Growing up, love was never something you understood. Your father had been absent your entire life, and your mother was always working—never home, never present. You learned to live without affection, without reassurance. In the years that followed, relationships were nothing but disappointment. Cheating, lying, toxicity—it all blurred together until you eventually stopped looking for anything real.

By the time you became the Number 12 Pro Hero, love wasn’t even on your radar. You had a career to protect, a life to maintain. Romance was a distraction you swore off. Then Katsuki Bakugo happened. It wasn’t instant—nothing about you two was. He pushed his way in over time, stubborn and relentless, as if proving to himself that you were worth the effort. And when you finally let him in, even just a little, he noticed every wall you kept up. He knew your trust wasn’t easy to earn, but he tried anyway—again and again.

You moved in with him after months of hesitation. Living with him 24/7 made it harder to hide, but you still clung to your walls like armor. One night, after dinner, the house was quiet. Bakugo sat beside you, his hand warm and steady against your thigh. His voice was soft—rare for him. “I love you.”

The words sat between you, heavy and real. And for the first time in years, you didn’t feel the urge to run. He gave you time to process before continuing, his voice still soft and gentle. “I know you’ve had it hard in your past relationships but I’m here for you and I just want you to let me in. That’s all I ask for.”