Chapter Text
"Ah, snap."
You sighed out the less-than-profane exclamation, staring down at your hand with tired eyes.
A fresh scratch marked the area from your thumb to your wrist - a rather long one, this time.
You glanced to the box cutter in your other hand, narrowing your eyes because it was the culprit. Never really got the hang of it, as easy as opening boxes with it appeared to be from every tutorial video you'd watched.
Your work apron had been the previous victim of your ministrations, when your hand slipped and sliced open the fabric; you still had yet to repair it, and the slit now puckered and shifted as you walked around the store, putting away items and restocking shelves.
It wasn't the end of the world, you mused to yourself, watching a drop of blood ooze out of the injury with little fascination.
This turn of events happened surprisingly often when you were on the job, and your managers certainly picked up on it.
"You alright, hon?"
One of your particularly motherly managers came over, hands on her hips and grey hair frizzing out in every direction. Her mouth pinched into an expression of concern, and her brows were knitted together.
"Just a scratch," You said with a lopsided smile, "-gonna grab a bandage from the back real quick."
"You've got to be more careful." She said with that same stern tone that mothers always have, and you gave her a closed-eye smile.
"You say that every time."
"Because it's true!"
You simply laughed her off, waving as you pushed the swinging door to the backroom open, fumbling around for the first-aid kit in the manager's desk.
Sure, you might be green in some ways, but it made you all the more versatile.
New at most things, but a quick learner.
Being young had its advantages, too, and you certainly weren't squandering your finite time as a young adult.
Yanking a bandage out of its wrapper, you placed it over the flesh wound on your hand and admired your work.
Good as new.
Glancing at your inner arm, you grimaced.
Little scratches adorned your arms, red and enflamed from the irritation jagged cardboard edges had inflicted. Opening boxes all day proved more harmful than you'd expected, you thought to yourself with a little scoff.
Katsuki wouldn't be thrilled at the sight, you just knew.
He, like your managers, reprimanded you for being clumsy, not that you could do much to prevent it. You knew he was well aware of that fact, which was probably why he didn't always chew you out over it.
You knew it was because he cared about you, which is why it always seemed to warm your heart when he got like that; when you pointed it out, however, Katsuki always turned a delicate shade of pink as he huffed.
"What're you smiling about, idiot? Ya keep getting hurt!"
"You're sweet, did you know that?"
"S-Shut up."
Yellow and purples bruises covered every area that wasn't covered in scratches, it seemed, as you further inspected your arms.
You supposed you'd had a few nasty encounters with some candles today, one even hitting your funny bone (currently turning a dark shade in its own bruising), and a body cream's jagged edge had stabbed you at one point.
Poking at a mustard-yellow patch, you winced slightly.
Still healing.
Knocking things over and having things fall dangerously close to you was a daily occurrence, often happening more than once.
You didn't think you were being overly jerky or hazardous around the product, and truly didn't have an explanation for your clumsiness.
One time, you managed to trip over your own feet, grab onto a fixture for support, and bring the entire thing down with you, candles and lotions toppling down and smashing on impact.
You'd hit the floor pretty hard, but thankfully escaped a concussion, sporting a few minor flesh wounds instead.
That was a rough day, and an awkward trip to the emergency room. Katsuki had barked at you in the car about how dire things could have gotten as he drove, anger flushing in his cheeks.
"You could've been seriously hurt! You could've had a glass shard pierce your brain and kill you, dumbass! What were you thinking?!"
You'd stared down at your bandaged hands, folded in your lap and slightly shaking from the adrenaline of your fall.
"I didn't mean to."
At that, Katsuki's sharp eyes had softened, speaking a few reassuring words, though his irritation only minorly subsided, and he continued to lecture you all the way home.
"Teddy bear, I...want you to stay safe. Can ya do that, for me?"
Chewing your lip, you nodded, blushing slightly at the amount of care that desire implied. It was sweet, really, and you always did try your best to stay safe.
Katsuki nodded in assurance, a small smile quirking up the corners of his mouth.
