i need the people of 'bakugou x reader' to speak... do you guys like an orv-alternate universe? but no- no characters from ORV, only reader, bakugou, and some bnha characters present. I'll simply borrow the universe of orv, and I will also not follow the orv story sooo no spoilers for anyone!!
i am cooking something, i've been simmering it for DAYS
lmfaoooo i'm already having fun with whatever this is
🪼 — bkg. k x f!reader | quirkless-college au | fluff | headcanons
★ College bf!Katsuki who is in his third year of college, taking up engineering. He’s also been part of the soccer team since his freshman year, and now that he’s a junior, he has become the team’s captain.
★ College bf!Katsuki who is two years older than you. He’s also your neighbor, so you’ve known each other for years. And since you’re younger than him, his friends— aside from Izuku, don’t know much about you and your relationship with Katsuki. They only get to know you once you start attending the same university as them, finally putting a face to the person Katsuki had been talking about sometimes.
★ College bf!Katsuki who has been insanely popular with the ladies from different departments since his freshman year. They’d slip love letters into his locker or sometimes personally hand him an energy drink after practice. Unfortunately for them, Katsuki flatly rejected every confession, saying there was already someone else.
★ College bf!Katsuki who somehow created a rumor during his second year, about him having a girlfriend because he kept rejecting everyone who confessed to him. What they don’t know is that he wanted you to become his girlfriend so badly— he just never had the courage to ask you out.
★ College bf!Katsuki who finally got the courage to ask you out on a date right before you entered college. So when the first day of classes came— with him as a junior and you as a freshman, people were surprised to see Katsuki walking around campus with a girl without his usual grumpy expression.
★ College bf!Katsuki who never actually tells anyone he has a girlfriend. People figure it out by watching how he interacts with you— they just connect the dots. They finally understand why Katsuki has been rejecting those girls all this time. And whenever his friends or classmates ask him if the two of you are dating, he just answers with a casual “yeah.”
★ College bf!Katsuki who insists on walking you to your class while carrying your bag if it gets too heavy with your laptop and books. Sometimes, he’s even seen holding a small paper bag from a nearby cafe with your favorite pastry inside. Him walking you to class would occasionally make him late by three minutes, but none of his teachers care since he’s always at the top of the class anyway.
★ College bf!Katsuki who intimidates any guy who gets too close or flirty with you. He quietly hovers behind you whenever someone is taking too much of your time, making them know you’re taken by subtly resting a hand on your lower back or around your waist.
★ College bf!Katsuki who isn’t a big fan of PDA but gladly holds your hand or rests an arm over your shoulders when you walk together. And if the hallway is getting too crowded, he’ll walk in front of you, holding your hand as he guides you through the crowd.
★ College bf!Katsuki who knows all the quiet spots around campus. He’ll take you there whenever you both have an hour or two between classes just to relax together. It’s also where he can hug you, hold you, or steal a kiss without a lot of people watching,
★ College bf!Katsuki who waits for your classes to end every day. Since he has a soccer practice after his own classes, he can’t walk you home, so he waits until you’re dismissed just to say goodbye properly before heading to practice.
★ College bf!Katsuki who sometimes asks you to wait for him until practice is over. Usually, you’ll sit on a nearby bench doing your school or watching the team scrimmage. And during water breaks, he’ll jog over and sit beside you under the excuse of taking a drink— where he purposely left his water bottle with you just so he could come over.
★ College bf!Katsuki who tutors you in the subjects you’re not good at. It’s common knowledge that Katsuki is incredibly smart, constantly ranking in the top three of the engineering department. Although, what’s surprising is how good he is at teaching. He’ll take you back to his dorm and patiently teach you through every problem until you understand it. He’ll then leave you completely flustered when he compliments you every now and then— “good girl.”
★ College bf!Katsuki who takes you out to your favorite diners whenever you ace a major quiz or an exam, saying it’s a celebration for surviving and studying hard. And if you try to tell him he doesn’t have to “reward” you every time, he’ll just brush it off and say you earned it.
★ College bf!Katsuki who sometimes sits in on your classes whenever he has free time. He’s not there to disrupt the class or distract you from learning— he just sits beside you, quietly working on his own assignments or projects.
★ College bf!Katsuki who knows your entire schedule by heart even though you never gave him a copy of it. He just memorized it after walking you to class so many times. So whenever he hears that one of your professors canceled a lecture, he’ll immediately text you to ‘meet me at the spot.’
★ College bf!Katsuki who takes you to every one of his soccer matches. He insists that you wear his away-jersey and makes sure you sit near his team’s bench. And before every match officially begins, he’ll come over to collect what he calls his “good luck kiss.”
★ College bf!Katsuki who also takes you to every after-party whenever his team wins. He stays by your side most of the night, but if you insist on him having fun with his friends, he’ll make sure you’re always within his line of sight, making sure you’re safe and enjoying with your girl friends.
★ College bf!Katsuki who always has a black hair tie around his left wrist because you kept forgetting yours. He knows how annoyed you get whenever strands of hair fall into your face while you’re trying to take notes, or when the heat and sweat makes your hair stick to the back of your neck. And just when you start looking for your hair tie, you remember you forgot it again for the nth time. Without fail, Katsuki will give you the one from his wrist.
★ College bf!Katsuki who makes bento boxes for the both of you. The two of you always eat together at your favorite lunch spot. 80% of the time, Katsuki cooks something spicy. At first, you could only handle the milder version of his cooking, but now your spice tolerance is waaay higher. What you don’t know is that he’s been increasing the spice level just a little everyday.
🪼 — bkg. k x reader | fantasy au | fluff | festive spirit
Synopsis: Katsuki as a wanderer, a citizen of the Kingdom of Drakkon— the man who captured your heart through dancing with you beneath the festive lantern lights.
As dusk settles over the Kingdom of Novela, you stroll through its bustling streets with your gaze drifting over the lively crowd whose laughter fills the air before settling on the town square, where music is heard along as both locals and travelers join in the fun of dancing. Beyond them are rows of stalls which display an array of local delicacies and their tempting aromas mingling in with the festive air, enticing everyone into celebration. After all, the kingdom is in its second week of the month-long festival celebrating its 300th anniversary of independence, welcoming not only the neighboring kingdoms, but also the people from far-away lands in the continent.
Curiosity draws you closer to the town square where musicians are playing lively tunes you can dance along. At the center, you can see couples swaying to the music. Some are clearly lovers based on their devoted gazes on each other, while others appear to be strangers who got caught up in the moment— strangers who were swept into the crowd by a charming dancer, like you are about to.
A few dancers notice you watching and they can see your face— brimming with joy, and extending their hands in invitation for you to join them. You then take a step forward before remembering that you have to keep a low profile while roaming the streets, especially with the festival in full swing. You glance at your… friend, Ochako, silently asking if it’s all right for you to indulge.
“Go on.” Ochako says with an encouraging smile before gesturing to the tall man beside her, “Sir— err… Tenya is here.”
With Ochako’s permission, a bright smile spreads across your face before you turn back to the dancers waiting for you. While laughing softly, Ochako gives you a gentle push forward. You reach out for the dancer’s hands, who then pulls you into the lively crowd.
Before you know it, you’re swept into the encircling couples twirling around the town square. Cheerful melodies fill the evening air as the dancer guides your steps with ease, as though she’s done this a hundred times. Little by little, you can feel yourself letting go of your worries and just losing yourself in dancing and music.
You laugh as the dancer spins you around with your joined hands, and the world around you turns into a blurry mess of lantern lights and radiant faces. Just as you regain your footing, she playfully nudges your hand, sending you twirling to another waiting partner. This time, it’s a man— likely a commoner, judging by his simple attire that blends in with the locals of Novela. He catches you by instinct, surprise flickering across his face at the sudden closeness of a woman.
Although, unlike everyone in the crowd, he appears awkward and stiff. With brows furrowing as if he would rather be somewhere else. The noise seems to irritate him, making it obvious he never intended to join in the festivities. He was probably dragged into the crowd or pushed forward by his playful friends. He parts his lips, as if to protest, but the words didn’t leave his tongue the moment his eyes meet yours. The annoyance fades from his face, replaced by a gentle— much softer expression as he simply looks at you.
In front of him, you have the most radiant face he has ever seen, with your eyes sparkling under the lantern lights, laughing so genuinely that it seems to brighten everything around you— including him. You smile so brightly at him, as if you’ve known him for years despite only meeting three minutes ago. Somehow, he doesn’t want to be the one taking that happiness away from you.
You don’t even look at him properly— still swept up in the festive spirit, you lace your fingers through his as you beam up at him, gently pulling him along as you let the melody dictate your moves. For a moment, he was taken aback by how natural you take his hands. And instead of pulling away, he lets you lead him, quietly following your sways. Your movements began to match with each other, as though you’ve danced together countless of times.
After almost ten minutes of dancing, the upbeat melody gradually fades into something softer— more intimate. The lively twirls come to an end as everyone naturally slows their pace to match the music. You and your partner do the same, letting go of each other’s hands, you gently slide your hands to rest around his neck, while his hands settle at your waist.
Only then you are able to look at him properly. Your eyes drift from his spiky ash-blond hair, down to his striking carmine eyes that are already fixed on yours. His gaze is so deep, it feels as if he’s looking straight to your soul, leaving you completely starstruck.
He looks at you for a moment before glancing towards the bustling square behind you. Though the music has softened, the laughter and endless chatter is still there, making it difficult to have a peaceful conversation. When his gaze returns to yours, he leans in and whispers low enough for you to hear.
“Do you… want to get out of here?”
You don’t utter a response, only offering him a warm smile before nodding softly. He then gently slips his hands into yours, guiding you away from the festive lights as you two weave in through the crowd. He doesn’t lead you too far— only to a bench beneath a lantern at the edge of the square. From there, you can still see the couples dancing around the fountain, a crowd you two had been a part of not too long ago. It is close enough to still feel the festive aura, but also far enough for you two to enjoy a quiet conversation.
As both of you settle on a bench overlooking the crowd, neither of you speaks. The waves of cool evening air wash over the two of you, never expecting a moment of silence with a stranger under the moonlight to feel so comfortable.
The comfortable silence lingers for a little while before you turn to him, finally uttering your first words, “So… what do you think of the celebration?”
The man glances towards the busy square before answering, “Not bad.”
“Not bad?” You let out a small laugh. “This is the grandest celebration Novela has held in years.”
He slightly tilts his head and raises an eyebrow, “Is that so?”
“Of course!” You reply to him, looking fondly at the crowd. “This year marks the kingdom’s 300th anniversary of independence. The royal family spared no expense, inviting everyone to celebrate. They opened the festivities to visitors all over the continent.”
“That explains the crowds.”
“It’ll only get busier this weekend.” You say with a grin.
“Hm.”
“You’ll still be here this weekend… right?”
His carmine eyes meet yours once again, “I’ll be here all week.”
For reasons you can’t comprehend, his answer makes you smile. Somehow, the thought of seeing him again sometime this week fills you with excitement.
“What made you dance in the square, anyway? When I first bumped into you, I’d have sworn you’d rather be anywhere else.”
A quiet scoff escapes him, “Some dunce-faced idiot shoved me. Before I could complain, one of the dancers got a hold of me.”
You can’t help but laugh at him, remembering his irritated face with furrowed eyebrows, “That’s unfortunate.”
He folds his arms against his chest, “Remind me to knock his teeth the next time I see him.”
Your laughter only grows louder. “And yet… you still danced with me.”
He glances at you from the corner of his eye before looking back toward the square.
“You looked like you were enjoying it too much.”
“I was.” You admit and let out a small smile, “It’s one of the happiest moments I’ve ever had.”
He looks at you and studies your expression for a while. “Happiest enough to follow a complete stranger out here?”
“You dragged me here.” You reply to him as you quirk your eyebrow.
“...Fair.” He lets out a quiet laugh, “I could have led you somewhere no one could find.”
“But you didn’t.” You gesture towards the people around you, music still drifting through the air, the festive lights surround the fountain square still in view. “We’re still right here.”
His eyes follow the direction of your hand. After a brief moment, he shakes his head and clicks his tongue. “You’re a strange one.”
“Well…” You then turn towards him, tilting your head softly, a playful smile tugging at your lips. “This strange one has asked for your name, kind sir.”
“Katsuki.” He replies, almost amused at the way you refer to yourself.
“Sir Katsuki, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
With those words, you hold up your right hand towards him, your pinky out and raised— a small tradition in the Kingdom of Novela, one meant to symbolize trust between strangers meeting for the first time.
Yet instead of intertwining his pinky with yours as you expect, Katsuki reaches for your whole hand. His fingers gently wrap around yours, his grip is firm yet careful, and guides your hand to place it against his chest, right above where his heart is. He then slightly bows his head before uttering the words.
“May the honor of this meeting be one worth remembering.”
The gesture leaves you completely off guard. Heat rises to your face and the only thing you can focus on is his heartbeat, beating against your hand that still remains on his chest. You look at him and blink, still flustered by the difference in traditions.
“You—” Your voice wavers for a moment, then you clear your throat before trying again, “You’re not from here, are you?”
“Oh?” He tilts his head slightly, a hint of amusement flickers across his face. “What gave it away?”
“Your greeting. It isn’t the Novelan way.”
“You’re right about that.” A quiet chuckle escapes from him before confirming your suspicions. “I’m from Drakkon.”
“...Drakkon?” Your eyes widen slightly. “The land of the dragons?”
“Hm.”
“Then why travel all the way here?” You ask. “That’s quite a distance from Novela.”
One of his brows arches, “I thought everyone was invited to the festival?”
“You’re right, my apologies.”
He watches your reaction with a trace of amusement. “Teach me.”
“Teach you?”
“The Novelan way of greeting.”
“Oh!” A smile slowly forms on your face. “Very well, Sir Katsuki.”
