Bakugo turns right around, fuming. He is determined not to lose his shit in a public space. When the fuck did stupid fucking Deku get so big?
Last time he'd checked Deku was into dudes. Bakugo is more than confident that he is currently dating a man. Did Deku date any girls in high school? He thinks back and recalls a very blonde girl who used to hang around him.
He watches them walk off leaning in awfully close together forearms touching, they seem to be looking at something on his phone. Uraraka laughs at something the nerd says and it makes him livid.
Bakugo takes a deep breath and tries to forget about it, but it doesn't work. The image of Uraraka's eyes lighting up like a goddamned Christmas tree when she saw Deku is fucking with him on a level he has never experienced.
A feral growl escapes him, and he makes the decision to go home. Time has taught him that nothing good will come about with his nerves in this much frenzy. He's never missed a full day of classes, but there is a first time for everything.
The next day Bakugo sleeps in and is extra fuming, deciding that an extended visit to the gym is needed. It was around ten in the morning, way later than the time he usually arrives.
He's halfway through his run on the treadmill and his jaw drops because fuck she's here. In his gym. In tiny little shorts and a loose tank top; the arm holes are long, and he can see the workout bra and skin underneath.
He can't help the arousal that instantly pools inside him; she is fit as hell.
Uraraka has defined muscles on her shoulders and arms, her legs are toned and lean, and the back of her calves are pure muscle. He bites his bottom lip eyeing her thighs, the things he would do to be in between those. Bakugo shakes his head clear; he's going to trip himself on this fucking treadmill if he didn't pull it together.
It's so dead at this time in the morning, and she's all by herself. He watches her adjust the wires of her headphones through her shirt and tucks the end device into her shorts.
Then she starts fucking stretching and that's when he knows that he has to look away. He stopped the machine and moved to the weights on the opposite side of the gym.
Bakugo is more than confident that this is karma for being such an ass all the time, he's sure. He manages to finish the rest of his workout when he sees her coming towards him. He taps the left side of his wireless headphones to pause the blaring music.
She sounds genuinely surprised, "Bakugo? I didn't know you worked out here."
Well fuck, someone had it out for him. "Cheeks," he greets her. He doesn't know if it's her workout or the nickname that has her flushed from her usual pink cheeks to almost red, "I didn't know you worked out."
Uraraka seems to have regained her breath, "I think I would lose every ounce of sanity if I didn't. This is my happy place."
She grins and he feels a weird fluttering feeling in his stomach. Fuck.
Uraraka's eyes light up as if she's realised something, "I actually usually come here with a friend, but their schedules changed recently. Would it be too much to ask you to spot me? You don't have to if—"
"Sure Cheeks, I can spot some small weights for you." Bakugo interrupts her. She sounded as if she was regretting asking him, and as much as he knew how much he shouldn't get involved with her, he couldn't just say no to spending time with her either.
Her eyes narrow and she flexes her arms, "You think I got these from a measly little ten weight?"
Bakugo doesn't know why but he feels excited to see what she can do as she stalks off to the bench press.
"Oh, you are in for a surprise mister!" Uraraka calls from behind her shoulder.
Bakugo unquestionably went straight home after the gym to jack off at the fact that Uraraka benched just about the same weight as he did and did it easily. She is absolutely incredible. Fuck Deku. He was going for it. His gut is telling him to be with her, and his gut has not been wrong yet.
Her words linger in his head the next day. Her friend's schedule had changed so she needs a spotter for the next time she goes to the gym. He hesitates over her contact's name. Their text history indicated that they hadn't texted for over a month. Would this be too forward? Fuck it he decides, it's just a text.
Bakugo Katsuki 05:48 The gym was good yesterday. Wanna go again sometime?
He chucks the phone on his bed determined to get on with his day. Bakugo is genuinely surprised when he checks his phone a few hours later.
Uraraka Ochako 09:27 I usually go in every day round 10 it's the only time I can make it
Bakugo grins like an idiot. It looks like he is changing his routine. Over the next few weeks, he spends his gym time with her, and it is easily the best part of his day. Conversations flow so easily between the two of them.
They find conversation in simple things at first.
