a child is what you hear first whose words die at the end of their sentence.

“If you need help, you can just ask for it.”

You want to ask who they are and what they’re talking about, and you try— you pull your dangling humanity closer and repeat the questions like a mantra until you’re screaming them, but they never exit your throat.

When your soul slips from your fingers again, the child remains quiet. Light footsteps begin to echo in the abyss of darkness, faintly reminding you of the days you used to spend in your room listening to rain splattering against your window, the atoms of hydrogen and oxygen splitting as they made contact with the clear surface.

This all seems like a sick, cruel joke from the universe.

Was this the voice messing with you?

Was the voice that haunted you still here with you, even in the after life?

But it didn’t sound the same.

That ominous voice in your head was your own voice. It had the exact same pitch, the same quirky pronunciations you had, even down to the accent. Possibly at first, it had been the voice of others and the words that were spat at you were theirs.

To begin, they were theirs; their crude thoughts, their deleterious words, their abhorrent statements and opinions.

Not yours, not at all.

Those noxious words laced with the deadliest of poisonous toxins gradually infiltrated your mind, the traces of their presence faint. As time passed, the once small stains became vast and covered the expanse of your once kind thoughts, turning each present one bitterer from the last. Once upon a time, the voice in your head was the voice of others.

Until it became yours.

In contrast, the speaker in the pit of eternal darkness had a voice of a naive young girl whose heart was just as pure and innocent as it was when the day she was born. It was filled with glee and utmost care, one that most lost to their greed for coin and success. Genuine people— those who constantly gave back and assisted others out of the goodness of their heart had long gone extinct, or were an endangered species. Those who got ahold of these rare beings either sunk their canines into their flesh for a finishing blow or kept them safe under their thumb, a primordial part of them vocalizing their need to keep someone so precious in the safety of their arms.

The girl moved closer to you.

“The attempt to escape pain is what creates more pain. At least, that’s what my parents tell me.”

That voice . . . It was once yours. The little girl who was speaking to you was you, or the shell of who you once were.

Although the memories of your childhood had lost their precision of detail overtime and existence as the years trudged by, you had always considered them the apex of the years you spent alive. The naivety of being a child and the blanket of being sheltered protected you from the corruption of the real world was a sensation you missed dearly.

“Instead of trying to avoid your troubles and problems, they say to resolve them so nobody gets hurt anymore!”

Your recollection of this particular encounter as a child was not the most prominent, as the once vivid and animated details of that day slowly evanesced from your brain with time.

The interaction had occurred nearly two decades ago in the commonly favored season of saccharine spring in Japan, when the sun’s rays gently kissed your skin and the soft gusts of wind weaved through your hair and brushed it back. You were there solely because the mothers in the city of Musutafu always met up during the spring to gossip about their husbands and children and revel in the scenery of blossoming Sakura flowers that swayed gingerly in the wind from their delicate stems that connected to the branches.

It hadn’t been the first time your mother had dragged you to an event like this with the enticing promise that you would be able to make new friends; that had been the deal-breaker for you. Hence, it had led you to the park funded by the richest of the local heroes and civilians.

The place could only be described in one word: perfect. Gossip from the mothers of the town declared it was kept in pristine condition by countless gardeners who would sweat over every blade of grass they sliced. The shrubbery was luscious, vibrant, and full of life. One would say it was just as youthful as the children that roamed every acre of the greenery.

The mothers had stationed themself near the entrance of the park, where the benches that were bolted into the ground to set down the dishes, snacks, and desserts they brought for everyone to snack on. Further in was the actual playground, which contained the children of the many attending mothers.

After kindly asking your mother for permission to go to the playground by yourself, you waltzed your way over.

That was where the interaction began.

You weren’t sure how you even noticed this peculiar person— nothing about them stood out. Not their hair, not their eyes, not their face.

Absolutely nothing differentiated from the rest.

That much you remembered.

Maybe it was a stroke of luck that brought you to them, that fate decided to pull your strings together and wrap a knot around you both for a moment.

They had been sobbing uncontrollably, their arms hugging their knees and small hiccups of desperate gulps of fresh air had reached your unsuspecting ears.

It was odd how out of all the children there, you were the only one who could hear their muffled cries of pain.

The background, your surroundings, the calls of the other children to return to their side as they watched you step towards the outcast was all a haze to you. You couldn’t recognize or process anything other than the child that sat alone in tears.

It was a complete blur from there.

“Forever doesn’t exist, that’s why you should apologize before it’s too late!”

Why am I remembering this now?

Tears fell that day.

When have they not?

Unspoken words lingered in the air, thick and heavy on your tongue.

How many days have been like that? How many days have I lived like them?

Your mind answers for itself.

In the past, you had labeled them minor inconveniences. They didn’t matter to you.

They were minor inconveniences, you tried to convince yourself like so many times before.

Were the tears you shed over so many lost ones just minor?

Would you just toss them away?

Would you belittle the memories of one of your former closest elementary friends, years of friendship washed away in the downpour due to a nasty little rumor spread about you? Erase the little drawings and cards they made for you, each one describing how you would be by each other’s side forever?

Would you forget about the best friend that got away, the one that was forced to move away at the end of your primary years? The walk around the field, the stories you both wrote together, the secrets you entrusted with one another— were you going to toss that all away?

Would you forget about the one who you worked vigorously to build a friendship with when everyone was forced to split ways in junior high? Did you really think so little of the late night conversations, the occasional but rather spontaneous (and sometimes one-sided) heart-to-hearts, the long hours spent chatting away, learning about a love that stemmed deeper than the plants whose roots dipped beneath the soil under your feet? What about when they had chosen to push you out of their lives— manipulating you to keep you attached?

Would you be willing to forget when the empire you had fought endlessly to build and protect collapsed on you after quakes so powerful the once granite walls fissured and crumbled right above your head when you were at your weakest?

Would the scars that remained from the knives that were stabbed into your back, your chest, your heart, finally heal? Would the nasty and discolored marks fade from your skin like water slipping down a drain?

Would you forget about your family? The ones who raised you, who were by your side, near your side, even when it felt like they were miles away?

Would you forget about those who loved you unconditionally— for every one of your flaws, mistakes, and imperfections? The loyal ones who stood close enough to catch you if you fell, even when you didn’t deserve it. Even when you took them for granted.

What about Izuku and Katsuki? The ones that at one point in your life or another, meant the world to you?

Could you erase the memory of Katsuki’s passionate carmine eyes, irises the colors of the ripest of strawberries in the patch, filled with unspoken emotions that only the most observant and attentive of people could detect? The number of fingers on your hands could not come close to totaling the indefinite amount of days you spent staring into his eyes, (e/c) piercing through the thin panes of glass behind his eyes that sheltered his heart and soul, learning lessons that words could not formulate, that he would never dare let leave his mouth.

Would those minuscule yet intimate moments with the blond escape you at last?

Ironically, your calmest and most content moments resided with the boy from your childhood who always claimed one day he would be the greatest hero in the world. These tranquil times didn’t stem from your days as kids in primary school or pre-teens in middle school, but rather when you both were studying at UA.

Unbeknownst to Midoriya and nearly the entirety of Class A, Bakugou would constantly sneak you into his room late at night when neither of you could sleep or only wanted to bask in the the other’s presence. He always grumbled and complained about the unruly times you chose to sneak out of your room and how dangerous it was for you to risk injuring yourself just to see him, but every time you countered his argument with a simple smile and a “I missed you” before proceeding to hug him tightly.

The first few times you told Bakugou this, audible explosions began to crackle from his palms and immediately he shoved you off of him (after wiping his sweaty hands on his pants) and barked curses at you. Eventually, he welcomed you silently with open arms.

During those quiet nights, you both would lay on his bed, limbs intertwined. At first, you and Katsuki sat at a distance, until he began to lay down on his bed and hissed at you to follow suit. Then, you made the first move to cuddle Bakugou after he called you over because of a nightmare— the rest was history from there.

Brushing fingertips was your first taste of intimacy with Bakugou, until he gained the courage to hold your hand. Afterwards came the long hugs. Then, those hugs transformed into Bakugou pulling your head to rest on his bicep. Next came intertwined legs and gentle caresses. And the cherry on top was when his walls finally came down and he allowed you to be his rock, the shoulder he cried on when his studies and hero work caught up to him and left him doubled over in hopelessness, desperate to put himself back together.

But what about Izuku?

What about the boy you spent practically every year of your life with, the man that plagued your mind in the early hours of dawn and the late hours of dusk?

Were you ready to remove him forever? Were you truly ready to give up on the one you loved fearlessly for all those years, even in the face of adversity?

For ages, Midoriya was your beacon of hope. When the world felt like it was caving in, when you shoved everyone out and suffered in solitude, he stood unwavering and unrelenting to listen to your command; he defied your expectations and exceeded them.

Though, good things cannot survive for eternities.

At one point Izuku Midoriya, the one who claimed your heart long ago, slowly began to fade right in front of your eyes. He prioritized his work— he made saving others the reason why he breathed.

When that realization dawned upon you and you understood that he would never fawn at you the same way you did with him, you drowned yourself.

It felt like death.

You didn’t want to think about this anymore.

I want the pain to finally end.

It was pointless to clutch onto the minuscule semblance of mortality you had left before you completely rested in the grave. If you accepted the hand the reaper held out to you, sleep would be eternal.

That’s what I always wanted, right? So take it. It’s not like I ever had anything to lose. Whatever I once owned will never be mine again.

Succumbing was always easy. Succumbing to desires always rewarded you, albeit only temporarily. It was simpler that way— to fall under the umbrella of constantly accepting demands.

“Let go.”

You did; you drank every night until you were blackout drunk.

“Hide.”

You did. You pushed everyone away and isolated yourself.

“Suffer.”

You did. You never sought out help when your thoughts became too grim and dreary to bare alone.

“End it.”

You did. You jumped off the cliff and into the ocean.

“Accept it.”

Slowly, you were.

Slowly, you let your thoughts disintegrate into the dark, emptying your mind of coherency. Of rationality, of humanity.

That lifeless feeling of iciness within you traveled across the expanse of your body until you wholeheartedly believed you had always been a glacier of ice and not once a living being.

Like a sinking boulder, you slipped from consciousness to never resurface.

And like a gentle kiss, a speck of warmth formed on your skin before disappearing.

“Please don’t leave me, (Name). I love you.”

“Don’t do that again, idiot.”

The voice is warm like apple cider on a winter day, mixed with a twinge of sweet, sugary cinnamon that permeates the expanse of your tongue. It feels so welcoming, so safe despite the harshness lingering in the undertones of the voice— akin to if a thick and heavy spoonful of honey coated your tongue like syrup flowing off a stack of fluffy and golden-brown pancakes. You craved to have the sugary sap reach the back of your mouth and slide down your throat before it saturated your system with the sticky sweetness.

A tepid and sweaty hand enveloped yours, coarse callouses sheltering the dry and peeling skin of your knuckles from the bitter cold breeze blown from the air conditioning.

More words fall deaf on your ears as the strings of consciousness tie themselves back together in effort to push you out of your drowning slumber. The soothing and homely voice continues to repeat broken and fractured phrases that you try to reach, pushing yourself out of the sinister hold of the tendrils.

Enraged by your defiant behavior, the obsidian tentacles wrap themselves around the tied strings and tug harshly in an attempt to tear you apart, to send you back to where the worst of your melancholy and despondent thoughts resided.

“Come back, don’t leave me here!” the voice cried. “You and I, we’re both the same. Wherever I go, you come with. We are one.”

Were you the same as that evil voice that had plagued your mind like a virus, worming its way into your bloodstream in hopes of controlling your body and fatally killing you?

Would you ever do that to someone?

You’d like to think not.

“You better not leave me behind. You need to be there when I become number one.”

There was that familiar voice again— it was so warm. It felt like hugging a toasty bag of freshly baked bread in the chilly morning, or sitting down on your couch with a steaming cup of hot cocoa on a rainy day, slowly sipping at the aromatic and creamy chocolate that made your stomach squeal in pleasure and delight.

You craved to feel like this forever.

With the threat of betrayal, the tendrils furiously tightened their bruising grip on your limbs, unwilling to part ways with you.

“I was there for you when nobody ever was! I stuck by your side when you isolated yourself and had nobody— when everyone ignored you!” the voice reminded you, enraged by your defiance.

Why couldn’t you just submit to it?

But weren’t you the one that caused it? If it wasn’t for you, would I really be here now?

The idea is a sudden one that sends you reeling, heart pumping and sweat beading at the top of your head. The once cozy heat that flooded your body boils, burning hotter than the fiery and explosive stars above. An audible sizzling sound can be heard where the tendrils meet your skin.

“You better fight back, damn nerd. Everyone’s been waiting for you out here— they dropped everything to come see you.”

Everyone? Your classmates and friends?

But weren’t they the ones who knew of your suffering and still refused to extend a helping hand to you?

“They all come and go, you know that. Why would you go back to them? Don’t go back on the promise you made. Just for Midoriya, remember?”

Promise? Midoriya?

Your mind was too muddled to comprehend the voice’s words.

“That dumb Deku is here too. He’s worried sick about you, wouldn’t stop blubbering like an idiot the minute he saw me.”

The sight of emerald eyes filled with tears flashes through the darkness of your mind, a blur of a murky white, lifeless black, and a faded green.

You should react— you should feel something. Anything.

But you don’t.

The imagery fades as fast as it arrives, leaving you to reside with the black of your mind. There’s no fluttering of butterflies or red rose petals swirling in the air out of the corner of your eyes. The thought of Midoriya doesn’t warm you further— it only leaves you colder than before.

In the pit of death, it’s just you and the last of your humanity.

“He never liked you anyway. You never mattered. You knew that, didn’t you?”

A meek part of you wants to disagree, argue that he had to have appreciated you at least in the slightest to have stuck around you for as long as he did. But the majority of you solemnly nods in agreement, aware of the countless times where you blindly reached out to Izuku Midoriya.

He simply tolerated you because you constantly suffocated him with your presence. Midoriya never had a mean bone in his body, he would never speak up if someone was a nuisance to him.

“Yes!” the voice hissed, delighted. Slowly but surely, you were falling prey to its hold; to the negativity it had spread wide throughout your mind.

It was only a matter of time before you succumbed.

“Wake up, (Name). Please.”

It isn’t worth it, is it?

“I know I haven’t been the best, but I’ll make it up to you. Promise. Just please, please don’t leave me.”

The warm voice cracks, its words quivering, and there’s a shaky intake of breath. It sounds pained.

“You caused that pain.”

You did, didn’t you?

“Just let it all go,” the voice sung. “Come with me and it’ll all go away. Everyone will be okay. You will be okay.”

You should.

You know you should.

You know you should finally let go. You’d lost everything. You’d lost your life and were trapped in this bottomless pit of black.

If you just let go, you could be free.

“Then do it. Stop listening. Ignore it all. Let me take over.”

There’s words that are being spoken to you from the voice beside you, some louder and intenser than the last, but you block them out. You ignore and let the ferocious tendrils wrap around you and pull you down.

The thin string that holds you together snaps.

And finally, finally, it all stops. The noise, the voices, the thoughts, the feelings, the aches and pains.

At last, it’s all over, you tell yourself.

But do you really believe it?

You would never know.

You don’t think you’ve seen this many people crowded into a single hospital room.

For you, no less.

All of the former Class A students from your years in high school have flooded your room, some of them even stuck in the doorway. From Grape Juice to Creati, the space is absolutely cramped.

Beside your bed are mountain-high piles of gifts and letters from your friends as well as others who could not attend in time for the visiting hours. Without a doubt, some of those presents contained articles of lavish and luxurious gifts you could only afford in the wildest of your dreams if you had the money of a top pro-hero. (Money that these heroes had, considering some had been born into wealthy families while others had become filthy rich after making bold headlines as heroes in the media.)

