Unfortunately, You Are Experiencing Symptoms of Falling in Love: Part 7
Having your long-term boyfriend cheat on you is pretty bad, but you're lucky enough to have a rich, pro-hero best friend who lets you move in with him until you get a new apartment. Except lockdown happens. And you can't look for a new apartment anymore, and you can't go anywhere anymore, and neither can your best friend, and you think you might be falling a little bit in love with him. Or maybe you've been in love with him all along.
The story of how it takes a nationwide lockdown for you and Bakugou Katsuki to finally get together, part 7!
wordcount: 2,239
taglist: @stargazerunlimited @luna-bloodroseââ @lov4kbg @fukyouthinkâ
I'm back with an update (in less than a month no less)! I wrote this all in one night and stayed up rather late because I really enjoyed writing this chapter, so I hope that comes across in the work. Also, I wrote out a really detailed outline which helped me really get working as well. According the the outline, there should be around 7 chapters left, so I updated the work to reflect that. Of course that may change, but I will be sure to keep you all updated! This chapter might actually be my favorite I've written so far, and it does move the feelings along a bit, so please enjoy!
You had to admit, a part of you was more than a bit nervous about the prospect of spending the next weeks, or months maybe even (though hopefully not) with your best friend. Though he had always been nothing but kind and patient with you, a clear contrast to his treatment of almost everyone else, perhaps the constant exposure to you would irritate him and he would grow tired of you. Of course, you did have to give him credit. The past Katsuki might not have even let you into his house in the first place. And though he didnât ever say it out loud, you knew he cared enough about you to at least not say anything if he grew bored or irritated.
Still, while you had originally been thrilled at the prospect of having less work and more time to relax, something you hadnât had in a while, only one week in and you were growing bored already. It was odd to not be doing anything, even though not doing anything was actually the best thing you could be doing at the moment. Sure, Katsuki had set up a small workbench for you in your room so that you could tinker with things, but without access to the serious machinery you were used to constantly having available, you could only do so much. You were beginning to wonder if Katsuki would let you take apart all of his highly expensive watches so that you could reassemble them into a magnificent, one-of-a-kind watch. Instead, you found yourself in his ridiculously stocked kitchen making herbed focaccia so that you could feel like you were contributing in some way.
And honestly, it was pretty fun. Baking was sort of like making gear in a way, you assembled the parts and if it turned out wrong you were in trouble. Of course, if it turned out right you ended up with something pretty great. Depending on the results of your first real foray into the kitchen during your time in Katsukiâs apartment, you might just end up doing this more often.
Of course, besides the prospect of delicious bread, you had one other thing to enjoy as a result of your baking. The design of the apartment made it so that the kitchen island had a direct view to the workout room if you faced the right direction, and since for some reason Katsuki never bothered to close the door, while baking you had a complete view of him as he worked to stay in top shape. Honestly, it was like he was showing off or something. Not that you knew all that much about his workout routine, especially from a distance, but the amount and size of the weights he was using was truly mind-boggling. You had to give it to him, he was really in shape. You could see why he was consistently ranked among the top most attractive heroes.
Not that you were thinking about him like that, of course. Itâs just that as his support technician, you needed to be aware of his body and its capabilities in order to design the best and most effective gear. And honestly, he couldnât be leaving the door more open than it already was. And you had started making the bread first. Seriously, this was on him. His timing was weird. He was weird. He was⊠walking over to you?
Katsuki walked into the kitchen before you could really shake your previous unruly thoughts out of your mind and leaned over on the other side of the island. He was away from you but not quite far enough, arms flexing lightly as he grinned at you. He was wearing one of those black tank tops that he used to wear all the time back in high school, and you watched nervously as a bead of sweat rolled down the top of his torso to disappear between his pecs. You were almost scared to look at his face, but you forced yourself to meet his steady gaze. His grin widened wolfishly.
âTrying to take over my kitchen already, princess? Youâre out of work for only a week and already you start going all housewife on me,â he says with snark, causing you to roll your eyes.
âDonât make me move out on you, Katsuki, itâs not my fault Iâm this bored. I can always go live in the workshop and tinker with gear to my heartâs content if Iâm really bothering you that much,â you spoke back to him with equal teasing bite.
âBut think of how lonely Iâd get! Always nagging me about how I need to be more social yet threatening to leave me all by myself for who knows how long? Iâm liable to go back to yelling at everyone I meet if you do that.â You laugh, and set your dough in the pan.
âAt least you can admit to your past faults. Besides, I donât think I could handle living by myself and being alone all day. No matter how much you bother me, Iâm afraid youâre stuck with me.â Katsukiâs eyes flashed at your declaration, and he bounded excitedly over to you.
âIs that a challenge, princess? Because you know I always win whenever I set my mind to a goal,â he said grabbing you and throwing you over his shoulder with ease. You wiggled and hit his back, but to no avail.
âPut me down, you lout! I need to put the bread in the oven!â you complained, but he paid you no mind, instead throwing you down on his couch with a laugh.
âThere you go, down, just like you asked.â You shook your head, moving to get up, but Katsuki grabbed your leg. âIf youâre bored enough to make bread, why donât we watch a movie or something? Iâll be honest with you since you canât go and tell anyone else; Iâm just as bored as you are. Iâd kill to be out on patrol right now. Hell, Iâd even file the paperwork after.â
Thatâs how you know heâs serious. Youâve worked with Katsuki long enough to know (to the eternal irritation of his secretaries) that he never fills out any paperwork unless absolutely necessary. So if heâs bored enough to do paperwork, he must be bored out of his mind. Of course, being in the same boat yourself, you canât exactly make fun of him. And a movie might be nice.
