She didn't dare blink. Too afraid that this wasn't real and that if she did, he would disappear and all of it would be taken away again.

How could this be possible? How was he just standing there as if nothing's changed. As if all these years without him didn't even happen. Like this was just a horrible nightmare she had just woken up from, or maybe this was the opposite and she was just having one of the many dreams she's had over the years about him being here with her save and sound.

But if this was indeed a dream, then she would gladly stay here if it meant seeing him again.

Taking another shaky breath in, she continued to watch him as he stayed silently sitting against the door with his knees up and head in his hands. She wasn't sure how long they stayed in the same position, nor did she care. The only sound in the room was her pounding heart as it hammered against her chest and the quiet sniffles he tried to restrain while his body continued to tense up to the point of shaking. And even though his face remained hidden she could still see the tears falling.

She still found it difficult to speak, repeatedly opening and closing her mouth to try and think of what to say or where to start. She couldn't stop her eyes from drinking him all in. This was him. This was Katsuki Bakugo. The guy who was the school's arrogant hothead, the guy who fought the League of Villains, the guy who was the symbol of victory, the guy who taught her she was capable of so much more. And the guy who stole something of hers that she never really got back.

But he seemed different somehow…the moment he saw her staring at him she saw him break down and remain where he was seated without another word.

She couldn't fault him for that since she herself had no idea what to do or what was going on.

"Bakugo?" she managed to croak out barely above a whisper with trembling lips.

Clenching his hands in his hair, he kept his eyes shut tightly as he continued to shake his head whenever he would hear her sweet soft voice calling out to him. Calling out his name.

"Bakugo…?" She tried again taking a small step forward which is when she saw him slowly raise his head, only able to get a glimpse of his red eyes hidden behind his bangs. She could see the deep pain coursing through them along with a mixture of different emotions that she had a hard time pinpointing.

"You…you keep saying it." He took a deep shaky breath in, swallowing down the tightens in his throat that wouldn't stop.

"Bakugo…is that really you?"

Her voice was so gentle, warm, and sweet like honey to his ears that it made his lips twitch into a small smile. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting to hear you say it." When he finally lifted his head all the way, he could feel the tears that had grazed his cheeks still fresh. "It's me Uraraka..."

Gasping, she swiftly covered her mouth to keep a sob from escaping but it was fruitless when the tears she'd been keeping in her eyes began to freely flow down her face and took quick steps intending to close the gap. "Bakugo I…"

Jumping to his feet the moment he saw her walking towards him, he took a couple of steps forward before he stopped himself and instead instantly moved further away while lifting his hands in front of him to stop her. "No! Wait don't!"

Halting her movements, she confusingly smiled, meeting his pleading eyes, and wondering what was wrong that had him looking so scared. It took her a moment to remember that Bakugo wasn't exactly the friendliest or touchy feely type and always preferred his space. So, she took a careful step back, keeping the beaming smile on her face as she continued to stare at him with a shine so bright it made him look away. "Sorry it was just a hug." She lightly giggled unable to keep the happiness from seeping into every part of her.

Clenching his fists to his sides so tight that he could feel his nails digging into him at the memory of what he couldn't have. Not even from her.

"Bakugo you're actually here! You're alive!" Without meaning to she took another excited step forward.

"No, I'm not…" Reluctantly shaking his head, he was having a hard time looking at her right now knowing that she was still wearing that smile that made her already pink cheeks shine bigger and always made his heart flutter and palms sweat. "Just…don't come any closer." When he saw the light in her eyes slowly replaced by hurt, he felt his own heart shatter at the thought of not being able to make it any better for her. "Please…"

Nodding she pressed her lips together and nervously began fidgeting with her finger pads. She wasn't going to lie, it did hurt, it did feel like a rejection in every way possible, but she couldn't let that damper her mood. So instead, she patiently waited for him to say something since she could tell he was just as freaked out as she was.

"Look." Carefully he lifted his right hand making sure she was watching him and let it go right through the tv to prove a point, with his eyes firmly glued to her reaction.

Gasping, she took a few more steps back, stubbornly shaking her head and keeping the new tears from forming. "No….NO!" Whirling around she made to walk into the kitchen-any place really that would put her as far away from this as possible. She couldn't do it again. She wouldn't.

"Shit, Uraraka!" Quickly walking to catch up to her in the kitchen he stopped in front of her when he saw her cover her face with her hands. He knew he must've freaked her the hell out with all this but right now there were bigger issues to address. "Look I know this is a lot to take in, but I need you to stay calm-"

"Stay calm?!" she snapped while removing her hands from her tear-stained face, her anger fueling all other emotions. "How do you expect me to do something like that when you're right in front of me?! When-when you're still…still…" Unable to finish that sentence, she made to walk around him since obviously he didn't want her anywhere near him either. Which let her to another question. "How?"

