Chapter 14
A few days had passed and the city seemed quiet. Low level crimes occurred that Misa and Bakugou took down quickly and easily, but Misa noticed Bakugou seemed less talkative with her since their first day. He stopped looking at her as much and the teasing was gone as well; bringing a sense of concern to Misa.
The pair were on a patrol around the banking district when Misa plucked up enough courage to ask Bakugou what the deal was. "Hey Dynamight?" He looked at her slightly as they walked. "Did I do something to make you mad? You haven't really been yourself the last few days." Misa asked him, feeling the nerves prick at her.
"I'm not mad at you." He replied simply, his eyes darting around the surrounding area. His voice was rough and short which annoyed Misa more. He hadn't spoken like that to her since high school.
"It just seems you;re a little more...reserved." She mumbled nervously, sensing Bakugou's short fuze approaching.
"I said I'm not mad." He snapped, but before Misa could argue with him, she heard screams and gunshots from down the road.
"Someone's in trouble!" She said and took off running towards the commotion with Bakugou close behind. They arrived at a small bank and saw the busted window with three robbers inside. A young woman was being held hostage as the clerk behind the desk refused to give them the money. "If we just waltz in they may shoot the girl. We have to be sneaky."
"What if I go in and distract them while you come in from the back and take him down? Only one guy has a gun from what I can see." Misa nodded and took off into the alley as Bakugou got the robbers attention. Misa could hear the loud smack talk from Bakugou trying to reason with the robber as Misa snuck in from the back door and crawled through the teller area silently.
"Stay right there, explosion boy. I will shoot her!" The main robber threatened as the girl wailed. "Shut up!" More cries echoed in the tense bank as Misa peeked over the counter. All three robbers were facing Bakugou so Misa crawled closer to the gunman and snatched the weapon out of his hands, pulling the girl from him. "Bitch! How dare you?" He cursed, reaching for his hidden knife in his waistband and started striking at Misa who dodged each attack while Bakugou took down the other criminal before facing off with the other one.
"The cops are already on their way, just give up and we can all go home." Misa told the robber, dodging the blade easily. Bakugou had the man pinned down but was unaware that the other robber pulled a gun they didn't see from his shoe. "Dynamight get down!" But before the words could reach Bakugou, a gunshot sounded and Bakugou clutched his rib. Misa growled and threw the robber into the nearby wall, knocking him unconscious before knocking out the last criminal with a punch. She ran over to Bakugou who had taken to his knees, blood dripping out of the wound. "Oh my god. Are you okay?" She asked, her fingers grazing over the bullet hole.
"It's not as bad as it looks. Look, I took the bullet out." He told her, the silver bullet rolling between his fingers. Misa sighed and kept her eyes glued to the blood stain on Bakugou's outfit. "I'm okay. I promise." Bakugou whispered, letting his eyes wander over Misa's concerned face while the police and ambulance approached outside.
"Okay everyone. Everything is fine now. Please stay calm while the police check everyone over." Misa told the panicked hostages as the police approached the bank carefully. "Come in, we got the criminals." Misa waved at the cops as Bakugou felt the warmth of Misa's hand wrapped in his own.
As the EMS looked over Bakugou's injury, his eyes danced over his partner as she made sure each person was taken care of with a bright smile on her face. Like in high school, people were drawn to Misa and felt the warmth that she gave off; it made Bakugou's heart swell. He kept his distance from her all week after learning about her date this weekend to save himself from falling harder than he already had. However, the look of concern on her face when she saw the blood coming from his wound in the bank made him rethink his plan.
However, before he could apologize for his behavior the past few days, a man approached Misa. "Hey Shira? Can I get your statement please before you and Dynamight are free to go?" A police officer asked her kindly, giving her a warm smile. Bakugou narrowed his eyes at the man as Misa tucked her hair behind her ear, a nervous tick she had when she was flirting or nervous. However, with her blushing cheeks shining through, he knew she knew this man.
"Of course. I'd be happy to speak to you."
"Can we hurry this up? I have places to be." Bakugou snapped at the paramedic wrapping his rib cage. Her narrowed eyes shot up to the hero before he took a deep breath. "Sorry... I didn't mean to snap."
"It's alright sir. We get snapped at a lot." The young woman shrugged her shoulders.
"You shouldn't. You're just doing your job." He mumbled, flinching as the gauze tightened.
"Sorry...but you're free to go now. Just keep it clean for the next few days." She smiled, packing up her instruments and supplies. Misa was giggling with the officer now, clearly done with her statement when Bakugou got to his feet. "Hey, you probably get this a lot and I'm sorry if I overstep, but are you and Shira together?" Bakugou froze at the paramedic's question and saw how nervous the girl was.
"We're partners." He managed to say, his eyes darting over to his partner.
