Chapter Text
…
The bell to “Angel's”, a little café and a darn good bakery, chimed as a customer came in.
“Welcome!”
You looked up from the front counter to see a blond strutting in like he owned the place, in a black tank and jogger. Glistening like he just ran. Which, he probably did.
You smiled “How can I help you?” You tried to make everyone who came into your bakery feel welcome and warm. The man, ear bud out, looked up through crimson irises and realization set in. Really set in.
This was pro hero Dynamite. 23 in rank(you thought he deserved higher) and he was in your café.
“Black coffee. Don't put any of that bullcrap in it…12oz s'fine.” his expression never changing from looking mildly annoyed. Brows set in a deep scowl.
“Uh, sure..! I can get that for you. 2.50 for you today.” He handed you his card with a grunt. You swiped it over the chip reader. You were trying to play it cool. And hopefully you were successful. Dynamite was your favorite hero. Who cared if his ranking was down? All those people in the top care about is fame. Dynamite actually saves people.
You gave him back his card and reached over to grab a paper cup and a marker.
“Could I have a name? For your cup.”
Plus, you know he doesn't like people gawking over him as fans. So you don't. He's still just another customer.
He looks up from his phone, one ear bud out.
“Bakagou.”
You smiled, “Okay! I'll call your name when your order’s ready.”
You write his name in your slightly messy half-cursive half-print handwriting. Weird description, I know. You really didn't know what to call it.
You pointed to where his drink would be when it was finished. He grunted at you and took a seat over at the far corner table to the left of you.
Plain black coffee, huh? For some reason that fit. ‘Black coffee, don't put any of that bullcrap in it.’
You ground coffee into the portafiller, and pushed it down with the tamper. Locked into place, the smell of hot freshly brewed coffee filled the air.
Apparently cream and sugar is considered ‘Bullcrap’ it almost made you wanna laugh. You stifled it before it could come out. Dynamite was fiery. And took zero crap. That's what made him such a wonderful hero.
Bakugou… That's his name?
Well last name. The hero's real names weren't public knowledge, normally, unless you were obsessed and did your research. Some people are. And it's scary.
You put a lid on a 12oz black coffee. in black marker on the side said ‘Bakugou’
“Bakugou?” You called out, even though he was one of 3 customers in the store right now. And you know exactly where he was. He looked up and you smiled and pushed the cup out to him as you turned.
From up at the Cash register, you looked to him as you helped another customer that just came in. He took the cup with a scowl and took a sip with closed eyes. He looked mildly surprised.
And you were incredibly pleased. You loved to bake, but seeing people enjoy something you've made, even if it was a boring cup of black coffee, was the best part of the job.
…
Katsuki ran.
In the cold Tokyo morning, he felt it prick his lungs as he huffed air in and out.
He'd never taken this route, it was more closed off from the city and people. His fans that lived near by knew his route by now so he specifically chose a different one.
Dang annoying, invasive, fans!
He ran faster. People around the city had been talking more nonsense, and taking more photos of him and practically dragging his ranking through the mud. And all because people want him to be some fluffy pansy? He was furious.
Katsuki took in the calm and serene scenery. He was surrounded by rural houses and a couple of shops. He lived close to the outskirts of the city for a reason. His agency was in the middle of tokyo but aside from wanting to be number one, privacy was something he greatly enjoyed.
Ugh, but his agent.
He is NOT doing any ridiculous PR stunt for fame. He's gonna do it the good old fashioned way. Blood, sweat, and tears. Hard work.
Even if it's the long way, it's the only way.
He stopped to catch his breath. He was outside a café, one of the shops he had seen just a moment ago. He looked at his watch. Not enough time to get coffee at his usual place.
Dang it.
He had to be at the agency in an hour. He probably shouldn't have ran so far.
Katsuki shoved the door open as he took one of his ear buds out, making the soft 1950's music significantly quieter in his left ear.
“Welcome!”
He looked up, and his head went blank.
“How can I help you?”
He swallowed thickly. What? Oh- he hadn't realized he was stare’n a little. He didn't know why-he knew exactly why-but he just froze a little back there. You smiled. He stared.
You were stare’n too. But it looked like you'd connected the dots on who he was. It made him scowl.
“Black coffee. Don't put any of that bullcrap in it…12oz s'fine.”
