DISCLAIMER: I do not own 'Boku no Hero Academia'. All rights belong to Horikoshi Kouhei. I also do not own any of the songs mentioned. All rights belong to the original artists. I only own this fanfiction. Thank you.
This wasn't happening. This wasn't happening. This wasn't happening. It just couldn't be! Things like this just didn't - occur, in the lives of people like her!
Yes, superpowers existed in the world, as did villains. Yes, sometimes the stories in the news were akin to that of a comic book. Yes, even those around her, in her neighborhood, in the streets, even those she worked alongside, had their own astounding abilities. But she was not one of them. All her life, things had been relatively mundane and, well...average? Could she still call it that, when the supernatural and paranormal were now so much more common?
The point was, she'd always seen herself as sort of...detached, from the rest of society, when it came to things like Quirks and their related activities and conflicts. The most contact she'd had with them was seeing her parents or coworkers powers in action, or being stuck in traffic somewhere because a train had been delayed, thanks to a confrontation somewhere or other involving heroes and criminals.
Ultimately, she was always at the right place, at the right time, to avoid any and all trouble or exposure. She'd barely even kept track of the televised battles on TV! Not that she didn't believe there was struggle in the world – she was very well aware of that – but if she had to choose between watching people fight in the street with varying methods of combat, or a story about a new animal shelter opening somewhere, she'd choose the latter over the former. Or, at the very least, a story like heroes using their Quirks to give back to the community that didn't only involve trading blows.
So this, this scenario right here: sitting in bed, huddled under the covers, one fist balled tight in the blankets, while the other was digging fingernails against skin, wishing and praying the pain plus fear away to no avail? Yeah, this was as far from her type of 'average' as could be.
Again and again, as the seconds ticked by, Uraraka continued to clutch at her arm, blinking her eyes in rapid succession. It was as though, in one second, everything would just suddenly disappear, and she'd be merely risen in bed, having awoken through the power of an overly-realistic nightmare. There wasn't a gaping hole in her lone bedroom window. The late night air and a heavy scent of smoke was not filtering in through the jagged space. There wasn't some dark shadow twisting and turning, roaring outside on her lawn. There weren't shards of shattered glass and snapped framing scattered across her wooden floor.
And, most importantly, there wasn't some guy's body, laying in a crumpled heap against the wall by her bedroom door! Speaking of which...
"Urgh...the fuck...was that shit, huh...?!" With staggering, almost drunken movements, the figure slowly began to rise, one hand tangled in spiky locks – okay, based on that harsh voice and physical stature, it was definitely a guy – while the other was pressing against his side. Glancing down, even in the faintest glow of the moonlight outside, she could tell that there were large tears in his clothing...
...and his flesh.
"'ptoo' What the fuck...was that weak shit, ehh?! You think I haven't...been flung through a window before?! Fuck you – the contractors in this city practically have me on speed-dial!" That did not serve to reassure Uraraka any. Did this guy not realize he wasn't alone in this room? Or...did he just not care? Based off his prior statement...
Another harsh wad. The brunette finally figured out that, no, he wasn't just spitting on her floor to add insult to injury – there was both blood and glass being spewed. She could only hope he hadn't actually eaten any of it. He had gone face-first when he'd come flying through...perhaps he'd had his mouth open at the same time? That was the best case scenario. As he wiped it on the back of a thick forearm, he finally returned his attention to the wound in his side. Turning slightly, Uraraka felt her own stomach tighten with nausea, at the faint glimmer protruding from the skin. "Oh, motherfucker..."
Without hesitation, his hand was now gripping at the pointed shard. With a grunt, he gave it a hard yank. Uraraka could feel the scream and urge to gag coming on. Letting out a fierce yell, followed by a few more choice curses, he had pried it out, and threw it aside. It clinked against the rest of the debris and the solid floors. Poking at the wound a few times and inhaling sharply, the male seemed to decide that it was okay, he could still function. Swinging his arms and hissing, he finally turned around, to take in the surroundings of where he'd ended up.
Instantly, his stare landed on Uraraka.
