Chapter Text
…
Katsuki shot up that Sunday morning, scream choked off in his throat. Sheets singed. His lungs were burning.
Breath.
He panicked. He wasn't breathing-
The moment he closed his eyes. He saw it, saw him- he brought a hand over his heart, and grabbed onto his bare chest. He felt his pulse race under his hand. It was there. He was fine.
He was fine.
All that was left was a giant scar. And a figurative hole in his chest, even of the physical one, had been filled by EdgeShot and Best Jeanist.
He needed to get out. Out of his house, out of this box, out of his head.
He couldn't remember any of the techniques he'd learned from the shrink-
He threw on a burnt orange shirt and some jeans. Not caring enough to wash his face or brush his hair. He reached for his keys and slammed his door, down the stares-he refused to take an elevator-and into his private parking spot.
He got into his cherry red corvette and just drove;
How long had he been driving?
He didn't even realize he was heading to your café until he pulled into the parking lot.
He paused, forehead on the steering wheel, and took a breath.
1, 2, 3, 4…
A heavy exhale.
He got out, hands in his pockets to hide how they shook, and went inside. The little bell on the door jingled. He heard you humming a mildly familiar toon. It was calming.
You looked up, your hazel eyes shining as you smiled at him, your humming stopped. He strided up to the front counter.
You were wearing the bracelet you had on when he first met you over a week ago.
It has a shell on it-
“Hey, Good Morning!” He looked down a little and huffed. Not a good morning per se. But…
“Mornin” he grumbled.
…
“Mornin"
If you didn't know any better you thought that Bakagou looked a little down. More… sedated.
His hair looked more disheveled and spiky than usual, and he was wearing a t-shirt despite it being early spring and still cold out. Your eyes drifted to his uncovered arms…
So many scars…
He was closer to you now. You had to knock yourself out of your thoughts.
“D-do you just want your usual?” Piercing red eyes looked at you-with a little less fire-and he grunted a ‘yeah’.
He paid for his coffee and sat at the table in the corner as he did the first time he came.
No ear buds today…
You'd never seen him without them. It made you wonder what kind of music he liked.
Making his coffee on auto-pilot but still making sure it's as good as the previous times you've made it for him, you make quick work of it.
Oh, you forgot to get a cup. You reached over and got one but paused when you were about to write his name. Settling on something else, you go for it.
You weren't supposed to work today, it was Sunday. But at this point you were glad Marla hadn't come today.
…
Blankly staring out the window, Katsuki didn't notice your presence until you were close to him. He was losing his edge.
Did I miss my name?
“I didn't call your name, I just decided to bring it to you today.” You answered, as if he'd said the question out loud. He didn't.
You gently set the coffee cup down with a soft smile. Not a bright or pitying, just-
Understanding…
You turned and went back to the counter. His eyes trailed after you, looking at the square neckline on the back of your short flowery dress with a long sleeve and leggings underneath. And that light pink apron covered in flour…
He looked at the coffee, and today it wasn't his name.
‘I hope your day gets better :)’
A handwritten note with a little smiley face.
He looked at you again, your bright and soft smile, and his ears grew warm as he took a drink of his hot black coffee.
…
You hope your message lifted Bakuagou's spirits.
You were in your small apartment above your quaint and calm bakery. The sun was almost fully set and you had just eaten dinner.
You had an early day tomorrow.
A cake order you had to make for a large party was needed the next morning. It was a three tiered cake. You had baked the sponge this evening but didn't have time to prepare frosting or decorations. Especially with an employee out today.
You sighed.
Tomorrow morning will be long.
But your mind was elsewhere. Your thoughts were filled with a head of spiky blonde hair, piercing crimson eyes, and down turned lips.
What could have happened to make him upset?
It really was none of your business, but you couldn't help but wonder.
You smiled absentmindedly.
He had quickly become one of your favorite regulars at your Café.
You close your eyes that night to thoughts of a snarky grin that you'd only seen on a screen and didn't want to admit how much you wanted to see in person.
…
Monday.
The next morning was as you had thought the night before, very busy.
Did you have flour on your face???
By the time it was seven-thirty in the morning you were ready to go back to bed. You'd been up since 4am, typical for a bakery. But still exhausting.