"Favourite foods?" Uraraka answers in between squats, "I like the classics, unagi, oden, oh and tempura veggies as a snack! Easily some of my favourites, although most days I'm just doing eggs and rice."
Bakugo scoffs, "Eggs and rice? That shits so boring, I hope you season your food properly at least."
"Hey! It is simple and delicious!" She defends, "What about you?"
He rises from his squat, "If it's spicy I'll try it. Not a big fan of sweet shit."
Uraraka nodded. "Hm, that seems very on brand for you."
They both share a disinterest in alcohol.
"I don't fuck with drinking as much as I used to. I've woken up too many times not knowing what the hell I did."
Uraraka laughs, "You're a lightweight?"
"Did I say I was a fucking lightweight? No, I said I don't drink like I used to because I don't remember shit." Bakugo scoffs as they lunge across the gym floor.
Uraraka grins, "That sounds like lightweight behaviour to me."
"Oi fuck off. I bet you topple over after two drinks."
Uraraka smirks, "I have a very high tolerance thank you very much." she pauses in for a moment, "But I don't drink as much anymore either, I had a bad experience once. Haven't really had more than a few drinks since then."
Bakugo's expression falls, "Shit, sorry."
She shakes her head quickly, "Oh, no, it's okay! It was a one-time thing. I had the longest 4hangover after."
Bakugo learns that Uraraka is obsessed with space and has a membership at the local planetarium, and she learns that he's fourth dan level in judo; he had started as a small child and had only stopped practising a few years ago.
As their time together becomes more routine, their conversation becomes more in depth.
"I know everyone in the office thinks I'm only there because I'm the damn owner's kid. None of them think I deserve to actually be there, especially because it's only part time till graduation." He says bitterly as they make their way to the weights.
"I hate working there. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the work; the experience and all before I'm even graduated but fuck I gotta be the absolute best. Everyone is just waiting for me to fuck up and prove my parents wrong."
"That sounds like a lot of pressure to put on yourself." Uraraka responds as they grab their weights.
"Yeah, no shit. It will work until I graduate, and I can apply for other places. What about you? I know you have at least two, three jobs?" Bakugo asks as he swaps his weights for heavier ones upon seeing what she had picked up.
Uraraka grows red, "Yeah, two part time jobs right now. I'm working at a hardware store five days a week, doing paperwork, you know orders and receiving. Boring stuff. And I work at a convenience store near my house on weekends." She starts to load her weights onto the bar.
Bakugo whistles low, "Danm Cheeks, all that plus your classes?"
"I've managed so far. One of my regulars at the convenience store might be able to help me get a really great job at their law firm once I graduate. I got so excited that I started accelerating my courses, so I'll actually be able to graduate this year instead of next year." Uraraka lays on the press to start her reps.
"Sounds like a lot of pressure to put on yourself." Bakugo smirks as he looms over her.
They talk about anything and everything.
Bakugo mentions that he's looking for a new place, his roommates are moving out soon with school ending and he wouldn't be able to afford the place on his own.
"My witch of a mother tricked me into getting the apartment by paying for the first year outright. She was absolutely batshit when I first moved out and that was the only way my dad could convince her that I would be responsible enough to live on my own. So now I'm apartment hunting."
Uraraka sings the praises of her elderly proprietor who's been kind to her in terms of rent increase over the past two years; she was living at home prior to moving but felt it would be better for job prospects to move to the city.
"I want to be completely financially stable in the next few years. The school debt I have is crazy but if I land this job after graduation, I'm sure I can pay it all down in the next ten years."
"All by yourself? You don't have any support from your parents? At all?" Bakugo bluntly asks.
Uraraka's features soften sadly, "I grew up dirt poor. My parents didn't actually want me to go to school, they said it was too expensive. So, I left on my own. I haven't actually spoken to them in almost two years."
She doesn't go into detail, and he doesn't pry, but he understands and admires her sheer will and ambition.
His own parents might drive him crazy, but they did pay for his education and covered his rent during school. His parents always had his back. He couldn't imagine having to cut them off from his life.
They talk about anything and everything in-between and he's beginning to wonder why she hasn't mentioned her boyfriend once.
Granted, she never asks him about his nonexistent love life either. It's just a topic they haven't touched on yet. But judging on how busy she is he doubts that they were even still together.