The air between them was almost palpable. Uraraka was sure she must've looked a right sight, even without having been beat half to death. She could feel her eyes practically bulging from their sockets, as her hand at last gave up on its ferocious pinching to her arm. The spot was tingling from the released pressure – most likely, there'd be a bruise forming later on. The guy before her, however...
His explosive locks were a faded blond shade, and he had very distinct features. A sharply angled gaze, currently widened as though he'd never seen another person before. Or perhaps, he hadn't been expecting to find anybody in this house? If he was flying through the air and handling ridiculous amounts of physical stress like it was no problem – and he hadn't tried to kill her yet – then, unconventional as he may've seemed, he had to have been a hero. His getup: tattered black tank with a bright X across the front, like straps, with soldier-esque pants, heavy boots, knee pads, a partially torn off dark mask, and large gloves, apparently connected to...giant grenades, only served to cement this fact in her mind. What stood out the most to her however, even more so than the unusual costume, intimidating stance, or even all the blood running down his body...
...were his eyes. Even in the night lighting, she could tell: they were a fearsome, deep shade of crimson, like the lifeforce that currently dripped from his form. They seemed to nearly gleam in the darkness, as though he were some unnatural creature from another planet. Uraraka could feel all the panic, the protests, the cries and anger, the questions and ranting, dying on her tongue and sinking back down her throat, to sputter among her stomach fluids.
This guy...as startling as he was to look at, in the same breath...he was almost, vaguely...familiar? But how?
Shit... At the same time Uraraka was having her silent evaluation-slash-freakout, Bakugou had been assessing the situation as well, albeit his own way. He'd been surprised to see a house at the very end of what had seemed to be a straight path head-on into the wooded, natural areas. When he'd first come across this worn looking two-story, maybe even a couple miles away from the last house on the line, he hadn't quite known how to respond.
He'd been aiming to keep collateral and civilian damages low, and for the most part, he and Kirishima had managed that. Aside from an electrical pole, a couple of streetlamps and a few stray tiles up above, the most they could be guilty of was disturbing the residents with all the noise. Blasting or running over rooftops, along with all the shouting and that stupid Noumu getting its panties in a bunch every time he or Kirishima laid a hand on it – or, in the latter's case, acting like a one-man barrier and then bitch-slapping the damn thing back another couple yards or so, as well as potentially knocking out the power...tended to do that.
Bakugou had thought the worst of it was over when the electrical lights had disappeared, and no other homes were cropping up. It had been only open road and grassy dirt patches. The forest line was just in reach! Hello, tree trunk bats! Hello, liabilities being severely reduced, to almost nonexistent!
And then...then, this house had shown up. He hadn't known what to do from there. His mind had been overwhelmed, by both the hero's nature, and his general disposition.
First things first, he'd given the place the most basic of scans, being that he'd still been playing tag with a thing which was looking to flatten him into the ground upon being successful. There wasn't going to be a Round Two with this bastard. The house had seemed a bit out of place; older and more battered looking, as opposed to the modern structures further down the line. Had this place been built first, or had it just never been upgraded?
Next, he took note of the fact that the place was at the end of what should've been a straight shot into open territory, the completely darkened windows, and the empty garage. No car. There were a few scattered odds and ends inside, but it would be easy enough for somebody to leave shit behind, if they were in a hurry to ditch the place. Or...perhaps the owner wasn't at home right now? That would explain the missing vehicle, but even then...
What kinda idiot builds a house in such an awkward location?! As his red eyes locked onto the golden-brown gaze of the girl in the bed before him, Bakugou now had a pretty good idea of who that might be. The Noumu had been closing in, and he hadn't had the time to debate over things anymore. Kirishima had practically buried himself head-first in the dirt with the strike the monster had leveled at him. Even though he'd been able to harden, it had only been enough to keep him from being killed. He hadn't gotten a chance to knock the prick back again, let alone stop his blow.
It had all been on Bakugou. Fight or flight. They still had one more obstacle to clear before they could fully implement their plan – but this Noumu wasn't playing fair. It had been screaming, dragging its arms along the ground as it prepared for another strike. Dodging its two stretchy swings, the blond had unleashed a barrage of explosions at its charging form – and then it had stopped.
