VOID [Katsuki Bakugo x OC]

Rule #4: Don't Speak Unless Spoken To

♪

A sleek, black limo picked up the siblings after their television interview wrapped, driving them back to the stadium.

But before they could split up to go get changed, the boys' driver, Otis, directed them to a conference room inside. Cadence looped her elbow in Chord's, shivering even with her leather jacket pulled tight around her shoulders. "Any ideas what this is about?" she whispered as they followed Otis toward the room, Dorian leading the pack.

Her siblings shrugged. "I figured Mom'd make us practice more," Chord yawned, stretching as they walked.

"Same," Aria nodded, the sound of her clunky heels reverberating heavily off of the concrete and brick. "I just want to put sweatpants on and drink some fuckin' water."

"Amen, sister," Dorian yawned, nodding to Otis in thanks as he yanked a mystery door open.

Light spilled into the hall, and the parade of siblings ducked inside, finding their parents inside with a group of slightly familiar faces. Before any of them could put names to faces, Ine barked at them. "Straighten up! This isn't relaxation time! Make a good first impression."

Immediately, the four of them aligned along the wall nearest their mother and righted themselves, spines straight just like during morning inspections. Cadence could feel her heart hammering in her ribs, and she chewed the inside of her cheek, fixing her eyes on the far wall.

"Children, these are your new bodyguards," Bryant said much too brightly. Cadence cringed internally at the forced kindness in his voice, but allowed herself a peek at the strangers around the table. "Aria, dear, your new bodyguard is Hitoshi Shinso," Bryant explained, gesturing at the dark-haired, sleepy-eyed hero.

Aria and Cadence exchanged a look out of the corners of their eyes, a micro-expression of fear and surprise.

Was this some kind of punishment? Regular bodyguards weren't cutting it anymore, so their parents hired professional heroes to follow them everywhere now?

"Chord, your bodyguard is Camie Utsushimi," Bryant continued, pointing to the fawn-haired woman beside Ine. Camie beamed at them and gave a peace sign, making Cadence internally cringe. "Dorian, you're with Kyoka Jiro," Bryant said, gesturing to the other female hero, who was playing with one of her earjacks. She nodded to the group with a tight, forced smile.

"And finally..." Bryant said, his forced smile tensing just a little as he made eye contact with Cadence, "Cadie, dear, your new bodyguard is Katsuki Bakugo."

Shivering at the unwelcome and disliked nickname, Cadence looked to the blond hero. She couldn't really process that they were in the same room together at first, her brain still thinking that he'd been broken, that he was in the hospital, that he was some kind of ethereal phantom that didn't really exist as a real person.

But there he was - Dynamight - scowling at her like she'd already done something wrong.

...Maybe she had?

Ine cleared her throat, her smile faker than her boobs. "Your father and I are giving you the rest of the night off to show your bodyguards around and get to know them. Do not rest easy. I expect you four to be up at 5:30 tomorrow morning, and in the gym by six. Understood?"

Bakugo couldn't help but wonder why the fuck they needed to be up that early. Did they have more interviews? Was there some kind of event or some shit that he didn't know about? The tour didn't start until the day after tomorrow, so why did they need to wake up at the crack of ass?

"Understood, Mother," the siblings said in unison, bowing deeply.

"Excellent," Ine grinned, "I'll order takeout for everyone. Dinner in an hour. You're excused." With that, Ine and Bryant left the room, and Otis held the door for them, waiting in the hall for the rest of the group.