You gently take his hand, guiding his pinky to intertwine with yours— a gesture passed down through generations of Novelans. With your pinkies linked, you meet his gaze.
“May this fortunate encounter be written on the pages of our lives.”
Katsuki’s gaze drifts down from your intertwined hands, back to your eyes, before repeating the phrase. “May this fortunate encounter be written on the pages of our lives.”
Before you can say anything else, a familiar voice screaming your name cuts through the air. You then turn toward the sound, and your eyes widen with a slight fear as you spot Ochako, running in through the crowd, with Tenya following close behind. Their expressions are a mixture of relief and concern.
“There you are!” Ochako calls out, slightly out of breath from the running. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
You let out a sheepish smile, lightly scratching your head.
“Sorry Ochako, I lost track of time.” You barely glance at Katsuki, and only now do you realize how long you’ve been sitting there with him.
Ochako follows your gaze, her eyes moving from you to the unfamiliar man beside you. A curious expression flickers across her face, but she says nothing… yet. Tenya, your other companion, straightens and offers Katsuki a respectful nod, acknowledging his presence.
Meanwhile, Katsuki remains quiet, his carmine eyes drifting towards your friends. His attention lingers on Tenya, who even beneath his cloak, still has an aura of undeniable strength. After his assessing glance, Katsuki comes to his own conclusion— Tenya must be a knight. He wonders, why is there a knight with you?
“Come on, let’s head back.” Ochako says gently before taking your hand. Before you can properly say your goodbyes to Katsuki, Ochako begins dragging you with her.
You then turn your back. Katsuki still remains where you left him, standing below the lantern’s glow. His eyes fix at you, as you walk farther away from him.
You offer him one last smile before your lips form into silent words.
“See you soon.”
Katsuki offers a faint smile, almost too subtle to notice, before giving you a small nod and turns away. His figure slowly disappears through the shadows of the night. Leaving you with hope that your paths might cross again.
On the second day of the week, you wander through the streets of Novela— taking in the surroundings from the colorful flower garlands hanging overhead to the beautifully decorated shops lining the streets. Somewhere along the way, you catch yourself wondering if you’ll ever see that traveler from Drakkon once again. After all, he did say he will be here the whole week.
As you round the corner of a busy street, your footsteps come to an abrupt halt. Standing among the commoners, quietly browsing a merchant’s stall filled with trinkets, is a familiar figure with ash-blond hair. As if sensing your presence, he lifts his head, and his carmine eyes find yours through the crowd.
You make your way toward Katsuki and once you’re close enough, you ask, “What are you getting?”
Katsuki glances down at the assortment of trinkets before looking back at you.
“Nothing.” He replies casually. “Just looking.”
You nod at him before asking, “Actually… Do you happen to know where the bookstore is?”
One of Katsuki’s eyebrows quirk upwards, “Aren’t you the local here?”
“I am.” You reply sheepishly, “But I rarely go out. Not familiar with stores.”
Katsuki just simply looks at you, as though wondering how someone could know so little about their own kingdom. He then clicks his tongue and turns away from the merchant stall.
“I’ll take you there.” Without waiting for your response, Katsuki begins walking. You quickly fall into step behind him, unable to hide the smile tugging at your lips.
After a few minutes of walking through the crowd, the two of you stop in front of a cozy little bookstore with its wooden sign creaking softly in the breeze. Before Katsuki can say a word, you grab his wrists and pull him inside. The familiar scent of parchment greets you, and a gentle smile paints your face.
Katsuki follows without resistance, watching as your eyes light up with excitement. He finds himself quietly observing you instead of the books around him. Amusement flickers across his face as he watches you skim the shelves, your fingers tracing the spines in search of an interesting book title. Before he realizes it, he’s smiling for the nth time since meeting you.
Your eyes wander from shelf to shelf until one title catches your attention. You pull the book out of the shelf and examine the cover. A grin slowly appears on your face.
“Oh? This looks interesting.”
“Hm?” Katsuki steps closer beside you, glancing over your shoulder.
You turn the cover toward him. How to Train Your Dragon.
The moment he reads the title, his eyebrows knit together. “What kind of nonsense is that?”
You let out a small laugh as you flip through the contents of the book. “Looks like a fantasy novel.”
“For children.” He corrects flatly.
“Do they have books like this in Drakkon?”
“We don’t need books on training dragons. We have instincts.”
You blink at him then slowly close the book. “That’s fascinating.”
Without a word, you make your way to the counter and purchase it. The shopkeeper wraps it neatly before handing it over. And instead of slipping it into your own bag, you hold it out towards Katsuki.
“Here.”
He stares first at the book, then at you, as if he is trying to understand what exactly you’re doing.
“What for?”
“Take it. You said Drakkon doesn’t have anything like it.”
“We have books. Educational books.” He lets out a scoff. “And you expect me to read a children’s book?”
“Why not?” You reply, pointing at a small stamp at the book cover. “It says here best seller.”
“Tch.” Katsuki just clicks his tongue but doesn’t argue more. He simply takes the book from your hand.
Watching Katsuki reluctantly accept your gift makes you smile, quietly amused at the thought of travel from the land of the dragons carrying around a children’s story about learning how to train one.
By the third evening of the week, the sun has long since set, leaving Novela bathed in the moonlight and the soft glow of lanterns scattered throughout the capital. Hoping to find a quieter spot away from the festive crowds, you wander slowly along the riverside path, the cool evening air brushing against your skin as you search for a place to light a lantern and send a wish to the stars.
You don’t expect to see anyone familiar. Yet as you make your way to a quieter area, a lone figure comes into view, leaning casually against the wooden railing overlooking the water, where countless lanterns sparkle in its reflection. Even from a distance, his spiky ash-blond hair is unmistakable, leading you to him once again.
“Katsuki?”
He turns around at the sound of his name, his eyes meeting yours immediately.
“You again?”
A smile finds its way onto your face as you walk closer, stopping just beside him and resting your forearms against the railing. Your eyes follow the lanterns floating into the night sky, carried by the wind. The sight never fails to captivate you despite how many times you’ve watched it through the years.
“Already done making your wish?”
His eyes drift from you, to the lantern by your hand, then to the lanterns overhead.
“What tradition is it this time?”
A chuckle escapes your lips. “Every lantern carries a wish.” You explain to Katsuki as you retrieve two blank slips of parchment from your drawstring pouch, offering one to him.
“We write whatever our hearts desire, put it inside the lantern, and let it fly into the night. It is said that a constellation watches over our dreams, reading every wish sent its way— and maybe, it may grant one.”
Katsuki studies the blank slip of parchment between his fingers before letting out a scoff. He looks upward to the sparkling lanterns already floating among the stars, sneering at the idea of this mysterious constellation the people of Novela believe in.
“So your kingdom leaves its wishes to some random thing in the sky?”
You just shake your head at his bluntness. “You don’t have to believe in it. Just hurry and write your wish.”
“How ridiculous.” He mutters under his breath. He then simply stares at the empty parchment, as if deciding if the tradition is worth indulging. Then with a deep and resigned sigh, he scribbles a few words, folds it neatly and places it back into your waiting hand.
You then tuck both wishes inside the lantern. Together, you kneel beside the small brazier and light up the lantern. As warm air slowly fills the paperwalls, the once-folded lantern gradually opens and comes to life between your hands.
For a moment, the two of you hold it together. Then with a shared glance and a gentle push, you release the lantern into the night. The lantern slowly rises in the sky, joining hundreds of others carrying different wishes. The two of you watch in silence as the lantern carrying your dreams drift farther and farther until it becomes impossible to tell which light was yours from the hundreds in the same endless sky.
“You should head home.”
“What?”
Katsuki tilts his head towards a direction. “Your knight’s been staring intensely this way for a while.”
Confusion crosses your face before turning to look at the direction he’s referring to. Not far from the lantern vendor is Tenya, his expression is composed, his eyes quietly following your every movement as if making sure you never leave his sight.
“Knight?” You repeat a little too squeaky. “Oh— he’s not a knight.”
The words come out in a flustered way, followed by an awkward laugh. Katsuki studies your face for a moment, but says nothing else. He isn’t particularly interested in prying, but he has dealt with people enough to recognize when someone is trying just a little too hard to sound convincing.
Whether Tenya is a knight or not— it isn’t really any of his business.
By the fourth evening of the week, the festival below is as lively as ever, but you aren’t there celebrating with the crowd. Instead, you’ve made your way to the observatory, not too far from the center of the town. With the clear view of the stars, it has become your favorite place to escape whenever life becomes too unbearing.
As you climb the final flight of stairs, you’re surprised to see that someone has already claimed your favorite spot. It’s that ash-blond again, looking quietly at the stars above, as if fate itself loves the idea of the two of you meeting.
“Katsuki.”
He glances over his shoulder before returning his attention to the stars.
“You again? I swear you’re following me.”
“Was that your lantern wish?” You let out a soft laugh as you move to stand beside him. “And what are you doing here? The observatory’s closed tonight."
“Yet you’re here.”
The words catch you off guard. “I know the owner.”
Katsuki just hums in acknowledgement, neither questioning nor doubting your answer.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Katsuki breaks the silence.
“So…” His gaze never leaving the stars, “Is there a Novelan lesson tonight?”
“Novelan lesson?”
“Everytime we meet, you end up teaching me another one of your kingdom’s traditions.”
“That’s true.” You let out a laugh, unable to argue with him. Thinking back, he isn’t wrong. You remember your first meeting— dancing under the moonlight in merriment, exchanging of Novelan and Drakkonian greetings, and the lighting of wish lanterns together.
“Well…” You start your lessons, “I suppose I could teach you about the stars.”
You step closer to the observatory’s terrace, gaze lifting towards the endless artwork of the stars spread across the night sky. You raise your hand to the sky, pointing towards a cluster of stars shaped like an open book.
“Do you see that constellation?” You ask softly, “The one that resembles a book.”
Katsuki follows the direction of your finger, he gives a small nod. “What about it?”
“We believe it was the very first constellation to awaken.” Your eyes never leave the stars as you speak. “We call it the Oldest Dream.”
Katsuki glances at you from the corner of his eye, silently urging you to go on.
“In Novela, we believe every wish entrusted to the stars eventually finds its way to the Oldest Dream. As it was believed that the world began because someone dreamed it into existence.” You continue softly, shuddering slightly as the cool evening breeze brushes past. “Every story in every life— none of it would exist if there’s no one dreaming for it.”
You go on as you tell Katsuki the tale of your favorite constellation. “So whenever we write wishes to the stars, we’re entrusting them to the one who first imagined this world, hoping it will help us achieve our own dreams.”
“And have your dreams ever come true?”
“Sometimes,” You reply to him. “And sometimes… perhaps it simply wasn’t looking my way.” Your eyes lift once more to the constellation above.
“They say the Oldest Dream watches over all of us. It couldn’t possibly keep its eyes on me all the time.”
Katsuki falls silent beside you, his gaze lingering on the constellation. He has never been one for fairy tales or legends, yet hearing you speak of the Oldest Dream leaves him strangely fascinated with it. For the first time that night, he wonders if there truly is someone watching from beyond the stars— someone who can see him standing beside you, then he hopes it hears his dream to remain by your side for many chapters yet to come.
“...Have dinner with me tomorrow.”
You turn to him, momentarily stunned by the sudden invitation. And yet, a smile blooms across your face, similar to that one night the two of you met. “I’d like that.”
As much as you love the idea of having dinner with Katsuki, you can’t help but feel a little bittersweet. Perhaps it’s because, deep down, Katsuki will eventually return to Drakkon, the distant kingdom he calls home. Tomorrow may be the last evening the two of you have together before your paths diverge. If that’s the case, then you’d rather spend it getting to know him a little better.
The fifth evening of the week arrives sooner than you’d hope. As the last rays of sunlight disappear, the town begins to glow in warm lights and lanterns once more— the celebration never seems to end. You are dressed elegantly, though not extravagant enough to draw the attention of the wrong people, just pretty enough for a date.
As you make your way to the heart of the square, your eyes immediately land on a familiar figure waiting by the fountain. Katsuki stands with his hands tucked casually into his pockets, dressed far more neatly than he ever was. Dressed in an attire that blends effortlessly with the people of Novela. Perhaps that is why you mistook him for a local when you first met.
Katsuki spots you through the crowd and immediately makes his way toward you, a hint of impatience evident in his stride. When he finally stops before you, he simply looks at you, his gaze softening as you greet him with a smile. It lingers for a moment longer than he intends, realizing the gaze, he clicks his tongue and looks away.
“You don’t look too bad.”
“Thank you, Katsuki.” Warmth blooms across your cheeks, and your smile grows just a little brighter. “You look rather dashing yourself.”
Katsuki just silently offers you his hand. You slip into it without hesitations, and the two of you leave the lively fountain behind. Together, you walk through the stores until an elegant building comes to view. Quill’s Dining Hall— one of the renowned establishments in Novela, frequented by nobles, merchants, scholars, and wealthy commoners alike.
As you settle into your seats, your eyes wander over the decorations in the hall. “Isn’t it expensive here?”
Katsuki barely glances at the menu before setting it aside, “It’s fine. I can afford it.”
“Are you a merchant?” You ask with an amused smile. “You certainly carry yourself like someone who was born into wealth.”
Katsuki just smirks in your way, “I’ll let you keep imagining.”
Before long, the two of you order dinner. Conversation flows as easily as it always does whenever you’re together, exchanging stories about Novela and Drakkon. And the meal passes far more quickly than either of you realizes, yet neither of you seems ready for the evening to end.
You two leave the warmth of the dining hall and wander towards a nearby park, where festival lights are strung from one post to another. Katsuki spots a bench beneath an ancient tree and leads you there. The two of you watch the night sky in silence, wondering which stars are listening to you tonight. You lean back against the bench, your eyes tracing the familiar constellations, but your thoughts are elsewhere entirely.