He hadn't even gotten a chance to question why, as without warning, its long limbs had shot straight into the ground before him like oversized spears. Still expanding even while solid, the asphalt had gone flying, and sent Bakugou into the air right along with it. Attempting to regain his balance in the higher space, he'd fired off another few blasts -
- when one of those damn arms had swung up, catching him in the side. It hadn't pierced him, but in exchange, not only had it knocked the wind out of him, but it had sent him on a straight crash-course with an upper story window, that he'd promptly kissed with his face. Scrunched up in a yell of indignation, the whole thing had given way, and he'd tumbled onto the hardwood floor.
It wasn't abandoned. Neither was the owner out for the night. They were still here, looking at him like a fucking deer in headlights, not even seeming to care that hello, he was fucking bleeding like roadkill, say something instead of looking at me like a stupid fish! What, do I owe you money or something?! I don't even know you!
"BAKUGOU! What the hell are you doing?! Get outta there! It's -"
Uraraka wasn't even given the chance to adjust to the sudden second voice, when a horrific howl sounded from beyond the barrier. With a mighty thud, something flew off the ground outside, and attached itself to the side of her house. Another scream left her mouth just as that black...something stabbed through the wall by the broken window, aiming directly at the blond intruder. Swearing, he rolled out of the way in just a fraction of a second, only for another to shoot through the other side. Again, he dodged.
Uraraka, on the other hand, thought she was going to have a heart attack, as the appendage – it was some sort of arm with a sharp end – stabbed into the wall just a bit above her head. Trying not to hyperventilate, all she could do was stare at the male, who had turned to look back at her for a brief moment. His expression was like a slap to the face.
"What the fuck are you just lying around for?! Get moving, unless ya want that bed t'be your goddamn grave!" At that instant, the arms drew back swiftly – and proceeded to take the entire wall with them, as the creature fell back down with a squealing roar. The brunette was now staring straight out into the night sky and the open expanse of destroyed lawn, the faintest traces of the city skyline twinkling along the lowest edges of the inky canvas.
The male was already running towards the gigantic gash of a gap, leaping down with another series of colorful swears. "Come BACK here, you living, breathing pile of shit! I'm not done with you!" Uraraka was scrambling to untangle herself from the bedsheets, jamming her feet into her house slippers and stumbling across the floor.
What was she supposed to do?! Run downstairs and out the door? Just what exactly was waiting for her right in her front yard? But it wasn't like she could jump down like that, that – that brute had done! He was a hero, she wasn't! That was two stories! She wasn't trained to handle a distance like that! Swallowing hard, she yanked open her bedroom door, hand fumbling with the knob, and began running through the hall.
The plaster from the ceiling began to rain down on her head from the force, and even from here, Uraraka could hear that blond madman cursing up a storm. "GodDAMN it, just hold still, you son of a BITCH! I'm trying t'keep damages LOW!" More booms and shaking, another creak of the foundation. "What part of "I just got my license back" don't you understand, fuck-face?!"
"Kyaaa!" Another series of bangs, followed by heavy groaning and crackling that shook the whole house to its core. Uraraka could barely keep her balance, falling forward on her hands and knees for support. This time, it hurt a little as the ceiling debris fell upon her pajama-clad form. That hadn't sounded like a simple explosion. That had sounded - and felt - more like somebody had taken a wrecking ball to the Earth itself, not just the residence...
By this point, Uraraka's sanity was in a tailspin. There was some kind of monster outside, being fought by another monster, this one in human form. Her parents' home was falling apart, because for whatever reason, they'd thought it was a splendid idea to battle, of all places, at the end of her quiet little cul-de-sac. And she was caught in the middle of it, because the supposed 'hero' that hothead was meant to be, wasn't enough to make sure she was safe. Instead, he'd just yelled at her to get the heck outta dodge, before jumping back into the fray.
And what was that about "getting his license back"? Had he gotten in trouble for something before?