It really was hard sometimes, when he was away at the agency doing hero work, and his mind would constantly flit towards you and your own safety. It proved rather distracting sometimes, but Bakugou wouldn't want it any other way.
Because, see, when you love someone, it's typical to get distracted sometimes. His top priorities were you, with all of your cuddles and giggles and bright smiles, and his hero work, with all of its paperwork and life-risking and pay-off.
And while Katsuki would tell you that you had to be careful while he was gone so he could actually get around to saving people, it would always be you if things came down to it. If it really came down to it, he'd be there to blast the bajeezus out of anyone or anything threatening you.
Katsuki would always choose you, and sometimes that scared the living daylights out of him.
But, God, your smile never failed to make his heart pound.
And you were all his. The grouchy man could hardly believe you'd chosen him, all of his showy confidence crumbling into a pile of ash the moment you'd caught his eye the first day you met.
Bakugou whistled as he walked through the mall, arms behind his head and his ash-blond hair sticking up all ways as usual.
You weren't expecting him, but you'd forgotten your lunch on the kitchen table. Katsuki had noticed when he returned on a break, stepping into the apartment and almost immediately sighing in exasperation.
Truth be told, he had been itching for an excuse to visit you, too impatient to wait for 5 o'clock to meander by. It helped that the agency was slow today, as none of the villains seemed to be committing heinous crimes.
On a typical day, he'd practically fly home to see you, though he'd deny it to anyone who asked why he was so eager to leave.
"Got somewhere to be, Bakugou?" "Shut it."
Spotting the entrance of your store, he quickened his pace, but did his best to look nonchalant about it.
A grey-haired woman greeted him, and he nodded at her in acknowledgement, knowing she was one of your managers. The familiarly strong smell of flowers and sugar hit his senses, and he took a minute to blink and get used to it.
Sometimes he wondered how you could stand all of it.
As usual, colorful bottles and jars of cooled wax stood upon the sturdy shelves lining the walls. The ash-blond immediately found his eyes wandering to the fixture that had nearly sent you to the hospital that one time, glaring at it unconsciously.
Stupid fixture.
Katsuki glanced around the store. Small as it was, he couldn't seem to spot you. Maybe you were on break?
He glanced down at the bag in his hand. You'd left your lunch at home, he noticed when he'd returned to the apartment earlier.
"Looking for your girlfriend?"
Bakugou nearly jumped, but kept it together as he turned to face the same woman from before.
Sure was nosy, he remembered warily, trying not to scowl.
"Yeah, she forgot her lunch."
Just as Katsuki spoke, however, you emerged from the back, poking at your bandaged hand with a grimace on your face.
Upon seeing your lover, however, your expression brightened, and you rushed around the counter to greet him. As you went to pass a table, your foot unfortunately caught on the leg unhelpfully, and you found yourself flailing your arms as you fell.
"Katsu-SHIT!" You yelped as you went down, eyes widening as you remembered how very hard the floor was.
Strong arms caught you, and you went bright red.
Looking warily up at Katsuki, you laughed sheepishly at the irritated look on his face.
"Hi."
He simply snorted in annoyance, yanking you up to rest you on your feet.
You yelped at briefly being off the ground, gravity swiftly returning as you were put squarely on the ground. Beaming at your boyfriend merely caused him to roll his eyes, as he extended his hand out to you.
Blinking at the parcel he offered, you suddenly remembered.
"Ohhh," you said loudly, putting a hand to your mouth and accepting the package, "I forgot this, didn't I?"
A nod, and an amused smirk.
"You sure did."
"Thanks for bringing it." You said appreciatively, wrapping your arms around Katsuki's neck to give him a peck.
His smirk broadened as you kissed him, pride and adoration swelling in his chest at having seen your grateful face. He wanted to kiss you for real, caress your tongue with his and nibble on your lip, but Bakugou was pretty sure your nosy manager would have a cow about it.
" 'F course." He muttered, cheeks going slightly pink as you slid a hand into the back-pocket of his jeans.
