A cool autumn breeze blew through the open windows of 3-A's common room. The students didn't mind as they all lounged around relaxing after a long week of Hero Studies. With graduation fastly approaching it seemed their time together was coming to an end. Which meant they needed to make the most of it.
On one of the couches Uraraka lays sprawled out as her chocolate orbs watched the boys fight over which horror movie to play. Her eyes watched one boy in particular, taking in his slightly amused demeanor. Lately she's been finding it hard to avoid looking at him any chance she can get. Deku and Tsu continually tease her during lunch whenever they catch the gravity hero staring. All she can do is blunder like an idiot and blush violently. Uraraka can't deny that the past year and a half hadn't given her clarity. When she first entered U.A she thought she understood everything when it came to matters of the heart. Deku seemed like the obvious choice, sweet, caring, compassionate. All the qualities that everyone wants in a partner, well everyone except for Uraraka Ochako.
Ever since her first sports festival, Uraraka has seen Bakugo as more than just an angry powerhouse. No doubt he is an extremely skilled fighter, his battle skills are second to none and can rival a true season Pro. But what he doesn't show often is his caring side. Something that only a handful of people have seen, and she was one of them.
Come their second year, Uraraka and Bakugo forged a strange bond. Secretly they would train together, pushing each other to their absolute limits. Bakugo helped her overcome most of her side effects while Uraraka helped him develop his compassion for civilians. Albeit it was harder work than Uraraka would have ever thought. But it was worth every long, frustrating night.
There were some days though, when she found herself control being tested. After all, you can only keep your feelings bottled up for so long. Uraraka not only saw Bakugo as a friend, a partner, but as someone precious to her. She found herself wanting to spend more time with him, wanting to see if the tension around them was merely one sided. Or if there could be something more...
"Oi Round Face, ya deaf or something." Uraraka blinked her eyes quickly, a dazed expression washing over her. Bakugo rolled his crimson eyes in annoyance as he knocked her legs off the couch.
"Move over." Bakugo crashes down on the now empty spot. Uraraka can't help but blush at the proximity, after all it was a loveseat that barely could fit two. Heat rushes her body as his arm brushes against hers. It was just an accident, or that's what she tells herself.
The lights around them flicker off as everyone else shuffles to claim a spot. Uraraka curls her legs under her and reaches for the blanket that's draped over the couch. Her eyes watching the chaotic scene before her. Most of the girls have piled onto the larger couch leaving the boys to get creative on the floor. Todoroki, among the three lucky guys, has Yaoyorozu tucked into his side. For a moment you'd think they were connected at the hip. Kirishima and Mina are just as bad, if not worse.
Glancing to her left she takes in the boys beside her. He's watching the others with a half smile, some would consider it to be an annoyed smirk. From this angle she takes in his features, her heart pounding with each passing second. She can't deny that he hadn't grown even more attractive in the past year. His once explosive hair trimmed to a short buzz on the sides giving him a more mature but dangerous look. Bakugo's already incredible physique only became more defined. Uraraka isn't proud of her gawking during training sessions but when you're face to face with a shirtless Bakugo Katsuki you can't help but look. Their height difference doesn't help either, now that he towers over her almost and entire foot. He's proven how much bigger and stronger he is during their private training considering his favorite move is to just throw the Gravity Hero over his shoulder like a rag doll.
Forcing herself to look away, she shifts slightly closer to his body heat as the movie starts to play. Sharp hushes fill the room as everyone manages to settle into a spot. As soon as the first scene starts, Uraraka finds herself pulling the blanket closer to her face. Just like many Pro's, the blood and gore of horror movie doesn't bother her. It's inevitable to see such sights as a hero. But the paranormal is a completely different story.
Bakugo seems to shift closer to her curled form as the movie moves further. A loud bang echoes from the TV causing the gravity hero to jump and curl further into a ball.
"Tch. It's not that bad Angel Face." Bakugo whispers as he shifts an arm to rest along the backside of the couch. Her body reacts on its own and plasters itself into his side, letting her head rest against his chest. Uraraka's stomach feels like it's floating in Zero-G while doing acrobatics. Everything about this position makes her head swim with questions. But she tries to push them down as her body refuses logic and just moves closer to the explosive boy. Eerie noise vibrate from the television and she finds herself curling up more. Her view is obstructed by the blanket, only allowing a single eye to peak through. A chuckle vibrates under her cheeks and she can't help but pinch him lightly. He always finds a way to pick on her.
