KEEP YER HEART AFLAME

KEEP YER HEART AFLAME

cowboy!bakugo x fem!reader

drabble drabble drabble

i love cwbkg sm omg prepare to be sick of me.

just fluff, the soft and tender sweetness we all want from a man.

~

cicadas chirped and trees swayed in the wind as you laid on your bed, your balcony doors open letting in a warm gentle breeze. you laid clad in a white silk nightgown that had delicate lace on the neckline and hem of the dress. in your hand was a book, Pride and Prejudice, the light from your bedside lamp illuminating the room just enough for you to see the words on the paper. truth be told you had grown quite tired in the past 30 minutes, but you were determined to stay up. to see the man of your dreams, the man who rocked your world, your husband.

deciding it was about the time your husband got home, you decided to get ready for bed. washing and freshening up in your bathroom was always one of your favorite things to do.

during your nightly routine you hear the front door open from downstairs and close, heavy steps on wood flooring echoing through the house. you finished up by brushing your hair and make your way out from the en-suite bathroom to greet the handsome fellow you get to call yours.

“hey handsome” you purr, voice soft as you throw your arms loosely around his neck. his arms tighten around your waist and he looks at you, frowning.

“thought i told ‘ya not ta wait up on me” the sleepiness was evident in his voice.

you give him that small little smile you know will make him cave in as you trace his biceps, slow and gentle. you meet his eyes, reaching up to tenderly caress his cheek, looking at him like he hung the moon and the stars with those two big hands of his.

“well what kinda wife would i be if i didn’t make sure my husband came back t’me safely hmm?” you continue to hold his gaze, soft and small hand still on his cheek as silence falls between the both of you.

it’s a comfortable silence, the kind were you enjoy each other’s presence, the kind you have when you drink coffee together in the morning, the kind when you’re taking a bubble bath and reading while he shaves his face by the sink, the kind when you’re both laid up in each other’s arms and watching the trees gently sway in the summer breeze.

he’s still pouting, but his eyes soften just the slightest. he turns his head to your hand and kisses your palm, holding your gaze.

you melt under his stare.

“you oughtta not make’a habit outta’ this” but you know you’ve won, despite his words.

“i reckon it wouldn’t be too bad t’come home t’your wife with open arms for you now would it?” you grin with a catlike smile and he rolls his eyes, but his lips still tug upward in a smile nonetheless.

his eyes meet the red lights of the alarm clock on your nightstand and his frown returns.

11:41pm

he sighs and looks at you again, eyes gentle and filled with guiltiness. “sweets it’s quite late f’you to wait f’me to get home. you should be sleepin right about now” and you know he feels guilty, that he feels like he’s the one keeping you up. but he’s so wrong.

not a day goes by where you ever regret waiting for your husband to come home. you spend your mornings and evenings waiting for his arrival, day to night. sure he’s right outside tending to the animals but he’s always so busy, doing hard work. so you watch from afar, waiting for him to come back into the house, back into your arms. he’s a bright and big flame, and your heart happens to be a chimney on a snowy day in december, waiting to be lit.

so yes, you will stay up for your husband, even if he nags and nags at you to take your ass to bed. you will always be in your bed, waiting upon his arrival, waiting for his flame to ignite your heart again.

“darlin, id wait for you even if i knew you weren’t coming home that night. even if it meant i get no sleep for a week straight” your eyes are full of love and your face looked so tender, so serene.

he grips you tighter and shoves his head into the crook of your neck, planting a few light kisses. you bask in his warmth, one hand reaching to card through his hair and the other lay at the base of his neck.

his stubble tickles your neck and you try not to laugh, but a couple of giggles slip out. he gently pulls away from you, arms still around your waist, and looks at your face, searching for something. when he can’t find it he sighs, staring at you. he looks like he wants to say something, like something is on the tip of his tongue, but he can’t get it out.

so you wait.

you wait until he’s gathered all of his thoughts, until he knows what he wants to get out.

“why do you do that?” he pouts and you’re confused.

you tilt your head to the side, “do what hun?” and there’s a beat of silence, another one where he’s collecting his thoughts.