âI guess we could do something, but I really do want to finish the bread first. You arenât the only person in the apartment who can use an oven, you know,â you replied.
âI would hope not, since weâll both be eating that and Iâm not about to eat some shitty bread,â said Katsuki. âI pay for this apartment. Donât waste my ingredients.â
âLike you would let me leave this apartment, no matter how much shitty bread I make. But Iâll admit that you were right, I am baking because Iâm bored, just as much as you,â you disclosed reluctantly, not wanting him to think that you were unsatisfied with the apartment or his company when it was really nothing but the opposite.
âIâm always right, princess. You should know that by now at least.â He grinned, restraining you more tightly. The black tank top was really doing nothing to keep you from feeling the contours of his muscles. He was strong, no doubt about it. If he really wanted, he could keep you trapped here against him for as long as he wanted. Not that he ever would. Perhaps the only thing equal to his strength was his kindness, though he would kill you if he ever caught you thinking anything along those lines. You kept getting drawn into all these weird thoughts all of a sudden! His fault, of course, for being so clingy.
âWhat you are is sweaty, you lout! Go take a shower or something and stop making me all gross and sweaty just like you,â you fired back, to his amusement.
âAlright, alright, fair point. Guess I could use a shower. But seriously, do something with me. I feel like Iâm going crazy here!â he whined. You had to sympathize with him. And you could have much worse company.
âOk, we can do whatever, your pick, as long as you let me make this damn bread first. Iâm not about to let you spoil all my hard work!â Katsuki let you go, nodding.
âFair enough, I can take that shower you were bitching about while you finish up. But if I really get to pick weâre not just going to watch some dumb movie. You and I are going to swim in the pool. If I spent all this damn money on the shitty thing and never use it Iâm going to be pissed.â You agreed happily. You had wanted to use the pool for a while, but you had never quite taken up the opportunity. You rushed back to the kitchen to finish your bread and put it in the oven.
Katsuki was done with his shower while there was about ten minutes left on the timer for the bread. He offered to keep an eye on it while you grabbed your swimsuit, which was just fine with you. At the very least, if the bread turned out horrible you could blame him at least a little. You rummaged through your drawers for your swimsuits, trying to think of the last time you had gone swimming. It was a while ago; Takumi had never really liked the water and so you never really went, seeing as all your free time was spent with him. Did you even have a swimsuit anymore? No way, you had to have a swimsuit, right? Right?
By the time the timer went off in the kitchen, you had accepted the fact that you just didnât own a swimsuit, and would have to disappoint your friend. You moved slowly to the kitchen.
âDamn, well if you donât look like someone ran over your childhood pet!â You shook your head sadly.
âI donât have a swimsuit, Katsuki,â you said. He almost seemed to glare at you, bewildered.
âWhat do you mean you donât have a swimsuit? Everyone has a swimsuit,â he asked in confusion.
âNot me. I just donât have one. Iâm really sorry, but it looks like I canât go swimming with you tonight.â You felt awful. He had seemed genuinely excited to finally show you the swimming pool, and you had ruined his plan.
âDumbass, just borrow mine. Youâll be fine.â
âI canât just wear swimming trunks, Katsuki, are you insane?â He quickly cut you off.
âCalm down, you can just wear a pair of trunks and an old shirt, youâre overthinking things by a mile. Whoâs going to see you? Itâs just me.â Thatâs right. Itâs just Katsuki. He doesnât give a crap what you wear. You nod your assent weakly, and he quickly grabs you what he said he would.
You change in your room, pulling the drawstrings of the trunks tight to secure it. Even though the shirt was fresh, it still smelled a bit like him, all warm and smoky and comforting. You stepped out of the room, only to see him missing. He had likely headed up to the pool and you decided to join him.
Your guess had been correct, he was already submerged in the pool. The sun had sunk while you finished the bread, and faint stars glimmered through the windows while the moon shone down, reflecting off of the faintly rippling waters. Katsuki sat against the wall, and grinned brightly at you.
âSee, what did I tell you? You look fine.â You looked more than fine to him. Seeing you wearing his clothes made him feel oddly warm, despite the slight coolness of the pool. As you carefully descended the steps, the hem of the shirt soaked up water quickly, clinging to the curves of your body in a way that was almost more revealing than it would have been if you had simply foregone the shirt. He knew he was staring, but he couldnât help himself. You just looked too good in the moonlight, wearing his clothes like you had on the very day you arrived. He was feeling that weird pull in his chest again. Either he should never lend you anything ever again, or he should only ever let you wear his clothes again. He could definitely pay the people who did the laundry to âaccidentallyâ burn all of your clothes. Yeah, that was a weird thing to think about. He wouldnât ever want to force you to do anything. If you wore his clothes, he wanted it to be of your own free will.
The two of you swam mostly in silence under the half moon, but neither of you minded. The presence of the other was all that you needed, and when you finally went to be, you both felt recharged, and deeply grateful for the otherâs presence right now.
That night, you feel asleep rather quickly. Katsuki, however, fell asleep less easily. Though he felt well at ease, for some reason, he kept getting distracted by thoughts of you. Remembering that you were only one room away finally helped him sleep, and when he finally did, you were in all his dreams as well.