A deep sigh escapes your lips and Katsuki turns his head to look at you.
“Something on your mind?”
You hesitate on speaking, nervously pinching the folds of your dress. “I’m…” A small laugh escapes your lips, though it lacks your usual gleam. “I’m not sure if I could say it.”
“Just say it.”
Slowly, you turn to face Katsuki, and when your eyes meet, you can feel the blood rushing to your face. At last, you speak so softly that Katsuki could barely hear your words.
“Do you think it’s possible to fall in love… in only a week’s time?”
Your question catches Katsuki off guard, and he simply stares at you. The usual confidence in expression is replaced by quiet bewilderment. He opens his mouth, only to close it again, seeming to forget the words he was about to say. The silence from Katsuki makes your resolve begin to waver.
You let out a nervous laugh and quickly wave your hand in dismissal. “...Actually, forget I asked.”
Just as you’re about to turn away from him, Katsuki lets out a low chuckle.
“It’s possible.”
You raise a brow at him, silently prompting him to continue.
“It’s a short time… but it’s enough.” A faint smile tugs at the corner of his lips. “At least, that’s what I believe.”
Relief washes over you, and your face gleamed with happiness. The weight on your chest finally begins to lift. You gently take Katsuki’s hand into yours. “Somewhere between the dancing in the square to sharing lantern wishes and exchanging stories…” You pause, drawing in a deep breath. “I fell in love with you.”
“And when I realized it, I knew… I wanted you to lead my story with me.”
The world seems to fall silent as Katsuki studies your expression. Unexpectedly, Katsuki intertwines his fingers with yours, gripping it tightly, as though afraid you’ll slip away.
“I came to Novela for a reason.” His gaze softens in a way you’ve never seen before, “Instead, I found someone I’d rather not leave behind.”
Your eyes glisten beneath the lantern lights, but your breath catches when you hear Katsuki’s next words. “Come with me… Come to Drakkon.”
Your smile falters. Slowly, you slip your hand from his.
“...I can’t.”
A crease forms between Katsuki’s brows.
“Why?”
You lower your gaze to your lap, your fingers absentmindedly fidget the folds of your dress. “It’s not because I don’t want to…” You look at him with a bittersweet smile, “My father would never approve.”
Katsuki remains silent, patiently waiting.
“You’ve only known me as a wandering girl enjoying the festival.” You continue. “But my father expects me to marry someone of noble standing.”
“To him, I can’t marry a commoner… let alone a merchant.”
His carmine eyes narrow by just a fraction.
“Then I’ll give him what he wants.”
An inelegant snort escapes your lips. “You make it sound so simple.”
“It is.”
You smile softly at Katsuki, though you still shake your head at his confidence.
“If you want my father’s blessing…” You begin, teasing him by nudging gently, “Then buy yourself a noble title. Though, I doubt my father would settle for a baron or a viscount.”
You mean those words as an impossible joke. Deep down, you know even the wealthiest merchants would struggle to obtain a title higher than a viscount, no matter how much gold they possess.
Katsuki, however, doesn’t laugh. He simply looks at you. He looks at you with a softened gaze, a sight so tender, it makes your heart ache all the more. You meet his eyes, trying your best to return his faint smile. But the longer you look at him, the harder it is to hold yourself.
Before you realize it, warm tears slip down your cheeks and Katsuki’s expression immediately changes.
“Hey—”
He reaches up to cup your face with surprising gentleness. His thumbs brush against your cheeks, wiping away your tears. Despite the callouses earned from years of training, his touch is filled with tenderness.
“Don’t cry.”
His voice wavers slightly.
“It’ll be okay.”
You give him a small nod. The ache in your heart still remains, but the warmth from his hands reminds you that at least, for this moment, he is still here with you.
“Katsuki…”
He hums softly, waiting for you.
“Will you… kiss me?”
The corner of Katsuki’s lips lifts into a familiar smirk.
“Gladly.”
His hand remains against your cheeks as he leans in closer until the distance between you disappears. His soft lips meet yours in a tender kiss, reeling in the warmth of every memory you’ve shared underneath the Novelan skies.
When he finally pulls away, he gazes gently at you. He brushes away the stray strands of hair from your face, before slowly letting his fingers trail down, lightly brushing against your lips.
“Katsuki…”
You wonder if the Oldest Dream you hold so dearly is watching you at this very moment.
“I’ll see you soon.”
You hope the Oldest Dream takes pity on you tonight, because all you can do is dream of a future written beside Katsuki. Because if it’s not him, then you wouldn’t want to dream of anyone at all.
“Until our next chapter is written.”
The month-long celebration comes to its final evening— the night of the Royal Ball. Unlike the festivities held in the streets, this is an occasion reserved for the royals and nobles from different kingdoms across the continent. It is also an occasion where your mother, the queen, insists on parading you across the ballroom floor with eligible bachelors, all in hopes that you might finally agree to marry.
You stand before a full-length mirror, the girl who wandered Novela’s streets in a simple commoner’s outfit is gone. In her place stands the Royal Princess of Novel, dressed in an elegant white-and-gold ball gown— the colors reserved for the royal family. A tiara adorns your head, catching the light with every subtle movement, with jewels shimmering like stars.
A gentle knock interrupts your thoughts. “May I come in?”
The familiar voice brings a smile to your face. The door opens, and the Crown Prince— your brother, enters the room. He’s dressed much like you, in white-and-gold. A proud smile appears on his face as he takes in the sight of you.
“You look beautiful.”
“You look rather handsome as well, brother.”
With a quiet chuckle, he offers you his arm. You gladly take it and you two make your way through the palace corridors. At the top of the grand staircase are the King and Queen of Novela— your parents, patiently waiting for your arrival. As the herald announces the royal family, the four of you descend the staircase into the grand ballroom.
Seated upon the raised platform beside your family, you overlook the elegant ballroom as nobles and royalty from every kingdom continue to arrive. One by one, the herald announces each distinguished guest, with their titles echoing through the grand hall before they step forward to exchange formal greetings with your parents— a ceremony you’ve witnessed countless of times.
The herald strikes his staff against the floor for the nth time, announcing yet another noble.
“His Majesty, Katsuki Bakugou, Dragon King of Drakkon!”
The name Katsuki, followed by the word Drakkon, instantly pulls you from your thoughts. Your breath catches as the grand doors open once more.
A man draped in regal black and crimson ceremonial outfit steps into the ballroom, a cloak trimmed with pale fur resting upon his broad shoulders. An elegant-crafted crown, befitting the Dragon King, adorns his ash-blond hair. With every step he takes carries an unmistakable authority of a sovereign as a small entourage of Drakkon’s royal guards follow close behind, each bearing the kingdom’s dragon crest upon their shoulders.
Your heart pounds loudly against your chest.
Dragon… King?
Katsuki’s gaze finds yours for a brief moment. A faith smirk tugs at his lips, before he turns his attention back to your parents.
“Your Majesties.”
He places a fist over his heart, before inclining his head— a greeting in Drakkonian manner.
“Drakkon appreciates the invitation. I won’t burden you with endless pleasantries, but may the friendship between our kingdoms continue to flourish.”
“The honor is ours,” Your father replies with a gracious smile. “Drakkon has always been an ally of Novela. We are delighted to welcome Your Majesty to our kingdom.”
Your mother offers him a warm smile, “We trust your stay has been pleasant.”
“It has exceeded my expectations,” Katsuki answers.
Your father lets out a hearty laugh. “If there’s anything we can do to make Your Majesty’s visit even more memorable, you need only ask.”
“There is one thing.”
The entire hall falls silent as every eye follows Katsuki while he steps closer to the royal platform, stopping directly before you.
“If Her Royal Highness would honor me with a dance…” Even as he bows slightly, his eyes never leave yours, “...I believe my night will be complete.”
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
hi! hope you liked this royal princess x dragon king bakugou as much a i did!
let me know if you guys are interested in side stories from this fantasy setting :>
🪼 — bkg. k x f!reader | fantasy au | fluff | festive spirit
Synopsis: Katsuki as a wanderer, a citizen of the Kingdom of Drakkon— the man who captured your heart through dancing with you beneath the festive lantern lights.
As dusk settles over the Kingdom of Novela, you stroll through its bustling streets with your gaze drifting over the lively crowd whose laughter fills the air before settling on the town square, where music is heard along as both locals and travelers join in the fun of dancing. Beyond them are rows of stalls which display an array of local delicacies and their tempting aromas mingling in with the festive air, enticing everyone into celebration. After all, the kingdom is in its second week of the month-long festival celebrating its 300th anniversary of independence, welcoming not only the neighboring kingdoms, but also the people from far-away lands in the continent.
Curiosity draws you closer to the town square where musicians are playing lively tunes you can dance along. At the center, you can see couples swaying to the music. Some are clearly lovers based on their devoted gazes on each other, while others appear to be strangers who got caught up in the moment— strangers who were swept into the crowd by a charming dancer, like you are about to.
A few dancers notice you watching and they can see your face— brimming with joy, and extending their hands in invitation for you to join them. You then take a step forward before remembering that you have to keep a low profile while roaming the streets, especially with the festival in full swing. You glance at your… friend, Ochako, silently asking if it’s all right for you to indulge.
“Go on.” Ochako says with an encouraging smile before gesturing to the tall man beside her, “Sir— err… Tenya is here.”
With Ochako’s permission, a bright smile spreads across your face before you turn back to the dancers waiting for you. While laughing softly, Ochako gives you a gentle push forward. You reach out for the dancer’s hands, who then pulls you into the lively crowd.
Before you know it, you’re swept into the encircling couples twirling around the town square. Cheerful melodies fill the evening air as the dancer guides your steps with ease, as though she’s done this a hundred times. Little by little, you can feel yourself letting go of your worries and just losing yourself in dancing and music.
You laugh as the dancer spins you around with your joined hands, and the world around you turns into a blurry mess of lantern lights and radiant faces. Just as you regain your footing, she playfully nudges your hand, sending you twirling to another waiting partner. This time, it’s a man— likely a commoner, judging by his simple attire that blends in with the locals of Novela. He catches you by instinct, surprise flickering across his face at the sudden closeness of a woman.
Although, unlike everyone in the crowd, he appears awkward and stiff. With brows furrowing as if he would rather be somewhere else. The noise seems to irritate him, making it obvious he never intended to join in the festivities. He was probably dragged into the crowd or pushed forward by his playful friends. He parts his lips, as if to protest, but the words didn’t leave his tongue the moment his eyes meet yours. The annoyance fades from his face, replaced by a gentle— much softer expression as he simply looks at you.
In front of him, you have the most radiant face he has ever seen, with your eyes sparkling under the lantern lights, laughing so genuinely that it seems to brighten everything around you— including him. You smile so brightly at him, as if you’ve known him for years despite only meeting three minutes ago. Somehow, he doesn’t want to be the one taking that happiness away from you.
You don’t even look at him properly— still swept up in the festive spirit, you lace your fingers through his as you beam up at him, gently pulling him along as you let the melody dictate your moves. For a moment, he was taken aback by how natural you take his hands. And instead of pulling away, he lets you lead him, quietly following your sways. Your movements began to match with each other, as though you’ve danced together countless of times.
After almost ten minutes of dancing, the upbeat melody gradually fades into something softer— more intimate. The lively twirls come to an end as everyone naturally slows their pace to match the music. You and your partner do the same, letting go of each other’s hands, you gently slide your hands to rest around his neck, while his hands settle at your waist.
Only then you are able to look at him properly. Your eyes drift from his spiky ash-blond hair, down to his striking carmine eyes that are already fixed on yours. His gaze is so deep, it feels as if he’s looking straight to your soul, leaving you completely starstruck.
He looks at you for a moment before glancing towards the bustling square behind you. Though the music has softened, the laughter and endless chatter is still there, making it difficult to have a peaceful conversation. When his gaze returns to yours, he leans in and whispers low enough for you to hear.
“Do you… want to get out of here?”
You don’t utter a response, only offering him a warm smile before nodding softly. He then gently slips his hands into yours, guiding you away from the festive lights as you two weave in through the crowd. He doesn’t lead you too far— only to a bench beneath a lantern at the edge of the square. From there, you can still see the couples dancing around the fountain, a crowd you two had been a part of not too long ago. It is close enough to still feel the festive aura, but also far enough for you two to enjoy a quiet conversation.
As both of you settle on a bench overlooking the crowd, neither of you speaks. The waves of cool evening air wash over the two of you, never expecting a moment of silence with a stranger under the moonlight to feel so comfortable.
The comfortable silence lingers for a little while before you turn to him, finally uttering your first words, “So… what do you think of the celebration?”
The man glances towards the busy square before answering, “Not bad.”
“Not bad?” You let out a small laugh. “This is the grandest celebration Novela has held in years.”
He slightly tilts his head and raises an eyebrow, “Is that so?”
“Of course!” You reply to him, looking fondly at the crowd. “This year marks the kingdom’s 300th anniversary of independence. The royal family spared no expense, inviting everyone to celebrate. They opened the festivities to visitors all over the continent.”
“That explains the crowds.”
“It’ll only get busier this weekend.” You say with a grin.
“Hm.”
“You’ll still be here this weekend… right?”
His carmine eyes meet yours once again, “I’ll be here all week.”
For reasons you can’t comprehend, his answer makes you smile. Somehow, the thought of seeing him again sometime this week fills you with excitement.
“What made you dance in the square, anyway? When I first bumped into you, I’d have sworn you’d rather be anywhere else.”
A quiet scoff escapes him, “Some dunce-faced idiot shoved me. Before I could complain, one of the dancers got a hold of me.”
You can’t help but laugh at him, remembering his irritated face with furrowed eyebrows, “That’s unfortunate.”
He folds his arms against his chest, “Remind me to knock his teeth the next time I see him.”
