Vulnerability and Second Chances (Barbarian King!Bakugou x Omega!Reader)

Chapter 9: The King and His Second-in-Command

The Barbarian King froze and the dragon hybrid was worried he crossed the line by digging up the past.

It was never stated explicitly but his friendship with his leader, the person who had saved him from sure death, held a bond that was closer than most would expect.

To the rest of the world, Bakugou was someone to be feared, a force to be reckoned with. He didn't have any weakness and anyone who tried to look for one would usually end up with one of their limbs cut off as the king defended what was his.

Fiddling with his fingers, Kirishima forced himself to meet his leader's eye, only to wince when he saw the fire burning behind his gaze. "Um... Bakugou?"

"Tch." Bakugou leaned back in his huge chair and kicked a foot up the table, glaring at his best friend. "You really are a fucking idiot."

Kirishima looked down, chastised by his tone. He didn't know what to say to that.

Seeing the half-dragon struggle with himself, Bakugou sighed heavily and took a deep breath. A trick his mother taught him when he felt like exploding just to get something through someone's head. Just because it was crystal-clear and made sense to him didn't mean that the same could be said for another.

But fuck, if this didn't make things more complicated.

"You're my fucking responsibility." Bakugou's voice was abrasive as he held nothing back. "You think it's not my fucking fault? You wouldn't have even been out there if it wasn't for my shitty—"

"Bakugou."

Kirishima's eyes were understanding and earnest, a tinge of carefully masked sympathy reflecting in the crimson hues because he knew if his best friend saw it, he would lose it.

Bakugou was never one to want pity.

But the king's lip drew back in a snarl with hatred directed at himself for letting things happen the way that they did.

"It was my fault." Bakugou finished, banging a fist on the table in anger as he seethed, everything surging forth as if it had just happened yesterday.

The patrol. It was supposed to be a simple border patrol that was due back before sunset. Nothing unusual, seeing as how he sent out three of those every single day.

But of fucking course it had to be the one day the League got the balls to attack his fortress.

They came in outrageous numbers and had recruited numerous criminals to fill in the cracks of their deranged organization.

Only the League would be fucking stupid enough to come up with a ridculous plan like that. Coming in with a raid party hoping to demolish the bunker that was Bakugou's territory. It hadn't worked, no fucking shit. No one had even come close to posing a threat to him, he had slaughtered them all at the border.

But when it was all said and done, to Bakugou's despair, he found out that they had managed to get away with Kirishima.

He went berserk, Kaminari doing his best to calm him down before he gave up and sent a messenger to go fetch Todoroki and Midoriya. Midoriya was the only one who would be able to talk to him in this state and Todoroki would act as the calming presence that everybody needed.

Meanwhile, Sero and Ashido were left to piece back together their distraught and enraged leader.

Kirishima was one of a kind. There was no other dragon like him that could shift at will. All the other dragons that existed were dispersed in regions all around the globe and they were powerful and fucking mean.

Those chasing their power went after them but the dragons couldn't be tamed no matter how hard people and hybrids alike tried.

For anyone to get their hands on the only hybrid who could control his state meant complete and total world domination.

Which is why he sought refuge in Bakugou's clan.

Of course, Bakugou never forced him to do anything, never gave him a condition that he had to uphold if he wanted to stay. No, if anything, the dragon had even less restrictions than the rest of his clan due to his nature. He knew that Kirishima was more worried about letting anyone down than with growing powerful to the point of greed and disillusioned hunger.

But because he was so malleable, that was probably why the League sought him out the first time.

Which is why Bakugou was not letting him fight this time. He couldn't risk it.

"You're not coming with." He stated curtly.

Kirishima nearly fell off his chair. "Eh?!"

Glaring at him through narrowed eyes, Bakugou dared him to challenge him on this. "Did I fucking stutter, Shitty Hair? You're not fucking coming, get that shit through your head."

Kirishima gaped like a goldfish. "But—"

"Oi." Bakugou narrowed his eyes and pierced his trembling soul. "Someone needs to look after those brats while I'm gone. I'm entrusting that damn duty to you. Make sure they don't break shit like last time."

Kirishima cracked a smile but his eyes watered with unshed tears. Those unable to fight, whether they were too young or too old or injured, stayed behind with strict orders not to cross the border.

Shinsou, a paralyzed hedgehog from the waist down due to an accident, was known to disregard that command more than once. Though Kirishima was certain it was more out of blatant faux ignorance meant to aggravate his leader since he always had a knowing smirk on his face whenever he disobeyed orders.

He never did get very far even with his crutches but it was always hilarious to see.

Jirou, now one of the three wolves in their clan, tended to laugh the loudest when she discovered that Kaminari's best way of stopping the hedgehog was to cling to the only part of his body that wasn't as prickly: his head.

To see the two of them hauling ass before Bakugou returned from battle was a sight to be held in great reverence.

Jirou had never known either one of them to move as quickly as they did, she swore she saw sparks coming from Kaminari's feet once he hit the ground and ducked into their shared den.

Breaking out of his daze when Bakugou abruptly pushed to his feet, Kirishima fumbled with the blueprints he tossed at him to put away before catching all of them and then he straightened up.

"What's going to happen to Y/N?" He asked curiously, unable to completely hide his insecurity.

When it was all said and done, he wanted to know what your fate was. Bakugou being the leader, he had jurisdiction over whether you could stay or if you had to go due to the limitations of their resources and space.

Kirishima wasn't completely blind. He knew that Bakugou catered towards the needs of the many rather than the needs of the few. That's what it meant to take care of his people.

But he couldn't help the seed of selfishness that wanted you to stay beside him now that you had found him again.

He never forgave himself for turning away and leaving you behind that day. It wasn't manly and it didn't match with his ideals that he had grown into.

Bakugou had assured him, rather gruffly, on more than one occasion that he was only a kid when he managed to leave, so he couldn't know any better since he was thinking only of his survival; but that didn't make the guilt go away.

At least now, he finally had a chance at redeeming himself. Now, he had a chance to protect you for real where Aro had failed you.

"I'm not going to tell the dumbass what to do." Bakugou grunted out as he slung his sword around his hips, hitching a quiver of arrows to his back because he knew Ashido was going to forget the extras again when they headed out tonight. "When we're done, she can make her decision."

Kirishima had to be content with that answer. His shoulders slumped and he felt a bit crazy at the spark of relief that flashed through him. At least you would be given a choice.

All he had to do now was wait until this was over.

Kirishima threw his head back with a frustrated groan.

He loathed waiting.