'Open When' Letters From Bakugo

I have faith in the potato

The Things He Doesn't Know — K. Bakugo

This is part nine of the series, so chapters will be on the m.list.

☞ Link: click here.

Pairing: Katsuki Bakugo x Jealous female reader

Synopsis: When you realize you're in love with your childhood best friend, but force you're feeling's down for the sake of your friendship.

Author's note: 🫢 Is all I have to say. It's a long one.

You can’t get Kimiko’s words out of your head.

"I think you and I both know you’re full of shit."

What did she mean by that? And why couldn’t you just let it go?

It wasn’t just the way she said it. It was the look in her eyes, the smug, knowing smirk tugging at her lips like she had figured something out before you did.

It irritated you to no end. Everything Kimiko did made you mad.

But this? This was something else entirely.

Her constant flirting with Bakugo got on your nerves, but more than that, it made you sad. Every time she leaned into his space, every time she laughed a little too sweetly at something, he said, every time she called him Katsuki so casually, like she had the right to? it made your stomach twist. It wasn’t jealousy, was it?

No. It was something worse. Something heavier. Because she could do all those things, and you couldn't. Or rather, you wouldn’t.

You sigh, rubbing your temples as you slump against your desk. Kimiko had a way of making sure her words stuck in your head like a splinter, and you hated it.

This was probably her plan all along, to make you overthink, to make you question yourself. And the worst part? It was working.

A sudden knock on your dorm door startles you out of your thoughts.

"Who is it?" You call out, still lying face-down on your desk.

"It’s me. Open up, dumbass."

Bakugo.

For some reason, your brain immediately goes into panic mode. You sit up straight, smoothing your hair down and glancing around your mess of a room. Why did it suddenly feel like a disaster zone? Why did you care?

You hurriedly shove a pile of clothes under your bed and straighten out your sheets before clearing your throat. Get it together.

"Um… come in!"

Bakugo opens the door, stepping inside, and you abruptly stop what you’re doing, frozen mid-motion like a deer caught in headlights.

"Hey."

"Hi."

Silence.

Bakugo lets out a small grunt before plopping down onto your bed like he owns the place.

Meanwhile, you just stand there awkwardly, shifting from foot to foot. Why were you acting like an idiot? He’d been in your room plenty of times before. Hell, he’d seen it in way worse conditions, so why were you acting like some flustered fool now?

"What brings you here, partner?" You lean against your desk, trying to act casual, trying, and failing.

Partner? Partner?! Could you sound any more stupid?

As if to further cement your humiliation, your elbow knocks over a pile of books, sending them tumbling to the floor.

"Shoot," you mutter, scrambling to pick them up.

From behind you, Bakugo lets out what sounds close to a laugh.

You freeze.

That was a laugh.

Your face burns as you quickly gather your books, your fingers fumbling. It was just a laugh. Just a laugh. Don’t be stupid, Y/N.

"So… you wearing that out?" Bakugo suddenly asks.

You glance down at yourself, oversized, wrinkled T-shirt (with a mysterious green stain you’d rather not think about), old sweats with a hole in the knee.

"Well, uh—wait. Out where?"

Bakugo stares at you like you’ve grown two heads.

"Seriously? You don’t remember?"

You blink. What the hell is he talking about?

"No? Did I forget a birthday? Whose did I forget? Kaminari? Kirishima? Mina—"

"No, you dumbass. Chill out." Bakugo rolls his eyes. "We’re going to the arcade. Me. You. The other extras."

Oh. Right.

Your stomach sinks a little. You had completely forgotten. It's probably because Kimiko would be there.

"Heh… right. I totally remembered that." You mumble, scratching the back of your head.

Bakugo narrows his eyes at you. "It’s not like you to forget."

His words catch you off guard. "Something on your mind?" That’s not something he usually asks.

"Er, uh, no. Just slipped, y’know?" You force a grin.

Bakugo doesn’t look convinced, but he lets it go.

"Right. Well, get ready unless you wanna go out looking like a damn hobo."

"Hey, not too much now." You chuckle, grateful for the shift in topic.

Bakugo huffs and stands up, heading for the door.

And you should let him go.

But you don’t.

Before you can stop yourself, your hand shoots out, grabbing his wrist.

Bakugo stiffens slightly, glancing down at your hand, then back up at you. His expression is unreadable.

"Um… you can stay, y’know." Your voice comes out quieter than you intended. "And we could head down together. Like we used to?"

For a second, he just stares at you, eyes scanning your face. Then...

"Okay."

You got an okay!?

You let go of his wrist and step back, heartbeat hammering in your chest as you quickly escape to the bathroom to change. You try really hard not to freak out.

By the time you and Bakugo head downstairs, everyone is already gathered in the common room. Kaminari jumps up from the couch the second he sees you.

"Finally! Took you two long enough. Let’s go!"

"God, Kaminari, could you be any more impatient?" Jirou sighs, standing up.

Kaminari and Jirou are the first ones out.

"Wow, man, I didn’t even have to drag you out this time," Kirishima teases.

"Shut up," Bakugo grumbles, walking past him.

Kimiko, because of course she does, immediately rushes to Bakugo’s side, smiling sweetly.

Major eye roll.

The arcade was alive with flashing neon lights, the sharp chimes of tokens clinking into machines, and the occasional victory yell from a lucky player.

The air smelled of buttered popcorn and cheap pizza, the kind that tasted way better than it should.

You had barely stepped inside when Kimiko started her Bakugo antics.

“Hey, Bakugo,” she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Wanna team up? I bet we’d destroy everyone else.”

Before Bakugo could respond, you felt his hand on your wrist.

“Nah,” he said, pulling you along. “Already got plans.”

Your heart jumped at the sudden contact, and Kimiko’s expression flickered, just for a second, before she forced on a smirk.

“Oh, I see,” she said, crossing her arms but making no effort to hide her displeasure. “Have fun, I guess.”

Bakugo didn’t even acknowledge her before leading you toward a row of games.

“Pick something,” he said, hands shoved in his pockets.

You grinned, trying to ignore the warmth still lingering from where he grabbed you. “What, giving me full control? That’s dangerous, Bakugo.”

“Tch. You act like I won’t kick your ass at whatever we play.”

That, of course, became the challenge of the night.

First game: Air hockey. You managed to score a few points, but Bakugo, with his stupidly good reflexes, sent the puck flying into your goal more times than you’d like to admit.

“Damn it,” you muttered, watching the scoreboard light up with his victory.

He smirked. “Hope you’re not gettin’ discouraged already.”

Second game: A co-op zombie shooter. The two of you stood side by side, plastic guns in hand, mowing down wave after wave of the undead. You weren’t sure if it was just the adrenaline or the fact that Bakugo actually made a pretty solid teammate, but you found yourself laughing at how serious he got, cursing every time he missed a shot.

By the time you reached the final boss, you were both on your last lives.

“Shit, move, dumbass, you’re in my line of fire!”

“You move, I’m covering your left!”

Somehow, you both landed the final shot at the same time, causing the screen to flash VICTORY! in bold letters.

You turned to Bakugo, grinning. “We actually make a decent team.”

