NOT JUST A PRETTY GIRL

CHAPTER TWO: The One Where Bakugo Misunderstands

AUTHOR:

A huge thank you to my friend iBloo for being my beta and for inspiring the chapter naming convention I'll be using for this story!

Uraraka's stomach knots as her heart drops. She had such humble plans for the day, how did it end up like this? Piercing red eyes haunt her mind as she bites down on her lower lip, irritation swelling in her chest as she turns around, finding herself surrounded. It was all his fault. If he hadn't confronted her, she would've had her wig on, and they wouldn't have given her a second thought. To make matters worse, the word of her move had clearly spread like wildfire since her minor encounter from her balcony earlier; there were at least four times as many individuals present.

It was difficult to catch her off her guard in all the years she had to put up with the media. Especially when she was outside the comfort of her dwelling when she was feeling her most vulnerable. She was always prepared, her parents had raised her to expect the unexpected. It was seared into her mind. But he just had to come along with his keen mind, sinfully striking features, and appalling personality, causing her spiral and land in such an atrocious situation. It is definitely his fault. No if's or but's!

Huffing, Uraraka shields her eyes as she attempts to gently push past the press, who had surrounded her, without causing a scene. The last thing she needed right now was to be outside being hounded by the press. Sure, she could easily barge through or float herself given she had mastered the skill without side effects quite some time ago. But that wouldn't paint the kindest picture of her personality in the tabloids and the last thing she needed was to be labelled as an ungrateful or disrespectful hero. It was funny how respect was a one-way street.

"How does it feel like to be home, Uravity?"

"You've grown into such a beautiful woman! We are so excited to have you home!"

"Your outfit is surprisingly civilian today, Uravity. What brands are you wearing?"

So much for having a quiet cup of coffee in a café, Uraraka notes silently; disappointment haunting her mind as she exhaled heavily. Attempting to maintain a cool and calm composure was difficult with them breathing down her neck and crying out rude assuming questions. Can't they see that I feel uncomfortable? Surely my acting isn't that good! she cries out, her heart ticking frantically away in her chest, anxiety skyrocketing as per usual.

"Deku and Ground Zero must be excited to have you back here in Tokyo! Can we expect a public reunion or have you met up privately already, Uravity?"

"Did you move into this building to be closer with your former classmates?"

"Care to tell us your bust size? A number of your male fans would love to know!"

"Who designed your pro hero costume? The public opinion poll results show that they want to see more cleavage, what are your thoughts on this?"

Head pounding, she froze dead in her tracks. The last two comments ringing through her mind chaotically as she turned around, an unusual prickliness set in her gaze. They have no sense of boundaries. Since when did it become okay to ask anyone such a question? Would they ask a guy to show more of his body or about his measurements? She notes bitterly, her fists clenching at her sides; I have half a mind to tell them to shove those questions where the sun doesn't shine.

But instead of lashing out, she forces a smile, a simple attempt to play the game she knew off by heart. They knew she didn't put up a fight, that she simply rolled over and took their comments as they came like the "good little heroine" she was. Little did they know that her silent compliance was merely her way of expressing her discomfort. That their inappropriate questions cut her deeper and deeper every time to the point where it was difficult to even speak publicly at all for fear that such questions might follow. Anxiety wreaking havoc on what should've been the life of her dreams all due to their desire to engage in discourteous discourse more often than not.

Today, however, they had gone too far. Pushed her a little bit too far. "I don't know which one of you asked those last questions, but I am never showing more of my body or talking about it. My body is for me and anyone I choose to call my boyfriend only;" the gravity specialist states firmly, her chest tightening as the frustrated statement spills from her lips. She couldn't help but feel a little proud of herself, despite how utterly nauseated it made her feel to speak up. Did the public think they had some twisted right to her body that didn't exist? It was no wonder she had severe anxiety.

"This is a major scoop! Uravity has a boyfriend! I repeat, Uravity has a boyfriend!"

"Who is he! What's his name?"

"How long have you been together? Everyone needs to know!"

