Gravity

With each drop of rain that hit against Bakugou's window, his heart pulsed and sped. The sun had dipped below the horizon and left him alone in his dark room to wonder if Uraraka had ever returned. He would feel intrusive to knock on her door another time - a third time that day, but his gut told him that time wastefully drained as he sulked.

"I lo-," he began, stopping before finishing the short, single syllable word. The muscles of his mouth stretched to enunciate a mock confession. Her face remained clearly in his mind, so he might as well have been talking to the real girl. "Uraraka."

Bakugou snatched a pillow from beside him and held it to his chest. "Fuck," he cursed as his heart dropped and burned. She had to know that someone - Bakugou - thought of her as more than a vessel for divine offspring. Maybe knowing that wouldn't revitalize her perky spirit, but at least, she wouldn't get to wrong idea and assume that their association wasn't anything less than an earth-moving, sky-shattering, once-in-a-lifetime affair. The world turned and moved for them once their lips had met, and he had felt her quake beneath him.

Licking his teeth, he couldn't help but hunger for her for the second time that day. Of course, his desire for her surpassed mere physical lust.

His phone vibrated and shined white, bright light into his bedroom. Earlier, he had thrown it somewhere to resist checking and texting all day. He could spot it like a fog light from across his room and fell to his knees from his bed to crawl and reach it.

Opening his eyes to adjust his vision, he saw that Kotone had finally responded, "I haven't heard from her all day." Upon clicking on the text from the homescreen, Bakugou anxiously read the rest. "She was supposed to hang out with me. I hope she's okay."

Without a second thought, Bakugou snatched the closest pair of jeans and stuffed his wallet and phone into his pockets before darting and stumbling out the door.

Where the fuck could she be? If Kotone said they had plans to meet up, then what did that mean? Bakugou could be cautious, and he never knew himself to become paranoid. However, as he paced around the hall to the Uraraka's room, he could feel his imagination dive into the depths of despair.

Blood? Bruised? He gulped and images of the worst case scenarios flashed between each knock he unleashed on her dorm room door. Panting, he felt the drops of cold sweat cascade down his brow like rain as tears built in his eyes. She wouldn't just run away - she wasn't a coward. What if someone kidnapped her?

He couldn't even save himself - of course he wouldn't try to save her alone, and he could accept that; however, the desperation tore into him like red hot daggers.

Mina showed up after hearing the commotion from her room down the hall. "Has Uraraka come back yet? We were supposed to go to the mall earlier," she yawned and crossed her arms across her cheetah print pajamas. She had not heard of any of the confessions that occurred over the past 24 hours, and Uraraka had hardly updated her on any news with Bakugou. As far as she knew, they'd just beat around the bush for a few years.

Bakugou turned his back to her to hide whatever kind of foreign emotion screamed in his weak, drooping eyes. He scratched the back of his head and asked in a low mutter, "Where is Kirishima?"

Surely no one could detect the urgency in such a monotone inquiry.

However, Mina was a social butterfly who paid more attention to changes in people's disposition than the average person. Bakugou never turned away from others unless he had something shameful to hide or something prideful to protect. Well, shameful according to his strict cool code. It probably had to do with Uraraka. "She talks about you a lot - Ochako, but she's kinda stubborn and always runs from difficult situations that get in the way of her goals. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?" she asked these questions in an abruptly boisterous tone as she leaned against her bedroom door.

Bakugou could have relaxed back into the tantalizing comfort of Uraraka potentially feeling the same as he, but that wasn't what he needed. He just needed to see her face - her pink cheeks and bulbous, mahogany hair. "Ochako," he repeated like a monotone zombie.

He should've kissed her again.

"Is everything okay, Bakugou? Where's Ochako?"

Bursting from the boy's side of the floor, Kirishima dashed to the two as he pulled on his dark red jacket. As he dug through his pockets, he walked past Mina and muttered, "Hey, I got the tickets so l-..." Then, he collided with Bakugou's back. Upon catching Bakugou's glare from over the blond's shoulder, he jumped. "Hey, Bakugou."

"We're going."

"To the movies? I only got tickets for me and Mina," replied Kirishima as he pointed back at Mina with his thumb. Although they were just going as friends, he would have truly preferred to take her instead of Bakugou. Bakugou was never any fun at the theater. He complained during the movies over realism in fighting.

Ashido placed a hand on Kirishima's back as she furrowed her eyebrows. "Go with him to find Ochako. Bakugou is worried," explained Mina. Since she lived closest to her, she was better off staying back until Uraraka returned.