Uraraka was terrified. After her parents' deaths, she'd never thought that anything she could experience would possibly compare to that. Even the incident at the restaurant had paled in comparison, and that was scary in its own right. But here and now, the fear was rearing its ugly head, and she truly felt helpless. It was like her parents were dying all over again; watching, hearing, feeling the house take such a beating.
No! It couldn't end this way! She wouldn't let it! Pushing herself to her feet, Uraraka made her way down the hall as best she could, past the bathroom and her old room, to the top of the stairs -
The stairs were gone. Or at least, the bottom. Directly across from it, having turned over the dining table and everything on it, was another gaping hole, with more shattered glass, crumbling plaster, and broken boards coating the floor. The couch was partially torn on the side closest to the destruction, as though something had ripped it apart in a hurry. And she knew what that 'something' was. Why?
It was sitting in a heap, among the splintered wood and wall, paneling dissolving around it as it let out a gurgling warble. Uraraka clamped a hand over her mouth, refusing to let the shriek inside come forth. She didn't want that...that thing hearing her. Didn't want it anywhere near her. This was...this was what had thrown that guy through the window. This was what had ripped out the entire wall upstairs. This...whatever it was.
If she'd thought that the blond had looked familiar, it was all too apparent that she recognized this monster. Years ago, back when the top hero at the time, All Might, had been forced to retire after a final battle. She may not have kept up with most conflict or heroics news, but everybody had been watching when that happened. These abominations had been running around freely on the streets, wreaking havoc and stumping even the greatest pros on how to properly defeat them. She couldn't remember what they were called, but she remembered that particular news footage clearly.
Heavy, misshapen, malformed and stocky bodies. Enough mass to back up their levels of hard-hitting damage, but nothing that looked remotely close to human. Pitch black 'skin' tone, with those bulbous eyes, and gaping, grotesque mouths. And atop their heads...the visible brain matter. If she looked at it long enough, being in such close proximity now...could she actually see it pulse? Did she care? Did she even want to?
No. She didn't.
It felt as if she were choking, as Uraraka carefully turned away. She couldn't go downstairs now. Not with them gone, and certainly not with that...that abomination there, either. Breaking her neck or back from an ill-thought out jump was one thing; being torn apart by that being was another entirely. Ultimately, she didn't want to die. She just didn't have any obvious routes of escape in her immediate sights.
Nor did she have the time to ponder this. The monster was standing up now...and had just cracked its neck in her direction. That unnatural gaze was trained on her and her figure, frozen in place where she stood.
She couldn't go downstairs. The door was effectively blocked off. But all that remained back where she'd come from was a dead end, leading to that giant hole, of what used to be her parents' bedroom wall and window. She knew she needed to make a decision fast, because the creature beneath her was already preparing to jump. It didn't take a genius to determine that in one leap, it would easily be on her level, face-to-face and ready to strike.
Uraraka didn't have a choice. Right now, she could only delay the inevitable. The beast was springing forwards at her. With a frantic scream, she spun around, footsteps slapping rapidly as she fled back the way she came. Behind her, she heard – and felt – the solid, trembling thud of weighted mass landing at the top of the stairs, where she'd been standing not a moment before.
Honestly, if she could've chosen to go back to the restaurant, get puked on ten more times, have to stay late to clean up while filthy, and be the last to leave while closing up...she'd gladly do it, without hesitation. Where was that noisy guy from earlier, anyway?!
Seriously, how was this her life right now?!
…...
Shit. Shit. Shit! Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!
Those were the only thoughts racing through Bakugou's head, as he'd made the effortless leap from the second story hole that had once been the upper side of a house. His boots landed forcefully on the grass and dirt below, and without missing a beat, he was already running right back into the heat of battle. Charging up a massive blast in his right hand, he'd aimed it head-on at the Noumu who had recovered quite nicely. It was bolting towards him, tongue flying out the side of its mouth like a disgusting version of an overgrown, dopey dog.