Your laughter only grows louder. “And yet… you still danced with me.”
He glances at you from the corner of his eye before looking back toward the square.
“You looked like you were enjoying it too much.”
“I was.” You admit and let out a small smile, “It’s one of the happiest moments I’ve ever had.”
He looks at you and studies your expression for a while. “Happiest enough to follow a complete stranger out here?”
“You dragged me here.” You reply to him as you quirk your eyebrow.
“...Fair.” He lets out a quiet laugh, “I could have led you somewhere no one could find.”
“But you didn’t.” You gesture towards the people around you, music still drifting through the air, the festive lights surround the fountain square still in view. “We’re still right here.”
His eyes follow the direction of your hand. After a brief moment, he shakes his head and clicks his tongue. “You’re a strange one.”
“Well…” You then turn towards him, tilting your head softly, a playful smile tugging at your lips. “This strange one has asked for your name, kind sir.”
“Katsuki.” He replies, almost amused at the way you refer to yourself.
“Sir Katsuki, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
With those words, you hold up your right hand towards him, your pinky out and raised— a small tradition in the Kingdom of Novela, one meant to symbolize trust between strangers meeting for the first time.
Yet instead of intertwining his pinky with yours as you expect, Katsuki reaches for your whole hand. His fingers gently wrap around yours, his grip is firm yet careful, and guides your hand to place it against his chest, right above where his heart is. He then slightly bows his head before uttering the words.
“May the honor of this meeting be one worth remembering.”
The gesture leaves you completely off guard. Heat rises to your face and the only thing you can focus on is his heartbeat, beating against your hand that still remains on his chest. You look at him and blink, still flustered by the difference in traditions.
“You—” Your voice wavers for a moment, then you clear your throat before trying again, “You’re not from here, are you?”
“Oh?” He tilts his head slightly, a hint of amusement flickers across his face. “What gave it away?”
“Your greeting. It isn’t the Novelan way.”
“You’re right about that.” A quiet chuckle escapes from him before confirming your suspicions. “I’m from Drakkon.”
“...Drakkon?” Your eyes widen slightly. “The land of the dragons?”
“Hm.”
“Then why travel all the way here?” You ask. “That’s quite a distance from Novela.”
One of his brows arches, “I thought everyone was invited to the festival?”
“You’re right, my apologies.”
He watches your reaction with a trace of amusement. “Teach me.”
“Teach you?”
“The Novelan way of greeting.”
“Oh!” A smile slowly forms on your face. “Very well, Sir Katsuki.”
You gently take his hand, guiding his pinky to intertwine with yours— a gesture passed down through generations of Novelans. With your pinkies linked, you meet his gaze.
“May this fortunate encounter be written on the pages of our lives.”
Katsuki’s gaze drifts down from your intertwined hands, back to your eyes, before repeating the phrase. “May this fortunate encounter be written on the pages of our lives.”
Before you can say anything else, a familiar voice screaming your name cuts through the air. You then turn toward the sound, and your eyes widen with a slight fear as you spot Ochako, running in through the crowd, with Tenya following close behind. Their expressions are a mixture of relief and concern.
“There you are!” Ochako calls out, slightly out of breath from the running. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
You let out a sheepish smile, lightly scratching your head.
“Sorry Ochako, I lost track of time.” You barely glance at Katsuki, and only now do you realize how long you’ve been sitting there with him.
Ochako follows your gaze, her eyes moving from you to the unfamiliar man beside you. A curious expression flickers across her face, but she says nothing… yet. Tenya, your other companion, straightens and offers Katsuki a respectful nod, acknowledging his presence.
Meanwhile, Katsuki remains quiet, his carmine eyes drifting towards your friends. His attention lingers on Tenya, who even beneath his cloak, still has an aura of undeniable strength. After his assessing glance, Katsuki comes to his own conclusion— Tenya must be a knight. He wonders, why is there a knight with you?
“Come on, let’s head back.” Ochako says gently before taking your hand. Before you can properly say your goodbyes to Katsuki, Ochako begins dragging you with her.
You then turn your back. Katsuki still remains where you left him, standing below the lantern’s glow. His eyes fix at you, as you walk farther away from him.
You offer him one last smile before your lips form into silent words.
“See you soon.”
Katsuki offers a faint smile, almost too subtle to notice, before giving you a small nod and turns away. His figure slowly disappears through the shadows of the night. Leaving you with hope that your paths might cross again.
On the second day of the week, you wander through the streets of Novela— taking in the surroundings from the colorful flower garlands hanging overhead to the beautifully decorated shops lining the streets. Somewhere along the way, you catch yourself wondering if you’ll ever see that traveler from Drakkon once again. After all, he did say he will be here the whole week.
As you round the corner of a busy street, your footsteps come to an abrupt halt. Standing among the commoners, quietly browsing a merchant’s stall filled with trinkets, is a familiar figure with ash-blond hair. As if sensing your presence, he lifts his head, and his carmine eyes find yours through the crowd.
You make your way toward Katsuki and once you’re close enough, you ask, “What are you getting?”
Katsuki glances down at the assortment of trinkets before looking back at you.
“Nothing.” He replies casually. “Just looking.”
You nod at him before asking, “Actually… Do you happen to know where the bookstore is?”
One of Katsuki’s eyebrows quirk upwards, “Aren’t you the local here?”
“I am.” You reply sheepishly, “But I rarely go out. Not familiar with stores.”
Katsuki just simply looks at you, as though wondering how someone could know so little about their own kingdom. He then clicks his tongue and turns away from the merchant stall.
“I’ll take you there.” Without waiting for your response, Katsuki begins walking. You quickly fall into step behind him, unable to hide the smile tugging at your lips.
After a few minutes of walking through the crowd, the two of you stop in front of a cozy little bookstore with its wooden sign creaking softly in the breeze. Before Katsuki can say a word, you grab his wrists and pull him inside. The familiar scent of parchment greets you, and a gentle smile paints your face.
Katsuki follows without resistance, watching as your eyes light up with excitement. He finds himself quietly observing you instead of the books around him. Amusement flickers across his face as he watches you skim the shelves, your fingers tracing the spines in search of an interesting book title. Before he realizes it, he’s smiling for the nth time since meeting you.
Your eyes wander from shelf to shelf until one title catches your attention. You pull the book out of the shelf and examine the cover. A grin slowly appears on your face.
“Oh? This looks interesting.”
“Hm?” Katsuki steps closer beside you, glancing over your shoulder.
You turn the cover toward him. How to Train Your Dragon.
The moment he reads the title, his eyebrows knit together. “What kind of nonsense is that?”
You let out a small laugh as you flip through the contents of the book. “Looks like a fantasy novel.”
“For children.” He corrects flatly.
“Do they have books like this in Drakkon?”
“We don’t need books on training dragons. We have instincts.”
You blink at him then slowly close the book. “That’s fascinating.”
Without a word, you make your way to the counter and purchase it. The shopkeeper wraps it neatly before handing it over. And instead of slipping it into your own bag, you hold it out towards Katsuki.
“Here.”
He stares first at the book, then at you, as if he is trying to understand what exactly you’re doing.
“What for?”
“Take it. You said Drakkon doesn’t have anything like it.”
“We have books. Educational books.” He lets out a scoff. “And you expect me to read a children’s book?”
“Why not?” You reply, pointing at a small stamp at the book cover. “It says here best seller.”
“Tch.” Katsuki just clicks his tongue but doesn’t argue more. He simply takes the book from your hand.
Watching Katsuki reluctantly accept your gift makes you smile, quietly amused at the thought of travel from the land of the dragons carrying around a children’s story about learning how to train one.
By the third evening of the week, the sun has long since set, leaving Novela bathed in the moonlight and the soft glow of lanterns scattered throughout the capital. Hoping to find a quieter spot away from the festive crowds, you wander slowly along the riverside path, the cool evening air brushing against your skin as you search for a place to light a lantern and send a wish to the stars.
You don’t expect to see anyone familiar. Yet as you make your way to a quieter area, a lone figure comes into view, leaning casually against the wooden railing overlooking the water, where countless lanterns sparkle in its reflection. Even from a distance, his spiky ash-blond hair is unmistakable, leading you to him once again.
“Katsuki?”
He turns around at the sound of his name, his eyes meeting yours immediately.
“You again?”
A smile finds its way onto your face as you walk closer, stopping just beside him and resting your forearms against the railing. Your eyes follow the lanterns floating into the night sky, carried by the wind. The sight never fails to captivate you despite how many times you’ve watched it through the years.
“Already done making your wish?”
His eyes drift from you, to the lantern by your hand, then to the lanterns overhead.
“What tradition is it this time?”
A chuckle escapes your lips. “Every lantern carries a wish.” You explain to Katsuki as you retrieve two blank slips of parchment from your drawstring pouch, offering one to him.
“We write whatever our hearts desire, put it inside the lantern, and let it fly into the night. It is said that a constellation watches over our dreams, reading every wish sent its way— and maybe, it may grant one.”
Katsuki studies the blank slip of parchment between his fingers before letting out a scoff. He looks upward to the sparkling lanterns already floating among the stars, sneering at the idea of this mysterious constellation the people of Novela believe in.
“So your kingdom leaves its wishes to some random thing in the sky?”
You just shake your head at his bluntness. “You don’t have to believe in it. Just hurry and write your wish.”
“How ridiculous.” He mutters under his breath. He then simply stares at the empty parchment, as if deciding if the tradition is worth indulging. Then with a deep and resigned sigh, he scribbles a few words, folds it neatly and places it back into your waiting hand.
You then tuck both wishes inside the lantern. Together, you kneel beside the small brazier and light up the lantern. As warm air slowly fills the paperwalls, the once-folded lantern gradually opens and comes to life between your hands.
For a moment, the two of you hold it together. Then with a shared glance and a gentle push, you release the lantern into the night. The lantern slowly rises in the sky, joining hundreds of others carrying different wishes. The two of you watch in silence as the lantern carrying your dreams drift farther and farther until it becomes impossible to tell which light was yours from the hundreds in the same endless sky.
“You should head home.”
“What?”
Katsuki tilts his head towards a direction. “Your knight’s been staring intensely this way for a while.”
Confusion crosses your face before turning to look at the direction he’s referring to. Not far from the lantern vendor is Tenya, his expression is composed, his eyes quietly following your every movement as if making sure you never leave his sight.
“Knight?” You repeat a little too squeaky. “Oh— he’s not a knight.”
The words come out in a flustered way, followed by an awkward laugh. Katsuki studies your face for a moment, but says nothing else. He isn’t particularly interested in prying, but he has dealt with people enough to recognize when someone is trying just a little too hard to sound convincing.
Whether Tenya is a knight or not— it isn’t really any of his business.
By the fourth evening of the week, the festival below is as lively as ever, but you aren’t there celebrating with the crowd. Instead, you’ve made your way to the observatory, not too far from the center of the town. With the clear view of the stars, it has become your favorite place to escape whenever life becomes too unbearing.
As you climb the final flight of stairs, you’re surprised to see that someone has already claimed your favorite spot. It’s that ash-blond again, looking quietly at the stars above, as if fate itself loves the idea of the two of you meeting.
“Katsuki.”
He glances over his shoulder before returning his attention to the stars.
“You again? I swear you’re following me.”
“Was that your lantern wish?” You let out a soft laugh as you move to stand beside him. “And what are you doing here? The observatory’s closed tonight."
“Yet you’re here.”
The words catch you off guard. “I know the owner.”
Katsuki just hums in acknowledgement, neither questioning nor doubting your answer.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Katsuki breaks the silence.
“So…” His gaze never leaving the stars, “Is there a Novelan lesson tonight?”
“Novelan lesson?”
“Everytime we meet, you end up teaching me another one of your kingdom’s traditions.”
“That’s true.” You let out a laugh, unable to argue with him. Thinking back, he isn’t wrong. You remember your first meeting— dancing under the moonlight in merriment, exchanging of Novelan and Drakkonian greetings, and the lighting of wish lanterns together.
“Well…” You start your lessons, “I suppose I could teach you about the stars.”
You step closer to the observatory’s terrace, gaze lifting towards the endless artwork of the stars spread across the night sky. You raise your hand to the sky, pointing towards a cluster of stars shaped like an open book.
“Do you see that constellation?” You ask softly, “The one that resembles a book.”
Katsuki follows the direction of your finger, he gives a small nod. “What about it?”
“We believe it was the very first constellation to awaken.” Your eyes never leave the stars as you speak. “We call it the Oldest Dream.”
Katsuki glances at you from the corner of his eye, silently urging you to go on.
“In Novela, we believe every wish entrusted to the stars eventually finds its way to the Oldest Dream. As it was believed that the world began because someone dreamed it into existence.” You continue softly, shuddering slightly as the cool evening breeze brushes past. “Every story in every life— none of it would exist if there’s no one dreaming for it.”
You go on as you tell Katsuki the tale of your favorite constellation. “So whenever we write wishes to the stars, we’re entrusting them to the one who first imagined this world, hoping it will help us achieve our own dreams.”
“And have your dreams ever come true?”
“Sometimes,” You reply to him. “And sometimes… perhaps it simply wasn’t looking my way.” Your eyes lift once more to the constellation above.
“They say the Oldest Dream watches over all of us. It couldn’t possibly keep its eyes on me all the time.”
Katsuki falls silent beside you, his gaze lingering on the constellation. He has never been one for fairy tales or legends, yet hearing you speak of the Oldest Dream leaves him strangely fascinated with it. For the first time that night, he wonders if there truly is someone watching from beyond the stars— someone who can see him standing beside you, then he hopes it hears his dream to remain by your side for many chapters yet to come.
“...Have dinner with me tomorrow.”
You turn to him, momentarily stunned by the sudden invitation. And yet, a smile blooms across your face, similar to that one night the two of you met. “I’d like that.”