He snorted. “Obviously. You’d be dead without me.”

Final game: The claw machine.

Bakugo wasn’t one for the “kiddy” games, but after catching you eyeing a plush sitting in the pile of prizes, he shoved a few tokens in without a word.

“You don’t have to win me anything,” you said, watching as he maneuvered the claw with expert precision.

“Didn’t ask,” he muttered.

It took him three tries, but eventually, the claw managed to grab hold of a stuffed bear with lopsided button eyes and a slightly crooked smile. He pulled it out and tossed it to you, acting as if it was no big deal.

You hugged the bear close. “He looks a little messed up.”

“Yeah, well, figured he suits you.”

You rolled your eyes, smiling. “What should we name him?”

Bakugo tilted his head, pretending to think. “Dynamutt.”

You burst out laughing. “That’s awful.”

“Like you could come up with somethin’ better.” He mutters.

You glanced down at the bear and grinned. “Fine. Dynamutt it is.”

By the time you all returned to the dormitories, everyone had collected their fair share of arcade prizes.

Kirishima had an armful of plushies from a rigged punching game. Mina somehow ended up with a collection of flashy LED glasses. Kaminari and Sero had spent most of their time hoarding candy from a ticket machine.

You held Dynamutt close as you flopped onto one of the common room couches, exhausted but content.

Bakugo sat down on the opposite couch, and before you could blink, Kimiko plopped down beside him, far too close for comfort.

“So,” she started, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Did you have fun tonight?”

Bakugo just shrugged. “I guess.”

Kimiko giggled, tilting her head. “You’re always so hard to please, huh?”

You watched as she leaned in slightly, her voice dropping just a little lower.

“You know, I bet I could make things more fun for you,” she added, her fingers barely brushing against his arm.

You clenched your jaw. There it was again, that same feeling that had burned in your chest at the party and many times after.

The frustration, the annoyance, the overwhelming urge to say something.

But not here. Not in front of everyone.

“I’m gonna get some fresh air,” you mumbled, standing up abruptly. “Be back soon.”

Sero, who had been watching the entire thing, shot you a knowing look before getting up as well. “Yeah, me too.”

The cool night air was a relief against your heated skin as you leaned against the railing outside the dorms.

Sero stood beside you, silent for a moment before finally speaking.

“She really gets to you, huh?” He said, casually shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

You let out a bitter laugh. “Is it that obvious?”

“Only to me. I know the feeling.”

You turned to him. “Kimiko?”

Sero sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah. I mean, I know I don’t have a chance or whatever, but watching her go after Bakugo like that… it sucks.”

You hesitated before admitting,

“I don’t even know why it bothers me so much. I mean, I do, but…”

“But?”

You swallowed hard. “It’s like some part of me still doesn’t want to admit it.”

“That you love him?” Sero blurts out.

The words made your stomach flip. "Yeah.." You kick a small pebble.

Sero smiled knowingly. “Denial’s a bitch, huh?”

You groaned. “God, you’re the worst.”

“Nah, I’m the best. And I think you should tell him.”

You gave him a look. “Oh yeah? And what about you? Gonna confess to Kimiko?”

Sero huffed. “Hell no.” Then, after a pause: “Maybe.”

You both laughed, the weight on your chest feeling just a little lighter.

“C’mon,” you finally said, nudging his arm.

“Let’s head back.”

As the two of you step back into the common room, you hear Kimiko’s voice cut through the air.

"Y'know, Katsuki, if you want to hold someone's hand, you could just ask me." She tilts her head, eyes glinting with mischief. "I wouldn’t make you work for it."

There's something in Bakugo’s eyes that tells you he's barely back his frustration. He takes a deep breath before responding.

"Could you stop that? It's annoying."

Kimiko’s expression falters just for a moment before deciding to continue. "Oh come, Katsuki, you know you like it." She reaches out to touch his arm once more, but he shifts away from her.

No, I don’t," he says, voice firm, final. "I never have."

Silence falls over the room. Kirishima shifts awkwardly, looking like he’s about to step in, but Bakugo isn’t done yet.

"I’ve just been putting up with it because I didn’t wanna deal with the drama." His voice is sharper now, frustration rolling off him. "But you’re annoying as hell, and I don’t like it, so stop."

The weight of his words hangs in the air.

You and Sero, still standing near the doorway, exchange a glance. This is... a lot.

Even Kaminari and Jirou, who had been hanging around earlier, had the good sense to disappear before things got worse.

Kimiko mutters something under her breath, too quiet for you to hear before pushing off the couch. She leaves without another word.

Mina sighs, rubbing her temples before grabbing Kirishima’s wrist. "Come on, Red, we should check on her."

Kirishima hesitates but follows. "That was kinda harsh, man," he mutters to Bakugo before leaving.

"Well, that was—" You turn to Sero, only to find him gone.

You huff a quiet laugh. Traitor.

Bakugo looks up at the sound, his usual scowl still in place. You hesitate for a second before walking over, dropping into the seat Kimiko had left empty.

Silence stretches between you both.

It’s not uncomfortable, though. Silence has always been your thing.

"You heard all that?" he finally mutters.

"Yeah..." You pick at your sleeve, not sure how else to respond.

There’s another pause before Bakugo exhales sharply, his voice lower when he speaks again.

"I don’t get why people think I’m into that flirty crap. It’s annoying." His gaze flickers toward you, then away just as quickly. "Not my thing."

"Then why did you tolerate it?" you ask.

You’ve spent months watching Kimiko flirt with him. At times, he barely reacted. Others he seemed to like it, so you assumed he was fine with it. But now? Now he’s snapping, like he’s had enough.

"’Cause damn Shitty Hair wanted me to," Bakugo mutters. "He said she was just trying to be friends with me, so I let it go. And she’s an okay sparring partner, I guess."

"Oh... I see..."

There’s something heavier in his voice now, something that goes beyond just Kimiko. You wait, and sure enough, he keeps going.

"After the war," he mutters, almost like he’s talking to himself, "everything felt… different."

He exhales sharply, frustrated. "I know I probably worried the hell outta everyone, almost dyin’ and all. I feel like, like I gotta make up for that somehow. Be better. Do shit right."

You swallow. "You did worry everyone," you admit softly. "Me, especially."

Bakugo clenches his jaw, his hands curling into fists in his lap. "I know, and I hate that," he mutters. "I hate knowing I made everyone go through that."

His gaze flickers up to meet yours, and there’s something raw within his expression.

"That’s why I let that shit slide. Why I put up with dumb crap like Kimiko’s flirting. ‘Cause it felt like… I dunno, something I should do."

You feel your heart tighten in your chest. "You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, Bakugo."

"I know, and that's why you’re the only one I don’t gotta pretend around."

Your breath catches in your throat.

"You’ve always been my best friend, but—" he hesitates, just for a second, before pushing forward. "You’re different. You always have been."

Sero’s advice flashes through your head.

And suddenly, you feel like you’re on the edge of something terrifying.

Your hands clench into fists. "Bakugo..."

His eyes meet yours.

"Katsuki, idiot," he corrects automatically.