Wait, what? No, I didn't mean it like that! Her mind screams out. I don't have one right now! Oh my god, how will I fix this? Hands slide up to her cheeks as she whimpers nervously, overwhelmed by their overzealous questions over her non-existent relationship. Just what was she supposed to do in this situation? From a PR perspective, she had been trained to kindly answer every question or to simply decline to comment in a thoughtful manner. But what kind of response did she need to offer for a misunderstanding? It was all too much.

"You heard it here first! The Uravity has landed herself a man! Rest assured we will get to the bottom of it all!" The television reporter proclaims boldly to the cameraman as she gestures behind her, encouraging the videographer to zoom in on Ochako.

For the first time in years, she felt her stomach churn as fear set in. Her face flushing as her overactive mind went into crisis mode. Things had been bad in the past, really bad; but not once had she slipped up to such an extent. Given all her media training and the plethora of experience over the past few years, she thought she was past the point where such a thing would even occur. I'm damned if I explain and I'm damned if I don't! My publicist is going to murder me! Her mind screams out in agony, hands slipping up into her hair, tugging at her roots. Nothing I say or do is going to aid this situation.

"I thought I told you, idiots, not to make a fuss outside of my apartment building! What part of that didn't you fuckin' understand?" Bakugo exclaims as he storms up the path, practically charging at the media, causing them to scatter revealing Ochako at the former epicentre of the crowd. Her previously determined expression nowhere to be found. Five years back he'd probably snicker and take little to no note of her condition, he had a brand to uphold after all. But he was a hero now, he had a duty to care for others, even a smart ass like her.

There was no doubt that she wasn't the strongest in class back at school, or the most confident. But she wasn't weak. The expression of self-pity and anguish that marked her features was unlike any expression he had seen her make. She was overwhelmed at clearly reaching her limit. But why? What did they do? Ask her annoying questions? The woman that spun him around like a compass in the elevator minutes prior clearly wasn't that delicate.

"Is this him? Is Ground Zero the hero Uravity cannot keep her hands off?"

"Wow, this scoop just keeps getting bigger and bigger! Keep the camera rolling!"

Is that expression of hers an act? Bakugo, muses irritably, hands slipping deep into his pockets as he makes his way up the path; the chatter of the press echoing through the air causing him to grimace instinctively. Does she think she can manipulate me? Eyes widening threateningly, he glared at the brunette; She told them didn't she! If she thought, she could brag to them and use me as a stepping stone to get street credit she is mistaken! There was no questioning logic when he was aggravated, his mind was made up. He wouldn't settle until she was wriggling like a worm on a hook, penance for her supposed insolence.

The blonde clicks his tongue as he gathers his thoughts, despite the chaos that brewed within his mind. "Listen! This Astro Girl over here may have manhandled me in the elevator, but that doesn't fuckin' mean that I'm not at the top of the food chain around here! Got it?" he proclaims defensively, shooting a toothy grin at Uraraka as he came to a halt, a few inches from her position. Her somewhat horrified gaze peering up at him. "It's not even a question! I can get her on her back in half a second!"

Eyes peeling wide in sheer terror, Uraraka waves her hands in front of her face, her lips mouthing for him to stop talking as the sound of chattering journalists' fills the air. What are you going on about? Stop talking! Her mind screams out, eyes pleading only to be met by his signature menacing smirk; You are misunderstanding this entire situation you hot head! There was no doubt about it, he thought he had turned the discussion at hand to be in his favour with little to no understanding of the actual topic of conversation. As if the situation could get any worse.

"Wow! What a turn of events! Does this mean you live together Ground Zero?"

"A secret relationship! Tell us more, Ground Zero! How long have you two been an item?"

"You heard it folks! The usually private Ground Zero has just announced that he has been in intimately connected to fan favourite Uravity!"

"No! No! Fuck no!" Bakugo barks as he points at the reporters who asked such atrocious questions. He steps forward as he slants his head backward, a menacingly grin sweeping across his handsome features. "Are you all clinically insane or just fucking morons?" he growls loudly, sparks cracking from the palms of his hands as his frustration skyrockets. Didn't they listen to a word I fucking said? Since when was this about Cheeks?