As much as you love the idea of having dinner with Katsuki, you can’t help but feel a little bittersweet. Perhaps it’s because, deep down, Katsuki will eventually return to Drakkon, the distant kingdom he calls home. Tomorrow may be the last evening the two of you have together before your paths diverge. If that’s the case, then you’d rather spend it getting to know him a little better.
The fifth evening of the week arrives sooner than you’d hope. As the last rays of sunlight disappear, the town begins to glow in warm lights and lanterns once more— the celebration never seems to end. You are dressed elegantly, though not extravagant enough to draw the attention of the wrong people, just pretty enough for a date.
As you make your way to the heart of the square, your eyes immediately land on a familiar figure waiting by the fountain. Katsuki stands with his hands tucked casually into his pockets, dressed far more neatly than he ever was. Dressed in an attire that blends effortlessly with the people of Novela. Perhaps that is why you mistook him for a local when you first met.
Katsuki spots you through the crowd and immediately makes his way toward you, a hint of impatience evident in his stride. When he finally stops before you, he simply looks at you, his gaze softening as you greet him with a smile. It lingers for a moment longer than he intends, realizing the gaze, he clicks his tongue and looks away.
“You don’t look too bad.”
“Thank you, Katsuki.” Warmth blooms across your cheeks, and your smile grows just a little brighter. “You look rather dashing yourself.”
Katsuki just silently offers you his hand. You slip into it without hesitations, and the two of you leave the lively fountain behind. Together, you walk through the stores until an elegant building comes to view. Quill’s Dining Hall— one of the renowned establishments in Novela, frequented by nobles, merchants, scholars, and wealthy commoners alike.
As you settle into your seats, your eyes wander over the decorations in the hall. “Isn’t it expensive here?”
Katsuki barely glances at the menu before setting it aside, “It’s fine. I can afford it.”
“Are you a merchant?” You ask with an amused smile. “You certainly carry yourself like someone who was born into wealth.”
Katsuki just smirks in your way, “I’ll let you keep imagining.”
Before long, the two of you order dinner. Conversation flows as easily as it always does whenever you’re together, exchanging stories about Novela and Drakkon. And the meal passes far more quickly than either of you realizes, yet neither of you seems ready for the evening to end.
You two leave the warmth of the dining hall and wander towards a nearby park, where festival lights are strung from one post to another. Katsuki spots a bench beneath an ancient tree and leads you there. The two of you watch the night sky in silence, wondering which stars are listening to you tonight. You lean back against the bench, your eyes tracing the familiar constellations, but your thoughts are elsewhere entirely.
A deep sigh escapes your lips and Katsuki turns his head to look at you.
“Something on your mind?”
You hesitate on speaking, nervously pinching the folds of your dress. “I’m…” A small laugh escapes your lips, though it lacks your usual gleam. “I’m not sure if I could say it.”
“Just say it.”
Slowly, you turn to face Katsuki, and when your eyes meet, you can feel the blood rushing to your face. At last, you speak so softly that Katsuki could barely hear your words.
“Do you think it’s possible to fall in love… in only a week’s time?”
Your question catches Katsuki off guard, and he simply stares at you. The usual confidence in expression is replaced by quiet bewilderment. He opens his mouth, only to close it again, seeming to forget the words he was about to say. The silence from Katsuki makes your resolve begin to waver.
You let out a nervous laugh and quickly wave your hand in dismissal. “...Actually, forget I asked.”
Just as you’re about to turn away from him, Katsuki lets out a low chuckle.
“It’s possible.”
You raise a brow at him, silently prompting him to continue.
“It’s a short time… but it’s enough.” A faint smile tugs at the corner of his lips. “At least, that’s what I believe.”
Relief washes over you, and your face gleamed with happiness. The weight on your chest finally begins to lift. You gently take Katsuki’s hand into yours. “Somewhere between the dancing in the square to sharing lantern wishes and exchanging stories…” You pause, drawing in a deep breath. “I fell in love with you.”
“And when I realized it, I knew… I wanted you to lead my story with me.”
The world seems to fall silent as Katsuki studies your expression. Unexpectedly, Katsuki intertwines his fingers with yours, gripping it tightly, as though afraid you’ll slip away.
“I came to Novela for a reason.” His gaze softens in a way you’ve never seen before, “Instead, I found someone I’d rather not leave behind.”
Your eyes glisten beneath the lantern lights, but your breath catches when you hear Katsuki’s next words. “Come with me… Come to Drakkon.”
Your smile falters. Slowly, you slip your hand from his.
“...I can’t.”
A crease forms between Katsuki’s brows.
“Why?”
You lower your gaze to your lap, your fingers absentmindedly fidget the folds of your dress. “It’s not because I don’t want to…” You look at him with a bittersweet smile, “My father would never approve.”
Katsuki remains silent, patiently waiting.
“You’ve only known me as a wandering girl enjoying the festival.” You continue. “But my father expects me to marry someone of noble standing.”
“To him, I can’t marry a commoner… let alone a merchant.”
His carmine eyes narrow by just a fraction.
“Then I’ll give him what he wants.”
An inelegant snort escapes your lips. “You make it sound so simple.”
“It is.”
You smile softly at Katsuki, though you still shake your head at his confidence.
“If you want my father’s blessing…” You begin, teasing him by nudging gently, “Then buy yourself a noble title. Though, I doubt my father would settle for a baron or a viscount.”
You mean those words as an impossible joke. Deep down, you know even the wealthiest merchants would struggle to obtain a title higher than a viscount, no matter how much gold they possess.
Katsuki, however, doesn’t laugh. He simply looks at you. He looks at you with a softened gaze, a sight so tender, it makes your heart ache all the more. You meet his eyes, trying your best to return his faint smile. But the longer you look at him, the harder it is to hold yourself.
Before you realize it, warm tears slip down your cheeks and Katsuki’s expression immediately changes.
“Hey—”
He reaches up to cup your face with surprising gentleness. His thumbs brush against your cheeks, wiping away your tears. Despite the callouses earned from years of training, his touch is filled with tenderness.
“Don’t cry.”
His voice wavers slightly.
“It’ll be okay.”
You give him a small nod. The ache in your heart still remains, but the warmth from his hands reminds you that at least, for this moment, he is still here with you.
“Katsuki…”
He hums softly, waiting for you.
“Will you… kiss me?”
The corner of Katsuki’s lips lifts into a familiar smirk.
“Gladly.”
His hand remains against your cheeks as he leans in closer until the distance between you disappears. His soft lips meet yours in a tender kiss, reeling in the warmth of every memory you’ve shared underneath the Novelan skies.
When he finally pulls away, he gazes gently at you. He brushes away the stray strands of hair from your face, before slowly letting his fingers trail down, lightly brushing against your lips.
“Katsuki…”
You wonder if the Oldest Dream you hold so dearly is watching you at this very moment.
“I’ll see you soon.”
You hope the Oldest Dream takes pity on you tonight, because all you can do is dream of a future written beside Katsuki. Because if it’s not him, then you wouldn’t want to dream of anyone at all.
“Until our next chapter is written.”
The month-long celebration comes to its final evening— the night of the Royal Ball. Unlike the festivities held in the streets, this is an occasion reserved for the royals and nobles from different kingdoms across the continent. It is also an occasion where your mother, the queen, insists on parading you across the ballroom floor with eligible bachelors, all in hopes that you might finally agree to marry.
You stand before a full-length mirror, the girl who wandered Novela’s streets in a simple commoner’s outfit is gone. In her place stands the Royal Princess of Novel, dressed in an elegant white-and-gold ball gown— the colors reserved for the royal family. A tiara adorns your head, catching the light with every subtle movement, with jewels shimmering like stars.
A gentle knock interrupts your thoughts. “May I come in?”
The familiar voice brings a smile to your face. The door opens, and the Crown Prince— your brother, enters the room. He’s dressed much like you, in white-and-gold. A proud smile appears on his face as he takes in the sight of you.
“You look beautiful.”
“You look rather handsome as well, brother.”
With a quiet chuckle, he offers you his arm. You gladly take it and you two make your way through the palace corridors. At the top of the grand staircase are the King and Queen of Novela— your parents, patiently waiting for your arrival. As the herald announces the royal family, the four of you descend the staircase into the grand ballroom.
Seated upon the raised platform beside your family, you overlook the elegant ballroom as nobles and royalty from every kingdom continue to arrive. One by one, the herald announces each distinguished guest, with their titles echoing through the grand hall before they step forward to exchange formal greetings with your parents— a ceremony you’ve witnessed countless of times.
The herald strikes his staff against the floor for the nth time, announcing yet another noble.
“His Majesty, Katsuki Bakugou, Dragon King of Drakkon!”
The name Katsuki, followed by the word Drakkon, instantly pulls you from your thoughts. Your breath catches as the grand doors open once more.
A man draped in regal black and crimson ceremonial outfit steps into the ballroom, a cloak trimmed with pale fur resting upon his broad shoulders. An elegant-crafted crown, befitting the Dragon King, adorns his ash-blond hair. With every step he takes carries an unmistakable authority of a sovereign as a small entourage of Drakkon’s royal guards follow close behind, each bearing the kingdom’s dragon crest upon their shoulders.
Your heart pounds loudly against your chest.
Dragon… King?
Katsuki’s gaze finds yours for a brief moment. A faith smirk tugs at his lips, before he turns his attention back to your parents.
“Your Majesties.”
He places a fist over his heart, before inclining his head— a greeting in Drakkonian manner.
“Drakkon appreciates the invitation. I won’t burden you with endless pleasantries, but may the friendship between our kingdoms continue to flourish.”
“The honor is ours,” Your father replies with a gracious smile. “Drakkon has always been an ally of Novela. We are delighted to welcome Your Majesty to our kingdom.”
Your mother offers him a warm smile, “We trust your stay has been pleasant.”
“It has exceeded my expectations,” Katsuki answers.
Your father lets out a hearty laugh. “If there’s anything we can do to make Your Majesty’s visit even more memorable, you need only ask.”
“There is one thing.”
The entire hall falls silent as every eye follows Katsuki while he steps closer to the royal platform, stopping directly before you.
“If Her Royal Highness would honor me with a dance…” Even as he bows slightly, his eyes never leave yours, “...I believe my night will be complete.”
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
hi! hope you liked this royal princess x dragon king bakugou as much a i did!
let me know if you guys are interested in side stories from this fantasy setting :>
🪼 — bkg. k x f!reader | gamer | prohero | online friendship | fluff
Synopsis: You never expected a random League of Legends match to become the place where you’d find comfort in someone you thought you’d never cross paths with. But after meeting your aggressive AD Carry, Ground Zero, your chaotic bot lane partnership slowly turns into late-night games, Discord calls, and conversations that go beyond the Rift.
“Speak, I’m listening.”
You’re internally panicking now, suddenly everything you want to say flies right out of your brain. Instead of thinking about work, or why you accepted the call in the first place, all you can focus on is the way he sounds.
He sounds like one of those ikemen male leads from shoujo anime, the kind of character who leans in close to the heroine to whisper sweet things that make your heart beat. You expected Ground Zero to be loud and snarky based on his impatient messages and aggressive in-game playstyle. But no— he actually sounds soft? Was it because he’s just speaking quietly into his mic?
“Hello to you too,” you finally greet him.
“Tch,” You hear him click his tongue before continuing, “Well?”
“Well what?”
You then hear a faint creak of his seat, assuming he’s shifting his position before replying, “You gonna tell me what’s got you actin’ all pissy today?”
“Excuse me? Pissy?!”
“You heard me.”
“I’m not pissy, I was just stressed.”
“Same shit.”
You click your tongue and let out a deep sigh, “There was a villain attack last week, pretty big one, I say.”
Ground Zero doesn’t say anything, he just listens and lets you continue the story. “At least three buildings collapsed. So… yeah, a lot happened and it’s gonna be a stressful upcoming week.”
“...You good?” You hear him ask.
“Me? Oh— I’m totally fine, if you’re worried.”
“I’m not worried.”
You can’t help but smile, “Sure, you’re not.”
He then asks you after a few seconds of silence, “If you’re not hurt, then what got you worried?”
“Well… I work in the engineering department.”
“...And?”
“Our department oversees these damages. We do the inspections, assessments, and conduct repairs after incidents like these. So once the heroes and rescuers are out, we get to work.”
“That’s why you’ve been buried in papers.”
“Hm,” You hum in agreement. “And because three buildings went down, it’s gonna be really hectic. Too many damage reports, contractors calling for updates, meetings here and everywhere.”
“Heh,” Ground Zero lets out an amused but quiet sound. “Sucks to be part of the clean-up.”
You shake your head while smiling to yourself, “You heroes only care about kicking villains.”
“What can I say?” He replies smugly, “I love fighting.”
“And I looove cleaning up after people like you.”
Your reply earns a chuckle from him, “Sounds like a pain in the ass.”
“It really is.” You then let out a deep sigh, “Might have to lie low with gaming for the next two weeks.”
“Guess I’m stuck with some shitty supports for the next couple of games then.” He snorted in response, clearly joking.
“You’re concerned about that?”
The next few minutes settle into a comfortable silence. It makes you realize how much you need a conversation like this. You just never expected to find it from someone like Ground Zero, a hot-headed gaming buddy you happened to meet online.
Honestly, you didn’t think that he would be such a good listener too. He simply lets you talk, he doesn’t interrupt, and he doesn’t try to solve your problems. He’s just… there. And somehow, you like it a lot. Someone on the other side is willing to listen to your ramblings.
“I appreciate it.”
“Hm?”
“For listening.”
The other line goes quiet before he replies, “It’s whatever.”
“I mean it, you didn’t have to call.” You say with a small laugh.
Ground Zero just huffs and replies, “You would’ve kept bottling it up if I didn’t.”
“You got that right.” You didn’t disagree with him. “Anyways… thanks again, Ground Zero.”