He loves Gym Uraraka. She's so much happier and more alive in the mid mornings compared to the nights.
Two weeks before graduation he decides to bring it up one morning.
They are almost done for the day when he asks. "Why don't you work out with your boyfriend?"
She looks a little shell shocked, fumbling with the weight she was putting away. "B-Boyfriend?"
He rolls his eyes, "Tch aren't you dating Midoryia Izuku?"
Uraraka turns around to kneel and puts the weight down, "Yes?" she says uncertainty, "I mean, I was."
They were both quiet for a moment.
"So," he says slowly, wheels turning in his head, "Is that why you've been hanging out with me more?"
She turns pink as she circles back to face him. "Ah, um, would you be creeped out if I said yes?"
Now he's turning a little pink. Could this really be happening right now? Could Uraraka like him more than a friend as well? He had to act fast.
He smirks and leans into her space a little closer, "Why would I be creeped out Cheeks?"
Uraraka fumbles over her words, "I uh, I- I don't know?" She went from a dusting of pink to bright red.
"Go out with me."
Her eyes grow, "Likeonadate?!" she asks in one breath.
He grins; he is more than confident that she liked him. "Come again?" he teases.
She bites down on her lip and more slowly asks, "Are you asking me on a date?"
Bakugo swallows a breath he didn't know he was holding, "Yeah. I am."
Uraraka blinks slowly for a moment and then she miraculously seems to have regained all her composure, "Okay. I think I'd like that."
It takes a few tries to get a calendar day for their date. School ended and Uraraka suddenly became unavailable as her part time jobs gave her more hours. She was also doing multiple rounds of interviews for a job that would let her work full time making a decent salary.
Bakugo can't blame her, as he is also interviewing for different jobs. It is so time consuming. She doesn't even go to her graduation. Bakugo deems her lucky as his parents suffocate him the whole week leading up to it.
In lieu of spending time together they've started to text each other daily.
Bakugo Katsuki 18:48 It has been 2 fucking weeks and 3 days since I asked you out
Uraraka Ochako 20:55 Its giving stalker vibes
Bakugo Katsuki 20:55 Fuck off
Uraraka Ochako 20:56
Bakugo Katsuki 20:56 Seriously though you change your mind?
Uraraka Ochako 21:14 No
Uraraka Ochako 21:14 How about Tuesday?
Bakugo Katsuki 21:14 This Tuesday?
Uraraka Ochako 21:15 Yeah I can get one of the guys to cover me for the evening
Bakugo Katsuki 21:15 I have a work thing until 6
Uraraka Ochako 21:15 Saturday I have a free morning. I can go into work later in the afternoon.
Bakugo Katsuki 21:16 No Tuesday works
Bakugo Katsuki 21:16 I'm going to make it work
Uraraka Ochako 21:20 I respect your commitment
Uraraka Ochako 21:20 You sure it's fine? we can figure out another date
Uraraka Ochako 21:20 No pressure
Bakugo Katsuki 21:23 Tuesday. 18:15 I just booked the restaurant. Kyoto's on Hido Street
Uraraka Ochako 21:24 Oh so this is happening? For real?
Bakugo Katsuki 21:24 For fucking real Cheeks.
Bakugo Katsuki 21:24 I'll pick you up at your place?
Uraraka Ochako 21:24 I'm going to be in the area that day
Uraraka Ochako 21:25 I'll meet you there
Bakugo Katsuki 21:25 You're making this whole dating/being a gentleman thing very difficult
Uraraka Ochako 21:31 Any regrets so far?
Bakugo Katsuki 21:31 Never
Bakugo takes a deep breath as he sits at the table; he is the first to arrive at the restaurant. He sends out a small prayer into the world that she doesn't stand him up for whatever reason.
He hopes he's not overdressed. He may have had his father's help with his outfit. He let it slip that he had a date and while it did get him out of their meeting early it did mean that his father had a hand in choosing his outfit.
Bakugo ended up in dark jeans with a navy dress shirt with a grey sports blazer over that. He made his father promise not to tell his mother; his father knowing is already too overwhelming.