"Ah!" All six girls, including Jirou, jump and scream when the demon drags an unsuspecting victim down the stairway. Uraraka at this point has cocooned herself against Bakugo's chest. The last scare practically had her in his lap. Normally she wouldn't even dare to be this close to the explosive boy, but his warmth calms her slightly pounding heart. Spice and caramel fill her nostrils as she takes steady, even breaths. And she wanted nothing more than for this moment to never end.
An arm wraps casually around her waist and the blanket is tugged from her tight grasp. Shifting her gaze up, chocolate meets crimson. A cocky smirk graced his lips just before his head dips down to rest on the edge of Uraraka's ear. The warm breath washing over her neck caused chills to run through her spine, as well as lighting a new spark between her legs.
"Thought you were tougher than that Angel Face." The smugness is clear in his voice as she shifts closer to his body. Uraraka reaches for the blanket that's been acting as her shield, but it seems the blonde has other ideas. Instead he manuevors the blanket drape over both of them. Creating a small bubble that's just for them.
Bakugo's hold on her waist tightens as his second hand moves underneath the blanket to find her hands. Well only one since Uraraka currently is using one as a shield. For some reason her heart beats faster as he begins to stroke the soft pads of her fingers. Never in a million years would she ever suspect Bakugo to be this gentle, and now she wants more. Instinct kicks in as she twists her wrist so she can gently rest her hand on top of his larger one, it's her turn.
Under her fingertips she can feel years worth of calluses and scars, there are even new blisters in the different stages of healing. It's all proof of how strong and powerful Bakugo Katsuki really is. This hand should scare her, the raw power that rests just beneath the surface could destroy buildings, but it doesn't. She finds it strangely relaxing to be this close to him.
As she continues her small ministrations, Uraraka finds herself looking up at him once again. His eyes are focused in on the screen but she knows that wasn't the case just a moment ago. A scowl flashes on his face for a split second. Part of her wants to make a snarky comment, a habit she's picked up from the boy, but the other part doesn't simply because she doesn't want to ruin this moment.
But what he does next solidifies her decision to do so, he jumped as someone is thrown down the stairs.
Smirking she straightens up just a little, bringing her chin to rest on his shoulder. Bakugo isn't the only one who can be an ass.
"Oh you're not scared are you Bakugo?" She keeps her voice low so she doesn't disrupt the others. The hand underneath hers clamps down on hers as his head twists to allow his lips to ghost against the shell of her ear again.
"Tch. Shit like this would never scare me." Before she could respond the lights flicked back on and everyone jumped in shock. Uraraka tore away from Bakugo, much to both their dislike, as they narrowed their eyes on the perpetrator. Kaminari stood looking as pale as a ghost, shaking from the ending of the movie.
"Well that sure was scary. How about something a little lighter?" The boy scratches the back of his head, trying to convince everyone to stay. Uraraka looked down at the clock and noticed it was getting late, tomorrow she had combat training. As she tried to move from the couch, something grabbed her wrist. More like someone. Crimson eyes scanned her over trying to understand why she was getting up. Looking for any evidence that she was uncomfortable with their earlier closeness.
"Where do ya think you're going Angel Face?"
"Oh, I have training tomorrow. Figured I'd head to bed." She said as she managed to release herself from his hold, taking this opportunity to stretch her stiff muscles. For a brief second Uraraka thinks she's caught Bakugo Katsuki checking her out. But as soon as the thought forms, his eyes shift away to look at the classmates around them. Uraraka is thankful everyone else's attention was too focused on finding something else to watch because she's more than sure her cheeks are blood red.
"Tch. I was getting bored with the movie anyways. I'll walk with you." Bakugo says with a shrug of his shoulders. Uraraka finds herself staring at the blonde as he rises from the couch, arms extended up to pop the joints of his shoulders. He moves past her without uttering another word and Uraraka finds herself moving to make up for the distance. Eventually they fall into step together.
