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You Again - Fem!Reader x Pro Hero Katsuki Bakugo
✧ title: You Again
✧ pairing: Fem!Reader x Pro Hero Katsuki Bakugo
✧ genre: enemies to lovers
✧ cw: angst, verbal confrontation, hurtful words, mentions of family issues, slapping, emotional repression, unresolved feelings, identity/self-worth issues, Bakugo being an asshole
The locker room was almost empty. I quickly put on my hero suit and headed toward the hall.
“I hate delays.” he muttered as soon as I turned the corner toward the entrance.
“You’re not my boss to be lecturing me.” I shot back, adjusting my belt. He paused for a brief second and looked at me with a serious expression. I broke eye contact and walked toward the agency gate, just wanting to get this patrol torture over with.
“Do you even know the route to go ahead?” his rough voice sounding cocky as I stopped on the sidewalk.
Right. He had a point. I’d forgotten this route would be different from mine.
I gestured with my arm and stepped aside.
“After you, your highness.”
He looked at me again, frowning, and started walking toward the more commercial part of the city.
There were a lot of people on the street. Which meant more attention. I had never gotten used to this kind of patrol. I just wanted to do my job and go home.
“This part of the avenue has a lot of alleys.” he pointed to a side where the city lights didn’t reach, blocked by the tall buildings ahead.
We walked for what felt like two hours. Passing the same places more than once. I was already getting sick of his company.
Bakugo didn’t say anything. Just stayed quiet.
Suddenly, a kid shouted, “D-Dynamight?”
We looked back, and there was a little brat pointing at the blond, his mother beside him with a crooked smile.
“Who are you?” the kid asked, now pointing at me.
My face tensed. I wasn’t recognized as a hero yet. Still… it hurt.
“Don’t stare, honey. Let’s go.” the mother said loudly, pulling her son’s arm and walking away.
Bakugo scoffed, and that’s when I noticed one of the image problems Jeanist had mentioned. Even civilians were afraid of him.
In my case, people didn’t even know who I was. How could they trust someone like that to save their life?
We kept walking as if that interaction had never happened.
It was late afternoon. We were standing on top of a rooftop, watching the streets slowly fill with workers leaving their jobs.
“Lift your shoulders more.” he muttered out of nowhere.
I looked at him, confused.
“You walk with your shoulders slouched. No wonder no one respects you.”
My eyes widened, and I scoffed.
“You’ve got to be kidding me…” I whispered more to myself. “You’ve got issues, Dynamight.” I said, stepping away from the edge and heading in the opposite direction. I glanced at him one more time. “And you wouldn’t die if you were more altruistic, fucking jerk.” I spat.
“Watch it, Voltage.” he stood up, his body towering, casting a shadow over my face. “Ever since you got here, you won’t stop talking back with that ridiculous attitude.”
“I’m top 5. You should respect me.” he continued, teeth clenched. “Do you really think people will listen to some nobody ranked 57th? Please. No one even knows you exist!”
His name slipped out of my mouth like we were still kids back at UA, like we weren’t strangers again.
“You used to be all sweet, always wanting the best for everyone. Looks like that attitude sailed away a long time ago. Got tired of lying all the fucking time?”
“Shut the fuck up.” My ears were ringing. Why was this happening out of nowhere?
“And don’t even get me started…Before it was ‘stop swearing, Bakugou,’ now look at you. Getting real smart with that filthy mouth, huh? Didn’t your parents teach you any manners?”
I slapped him across the face on instinct.
My eyes widened. My hand trembled in the air as I took a few steps back.
“Never talk about my fucking parents again.”
He brought his hand to his now-reddened cheek, looking confused.
I jumped off the edge of the building, firing a streak of light, my body launching forward, flying through the air past the streetlights, feeling electricity course through me.
But I didn’t know if it was the electricity… or the adrenaline from slapping Katsuki Bakugo.
When I got back to the agency, I clocked out immediately. I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Took me long enough to find you!” a familiar voice echoed through the hall, making me turn slowly. I already knew who it was. “You hungry? Me, Mina, and Sero are going to grab something at a bakery nearby. You in?” Kirishima gave me a light punch on the shoulder. I grunted, already irritated.
“I’ve got stuff to do.” I muttered, adjusting my backpack.
“Aw, come on, bro… it’s been a while since we hung out…” he pouted, grabbing my arm and shaking it.
“We went out last Saturday, idiot.” I half-glared at his dramatics.
“Aww… but that was sooo long ago…” he teased.
Mina showed up a moment later, waving at us.
“You coming, Bakubro?” she asked.
Before I could answer, Kirishima cut in.
