"𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚎,

𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚝." - 𝚛.𝚑. 𝚜𝚒𝚗

23.


"Well, I mean they did ask me for a reason." I noted "—which reminds me... the night we met, what made you decide, right then, that you were done?"

She tilted her head and looked up at me with those big, curious, blue eyes.

"I wish I had a better answer for you, but the truth is... I really lack impulse control."

"No shit!"

She rolled her eyes and gave me the finger.

"I knew for a long time that I was done being a villain, I told you that, but... I don't know. I guess it was something about you."

"What about me...?" I asked quietly

"You're actually curious?"

"Shut the hell up." I hissed "I... I know I'm not always easy to get along with, okay? I can be a little... intense. So, why?"

"...Well, it wasn't immediately. It was after I went to the police station, when you asked me about proving myself. You gave me a chance when you didn't have to, when it was actually huge risk for you. That alone shows how selfless you are." She began, the sincerity in her eyes made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. "I liked that theres a little darkness in you. You can be a bit abrasive—but I like that too. You fight like a fucking animal. You challenge me, my thoughts. You're smart, strong... you're the first person in a long, long time to make me feel protected. Its why I like you so much."

Fuck.

My heart felt like it was going to burst at any second. No one had ever said shit like that to describe me. Maybe they'd say those things about Kirishima or Deku. Not me. I'm so used to being seen as the bad guy that... I guess its nice to hear.

I love making you feel safe.

I love it.

"Dammit... I hate that you make me say and do things that are so embarrassing." I muttered

A mischievous smile spread across her beautiful face.

Seeing her smile like that made my whole body feel like it was being shocked with tiny points of electricity. She threw her arms around me and quickly knocked us both backwards. I held her small frame in my arms, taking in her sweet scent...

"Its... scary as hell feeling like this about you." I admitted

She nodded.

"It is... Sometimes it's absolutely terrifying." She agreed

"Don't go telling people I... I can be like this, okay?Not a goddamn word out of you." I warned

"You always say that like I'd be cool with you doing the same thing. I'm a former villain, I can't have people thinking I'm soft." She laughed "Your turn. Tell me why... of all the girls in the world who are dying to be with the number two hero, Bakugou Katsuki, why the fuck would you choose to fall for a train wreck like me?"

Its not like I had a choice. It just happened.

"I've never met anyone like you." I said, simply, without even really thinking about it "You make me want to be...better. I wish I could explain it properly... dammit."

I'm not as good with words as she is.

"Its okay. What you said... it'll do. Thank you."

I kissed her forehead.

"Wait, wait, wait, hold on." I said "You never told me who kidnapped you!"

"OH! My ex boyfriend."

"WHAT?! WHEN ARE YOU GONNA TELL ME WHO THAT BASTARD IS?!" I shouted "I'LL KILL HIM!"

She shrugged.

"Doesn't matter. All that matters is you and me right now."

"You know if I ever find out who he is, I'm gonna blast him to fucking shreds."

"I know, you will." She groaned "I know."


Rei's Point of View

The rest of the evening consisted of more of the same. Just talking—and he made me dinner. Yes, Bakugou cooks.

Really, really well, might I add.

And, just like that, a day that started off pretty miserably, ended with me falling asleep in his arms.

That night, I woke up from some sort of nightmare in a cold sweat. I groped around in the dark to try to find my phone.

3:57 AM.

After I caught my breath... I started to panic again almost immediately. I frantically tried to call my little brother's phone again—it was still off. I was getting more and more worried about him by the second.


I don't know how the hell I managed to fall asleep again, but I was rudely, and all too suddenly, awakened by Bakugou, who was screaming at me through a fucking bullhorn.

"WAKE UP, EXTRA!"

I jumped so hard I fell off of the couch, causing my body to collide with the cold hardwood floor. This, of course, was the most disorienting thing to happen to someone who just opened their eyes from a dead sleep.

"What the fuck, Kacchan?!" I groaned sleepily as I peeled myself up from the ground "Why—?!"

"ON YOUR FEET, DUMBASS!"

I rubbed my eyes and took a second to actually look at him. He was completely dressed—he wore a black hoodie and pants with running shoes.

When did he even get up?!

I noticed that it was still dark outside.

"What time is it?"

"5 AM!"

This motherfucker is crazy.

I'm going back to sleep.

"Psh. In that case—"

I hopped back onto the couch and threw the covers back over my head.

"I SAID WAKE—"

The blanket was almost immediately whipped away from me. Bakugou picked me up and stood me up manually, unfolding me like I was a beach chair.

"—THE FUCK UP, EXTRA!"

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT?!" I exclaimed, annoyed "WHAT IS ALL THIS?!"

"TODAY IS YOUR FIRST DAY OF TRAINING FOR YOUR PROVISIONAL HERO LICENSE, DUMBASS! SO, CHANGE THAT ATTITUDE NOW."

"FINE! But is the bullhorn really necessary?! You're already so damn lo—"

"YES, THE BULLHORN IS NECESSARY! YOU NEED TO BE DRESSED WITHIN THE NEXT 10 MINUTES, OR ELSE, YOU GOT THAT?" He yelled "WE'RE HEADING IN TO THE AGENCY TO TRAIN FOR AN HOUR, OR ACTUALLY, FOR AS LONG AS I FEEL LIKE IT, THEN YOU'LL HIT THE SHOWERS, THEN YOU HAVE A LESSON!"

Why does he always have to do the absolute most?

"Okay, okay! I'm up. Please stop shout

"YOUR TIMER IS GOING—9 MINUTES!"

I stood there, staring at him in disbelief. Is he serious?

"MOVE IT! GET YOUR ASS IN GEAR, KOWAI-CHAN!" He yelled "You get no special treatment from me just because we're together, either. If anything, I'm gonna be 100x harder on you for that reason."

He's going to actually kill me.

HOLD ON—

"Wait, together? Clarify."

"DON'T ASK QUESTIONS, EXTRA! GO!"

I hurriedly ran to his bedroom to change. I threw my hair up into a quick bun, grabbed my backpack and went back to the living room.

"Your timing could be better." He remarked "Put this on."

He was holding a motorcycle helmet out to me. It was all matte black and had a reflective shield.

"A motorcycle helmet? You have a motorcycle?" I asked as I took it from him

"Of course I do." He replied, grabbing another helmet that matched the first "Lets go."


I'd ridden on the back of a motorcycle before, but never quite like that. Bakugou is fearless, so put him on a sport bike and you've got yourself a regular fucking daredevil.

He wasn't kidding when he said he wasn't going to go easy on me. He made me do drill after drill. There were so many parts of being a hero that I never really considered. You have to make so many split second decisions, decisions that could cost someones, or several people's lives—including your own. It's stressful, its scary, but I love it. I'm ready for it.

"TIME!" He shouted

I fell to my knees and slammed my fist on the ground.

"Dammit." I spat

"You're close." He added

"But close isn't gonna save the kids in this drill."

"Also true." He said "Take 5. Get some water, okay?"

I nodded and walked off to the side where my water bottle was. Next to it was my phone, which was mid-ring as I looked down at it.

"Blocked...?" I said aloud as I read the screen

Who would be calling me from a blocked number.

Wait—could it be...?

I scrambled to get it into my hands.

"Hello?"

"Onee-san, its Reiji."

When I heard those words, it felt like I had finally exhaled for the first time in 2 days.