A bit rude sounding, even to his ears, but it seemed to startle you. You told him the total and asked him for his card and he shoved it your way. Turning about to go the the table in the corner with minimal windows when-
“Could I have a name? For your cup.”
Hah?
“Bakugou.” You smiled warmly and your round cheeks puffed up a little.
Quit smiling like that, idiot. How does she not know my name? She obviously knows who I am.
He huffed. You gave him directions where his cup would be when it was done.
Even what he just thought about sounded a little arrogant, even to him.
He walked over to the small table in the corner of the shop with the least window but a good view of the outside. He took his surroundings a little more than he had originally. It was a quaint little shop with accents of some gold here and there, but mostly white, teal and a bit of pink. A nicely decorated front counter with glass covering various pastries. From the looks of it, you were the owner.
This coffee better not taste like sewage.
You definitely recognized him. The way you stopped breathing for a second. The way your eyes widened, the way you paused. He could easily see that. yet you asked him for a name for his cup? He was a prohero for heaven's sakes of course she should know his name.
Then again, maybe she just wanted to know his real name like some crazy fan.
For some reason, the woman at the front counter not knowing his name ticked him off.
He scoffed and looked out the window. There were a few civilians passing by. It was a bright and sunny thursday morning. Calm. Katsuki turned up the music in his left ear.
He loves being a hero, with all that's inside of him. He loves it. But being peaceful like this, every once in a blue moon, would be nice as well.
“Bakugou?”
His eyes shot open. Had he closed them? Was he really that relaxed? he grunted as he got up, moving lazily towards the cup of black coffee.
You were wearing bracelets, he noticed.
You smiled at him and went to attend to another customer. His scowl deepened. You smiled a lot.
He took his coffee and took a sip. Being very pleased with it not being Quote on Quote “sewage”
Actually, really good.
Not that bitter, smooth, and fruity hints. Ethiopian coffee?
He hummed and took his leave, not seeing the satisfied smile you gave him on his way out.
…
Katsuki's day as a prohero went by as it normally did. He threatened a couple villains, shoved some faces into the dirt, and rejected some reporters who weaselled there way into his face a little too close. He hated nosey people.
And of course flipping deku who had to be there. They were 100% rivals to their very core. Though Katsuki had to admit he liked having a relationship with him. Something more akin to friendliness, even though he'd never admit it. He kinda liked the guy. Though between him and Kirishima, Riot definitely won.
“Hey, Dynamite!!” Speak of the devil.
“Hah? What?” Kirashima swung an arm around his shoulders.
“How ya doing, man? I feel like we haven't talked in forever!!!” Katsuki grunted and scowled. Hands in his pockets as he stated walking, kirisima Still hanging off of him as he did so.
“I saw you a month ago.”
“I know! forever right!? But anyway, I wanted to ask if you wanted to hang out with us this weekend? Like old times with the gang?”
Bakugou stopped and gave Kiri a face.
“Come on, man! don't be like that, It'll be fun you know it will! We were gonna hang out at my place! Unless you want to do it at yours?”
Kirishima raised an eyebrow. Moving them up, and down in a suggestive manner. Bakugou groaned.
“Fine! Your place not mine. I'll cook.”
Kirishima beamed. “You're the best man! See you Saturday at 5:00!!” Kirishima waved and took his leave.
Katsuki sighed. He had to fight to keep his expression neutral. He hadn't seen Mina, Jiro, Sero or Kaminari in a few months. He'd be lying to himself if he said he didn't want to go.
If anyone saw the small smile that made its way onto his face, no one dared to say it.
…
Huh?
It was Saturday, you never expected to see Him again. But Dynamite or Bakugou you had learned, was in your bakery again. Just coming back from a run, a little earlier than last time, you noticed.
“Welcome! Hi again, what can I get for you?” Still leaving the customer service mask up, but throwing in a hello, you greeted him. He grunted and nodded.
“Black Coffee.”
You breathed out a small laugh “No bullcrap in it, right?”
You turned and grabbed a cup and marker and wrote his name on it.
“Yeah.”
“Figured. Alright, 2.50 for ya.” He shoved his card your way, you took it without brushing fingertips with him (from years of practice in customer service) touch was a facet of how your quirk worked, so you tried to avoid it with people you don't know well.
Fully paid, you gave him his card, setting it down on the counter top instead of giving it to him.
You turned and went to make his coffee, not noticing he moved to where he would pick up his cup to wait.