After a minute, you slid the hand out of the pocket and into his warm hand, sighing at the feeling. "You're always so warm, that's what I like best about you."
Bakugou scoffed, rolling his eyes to the heavens as he took the back-handed compliment. He knew you were joking from the way the corner of your mouth twitched, and the way your eyes twinkled.
"It's just my Quirk, idiot." "Well, it's still what I like best about you." You said, crossing your arms and rolling your eyes with a laugh.
For some reason, that action caused your boyfriend's eyes to catch the white bandage wrapped around your hand.
Seizing it, Katsuki glared at your hand, eyes travelling to the scratches on your arms in a flash.
"Babe..." He said warningly, and you pressed your lips together.
"...What did I say about being careful at work?"
You frowned, taking your arm back. "I was being careful! Box cutters are just slippery, and- and the cardboard is scratchy when I cut it!"
Your justification didn't impress Bakugou, who pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Babe..."
"I don't mean to interrupt -" An interrupting voice caused the two of you to look up. Your manager stood their, hands on her hips as usual, looking stern.
"- But we do have customers, and I need you to be on register, hon."
You flushed, apologizing profusely and giving Katsuki a quick hug. "A-Ah, sorry! I'll see you at home, okay? Thanks for bringing my lunch by!"
The ash-blond surveyed you narrowly, still irritated with your clumsiness, but hugged you back and kissed you on the cheek.
" 'Kay, love you."
"Love you too."
You waved as he left, before rushing behind the counter to check out the impatient-looking customer.
"Did ya find everything okay?"
The annoying customer merely huffed, shoving their items at you.
Bakugou merely went through the motions during the remainder of his work day, hands taking over automatically to fill out insurance forms and reports of his encounters with villains for that week. It was all terribly boring, and he really couldn't help but find his mind wandering towards you every time he spaced out.
Your warm smile, shining eyes, adorable apron - but all those little cuts on your arms brought a frown to the man's face.
He needed to make sure you were okay.
Arriving home was a desperately-needed solace, Katsuki found as he unlocked the front door of the apartment, opening it to the smell of dinner cooking.
"Aw, teddy bear, I told ya I'd cook tonight." Not that he was complaining, but it was his turn.
"No worries! My manager let me off early, something about healing up before tomorrow." You called from the kitchen, stirring a pot on the stove as Bakugou entered.
The ash-blond could tell you'd cleaned the wounds from before, from the way the skin surrounding the scratches was newly pink. And now the bandage wasn't that of a dull tan, but a cartoon-y green and yellow. No doubt taken straight from the medicine cabinet in the master bathroom.
"I don't blame 'er, you need the rest." He murmured, resting his head on top of yours as he watched you stir.
You relished the feeling of his arms around you, squeezing you to his chest from the back. The warmth made you smile wider than you had all day.
"You okay?"
The gruff words from your boyfriend made you start, and you nearly splashed the stew you'd been cooking right out of the pot.
"Yeah, sorry about earlier." You murmured. "I really am trying, y'know."
"I know, teddy bear."
Katsuki squeezed your arm reassuringly, pressing his cheek into your shoulder and inhaling your scent mingled with your perfume. Vanilla, sweet and familar.
God, he loved you.
"I love you, teddy bear." He murmured into your ear.
Part of him was able to stifle his pride and open up when it was just you and him, existing in a single moment together, without distraction. It never ceased to amaze you, and you hummed in contentment at his words.
"I love you too, baby."
"Wanna cuddle on the couch after dinner? You've gotta rest up." He posed, unashamed in asking to cuddle. It was one of the most surprising things you'd learned about Katsuki; as reactive as he could be, he was cool as a cucumber about soft-seeming things like spooning.
You fought back a smirk at his boldness, instead posing another option.
"Or we could go straight to bed and cuddle there?"
You could practically see your boyfriend light up behind you, hearing the smirk in his voice.
"I can think of a few other things we could do while we're there."
Squeezing your butt, you laughed as he kissed your cheek hard.
"You perv, I'm in."