"I don't know how." He frustratingly groaned as he followed her. "I was fighting that asshole Shigaraki and next thing I know I'm stuck here!"

She blinked a few times trying to keep her composure as calm as she could even though the tears gathering in the rim of her eyes said otherwise. "Why are you here?"

Flinching at the hard tone of her voice, he tried not to let it bother him when he jumped in front of her to block the entrance to her room. "Would you just listen to me for a damn minute! I know I'm probably the last person you expected to see here and I'm sorry for that ok, I really am. A-and I don't fuckin know why all of a sudden you can see me now, but I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't thrilled about it ok because I am." Lowering his hands when he was sure that she had calmed down somewhat, he began running it through his hair. "Round-face…I'm here because there's something after you. I can't be sure of what right now, but that's why I need your help."

"I can take care of myself." She slowly narrowed her eyes in a way that told him to back off, but he wouldn't.

"I know you can, but not from this."

Smiling, she nodded her head unable to now look him in the eye. "Fine, something's after me. What else is new."

"Urara-"

"No Bakugo, you said somethings after me, right?" she firmly asked. "Well thank you for letting me know."

Scoffing, he bitterly smirked as his irritation began to flare. This was something he wished for so long and now it was also being ripped away from him. He couldn't even enjoy the time he had right now because whether either one of them liked it or not she was still in danger. "Why the hell do you have to be so stubborn about shit? This isn't something you can just fight and be done with Uraraka! This is fuckin serious, alright! I know your ass doesn't want me here ok you made that perfectly clear back in school and you're making it clear right now. But I don't give a shit because news flash; I don't want to be here either ok!" he snapped immediately regretting his words. "You…don't know what it's been like to be here with you."

When he looked up, he saw her staring down at her feet unable to read her expression as her hands trembled next to her sides.

"How could I right…I'm just me. To someone like you I'm just someone you went to school with."

Biting his tongue, he briefly closed his eyes. "Fuck…that's not what I-" The moment he felt her walk right through him determined to go into her room, they both stood there with their backs turned in utter shock as the realization hit them in the same way.

Speechless he felt like he just got punched in the chest over and over again and couldn't bear the thought of turning around unless he was ready to face the pain of knowing he couldn't even so much as touch her.

"I understand what you're saying Bakugo." She slowly turned to him with an unreadable expression. "And I appreciate what you've done in telling me, and you're right I don't know what I'm facing. And I don't know what's going on." With a weak smile and watery eyes, she stepped further into her room. Her hand firmly grabbed the doorknob as he turned. "It's been a long day and I… just need a moment ok. After that you can tell me more about what's after me and I'll figure out how to beat it."

Clenching his jaw, he watched her close the door in his face before anything else could be said. 'Great, I finally get her to see me and talk to me and the first shit I do is go off on her.' he inwardly scolded himself walking over to the couch. "What a fuckin bonehead move Katsuki."

The rest of the night Uraraka spent bundled up in her bed letting the silent tears fall down her face hoping to quiet the cries from her mouth until they dried out sometimes during the night and whisk her off to sleep.

X

The following day she awoke to the sound of her phone loudly ringing. Groggily reaching for it she felt nothing but air until she peeked her head out of the covers and winced when she remembered dropping it on the floor outside her bedroom. "Just great." She groaned tiredly walking past her mirror but stopped immediately when she saw her reflection and the sad puffiness under her eyes.

Slamming her palm on her forehead, she quickly tried to make them less noticeable but after what seemed like forever decided to just give up. It's not like he'd even ask if she was ok and maybe he wasn't even here anymore thinking he probably already did his part and be done with her especially since she locked herself in her room all night. She had been rather tired so it wouldn't surprise her. "Now the only part is facing him… if he is still here." She chewed on the bottom of her lip and glanced down to make sure she looked somewhat presentable.

With a deep breath, chin up and confident posture she quickly walked out of her room with a blank expression as if last night didn't bother her. If he was in fact still here only for a weird sense of heroic duty to help her then she was going to keep her feelings and emotions locked up like she had been all this time.

"Hey…" he apprehensively got to his feet as soon as he heard her door open.

Walking over to the bathroom she quickly brushed her teeth before walking out and turned on the coffee maker in the kitchen, grabbing her favorite mug from the cupboard and placing it next to her with her back still turned as she waited.

Slowly moving from the couch, he quietly walked over to the kitchen counter and sat himself down on one of the small bar stools nearby. Never in his whole life had he ever seen anyone stare this hard at a coffee mug with so many stars on them, but then again that was her favorite mug, and he was pretty sure she was still pissed at him by the cold shoulder he received. Either that or he was invisible to her again…

With that scary thought in mind he began rubbing his sweaty palms against his pants as he nervously looked around before daring to speak again. "Listen round-face about last night-"

"It's fine." She quietly said before turning to face him and crossing her arms.

