VOID [Katsuki Bakugo x OC]

Rule #29: Fuck the Rules

♪

 The headlines all read the same...

The world-famous family band elixir has disbanded
following allegations of abuse, fraud, and murder.

A grim reporter stood outside of a nondescript hospital, surrounded by a sea of distressed fans holding supportive signs and wearing elixir merchandise. "...The statements rolling in from the Yamaguchi children and previous employees are distressing to say the least, so viewer discretion is advised as we continue to report on the findings from the court proceedings," they said. After a deep breath, they continued, "Cadence Yamaguchi, lead singer of her family's band, elixir, has been in the hospital for three weeks after what can only be described as attempted murder by her mother and step-father, former supermodel Ine Yamaguchi and boy band frontrunner Bryant Green, alongside the family's long-time bodyguard and head of security, Jesse. Lab results at the hospital confirmed Red Riot's testimony — Cadence consumed a ketamine pill laced with peanut oil, which exacerbated the singer's severe nut allergy and sent her into anaphylactic shock. Thanks to the efforts of heroes who happened to be at the event, namely our former number one hero, Dynamight, and the shaky camera footage he managed to capture during the fight—"

The TV clicked off, surprising Katsuki Bakugo enough to jolt him back to the real world. "Oi, I was watching that," he complained. "They were just getting to the good stuff." Ergo: the stuff about him, the stuff that wasn't about how Cade nearly died.

Cadence Lyric Yamaguchi reclined in her hospital bed, thin and pale... but happy and much less swollen than she had been weeks earlier. "I would literally rather die than watch myself be talked about on television like I am dead, Kat," she said, throwing a bottled water at him.

Kat caught the bottle without issue, checking the label before cracking the top open and setting it on Cade's bedside table. He knew the feeling all too well. As if on cue, the bruises on his throat ached, still that purplish-yellow of healing, a reminder of how close he came to death yet again. "Fine," he said, "but then what? Got something in mind to pass the time, Blue?"

"Sneak down to the kids floor again?" Cade said with a conspiratorial smile.

Katsuki frowned at her. "You've already been down there twice this week, Blue. You've gotta give your lungs and your voice a break. Any other ideas?"

"Not really... but are you gonna keep calling me 'Blue' even when I'm not literally blue anymore?" Cadence absently braided a strand of her once-cerulean hair over her shoulder. The color washed out during her time at the hospital, her white roots growing out while the ends faded to a pale denim.

"Can't," Katsuki said, leaning back in his chair to cross his arms behind his head. "'White' just doesn't sound as good. You're stuck being Blue forever, Blue."

Rolling her eyes, Cade laughed weakly. "Fine. But that means—"

"Where's my favorite daughter-in-law?!"

Katsuki rolled his eyes so hard that he thought he saw his brain. Great. "We're not married, you old hag," he grumbled.

But of course his mother ignored him outright. With arm-loads of bags, Mitsuki Bakugo swept into the room, beaming as she laid eyes on Cadence. "Hi sweetie!" she said, breezing in and enveloping Cadence into a long, warm hug. "I hope Katsuki has been nice to you since I've been gone."

Cade shot Kat a look over his mother's shoulder and he made an ugly face back. "He's been great, Mitsuki," Cade said, "Damn near angelic."

"Angelic, huh?" Mitsuki said, finally pulling away to glare at her son as she sized him up. "Couldn't be my kid. He's been a demon since birth."