“love me like it’s as easy as breathin’”

you pause and think. just where in the world did this man come from, and why did he have to be so damn adorable.

you have no other words to say, besides the truth of course.

“because it is. lovin’ you was the easiest and best thing i’ve ever done in my life.”

Prince!Bakugo x Maid!reader

Summary:The barbaric and infamous prince has returned victorious from war, and as the only maid he ever lets get near him, you’re the one who gets to tend to him now that he’s back home.

WARNINGS: Mentions of blood, nudity, angst to comfort

Ik all Bakugo fans are having a hard time out there rn, so heres some good comfort

He’s come back from once again another glorious win, putting both pride and more blood on the royal families history as the whole empire celebrates, after one long year of being away at war on the border of the neighbouring kingdom, finally the finishing act of his violent spectacle has come to a close. In celebration of such, the acting Queen declared a banquet to be held in the royal palace the very same night of his arrival, accessible to the entire upper and middle class, a party full of fancy dresses that took seamstress’s months to sew together, full of nobles wishing to gain connections, music of all sorts and food you couldn’t even imagine to be so delicious until it melts in your mouth.

A banquet like this was a huge opportunity, it wasn’t often the middle class got to freely mingle with the upper class, and it wasn’t often you were given the chance to get off work to go to a social gathering, as a palace maid it was required for you to stay in the palace at all times until your seasonly holiday, so of course when a courtier visited the servant quarters to announce how all palace workers have the opportunity to celebrate the occasion, it was reasonable how they all squealed in excitement; hugging each other, pulling out their fancy jewellery stuck at the very bottom of their suitcases and dressers, deciding what dress would be the most appropriate for such an event- but not you.

You didn’t have the liberty to go to such an event, not after being dubbed “the lion keeper”. After six long years of working in the palace, the sole and only maid his highness would ever let tend to him or wait on him, was you. Which is why you knew you couldn’t go to the banquet, not yet; you were the only person he would let check over his wounds and scars from war.

And so there you were, rather than wearing a gorgeous soft luxurious dress, with pearls and crystals adorning your ears and collar, instead you were wearing your tattered uniform from every other day, with a warm bucket of water sitting by your feet, washcloth in hand, waiting for the lion to enter his den. Between your hands and the washcloth your hands felt sweaty, and your feet couldn’t help but shuffle around a bit in their place, feeling restless. You felt nervous. After a long year you’re going to go back into your routine of tending to Bakugo once more, somehow you felt excited to see him again.

As if thinking of him was enough to spawn him, the front door to his chambers came launching open, the wide doors lined with gold shone as he stepped through them, the two guards that had escorted him made a courteous bow before politely closing the doors behind him as he walked in. You didn’t entirely know how to react to his return, the barrier of professionalism as his maid held you back from tearing up and giving him a hug, no matter how much you felt like a friend to him, you were still a maid. So there you stood in your place, welcoming him to his chamber with a genuine smile, ready to return to your routine of diligently serving him.

“You kept the place clean.”

“Of course your highness”

It was an absent remark he made, while fidgeting with the hilt of his sword sitting on his belt, you weren’t expecting some sort of compassion from him as an old friend to announce his return, but somehow having him notice your efforts to keep his chambers clean and in the exact order he left it to be in made you feel accomplished, warm. That warm feeling of happiness inside you was enough to tell you that you really weren’t dreaming, he’s returned.

“Drop the highness bullshit, you know I hate it- why did you keep my room clean? Everyone was saying I was as good as dead when I left the palace and you know it”

He feels a little agitated to hear you address him so formally, and the tension already in the air causes him to lash out a little, his prickly attitude quickly resurfacing. But no matter, by now you’re already used to it and it doesn’t phase you at all, even after a year.

“Well, Bakugo, I chose not to listen to them because I knew you’d come back.”

You bow your head as you speak, correcting yourself to use his name, it’s been so long since you called him bakugo. While smiling respectfully you kept up your stubborn attitude, always rooting for his highness. Bakugo couldn’t help but feel a little relieved to see that after a year you still haven’t changed at all, knowing this he felt more comfortable, and just as he thought, his name still rolled off your tongue like honey, if he were given the opportunity to hear it come from you forever more he truly believed he would take it.