As soon as the boys trailed off down the stairs, Mina turned the knob on her door and pushed through. Glancing up towards the ceiling, she spotted a mass of blankets rotating in mid-air. "He's gone," she mentioned.

"Thanks," echoed a whimper.

...

On the evening train to the other side of town, Kirishima nervously sweat under the persistent and repetitive leer of Bakugou who sat across from him. At first, his attention was interesting but after a while the even tempered hero stirred in the tense, awkward air. Would not be a good time to ask why Bakugou's foot twitched or why his voice strained with the few syllables he had uttered? He had never witnessed contained tension in his friend.

"I'm pretty sure she's alright," Kirishima grinned.

"Then why hasn't she answered me?" noted Bakugou as he clenched his sweaty fist.

Staying on the brightside for everyone's sake, the red haired student replied with a casual shrug, "Maybe she forgot her phone."

Bakugou barked, "Mind your business and shut up."

For a second, that was enough to silence Kirishima. He shifted in his seat and looked out to the racing scenery of the mountainous, autumn outdoors. The train slowly approached the next stop. Bakugou looked over to Kirishima again. The setting sun shined a streak of a glare across his eyes. Widened, weakened, weary red eyes met the hardened hero's curiosity.

This was where Uraraka must have sat. That's why Bakugou kept looking over at him. He realized this once he noticed that weird, soft expression across his furrowed brow.

Steadily staring back, Kirishima realized aloud, "You're in love with Uraraka!" He said this as the train screeched to a stop. Without stopping for a response, he stood up and excitedly repeated, "You're in love with her! That's why you kissed her and stayed with her and looked at her and that's why we're going to find her."

Too weak to fight but too prideful to accept this fate, Bakugou responded once again, "Mind your mouth and shut your business." Wait, that wasn't what he said before! "I mean!" Bakugou's face steamed and reddened as he covered its every feature with his left hand.

His frustration progressed to the "Grunting Stage" as his friends called it. At a certain point, Bakugou would stop using words and start to just grunt. Next would be the "Explosive Stage" if he wasn't careful.

For only a second, Kirishima sympathetically smiled back at the blonde before a flash of green entered his mind. Midoriya. Kirishima stood up. Gritting his sharp teeth, he muttered as he bowed his head. "Bakugou, I told Midoriya to talk to Uraraka about his feelings. Maybe he's out with her," he explained before trembling guilt swept through his body. "Why didn't you tell me the truth?" He wouldn't have encouraged Midoriya if he had known of Bakugou's feelings.

Bakugou growled, "It wouldn't matter anyway. Uraraka can do and should do what she wants - even if that means running to Deku." The fact that her lover would linger in limbo unrequited struck pain in his chest. She was probably hurting as well. Ruffling his hair, he said, "Listen, I just need to find her, alright? She's acting fucking stupid, and I just need to find her." Someone like her doesn't just run away out of the blue. He brought his friend to assure that he could retrieve her safe and sound. That's what his stupid lessons taught him.

Kirishima heard every crack in the troubled boy's shaking rant and saw every twitch in his frown and every sparkle in his watering eyes. "Okay, okay, don't worry, dude," he sighed despite tension remaining within him. He had never seen Bakugou like this before. Sitting down, he checked his phone for any word from Mina. Nothing.

In a quick text message, he typed, "I guess you were right."

Ten more minutes, and he'd get some answers. Until then, he'd have to take one moment at a time. The rain clouds followed them as the rain beat against the window behind him. "She's afraid of storms," he noted.

Kirishima's ears perked up to listen.

"She smells like girly flower soap. I don't like sweet smells but I like her scent even after she works out for an hour," he said in a low mumble before turning to Kirishima. "She hits hard and runs fast. Her guts rival mine, and her tongue is sharp when it needs to be. I've never wanted to look someone as much as I want to look at her. I can't get enough." Glaring over at his peer, he continued, "Going after her was one of the best damn decisions of my life. I want her to be my wife, my girlfriend, and my partner because I l-"

The train stopped at their destination and Bakugou toppled over before he could finish his confession.

"What were you gonna say?" asked Kirishima as he got up from his seat in the most nonchalant way he could.

"Nothing!" yelled Bakugou from the floor.

...

Kotone answered the door like she expected Bakugou in her weekend black t-shirt and pink pajamas pants. Uravity inspired her daily outfits. The iconic hero in training had an inspirational grace in her fighting style. That night she missed her.

Pushing past the door, Bakugou hunched his shoulders and tilted his head up to scan to his dark surroundings like the fighter he was. He only saw a brown entryway table with an ivy plant on the top along with a few family photos. So then, there was no threat - yet, but Bakugou refused to let his guard down as he stomped around the white, tile floor towards the dining room.

