#woah just imagine doing a partner boulder with katsuki *melts*

[late-night-secrets]

You had not expected to meet Bakugo in a bouldering hall while hanging out and doing some sports with your friends.

Currently sitting on the mat and taking a short break, you watched your friends climbing on the wall. Your gaze wandered around the hall when you saw the buff blonde near one of your friends, doing one of the most difficult routes. Wearing only a tank top and short sweats, his well-defined muscles were clearly on display, flexing and relaxing as he went on. He panted heavily as sweat dripped down his forehead but he seemed determined. Occassionally he took a short break to rest his tiring fingers, just to continue. The crimson-red eyes looking at the path in front of him. Upwards, always upwards.

You watched him for a while, mesmerized by the slow yet controlled movements of his, despite the high difficiultiy of the route. The holds were so narrow, you wondered how one could even use it. Yet, he clearly seemed to know what he was doing.

It took you some time to recognize him. No surprise, it had been many years already. You used to be neighbors and classmates in elementary school until you had moved away with your parents. Since then, over ten years had past. No wonder it hadn't clicked to you before that you knew this skilled man.

"Good one!" you applauded him after he had finished and landed not to far away from you.

"Thanks," he mumbled and turned to you in mild surprise that someone was observing him. For a second, you thought he would just turn back and continue but then he halted, his eyes widening slightly. "Oh, hey." He wasn't smiling, but he also didn't appear irritated. You remembered that Bakugo never had been the best in exchanging small formalities. "Haven't seen you in ages." His voice had gotten deep, husky. The last time you heard him talk he was still a boy who hadn't hit puberty yet.

"Yeah," you laughed. "We moved quite far away. We hardly came by to pay a visit." And back then, Bakugo has definitely not been part of your closer friend group meaning that the last time you two actually saw each other had been the last day at your old elementary school.

"I remember." He scowled as a memory crossed his mind. "The people moving in after you were always complaining about my drums. Had a small child and all that shit."

"Oh, yeah, I remember. You and your drums." Every afternoon at around 5 p.m. he would have started practicing. "Are you still playing?"

"Hardly." His answers were short. Just as they used to be. You weren't mad, it was more like a small wave of nostalgia filling your heart. "What are you doing here anyways?"

"Showing my friends the place where I came from." With a lazy gesture you waved to your friends who were either bouldering, watching them doing so or paying curious glances to the two of you. "And you? Are you alone here?"

He nodded. "It's... I like it more like this."

Yes, just as he used to. Of course, he always would have his little group of fans around him, but eventually Bakugo had always done everything on his own. Apparently, that hadn't changed.

"How are you doing?" you asked him, half out of convention, half out of curiosity.

Bakugo told you a little about his life, shallowly. He still pursued the dreams he had a child, slower than he wished, but steady; always going foward. He managed.

He asked you back, and you weren't sure whether he really wanted to know or whether he was just polite. You tried to keep your answer short, yet you couldn't help but tell him how you felt... exhausted. That work and deadlines were all too much, that there was too little time, that you felt guilty having fun with your friends right now instead of being productive. You went on without thinking about it, "I don't know... It feels like everyone else manages somehow, better, faster, while I'm... stuck. I know it's bullshit but still..." Your words trailed silence between the two of you.

A moment later, your realized you were whining about stupid trivialities to your former neighbor you hadn't seen in over a decade. Since then so much had happened. He was basically a stranger, and you were sharing quite personal concerns with him. "Oh shit, I'm sorry," you quickly apoligized in embarrassement. "You don't wanna hear about that. Over all, I'm doing fine, really. Don't have anything to truly complain about."

You felt awkward, wished you hadn't ranted. It got even worse when Bakugo remained strangely passive. "No, it's okay," he simply said. "Well, enjoy the time with your friends." He was about to turn around and leave you behind in bashfulness when he once again stopped and offered without looking at you, "And if you or one of your friends need help with a route, just ask. Although I think you're in good hands." He was motioning to one of my friends who went bouldering on a regular basis, managing the route Bakugo just had done.