"So, you can still see me." It was more of a statement than a question when there was a hard edge to his tone which he tried to hold back but failed when he felt both panic and relive set in.

Turning back to her coffee she started pouring sugar in as he continued to speak.

"So, is that how it's going to go? I'm here trying to talk and apologize while you're just giving me the damn silent treatment?"

"I'd think you'd be used to it by now." She mumbled and bit her lip right after. "I didn't mean it like that." Quickly turning to see him looking out the window.

"It's fine." He quietly said without meeting her eyes. "Guess I deserve that."

"That's not true." When he didn't respond she exhaled softly and carefully picked up her coffee mug to take a sip. When she heard her phone go off again, she was surprised it was sitting on the counter not far from him.

"Your phones been going off nonstop."

"Oh." Briskly walking over, she picked it up before moving to give them space again. She realized she had a few messages and missed calls all from the same person as she snuck quick glances at the blond who was now scowling at the counter. "Look Bakugo, this isn't really easy for anyone right now. In fact, I still think I'm just dreaming or something and I'll just wake up any second."

"Why would you be dreaming about something like this?" he frowned clearly confused.

"No reason!" she frantically waved her hands in front of her now blushing face. "A-anyways, what I'm trying to say is that let's just try and make the best out of a weird, strange situation until we can figure this thing out."

"Alright. Sounds stupid proof." He calmly looked back at her.

Rolling her eyes and clearing her throat she tried not to let the amusement show, remembering that this was Bakugo she was talking to. "So, this…thing…whatever it is you said was after me, right?"

"Right." He rubbed his hands over his face. "I don't know why exactly or what it is. Which is why I need your help."

"Why?"

"In case you haven't noticed Cheeks you have more resources than I do right now." He raised a pointed brow.

"Right." She nodded swallowing down the emotions. "S-so tell me what you know, and I'll get on it."

"We'll get on it." He firmly said not leaving any room for arguments, but she still managed to shake her head. "I told you yesterday I'm here to help. So you're not alone in this."

"Bakugo-"

"I'm not leaving Uraraka."

Meeting his gaze, she could see there was no persuading him. It was the same look he always had when they were getting ready for a mission or fight back in the days. "Bakugo...what are you getting out of this? Not that I don't appreciate everything you've done because I do. And I am sorry about how I reacted yesterday I really am. But without trying to sound ungrateful I do have to ask…what do you get out of this?" she carefully worded understanding that there had to be somewhere else he wanted to be. There had to be.

"What I do is none of your business." Averting his eyes he looked at her phone which rang again.

"Alright…so how did you find out about this?" Placing her phone down after it stopped ringing, she took another slow sip of her coffee. "And how come I didn't see anyone trying to come after me? Because I'm sure if I did, I would have noticed."

"Um…" Awkwardly rubbing his neck he knew the question would come up eventually but still threaded the moment it did since he didn't want her to get the wrong idea about him. "Both times you were kinda asleep..."

"Both times? So, it's been twice?" she gaped placing the mug down with a CLANK and felt the panic rise. "Ho-" Cutting herself off when another thought replaced all others and only confirmed by the sudden nervousness of the person in front of her averting his eyes with a barely noticeably pink tint to his cheeks. "You-you were there?!"

"So what?" He defended as he abruptly stood. "If it weren't for me then that thing would have done whatever it planned to do to you!"

"Well, I guess I was just lucky when you happened to come along right?" she sarcastically waved her hands until he got quiet once more which now began to aggravate her more.

Grimacing he repeatedly opened his mouth trying to figure out where the hell to start. "W-well…."

Letting her jaw hit the floor she continuously blinked her wide eyes at him. "You've been watching me?!"

"OI stop that shit! You're making me sound like a damn creepy stalker!" he snapped back fully aware that that's what it would look like to anyone even though that wasn't the case.

Lifting a questioning brow, she placed her hands on her hips impatiently. "Ok Bakugo, then say it in a way that doesn't sound creepy."

Smirking, he dangerously narrowed his eyes. "Just because that might be something you wish I'd do princess, doesn't mean that that's what happened alright."

"Pff." Rolling her eyes she went back to her drink grateful to hide her burning face. "As if…" she mumbled hoping he'd buy it.

"Look I was just trying to look out for your safety ok."

"I'm sure." She snorted covering her mouth until she slammed her cup down eyes growing even wider if possible. "Wait…wait…wait…"

"NO!" he barked, already knowing all the different things that must've been running through that round head of hers as he stared at her, eyes growing with pure horror. "Don't even ask!"