Not to mention, all their attention had been focused entirely on you since the moment you awoke.

Uraraka had been the first to pounce on you, spewing words that flew past her mouth with such vigor and rush that you could not keep up. Like a koala, she clung to you— arms wrapped around your neck in a vice and warm grip as she sobbed uncontrollably into your shoulder. Tsuyu had pried her off apologetically, but you merely continued to stare in a daze, the countless medications that they had pumped through your blood still in effect.

One by one, each visitor came up to your bedside and sat down beside you to speak while the others watched. Each interaction differed from the last.

Mina had buried your head into the crook of her necks as she brokenly whispered words of endearment and utmost adoration into your ear, rubbing your back softly as salty tears spilled from her eyes and onto the pillow behind you. Eventually, Mina clasped your face between her hands and grinned through tears at the sight of your face between her hands, further cementing the fact that you were alive and still with her.

After a couple more shared moments with some of the others, Todoroki had stepped up to you with an indecipherable expression painted onto his features before sitting down and opening his arms in a silent offer of a hug. You lifted yourself up and leaned into his hold and he held you delicately like glass, murmuring a gentle “I’m so sorry” and “Thank you for not leaving us.”

Once Todoroki left your side, Momo immediately took his place and buried your head into her chest. At that point, your eyes had begun to sting in response to the endless tears your friends had shed and you were sure they were just as red as Momo’s bloodshot ones.

After Yaomomo came Eijiro Kirishima, your personal golden retriever.

He had lunged at you, scooping you into his arms. Squeezing you tightly, Kirishima could not help but sob into the crook of your neck, shaking while doing so. Apologetic words were whispered brokenly, his voice cracking and changing pitch every syllable.

For someone so sturdy, so stable, you never thought the unbreakable Red Riot could crumble quite so easily.

At the hands of your own, no less.

Finally, the tears began to flow from your eyes, overpowering the dam that stubbornly refused to budge whenever it splintered. Wrapping your arms around Kirishima’s back, you clutch on for dear life, crying into his shoulder.

You almost died.

You did die.

The horror of your situation finally settles.

Your behavior and actions, it really did matter. It affected others, not only yourself. If these people were barely holding it together from seeing you now, alive and safe in a hospital, how would they have reacted if you did indeed die?

If the voice had truly beaten the odds, what would have happened to those around you?

You’re glad, you conclude, that you’ll never know and they’ll never really experience it either.

Death may conclude your story, but it doesn’t end theirs. You just close the book of their life and stop reading their story.

Glancing up from Kirishima’s quivering shoulders, you inspect the body language of everyone there. Some are hunched over, hands clasped over their mouths with tears staining their face. Others comfort each other, tenderly rubbing their backs.

However, there’s one person in particular that catches your eye.

He broods alone in the back, carmine eyes staring daggers into the ground. Dressed in his infamous black skull t-shirt and black sweatpants, his ash-blond hair stands out like a sore thumb.

You know that hunched figure like the back of your hand, even despite his immense growth over the years.

“Bakugou?”

It’s a quiet croak, a frightened whisper. But like the hawk he is, his head whips up, eyes widened in surprise.

And it is then, you see the true damage you’ve caused.

The rims of his eyes are a soft red, like the powdery light red of blush. Below his eyelashes lay streaks of fallen tears, their traces as evident as a bear’s footprints in still snow. His eyebrows are pulled together, wrinkling the space between his glassy eyes. It’s uncanny seeing Bakugou showing an emotion besides anger or neutrality, especially one akin to despair.

You’ve never seen such a hopeless expression visible on his face before.

You’re a monster.

For doing that to someone like him, you know you are.

Kirishima raises his head up and gives a small grin, glancing back at his companion. “Bakugou’s been here since you arrived at the hospital. He was the first person to contact us all about . . . this.”

You wince, pursing your lips at his not-so-subtle tiptoeing around your attempt. He means no harm, but the sting is just as intense at the reminder of your breakdown.

He moves off you and motions Katsuki to move towards your side, patting the blond on the back as he trudged over.

His steps are hesitant and slow— like a zookeeper approaching a wounded, rabid animal. Vermillion eyes inspect the tears that cling onto your eyelashes, the trembling at the corner of your lips, and the shallow intakes and exhales of breath from your throat.

The air between you is thick, but no matter how tense, you open your arms for Bakugou, staring at him teary eyed. He hovers above you, unsure of closing the distance between you both.

“Please?” Your arms tremble mid-air, and the tears on your face stream down faster. You don’t look decent— no one would look their best in such a weak, raw, and vulnerable moment, but you don’t care.

You don’t care because you know surviving is worth so much more than a presentable exterior.

Bakugou swallows thickly before moving into your embrace. His warmth contrasts the iciness in your bones and brings the blood rushing to the rest of your body. Your heart pounds rapidly and your lungs expand further and further, desperate to inhale all of Bakugou Katsuki in.

You stay like that for a few moments before he breaks the silence. “You idiot.”

Your breath hitches in your throat.

“If you need help, you better ask for it next time.”

And then, a small bit of warmth blossoms in your cheeks.

“Yeah, I know.”

MIDORIYA IS FRAGILE.

Midoriya is weak.

No matter how much time had passed and no matter how strong he became, he would always be that same helpless kid he once was. It was an innate part of him— Defenseless Deku would always be the child that existed in the corners of the Number One, Symbol of Peace Pro-Hero Deku’s mind.

Those thin, shaking arms and glassy, red-rimmed eyes all sewn onto a young boy would always be the reflection of Midoriya whenever he stared at the mirror.

Years of scars, fractured bones, and matured features would always fail at hiding the truth about the soul that lived within the body of the greatest hero in all of Japan’s history.

It’s something that lingered in his mind at the late hours of dusk and early hours of dawn— the harrowing truth about the Symbol of Peace.

How could one man be so strong, so powerful, yet be so weak, helpless, and vulnerable?

The thought bounced in his mind as he sat tiredly in the rickety chair of the hospital after receiving a panicked, cryptic worried message from Kacchan.

“‘She was tired. Bleak— dull. She wasn’t herself. She needs our help.’”

His words floated in Midoriya’s head, crashing into the sides of his mind once they resurfaced ashore, only to slip from the sandy outskirts of the beach and back into the rippling waves of the ocean.

“‘She needs you, Izuku.’”

(Name), his (Name), was in danger. You needed help- his help.

He wondered why Kacchan hadn’t just followed you himself. He had always loved you, long before Midoriya even did (or knew he did, for that matter). Midoriya had always known that.

Why didn’t he just play hero as he always would (just like when they were kids and Bakugou always wanted to be the one to only rescue you), and take all the glory for himself? It would end as it always did in those Hollywood films— the hero would save the girl and get her, and they would live happily ever after.

Isn’t that what Kacchan wanted? To live happily ever after with you?

At least, that’s what Midoriya had always concluded whenever his thoughts would trail back to the rather confusing relationship between you and his biggest rival.

Kacchan had always held a soft spot for you. Although the brashness of his actions and pointed words would’ve pierced anyone (like they soon did with him), those icicles simply melted before they could touch the surface of your skin.

And at first, that love was platonic (he believes, but Midoriya is unsure. He may have been able to read Kacchan like a book after years of knowing him, but he could never grasp his concept of romantic and platonic love. He didn’t know him like that.)

Gradually, however, it blossomed into something deeper than just a friendship. In the soil of his greatest rival’s heart, the roots of that love penetrated the layers of dirt before it overtook his heart and became something much stronger than either of them could have fathomed.

Kacchan would deny it all, though. Even to Midoriya.

Distinctly, Midoriya recalled watching Bakugou walk off to your dorm when you both were in your second year at U.A. He hadn’t thought much of it then (as it wasn’t until months afterwards did he begin to suspect Bakugou’s true feelings for you), but it became a frequent sight as the weeks passed.

In due time, Midoriya realized that Bakugou had been meeting up with you more than just those moments he saw Kacchan heading to your dorm room.

A polite voice snapped Midoriya from his spiraling thoughts.

“Mr. Midoriya, you are free to see (Last Name) (First Name).”

He gave a kind smile, bowing his head before he rose. Mindlessly, he walked down the hall until he found your room number the nurse gave.

Your room is secluded off into the end of the hall, beside nothing but a sterile white wall. It’s lonely out here— there are no people or gifts waiting outside the patient’s doors; just sterile, white walls and tiles.

You don’t belong here.

When Midoriya entered your room, the sight of your still body laying unceremoniously on the thin white bedding of the hospital greeted him. Not even a paper blanket had been thrown on you.

An IV drip is lodged into one of your arms, with wires of other sorts filling out the rest of the space on your forearms. Your hair is tangled and matted together by the salty water that once absorbed your body whole. There are fresh, pink cuts laying all over your body, no doubt sterilized by alcohol.

The scene reminded Midoriya of the many times he had landed himself in the hospital critically injured and on the verge of death.

You shouldn’t be in his place.

Never should you be in his place.

He loved you too much to stand seeing you so injured. You were a support hero— you stayed in the background to make the heroes of the public stronger. You belonged in an office where you would be safe and protected. Midoriya made sure of that when he requested you work for him.

But he let this happen.

It’s an unfortunate truth he doesn’t want to accept.

Midoriya knew about your feelings the whole time. He had seen the lovesick, dazed expressions you gave him. He saw the way you would grin happily after each passing interaction with him, how your eyes would light up whenever he stepped in the same room as you.

He knew because he would do all the same for you.

Every time he stepped into the office, his eyes would search for any semblance of you. It had always been like that.

He had always sought out for you, even as kids.

That’s why as he got older and realized the grasp you had on him, Midoriya attempted to flee his emotions. The longer he was around you, the deeper he spiraled in his endless pit of love for you. Butterflies would erupt every second he thought of you— they covered every inch of his being until he became a colorful mess of emotions.

And as he neared the number one spot, he realized the danger that came with such feelings. He would place a target on both your backs. Any villain looking for revenge against him would find you first as a means to get to him. And if they did— if they hurt you— he would have shattered

He would shatter.

That’s why he fled from your life: to protect you.

And himself.

Selfish Izuku.

But he failed to realize the affect it had on you. He never cared to look back and see how you took his sudden disappearance.

Look where that got you both, he tells himself.

You, in a hospital bed barely alive and him, guilty and torn apart at the seams.

Izuku Midoriya may be a hero, but he is a villain all the same.

Whether or not you’re aware of it, he is the villain in your story.

But he is— and that is enough to send the strongest man alive sprinting out of your hospital room and into the night, far away from you, his emotions, and the reality of your lives. Tears prick at the corners of his eyes, blurring his vision as he soars in the air, pouncing from rooftop to rooftop.

The world will always remind Izuku Midoriya that while your worlds were meant to meet, they were meant to collide together and cause destruction.

He just never meant to damage yours as much as he did.

But Midoriya is weak. He is as fragile and helpless as they come, even if he is trapped in the body of the most powerful and capable being known to man.

The cruel universe continued to laugh at him, bathing gloriously in his misery.

Dumb little boy, it condescendingly cooed.

Helpless Izuku, it reminded him.

And he let it torment him, as he always had. Because while he may be the closest thing to God, even he cannot defy fate.

The world doesn’t welcome you with open arms after you’re discharged from the hospital.

When you step outside of the hospital doors, the weather isn’t warm and sunny with a gentle breeze that kisses your skin in those Hollywood movies. The ends of your clothes and hair don’t flutter majestically in the wind. Birds don’t swoop down and tweet enthusiastically at you, hopping to inch near you. There aren’t people happily chattering as they trek down the sidewalks and kids squealing as they sprint freely across the street.

Instead, it’s a sweltering kind of heat that causes sweat to form in every crevice of your body; it’s the kind that burns your skin the moment you step outside, tearing apart your dry, AC-adapted skin. Hair sticks to your face at unflattering angles and your wrinkled clothes are impossibly uncomfortable with every step you take. The polyester of your shirt rubs uncomfortably against the cuts and bruises located all around your body, making you wince. Animals and critters skitter away into the shade in hopes of cooling down. There are no pedestrians on the street or giddy kids. All you can see and hear are cars honking at each other, angry drivers, and speeding motorcycles.

Life is hideous, unfortunate, and cruel. Life is reality. Life is the truth and the truth was never meant to be kind or forgiving. It was meant to kick you off your high horse and humble yourself. It was meant to remind you no matter the strength you possessed, no matter how perfect you were perceived, you would always have to bow your head to the hand above. It was meant to teach you to never bite the hand that feeds you, or else dire consequences will come from those who are disobedient.

And you disobeyed it. You defied fate. You chose your own death, against the death the world had planned for you. You sunk your canines into the hand of life and tore its fingers off, letting the blood spurt over your face.

Now, you are paying for it by living through misery.

Before and after death.

Always and forever.

“Pathetic,” the voice whispered. “How pathetic, (Name). You can’t do anything right, can you?”

A sleek black cars rolls to the curb and a tinted window is rolled down. Ash-blond spikes stick out of the window and you are met with Bakugou’s gleaming eyes.

“You getting in, Princess?”

He sticks a thumb behind him, signaling for you to go to the back. Nodding your head, you step into the back of the vehicle and shut the door behind you, buckling your seatbelt.

You’re right, you agreed with the voice, I can’t do anything right.

Beside Bakugou in the driver’s seat is Todoroki, who sends you a charming smile when he looks back at you. Bakugou turns over as well.

“Hello, (Name).”

You softened at the sight of his body’s tension melting under your gaze. “Hi, Shoto. How are you?”

“Better now that you’re here.”

A bright laugh escapes you— it’s abrupt and loud— the kind that makes you roll around in your bed rethinking your every choice at the crack of dawn.

Yet, somehow for the first time in months, nearly years, you feel a little bit lighter.

The world seems a little brighter.

The voice boils in rage.

“Aren’t you just a charmer, Todoroki?” your hand waves teasingly as you press your head to the glass, swooning to the side. “I always knew your were my Prince Charming waiting to sweep me off my feet!”

Bakugou sucks air through his teeth, huffing loudly. Shoto’s eyes twinkle in amusement as he peers over at Katsuki, his eyes crinkling as his smile grows wider and the pearls of his teeth begin to show.

“If you have something to say Bakugou, you should communicate with us,” Todoroki stated matter-of-factly, glancing behind him before reversing out of his spot. “We’re friends, after all.”

Bakugou scowls, rolling his eyes before turning back and staring at you from the dash mirror. “You got all your stuff, (Name)?”

You nodded, watching as he turned to look off into the distance.

Bakugou had changed drastically from the teenager he once was in UA and even though you saw his development each year, never did you focus on each of his features as he matured.

Your mind wanders to the memories stored of the nights you continuously spent with Bakugou, drinking in his features. The images of the moonlight glowing on his skin like a gentle kiss from a loving mother. The slight curl of his eyelashes, always so long and full that the girls in middle school would jealously whisper over how pretty he was. The deep carmine of his eyes that resembled the reddest of apples, so shiny and perfectly polished that even the fruit trees strewn across Japan enviously would turn away, swaying their branches in the opposite direction just to look away from his breathtaking features.

Those features remained as an adult. Though, the only difference between younger Bakugou and your current one were their builds. Katsuki was taller, bulkier, and somehow even leaner to the point every angle of him appeared sharp. His jawline, the outline of his shoulders, his calf muscles, and everything inbetween. You had gotten accustomed to hearing the fangirls and fanboys of Dynamight ramble about his striking appearance, but you never noticed it properly until this moment.

He’s healthier.

Happier, too.

The once permanent scowl on his face has toned down to a stoic expression and his eyes seem purer than they ever had been before. His soul is kinder, his intentions are gentler. It’s evident with the way he interacts with the world around him, how his touch is less sudden and rough.

