too close
anime: my hero academia
character: bakugou katsuki
summary: bakugou pushes away y/n after having enough of her good deeds. after realising just how much he missed her around him, he tries to get her back.
warnings: afab! reader, she/her pronouns, third person pov
"Hey, Bakugou!" Y/N calls out, stepping up to him and halting at his side. The boy looked down at her, a raised brow and uninterested expression showing on his face. He sighs out, hands in his pockets, "What is it, Y/N?" The girl scratches her neck, tilting her head to the side.
She felt nervous under his gaze, even though he had gathered enough courage to walk up to him just moments ago. She mutters, "W—Well... it's just that we have dinner ready. You've been out here for a while now, so I imagine that you're hungry."
It was true; Bakugou took his sweet time outside of the dormitory building to think over some hero things. He only had so much time before the end of the year would roll around.
So here he was, leaning against the lightpole and trying to seem irritated by Y/N's presence beside him.
Bakugou sucked in his breath, looking away from the shorter girl before saying, "I'm fine out here, so you can go back inside, Sweetheart." The way he said it sounded like a League of Villain's member mocking the Pro Hero.
Anybody else would've scowled and shot back an insult. God knows that Kaminari would have easily just annoyed him further. However, Y/N just pushed that aside.
It was known that Bakugou liked to act rude towards his colleagues, perhaps that's what he was doing. Y/N drops her hand from her neck, shrugging her shoulders and nodding her head. "Oh, right. Well, I'll leave a bowl out on the table for you, just in case you decide that you want to eat. Everybody else is in the main room, we'll be going to bed in about 20 minutes."
She waits for a reply from the blonde. But silence just responds to her, making a frown appear on her face. Bakugou sends her a side glance, catching her disappointed expression. She turns around, arm slightly brushing against his before she sighs, "Goodnight, Bakugou."
Without another thought, she closes the door behind her and makes her way up to her dorm.
Outside, Bakugou was trying to figure out his thoughts. What was meant by that, was the comments Kirishima was making over text.
The soft-hearted hardening quirk user, who had witnessed Y/N's attempts to get closer with Bakugou, was trying to reason with the explosive blonde. The messages from Kirishima was beginning to irritate Bakugou foolishly.
To: Bakugou
From: ShittyHair
Subject: HEY I SAW THAT!!!
'You shouldn't act so cold towards her! She is only trying to help you!'
To: ShittyHair
From: Bakugou
Subject: Mind your own business
'Oh shut up, she's just going to get in my way. It'd be fucking great if I leave her alone.'
Kirishima sat on the couch closest to the window where Bakugou and Y/N's scene unfolded. He rolled his eyes at his best friend.
To: Bakugou
From: ShittyHair
Subject: You can be such a baby dude
'It's best if you actually try to react and become friends with her. Bakugou, she clearly thinks so much of you to actually keep on trying to talk with you.'
'If it were anyone else, they would've stopped trying on the third attempt. But she isn't just anybody else; she clearly likes you enough to not do that. So at least try to talk properly with her.'
Bakugou just shakes his head, sending a glare at his screen. He quickly types in a response.
To: ShittyHair
From: Bakugou
Subject: Mind your own business #2
'She's just another one of Kaminari's friends, she isn't that freaking important.'
A small smirk appears on Kirishima's face.
To: Bakugou
From: ShittyHair
Subject: I call BS
'Bakugou, I know you. You don't think that about her, just admit it.'
'You like her! You just don't think she'll like you like that!'
Bakugou growls at the words. He grips his phone so hard that the edge of it might be digging into his bone. But he could feel the warmth on his cheeks easily. He sighs, deciding that it was too late to argue with Kirhsima.
To: ShittyHair
From: Bakugou
Subject: Mind your own business #3
'It's not that, idiot. You think I don't know that she likes me? She's not very good at hiding that fact."
Kirishima half-grins. He places his chin in his palm as he types in his response.
To: Bakugou
From: ShittyHair
Subject: AWWWWWW
'Who knew you had such a hard time in the Game of Love?'
Bakugou looks at the clock, which was nearing his usual bed time. Today, everybody was put to hard training, so most students were already passed out. Bakugou made his way inside again.
He sees that Y/N did just what she said. There is still food on the table. Bakugou stares at it for a moment, thinking to himself. Why does she continue to do all these things? She couldn't possible have feelings for him, even with everything she'd done.
Bakugou went upstairs, ignoring the plate.
In the Morning . . .
