could we get a bakugou x quiet reader?
Bakugou x Quiet Reader (gender neutral)
college AU - fluff
Before you, even during the rare moments of silence he was gifted, he was far from relaxed. It made his skin crawl with the need to pop the bubble of stillness that was closing in on him. He didn’t like it, and was often the reason it didn’t last very long.
This was why he was so confused by his desire to be close to you.
Bakugou's life was loud. His quirk was quite literally explosive, causing many problems, including the small devices he had nestled in his ears whenever he wasn’t training.
Bakugou’s friends were loud; Kirishima, despite how much he loved the guy, was a lot to be around sometimes, Denki was annoying, and even Mina got on his nerves occasionally. Midoriya, always buried in his notes and completely unaware of the world around him, mumbled to himself at what would normally be an average speaking volume. The two got along much better now, but that habit still drove him crazy.
Bakugou’s family was loud. At least his father knew when to shut up, but that was only as a result of his mom’s constant screaming.
It was obvious to everyone that you brought Bakugou the first bit of true peace he had ever experienced. He chose to remain wholly unaware of the effect you had on him.
Before you, even during the rare moments of silence he was gifted, he was far from relaxed. It made his skin crawl with the need to pop the bubble of stillness that was closing in on him. He didn’t like it, and was often the reason it didn’t last very long.
This was why he was so confused by his desire to be close to you.
You were quiet, preferring comfortable silence to forced conversation, often busying yourself with drawing or reading with headphones on. It was everything that usually would have caused an anxiety spike, yet he was more often than not by your side as you sketched or turned the pages of your newest borrow from the campus library.
-
One cool, spring morning, he found himself at a small table, watching you read from where he lay his head atop his crossed arms on the table. You had welcomed him with a smile and small wave as he approached, gesturing towards the seat across from you. There were no loud or enthusiastic greetings, no sarcastic shock at seeing him around others without caving in their skulls, and most importantly, no expectations. He knew it was a simple offer that carried no threat if he were to reject your invitation. It was a suggestion made by a friend with no ulterior motives, and Bakugou couldn’t recall a time he had said no to you.
You turned the pages of your book slowly, as though trying to absorb every word, and Bakugo wondered what music played in your headphones. Was it something soft to help you focus? Your favorite metal band? Something that made you want to move and dance with every beat? He liked guessing, and today he supposed it wasn’t music at all; waves gently rolling against your ear drums as they danced with the sand.
At one point you paused to pointedly flatten a dog-eared page, your lips pulling into a slight frown at the damage from a past loan.
Bakugou wondered if you knew that there were several cherry petals in your hair, and whether you would look at him weirdly if he reached out to brush them from your crown.
You were the first time that silence was comfortable for Bakugou. It allowed him to match your breathing and contemplate how it affected your heartbeat. Was yours prominent? If he rested his hand at the side of your neck, how long would it take for the rhythm of his own to slow to match yours?
He was suddenly aware of your gaze on him, ears tinting pink at the soft smile that pulled at your features.
“Bakugou?”
“Katsuki,” he corrected, voice slightly husky from how little he had used it during the past few hours. Wait, hours? When had it been that long?
You mimicked him, and his name falling from your lips caused him to jolt, nearly shooting upright. He focused hard on slowly rising from his relaxed position.
“You have something on your mind,” he stated.
“Mina approached me this morning.”
Katsuki raised an eyebrow and waited for you to continue.
“To be honest, I was surprised to see her up and out of the dorms; she usually sleeps until around eleven. Well, as far as I know, she’s officially on campus at eleven…”
“You don’t call her Ashido,” he interrupted sharply, choosing to ignore how well you seemed to know her schedule and instead focus on the name you used.
You blinked in slight shock at the harshness in his tone.
Shit.
“She asked me to,” you said, tone slightly defensive. “We were partners for a group project last term.”
Katsuki made an effort to keep his voice level, “That’s how you know her schedule.”
You nodded, discomfort fading from your face as his anger did.
“You had something to say. I interrupted you.” That was the closest anyone would get to a casual apology from Katsuki Bakugou.
You smiled at his admission, “Oh, right! I saw Mina and she said something kind of weird.”
Katsuki went back to resting his head on crossed arms as you continued, his eyes sliding shut as the morning became brighter.
“She thought it was weird how quiet you are around me,”one of his eyes opened and looked at you intently, “Well, actually she said ‘calm’, but that’s beside the point.”
“And?”
“It got me thinking. I don't bore you too much, do I?” you asked, doubt clouding your expression.
His other eye opened, and he leveled his gaze with yours, “Why would you be too boring?”
You laughed nervously, “I don't know, it just seems like you’re always going, going, going, and I just… exist.”
“I know,” he buried his face back in his arms. “I like it,” he muttered, just loud enough for you to hear.
You reached across the table to gently push back the hair that fell over his eyes. He didn't open them but mumbled, “What’re you doing…”
You sighed, smiling, “Just wanted to see your face.”
Katsuki felt the tip of his ears warm ferociously. “Whatever.”