VOID [Katsuki Bakugo x OC]

Rule #14: Take a Chance

♪

"Step two... repeat after me."

"Mmhmm, I'm ready."

"Don't tell me what to do."

"Don't... wait, that sounds a little harsh, Kat. Is there a nicer way to say it? Something a little more... palatable?"

Katsuki frowned at Cadence, sitting opposite from her on his hotel bed. Early morning sunshine trickled in through the window, diluted by lingering storm clouds. Remix napped on Cade's pillow, still drowsy from the vet. "No. It's straightforward and clear, which is why it's my fucking catchphrase. Even my goddamn action figures say it. Now your turn."

Crumpling up her pastel pink sweatshirt sleeves in her grip, Cadence scrunched up her nose and rolled her eyes before closing them, searching for the Kat-confidence within her and drawing it out. Action figures, huh? As she crossed her bare legs, she imagined a little plastic Dynamight in the middle of a fight, up against an opponent David-and-Goliath style—in her mind, the enemy was a stuffed blue dragon she had when she was young: S'more. But even the memory of S'more didn't help soothe her unusual nerves. "D-don't... tell me w-what to do."

"Rough start, do it again."

She sighed and furrowed her brow harder, feeling the tension in her face. Nothing fake or forced. Not for Kat... except he was staring at her, and she could feel his gaze laser-focused upon her. Warmth rose to her cheeks. "Don't tell me... what... to do."

"Nuh-uh. Weak shit. Go again."

"Don't tell me what to do," she snapped, starting to get a little ticked at Katsuki. At least she was trying, right? It's not like he needed to nitpick every single fucking thing she said. Why did he only want 100% from her? Wasn't 50% or 75% of her enough?

He pursed his lips. "Again."

"You didn't even give me any feedback that time!" Cadence blurted. She opened her eyes, glaring at Katsuki as the comforter bunched in her fists. "How am I supposed to get better if–?"

"Again, Blue."

Cadence growled, "Don't tell me what to fucking do, Kat."

"I said, do it again!" Katsuki yelled, the corner of his lips twisting to give away his amusement. She probably didn't even realize what she was doing, but he pushed her harder because he knew she could do it. He knew she had it in her. He'd seen it before... that little spark of batshit crazy that he found admirable. "Fuckin' show me that you've got a voice of your own, Blue."

Something snapped within her.

She shoved Katsuki back against the mattress, catching him off guard, and she pinned him down with her hands on his wrists and knees on his thighs. Cade's heart slammed around in her chest like a pinball. "DO NOT FUCKING TELL ME WHAT TO DO, KATSUKI BITCHBOY BAKUGO, OR I SWEAR I'LL–"

"You'll what?"

The eerie calm of his voice broke Cadence's anger into millions of tiny pieces, shattering her fragile armor. He lay beneath her, unafraid and unimpressed, as if she were a ladybug, a kitten, a teddy bear... nothing to be worried about. "No, come on," he taunted, flashing his teeth in a goading, cocky sneer. "Don't just say it. What would you do, Blue? If someone had the balls to tell you what to do, you'd–?"

Her lips crashed into his. Katsuki's eyes blew wide, his heartbeat pounding in his lips as Cadence found him again and again, a whirlwind of pent up emotion finally released from her heart. She nipped at his lower lip, surprising him into action.