Dancing Shadows

Chapter Twenty-Three

Bakugou's POV-
I turn to look at Cherry as I close the door and see her jump a bit, obviously startled out of her own thoughts. As I walk towards her, she quickly looks up at me. I realize that there are tears staining her face now and how tightly she's gripping the skirt of her dress. I never should've pushed her by asking her those god damn questions. I keep forgetting that we've only known each other for a few months. She tilts her head just a bit and her hair falls in gentles waves into her face. I don't even have the fucking ability to stop myself from staring this time. She quietly asks, "Bakugou, why are you upset?" I feel stunned by her question. Why did she notice? Why is she the one asking me that question right now?

Fuck it, I think to myself as I decide to just stop holding myself back. I step even closer to her and push her hair behind her ear before carefully wiping her tears away. "I'm the one who should be asking you that question, but I think I already know."

This time, she's the one who looks shocked as she stutters out something about not even realizing she was crying. Then she asks, "You think so?"

I nod. "I'm sorry for asking you those questions earlier. It was too much and not my place, especially right here and now."

If I thought she seemed shocked earlier, she looks practically fucking electrocuted now. "Thank you for understanding. I'm sorry if it felt like I was pushing you away. I hope you know that I don't mean it personally. You really mean so much to me."

Her saying something like that to me makes me feel so breathless in a way different than anything I've ever felt. "What do you mean?"

She shrugs and quietly says, "You've just always been there for me when I most needed it. Whenever I'm drowning, you're the one who helps me breathe again." She shakes her head a bit before adding, "Anyways, that's enough about me. Why are you feeling sad?"

I take a moment to respond before deciding to be a bit more honest with her rather than closed off. I mean, how can I expect her to open up if I don't? "I felt bad for making you feel sad."

She smiles just barely and warmth fills me at that one gesture. "That's very sweet. You shouldn't feel bad though. I know you didn't mean any harm by it."

"Even if you don't mean to hurt someone, it doesn't mean you didn't."

She tilts her head as she thinks about it and her hair falls into her face again. "I suppose you're right. Although I would say that hurting someone by accident is far more forgivable than hurting someone on purpose."

I don't even realize that my hands are still holding her face until I'm brushing her hair out of her face yet again. That electric feeling shoots through my heart again so I quickly take a step back from her and say, "You're definitely right about that." I clear my throat and shove my hands in my pockets before adding, "Anyways, it was Aizawa who was knocking on the door earlier. He wanted to make sure you were okay and let me know that Monoma was with Recovery Girl. It turns out that he tried to steal your quirk when he grabbed you and he definitely suffered the consequences. He got lucky though. He wasn't able to hold onto it since you knocked him out so quickly and therefore the effects were minimized."

She sighs and says, "I feel bad but at least he's going to be okay."

I scoff, "He would've deserved not being okay. He goes out of line way too fucking often."

She shakes her head and says, "Bakugou, you don't mean that."

"Yes, I do. I don't know if he doesn't understand the harm his actions and words cause or if he thrives off of it but either way, he needs to fucking stop."

She smiles softly before getting off of the counter and wrapping her arms around my neck in a hug. "You're going to be a great hero."

I smirk and do the same as I reply, "Nah, I'm going to be the best."

I can practically hear her roll her eyes as she says, "Whatever, Baku."

I can't help but smile as I realize what she's done. "Decided to create your own nicknames, Cherry?"

She laughs. "I guess so."

I look down at her to see her staring back up at me with a light smile. My heart skips a beat. I can't help but look at her lips every few seconds before looking back into her eyes. I realize for the first time just how much I've been wanting to kiss her. Then I suddenly realize how, for the first time ever, I've found myself close enough to her to actually do it, and oh how tempting it really is. She's so soft and so so close and just so absolutely perfect.

But then I can hear my heartbeat in my ears and my palms are sweatier than usual and I hate myself for having to fight back a shaky breath as I pull away from her. I clear my throat and say, "We should probably head back to the dorms."

Seeming a bit distracted, she nods and says, "Probably." Before sending me a small smile as she follows me out the door of the bathroom.