"Oh good. So then would you like to go out with me sometime?" She asked more confidently than moments ago. Bakugou sighed and rubbed his face roughly.
"I'm sorry. That wouldn't be fair to you." Was all he could muster up and bowed his exit, pushing past Misa and her police friend.
"Hey Dynamight! Wait up. We could use your statement too." The office called for him but Bakugou kept marching away.
"I think you can get enough out of Shira." He told him, feeling his golden eyed partner glaring at him.
Misa returned to the agency after answering more police questions and controlling the media after Bakugou had left her alone. She wasn't thrilled with his tone when he brushed past her earlier so she decided she was going to speak to him. She found him hunched over his computer at his desk, choking back some antibiotics with water. She entered and shut his door behind her, crossing her arms over her chest.
"What?" He asked her, not looking her way. Misa took a few steps to his desk and narrowed her eyes.
"What is with the high school Bakugou making his appearance today? You were so rude to me and the officer. Plus you left me alone to deal with the media."
"I was released by the paramedic. You looked like you had everything under control." He told her, leaning back in his chair, still not looking at Misa.
"It's not just today. You've been pretty distant since Monday." Misa continued, her voice holding a hurt tone. Bakugou growled and finally looked at the girl.
"I left you today because you seemed content talking to your little boyfriend rather than checking on me." Misa's eyes widened at the accusation but before she could argue Bakugou stopped her. "Don't try to deny that's who he was. I know when you're flirting."
"Is that why you're mad? That I have a date?" Misa asked but Bakugou remained silent. "Oh come on. We are not doing this again." Misa snapped, running her claws through her hair in frustration.
"Do what, Misa?" Bakugou snapped back just as annoyed until he was thrown by what his partner said to him next.
"I am not losing you again." She said, her golden eyes fiery as she glared back at Bakugou. "I lost you when Shinso and Camie came into the picture. I will not allow that to happen again."
"You won't lose me Misa." Bakugou whispered.
"I don't want to be around you when you get like that though, Katz. I should not feel guilty for wanting to be happy. For liking it when someone actually shows me affection and kindness; not as some game like you!" Bakugou froze at the comment, a blanket of shame enveloping him. "I deserve to be happy; you tell me that all the time. You need to be okay with the fact that you're not the only one who does that for me." Misa told him, pointing her claw at him during the last sentence. Before she turned on her heel and left his office, she said one last thing. "And if you know when I'm flirting, we wouldn't be in this situation, you ass." Bakugou's eyes widened as Misa stormed out of the office, leaving him with a racing heart.
Bakugou ran his hands through his hair roughly to erase the frustrations bubbling in his chest and Misa's words lingered. He was frustrated that he had missed his chance once again with Misa and that he was furthering the disappointment by being rude to her. Then her last sentence resounded in his ears as realization hit. "She likes me too?"
The next morning, Misa was hunched over her desk reading through old police reports when Bakugou walked in with two coffees. "Truce?" He asked, holding out the cup for her.
"No. I'm still mad at you." She mumbled, taking the coffee anyway. Bakugou scoffed at his partner and pulled up his chair to sit beside her, looking at the concentration on her face. "Don't look at me like that." She grunted.
"Like what?" Bakugou asked.
"Like those eyes are going to change my mind; I swear if you smirk at me, I'll kill you." She swore, sipping on the coffee.
"I know I'm an ass. I got distant and you don't deserve that." He relented, sighing heavily in his chair. "You deserve to be given all the attention you want. I should accept that you want to be happy." He continued, seeing Misa regard him carefully.
"Yes. I want to be happy with someone." Was all Misa said, sharing a long look with Bakugou.
"And this officer will make you happy?" Bakugou asked carefully, feeling his heart grow heavy.
"I don't know. But he's an option right now. He's sweet to me." She admitted, flipping through her files.
"Is he who you want?" Bakugou challenged her, sipping on his coffee. He knew Misa, and he knew she was keeping something to herself. "Don't go out with him just because you're lonely." Misa turned in her chair at the remark and narrowed her eyes at Bakugou.
"I am lonely. I scare myself when it comes to trusting men. He is not a threat; I know he won't hurt me. As far as I am concerned, that is all that matters right now."
"Not all men will hurt you Misa." He tried to argue, but Misa cut him off.
"Maybe not physically. But in some way or another, they all hurt you. Whether it is running off across the world, abandoning you, or just being plain rude to you on a date, they all hurt you. It's the ones that play with you that hurt the most though." Misa explained, her claws sheathed in anger. Bakugou's heart raced at the admittance when he clued in to her last statement.
"I didn't mean to hurt you." Misa paled as the apology came out, unaware of what she just admitted. However, before she could respond, alarms blared around the agency.
"We gotta go. There's trouble." Todoroki called out, running towards the elevators. Misa and Bakugou followed quickly behind, Misa blinking back the impeding tears.