"Eat THIS! HAH!" Firing off the shot, Bakugou quickly began preparing another, only to let out a yell as, through the heavy smoke cloud, a sharply clawed hand darted forwards, nearly impaling him through the face if he hadn't ducked and rolled in a split second. Letting out a growl, the blond steadied himself, and started forming up the next explosion yet again. That crap-sack was stupidly bumbling towards him, sticky blood trailing from its forehead, but brain still intact.
Bakugou knew he needed to deal some serious damage, and soon, while avoiding any and all strikes against him. Their heads were the ultimate weak point, and you'd think it would be easy to take them out, what with the damn organ matter being visibly exposed. But these dicks could take an absurd amount of damage, especially with their regeneration factor. Even though this one's only triggered for every bit of damage dealt to its opponent, they weren't pushovers – he could admit that. And he hadn't done himself any favors, getting as banged up as he did.
Just as he was about to fire, however, the Noumu feinted to the right – effectively aligning itself with the house. If Bakugou blasted it back now, it would go flying straight through the downstairs level, causing more destruction to the abode. The home that wasn't so empty as he'd thought. He wasn't willing to call it a mistake, merely a road bump.
That girl in the bed still hadn't come out yet, though.
"Tch..." Turning around, Bakugou started running, towards a set target: Kirishima, who was currently rubbing his head and spitting out bits of soil and foliage. Apparently, he'd really eaten it during that last pummeling. Well good, now they were even.
If he'd had to rate it, he would hands-down say that trying not to swallow broken glass and spitting out fragments coated in blood was far worse than hacking up mud. After all, the latter was no different than playing a particularly aggressive round of soccer...or just getting down and dirty in a round of training at UA, back in the day.
He was trying to lead the prick as far away from the stupid house, before they really got in trouble. Not bothering to glance behind him, Bakugou pulled the same move the Noumu had used on him prior, dodging to his left, and sliding past the redhead, forcing him to come to with a yank of the arm. Practically being dragged on his heels, Kirishima swung out of the blond's grip, looking at him with stains caking his features, and face bewildered. "What the hell are you doing?! I just -"
Bakugou cut him off, spinning around to survey the current arrangement. "Shut up!" The Noumu was now closer to the roadside; if he blasted it back now, it'd go flying straight into the pavement. Good. "Just wail on that thing, don't get hurt, and DON'T send it towards the house!" Kirishima followed his stance, hardening and preparing for the next barrage of onslaught. He didn't quite understand his partner's reasoning here, however. "You went crashing through there like a bullet, though! Isn't it already too -"
His palm was already beginning to sizzle, as the Noumu let out a roar before flying up into the sky, propelled by its hind legs. It must've had some sort of jumping Quirk worked in, as well. "There's a fucking civilian in there!" Instantly, Kirishima shut his mouth. He understood perfectly. Any thoughts on the situation were kept solely in his head, as Bakugou began firing rapidly.
He darted around the side, to catch the bastard when he landed. Hopefully, it'd be messy, and he could get in a few powerful punches, enhanced by his ability. Bakugou was backing up steadily, keeping a watchful eye on the target's trajectory. Don't take any damage, wasn't that what his partner had said? It wasn't going to be easy, but damn if he wasn't willing to try. He'd never backed down from a good challenge. That wasn't the manly thing to do.
With an Earth-shattering boom, the Noumu's towering form crashed back down, swaying slightly in place as the creature gurgled to itself. Yes – now was their chance! Rushing forwards, Kirishima added a couple extra layers of solidity to his fists and legs, just as Bakugou had smacked its head back with a swift crack. Blasting it once more, directly in the face, the redhead caught it as it bent away.
"Rgh!" One hefty punch to the face, followed by a spinning kick to its jaw and neck. The Noumu must've been seeing stars by that point, as it was struggling to regain its balance. Another hard shove, his boot to its chest, then another blow from Bakugou's palm. This was great, this was excellent! It had caught a bit of air by this point, and hardening his body once more, Kirishima decided, in the heat of the moment, to use one of its own moves against it, and barrel into it with all he had.
Bad idea.
