Bare With Me - [MHA Boys/OC x Female Reader]

Chapter 40 - Hero Work & Heartstrings

You weren't even sure if Bakugo was going to reply; his gaze remained fixated on the washing machine as it whirred to life. After a moment, he scoffed, "You done yapping yet?" His tone was sharp, but there was something different about it—almost as if he didn't mean to sound rude.

You paused, taking a breath, and looked at him. "Yeah, sorry," You trailed off, feeling a mix of embarrassment and relief that you finally let it all out. Bakugo glanced at you, his expression unreadable, but there was a hint of something softer in his eyes—maybe concern, or perhaps just a fleeting moment of understanding.

"Look," he said, his tone shifting slightly. At this point, you weren't sure whether or not he was going to offer some advice or shut you down and make fun of everything you'd just said. In all honesty, you didn't really care. You just needed to tell someone and get all of that off of your chest. At that point, it'd been eating you alive. Jude seemed way more nonchalant about it than you did, but maybe he also thought the same about you, and it could've possibly been eating him alive too.

Sometimes, you envied Bakugo's mentality. As selfish and arrogant as he was, he prioritized himself above all else. While that wasn't always the most admirable trait, it was a kind of confidence you couldn't help but admire. He seemed to have a clear sense of where he stood on most things—or at least, that's how it appeared. He knew what he wanted and how to get it, even if his methods were often abrasive and ineffective.

You envied the way he viewed himself; he didn't need to rely on anyone else for validation or support. That independence made you feel small, especially when you considered how you once prided yourself on being self-sufficient. Now, here you were, tangled in a web of emotions over a boy, feeling as if you were losing parts of yourself in the process.

Bakugo was fierce and unyielding, while you found yourself constantly second-guessing your feelings, worrying about what Jude thought or wanted. It felt frustrating and childish to be so caught up in a situation like this, especially when there were more important things at stake—like the Provisional License Exam and your future.

"Are you asking for my advice or some crap?" Bakugo asked, his tone laced with annoyance but not entirely dismissive. It was clear he didn't relish the idea of doling out any kind of wisdom, yet he had still listened to your rambling, allowing you to pour your heart out. At that moment, you felt a strange sense of gratitude.

You shook your head slightly, feeling a mix of frustration and relief. "Not really. I just... I don't know. I guess I just needed to say it all out loud." You could sense his irritation but also something else, a flicker of understanding that maybe he didn't want to acknowledge.

Bakugo crossed his arms tighter, his expression shifting slightly. "Yeah, well, that's not gonna help you figure out what to do, is it?" His words were blunt, but there was an underlying sincerity that caught you off guard. He might not be the best at comforting, but he wasn't entirely heartless either.

You shrugged lightly, "It's not, but if I just kept bottling it up I feel like I'd end up feeling worse," you replied. Bakugo glanced over at you, his expression gave 'I couldn't care less', but his eyes told a different story. "Tch. Before I say anything, just know I don't really care about this damn situation because you'll deal with it yourself either way," he began. You gave him a slightly surprised look that he was even willing to form a response to anything and offer his own input. Who would've thought?

"Clearly if this shit is bothering you as much as it looks like—then you either deal with it and confront the dumbass, or it's gonna keep going like this. If you have all that other shit on your plate, don't even bother trying to be in a relationship when that's just gonna add to your stress." he explained, his tone coming down a notch. It was calmer than it was when you'd entered the washroom.