Player One (Katsuki Bakugou x Gamer!Reader)

Chapter 1: You Died

(Y/n) laid in bed, cuddled up with multiple blankets and a controller in her hand. The only light in her room was the monitor that projected onto her, flashing images of violence and a fantasy world that would be detrimental if it actually existed. Her fingers moved nimbly, and the buttons on her controller seemed worn from years of usage. The screen abruptly flashed images of red, changing the colors in the room.

Y O U D I E D

(Y/n) dropped the controller on her bed and grabbed at the roots of her hair. "GODDAMMIT!!!!" She didn't think she was ever going to get past this area of the game. Why does she even bother at this point.

After wallowing in self-pity for about 10 minutes, she crawled out of her blanket cocoon, carrying one of the blankets with her around her shoulders. She stretched as best she could, trying to keep the blanket on her, before trudging out of the dark room down to the kitchen. She might as well get a snack while she waits for her fiancé to come home from work. She'd been off today, so she hadn't done much besides game, nap, then game some more.

Her work wasn't nearly as flashy as her fiancé's — the infamous explosion hero, Ground Zero — but it did allow her to have her own funds. Katsuki constantly tells her she technically didn't need to work, since his salary was rather... extreme, and it easily could compensate both of their needs, wants, and anything in between. However, (Y/n) didn't really like the idea of Katsuki having control over all of their money, knowing how he can get at times. She briefly recalled when they first got together, and Katsuki's controlling nature frequently got the better of him. Of course, they had many talks and arguments over his insecurities, which typically ended with one of them in tears. He had improved immensely over the years, becoming more lenient, and she is sure that his intentions are never ill-willed, but she simply can't risk them falling into the same toxic pattern they once had. So, maybe out of some odd form of rebellion, she continued working. She could use her money to buy herself small rewards, like more games! Katsuki didn't exactly approve, always frowning and muttering under his breath at the sight of a bag from the gaming store, "I could've bought you that..."

(Y/n) would then proceed to tell him that she would appreciate things more if she spent her own money on them!

Katsuki would just shake his head, and their routine repeats the next time (Y/n) buys herself gaming items. Or anything, really.

(Y/n) smiled as she thought of her fiancé. As she was pouring herself a glass of milk, she eyed the clock. Almost 1 AM. Katsuki should be getting home soon.

As if on cue, she heard the front door to their house squeak open. Katsuki had the habit of opening and closing doors rather abruptly, but when he figured (Y/n) to be sleeping, he made an effort to quiet himself. Well, as much as he could. After the first year of living with him, (Y/n) quickly noticed that Katsuki was just naturally loud. His footsteps were heavy, his baritone voice seemed to boom even when he was whispering, and he just had a habit of randomly shouting at things that didn't need to be shouted at.

She loved all of it.

Katsuki looked up as he was closing the door behind him, making eye contact with (Y/n). He was upset but not surprised to see (Y/n) still awake at this hour. "You should be asleep," he muttered, still quiet as if someone else in the house were sleeping.

"So should you," she replied, taking a sip of her milk. Katsuki huffed out a tired chuckle before walking over and enveloping her in his arms. So small...

"Nice cape."

(Y/n) stopped burying her face in Katsuki's chest and looked up at him. He looked down at her in return, his arms still holding her flush against him. He looked exhausted. "Rough day?" She asked him, her gaze lingering on the way his eyelids hung lower than usual. He only nodded.

"'m gonna go shower..." He said, releasing her before trudging to their bedroom to get a change of clothes. He felt disgusting, covered in dried sweat and grime from hero duty. As soon as he made it back to the agency, he felt relieved to finally get himself out of his hero costume and into his casual wear. There was a shower at his work, but being that he got off so late, he just wanted to come home as soon as he could.

(Y/n) gulped down the rest of her milk and followed him, her snacks forgotten about on the countertop. While Katsuki searched through his drawers for clothes to sleep in, he eyed the TV they had in their bedroom. (Y/n) had left the television on the 'You Died' screen, and when he heard (Y/n) enter the room behind him, he said over his shoulder at her, "You still suck ass." (Y/n) huffed, immediately taking offense.

"Yeah, right! As if you've ever even gotten past the second map!" She crossed her arms defiantly, honestly more heated than she needed to be at his weak insult. Katsuki only smiled and grabbed a pair of sweatpants, much too tired to entertain the playful fight he started. It was true, Katsuki did play video games — I mean, who doesn't nowadays? But, he's never seen someone play them as obsessively as (Y/n) did. He wouldn't be surprised if it came out one day that she's more in love with a video game character than she is with him. He'd be pissed, just as if it was a real person, but not shocked. If you had told him on their first date that this woman was a video game addict, he would've laughed in your face. There was just no way. That is, until the first time he went back to her place and saw her setups. Yes, setups. Plural.

If you asked him personally, he would say that he felt like he took a backseat to (Y/n)'s hobby, his insecurities getting the better of him at times. However, if you asked (Y/n), she would say that she wholeheartedly loved Katsuki a trillion times more than she ever will gaming — and that's quite a lot. Katsuki, though, sometimes secretly wishes that she was as obsessed with him as she was video games.

(Y/n) got back on their bed and bundled up under the blankets, resuming her game. She had to get back to her previous location, as dying sent her back to the last checkpoint. From the shower, Katsuki could hear the sound of distant screams and guns firing, as well as quiet 'Fuck's and 'Shit's coming from (Y/n).

(Y/n) didn't even notice when Katsuki came back in the room, freshly showered and only adorning black sweatpants. The lack of acknowledgement made Katsuki frown, as he made his way over to their bed. (Y/n) didn't even move to look at him as he got under the covers, her eyes still glued to the screen and her fingers pressing buttons rapidly. Katsuki watched the screen for a while before his selfish nature became rather uncomfortable at the lack of attention he was receiving from his fiancé.

"(Y/n)," he said.

She didn't even flinch, the TV's light flashing against her face.

"(Y/n)."

No response.

Katsuki was getting impatient. His hand crept up her spine, slowly and gently, and he began to rub her circles on her back. She finally paused the game, albeit rather halfheartedly. She turned back to look at him, "Hey."

"Hey. Bedtime," Katsuki responded, continuing to rub her back, gently coaxing her to lay down on him. They stared at each other before (Y/n) sighed in defeat, turning off the console from her controller. She placed it on the floor before resting her head on Katsuki's chest. He pulled her closer once she got comfortable.

"'ove you," he breathed, his eyes closing on their own.

(Y/n) dug her face into his bare chest, "Love you more."