You’re glad to see him flourishing in life.

He deserves nothing but the best.

“You don’t,” the voice sneered.

A catchy tune permeates the air and you snap back to the present to find Shoto fiddling with the radio. Slender fingers twisted the black knob back and forth, lingering on each different station for only a moment before moving onto the next.

Shoto cleared his throat. “Are there any radio stations you both like?”

Bakugou shook his head. “I only listen to music from my phone.” He tilts his head back to look at you, cocking an eyebrow.

“Not really,” you tugged at your shirt, trying to distract yourself. “I’m kinda like Bakugou.”

Todoroki lets go of the knob and returns both hands to the steering wheel. “Well, I suggest one of you pull out your phone because we have a long way to go.”

His head bobs in Katsuki’s direction and Bakugou whips out his phone.

Quizzically, you peer at the two. Raising an eyebrow, you reiterate, “. . . A long way to go? My home isn’t that far from the general hospital. It’s not more than 10 minutes driving.”

Immediately, you look outside, reading the names of the streets that pass by. Street names you’ve never heard before pass by and you are met with unfamiliar roads and scenery. Instead of the usual shrubs you’re used to walking by, there are blossoming trees on every corner. This part of the city is far nicer than what you’re used to.

They aren’t taking you home.

“Hope you like animals, princess,” Bakugou chuckled, patting Shoto on the shoulder.

“Road-trip,” Shoto said in the most monotone voice possible.

You gulp.

Geez, maybe I shouldn’t have gotten in this car in the first place.

You grumble, pulling your legs to your chest.

Bakugou cackles loudly and Todoroki emits a small chuckle.

You crack a grin and close your eyes. The voice fumes.

Your smile brightens.

Life gradually begins to slow down as the months pass.

Time doesn’t go as fast, memories don’t escape your mind as much, and moments seem to last long enough to engrave themselves into you. No longer do you live life through your eyes as a spectator in your own body, but as an actual human being present in the moment.

In short, you’re recovering.

At least, that’s what your therapist says. Your friends too.

Not everyday is perfect. You’re not productive every morning, afternoon, or night. Sometimes, you can get out of bed with ease and settle into the little routine you’ve built for yourself. You can wake up, make your bed, change your clothes, wash your face, perform a skincare routine, make breakfast and commence with the day. You might be productive the whole days and run errands, make phone calls, book appointments, and catch up with friends and family. In other instances, your day is much more mundane. You lounge on the couch, hangout with friends, or treat yourself to some nice takeout or a nice walk to that local cafe or bakery. You end the day with a nice movie and popcorn, and even desert if you’re feeling something sweet. Then, you go to bed and the process repeats.

Other times, it feels impossible to even crack your eyes open. You can’t bring yourself to break through the state of slumber. All you can pray for are for those black tendrils to pull you back under into a dreamless world to distract you from reality. Getting out of bed is nearly impossible; it requires hours of coaxing yourself, frustrated tears, frantic thoughts, and maybe a pair of helping hands. The distance from your bed to your bathroom is infinite and the idea of even picking up your toothbrush has you collapsing on the spot. The tears bleed from your eyes and pile onto the sink and your pained sobs echo throughout the halls. The water of the shower is too much and you have to just sit there and wallow until a nagging feeling, a sliver of an authoritative voice reminds you there are bills to pay and there is a life to live. The day is filled with long hours of work and unrest and agony, but it only takes one text to guarantee a pair of warm arms will pick up the pieces of your pain when you get home.

Those days are the hardest, but you’ve survived each one. That in its own is a feat that you’re reminded of everyday you stare in the mirror. You imagine the faces of those who remain with you today whenever the thought dwells and you continue on.

Guilt sparks in your chest when you think of all of those who had suffered in the way you had but received no support and were left to suffer. Your heart cracks, but you know you must do this.

If not for you, for them. For those who were not as fortunate. You will live to tell the tale they could not.

You will remember them in life while they are remembered in death.

Your therapist says trial and error is how you succeed in life. Learning from mistakes is how you grow into someone greater than you were before.

To conclude each session, she reminds you consistency is key. Each time you tell her, “‘Frankly, that’s the hardest part about recovery.’”

It’s hard to be consistent because nothing is consistent in your life. Nothing is consistent in life. The world is ever-changing. Everyday, the Earth spins and something changes around you. A child grows a year older. A baby is born. A loved one is lost. Life dies. Life is reborn. Love blossoms and love dies. A new creation is discovered while another is destroyed. A heart is broken while another is mended.

Someone changes. And at one point in time, you were that person who changed.

Without a beat, she sends you that wistful smile of hers and that one sentence that leads you snorting out of her office.

“‘You like to surprise the world, (Name).’”

For the longest time you had thought she was going mad listening to you, but you eat your words now.

“Did you love him?”

A voice snaps you out of your thoughts.

Slender fingers wrap around the end of the teaspoon, digging the head into the cup of sugar. Another few reach for the China teacup placed in the middle of the table, gently moving it forward to meet the now full spoon of sugar. The grains of white tumble out of the rounded metal and into the warm water, sinking to the bottom until the same spoon hits the water and stirs them around, dissolving them.

The fresh cup of tea is handed to you.

“Who?” The ceramic’s temperature is a favorable kind of warm— the type that spreads from your fingertips into the rest of your body until you’ve melted in a comfortable pile of goo that brings a content feeling swelling in your chest.

The tea is even warmer, steam hitting your face as you go to sip it. The liquid slips past your lips and over your tongue, coating every crevice of your mouth. The hints of mint and Jasmine blend perfectly with each other, the sweet floral balances out the spice of the mentha.

It reminds you of him.

“Don’t be coy, (Name). You know who I’m talking about.” You want to decline her assertion— to argue that her generality is misleading and she should specify who the man she suspects you have fallen in love with is. But this lady is one you have known for your whole life, one who you believe may just know better than all the rest despite your drastic differences. She was always there to keep you in check between reality and fiction.

Finally, you look up.

Astute and inquisitive eyes the color of carmine align with yours. Mitsuki grins slyly, her eyes twinkling in amusement. “There’s those pretty eyes. Glad to see you’re still in tact, sweetheart.”

You roll your eyes. “I’m not fragile, Mitsuki. And you’re starting to sound like Katsuki.”

The woman’s eyes soften at the sound of her son’s name and crinkle at the edges in thought. “He got his language from me, y’know. I was the one who called you all those sweet things when you were young. I mean, you were just the cutest little girl!” She wears an adoring smile on her face as she gazes at you with so much motherly love that you can only fidget under her gaze, lowering your eyes in embarrassment.

You never got used to the fireball known as Mitsuki Bakugou, nor her affections. From your earliest days, you could recall the way she would just coddle you. Whenever her son seemed to be talking your ear off or you were overwhelmed, she would simply pluck you out of Bakugou’s reach and walk away from his vicinity, cradling you in her arms cooing quietly at you. No matter how much he would protest, Mitsuki would be your getaway from any situation you couldn’t seem to defuse yourself.

On the weekends, she would take you out shopping with her as if you were her own kin, doting on you like a second mother. She would buy you clothes, books, get you icecream and take you out to eat. Your parents liked to joke that she was their own free babysitter, to which she would always exclaim that you would always be the daughter she never had.

As you got older, that powerful kind of love Mitsuki possessed was one you saw less and less of. That growing rift between you and her son was greater than ever, and the chances you had of seeing her was minimal, minus the outings she would frequently invite your folks to. Even then, she would always be mingling with the crowd.

Sometimes, you wondered if she was there with you through your hardest years would your life have turned out differently. It’s a thought to entertain, but the consequences of misery and despair flare at the idea.

You push the concept down whenever it pops up.

She continues.

“Katsuki simply followed suit. He’s my boy, after all.”

“Your own personal carbon copy,” you agree, stroking the intricately painted patterns of the fine China. The thought of Mitsuki’s question lingers in your head, prodding at a hidden part of your mind you had tucked away for ages now.

The topic of Izuku Midoriya was one you stopped entertaining after the night at the cliff. You had ripped it from the forefront of your mind, shoved it deep inside a metal vault, locked it shut, and tossed the key away.

The relationship between you both was messy— it was a lack of communication, a tangled mess of emotions and one-sided care. The bubble of your affections was filled with mistreatment, betrayal, selfishness, and greed. It was take, take, take from Midoriya and give, give, give from you. It wasn’t healthy for you nor Midoriya.

After you had opened the can of worms that was the man you once loved with your therapist, it wasn’t possible for you to ever see him in the same light. You could never stare at Midoriya with that blindly lovestruck gaze through those rose-tinted lenses. All that flashed before your eyes at the mere mention of him was the horror, sympathy, and guilt that swirled in her eyes as she listened to you. The shaky hug she had given you made you quiver in your shoes and the tears that fell from her eyes made your own slip past your hold.

That was the first time you had seen her professional facade break.

The thought that even the most experienced and knowledgeable of people in the world breaking at the seams from your supposed love story sickened you to your core.

“Was it that obvious?” Truthfully, you’re curious. Did everyone around you know how you used to feel about him? Were your affections for him that palpable?

“Very,” she nods, bringing the cup to her lips once again. “None of us saw it at first when you were kids. Not Inko, myself, or your family.”

Mitsuki sets the cup down, leaning her head on her hand. “But as you all grew up, we all realized that whenever you were with Izuku, you lit up in a way none of us had ever seen before. It was puppy love in our eyes, so we didn’t think much of it at first.”

A noncommittal hum leaves your throat and you inspect Mitsuki as she speaks.

“I mean, you were obvious. It was sweet,” Mitsuki laughs, the vermillion irises of her eyes shining in glee. Suddenly, she placed a finger to her cheek in thought. “Have you spoken to him as of late, (Name)?”

“Midoriya?” you blink, surprised. She doesn’t know, (Name). Stay calm.

You shake your head before going to down the rest of your tea. Mitsuki waved her hand in the air, her face morphing into an indecipherable expression.

“The brat told me about how worried the both of them were over you when you were still in the hospital,” she begins, and she looks down, lowering her voice. “He . . . He was scared.”

You still.

“Scared?” you parrot. “Why? He’s seen worse, hasn’t he?”

The eyebrows of Mitsuki’s face furrow and she sets her teacup down, clasping her hands together. It’s as if the air around you stills and time begins to freeze, pausing the orbiting of Earth itself.

Mitsuki hesitates. “He called me in tears when he was waiting for you to wake up— he was terrified. And when your heartbeat flatlined?” Mitsuki shakes her head. “He couldn’t hold himself together anymore. That Todoroki kid and Kirishima had to take him outside to console him.”

She stares at you, smiling sadly. “The last time he was that petrified was when he was a child, (Name).” A small exhale leaves her lips. “If he lost you that day, he would have lost everything.”

“Huh?” you sweat-drop. “Katsuki has a lot going for him in life, Mitsuki. I don’t think my . . . disappearance would be the end of him.”

Mitsuki shakes her head with a solemn smile, the low curl of her lips hinting at a secret unbeknownst to you. “You just don’t know how much you mean to my boy, (Name).”

She sighs. “I wish he would just tell you already. But I suppose now isn’t this time, is it?”

Mitsuki stands from her position, moving over to pat your head affectionally before leaving the kitchen.

A small part of you claws at your throat, screeching at you to stop her fading figure. It itches at you, desperate to scratch at the surface of your curiosity.

What does Katsuki need to tell me? And why won’t he?

“Curiosity killed the cat, (Name),” the voice giggles in glee. “You don’t want to meet that same end again, do you?”

A booming voice cuts through the clouds in the sky, sending you falling back to the ground.

“You ready to go?”

Leaning against the frame of the hall in all his glory is Katsuki Bakugou, dressed nicer than you’ve ever seen him. He’s wearing a fitted black polo from a brand far too expensive for you to name off the top of your head and a pair of tailored khaki pants. Placed on his right wrist is a black Vacheron Constantin watch with intricate carvings and stones within the clock that looks far too expensive for you to even fathom purchasing or even browsing through.

Like a moth to a flame, Mitsuki steps over to her son, fussing over him like a mother bird with her chick. She huffs as she adjusts the collar of his shirt accordingly, and he groans as his mother who was nearly a foot shorter than him pranced around and fixed his appearance.

The sight was heartwarming, sending a wave of nostalgia through you.

“You expect to go out with (Name) looking like that? I raised you better than this, Katsuki! You’re the son of a fashion designer!” Mitsuki scolds, combing out his hair.

He grumbles, swatting her hand away. “You hag—! I look fine!”

The bickering between the two continues, both of them going back and forth. She swats at his shoulder, even going as far to beat him with her slipper.

Bakugou takes each hit, not moving to fight back. You know he could stop her if he wanted. After all, he was the second strongest hero of Japan and pure muscle. No woman or man stood a chance against him.

Though, when you see Bakugou wince as his mom smacks him for the nth time, you’re left thinking that maybe Mitsuki might be the exception to the rule.

The thought bubbles a giggle in your throat that leaves you chortling to the point of tears. It’s a sound that hasn’t escaped you in ages.

Your chest feels full. Your body feels warm— not the restricting kind, but the comforting one.

They both turn to the sound, their expressions softening as you doubled over in joy. You look up and find Bakugou’s eyes swirling with an emotion that sends your heart fluttering and a brighter grin growing on your face against your will.

The expression reminds you of one you always stared at Midoriya with.

Could it be . . . ?

Heat spreads across your body and your heart skips a beat.

“No one could ever love you, (Name). No one ever will. You’re unlovable,” the voice smirked. “Foolish little (Name). Lovestruck already for another man you’ll never get? How humiliating.”

You recoil back into your timid shell, causing Mitsuki to give Katsuki a look.

The look.

It shouts at him, “Go comfort (Name)! How else are you going to win her heart?”

The one Katsuki returns barks, “What do you think I was going to do?! You’re bothering me, hag!”

Mitsuki rolls her eyes before slapping his shoulder with a huff. “Well, you better go now Romeo, or else I’ll whisk her away from you first!”

He breaks eye contact first, rolling his eyes as he nears towards your hunched figure. From the lowering of your head, he suspects your eyes are trained on the table in front of you. Though, his vision is obscured by the hair that falls in front of your eyes that he so desperately desires to tuck behind your ear.

Be selfish, his mind screamed. Take what you want the most.

But for you, he swore to never bite the hand you fed him from. He would always be grateful for the attention, affection, and care you gave him. You were always so generous with him and the twerp.

Perhaps this time, he would become the hand that did not feed you, but pampered you. Loved you. Took care of you. He would prove that he was not a man greater than the world when he was on his knees beside you. You were his equal, his other half.

He would treat you better than Midoriya ever did. While the Symbol of Peace was blessed with countless chances to end as yours, to take off running with you into a never-ending fairytale, he always left you to eat dust and dirt. Even when Bakugou sacrificed the one chance he had for Midoriya, he refused to atone for his sins. Instead, he only ran further.

This time, Bakugou would not wait for the world to give him a chance. He would create his one last chance with you.

He would love you right. Properly, fully, and unconditionally.

Unlike Midoriya.

A calloused hand gently pushes a few strands behind your ear before cupping the side of your face, bringing your eyes back into focus. Rough palms lovingly caress the apple of your cheeks and instinctively you lean into their hold.

From their touch alone, you know who this is.

Kneeling beside you is Katsuki Bakugou in all his glory, vermillion eyes and all trained on your face. Delicately, you move your hand to wrap around his wrist, giving him a small grin at his delicate behavior. It reminded you of the nights you spent back at UA together.

The syrupy feeling in your chest swirls faster.

A sudden flick smacks your forehead and instinctively you grab your head, face morphing into a glare. “You done prancing with your head in the clouds? We got a reservation to meet.”