The thought of you believing in him made him feel warm. That soft vulnerable feeling in his chest was one only you could coax him into feeling, your compliments and words were the only things able to make him feel this way, only you. In that warmth Bakugo fell silent, the roaring lion with his bloody paws and tattered fur felt docile under the care of the kind rabbit. In the silence, you clenched the washcloth between your hands, remembering what you were here to originally do.

“If we wait here any longer, your bath will no longer be how you like it Bakugo”

Bakugo glances at the bathroom door, before looking back at you amidst the silence, somehow feeling a little embarrassed now at the thought of undressing with you near after a year of being apart. Although he would never let it show on his face.

“I will give you some time to undress, please call me in when you’re ready”

“Yeah yeah same ol’ shit no need to tell me”

You stand beside the bathroom door in his bedroom and watch him walk past you, slouching as he always does, before shutting the door. Once he was completely out of your sight, your mind can’t help but wonder a little, maybe it was because he’s spent a year away, but he somehow seems a little more like a man now that he’s come back, his face seemed more defined with a sharper gaze, his body more muscular yet still lean, he clearly became more attractive. Your heart skipped more than a few beats when thinking about how much he’s changed, not that you didn’t love him all the same just as he was before.

Meanwhile, Bakugo slowly undid the buttons on his shirt, ripping open his collar and placing the jewelled cuff-links in his sleeve in a basket at last, he felt like he was suffocating in his royal uniform. Usually he would always leave the first button open, it felt much cooler to him rather than being suffocatingly hot. But he wanted to make an effort. He had heard women prefer a man who looks well kept and put together, but thinking about it now, he felt stupid. Did he really put himself through that to impress you? Somehow he felt like he needed to prove himself to you, prove that he’s grown while away. Since when did he start thinking of you like that? Someone to impress.

He pushes back his thoughts about you, like he has with all his other thoughts about you, the ones about how soft your hair seemed when it brushed against him, how your smile was something he sought out ever since it first made his heart jump, how loved you made him feel. Loved. It was a concept he knew close to nothing about, but he was sure what you made him feel is what it was, if the affection he felt for you undeniably wasn’t love, then he was sure that love in itself had to be a lie. He wasn’t sure when you stopped being “the least annoying maid” to him, and started being the woman he keeps close in his heart, perhaps it happened in-between all the times you endlessly defended his reputation, or in all the times you were there for him, comforting him and taking care of him, however when it really happened didn’t all that matter anymore, because it was something irreversible.

Wrapping a towel around his waist, he looked at himself in the mirror, covered in bandages to avoid fresh wounds from reopening, the last few weeks of war were brutal, traumatic even, he blinked once and a slash on his chest appeared. Looking at himself now, he realises that trying to seem tidy and clean had no point, not when his body was littered with gruesome wounds and scars already forming everywhere. You had to be disgusted by him. And if you weren’t already, then he was sure when you were cleaning his wounds you’d be repulsed by him by the end of it. He shouldn’t care what you think, he knows he shouldn’t, at the end of the day he’s an heir to the royal throne while you’re just a woman from the middle class who landed a lucky job in being a palace maid. But regardless, he regretfully cared.

Dipping a hand into the bath water, he felt its mild bittersweet warmth as he finally noticed the soothing scent of the herbs you used. His favourite. You knew his likes and dislikes far too well, you lured him to be more comfortable with you than with anyone else, the happiest with you, and he was afraid it would all end when you see his wounds. Sitting at the edge of the bath, his heart raced, calling out to you.

“You may enter now”

Funnily enough, you jumped hearing his voice, as if the lion were not tame in your presence, you walked carefully while entering the bathroom, coming face to face with bakugo, leaning on the edge of the bathtub, a large bandage hugging his chest, while smaller cuts and scars remained unattended to in other areas, suddenly the light feeling in your chest from seeing him again was completely crushed by a depressing empathy at his pain, immediately you approached him, muscle memory already knowing exactly what to do, dropping the soft cotton cloth in a basin of cold water for later, your hands carefully approached his bandages, fingers sliding on his chest with such a light touch, if one more layer of bandage were to be on his chest he wouldn’t have even felt you.

