STRINGS // KATSUKI BAKUGO [2]

Chapter 10 // Normalcy

You knocked on Star and Stripes office door and only entered the room upon hearing a faint "come in" from the other side.

It was the next morning, and you decided to wake up early to pay your mentor a visit to sort some things out.

When you stepped inside, you found Star and Stripes sitting behind her desk. She wore her typical costume with the exception of her mask, which was sitting on the surface of her desk beside a stack of manila folders.

"You're up early for someone who's supposed to be on break," the woman stated, folding her arms over her chest. "I hope you aren't here to convince me you should be out and about doing work."

"No," you shook your head. "Some things have just come up that I thought you should know about."

At that, Star and Stripes straightened her posture, pushed her work aside, and gestured for you to sit in the empty chair across from her.

"I'm gonna spare you of the fine details because I honestly don't want to talk about this," you continued, "My mom has gone missing back home, but Eraserhead believes it's a trap to lure me back. I told him I'd give him one week to find her, and, if he makes no progress, I'm going home. I know it's not right of me to ditch this internship, but it's my mom. It's her life on the line."

"[L/N]," Star and Stripes began, sympathy lacing her voice, "I'd never force you to stay here even if it was a scenario where you just wanted to go home. If you need to go home now, you can go. I'll arrange a flight and get you there as soon as possible."

"Thank you," you said, managing a small smile at the hero's kindness, "but I promised Aizawa at least a week. He believes I'm safer here, and I trust his word. At least, for now."

"You do whatever it is that you need to do," the woman replied, "and thank you for telling me. If you want to take a longer break, you're more than welcome to. Bakugo could probably use the extra rest too. That doctor you had me call in said that wound he hid was pretty gnarly."

"Thanks," you began, "but I need some normalcy back in my life. Being a hero is that normalcy. I'm gonna get back to patrolling and training as soon as possible."

"I appreciate your determination, but, remember, you promised me no earlier than the weekend," she stated, and you signed.

This break was really getting to your head. You've had such a set in stone routine since you arrived in America that the feeling of multiple days off in a row was starting to throw you off. You had too much time on your hands to think, procrastinate. You needed some normalcy back.

"About that," you started, and Star and Stripes narrowed her eyes at you as she crossed her arms firmer. "Look, I'm grateful you gave me time to rest, but I don't need that much time. I'm ready to get back on the field now. If I spend too much time relaxing, I'll spiral."

"[L/N]—"

"Please?" you begged. "It can just be a small mission. I just need to get out, do some hero work again."

"And Bakugo?" she questioned.

"He's gonna take all the recovery time he needs until I tell him he's okay to get back up," you replied. "Trust me, I watch him like a hawk. This is just for me."

Star and Stripes sighed, knowing well that you weren't going to back down. It wasn't in your blood to give up.

"Fine," she eventually agreed. However, before you could get too excited, she continued, saying, "but it will be one mission, one small mission, and then you will not pick up any more work until Monday now."