You playfully scoff, standing up. “You can’t be nice for once, can you Katsuki?”

He laughed. “Never, Princess.”

The two of you head towards the front door, hugging Mitsuki as you leave. As you both enter Bakugou’s car, she waves you off with a “stay safe name! And protect her Katsuki!”

“We will, Mitsuki!” you shouted, waving. Bakugou grumbles and affectionately, you ruffle his hair. “He says he will, too!”

Mitsuki emits a hearty laugh as she walks back inside the comforts of her own home.

“So where are we headed to eat?” you trace the end of your dress, twirling the loose fabric. “You said to dress nicer than normal, but I’m not too sure what to expect with you pro-heroes.“

Bakugou snorts. “What makes you say that, sweetheart?”

You side-eye Bakugou, cocking an eyebrow. “Take a wild guess.”

“Half-N’-Half took you to one of those rich restaurants in Tokyo?” Bakugou doesn’t even glance over. He’s right and he knows it.

As always.

You grimace, melting into your seat. “I wish I could have evaporated into thin air the moment I stepped inside.”

The occurrence had happened not even a week ago. Only hours before you were meant to hangout with Todoroki, he had sent you an ominous text to simply dress well. When he picked you up, all he would tell you was that you both were attending somewhere nice to dine for the night. And as clueless as ever, you assumed it would be a slightly more upscale restaurant than you both typically frequented.

But boy, were you wrong.

The restaurant was at least fifteen stories tall with clear panes of glass covering every inch of each wall. Chandeliers covered each foot of the high rise ceilings and the floors were glassy, gargantuan tiles that were a pale color of hessonite. The furniture in the establishment were expensive— mulberry silk, plush cushions, bocote wood and all.

The patrons appeared to be just as wealthy, if not more. Dressed in the finest of suits and dresses, adorned with flashy and gauzy jewelry, each and every one of them burned brighter than last.

Shoto too, fit right in. Elegant and classy, they all gawked at the Number Three Pro-Hero.

And you, in comparison to them, stood out like a sore thumb. Meek, humble, and intimidated. You could hear their whispers about you, that night. But you chose to suck down your raging emotions to enjoy the night and tasty dishes.

Well, for as long as you could.

“Was the food good? Shit like that is either hit or miss,” Bakugou commented as he took a right turn, peeking at the GPS set up in the car. “We’re almost there.”

You nod, watching as the once filled roads of the highway cleared into empty streets of residential neighborhoods. “The food was fantastic, but the portions wouldn’t have even fed an infant. I don’t think I’d ever go back, though.”

“Why not?”

You blink, scratching at the skin of your arm to distract yourself from Bakugou’s question. Maybe, just maybe he would ignore your silence—

He repeats his question, opting to now stare at you. You shrink further back into your seat.

There’s no point in lying now, is there?

“I kind of freaked out,” you admit, leaning against the window. The glass is cool against your skin and you let your eyes close momentarily. “I was thrown into an unknown environment and I could feel all their eyes on me. They weren’t trying to hide the fact that they were talking about me.”

You kicked off your heels, sitting your legs up on the seat. “Halfway through, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I told Shoto I had a call to take and nearly sprinted outside to get some fresh air.” You open your eyes, looking at the dashboard in front of you. “It’s humiliating to think about it now, but I left for nearly an hour trying to calm myself down. I must’ve looked insane to anyone walking by.”

The imagery of you sitting on your bottom in front of a Michelin star restaurant with your head in your hands breathing erratically and on the verge of tears made you cringe at the idea. You definitely got some dirty looks, even if no one approached you.

Timidly, you peered at Bakugou. His expression was blank and his lips formed no response.

Your heart constricts itself in your chest.

I should’ve kept my mouth shut, you chastise, curling deeper into yourself. Dread filled your stomach. Why did I even open my mouth?

“Why did you?” the voice taunts. “Everything is easier when you just stay quiet.”

Tears bud at the corner of your eyes and you curl deeper into yourself, focusing on the scenery flying by outside.

Despite the two of you entering residential roads, the area looks familiar. The quiet streets eventually delve into a busy intersection filled with grocery stores and small businesses. The scene looks familiar, but you can’t quite place your finger on it.

“Stupid, little (Name),” the voice coos patronizingly. You grit your teeth. The dread that once resided in your stomach transforms into a festering anger that dribbles into your bloodstream, spreading like pure poison.

The voice beams, spinning circles around your mind eagerly. “Didn’t we go over this last time, (Name)? I’m always right. You’re always wrong. That’s just how it is. That’s life.”

That’s not true— you’re nothing but a filthy liar! you seeth, digging your nails into your skin. I believed you and look where I am—

The thought freezes you. As soon as it comes, it dies. You can hear the voice giggling in delight. Horror creeps into your chest. You tremble in return.

I thought I was getting better. That hopelessness you thought left your system months ago seeps into your bones, attempting to crack the wall of sanity you had spent months building. I thought I was supposed to be healing.

The mantra that rung repeatedly in your head that evening at your office plays again, mimicking that dull little tune. I can’t, I can’t, I—

“We’re here,” Bakugou turns off the ignition of the car. Swiveling your head, you are met with carmine irises and narrowed eyes inspecting your features.

You gulp.

Choke it down, (Name). You’re ruining it for him. Don’t cry, don’t cry. You’re okay. You’re fine. You’ll be okay. Just get out. Just leave. It’s only a few more hours and then you can kiss the bed goodnight and never wake up again.

Finally, when you turn to see where you arrived, your heart plummets.

To your side lay swaying blades of grass, swinging to the current of the evening breeze. They dance in the wind, luring the unknown to enter their arcane kingdom. In between the luscious planes of evergreen grass is a dirt road, soiled with muddy tracks from those who had come before you two.

The idea that some of those tracks could have been yours sends you reeling.

I can’t do this. This has to be some sick joke the universe is playing on me. A nightmare.

Suddenly, Bakugou is in front of your door, unlocking it for you. No words are said, except for the calloused hand he has laid out for you. You can’t see his eyes, but you’re sure he must think you’re insane.

If he didn’t before, he surely did now.

Just get the night over with, (Name). It can’t be that bad, right? You’re just overthinking it. It’s not that big of a deal.

“You’re too naive,” the voice sings. Slowly, the inky tendrils of despair emerged from the crevices of your mind, circling your brain. Latching onto any expanse of mind, they pulled and pushed. “You’re hopeless. Why do you even try? You failed once. You’re nothing. You’re worthless.”

I’m not worthless, you argue back, taking Bakugou’s hand. He’s saying something that you can’t pick up, but you don’t care enough to. Rage bubbled beneath your skin. I’ve made it this far. I survived. I can do this.

Storming off, you walk on the trail. Each step you take is filled with fury and steam, gallons upon gallons of boiling emotions that you can’t wait to scream into the night.

When you walk along the curves, twists, and turns of the trail, you don’t picture the nights you spent running up the path with Midoriya. You don’t envision locks of green rooted with black bouncing with each step, galaxies of freckles or the craters you call dimples. Those stupidly bright red shoes the color of maraschino cherries aren’t what form in your mind as you stare at the ground, watching one foot go in front of the other.

Instead, those memories are replaced with the days you spent drinking yourself into oblivion, desperate to drown your sorrows. Flashes and flickers of empty beer bottles strewn across patches of damp, crushed and curled grass play in your head. The sight of filthy and grimy white tiles and a pair of shoes dragging themselves repeat in your head like a broken tape, the beep of a scanner continuously breaks each train of coherent thought that attempts to enter your head.

“‘Would that be all?’”

Thousands of voices ask, some more feminine, some more masculine, some exactly in-between or strewn off into the left or right. Their faces are blurs and unrecognizable blends, obtuse and acute shapes. Their noses are thin, thick, long, short, stout, round, curved up or down, broken or centered perfectly. Their faces are long, round, slender, puffy, soft, rough, bony, or chubby. It’s angles and curves, proportions and disproportions. There’s marks— dots, lines, squiggles, blobs— imperfections in their eyes, but they’re just shapes in yours. Their strands of hair are slicked back, falling forward, parted down the middle, sides, sticking up, down, left and right, or to the side. Their eyes come in different shapes— circles, ovals, diamonds, almonds, pistachios. The outlines are round, big, small, sharp, soft, thin, delicate, tough.

There’s billions of them.

But you never cared enough to truly study their features, instead opting to let a hum and snatch the alcohol from the counter, disappearing in the night.

Now, you wonder if you had cared to stare them in the eyes for a moment longer, to peer past the veil of darkness before your eyes, would you have been saved? Would you have been stopped in your tracks, staring at glistening eyes filled with life, youth, and humanity, disturbed at your disgusting, reckless behavior?

“No one could have saved you,” the voice reminds. “No one can save you. No one will save you.”

Your blood boils and the sense of reconciliation shatters, leaving you sourer than before. Frustrated, you stomp faster, ignoring Bakugou.

The only thing audible is the blood pumping in your veins, the angered huffs from your mouths, and the stomping of your heels against the trail. Each step causes the ends of your shoes to stick further into the soil, making each motion more exerting than last. At the rate you storm up the path, sooner or later fate will bring you down on your knees to kiss the dirt.

With every few feet, the soil beneath your feet hardens. The layers become dryer, returning every step with enough abrupt force to keep you resurfaced. No longer do the pebbles littering the ground sink in; instead, they slide with the specks of dirt, tumbling up and down with the breeze of the wind. You ascend further and further, rise higher and higher. No longer do you fall to your surroundings.

Instead, you rise above them.

“Just like the waves,” the voice beams. “But this time, will you fall below them?”

Time seems to slow to a stop, and you are brought back to reality, frozen in your tracks.

The sea sings its song, the one it always has— the lullaby that sailors fall asleep to and creatures far below the surface awaken for. Each wave crashes against the rocks littered around the cliff wall, the impact of every hit resonating in the air. The droplets of salty water fly high into the air, dropping as fast as they bounced from the cold stone.

The once comforting noises of the deep blue haunt you, seeping into your ears and drowning your heart.

“Don’t step too close to the edge, or you’ll fall off, Princess.”

A sudden warmth blooms on your wrist and when you turn your head, your gaze meets Bakugou’s. Carmine meets (e/c), the two melting into the other.

He wears a cocky grin, but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes. It looks forced, dare you say, nothing like the bright and deadly grin that adorns his face on the battlefield or when he jokes with friends.

You want to ask, “Are you okay?” But your mouth is glued shut and your body is too heavy to move, so you opt to stand in silence with your wrist in his rough palms, allowing the heat of him to bleed into the coldness of you.

“You’re missing the main attraction, sweetheart,” Bakugou nods his head to the side and your gaze follows suit.

Laying a few feet away from you is a picturesque picnic, straight out of any girl’s Pinterest board. There’s a large black blanket laid out with fairy lights spread all around it, lighting up a pathway for you to enter its soft kingdom. Plates of pastries, fruits, and different foods rest around each inch, goading you to come and take a bite. There’s a wooden basket woven to create the finest pattern, a heart, centered in the middle filled with ice and two bottles of what you believe are champagne and wine.

Your stomach lurches and the tea you had earlier churns in delight to make a reappearance from your gut. You swallow thickly.

“Wow,” is all you manage, but you see the corners of Bakugou’s lips turn just a little bit higher at the words. He doesn’t seem to notice your inner turmoil.

“Did you really think he would? After he hid the fact that he knew you were suffering all this time?”

You answer with memories of going out with friends, with him distracting you from your crumbling life after you escaped the hospital. The voice scoffs at each one and with every noise of disappointment, you hole yourself further and further into your mind.

Bakugou gently tugs you forward, leading you to the picnic. Moving to the side, he guides you to sit down, to which you curl your legs into your side. Carefully walking around the fairy lights, he takes a seat, crossing his legs.

The air between the two of you is tense, awkward. None of you make the first move to speak or eat. You just sit in silence with your hands in your lap, fiddling with your fingers. Never once do you dare to peer up and see how Bakugou reacts to the feel of the room.

Selfish.

He makes the move to pick up a piece of food, and you follow suit by grabbing some mochi. At least that would keep you busy.

Bits of conversation fall between you two, but no sparks fly. It’s lifeless and dull— the fireworks that once blew up beside you two now blew up between the two of you, creating a rift greater than the Nile River.

The mochi is soft as it is sticky, refusing to tear from its body. Though, when it finally breaks, it resists your teeth as you chew it slowly, fighting to keep itself whole. The doughy inside burst into your mouth, sweetening your tastebuds.

Though, the saccharine goodness does little to cancel out the bitterness in your heart and the sourness on your tongue.

“You should see the water. Looks gorgeous when you’re up close,” Bakugou sets down a piece of strawberry cake he had bitten through, nearly halfway done. Rising from his position, he extends a hand to you, goading you to follow in his steps. You mindlessly take the bait, allowing him to drag you like a little girl with her dolls.

Each step closer is painstaking. A nasty feeling latches itself onto your mind, eating through the walls of your sanity. Long, thick, silver drills press into the cement, chomping with all its might to destroy the structure.

“Isn’t it just nostalgic?” the voice prances, jumping back and forth in ecstasy. “You and me, just like from day one.”

You wonder if the glass shards from the broken beer bottles remained spread across the plains of grass, nestled deep between each patch of blades. Had others whom trekked these hills let the glass crunch beneath their feet, shattering the sticky, translucent material? Did they ever consider the story behind the pile of broken bottles, wondering if a soul was suffering the way you were? Or did they merely scoff at the sight, commenting about how reckless others were at the sight of haphazardly tossed glasses with the image of a group of teenagers drinking and giggling into the night?

Did they treat it kindly, lifting each individual piece and storing it to toss away? Or did they kick it to the side with a huff, stepping around any other messes nearby?

Would they have believed a soul if they told the story about a woman drowning in her own agony, her own lovesick foolery? Would they have empathized with the lost soul tethered together by a vile voice, haunting her every living moment?

Would they have listened to the soul beneath their shoes and the sky above their heads sing the tale of misery?

“Would you believe them?”

No, you answer, now peering at the water that soared to the edge of the cliff. I wouldn’t have even listened.

The salty liquid crashes against the boulders, flooding every crevice until the dips overflowed, spilling back into the ocean. Algae resurfaces with every wave, creeping further upon the cliff. Different creatures slip from the holes, desperate to escape the vicious cycle of life and Mother Nature.

Some drown, some drift off into the abyss of black, and others survive. It’s as beautiful as it’s painful and horrific.

Life is cruel. Life is unfair. Life is unforgiving.

Life is a rose— deceptively gorgeous with its bright lights, warm skies, cool breezes and pretty organisms. But with every creation comes its thorns— its threats and consequences for such beauty.

Life is you. You are life.

You are living.

Your throat constricts and your fists clench.

The sky is no longer a melting pot of warmth. There are no hues of burgundy, honey, or marmalade. All that lingers in its tracks are the sinister obsidian, with streaks of berry blue and a deep indigo that looks nearly the same as the vantablack that permeates the entirety of the atmosphere surrounding you. It is freezing cold and frigid.

The twinkles of fluorescence in the air are the only symbol of warmth left, but they are just as cold as the world around you is. They never lit up in the cozy tones of color. They were overshadowed, for they thawed under that gentle glow it emitted.

Static trickles into your ears, blocking out the noise of your surroundings. The control of your own body slips from between your fingertips, tipping into the ocean below. The sight of the world around you blurs and finally, you are rendered helpless.

Bile comes up instantly.

The world seems to nearly tip over as you hurl, coughing up all the liquids and food that had once churned within your stomach. Thick, corded arms wrap around your waist, stabilizing you and soothing your pained body.

