From The Ashes | Bakugo x Fem! Reader

𝙏𝙒𝙀𝙇𝙑𝙀

𝘗𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐𝘵 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘍𝘢𝘳

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆

Training had been relentless, an unyielding stream of sessions ever since Aizawa had arranged for (Y/n) to work with Todoroki and Izuku. With Todoroki, each session had focused on delicate control, a gradual, almost grueling progression toward understanding and mastering her destructive side without letting it slip too far out of control. Todoroki had taught her that power, raw and volatile, could be dialed back; it could be as precise as she needed it to be. They'd spent countless hours finding that thin balance—starting with a flicker, a glimpse of her quirk's ability, then edging the intensity upward as she grew more comfortable. She could feel herself inching closer to that fabled "full capacity," but the thought of wielding it to its maximum potential filled her with unease.

These lingering doubts took root, tangling with her thoughts. How did her father manage it, to have such a dangerous quirk in his hands yet remain unwaveringly in control? The power to erase, to harm—it came to her so naturally, yet it felt like an encroaching shadow she feared crossing. She wondered how he had maintained that elusive, delicate boundary between using it and letting it overtake him. She found herself obsessively replaying these questions even during classes, to the point where Momo's voice occasionally faded into the background as she zoned out.

But despite her doubts, she had come remarkably far in catching up academically. Momo had structured her study sessions with razor-sharp precision, walking her through the curriculum that her classmates had absorbed over their three years at U.A. (Y/n) estimated that she was nearly halfway there—an achievement that should have filled her with pride, though it instead left her feeling strained, exhausted. Momo had tested her knowledge with small pop quizzes, scaling them up to comprehensive exams, and while she passed most with ease, each victory seemed to drain her a bit more.

Aizawa had taken note of her dwindling energy. It was hard not to. The once bright, if somewhat awkward, spark he'd noticed in her had dimmed, reduced to something almost hollow, an imitation of her usual self. He watched her in class, her eyelids heavy with exhaustion, her responses slower, a forced upbeat tone that lacked its usual energy. After training, he'd observe her trudging back to her dorm, her shoulders slouched as if every step were a monumental effort. She was pushing herself too far, Aizawa could see that, but the girl seemed oblivious to her own limits—or too afraid to stop.

That Saturday morning, she had arranged yet another lesson with Momo before the latter had to leave for her own plans. Once they finished, Momo quietly shut (Y/n)'s door and stepped into the hallway where Aizawa, Izuku, and Uraraka waited. She frowned, glancing toward Aizawa, her voice soft but laced with worry.

"I don't think (Y/n) is eating or sleeping properly," Momo confessed, her eyes troubled. "She's... she's overdoing it. With everything."

Izuku nodded solemnly. "Todoroki told me the same thing. She's... she's like a shell of herself in training, you know? It's like she's there, but... not really there. I think she's pressuring herself way too much."

Uraraka's face softened, her brow furrowing as she added, "It's only been three months since she started third year, but it's like she's terrified of falling behind, like she's running out of time." Her voice dropped to a murmur. "Maybe... maybe she's scared she'll lose control again, like when she was held captive."

Momo gave a small nod. "She mentioned something about that... About being kept in a tank and only taken out occasionally. It was awful. She seemed almost... haunted by the League, as if she thinks they might come for her again." Her voice grew even softer. "She's trying to get stronger, as fast as she can, but I think that fear is what's really driving her."