Your pulse races.

"Katsuki," you say, and his name feels heavier in your mouth than it ever has before.

His brows furrow slightly, like he can sense something shifting. "What?"

You take a breath.

And then, before fear can stop you, you say it.

"I’m in love with you."

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HEAR ME OUT

“Don’t you think I’m scary?”

“Scary? My god you’re divine”

AHHHHH

FuskqosnisisbssbjHWISNSKSOAOAKWAJ 😭😭🤭🤭😋😋

I love two lovestruck idiots who don’t know they’re in love w each other and it’s grumpy German shepherd x golden retriever 😻😻

PLEAAASEE german shepherd x golden retriever is one of my faaavvv tropes OAT !! it’s so so adorable and especially with katsuki cus i know he just thinks he’s so scary ! i got a lil idea after the recent manga chap that just came out, so this might be a liiiiiittle super small spoiler but i think its so cute ! hope you enjoy anon tysm for the ask ! much luv xxx

fem reader, super duper minooor spoiler but katsuki has stitches !, mutual pining, idiots in love, soft katsu (cus he has to be but also cus he’s whipped) (but hes still a little piece of shit) reader is a lil sweetie, short lil fluffy fic, touchy katsuki bc i cannot help myself, lmk if i missed anything else !

before the war, bakugou had made a lot of new little habits.

he’s made it a habit of waiting for you to head out of class so you could walk together. he’s made it a habit of sharing just a portion of his lunch with you, because apparently he’s constantly been making too much, ignore the fact that he only let’s you have those ‘extra’s’ that doesn’t mean anything.

he’s made it a habit of carrying around an extra water bottle with him because you always forget to keep yourself hydrated after training, he’s also made it a habit to scold you for it endlessly. he’s ruthless even as you whine about how mean he is, saying that “he wouldn’t need to be on your ass so much if you just remembered to grab your damn bottle.” he ignores the fluffy feeling in his heart and tells you to shut up when you tell him that he always has your back anyway, swiftly looking away from you and cheeks turning red.

and since you're on the way to his house, he's made it a habit of walking you home. you call it hanging out after school, he calls it 'just making sure you don't get lost somehow..hah ?! don't ask me how ! your dumbass would probably find a way to !'

anyway, he's made it his mission to grace you with his presence every day after school. you always bid him a cheery goodbye, "see you tommorow !" you say, and he always looks forward to it, even when he turns away, nonchalantly throwing you a quick wave over his shoulder.

usually you wake up at completely different hours, so he doesn't pick you up the morning. you always wished you could see him first thing in the morning, but seeing him waiting by the school gate's was more than enough to make your heart soar, you were more than happy with that.

but today you can finally go back to school. after dealing with non stop fighting for what felt, and probably was, hours and hours on end during the events of the war. and being stuck in the hospital for a few weeks, it feels nice to wear your school uniform and feel somewhat normal again. you'd get to see all your friends again and you'd official be a second year. you smile softly to yourself in the mirror.

katsuki had sent you a text a few minutes ago. he'd asked if you were almost ready, and you'd responded that you were only for him to leave you on read. you didn't mind much and shrugged it off.

but today, when you walk out the door, you see katsuki waiting for you on the sidewalk.

you blink twice, eyes widening. katsuki turns and looks up from his phone screen at the sound of the door he also blinks, although he's more unbothered then you as he simply stands up, pushing himself off his knees with a groan "took you long enough." he drawls. his eyes are warm and his lip twitch just the slightest bit at your expression "thought you'd keep me waiting forever."

"katsuki !" you exclaim, eyes still wide "what're you doing here ?!" you quickly walk to him, standing close enough to see the marks on his face, and the unmistakable stitches on his cheek.

he raises a brow like you're crazy, tilting his head "m'walking you to school."

"bwuh-are you even allowed to go to school ?" you sputter, realising he had his school uniform on, you liked it when he started making it a habit of wearing his tie more often. katsuki grumbles at your worries "shouldn't you be in the hospital ?" he scoffs at your fretting, but his eyes soften as he leans in closer to you. you see his battle scars better that way. you gulp at the sudden proximity, he's never been shy about getting in people's faces, although it was never meant to be intimidating when he did it with you, if the pink tint of his cheeks meant anything.

"doc said it's fine as long as i keep quiet.." he scoffs after finishing the sentence, rolling his eyes and causing you to giggle. hearing the sound he hadn't heard in what felt like ages made him sniff in amusement. you reach for his hand then, and he doesn't take his eyes off you while intertwining his fingers with yours. both your eyes shining with longing and affection for the other. you smile brightly at him and even though the doctors had told him to be careful with his heart, it seemed you were gonna make that hard for him. it didn't matter though, he was always up for a challenge.

pulling him along, you decide to tease him "guess that means you're gonna have to be on your best behaviour today, huh ? so you can't go gettin' mad at kaminari for no reason !" you playfully scold.

he rolls his eyes at the mention of your friend, though he doesn't hold back his smirk, he's definitely more open then he was compared to when you'd first started school. thinking about how far you've come together makes you happy, but it also feels bittersweet. "dunce face s'the who keeps pissin' me off, not my fault he can't handle it." you snicker and he snorts in amusement, squeezing your hand and making butterflies squirm around in your stomach. you don't mention the tight grip he has on your hand, probably because you're gripping his just as tight with no intention of letting go anytime soon. you probably look like a couple to the people walking by, you realise. and the thought does not displease you at all, far from it. it makes you a little too happy.

"behave." you squeeze his hand.

"i do." he growls, squeezing back, "he keeps trying me." you respond with a snort. your eyes occasionally fly towards his face, to the stitches on it more specifically. he's caught you looking multiple times on the way to the bus stop, not like you were exactly being subtle. your stare makes him nervous and he decides to finally confront you about it when you get to the bus stop.

"spit it out." he says, hands clammy in your grip, he hopes and prays you don't notice because it's so unbearably embarrassing to have to admit he was worried about what you'd think about his new look. he'd been anxious on your doorstep but you didn't give him much of a reaction, too shocked to even see him at the time, but your constant shifty glances made all the anxiety crawl back up again. so he speaks, keeping these distracting and frankly irritating thoughts to himself just irritated him.

you blink, humming curiously. katsuki grumbles to himself, keeping his eyes from yours. "ya keep staring at me, so what's up ?"

"it's strange seeing you with stitches." you answer bluntly. usually, he likes how honest you are, but right now it does nothing but stress him out. "i heard you messed your face up pretty bad, but i'm glad it didn't leave too much of a nasty scar." you muse. katsuki hums but his eyebrows furrow as he catches your last words, he's a little pissed off that you'd heard about what happened during the war. he'd wanted you to know as little as possible to keep from worrying you, or at the very least he'd wanted to tell you himself. he'll make sure to thoroughly question his fuckass friends later. of course, it also could've been her.

"..how'd you-"

"your mom told me."

he grunts. of course, it was his mom.

that damn hag..

"of course." he mutters bitterly. you don't respond, and to him that's all the answer he needs. a pit settles in his stomach.

