Chapter Text
You never expected to be back in a hero agency, much less with a camera crew, not a hero costume.
There was a soft electrical buzz from the set. Not that you noticed back then. But that was before the war, before your quirk was ripped out of you, leaving you helpless with only a broken dream.
Now you were just a civilian. Fragile. Replaceable.
You cleared your throat, double-checking the mic on your blazer.
You’d worked hard to get to where you were. You couldn’t officially be in the hero force, but it didn’t stop you from turning to journalism and hoping to make a difference in what was really being told. Yet here you were about to interview Dynamite. You’d jumped at the opportunity to interview the hero, wanting a little more recognition and material to write about.
You two hadn’t talked much since then. Only the occasional vague, “how are you?” and “I’m good” texts. You told yourself it was because he was too busy. Still, the fear that he didn’t care about you anymore lingered in the pit of your stomach.
Then you saw him. He’d changed, different to the Katsuki you knew back then. More muscle, more scars, and more exhaustion underneath his eyes. But the second he looked up you see it – his eyes widened with something flickering sharp and soft all at once.
You pretended not to notice. You’ve become accustomed to.
“Mr Dynamite.” you greeted with a nod.
He offered a courteous nod back.
You took your seats across from him, as you tried to calm your racing heartbeat. Feelings from the past are already starting to surface.
Then the camera lights were on.
“Alright, “ you started, voice smooth with a practised ease. “Let's talk about your love life—your fans have been curious.”
His eyebrows twitched. “Tch. Figures.”
“So,” you said, meeting his eyes, “have you ever been in love?”
The question hangs in the air, sparking something unbeknownst to the two of you.
Katsuki didn't flinch. Didn't blush. Didn't even scowl.
Instead, he leaned back, looking you right in the eye—and said;
“Abso-fuckin-lutely”
You blinked once.
Then twice.
Your brain was freezing behind, clearly taken aback.
But you kept a straight face, but your heart was already racing.
“–Oh. Uh. Can you elaborate? What were they like?“ you said hoping that your voice wasn't an octave too high.
“She was…” He paused, eyes softening, “way too sweet for her own good.”
Your breath catches. Your mind raced, was it someone you knew?
He continued.
“Cared about everyone. Too much.” He scoffed, but it’s fond. “Always pushin’ herself to help people. Even when she didn’t have to…”
You nodded, trying to look neutral. Unaware that not once had he looked at the camera. Unaware of the fact that he'd only been looking at you.
“Well, why was..? Do you not like her anymore or do you not keep in contact?” Your mouth slipped out before you could even process what you said.
He took a deep breath.
“Because she's not in the hero field anymore,” he muttered. “And because I'm a dumbass. But the spark’s still there, if she'd have me.”
You froze.
He pretended not to notice.
The interview moved on. Questions about life as a pro-hero, what they face every day. Training programs. Agency initiatives. But every time you looked up, he was already looking at you, and jerked his eyes away from you when you caught him.
You thought nothing of it. Or at least you told yourself you were.
You wrapped it up, thanking him before heading home, exhausted enough to collapse onto the sofa without bothering to take off your blazer.
Your phone buzzed.
Then again.
And again.
You groaned, grabbing it and glancing briefly at it. It made you bolt upright.
Video after video.
Clip after clip.
Tweets. Reposts. Edits.
You'd been tagged too many times to count.
“Bakugo Katsuki clearly confessing to her during the interview???”
“Look at the way he’s staring at her omg.”
“He described HER. That’s literally HER.”
#ReaderXBakugo #HeWasLookingRightAtHer
You watched an edit. One that's slowed down Katsuki saying “abso-fuckin-lutely” looking directly at you, like he was trying to tell them to you.
Your whole face heated down to your neck.
Your fingers trembled.
“..huh..?” you whispered through your screen.
You blushed burying your face in a pillow.
Another buzz came through from your phone.
You expected it to be another edit or post. Or maybe more comments screaming about how Katsuki literally confessed to you on live camera.
Instead, it was a text.
From him.