Unveiled Winds || Katsuki Bakugou x Reader

Chapter 40 - Handle with Care

You stood in the center of the padded floor, dressed in layers of heavy, heat-resistant gear. Thick gloves, reinforced sleeves, fireproof pants, the whole setup. Even your face was covered with a protective mask.

You looked like a parachute.

"This is excessive," you muttered, shifting uncomfortably.

Bakugou stood off to the side, arms crossed as he inspected you with a deep scowl. "It's not excessive, it's called not being a dumbass."

"Feels like overkill," you grumbled, lifting your arms, the sheer bulk of the gear making your movements sluggish. "How do you even move in all this?"

"I don't 'cause I don't need it, idiot." He motioned toward the gauntlet on your arm. "Alright, listen up, if you're gonna do this, you're gonna do it right. I tell you to stop, you stop. No dumb shit, no extra wind tricks, no trying to be a hero. You aim straight ahead and fire when I say."

You gave him a mock salute, the bulky sleeve making it look ridiculous. "Aye aye, Explosion Murder God."

He groaned. "I swear to god—"

You adjusted your stance, feet planted firmly on the ground as you lifted your arm, the weight of the gauntlet still unfamiliar. Even through the heatproof gear, you could feel its solid weight pressing down on you.

Bakugou watched you like a hawk, his expression tight with frustration, like he was already regretting this. "Alright, just pull the damn pin and fire straight."

You nodded, gripping the release mechanism. "Got it."

A beat of silence passed.

Then, with a deep breath, you activated the gauntlet.

The pressure built instantly, a deep, mechanical click as the stored nitroglycerin in the chamber primed itself for release. Even without using your quirk, you could feel the raw energy coiling in the weapon, crackling like lightning in a bottle.

"Holy shit," you muttered.

Bakugou stepped closer. "Don't just stand there, dumbass, fire it before it overloads!"

Right. Fire it.

You swallowed, adjusted your stance again, and pulled the trigger.

For a split second, nothing happened.

Then—

A deafening BOOM erupted from the gauntlet, a violent explosion propelling you backward with way more force than you expected. Your feet barely held their ground before your entire body went flying.

"Oh shit—!"

Your instincts barely kicked in fast enough, your quirk surged around you, wind bursting beneath your feet in a desperate attempt to cushion the impact.

It helped. Somewhat.

Instead of crashing straight into the floor, you were sent skidding wildly through the air, only to slam into the padded wall behind you. The force rattled through your bones, knocking the breath from your lungs as you slumped onto the ground.

Bakugou was already storming toward you. "What did I just say—"

"That was AWESOME!"

His rant died instantly.

You shot up, eyes wide with exhilaration, panting but grinning like an idiot. "Did you see that?! Holy shit—okay, yeah, I definitely should've braced better, but still!" You lifted the gauntlet, still buzzing with adrenaline. "That was insane! I barely even—"