…
He didn't know why he was staring.
He was just curious how you'd made black coffee, of all drinks, taste decent two days ago.
He wanted to look out the window, but he didn't.
He tried to look down at his phone, but couldn't.
Why was he looking at you?
Watching your practiced moves efficiently make his coffee.
You had a pink apron on. But the back of your sky blue shirt was low, and had a tie on the top, but that wasn't what caught his attention.
Through your long caramel hair, up in a ponytail with a lilac scrunchie, he saw what seemed to be a tattoo in the shape of wings. But the ink wasn't black, it was white.
And he could only see half of it, the rest of it was covered by the long sleeves of your shirt.
Angel's…
That was the name of this Café, he figured you just liked them. From what he gathered, he thought that suited you.
You turned and put a lid on his cup, surprised to see him right in from of you.
“Oh! Sorry! This is yours.” You pushed the cup towards him and he took it, wordlessly.
“…thanks” He pushed out quietly.
You stopped, then beamed. “You're Welcome! I'm glad you like the coffee here.”
He might as well have been staring into the sun. Jeez, you smiled a lot. He started out of the café when you called out to him.
“H-have a good day, Bakugou!”
He threw up a hand in a mock wave as he exited the store. He headed back to his apartment, just walking.
He stopped.
Bakugou, huh?
For some reason, he liked the way you said it.
…
Katsuki did not like having his day off taken from him, but for his idiots he would consider it. In fact? He'd already agreed to it Thursday. And today was the day.
He had gone to the grocery store to get things for what he decided to make for dinner. Because if he was coming, he was cooking. And Spicy Curry was on the menu tonight.
He would try not to melt everybody's face off but no promises.
Stepping into Kirishima's apartment with grocery bags in his hands, he kicked his shoes off.
“Bakugou!! Hey man!!! I’m so glad you came!” Kiri gave Katsuki a hug. Bakugou didn't protest, but he couldn't hug his friend back because his hands were full.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” He set a bag down and wrapped an arm around his best friend and leaned on him. He was early, 30 minutes early.
“Now help me get this stuff into your freaking kitchen! I'm gonna cook, dang it!”
Kirishima laughed at his friend's antics, used to him after years of friendship with the explosive blonde. “Okay, okay!”
With the food in the kitchen Kirishima sat at one of the bar stools as he chatted with Katsuki.
“So what's going on man? I haven't heard from you in forever! I know you've been busy but is anything going on?”
Kirishima asked with genuine concern. Katsuki got out a cutting board and brought his vegetables to the sink to wash. Kirishima gave him a minute.
“My rank is dropping.” Katsuki said as matter of factly-ly as he could, even if it hurt. “I'm in 28th place. It's dropped dramatically, Kirishima.”
Kiri sat and listened. When Bakugou didn't speak, he did.
“But is this really just about the rank?”
Dang it, Kiri!
His best friend sure knew how to hit the nail on the head. He chopped vegetables angrily and grumbled.
“Okay, so that's a ‘Heck no! Are you stupid!?” Kirishima did his Bakugou impression and Katsuki barked out a laugh.
“Heck no! This is about how they don't care if I save people, they care how nice I am. They care if I make mistakes, not if I rectify them. This is about the system. Not the rank.”
“Wow, yeah. I know they don't care. But they want you to change who you are to fit the mold, basically?”
Katsuki nodded.
“But that's ridiculous! Your fans love the fact that you take zero crap, and you're straight to the point! If you change, your fans will not be happy! And your agent, Mai, is on your case isn't she?”
Katsuki shoved the knife into the cutting board. “Dang straight! She wants me to do some ridiculous PR stunt for the media! Like HECK I'm doing that!!!”
“YEAH! I hate em’ too!”
With the mutual agreement that the hero system was garbage, the cooking continued.
Soon everyone arrived and the food was eaten. He had fun. It really was great to see everyone again, to scream at people with no bite, and get laughs in return.
Kiri and Mina We're Still lovey dovey and made him gag a little. But even they were joking a little. They played games, laughed and he even got to blow Kirishima up once.
At 9pm he took his leave, but not without protest from Kaminari by calling him a ‘grandpa with an early bedtime’ he got exploded in rage for that one. Not his fault he actually likes having a good sleep schedule.
But even that's a lie.
All in all, a good day. They were even doing this again in two weeks. Satisfied, he drove home.
...