𝑩𝑨𝑫 𝑨𝑷𝑷𝑳𝑬 | ˢ.ᵗᵒᵈᵒʳᵒᵏⁱ ˣ ᵒᵖ!ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ ˣ ᵏ.ᵇᵃᵏᵘᵍᵒ

𝐂 𝐇 𝐀 𝐏 𝐓 𝐄 𝐑 𝐓 𝐇 𝐈 𝐑 𝐓 𝐄 𝐄 𝐍

Chapter Thirteen: World-ending

a.n: thank you for all the votes and reads! It's very inspiring to see your guys' feedback, so here's an early chapter :)

BAKUGO WRAPPED HIS JACKET TIGHTER around himself as he walked. It was past midnight now, and the sun had long since gone down. The streets of Musutafu had been cleared apart from the hoards of young adults lining up for bars and clubs —  as if the city had been made completely anew since night had fallen.

Funnily enough, he had gone for a walk to clear his mind: a walk amidst the distant chatter and neon adverts which should have felt overwhelming since they seemingly clung to every building wall they could find, but the young boy believed there was something  comforting about the busyness. It wasn't that he felt alone — he preferred his own company anyways, but being among the luxury district of the city felt more like home than his actual home was at the minute.

"-Hey!" He let out a grunt, suddenly bumping shoulders with a stranger. His would-be-insult was cut short, as he noticed the appearance of the person in front of him. Bakugo felt a chill up his spine as the taller boy looked down at him. He was similar in age, only just taller by a few inches, but what staggered him the most was not his mis-matched hair, nor his rare beauty, but the angry scar which grasped and suffocated one of his heterochromic eyes. It was as if the folds of skin had been carved away by coal miners, destroying the architecture chiseled by artists which once lay beneath. An angry scar, which Bakugo could only guess held an even sadder history.

After a few moments, the unusual-looking boy whipped his head to the side, staring intensely at one of the billboards which bloomed out of Musutafu's skyline. Bakugo followed his gaze, confusion quickly being replaced for horror as he laid eyes upon the familiar face smiling at no-one in particular. Immediately, thoughts that he'd tried to expel came flushing back in like a tidal wave. You. His jealousy finally peaked, however, for a change Bakugo did not react as he normally would. You had been born with the most incredible quirk, trained by some of the most incredible heroes. From the outside, it seemed like you deserved it all, but what had been plaguing the boys mind was not how much better you were than him — even though it hurt his soul — but how you had risen from the bottom so quickly. It was as if some external factor was at play here, something that delved even deeper than he could imagine, perhaps escaping even your sight too. He didn't feel sick because he was weaker, he felt sick because he had an understanding of what power could do to a person. Bakugo was able to control it, as his influence didn't stretch further than the playground, but you? A teenage girl, with the world in your hands. If you continued to rise, he could only imagine what the effects would be.

He was aware he had hurt people. He didn't care. But what would the difference be if you shared that attitude? He might have gotten away with it, but he doubted the world would turn a blind eye to you as they had to him.

"Fuck.." The curse escaped his lips, as he finally ripped his gaze away from the building. "What the hell have I gotten myself into..?"

The boy from before was now looking at him: his eyes thin with suspicion. "You know her?" His calm voice eventually called out, but Bakugo could taste the hint of hostility.

After a few seconds, he replied. "What's it to you?"

"She is intriguing to me." There was a slight pause. "But sadly I must destroy her."

What..? Bakugo's eye twitched. Who was this twerp? Why was he speaking so formally? And like clockwork, he summed up his thoughts perfect into a short, impactful sentence devoid of any empathy or compassion for its receiver. "Are you fucking dumb?"

The two shared a moment of silence.

"What?"

"Why the fuck would I tell you anything? Don't you have anything better to do? I'll beat your ass, right here, right now!"

The strange boys face contorted in ways unknown, his confusion to why this angry teen was so insistent on fighting evident from his words. "I'm afraid I don't quite understand, what-"

"STOP SPEAKING SO DAMN NICELY, ITS PISSIN' ME OFF!"

"I'm-"

"SHUT UP!"

Bakugo let out a huge huff. His brain hurt too much to fight anyone at the moment anyways. He had to figure out what he was going to do about you first and foremost. "Since you're so fucking ditzy, I'll drop it, but trust me if I see your stupid face again I'll smash it into the nearest wall I can find."

"Oh. Okay."

OKAY?! Bakugo's teeth gritted so hard that they sounded like a fork scraping a plate. Just who does this bum think he is?! Before he could act on his words, a silent, sleek vehicle pulled up besides them. From its door emerged a white-haired woman: glasses perched neatly on her nose almost like a balancing act.

"Shoto. Please, it's time to come home."

The boy who Bakugo now knew as Shoto sent a hesitant look to the ground, before he wordlessly stepped into the car. The woman glanced at Bakugo, sending him a small smile and nod before she too joined him in, giving instructions to the driver before quickly closing the door. He could only watch as the car drove away, leaving only him, and the suddenly obstructive and massive billboard where your face was shining even brighter than it had been before.

With naut but the baring of his teeth, Bakugo finally turned to head home, thinking about what the fuck had just happened, and what the fuck he was supposed to do now, because deep down, he knew if he didn't stop you, who would?

"Damnit." He swore, his thumb hovering over your contact. Squeezing his eyes tight, he pressed down, letting the phone ring for a few seconds before you finally picked up.

"Hello?"