"Whoa!" The power behind the slam had sent Kirishima stumbling back a few feet, startled by his own strength. 'The ultimate shield and spear', isn't what they'd called him back at the Academy? With a cry, the Noumu shot across the open field, past a flabbergasted Bakugou -
- and straight into the lower side of the house. There were now two gaping holes, barely separated by the thin layer of floor suspended between them. Now, both that girl's bedroom and living room were on full display, as the Noumu lay in a crumpled heap at what appeared to be the foot of a staircase. The look on the blond's face was absolutely livid, as he rounded on the redhead.
"You...godDAMN...Shitty Hair-For-Brains...!" Kirishima was both sheepish and spooked. "What the FUCK did I just say?! Did all that stupid hair grow into your ears?!" Bakugou was ready to lash out, or start pulling at his own spiked locks. How hard was it to get things done right around here?!
This was the first time he was truly, actively on edge about causing any destruction – both for the sake of his Hero's License, and the fact that the dumb doe-eyes that lived here still hadn't appeared. Was she still upstairs, after he'd told her to get the fuck out? Did she think that this was all just gonna go away if she hid in the closet, or something?!
His partner had his hands raised, in a gesture of surrender. "Hey man, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to -" But yet again, he was cut off in an instant by his seething companion. " "You didn't mean to"?! Well, a fat lot of good that does us now! I don't even know where that fucking girl went, she hasn't come out here, after I fucking told her to run! If she's still on the top level, there's no way she can get out the front door now!"
Throwing his arm down, Bakugou began firing off a stream of smaller blasts, quickly blackening the grass at their feet, and nearly catching Kirishima's shoes. Letting out a yelp, the redhead was forced to engage in an awkward dance, to keep from getting his toes blown off. Looking at Bakugou in exasperation, he started waving his arms frantically.
"Hey, hey, hey! Oi! I know I screwed up! But if she's still in there, don't you think we should focus on getting her away from that thing, and sending it back to Kingdom Come?! Instead of fighting?!" Without missing a beat, Bakugou had spun around, and was marching once more towards the house, palms recharging and ready to blow some shit up. By this point, the house was a lost cause – so much for keeping the collateral damages low. The priorities now were taking out that Noumu once and for all, and getting the owner of the property away in one piece.
Running after the blond, Kirishima was ready to amend for his mistake. They could drag that misshapen piece of crap back out here, and then -
"AIIIEEE!" That sound. There was only one being on the whole Earth that could've been making that sound, and Bakugou knew all too well what - or who - it was. Coming to a sudden stop at the gargantuan opening in the wall, his heart sank, as he caught a glimpse of the Noumu flying up from its place at what remained from the bottom of the stairs, charging down what he guessed must've been a hallway. Worst case scenario: the fucker had caught sight of that daft woman, and was enamored at having a new plaything.
Except this one wasn't any sort of pro hero – hell, he didn't even know what sort of Quirk she could possibly have – and was nothing more than a casualty, a midnight snack for this artificially engineered demon. It was bad enough that he'd failed at keeping the setting together – and he'd been doing so well, too! - but losing human life went entirely against what heroes stood for. No matter if 'people skills' weren't his strong suit. No matter if the rest of this plan had gone tits-up.
Nobody defeated Bakugou Katsuki, in any way, shape, fashion or form. He'd get his victory. And Shitty-Hair was gonna help him – like he should've done from the start, instead of making things harder for both of them!
Red-eyed gaze now trained on the top floor, he was practically holding his breath, hoping that the girl would at least be smart enough to come back to the bedroom, where they could see her – and that fuckface. He'd figure out the rest of it from there.
"Bakugou!" Kirishima was staring at him, disbelieving and panicked. "What the hell are you doing?!" He was ready to charge in and chase after the creature immediately, but the blond held him back with a firm grip. He continued to protest. "That was – that was the civilian you mentioned, right?! We gotta help her! Real men don't just stand around daydreaming!" The more he struggled however, the tighter Bakugou's grip grew.
"Shut up!" he ordered once more. "Just give it a minute, and fucking trust me!" He was putting all his money on the hopes that this girl would follow his plans, and lead the cretin back within firing range. Otherwise...this might just be their last mission. He didn't even want to begin to imagine what would happen when the 'real' pros showed up...they were just lucky that none of them were here yet. Must've been a busy night, if it was taking this long to round up reinforcements.
