AN: My first "My Hero Academia" fic-let. I wanted to play with this scene, try to get into the heads of the characters a bit. I have another story I want to write, that was the first one to 'bite' me, but this one was a cute, fluffy thing I thought would be an interesting experiment. And so here we are. I hope it's enjoyable. I had a lot of fun with it, regardless.

Thanks to those who will read it.

Love,

~Rose

Every Reason

By the Black Rose

Bakugou sighed and flopped down on the couch. He stared at the dark television screen; his reflection scowled back. Always-angry looking eyebrows pinched over dull, red eyes. The purple remnants of a black eye pooled just above his left cheek. He stared at his palm for a moment before rubbing it across his forehead.

Silence sat beside him. It made everything worse. 'We fought. Again. Why can't she just!' The rapid pop of fire from his palms pulled the top off the pressure cooker inside - with little damage in exchange. Just the acrid smell of smoke. So familiar. Still suffocating. It smoldered in the air.

The young pro-hero flipped on the television in an effort to chase the feelings away.

A pencil-necked pinhead droned on the television screen; images of that nerd in his green and white pro uniform flickered past. Deku, that gnat, "the number one hero". He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right." Katsuki snarled and flipped the channel.

"Stupid nerd. I'll catch him one day." He growled under his breath. At one point, the thought had been laughable - Izuku Midoriya, that helpless child who wanted to save everyone…. A quirkless nobody. Becoming a hero? How many times had he laughed at that guy?

Katsuki shook the thought from his head; the news story from earlier cut into the programming on this channel, too. Just with a different talking moron providing the narration.

"The number one hero, Deku, saved the day again when a crew of bank robbers—"

"Number one, my ass." Bakugou hit the power button to turn off the television. And turned on his own self pity.

"I hope you're not expecting it to talk back." Her voice floated into the room, almost as if she had touched it with her anti-gravity quirk. He caught his breath. Ochako's head appeared over his shoulder; she deposited a quick kiss on his cheek.

"No." He glanced at her out of the side of his eye. If there was any reason he wasn't— No, that was a bad route for his thoughts to travel. And it wasn't true. Just a product of his own insecurities….

"Deku saved the day again, huh?"

"Yeah. Stupid nerd."

"He's become quite the pro hero."

"I guess. But, just wait. When I'm- When we're. Situated."

She tilted her head. "Situated?"

"Yeah, your, our."

She blinked, but her expression didn't change.

"You know what I'm trying to say! But, no more hero work - for now. I mean it, Ochako."

He watched her round body - it was looking rounder these days - step around the sofa. Normally slim and the perfect height to settle her head in the right spot on his shoulder; his wife, in her second trimester had started to show. Her reddish-brown hair, long and thick - she wore it in some weird clip on the back of her head.

...

"Go home! You can't fight like that!"

"Like what?"

"In your condition. I won't allow it! I won't! Do you hear me? Are you listening, Ochako?"

...

He turned his attention to the black screen. "You ever regret it?"

"Regret….What, exactly?"

What was he trying to ask her? If she regretted marrying him? Having to take a step back from her dreams to have their child? She could...regret so many things. Resent him. Them. Their family…. He took a breath, opened his mouth, and proved why he was only the number three hero: he didn't have half the guts his wife had.

"You could have been with him. The number one hero."

"Deku? Wait, you're asking if I regret. Choosing you?"

"Something like that."

"Of course not," she said the words with no hesitation. "I love you."

He took a deep breath. Relief flooded his system. Maybe she wasn't planning to leave his sorry ass for being a demanding child...far too often. "Yeah, yeah. Just, don't feed me some lame platitude about being your number one hero or somethin'."

"Hah. Definitely not. There can only be one number one hero in this house."

"Oh, and what, you think it's you?"

"I am the one having your baby."

Baby. An electric thrill shot through him. The whole thing was miraculous. Terrifying. The impending addition kept him awake, so many nights. But, she only seemed….happy.

He shook his head, and couldn't help but smile. Ochako was tough; brave. They had no idea what it would be like, how life would change. How they would manage as parents and newlyweds. Along with their fledgling pro-hero careers.

But, she was unwavering. As always.

"You beat me, there."

"I don't think you mind losing." She settled into his lap. His wife nibbled at his mouth. And, he let her draw him into a kiss. It was the opposite of when she'd touch him with her quirk - sending him flying. Weightless.

Her kisses anchored him, pulling him into her…. Sinking.

They were her heat, her spark.

And he had found better ways of igniting her.

After a long moment, he pulled away. Blood pounded through his ears. He panted; the temperature of the air around them rising. She shifted in his lap, the delicate curves of her body pressing against him - in all the right places. "Only when it's you," he said in a low voice. "Only at this."

"I know you don't regret it, either. Not really."

His stomach churned into a knot. Bakugou pinched his temples between his thumb and middle finger. Heat burned the rims of his eyes. "I do. At times. Small moments. I push them out of my mind, but they're still there. Sometimes. I can't help but start to think," he gasped and looked away. "Could I push harder? Could I be the best, if I didn't-"

"Choose me? To have a family?"

"Yeah."

"But, you're still here."

"And I'm not going anywhere. I promised you. I," he paused. Tried again. "You made me realize something." He met her gaze. Her dark eyes stared back. Unafraid. Unflinching. No matter what he said - he wouldn't, couldn't break her.

"I decide what being the best looks like for me. Not anyone else. Those stupid pencil necked geeks on tv and those dumbass rankings committees - they don't know shit. Being a badass, being with you. Raising our kid. That's all I want."

She beamed up at him. Ran her fingers through his hair. "That's why I chose you."

"That, and I'm good in bed."

She laughed. Something between a snicker and a chuckle. Her shoulders shook and her eyes danced. "Obviously. Speaking of. We still can…." Molten brown eyes met his. He caught his breath and began to burn.

"If you're propositioning me, I accept."

"You have to be gentle."

He grinned. "As a lamb." Bakugou picked up his wife and carried her into their bedroom. He deposited her on top of the bed. Kneeling at her side, he placed his hand on her abdomen.

"He'll be here before we know it." His wife smiled and smoothed her palm over his fingers.

A laugh bubbled up from his chest.

"I can't wait to get my sex trophy!"