"yeah, it's weird, isn't it ?" he agrees bitterly, unconsciously tightnening his grip on your hand. "it looks kinda creepy, right ?"

"what do you mean ?" his jaw tightens " i mean..like, on my face..." he sputter and mutters to himself, unable to properly say what he wants. you understand him though and immediately you turn till your face to face with him. your expression determined as you grab his other hand, both of his scarred hands now in your grip. his eyes widen in shock, embarrassment creeping up on him.

"there's nothing wrong with your face, katsu." you reassure, you'd made it a habit of calling him all those stupidly endearing nicknames, and it doesn't help taming the blush on his face slowly bleeding onto his cheeks. he pouts, fixing his gaze onto you and towards the floor.

"but doesn't it look..i dunno," he mutters, suddenly feeling self conscious "scary ?"

"scary ?" you tilt your head, he squints and looks away.

"i guess." he grunts with a nod, trying to save face. obviously it doesn't work by the look on yours. you're always so bubbly and sweet, he hates seeing such a pained expression on your face. you tug at his arms to get him to look at you "scary ? there's nothing scary about you.." you say sweetly, shaking your head. "i personally think you look really cool.." you mutter. katsuki feels his face heat, but his heart soars nonetheless. his eyes have been stuck wide for a second.

cool.

you think he looks cool.

"i was just wondering if they hurt ?" he tilts his head back in thought at that. instictively running his tongue on the inside of his cheek.

"nah, just felt weird when they were numbing it. but i didn't feel a thing." he shrugs, he suddenly smirks, the stitches being pulled up by the movement "wanna touch em ?" he teases, pulling you closer by the grip he still has on your hands. your eyebrows shoot to your hairline and he barks out a laugh.

"i-i can't do that ! what if i touch them and they come loose or something !" katsuki rolls his eyes at your jittering, using the hand still in his grip to bring it near his cheek, you desperately pull back and his evil smirk widens.

"katsuki, no !" you protest. he cackles meanly.

"it's fine." he insists, your pointer finger grazes his cheek and you turn your head away.

"i don't wanna !" you shake your head, your shoulders shaking as you hold back a giggle.

"yn. you're fine." he insists. he'd made it a habit of calling you by your first name after you'd started hanging out more. you called most of your friends by their first names pretty quickly into the year, your cheeriness making it easy for you to get along with everyone but you always were a little on guard with katsuki at first. he'll never admit it, but he was a little jealous that you'd call everyone in your shared friend group by their first name except for him. the sweet bubbly tone in your voice when you called for sero or kirishima made a nasty feeling bubble up in the pits of his stomach he'd desperately tried to push away. until one day he'd snapped during your group outing at the mall (outing he was coerced into going to by kirishima after finding out you where going too)

he'd regretted how whiney and bitter he sounded at the time, but he thinks it was worth it every time you'd look at him and say his name so sweetly, definitely worth it, as embarrassing as it was. and he'd started calling you by your first name too shortly after. all your friends do, but it felt so, so different with him.

finally your fingers make contact with the staples on his cheek. you peek up to look at him then. you run your fingers across them ever so softly, making sure not to hurt him. katsuki slowly let's go of your hand. unmoving and unnervingly still as you take your time scanning his face.

"so ?" he raises a brow, smirk slowly melting into a softer smile as he sees you smile to yourself.

"it's..not bad.." you tentatively start, still too worried to move too suddenly. he hums playfully. "and you don't feel it at all ?" you ask

"at all." he softly shakes his head. you don't realise you've gotten closer to his face but he sure has, and you end up realizing a little too late, but neither of you move away. you try to, but katsuki pulls you back in before you can get far. "do i still look cool up close ?" he jests, but there's some seriousness and vulnerability in his gaze. you smile warmly.

"yup," you say softly, you hear katsuki inhale sharpy, eyes never leaving yours "definitely still the coolest. not scary at all" you giggle, he rolls his eyes but chuckles. before you can question your positition or move away (or closer) to him you see the bus arriving in the distance. he notices it too and you share a look before you take a step back, smiling shyly at the floor while he keeps his gaze on the bus on the way.

until—

"OW, fuck !!"

your eyes snap up to see katsuki holding his cheek in his hand, your heart hammers and your eyes widen. you're next to him in two steps. "what, what—why-what happened ??!" you stammer, your hands reaching up to grab ahold of his face though you stutter, maybe it was your fault ?!

until—katsuki bursts out laughing. mean, but undeniably cute watery cackles that have you furrowing your brows in confusion until your jaw drops in realization.

the. asshole.

"you're not funny !" you whine, pushing at his arm although pushing might be the overstatement of the century. it could be more comparable to a nudge because even though he is an asshole, you wouldn't want to hurt him. even if he deserves it, you're better than that. you'll just think about hurting him.

katsuk chuckles breathelessly, grabbing your arm while you walk closer and stretch your arm out to signal the bus to stop. "it was funny, admit it !"

"you suck. you're the worst." scanning your bus ticket and walking ahead ignoring him, katsuki quickly scans his ticket and follows diligently behind you.

"you thought it was hilarious." he smirks.

"the absolute worst, the lowest of the low." you huff, ignoring the persistant heat of his eyes on you. he only snickers.

"i see you laughing."

today, you arrive to school with katsuki not at the school gates waiting for you, but walking together with you to start your new school year as second years. and you both hope you can make a habit out of this.

TITLE: lights will guide you home

PAIRING: Bakugou Katsuki x Reader

SUMMARY: Soul-lights aren’t as common in this day and age as they were in the past, before quirks, but they’re common enough that people do still find their soulmates.

At thirteen, you meet Bakugou Katsuki, and he lights up for you in orange and gold. You tell him he's your soulmate. He sneers and tells you that you aren't his. He makes your adolescence miserable until you part ways.

You meet again as adults, late at night, in a grocery store, over a pile of bok choy. He apologizes for how he treated you when you were children.

(In which you have a choice—to reject Bakugou's apology, reject him, or to let him show you the man he's become, to learn with him what it means to love and forgive.)

TAGS: soulmate au, trope inversion/subversion, slow burn, getting together, falling in love, fluff, aged up characters, pro-hero characters, eventual smut, mild bullying

STATUS: Ongoing

WORD COUNT: 32.3K

Chapter One: In which you meet your soulmate, and he’s nothing like you dreamed about. Chapter Two: In which you get your bok choy (mission accomplished), grapple with old feelings you have about Bakugou, and experience new ones. Chapter Three: In which you and Bakugou get coffee, and you really don't know what to make of him. Chapter Four: In which you bump into Pro-Hero Dynamight on the street, and he invites himself on your errand. Chapter Five: In which Bakugou does something nice and proves that he's grumpy not just in-person but through texts, too. Chapter Six: In which Japan thinks you're dating Pro-Hero Dynamight, and you desperately need that to not be a thing. Chapter Seven: In which Bakugou has a kitten photoshoot in your apartment. Chapter Eight: In which Bakugou continues to feed you, and you have a realization: He’s handsome, it dawns on you. It’s like wires rearrange in your head, and you can’t stop looking at him. Chapter Nine: In which you find out running away from Bakugou is a bad idea, you become a familiar face at his agency, and he finds a way, as always, to make you feel cared for. Chapter Ten: In which Bakugou says something that really bothers you, and you get sick. Chapter Eleven: In which you worry, and worry, and worry some more. And even when Bakugou does come home, things don't get better.