"Ah?" He was yanked from his thoughts, as Kirishima had stopped fighting, and was now looking straight up. Focused instantly, Bakugou could hear the unmistakable tapping, of rushed footsteps upon wood. In a couple of seconds, he could just make out the mop of disheveled brown hair, loose top hanging off of pale shoulders, and the waist of patterned pajama bottoms. She'd done it – she'd actually finally listened to him, in a way. Now she just had to -
Smash. Another shriek, and the figure's back drew closer to the broken, open edge. That sound could only mean one thing: the Noumu had found her. And being in a single room, she had nowhere left to turn.
Or did she?
"HEY! Dumb-ass!" Kirishima's jaw dropped, as his head snapped to the side, to see Bakugou cupping his hands around his mouth, calling out. "I told you to get the hell outta there, but you didn't listen! Now we gotta do this the hard way...just fucking TURN AROUND already!"
His voice seemed to have registered, at long last, with the young woman, as she whirled to face them, scrambling as close to the ledge as she could without falling off. Kirishima could now get a good look at her; she couldn't have been any older than them, with short locks that framed her plump, flushed face. Her honey colored eyes were wide with shock and fear, as she regarded them below. "You-!"
Another growl, and a loud stomp. Glancing back quickly, she turned to face them again, obviously panicking. "I-I'm sorry! I don't – I can't get down from here! Please..." Her voice was sweet, but pained, and it was agonizing for Kirishima to listen to and watch. A person like that should've been smiling, not scared out of her wits at the mercy of some creature!
Thud, rumble. The Noumu was obviously drawing closer, and the brunette was shaking. Her eyes were starting to fill with tears, though she was doing her best to hold them back. "Please – please! W-What – What do I do?!" If only either of them had a Quirk that allowed for floating, or flying - ! It'd have come in real handy right about now -
"What the fuck d'you THINK?" Bakugou's boorish tone brought the redhead back to the current moment. "Just jump! And hurry up, will ya?!" At this, the female's face seemed to drain of color, and her rounded eyes grew that much larger. "I-I can't – I can't do that! I'm n-not like you, I-!"
Without hesitation, Bakugou had his right arm raised, palm trained directly on the edge beneath her. Kirishima was gaping, wondering if his friend had finally snapped. The girl too seemed confused, but didn't have a chance to react; in another move, with a threatening low roar, the Noumu was now in view. Looking back and forth between it and the two men below, it was apparent that she was scrambling to make a decision.
"I'm gonna blow out the floor, as soon as that fucker comes closer. On both sides. When I do, you catch her. You hear me? You can't fuck this up, Hair-For-Brains. Got that?" At once, Kirishima was ready. Hardening his body, he stepped closer inside the wall frame, preparing his stance. The woman looked terrified and lost. "I-I-I-"
Just then, the Noumu charged forwards, to close the gap between them and take down its prey. Ignoring her scream, Bakugou fired two shots, to her right and left. Instantly, the ground gave way, sending her falling straight down. Kirishima sprung into action, practically zooming forwards, to wrap his arms protectively around the young woman, catching her securely and shielding her from the rapidly falling wood from above.
The Noumu was screeching, angered at having its 'toy' taken away. Bakugou responded by firing another shot at the floor beneath it; it crashed through the weakened boards, and in turn, her bed began to sink down as well, dipping and sliding at an angle. With another groan and a resounding boom, it had fallen down below atop the beast who was still trying to collect itself. Bakugou knew that a bed wasn't enough to stop a Noumu from its rampage, though.
All he could hope was that Kirishima had held up his end of the plan, and that doe-eyes - no, both of them – were still alive through all of this.
…...
With a shriek, the monster had sprung up from the debris and furniture, lunging forwards towards Bakugou. Its movements were sloppier now however; it hadn't gotten a chance to heal its accumulated damage for the last few rounds, and the effects were kicking in.
