The Favor [Bakugou x Reader]

Answers to Your Questions

From your questions in comments and PMs, thought it might be a fun exercise to fill out a Q&A for The Favor's 2 year anniversary on Wattpad :)

Q: Why smoke?

A: I wanted a quirk that would compliment Bakugou's. I tried to imagine what a fight scene between Cinder and Bakugou would look like and the first thing that came to mind was in chapter 3 when she knocks him down with that wall of smoke. I couldn't get that image out of my head and so her quirk developed around that scene. 

I didn't plan on having her quirk build into fire and jumping until I was literally writing the final fight of the Sports Festival. I didn't have her tragic backstory planned ahead of time. All that just happened to work out very nicely for character growth.

Q: Where in the USA did Cinder live before coming to Japan?

A: Obviously this is up to you, but for me Cinder moved from New York. I grew up in New York, so when writing a [y/n], it just made sense. But I also like the idea that she is thoroughly unfazed by Bakugou's aggression simply because his attitude is all too common in NY. 

Q: Is this really the first thing you've written?

A: Creatively, yes. My background is much more technical. I have a bachelor's and master's degree in chemical engineering, so my writing has always been in lab reports and research articles. But after falling in love with the BNHA universe and reading several fics I was inspired to write something myself. 

Q: What was your writing process? Did you plan everything out?

A: Haha. No. I just sat down one day and started writing. Maybe it was because I had never planned on publishing the story, but I just wrote whatever I felt like on the day and it somehow became a cohesive story.

However, once I got into the higher chapters (30+), I realized I'd have to pull everything together at some point. I made a couple of changes and had to really flesh out the villains, but for the most part I wrote the whole story in the order that you read it. 

The only chapter that was added after the fact was in chapter 10, where Cinder and Bakugou break into Monoma's room to get back the stolen trinkets. I wanted a scene that showed them having fun and lowering their guards rather than just sparring. 

Q: Why'd you have to hurt my heart with a love square?

A: Because I'm selfish and wanted all the boys. I also felt like Bakugou would have a hard time moving forward without the fear of losing Cinder. Knowing that she was desired by others made him want to 'win'. 

Also, there's no greater joy than watching everyone freak out about the Kiri kiss... except maybe reading comments of people crying when Bakugou finally calls in his favor. Having readers react the way you'd hoped is the coolest. 

Q: Who was your favorite character to write? Least favorite?

A: I LOVE writing Bakugou's dialogue. It's so fun. The banter between him and Cinder was my favorite thing, especially when she'd flirt back and he didn't know how to handle it. I also tried hard not to declaw him. No hate to other fics, but I really dislike when Bakugou suddenly becomes this pile of mush when he falls in love. People don't change their entire personalities just because they start dating. You fell in love with an angry boy, so you're gonna keep dealing with an angry boy - just one that will now hold your hand.