Uraraka winces as she notes his palms flickering away. He always was a ticking timebomb despite how much he matured over the years. All it took was a little nudge, and in this instance, the press had basically bowled him over with assumptions. She needed to do something, anything to try and prevent the situation from escalating further before it was too late.

Stepping forward the brunette presses her fingertips together nervously as she tilts her head sideways, a shy smile gripping her lips. "I'm so sorry everyone, this is all a massive misunderstanding. Nothing is going on between us," she states calmly, false confidence clinging limply to her voice as she projected it. We need to retreat inside the building and our publicists can take it from there.

Without hesitation, she turns on her heel and marches towards the safety of the building. Hot tears sting at her troubled eyes as she swallows hard, determined to hold back until no one could see or hear her vent her frustration. There was nothing she wanted more than to live a semi-normal life while also being the hero she had trained to become. The past few years had taught her that was impossible. But each time she had a reminder, it didn't hurt any less. She was only human at the end of the day.

Today was riddled with mistakes, leaving her apartment was the first one. It was unfair. She never asked for this, and yet she couldn't even go out for a cup of coffee without getting swarmed and plagued with offensive questions. Sure, the misunderstanding was of her own devices at the root of it all and Bakugo certainly didn't help, but they were clearly waiting and hoping for such a slip up to occur like the opportunists they were. All to sell magazines and papers; self-gain. They probably didn't even care that it was based on a misunderstanding and had no truth base it on. It cut deep.

"Come back Uravity! Tell us all about your relationship!"

"No need to lie to us! We could see those sparks from here!"

"Don't be shy! You're cuter when you act all tough!"

Bakugo shoots the reporters a death glare, stopping them dead in their tracks before storming down the path after her. Is she just giving up? Where is her pride? He muses, a hand reaching forward to grip her shoulder roughly, stopping her dead in her tracks. "Why the hell are you apologizing? They are making up shit! Fuck them!" he retorts hotly, his voice low as he stared at the back of her head. "What the heck happened to the pain in the ass woman back in the elevator?" He couldn't help but feel he was missing something. None of it made sense, and he didn't have the patience to try and work it out.

He was infuriating. Besides, how difficult is it to understand that some people might feel anxious when confronted by pushy individuals who have little to no respect for others? It was baffling. Was that blind unwavering confidence he was blessed with, preventing him from understanding the struggles others faced? Or did he simply not care?

Sighing, the heroine turns to face him, thick brows pinching together, her eyes trembling as she struggled to hold back her tears of complete and utter frustration. "No one is strong all the time," Uraraka replies flatly, her brows creased as her frustration seeps into her tone of voice; "If you heard what they ask me every day of my life, you wouldn't ask that question. I wish I could give them a piece of my mind. Believe me." There was little to no point trying to explain why she felt the way she did. He probably wouldn't give two shits anyway.

Ugh, now I'm anxious over being anxious. Today is officially cancelled! her mind cries out as she crosses her arms and frowns. "Do you want them to start a smear campaign? Because they will," the heroine states bluntly a finger jabbing his chest roughly as she glared up at him; trying her best to gather herself in order to fast track their conversation. "We should show a united front and head back to the building. Security won't let them in," she adds hesitantly, her palms growing sweaty as she noticed they were drawing closer once more reigniting her anxiety.

"Security? I don't fucking need security to protect me from these feeble cretins," Bakugo fights back. It was beyond insulting for anyone to even so much as insinuate that he needed anyone for anything. It was the other way around, period. Wait. Is she actually afraid of these dickheads? He notes, slightly taken back as his gaze locks with hers. It seemed like a ridiculous thought to even humour, but there it was; the same anguish he saw marking her features earlier, but this time it was directed at him. Huffing his hand slips from her shoulder and down into the depths of his pants pockets, guilt gripping his conscience as realisation set in. She wasn't acting earlier.

It was a well-known fact that Ground Zero was not a fan favourite, much like Endeavour. His personality made it difficult for the public to take a shine to him, despite his overwhelming power. So it didn't come as much of a surprise to see him ready to literally start a brawl with the reporters for their rude assumptions and lack of respect for his infamous privacy.