“Katsuki.”
“What?”
“You can call me Katsuki.”
Katsuki. Somehow, that name really suits him.
“Katsuki,” You repeat his name, just testing how it sounds. “Thank you, Katsuki.”
The second time you say his name, something in your brain clicked.
Katsuki… as in Dynamight?
But the thought is so ridiculous, you just laugh at yourself. “No way, right?”
“Katsuki…”
“What?”
“You really like Dynamight, don’t you?”
Katsuki let out a very deep and exhausted sigh, the kind of sound that makes you think he’s done with you. “You really are a dumbass.”
“What should I call you?” It’s now his turn to ask, “I can’t keep callin' you dumbass forever.”
“Fuck, I almost forgot how annoying you are.” But you tell him your name anyway.
“Got it.” He repeats your name, making sure he remembers it. “...Eh, I’ll stick with Princess.”
“Oh son of a—”
Your call with Katsuki lasts well over two hours. In which you don't just talk about your work struggles, you end up chatting about all sorts of mundane things in life. From his favorite recipes to your next plans of playing new games with him. By the time you say goodnight, your mood is lighter, letting go of the stresses of the day.
But still, one thing refuses to leave your mind.
“Katsuki.” You say his name out loud as you lie down in bed and stare at the ceiling.
You shake your head, “Nah…”
There’s no way your Katsuki is that Katsuki. You have seen videos of Dynamight, and he’s always loud, yelling at reporters, villains, and stupid people in general.
The Katsuki you hear earlier sounds so… calm. Then again, you’ve only heard Dynamight in public, when he’s screaming. So how would you know what he sounds like when there are no cameras shoved into his face?
“Unbelievable.” And besides, why would THE Dynamight be playing League of Legends with you?
That’s ridiculous… right?
You jump out of your bed and immediately head for your computer.
“dynamight full name”
Katsuki Bakugou.
“...”
“dynamight age”
Twenty-six.
“dynamight clips”
You click the first link and it plays a clip of him aggressively shouting at reporters for crowding in too close at the rescue area. “Yep, that’s more like him.”
You click on another one that says “Dynamight Press Conference”. And this time, instead of yelling, he’s answering reporters’ questions one by one. His voice is lower… much calmer. Dynamight speaks without those aggressive shouts and insults. Just him standing at the podium, answering each question with professionalism.
“...No.” Still in denial, you replay the clip.
“No, no, no…” You kept telling yourself it’s just a coincidence, but the signs have been there all these times.
Ground Zero, meaning the center of an explosion.
The black and orange X Discord profile picture.
Not to mention, he’s a pro-hero too.
He has confidence and an ego as tall Tokyo skyscrapers.
You lean back to your chair as your eyes widen at the realization. “I’m overthinking this.”
There had to be plenty of men in Japan that are named Katsuki. A lot of people admired Dynamight enough to use explosion-themed usernames and profile pictures.
So you just let out a scoff, waving the thoughts away.
“Eh, whatever. I probably heard it wrong.” There’s no way in hell you’ve been playing with the No. 5 Hero all this time.
That’s just ridiculous.
…Yeah.
Definitely never happening.
Over the next morning, the rays of morning light illuminate the top floor office of DynaRiot Agency, marking the start of another busy day for Katsuki Bakugou, Pro-Hero: Dynamight.
Seated behind his desk, Katsuki is greeted by the usual mountain of paperwork, mostly consisting of patrol logs or incident reports prepared by his administrative assistant for submission to the Hero Public Safety Commission. He flips through each file, reviewing it thoroughly before signing it off and dropping it on the DONE pile. The ones that need revisions are marked and scribbled with notes on what needs to be changed, before being set aside to be sent back for another draft.
Katsuki then reaches out for the next folder, already expecting another patrol summary. Instead, the header in bold letters catches his attention:
MAJOR VILLAIN INCIDENT REPORT. He flips it open and at the bottom of the first page, he sees the signature of Red Riot, which indicates that Kirishima is the Lead Hero assigned to the operation.
Aside from the Hero Public Safety Commission’s own investigation, all hero agencies are required to submit a formal incident report. These reports typically include the Heroes involved in the operation, the number of Villains encountered and their Quirks, the number of rescues or casualties, and the overall scale of the damage. This information allows the Hero Public Safety Commission to assess and calculate the appropriate compensation for the hero agencies involved.
And this particular incident report talks about a large-scale villain attack that took place the previous week at the outskirts of Musutafu, specifically near the border of Musutafu and Iwata, the neighboring city. Fortunately, the civilians were evacuated on time, allowing the heroes involved to fight without having to worry about casualties. Even so, the sheer force exerted by multiple heroes and villains present caused critical damages to the surrounding area, in which three buildings collapsed.
“Three buildings…” Katsuki mutters to himself, remembering what you told him yesterday in a Discord call. But before his thoughts can wander any further, a knock on the door interrupts him.
“Sir Dynamight?” Katsuki hears a few knocks from the door before it slowly opens. Ayato, his assistant, peeks inside, holding another folder to his chest. “Here’s the Hero Work-Studies file from UA students that you asked for, sir.”
Katsuki didn’t spare him a glance, instead his eyes are still fixed at the folder about the major villain incident.
“This report…” Katsuki raised the folder before adding, “Do we ever get a reply after we send this to the HPSC?”
Ayato walks closer to the desk to see which file Katsuki is referring to. “Oh— those detailed reports. The HPSC does send us a response, but usually only about compensation. The investigation, the aftermath, and everything that comes after fall under their jurisdiction so we don’t receive those files.”
“What about their Engineering Department?”
“Engineering?” Ayato pauses to think for a moment. “The file they send has estimates of the damage and repair. To let us know why we can’t receive the full compensation. Especially if the damage was caused by our own heroes, rather than the villains.”
“Hm.” Katsuki hums in acknowledgment.
“Usually, our admin team handles the follow-up files.” Ayato says. “Would you like me to forward HPSC’s response for this incident to you, sir?”
Katsuki then replies without looking up, flipping through the pages of the report once again. “Send it over.”
The next few days are uneventful for Katsuki. His schedule goes back to his regular days— paperworks, patrols, and the occasional petty villains which does not take him more than two minutes to handle.
Yours, unfortunately, is the complete opposite. As the reconstruction phase begins, your department is thrown into complete chaos. Emergency meetings keep appearing out of nowhere, and every file that lands on your desk has the word URGENT stamped in them. Because of it, you and your colleagues are forced to work overtime.At this point, you might as well move into the Engineering Office. You spend more time there compared to your home anyway.
Not to mention, the only thing keeping you alive right now is the unhealthy amount of coffee you consume on a daily basis. If it wasn’t for Katsuki, you’d probably forget to eat meals too.
Ground Zero: Eat.
You: I am eating.
Ground Zero: Real food?
You: Heh
You let out a small laugh before taking a picture of your ‘meal,’ which just consists of a convenient store sandwich and an iced coffee. You then send the picture to Katsuki, who in return, just insulted your pathetic choice for a meal.
A few moments later, a notification appears.
Katsuki sends you a photo in return, and it’s a picture of his meal— a bowl of mapo tofu so aggressively red, you can practically taste how ridiculously spicy it is. Maybe he’s the type who enjoys setting his taste buds on fire. You glance down at your convenience store sandwich, and suddenly, it doesn’t seem nearly as delicious anymore. If anything, it just makes you want to go home and cook yourself a proper and fulfilling meal.
And too distracted by the attention-seeking mapo tofu and your own growling stomach, you completely miss the pair of oversized gauntlets peeking out from the corner of the photo.
The weekdays pass by in a blur even before you even realize it. Day after day, you work overtime until nightfall, eventually losing track of what day it is. You’re so buried in your work, your computer at home remains untouched. League of Legends never gets launched, and even your other social media accounts stay inactive. Aside from Discord, of course, which you open every time you manage to squeeze in a bit of time between meetings and paperworks.
Even then, you still message Katsuki occasionally. Nothing long, just quick updates to let him know you still haven’t miraculously collapsed under the mountain of your work.
“I’m alive!”
“Still at work :(”
“I’m so dead rn.”
And he usually replies back with reminders to eat, drink, or go home before it gets too late. Somehow, despite barely talking all week aside from the few exchanged messages and occasional meal photos, it’s comforting to know that he’s still there, waiting for the day you two can queue up together again.
Meanwhile, at a luxury apartment in the heart of Musutafu City, Katsuki finally heads home after a workday that ends the way it usually does, with sore muscles and a headache from the mountain of reports that he spent the entire afternoon signing off. Once he gets home, he takes a quick shower, washing away the grime from patrolling the streets, and the lingering scent of smoke and nitroglycerin from his Quirk.
After changing into a shirt with a skull print and sweatpants, Katsuki settles in front of his computer. He turns it on and watches the monitor flicker to life. Out of habit, he opens Discord first, followed by League of Legends, and last, his browser for emails and messages that he might receive. His eyes then naturally drift to your chat logs, the last few messages are still the same ones he’s seen all week, a couple of meal photos and his ‘gentle’ reminders. Nothing more.
“Tch.”
Katsuki clicks his tongue and lets out an exasperated sigh. He knows you’re busy, you’ve told him that enough times. But still, that doesn’t stop him from glancing back at your chats every now and then, expecting a new message from you to pop up, or at the very least, your status to switch to Online.
Although, before he can type a message, a notification appears in the corner of his screen.
From: Ayato
Subject: Major Villain Incident Report — HPSC
Just as promised, Ayato forwards the response of the Hero Public Safety Commission regarding the incident from the previous week. Katsuki opens the attachment and he is greeted by dozens of pages filled with findings related to the villain, compensation breakdowns, reconstruction schedule, and a damage estimate prepared by the engineering department.
Katsuki doesn’t bother reading from the beginning. The compensation figures and the commission’s acknowledgements for the agency’s heroic deeds hold no interest for him. Instead, he scrolls straight down to the section labeled Engineering Assessment. The pages are filled with structural reports, and photographs of collapsed buildings, each accompanied by notes explaining the extent of the damage.
“There it is.” Katsuki mutters to himself as he scrolls further down, following the damage estimates all the way to the last page of the engineering section. At the bottom is the approval section, complete with names and signatures of everyone responsible for reviewing the document. His gaze passes by the name of Hawks, the current President, followed by the Principal Engineer, before stopping on the next line.
Prepared by: Senior Engineer
Your name.
“...Found you.”
The corner of Katsuki’s mouth curls into a small smirk. His eyes drift on your neatly-written signature, then to the title beneath it. So this is what has been keeping you busy all week. Skipping out game nights with him to do overtime work. The exhausted “Still at work :(” messages he has gotten from you. It all leads back to the report on his screen, signed off by the person he’s been waiting for the whole time.
“So that’s what you were working on, huh.”
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
if you can't imagine a calm (?) and soft-spoken katsuki, go watch the finale episode titled "More"
there are tons of scene there (mainly in the car scene with kiri and deku), where katsuki is NOT angry. honestly, can't get enough of it :D I need more HAH get it
爆豪 勝己 — back to the main masterlist ⊹ ࣪ ˖🫧
table of contents ; ⤷ ONE MORE GAME ?
<- PART 1 ₍ᐢ._.ᐢ₎♡
didnt know researching a fictional economy is this fun LOL im trying to see how pro heroes work with the hpsc just to make sure im not spouting bullshits in my au
not that im gonna delve into the mha economy and govt affairs THAT MUCH but its nice to know
— 🪼 pro hero katsuki / trading cards / fluff / one shot
Synopsis: Katsuki as Dynamight, your favorite pro-hero, whose photocards are always ridiculously expensive and out of stock.
“God, I am not asking for anything else… I just want ONE pack,” you mutter to yourself as you struggle to catch your breath. Sprinting towards the elevator right after your overtime shift.
“...Or maybe I need two— OR THREE.”
Without slowing down, you run towards the station, ignoring passersby looking at you like you’re a mad woman. The nearest trading card shop is at least thirty minutes away from your workplace, so if you want to get that limited-edition Dynamight Card, you have to run as if a villain is hot on your trail.
“Knowing my luck, I’ll go broke before I pull a single Dynamight.”
The moment you arrive at the shop and ask the cashier for the cards, you’re hit with the most devastating line you’ve ever received in your whole life.
“Sorry Ma’am, TC: Ground Zero Edition is completely sold out.”
“No worries,” you said to the cashier and then left the shop.
“I still have three more shops to go.” There has to be at least one pack… right?
“Sorry, we just sold the last box.”
“The one with Dynamight? I think we’re out of it.”
“OH— you just missed the last pack by 5 minutes.”
At this point, you’re convinced that the world Dynamight lives in just hates you. So with no choice, you drag yourself back home.
Why does Dynamight have to be popular?
When you got home, you kicked your shoes aside without even bothering to properly put them in the shoe rack. You didn’t even slip into your indoor slippers. All you wanted was to collapse onto the couch, rest for a bit, and plan the next steps into acquiring that Dynamight card.
You’re in a dilemma now. Do you keep buying pack after pack in hopes of getting the card yourself? Or do you just buy an unsealed one from Mercari? (Japanese e-Commerce Site)
Considering that it’s a limited-edition card, it’ll probably cost at least ¥200,000 or $1,250. But then again, it’s easier than running around the city looking for packs and gambling on the slim 0.06% chance of getting Dynamight.
Before your thoughts can further trail off, you hear the front door open.
“I’m home.”
“Oh? Welcome back, Katsuki.”
With just one look at you, Katsuki knows today was a shitty day. Exhaustion is written all over your face as you lie sprawled on the couch, barely glancing at him when you greet.
Katsuki slips off his boots and walks over to you. “What’s with that face?” he asks, brows knitting together.
You let out a heavy sigh and said “Your damn packs are sold out everywhere. I checked four different shops, they’re all gone.”