You were so tired after Mrs. Takahashi came for her daughter's cake that you felt-and looked-dead on your feet.
At least the cake was super cute.
The request for the decor was girly and pink. So you threw some bows on there for good measure and you were super happy with the outcome. It was a type of cake you wouldn't have minded for yourself, with a few tweaks of course.
Your eyes were heavy. You didn't even hear the little bell jingle, or the distinct stomp of your favorite blonde customer walking in.
“Oi, are you falling asleep on the job?” You startled and shot up, you didn't even realize you were leaning on the glass display case, eyes closed.
“Oh, Bakugou-” a yawn “-sorry, I didn't see you come in.” You looked at the clock. 8am. You frowned. You'd be here until noon at least, or until Marla could come.
“What's with that face?”
You turned to a scowling Bakugou. “It's nothing! Just tired, and wishing my shift was over.” A sigh, and a humorless, dry laugh. “Did you want your coffee today?”
He nodded and shoved his card towards you as you typed it on the register tablet. You took his card, and swiped it. You handed it back to him, grabbed a cup and turned to make his coffee.
You absentmindedly think that those were the most words he'd said to you at one time.
He stayed by the other counter where he'd receive his drink. He was looking at the display case.
“I'll take a pastry, too.”
You turned to him.
“m'kay, which one do you want?”
He looked away,
“Don't care, just pick one.”
You hummed. He wanted you to pick? Okay.
You finished his coffee and chucked a lid on it, pushing it his way. Going through the display case, and picking out a Chocolate-chili cupcake. You shoved it in a box and towards him. He tried to hand you his card.
“Nope. It's on the house.” You spoke, popping the ‘p’ on nope, leaning on the case with a little sass. You were too tired for decorum. Besides, that was actually you on a regular basis.
“Bye, Bakugou.” You smiled, voice slightly sing song, with a lazy wave. You turned when the bell rang to help the next customer.
He stood there for a second. Staring down at his cupcake. He looked at the case, the label.
Chocolate-chili cupcake?
How did you know that's exactly what he had his eye on?
…
The next time you saw Bakugou wasn't at your bakery. It was in Tokyo on Thursday. You hadn't seen him in a few days.
He was in his element, in his epic hero costume and as serious as ever. His signature scowl in place. Talking to a dark-haired middle-aged woman, who was dressed very professionally, and looking annoyed.
Huh, I wonder who that woman is?
He'd just stopped a villain who was trying to Quote on Quote “Take over Japan”
He was just shooting weak laser beams everywhere and laughing manically. Only one ever hit Dynamite, when he looked over at you. It cut his cheek. He was bleeding.
After that the man had tried to run and shoot his quirk at Dynamite but was taken down embarrassingly fast.
You'd actually seen the whole thing happen. Your poor car was right in the middle of it all, you were just trying to get your groceries home. But your vehicle had to be stuck in the middle of a fight.
Bakugou looked over and saw you, not looking the least bit surprised, but acknowledging you. You moved your grocery bags to one arm and gave a small wave.
He said something to the woman-his annoyed expression returning momentarily-who then stormed off, and he sauntered over to you.
“H-hey, Dynamite.” You smiled.
…
So you did know his hero name.
You were in regular clothes instead of an apron covered in flour, so he almost didn't recognize you. But your hair was still up like it normally was, so that made it easier.
You were still in pink as well, it seemed to be a color you wore often. Why did you always wear stuff with a low cut back? He noticed you had your hands full.
"What are ya doing in Tokyo?” He asked, voice rough from screaming at the villain just a few minutes ago.
You blinked and held up your bags. “Food.”
He shot you an annoyed look. “Obviously. I meant in a danger zone? That guy coulda hurt ya, I saw you watching the fight.”
You looked away bashfully and hoisted your grocery bags further up your arm. They were digging into your skin. “Well… I was, uh, just trying to get to my car!”
He raised an eyebrow. Okay, not at all convincing.
“I just wanted to see you fight, okay? You're like my favorite hero! And my car is actually over there!” You rushed out and turned red. Katsuki smirked.
“What, ya think I'm awesome? Ya like me somethin?” He teased. Leaning in and giving you his signature grin.