For some reason, his shirt collar is suddenly feeling a little too tight and he's starting to feel warm. He can only remember getting nervous like this once in his whole life and that time it was because he was too nervous to talk to a pretty girl. He shook his body to rid the nerves. He was a grown man, and he did not need to be this nervous to be on a date with a woman he's known for months.
He lets out a breath when he sees her walk through the door, she doesn't bail on him. Her hair is half up and with some pieces framing her face and she was wearing the bare basics of makeup.
The host walks Uraraka over to the table and she starts to take off her coat. "Hey Bakugo, I'm sorry I'm a little late, were you waiting long?"
Bakugo shook his head and raked his eyes over her. She cleans up so good. "No, I just got here a few minutes ago."
She grins and takes her seat, "Okay good. You look great; who knew you could look so handsome?"
"Tch, me? Who knew you owned anything other than sweats and gym clothes?"
Uraraka giggled as she gestured to her outfit. "What? This old thing?" She's wearing a simple black halter dress that hugs her in all the right places and a pair of strappy heels that just does something to him.
The waiter brings over their menus and Uraraka's eyes grow wide as she scans it through. She's read amazing reviews about this place, and she knew it wasn't cheap. She just didn't think it was this expensive.
There are no prices, just lists of delicious sounding food.
Bakugo had a feeling that the lack of price would make her a little uncomfortable, but he has a plan. He picked this place for a few reasons. "Order whatever you want. One of the chefs here is a buddy of mine and he's fucking amazing."
She visibly relaxes and flips her menu, "Okay."
"But don't order anything too filling, the portions are huge." Fuck, that is not what he means.
Uraraka frowns deeply, "What are you trying to say?"
Bakugo decides to just play confident, "My friend's specialty is desserts. So, you need to make sure you save some space for that disgusting sweet tooth of yours." He relaxes when a blush takes over her cheeks.
"I do not have a sweet tooth. I just happen to enjoy sweeter snacks." She closed her menu in favour of taking a sip of her water.
"Sure you don't, Angel face." What the fuck. Sure, sometimes he has a hard time with his filter, but tonight is testing him.
Uraraka sets her drink down, "Angel face? That's a new one."
He rolls his eyes and plays it off, "Just calling it like I see it. Nothing new about that."
Thankfully, the waiter came to take their orders to save him from further embarrassment. Although she didn't seem to mind the nickname.
Bakugo's nervous energy quelled as the night wore on. Truthfully, he picked this restaurant because he knew that she hadn't had the chance to try a lot of new foods.
He wouldn't admit it to anyone, but his heart absolutely maxed out when her ridiculously large dessert came out. The look on her face shot him straight to the heart.
Sure, he's gone on other dates, had a few exes but none of them made him feel as nervous and excited as she did. He is so incredibly infatuated with her, and he hasn't even kissed her yet.
He paid and took her hand, leading her out of the restaurant. "Come on, let's walk this shit off."
Uraraka gave him a look of confusion, "Dinner was great, but where are we going?"
Bakugo's nerves came back into play. "You didn't think I was just going to feed you, did you?"
She looked around the familiar town, there are no nightclubs that she knows of around here. And she knew he lived close to their school, and they were about an hour away from that. "Well, isn't that what dates are?"
Bakugo smirks, "You must have gone on some shitty dates." She didn't let go of his hand yet.
She blushes red, "I guess I have." Uraraka shakes her head, leaning into his shoulder, pulling his arm down towards her, "Seriously though, where are we going?"
"Oi, watch it, you're going to make me trip." he snarls, but he catches her eyes looking up at him and he's nervous all over again. "Its a fucking surprise."
Uraraka rolls her eyes. "Are we," she asks slowly as she recognizes the street where he's leading her, "going to the planetarium?"
Bakugo groans as he leads them to the building, "Wow Cheeks, couldn't you just let it be a surprise?"
Her eyes light up, "I am surprised, I love this place!"
Her smile is so fucking contagious. He can't help but to crack one as well as they walk through the doors. "I know you do. They know your fucking name here."
The receptionist nods to him and they walk down the hall to one of the Imax rooms. Bakugo hopes she's impressed by this, and he thinks she is when she stops walking with him and stares up to the Imax movie of hundreds of thousands of stars. "S'why it wasn't too hard to get the entire show to ourselves for tonight."
