Unveiled Winds || Katsuki Bakugou x Reader

Chapter 37 - Shockwave

You blinked awake to the muffled hum of activity outside the window, the faint light of late afternoon filtering through the curtains. For a moment, you forgot where you were, until your eyes landed on the surveillance setup, the glow of the laptop screen casting sharp shadows over Bakugou's focused expression.

The clock on the nightstand read 5:47 PM. You'd gotten some sleep, enough to shake off the worst of the fatigue, though a hint of grogginess still lingered.

"Finally up?" Bakugou muttered without looking at you, his voice cutting through the silence. He leaned back slightly, stretching his arms behind his head. "About time."

You swung your legs over the edge of the bed, ignoring his tone. "Anything happen while I was out?"

"Not much," he said, gesturing to the screen. "Some crates came in a few hours ago,same guys from the intel files. Other than that, it's been quiet."

You stood and padded over to the desk, leaning just enough to get a better look at the screen. "Do you think it's what we're looking for?"

"Could be," he replied, his voice clipped. Then he glanced at you, his crimson eyes scanning your face for a moment. "You good?"

"Yeah," you said, brushing your hair back. "Guess I just need a minute to get my head in the game."

He huffed, turning his attention back to the feed. "You've got two hours before your shift starts. Eat something and make sure you're actually ready."

As you rubbed your eyes and started stretching, Bakugou stood abruptly, disappearing into the kitchen area for a moment. When he returned, he set a plate on the table near you, a modest arrangement of a sandwich and some sliced fruit.

You blinked, glancing between the plate and him. "You made this... for me?"

He shrugged, avoiding your gaze as he sat back down in his chair. "It's not much. Just eat. Can't have you passing out on the job."

Something in his tone was defensive, almost like he was brushing it off, but you caught the subtle intention behind the act. Your stomach tightened, not from nerves this time, but from the unexpected gesture.

"Thanks, Bakugou," you said softly, picking up the sandwich. You hesitated, then added, "I mean it."

He gave a short grunt, still not looking at you directly. "Don't make a big deal out of it," he muttered, though his tone was a little softer than usual. "Just eat. Can't have you running on empty."

Despite his sharp words, there was no real bite behind them. You couldn't help but smile faintly as you took a bite of the sandwich. The bread was toasted just right, and the balance of flavors was... good. Of course, it was good.

"You know, you could've just said, 'Eat this, dumbass,' and I'd still have been impressed," you teased lightly, trying to ease the weight of the moment.

He snorted, finally glancing at you with the faintest hint of a smirk. "Don't push it. Just finish up before your shift starts."

You nodded, eating quietly while the two of you settled into a comfortable silence. For someone as brash as Bakugou, his actions often spoke louder than his words. And this? This small act of care, even if he tried to downplay it, didn't go unnoticed.

As you finished the sandwich, you leaned back slightly, glancing at the array of equipment spread across the table. The hum of the monitors filled the quiet air, making the moment feel oddly domestic despite the mission.

"So," you said, breaking the silence. "Do you always whip up gourmet meals during stakeouts, or am I just special?"

Bakugou shot you a flat look, but there was no real annoyance behind it. "It's a sandwich. Don't get ahead of yourself."