The bell above the door jingles, and I swear under my breath. It's after hours, and I was just about to start cleaning up for the night. "We're closed!" I holler, not looking up from the stack of bowls I'm disinfecting.

The response is the sound of excited yapping from the puppy pen, followed by a soft voice: "Oh! Sorry about that! I thought maybe..." The voice trails off, and I finally look up.

There he is - the new tattoo artist from next door. Midoriya, I think his name is. Toshinori mentioned him before he left town. He's even more imposing in person than I imagined - broad shoulders, muscles practically straining against his black tank top, and tattoos covering every visible inch of skin. But what really catches me off guard is the way he's kneeling in the middle of the puppy pen, surrounded by a wriggling mass of fur, looking absolutely delighted.

"What the hell are you doing in there?" I demand, storming over. "You can't just waltz in after hours and start playing with my dogs!"

He looks up at me with these impossibly green eyes, a Chow Chow puppy in his arms, and gives me a sheepish smile. "I'm so sorry! The door was unlocked and the sign still said open, and I just... I love dogs, and they looked so cute in the window..."

The puppy in his arms - Moonface, one of our shyest rescues - licks his cheek, and he melts, nuzzling her gently. Something about the contrast between his tough appearance and the tenderness in his movements makes my chest feel tight.

"Get out," I say, but my voice isn't as harsh as I intend. "Before you get them all riled up right before bed."

Instead of leaving, he stands up, carefully placing Moonface back with the others, and approaches the gate separating us. "I'm Midoriya Izuku," he says, extending a tattooed hand. "I just started at Old Salt Tattooers next door. Toshinori said I should introduce myself."

I stare at his hand, then back at his face. He's got freckles across his nose and a smattering of them on his shoulders, visible above the neckline of his shirt. "Bakugou," I mutter, finally taking his hand. His grip is firm but surprisingly gentle.

When I try to pull away, he doesn't let go immediately. Those green eyes lock onto mine, and there's an intensity there that makes my skin tingle. "I was actually hoping..." he starts, then hesitates. "Well, I was wondering if maybe... I could apply to adopt one of the puppies?"

I snort, finally yanking my hand free. "Fat chance. You just moved here, just started a new job, and you probably don't have the first clue what taking care of a puppy entails."

His shoulders slump slightly, but his determination doesn't waver. "I know I have a lot to prove," he says. "But I really want this. I'll do anything to show you I'm responsible enough."

The puppies have gathered at the gate, watching our interaction with interest. Riot, my own dog, comes over to nudge my hand, as if encouraging me to be nice. I ignore him.

Midoriya takes a step closer to the gate, those green eyes still fixed on me. "Just give me a chance, Bakugou. Please."

There's something about the way he says my name, something in his expression, that makes my resolve waver - just for a second. But I harden myself again. "We'll see," I say finally. "Now get out before I call the cops for trespassing."