Lightning in the Ashes (Katsuki Bakugou x OC Fem)

Chapter 19: A New Dawn

The storm had settled, and the city was finally silent, save for the distant hum of emergency sirens. The twisted wreckage of the weather machine lay in smouldering ruins, split apart by Katsuki's explosions and the tireless efforts of Aizawa and Present Mic. Valerie barely escaped in time, stumbling from the collapsing structure, her body trembling with exhaustion, yet her heart beating with determination.

Hurricane lay defeated, his mutated form shrinking and dissolving back to his original state, the quirk serum's effects fading with each laboured breath. Katsuki, Izuku, and Shoto stood victorious but completely spent, collapsing to the ground in exhaustion, the adrenaline that had fueled them finally draining away. Katsuki's hands were raw, the heat of his awakened quirk still lingering in the air. Izuku's body ached from the toll of One For All, and Shoto's flames and ice had left him feeling completely drained.

Valerie, barely conscious, opened her eyes to see the boys lying mere yards away. Her limbs felt like lead, but she forced herself forward, dragging her weakened body across the rubble-strewn ground. Her hands scraped against broken concrete, but she didn't care. She had to reach them. She had to see him.

Finally, she made it to Katsuki, and with a tired, playful smirk, she raised a weak hand and smacked his chest. "Tag... you're on clean-up," she whispered, her voice raspy but full of humour. Katsuki blinked, stunned for a moment, then barked out a laugh. Izuku and Shoto burst into laughter beside him, the tension and relief flooding over them like a tidal wave, turning into shared joy.

Aizawa, who had been searching frantically for his daughter, rushed to Valerie. His hands shook as he knelt beside her, pulling her into a fierce embrace. The reality of almost losing her had hit him hard, and he buried his face in her hair, whispering a shaky, "You're okay. You're safe." Valerie, feeling the weight of his love, wrapped her arms around him, clinging to her father.

Katsuki sat up slowly, his gaze fixed on Valerie. Relief and a rush of emotions he couldn't quite put into words filled his chest. As she turned to face him, he didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into a bone-crushing bear hug. The two of them clung to each other, trembling with the aftershocks of their near-loss.

Without a word, Katsuki tilted her chin up and kissed her, a deep and desperate kiss that spoke of everything he had been too afraid to say. Valerie kissed him back, tears streaming down her face, their connection stronger than ever.

Their moment was rudely interrupted by a loud camera click. "I'm so saving this!" Present Mic crowed, waving his phone with a triumphant grin. Katsuki's eyes widened in disbelief, and then he exploded into a fit of rage. "Old man, you're dead!" he yelled, lunging at Present Mic, who sprinted away, laughing hysterically.

Valerie collapsed into giggles, her laughter bubbling up and mixing with the tired chuckles of Izuku and Shoto. The tension melted away, replaced by relief and joy. The storm had passed, and they had won—not just the battle but the right to hope, to live, and to love.

And as Katsuki chased a very amused Present Mic around the rubble, Valerie, surrounded by her friends and her father's protective embrace, knew that even in the chaos, they had found something worth fighting for together.

***

The sterile white walls of the hospital were a stark contrast to the chaos they had all just survived. The hallways buzzed with activity, heroes being treated for their injuries, nurses moving quickly from room to room. Endeavor stood near the entrance, his towering presence commanding attention as he spoke to the gathered press, flames flickering subtly around his shoulders.

"The brave heroes who put everything on the line today are recovering," Endeavor stated firmly, his voice carrying authority. "They will not answer questions until they are fully healed, so respect their privacy. We owe them a great deal, and I ask you to keep your thoughts with them." His gaze flickered, almost imperceptibly, toward Shoto's room. Despite his usual stern demeanor, there was a flicker of genuine concern in his eyes.