The dorm lounge was alive with post-training energy. Kaminari and Sero were locked in a heated video game battle, their shouts echoing off the walls. Jirou strummed her guitar softly in the corner, while Uraraka and Yaoyorozu debated the merits of different hero costumes over mugs of tea. It was the kind of evening that felt normal — almost peaceful — if you didn't look too closely.
Y/N sat curled on the couch, textbook open in her lap, eyes scanning the same paragraph for the fourth time. The words blurred together, meaningless. Her mind was elsewhere — tangled in the memory of Bakugo's fall during training, the way she'd rushed to him without thinking, the way his eyes had widened not from pain, but from panic.
Across the room, Mina Ashido watched them with a grin that spelled trouble.
She plopped down beside Y/N, pink curls bouncing, her energy as radiant as ever. "Sooo... you and Bakugo, huh?"
Y/N blinked, heart skipping. "What?"
Mina leaned in, eyes gleaming. "Don't play dumb. You practically teleported to him when he hit the ground yesterday. That was not normal concern."
Y/N forced a laugh, trying to keep their voice casual. "He's my classmate."
"Sure," Mina said, unconvinced. "But your face was doing things."
Y/N closed the book. "What kind of things?"
"Blushing. Worry. Soft eyes. You know — things."
Y/N stood, stretching. "I'm tired, I'm gonna go to bed."
Mina watched Y/N go, her grin fading into curiosity. "You're not fooling anyone, Y/N."
—
The hallway was dim, lit only by the soft glow of wall sconces and the moonlight spilling through the windows. Y/N walked slowly, heart pounding, trying to shake the feeling of being watched. She turned the corner — and nearly collided with Bakugo.
He caught her wrist instinctively, pulling her into the supply closet with a quiet click of the door.
The space was cramped, lined with shelves of cleaning supplies and training gear. The air smelled faintly of disinfectant and dust. Bakugo's body was close — too close — and Y/N could feel the heat radiating off him.
"She's onto you," he said, voice low.
Y/N nodded. "She's onto us."
Bakugo's jaw clenched. "We need to be smarter."
Y/N leaned against the wall, heart still racing. "Or we need to stop hiding."
He looked at them — really looked. His eyes were sharp, but there was something softer beneath the surface. "I'm not ashamed," he said. "I just don't want anyone messing with this."
Y/N's voice was quiet. "Then let's protect it. Together."
Bakugo stepped closer, his hand brushing Y/N's cheek. "You sure you're up for this?"
Y/N nodded. "I'm already in it."
He kissed her— slow, fierce, grounding. Y/N's fingers tangled in his hoodie, pulling him closer, the tension between them crackling like static. It wasn't rushed. It wasn't reckless. It was deliberate — a moment carved out of chaos, just for them.
Bakugo pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against Y/N's. "You panicked yesterday."
"I know."
"You can't do that again."
"I know."
He exhaled, the breath warm against their skin. "I wanted to reach for you too."
Y/N's heart thudded. "Why didn't you?"
"Because I knew you would."
They stood there in silence, wrapped in each other, until the hallway outside grew quiet.
Then they slipped out, one after the other.
Smoke signals rising.
But no fire yet.
—
The next morning, the tension lingered.
Y/N sat beside Uraraka during breakfast, trying to focus on her story about a failed pancake experiment, but their eyes kept drifting toward Bakugo. He was across the room, arms crossed, eyes locked on his plate — but every so often, he glanced up. Just for a second. Just enough.
Mina slid into the seat beside Y/N, her tray clattering against the table. "Morning, lovebirds."
Y/N choked on her juice. "Excuse me?"
Mina grinned. "I'm just saying — you and Bakugo have been real... magnetic lately."
Uraraka raised an eyebrow. "Magnetic?"
"Like, you orbit each other. It's kind of cute."
Y/N forced a smile. "We're just training partners."
Mina leaned in. "Sure. But if you ever need help sneaking around, I'm great at distractions."
Y/N blinked. "Why would I need that?"
Mina winked. "No reason."
Across the room, Bakugo stood abruptly and left.
Y/N's stomach twisted.
—
Later that day, Y/N found Bakugo in the training yard, blasting targets with precision and fury. The air around him shimmered with heat, and the ground was scorched in patches.
"You okay?" Y/N asked, approaching slowly.
He didn't look at them. "She's not subtle."
"No," Y/N agreed. "But she's not malicious."
Bakugo fired another blast. "I hate being watched."
Y/N stepped closer. "We're not invisible anymore."
He turned, eyes dark. "You still want to keep it quiet?"
Y/N hesitated. "I don't know."
Bakugo's voice was low. "I want to tell them. I want to stop pretending."
Y/N looked at him — really looked. "Then why haven't you?"
He stepped forward, closing the distance. "Because I don't want them to ruin this."
Y/N's breath caught.
Bakugo reached out, fingers brushing their wrist. "I'm not good at this."
"You're better than you think."
He leaned in, lips brushing their temple. "You make me better."
Y/N closed their eyes.
And for a moment, the world faded.
—
That night, Y/N lay awake, staring at the ceiling. The dorm was quiet, the only sound the hum of the air conditioner and the distant rustle of wind against the windows.
Their phone buzzed.
K: You up?
Y/N smiled faintly and typed back.
Y: Yeah. You?
K: Can't sleep. Thinking too much.
Y: About what?
K: You. Us. Everything.
Y/N's heart thudded.
Y: Come over.
Minutes later, Bakugo slipped into their room, hoodie pulled low, eyes shadowed. He didn't speak. Just climbed into bed beside them, arms wrapping around their waist, breath warm against their neck.
They didn't kiss.
They didn't speak.
They just held each other.
And in the dark, they didn't have to pretend.