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

Chapter 59

The group carries on with their day around the hideout, going about their usual routines—training, preparing for the next mission, and maintaining their equipment. Bakugo, however, has been more reserved than usual, sticking close to Rose but not saying much. His mind is constantly turning, his thoughts clouded by the revelation from the file and the conversation they had.

Bakugo walks through the hallways of the hideout, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. His face is set in its usual scowl, but his eyes are distant, unfocused. His mind keeps going back to the file, to the lack of information it contained about Rose. He hates not knowing. "How can I protect her if I don't even know what she's running from?"

He glances at Rose, who's sitting with Kaminari, laughing at something he said. She looks so at ease, so comfortable with the group. But there's a part of her that's hidden—a part she won't let him see yet. And that's what eats at him the most.

Despite his internal turmoil, Bakugo stays close to Rose throughout the day, his protective instincts kicking in as always. He watches her from a distance, his eyes tracking her every move, but his mind is elsewhere.

"Why won't she just tell me?" Bakugo thinks, his frustration simmering beneath the surface. He leans against the doorframe, watching Rosalia as she trains with Kirishima. He knows she's strong—stronger than most people realize—but that doesn't stop him from worrying. "She's been through more than she's letting on. I know it."

The file didn't tell him anything useful. Just fragments of information—her name, her quirk, and vague details about her past. But it wasn't enough. "What's she hiding?" he wonders, his hands clenching into fists. He hates feeling like he's in the dark, especially when it comes to someone he cares about.

Throughout the day, Bakugo's frustration is compounded by the occasional flash of jealousy when he sees her laughing with Kaminari or spending time with the others. It's not that he doesn't trust her—he just can't shake the feeling that there's something he's missing, something that could come between them.

As the group gathers in the common area later in the day, Bakugo watches Rose from the corner of his eye. Kaminari is telling some joke, and she's laughing again, her smile lighting up the room. Bakugo's chest tightens, a mix of jealousy and concern swirling inside him. "She's happy. Why can't I just let this go?"

But he knows why. He knows that until he gets to the bottom of her past, this feeling isn't going to go away. "I can't protect her if I don't know what I'm up against," he thinks, his jaw clenching. "And I'm not losing her to something I don't even understand."

As the day goes on, Rose can't help but notice Bakugo's distance. He's been sticking close to her, as usual, but there's something off about him. His usual sharpness, his confidence—it's still there, but muted. He's been quieter, more lost in thought than she's used to seeing him.

Rose watches Bakugo as he leans against the wall, arms crossed, his eyes distant. She can tell something's bothering him, something more than just the usual mission stress. "Is he still thinking about that file?" she wonders, her brow furrowing in concern. She knows he's frustrated with her for not opening up more, but it's not that simple. "I'm not ready to tell him everything yet... but he deserves to know more."

She walks over to him, her voice soft but teasing. "You've been brooding all day, Katsuki," she says, using his first name to catch his attention. "What's going on in that head of yours?"

Bakugo looks at Rose as she approaches, her voice cutting through his swirling thoughts. He hates feeling like this—so conflicted, so uncertain. It's not like him to brood, to overthink things. But with Rosalia, everything's different. She's different.

Bakugo's eyes flicker to hers, his usual confidence wavering for a moment. "She can tell something's off." He lets out a slow breath, trying to push down the frustration and worry. "I'm fine," he mutters, though he knows she's not going to buy it. Not with how distant he's been.

For a moment, he considers telling her what's really on his mind—that he's worried about her, that he's frustrated because he doesn't know how to protect her when he doesn't even know what she's running from. But the words don't come.

She gives him a soft smile, but there's concern in her eyes. "You know you can talk to me, right?" she says gently. "I know things have been... complicated. But you don't have to keep everything to yourself."

Bakugo's chesttightens at her words. He knows she's right, but it's not that simple. Hedoesn't want to push her, doesn't want to make her feel like she has to tellhim everything. But at the same time, he can't shake the feeling that there'ssomething lurking beneath the surface—something that could tear them apart ifthey don't face it together.