Bound By Fire And Fate || Bakugo X Reader

Forbidden Fires (Bakugo's pov)

The weight of the crown feels heavier each day, though it still sits on my father's head. I can feel it in every stare, in the whispers of the council, in the way the guards watch me, waiting for any sign of weakness. They don't realize I notice their expectations, that I feel the fire they want me to unleash. It only fuels my determination to prove them wrong.

But what no one knows-what I can barely admit to myself-is that lately, the fire doesn't burn the way it used to.

It's her fault. That stubborn, infuriating elf with the sharp tongue and that damned defiance in her eyes. I can still see her standing in the forest, glaring up at me like she wasn't afraid of me or any of the flames that could have incinerated her in a heartbeat. She looked me in the eye and dared me to make a move, dared me to see her as something more than a fragile, weak elf.

And I hate that I can't get her out of my head.

Since that night in the clearing, I've found myself slipping away from the kingdom more and more, drawn back to those woods like some foolish child. Every time I see her, I try to find some reason to turn away-to remind myself that we're enemies, that I'm the dragon prince and she's nothing but an elf, a girl bound to the forest soil. But she keeps challenging me, keeps saying things that twist my thoughts until they're something unrecognizable.

Today, the council waits on me to attend a strategy meeting, but I make my way to the woods instead. I know I shouldn't; my father would have me in chains if he knew I was fraternizing with an elf. But I don't care. Something about her makes me feel less like the prince they expect and more like... well, just Bakugo. It's pathetic, really, but the peace I feel around her is addicting.

She's waiting for me, leaning against a tree with a crooked smile that makes my blood boil and freeze at the same time.

"You're late," she taunts, crossing her arms.

I scoff, trying to ignore the way her words seem to seep under my skin. "I don't answer to you."

She shrugs, but the challenge remains in her gaze. "Right. Wouldn't want the mighty dragon prince taking orders from an elf, after all."

I step closer, forcing myself to keep my voice steady. "You don't know what you're talking about," I mutter, though there's less bite than I'd like. I feel... exposed around her, and I hate it.

"Don't I?" Her eyes narrow, and something flickers in her expression-something deeper, a quiet understanding that catches me off guard. "Maybe it's you who doesn't know what you're talking about."

That's when I reach my limit. I grab her wrist, not hard, but enough to make my point. "Do you enjoy making me feel like a fool, or are you just naturally insufferable?"

Her breath hitches, but she holds my gaze, unwavering. "You're the one who keeps coming back here, Bakugo. If you hate me so much, then stop looking for me."

I want to retort, to tell her she's wrong, but the words die in my throat. She's right. I could turn around, right now, and never see her again. I could end this-whatever this is-before it ruins everything I've worked for.

But I don't let go of her wrist.

Instead, I lower my voice, the frustration and confusion tangled in every word. "I can't stop thinking about you," I admit, the confession burning on my tongue like molten iron. "I can't get you out of my head, no matter how hard I try."

Her eyes soften, and for a moment, I see something in them that isn't anger or defiance. It's something I don't know how to name, something that scares me as much as it draws me in.

But just as she's about to respond, a loud rustling echoes through the trees, followed by a familiar voice calling my name. My father's guard. My pulse spikes, and I let go of her wrist, shoving her away from me as the guard's footsteps draw closer.

"Bakugo?" the guard calls, his voice rough and impatient. I can see his figure moving through the trees, his armor catching the last rays of sunlight. "The council demands your presence. The border raids have escalated-we have casualties."

I clench my jaw, fury rising inside me. The elf and dragon kingdoms have been on the brink of open war for months, but every time we've come close to peace, something like this happens. It's a cycle of blood and vengeance that we can't seem to escape.

The guard finally spots me, nodding in grim acknowledgment. But his eyes narrow when he notices the figure lingering just beyond me-her. His face twists in disgust. "What are you doing with an elf?"

I don't respond, but I can see the betrayal in her eyes as she catches my silence. She steps back, her face shuttering into a mask of hurt and anger, and I realize too late what I've done. She thinks I'm ashamed of her-ashamed of this connection we've built, the connection I've fought to deny even as it's grown stronger. But as the guard pulls me away, she turns and disappears into the trees, leaving me standing there, powerless to stop her.