Choked coughs escape your throat as you are forced to expel all the contents of your stomach, burning your throat. A tang of bitterness is heavy on your tongue and your mouth is impossibly dry. Grabbing at your throat, you perform a poor hand motion of drinking and instantly Bakugou hands you a glass.

It’s clear— it looks close enough to water. You down it.

It’s sweet, bubbly, and nothing like water. Once again, you vomit. It rushes back through your nose and out of your mouth, leaving you shuddering in place. A surprised “Shit!” leaves Bakugou’s mouth and he tugs you to him, rubbing your back with those large calloused palms of his.

You cough, inhaling every bit of air. “You— god— you gave me champagne?”

Bakugou hissed. “I didn’t realize that we didn’t have water— I was trying to help!”

It burns, stings. Your throat is on fire, your chest is constricting on itself and your heart is pounding. The heat of Bakugou only adds to the coldness of your skin, the iciness that seeped from your insides to your skin. Your eyes demand to fall shut, the lids drooping with every breath. The world feels dead around you, your head is heavy, and you are limp.

You are dead. You are a dead man trapped in a living body.

Bakugou shifts. “Are you . . . okay? Fuck— that’s a dumb question but—”

The thumping of Bakugou’s heart brings your eyes to shut. “I thought I was. Yanno, I thought I was recovering and all that. I was making progress. That’s what everyone said.”

A warm finger slides under your eye, brushing the puffy skin gently. “But?”

“I guess I didn’t. Or I did and I fell backwards. Took one step forward and six steps back.” You push your head further into his chest in a poor attempt to allow the exhaustion of your body to seep into the heat and disappear. “Lately, it feels like I’m back to before the hospital. I don’t reach for the beer like I did before, but that misery and hopelessness still lingers within me.”

Does it ever go away? you want to ask. Do I ever heal?

Nobody can answer. Time can only tell. Life can only smile.

You glance up at Bakugou and watch as his face contorts into a confused expression, lost at your words. A sad smile graces your lips. “You know, it was here where it all happened. I don’t think you even knew— I don’t even know how you knew about this spot— but I guess that’s what I get. I mean, it’s what I get for not telling you the entire truth, I guess. The world likes to make people pay for their actions, huh?”

Bakugou remains silent.

“I hate this place. It reminds me of him.” You both are aware of who you’re referring to. “We found it together. When we were kids in UA. Maybe even before, I don’t really remember.”

Bakugou shifts the two of you so you’re both laying down, inching away from the cliff and back to the cloth. He brings his hand to your back, rubbing soft circles and figure eights. You bury your head into his chest, words muffled by his shirt.

“There’s so many memories here. Good and bad. And I kept coming back all this time to relieve them because of him. But he never cared. It’s stupid now— I can’t believe I never saw it. I was holding onto something that had died long ago and I was dying because of it. I think I’m dead now, anyway. I don’t feel alive.”

You choke on your words. “I want it to all go away, Katsuki,” you say plaintively like a child, clutching his shirt. “Please.”

The waves smash against the cliff and you curl closer to him. He’s warm, so impossibly warm, but you can’t seem to seek equilibrium and match temperatures.

The noise won’t be drowned out.

Stop, please. Stop, stop, stop.

“I can’t save you,” he begins.

Your heart falters in your chest. The dam in your eyes splinters, the wood that held the water behind your eyes begging to flood.

“‘M a hero, but some battles aren’t meant to be fought by all.”

You whimper.

“I can try to help you, (Name), but no one can save you. You have to want to get better to heal. It’s not going to be easy and you won’t be alone, but you have to be willing to hold yourself together. We can only support you, but you have to be the change you want to happen.”

He tilts your head to him, pointer finger under your chin. The soft carmine bleeds into the blurry (e/c). “I know you can do it. You’re strong and you flourish even when everyone around you tells you you can’t. You’ve outdone the best of the best in your fields.”

You sniffle. “That was once. Hatsume just made a dumb mistake.”

He rolls his eyes. “You’re capable, (Name). But you need to trust and believe in yourself. It’s hard; I know. But you’ve gotta if you want to move on.”

Your lip quivers. “Did— did you know?”

His eyebrow raises.

“About Midoriya?”

His face falls into a neutral expression and you swallow thickly. He nods.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“If I did, would you have listened? I think you knew but refused to accept it.”

You sigh, wiping your eyes. “I guess that’s true.”

Silence settles before he breaks it.

“(Name).”

You look at him and watch as he hesitates, looking away from your eyes before speaking.

“I—”

The words fade into the steady sloshing of the water, drowning into the night.

“Don’t give me that look.”

Kind, cerulean eyes follow the twitch of your fingers as you twirl the ends of your hair between your fingertips, until you let it fall back to its original spot.

She lets out an amused hum, spinning her machina fountain pen between the area where her thumb and pointer finger connected. The expensive pen had a pointed tip with edges sharper than the tip of a freshly-shaven knife, curving beautifully into a fine line. The body of it was a gooey, deep decadent chocolate brown mixed with a tint of crimson and carmine that left a particular shine when placed into the light. Thin strips of white and a blush, baby pink spilled onto the body, twisting and curving until it wrapped around the top of the pen.

Wealthy people, you shiver.

“If you continue to burn holes into the pen, it might as well explode.” She tosses the pen up for good measure, showcasing a number of spins before it slips right between her middle and index finger, securely settling it in a perfect pencil hold. “My late husband bought it for me.“

Your heart twists. “Oh.”

She chuckles, lowering her gaze to the pen held in her right hand. “He always spoiled me with lavish gifts. I was so frugal and stingy when I was younger, but he wanted nothing but the greatest for me. Everything I own now is all from him.”

A thin glaze coats her eyes, the pale sapphire flooding into a deep, engulfing azul. The flecks of silver seem to brighten against the cerulean tint, the blacks of her pupils tracing the intricate lines carefully. Long sections of white hair fall around her face, covering nothing more than the corners of her eyes and the highest end of her cheekbones.

“Is that your quirk?” The question jolts her out of her mind, eyebrows furrowing at your directness. You swallow, peeking at the window to protect your mind from her piercing eyes. “You’re young— or at least you look like it. Your husband passed away. Your quirk must stop you from aging, right? Because you don’t look older than 26 at most.”

There’s shifting in front of you, but your eyes refuse to look back ahead. Embarrassment burns in your cheeks and the fear of overstepping swirls within your gut.

“You should have stayed quiet,” the voice reprimands. “You’re so dumb, (Name).”

I was so dumb, why did I say that? She probably hates me now. She’s going to kick me out and I’m going to be stuck here forever and it won’t stop and—

“You’re more observant than you let on. But you also like to avoid confrontation, don’t you?” It’s not condescending or patronizing; it’s a factual statement— the truth. There’s no tone other than neutrality and genuinity. “That’s why you’re here today. A bit earlier than I expected you to come around, but you did nevertheless.”

Your lips purse. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

She picks up the clipboard, flipping through some pages. “You weren’t completely honest about your past when we first began chatting, were you?”

The silence that lingers answers her question.

“Why not?”

You sigh. She smiles.

“I just . . . didn’t want to.”

“You’re not a burden, (Name),” her hand grabs the delicate pen and begins to trace unintelligible shapes onto the paper. “I understand why you closed yourself off. I read your file, you know. Spoke to Dynamight and Deku about you.”

You still.

What?

The knife of dread, fear, and panic slices it’s way into your heart, carefully tracing the outline of your aorta, atriums, and ventricles. The pointed tips glides over each ridge, caressing the soft tissue and flirting with the idea of piercing its way inside, only to send blood spurting everywhere and leave you cold inside out, once again.

She continues. “They both care for you a lot, in their own ways of course. Deku is much more vocal about his concern, but Dynamight is the silent, brooding type. He expresses his concern through his actions and behavior.”

She spoke to them? To him? Why didn’t anyone ever tell me?

Why didn’t Bakugou tell me?

“Yeah,” you breathe out, averting your eyes to the window outside. Your heart palpitates inside your chest. “That, uhm, really sounds like them.”

The sky is a bright blue today, with not a single cloud in sight. Buildings decorate the slopes of blue, with light shades of gray and dark shades of a hybrid of obsidian black and white.

“What a shame,” the voice pouts. “The view is obstructed. Wasn’t it just so lovely?”

The collar of your shirt is suddenly a tad bit too high, too tight, and suffocating. It clings to your throat, wrapping its fuzzy tendrils around the base, before slowly gliding across the expanse of your skin.

“Doesn’t it just remind you of those beautiful waters? The one near the cliffs, you know. Don’t you just want to go for a swim?” the voice purrs. “I, for one, think it sounds refreshing.”

The tentacles speed their movements, rushing their efforts to close their tendrils around your throat. The inky black swallows your throat, leaking into your lungs. Faster, they move. Tighter, they squeeze. Together, they suffocate you.

“It’s not fun when you’ve gone right back, y’know. Takes the fun out of your misery. Now, you’re all lifeless like a doll. You have no hero to save you. Just what will you do, (Name)?”

The sight in front of your eyes fades from a lovely sky and high rise buildings to a murky, endless bank of water screaming at you to fall below. Like a siren’s call, the kelp sings to you by teasingly waving its green body, luring you down below.

Sweat pools on your forehead, threatening to drip down your neck and onto your shirt. You can see it all now.

You remember it all now— vividly.

The beer. The cliff. The staff worker. The evening sky, the water, the spray of the salty sea, the stabs of the grass. The incessant nagging of the voice— the reminder of him, everything about him and how little you meant to him.

It all washes over you like a tide, overflowing with the means of drowning you to snap you back to reality.

“‘Wake up!’” it screams.

“—(Name)?”

Virdescent eyes bore into yours, pupils dilating as they continue to hold your gaze. The flecks of obsidian and rim of a deep, mysterious amethyst capture your attention.

The kelp twirls.

“(Name)?” A gentle, unnatural hand places itself upon your shoulder. The aroma of distilled rose water permeates your nostrils. “(Name), are you okay?”

The toxic green melts, burning through to reveal a set of pure, bright ruby red eyes.

The sky glimmers.

You blink.

She grins.

He doesn’t react.

You don’t know if that’s good or bad, really.

But the words continue to tumble.

“I— I loved him. That’s what hurts, Katsuki. I loved this man who returned an unobtainable love and I was too blind to see it.”

How foolish am I? How stupid do I have to be to not have seen this further?

“How stupid are you, (Name)?” the voice parrots.

It hurts. You’re tired. Everything is dark. The sky, the grass, your vision, your mind, your thoughts.

The stars in the sky are so faint, so dull. You miss their shine.

You miss the bright lens that were placed above your eyes, lighting up the sky.

Slowly, your world crumbled. Now, it was tumbling, shattering into millions of pieces.

Your chest tightens, and it feels as if you are back in the office, curled into a ball on the verge of suffocation.

You can remember the warm traces of tears spilling from your eyes, trickling down your cheeks. If you close your eyes, it feels as if you’re there, in those stuffy office clothes with the haphazardly thrown stacks of papers and splayed out tools, shattered pieces of glass, and a throbbing heart.

You’re dying. Lifeless. Hopeless.

I just want it all to end, please, please, please—

Warm hands snap you out of your thoughts. Large, calloused hands cup your face, tracing the dull tips of its fingers along the outline of your jaw, thumbs circling comfortingly under the bags of your eyes.

It’s cozy and loving, like warm cider on a chilly autumn day. Your heart pounds in your chest in excitement. Goosebumps erupt on your skin, and an older, kinder voice whispers at you to simply open your eyes.

When you feel the tickling of hair against your head, your eyes flutter open. A warm head bumps against yours, resting itself in the very center of your forehead, as if it fit there. The remedial hands of warmth continue their trek of tracing the outline of your features, encapturing your face in their hold.

Boring into your eyes are Katsuki’s, in all their cherry red glory.

“Bakugou . . . ?”

A hint of doubt flickers across his features. The corners of his eyes crease, and the middle of his brows furrow.

“You’re a cruel monster, (Name).”

“Always hated when you called me that, y’know,” is all he replies with.

He’s close.

“Too close,” the voice reiterates.

Despite the warmth radiating from Katsuki, goosebumps erupt on your skin like a volcano’s molten lava bursting through the surface to cover the earth’s surface in its flames.

Is it from the cold?

“No,” a foreign voice answers.

Red eyes flit to your lips and a shaky exhale leaves your nose.

Is it anticipation?

“Yes,” it responds again.

“Lean in,” it goads. “Give in. Don’t hold back.”

“You’ll hurt him, just like you hurt yourself,” the voice chimes. Your heart plunges into your stomach

The quiet lull of the other voice drowns out the terrors of the voice. “Be his. Just for tonight, let him have you.”

“Okay,” you breathe. The doubt and hesistance leaves you.

He press his lips against yours.

The kiss is a warm caress, one that lets warmth blossom on your own. It’s soft but so sweet, so gooey like maple syrup dripping down your throat. A tinge of cinnamon bleeds into your mouth and the smell of caramel floods your nose.

You pull away first, but Bakugou’s hand keeps your head touching his, staring into the other’s eyes.

Am I going to hurt him? Is this fair to him? Am I using him?

“You’re a horrible person, (Name),” the voice says. You want to agree.

The foreign voice speaks up. “Listen, (Name). Stay quiet and listen, please.”

“I know you still love him.”

His voice breaks and you feel your heart follow.

No, I don’t. You want to answer.

“But how much of that is true?”

You’re not sure.

“I know how much he matters to you. Izuku matters to me too.”

You want to cry.

“But I won’t give up on you. I never have and never will. Not— not unles you want me to. I won’t chase you if you don’t want me to. But if you’re willing to have me, even just for a bit to let me love you whole, I’ll stay.”

“Katsuki,” your voice breaks. The tears flow. Calloused fingers rub off the tears.

“He may have been your first love, but I intend to be your last.”

You panic. “But what if it takes too long? What if I take too long to lose feelings and you have to try again to make me fall in love with you?”

A warmth envelops you. “As long as you want me, I’ll work as hard for as long as I have in this life to be your final love.”

The heat is familiar and gentle; it doesn’t set your skin aflame, but instead adds a slight increase with every second, adjusting you.

It’s accommodating and loving.

It feels like home.

“It’s him, isn’t it? It always was.”

I was just too blind to see it.

The new voice whispers, “He could never hold it against you; he would always forgive you. All he wants and needs is you. Remember what Mitsuki said? You’re his everything.”

And he is the same to me.

——————————-——————————————

Midoriya is kind.

“Are you sure that’s all you want to order?” A large, scarred hand settles itself upon your smaller one, rubbing the area of your wrist with slow, gentle strokes.

Midoriya is kind in the way that he would help an elderly lady cross the street with her hand wrapped around his arm, guiding her safely to the other side. He is kind that when a child cried in the middle of the sidewalk all alone, he would approach them with nothing but a gentle smile on his face and kneel down to their height, offering his help.

Midoriya Izuku is a good man with a big heart and a bright smile. He is the sickly saccharine type of person— a man who despite being made of hard muscle, is truly all marshmallow and gumdrops.

He is a glorious man who chose to devote his life to saving the world— but that in itself is what made him so utterly selfish.

“He loves you, (Name).” the soft voice whispers. “Do you know that?”

His love is not enough for me to stay any longer.

“I ordered a whole bowl of pasta, Midoriya. I think that’s more than enough,” you grin, sliding your arm out of his grasp. He pouts like a kicked puppy who was just scolded by their own for eating one too many dog treats.

Maybe long ago, your heart would have squeezed at the expression. Now, no butterflies erupt in your stomach. No heat spreads to your neck and to the tips of your cheeks. All that churns in your stomach is the acidic sips of a mocktail you had and the glass of water you downed before going to meet Midoriya.

“You know, you can still call me Izuku,” Midoriya begins, retracting his hand from your side of the table. You dig your fork into the pasta, swirling it around in the plate. “I’m still your Izuku, right?”