"Okay," I replied softly, still feeling the heat in my cheeks. "Thanks."

~~~~~

Your muscles were tired, your arms shaking and you knew you would fail again. You had no idea how many times you had tried this route already, and it was always at the same spot that your body would give up at the simple thought of reaching out to the next hold. One of your friends was watching you, trying to give you tips and shouting words of encouragement.

You wanted to succeed, you really wanted to, but the next hold seemed to be miles away, forcing you to rather jump than reach, and on an overhang at this height... The thought made your hands sweaty, and that was not useful while bouldering at all.

Suddenly, another voice accompanied your friend's, shouting, "Either you finish this one or you leave space for the ones who can actually do it."

That one startled you. With control you jumoed. When you landed, your friend had already turned to the new arriver and gasped an outraged "Excuse me?!"

You were not surprised to find your fromer classmate. His choice of words gave him away rather than his voice. "What?" he said to your friend. "She was blocking the wall for ages."

Your friend wanted to protest on your behalf, but you felt too exhausted and frustrated for a fight, settling with a mere roll of your eyes. "Don't bother." Then, you turned to Bakugo, waved to the wall you had been struggling with and panted, "Go ahead."

He did without another word, of course heading for a more difficult route than the one you had been doing only halfway.

"What an asshole!" your friend huffed and glared at his back.

"Really, don't bother," you assured them, sinking down on the mat to take a rest. "He's always been like this."

"You know him?" Your friend sat down next to you, and the two of you started to absent-mindedly watch him bouldering.

"Yes, back from elementary school," you told them. "He's not good with words. Doesn't really mean what he says. Usually, at least." You heavily sighed in frustration and shifted your gaze to the holds who gave you a hard time. "He's right though. I'm just blocking the route."

Your friend punched you in your shoulder. "Don't say that! Everyone struggles. It looks very good so far, you just have to keep going."

"Well..."

"How did you do?" Another one of your friends came over, the one who was as good as Bakugo. "Did you manage?"

You shook your head. "Nah. Don't think I can do it."

"Oh. But you technique is defenitely good enough."

"Maybe." You shrugged your shoulders. "Don't think I can do it, though. Head keeps getting in my way. And I don't feel like fighting against anxiety. It's fine as it is. I'm done with this route."

Both your friends looked at you with sympathy, telling me you could do it but you didn't have to if you didn't feel good doing it.

Their encouragement was sweet, you still felt like shit.

"I don't think so," Bakugo barged in. You hadn't noticed that he was down on the mat again. He had to have overheard your conversation and now looked directly at you. "I don't think that you can do it. Your skill's not good enough." His face was plain, making his words harsh with brutal honesty. "You won't manage."

You knew what you had told your friend earlier about the man not being good with words, but your frustration got the best of you. "What?" you mumbled in disbelief.

He crossed his arms in front of his chest. "You can't do it. Go find an easier route and stick to that."

You needed a moment to process his words. "Fucking asshole," you exhaled eventually, exhaustion making you forget your manners, and rose up. Without clearly realizing it, you put chalk on your sweaty hands as you kept mumbling, "Don't you fucking dare to assume to know what I can do and what I don't." Anxiety replaced by provoked anger, you stepped at the wall. "I'll fucking show you, Katsuki." You didn't even realize that you used his first name, returning to old habits from childhood as your mind focused on the route.

Therefore, you also missed the smirk it caused on Bakugo's face.

The start was easy, you had done it several times today. You grip was purposeful and practiced. It felt good..

Then, the crucial part came; a high hold past the edge of the overhang. You would have to leap, probably making one or even both of your feet losing their hold. The image made your movements stutter.

The hesitation had to be visible because your friends immediately started shouting, "Yes, go on! You can do it!"

You weren't convinced. But Bakugo's words rang in your ears and fueled you on. With shaking arms you tried to pull yourself upwards, closer to the tilted wall in hopes of bringing the next hold in your reach.

"You don't have enough strength," you suddenly heard Bakugo claim. Giving his voice, he had to stand closer than your friends. "Don't use it if you don't have it."

You groaned in annoyance and gave up the flexion of your arms, leaving them fully outstretched so you would dangle and relax a little. "And what am I supposed to do then, smartass?" Somehow, Bakugo elicited all kind of bad language from your tongue.