"You didn't?!"

"I didn't!"

"You did!"

"I didn't!"

"All the times I went to shower…or change…!" Covering her beet red face, she felt like things couldn't get any worse right now.

"I didn't see shit!"

"You perve!" she screeched resting her hands on the sides of her face. "Oh my gods this is like living with Mineta all over again…"

"Hold up you're not seriously comparing me to that perve!" Walking around the counter to get her to stop freaking out again he stepped closer. "Round-face would you calm down! I didn't see shit alright! I wouldn't do that."

"How do I know that?!" she pointed her finger accusingly which only made Bakugo look away on the verge of smiling at her flustered face over soemthing like that.

"You don't alright." he honestly admitted. "But I hope you trust me enough to know I'm not that kind of guy Uraraka."

Puffing out her cheeks she crossed her arms in front of her still eyeing him warily. "You never saw anything right?"

He hated himself at the moment but couldn't resist the urge to see her this worked up over something he would never do. "And if I did?" he smirked playfully letting his eyes give her a once over.

Ok now she was convinced that she was about to faint from all the blood rushing to her face.

Chuckling, he lifted his hand to remove her hair from her face but quickly played it off by rubbing it against his head, clenching his jaw when he knew he couldn't. "Ok relax cheeks, I'm just messing with you. No, I didn't see anything, nor do I intend to. There were a few close calls though…" he full out laughed when her mouth dropped open. "But…I made sure to look away ok." he quickly added.

"You're pushing it, you know that?" She warningly pointed her finger at him until they heard the knock on the door.

"Huh?" Turning her gaze to check the time on her phone she quickly went to answer.

"Who the fuck's that?" He frowned wondering who it could be this early in the morning.

Opening the front door, she was startled to see Haru standing right outside her door making her quickly blink the confusion away. "H-Haru? What are you doing here?"

With a sheepish smile he lifted his phone. "We were supposed to get breakfast today remember?"

"Oh yes!" She awkwardly smiled. 'Crap how could I have forgotten that!'

"I tried calling you a few times, so I grew worried. Is everything ok?"

"Hmm? Oh yes, I'm sorry everything's fine." She tried to keep the smile on her face when she saw Bakugo come up behind her. "I-It's just I had a rough night and as you can see, I still have to get ready."

"Yeah, so beat it asshole."

Discreetly turning her head, she glared back at an unamused blond who to her surprise kept his eyes on Haru.

Peering down at her pajamas Haru chuckled. "It's fine, I like it."

"Tch."

"And I don't mind waiting if your still up for a cup of coffee?"

"Um…" pursing her lips she tried to come up with a valid reason not to go, but upon watching the hopeful look on his face after already declining multiple times she slowly smiled. "Ok yeah, a cup of coffee sounds nice. I'll just be a minute."

"Ok." Haru grinned like she had just given him the best news all day. "I'll wait out here."

"Ok." Closing the door, she quickly went to her room to gather some clothes and head for the shower.

"What the hell round-face you just had fuckin coffee!" Bakugo followed her until she slammed the door shut. "Un-fuckin-belivable…" he growled impatiently tapping his foot until she finally emerged wearing a short overall dress over a long-fitted sleeve white shirt and black ankle boots.

"What?" Glancing up from tying her shoes she saw Bakugo eyeing her weirdly, thinking that maybe what she wore wasn't nice enough until she saw the red in his ears. "I'll be back."

"Hang on." Blinking rapidly to clear the daze from his eyes he walked closer to her. "You're seriously going to go, now?"

"Yeah, I'll be quick." She shrugged, grabbing her purse next. "I haven't eaten yet."

"You can make something here."

"Yeah, I'm not the best at cooking." She embarrassingly admitted rubbing the back of her head.

"I can teach you. Any idiot could learn how to cook." He quickly fired back receiving a slight glare from the brunette.

"And besides a cup of coffee sounds nice." She smiled, warming up to the idea of eating a nice breakfast after the rough day she had.

Gawking as she opened the door he felt the pulse on his vein throb. "Like I said you already had coffee woman!"

"Thanks for waiting." She stepped out just as Haru turned to look at her.

"No problem." He smiled as she started closing her door.

When she saw Bakugo wiggle himself out the door first, she forced a small smile and quietly said between clenched teethed. "Stay here, I'll be back."

"But I-"

"Stay here." She quietly hissed before turning a forced smile to Haru. "Ok let's go."

Gritting his teeth Bakugo watched as they both disappeared down the stairs as a vortex of anger swirled inside him, but it was quickly replaced by a sly dangerous smirk crossing his features. "You know what…on second thought coffee sounds nice."