Read on AO3

✮ content. fantasy au. reader is known as the "Tundran Thief." slight predator/prey vibes. reader is "captured" by bakugo. bakugo is an esteemed hunter + semi-royalty.

⇢ winter thief au (prev) | (next)

This might be the stupidest thing you've ever done.

His challenge to hunt you sends a chill down your spine, the adrenaline rush fueling your sudden burst of energy, bolting for the trees to the north. He growls watching you run — a devilish smirk tugging on his lips as he gives you a head start. It’s not long until the familiar hefty crunching of snow under his feet echoes through the trees around you, louder than your own footsteps as you’re desperate to escape. He wasn’t kidding, he’s fast.

And then…silence.

It stops you in your tracks, your first mistake. You should’ve known better than to stop running. A large hand grasps your shoulder in the blink of an eye, easily throwing you onto your back into the snow with a softened thud. It knocks the air from your lungs, your eyes wide as he loomed above you. He slams the blade of his sword into the ground right next to your cheek, a mercy and a warning.

“I said you wouldn’t get away, little rabbit.” He finally gets a closer look at you, hating how his stomach churns at the sight of your flushed face. He quickly disguises the feeling with a crooked grin, flashing his canines at you. “Pretty little thing, ain’t ya?"

“Just kill me already,” you quip breathlessly with an eye roll. You're in no room to protest, and yet, your sassy attitude persists.

He snarls at your insistence as he stands back to his full height, removing his sword from the ground and returning it to its sheath. “Nah, need ya alive. Yer comin’ with me.”

Gods dammit.

Before you can fight back, he’s got your hands and feet bound with your body thrown over his shoulder like a hunted animal. Usually you’d find yourself kicking and screaming, refusing to be anyone’s captor, but you didn’t have a choice this time. This man is twice your size and fully armed. What the hells could you have done?

“You gonna turn me in?” You mutter sometime later, grumbling in defeat while bouncing on his shoulder. “Bet you’d get a hell of a reward.”

He pinches your thigh roughly, eliciting a squeak of surprise from your lips. “Ow! The hell?!”

“Shut it, princess,” he growls back. “Not turnin’ you in.”

“Why not?” You dare to ask. “You know—”

“I know who you are,” he interrupts and pinches your thigh again. “Takin’ you home. Don’t make a scene an’ keep yer head down.”

He tosses his fur pelt over your body, hiding you from plain sight. Unless up close, no one would be able to tell who — or what — you are. It's not long until the sound of busy streets and commotion fill your ears. Are you at a guard post? Was there even one nearby?

“Prince Bakugo!” A man greets. “Welcome back. I see the hunt was a success.”

Bakugo? Where have you heard that name before? And then it hits you — Bakugo, as in the family of prestigious hunters, the warrior tribe of the East. Your captor is the gods damn prince of the most dangerous village on the continent.

"Mm," Bakugo grunts back in acknowledgement. "Sure was."

Family man

Bakugo x reader

Tags: Pro hero Bakugo has two daughters, pure fluff, cuddling, kissing, request from anon

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

If someone told you at 15 that you'd be married to Katsuki Bakugo, let alone have kids with him, you would have laughed in their face. But here you were, ten years later, standing in a house filled with love, noise, and two little firecrackers that looked just like him.

Katsuki had been away on a two-week mission, and even though you'd grown used to his job as the number two hero, the house always felt a little emptier without him.

The moment the front door opened. He yelled, “HEY, BRATS! COME GIVE YOUR DAD A HUG!”

From down the hallway came the sound of small, hurried footsteps, followed by a chorus of giggles. Two blonde-haired girls, carbon copies of their father with a hint of your softer features, ran at full speed towards the door.

“DADDY!” they squealed in unison, throwing themselves into his open arms.

Katsuki let out a deep laugh, scooping both five-year-olds up effortlessly. “I missed ya, shitheads.”

“Daddy!” one of them scolded through a fit of giggles. “We’re not shitheads! We’ve been good! Didn’t do ANYTHING naughty!”

“Yeah?” Katsuki raised a skeptical brow, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. “That’s not what your momma said. Told me you two firecrackers were trying to blow up the backyard.”

Both girls gasped, their little faces lighting up with guilty smiles. They shared a glance before breaking into giggles.

“You got caught, huh?” Katsuki chuckled. He leaned in, lowering his voice like he was telling them a secret. “Listen up, you two little brats. I don’t care what kinda trouble you get into, so long as you don’t hurt each other or give your mom too much stress. Got it? If you’re gonna use that badass quirk you inherited from me, you better be doin’ it where she won’t lose her damn mind.”

“Got it, Daddy!” they chirped, nodding enthusiastically.

“That’s my girls,” he said with a smirk, pressing a quick kiss to each of their foreheads. “Love ya both, little shits.”

“Love you too, Daddy!” they echoed in unison.

Katsuki set them down, ruffling their messy blonde hair. “Alright, now where’s your mom? I’m gonna make out with her.”

“Ewwwwww!” Both girls scrunched their noses, erupting into laughter as they ran off down the hall, leaving Katsuki smirking in their wake.

After the girls ran off, Katsuki smirked to himself, shaking his head. “Little brats,” he muttered affectionately. He kicked off his boots and made his way to the kitchen, where he immediately spotted you standing at the sink.

You were doing the dishes, your back turned to him, completely unaware of his arrival thanks to the headphones over your ears. He noticed the slight bounce of your head to the music, and a grin tugged at his lips.

Moving quietly, he snuck up behind you, his footsteps surprisingly light for someone like him. Without warning, he wrapped his strong arms around your waist and pulled you against his chest.

You gasped softly, but the familiar warmth of him made you relax instantly.His face buried in the crook of your neck, his blonde hair tickling your skin. A smile spread across your lips as he slid one hand up to gently tug off your headphones.

“Hello, spouse,” you greeted with a playful giggle.

He groaned dramatically, lifting his head just enough to mutter, “That’s all you’ve got to say to me, wifey? I was gone for so long. Ugh, I hated that shit. Being away from you kills me.”

Before you could respond, Katsuki spun you around to face him, his arms sliding down to wrap tightly back around waist. You instinctively reached up to drape your arms around his neck, your palms pressing against his broad shoulders.

“I missed you, Katsuki,” you said softly, looking up into his crimson eyes.

“And?” He raised a brow, a teasing smirk forming. “You’re forgetting something, brat.”

You rolled your eyes dramatically, a grin tugging at your lips. “And I love you, my lord, my king, my glorious Dynamight god, whom I am so lucky to have borne your children and touch your godly body.”

He snorted, and before you could react, his fingers dug into your sides, tickling you mercilessly.

“Say it right, brat,” he growled playfully as you doubled over with laughter.

“Okay, okay!” you squealed between giggles, squirming in his grip. “I’m sorry! I missed you a lot, and I love you so much!”

