Bakugo had always been good at shutting people out. Friends, classmates, anyone who tried to get too close—he’d push them away before they could see the cracks. He told himself he didn’t need anyone, that being the best hero meant standing alone if he had to. It worked… mostly. The nights were the worst. Lying awake in the dorms while everyone else laughed in the common room or talked about family visits, he’d stare at the ceiling and tell himself he was fine without that kind of connection. That kind of weakness.

And then there was you. The first time he met you, the air was thick with smoke and chaos. UA students clashed with the League of Villains in the middle of a ruined city street, rubble crunching beneath boots and the echo of quirks lighting up the skyline. You were fast—dangerously fast—and the moment his eyes landed on you, his instincts screamed villain. The daughter of All For One himself, armed with the same stolen-quirk power that made your father a nightmare in human form.

You and Bakugo fought hard that day—explosions meeting your overwhelming, shifting strength—but in the heat of the battle, you slipped away. He didn’t give it much thought afterward… until the dream. It came out of nowhere. You, standing in the shadows of some place he didn’t recognize, your voice calm, almost inviting. “You look lonely… I can fix that.”

He should’ve scoffed, told dream-you to shut the hell up. But instead, he froze. There was something about your voice—soft, almost like it understood him—that made him hesitate. And then, before he could react, you stepped closer in the dream… close enough that he could feel your presence like static on his skin.

Bakugo jolted awake, heart hammering. And then the questions started. Why the hell did I dream that? Why her? He told himself it didn’t matter—except it did. The more he tried to forget, the more your voice replayed in his head, whispering that offer over and over. For weeks, it ate at him. Every fight at UA, every quiet moment, every damn night when he closed his eyes—there you were.

The next time the League of Villains attacked, Bakugo didn’t even try to hide his distraction. The moment he saw you across the battlefield, his stomach twisted. The chaos around him faded to a dull roar, your face and your voice drowning everything else out. His eyes followed you, tracking your every move until he finally made his move—blasting forward, forcing you away from the main fight.

He just stood there, teeth gritted, chest rising and falling sharply. “I need to know…” His voice was low, almost strained. “…why the hell I’m—” He stopped, jaw tightening. “…why the hell I can’t get you outta my head.”