ARMOR [Bakugo Katsuki x reader]

8: realization

Your foot anxiously tapped against the tiles outside of Power Loader's work studio. Bakugo looked less anxious than you were, more annoyed that he had to take an hour off from classes to show up. The scowl on his face didn't make it any easier, and you awkwardly thumbed the corner of the blueprint. The sharp edge of the paper dug into the pad of your finger, but you paid it no mind.

Based on what was going on inside Power Loader's office, it sounded like someone was getting an earful – and then some."The hell are you stressin' for?" Bakugo broke the tension-filled silence between you. He stared at you, impatiently waiting for an answer.

"You're not stressed?" you looked at him in disbelief. If your design for Bakugo's new gear didn't pass Power Loader's scrutiny, and Aizawa's sharp questions – you were ultimately set back ten days. Ten days that you really couldn't afford to lose. 

"Why would I be?" he asked, "You've got your shit together, I feel no need to stress."

A low groan left the back of your throat, and you glanced toward the door where you could see the shadows come closer. Just when you thought some students would step outside – Power Loader raised his voice again. The word 'imbecile' was thrown out carelessly, seeping through the door. Bakugo snorted under his breath. 

"Didn't know your teacher was that feisty," he said, a smirk tugging at his lips while he glanced over his shoulder. 

"He rarely is," you muttered, "Guess someone would have screwed up royally –"

The door opened and out walked someone from class 1-B and Aoi. There was a part of you that should have pitied Aoi for the hell he had unleashed, but you couldn't find it in you to care. It was fitting. He probably deserved every ounce of reprimand that he got, after years of unfair favoritism. Bakugo glanced at whoever had walked out, and he snorted under his breath. 

"Y/N - Bakugo. You're next." 

Before you had the time to ask Bakugo if he knew whoever Aoi had partnered up with, Aizawa's voice rang out from the entryway to the work studio. Cheers to walking to your impending doom. 

The tension lay thick in the room as you shut the door after yourself and Bakugo. Bakugo nodded at both, too casual for his own good. Whereas he lunged in the chair, arms crossed over his chest, you sat tense as a log. 

"So, I know the two of you have gotten a lot further than some students," Power Loader started, and the jab didn't go unnoticed. Figured that Aoi couldn't work in the hell he had created over the weekend either. What a spiteful jerk. "Mind sharing?"

Bakugo glanced over at you, and you brought forward the blueprint of the design for Bakugo's new gear. You were certain that Aizawa was fairly aware of Bakugo's shortcomings with his busted-up arm, but you tried to be delicate while explaining it. Power Loader looked over your notes, the fabrics, the cost, and the rest of the paperwork you had spent too long getting together. It wasn't going to be on you that this project failed, at least. 

"Huh," Power Loader muttered, his eyes skimming over the blueprint with interest. You knew the look. It was the same look he gave Mei's babies before she'd go completely overboard. Now, it looked more like he was about to polish your seat on the shelf where he kept his trophies. "It's quite the ambitious project."

"It is, but I'm certain I'll make it in time." 

"And the sensor?" Aizawa asked, "It seems to be a key factor." 

"It's basically done. Needs some tweaking when I get the rest of the gear in order."

 Aizawa slowly nodded, and he seemed to be lost in thought for a moment. It was never good. You knew Aizawa from the brief moments when you were helping him out with the prosthetic, and seeing the slight furrow in between his brows made your gut sink. His good eye locked onto Bakugo who had been alarmingly silent for the duration of the meeting.