"Use your balance. Shift your weight to get you up."

"Shift my weight where to?"

"Up."

You wanted to groan once more, but you felt your fingers tiring. "I don't understand. And even if I would, I don't think I can do it."

"Of course you can." Bakugo stood really close now, directly below me.

"Get away," I said hastily, "I'm about to fall and before that happens I'd rather decide for myself and jump." Now, even my outstretched arms started to shake.

"You won't fall." Out of the blue, two big, strong hands were placed on my waist, barely gripping. "I've got you."

You nearly let go of the hold by how startled you were.

Softly, he nudged your body upwards, tilting it a little. "Shift your weight like this, gather momentum and reach for the next hold."

With newfound determination and a little heat in your cheeks that probably did not come from physical strain you tried to follow the lead of his hands. Having someone hold you made the thought of leaping out less scary, you realized.

So you did, stretched your arm to full length, grabbing the next hold. Bakugo's hands quickly changed; your waist now being too far up, he settled for the back of your thighs. Right now, you didn't care about the questionable placement of his hands, your mind was drunk on exalation that you manged paired with the still present fear of falling down.

As you had thought, one of your legs lost its hold and swung through the air. Your foot hit something hard, and the next second Bakugo cursed loudly yet still hold you firmly. It had been his head. "Sorry," you shouted without looking down, somewhat scared that it would pull you down.

"Don't worry," he mumbled. "Just keep going. The worst part is done."

And he was right. As you went on, his hands completely vanished since you got too high. You didn't need them anyways, the rest was fairly easy.

You finished, climbed down, and jumped the last few feet, landing savily - and very, very happily - on the mat. With a proud smile you looked at Bakugo. "Thanks for the help. And sorry for your head."

He touched the spot you had to have hit. "Told you not to worry," he mumbled. "And no need to thank me. I hardly did anything, you did that on your own."

"Don't think so. You holding me helped a lot."

"Barely held you though," he softly said. His cheeks suddenly blushed. "Ah, sorry, by the way."

You blinked in confusion. "For what?"

"For touching you without asking before."

You laughed in surprise. You weren't aware that Bakugo had become that kind of considerate. It was cute. "Don't worry about that, Katsuki. I'll let it slide for once, next time though..." You teased and left the playful threat unspoken.

The next moment, you noticed your mistake. "Shit. I'm sorry, Bakugo. Old habits die hard."

The blush on his cheeks got darker as he suddenly avoided your gaze. "I don't mind. Call me whatever you want."

"Oh, whatever I want?" you kept teasing, but then you realized that that kind of equivocation might be far too inappropiate towards someone who you hadn't seen in years. Now, it was the two of you who were blushing awkwardly. "Ah, forget what I said, please," you softly asked in embarrassement.

"Heh," Bakugo snorted with a smirk. "You're still a dumbass, I see."

"Fuck you, Katsuki," you frowned.

His smirk didn't falter. "So, which one do you wanna do next?"

You raised your eyebrows. "Why you asking? You wanna tell me again how I won't be able to manage?"

Now, his lips dropped, looking at you with startlement and a little bit of guilt. "You know I wasn't serious, right?"

"Oh." Gosh, why were you so awkward today? "You weren't?"

"Of course not," he mumbled. "Your friends are right. Your technique is good. No doubt you wouldn't manage."

"Oh," you simply replied.

The silence was heavier than it should be.

"So," Bakugo cleared his throat. "Wanna do more routes together?"

"Sure," you immediately reply asking yourself if the answer had come too fast. "But I guess my friends..." You wanted to gesture to them, yet you had realized they weren't where they had been before you had started climbing. You found them at the snack bar, gazes suddenly snapping to other directions. As if they had observed the two of you the entire time.

"Idiots," you exhaled to yourself, yet you strangely felt a wave of gratitude.

You were in a weird mood today.

Finally, you turned to Bakugo again with a smile. "Yeah, let's climb together."

"Nice," he replied and did something you had barely ever seen him doing; he smiled at you.

**********

masterlist

#bakugo x reader #bakugo x you #bakugo fluff #bakugo headcanons #bakugo hcs #my hero academia #mha #my hero academia headcanons #my hero academia hcs #mha hcs #mha headcanons #my hero academia fluff #mha fluff #mha imagines #anime #fluff #bakugo katsuki #bakugo katuski x reader #yes i imagine this kind of stuff when i get frustrated with bouldering #woah just imagine doing a partner boulder with katsuki *melts* #and why did no one tell me how hard it is to write in 2nd perspective?? #the amount of times i accidentally switched to first person...