Bakugou passed the the closed doors in the hallways. Kirishima was beside him, seeming to have forgotten of last night's scenes. The blonde shoved his hands into his pockets, ready to place his foot on the floor down. Until another voice caught his attention. From Kaminari's room.
"Denki, I'm not so sure about that." Y/N says, voice muffled from the wall separating the two in the room from Bakugou himself. He halts his movements, hand gripping the fabric of his sweatpants.
"The Hell is she doing in Dunce Face's room? She isn't stupid enough to get that wrong, is she?" He growls. Kirishima smirks at him. He pats his shoulder and says, "Don't be so jealous, Bakugou." The said boy shoves Kirishima's hands off of him. Bakugou scoffs back, "Why would I be jealous of that moron?"
Before Kirishima can say anything back to him, Kaminari responds to Y/N, "Hey, we both know that girls just love scary movies! Having someone to hang onto, distract you from all the jumpscares." Bakugou faces the wooden door, seeing two shadows creeping from the little sliver of space underneath it.
He hears Y/N mutter back, "I'm not afraid of that much! Mr Aizawa has been training me real good to get my scared levels to a minimum!" Bakugou can almost feel the smile on her face. But Kaminari only laughs, voice dipping to a near whisper but loud enough for Bakugou to hear from his moving spot directly in front of the door. "Y/N... what about him? Aren't you scared of him and what he'll say?"
There's a silence, meaning that Y/N was contemplating her friend's words. Bakugou nearly presses his ear to the wood, catching Y/N's attempts in finding words to respond well with. Kirishima has to hold in his laughs, going on without him to the common room.
The girl stutters, "Denki, you—you don't know what could happen... He could be a, um — just trying to 'figure me out' or 'get used to me'. I am not scared of what he'll say..."
There's footsteps and the two shadows meet. He can hear a pat of clothing, like someone placing a hand on a shoulder.
"If you're that sure, then I'll let it be. You're my strong Y/N anyways!"
Bakugou feels his heartbeat quicken as Y/N hums back a reply and says she's going to start on breakfast breakfast. Bakugou rushes towards the end of the hall, making it four steps quickly down before the bedroom door swings open and Y/N is staring down at him.
"Morning, Bakugou." She smiles, closing the door behind her and passing him down the hall. He glances at her, raised brow and hands in pockets.
"What the Hell is wrong with you?" He murmurs, Y/N looks back up at him from a few feet away. She answers, "Oh, nothing. I'm just on my way to make breakfast. Do you want anything?"
The realisation hits him like a bullet to the liver — no, to the heart. He felt his breathing go ragged as he remembered the dinner he left on the table last night. The one she saved for him. He didn't know why, but for some reason he feared the sight of her seeing his still full plate on the table, untouched.
He comes back to his thoughts, seeing Y/N tilt her head and face him fully. "Bakugou? Are you day dreaming?" She sends a small smile as he makes his way down the hall and around the girl, walking into the elevator.
He growla, "I'm not, calm down. I'll just have whatever." Y/N follows him, giving off a small giggle. Bakugou makes in into to kitchen once the elevator stops as Y/N goes into the common room to ask what everybody wants. Bakugou gulps, spotting his plate and walking over to it, hiding behind his back before Y/N could see.
"Okay, I'm just going to make Kaminari's favourite since nobody can decide otherwise." She states, getting the ingredients out and preparing a few things. She rolls up her sleeves and looks over to Bakugou, who was awkwardly standing in his place, hands behind his back.
She tilts her head, wrapping an apron around her neck and waist before asking, "What's wrong? You can sit down if you like." He gulps, clutching the plate tightly in his hands.
"I—I know, I'm not stupid. I just wanna' stand, is that a crime?" He retorts, making her smile and turn around to cut some ingredients. She heats up the stove, putting in the first few ingredients before chopping some more. Bakugou takes the chance to slowly walk to the other room with the plate, eager to hide it. A few steps later, the floorboard creaks and Y/N looks over to Bakugou.
"Hey, why're you acting so strange?" She questions, turning down the heat of the stove. She places a hand on her hip as Bakugou keeps the plate behind him. "I'm not doing anything! You're just stupid!" He argues as she steps closer.
He takes a step back. This continues until the plate is nearly digging into the wall and Bakugou is leaning away from Y/N.
She warily tries to look behind him, not catching a glimpse. "Bakugou, come on, I won't get mad." She states, crossing her arms. He holds his breath, taking a moment before showing her the plate.
A frown is placed on her face. "So you didn't eat?" She questions, taking the bowl in her hands.
"No, I didn't."
