Chapter 14

Bakugou Katsuki woke up way earlier the next morning than he was used to, he hadn't been able to sleep properly the entire night, being too excited to calm down properly.

When he sat up at the edge of the bed, stretching his body, he could feel it aching slightly from the training last night. He groaned before he got up and started to warm up his body with several movements, stretching his muscles until he could feel his body felt loose and ready for the day.

He went to the kitchen to cook a healthy breakfast and without noticing it he had started to whistle just a few tunes. Something he would deny to his grave, should anyone question him about it.

When Bakugou was done eating his breakfast he looked at the clock, it was 8.30 in the morning, which meant he would be at the training ground by 9 o'clock if he left any minute. He had told Uraraka to meet him before noon which meant he had plenty of time. He looked around the apartment for something to do but his leg started to bounce up and down until finally his restlessness got the better of him and he sprang up from the kitchen chair, changed his clothes, and got ready to leave. He might as well do some pre-workout before she would show up.

xXoOoXx

Uraraka opened her eyes lazily as Tsuyu's hair kept tickling her nose. It had been a late night with gossip about the several love interests among the girls, about the latest creepy thing Mineta had done to spy on them while changing, and the newest information about the female superheroes. By the end of the night, Yaoyorozu had arranged the entire floor to be covered with futons, so they could sleep together.

She blinked her tired eyes a few times, wiggling slightly away from all the hair that was on her face, and she looked at the big clock on the wall and she almost choked on some saliva when she noticed the time. It was already 11.15 and the blood drained from her face. She was beyond late meeting up with Bakugou, she stifled a shriek as she hurried to get up from under the duvet she had borrowed. And started to pack her things that were scattered around the room.

"Huh? Who's making all that noise?" Mina asked with a groggy voice, only her pink, curly hair was popping out from underneath her duvet.

"I'm sorry, it's just me, I have to go, I forgot I have an appointment," Uraraka whispered to her best abilities.

"Okay, see you on Monday," Mina yawned and her breathing got heavier shortly after, already sleeping again.

Uraraka hurried to change from her pajamas to her clothes from yesterday and she hurried out of the mansion and ran all she could back to her own apartment.

Luckily it wasn't that far because by the time she finally got up the stairs, her lungs felt like they were on fire and she was breathing hard. Sweat was starting to form on her face and down her chest.

As soon as she got behind the door, she practically threw her bag into a corner, shed the damp clothes she was wearing, and changed into training clothes before she grabbed her training bag before she ran out the door again minutes later, rushing toward the training ground.

All she could think about was how she hoped Bakugou was still there, that he hadn't left because he got tired of waiting. It wasn't like Bakugou Katsuki was known for his patience.

When she finally came to the training grounds, she practically barged through the door, close to tripping over her own feet.

"I'm here! Bakugou, I'm so sorry for being late!" She yelled out the minute she entered the room, panting heavily as she doubled over in exhaustion.

When she noticed there was no response or any sound around she looked up to search for some spiky blond hair but it was nowhere to be seen.

"Bakugou?" She stood up straight again, still breathing heavily as she scanned the room again but she still found nothing. Dread and guilt were starting to slowly wash through her body. He had really left.

"That was about fucking time, Cheeks," a deep voice said that could sound like it had gone through a grater and she could recognize that voice anywhere, and even more, the nickname would have been a dead giveaway.

"Bakugou?" she turned around and there he was, exciting the changing room and she could feel her stomach twist around.

"You're here," she said in an almost whisper.

"Of course I fucking am. Been here a few hours," Bakugou moved towards Uraraka with determined steps. "Been to the bathroom twice now."

Instinctively, Uraraka backed up a few steps slowly, her breathing was finally evening out again.

"I'm sorry for being so late. I overslept with the girls and when I woke up I hurried over here as fast as I could."

Bakugou was starting to crackle in his hands while he moved closer to Uraraka, ready to blow up his frustration from waiting, and then he looked at Uraraka. Noticed how she was already glistening with sweat and how she had been breathing when she got here.

The crackling in his hands fizzled out.

"Did you run here?" he asked.

For some reason, the question made Uraraka blush slightly, and she hoped it would look like it was from the running.

"Yeah, I figured it would be the fastest way to get here."

Bakugou ran his hand through his hair and exhaled slowly.

"Fucking hell Cheeks," he whispered low enough for Uraraka not to hear it. "I will make this training session your living hell to make it up for me," he cracked a smile and let his hands crackle a few small explosions.

Uraraka flashed a big relieved smile. Bakugou had actually stayed to wait for her, and it seemed like he wasn't as mad at her as she had feared.

"I wouldn't want it any other way."

"Throw your bag somewhere and get ready. Since we're both warmed up we can get started immediately." Bakugou nodded towards a corner as he stretched his legs in a sideways squat.

Uraraka discarded her bag instantly; she mirrored Bakugou's moves when she got up to him, standing across from him.

"Listen, the rules for the session today are simple. Each time you're able to levitate me, you get a point. You win if you can get five points from me," Bakugou smirked cheekily as he did his final stretch. "Are you up for it?"

"Bring it on," Uraraka replied. She already knew why he had chosen this kind of training. It was because of all the things he had told her earlier about her quirk and fighting style, and she was excited to see how this would help her.

xXoOoXx

After three losses and one win, Uraraka stood panting heavily, doubled over, trying to catch her breath.

Trying to make Bakugou float was a lot more difficult than it had been at the Sports Festival. Especially since there was no debris Bakugou would make for her, he had learned his lesson and now it was time for her to learn hers.

It felt like the one win had been by pure luck, she hardly remembered what had happened but at some point, while they were fighting, her fingers had touched his chest and he had started to float. And shortly after Bakugou whooped her butt twice.

