Chapter 11: Blowing Off Steam
What was he supposed to do? Say 'no'? Momo was already sleeping after Bakugo got into bed for a few minutes. She had her arms wrapped around him and her head was on his shoulder as he lay on his back. Bakugo couldn't get comfortable.
Momo has touched him multiple times, but this time it brought a chill down his spine. He didn't realize how soft her skin was or how her body felt so warm against his. He awkwardly lied there as she held him.
What the fuck am I supposed to do with my arms?...Maybe it'll be better if I was on my side.
He turned to his side carefully, trying not to wake her.
How do I even…?! Bakugo had to calm himself before he got more agitated.
"Shoto…" she mumbled in her sleep and tightened her arms around him, her face nuzzling into his chest. It was a strange feeling.
She's dreaming about him…He started to relax and placed an arm around her whilst the other laid under his head pillow. He pulled her body closer. I really hate this couple bullshit.
The glare from the sunrise awakened Momo. She groggily rubbed her eyes and got out of bed, not noticing that Bakugo had her arms around her. She didn't want to disturb him.
After doing her usual morning routine, she proceeded to Bakugo's fridge. She looked for food she could cook for breakfast. Bakugo was running low on ingredients. He was too busy the past few days to go shopping for groceries.
I guess I'll go shopping then.
Momo didn't think anything of it when she stepped out of the apartment by herself.
The morning breeze felt cold against her skin. People were heading to work and students were heading to school. It was quite the busy morning. Lucky for her, she didn't have to go back to her agency for another two weeks. Although it was odd for her not to keep busy, it felt nice to have some 'down' time.
She walked to the grocery store as if everything was normal. Looked at the food labels like normal, placed items in the cart like normal, walked around like normal. It was all normal until things started to get abnormal.
The Creation Cult member materialized in front of her cart.
"And how do you do?" the male twin asked.
Momo was shaken but held her ground, watching his every move.
"What are you doing here?" she didn't want to cause a panic in public. It was wise of her to keep everything in control. Other people didn't think anything of it and continued to their business.
"Can't a man properly converse with a woman he's fond of?" he smiled while leaning on the cart.
She lightly shoved the cart to him.
"Oof!" he flinched, "You're quite the feisty one alright."
She grasped onto the handles tightly, "I'll ask you again: what-are-you-doing-here?"
He walked up next to her and placed his hand on her lower back, directing her forward, "Let's talk shall we?"
Yaoyorozu wanted to know their intentions, and a non-violent option was always the better choice. She had spikes come out from where he was touching. It pricked him.
"Yeowch! Feisty, feisty, feisty."
She walked ahead of him and continued to shop. He followed behind her.
"Let me begin by asking you if you believe in an all-powerful creator?"
"If you're trying to convert me, you're wasting your time," she stated blankly.
He brushed off her sarcasm, "We believe that those with creation quirks are descendants of our beloved creator."
"That' ridicu-"
"Don't insult us. You have been blessed with a gift. And, with that gift, you can bless those who are unfortunate."
It struck a chord in Momo, she listened more eagerly.
He saw that eagerness, "Our creator made it so that people like YOU could be our savior – no – our hero."
"How am I saving people exactly?"
"You seem intrigued. Does this mean that you'll help us?"
A hero is someone who saves people. "Give me more information."
The Creation Cult member smiled, "I'll be happy to."
"Yaoyorozu was it?" the male held out his hand, "My name is Renger."
They stood outside the supermarket, finished with her shopping duty. She eyed his hand, still doubtful of all this. Cautiously, she held out her hand. He grasped it and shook it firmly.
"I look forward to a favorable reply."
And just like that, he materialized out of sight, particles breaking up in the air.
On her walk home, she thought about the decision she had to make. One: save people and make a huge sacrifice. Two: have someone else do the job. Three: find another alternative. Option one seemed to be the best option of a 'true hero'. Although the Creation Cult was sketchy, they seemed to have good intentions.
She was halted mid-way by an angry male walking in her direction. He stomped furiously towards her, sparks going off in his hands. He was still in his sleeping clothes: a blank tank and comfortable jogging pants, but he didn't care how ridiculous he looked – people were more scared of him than anything.
"Seriously, Ponytail, what the fuck?!" he growled.
"Bakugo?" she was surprised to see him this angry, "I went shopping for –"
"I don't give a shit!" he grabbed the groceries from her and dragged her by the wrist.
"Bakugo, I-"
"Shut up!" he didn't even turn his head to her.
From there, they didn't say a word to each other as they continued to the apartment. Noticing how upset he was, she didn't want to make matters worse. She kept to herself. The silence bugged her.
It was a good hour until Momo finally decided to break the silence between them.
"I don't understand why you're so mad! I just went to get groceries!" she walked in front of him and placed her hands on her hips. He was laying on the couch, scrolling through his phone, "Am I supposed to make you follow me everywhere?! That's ridiculous!"
It didn't faze him. Bakugo continued looking through his phone.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" she was starting to get frustrated.
He didn't so much as glare at her, which was what she expected from him at the least. To get his attention, she grabbed the phone from his hands.
Nothing. He just got up and walked to the balcony, roughly swiping a magazine from the table.
It was strange for her to see him like this – a calm angry. She ended up cooking breakfast. He ate at the couch and didn't complain how salty it was. She ate from the dining table, eyeing him. Taking a nap in the bedroom, he took a nap on the couch. Worked out in the living room, he exercised in the bedroom. When she tried to be near him, he went away. It seemed like he didn't want to be near her at all.