"Did you not like what me and Tsuyu made?" She asks, staring down at the untouched food. Bakugou sighs out, leaning against the wall, "It didn't look like trash. I just... didn't want to eat, okay?"
She glances up at him, a frown on her face still. She hums, stepping away, "Right... You didn't need to hide it, you know. You could've just told me."
She tries to look convincing, but it was obvious she was hurt by his actions. However she was right.
Why did he feel the need to hide something so small from her? It's not like she was bawling her eyes out. No, she was just a little disappointed. So... why was there this heavy pain in his chest?
"Is there something you don't like about me, Bakugou?" She asks.
The question stumps him. He searches through the drawers of times she's annoyed him. But for some reason, he can't bring himself to say that he hated them.
He kinda' liked the way she would always offer him something before everyone else. He kinda' liked the way she would give him all the attention. He kinda' liked the way she kept coming back to him.
A small almost appeared on his lips.
Almost.
Perhaps he was being too greedy.
"You are a liability." He states bluntly, crossing his arms.
Y/N raises her brows and repeats, "'Liability'?" She shrugs her shoulders, not exactly understanding the point Bakugou was making. And that just make him more irritated. He retorts, "Yes, a liability. You know what that is, right?"
She frowns a bit. "Of course I do, Bakugou. What do you take me for?" Her voice was a bit harsh, but she realises it and breathes in. "I just don't understand how I am a liability." She brushes her feet against the floor, trying to ease off the confusion. But Bakugou only rolls his eyes.
"Sure, you cook and know how to use your quirk to a mediocre level, but seriously... could you really help in a fight?" He questions. Y/N opens her mouth to retort, furrowed brows. But as much as she wanted to, she couldn't answer back.
Bakugou goes on, "I've seen our classmates risk their lives for many people in many occasions. But you the most." Y/N widens her eyes at his words.
"People will always hurt you and most of our class will always turn a blind eye and save you." He points to the living room, where the rest of Class 1-A remained unknowing of the conversation. "Don't you see that, Sweetheart?"
She clenches her fists at her sides. "I—I do, but it's not like I don't try to help back." She was getting a little mad. Which was rare when she talked to Bakugou. "I don't just stand there like an idiot, I do whatever I can. My quirk is useful." She states. Her little pride makes Bakuhou smirk.
He retorts, "Useful is you can use it like a Pro. You can't. You can't do a lot, Dumbass, face it." Y/N pouts a little, nearly crossing her arms as she looks to the wall beside them. Bakugou tilts his head, walking a step closer to her. "Can you save our classmates? Can you escape a kidnapping? Can you kill someone? Even if it means that so many others will live?"
Y/N doesn't respond to his questions. Bakugou sighs out, annoyed, "They won't always be there to help you. You have to learn to fend for yourself."
Bakugou was holding himself back. He knew it himself, he did it on purpose. He half listened to Kirishima's words that were telling him to try better. He had to say something that would graze her heart, not yet pinning it down.
He could've been a lot more harsher.
"You would be much more of a help if you left me alone."
He could've been a lot less harsher.
Y/N turns around immediately, lifting her shoulders. She moves to the bench and puts the plate down, staying like that for a second before turning back around to Bakugou.
He was nervous.
"I see. Well, I'm just going to finish up breakfast and then I'll be... busy." She states, going back to doing what she was before. Bakugou stays leaning against the wall, following her movements with his eyes. He could see that she wanted to say something more.
She wanted to argue back again. She had never been one to just let things slide. Bakugou's seen her bicker with Iida about which store had the best meats and vegetables. But this was different; as if she didn't want to fight with him.
The scraping of the pan takes his mind as she finishes up her chore, putting it on two plates and then placing them on the table. She stares down at her hands before taking her apron off and putting it back where she got it. "Excuse me, Kiri..." She mumbles, moving around Kirishima who stood beside in the entrance. He had heard their conversation and finally decided to show himself.
Without another word, Y/N heads upstairs.
Bakugou slowly moves to sit at the table. His posture was slacked. He acted as if he was an even moodier teenager. His shoulders slouched, feet dragged along the floor and the loud noises he made without caring of everybodh else filling the eating area. But the weight on his chest never left.
He wasn't supposed to like her. So why was he so... what's the word?
"Guilty." Kirishima pointed out, sitting beside him, "You feel guilty. I told you, dude, you should've listen to me instead of trying to hurt her."
"I don't care."
"Oh my God, that wasn't very manly of—"
"Shut up."
Footsteps are heard against the floor. Bakugou shoots up from his spot, hoping to catch a glimpse of the beautiful H/C girl, but instead he's met with the electric boy and invisible girl.
