COMFORT || K.BAKUGOU X READER

COMFORT || Unfolding Layers

The following days felt charged with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. Each time you trained with Bakugo, there was an unspoken connection simmering beneath the surface, and it seemed to reflect in his focus, which was sharper than ever. He wasn't just blasting through exercises anymore; he was attentive, pushing himself but also taking time to strategize with you.

You'd sometimes catch him glancing your way, as if checking to see if you were keeping up with him. His expression remained stubbornly gruff, but every so often, a flicker of something softer would surface, almost as if he was starting to consider your words from their last conversation.

One evening, while the rest of the class was winding down for the day, you decided to hit the training grounds again, feeling energized and ready to practice your bending skills. The moonlight cast an ethereal glow over the field, illuminating the space perfectly for a little late-night training session.

You started with earth, focusing on the way the soil shifted beneath your feet, forming small shapes and patterns at will. As you practiced, you lost track of time, absorbed in the flow of energy around you. After a while, though, you became aware of another presence nearby.

"Practicing alone?" Bakugo's voice broke through your concentration, and you turned to see him leaning against a tree, arms crossed, observing you with a curious intensity.

"I thought I'd get some extra practice in," you replied, a bit surprised at how easy it felt to talk to him, even late at night. "Want to join me?"

He snorted, pushing off the tree. "What, you think I need to practice? I already know what I'm doing."

You raised an eyebrow, resisting the urge to point out how much he had benefited from your teamwork in the past few weeks. Instead, you smiled playfully. "Well, if you're not busy, I could always use a sparring partner."

He looked at you for a moment, an indecipherable expression crossing his face. "Fine. But don't go crying when you can't keep up."

You let out a laugh, a sense of thrill rushing through you as you stepped into position. "You're on, firecracker."

As you began to spar, the air around you crackled with energy. You used the earth beneath your feet to create a small barrier, bending it to protect yourself from Bakugo's explosive blasts. He charged forward, pushing you to react faster, and you countered with a swift wave of water, redirecting his momentum.

"You're getting better," he admitted, not bothering to hide the surprise in his voice.

"Thanks. I think you're just getting softer," you teased, dodging another blast and using the wind to propel yourself into the air, landing lightly a few feet away.

"Shut it," he snapped back, though the corners of his mouth turned up just slightly. "You think you can outmaneuver me? Bring it."

The two of you continued to trade blows, both physically and verbally. It was a dance of sorts, a balance of power and control, and you could feel your connection strengthening with each move. With every clash of elements, you were learning not just about your abilities, but about how Bakugo operated as well.

Then, in a moment of unexpected inspiration, you decided to test the limits of your quirk. Channeling your energy, you combined all four elements-water, earth, fire, and air-into a single technique, creating a swirling vortex of power around you. It was a display of your training and growth, and as the wind howled and the earth trembled, you felt exhilarated.

"Whoa! What the hell is that?" Bakugo exclaimed, stepping back slightly, eyes wide as he took in the spectacle.

"Just a little something I've been working on!" you shouted over the noise, your heart racing with excitement, "My ultimate move! Elemental Vortext!"

His eyes glinted with something you couldn't quite place-admiration, maybe?-as he watched the swirling vortex in awe. But then, in a moment of instinct, he smirked and pulled his hands back, gathering explosive energy.

"Okay then! Let's see how you handle this!" With a fierce yell, he unleashed a powerful blast of explosions directly toward you, breaking through the air with enough force to disperse your vortex.

You instinctively bent the water around you to form a shield, absorbing some of the impact, but the force still knocked you back, sending you sprawling onto the ground.

"Shitty Avatar!"" Bakugo rushed forward, his eyes wide as he crouched down beside you, concern flashing across his face. "Could you not keep up or something?"

"Yeah, I'm fine thanks for asking!" you laughed, pushing yourself up and brushing dirt from your arms. "That was just a little... unexpected."

He shook his head, clearly still concerned but also impressed. "You're reckless. You can't just-"

"Underestimate myself?" you finished for him, tilting your head and grinning. "Isn't that your job?"

Bakugo rolled his eyes, but you noticed he was holding back a smile. "You really think you can take me on like that? You have to be careful!"

"I'm always careful, Bakugo," you assured him, determination lacing your tone. "But I'm also not going to hold back just because I'm worried about getting hurt. If I do, I'll never get any stronger."

He opened his mouth to retort, but the words faltered as he took in your expression. For a moment, you saw something shift behind his fierce exterior-an understanding, perhaps.

"Yeah, well," he said quietly, "just don't get yourself killed or anything. I'd hate to have to carry your sorry ass back to the dorms."

You chuckled, the tension in the air easing as you caught his eye. "I appreciate your concern, Bakugo. Really."

He looked away, cheeks flushing slightly, though the faintest hint of a smile remained. "Whatever. Just get up already. We're not done."

You pushed yourself up, brushing off the last remnants of dirt and dust. As you stood, the night felt charged, alive with possibilities and unspoken words.

"Alright, then. Let's go again!" you said, a thrill of excitement rushing through you.

As you settled back into position, Bakugo mirrored you, a focused intensity in his eyes. The playful banter returned, and the air crackled with energy, not just from your elements but from the connection that was growing stronger each day.

You were learning to read each other, learning to trust. In that moment, it felt as though everything was aligning, like the two of you were becoming something more-something powerful together.

As the night wore on, the stars twinkled brightly above, and you couldn't shake the feeling that whatever was blossoming between you and Bakugo was just beginning to unfold.