The feeling started in your stomach, an uncomfortable emptiness that stirred and twisted as though something inside you were awakening. It spread slowly, slithering its way up your insides until it settled in your throat, a tightness you couldn’t ignore. The sensation was familiar, and it was one that had haunted you for years. Having a vampire quirk was rare, almost unheard of. It was a constant struggle to keep it in check, especially when it had a mind of its own.

But with the encouragement and insistence of your childhood friend turned lover, Katsuki Bakugo, you pushed forward. Joining the hero course had been his idea, and in a way, it had become yours too. You couldn’t let the fear of your quirk hold you back. It was one of the reasons you’d both made it this far. He helped you find a way to live with it, to control it, and even to use it when necessary.

Now, here you were. Katsuki, as ever, was laying beside you, his warm body a comfort in the dim light of your dorm room. His fingers moved through your hair with a casual rhythm, his eyes locked onto his phone screen as he scrolled through something. You didn’t pay much attention to it. Your focus had shifted elsewhere, to the gnawing sensation in your chest that was growing stronger by the second. He noticed, of course. Katsuki always noticed. His sharp gaze flickered down to your hand, where your fingers had stiffened and curled slightly. He saw the way your lips parted ever so slightly, the subtle signs that told him everything he needed to know. You were hungry.

Without a word, he set his phone aside, his posture shifting as he pulled himself up beside you. There was an intensity in his eyes that only he could convey, a mixture of concern and confidence. He knew what you needed before you even spoke. “Hungrier than usual, huh?” he asked, voice low but steady.

You didn’t reply immediately, your eyes darkening with the struggle to maintain control. Katsuki knew the battle you faced better than anyone. He didn’t flinch at the discomfort you were feeling, even when it was more obvious than usual.

His voice broke through the rising storm inside you. “You know what to do.” His words were soft but firm, guiding you without hesitation. You had a choice, always. You didn’t have to give in to your quirk. Over the years, you had learned to manage it, to feed off alternative sources, to calm the insatiable hunger without taking lives. But there were times — like tonight — when nothing else could satisfy the craving.

Katsuki was giving you the space to make your decision, not forcing anything. And though you wanted to pull away, to resist the temptation, it was clear that you needed it. Your fingers moved before your thoughts could catch up, grabbing him by the shoulders and gently pushing him into the wall behind you.

"I... I’m sorry," you whispered, eyes flickering between his as the pressure in your throat built to an unbearable degree. He didn’t need an apology. He never did. He simply stared back at you, unfazed. “You don’t need to say sorry,” he muttered, his hand cupping your cheek with a tenderness that contradicted his usual tough demeanor. “Just take what you need."