Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia the manga, the anime, or any other related projects for the series.

Pairing: Bakugou x Uraraka

Genres: Romance, Humor

Rating (by chapter): K.

I wanted this to be a one-shot, but now it has chapters. Blehhh. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 1: Defused

He wasn't folded in on himself, wearing a typical scowl or radiating sullen menace.

He wasn't yelling, picking fights or glaring down every object in his path with those fiery eyes that rivaled the explosions he was so quick to set off.

He was laying on her floor, curled up on his right side with an arm tucked under his head, a single earbud plugged in his ear while the speakers crackled out whatever dissonant melody he'd dozed off to. Leave it to Bakugou to be lulled to sleep by thrash metal.

Ochako smiled fondly at that, toying with the wire dangling off the edge of his jaw. She lay on her stomach next to him, propped on her elbows with a supporting palm under her chin as she gazed down at him.

Sheets of unfinished homework and a now tepid cup of tea was long forgotten on her work desk, abandoned in favor of the chance to observe him in this rare state of peace. Granted, it wasn't the first time this had happened, in her dorm, no less. For as often as he vocalized just how much he'd make her regret it if she ever fell asleep during their study sessions, he had no issue snoozing away himself.

Idly, she swept her eyes over him, bemused by how different Bakugou looked when he was asleep. The angry slant of his brows was leveled out, lips relaxed out of the frown they were always pressed into, his whole form slack and unalert.

Cocking her head, she lifted two fingers to prod at the bridge of his nose, watching in amusement as the space there crinkled at the disturbance, a low, upset growl following it. Ochako likened the reaction to that of a sleeping bear – a comparison whose comedic value dissolved when she realized that pestering him further would brook a scenario just as hazardous.

She withdrew her fingers, and, after a split-second contemplation, carefully carded the spiked bangs away from his forehead. He let out another small noise, but she could feel the tension there subside beneath her fingertips. His brow smoothed out again, and his breathing evened.

Ochako pulled back with a soft smile – one that tapered off with degrees of uncertainty, as if often did whenever it came to…this.

It was true that he had changed in the past few months, if only subtly. But then, change was the only thing subtle about him, wasn't it? He was still loud, still rude, still rough around the edges. He and Deku still had their issues, but things had calmed down between the two of them. He had calmed down, too. She was glad for them.

Glad for him.

Her hand hovered over his bangs before she gently slid it into his ash blond hair. Bakugou didn't stir at her touch. His soft snores could barely be heard over the distorted track buzzing from his earbuds. She dimly wondered whether he unconsciously knew it was her by the plush pads of her fingers skimming along his scalp. She wondered what Bakugou dreamed of, and whether he would tell her if she ever asked him.

Almost unthinkingly, Ochako dropped a kiss atop the crown of his head before rolling over to lay on her back, half-lidded brown eyes scaling up to the stale-colored ceiling, wishing for the sky beyond it.

Why do I do this to myself?