@pearlyharmonyy WAIT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR ME??? STOP I LOVE YOU🥹🥹😭😭
Okay so wait let me explain.. I am and I'm not and I also am at the same time. As in I am back but not here, somewhere else. I'm coming back, but on a new account! I felt like this one was too idk disorganised, old and honestly didnt portray me the way i actually am or who I've shifted to become
I also wanted to return because GOD I MISSED YOUU AND SHIFTBLR AND MY OOMFIES I GENUINLY FELT GRIEF not being on tumblr and because I've change quite a bit, shifted a couple of times, ditched it and came back. And now I wanna return as the me I've always dreamt of being but no longer have to cus im lowkey her now. So yeah😛 follow me on my new identity if you wanna keep ip with meeeee
I was ‘here’ and then I wasn’t. There was no bright light or sound or scary blah blah blah. I think a lot of people mistake anxiety and fear in the beginning of their attempt as some sort of shifting symptom, when in reality that has nothing to do with it. Think of this post as me declaring that shifting symptoms are not actually real at all.
I mean, believe what you want obviously, but if you think of it through a different, more analytical lens of ourselves, you might realize that everything is made up by you and your head.
That’s not to say that you can’t shift if you feel these things. You can shift however you want! But a lot of people tend to heavily focus on these things and use them as the active engine / lifeblood of their shifting motivation, and then when they try again and nothing happens, they give up. What they fail to realize is that feeling zero physical symptoms is actually an amazing thing. It means your body no longer fears your power. You can relax now. You shift the easy way. Always.
When your heart starts beating rapidly or you start shaking like a chihuahua bestie I want you to take a deep fucking breath. You are hyperventilating. Don’t you ever notice how these symptoms come and then they’re gone in like 2 seconds? That is fear. Your brain knows that you are close to shifting and it is unleashing fear because deep down you’re probably scared to shift!
I used to experience these symptoms a lot. My heart would beat and it would hurt really bad, my body would tense up, I would hear loud screeching and have a terrible time. It's normal. Most people go through it, and no matter how bad it gets, it can never prevent you from shifting. Anxiety sucks really bad for some of else, but it cannot stop us from doing anything.
seeing shifting getting popular again just in different packaging is nice and all but it does piss me off a little. you all called us fucking crazy but the second there’s proof of ancient civilizations doing it, you turn around and love this new great idea. like we haven’t been saying this existed the whole fucking time. the same people who were shitting on shifters are now all excited about nikola tesla speaking of living years in his own mind and meeting people there that helped him with his work. are you serious? it’s almost like we were right the whole time.
゛⸝⸝ Im taking a minute off tumblr for a couple of weeks to avoid overconsuming, confusion, and doomscrolling instead of locking in for Christmas, but im not disappearing forever.
My hero has basically come to an end, I'll miss it forever whilst im in this reality but i'm going to experience it all over again the way I want to as an og artist/animation creator in my home reality and a hero in my mha reality.
you know what to do, baby girl. Hop off tumblr and put it into practice, we're all going home for christmas and the new year ˎˊ˗
7 SUCCESSFUL SHIFTS IN NOVEMBER SO FAR!! I knew this was my time 🙏🏼🙏🏼. Went from seeing nothing since January to hearing people from my DR speak, walk and literally stepping into a new reality when I opened my eyes. Yuppp. I KNOW THAT’S RIGHT
just woke up from a shift. lowkey fucked up and got called into aizawa’s office and then i just shifted back that night because wtf.
i’ll give a full story time soon bc i need to sleep first but tldr, aizawa heard me telling mina i didn’t want to go against him for final exams and misunderstood what i was saying.
Trying to settle in for a quiet cuddle session with your boyfriend almost always ends with the two of you rolling around on the living room floor, limbs tangled, and him smugly pinning you down. He always wins—unless you play dirty, which you’re fucking great at. And when you do, it pisses him off to no end.
But if you outright refuse to wrestle with him, he gets grumpy. Not the usual loud, explosive grumpy—no, this is sulky, dramatic, "I’m-gonna-make-you-regret-this" kind of grumpy. Because for him, it’s not just wrestling. It’s his way of being close to you. And if he can cuddle the way you like sometimes, why the hell can’t you do the same for him?
A perfect example of this…
You’re watching a movie, your head resting on his shoulder. He’s uncharacteristically quiet for a bit, but then he turns to you, smirking like he’s already planning something. "Oi, it’s been a while since you played with me," he says, his tone too casual to be innocent.
You sigh, bracing yourself. "Katsuki, I just wanna cuddle," you say, careful not to set him off.
His body stiffens, and he snaps his head to the side with an exaggerated scoff. "Tch. Why don’t you just fucking stab me in the chest, huh? Get it over with."
"Katsuki, don’t be dramatic," you reply, rolling your eyes. "You’re a grown man. Not everything’s gonna go your way, and you’ve gotta learn to deal with that."