What am I supposed to say to that?

You peer up, watching as his emerald irises swim with a fondness and intimacy you could only picture thousands of women would die to see Izuku Midoriya, Japan’s greatest hero, to gaze at them with.

But to you, it is meaningless.

“Do you pity him?” the gentle voice asks. “Do you pity yourself for how blindly you behaved as him, too?”

In front of you, you hear a group of girls squeal, “Oh my gosh, it’s Pro-Hero Deku!”

A big bite of pasta with a pointed smile is all you offer Midoriya as he turns to face the approaching group of gals murmuring in excitement, asking to take photos.

At least the pasta is good.

——————————-——————————————

“Say it,” the voice utters.

The city lights at the ripe time of midnight are a beautiful sight, filling the world with a plethora of icy and earthy tones. Giggly couples stumble down the street, hand in hand, high off of joy and young love. Teenagers skate down the sidewalks, hollering profanities and excited cheers into the night sky.

The whole world is bright and alive around you, despite the pit of black surrounding it.

“Will you let this moment slip? After all you’ve gone through?”

Midoriya’s hand once again reaches for yours, scarred fingers entangling themselves with yours. The pupils in the greens of his eyes seem to shrink as your palms make contact, and a faint blush sprouts on his cheeks.

In the moonlight, Midoriya Izuku is alive.

He is glowing brightly in the light of the city, with his unruly mess of curls draping over the tops of his eyes.

But beside him, you stand in the darkness of his shadows. In the presence of the Symbol of Peace, Izuku Midoriya, you are nothing more than the spirit that he is championed to destroy.

Once again, you are nothing more than a lost soul falling into the hands of death.

“Is that all you will ever be? Will you let all of your hard work dwindle to waste? Will you fall back into his arms only to repeat this same miserable cycle?”

Tips of blurry blonde spikes materialize in the depths of your mind. The crashing of waves against rocks bleeds into your ears and the pricks of blades of grass send tingles exploding across your skin.

“How much will it take until you truly break, (Name)?”

A pair of loving carmine eyes stare back at you, a bright twinkle in the corners of its pupils. They are a reminder of the gentle kiss and the tender love you had experienced only days before.

‘I want you, Katsuki.’

He had cried, when he heard those words.

‘Please, will you let me love you the way you loved me?’

You never thought you could reduce a man as powerful as Bakugou into a mess of joyous tears. But life has a habit of surprising people in the most unexpected ways.

I’m sorry, Midoriya, you long to say. I’m sorry you are slipping down the path you forced me to tumble down. But I’ll save you in the way you failed to save me in before. I’ll right your wrongs.

Not for you, but for me.

“I can’t do this,” you rip your hand out of his grasp, stepping back. “I can’t do this to you, Midoriya.”

He jumps, startled by your abrupt movements. He opens his mouth to speak, but you interrupt.

“I can’t live with you in my life— not anymore.”

“(Name), what? What are you saying right now?” Midoriya reaches his hand out to anchor you— or himself— but you widen the gap between you two.

“I’m talking about you— I’m talking about us,” you gasp. The waves slosh in the bottomless pit of the sea. “You can’t tell me you didn’t see it like everyone else did. You can’t lie to me and say what you did wasn’t purposeful!”

Boots smush into the wet mud, slipping off the bottom of your foot. “_____________!” Midoriya exclaims.

The beating of your heart smashes against your ribcage and blood rushes to your face. “You were given so many chances, Izuku,” you cry as the tears finally slip. The bottle fissures and the dam explodes; the beast is unleashed. “You gave up. You gave up on yourself, you gave up on me, you gave up on us. You always have— you always will. You never took a single chance because you never cared enough!”

There are tears streaming down his own face, distorting the sight of those freckles you once adored so much. You had once believed them to be kisses from the gods themselves. Now, they seemed nothing more than a painter’s deception of beauty.

Midoriya weeps. “________________!”

No longer do you crumble under the weight of Midoriya’s tears. You stand proudly under the pour of your own.

“You’re forgetting someone, aren’t you, (Name)?” the voice curls around you, peering at you gleefully. She giggles. “You should go and surprise him, (Name).”

Katsuki. Your heart shines, despite the pain of the tears.

You turn away from Midoriya, sparing nothing more than a turn if your head. “Thank you for giving me the story of a lifetime, but this is the end of us. Our chapter closes today, Izuku.”

Around you, the city blurs. “The story of us wasn’t meant to last a lifetime. It was meant to be for only a moment.“

And slowly, so does Midoriya. You laugh, “But it is one I’ll never forget.”

Stuffing your hands into your coat, you move away, preparing to cross the street. But you pause before your foot meets the pavement.

“Midoriya,” you murmur, glancing side-to-side as the cars fly by, before looking back at him.

He stares at you, petrified, as if you were a ghost of his past.

Maybe, you are.

Maybe, you have truly become another ghost in his world.

“Do you remember me?”

The Symbol of Peace stares at you like a deer in headlights, frozen and lost. For the first of many times, Izuku Midoriya is clueless.

A smile plays on your lips.

“Who knew you could bring the most powerful man to his knees?” she pinches your cheek affectionately.

Fractured excuses and phrases of rambles slip past his lips, sending circles spinning upon circles.

You know the truth.

So does he.

“Don’t think about it too hard, Izuku.”

As you step onto the street, the moonlight falls upon you, covering Midoriya in its pit of dark.

Finally, you burn brighter than the stars above.

——————————-——————————————

The clock reads 2:37 AM.

You remember this road and the corner where Bakugou caught your arm.

You remember running and running until you got to the convenience store, pouring liquor while sitting on the hill. Downing bottle after bottle, bleeding away into a pool of water.

You remember the lights flashing, the salty spray of sea against your skin.

But you don’t remember the feeling or the pain of your broken heart.

It’s all gone.

It’s over.

The memories remain, the sleepless nights, the sober-less dreams.

But the pain does not.

For the first time, it’s gone; the wound has healed. The rift in your heart has shut.

“Call him.”

Frozen fingers reach into the depths of your purse, unlatching the metal clip to reach your phone as you trek down the street. With a few swipes, you press the call button.

Two rings pass before you hear a click and a groggy, gruff voice. A warm grin plays upon your lips.

“Hi, Katsuki.”

You chatter into the night, walking with a pep in your step. Muffled groans can be heard on the other side.

The voice sighs wistfully, resting her head on your shoulder. “Young love,” she twirls her hair around her finger, lips curling into a pleased smile. “How romantic it is, to be so young and utterly in love.”

Unwrapping her limbs from yours, she slips away into the dark, melting into the shadows of the moon. The wisps of her hair fade into a glimmer that twinkles in the streams of light and her body blows away with the breeze of the night.

You check the time in your phone.

2:37 AM, the clock reads.

The edges of your eyes crinkle.

He knew.

——————————-——————————————

#© platrom, plot / writing / banners & headers. do not repost, reblogs are appreciated! please consider leaving a comment and a heart! <3

[maycat-19-142]

Deku and bakugou with a American s/o

A/n: this was random I know

⚠️: gender neutral reader, no other warning i don't think. let me know if I missed anything

Deku

He knows a lot of info thanks to allmight

He loves American style foods and most fast food places

He will learn English just for when he meets you family

Even if they speak Japanese he will learn English

Will 100% ask for your help on American topics

Bakugou

Learns to cook American style food if you want it

He lost a bet when he was younger and learn basic English

Has gone to the USA with his family before

Has 100% gone to new York fashion week with is family they are fashion designers

He will try to do things on his own but he will always go to you for help

If you have a project on the USA he will only ask questions on things he can't find

Have a good day and night 🌙

Pixie out 🧚‍♀️

[with-my-calamitous-love]

BAREFOOT IN THE KITCHEN / SACRED NEW BEGINNINGS

shouto todoroki x reader

shouto makes a mental checklist of all the things he loves about his home. (you.)

inspired by cornelia street

houses and homes are two different things for many different people.

for shouto, a house was simply a structure that sheltered the most personal details of ones life. the family, the fights, the scars… a house was a place he was forced to be in, forced to grow up in. it was never happy for him.

and shouto knew his childhood house well, as if there were key signs that warned him of incoming disaster. the stillness of the house, even the old floorboards refusing to move. the sudden change of tension in the air the moment the front door opens. the lack of his siblings laughter, all hiding away from him.

the worst kinds of hurt come from the people who should be protecting you.

so he’s hesitant when it comes to getting close to people. his worst fear, now as an independent pro-hero, is going back to one of those still, tear-filled houses.

and you can’t blame him. he doesn’t know what a home is, at first.

1) home is your apartment.

first, shouto learns that home is going to your apartment after work, because he knows your fridge is actually filled and you’ll have clean towels for him to dry off. as self sufficient as he may be, he’s a youngest child at heart. that means be loves to have people to lean on- though they’re far and in between.

as he drives through the city, its as though the street lights point him in your direction. he’s completely mystified, wanting nothing more than to seek your refuge. he barely has a chance to fumble with his keys before you’re already opening the front door for him, as if you just sensed his presence.

“how was work?” he asks you, wrapping his arms around your waist while you cook food on the stove. you love him when he walks out of the shower, wearing nothing but his black sweatpants with a loosely tied jaw string. his perfect muscles are glistening with water, and his hair smells like your shampoo.

he hums as he listens to you, clinging with zero interest of letting go. he loves this, and loves coming home to you after gruelling days at work. sure, his house was bigger, maybe more lavish with unreasonable monthly rent, but all of that doesn’t compare to your laughter at his shitty jokes. it pails in comparison to your favourite mug and the specific way you take your coffee. its the mundane things that make you so beautiful to him.

2) home is your cooking.

he’s used to running on an empty stomach. he doesn’t pay too much attention to his self care, despite his status and previous training. he simply just doesn’t have the time to sit down and have a proper meal, not when he has to work hard and maintain his rank.

all of that changes, however, when you begin your ritual of making soba for him every friday night. at first, he’s confused- not that its incredibly hard to make, or that it would take you that much time- no. he’s confused as to why you did it specifically for him. i mean, sure, you two are dating, and it was a really sweet gesture, but it was also so personal. you could have surprised him with flowers, or treats, or lacy lingerie, but instead you crafted the dish he loves so much.

and it tastes so good.

“your mom told me its your favourite.” you sheepishly admit, referring to the phone call you had with rei earlier. “did she?” shouto smiles, slurping up that last piece of soba eagerly. it makes him warm, knowing that you actively talk with his mom, even when he’s not around.

and she loves you, because you’re an extension of who shouto is. and he will proudly announce that to his family, wanting to share that love with others too. he wants to thank you not just for the food, but for everything else too. though he can’t quite grasp just everything you’ve done for him.

3) home is your smile.

its a no brainer that shouto has money. he grew up rich, and has become one of the most successful pro heroes to date. he loves to spoil you, because he loves seeing the way your eyes light up when he hands you a bouquet of your favourite flowers or that new book you’ve been raving about.

he’s also a man of style. he loves to buy quality clothes and comfortable fabrics, obviously for himself but more so for you. he loves seeing that the jacket around your shoulders is his, walking around in the autumn air.

“you’ll get cold.” you almost whine, but fail to make an actual protest as he leaves his long trench coat around your shoulders. you love the smell, his cologne on your skin. shouto just smiles- he’s never really been impacted by temperatures too much anyway. “its alright, beautiful. it looks better on you, anyway.”

he loves to see you basking in the summer sun, walking through the subtle crisp of autumn leaves, spring pollen making your nose scrunch up adorably, or the way the snowflakes sit on your eyelashes. he loves you all the time.

or the fancy dates he takes you out on, long nights of drinking and laughter. and he’ll happily call you two a taxi, hoping that the person on the other end of the line can excuse his happy-intoxicated slurs. you two sit in the backseat, drunk on something stronger than the drinks in the bar.

“you’re so cute when you’re drunk, love.”

“you’re -hic!- just as drunk as me, sho.”

“am i?”

he’s also the type to almost forget your address when the driver asks- he’s way too drunk, half off of the alcohol and half off of you.

4) home is your arguments.

familial arguments aren’t a new thing for shouto. he’s used to it- the tears, the yelling, the scars that cut deep. but for the first time, maybe ever, he doesn’t want to back his bags and leave before you even know he’s gone.

he finds himself wanting to stay, wanting to make things right. he’ll distance himself, let himself cool off before going to talk with you. he doesn’t dare to say the wrong thing, to let something slip at the heat of the moment. he needs you to know that he loves you not just through every kiss, but through every argument too. he’s here for the good and the bad.

he hates seeing you cry. your pain, the person he loves more than anything being in pain is a kind of heartbreak time could never mend. he’s terrified if you ever walk away. you’re the one person he can’t lose. absolutely not.

“i’m sorry, gorgeous.” he hums, laying down on the bed next to you. he makes it impossible to stay mad at him, for whatever has happened. you just sigh, any traces of anger disappearing when he touches you, pulling you in and forcing you to look at him. he has puppy dog eyes and doesn’t even know what they do to you- and it drives you insane. “i’m sorry too.”

you don’t say anything else, but you opt to leave a sweet kiss on the tip of his nose before drifting off to sleep in his arms. in the morning he’ll call in sick for you and bring you your coffee in bed. it doesn’t matter how stupid, how petty or how hurtful the argument was- you two will make up.

5) home is the memories you’ve made.

shouto can’t dance. and for a man who is supposedly good at everything, you find that absolutely adorable.

“am i doing this right?” he asks, holding your waist close to him as the two of you sway together. the lights are off, the soft glow of the refrigerator light illuminating the two of you like a snow globe, round and round.

you nod reassuringly, the sounds of some american singer playing on the radio. both of your bare feet creak beneath the wooden floorboards, as if the house itself was humming along to the tune.

this is your religion. and this is a sacred new beginning for shouto. the first house he had ever felt was home.

“i love you.” you whisper, getting on your tip-toes slightly to kiss his jawline. “i love you so much, darling.” he hums back, vowing to remember this moment forever.

6) home is wherever you two are, together.

he never wants to lose you. he physically, cannot lose the floorboards, the streets, and the home he’s loved you on. he’d never walk these streets again. if they don’t lead to you, they don’t lead home.

[captainshindo]

Guys hear me out!!!

Any genius writers write something about grumpy!Bakugou x sunshine! fem reader??? (I’m a horrible writer)

She wears anything cute, like her dorm is all pink and white, her makeup popping, outfits top tier and she’s like the most sunshine person out of the class! Even Aizawa has a soft spot for her, so she often get out of trouble :’)

And maybe add a little fun tea time with principal Nezu ??? :0

The point is idk make something about bakugou going crazy cause everyone stealing his cutie girlfriend from him and barely have time to hang out with her lol

PLS PLS ANYONE WRITE SOMETHING

[linahopeeeee]

in one of your stays you ask for an idea to write because ya were bored so here I am with an idea that I was dying to read but I can't get it down on paper:

what do you think about waking up in bed with a bad hangover, and finding baku and deku Very much naked, realizing you're naked yourself remembering that the three of you fucked like rabbits in a lot of different positions last night after returning drunk from a party trown by the bakusquad?

(bonus if make bkdk fucking eachother too, not only the reader 😏😏)

"I cant think straight, my Head is fucking pounding and there is a unholy amount of cum driping down my ass, I need a fucking shower" -reader at some point

Notes: this ended up being longer than i thought it was going to be tbh, but anyways here you go! hopefully it doesn't suck.

~~~~~~~

Your head is pounding, and why is it so damn bright? You sit up with a groan, your muscles screaming at you, eyes still closed to attempt to keep out the harsh sunlight.

The first thing you realize is the fact that you’re naked, but you don’t think much about that, sometimes you sleep naked at home, but then then the sound of someone snoring next to you has your eyes flying open.

Green is all you see. Why are you in bed with Izuku? You look to the other side of you and your eyes widen when you see a shirtless Katsuki. Hesitantly, you lift the blanket off of your body, eyes widening when you see all three of you are naked.

Memories of last night begin to come back.