If they could see Kotone's eyes, they'd be able to spot the futility in her hooded gaze. She slumped over and groaned, "Bakugou, what are you doing here? I'm sure she's fine. You need to calm down before you hurt yourself!" Unyielding, brash and ferocious - his heart rocked against his ribcage in a way that caused a literal, throbbing headache for the young girl.

Kirishima tucked his hands into his pockets and bent down to whisper to Kotone, "He thinks your parents might've kidnapped her. Maybe he'll feel better if he looks around."

"Kidnapped?" she gasped before placing three of her fingers over her mouth. "She's-...ah."

Just then, a clinking of ceramic plates erupted from around the corner. Kirishima and Kotone rushed to the scene to see Bakugou crouched on the long dining table decorated with an immaculate white table cloth and red, ornate dishes filled with cornish hen and an assortment of colorful vegetables.

Peering to the head of the table, he guffawed like a desperate man at the end of his rope, "I saw that camera you had in Kotone's bedroom." Raising the palm of his hand to be inches from the elder man with glasses and a white buttoned down shirt. "Where is she?"

In his mind, there was no way she wasn't okay. Something in his gut told him that the girl he loved endured arduous conflict as he spoke.

The man of the household stood up and adjusted his glasses before he said, "I'll call the police if you don't leave this instant. You'll get the failing grade that you deserve. I've kept an eye on you two and my daughter because I know you and that hick trash are still little teenage brats taking advantage of lack of supervision to fondle each other in bed."

"Dear," begged the mother with long, blood red hair and thick, rounded glasses. She cautiously stood and backed away from the table.

"What'd you call her?" Bakugou demanded clarification, for he had put his pride aside to defend Uraraka. Because no one slandered her name like that. Gripping his wrist to stifle his roaring quirk, he grit his teeth until he knew the absolute best opportunity to strike. Tears streamed from his eyes as he leered down at the seemingly meek man. However, he began to feel sluggish as he stared at the man's palm.

"You two can't seem to keep your hands off of each other. You've got a good eye to want to reproduce with her. On top of her wildly compatible and moldable quirk, she has the maddening, child-bearing hips that are good in a mother."

Kotone pleaded from a distance as she stood an arms length behind Kirishima, "Father."

The blonde's arms felt too heavy to lift at that point. He knelt to the table.

"I don't judge you for your intentions of a quirk marriage. I've had six wives and produced over ten children. Some of them are already in school to become the most renowned physicians in the world," explained the doctor as he folded his free arm across his chest.

Bakugou slowly turned his head to Kotone as he tried to figure out what had transpired. Someone had turned the temperature to an unbearably frigid level or so he thought. "Why is Kotone here?"

"She's about to go to an elite Science and technology boarding school once she graduates from elementary," answered the man.

None of this mattered. All of this ranting mumbo jumbo failed to captivate him, for he could only feel the sickening hole in his gut that Uraraka was not okay. She wouldn't just leave like that just because of Deku's rejection. Uraraka didn't run away that easily - especially not when he was there. "Uraraka is more than her fucking quirk. She's a god damn goddess on earth, and the only woman I want in this shithole planet is her. If you say her name one more time, I'll blow your head off," Bakugou guaranteed with raw energy piercing from his red eyes. "Now, where is she?"

Kotone pleaded as she heard the rapidly ill heart rate of Bakugou longing for his beloved, "Dad, please!" Tears welled in the corners of her eyes as she clutched her chest through her black, wool sweater. "Uraraka said she had to go home. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry. She didn't tell me until after I texted you, and she told me not to say anything because she knew you'd follow."

Kirishima ran to Bakugou's side as he grabbed his friend's arm before pulling back. His arms were covered in sweat. "What's wrong with him?" exclaimed the young man as he turned to the head of the house.

"His temperature," explained the wife from across the room. "My husband is changing his body temperature. It's his quirk."

Sweat slid down Kotone's brow as she glanced over to her father. "Bakugou, it's raining. I don't think you should go out," she warned.

"He'll be fine. Once he leaves my house, his fever will fade, and he'll receive the failing grade that he deserves," declared the father.

The red haired friend softly smiled before hoisting Bakugou onto his shoulder, "It's okay. He's got me. I promised I'd help him get his princess back."

Bakugou's face reddened for the sole reasons of his sudden onset sickness, for had not a shred of shame regarding his sentiment over Uraraka. "What train station?" he asked in between panting as he got to his feet. Glancing over at the clock in the corner, he saw that it was already 7 in the evening.