Kaminari asks, "Hey, where's Y/N?"
Bakugiu breathes in, hope washing away. He quickly picks himself up as Sero retorts, "Oh, L/N? She went back upstairs, told us to eat without her because she needed to do something." Kaminari groaned on, saying how meals tasted better with all your friends around.
Bakugou wasn't listening. He was imagining what Y/N was doing.
The next time he sees her is when Kaminari announces that they're leaving to talk to Mr Aizawa about the training room. It was only supposed to be Kaminari, Midoriya and Y/N. But Bakugou wanted to go too.
He scoffs, "Why can't I come? I just want to train, what's so freaking wrong about that?" Kaminari rolls his eyes, tugging on his black jacket. Iida looks to Y/N as he opens the door. Y/N pulls her hair up into an up-do and faces away from Bakugou, walking towards Kaminari and Iida by the exit.
"Please, calm down. It's just extra training. L/N has asked Kaminari to help her practice and I'm sure Mr Aizawa will be more persuaded to allow us the usuage of the training block with me supervising. Is that a problem?"
The other blonde has no response. Bakugou squints his eyes at Kamiari before turning his gaze to Y/N. She looks away, moving closer to Kaminari. She stands behind him, hand resting on his arm as she looks at the ground. Bakugou ticks back, "Whatever. If I hear you made us miss out of training tomorrow, you're all dead!"
Kaminari turns around, walking through the door. "Oh please, everyone knows you wouldn't hurt Y/N." He taunts before looking over his shoulder to Bakugou, a cold glare disguised by a smile towards him. "Right?"
The look sent light shivers up Bakugou's back. He gulps a little, turning his head down. He doesn't say anything else as Kaminari leads the other two outside. Iida places a hand on the top of Y/N's shoulder and slightly pushes her through the door. Bakugou glares at the gesture.
"I can feel the anger radiating off of you." Kirishima chimes, a smile on his face as he stood behind Bakugou. The angered boy ignores him, hearing the door shut. He hated the feeling in his stomach. How much he wanted to cut Iida's hand off. How much he wanted to just pull Y/N away from him. It was amazing how long it took for him to see that he was...
"Well, look at that." Kirishima chuckles, chin in his hand, "Now should I call this version of you 'Jealous Bakugou'?" He scowls back in return, walking back towards the kitchen. "Shut the Hell up. I've got better things to do." His eyes fall onto the empty plate on the table. His empty plate on the table.
Why couldn't he just be nice to her? It isn't that hard. He could've finished his dinner like he did with breakfast. But no, he decided to be an asshole.
The Next Day . . .
Y/N was sitting on the couch, talking with Mina, Kaminari and Jirou about home and memories and what they'd do once they finish their internship.
It was a light hearted conversation. Y/N was actually laughing along with her friends. Jirou would roll her eyes from the separate couch she sat on, Mina would clap her hand as she giggled beside Y/N and Kamiari would place his hand on Y/N's shoulder, laughing too.
It was very comfortable.
And it would be just perfect if Bakugou didn't come stomping into the room with his gaze set on Y/N.
She was currently looking up at Kaminari, Y/N smiling widely with rosy cheeks as he mentioned one of her 'cutest moments'. A huge weight fell on Bakugou's chest. He walked up to them, standing directly in front of Y/N as she opened her eyes and stared up at him.
The giggles halted as Jirou and Mina shared a glance before turning to Y/N. She played with her hands. "What is it, Bakugou?" She was no longer cheery when she spoke to him. More monotone and eyes averted. It made him frown a little.
"I just want to talk to you, Idiot. It won't take too much of your precious time." He states, making Y/N gulp. She looks up at Kaminari, who shrugs his shoulders. The way she looked for his opinion kind of irked Bakugou. He holds out a hand to her. "Come on, it's just a conversation."
Y/N sighs, standing up and ignoring the hand being presented to her as help. As she walked towards the door, Bakugou dismissed how she reacted to not taking his offer. He followed her, closing the door behind them.
It was silent at first. It was midday and others were walking down the path, every few minutes a group stroll drive by, having training sessions. People were going along with their day like nothing was happening.
"Why are you so close with him now?" Bakugou asks, a softer voice. Y/N turns her head to look up to him where he was leaning against the wooden post. He refuses to meet her eye, just staring at the path in front of them as silence passes. Y/N responds, "I've always been close to them."
She didn't know who exactly Bakugou who talking about, so she tried her best to get him to say it.