He turns back to you, glaring now, and his crimson eyes narrow dangerously. "The fuck I don’t deal with it! I let you cuddle how you want sometimes, don’t I? But you can’t handle it when I wanna cuddle the way I want? That’s bullshit, and you fucking know it."
You blink, momentarily stunned by how seriously he’s taking this. "Katsuki…" you start, trying to tread carefully. "The way you cuddle is—"
"It’s what?" he cuts you off sharply, his tone daring you to finish the sentence.
You hesitate, and his glare intensifies. Then, he leans closer, his voice dropping into a low, mocking growl. "You know I don’t cry, right? Cryin’s for fucking extras. But if it’ll make you feel like shit, I’ll bawl my fucking eyes out right here."
"You wouldn’t fucking dare," you say, biting back a laugh.
His lips twitch, but the scowl stays firmly in place. "Try me," he snarls.
Despite yourself, you can’t help but grin. "Alright, fine," you mutter, already resigning yourself to your fate. "Well if you’re gonna be such a baby about it… fine. Let’s play. Katsuki."
The way his smug grin spreads across his face makes you want to hit him. But as you’re immediately hauled onto the floor, pinned before you can even blink, you can’t help but think… maybe it’s worth it. Almost.
Oh, fucking no you don’t,” you snap as Bakugo pins you down, his solid chest pressed against you like a goddamn wall. His sharp red eyes gleam, a cocky smirk plastered on his face, and his wild blonde hair tickles his forehead as he looks down at you like he’s already won.
You wriggle beneath him, trying to free your arm, but he just slams it back down to the floor, grinning like a damn maniac. "Nice try, dumbass," he says, his voice dripping with smugness.
“Wow, congratulations, Dynamight God,” you shoot back sarcastically, glaring up at him. “You must feel so fucking proud, pinning down a girl who obviously stands no chance against you. What a victory, huh?”
“Don’t be a shit,” he growls, though his grin doesn’t fade. “I’m teaching you self-defense so you don’t get snatched off the fucking street. You should be thanking me, idiot.”
While he’s rambling, you notice he’s distracted, his grip on your wrists loosening just slightly. Big mistake, Katsuki. With a burst of speed, you yank one arm free and shove your hand under his arm, tickling the hell out of his side.
His reaction is instant. “What the—shit! Fucking—stop that!” he yells, squirming violently as you dig your fingers in, tickling mercilessly. He’s laughing now, full-on cackling, his body jerking as he tries to escape. “You dirty fucking cheater!”
“You let your guard down, genius,” you tease, flipping the two of you over as he’s too busy laughing and swearing to stop you. Now straddling his hips, you grin wickedly as you lift his shirt, exposing his toned abs.
“Don’t you fucking dare—”
Oh, you dare. Your fingers start dancing across his stomach, scribbling over the firm ridges of his muscles. He’s thrashing now, laughing so hard it sounds like he’s choking, his swearing turning into a mess of garbled insults. “Fucking—stop! You’re—shit—dead!”
Finally, you stop, letting him catch his breath as he glares up at you with teary eyes.
You pause for a moment, and smirk down at him. "Well, babe, this was your idea. I’m just playing YOUR game."
Before you can react, he grabs your wrists, yanking you down against him. His lips crash against yours in a heated kiss, his lips are soft against yours, and his arms snake around you, holding you tight.
"I fucking love you, you evil little shit," he mutters against your lips, voice still slightly breathless but full of affection.
"Love you too, Katsuki," you reply, grinning as you press your forehead against his.
"Next time," he growls playfully, "I’m gonna wipe the floor with you."
"We’ll see about that," you say, already plotting your next move.
thinking abt katsuki who is still so whipped for his lover even after years. walk w me…
the apartment door clicks shut behind you both, softened by the precarious tower of containers stacked in your arms. cookies, brownies, something your mom insisted was “for later,” and a suspiciously heavy bag she shoved into katsuki’s hands before either of you could protest. you shoulder the door open, muttering under your breath as everything lands on the entryway table with a dull thud.
“christ— we came over for dinner, not a damn supply run,” katsuki grumbles, even though he hauled half of it without a single complaint.
you laugh, press a fleeting kiss to his cheek, and slip down the hall like a spark he can’t quite catch.
“ima change! don’t eat all the cookies!” you call, your voice echoing off the walls. he rolls his eyes, but the moment you disappear, he’s already lifting lids and inspecting each container with the suspicion of a man who pretends he isn’t curious.
it only takes a minute. maybe two. then your bedroom door creaks open, and he turns. and something in him simply… stutters.
you pad into the kitchen wearing soft shorts and a thin tank top, hair mussed, face bare, posture loose in the way people only soften within the safety of home. just you.
you. and if you weren’t a sight for sore eyes.
katsuki bakugo comes undone in a way he can’t hide. his palms find the counter behind him, fingers curling over the edge like he suddenly needs something to anchor him. his shoulders loosen. his jaw relaxes. his eyes dim into something molten, too warm, too full.
you catch the look and immediately shrink, laughter spilling out of you as you duck your head.