How long is he going to be like this? She looked up at the clock to see that it was already 7pm. She was growing impatient and fed up with this silliness. Turning to her phone, she messaged her friends.
Momo barged into the bedroom to find Bakugo in his towel. He just walked by her to proceed to the restroom.
"If you don't want to talk to me or be near me – fine! I'll just make it easier on you!" she crossed her arms, asserting her point.
It seemed to work as he stopped in his tracks. She gazed upon the ripples of his back. Momo wanted so badly to touch them, but she wanted more badly to win this battle.
"I'm going out with my friends. Don't expect me to be back anytime soon."
He stood still for a couple of minutes, then continued walking, slamming the door behind him.
He's being such a child! She screamed in her head and put on a change of clothes. A tight, red bodycon dress was her outfit for the night. The v-cut was low enough to reveal her cleavage, and it was cut off mid-thigh to show off her long legs. Her blacks stilettos complimented her dress.
Although she didn't say it out loud, she secretly wanted Bakugo to see her like this, forcing him to give in through pure seduction. While she was pretending to fix her lipstick in the living room, she heard the bathroom door open. By the time she turned around, Bakugo already shut himself in the bedroom.
This made her more angry.
See if I care! She slammed the door behind her as she left the apartment.
Mina wanted to go out to a local nightclub. She was already there with Ochako when Momo got there. Mina insisted they take a shot upon her arrival. She was a very persuasive woman.
"Midoriya is leaving on a business trip?" Momo asked. Little did she know that the trip was for the purpose of the Creation Cult infiltration.
"Is Todoroki going with – Ack!" Mina was interrupted by a sharp jab to her side.
"Another shot, Mina?" Ochako signaled her eyes over to Momo, then back to Mina's.
Momo slumped over the table depressingly. She was obviously still hung up over Todoroki, almost completely forgetting about Bakugo's tantrum.
Ochako took this chance to update Mina and whispered in her ear. It backfired.
"Eh? He rejected her?" Mina was so surprised she couldn't hold it in. Ochako placed a hand over her mouth, but the words have already been said.
Momo got more depressed and chugged down her mixed drink. She wiped her mouth, "I'll be okay! Don't worry about me."
"That's the spirit!" Mina cheered, signaling over the bartender.
Ochako eyed the way the two of them took down their drinks. She sighed, "I have a bad feeling about this."
A couple of drinks later…
"How about we go dance?" Ochako pulled Momo and Mina up before they called the overworked bartender.
"I loooovvee dancing," Mina said, drunkenly. Mina was an extraordinary dancer. She swayed her hips to the beat of the music and the rest of her body moved gracefully along with it.
Momo was amazed, "You're such a good dancer!"
"It's easy! Just let the music take you! Here!" she grabbed onto Momo's waist and swung it with hers. Men were quick to notice the two.
"Oh no," Ochako panicked as she saw two men approaching them.
"Good evening, gentlemen," Mina didn't bother to turn her head and continued dancing, showing no interest.
The guys were persistent, "Hey. So, how about you all take a break and join us for a few rounds."
"No thanks," Mina chuckled snobbishly, further expressing her lack of interest.
"Alright then, how about you, Red?" one of them glanced over to Momo in her skimpy dress. He was actually good looking, "I didn't hear a 'no' from you."
Momo blushed and had her hands in front of her, "Oh. I'm flattered but-"
She suddenly noticed a male wearing a black hoodie from across the room staring at her intensely. He was leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets. She recognized those raging red eyes anywhere.
"Please excuse me," Momo walked past the group of men.
She seemed upset as she stood in front of him, "What are you doing here?"
"Tch," he hissed and he cocked his head away from her, "Why don't you continue talking to your fuckboy over there?"
She tried to hide her smile, overjoyed that he finally spoke to her.
Ochako and Mina were staring curiously from across the club. They couldn't recognize Bakugo in the dim lighting.
"Who is she talking to?" Ochako squinted her eyes at them.
"Maybe it's a guy she's seeing," Mina sneered.
"Let's check it out!" Ochako started walking in their direction.
Momo noticed them coming closer. She didn't want anyone to know about them. Through impulse, she shoved her back against the wall and wrapped her arms around Bakugo's neck, pulling his head to her collarbone. His hands were on the wall to her sides.
"We can't let them see you," Momo whispered to him, "Just stay like this until they leave."
Ochako and Mina flinched in the distance.
"Holy!" Mina gasped. Ochako's eyes almost popped out.
Mina snapped a picture of the two while Ochako's was dazed.
"H-How?! Wha-Why?!" she was speechless.
"A woman has needs," Mina shrugged as she sent the picture to Jiro.
"Should we….Should we leave?" Ochako didn't know what to do, "I don't want to leave her!"
Mina dragged her away, "She just had her heart broken! Let her have her fun!"
"Okay, they're leaving," Momo whispered loudly to Bakugo. She allowed him to move. He lifted his head and his face was close to hers, lips nearly touching. Her arms were still wrapped around his neck.
Maybe it was just the alcohol talking, but Bakugo was amazingly handsome – his ruggedness, the passionate red eyes, his striking blonde hair.
Her eyes averted to his lips and then back to his eyes – not wanting to break his gaze. Bakugo didn't say a word, and frankly, he didn't need to. He moved in closer and all-too-suddenly…
She kissed him.
