Unveiled Winds || Katsuki Bakugou x Reader

Chapter 50 - Something Real

You... stayed frozen.

Bakugou didn't say anything at first.

Just looked at you, slow, deliberate, unreadable.

Then, voice low, "You always slam doors that hard"

Your face went hot. "I—sorry. I didn't know you were—"

You cut yourself off, mentally wincing. Your mouth was moving faster than your brain.

Bakugou didn't move. Didn't smirk. Didn't tease. Just watched you, eyes unreadable.

You swallowed hard, suddenly way too aware of the way your dress clung to your skin, of how every word in your throat sounded stupid before you could say it.

"I'm sorry," you said finally, voice quiet. "I don't know why I'm this nervous."

His brows drew slightly together. "Nervous?"

You gave a weak, embarrassed laugh, then gestured vaguely toward the hallway. "Everything's been chaos lately, and I haven't seen you, and there's press and heroes everywhere, and—"

You sighed, shoulders slumping. "I don't know. I just feel like I'm on the edge of forgetting how to talk to you."

There was a beat of silence.

Then Bakugou exhaled, slow and controlled.

"Good," he muttered.

You blinked. "What?"

He glanced at you again, really looked at you. "'Cause I thought I was the only one."

You let out a breath. Half laugh, half relief. "Glad we're both terrible at this, then."

"Tch. Speak for yourself."

You tilted your head, lips tugging upward. "You literally just admitted it."

"Did not."

"You just said—"

He cut you a dry look. "You imagined that."

You scoffed. "Wow. Gaslighting at a formal event. Real classy."

Bakugou shrugged, that familiar glint finally sparking behind his eyes. "I clean up nice. Thought I'd try out some formal lies too."

You couldn't help it, you laughed. A soft, real sound that lifted a bit of the pressure from your chest.

"You do clean up," you admitted, gaze skimming down his sharp, black-and-gold suit. "Dangerously well, actually."

His brow lifted. "You just call me dangerous?"

"I said your suit was dangerous."

He smirked. "You're deflecting."

"You're cocky."

"And you're still staring."

You rolled your eyes, biting back a smile, but before you could shoot back a reply, someone cleared their throat nearby.

An event coordinator stepped up with practiced elegance, holding a tray with two flutes of champagne.

"For the heroes of the hour," she said with a polite nod.

You and Bakugou each took one without breaking eye contact.

He lifted his glass slightly, voice low enough that only you could hear.

"You look... good, by the way," he said softly, eyes flickering up to meet yours.

Your cheeks warmed, and you glanced away, trying to mask the sudden flutter in your chest.