Echoes of Past Ties (Todobaku Fanfiction)

14. Dangerous Game

The stifling darkness of the cupboard was thickened by the tension between the two men. The only sounds were their labored breathing and the fading footsteps from the distance.

Bakugou broke the silence with an exasperated whisper, "What are you doing here, Shoto? You've just made things a lot more complicated!" The frustration was evident in his voice. "And that smoke bomb wasn't for your grand entrance. It was for my plan!"

Shoto gulped, feeling the weight of his actions. "I was worried," he admitted in a hushed tone. "You've been distant, and when I noticed your necklace was at the house but your bike was moving... I had to follow."

Bakugou's response was a sharp laugh, devoid of humor. "Of course, the investigator in you picked that up. But did you have to track my bike too?"

Shoto bit his lip, regretting his impulsive decision. "I had to make sure you were safe," he whispered back.

Bakugou sighed deeply. "Now I need to ensure you get out of here safely," he muttered, handing Shoto another smoke bomb. "Keep this with you. And use my bike to get out."

But Shoto was stubborn. "I'm not leaving without you," he declared, trying to meet Bakugou's eyes in the dim space. "Tell me what's going on."

Bakugou seemed ready to argue, but a slight movement from Shoto stopped him. Shoto's hand had brushed against something inside Bakugou's coat, and he pulled out a device that looked eerily like a bomb.

His eyes widened, heart racing, "Is this... a bomb??"

Bakugou's eyes widened in alarm. "Put that down," he warned. The atmosphere in the cupboard grew even more charged, with Shoto's discovery unveiling layers of secrets Bakugou had hoped to keep hidden.