Satisfied, Katsuki stopped tickling you and pulled you flush against him. Before you could catch your breath, he cupped your face and kissed you, the kiss rough and full of longing. You couldn’t help but giggle against his lips, which only made him kiss you harder.

When he finally pulled back, his crimson eyes softened as they locked with yours. “I missed you too, brat,” he murmured, pressing his forehead to yours. “I love you.”

Your smile widened, and you squeezed him tightly, soaking in the warmth and comfort of his return. “Welcome home, Katsuki.”

Katsuki leaned against the counter, still holding you close, his arms refusing to let you go just yet. “Did the girls behave while I was gone?” he asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

You chuckled, brushing a stray strand of hair from your face. “Well, they’re your children, so I guess from that perspective... they could have been worse.”

Before Katsuki could respond, the sound of little feet pattering against the floor interrupted the moment. The girls ran into the kitchen, both looking up at you with matching grins.

“Hey! We were good!” one of them protested loudly, crossing her tiny arms in defiance.

You turned to them with an amused smile. “Girls, you put a hole the size of a crater in the backyard,” you said, giggling.

As you turned back to grab something from the sink, Katsuki caught their attention, mouthing silently to them: I’m so proud.

The twins beamed, barely containing their giggles.

“Hey, they’re your kids, Katsuki. But it’s okay—I love you both,” you said with a smile, bending down to their level to give them each a quick kiss on the forehead. “Now go play, alright? Don’t interrupt me and Daddy for a bit, because we haven’t seen each other in weeks, and we’re about to kiss and cuddle—”

“GROSS!” one of them shrieked, while the other let out a loud squeal before they both bolted out of the room.

Katsuki let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “They’re gonna be a handful when they’re older,” he muttered before turning his attention back to you.

Before you could reply, Katsuki suddenly bent down, grabbed you by the waist, and effortlessly flung you over his shoulder.

“Katsuki!” you squealed, laughing as he carried you into the living room.

“Shut it, woman,” he said with a smirk, giving you a playful swat on the backside as he plopped down on the couch. He adjusted you until you were straddling his lap, your knees resting on either side of his waist.

“I need kisses,” he declared, his crimson eyes burning with affection. “I need to be rejuvenated.”

You laughed softly, leaning down to press a series of small, playful kisses all over his face—you lifted his blonde hair that covered his forehead to cover it in kisses, you kissed his nose, his cheeks, and finally the corner of his lips.

He closed his eyes, letting out a low hum of contentment. “Missed your hands on me,” he murmured.

“I missed you too, my princess,” you teased, placing a gentle kiss on the side of his neck.

Katsuki scoffed, rolling his eyes even as a smirk tugged at his lips. “Don’t start, brat.”

You pulled back, sitting up slightly so you could look down at him, your hands resting against his chest. “What did you miss about me?” he asked, his voice softer now, though a teasing edge still lingered.

You hummed, trailing your fingertips under his shirt. “Well,” you began, “I missed your touch and your warmth…” Your hands glided up his abs and to his chest feeling the scar on the center of his chest beneath your palms before moving your hands to his pecs, pausing to rest on the defined muscles of his chest, “And I missed these.”

Katsuki snorted, his smirk widening. “Just a bag of meat to ya, huh?”

You leaned down, brushing your lips against his. “You’re my world,” you whispered softly.

For a moment, his teasing grin faltered, replaced by something softer. His arms tightened around you as he kissed you again, his lips rough but full of unspoken devotion.

Katsuki smirked at your words, his crimson eyes narrowing mischievously. “Wanna make another baby tonight?” he joked, his tone light.

You rolled your eyes, letting out a giggle as you traced lazy patterns on his chest. “No way,” you replied with a laugh. “I already have two tiny female carbon copies of you running around causing chaos. I think I’m good.”

His smirk widened. “Tch, you love those little brats, admit it.”

“I do,” you said, grinning. “But I’m not sure the world—or my sanity—could handle another one of you.”

“Fair point,” he muttered, leaning back against the couch with a low chuckle.

You paused for a moment, then glanced up at him with a teasing glint in your eye. “But… you know,” you began, your tone turning playful. “I wouldn’t mind taking part in the baby-making activity… as long as no babies are actually made.”

Katsuki’s eyebrows shot up, his smirk instantly turning wolfish. “Is that so?” he drawled, his voice dropping to a low rumble as his hands slid down to rest on your hips.

You giggled at his reaction, leaning down so your lips were barely brushing against his. “Mmhm,” you hummed, enjoying the way his gaze darkened.

Katsuki let out a growl of frustration, sitting up straight and gripping the back of your neck to bring your lips crashing down onto his. The kiss was heated and full of the longing that had built up over the past couple of weeks, and you couldn’t help but laugh softly against his lips.

Breaking the kiss for air, he rested his forehead against yours, his hands firmly on your waist. “You’re lucky I love you,” he muttered, his voice still low and gruff.

Your pull back and you reached for his scarred right arm, gently lifting it.

His crimson eyes softened as he watched you place tender kisses along his knuckles, your lips brushing over the rough skin. You held his hand delicately, like it was the most precious thing in the world, before pressing his palm against your cheek.

You closed your eyes, leaning into his touch. “I know, Katsuki,” you whispered, your voice full of warmth. “I know.”

For a moment, he was silent, staring at you as though you were the only thing grounding him. His fingers twitched against your cheek before he let his hand settle there, cupping your face like you were something he could never afford to lose.

“Tch,” he muttered under his breath, his voice gruff but filled with affection. “You’re such a sap.”

You opened your eyes, meeting his gaze with a playful smile. “And yet, you love me anyway.”

“Yeah,” he murmured, his tone softer now. “I do.”

You leaned forward, kissing him gently, pouring all your love into the moment. When you pulled away, Katsuki let out a low sigh and muttered, “Damn it, woman, you’re gonna make me soft.”

You giggled, wrapping your arms around his neck and resting your forehead against his. “That’s okay,” you teased. “You can be soft for me.”

“Only for you , my wife.” he admitted quietly, pulling you closer until there wasn’t a single inch of space left between you.

@starlightanyaaa @dekusdante @sillysushi @itsafairytalekay @vamqyx @anemo-fandango @tropelovingpainter @themultifandomgirl @redr0sewrites

"WE'RE NOT DATING!"

synopsis: the 1a girls have a lot to say about you and katsuki's not-relationship.

a/n: hahahaha more pre-relationship just friends trope (do not tell me i do this trope too much it brings me joy) also a lot of people asked for a pt two to my unofficalbf!katsuki hcs and this isnt quiiiite that bc there's not a whole lotta interaction w katsuki but uhm its smth. i have more wips abt this tho so theres a LOTTT more where that came from!

"even if we don't talk about anything important, i want to force it to be about romance!" mina exclaimed as ochako floated off in embarrassment at being questioned about deku.

"oh! speaking of! how long have you and bakugo been dating, y/n?"

you froze. "huh?"

"i don't know how you handle him! you're so sweet and cute and he's all 'die! go to hell! i am the king explosion murder lord!' y'know?" she added.