~~~~~~

Katsuki and a couple other people threw a party last night, and there was alcohol, so, so much alcohol. you spent the night drinking, dancing and having a great time.

Speaking of dancing, your currently grinding against Katsuki, as the blonde grips your hips and dances with you, whispering words of filth in your ear.

Izuku stands off to the side as he watches you and Katsuki dance, alcohol has a way of forcing the dirtiest thoughts in that head of his, and seeing the way your ass is pressed against Kacchan’s dick has his own twitching in his pants.

It wasn’t until everyone else had gone home and it was just the three of you left that’s when the actual party started.

“l-lets play a g-game!” izuku hiccups excitedly from the floor, tugging your arm and forcing you to sit on his lap

“what kind of game?” you ask, subconsciously wiggling your hips to get into a more comfortable position, forcing Izuku to bite back a moan.

Izuku begins stroking his chin as if he’s deep in thought, in reality he’s been thinking about this for the past hour. He knew it had to be a game that was easy for him to cheat but also a game that everyone knew how to play. “how about uno, with a twist” he says grinning mischievously

“I love uno!” you exclaim “but what’s the twist?”

“every time you lose the game you have to take off an article of clothing.”

Your eyes widen for a second as thoughts of Katsuki and Izuku naked in front of you floods your brain. “only if Katsuki wants you play” you stutter, gaze flicking towards Katsuki who’s smirking at the two of you.

He says nothing as he stands and walks over to the cabinet where all his games are and grabs the uno from the shelf. You watch with cloudy eyes as he walks over to the two of you, taking your bottom lip between your teeth and nibbling on it softly.

“she cant be sitting on your lap if we’re going to play” with that you scramble off of Izuku’s lap and crawl your way to sit on the floor between them, giving Izuku the perfect view of your ass.

Katsuki and Izuku share a knowing glance as Katsuki beings to pass out the cards.

Twenty minutes later and each of you have lost multiple pieces of clothes, you’re down to just your bra and panties, Izuku only has his boxers left and Katsuki still has on his shirt and boxers.

“how about for this last round we up the stakes? both of the losers have to take off everything?” Katsuki suggests, looking at both of you for your answer, smirking when both of you agree.

Izuku ends up winning and you and Katsuki are forced to strip down to nothing. Your arms instinctively come up to cover you from their eyes, but Katsuki stops you before then can.

“you don’t have to hide from us y/n” he says as he gently takes your wrist in his hands and move them back down to your side. You try to keep your eyes on his face but cant help but lower your gaze.

Your eyes widen as you take in his length, tongue poking out to lick your lips. “fuck” you mumble quietly, but they both heard you.

A chuckle rips through Katsuki “like what you see baby?” he questions, head cocked to the side. He expects for you to be shy, maybe attempt to hide your face like you usually do whenever he says something suggestive to you.

But to his surprise you don’t. “yes” you say boldly, eyes finally leaving his dick in order to look him directly in his eyes. The look in his eyes is enough to tell you that he wants this just as much as you do, so you waste no time pushing at his shoulders, forcing him to lay down as you straddle him, your lips on his instantly

The feeling on your bare pussy on his dick has him groaning into your mouth, your arousal coating him almost immediately.

Izuku watches as the two of you make out, hand palming himself over his underwear, before he makes his way over to you.

He fakes a pout “ah no fair! I want kisses too” he says, but to his surprise it isn’t you that grabs the back of his head and smashes your lips together, its Katsuki.

You watch the two of them with parted lips, hands moving towards your tits where you gently pinch your hardened nipples, moaning as pleasure courses through you. Katsuki moves on of your hands and begin pinching and tugging at one of your nipples.

A squeal falls from your lips and Izuku picks you up and begins walking you in the direction of the bedroom, Katsuki close on his heels. Izuku gently tosses you on the bed and crawls between your legs.

He licks a strip from your slit up to your clit, moaning as your arousal coats his tongue, before sucking your puffy clit into his mouth.

“fuck zu!” you whine, eyeing Katsuki as he walks past the bed and over towards the nightstand, grabbing something you cant see before walking behind Izuku. He pulls Izuku’s boxers down and applies a generous amount of lube to his fingers, rubbing it around Izuku’s rim, causing him to moan against your clit, the vibrations sending another wave of pleasure through your body.

Katsuki spends the next few minutes working Izuku open and Izuku continues his assault on your pussy, at some point he added his fingers and has been thrusting them deep inside your walls, curling them every so often, smiling against you as you gasp when they graze that spot that has you seeing stars.

You feel that familiar tightening in your stomach. but it isn’t until Katsuki pushes the tip of his dick inside Izuku’s tight rim and he moans against you that you finally tip over the edge, orgasm ripping through your body with a loud whine.

