Hidden Among the Shadows (💥x🫵🏼) Oneshot
arranged marriage au
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The faint hum of the heater filled the spacious living room of the apartment. It was modern but lacked warmth, much like its current occupants. Bakugou Katsuki sat at the far end of the couch, arms crossed over his chest, glaring at the wall as though it had personally offended him.
You sat across from him, perched on the edge of an armchair, hands folded neatly in your lap. The silence between you stretched thin, so taut it felt like it might snap at any moment.
Your eyes darted to the steaming cup of tea on the coffee table. You'd made it for him as soon as you arrived, desperate to do something to ease the tension. But he hadn't touched it.
"I..." You started, voice soft and barely above a whisper. You felt your cheeks heat up as his crimson eyes flicked toward you, sharp and unyielding. "I'm sorry if the tea isn't to your liking."
Bakugou's eyebrow twitched. "What the hell are you apologizing for?"
You flinched slightly at his tone, your fingers clutching the fabric of your skirt. "I— I just... thought—"
"Stop," he cut you off, leaning forward with a sigh of frustration. "You didn't do anything wrong, so quit saying sorry for every little thing. It's annoying."
Your gaze dropped to your lap, and you nodded quickly. "S-sorry..."
He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "This is gonna be a pain in the ass."
You bit the inside of your cheek, the words stinging even though you had expected them. You knew Bakugou wasn't thrilled about this arrangement—neither were you, if you were honest with yourself. But this was the hand you'd been dealt.
Your families had decided this was for the best. A strategic alliance, they called it. Your quirk, Umbra Manipulation, allowed you to control and solidify shadows, an ability that paired well with Bakugou's explosive quirk. Together, they said, you'd have powerful children. You thought quirk marriages were old fashion, but your parents didn't care.
Not that you had any desire to become a hero. You weren't like Bakugou—confident, brash, and full of fire. You preferred the quiet, the background, where you could avoid conflict and simply exist.
But that wasn't an option anymore.
"Hey." His voice snapped you out of your thoughts, and you looked up to find him staring at you, a scowl etched into his face. "You always this quiet?"
You hesitated, unsure if he wanted an answer or if the question was rhetorical. When his eyes narrowed, you quickly nodded. "Y-yes."
"Tch. Great," he muttered, leaning back against the couch. "This is gonna be real fun."
You shifted uncomfortably, the urge to apologize bubbling up again, but you bit it back. Instead, you tried to focus on the room around you. The apartment was clearly his, with minimal decorations and a stark, utilitarian design. Simple, modern. The only personal touch was a shelf lined with All Might memorabilia that you'd think would be kept in his room.
"You don't like talking much, huh?" Bakugou asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
You shook your head, fiddling with the hem of your sweater. "Not really..."
"Figures." He crossed his arms, his gaze scrutinizing you. "You better speak up when it matters, though. I'm not dragging dead weight around if we're working together."
The implication made your stomach twist. "I'll... try my best."
"Try?" His voice rose, and you flinched. "There's no try when it comes to this kind of shit. You either pull your weight, or you're useless."
His words hit like a punch to the gut, but you nodded meekly. "I... I understand."
He clicked his tongue in irritation, running a hand through his spiky blonde hair. "Whatever. Just don't get in my way."
The conversation lapsed into silence again, and you couldn't bring yourself to look at him. The weight of his presence was suffocating, like a storm cloud ready to burst at any moment.
"I... I can cook dinner," you offered hesitantly, desperate to fill the void. "If you'd like..."
He glanced at you, skepticism written all over his face. "You can cook?"
You nodded quickly. "Y-yes. I... I've been told I'm pretty good at it."
He huffed, leaning back against the couch. "Fine. Knock yourself out."
Relieved to have a task, you stood and made your way to the kitchen. It was as sleek and modern as the rest of the apartment, with shiny appliances that looked like they'd barely been used. You began gathering ingredients, thankful for something to focus on other than Bakugou's piercing gaze.
As you worked, you felt his eyes on you, though he said nothing. You tried to ignore the pressure, concentrating on chopping vegetables and stirring the pot. The rhythmic motion was calming, a small refuge in the storm.
"Smells decent," he commented after a while, his tone begrudging.
Your lips twitched. You weren't sure how to feel so you just nodded. "Thank you..."
When dinner was ready, you set the table and placed the dishes down carefully. Bakugou joined you, eyeing the food with suspicion before taking a bite.
He didn't say anything, but the fact that he kept eating was enough to ease some of your nerves.
"This is good," he admitted gruffly, barely looking at you.
Your heart skipped a beat at the unexpected compliment. "R-really?"
"Don't make a big deal out of it," he snapped, but his tone lacked its usual bite.
You nodded quickly. For the first time that day, the tension in the room seemed to ease, just a fraction.
It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Stepping into an arranged marriage, especially with someone as formidable as Bakugou Katsuki, felt less like a fairytale and more like navigating a minefield. From the moment our families decided on this 'strategic alliance' based on our quirks—my Umbra Manipulation and his explosive power—I knew my quiet life was about to be irrevocably altered. It wasn't the romantic ideal of love I'd always imagined, but rather a cold, calculated decision. My initial interactions with Bakugou were exactly as I'd feared: tense, punctuated by his sharp remarks and my own meek apologies. I'm naturally quite reserved, preferring to blend into the background, a stark contrast to his fiery, outspoken nature. It felt like I was constantly walking on eggshells, afraid to say or do the wrong thing. Every silence stretched, heavy with unspoken expectations and judgments. It made me question if anything genuine could ever 'finally bloom' between us. But even in the most unlikely scenarios, tiny seeds of connection can be planted. I remember the first time I offered to cook dinner. It was a desperate attempt to fill the suffocating silence, to find some common ground, however small. His skepticism was palpable, yet he allowed it. As I moved around his surprisingly sleek, modern kitchen, the rhythmic chopping of vegetables, the comforting scent of simmering food, it was a small act of normalcy in our extraordinary situation. And then, the unexpected happened: a grudging compliment about my cooking. It was barely a whisper of approval, but for me, it was a monumental shift. It wasn't about the food; it was about a flicker of acknowledgment, a subtle lowering of his guard. This isn't to say everything changed overnight. Building a relationship, particularly one that starts with such a forced premise, takes immense patience and effort. It's about recognizing these small victories, these moments where the rigid walls begin to crack. It’s in the quiet understanding that develops when you realize beneath the bluster, there might be something more, something worth nurturing. The journey of an arranged marriage, especially with someone like Bakugou Katsuki, isn't about grand romantic gestures initially. It's about finding humanity in the unspoken, discovering tenderness in unexpected places, and allowing a connection to slowly, hesitantly, finally bloom. For anyone navigating an unconventional partnership, whether it's an 'arranged marriage au' like ours or just a relationship with a challenging start, remember that growth often happens in the quiet moments. It’s in the shared meals, the reluctant acknowledgments, and the gradual shedding of expectations. My story, a simple one-shot, is a testament to the idea that even when you're hidden among shadows, hope can emerge, and a unique, resilient love can take root and ultimately, bloom.