"he's not really like that with her, though. he's always a lot quieter she's around. you can see the way his eyes soften." tsu commented thoughtfully.

they all stared at you expectantly, waiting for you to answer the question, and you could feel blood rushing to your cheeks. "uh.. katsuki and i.. aren't dating?"

a beat passed. then another.

"WHAT?!"

"no way! i thought you two were dating for sure! he's always holding your hand and grabbing at you and acting all soft with you! wait, i literally saw him carry you to his room! how are you not dating?" hagakure burst out.

"yeah! and during our movie night last week, you were laying your head on his shoulder and he had his arms around you!" mina chimed in. "we all just assumed you two were dating like a given! what do you mean, 'you're not dating?!'"

"i mean, we're not dating! we're close friends, sure, but katsuki's never, like, asked me to be his girlfriend or anything! we're just tight childhood friends, that's all! he probably thinks of me as a little sister with the way he looks out for me, or something." you explained, waving your hands in the air frantically.

"y/n, i love you, but you're being as stupid as kaminari! no boy, but especially not bakugo, would ever act like that with a girl he wasn't interested in." jirou sighed. "there really isn't such thing as 'platonic cuddling' or 'platonic handholding' between boys and girls."

"well, it's normal for kids, you know? and katsuki and i grew up together, so it just kinda stuck!" you said, making a noble attempt at justifying you and katsuki's we-are-definitely-not-just-friends behavior. they all looked at you unamused.

the girls continued to bombard you with questions, each one getting bolder than the last.

"seriously, though, y/n," mina said, her grin wide, "how do you keep it together around him? you two are always so… cozy."

"cozy?" you blinked, trying to avoid their intense stares. "what do you mean 'cozy'?"

"oh, come on," she teased, nudging you. "you hold hands, sit waaaay too close, and don’t even get me started on the whole ‘sleeping on and cuddling with him’ thing. also, i swear i saw him give you a kiss on the forehead!"

"i mean, that’s just how we are!" you said, exasperated. "we’ve been friends forever! it’s not a big deal!"

jirou raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "i don’t know, y/n. most guys don’t carry their girl friends to their rooms when they’re tired."

you froze. the memories flashed in your mind, and you couldn’t help the nervous laugh that escaped your lips. "i told you, he was just being—"

"overprotective?" yaomomo interrupted, practically reading your mind. "yeah, that’s what we thought, too. but i don’t know, seems a little… extra for a friend."

you groaned, burying your face in your hands. “this is ridiculous. we’re not dating! he’s not like that with me.”

they all stared at you for a long moment, clearly unconvinced, when suddenly, the door to the room swung open.

katsuki stood in the doorway, his signature scowl immediately visible, with kirishima and kaminari not far behind. "..what the hell are you all looking like that at me for? you got a problem?"

the girls didn’t miss a beat. mina jumped up, eyes practically sparkling. "we were just discussing how you and a certain girl over here are totally a secret item!"

you froze. oh no.

katsuki's eyes widened then narrowed as he stared at her, his eyes a mixture of grumpiness and fluster. "the hell?" was all he said.

“you’re always carrying her, holding hands, and let’s not forget you cuddling with her sleeping on you during that movie last week. with how comfortable you guys were with it, i'll bet it was far from the first time you guys have done stuff like that, too! you two are practically made for each other!”

katsuki glared at her, his fists clenching. "i don’t give a shit what you idiots think." his voice was sharp, dismissive, and he turned his gaze toward you for a moment, his usual annoyance evident.

you let out a nervous laugh, relieved that he wasn’t actually acknowledging any of the weird feelings the group was pushing on you two.

the girls looked between you and katsuki, still skeptical, but he wasn’t having it. he gave a quick, sharp glare to the group before glancing back at you. you failed to see the way his sharp glare softened ever-so-slightly when he did so.

“you’re all so damn nosy,” he muttered, turning to leave. "get a life."

he marched off grumpily, kirishima and kaminari now excitedly talking to him about assumedly the same topic. he slammed the door in their faces, but they were quick to scramble after him.

you let out a sigh of relief once they left, but before you could even speak, mina burst into laughter. "there it is! classic bakugo. totally in denial!"

"totally!" ochako giggled.

"mhm!" hagakure agreed.

"ugh," you groaned, face in your hands. "please just drop it already!"

the girls kept their grins, but the teasing finally slowed down. "alright, alright," mina said with a wink. "we’ll let you off the hook for now."

you exhaled in relief as the group slowly started to branch off into different topics, the heat finally off of you. you excused yourself for some water so you could get some air, and began heading back to the dorm rooms.

to your surprise, katsuki was already waiting for you outside the common area. when he saw you, he gave you a gruff nod of acknowledgement.

"kats! i thought you were going to bed!" you chirped, unaware of how your demeanor instantly brightened when it was just the two of you.

"i am," was all he offered before grabbing your hand and dragging you to presumably his dorm room to cuddle and hangout.

as you rambled and chatted with katsuki, hand-in-hand, on your way to hang out in his dorm alone, the words of your friends came back to you, causing a pink hue to rise to your cheeks.

..yeah. you two were definitely not "just friends."

flicking katsuki’s forehead when he’s being rude

when you and katsuki decided to learn from the same pro-hero for your repeated work-study, you never would’ve guessed that you would go on patrols just the two of you. no sidekick, no actual pro-hero, just you and the blonde.

the two of you came across a villain and were legally allowed to fight him because of your licenses. after you defeated him with ease, katsuki complained about how it wasn’t a challenge at all, you came across three children.

they all looked related, most likely siblings, and they ran up to you so excitedly. katsuki backed away with a gasp as they jumped and yelled.

a short girl with brown hair, about shoulder length, exclaimed, “the two of you were great out there—“

the two other children agreed, but katsuki yelled, “hey, beat it, kids! you could’ve gotten incredibly hurt just by watching us from afar!” he pointed at a boy with a bright red hat, “you! i saw your neon hat from a short distance! you were way too close for—“

you rolled your eyes and brought your hand up, flicking his forehead. he paused his yelling and slowly turned to you before huffing and looking away. he crossed his arms, and you rubbed his back in a teasing manner as you talked to the children.

a sheepish smile appeared on your face, and you apologized to the children, “sorry about him, he gets a little rude sometimes and doesn’t think about his words. he was just worried for you, that’s all.” you paused, “you forgive him, don’t you?”

one of the children whispered to another, giggling and putting their hand over their mouth to stifle their laughter. they kept glancing at you and katsuki, and the other child wanted in on the secret.

you teased, “aw, come on, what are you guys talking about?”

the kids looked at each other with smiles on their faces before one stated, “he looks at you like how my daddy looks at my mommy!”

you and katsuki’s eyes both widened, your cheeks tinted red as the tips of his ears were also tinted red. he gasped and stared at the children in shock, surprised they would out him like that.

a small hum left your lips, and you pulled the blonde closer, as he was nearly stiff, but you said goodbye to the children, claiming you needed to leave and go back to your mentor’s agency. once they said goodbye, you dragged katsuki back to the agency in silence.

you interrupted the loudness in his head when you asked, “do you think we can get married after we graduate or should we focus on our hero work?”

gosh, you never failed to make his mind blank. he replied with another question, “can’t we do both?”

a giggle escaped your mouth, “i guess we can!”

he argued, “there’s one thing you need to know though. there’s no way in hell i’m having kids.”

you stared at him for a second, seeing the slight turn of his lips, and shook your head, “you’re such a liar, katsuki!”

a chuckle escaped his mouth, knowing you were right.

yuh

husband!bakugou thinks you’re a hypocrite

Photo albums are a way to physically preserve memories. Memories that should’ve been buried with the past—forgotten as the years go by.