“stop lookin at me like that,” you whisper through a flustered giggle, hands lifting to shield your face as you instinctively step back.
he snorts, low and amused, a sound that hums like satisfaction in his chest. “can’t help it.” there’s a soft rustle of fabric, a single quiet footstep.
then a hand slides around your waist.
it hooks. tight. certain. and before you can react, he turns you, guiding your body into his with a firm pull. your breath leaves you in a startled gasp.
“katsuki—”
your hands are still covering your face when he brings his mouth to them. a single kiss. then another. then another one, slow and deliberate. he kisses your knuckles, your fingernails, the delicate skin of your wrists, each touch coaxing your fingers to loosen, to fall, to reveal you to him.
your arms hover for a moment, unsure, then instinct overtakes hesitation. they rise, slide around his neck and his breath catches sharply, like your touch just carved open something tender inside him.
he leans in, gaze dropping to your lips with a hunger softened by awe. “what is it?” you whisper, voice trembling.
he doesn’t speak right away. instead he lifts a hand to your jaw, thumb ghosting across your cheekbone, touch reverent, as if he’s afraid you’ll disappear if he presses too hard.
when he finally answers, it’s quiet, raw, stripped of anything proud or guarded.
“there’s no damn way you’re real,” he murmurs. his eyes trace you slowly, mapping every scar, every line, every small truth etched into your skin. his forehead comes to rest against yours, breaths mingling, and the beat of his heart presses through his chest like it’s seeking yours.
“you’re so fuckin’ pretty it hurts.”
your breath falters. your vision blurs for a moment, chest tightening under the weight of the words he almost never lets himself say.
and then he kisses you.
slow. deep. soo deep. a kiss that feels like he’s memorizing you from the inside out, like each second of contact imprints something permanent. his lips move with purpose, with hunger barley held tightly in check, with devotion he’s too stubborn to name.
you pull back eventually, breath unsteady, and the faint scoff that leaves him and vibrates against your mouth is downright greedy. “what’re you pullin away for?”
you laugh on an exhale, fingers curling against the back of his neck. “just… need to some air—”
he doesn’t let you finish.
“take mine,” he growls, pulling you back in with a grip that trembles just enough to betray how badly he wants you close. his mouth claims yours again, deeper this time, like he’s offering every breath he’s ever taken, like you’re the only thing in his world worth surrendering oxygen for.
and the way he holds you makes it feel like he means it. every word. every touch. every inch of closeness he fights to keep.
like he’s kissing the miracle of you.
l dont know how i feel abt dis cuz it’s highkey a scrap LMAOA felt like i forgot how to write halfway thru 🥹💔
𑣲 summary: secrets and awkwardness are whispered as you meet bakugo again.
𑣲 pairing: prohero!bakugo x idol fem!reader (usage of she/her)
𑣲 wc: 5.5k | 𑣲 tags: fluff | part 1 part 2
The weeks pass and nothing happens, really. You're busy with your schedules from filming variety shows, one of which takes you outside of Tokyo and into the quieter prefecture of Wakayama for several days to drilling the choreography of your upcoming song into muscle memory. You barely have time to think about Bakugo as the days fly by and your only saving grace is the few hours you have before bedtime to catch up on what he's doing. The news reports every single one of his hero work in great detail, keeping you up to date about the latest string of villain attacks tied to a larger criminal organisation and the counter force of pro heroes including Bakugo on the frontline. Some low-quality tabloid sources pops up on your feed every bow and then, posting crappy and invasive articles of all the places Bakugo was spotted at when he's not on duty. You often wonder if the pro hero is annoyed by how much the media digs into his private life, but your thoughts don't go very far when you fall asleep immediately afterwards, exhausted from an intensive schedule that continues day after day.
The golden chance arrives one day when your manager informs you of a PR photo shoot your company intends to do for a well-known clothing brand. It's nothing special or out of the ordinary, but you perk up immediately as soon as your manager mentions that it will be a collaboration between the idols of your company and various pro heroes. You think about Bakugo immediately, wondering if he will be one of the pro heroes and you grow dizzy from exhilaration at the possibility of meeting Bakugo again.
You and your fellow idols are called into a meeting the next day to meet with the representatives of the clothing brand. You find yourself sitting at the lengthy meeting table beside your fellow idols, all whom you recognise as the more popular ones. One has performed at Tokyo Dome with her concert tickets sold out in a flash and another is the key ambassador for a global luxury cosmetic brand. They barely cast you a glance as if you're someone not worth paying attention to and you rub your arms, hugging yourself weakly. The gap between you and your fellow idols stretches like a gaping maw, your self-esteem tipping over the edge and you start doubting that you're worthy to be part of this PR photo shoot.