"Come on, Cheeks, is your energy already tapped out? You only made me float once," Bakugou teased. He looked like he had barely broken a sweat. How was that possible?

In pure spite, Uraraka stood up again, trying her best to control her breathing, even though she could feel the burn in her lungs each time she inhaled.

"Not even close," she forced a smile on her lips and readied herself."Let's go, Bakugou."

"Pft, I love your guts," he laughed as he set in for an attack with a flash grenade sparkling from his hands and Uraraka covered her eyes a split second too late as she got blinded by the light. Bakugou used the opportunity to swoop her legs under her, so she fell on her butt. He grabbed her arms instantly, pinning her to the ground as he sat on her stomach.

"You gotta do better than that, Cheeks," he grinned and their faces got close to each other and for a second it seemed like their eyes locked together.

For a short moment, it seemed like Uraraka shortly forgot herself, looking into Bakugou's red eyes. If she wasn't fooling herself, did it look like his pupils were dilated? And pink was dusted on his cheeks.

Must be from the rush of adrenaline, fighting. Uraraka thought before she went back to reality again. A thought started to form in her head, something she learned during her internship. And she cracked a smile and she moved her feet closer to her butt and she pressed her hips upwards and she saw Bakugou's eyes widen as he started to realize what she was doing, but it was too late. He lost his balance briefly, enough for her to use the movement to get her hands free and her fingers tapped his firm chest, as he started to float towards the ceiling.

"I think I just did," she said with a heavy smile as she stood up from the ground, wiping a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Fucking hell," Bakugou cursed while he was floating, "put me down, Cheeks!"

Uraraka looked up and had to suppress a chuckle, "release."

Bakugou fell quickly to the ground, and Uraraka almost stifled a shriek of shock before Bakugou blasted his explosions out of his hands, slowing his landing until he landed a bit harshly, but safely on the ground.

"Didn't know you had it in you," he breathed heavily when he looked at her again.

"Heheheh" Uraraka laughed, not really knowing what to say.

"You won't be able to get away with that move next time," he pointed at her while he went over to his bag to drink from the bottle he rummaged for. A single trail of water ran down from his mouth and down his chin, landing on his chest.

"Of course not," Uraraka answered as she dusted her tights off from when she was on the ground. She stretched her body afterward, and a small 'crack' could be heard.

And then she thought about what he said, "next time?"

"If you're up for it," he grabbed a towel from his bag and dabbed the little sweat he had formed and the sweet scent of caramel came rushing towards her in a gentle breeze.

"We're not going to keep on going until I've gone through 5 wins?" she raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"You won't be able to focus properly if we do that. We'll continue training this session until you can win against me in 5 fights straight," his eyes looked at her in a way that made her shiver, it was challenging.

Uraraka answered without even having to think about it, "I'm in."

"Of course, you fucking are," Bakugou said with a grin on his lips before he took his bag and swung it over his shoulder.

That was when they got interrupted by a huge, bouldering sound coming from outside and it could only be -

"Thunder," Uraraka whispered to herself and her heartbeat started to quicken. Ever so slowly her hands started to become cold and a thin layer of sweat was forming.

Bakugou went up to the door, unaffected pulled it open but was stopped by Uraraka grabbing his shirt from behind. He furrowed his brows and turned around to look at Uraraka. He couldn't see her face properly, she was looking down and her bangs were hiding her features.

"Cheeks?"

"Wh-when were we going to train together again?" Her hand that was still holding his shirt was shaking slightly and it seemed like her grip tightened when another thunder came crashing outside.

"I'm thinking at least once a week, maybe twice. So … " Bakugou thought about it for a short moment, "Tuesday or Wednesday?"

"Great," Uraraka's voice was shaky, and she finally let go of Bakugou's shirt.

Bakugou was about to turn around and leave through the door, although he noticed how Uraraka stood as if she was nailed to the floor. No indication that she was going to follow after him.

"You coming, Cheeks?"

"I-I think I'm going to stay back for a little while actually," Uraraka tried to look anywhere but at Bakugou, her hands were fiddling in front of her chest.

"Fine," Bakugou said, leaving behind the door, and letting it close softly behind him.

For a short while, everything was quiet in the room and Uraraka's nerves stilled.

Until a loud thunder was heard outside and Uraraka shrieked. She rushed to a corner and sat down, hugging her legs tightly as she hid her face in her knees. Flinching every time she could hear the thunder outside.

She didn't know how long it had been, but at some point, she heard the door open, close again, and steps. They seemed to get closer and closer, but she felt like her body was frozen, so she didn't look up until something was placed on her head. It was soft and smelled like caramel. When she looked up, a pair of red eyes were looking at her.

"Wh-what are you doing back here?" She asked with a fragile voice.

Bakugou sat down next to her.

"No fucking reason, I realized I forgot something."

"What did you forget?"

Bakugou pulled a pair of earphones out of his pocket and put one of them in Uraraka's ear and the other in his own. He pulled the towel he had placed on her earlier further down so she wouldn't be able to see the flashing lights from the thunder.

"Just be quiet and shut everything out but this music," he said with a low voice as he found his phone and played a music playlist. He put his arm around her, so it blocked her other ear with his hand and the towel, making it almost impossible for Uraraka to hear anything but her own beating heart and the soft music playing in her ear.

It didn't take long before Uraraka could feel herself relax in Bakugou's arms and she started to lean on his shoulder more. Relaxing.

"Thank you," she barely whispered, not really sure if he had even heard her until he squeezed her tighter once.

She could feel the calm radiate through her body. The music, the warmth from Bakugou's body, and the sweet scent of caramel lulled her to sleep without even realizing it. And Bakugou followed suit not long after.