He rolls his eyes. "Oh please, don't give me that, Sweetheart." He sighs out, facing the opposite building to them, "Tell me the truth... Is this payback?"
Y/N's brows furrow a bit. She makes her bidy turn to him fully, crossed arms over her chest. She asks, "What are you talking about? 'Payback'?"
He nods his head, biting his lip. "You think that I don't see you cling onto him more?" Y/N furrows her brows, uncrossing her arms with a still confused look on her face.
Bakugou goes on, "It's literally been onlybtwo days and you can't seem to be in a room without him. Hell, I could hear him on the phone with you last night! You know how much stupidity I claimed from that conversation?"
He shakes his head and scratches his cheek. "You can barely stand to be apart from him! Is that what you used to do to me?" He squeezes his arm in his hands.
"Try to hold my hand, link our arms together... How come I never knew this? And why am I getting so freaking pissed over it?" Bakugou runs a hand through his hair. He's so angry with himself.
"I don't know what to say, Bakugou. Really, I don't..."
He gives her a look, finally. She's holding the same innocent, confused expression. She looked so cute, it was hurting Bakugou.
He growled, "Ugh! Stop doing that! Right now!" He places his hands on her cheeks, squishing them a bit before pinching them. Y/N makes a small noise. "H—Hey! What did I do now? Stop hurting me, I'm just listening to you!" She claims, hands gripping his wrists. He leans forward as she did so backwards.
"You're—You're making that face at me! Don't do that anymore! Or I won't stop pinching your cheeks!" He retorts, stepping more closer to her.
The tips of their shoes touch as Y/N grumbles back, "It's not my fault, Bakugou! Blame my parents! It's just the way my face is! What, want me to wear a mask all the time?"
That would be easier for Bakugou. That way, he wouldn't feel his heart beat too hard for her mere smile.
"Why are you pinching my cheeks so hard? I'm gonna have marks now..." She closes her eyes as Bakugou pinches her again. She's stopped her restraints, still holding his wrists. The pretty scene makes Bakugou stop his actions mid way and just stare at her.
Her cheeks were slightly pinker, brows knitted and eyelashes falling on her skin with a small pout on her lips.
He groans, "Because you fucking—! You're making me wish for something I never had! You're making me want something I left behind! You're just... just..." He trails off, fingers releasing Y/N's reddened cheeks from his torture. His shoulders slump and his head is leaning down.
Y/N widens her eyes, gripping his wrists tighter. "Bakugou, what's wrong? Why won't you just tell me properly?" She requests, head leaning a bit back as Bakugou's head drove into her shoulder. His hair brushes against her cheek and she stops her movements.
"I freaking... hate you." Bakugou whispers, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and another trapping her waist.
His actions were so contradictory to his words. It stumped Y/N.
She dropped her jaw a bit before hooking her arms around his neck, gripping the back of his shirt tightly. They were silence for a while.
"You're an asshole, Katsuki."
Bakugou thought he had heard her wrong. First, she had just insulted him, an 'asshole' of all things. Second, she just used his first name. Why did it sound like Heaven on earth to Bakugou?
Y/N digs her head into his shoulder and neck. "I can't believe you. Bakugou Katsuki, Class 1-A's stone-cold student. All this time, I thought I was doing these things for nothing. That you wouldn't return my feelings at all, but now look at us."
She laughs, feeling Bakugou tug her closer, "Someone who didn't try at all, and someone who tried way too much. You're such an asshole for making me wait this long."
Bakugou closes his eyes. He could imagine the smile on her face. "Well, it would've been so much freaking easier if you stopped looking at me like I was your source of life."
Y/N breathes in, rubbing his shoulders. "Sorry I guess."
He pulls away a bit, sheepishly looking at the ground. "Does... Does this mean that we're okay?" Y/N takes a moment to think. She's been trying so hard to get Bakugou to talk to her properly. And here he was, asking if they were alright.
Without another word, she leans up on her toes and puts her lips over his. She grips his hand, the other palm on his shoulder. She tilts her head and closes her eyes, feeling complete when Bakugou begins to kiss back.
He holds his arm around her waist and pulls her closer, squeezing his eyes shuf he felt as if when he opened his eyes he would witness her disappear. But Y/N pulled away, making the both of them open their eyes. Bakugou was wrong. She was still here.
Y/N left a hand on his cheek. "We're okay now, Katsuki. As long are you promise to be more open with me?" Bakugou nods his head, leaning his forehead against hers. He hums, "I will, Y/N. I will." He presses a kiss to her nose.
"Trust me, Sweetheart."
The way he said it sounded really genuine.