The representatives of the clothing brand starts introducing themselves in clipped and polite voices before a slideshow is pulled up on the big screen about their upcoming autumn collection. You listen as attentively as you can, absorbing all the information about the concept and themes the representatives want to portray in this particular photo shoot.
"We want to portray a homely domestic setting." A representative explains as he taps on his pointer, pulling up the next slide that reveals the look book for the photo shoot—oversized shirts, high rise boyfriend jeans and padded coats, all in warm and neutral colours. "Something that brings out the charm of autumn. We're also looking for good chemistry between the idols and pro heroes."
Good chemistry. That thought alone makes your stomach flip as your curl your fingers into fists underneath the table, heart racing. The next slide shows up and you chew on the inside of your cheek to prevent the scream from escaping your mouth as you stare at the lineup for the pro heroes.
"We've decided to pick these five pro heroes." The representative says, gesturing at the screen. "Lemillion, Shoto, Red Riot, Suneater and Dynamight."
It's happening. It's really happening. You're going to meet Bakugo again. You chew profusely on your cheek, growing light-headed at this precious encounter and you suddenly cannot wait anymore, impatient for the day of the photo shoot to arrive. As if wanting to torture you even further, the pairings for the photo shoot are revealed and you find your picture right next to Bakugo's.
You could scream out of raw joy right there and then, except you don't because the idol sitting next to you leans back in her seat with a slight frown and whispers to other idol on her other side, her words shattering your moment of respite.
"She is with Dynamight?" Her whisper is soft yet scathing and scalding, only loud enough for the two of you to hear. Your heart lurches and skips a cruel beat as you force yourself to keep your head up high. Your euphoria is dashed immediately, like a flame of a candle cruelly put out and you can't formulate any other thoughts, those four words that echoes relentlessly taking up all of your head space instead.
The rest of the briefing passes by in a blurry haze and finally comes to an end. You clutch at your quietly thudding heart and rise from your seat, bowing slightly at everyone else before you leave with your manager, two pairs of judgemental eyes digging straight into your back like a wicked blade. Your footsteps are rushed, eliciting your manager to ask you if you're okay in a concerned voice.
"I'm fine." You force out a cheerful smile, one that you've always worn. Your manager doesn't look convinced, but drops the matter regardless and informs you of the next item on your schedule. You nod your head, mentally preparing for the gruelling day ahead as the image of Bakugo in your head grows faint.
⋆˚౨ৎ ⋆.˚
The day of the photo shoot is finally here. You arrive at the photo studio slightly past the appointed time, held up by your previous schedules that saw you waking up at an ungodly hour. Patting your messy hair and flattening your clothes, you hurry into the studio with your manager in tow and bow frantically, apologising for being late. The photographer waves off your apology with a bright beam, saying that it's alright. The studio is massive with dozens of staff in black preparing the equipment. There's a common rest area for the models across the studio where you spot Bakugo standing alongside the other pro heroes and you freeze immediately, nervousness pooling in your gut. You debate about what to say to him or whether you should even approach him at all, staring at how he looks bored out of his mind as Red Riot talks enthusiastically while Shoto nods his head repeatedly. He's wearing his usual large black jacket with the high collar pulled up over his cheeks, blonde locks pushed back just enough to reveal his forehead and you short-circuit at the sight.
He looks very huggable, like a big teddy bear.
You shake your head, nearly slapping yourself at these thoughts you're having. You clutch at your chest, staring at the floor as you mutter a pep talk to yourself. Inhaling a deep breath to steady your nerves, you lift your head and prepare to approach Bakugo but the sight of your fellow idol cosying up to him roots you in your spot. She's saying something you can't hear, batting perfectly long and wavy eyelashes at him as she ignores the other heroes. You recognise her as the one who sat next to you during the meeting, the one who whispered those words in a vitriolic voice, and the most popular and successful idol by far.
Your limbs turn gooey and weak, suddenly exhausted and devastated as shame overwhelms you. You want to bail on this photo shoot, go home and bury yourself underneath your blankets for you are not someone that can meet Bakugo's standard and you repeat this fact repeatedly like a prayer as you start to turn around and find somewhere quiet to sit, preferably away from Bakugo. However, you don't get very far when Bakugo lock eyes with you and his face lights up immediately like a Christmas tree. He shrugs your fellow idol off like a she's a piece of useless paper and immediately strides towards you, that imposing figure of his blocking out everyone else. His gaze is trained on you the entire time as if studying the depths of your complicated soul before he stops beside you, evidently struggling to keep the smile from bursting on his lips.
Bakugo brushes his hair and pulls down the collar of his jacket with fidgety hands, allowing you to witness the smile blooming on his lips. "Uh, hey." He murmurs with a tilt of his head, cheeks flushing strawberry pink as he towers over you. "Was waiting for you the whole damned time."