Uraraka looks around in awe. It's just the two of them in the theatre and she notices the bottom of the stage floor is set up with a blanket, some pillows, a bottle of what looked like wine and glasses to pair.
"I thought you could teach me about the constellations," he says carefully. She hasn't said anything yet. He took the few things he knew about her life and really ran with it. This was overkill.
She let go of his hand to step tentatively to the stage, her expression was neutral as her eyes flicked over the details.
"It's actually sparkling apple cider, not alcohol, I uh, I know you don't like to drink." Bakugo begins to slightly panic. This is overkill. This is the one time he goes way above and beyond for a girl and it's too much. "If this was stupid idea we can just–"
"No!" Uraraka says quickly, "No, it's not stupid. This is amazing. I'm just," she looks at him, "This looks like you went to a lot of trouble. Just for me."
He breathes out a sigh of relief. "It wasn't that hard to set up." He takes her hand again and leads her to the stage. "Now come here and tell me all about these fucking floating balls of gas."
Bakugo pulls her down on the blanket and he could listen to her go on about the constellations forever. By the end of the night, he has her tucked under his arms and he has a slew of new knowledge on the topic.
Uraraka sits up from his hold to face him as the credits roll. "Bakugo, thank you. This night was so perfect."
"Well, I don't half ass things you know," he pulls her back into his hold, "the night is almost perfect." He titles her chin up and she lets him slide his nose down her cheek. She shivers and places her hands over his biceps. He takes the close touch as okay and catches his lips with her's. It's a soft, slow kiss and he relishes it. He pulls back to let her know that they had to start cleaning up, but she pulls him back in for another one.
This one is more demanding; she tastes like cider and is a very clumsy kisser. Her lips move over his, sucking his bottom lip for a moment before her tongue is seeking entrance into his and he doesn't hesitate to grant it.
Uraraka pulls apart for a breath of air before crashing her lips to his again, this time her lips just snatching the corner of his mouth. Her adrenaline is intoxicating. He leans in and takes the dominance away from her, licking his way into her mouth to lightly suck on her tongue.
She makes a sinful sound, and her hands slide into his hair, legs fully straddling his lap. Bakugo makes a small noise in the back of his throat as her blunt fingers scrape through his scalp.
The lights turn on and he breaks apart from her, grinning wide. She pulled him close again.
"We-have-to-get out-of-here," he manages in between her kisses.
She leans her head against his cheek, and giggles. "Yeah, you're probably right."
She smiles and they get up to clean any traces of the presence up, leaving everything neatly at the edge of the stage.
He helps her with her jacket as they walk out of the building, and she reaches into her pocket to pull out her phone and audibly gasps. "Oh shit. I was supposed to be home over an hour ago." she says in a panic. She begins to frantically move her fingers over the device.
Bakugo feels a little guilty about not warning her about this part of the date. He should have known her friends were asking where she was. They've been together almost four hours. "Hey, it's okay, we're not too far from the restaurant. I can walk you to your station."
Her panic seems to dissipate, "It's okay, already ordered a ride, it should be here any minute. But thank you. Tonight was wonderful. This is the best date I've ever been on." Uraraka beams.
Bakugo smirks, pulling her into his arms again, realizing how short she really is standing, "Yeah?"
She looks up at him and nods. "Yeah." She reaches up for another kiss, pulling his head down to hers. As she pulls away, she whispers, "I could kiss you all night," before going in for another.
If his self-esteem wasn't high enough already then it was on a godly level now. "Fuck Angel, you're prefect."
"I could say the same about you. Are you even real?" she giggles.
Her uber comes around the building, she kisses him once more and settles into the car, her heart racing the whole way home.
She runs up the flight of stairs to her apartment, quickly but quietly unlocking her door. When she steps in, she finds her couch is housing a sleeping Shouto with Izuku laying his arms. Izuku wakes up as she closes the front door.
"I'm so sorry. I completely lost track of time." She whispers apologetically as she takes off her shoes.
"Do you know how difficult it is to get your son to bed?" Izuku eased himself out of the hold and sat up on the couch. "You're lucky we love you."