That’s how the rest of the night is spent, with Katsuki and Izuku pulling orgasm after orgasm from you until your sobbing into the sheets, forcing their loads into you and each other until everyone’s too exhausted to keep going.

~~~~~~

Your hand begins to shake Izuku awake, brain remembering the every little detail of the eventful night you all shared last night.

“what! Whats wrong?” Izuku asks, quickly sitting up. He looks around the room for any signs of danger, a look of confusion takes over his features when he doesn’t see any danger.

“what wrong is I can’t think straight, my Head is fucking pounding and there is a unholy amount of cum dripping down my ass, I need a fucking shower" with that you climb around Izuku and walk towards the bathroom, both of them following.

“we’re just trying to save water” Katsuki says with a smirk, you have a feeling this is going to be a long shower.

[k-nayee]

Bloody Waters BNHA

wc: 5k A/n: Really got inspired watching a Your Life as a Crocodile YouTube video smh Heads-up! Will be a canon divergence happening. Teehee hope y'all like it❤️

Traveler M.List

ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙.·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ

The battle at the cliffside was finally over.

Izuku breathed heavily, his arms and legs shaking as he looked down at Muscular’s unconscious form sprawled against the rocks.

Sweat dripped down his brow but he knew the victory was only temporary. This was just one enemy out of many and he had to get Kota back to safety.

They needed to regroup and alert the Pussycats about the strength of their attackers. He glanced over at Kota who was still looking up at him with wide awestruck eyes.

“Kota,” the greenette tried to keep his voice steady despite his exhaustion. “We need to go. Muscular won’t be waking up anytime soon so we’re safe for now. But there’s still more to do.”

He gestures to the distant horizon where faint embers and smoke hinted the beginnings of a wildfire. "The wildfires...they’re spreading. We’ll need your Quirk to make it back safely. Can you do that for us?"

Kota seemed to snap back to reality at Izuku’s words, his small hands clenched into fists as he nodded slowly.

But just as Izuku turned to allow the boy to jump on his back, the usually reserved kid took a step back, his expression clouding with hesitation.

"Jump on my back and we’ll go back to the facility," Izuku coaxed gently, but Kota's gaze darted past him back toward the deeper part of the forest.

Without another word he turned and bolted, disappearing into the dense line of trees.

“Wha-Kota wait!” Izuku called, but the boy has already slipped beyond his line of sight.

Kota's small feet pound against the forest floor. His mind whirling as he darted through the trees, winding his way through the thickening forest.

He knows the way by heart—every path, every tree and every fallen branch a part of him.

Finally he skids to a stop at the edge of a hidden pond tucked away from prying eyes.

The water was still; shadowed by low-hanging branches and thick with layers of lily pads as dragonflies skimmed the surface.

Catching his breath, Kota dropped to his knees at the water’s edge with an intensity and desperation in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.

He leaned over— his face inches from the water—and dipped his fingers in, sending small ripples across the dark surface.

"Please," he whispered, his voice barely a tremor. "Please...I need you."

The pond settled once more, the last of the ripples fading leaving a perfect reflection of Kota’s small anxious face staring back at him.

For a long moment there’s nothing. Just the silence of the forest and the faint crackle of distant flames.

But then the water began to stir. Lily pads shifted from the sudden ripples as a pair of intense green eyes broke through from beneath.

They stared up at Kota, sharp and unblinking, almost luminous against the darkness of the pond.

Slowly a figure began to emerge steadily as the water parted to reveal scales that glinted in the dim light.

Kota’s breath hitches, his hand still frozen in the water.

*.·:·.☽✧✧☾.·:·.* 

Pixie-Bod was struggling, her breath coming in harsh uneven gasps as she barely dodged Magne’s relentless swings.

Even with her agility she’s injured—blood staining her skin from a gash running down her arm.

She grits her teeth, eyes sharp with determination as she sidesteps just in time to avoid another strike aimed straight at her head.

Magne grins wickedly with a twirl of her giant magnet. “Getting tired kitty?” she taunts. “Guess those little claws of yours aren’t enough.”

Pixie-Bob braces herself to dodge again, but a misstep sends her staggering back, pain flaring in her leg.

She barely has time to react as Magne swings the club down with brutal force. Just when the weapon neared her form—

“Get away from her!”

A rock smacks against the back of the muscular villain's head. 

Magne’s gaze snap over to catch sight of a young boy standing defiantly with clenched fists.

“Oh?” she sneered, shifting her focus to Kota with a wicked glint in her eye. “What do we have here? A little hero come to save the day?”

Pixie-Bob follows Magne’s gaze causing her eyes to widen with fear. “Kota!” she gasps with a cracking voice. 

“Maybe I should deal with you first little boy.” Fallen hero forgotten, Magne abandons Pixie-Bob and began to make her way to the small child.

She adjusts her grip on the magnet as she nears, lifting it high as if prepared to strike.

Kota swallows, fear tightening his chest, but he stands his ground. Just as the red-haired criminal is a few feet away he takes one last shaky breath and scream.

“Now!”

A shadow flashed between the trees. You burst forth from the underbrush, your form low and powerful as you closed the distance in a heartbeat.

Magne barely has time to register the movement before you clamp down on her shoulder and neck.

There was a sickening crunch as your teeth pierced bone.

A primal snarl escaped you as you dug your teeth in deeper causing blood to spatter across the ground in dark heavy droplets.

With a terrifying strength, you twist, using the weight of your body to roll and drag Magne down with you in a lethal spiral.

She scream a raw panicked sound and instinctively tries to pull away. But its too late: her flesh tears under the ruthless grip of your jaws.

Blood sprays across the clearing, staining the ground as the sickening sound of bones snapping and flesh shredding fill the air.

Magne’s screams grow into weak desperate gasps as you continued your death roll—your body a blur of unyielding motion.

Pixie-Bob staggered back as her heart pounds at the horrific sight unfolding before her. She struggled to gather herself,  stumbling to reach Kota who remained rooted in place.

“Kota!” She heaves once she reaches him. The boy blinks away from the grotesque view and quickly moves to the Pro-Hero “Pixie-Bob! Are you okay?”

Before she could answer the screams ceased, the forest fall into an eerie silence.

Shakily she looks over only to wished she didn't.

The ground was soaked in blood as Magne’s crumpled and lifeless body laid in it. Her head was separated and lying at an unnatural angle, chunks of flesh scattered all around.

Blood dripped from your jaws, staining your scaled skin as you raise to your feet, gaze fixed on Pixie-Bob and Kota with an intense focus.

The air was thick with the scent of death.

A low growl rumbled from your throat as you took a step toward the two causing Pixie-Bob's arms to tighten around Kota protectively.

Despite her fear, she squares her stance and shift in front of the boy. Her hands trembled as you neared but she was ready to fight.

 “No!” Kota darts forward, throwing himself between you and the Pussycat with outstretched arms. “Don’t hurt her!”

Pixie-Bob freeze. Her wide eyes shifting between Kota’s fearless stance and your blood-stained figure.

“She’s my friend!” he insists, looking up at you with unshaken trust as his hand reaches for your clawed one.

"____."

The afternoon was warm.

Golden light draped the forest as Kota’s laughter echoed through the trees, his feet jumping and dodging roots as he chased after a small green frog.

He was so focused on catching it that he barely noticed the shift in scenery as he crossed into an area he’d never seen before.

His laughter faded, replaced by wide-eyed wonder as he took in the sight ahead of him.

A pond stretched before him: untouched and quiet, nestled between tall trees that leaned over its surface in an almost ethereal frame of dappled light.

Lily pads drifted on the still water, their delicate flowers in full bloom while dragonflies buzzed lazily and butterflies hovered above the wildflowers near the banks.

Kota’s heart swelled with curiosity as he edged closer. He knelt by the water’s edge, dipping his small hand into the pond allowing the coolness spread through his fingers.

He laughed in delight in the way the ripples spread out and sent tiny waves lapping against the shore.

Unbeknownst to him, his playful splashes awakened something beneath the water.

You felt the vibrations from above—saw the silhouette of a small hand dipping into the pond, disturbing the stillness you’d been lurking in.

The primal hunger that had been simmering in you sharpened. You moved forward in silence, your body gliding beneath the water.

Each movement was calculated as eyes remained locked onto your target.

He was small, unsuspecting—easy prey.

But then that sound came again. Laughter, soft and innocent, drifted through the quiet forest.

It was a sound so different from what you usually heard in the shadows of the water that it made you pause. Curiosity bloomed in place of hunger.

With steady caution you allowed yourself to rise; your piercing and unblinking eyes breaking the surface first.

You observed as he continued to splash at the water’s edge, blissfully unaware of the creature watching him from the depths.

Slowly the rest of your form emerged. Your head lifted out of the water casting a faint shadow across the pond.

Kota gasped and instinctively stumbled back. His eyes grew round was he stared at you with his mouth hanging open.

His instincts told him to run but instead he found himself frozen. He was torn between fear and fascination at the sight of you.

“H-hello?” he managed barely above a whisper. His small hands trembled but he didn’t move, too captivated to back away.

Sunlight danced across your skin bringing out green scales that highlighted your cheekbones.

The scales continued down your neck and arms creating faint natural patterns that blended seamlessly with your skin.

Across your shoulders and chest they grew denser, forming a protective layer that resembled a built-in bra and armor of sorts.

You tilt your head, regarding him with an assessing gaze. He didn’t move, didn’t scream, didn't fight back—he just simply watched you.

Intrigued by his lack of fear, you eased yourself toward the bank allowing your full form to emerge.

Your scales warmed under the Sun as you stretched out on the shore making your usually predatory stance soften with a low sigh of content.

The spikes that lined your back tapered down toward a thick muscular tail that rested behind you with an occasional twitch.

Sharp teeth larger and more jagged than any human’s  glinted as you breathed.

And around your waist, a makeshift skirt fashioned from pond reeds and greenery was wrapped over your tail's base to keep it secured.

A person with a crocodile mutant Quirk—it was clear to see.

But to Kota, you were like no other.

“So cool...” he whispered as he stared at you with wide eyes.

As the moments passed and you made no move to attack, his fear began to ebb. So much till the point the child began to talk.

His voice filled the area as rambled. He chattered about  his life, about his love for animals and his frustration with the heroes around him.

Bit by bit as he talked, he would scoot closer until his body was next to yours

There was even a point he began to absentmindedly brush along the ridges and scales on your back, touching the rough yet smooth skin lightly.

Finding strange contentment in his gentle curiosity you let him pet you as he continue on talking.

It was a one-sided conversation really. He'd paused occasionally—eyes drifting to your face to make sure you were still listening.

And each time he was met with the same patient steady gaze.

The Sun had started to dip below the treetops by the time he finally stopped, looking up at you with a thoughtful expression. “Ya know I just realized something...I don’t even know your name.”

The question hung in the air. For a long moment you remained still, simply watching him.

Then suddenly a low gravelly voice cuts through, sending vibrations through the boy’s body. “____.”

Kota blinked as he processed word. “Oh!” He beamed. “That's your name?”

His eyes sparkled as he looked at you. “____.” he repeat as though savoring it.

Just as he opened his mouth to ask more a sharp voice echoed from the trees. “Kota!”

His auntie Shino...

Before he could move you swiftly slide back into the pond leaving only ripples in your wake.

Moments later Shino, dressed in her Wild Wild Pussycats costume, broke through the tree line, her expression both relieved and stern as she rushed toward him.

“Kota! We’ve been looking everywhere for you!” She scolds him gently as she took his hand to lead him away from the pond. “Now you know you're not supposed to be over here. This is uncharted forest territory after all!”

Kota tries to pull his arm away. “But...I wasn’t alone! Her name’s ____ and she's right there!”

Excitedly pointing to the bank, his smile drops once he realize you're gone. He looks at the only to see it perfectly still—calm and untouched. "What...?"

Shino chuckles softly and ruffle his hair much to the boy's displeasure. "You sure do have a wild imagination Kota. Now come on! Its dinner time and Yawara made his special chili!"

As he's pulled away Kota kept his gaze lingering on the water. A small knowing smile tugs at his lips.

He knew what he’d seen. And he's definitely coming back.

“____?” Pixie-Bob couldn't believe her own eyes. “Wait...she's real?!”

Kota nods frantically, his expression unyielding. “Yes! She’s real and she’s strong—she can help us!”

His voice was small but fierce as he looked up at Pixie-Bob and then back to you. He gives your hand a firm squeeze.

“After that day...I started bringing her food or dead animals I would find in the forest. She watches over me.” His words were full of quiet pride. “She’s my friend.”

Pixie-Bob’s stance softened. A trace of wonder crossed her face as she looked from Kota to you, taking in the protective way you stood over him.

Though the memory of your attack on the villain was still vivid—so was Kota’s unwavering trust.

It was at that moment other heroes arrived. "Pixie-Bob! Kota!"

Kota face brightens at the sight of his aunt. Though Mandalay's relief was short-lived upon spotting your wild bloodied form.

Mandalay and Tiger's expressions shifted. Their bodies moved instinctively into offensive with narrowed eyes.

 “Wait!” Pixie-Bob calls out with a raised hand. “She...she's with us. Kota vouches for her.” She glanced down at the boy beside you. “She’s an ally.”

Her teammates looked on casting wary glances toward you as they made their way over.

Kota took a deep breath and stepped forward, the unwavering look in his eyes was enough to hold even veteran heroes at bay.

“She’s strong,” he declared. “Stronger than anyone I know. She can help us. Please...let her help us!”

Their eyes flick over your form, sizing you up, noting your powerful build and the calm way you stand beside the young boy.

Mandalay's gaze softens as she looks from Kota to you. “She’s...really with us?” she murmurs, casting a questioning glance at Pixie-Bob.

Pixie-Bob gives a firm nod.

“Yes. If Kota trusts her, we can trust her too.” She lets her eyes settle on you with wary respect in her gaze. “We could use that kind of power right now.”

The tense stillness surrounding you is suddenly interrupted as Asui and Uraraka burst through the undergrowth in frantic and fast breaths.

They barely notice the wary truce forming around as they look to Mandalay and the others, both of their faces pale with worry.

“Pixie-Bob, Tiger, Mandalay!” Uraraka gasped. “We need help. The villains captured Bakugo and Tokoyami!”

Asui croaks. “Ribbit—I managed to throw Midoriya, Shoji, and Todoroki a few miles in the direction we last saw them run off to.”

Kota’s eyes widened as he took in their words, his expression shifting from shock to fierce determination.

Without hesitation he grips your arm and pull you down to his level.

His small hands reach up to hold your face to make sure you’re listening, his eyes locking onto yours with unshaken intensity.

“____” he whispered urgently, “They're students so they're not as experienced as Pros. Remember Izuku—the green haired weirdo I told you about? Him and his friends are in danger. Please, you need to help them.”

For a moment you only stare back unblinking. Then, after a beat, you release a deep nosed sigh; the warm breath ruffling his hair slightly.

Standing tall, you turn your head to the breeze and inhaling deeply, scenting the air for a clue.

And then (faint but unmistakable) it hit you—the sharp, acrid scent of burnt flesh and scorched wood drifted from deep within the forest.

In an instant you sprang forward, your powerful form tearing into the trees at breakneck speed.

The heroes barely had time to register what was happening as you vanished into the shadows toward the source of the scent.

"GO ____ GO! YOU GOT THIS!" Kota’s voice called out, filled with hope urging you onward. "Wait...did you just say ____?!"

"Not now auntie!"

*.·:·.☽✧✧☾.·:·.* 

The smell got stronger as you moved, the forest blurring past in streaks of green and shadow.

Guided by the faint traces of smoke the sounds of distant conflict grew louder.

You neared the area, stopping right at the edge of the bushes, green eyes glinting as you took in the scene.

“You really think I’d be so careless?” A masked man with a theatrical pose. “When I flaunt something shiny...”

He opens his mouth, revealing two marbles resting on his tongue. “...it’s because there’s something else I don’t want you to see.”

"No..." You look to see a green haired freckled boy sitting on the ground not to far away. '....Izuku...'

Next to him stood a multi-armed teen who was shakily glancing at the marbles in his hand. "No..."

With a snap, the two objects immediately explode; revealing what was really trapped inside the small objects.

"Todoroki" Izuku mutters in disbelief. "is that—"

"My ice." The half red and white colored student, who you now know to be Todoroki, says as his face darkens.

With a grin the villain continues mocking the young heroes. “Forgive me but I do so adore a twist ending,” he sneers.

Another one stood beside him making your lips curl a little. He's where the burnt skin smell was coming from.

Your watch as the dark purple mist behind them began to envelope the two. 

"One last bow," the magician like criminal declares grandly, leaning forward as he faced the trio of dismayed students. "And then...the curtain fal—"

A sudden blinding beam of light sliced through the misty gloom and struck him squarely in the face.

He stumbled back with a gasp, clutching his face as the marbles slipped from his grip, spinning wildly through the air.

You snapped your head toward the source of the laser and caught a brief glimpse of blond hair peeking through the dense undergrowth. 

Two figures raced forward in desperation—one with the broad many-arms and the other Todoroki.

Multi-arms lunges forward, just managing to catch one of the marbles before it rolls out of reach.

Not far from him Todoroki reaches out for the other, his fingertips brushing its smooth surface—only for a scarred hand to snatch it mid-fall.

The hand lifts the marble to let it catch the faint moonlight.

Todoroki’s mismatched eyes widen as he looks up to meet turquoise. The ̶d̶̶y̶̶e̶̶d̶ raven haired man's lips curl into a mocking smirk.

“Well,” He drawls, enjoying every hint of distress on the younger male's face. “Isn’t that a tragedy~”

Your eyes narrow as you gauge the villain’s sneer.

Without waiting for another second you bursting through the bushes and clear the distance with a powerful leap.

UA students and villains alike jolt in surprise as you barrel toward the flame user, your jaws snapping open to aim for his wrist.

The blue-eyed villain reacts in the last second; jerking his arm back with a snarl, but not before your teeth graze his flesh.

"Shit!" He hisses in pain as he recoils causing the marble to drop from his grip.

Todoroki stumbled back, shock freezing him in place for a moment as you landed heavily on all fours with a low rumble.

You position yourself protectively near the marble as you keep your gaze on the villains.

“What the fuck?” he sneers as he takes in your blood-splattered form.

Nearby the other one hesitated, his hand twitching as he finally processed the unexpected threat you posed.

The distraction was enough to disrupt his usual confidence causing the marbles to transform back.

In a flash the marbles expanded revealing Bakugo and Tokoyami in their true forms.

Tokoyami stumbled beside Shoji as he regained his balance while Bakugo sat on the forest floor in confusion.

“Kacchan!” Izuku’s voice rings out in desperate relief as he runs toward the spiky-haired blonde.

Bakugo whipped around, his face changing from dazed to pure outrage in seconds. "Huh? Deku? The hell's going on here?" he barked.

But then his red eyes slid to you crouched beside him as you held the criminals in your unwavering stare.

His shock turned to horror. “WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!”

The sound of footsteps fills the clearing as Pro-Heroes start appearing causing the villain with the cracked mask to curse under his breath.

“Dabi!” he hisses once realizing the odds are no longer in their favor. “We have to go. Now!”

As the mist began to swirl around them signaling their retreat, Dabi’s furious gaze remained locked on you.

His jaw clenched as his hand twitched with the urge to unleash his flames on you.

The fury in his turquoise eyes burns hotter as he weighs his options, his disdain unmistakable as he glares.

Yet, after a tense pause, he seems to make his decision and stay put. But Dabi’s eyes never left you—even when the mist continued to swallow him.

It wasn’t until he vanished completely into the darkness that the oppressive tension began to lift.

════════════════*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═════════════════

Time passed after the battle.

Digging through records they uncovered little about you—no family history, no known relatives.

It was as if you had existed entirely within the wilds.

Understanding the depths of your isolation, The Pussycats offered a unique arrangement: you’d be allowed to stay with them and near Kota for the child's sake and for the good of all .

The Wild Wild Pussycats would be your guardians, and with their endorsement, you’d receive special training under Aizawa.

Yet your primal nature was undeniable—resulting that you would join Class 1-A (though only loosely) in order to adapt to society, learn control, and ̶h̶̶o̶̶p̶̶e̶̶f̶̶u̶̶l̶̶l̶̶y̶ find a place in this new world beyond the forest.

At first the transition to UA was jarring. The school was a strange new jungle with hallways and doors instead of trees and rivers.

Your limited understanding of human life and lack of speaking left you barely engaged with academic classes.

Soon enough teachers began excusing you from regular lessons.

So while you attended physical hero training for your strength and speed, the teachers allowed you to roam freely during other periods, expecting to check in before lunch that is.

Even through all of this Kota’s loyalty and admiration never wavered. And so, with his encouragement, you try your best to navigate the strange customs of UA.

════════════════*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═════════════════

Aizawa’s monotone voice filled the classroom he delivered a dry lecture on hero tactics while Class 1-A students dutifully took notes.

The room was calm and focused—and nearing lunch.

Just as Aizawa was outlining a defensive maneuver on the board, the door burst open with a loud slam causing all heads to shoot up

Except for Aizawa that is. He continued with his teachings, ignoring your disturbance all together.

You strode into the room unbothered by the abrupt interruption you'd caused before sauntering over to a spot near the window.

There was a murmur of mixed reactions: some were still startled by your wild presence, while others just rolled their eyes with an amused sigh.

Aizawa’s gaze flicked your way mid-sentence, his words trailing off as he noticed something unusual.

The Underground Hero narrowed his eyes as he stared at you with dry curiosity.

“___,” he said bluntly, focused on the tears that were brimming at the edges of your eyes causing your classmates to glance over. “What did you eat?”

The question was straightforward—clear to show he was not one to skirt around the subject.

The room fell silent. You tilt your head to the side.

You never really spoke much, often in short or one-worded replies. So many assumed you would ignore him and continue on with what you were doing as you usually d—

“Squirrel.” 

Your gravelly voice cuts through the silence.

A collective shock rippled through the room as every student’s face twisted. Even those sitting nearby leaned away as if they could still see remnants of your meal.

And poor Kouda. The gentle giant's eyes went wide and he gave a little flinch at your response.

Any progress that was made for him to be less scared of you went out the window.

Bakugo lips curled in disgust. “Nasty ass!” he sneers with a scoff. “You’ll just eat anything huh?”

For a moment you blinked at their reactions not understanding what they found so unsettling.

Aizawa could only sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose before gesturing for you to return to your seat. “Let’s...just focus back on the lesson.”

Though the class settled, they couldn't help but let their glances linger, casting wary and slightly curious looks your way for the rest of the lesson.

════════════════*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═════════════════

The day was winding down; the last class was a mix of quiet chatter and a few sleepy stares as everyone waited for the final bell.

Aizawa had left the room to drop off some graded papers leaving Class-1A students to their own devices.

Eyeing the clock to see only a few minutes remains, Bakugo’s eyes narrow with a glint of mischief.

Without warning he reaches into his bag and pulls out a small wriggling bundle—a bunny with soft fur and floppy ears.

“Bakugo what are you doing?!” Mina hissed as she spotted the small animal struggling in his grip.

Others turned to look, their expressions shifting from confusion to alarm.

With a wicked grin Bakugo shrugs. “Went out during lunch and got it,” he says nonchalantly. “Just a little test.”

“Test?” Kirishima echoes, his face a mix of concern and reluctant intrigue. “Bakubro...what do you mean by a test?”

Bakugo’s grin widens.

“I saw our new classmate here playing with some kittens on my way home yesterday,” he explains, his tone mocking. “Clearly it seems she doesn't really eat any and everything. Almost had me but seeing that made me realize I never actually seen her do it. Just wanna see for myself that's all.”

Realization dawns on the class and several voices rise in quick protest.

Izuku steps forward, his face pale. “Kacchan don’t tell me you're going to—” 

Bakugo scoffs in irritation. “Relax Deku.”

Todoroki, overhearing, frowns slightly. “This is unnecessary. She’s adapting to a new environment—there’s no need to throw her instincts off balance like this.”

The spiky blonde's face hardens. “Oh spare me Half-and-Half. It’s all a show.” He gives a dismissive wave of his hand. “I don’t buy it—no way she’s that feral.”

Izuku reached a hand toward him still trying to talk him down. “Please Kacchan this isn’t a good idea.”

“You two need to chill. She won’t do anything.”

“Bakugo this isn’t just about proving a point.” Todoroki’s brows were furrowed at this point. “You know she’s different. There’s no need to throw live animals at her.”

“You seriously think I care what you think?!” he snaps in response. “There's no way she’d actually eat it.” He glanced between the two of them with a sneer. “What, you don’t believe me?”

“Kacchan please just put it back.” Izuku started pleading. “This isn’t a good idea.”

Bakugo’s patience snapped.

Last thing he wanted was a lecture from these two. “Oh yeah?” his voice dripped with defiance. “Watch this.”

He turns toward the windows where you and Asui were sunbathing. "Hey scaly bitch!"

You glance over at the call, squinting against the harsh light of the Sun.

"Catch!"

The class watched—half with horror while the other with morbid curiosity—as he tossed the bunny high into the air.

Instinct kicked in. Without hesitation you leaped from your spot, your body coiled like a spring.

Jaws wide, you caught the small creature mid-air with a single decisive snap.

The sound of the impact—teeth sinking into flesh—is almost inaudible beneath the chilling squeal of the bunny.

Blood splatter across the floor staining the tiles as you land gracefully back on your feet.

Your expression was calm and unmoved as you chewed and swallowed, licking the last traces of blood from your lips.

The class is frozen in horror as a stunned shock filled the room.

Bakugo’s own smirk fades. He stares at you in disbelief and for a moment he’s speechless—mouth open as he tries to process what just happened. 

It wasn't until a gasp broke the silence, brining everyone’s attention to Kouda who had gone pale, his wide horrified eyes fixed on you.

Always drawn to animals the softspoken giant had never seen such a brutal display firsthand. Until now that is.

He swayed on his feet before his knees buckled, falling limp to the floor in a faint.

That snaps the entire class out of it; their heads swiveling in unison toward Bakugo, expressions ranging from anger to disgust.

“Bakugo!” They all shout in unison.

A collective scowl darkens their faces as they glare at him. He flinches at the sheer force of it.

"What?!" Recovering quickly Bakugo crosses his arms with a defensive scowl of his own. “I didn’t think she was gonna fucking eat it for real!”