Your heart almost stops beating as your cheeks match the pink shade of his, eyes darting away out of embarrassment as Bakugo laughs, a quiet laugh full of nothing but fondness. "Really?" You ask softly, finally gathering whatever remains of your courage to look up at him and he gazes at you like you're the most precious gem in the entire world. The staff remain oblivious to your secret interactions with Bakugo, cacophony of voices swirling around the studio, but you can't seem to hear what they're saying at all with Bakugo taking up all of your vision and attention.
"Really." Bakugo echoes, that tiny smile of his growing even more. He is about to say something else when the stilettos click like a warning as the other idol steps up to the both of you, lips pursued into a thin line. She stares at you, with perfect wavy curls and perfect body posture, her thick black eyeliner only intensifying her intimidating look that reminds you of how she is everything you are not. Bakugo's mood changes immediately as he scowls, folding his arms across his thick chest.
The other idol shifts her gaze towards Bakugo, lips curving into a faux saccharine smile so sickly sweet your insides twist maddeningly. "Dynamight, it would be better if you're partnered with me for the photo shoot instead." She sing-songs in a high pitched voice dripping with venom, attempting to put her perfectly manicured nails onto Bakugo's shoulder. Bakugo dodges expertly and shifts closer towards you instead, a low growl bubbling in his chest radiating silent fury.
"No." He deadpans and turns towards you, gaze softening immediately.
"But I'm—"
"I don't care who you are." Bakugo cuts her off in a low voice, disinterest and fury all melded into one and barely casting her a glance. "I'm her partner. Nothing is changing that."
Your heart grows warm and fuzzy at Bakugo calling you his partner but again, it is quickly diminished as the other idol shoots you the most toxic glare you have ever received in your entire life, her jaw clenched tightly. You instinctively scoot towards Bakugo for security which he notices immediately. He raises a hand and gently places his fingertips on your back with a feathery touch, not intense enough to be intrusive of your personal space but light enough to reassure you. Before the other idol can open her mouth to say something, her name is called alongside Lemillion and she is forced to leave, muttering furiously under her breath as she goes.
You finally release the breath you've been holding as Bakugo turns to you again. "You okay?" He questions, gaze sweeping over your face and studying you closely.
"Yea." You murmur, fiddling with your fingers. "Sorry about that."
"That wasn't even your fault?" Bakugo shoots back in a quiet voice without missing a beat, head tilted sideways. You look up at him, wanting to say something about how that interaction only happened because of your sunken reputation that cannot compare to hers but you just blink instead, mind blank. With how early you woke up today and how hectic your previous schedule was, you're more worn out than usual as you struggle to keep yourself awake. The topic of that interaction is dropped as Bakugo chuckles softly at your sleepy gaze, his hand brushing past yours for a brief moment which you barely register because the soothing heat he radiates feels so natural. "Sleepy?" He murmurs.
"A little bit." You confess with a soft sigh. "Is it that obvious?"
"You can barely keep your eyes open." Bakugo replies teasingly, eyes drifting towards the other side of the studio where the dressing rooms are. "You should rest then. We're the third pair to do the photo shoot so there's some time for you to rest."
"But I want to talk to you." You whisper without even thinking. Bakugo grows wide-eyed, his composure breaking for several seconds before he smiles softly at you and gently brushes a stray lock of hair out of your eyes.
"I want to talk to you too." Bakugo confesses breathlessly, his voice slightly shaky as he gazes at you so profoundly. Your heart soars until it's on cloud nine and you would have buried your face into his chest if not for the abundance of staff surrounding the two of you. "But you won't be able to focus on me if you're exhausted and I want your fullest attention."
Your fingertips tingle, heart skipping so many necessary beats as you can only stare at Bakugo, chest growing tight. You nod your head wordlessly, dizzy, and Bakugo starts guiding you towards the dressing rooms. You notice how both of your names are written on a sign that hangs on the door of the dressing room.
"We're sharing a dressing room?" You mumble as Bakugo answers you with a light hum, opening the door for you. It's mostly empty apart from your manager who raises an eyebrow at you and two other staff who are arranging the coordinated outfits for the two of you on a rack. You plop onto the couch at the very back of the dressing room, planting your head against the wall and sinking into the comfy leather with a quiet sigh. The couch dips beside you as Bakugo sits down as well, leaving a respectable gap wedged in between the two of you. You're overwhelmed with fatigue immediately, your eyes already fluttering shut from the losing war.
"Don't go anywhere." You whisper in a scratchy voice, unable to comprehend the effect of your words at the moment as darkness engulfs you whole. "Stay with…me…"
"I'm not going anywhere." Bakugo murmurs, watching how you fall asleep the moment you close your eyes shut. He stares at you for a full minute, admiring your facial features and your ability to sleep perfectly straight without ruining your makeup. His heart wrenches at the thought that falling asleep in between schedules must be commonplace for you given how intense the workload of an idol can be sometimes. He rises from the couch and grabs your coat off the coat rack before draping it over your body, tucking you in, before he sits back on the couch and pulls out his phone. The other two staff exit the dressing room, leaving you, Bakugo and your manager in the dressing room.