Shooting its arm out stiffly, looking to pierce the blond through the chest, it let out a frustrated growl, as the male smoothly side-stepped, already setting up a new blast in his hand. Letting it off, the battle was gradually pulling away from the near-trashed house, and back out towards the road. As Bakugou and the Noumu continued playing their game of disjointed tag, the rubble in the living room began to stir and shift.
Slowly, the bed started to move, creaking as it was pushed aside with a clunky scrape, having landed among the broken flooring and plaster. At least part of it was already suspended above the ground, having landed on the couch. From behind and beneath, coughing could be heard.
"Urgh..." The air around Uraraka was stuffy and dusty, while underneath there were various pieces pressing and stabbing into her spine. She was sweating, her heart was racing, and obviously her back hurt, but other than that...she was okay?
Yes. She was okay. Her arms and legs were still connected; her fingers and toes twitched when she tried to move them. It seemed she had lost one of her slippers in that last fall...
Wait. The fall. That's right – that crazy madman, he'd actually...
That was when she felt it: a puff of breath against her face. At the same time, she realized that there was something else...solid, surrounding her body and somewhat suspended over her. She could feel a bit of weight, as well. Uh-oh. Was she...trapped under something? Please God, no...!
Tentatively, she opened her eyes...
...and came face-to-face with a young man, nose barely inches away from her own, with vivid, widened crimson eyes - though not quite the same as that loud blond's. They were a softer shade of red, the right faintly nicked by a scar. His hair was a matching hue, and spiked straight up. He wore some sort of currently ragged mask around his jaw, and his body was stained with dirt, sweat and blood. His upper half was shirtless with solid muscle on full display, and what appeared to be gears around his shoulders.
There was something else to his physique too, however...a strange rigidity and pattern, almost like rock, or maybe even harder. It seemed to be formed directly out of his skin...?
Then, his face broke into an awkward, sharp-toothed, but relieved smile. Genuine concern filled his gaze. "Eheheh...sorry 'bout the rough landing, miss. You alright?"
A/N: Dun-dun-duuun. And so ends Chapter Four. How was that?
Gotta admit, this is probably my fave of everything I've written for this story so far. It has the most action, as well as the most humor. REALLY had a grand ol' time penning out the banter between our Dynamic Duo here. The one thing I worry about...well, is it In-Character? I know Bakugou can be aggressive, and impulsive, but I wasn't trying to make him come across as too reckless here, seeing as A.) this is set further down the line in the future, so he's an adult as opposed to a teenager, and B.) his License is on the line. It's all too obvious how much being a hero means to him, personality notwithstanding.
Kirishima, too - how was he? He's something of the balancing act to King of Explodo-Kills; he provides the sociability and shields, whereas Bakugou mainly brings the pain, made to order. I'm just worried he might've come across as a bit...incompetent, in the battle, or overly friendly/cheerful, when dealing w/Uraraka? IDK...there's so many little things I fret & fuss over here.
And finally, Uraraka. I REALLY didn't want her to come across as ridiculously weak or fragile, just...it's an AU setting where she has no Quirk or hero training, and even for the pros in Canon, Noumu are NOT to be taken lightly. I tried to give her a believable amount of fear, given her circumstances/situation, while not having it be unbearably cringey? Again, LMK how you think it turned out.
Thus, all three of our main players are now in the makeshift arena together, & it's anyone's guess how exactly it's all going to turn out. In the end, just what will be left standing in this cataclysmic brawl for the ages, after nearly ten YEARS w/out hide nor hair of these ferocious superbeasts? Hopefully, the action sequences were engaging to read through as well, & not just tedious. This is supposed to be exciting, not yawn-worthy.
As always, feedback is welcomed, encouraged & appreciated. I'm...not really sure how well this story is being received, b/c activity on it has been so...well, not really there? To those of you who have been supporting it/myself so far, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. We'll just...keep on truckin', & see if any new friends feel like hopping aboard for the ride. :3
Next time: the conclusion of the battle, & the aftermath. Oh, boy - heads are gonna ROLL, in more ways than one. Until then everybody, take care. Happy Holidays.