Unveiled Winds || Katsuki Bakugou x Reader

Chapter 39 - The Gauntlets

You adjusted the strap of your sports bag as you stepped into the bustling support lab, the familiar scent of metal, oil, and burning circuits filling the air.

The place was as chaotic as ever, machines whirring, engineers darting between workbenches, sparks occasionally flying from half-assembled prototypes. At least nothing had exploded yet.

Tugging the strap of your bag higher onto your shoulder, you weaved between the workbenches, dressed casually in loose cargo pants and a cropped tee, sneakers barely making a sound against the tiled floor.

Bakugou hadn't asked you to do this, he barely asked for anything, but between running his agency, training recruits, and dealing with the PR circus that came with being a top hero, he barely had time to breathe, let alone pick up his own equipment.

So, you figured you'd help him out.

Then—

BOOM.

The floor vibrated beneath your feet as a puff of smoke rose from somewhere deeper in the lab.

A distant voice yelled, "That's just a minor setback!"

You sighed. There it is.

Carefully stepping over a loose screw rolling across the floor, you were mid-step when—

A pair of mechanical arms lunged out from the side, narrowly missing you as they swung wildly through the air.

Before you could react, a blur of pink shot into your vision, stopping just inches from your face. Wide golden eyes sparkled behind oversized goggles, wild curls framing a grease-smudged face.

"Tempest!"

Ah. Hatsume.

Of course.

She grabbed your shoulders, practically bouncing on her heels. "You made it! Perfect timing! I just finished working on your hothead's gauntlets!"

You grinned, steadying yourself before she could shake you senseless. "Hatsume! Good to see you, still in one piece, I see."

"Barely!" she chirped, unbothered.

You chuckled. "I'd expect nothing less."

Hatsume beamed, smearing grease across her cheek as she dramatically wiped her forehead. "Busy day?"

"Always! Innovation never sleeps! And neither do I, apparently!"

You snorted. "Yeah, I can tell. You look like you've been wrestling your own inventions again."

She gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. "Excuse you! I was conducting very important stress tests."

Another small explosion sounded from somewhere in the lab.

"...And winning," she added without missing a beat.

You shook your head, amused. "Right. Well, I'm here to grab Bakugou's gauntlets before something else blows up around here."

Hatsume's eyes practically glowed. "Perfect! C'mon, c'mon!"

She spun on her heel, motioning for you to follow, already launching into a rapid-fire explanation of the upgrades she'd made.

"I tweaked the pressure regulators, reinforced the chambers, oh! And I adjusted the ignition response time, it's milliseconds faster now! It's beautiful. I could cry."

You smirked. "Bakugou'll love that. The faster he can blow stuff up, the happier he is."

"Exactly!"

She reached a metal storage locker, yanking it open with way too much enthusiasm. Inside, Bakugou's gauntlets gleamed under the overhead lights, polished and ready for action. Hatsume carefully pulled one out, presenting it to you with a proud grin.