I was lost in thought, the weight of the letter and the lingering unease still gnawing at me when a familiar scent caught my attention. The sharp, acrid stench of burnt leather sliced through the air, pulling me from my thoughts. I lifted my head, my red eyes narrowing as I spotted him—Bakugo, standing a few feet away.

"Hey," he gruffed, his usual fiery attitude softened by the small grin tugging at the corner of his lips. It was an odd expression coming from him, but it wasn't unwelcome.

"Hello there, Boom Boom," I teased, my voice rough but playful. I stood up, stretching my limbs, my quills rustling with the movement. A few rattled loose from their places, remnants of the tension from the past days, especially the encounter with Aizawa and the mysterious letter.

Bakugo's grin widened, though it was still laced with that familiar cocky energy. "Ready for our training?" he asked, his voice challenging, but there was something in his tone—something almost respectful.

I tilted my head, considering his words for a moment. "Training, huh?" I muttered, stretching my long tail behind me. "You want to train with me, Boom Boom? You sure you can handle it?"

Bakugo scowled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Yeah, yeah, just get a move on, lizard bastard," he snapped, though there was no real malice behind his words. The challenge was clear, and I could see the determination in his fiery eyes.

He wanted to get stronger. I could sense it in his stance, the way he carried himself. The sports festival was approaching, and Bakugo had always been about proving himself—pushing the limits of his strength. I respected that. If he thought he could learn something from me, then I was more than willing to help him.

"Alright, alright," I growled, my quills bristling slightly with excitement. "Let's see if you can keep up, Bakugo. I'm not going easy on you."

Without waiting for a response, I took a few steps back, my claws scraping against the ground as I prepared to show him what it really meant to train with an Indoraptor.

I crouched, muscles coiling, before I sprang at him in a flash, my claws aimed for his chest. Bakugo smirked, not a trace of fear in his eyes as he sidestepped, moving faster than I expected. But before I could react, he slammed me hard into a corner, the force knocking the wind out of me for a second. I locked my red gaze onto his, and I could feel the heat of battle building, the rush of adrenaline flooding my system.

I squeezed my eyes shut for just a moment, blocking out everything else—the noise, the distractions, the weight of the world. I focused on him. The competition, the fire in his eyes. The tension of the moment. And then, like a bolt of lightning, I barreled forward, pushing through every ounce of resistance.

Without thinking, my jaws snapped shut around his wrist, the bite sharp and precise. He yelped, the sound of pain and surprise mixing as he was suddenly dragged off balance. In the blink of an eye, Bakugo went head over heels, tumbling to the floor in a heap, his body crashing into the ground with a thud.

I stood over him, my tail swishing with satisfaction, and purred, the deep rumble of amusement vibrating in my chest. "Is that the best you've got, kid?" I sneered, baring my teeth in a grin, a mixture of pride and mockery.

He growled, shaking off the dizziness as he pushed himself up, his face flushed with frustration. "Shit, you lizard bastard!" he spat, eyes blazing with determination.

I flicked my tail, letting him catch his breath. "You wanted to train with me, didn't you?" I said, my voice low and teasing. "Better keep up, Boom Boom."

Bakugo shot me a glare, wiping the dirt from his face, but there was something else in his eyes now—an ember of respect, maybe even something more. "I'm not done yet," he muttered under his breath, clearly fired up for round two.

Good. This was just getting started.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

We spent the rest of the afternoon training, my claws and teeth constantly clashing with Bakugo's explosive punches and fiery attitude. He gave as good as he got, his resilience and determination pushing us both to our limits. By the time the sun began to set, Bakugo was bruised and battered, sweat dripping from his forehead as he stumbled, clearly struggling to stand.

I could tell he had pushed himself too far, but I wasn't about to leave him like this. As he rubbed his sore shoulder, I padded over to him, tail flicking with a mix of amusement and something else.

Without warning, I reached over and licked his shoulder, my rough tongue gliding over his skin. He recoiled instantly, swatting at me in irritation.

"Don't lick me, you bastard!" he barked, his usual fire still burning despite the pain.

I chuckled, the sound low and rumbling. "My spit has healing factors, Boom Boom," I teased, tail swishing in satisfaction. "Now stand still."

He grumbled but didn't protest further. With a flick of my claws, I grabbed his wrist, tugging him down so I could access the bruise on his shoulder. The battle wounds from our training were deep, but nothing I couldn't help fix. I leaned in, gently lapping at the bruises, my tongue leaving a golden glow that seemed to seal the damage almost immediately.

Bakugo flinched at first, but the relief was evident in his eyes as the pain melted away, replaced by the warmth of healing. Once I finished, I pulled back, humming in satisfaction.

"The rest are the ones your mom has to take care of," I said with a teasing flick of my tail. "Now, goodnight."

Without waiting for a response, I turned to leave, my body slipping into the shadows of the evening.

But then, just as I was about to vanish into the night, Bakugo called my name.

"Onyx."

I froze, my heart skipping a beat as he used my name. I turned to face him, surprised to hear it from his lips.

"Yes?" I asked, curiosity tinged with something else—an odd sense of anticipation.

Bakugo was standing there, his face flushed a deep shade of pink, a small, almost imperceptible smile on his lips. "Thanks," he muttered, his voice softer than usual. The gratitude in his eyes was unmistakable, despite his usual brash demeanor.

I felt a warmth spread through me, an unfamiliar but welcome feeling. I purred softly, feeling my tail swish with a playful energy. "Anytime, love," I said with a teasing grin, before slipping away, leaving him behind with nothing but the echo of my words.

As I disappeared into the night, I couldn't help but smile to myself.