"You were there at her fan meet, weren't you?" Your manager finally says casually, leaning back against the chair. Bakugo glances at your manager, swallowing before he nods his head warily.
"Are you going to tell me to stay away from her? Because I'm her fan?" Bakugo asks in a low voice before the surprise settles when your manager shakes their head instead.
"Quite the opposite, actually. I think it would be good for her if you stuck around." Your manager says before their gaze softens considerably. "You look at her like you actually care for who she is instead of what she is."
Bakugo falls silent, unable to say another word as he stares at your manager who offers him a cordial smile and rises from the chair, exiting the dressing room. He contemplates deeply over those words that struck a core heartstrings, eyebrows pinched into a light frown, before he leans back into the couch and turns his head towards you.
He gazes at you, at your sleeping face. Even with such thick layers of foundation and makeup, your eye bags are still as prominent as day, dark patches underneath your eyes resembling a gaping ravine and a testament of all the hard work you've put into your idol career. Though the both of you are public figures, you're completely different from him, being held to such high standards of needing to be perfect and he cannot fathom the amount of stress you suffer as a result of such unrealistic standards. Bakugo has seen your tears up close and heard the desperation in your voice when you posted that recording, so raw and vulnerable he couldn't bring himself to listen to that recording again even if it was his favourite song because you were hurting. In a moment of heart-wrenched panic he took that photo and typed that caption in hopes that it would reach you without any regard for what his fan base might think.
Katsuki Bakugo cares about who you actually are.
Bakugo unlocks his phone and starts scrolling through social media mindlessly before he searches up your name again, reading comments and opinions from all corners of the internet. Bakugo's jaw tightens as he reads those caustic comments criticising you, calling you lazy and unoriginal and unpopular which hurts him more than he would like to admit. Those people could never see underneath that practiced smile of yours, how you're just another human working yourself to the bone. He closes social media, unable to read anymore lest he starts blasting those people on his own account and spends several minutes simmering in his own boiling rage, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turn white.
Perhaps its just his delusion, but Bakugo swears on his own heart that gazing at you is enough to soothe his turbulent emotions and he isn't quite sure why.
You wake up after awhile, the quick power nap doing wonders to reinvigorate you as you blink your eyes, startled by the presence of a warm layer over you. You shift in your spot, looking down to find your coat draped over you and you wonder where it came from, fairly certain that you passed out the moment you sat down on the couch. Bakugo makes a sound beside you and you turn your head to glance at him.
"Hi again." Bakugo murmurs in a quiet voice even if it's only the two of you in the dressing room, his head propped up on one hand with a small smile. "Did you rest well?"
You grin at him and nod your head, now back to your usual peppy self after that well-needed power nap as you throw your arms into the air for a good stretch with a sound leaving your lips that resembles a mix of a yawn and a purr.
"You stretch like a cat." Bakugo murmurs, unable to take his eyes off you and committing every little movement of yours to memory. You pause, tilting your head at him which reminds Bakugo of how cats tilt their head and he swears his heart is out to get him from how fast it is beating.
"Is that like a compliment or…" You trail off with a shy giggle, readjusting your coat that remains draped over you. Bakugo clutches at his chest, the tips of his ears turning red as he struggles to get the words lodged in his throat out.
"It's cute." Bakugo blurts out, cheeks now impossibly red like a tomato and his embarrassment only fuels him further as he drops the next few words without missing a beat. "Y-You're cute."
"… Oh!" You finally manage to exclaim after a few seconds, clapping both hands onto your cheeks which is searing hot to the touch. Your ribcage actually hurts from how fast your heart is racing, a squeal dancing on the tip of your tongue as you mind spins round and round on an endless carousel at how Katsuki Bakugo called you cute. It's not your first time being called cute, not when your fans drown you in plenty of varying compliments, but why does it feel so different when it's coming from him? You're too giddy to think straight as you gaze at Bakugo. "Is that a flirt?"
"I mean," Bakugo pauses and he grows even redder if humanly possible, chewing furiously on the inside of his cheek. "If you're not comfortable with it then you can think of it as a compliment."
You fiddle with your fingers, staring down at your hands on your lap. "I-I wouldn't be opposed to… it." You stammer quietly before patting your cheeks furiously in an attempt to cool it down. You barely get a second to compose yourself when Bakugo leans in towards you, not at the point of invading your personal space but close enough till you can smell charcoal and cologne on him, both dizzying and masculine. Your breath dies in your throat as you swallow nervously and without even thinking, you turn your head to look at Bakugo.
You realise just how doomed you are when your brain turns in a mushy lump, incapable of forming any thoughts from the close proximity. Any closer and you're certain that your lips will touch his and for a few seconds of irrationality, you think you wouldn't mind kissing him right here and now at all.
