To Burn and Bloom.- Bakudeku

Chapter 1: Collision

Chapter 1: Collision

The air in the U.A. training grounds felt heavy with static, as if anticipating a storm. Katsuki Bakugou was all jagged edges, muscles tense, and eyes locked in a scowl as he faced his rival, Izuku Midoriya. The day's training exercise was one Katsuki should have relished—pushing past his limits, a challenge he could crush under his heel. But today was different, and he couldn't shake the irritation crawling under his skin.

He'd never admit it out loud, but, things had changed with Midoriya lately. The kid he'd known all his life, who used to tail him with innocent admiration, was no longer someone he could easily shake off or intimidate. He was stronger now, and damn it if Katsuki didn't hate that. He hated the way Deku kept coming at him, standing in his way, looking at him with that stupid determined face.

Or at least, that's what he told himself he hated.

Katsuki clenched his fists, the familiar prickle of nitroglycerin igniting under his palms. A sharp voice sliced through his thoughts.

"Kacchan! Are you going to stand there all day, or are we going to start this?" Izuku's voice was firm, his green eyes meeting Katsuki's with a spark that only angered him more. Izuku has changed so much, he's not the same as when they were kids or in middle school. He's gotten stronger and is not much of a pushover either.

"Tch. Don't act all high and mighty, Deku. I'm the one carrying your sorry ass through this exercise," Katsuki snapped back, barely hiding the tremor in his voice. He couldn't afford to let anyone notice, especially not Deku. How his skin seemed to burn every time they clashed. How Deku's unwavering gaze made his insides coil with something unrecognizable—something he wanted to smash to pieces.

But he couldn't.

They lunged at each other, Katsuki's explosions firing off in quick bursts, propelling him forward as Deku dodged, spinning with that infuriating agility he'd developed. The distance between them closed with each pass, each blocked hit until they were practically nose-to-nose, breaths heavy and skin tingling from the contact.

"Damn it, Deku! Stop dancing around like some—" Katsuki spat, shoving him back with a blast that sent a cloud of smoke around them.

"Like some what, Kacchan?" Deku's voice was sharp but calm, grounded. It only made Katsuki grit his teeth harder.

"Like a coward. Quit hiding behind that stupid smile and fight me for real!" Katsuki charged again, this time with more force, letting his anger drive his body. All he could think about was knocking that look off Deku's face. That infuriating calm, that quiet confidence he used to hate and fear. He wouldn't let Deku have that kind of control over him.

But as Katsuki swung, his fist barely grazing the side of Deku's face, something snapped. Deku didn't back down. Instead, he blocked the blow, holding Katsuki's arm steady. Katsuki could feel Deku's grip, strong and grounding, keeping him in place like an anchor. It sent a shiver down his spine that he couldn't shake.

For a brief, blinding moment, Katsuki could feel the heat radiating between them, and he cursed himself for how his pulse raced. This was Deku, his childhood rival, the one person who had stood in his way more than anyone else. So why the hell did he feel like he wanted to get even closer?

''What you think your better than me?'' Katsuki said while blasting his explosions.

Deku's eyes flickered, a sadness crossing his face. "I'm not trying to be better than you, Kacchan. I just... I want us to push each other to be better. That's all."

Katsuki felt a surge of anger, but it wasn't just anger. It was something else, something that tightened his chest and made his words catch in his throat. "I don't need your help, Deku. I never have."

"But we're stronger together, aren't we?" Deku's voice was barely a whisper, but it was enough to send Katsuki reeling.

Something inside him twisted painfully, and before he knew it, he was already pulling back, putting distance between them. His skin burned, and his heart was pounding louder than it ever had before. He wanted to scream, to tell Deku to get out of his face, to stop looking at him like that. "I don't need anyone!" Katsuki propelled himself up in the air firing an enormous explosion, before Sensei Aizawa dragged Deku back.

Aizawa spoke up ''We're not here to kill problem child'' he said coldly as always.

Without another word, Katsuki turned and walked off the field, feeling Deku's eyes on his back with every step. The ache in his chest didn't lessen, no matter how far he walked. And as much as he tried to push it away, he couldn't shake the feeling that Deku would always be there, a part of him he couldn't outrun.

Heyyy hope you liked it! it's my first fanfic ever.

if you find any odds let me know i will be reading comments and I'm open to ideas.

even though I've already made like 19 chapters hihhihihih

But I want to mention that it was made by ChatGPT. I changed stuff that might be wrong or off in any way.

And i don't want you guys to judge it too harshly cause its ChatGPT, i really tried make it good and correct as much as i could giving ChatGPT detailed requests and points.

And do you guys like the cover? i tried ok? :')