“So what if I do?” You challenged back, getting up into his face just like he did to you. You gave him a grin of your own and raised an eyebrow, the red in your face dying down.
He sputtered slightly and jolted upright. You gave a laugh at his misfortune. He scowled at you. Your eyes sparkling with mischief.
Sassy.
The thought made him grin.
One of the plastic handles on your bag snapped and dropped to the ground. A few cans clattered across the ground.
He ‘tsk'd and helped pick it up. You were struggling anyway. He took the bag.
“Oh! You don't have to-”
“Shut up, and let me carry it.” You stilled, then a slight smile. You looked into his eyes,
“Okay.”
His ears felt warm again. Your cheeks were still pink. He swallowed. He was still worked up from fighting.
“My car’s over there-” you pointed towards your car, that was in the middle of where he had just fought. But undamaged cuz he was just that good.“-would you mind helping?” You gestured to the bags. He grunted-took the majority from you-and began walking.
You seemed startled that he took almost all of them, like you just expected him to only take the one that had broken. As if. He doesn't do anything half way.
It's beside the fact that he wanted to-
“Are you ever gonna get anything other than a boring cup of black coffee? Or are you gonna let me make you a latte? Oh, Well, i forgot you consider cream and sugar ‘Bullcrap’.” You looked up at him, a slight teasing tone in your voice. And in your narrowed eyes, in your slight smirk.
He snorted. “It's good, it's Ethiopian.” He stated of factly-ly. your eyebrows raised.
“How did you know that? I've never told you.”
He scoffed. “I just guessed. An idiot would be able to tell.” You snorted. “No, they would not. I've never had one human being, in the four years my shop has been open, guess that our coffee beans are from Ethiopia. You're insane.” You sounded amused, and mildly impressed.
“Their taste buds must be dead.”
You shorted and choked on a laugh. He said that without a single ounce of feeling. covering your mouth, mirth dancing in your eyes.
He looked at you, you were turned away, laughing. A grin made its way onto his face.
You liked dry humor.
They made it to your car. You turned, in front of your white and black Subaru. “Thank you, for walking me to my car, Dynamite.”
You opened the side door and put your load inside, then reached out for his.
He noticed when you grazed his hand with yours. Sending a zing up his whole arm, all the way to his face. A slight shiver running through him.
What was that?
Your touch made his ears burn. He tried not to think about that.
He felt the cut on his face tingle. He half way wondered if it had something in it.
He croaked out a weak ‘sure’ at your thank you, and internally cursed himself for how feeble his voice sounded.
“See ya around?”
“Yeah..” He breathed.
“Bye, Dynamite.” You smiled, and got into your car and drove. He stared after you.
The heck was that?
He looked at his hand, then back at your car.
…
The drive back was nice. You felt bad that he was distracted by you during the fight and got hurt-you tried to convince yourself that was the only reason-so you healed him.
You hoped he wasn't mad. Your quirk made sure people could feel when they were being healed. Sort of like a zing or a tingle, all the way up to what needed healing.
It took energy out of you when you used it, but his cut was so small you didn't feel a thing.
You parked behind your bakery like you always did and entered the back door, one of two entrances into the staircase up to your apartment. The other was in the kitchen in your bakery downstairs.
You unlocked the door and shoved it open with your back, your arms were straining against several bags of groceries. And trying to grip onto the broken one with your fingers. Trying and failing not to drop it.
You shuffled them onto your countertop, hung up your keys and chucked off your shoes in the doorway. Tired and straining from the day, you flopped onto the couch.
You laid there, pillow under your head, and just breathed for a second. You smiled, reminiscing about your moment with Bakugou.
He had smirked at you just like he did on TV, he took most of your groceries and carried them like a gentleman to your car, and you'd let a little of your personality out with him today. It was fun.
You don't have many people in your life, most of your time was spent in the bakery. It's not that people didn't like you, you knew a lot of people did. but no one was close to you.
No one you could laugh with, or share your love of the color pink, or who wanted to be a hero just like you did-but couldn't.
Knowing Bakugou shared your dry humor, love of coffee, and hero's, made your heart feel warm.
Your face heated up.
Gosh, you'd said he was your favorite hero to his face!
You buried your head in a pillow in embarrassment.
…