Bakugo gazes at you, his soft crimson eyes swirling with a genuine fondness. "Then let me flirt with you properly." He whispers in a low gravelly voice, his heat lingering on your skin. "Do you know the phrase, 'the eyes are the windows to the soul'?"
You stare, speechless for a few seconds before realising that Bakugo needs you to answer in order to continue. You nod your head, inching backwards slightly out of instinct because he is just so awfully close to you, a tingle zipping down your spine.
"You're beautiful." Bakugo murmurs simply with a content smile. "Both on the inside and outside."
Butterflies flutter in your stomach. A soothing warmth blooms in your chest. A tender smile sprouts on your lips. As if he cast an alluring spell on you with his words, you're completely enamoured by the man named Katsuki Bakugo. Your gaze sinks lower onto his lips and he notices, eliciting an earthly chuckle out of him.
"You're staring." Bakugo whispers in a low velvety voice which is a stark contrast to the image he shows to the public. You indulge blissfully in the fact that you're probably one of the few people that will ever hear Bakugo whisper like this. "You like it that much?"
"Can you blame me though?" Your voice is low and sultry. "You're irresistible."
Bakugo grins, pride and joy all mixed into one before he pulls back and you blink, startled by the absence of his heat. "I'd do it, but I don't want to do it here." Bakugo says softly as he gestures to the dressing room the two of you have been left alone in. "I want to do it somewhere nice. Somewhere special."
You blink again and smile, nodding your head in agreement. The two of you sit in silence, suddenly feeling awkward around each other before you decide to start up the conversation by starting with the most basic topic possible.
"So, how's work?" You ask him, stretching your legs out and fixing your posture out of habit. "I heard there's quite a few villain attacks lately."
"It's rough." Bakugo answers, scrunching up his face. "We've got most of the situation under control but there's still some stragglers to take care of before we move onto the main target."
"You got this." You smile and tap him on the shoulder lightly. "Good luck, hero."
Bakugo blushes red again like a tomato ripe for the picking as he rubs his nape awkwardly. "You keep me going, yknow." He confesses shyly in an honest voice. "If it's you saying those words, I think I can do anything and everything."
"Then I'll continue to cheer you on and you'll continue to power up. We'll become an unstoppable duo!" You pump your fist into the air excitedly and Bakugo laughs warmly. You look at him and grin mischievously. "I didn't think you were someone that was capable of flirting."
"Me neither." Bakugo pauses before he groans lightly, slight embarrassment in his voice. "To be honest I… I practiced. In front of the mirror."
"You practiced?!" You echo incredulously before bursting into a fit of giggles because the idea of Bakugo repeating that line to his own reflection is more than hilarious. A pained groan leaves Bakugo's lips before he buries his face into his hands, turning away from you and awaiting his death from sheer embarrassment. Your giggles soon stop as you take both of his wrists into your small hands, pulling them away from his face and forcing him to look at you.
"It's okay." You smile reassuringly, just like how you told him that you didn't mind his sweaty palms at your fan sign that day. "I find it cute. You're cute too."
Bakugo's crimson eyes widens, quivering slightly before he breaks into a smile. "You're going to be the death of me one day." He says softly.
You giggle again, a twinkling sound that has Bakugo's heart skipping several beats. There isn't another word to be said as someone knocks on the door of the dressing room before it swivels open, revealing your manager whose gaze flickers between the two of you.
"You two are up next." Your manager says simply as various staff pile into the room, breaking the intimate privacy Bakugo and you once shared. "Get changed, touch up your makeup and be ready for the photo shoot."
"Okay!" You answer with a pep in your voice as you rise from the couch, putting your coat to one side. Stylists swarm towards you at once, holding up the outfit intended for you and you fall back into the familiar routine you've done dozen of times. Your manager ushers Bakugo out of the dressing room so you can change into the outfit. You do it fast, an expert at swapping between various outfits by now. The stylists fix your hair and adjust your clothing while makeup artists paint light strokes on your face with brushes. Once you're done, you step out of the dressing room and meet eyes with Bakugo outside who is waiting for his turn.
"Wow." Bakugo says breathlessly, gaze looking at you up and down with little hearts in his eyes. "You look very nice."
"Thank you." You grin happily, turning left and right to give him a better look. "It's super comfy."
Bakugo nods his head, still staring at you before the stylists call him into the dressing room. He blinks and pushes himself off the wall he was leaning against and smiles at you. "Wait for me." He murmurs before dipping into the dressing room and closing the door behind him.
You pad towards the photo shoot area, stepping into the limelight underneath all the white spotlights that shine down at you. The photographer nods his head approvingly before he starts giving you succinct instructions on the feelings he wants you to convey. You listen attentively, nodding your head as you try out various angles and poses at the photographer's behest.
The photographer's grin widens even further. "I can already tell she's the one." He proclaims, nodding at the other staff. In the corner of your vision, your manager's lips curve into a proud smile and your confidence multiplies exponentially. The photographer exclaims suddenly, eyes darting towards the direction of the dressing room and your gaze follows before your heart skips a crucial beat.
