the tale of two lovers | katsuki bakugou x reader

chapter 5

Nothing was ever calm in Niniel's Veil. The air was thick with tension, the mist curling around the trees like creeping vines, and the ever-present feeling of being watched gnawed at the edges of your mind. The group had been moving cautiously, senses on high alert. When all of the sudden, Denki went missing. It was as if he'd been swallowed by the mist, his disappearance so swift and silent that no one even saw it happen. Panic swept through the group like a sudden storm, the calm unravelling in an instant.

"Where the hell did he go?" Kirishima's voice was tight with worry, his eyes scanning the hazy woods as if Denki might suddenly materialise from the shadows.

"He was right here!" Mina's tone wavered between fear and frustration, her hands clenched into fists. "Denki! This isn't funny!"

Bakugou was already on edge, his temper fraying as he looked around, seething. "Idiot probably wandered off again! Damn it, why can't he ever stay put?"

Mina glanced at you, concern written on her face. "We have to find him. What if something—"

But while the rest of them buzzed with frantic energy, you remained calm, a quiet steadiness anchoring you in the chaos. You had seen this kind of thing before— the way Niniel's Veil separated groups and turned panic into a weapon. You knew it was easy to get lost here, but you also knew that losing your head wouldn't help.

You took a deep breath, letting the cool air settle your nerves before speaking. "Everyone, take a breath," your voice cut through the panic. "Panicking won't help us find him. We've been through worse."

The group hesitated, eyes turning to you, their breaths still uneven but slowing, just a little. Bakugou scowled but held back whatever retort was forming on his lips. Even in moments like this, your calm was hard to argue with.

"Denki's probably just around the corner," you continued, the command in your voice firm yet reassuring. "Niniel's Veil is messing with us— don't let it get in your head."

Clearing your throat, you locked eyes with each of them, making sure your calm was contagious. "I'll find him."

You outstretched your left arm, revealing a singular, gold line running from your wrist to your elbow— a mark the group hadn't noticed before, perhaps hidden by the cloak you always wore. The line was simple, unassuming, but there was something almost ethereal about it

"Didn't know you had that," Bakugou commented, his tone gruff but tinged with curiosity as he eyed the unusual mark on your arm.

"There's a lot you don't know," you replied, your voice calm, almost distant as you prepared for what you needed to do next.

Softly chanting to yourself, the markings on your arm began to glow, casting a faint golden light that flickered like embers in the misty surroundings. Your right hand traced the line, fingertips gliding over the shimmering mark as you murmured under your breath, each whispered word sharpening your focus.

With each syllable, the energy within the markings stirred, responding to your touch. Slowly, as if summoned from the depths of the tattoo itself, a shape began to emerge— ethereal and flickering, like it was being drawn out of another world. The air around you seemed to hum with anticipation, the form taking shape with an otherworldly grace.

At first, it was just a shimmer, a distortion in the air, but soon it took shape—a feathered being, elegant and fierce. A golden eagle materialised from the tattoo, its wings stretching out wide as if testing the air. The creature was magnificent, with feathers that gleamed like burnished gold in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. Its sharp eyes, a deep amber, scanned the surroundings with an intelligence that spoke far beyond a mere bird.