"This is our livelihood. We can't just start arguments with the press unless you're fine with them cancelling us all over the internet," She argues in a hushed tone, her voice trembling as she nervously slips her hands into her pockets, stubbornly averting her gaze. "Whatever, do what you want. I'm going back with or without you." He could stand out there and argue with them until he was blue in the face, it didn't affect her at all. But part of her couldn't help but want to make him see reason.

The concept of potentially getting cancelled by the public didn't bother him. Bad press always hit the front pages from time to time. Has she really not had one single negative headline in her career to date? Can she get more painfully righteous? Exhaling heavily the blond clicks his tongue and spins the brunette around, roughly pushing her towards the building; "I'm only doing it because I can't be bothered going out now. I am in a shit mood."

Could've fooled me, Uraraka muses silently, rolling her eyes as she feels him continue to nudge her forward towards the apartment complex. A nervous smile teases at the corners of her lips as she strides forward, trying her hardest to ignore the lingering presence of the reporters in the distance, clearly nervous about encroaching on Bakugo's personal space more than her own. His sudden change of mind was surprising to say the least, though he could've come up with a better cover story. Had she scared him into obedience? Surely that wasn't even remotely possible.

Sighing, the blond matches her pace, his left hand slipping into his pocket once more as he eyed her expression with his peripheral vision. He'd be damned if he was caught looking at her intently again after what happened earlier. The midget seems a little chirpier, he notes silently as he presses his right forearm down on her shoulder, a smirk gripping his lips as he continues to walk alongside her.

"W-What are you doing?" Uraraka stutters, her face flushing as she looks up him, clearly startled by his sudden actions. Has he just reduced me to an armrest? Does he want to be floated to the moon? Her mind fights back silently despite her somewhat incapacitated state.

Bakugo raises a brow and leans forward a fraction, feigning ignorance. "What? I'm showing a united front like you wanted," he retorts, shooting her his signature chaotic grin. "Don't go getting excited, Cheeks." It might've been a poor attempt to get her mind off things, but hey, it worked. Uraraka didn't need protection, he knew that. She wasn't weak. But she needed a distraction.

"Me, excited by you? Not likely," Uraraka teases, as she attempts to ignore the heat of his arm emanating against her shoulder, her heart rate soaring through the roof in an instant. He is so close. I really thought he was going to stand there and argue with them, she notes to herself, gaze dropping to the cobbled footpath beneath her feet as she attempts to maintain her composure.

Bakugou snickers to himself as the pair approached the apartment complex. The sensor on top of the doors immediately scanning their figures for a match for a moment before retracting the glass doors, permitting them to re-enter the building. "Man, you're such a shrimp. You've barely grown since school," he teases. His gaze fixed on her flushed cheeks as she actively avoided making eye contact. She was cute, he'd give her that. But that didn't stop her from being somewhat annoying.

"Height is only a number, I can float myself so it's irrelevant," she fights back proudly as they crossed the threshold into the apartment building. A stocky security guard approaching the emergency lockdown button as she sighed in relief. It's finally over.

"Wait! At least pose for a photo!" a ballsy reporter calls out, bolting towards the open doors to the building, camera pressed in front of his eyes as he charges forward.

Bakugo smirks as he looks back over his shoulder, promptly flicking his index finger up in the reporters' direction. "You just don't know when to quit. Use this for your tabloids you vultures!" he yells out, the glass doors of the apartment complex slamming behind them shortly after.

At this point, if Uraraka didn't laugh, she'd cry. He's impossible.

AUTHOR:
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! How do you think the press will respond to Bakugo's final 'statement'? Will Ochako have anxiety attack? Find out next chapter, hahahah.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my content. It means so much to me. If you enjoyed it, please be sure to leave a review as I'd love to hear your thoughts and what you enjoyed most about this chapter.

REVIEWS:

Guest – Will do! Thanks so much for your support and for taking the time to comment! :)

UniqueHalfblood– Thank you! I hope you enjoy this chapter too. Thanks for the review!