While you gently pulled at his bandages, Bakugo shrunk in his spot, bracing himself for the look of disgust, maybe spite, he’s aware of how all the palace maids were away at the banquet by now, while you were stuck here tending to his vile wounds, it was his fault you were here, perhaps if he weren’t so selfish, you would be at the banquet sipping at all the free fine champagne, mingling with other young ladies your age, instead you were stuck in the pitiful lions cage.

But there was no disgust, nor was there a grimace, or groan, or a twist in your features, rather when you removed the bandage, you smiled, happy to see that his wound was not as terrible as the bandage seemed to have made it look, the wound was already starting to heal and stitches wouldn’t be necessary at all. Thank God. Relief for different reasons spread across both your features. The scowl Bakugo constantly wore to hide any other emotion has softened, as you lifted the cotton cloth and dabbed it at his wounds, cleaning up the dried blood the bandages couldn’t soak up. Bakugo hissed when you pressed a little too hard and you instantly recoiled back; looking up at his face to see if you had hurt him badly.

“Did I hurt you?”

You did. In fact his wound stung a little more than before, but he didn’t shout at you, he wore the same softened expression, he couldn’t help it, that look of concern you wore for him and only him made him feel terribly appreciated, because while other nobles always gave him remarks of “adoration” or “appreciation”, yours were always the most genuine.

“You didn’t.”

His voice is hoarse from trying to keep it low, yet still equally soft, tender and loving. It makes your face feel warm as you leave yourself with no other choice but looking back down at his chest to clean up the last of the blood. Dabbing more gently, trying hard to not hurt him again. You knew he lied about being hurt, no man hisses like that if he weren’t hurt, but you didn’t want to press on the matter any further, the lines under his eyes showed how tired he was.

“I’m all done cleaning your wounds Bakugo, you can step into the bath and I’ll help wash your hair now”

Bakugo feels a wave of embarrassment flood on him, as do you, as he slowly removes the towel around his waist, handing it to you to fold, avoiding your eyes while stepping into the bath. After taking the towel from him, you quickly turned your back to him, folding the towel and placing it on the marble sink counter, pretending to be occupied for a minute until you heard the bath water settle with him in the tub.

A silence breaks out as you turn around, rinsing Bakugos hair as he’s already obediently lifted his chin upwards so the water won’t get in his eyes, before you lather soap in your hands and gently massage his scalp. For the first time in far too long, Bakugo closed his eyes without a lingering fear of death in his chest. He would never admit it, that being a royal was hard enough when dealing with so many assassination attempts and how war was far worse for him. Since coming back to the empire he was still yet to fully relax himself, until now. your dainty fingers diligently pressing onto his head with care, washing away all the grime and dirt on him. While the warm water soaked into his rough war-torn skin, untying all the rough knots between his overworked muscles, you couldn’t help but let out a sniffle. The choking feeling of loneliness when Bakugo was away for so long hits you all at once.

He’s back. He’s returned.

Bakugo cracks open an eye to look at you when hearing the small whimper come from you, only to see your wobbly smile as tears prick the corners of your eyes, you tried to pretend nothing was wrong as you continued to scrub at his scalp until he suddenly tilted his head up to get a good look at you. Realising that he’s noticed, you curse at his perceptiveness and turn your back to him, trying to wipe away at your tears. You must seem stupid. Crying in front of the crown prince- how humiliating, he probably wants you out of his chambers for being a nuisance, the thought of him looking at you cruelly like he did all the other maids made you feel worse.

“I’m sorry I-“

You apologise, making Bakugo more worried as he sits up, and for the first time since he’s returned home, he calls out to you by your name, reaching out for your arm and tugging on it to turn you around, his voice stern yet still laced with evident concern for you. When you turn around to face him he feels guilty for how high his heart leaps, your cheeks a rosy colour with tears shining under the candlelight of the chandelier of the bathroom, using one of your hands to try cover your eyes as if you weren’t so obviously crying. The thought of how beautiful you were even with tears in your eyes was unable to escape his mind as he called out to you by your name again.

