Bakugou and Kia continued their patrol in silence, keeping a watchful eye on everything around them. Kia noticed that Bakugo seemed more relaxed around her now. The tense way he held his shoulders was gone and his stride was more purposeful than angry. He was vigilant and liked to patrol without a lot of chatter. Kia didn’t mind the silence at all and only spoke up to ask Bakugo about details of their patrol route. It was getting later in the afternoon and most of the stores would be closing soon so the pair decided to make their way back to the agency when Bakugo’s cell rang.

“What is it?” he answered. Kia could hear Best Jeanist’s voice on the other line.

“Ground Zero, we have been contacted about a bank robbery in the financial district. I’m texting you the address and details now. The villain has a power type quirk and was last reported headed in your direction. Police are in pursuit,” Jeanist informed him.

“We will get him,” Bakugou said before he hung up. Opening his messages he held his phone out so Kia could read the details as well. “Do you think you could locate him?” he asked.

“Give me a minute,” Kia said as she closed her eyes and listened. “I can hear the sirens. They are in that direction; probably twelve blocks away,” she replied, pointing.

“Let’s get moving… and keep listening for any change in direction,” Bakugou ordered as he took off towards the action.

“Alright,” Kia replied, following at his heels.

Bakugou jumped, launching himself into the air and onto the rooftops. Kia followed him, jetting airborne with a blast of her own. They leapt across the rooftops trying not to alert the perp to their approach.

“He turned, and is headed this way,” Kia informed her partner.

Looking ahead, they could see the villain heading in their direction. He was a massive beast-like man and easily three times the size of a regular person. His hands were massive and he used them as well as his feet run. The bag of money was strapped to his back.

Bakugou and Kia jumped down to the street below, ordering citizens nearby to clear the area as the villain came closer. They moved to intercept him, each taking one side of the street as they moved to cut off any escape. The villain saw them and made for the next turn, but Bakugou blasted his way over to stop him. Bringing a hand up, Bakugou let loose an explosion that sent the villain flying back into the middle of the street. The police caught up, cutting off the route the villain had come from, and started directing citizens away, but the sidewalks were packed with those wanting to watch the spectacle. Bakugou and Kia closed in, cutting off the villain’s escape.

“Damn you, heroes!” the villain cried out. “You think you can stop me?”

“We just did. Now hand over the money and give yourself up. If you don’t, I will blast you to hell.” Bakugou threatened, igniting small blasts from his palms.

“Let’s just see about that,” the villain replied. Lunging toward the crowd, the villain grabbed a small boy. “You wouldn’t dare blast me with this kid in the way now, would you?” the villain cackled, holding the boy out in front of him. The small boy looked to be about five years old and the villain’s hand engulfed over half of him.

Bakugou racked his brain, trying to think of a way to hit the villain without harming the child. Something Kia had said earlier echoed in the back of his mind. Looking toward his partner, he met her gaze and she gave a slight nod.

“Let me go and I won’t squeeze this kid to death!” the villain threatened.

Just then, Kia lunged forward. Before the villain could react, she sank her claws into his fingers surrounding the boy. The villain roared in pain, letting go of the boy. Kia grabbed the falling boy then jumped back, spinning around to put herself between him and the villain.

At that moment, Bakugou lunged at the villain, hitting him with a massive blast that sent him flying. When the smoke cleared, the villain lay in the remains of a parked bus, knocked out, and the police moved in to cuff him.

Bakugou stared at his partner crouched on the ground in front of him. Two wings protruded from her back with purple feathers that shimmered with hints of green and blue. They wrapped around in front of her like a protective cocoon. Kia sat up, her wings moving back to a resting position behind her. Her purple tail still curled protectively around the boy in front of her.

“Are you ok?” Kia asked the boy, who nodded. “You were very brave,” she said, giving him a pat on the head.

“Kyo! Kyo!” a woman yelled, running from the crowd. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you for saving my boy,” the woman said, embracing her son and looking between Bakugou and Kia.

“You are welcome,” Kia said, giving her a smile.

The police came and took the boy and his mother over to an ambulance to get checked out. Kia stood up, her tail and wings disappearing as she took her human form.

“Are you alright?” Bakugou asked.

“Yep, I’m fireproof, but thanks for asking,” Kia replied. “That was a powerful blast. You almost knocked the air out of me.”

“You knew what I was thinking before I even looked at you,” Bakugou stated.

“I’m good at working with others,” Kia replied. “It is one reason they asked me to be your partner.”

Bakugou looked back to where the police were putting the villain into an iron maiden. A couple of reporters swarmed around the two heroes wanting a statement from them.

“Ground Zero, would you be willing to make a statement?” the first reporter asked, shoving a recorder in Bakugou’s face.

“Was the capture difficult?” a second reporter shoved her recorder in his face too.

“Who is your partner?” appeared a third reporter.

Kia could see Bakugou was getting angry at the pushy reporters. Before he could explode Kia grabbed his shoulder and gave him a small smile when he turned to her.

“Well, I can introduce myself. My name is Wildside, and I just transferred from America,” Kia told the eager reporters.

Bakugou realized what Kia had just done. She drew the attention of the reporters to her, giving him a minute to gather himself so he could make a good impression. The two of them stood there for ten minutes answering all of the reporters’ questions. Finally, the reporters left to question nearby police officers and citizens.

“Well, that didn’t go so bad,” Kia said, smiling at Bakugou.

“Thanks for that,” Bakugou said.

“Hey, it gets on anyone’s nerves when they get overly pushy like that,” Kia replied. “Can I give you a little tip though? Try not to scowl so much next time you get interviewed,” she said, poking him between the eyebrows.

Raising an eyebrow, at her Bakugou grinned, “I will try to remember that next time,” he joked, pushing her hand away lightly.

Kia laughed, “Hey, just trying to help out. We all know how much you need it.”

%%%%%

Eijiro Kirishima made his way to the break room to get a drink after finishing a pile of paperwork. Reaching the breakroom, he saw Mina Ashido sitting on the couch with a couple other heroes watching a live news report on the capture of a bank robber.

Kirishima reached into the fridge to grab a drink when he heard the reporter mention Ground Zero and Wildside. He looked up to see a shot of his best friend standing and talking to his new partner. Leaning against the back of the couch he watched the report and was surprised to see the beautiful hero turn and smile at his friend before reaching up and poking him between the eyebrows. What happened next had Eijiro almost spitting out his drink on, Mina who was sitting in front of him.

“Wow, did you see that?” Mina exclaimed.

“What, the part where Ground Zero actually smiled or the part when he made that lovely heroine laugh?” asked one hero that was watching the broadcast.

“I didn’t even know that guy could smile,” another hero replied, surprise plastered on her face.

“Kirishima, have you ever seen Bakugou smile like that?” Mina turned to ask.

“No, actually, I haven’t,” Kirishima replied, staring at the TV. Amazed, he watched as the new hero talked and laughed with his usually surly friend. He definitely wanted to meet Bakugo’s new partner now. What kind of person is she to get Bakugou to smile like that? he thought.