You then look up to him while pouting and in disbelief, “Not a single pack for me. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for those?”
“...That’s it?”
“That’s it? Katsuki, this is a national emergency!” You reply while glaring at him.
Katsuki lets out a snort and shakes his head. “You’re unbelievable.” He says as he disappears into the bedroom. Your eyes follow him in bewilderment, like he just uttered some ridiculous bullshit.
Not long after, Katsuki returns carrying a small paper bag and drops it onto your lap. “My assistant left these in my desk today,” he says casually. “Said they were my personal copies.”
You open the bag and take out the contents. There it was, three unopened TC: Ground Zero Edition packs that you were hunting for the whole time.
You let out an ear-piercing scream before jumping off the couch, and go straight to Katsuki, wrapping him in the tightest hug you can manage.
“Katsuki, I love you so much!”
“I know,” Katsuki said while scoffing and fighting the urge to smile. He then pats the back of your head, “Now quit mopin’ and open ‘em.”
You clutch the three packs to your chest as you settle down on the floor in front of the coffee table. “Don’t celebrate yet,” you say, clasping your hands together in a prayer. “The pull rate is only 0.06% so there’s a chance none of these has THE Dynamight card.”
Katsuki raises his eyebrow, “Just open the damn things.”
You then carefully tear open the first pack, making sure not to damage the cards inside.
“...Not there.” The first pack is a dud.
You grab the second pack, silently offering a prayer that you get it this time.
“...” Another dud.
Your shoulders slump as you slowly pick up the third and final pack. “I’m starting to think that Dynamight hates me. He doesn’t want to come home.”
“Woman,” Katsuki says flatly, “I come home to you everyday.”
“Shhh…” You hold up a hand to silence him. “Katsuki, I can feel Dynamight in this pack.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Katsuki mutters while rolling his eyes.
You take one last breath then carefully tear the pack. Your hands tremble as you slide the cards out, flipping them one by one. At the last slide, a flash of light catches the holographic side of the card, and your eyes widen at the sight.
“DYNAMIGHT CAME HOME!” You scream so loudly, your neighbours can probably hear you.
You spring up to your feet, waving the card around before throwing yourself at Katsuki. “I got him, Katsuki! He came home~”
“...I'm literally right here”
“Dynamight chose me!”
Katsuki wraps his arms around your waist and lets out an amused chuckle. “Yeah,” he murmurs, leaning in until his lips brush gently against yours, “I’d choose you every single time.”
You should definitely do a forth of July with katsuki! Like watching the fire works with them then, he wants to show off blasting his own explosion in the sky or somethingggg.. I LOVE YOU AND YOUR WRITING BTW💕💕💕👀
Oooh that sounds nice! like summer matsuri vibes 🔥🎊💥
🪼 — bkg. k x f!reader | prohero | trading cards | fluff
Synopsis: Katsuki as Dynamight, your favorite pro-hero, whose photocards are always ridiculously expensive and out of stock.
“God, I am not asking for anything else… I just want ONE pack,” you mutter to yourself as you struggle to catch your breath. Sprinting towards the elevator right after your overtime shift.
“...Or maybe I need two— OR THREE.”
Without slowing down, you run towards the station, ignoring passersby looking at you like you’re a mad woman. The nearest trading card shop is at least thirty minutes away from your workplace, so if you want to get that limited-edition Dynamight Card, you have to run as if a villain is hot on your trail.
“Knowing my luck, I’ll go broke before I pull a single Dynamight.”
The moment you arrive at the shop and ask the cashier for the cards, you’re hit with the most devastating line you’ve ever received in your whole life.
“Sorry Ma’am, TC: Ground Zero Edition is completely sold out.”
“No worries,” you said to the cashier and then left the shop.
“I still have three more shops to go.” There has to be at least one pack… right?
“Sorry, we just sold the last box.”
“The one with Dynamight? I think we’re out of it.”
“OH— you just missed the last pack by 5 minutes.”
At this point, you’re convinced that the world Dynamight lives in just hates you. So with no choice, you drag yourself back home.
Why does Dynamight have to be popular?
When you got home, you kicked your shoes aside without even bothering to properly put them in the shoe rack. You didn’t even slip into your indoor slippers. All you wanted was to collapse onto the couch, rest for a bit, and plan the next steps into acquiring that Dynamight card.
You’re in a dilemma now. Do you keep buying pack after pack in hopes of getting the card yourself? Or do you just buy an unsealed one from Mercari? (Japanese e-Commerce Site)
Considering that it’s a limited-edition card, it’ll probably cost at least ¥200,000 or $1,250. But then again, it’s easier than running around the city looking for packs and gambling on the slim 0.06% chance of getting Dynamight.
Before your thoughts can further trail off, you hear the front door open.
“I’m home.”
“Oh? Welcome back, Katsuki.”
With just one look at you, Katsuki knows today was a shitty day. Exhaustion is written all over your face as you lie sprawled on the couch, barely glancing at him when you greet.
Katsuki slips off his boots and walks over to you. “What’s with that face?” he asks, brows knitting together.
You let out a heavy sigh and said “Your damn packs are sold out everywhere. I checked four different shops, they’re all gone.”
You then look up to him while pouting and in disbelief, “Not a single pack for me. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for those?”
“...That’s it?”
“That’s it? Katsuki, this is a national emergency!” You reply while glaring at him.
Katsuki lets out a snort and shakes his head. “You’re unbelievable.” He says as he disappears into the bedroom. Your eyes follow him in bewilderment, like he just uttered some ridiculous bullshit.
Not long after, Katsuki returns carrying a small paper bag and drops it onto your lap. “My assistant left these in my desk today,” he says casually. “Said they were my personal copies.”
You open the bag and take out the contents. There it was, three unopened TC: Ground Zero Edition packs that you were hunting for the whole time.
You let out an ear-piercing scream before jumping off the couch, and go straight to Katsuki, wrapping him in the tightest hug you can manage.
“Katsuki, I love you so much!”
“I know,” Katsuki said while scoffing and fighting the urge to smile. He then pats the back of your head, “Now quit mopin’ and open ‘em.”
You clutch the three packs to your chest as you settle down on the floor in front of the coffee table. “Don’t celebrate yet,” you say, clasping your hands together in a prayer. “The pull rate is only 0.06% so there’s a chance none of these has THE Dynamight card.”
Katsuki raises his eyebrow, “Just open the damn things.”
You then carefully tear open the first pack, making sure not to damage the cards inside.
“...Not there.” The first pack is a dud.
You grab the second pack, silently offering a prayer that you get it this time.
“...” Another dud.
Your shoulders slump as you slowly pick up the third and final pack. “I’m starting to think that Dynamight hates me. He doesn’t want to come home.”
“Woman,” Katsuki says flatly, “I come home to you everyday.”
“Shhh…” You hold up a hand to silence him. “Katsuki, I can feel Dynamight in this pack.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Katsuki mutters while rolling his eyes.
You take one last breath then carefully tear the pack. Your hands tremble as you slide the cards out, flipping them one by one. At the last slide, a flash of light catches the holographic side of the card, and your eyes widen at the sight.
“DYNAMIGHT CAME HOME!” You scream so loudly, your neighbours can probably hear you.
You spring up to your feet, waving the card around before throwing yourself at Katsuki. “I got him, Katsuki! He came home~”
“...I'm literally right here”
“Dynamight chose me!”
Katsuki wraps his arms around your waist and lets out an amused chuckle. “Yeah,” he murmurs, leaning in until his lips brush gently against yours, “I’d choose you every single time.”
🪼 — bkg. k x f!reader | gamer | prohero | online friendship | fluff
Synopsis: You never expected a random League of Legends match to become the place where you’d find comfort in someone you thought you’d never cross paths with. But after meeting your aggressive AD Carry, Ground Zero, your chaotic bot lane partnership slowly turns into late-night games, Discord calls, and conversations that go beyond the Rift.
⸜(｡ ˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ PART 1 — 3.9k words
⸜(｡ ˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ PART 2 — 2.7k words
⸜(｡ ˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ PART 2 — work in progress
🪼 — bkg. k x f!reader | gamer | prohero | online friendship | fluff
Synopsis: You never expected a random League of Legends match to become the place where you’d find comfort in someone you thought you’d never cross paths with. But after meeting your aggressive AD Carry, Ground Zero, your chaotic bot lane partnership slowly turns into late-night games, Discord calls, and conversations that go beyond the Rift.
League of Legends. A game with one of the most toxic player bases of all time, if not the most toxic. And yet, here you are, willingly queueing up for its worst gamemode: Ranked.
You'd never admit it to your friends, but you love this game. Otherwise, why would you keep coming back every single day? Game after game, with defeats far outnumbering victories, you continue chasing the same dream, reaching Challenger.
Or so you wish. Right now, you'd settle for one thing, escaping the hell called Diamond.
You queue up as Support, the role you’re most comfortable with. You've sworn countless times that you'll abandon it because of how shit your carries were, and yet somehow, you always find yourself coming back to this stupid role, stuck with whatever Carry fate decides to hand you today.
That’s just how being a Support works. You’re not always the one getting the kills or taking the spotlight, but you’re the one setting things up, keeping your Carry alive with your heals and shields, buffing them up to make them strong, and giving them the chance to do what they do best. A good Carry can turn your engages into a victory, and we all know that behind every strong player, is a Support making sure they can reach their full potential.
It’s not too different from the relationship between a Pro Hero and their Sidekick. The hero is the one that everyone sees, the one standing at the front lines saving civilians and kicking villains, and the Sidekick is the one covering their weaknesses, supporting them when things get rough, and making sure they don’t fall.
Unfortunately, most league matches don’t give you that luxury of a good pro-hero / carry. Most of the time, you’re stuck babysitting a random stranger and praying they know what they’re doing.
Not long after, the queue pops almost instantly.
Accept.
A familiar loading screen flashes before your eyes, and moments later, you're dropped into Champion Select with four strangers. They could be your new allies, or more likely, the reason for your next therapy session. And the chat is already alive.
Ground Zero #DYNA: Support. What are you playing?
Ground Zero #DYNA: Hurry up.
You glance at the chat and think, “Great. My carry is already this damn impatient.”
You lock in Rakan, and almost instantly, this Ground Zero guy picks Xayah.
The game hasn’t even started, and you can already tell that this lane is going to be a complete disaster.
Now, you’re in the laning phase. A rough start, alert pings flying, minion waves crashing, missed skillshots everywhere, and your Carry acting as if your cooldowns doesn't exist, repeatedly signaling On My Way even as you keep pinging your abilities’ cooldowns.
But then something shifts, thanks to your great support skills.
You land the first clean Grand Entrance skill which knocks up the enemy carry and support. And then Ground Zero follows instantly— no doubts, just going in with Xayah, popping the Deadly Plumage skill like he’s been waiting for that exact moment.
First Blood.
DOUBLE KILL.
No chat. No emote. No ‘Rakan - Alive’ ping to appreciate the fantastic play you just did. Just silence… and then a small pause in his character before he continues playing like nothing happened.
You start to realize it quickly, “Damn, he’s good.”
Every time you land your ultimate ability, The Quickness, he’s there. Every Grand Entrance you give out, he turns it into an opportunity to carry. The lane stops feeling like chaos and it starts to feel like a dance of feathers and blades. Just like the bird-themed lovers Xayah and Rakan would do.
By mid-game, you two are ahead. Not slightly, but way ahead. The kind of lead that makes the enemy bot lane stop showing up entirely. And not long after, the enemy Nexus falls, and the screen flashes victory.
For a moment, there’s nothing. Just the glow of the screen and the quiet satisfaction of a game that didn’t completely ruin your sanity.
You heard your client go off on a ping.
A friend request has been sent from Ground Zero #DYNA.
You hesitate for a second before accepting. And when you did, a message pops up.
Ground Zero #DYNA: inv
Inv? Invite? To a game again? And before you can even finish overthinking it, another sound, signaling a new message from the chat, broke you off from your thoughts.
Ground Zero #DYNA: Go
No “good game, well played,” not even a casual “GG”, just an impatient carry who treats post-game politeness like an optional skin he forgot to equip, immediately hitting you up for round two. But hey— at least he honored you after the game. That’s something, right?
Curiosity gets the better of you, so you open his profile and take a look. His most played champions are Xayah, Lucian, and Ezreal. The kind of ADC pool that explains everything and nothing at the same time.
Then your eyes drift to the left for his rank: Master. But honestly, just get him a few more wins and he’ll be grandmaster in no time.
You sit there for a moment, realizing you’re basically being queued with someone who’s a few wins away from ascending the ladder, while you’re still trying to survive the emotional damage of diamond elo-hell.
And somehow, that realization just makes you stare at the screen longer, blinking slowly, as if the monitor might suddenly start typing back an explanation for whatever kind of personality your Carry has because you rarely encounter this type of gamer with this level of confidence and skill level, and also adds you after the game for one more round.
Then, against your better judgment, against every lesson learned from past ranked trauma, and ignoring your 49/51 win-loss ratio, a tiny voice in your head begs you to close the client and go touch grass somewhere, you queue up again anyway— this time with Ground Zero.
The lobby loads in, and there he is again, the same terrifying confidence that suggests he doesn’t believe in warm-ups or small talk, only execution and results, like he’s been auto-filled into existence just to pressure you to play better.
And just like last game, he locks in Xayah without asking, no second thoughts, not even pretending that the rest of the team exists. It’s less of a team drafting and more like a declaration of intent, like he already decided what to play and everyone else should pick whatever is best for Xayah.
Then you hover over Rakan for a second longer than necessary, as if maybe— just maybe you want to play with a different support this game.
Ground Zero #DYNA: You gonna pick or what?
Ground Zero #DYNA: I don't have all day for this
The messages land one after another, screaming impatience, like he’s already itching to get in the game. And yet, instead of choosing another support champion, maybe playing the champion Lux this time 'cause you love her, you lock in Rakan anyway.