Uraraka had purchased her train tickets out of the city. For the first time that day, she turned on her phone and held her breath fully expecting voice messages and text messages from Bakugou. Instead, her eyes met her inbox and only saw a message from Kotone pleading for her to text Bakugou and a message from her mother asking when she'd arrive that night.

She bit her lip as she felt herself tremble and pout. Covering her face with her hand, she sniffed and scolded her fragile dependency on that guy's attention. In the bed earlier that day, she groveled for his attention and revealed a desperate side of herself she never knew she had. The way he had glared at her with open eyes and shrunken shoulders -

Absolute loss of respect.

That had to be it. Silently, she sobbed and wept into her pink, zipped up jacket. All that day, she had fled from him to hide her true fragility, for Bakugou had always had esteem in her fortitude and strength. She feared the loss of his respect.

After all, she begged for him to kiss her that day like the foundation of her existence depended on his callous marking.

"He doesn't love you," she said to herself under her breath as a reminder that whatever concern or affection she received had to be misconstrued. It was all his animalistic need to mark the territory of his mate.

She stirred by crossing her ankles and shifting in her seat.

Her connecting train was supposed to leave at 7. This had been the longest delay in a while, but for what reason? All she could look forward to was crying in her childhood bed like the little girl she was, so maybe that's why down at her core she had hoped that Bakugou chased her there.

Again, she scolded herself and crossed her legs tighter before remembering her pitiful state and how she couldn't let him see her like this.

Her heart fluttered and her tears stopped as she took a deep breath. What was all this anguish about anyway? Rejection?

Midoriya would never abandon her. They'd still be friends. They would continue to eat at the same table and meet up for movie nights with Iida. Deku would never give up on her like she gave up on herself.

Would Bakugou? She had more doubt in him. Even if he saw her as a mere possession, the thought of her confessing to Midoriya probably hurt him.

Just then, she felt a tinge of pain in her chest.

What if all these tears weren't about Midoriya but about her betrayal to Bakugou?! A wan flush washed color from her face. That wouldn't make any sense, and yet here she was.

A muffled announcement came over the intercom, and she had only heard the tail of it. The pounding rain against the window by her ear distorted the little that she caught.

What did it say?!

At the edge of her seat, she prepared to jump at the slightest notion of departure. However, she restrained herself before reclining. Maybe this antsy feeling would fade.

Lightning flashed then boomed before she saw him in her racing thoughts. "Bakugou!" she exclaimed - fear and concern nearly pouring from her eyes. Was he alright?

The train played a jingle for departure as the doors began to close.

She sighed. There's no way he would have followed her there.

"U-ra-ra-kaaaaa!" he roared - his gravelly voice cut through the stormy ambience like thunder.

Terror cascaded down Uraraka's spine when she slowly turned her head to meet the glaring, bloodshot eyes of her suitor, Bakugou Katsuki clinging to the side of the train and pressing his cheek against hers through the window. She let out a shrill, muffled shriek. Her heart leapt from her chest just as she leapt from her chair and raced to the closing door without a second thought - messenger bag around her body.

The brown haired girl panted before pushing the red emergency stop button on the side of the automatic sliding doors.

The door opened before she stepped out to the wet platform. She turned towards Bakugou as he staggered towards her. After a reprieve of silence, she shouted through the pouring rain, "Dummy!"

He arrived like a genie as if her will had summoned him, so how could she not run forward to embrace him? She gripped the back of his shirt as a rainy autumn gust rushed around them. With their bodies so close, she could feel his chest heave and spotted the fatigue in his weakened stance as he weakly gripped the sides of her waist.

"Quit running, round face."

Standing, she tilted her head up to kiss him and he dodged her! Uraraka's eyebrow twitched. "S-sorry," she apologized. She should have known he wouldn't want to kiss her.

"Don't be stupid," he chided as he stared towards a pillar. "If I knew I wasn't sick, I'd be ravaging you right now."

A sob broke through Uraraka's lips as she trembled. Boldly, she pressed his cheeks together and put her lips to his.

She didn't care what he thought or why she needed it in that moment. She just took what she wanted as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

Bakugou felt his mind go blank. His body became rigid before a wave of warmth melted his core. He loved her. He gripped her waist with renewed vitality before a hand pressed down on his shoulder.

"What do you kids think you're doing?" barked a train security guard from behind them.

A/N: I really want to return to updating this weekly, but I have a few submissions that I have to take care of before I do. However, if any of you are native Spanish speakers, I may get my pal, miraimisu to translate this story from English to Spanish, so that should be fun.

Hopefully, I can get one more chapter out before I concentrate on my submissions, but I promise I'll do my best.