Emote: Bakugo x OC Reader

Chapter 8

My head was pounding as I sat in the waiting room before my match. I groaned and leaned forward to put my head in my hands for what felt like the hundredth time since I woke from unconsciousness a few hours ago. My skin felt hot and sweaty under my palms. I didn't even have it in me to put my earbuds in and crank Turn Down for What, which was jarring. I always listened to that song to pump myself up and get in the right state of mind before a match.

As I waited for my name to be called I thought about the conversation I'd had with Shinso in the recovery ward. He had informed me that my opponent's name is Bakugo and he has a quirk that allows him to create explosions out of the palms of his hands.

"He really went hard against his opponent in the first round," Shinso had said. "Someone even made big deal that he was bullying this girl and drawing out the match longer than he needed to. They clearly weren't giving this girl enough credit. She attacked him relentlessly while having a strategy in mind the whole time."

What is my strategy here? I thought. He's obviously got a powerful quirk. The reason that he spoke during the opening ceremony is because he is head of his class, which means he's smart too. I winced as I stood up, feeling a dull ache spread throughout my legs. I had already taken some pain medication, which should have been fast acting. Why hadn't it taken effect yet? I sighed in annoyance as I started doing some light stretching.

Before I knew it, my name was being blared through the speaker and I immediately felt a wave of nausea overcome me. My feet felt heavy as they carried me towards the arena. As I climbed the stairs to face my opponent my mind raced. My eyes stayed down as I approached the center of the arena. Get it together! You got this, it's game time! I thought furiously and as I brought my gaze up my breath hitched as my e/c eyes were met with his crimson orbs.

A sinister smile crossed across his face. "You look like someone who pissed me off once," he said. "Now, die." I was disturbed by how casually he said this and by the tides of madness that rolled through his eyes.

I clenched my fists and every fiber of my being pushed my pain aside. As Present Mic's voice boomed through the arena, signaling the beginning of the match, my mind focused on grief. Grief. All consuming, heart wrenching, knee buckling grief. As Bakugo pulled his arm back, sparks already forming in the palm of his hand, I watched as his eyes changed. He took a step back and confusion crossed his face as tears began to fill his eyes.

I immediately began to charge towards him, but before I could get close enough to land a hit he landed a left hook and I was blinded by the explosion the impact produced. The wind was knocked out of me and I tumbled, quickly trying to get ahold of the pain coursing through me while maintaining the focus on my quirk. I heard Bakugo yell, "What the fuck?" and as the smoke cleared I saw him furiously wiping at his eyes.

I took the moment to my advantage and raced forward, my right fist striking out and landing a hit on Bakugo directly in the stomach. A strangled sound escaped his lips and he doubled over. Ignoring the pain that was screaming at me to stop, I grabbed his head in my hands and thrust my knee forward. Before my knee could connect with his head, Bakugo leaned back and screamed, "Go to hell!" He clutched at his chest and our eyes met in that moment. Two silent streams of tears slid down his face. He lifted his hand swiftly and I felt an overwhelming sensation of heat as he blasted me right in the chest.

I toppled over and attempted to roll in a way that would minimize any further damage, but I was struggling to focus with the sheer agony my body was in. I coughed violently as smoke filled my lungs and clouded my vision. I tried to get to my feet, but I faltered slightly. My mind was hazy but I tried to focus on a strategy. He can do long distance attacks. I thought. The grief is slowing him down but only slightly. I should have gotten at least two hits on him but he somehow managed to evade. I have to change my strategy.

Another blast came my way before the smoke had cleared and I was barely able to dodge it. Tumbling to the side, I focused my energy on fear. Crippling, deafening fear. I continued to dodge his attacks, which were beginning to get sloppier. He was on edge and I predicted he would make a mistake soon enough. I just have to keep dodging until I can get close enough. I thought.

When I finally had an opening, I lunged forward, lashing out desparately with a kick. Our eyes met again and I saw the panic flash in them when he realized how close I'd gotten. But in the blink of an eye he had recovered and he dodged my attack once again, pivoting to the side so that my foot sliced through the air and landed heavily before his fist connected with my ribs. The force of it stunned me and I cried out before another blast flung me across the arena. I felt my head bounce on the concrete as I landed on my back. The amount of suffering my body was in felt like torture and as I rolled over on to my side I was unexpected by the tears that formed in my eyes as I attempted to get up. My head was splitting and all I felt was pain as I made it to all fours and took a moment, my breath coming out in ragged and broken gasps. Looking at my fingers splayed out on the cool cement I realized that my entire body was quivering. I didn't even realize the stars crowding into my vision due to the tears swimming in my eyes. I was vaguely aware of my arms giving out as I collapsed onto the ground and the darkness consumed me.