you wiped away the traces of the gummy-bear shot you easily downed from the corner of your mouth. the other empty four gummy-bear shots quickly became tastier each swig.
the bass and electric guitar emitted from the bar's speakers, the instruments vibrating against your chest, perfectly in step with the warm buzz spreading in your stomach.
smooth, sensual music bounced off the walls with no apology to anyone's eardrums.
nightlife wasn't typically your type of scene. only few times you would appear if mina or jirou extended an invite. but somehow, you're inebriated with your friends at a club denki invited you to in celebration of kirishima's birthday.
you and kirishima were more so mutual friends, hence why the message from denki was surprising to say the least. once you learned mina and jirou received the same text message, any hesitancy you had before quickly vanished.
it was difficult to deny a good chance to destress.
or a good chance to see him.
ashamedly, you knew he would come, that thought alone setting your drive ablaze.
so when you notice bakugou's broad figure approaching, youâre unfazed, the alcohol already dulling any rational thought. as he drew nearer, the booming music drowned out any words he murmured to you.
"what?" you attempted to overpower the music.
katsuki inched closer to your face, his head cocked sideways towards your jaw. "you look real comfortable for someone who doesn't like clubs."
you let a playful scoff part your lips. of course, it wouldn't be bakugou without his ridiculous yet riveting banter.
"i'm here to celebrate kirishima." you shot back, deliberately brushing past his comment, not recalling when you mentioned that to him.
"to celebrate kirishima," he echoed doubtedly. "that's the only reason you came?"
you folded your arms, resting them underneath your breasts.
"yep. that's typically what friends doâattend their birthday parties to celebrate a year closer to death."
âuh-huh. if thatâs what you want to call it." the familiar flirtation in his voice sent a sharp pang through your chest.
you knew katsuki's arrogance all too well. he adored knowing how much his presence affected others, whether it was good, bad, or just to get a reaction.
men like katsuki were easy to decipher. they valued strength, confidence, and adventure. serve it to them on a silver platter and they'd be eating it up in an instant. playing the game on him was almost too easy.
albeit, there was reason to believe katsuki was playing the same game with you.
maybe if he was a little less attractive, his argumentative, brash personality would be less compelling. but it was easier to blame everything on his massive biceps and ruby eyes. who would ever pass up something so sensual?
"what do you want me to say instead? if that's not the truth, then what is?" you dangled the hook, waiting for him to bite it.
"you didn't just come for kirishima." he said, his ruby eyes holding you accountable. "you came 'cause you knew i'd be here."
you sneered at his comment, warmth creeping up your face. you refused to give in, refused to let katsuki see even a hint of how right he was.
you tilted your head, lips quirking as you met his gaze. "really?" you said lightly, "that's funny, considering you were the one who came looking for me."
he wore an unreadable expression, caught somewhere between surprise and indecision. your chest hummed with satisfaction, like you just scored a private victory.
"hmph. guess i did." his gaze lingered, deliberate. "doesn't look like you're trying to get away." you couldnât argue with that. after all, why else would you be wearing the shirt youâd bought months ago, saving it for the right moment?
"not seeing a reason to just yet." your finger curls around his as you guide him off, the music slowly softening as you move away.
you reached a hidden corner near the bathroom. it was quiet and dim, ideal for whatever impulse one of you decided to act on. he was close enough to make out his features in the darkness. close enough to notice his ruby irises drinking your body in.
his head tilted back slightly, eyes narrowing to read you better.
"didn't know the birthday celebration moved back here." laughter spills from your lips, it's stupid how easily he calls you out.
"you're an asshole, katsuki." you push at his chest gently, not nearly enough to move him. instead of stepping away, you leave your hand there.
his eyes follow the movement before settling on you again. "i know. doesn't seem to bother you much."
"what does that mean?" you asked, a laugh slipping out with the words.
"you're smart, y/n. you don't bring me somewhere dark and quiet for nothing." he leans forward slightly. "your hand on my chest. standing this close. all of it."
"yeah." the word leaves your mouth calm. âi know what iâm doing, and i know you do too. iâve been reading you just as much as youâve been reading me these past few months." your eye involuntarily squints at him, it almost sounded like he was over it?
he scoffed. ânot what iâm talking about.â
his eyes left your body and fixed on the floor instead, like the ground might have the answer he didnât know how to give you. his features scrunched slightly, indecision written all over them.
you shook your head, offering a small shrug, waiting for him to say whatever it was he was holding back.
he refuses to meet your eye for a while, until he locks eyes onto yours. he studies you for a long moment, red eyes sharp but uncertain around the edges, like heâs trying to figure out if heâs about to step off a cliff.
you examine him carefully. âwhat are you trying to say, katsuki?"
he wets his bottom lip, hands dragging through his hair. âyou keep acting like this is nothing.â his jaw tightens. âitâs not nothing for me.â
heâs close enough now that you can catch the faint edge of alcohol on his breath. sharp. unfamiliar.
is this the drinks talking⊠or him? if it was the alcohol, you could survive it. blame it on the liquor. if it wasn't, that was different.
âare you going to feel this way tomorrow?â your eyes flicker briefly, your voice lowering.
"yeah." he says. "i'll feel it tomorrow. and the day after."
you examine his face, your smirk softening. if youâd known this was how the night would end with katsuki flushed and uncertain, eyes searching yours instead of challenging them, maybe you wouldnât have spent the whole day pretending you didnât care.
your body presses against his. "i wouldn't have brought you back here if it didn't mean anything." your voice below a whisper. "i came tonight hoping you would come looking for me."
a relieved grin breaks across his face.
"i knew it." he mutters, releasing a breath as if he was holding air. "yeah, well if we're saying shit now, i told denki to text you."
you gaze into his eyes, your smile becoming harder to contain. laughter spills from you, light and breathless, and you hear katsuki chuckle too. warmth spreads through your chest, still humming in satisfaction as you wrap your arms around him, his hands finding your hips like they were meant to be there.
âyou know, you couldâve just asked me on a date a long while ago.â you inch closer to his face, your nose softly bumping his.
heâs drawn in by your radiance, following every small movement. his top lip brushes against your bottom one, slow and teasing.
âwouldnât have been as fun,â he admits quietly. âyou enjoyed it as much as i did.â
you cut him off before he can let his ego settle and press your lips against his.
his lips are unfamiliar, but somehow everything youâve been waiting for at the same time. he kisses you softlyâshort and carefulâlike heâs getting a feel for you, taking in how worth all of this tension really was.
katsuki pauses. âyou taste like⊠gummy bears.â
âsomeoneâs gotta taste-test the shots. i volunteered.â you laugh into his lips.
âvolunteered,â he echoes, shaking his head. âclever.â his lips find their way onto yours again. deeper this time, like he earned it. and truth be told, he earned it long ago.
others didnât seem to understand katsuki, why he was so brash. but all he wanted was a challenge, and you had given him something he hadnât accomplished before.