“He is! He told me he’s starving!”
“I didn’t say shit!” But it was already too late. Kirishima was dragging me toward the nearest subway station.
Instead of arguing, I just sighed.
Maybe this was better… so I could… clear my mind.
I adjusted my backpack again out of habit. Inside the subway, my mind kept bringing up that incident making me think about her.
That shine in her eyes… the flushed cheeks, the smile… that voice that tried to motivate anyone who crossed her path…
Now she was cold. Calculated. Sharp-tongued.
Though… I’m not one to talk.
“You okay?” Sero asked beside me, slightly concerned.
“I asked you something…” he murmured. “What’s that redness on your face?”
“Oh… right… What's up with that?” Kirishima joined in.
“None of your business.” I turned away so they’d stop asking.
“Alright…” the redhead shrugged.
The bakery was pretty modest, but the display case was full of beautiful pastries and sweets. Even though I wasn’t that hungry, my mouth started watering.
We walked in, and Mina was already talking to an older woman decorating a cake at the counter.
“Mrs. Yamada! How are you?” she leaned on the counter, smiling.
“Oh! Dear Mina!” the woman turned, smiling back. “How’s your mother? It’s been a while since she stopped by…”
“That’s true… she’s been busy, but I’ll tell her to come visit you, okay?”
“Hahaha! Alright, dear! I’ll have someone take your order! Please, make yourselves comfortable!”
She disappeared into the kitchen while Kirishima grabbed a table near the window.
“I’m going to the bathroom.” I said, not waiting for a response.
I washed my hands and came back to find a waitress already at our table.
“Is that all?” she asked.
“We’ve still got our Bakubro!” Kirishima looked at me, signaling me to hurry up.
“I’ll have an americano and-”
The owner of the red mark on my face.
“…anything else, sir?” her voice was quieter now, her eyes glued to her notepad. She looked like she wanted to disappear, but something in my chest still burned from back then.
“Wait! You work at our agency, right?” Mina asked out of nowhere, pointing at her.
“Y-yeah… I’m Voltage…” she scratched the back of her neck with her pen.
“What’s your name going to be?” she asked, fiddling with my trading cards.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, irritated. “And be careful with those…they’re not toys!” I snatched my most valuable All Might card from her hands.
“Aish… relax, Blasty. I know they’re not toys…I collect them too, okay?” she stuck her tongue out at me.
“And I’m talking about hero names… have you picked yours yet?”
“Easy. Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight.”
She stared at me, then burst out laughing.
That laugh… one of my favorite sounds. Not that anyone needs to know.
“Sorry… it’s just… are you serious?”
“Of course! I’ve thought about it a lot!”
“And you? Since you’re so smart… what’s your name, idiot?”
We stayed quiet for a few minutes, just the sound of her flipping through the cards.
She looked at me curiously.
“It’s not… terrible.” I smirked.
The perfect name for a perfect girl.
Voltage. Electric pressure. Always buzzing. Full of energy.
That was the last time I saw her truly smile.
Now, the name didn’t even fit anymore.
Her face looked tired. Dark circles under her eyes. The glow she had was gone. Her flushed cheeks were too.
What the hell happened to her?
Mina kept talking to her, asking how long she’d been working there, what her quirk was, despite the obvious name.
They didn't remember her. She had stayed at UA for only two weeks before disappearing.
“Sorry we didn’t recognize you before…” Sero apologized.
“It’s okay, really! I get that you’re all busy…” she said.
“No way! We should’ve known who works there…” Kirishima added.
But it still wasn’t the same.
“Well, I’ll go get your order…” she bowed slightly and headed to the kitchen.
“Man… I feel bad for not recognizing her…” Mina sighed. “She seems nice.”
“Tell me about it… not very manly…” Kirishima huffed.
“And she’s beautiful…” Sero sighed.
Kirishima lightly punched his shoulder..
“But yeah… what about you, Bakubro? Did you know her before?”
I swallowed hard, staring at my hand on the table.
They didn’t need to know everything. They didn't need to know she was my first friend at UA. The first to actually see me.
After a while, our order arrived. I hadn’t even had the chance to order my food. I’d lost my appetite. I’d just eat some spicy instant noodles at home later.
Before leaving the bakery, I let my eyes scan the place, searching for her.
She was sitting at one of the tables, probably on her break. A laptop open, headphones plugged in. Focused.
And for a second, time stopped. The noise of the people inside being muffled by the faint sound of the rain outside.
Then she lifted her shoulders slightly.
Reminding me of the harsh words I’d thrown at her earlier.
I turned away and followed the three idiots out.
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