Dark Reciprocation (Katsuki Bakugo x OC)(Villain Bakugo)

Chapter 53

The group is lounging together in the common area after a mission, relaxing and chatting. Rose is sitting next to Bakugo, their usual closeness not going unnoticed by the others. She's been thinking lately—something feels different. The constant craving she used to have for Bakugo's energy isn't as strong anymore. It's been subtle, but ever since they got closer, she hasn't felt the same urgency to drain his energy.

Rose leans back, her mind wandering as the others chat around her. She absently glances at Bakugo, his presence reassuring as always. "Why don't I feel that need as much anymore?" she wonders. "Before, it was constant. Now, it's... different."

She's noticed the shift ever since she and Bakugo became more intimate, both emotionally and physically. The craving for his energy hasn't disappeared entirely, but it's less urgent, less overwhelming. "Was it really just my quirk?" she thinks. "Or was it something else—my feelings?"

As the group relaxes, Rose's phone is on the table in front of them. She's busy talking with Kaminari and hasn't noticed it, but Bakugo, sitting next to her, happens to see the screen light up with a message. His eyes narrow as he recognizes the name—Todoroki. His jaw clenches, his mood immediately shifting.

Bakugo picks up her phone without thinking, the message clearly visible. It's from Todoroki. "Just checking in. Let me know if you're free later. I'd love to grab a drink again." Bakugo's teeth grind together, anger simmering beneath the surface. "This asshole doesn't know when to quit," he thinks, his grip tightening around the phone.

Rose notices the shift in Bakugo's demeanor. "What's wrong?" she asks, her brow furrowing as she glances at him. Then she sees her phone in his hand and the look on his face. "Is that my phone?"

Rose feels a pang of frustration when she realizes who messaged her. She hadn't been paying attention, but now that she sees it's Todoroki, she knows exactly why Bakugo's so tense. "Give me that," she says, reaching for her phone, but Bakugo doesn't hand it over right away.

Bakugo finally lets go of the phone, but his eyes remain locked on hers, his voice low and irritated. "Why's he still messaging you?" he asks, trying to keep his voice calm but failing. "Thought he got the message last time."

The rest of the group, noticing the tension between the two, falls silent. Kaminari and Kirishima exchange glances, sensing something's off. It's not the first time they've seen Bakugo react like this, but the air feels thicker this time.

Kaminari raises an eyebrow, trying to lighten the mood. "Everything alright over there?" he asks, though he's pretty sure he knows the answer. He can tell by Bakugo's expression that something—or rather someone—has set him off.

Rose sighs, her frustration clear, but she keeps her voice calm as she responds. "It's fine. Todoroki's just being Todoroki." She glances at Bakugo, trying to reassure him. "I'm not interested in him, you know that."

Bakugo crosses his arms, still glaring at the phone. "Then why the hell's he keep texting you?" he mutters. He knows she's not interested, but it doesn't make the situation any less infuriating. The idea of Todoroki constantly trying to get close to Rosalia gnaws at him, especially when they've just started getting comfortable in their relationship.

The tension between Bakugo and Rose doesn't go unnoticed by the rest of the group. Kirishima clears his throat, trying to break the awkward silence. "Hey, it's just Todoroki," he says with a shrug. "He's probably just being friendly."

Rose manages a small smile at Kirishima's attempt to diffuse the situation. "Yeah, I'm sure that's all it is," she says, though she knows it's not entirely true. Todoroki's been persistent lately, and it's starting to wear on her, especially with how protective Bakugo has become.

As the tension fades slightly, Rose can't help but think back to her quirk again. "My craving for Bakugo's energy... it's not just about my quirk, is it?" she realizes. "It's tied to how I feel about him. The more secure I feel with him, the less I need to rely on his energy to feel grounded."