Bakugo fiddles with his collar, blonde hair styled just slightly to retain most of its original spiky look. The makeup artists didn't put too much makeup on him either, his natural sharp features shining through. The autumn inspired outfit he wears makes him twice as handsome and you have a very selfish thought of how he's absolute boyfriend material in that outfit. He looks at you, how you're staring star-struck at him and he smiles shyly again before ambling towards you.
"You look very handsome." You smile, raising a hand to fix the lapel of his coat. Bakugo doesn't even get to react when the click of a camera goes off together with a flash of bright light. The two of you turn your heads simultaneously to see the photographer already holding his camera up high, visibly elated at the results.
"That's it!" He yells eagerly, already moving about frantically with the camera to capture different angles. He bumps into the table beside him and sends paper scattering but he doesn't seem to care as his assistants scramble to pick up the papers. "Oh my, the two of you are a perfect fit! Okay, just act natural and continue talking to each other!"
Bakugo turns to you and laughs lightly. "Did you hear that?" He whispers, soft enough only for you to hear as he tucks a strand of hair behind your ear. The camera clicks repeatedly again, fading into white noise in the back of your head as all of your attention remains wholly devoted to Bakugo. "He said we're a perfect fit."
"Maybe we're meant to be." You joke lightly before tilting your head at him again. You decide to ask him the question that has been lingering into a part of your head ever since. "That photo you posted on Instagram… was the caption an answer for me?"
"Yea." Bakugo's fingertips brushes against yours softly and the photographer goes crazy with a holler, camera clicking relentlessly. "I was really hoping it reached you."
"It did." You whisper soothingly. "Thank you, Bakugo."
"You're welcome." Bakugo's eyes curve into soft crescents.
"Perfect, perfect!" The photographer interrupts your tender moment with a flurry of intense clapping. "This should be done in no time with how perfect the two of you are, heights and expressions and everything. I've never seen such remarkable chemistry like yours before and I've been in this industry for fifteen over years! Okay, let's do some other poses. How about the two of you press your backs to each other and look in different directions?"
With the photographer's overly enthusiastic directing, the two of you go through an abundance of poses, some of which has intense skin contact and extreme close proximity. You giggle every time Bakugo draws in closer to you, shy and flustered beyond relief and you can tell he's feeling the same exact as you are, cheeks blooming red. It never gets old, the little spark on your fingertips and the fireworks exploding in your chest.
You're definitely crushing on Katsuki Bakugo hard.
The photo shoot eventually comes to an end, much to your disappoint which you try not to show as you're ushered towards the dressing room to get changed for your next schedule. The photographer rambles excitedly as he clicks away on the computer, pointing at the photos of you and Bakugo as he exclaims at how good the photos are. You emerge from the dressing room after a few minutes, already ready for your next schedule when your manager stops you and nudges you towards Bakugo who is taking off his coat in a quiet corner with a knowing smile.
You blink before you break into a wide beam and skip towards Bakugo, his eyes automatically drifting towards you.
"Do you want to exchange social medias?" You ask softly and Bakugo's face lights up again. He nods his head eagerly, already pulling out his phone and opening his social media with quivering hands.
"Been waiting for this my whole damned life." Bakugo mutters and you laugh, searching up his username to follow him. He follows you back and you grow giddy at the sight of that notification you're definitely going to save a screenshot of. You pocket your phone and smile at him.
"I gotta go now." You say quietly, eyes darting towards your manager who is waiting for you patiently. "Thank you for today. It made me really happy."
"I'm glad." Bakugo murmurs in response before he extends his hand towards you just like how you offered him a handshake at your fan sign. "Talk to you soon?"
You grin and grasp his hand with yours, realising just how much you've missed his calloused and warm hands. "Talk to you soon." You echo before pulling your hand back reluctantly. You gaze at him for one last time, etching every one of his features into a memory sealed in amber because you don't know when you might see him again before turning around and walking towards your manager, clutching at your heart. This time, there aren't any judgemental eyes, only a soft pair of vermilion eyes overflowing with affection lingering on your back.
You exit the studio with your manager, gripping your phone tightly like it is your sole lifeline. You climb into the backseat, put on your seatbelt and open your social media instantly, staring at that notification of Bakugo following you back and you squeal internally, giggling as quietly as you can.
"Manager~" You call out happily, prompting your manager to look at you as they start up the van. "Shall we get a coffee before my next schedule? My treat!"
a/n: this took an embarrassingly long time. work has been hectic unfortunately. even then, i still don't think i did this part justice. if you'd like to be added or removed from the taglist, please comment. thank you for all of the support thus far.
taglist: @stuck-in-a-ditch @drogonfruitzen @eyesforbkg @httpskyuko @icemintwin @stopeatread @cielito--lindo @determinednature @astrasoleil @tanyamarkova @dreamydaredevil @keyllsbk
