Unveiled Winds || Katsuki Bakugou x Reader

Chapter 54 - Fallout

It had been a few weeks since the fire.

The smoke had long since faded from the sky, but the silence that followed lingered.

Bakugou hadn't said a word to you since that night.

Not at the scene. Not at the agency. He didn't show up to the press events. Didn't send a message. Didn't so much as look your way during the briefings you both now attended separately.

Whatever bridge had begun to form between you, it had been scorched in the fire.

And yet, the burn still lingered.

"—Ow!" you hissed, jerking slightly as a cool swipe of antiseptic hit raw skin.

"Stop moving," Aiko muttered from behind you, her tone flat with sisterly judgment.

You sat sideways on your kitchen bench, one leg tucked up, your back bare and shoulders tense beneath her hands. The overhead light buzzed faintly, casting a soft yellow glow over the room.

Your shirt was balled up on the counter beside you, and the air stung against the fresh bandages being replaced.

"I am still," you muttered. "That stuff just stings."

Aiko made a noncommittal sound and tugged a bit of gauze free. You winced again.

"You're twitching like Muta on bath day," she said dryly.

You snorted, teeth clenched. "At least he gets a towel."

A fresh pad of gauze pressed against your shoulder blade, gentle but firm.

"Maybe next time, think twice before running into a burning building with no gear."

You sighed through your nose, eyes flicking to the empty teacup by the sink. "Didn't exactly have time to grab a fireproof suit."

"Yeah, and now your back looks like it lost a fight with a chainsaw," she said, patting the fresh bandage like she meant to make a point. "Honestly, Y/N..."

Aiko patted the last bandage into place, muttering under her breath as she reached for the medical tape.

You were quiet for a moment, watching the steam fade from the still-warm mug beside you. Then, softly you murmured,

"I had to get to him..."

Aiko's hands stilled for just a second.

Before she could respond, a soft thump sounded beside you. Muta leapt up onto the counter with familiar ease, landing beside your hip. He let out a quiet trill, then nudged his head against your side, tail flicking.

You glanced down, a small smile tugging at the corner of your mouth despite everything. One hand rose instinctively to scratch behind his ear.

Aiko didn't say anything. She just finished taping you up and stepped back, arms crossed, gaze flicking from you to the scorch marks that still faintly peeked out near the edges of the new bandages.

"You and Bakugou..." Aiko started, her voice light, but cautious. "Have you guys talked at all?"

You kept petting Muta, watching his ears twitch contentedly. "Not really," you said after a pause. "I've texted him a few times... just to check in. Nothing long. But he hasn't replied."

Aiko raised an eyebrow. "Not even a thumbs up emoji?"

You huffed out a laugh, but it didn't carry far. "We've spoken a little. In passing. Patrol reports, comms, that kind of thing. Just... small words. Short answers."

There was a beat of silence.

Then Aiko snorted. "Damn. You ran into a burning building for this man and he won't even answer your texts?"