As they walk towards the elevator, Uraraka can't help but notice their closeness. If she wanted, all she would have to do is lift her pinky to grab onto Bakugo's. Their shoulders barely brush but because of her hyperawareness she feels like they're plastered together. Uraraka knows that their time together is finite, after all good things must come to an end. After graduation there's a real good chance that Ground Zero will take off into the ranks while Uravity will start off slow. It's all about the difference in their abilities. No matter how much training and how many barriers she broke, Uraraka knew that she would never be up to par with him. The idea would've crushed her a few years ago, but she now knows that this is how it goes in the hero world.
The ping of the elevator doors opening pulls Uraraka out of her thoughts. Bakugo gives her a side glance as he waits for her to step forward first. Nervously she steps past him and leans against the wall, her head tilted back to stare up at the ceiling. The doors close quickly, allowing them to have their own private bubble away from everyone else.
"What's wrong Angel Face?" It's times like this that Uraraka enjoys the most. When Bakugo isn't being observed under a microscope, or so he feels, he lets his guards down. There's no harshness in his voice. It's times like these that Bakugo let's the constant facade drop.
Without even looking over to him, she knows that there's a slight worried look on his face. That the left corner of his lip is tweaked in just a way that only she knows. Honesty has been the best policy between them for a year now and Uraraka finds herself following it even now,
"Just thinking about what comes after U.A. Everything is going to change, after all I may never see you again after graduation." A sigh washes over her lips as her head moves to look at Bakugo. Moisture builds in her eyes as she looks back up to the ceiling, knowing that the short accent to floor 4 is almost over. All she wants to do now is retreat to her room so she can try to forget that she just confessed her biggest fear.
As soon as the doors open, Uraraka finds herself trying to make a quick getaway. But she forgets just who she's running from. In an instant a strong hand grips around her wrist once more. Jolts of electricity shoot through her, wide doe eyes lock onto burning crimson. But this is a look that Uraraka isn't familiar with. Her breath hitches in her throat as he closes the distance between them.
"Do you not want to see me Uraraka?" The way her name falls from his lips makes her swallow hard. He hardly ever uses her given name, instead opting for one of her many nicknames. Guilt hits her like a punch to the stomach, knots forming and her ability to speak becoming more difficult by the second. Of course she wants to see him, she wants so much more. But there's no way he could want the same, right? After all he's aiming to be the Number One Hero, so how could he want someone like her? By no means is she the most attractive or the most powerful. For once she wishes she could read his thoughts, maybe it would answer her endless questions.
"Of course I do Bakugo. More than you know. But I know that once we leave this place, you'll be rising through the ranks faster than any of us. You won't have time for us, for me…" Uraraka's voice trails off. Mentally she's kicking herself for letting so much slip, but in the end it needed to come out. After all they don't have that much time left together.
The grip on her wrist loosens until the arm drops back to her side. Their eyes still locked onto each other. She can see the wheels turning, the way he's trying to process the information that just spewed from her lips. Why can't she just rewind to twenty minutes ago when she was safely tucked into his side enjoying being surrounded by his warmth. Dropping her eyes to look down at their feet, her chest swells with regret. Did she just ruin everything between them?
Bakugo brings a hand up to her chin, fingers forcing her to look upward to him. Her neck cranes and it feels like her entire body freezes from the look he gives her. Bakugo's eyes seem to have a heavier shine to them while his lips are turned down.
"I'll always have time for you Angel Face. Don't ever forget that." Before allowing her a chance to respond, something soft and warm brushes against her forehead. Uraraka feels like her brain is going to short circuit. Heat rushes to her face and if she had an explosive quirk the whole floor would be turned to ashes. Just as the soft kiss begins, it ends. A smirk resting on those soft lips as he moves away from the flustered girl.
"Good night." His body turns away as he moves to walk down his hallway. Uraraka stares at his form until it disappears, oxygen rushes to her lungs as she scurries away to the safety of her bedroom. Her hands shake as she closes the door, her body sliding down to rest against the wooden barrier. If she didn't already suspect her feelings, they were just solidified. But she was still left asking the question….could there be something more?