“Did you miss me while I was gone?”

The question was abrupt; and once again he was being selfish, deep down in the pit of his heart, he wanted you to miss him, to care for him so deeply it brings you to tears, the greedy lion had never received affection so deep and genuine from anyone else, so when he did he began to crave it, crave it so deeply that he refused to be around anyone except you. Though it may sound poisonous, villainous maybe even treacherous, he really hoped your tears were for him, and only him, he couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else or anything else making you cry that was out of his power, at the very least if it were him who made you cry, he would be able to make it better.

You look at Bakugo for a moment, surprised by his abrupt question, so many thoughts rushed though your head. I missed you, I missed you so much the air felt like it wanted to strangle me whenever I thought about how long you’ve been gone for, you’re everything to me my soul my life my reason of living. And yet, all you could manage was a choked sob, clogging your throat with a lump of emotions, your legs felt weak as you unintentionally kneeled, trying to cover your cry. The way you broke down when he asked was enough of an answer for him, cupping your face, leaning out of the bathtub now, water dripped onto the skirt of your uniform and the tiled floor as he pulled your face towards him, calling out your name once more.

“I’m here now, I’m here for you”

Your lip quivered at his words, because while in a formal setting he is your boss, when he held you like this, with a voice so uncharacteristically gentle you can barely recognise, and a touch so hesitant, trying so desperately to not cross a line, he truly seemed like he cared for you, like he loved you as much as you loved him.

You cried in the palms of his rough hands that were capable of holding the world in them, yet they still chose to hold onto you. With nothing to dry your tears, he tried to wipe them away with his thumbs, lulling you into calming down as he shushed you gently. He wanted to tell you he loved you, to tell you that in the past 6 years he’s loved you more than the average heart should be capable of, he loves you so much his heart aches for you, burns for you, he wants to tell you the only reason he put his life in danger at war was for you, to prove himself to the queen that he’s capable and strong enough as it is, that a political marriage is unnecessary if he comes home victorious all so he can be with you. But through all 6 years, he’s always been afraid, of what? He's afraid of change, rejection, of you not being able to reciprocate the sheer raw love and desire he has for you despite your enormous heart that was able to handle being the maid of the infamous barbaric prince.

Through soaked eyelashes, you look back up at Bakugo, you weren’t sure why, but the usual sandpaper fingertips of his felt so soft against your skin, perhaps it was the love that was woven into each of his touches that made them so soothing, or at least thats what you hoped. Your eyes glistened like crystal balls as you stared into his glorious scarlet reds, a colour you grew to love thanks to him.

“Did you miss me too Katsuki?”

You take a leap of faith, using his first name as you admit to missing him in his absence all at once, your heart beats louder than festival drums in your chest as you waited for an answer, however as his lips pursed together, seemingly thinking of what to say, you feel that thumping in your heart turn into the hammering of heart break, what was he so hesitant to say? You must have crossed a line. You couldn’t believe yourself for being so naiv-

“I love you.”

In all your life, in all his life, neither of you had heard those 3 words come out of his lips all together at once, but now that you have, you can admit that theres no sound more wondrous and beautiful than his confession, nothing will ever have a more special place in your heart than him and his words, than the reciprocation of your strong feelings. And the wobbly sweet smile on your face that quivered from just crying paired together with your blush was enough to tell him that you felt the same way too.

2 leaps of faith in one night, and a blossoming love at long last.

And thats the end! I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it! please consider dropping a like and especially a reblog with your thoughts :)) your nice comments give me loads of encouragement to keep writing!

what romantic trope is not your cup of tea and why

5k words in and i’m not even halfway done, my laptop is going to overheat😍😍

i am working on an atsumu story i promise to have chp 1 out by this weekend🙏🙏

i am working on an atsumu story i promise to have chp 1 out by this weekend🙏🙏