VOID [Katsuki Bakugo x OC]

Rule #25: No Friends

♪

 In typical Kat and Cade fashion, the two of them woke to Kat's phone alarm.

All night, the two of them had been coming up with a way to subvert Bryant and Ine, a way for Cadence to use her quirk, and a way for her to be free. Just after midnight, the best they came up with was that Kat could use his blood for the daily checks—because he wasn't using his quirk anyway for the time being—but they hadn't totally figured out the details. They passed out around three after a lot of internet research and one run to a 24-hour magic shop down the road. With a fake finger and some idiocy on Bryant's part, they might be able to pull it off.

But that left them exhausted in the morning. Groaning and grumbling, Cade burrowed deeper into her blankets, plopping her pillow over her head to hide from the weak sunshine. "Five more minutes," Cade whined. How dare the morning come so quickly. Mornings were stupid. Why did she ever let Kat set that alarm?

Agreeing for once, Katsuki snoozed his alarm for a few more minutes of peace and quiet before they went to work out... until a knock came from their door.

Katsuki's sleep-soft brow furrowed into frustration, and he poked one eye open to glare at the door. "Who the fuck—?"

"Don't let the fangirls bite," Cade murmured from beneath her pillow.

Unimpressed with Cade's idea of a joke, Kat rolled out of bed and smacked her ass with his pillow before crossing to the door, peering out through the peep hole. He opened the door to frown at Kyoka Jiro. "It's balls A.M., Jack," he said, leaning on the door for support. "What the fuck do you need?"

"Rocket's gone," Kyoka blurted.

Cadence shot straight up in bed, her hair tangled beyond comprehension. "WHAT," she blurted, eyes wide. Without waiting for Kyoka to respond or elaborate, Cade threw off the covers and began shoving clothes onto her body without shame, despite being mostly naked at first.

"We'll be right down," Kat yawned, shutting the door in Jiro's face.

Jiro shoved her shoe in between the door and the frame, stopping him from closing it completely. "Don't fucking interrupt me, idiot," she grumbled, forcing the door wide enough for Kat to see her dour expression. "Rocket's... gone gone."

The room fell silent. Kat could hear his own ragged breathing as the words sunk in... but it couldn't be true. He just saw Rocket the night before, helping him unload the suitcases from the trunk of their rental car. When the trunk was empty, Rocket slapped him on the back in a big sisterly way, giving Kat an encouraging nod. It was nice and normal and... not how he pictured saying goodbye.

Half-dressed, Cadence stepped closer in her socks, tentative and unbelieving. "Say it again," she whispered.

"Some bellboy found her in the parking lot this morning," Jiro said softly, her head down. "They're inspecting the crime scene—"

In thigh-high socks and an oversized sweatshirt, Cade pushed past Kyoka and into the hallway, launching herself toward Rocket. Katsuki swore under his breath and grabbed a shirt from the bed, following her with a keycard in his grip.

Somehow, he didn't catch up to her until they were outside, until Cadence forced her way past countless paparazzi and police officers and caution tape. There, on the ground, was a body, covered by a white sheet. And out of the top, Rocket's signature purple dreadlocks lay in the puddles.

Katsuki reached her just too late.

Cadence screamed, gut-wrenching and blood-curdling. No. Her legs gave out, her body crumpling to the wet pavement. No. Warm hands held her together as everything fell apart. No.