Thankfully, Mama Mitsuki lent you Bakugou’s old photo album when you mentioned it in passing. A thick photo album that had “Katsuki Memory” in its title and even a design of a cartoonish bomb, finished in this beautiful silver and gold. Fancy for a baby album, but they could afford it, so you didn’t have much say.

Your husband’s sprawled across the bed with his head in your lap, scrolling through his phone, absolutely oblivious to your scheming.

“Oh my god.”

“What?” Bakugou grunted, not looking up.

“You were… Katsuki, honey, the light of my life—you were such an ugly baby.”

That got his attention. He set his phone aside, sitting up immediately. “The hell?”

You turned the album toward him, pointing at a grainy, slightly overexposed photo of newborn Katsuki. His face was scrunched up, red and wrinkled, his head oddly shaped from the ordeal of birth.

“I mean, look at you!” you said, unable to keep your laughter contained any longer.

He snatched the album from your hands, staring at the photo in question. “Tch, all babies look like this.”

“No, they don’t!”

“Yes they do!”

“Kats, I love you, but I’ve seen plenty of newborns, and most of them are at least kinda cute. You, though? You look like a grumpy little potato that just got yanked out of the ground.”

“Shut up,” he muttered, his ears turning red as he tried to defend himself. “I just got born! Give me a break!”

You doubled over with laughter, clutching your stomach. “Certainly born with a face that only a mother could love.” A face that you also loved.

“Alright, that’s enough!” he barked, though his voice lacked its usual bite. He closed the album with a loud thud and tossed it onto the nightstand. “You’re lucky I don’t blow that damn thing to bits.”

“Your Mom would be devastated. I would be too.”

“Shut.”

You wiped a tear from your eye, your laughter dying down. “I’m sorry, hun. It’s just… I wasn’t expecting that. You’re so good-looking now, but baby Katsuki? He was… something else.”

Bakugou crossed his arms, glaring at you like a sulking child. “Bet you weren’t some perfect baby, either.”

“I was adorable; thank you very much,” you shot back, sticking out your tongue.

“Show a picture or you’re lyin’.”

You showed him a newborn picture of you, and that shut him up. Bakugou had lost the battle and the war—because the gods must have a favorite.

“Fucking unfair,” he muttered, but the corner of his mouth twitched, betraying his amusement. You looked so cute and small. Who knew this little spawn would be his wife someday?

You leaned in, kissing his cheek. “Hey, ugly or not, you’re my grumpy little potato, and I love you.”

He grumbled under his breath, but the way his hand found yours and squeezed it gently told you he wasn’t really mad. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t tell anyone about this, got it?”

“No promises.”

Bakugou grunted. Fucking perfect.

-

“Awe, look at him, Katsuki,” you murmured, brushing a gentle finger across your son’s chubby cheek.

The little boy was fast asleep, his tiny fists curled in his adorably tiny mittens near his face. His resemblance to Bakugou was uncanny—he had the same spiky tufts of blonde hair and a natural pout that made your heart melt. The chubbiness of his cheeks was a bonus, seeing that a healthy son was all that you could ever wish for.

Bakugou sighed quietly, his attention drifting to his son. “Tch. ‘Course he is. He’s my kid.”

You chuckled, glancing at him. “I mean, yeah, but he looks just like you. I can’t believe it.”

“Why can’t you believe it?” He can’t help but ask.

“Because,” you began, your voice dropping into a joking tone.

“Remember when I saw what you looked like as a baby? And, well…”

He narrowed his eyes. That again.

“Don’t start.”

“I mean it, though. He’s adorable. He even has your pout.”

Bakugou leaned forward, resting his arms against the crib, although not putting his entire weight on it. “Yeah, and? You callin’ me cute now?”

“Maybe. But only because you look better now than you did when you were fresh out of the womb.”

“Hypocrite,” he muttered.

“Excuse me?”

“You’re sittin’ there, gushin’ about how cute he is,” he said, gesturing toward their son. “But when it was me, you couldn’t stop talkin’ about how ugly I was. And now you’re all, ‘Oh, he looks just like you!’ Make up your damn mind, woman.”

You bit back a laugh, careful not to wake your baby baby boy. “Okay, fine, maybe I was a little harsh about baby you. But come on, Katsuki. He’s the improved version of you.”

“Improved, my ass. He’s just like me, end of story.”

“He got my eyebrows, that’s for sure. See? Improved version.”

“You have a problem with my eyebrows?” He scoffs in mock offense, crossing his arms.

You leaned toward him, a playful glint in your eye. “Well, if he grows up with your temper and your attitude, I’ll definitely know where he got it from.”

“And if he grows up teasin’ people to death like you, I’ll know where that came from,” he replied, though there was no real heat in his words.

You both fell silent for a moment, your eyes drifting back to your son. The little boy shifted in his sleep, letting out a soft coo that made your heart swell—like it could burst any moment now.

“Hun,” you said softly, your teasing tone gone. “He really is perfect, isn’t he?”

Bakugou leaned closer, resting a hand on your shoulder as he gazed down at your son. His usual sharp expression softened into something almost unrecognizable—pure, unfiltered love.

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “He is.”

You looked at him, smiling. “You’re going to be such a great dad, you know that?”

“Tch. Of course,” he muttered, though the redness creeping up his neck betrayed him. “I’ll be the best dad the world has ever seen.”

...

“Just… don’t let him see my baby pictures in the future, got it?”

You laughed softly, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

For now, anyway.

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“If I asked nicely would you remove my spine then?” The words are muffled against Katsuki’s chest, your cheek smooshed against his warm skin as he chuckles beneath you.

“It’s your muscles that ache, not your spine, dumbass,” he corrects fondly, his fingers working at untangling your hair as he gazes down at you. His hands dip lower occasionally, a casual attempt to check your tempt that doesn’t go unnoticed by you.

The groan you let out is full of frustration, eyes closing and arms tightening around his torso. “You’re supposed to be nice to me when I’m sick,” you pout, earning another chuckle and a soft kiss to the top of your head.

“I’m always nice to you.” He muses, resisting the urge to shift beneath you and risk disturbing your achy body. “Speaking of, I really shouldn’t be letting you lay on me when you’ve got a fever. Gonna overheat more,” he warns, his hands rubbing up and down your back despite his words.

“You’re just worried I’m gonna get you sick,” you mumble back, lip poking out in a pout. He sighs in response, his chest rising beneath you as affection seeps into his voice.

“You’re really dramatic when you’re sick, yknow that?”