“Here we go again.”
And then a few weeks had gone by, and somehow despite every “this is my last game” lie, and every moment you consider uninstalling the game out of emotional self-preservation, you never actually do. Instead, you keep queueing up with Ground Zero in some nights like it’s become some sort of natural event you didn’t agree to participate in but somehow keep attending anyway.
At some point, you start noticing the pattern. He’s still blunt and impatient, still allergic to unnecessary words, but the communication evolves in the smallest ways. “inv” slowly turns into “invite me,” and when his “go” becomes “one more game,” and occasionally, if the game went well enough, he even adds a “gg” or “wp” after the game. You like to think you’ve become friends now, even if it’s the kind of friendship built entirely on pings, timing, and mutual understanding of when to engage before words are ever needed.
The weird part is how natural it starts to feel. You don’t even have to ask what he’s thinking anymore. You already know when he’s about to go in, or when he needs help with shoving the minion waves, or if he's one death away from losing his sanity with the game. And somehow, he also starts syncing with you in the same way, following your knock ups and entrances on the enemy, like he’s learned the timing of your cooldowns better than you have.
Outside of this game, however, you have a life— and it’s really unforgiving. Work in the Hero Public Safety Commission has a way of swallowing time. Damage reports that refuse to end, emergency briefings that stretch late into the night, and overtime work that leave you too drained to even think about opening your computer when you finally get home. And before you know it, it’s been almost two weeks since you last opened League of Legends.
What you don’t see during that two-week cleansing from this game is how your message box with your recently beloved Carry keeps blinking. At first, it’s just the usual “invite me” or “1 game” But then it shifts to questions, wondering where you are.
Ground Zero #DYNA: ?
Ground Zero #DYNA: Busy?
Ground Zero #DYNA: Are you there?
Ground Zero knows you’re not gonna respond, and he's not someone who wastes time on pointless things, and yet somehow, he keeps on trying anyway. The messages don’t stop, just spaced out more as the days pass by.
By the time you finally open your client again, it feels strangely heavier than you remember. There are missed notifications waiting for you, stacked quietly in the corner of the league client like they’ve been sitting there patiently the entire time you were gone.
And then you see his in-game name at the side. Not just short messages of invitation this time, but longer lines than you’ve ever seen him send before.
Ground Zero #DYNA: Hey.
Ground Zero #DYNA: I need a decent Support.
Ground Zero #DYNA: Ignoring me?
Ground Zero #DYNA: Did you quit?
At the very bottom, a message sent not too long ago.
Ground Zero #DYNA: Invite me when you're back.
For a moment, you just stare at it, fingers hovering over the keyboard as if replying means stepping back into a connection you didn’t realize had quietly continued in your absence.
Reader #YOU: Hey :)
Reader #YOU: One game?
Ground Zero #DYNA: Took you long enough.
Ground Zero #DYNA: Dumbass.
You queue up again with him immediately, as usual. Then the match starts, and just like before, everything falls into place with a natural rhythm, albeit the few mistakes you committed for not playing the game for a long time and still adjusting to things.
The game itself passes in a blur.
You sit there for a moment, watching the screen, waiting for the usual post-game exhaustion to hit. For a second, neither of you says anything. Your cursor hovers near the friend list area. His name sits on the list like it always does— Ground Zero #DYNA, and now you’re considering typing something. Anything to break the silence, but you don’t know what to even say without it sounding awkward.
Although, the silence doesn’t last long because even before you can decide whether to type something or let the moment pass, the chat box flashes again.
Ground Zero #DYNA: Give me your discord.
You blink and stare at your screen for a few seconds, still trying to process the message. Of course he’d say it like that, not even a polite request. Not bothering with any pleasantries such as ‘please’. Would it hurt to put a smiley on that message?
You hesitate for a moment, fingers over the keyboard, debating whether to give it or not. For some reason, it feels oddly personal to have each other’s contacts outside of League chat. In-game messages are one thing, you’ve dealt with that kind of chaos plenty of times, but you never really expected it to step outside the game entirely.
Oh well, what could go wrong? No reason to overthink it. And with your newfound confidence, you type out your Discord username and hit send. A few minutes pass, a Discord friend request appears, and for the second time, you find yourself accepting Ground Zero. Again.
Almost immediately, a familiar Discord chime sounds, indicating that a message has appeared.
Ground Zero: In case you disappear again.
You: Sorry, I was busy with work.
You: Also, really? A Dynamight fanboy?
Ground Zero: The fuck are you on?
You: I mean, look. Your in-game name, Ground Zero, that’s a reference to explosions, right?
You: Even your profile picture says so, plain black with an orange X. Isn’t that Dynamight’s trademark colors and symbol?
Ground Zero: You’re full of shit.
You: Oh really?
You grin at your screen, already enjoying this more than you should
You: Should I call you Dynamight’s Fanboy now?
Ground Zero: Fuck off.
You: Woah woah you’re getting banned.
Ground Zero: I’m never carrying your ass again, Princess.
You: Princess? We’re on nicknames now?
Ground Zero: Only because I’m Princess-carrying your ass in every match we play.
You: That’s funny, you’re trying to act like Dynamight too.
Ground Zero: ???
Ground Zero: You’re annoying, don’t talk to me.
You: You talked to me first.
Ground Zero: Big mistake.
Since then, you both became closer than usual. At first, it doesn’t feel like anything has really changed. You two are still rocking the bot lane, occasional defeats here and there, but always bouncing back to rack up more victories.
You still queue together, falling into the rhythm of dancing birds on the Summoner’s Rift— you diving in reckless confidence, and him just close enough to secure the kills.
But now there’s Discord on the side, where you both migrate after each game, exchanging simple “GG,” “well played,” and the occasional “your baron steal was so sick” that he pretends he didn’t care about but definitely remembers.
These messages started short and simple, strictly game-related only. He still doesn’t waste words, but somehow there are more of them now. As days pass by, he starts talking more. Just simple sentences with no further explanations, but for you, somehow, it’s enough.
“I ran into idiots today.”
“I was working out.”
“Shitty villains are wrecking havoc.”
You find yourself responding the same way, not really thinking about it. You tell him about how hectic your day was, about paperworks that never seems to end and meetings that could have been emails. Some of them are so boring that you swear they would work better as a bedtime podcast.
Sometimes, you'd even rant to him about work. Telling him about reckless heroes who somehow manage to turn simple incidents into mountains of paperwork. Or maybe about a coworker who somehow pissed you off for having no common sense.
He reads all of those. Sometimes he replies immediately. Sometimes he replies hours later. But he always replies.
“Sounds like a pain in the ass”
A sentence that isn’t really that helpful, but will still somehow make you feel better.
Then somewhere along the way, the games stop feeling like the main thing. It’s still there, of course. You still queue up together, Carry and Support, like you always do. You still win, lose, complain about matchmaking, and immediately queue again despite promising yourselves "just one more game" three matches ago. But League slowly stops being the reason you talk. Instead, it becomes the thing you do while talking.
With those small conversations, you start learning things about him little by little. You learn that he hates crowds and unnecessary noise. That he has a group of friends he constantly refers to as ‘fucking idiots’ despite obviously caring about them. You find out that he spends a lot of time working out and training. Even after admitting he had basically mastered his Quirk back in high school, he still pushes himself like there's always another level to reach.
Ground Zero: These shitty extras got in my way again.
You: Sounds rough.
You stare at your next message for a moment, hesitating whether to send it or not. It feels a little too personal, a little too concerned for your liking. Still, you send it anyway.
You: You okay though?
Ground Zero: Worried about me, princess?
You can't help but snort and roll your eyes at the message.
You: You wish.
Ground Zero: Sure.
You: Don’t flatter yourself.
You: I’m just making sure My Carry is still around to take me to Grandmaster.
Ground Zero: Your Carry?
Ground Zero: Didn’t know we have that kind of relationship.
You: I’m just gonna assume you’re fine then.
Ground Zero: Of course, I am.
Ground Zero: Can’t have My Support worrying about me.
Just from your chats alone, you can already tell how ridiculously egotistical this little bastard is. The funny thing is, you should find it annoying. Instead, you're grinning at your screen like an idiot, totally loving whatever the two of you have.
You eventually piece it all together, these scattered fragments, forming an obvious truth. Ground Zero is a pro-hero. You just never asked which one, never asked for more details, and didn’t delve into what quirk he has. Partly because deep inside, you’re afraid that it’s too personal, and your dearest friend would leave you for being too nosy.
Meanwhile, he learns things about you too. He knows you work for something hero-related, maybe in a hero agency, he just doesn’t realize it’s actually the Hero Public Safety Commission. He knows your unhealthy relationship with iced coffees, and how your mood visibly improves whenever you're holding one.
More importantly, he knows you're terrible at taking care of yourself. He learns that when you're invested in something, you'll completely lose track of time. He learns that “I'll eat in five minutes” actually means “I'll remember food exists in two hours.”
The first time he catches you skipping a meal, he calls you a dumbass.
The second time, he calls you an idiot.
There wasn’t a third time though. His messages had evolved into “eat. now.” Accompanied with threats of not queueing up with you anymore if you skip another meal.
You: Oh my god we totally beat their asses!
You: One more game?
Ground Zero: No.
You: Did a villain beat your ass or something?
You: The hell you mean ‘no’?
Ground Zero: Have you eaten?
The question makes you pause, you just now realized that your last meal was lunch, and it’s already 8:00 in the evening. And while you’re feeling a little bit hungry, just a tiny bit, the three-win streak games with Ground Zero has left you way too hyped to care. Just itching to get that fourth win in a row.
You: I’ll be promoted to Master if we win the next game.
Ground Zero: That’s not an answer.
You: I had coffee when I left from work?
Ground Zero: Dumbass, go eat something.
You: No— the Rift needs me.
Ground Zero: Don’t be stupid, go eat.
You: Fine.
You: But are you sure you’re breaking our win-streak momentum?
Ground Zero: For fuck’s sake. EAT SOMETHING FIRST.
Ground Zero: I’ll be here when you come back.
“Oops, that’s a dangerous line,” you thought to yourself.
You: I’ll be quick then.
Ground Zero: Don’t choke.
You: Don’t jinx it.
You: Hah! Get it? Jinx from Arcane?
Ground Zero: …
Ground Zero: Make sure to send a photo of your meal.
Ground Zero: Gotta make sure your dumbass self is actually eating.
You: Oh
You stare at the message, oddly caught between amusement and something softer you refuse to name.
As neither of you really asked questions about the other. Things just got shared naturally, slipping into conversations without either the two of you realizing it. And strangely enough, neither of you seemed interested in stopping. What started as a friend request from a particularly aggressive ADC had somehow turned into a blossoming friendship.
You: Man, I want to go home.
Ground Zero: Then leave.
You: It's only 3:00 PM. My boss will kill me.
You: And I kind of like having a job.
Ground Zero: Coward.
You: Thanks. You're so nice.
Ground Zero: I know.
You roll your eyes so hard you're surprised they don't fall out of their sockets.
You: What are you up to?
Ground Zero: Stuck doing paperwork.
You pause, staring at the message for a few seconds, trying to imagine Ground Zero doing paperwork. You spent months building a mental image of him as this aggressively, permanently annoyed stranger who loves working out. Naturally, you assumed he preferred being in action at all times. The idea of him being trapped behind a desk, staring at reports like a normal office worker, feels so funny for some reason.
You: Oh wow... you actually do paperwork?
You: I thought you were more of a punch and kick kind of guy.
Ground Zero: You're an idiot.
Conversations like these fill your days, and you may not know it, but you’re already looking forward to what you guys can talk about.
At one point, you’re so stressed at work, sometimes you just don’t want to play league. So when you declined Ground Zero’s invitation despite seeing you online both in League and Discord, he knows something is wrong.
Ground Zero: Up for one game?
You: I’m gonna pass on this one.
Ground Zero: Tch.
Ground Zero: Wasted my time waiting.
You: Sorry, I had a stressful day today.
You: Don’t feel like playing.
There’s a pause after your message, longer than usual pauses when you’re both active and bored. Maybe he’s about to queue on his own now, and probably would leave you with your own thoughts. But not even five minutes later—
Ground Zero: What happened?
You spent a few seconds just staring at your screen, not because you didn’t want to answer, but because you didn’t know what to say or where to start. Not to mention, you didn’t want to share something heavy with someone you only play games with, that was just the nature of your friendship… you think?
You: Just stressed about something at work.
Ground Zero: Tell me about it.
You: It’s a long story, don’t wanna bother.
Ground Zero: We’ve got all the time, princess.
And with that, you start typing your worries, only to delete the messages immediately. You try again, then stop halfway through, stop to stare at the screen and type some more, and then delete your messages for the second time.
You: Actually… it’s not that important.
Ground Zero: You took your sweet time just to type that?
You: Yes…
Ground Zero: You’re really annoying.
You: Look— it’s a hassle to type something so long.
Ground Zero: Suit yourself.
This time, you really thought that’s the end. That he’ll just leave it there, maybe go back to whatever he was doing. Until a discord chime was heard, a different sound from your usual back and forth messages.
Ground Zero started a call.
Oh no. You can feel yourself panicking. You are NOT ready for whatever this is. You two have never talked like this before— never in a call. What do you mean he’s calling? Your mind is coming up with ridiculous thoughts, “Is he going to sound different? Is he going to sound… hot?”
One way to find out. You accepted the call.
Before you can even say hi, his voice comes through— low, has some rough edges, like embers instead of the fire you imagined.
“Speak, I’m listening.”
爆豪 勝己 — back to the main masterlist ⊹ ࣪ ˖🫧
table of contents ; ⤷ ONE MORE GAME ?
₍ᐢ._.ᐢ₎♡ PART 2 ->
turnnoffyourmind
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